Saturday, January 30, 2010
The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb
Grim lit down just beyond the gates of the Journey's End Horse Farm. He had called them earlier to ask if they had any horses for sale, and they said they had a few. With a name like Journey's End, he figured that this was where old horses went.
He walked up to the office. The woman at the desk looked up at him, and her mouth dropped in shock. "I called earlier about some horses for sale," he said calmly, knowing his appearance was probably what made her look shocked. He smiled, and tried to be as normal as possible.
"Uh, hm, right..." She picked up a walkie-talkie. "Danny, someone here to see you."
"Be right there," came the voice back, and Grim stepped back from the counter to wait by the door.
Soon, a handsome man came into the room, long brown hair pulled back in a pony-tail, dressed in a simple sweater and jeans. Grim smiled and held out his hand. "Michael LaBonte," he said.
Danny shook Grim's hand. "Danny Mason." He studied him for a minute. "Want me to take you around?"
"Sure," Grim said, and Danny grabbed a small tablet laptop and went outside with him.
"If you don't mind my asking, what were you planning on doing with a horse?"
"Does it matter?"
Danny stopped, and gave Grim a look. "To us it does. You look like one of those demon worshippers."
"I was. I'm not anymore."
"Then what do you want a horse for?"
He said quietly, "I need it for a ritual."
"You're going to kill it."
"Humanely. Honestly, I won't cause it any pain, and it's not going to be used to summon evil spirits or anything like that. I swear on the River Styx."
Danny looked at him. "Do you mind if they're sick or old?"
"That's what I was expecting to find here. The name of the place is Journey's End."
Danny gave him a small smile. "It's from a Western movie. It doesn't mean here is where horses come to die."
"Oh." He looked down. "Then that's my mistake."
"I really don't feel comfortable about this."
"Then don't do it."
"Nobody else will sell to you for that, you know."
"I figured I'd be up front and honest."
"There's such a thing as too much honesty."
"Why would someone want to buy a sick or dying horse?"
"Okay, I see your point. But you shouldn't say you're going to kill it."
"Humanely."
"It's still killing it," Danny said, turning around to look at him.
Grim only stared. Danny finally sighed. "I think I have one for you."
Grim followed Danny into the stables, and was assaulted by the natural smell of horses and manure. Grim knew that smell would be with him for hours. Danny stopped at the first stall and pulled out his tablet.
The horse in the stall didn't even move at their approach. He was brown with a long black tail and mane - at least it looked like a he. Or a she. He wasn't sure.
"This is Raymond, he's a gelding, he used to be a trail horse but now he's mostly blind."
At Danny's speaking, the horse turned in their general direction and came walking toward them. Danny pulled out a carrot from his pocket and gave it to him. The horse snorted on his hand before taking it.
"He used to be yours?"
"He belonged to the Bakers', they ran horses for nature trails over in Lincoln Woods, then we bought him about two years ago as a trail gelding until he started bumping into things and we realized he was going blind."
"So why are you keeping him?"
"He's still healthy otherwise."
He reached out to touch the horse, and it shied away from him for a minute. Grim offered his hand like he would to a dog unfamiliar with his scent, and the horse sniffed it, and stood still. Grim scratched the top of the horse's head as Danny kept running through his resume. "Short answer is," Grim said, "he's just blind."
Danny looked up from his tablet. "Yeah, that's the short answer."
"How much?"
"$2,500."
"That's fine. How much to board him until I need him?"
"$500 a month."
"I'll need him before then, but I'll pay for the month. Where do I go pay for it?"
"In the office."
Grim followed Danny to the office in silence. Danny held the door open for him and gave him a look that Grim couldn't actually read, it seemed empty of all emotion. Grim stepped into the office.
"Cassie, this man is buying Raymond."
The woman looked at Grim. "But Raymond's--"
"He knows."
"Oh." Cassie started drawing up paperwork. Grim explained he'd be boarded here and would pay for the boarding up front. When given the total, he counted out the money from his wallet in hundreds on the counter. Cassie took them without a word, and put it in the drawer. "You can come visit him any time you like."
"Thank you, I think I will now, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all," said Danny.
Grim nodded, and went back to the stable. As he walked, he felt around for ley lines. There wasn't much that he could grab hold of, so he let it alone and entered the stable. He stopped at the stall, and saw the horse in its same position as it had been when he first saw it.
"Raymond," Grim called.
The horse perked up its ears and turned its head. Grim looked over the stall door to see if it was clear, then vaulted over it. He walked across the hay-strewn floor carefully. He took out a long blue, and braided it in the animal's mane. He nodded, and stepped back. Then he turned to see hand brushes against the wall. He picked them up, and began brushing the horse down, singing a spell of calmness under his breath.
Grim lit down just beyond the gates of the Journey's End Horse Farm. He had called them earlier to ask if they had any horses for sale, and they said they had a few. With a name like Journey's End, he figured that this was where old horses went.
He walked up to the office. The woman at the desk looked up at him, and her mouth dropped in shock. "I called earlier about some horses for sale," he said calmly, knowing his appearance was probably what made her look shocked. He smiled, and tried to be as normal as possible.
"Uh, hm, right..." She picked up a walkie-talkie. "Danny, someone here to see you."
"Be right there," came the voice back, and Grim stepped back from the counter to wait by the door.
Soon, a handsome man came into the room, long brown hair pulled back in a pony-tail, dressed in a simple sweater and jeans. Grim smiled and held out his hand. "Michael LaBonte," he said.
Danny shook Grim's hand. "Danny Mason." He studied him for a minute. "Want me to take you around?"
"Sure," Grim said, and Danny grabbed a small tablet laptop and went outside with him.
"If you don't mind my asking, what were you planning on doing with a horse?"
"Does it matter?"
Danny stopped, and gave Grim a look. "To us it does. You look like one of those demon worshippers."
"I was. I'm not anymore."
"Then what do you want a horse for?"
He said quietly, "I need it for a ritual."
"You're going to kill it."
"Humanely. Honestly, I won't cause it any pain, and it's not going to be used to summon evil spirits or anything like that. I swear on the River Styx."
Danny looked at him. "Do you mind if they're sick or old?"
"That's what I was expecting to find here. The name of the place is Journey's End."
Danny gave him a small smile. "It's from a Western movie. It doesn't mean here is where horses come to die."
"Oh." He looked down. "Then that's my mistake."
"I really don't feel comfortable about this."
"Then don't do it."
"Nobody else will sell to you for that, you know."
"I figured I'd be up front and honest."
"There's such a thing as too much honesty."
"Why would someone want to buy a sick or dying horse?"
"Okay, I see your point. But you shouldn't say you're going to kill it."
"Humanely."
"It's still killing it," Danny said, turning around to look at him.
Grim only stared. Danny finally sighed. "I think I have one for you."
Grim followed Danny into the stables, and was assaulted by the natural smell of horses and manure. Grim knew that smell would be with him for hours. Danny stopped at the first stall and pulled out his tablet.
The horse in the stall didn't even move at their approach. He was brown with a long black tail and mane - at least it looked like a he. Or a she. He wasn't sure.
"This is Raymond, he's a gelding, he used to be a trail horse but now he's mostly blind."
At Danny's speaking, the horse turned in their general direction and came walking toward them. Danny pulled out a carrot from his pocket and gave it to him. The horse snorted on his hand before taking it.
"He used to be yours?"
"He belonged to the Bakers', they ran horses for nature trails over in Lincoln Woods, then we bought him about two years ago as a trail gelding until he started bumping into things and we realized he was going blind."
"So why are you keeping him?"
"He's still healthy otherwise."
He reached out to touch the horse, and it shied away from him for a minute. Grim offered his hand like he would to a dog unfamiliar with his scent, and the horse sniffed it, and stood still. Grim scratched the top of the horse's head as Danny kept running through his resume. "Short answer is," Grim said, "he's just blind."
Danny looked up from his tablet. "Yeah, that's the short answer."
"How much?"
"$2,500."
"That's fine. How much to board him until I need him?"
"$500 a month."
"I'll need him before then, but I'll pay for the month. Where do I go pay for it?"
"In the office."
Grim followed Danny to the office in silence. Danny held the door open for him and gave him a look that Grim couldn't actually read, it seemed empty of all emotion. Grim stepped into the office.
"Cassie, this man is buying Raymond."
The woman looked at Grim. "But Raymond's--"
"He knows."
"Oh." Cassie started drawing up paperwork. Grim explained he'd be boarded here and would pay for the boarding up front. When given the total, he counted out the money from his wallet in hundreds on the counter. Cassie took them without a word, and put it in the drawer. "You can come visit him any time you like."
"Thank you, I think I will now, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all," said Danny.
Grim nodded, and went back to the stable. As he walked, he felt around for ley lines. There wasn't much that he could grab hold of, so he let it alone and entered the stable. He stopped at the stall, and saw the horse in its same position as it had been when he first saw it.
"Raymond," Grim called.
The horse perked up its ears and turned its head. Grim looked over the stall door to see if it was clear, then vaulted over it. He walked across the hay-strewn floor carefully. He took out a long blue, and braided it in the animal's mane. He nodded, and stepped back. Then he turned to see hand brushes against the wall. He picked them up, and began brushing the horse down, singing a spell of calmness under his breath.
(Influenced by the APA Ethical Guidelines, 2002)
Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
First, do no harm. In our professional actions, we seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom we interact professionally and other affected persons. When conflicts occur among our obligations or concerns, we attempt to resolve these conflicts in a responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm.
Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility
We establish relationships of trust with those with whom we work. We are aware of our professional responsibility to society and to the Corps. We consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals to the extent needed to serve the best interests of those with whom we work.
Principle C: Integrity
We seek to provide accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness. In these activities we do not engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact.
Principle D: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity
We respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination, except when endangering themselves or others or as required by law enforcement.
4.0 Confidentialty
4.01 We have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law.
4.02 Unless it is not feasible or is contraindicated, the discussion of confidentiality occurs at the outset of the relationship and thereafter as new circumstances may warrant.
4.03 Before accessing individuals to whom they provide services, we obtain permission from all such persons, the highest-ranking person of the group you are working for, or a member of law enforcement.
...
Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
First, do no harm. In our professional actions, we seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom we interact professionally and other affected persons. When conflicts occur among our obligations or concerns, we attempt to resolve these conflicts in a responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm.
Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility
We establish relationships of trust with those with whom we work. We are aware of our professional responsibility to society and to the Corps. We consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals to the extent needed to serve the best interests of those with whom we work.
Principle C: Integrity
We seek to provide accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness. In these activities we do not engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact.
Principle D: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity
We respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination, except when endangering themselves or others or as required by law enforcement.
4.0 Confidentialty
4.01 We have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained, recognizing that the extent and limits of confidentiality may be regulated by law.
4.02 Unless it is not feasible or is contraindicated, the discussion of confidentiality occurs at the outset of the relationship and thereafter as new circumstances may warrant.
4.03 Before accessing individuals to whom they provide services, we obtain permission from all such persons, the highest-ranking person of the group you are working for, or a member of law enforcement.
...
Thursday, January 28, 2010
(Having taken place before the events depicted in "Shifting Characters Without a Clutch")
All mages carried wands or athames (pronounced ah-THE-may in some circles). These were used as a ritualistic tool for directing energy. However, Thornites used these things differently. Their athames were from the thorn tree in Nerva, used for cutting flesh as well as directing energy.
Grim was no different. Grim had gone through two thorn athames in his time with the Circle, and gave them up when he left them. He had two specially made, silver ones, and kept one for his use, the twin to the one he had used to bind his demoness. Grim destroyed after it was realized he didn't need it because of the white light he was able to direct.
Now he needed a new one. He could easily go into any magic shop and pick one up, but most of the time they were already consecrated or at the very least tainted by its maker. The other option was to find one, and quick. He went to Astoria. He could pilfer one off a Banished Pantheon shaman and cleanse it.
Grim took out his divining rod. Banished Pantheon were everywhere, but he needed something particular. He pictured what he wanted, the "essence" that would be in the blade, and he followed the rod's direction. It brought him deep into Astoria, to the actual cemetary there. He continued into the catacombs under the hill, and stopped at a wall.
"Well, that doesn't help," he said, scratching his head. "I didn't think I'd need C-4."
"You don't."
Grim whirled around in a crouch and faced a man dressed in a simple brown tunic, and wearing a winged helmet on his black curly hair. Grim noticed his winged sandals. His gaze went back up, and Grim noted he filled out that tunic pretty nicely. The man smiled, "Thank you."
"You heard that?"
"It's pretty obvious."
"Let me guess. You're Hermes."
"What gave it away?"
"The wings."
"Mmmhmm..." He then took out something from his tunic and tossed it on the ground. "You're going to need this."
It was a simple dagger, its plain sheath glittering silver in the dimness, but its handle was black and seemed to suck light into it.
"You're the trickster god," Grim said, leary.
"Why does everyone right away think that? I'm a messenger god, too. That's a message to you from Hades."
"So I am a reaper."
"You work for him, he might as well give you the tools of the trade."
Grim bent down and picked it up. It thrummed in his hand, and the sheath grew brighter. "Do I have to claim souls when I unsheath it, or does it demand blood, or..?"
"What do you think this is, some fantasy novel?"
Grim unsheathed the blade. It was silver, and finely edged.
"However, it does have some special properties."
"I knew it."
"Oh, you'll like them. Not only does it rend flesh, but it also rends souls. You can cut the soul away from the body instead of yanking it out like you used to do. More humane that way, don't you think?"
"A humane reaper. That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one."
"You're Hades' version of Dr. Kavorkian."
Grim looked up at Hermes and chuckled. "You're not what I expected from a god."
"They're all stuck up." He smiled. "You could serve me instead."
"Uh, no. I don't like stealing things. Life force, no problem, but not people's stuff." He examined the blade. "What else does it do?"
"You never have to sharpen it. It hurts anything with a soul."
"Provided I hit them."
"Yes, you need to have physical contact with them."
"Can I use it as a director of energy?"
"Once it's bloodied you can't."
Grim sheathed the blade. "Does it have a name?"
"Scythe."
"You're kidding. That's original."
"I'm not the one making this stuff up. Take it up with Hades."
"No, no, thank you."
"Thought so." He hovered in the air. "Michael. Like Marcus said about the Pius, don't let it consume you. Don't let this consume you, either." With that, he flew straight up in the air, and through the rock above them.
All mages carried wands or athames (pronounced ah-THE-may in some circles). These were used as a ritualistic tool for directing energy. However, Thornites used these things differently. Their athames were from the thorn tree in Nerva, used for cutting flesh as well as directing energy.
Grim was no different. Grim had gone through two thorn athames in his time with the Circle, and gave them up when he left them. He had two specially made, silver ones, and kept one for his use, the twin to the one he had used to bind his demoness. Grim destroyed after it was realized he didn't need it because of the white light he was able to direct.
Now he needed a new one. He could easily go into any magic shop and pick one up, but most of the time they were already consecrated or at the very least tainted by its maker. The other option was to find one, and quick. He went to Astoria. He could pilfer one off a Banished Pantheon shaman and cleanse it.
Grim took out his divining rod. Banished Pantheon were everywhere, but he needed something particular. He pictured what he wanted, the "essence" that would be in the blade, and he followed the rod's direction. It brought him deep into Astoria, to the actual cemetary there. He continued into the catacombs under the hill, and stopped at a wall.
"Well, that doesn't help," he said, scratching his head. "I didn't think I'd need C-4."
"You don't."
Grim whirled around in a crouch and faced a man dressed in a simple brown tunic, and wearing a winged helmet on his black curly hair. Grim noticed his winged sandals. His gaze went back up, and Grim noted he filled out that tunic pretty nicely. The man smiled, "Thank you."
"You heard that?"
"It's pretty obvious."
"Let me guess. You're Hermes."
"What gave it away?"
"The wings."
"Mmmhmm..." He then took out something from his tunic and tossed it on the ground. "You're going to need this."
It was a simple dagger, its plain sheath glittering silver in the dimness, but its handle was black and seemed to suck light into it.
"You're the trickster god," Grim said, leary.
"Why does everyone right away think that? I'm a messenger god, too. That's a message to you from Hades."
"So I am a reaper."
"You work for him, he might as well give you the tools of the trade."
Grim bent down and picked it up. It thrummed in his hand, and the sheath grew brighter. "Do I have to claim souls when I unsheath it, or does it demand blood, or..?"
"What do you think this is, some fantasy novel?"
Grim unsheathed the blade. It was silver, and finely edged.
"However, it does have some special properties."
"I knew it."
"Oh, you'll like them. Not only does it rend flesh, but it also rends souls. You can cut the soul away from the body instead of yanking it out like you used to do. More humane that way, don't you think?"
"A humane reaper. That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one."
"You're Hades' version of Dr. Kavorkian."
Grim looked up at Hermes and chuckled. "You're not what I expected from a god."
"They're all stuck up." He smiled. "You could serve me instead."
"Uh, no. I don't like stealing things. Life force, no problem, but not people's stuff." He examined the blade. "What else does it do?"
"You never have to sharpen it. It hurts anything with a soul."
"Provided I hit them."
"Yes, you need to have physical contact with them."
"Can I use it as a director of energy?"
"Once it's bloodied you can't."
Grim sheathed the blade. "Does it have a name?"
"Scythe."
"You're kidding. That's original."
"I'm not the one making this stuff up. Take it up with Hades."
"No, no, thank you."
"Thought so." He hovered in the air. "Michael. Like Marcus said about the Pius, don't let it consume you. Don't let this consume you, either." With that, he flew straight up in the air, and through the rock above them.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Many, many, MANY years from now...and not canon.
Inspired by:
"Seen a million faces
Seen a million places die
Well I wonder who will walk with me
When I get to heaven..."
Hootie and the Blowfish, Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven)
The next thing he knew, he was on a boat. Kalius looked down at himself, dressed in full Grecian armor, the armor he was buried in.
"Sexah," said a voice behind him.
Kalius turned around to see a blond main with gentle blue eyes, dressed all in grey, holding a staff as he rocked with the boat's movements. What struck him were the wings on his back, black as a raven's. However, his halo was bright gold.
"You look silly with a halo, Grim."
"Don't I?" He grinned. "I've been asking them if I really have to wear it, but down here it's like an ID badge."
Kalius walked across the boat to him. Grim smiled at him, and gently turned him around so he faced the prow. "Look ashore. They await you."
Sure enough, a crowd of people waited on shore, people of many times and places, of all the lives Kalius had lived during his search for Dimitrius. His soul seemed to want to jump out of the boat and join them immediately, it was Grim's hand on his shoulder that restrained him.
The boat touched the shore, and Kalius was out of it in moments, making sure not to touch the water. Immediately he was surrounded by happy faces of family and comrades, and he would have wept if he could. Then Grim was guiding another man in robes out of the boat and helped him to make sure he didn't step in the water. Kalius turned to look at Grim, knowing this would be the last time he'd see him. Grim gently slid the hood off the man he had guided.
Kalius gasped. "Dimitrius."
Dimitrius smiled at Kalius. Kalius in his Grecian form was a big man, and pulled Dimitrius into his arms. Grim stood by, watching, with tears in his eyes. "How did you..?"
"You wouldn't believe the strings I had to pull," Grim said with a smile. He nodded to Dimitrius. "I was very gentle."
"What did you have to do?" Kalius gave him a look.
"Oh, renewed my contract. For a couple hundred years."
"Grim!"
"Don't worry, Kal. Time here is different. I'll be done in no time." Grim hugged Dimitrius, and then hugged Kal tightly. "You know I love my job."
"Too much, sometimes."
Grim laughed. "True, that." He drew Dimitrius and Kalius together. "You boys have fun, now." He spread his raven wings and suspended in the air. "Be seeing you soon."
"Grim..."
"I love you, Kalius of Thebes."
"I love you, too, Michael."
Grim gave him a Grecian salute, and flew straight up, then headed back East. Dimitrius slipped his arm around Kalius' waist, and Kalius did the same, watching Grim's grey light fade away.
Inspired by:
"Seen a million faces
Seen a million places die
Well I wonder who will walk with me
When I get to heaven..."
Hootie and the Blowfish, Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven)
The next thing he knew, he was on a boat. Kalius looked down at himself, dressed in full Grecian armor, the armor he was buried in.
"Sexah," said a voice behind him.
Kalius turned around to see a blond main with gentle blue eyes, dressed all in grey, holding a staff as he rocked with the boat's movements. What struck him were the wings on his back, black as a raven's. However, his halo was bright gold.
"You look silly with a halo, Grim."
"Don't I?" He grinned. "I've been asking them if I really have to wear it, but down here it's like an ID badge."
Kalius walked across the boat to him. Grim smiled at him, and gently turned him around so he faced the prow. "Look ashore. They await you."
Sure enough, a crowd of people waited on shore, people of many times and places, of all the lives Kalius had lived during his search for Dimitrius. His soul seemed to want to jump out of the boat and join them immediately, it was Grim's hand on his shoulder that restrained him.
The boat touched the shore, and Kalius was out of it in moments, making sure not to touch the water. Immediately he was surrounded by happy faces of family and comrades, and he would have wept if he could. Then Grim was guiding another man in robes out of the boat and helped him to make sure he didn't step in the water. Kalius turned to look at Grim, knowing this would be the last time he'd see him. Grim gently slid the hood off the man he had guided.
Kalius gasped. "Dimitrius."
Dimitrius smiled at Kalius. Kalius in his Grecian form was a big man, and pulled Dimitrius into his arms. Grim stood by, watching, with tears in his eyes. "How did you..?"
"You wouldn't believe the strings I had to pull," Grim said with a smile. He nodded to Dimitrius. "I was very gentle."
"What did you have to do?" Kalius gave him a look.
"Oh, renewed my contract. For a couple hundred years."
"Grim!"
"Don't worry, Kal. Time here is different. I'll be done in no time." Grim hugged Dimitrius, and then hugged Kal tightly. "You know I love my job."
"Too much, sometimes."
Grim laughed. "True, that." He drew Dimitrius and Kalius together. "You boys have fun, now." He spread his raven wings and suspended in the air. "Be seeing you soon."
"Grim..."
"I love you, Kalius of Thebes."
"I love you, too, Michael."
Grim gave him a Grecian salute, and flew straight up, then headed back East. Dimitrius slipped his arm around Kalius' waist, and Kalius did the same, watching Grim's grey light fade away.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Okay, so the Chum Bucket was filled with mostly gamblers out for a quick fix of their addiction during their lunch hour, but the place served the best greasy clam rolls this side of Nerva. The cook behind the counter carried more scars on his face than the railroad map of Chicago, and he brokered no arguments from any of the patrons at the counter. Not that anyone ever gave him any lip, because he was a damn good cook.
Someone sat next to Grim as he finished up his tartar sauce with his fries. So he was a sick man and liked to dip his fries in mayonnaise. "Hail, Mage," said a woman's voice.
He turned expecting to see Harmonia. Instead he saw a non-descript urchin of a woman who looked like she had been beaten earlier in the day. Her hair fell out of a ragged pony tail, and she wore a simple faded purple sweatshirt and jeans. Her eyes were blue as sapphires, though, bright in a blackened dirty face. It took him a minute to realize he was being addressed in Greek.
"Hail, 'Armonia," he replied, because that was the voice who spoke to him.
"I need to ask of you some favors."
"Some favors? At least you're honest."
"Do you love the Champion of Ares?"
He regarded her. "Yes, I do," he said.
"Will you do anything for him?"
"No, obviously not," he said. "I won't be his and his alone."
"Anything else?"
"What are you getting at?"
She took a deep breath. "Can you use your dark powers for good?"
"I was a hero with them before, yeah."
"No, use them for good. You were not a hero - you did it to make your demoness angry. Can you use them to help people?"
"Sure, I did it before...Sort of."
"Will you do it again?"
"Why?" He regarded her.
She looked up at him. "If you wish to help stave off Hades from the Champion of Ares, he wishes you to be his servant."
Grim turned from her, and reached for his coke. He sipped it until the straw slurped. "I thought I was supposed to be God's servant. Redeemed and all that shit."
"He seems to think you can be both."
"Is that possible?"
"Only by God's will."
He put the cup down. "Then you can tell him I already am. Might as well get some credit for what I've been doing these last four hours."
"He is the Lord of Death, Mage, not the Lord of Evil."
"Like I said, I already am." He took out something from his pocket and held it up in the light. It was a thick, fat index finger. He put it back. "I don't do what I do for evil. I do it for protection. Plus it looks really impressive."
"Then I ask another favor. Please come home. The Champion loves you."
Grim remembered Kalius' look in his eyes when he left him. They were full of pain and abandonment, the same look Stefan had given him a while ago. He looked down at his bag.
"He also defended you to Raina and Jack. He spoke of the technomancers and he is of the same agreement as you. You are not alone, Mage."
"Him, and Stefan, and Rusty. Jack was, but he has to defend them now. Why, I still don't know. Maybe even Mark."
"It is because of the children--"
He slammed his fist on the counter and yelled at her in English, "You know what? I'm sick and fucking tired of hearing about 'it's for the children'. If it was just Jack and Raina's babies, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But these fucking bastards have to stick their fucking noses in a god damn fetus! And Jack and Raina go running to them for help, when we could have figured it out ourselves. They're the ones that fucking started this shit! They're the enemy! We could have handled them. And we're now supposed to kowtow to them because they're involved? They're like the kids' uncles?" He grabbed his bag. "They promised they would be gone by the turn of the tide three days ago. They lied. AGAIN. And made things worse. AGAIN." He looked at her. "I won't play their stupid games and I sure won't play follow the leader to LeBeau." He started to walk out.
"What about Kalius, and Stefan? They need you."
He stopped. It was the first time she had called them by their names. He turned around slowly and could see pain in those sapphire eyes, they reminded him of Kalius and Stefan. He sighed. "Fine, I'll go back. But maybe you should call me Uriel."
Someone sat next to Grim as he finished up his tartar sauce with his fries. So he was a sick man and liked to dip his fries in mayonnaise. "Hail, Mage," said a woman's voice.
He turned expecting to see Harmonia. Instead he saw a non-descript urchin of a woman who looked like she had been beaten earlier in the day. Her hair fell out of a ragged pony tail, and she wore a simple faded purple sweatshirt and jeans. Her eyes were blue as sapphires, though, bright in a blackened dirty face. It took him a minute to realize he was being addressed in Greek.
"Hail, 'Armonia," he replied, because that was the voice who spoke to him.
"I need to ask of you some favors."
"Some favors? At least you're honest."
"Do you love the Champion of Ares?"
He regarded her. "Yes, I do," he said.
"Will you do anything for him?"
"No, obviously not," he said. "I won't be his and his alone."
"Anything else?"
"What are you getting at?"
She took a deep breath. "Can you use your dark powers for good?"
"I was a hero with them before, yeah."
"No, use them for good. You were not a hero - you did it to make your demoness angry. Can you use them to help people?"
"Sure, I did it before...Sort of."
"Will you do it again?"
"Why?" He regarded her.
She looked up at him. "If you wish to help stave off Hades from the Champion of Ares, he wishes you to be his servant."
Grim turned from her, and reached for his coke. He sipped it until the straw slurped. "I thought I was supposed to be God's servant. Redeemed and all that shit."
"He seems to think you can be both."
"Is that possible?"
"Only by God's will."
He put the cup down. "Then you can tell him I already am. Might as well get some credit for what I've been doing these last four hours."
"He is the Lord of Death, Mage, not the Lord of Evil."
"Like I said, I already am." He took out something from his pocket and held it up in the light. It was a thick, fat index finger. He put it back. "I don't do what I do for evil. I do it for protection. Plus it looks really impressive."
"Then I ask another favor. Please come home. The Champion loves you."
Grim remembered Kalius' look in his eyes when he left him. They were full of pain and abandonment, the same look Stefan had given him a while ago. He looked down at his bag.
"He also defended you to Raina and Jack. He spoke of the technomancers and he is of the same agreement as you. You are not alone, Mage."
"Him, and Stefan, and Rusty. Jack was, but he has to defend them now. Why, I still don't know. Maybe even Mark."
"It is because of the children--"
He slammed his fist on the counter and yelled at her in English, "You know what? I'm sick and fucking tired of hearing about 'it's for the children'. If it was just Jack and Raina's babies, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But these fucking bastards have to stick their fucking noses in a god damn fetus! And Jack and Raina go running to them for help, when we could have figured it out ourselves. They're the ones that fucking started this shit! They're the enemy! We could have handled them. And we're now supposed to kowtow to them because they're involved? They're like the kids' uncles?" He grabbed his bag. "They promised they would be gone by the turn of the tide three days ago. They lied. AGAIN. And made things worse. AGAIN." He looked at her. "I won't play their stupid games and I sure won't play follow the leader to LeBeau." He started to walk out.
"What about Kalius, and Stefan? They need you."
He stopped. It was the first time she had called them by their names. He turned around slowly and could see pain in those sapphire eyes, they reminded him of Kalius and Stefan. He sighed. "Fine, I'll go back. But maybe you should call me Uriel."
Grim got rudely shaken awake by the boathand. "Yo. We're here."
Grim nodded, and picked up his bag and coat. He uncurled his wings that had been crushed underneath him - good thing they had no nerves attached to them except at the base - and stood up, stretching and yawning. He wove his way through the freight frigate's bowels to find his way topside. He nodded at the captain and took the gangplank to shore.
Sharkhead seemed pretty busy. He ignored the Scrapyarders, who gave him a double take with his black skin and blue wings. If they wanted to try anything with him, he was prepared. In fact, he wanted them to try something. He headed to the Chum Bucket, walked past it, to another nondescript corner building. He pushed his way inside and was assaulted by something that grabbed at his mind, attempting to yank it out of his skull. He had expected this, and put up defenses.
"Grimaulkin?" came a voice at the end of the room.
"You remembered."
"Nobody else is that creative with PVC pipe, duct tape, and human orafices." A tall, thin man came out from the back, and held out his hand. "How the hell are you?"
"Good, Petey." He shook his hand. "See you're still in business." He looked around the place.
"Meh, the usual. What're you looking for?" He walked back toward a counter with an old fashioned crank cash register.
"I need a place to stay for a couple of days. Maybe longer."
"Madame Purpur's bordello is still open. She loves you."
"She loved the customers Dysio brought in."
"Where is he, anyway?"
"Gone. Banished him."
Petey nodded. "Incubi kind of get annoying after a few months. That all you're looking for?"
"Does Joey still work at the city morgue?"
"Joey Sistek? Yeah, I think so. Been a couple of months since I've heard otherwise."
"Hm..."
"Looking for bones?"
"Yeah, I'm all out."
"Enough winos in the alley."
"In a pinch, I suppose. But they move around alot."
"You don't kill them?"
He said it so nonchalantly, and Grim realized what he had gotten himself back into. He found himself gulping nervously. He knew Petey noticed it. The old Grim wouldn't have thought twice about stabbing a wino through and taking all his fingers one by one. What the hell was he doing here?
Grim said, to cover up his discomfort, "I'd rather have them already dead. Less messy."
"Heh, pansy," Petey said. "Kill them at a distance." He held up his finger in the shape of a gun. "Pew, pew."
"Don't need a gun."
"Then go to town, man."
Grim chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Okay, see you later, then."
"Nice seeing you again. Stop in anytime."
Grim closed the door quietly and looked out at the blighted landscape of Sharkhead. Really...what the hell was he doing here? He told Kalius he wanted to be free, but he really didn't want to go back to what he was. He liked Havens. He loved the people there - except...
Jack and Raina had changed. The technomancers and all their machinations had changed them, and by force, changed them all. Grim had never felt such pure hate, that he would want to kill a man on sight, even against John he didn't feel this. John he could play with and tease. These technomancers...no. If he tried to do anything, they would come up with something to counteract him. And even as he fought them, Jack and Raina didn't want him to - for the sake of the babies.
He looked out at the alleyway and saw the wino there, passed out. "Fuckin' babies," he spat, and walked over to the man. He knelt down next to him as his rage coursed through him. Then he took a deep breath and focused that energy into a rune that he drew on the man's chest. It flared red, and disappeared into his clothes. The man suddenly started to gasp, and put his hands to his chest, pulling at his clothes. Grim waited for the heart to stop.
"Fuck your 17 words," Grim said, as he watched the man die. "I got runes."
Grim nodded, and picked up his bag and coat. He uncurled his wings that had been crushed underneath him - good thing they had no nerves attached to them except at the base - and stood up, stretching and yawning. He wove his way through the freight frigate's bowels to find his way topside. He nodded at the captain and took the gangplank to shore.
Sharkhead seemed pretty busy. He ignored the Scrapyarders, who gave him a double take with his black skin and blue wings. If they wanted to try anything with him, he was prepared. In fact, he wanted them to try something. He headed to the Chum Bucket, walked past it, to another nondescript corner building. He pushed his way inside and was assaulted by something that grabbed at his mind, attempting to yank it out of his skull. He had expected this, and put up defenses.
"Grimaulkin?" came a voice at the end of the room.
"You remembered."
"Nobody else is that creative with PVC pipe, duct tape, and human orafices." A tall, thin man came out from the back, and held out his hand. "How the hell are you?"
"Good, Petey." He shook his hand. "See you're still in business." He looked around the place.
"Meh, the usual. What're you looking for?" He walked back toward a counter with an old fashioned crank cash register.
"I need a place to stay for a couple of days. Maybe longer."
"Madame Purpur's bordello is still open. She loves you."
"She loved the customers Dysio brought in."
"Where is he, anyway?"
"Gone. Banished him."
Petey nodded. "Incubi kind of get annoying after a few months. That all you're looking for?"
"Does Joey still work at the city morgue?"
"Joey Sistek? Yeah, I think so. Been a couple of months since I've heard otherwise."
"Hm..."
"Looking for bones?"
"Yeah, I'm all out."
"Enough winos in the alley."
"In a pinch, I suppose. But they move around alot."
"You don't kill them?"
He said it so nonchalantly, and Grim realized what he had gotten himself back into. He found himself gulping nervously. He knew Petey noticed it. The old Grim wouldn't have thought twice about stabbing a wino through and taking all his fingers one by one. What the hell was he doing here?
Grim said, to cover up his discomfort, "I'd rather have them already dead. Less messy."
"Heh, pansy," Petey said. "Kill them at a distance." He held up his finger in the shape of a gun. "Pew, pew."
"Don't need a gun."
"Then go to town, man."
Grim chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Okay, see you later, then."
"Nice seeing you again. Stop in anytime."
Grim closed the door quietly and looked out at the blighted landscape of Sharkhead. Really...what the hell was he doing here? He told Kalius he wanted to be free, but he really didn't want to go back to what he was. He liked Havens. He loved the people there - except...
Jack and Raina had changed. The technomancers and all their machinations had changed them, and by force, changed them all. Grim had never felt such pure hate, that he would want to kill a man on sight, even against John he didn't feel this. John he could play with and tease. These technomancers...no. If he tried to do anything, they would come up with something to counteract him. And even as he fought them, Jack and Raina didn't want him to - for the sake of the babies.
He looked out at the alleyway and saw the wino there, passed out. "Fuckin' babies," he spat, and walked over to the man. He knelt down next to him as his rage coursed through him. Then he took a deep breath and focused that energy into a rune that he drew on the man's chest. It flared red, and disappeared into his clothes. The man suddenly started to gasp, and put his hands to his chest, pulling at his clothes. Grim waited for the heart to stop.
"Fuck your 17 words," Grim said, as he watched the man die. "I got runes."
Harmonia walked across the bridge that was over the dark moat full of skeletons and brackish black water. The castle was made of sheer granite, cold and uninviting. The portcullis was sharpened and she could see bits of flesh hanging off the points. Harmonia held down a shudder as she walked into the courtyard, which was miles long and surrounded by the walls of granite. In the courtyard stood all instruments of war, from simple swords to tanks in the distance. This was not the land of the dead, but it very well could be, with the moaning wind passing through, singing of the horrors of war.
She found her father in the simple garb of an Africaans infantry field soldier, complete with a Vektor R4 strung across his back. His red hair peeked out from under the black beret. He was studying a cannon, taking pieces of it off with his power and looking at what was underneath.
"Greetings, father," Harmonia said, and bowed.
"Greetings to you, dear daughter." He turned to her, his glowing red eyes focusing on her, even while the cannon separated itself. "What brings you here? Not that I don't wish to see you." He smiled at her, which could be considered by most to be not pleasant.
"I wish to speak to you about one of your champions."
"Oh? Enamoured by him, are you? Of course you have my permission to do what you will with him, so long as you don't distract him from his duty to me."
"Actually, no, father. It is Kalius of Thebes, the general from the Sacred Band."
"Oh, yes, the one who searched for his love and found him as undead. I remember him. He is to stop Romulus."
"You gave him a time period to do so. He failed, father."
"I thought his team was supposed to help him. I sent an envoy to make sure of that."
"They all failed, father."
He sighed. "Oh, well." He turned to the cannon again.
"Father, he asks that you give him another chance."
"I've spoken to my uncle once about him. It's up to him."
"Will you at least speak with him again?"
"Hades wants the souls that belong to him." Ares turned to Harmonia. "You don't know him like I know him, dear daughter. If there is something he wants, he gets it."
She raised her head. "Then I will speak with him."
Ares said sadly, "Do not deal with the Lord of the Dead, Harmonia. He hungers for what you have and will take it and more."
"I only wish to speak with him."
"You are like me, determined."
She smiled a little. "Like father, like daughter."
He lovingly reached out and tousled her hair. "Do not stay long in his realm, Harmonia, or you will be lost."
She stood up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I won't, father." She flapped her wings, and headed west.
As she flew west, the world grew darker. Most of the underworlds were located here, many different versions and many different cultures. The gates of Hades were built with living skeletons, screaming into the twilight. She passed through them easily and saw Cerberus, who saw her and roared, causing panic among the souls at his huge feet. She knew his chain only went so far, so she skirted as far away from him as she could and then entered the dark realm of the dead.
She could see the Elysian Fields as beautiful light in the darkness. Instead she turned from it and headed further down. As she did, her own light started to fade, and she felt heavier and heavier with despair. She fought it off, even as her own essence turned grey. She kept going further toward the center, where the despair and darkness was thickest. There stood another castle, similar to her father's, but cast in black marble. She flew into the sepulchre, and struggled to find her way through the labyrinth of halls to find her way to the gods.
"I see you, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite," came a booming voice all around her. She stopped, her wings fluttering. A man in full Grecian formal dress stepped out of the shadows, his eyes a glowing sickening green. His tunic swirled with darkness and spirits that clung to him. "Why do you come to my domain?"
"Uncle," she said, and went to her knees and prostrated herself at his sandaled feet. "I come to ask a favor."
"Many ask favors when they wish not to die."
She sat back on her knees. "Uncle, there is a man--"
"Kalius. I know of who you speak. When his time expires, the Reapers will retrieve him for me."
"No!" She grasped at the hem of his tunic.
"I have been denied his first lover. I have been denied his second lover. I will not be denied him."
"Give him more time, please!"
"What will you give me in return?" His voice seemed ominous. "I do nothing out of the goodness of my heart."
"What do you want?"
A dark chuckle escaped. "There is so much that I would want." He reached down and gently took her by the chin, lifting her up. "You look so much like your mother." He smiled, without any warmth behind it. "I want the Mage's service."
"The Mage has been spoken for, Uncle."
"His soul, not his service."
"He is not meant to be of the dark!"
"I see no reason that he cannot be both."
Harmonia gaped at him. "That's...impossible."
"Is it? Look at your champion, the man you are interceding for. He is not pure light, he is red as the blood he sheds for his patron. But he is a good man with a good soul. His soul will return to its proper place." He looked at her. "I am not evil, Harmonia, you know that. Otherwise, you would never have been able to come here. I am not of the Fallen."
"No, uncle, I know, but..."
"The darkness can be used for light. He has done it before. It's been done many times before, by others. It is not uncommon." He turned from Harmonia. "Have him serve me by using his dark powers for good, and I will wait for Kalius' soul."
"Uncle, that can't be done."
He walked away. "Anything can be done that is the will of God."
She found her father in the simple garb of an Africaans infantry field soldier, complete with a Vektor R4 strung across his back. His red hair peeked out from under the black beret. He was studying a cannon, taking pieces of it off with his power and looking at what was underneath.
"Greetings, father," Harmonia said, and bowed.
"Greetings to you, dear daughter." He turned to her, his glowing red eyes focusing on her, even while the cannon separated itself. "What brings you here? Not that I don't wish to see you." He smiled at her, which could be considered by most to be not pleasant.
"I wish to speak to you about one of your champions."
"Oh? Enamoured by him, are you? Of course you have my permission to do what you will with him, so long as you don't distract him from his duty to me."
"Actually, no, father. It is Kalius of Thebes, the general from the Sacred Band."
"Oh, yes, the one who searched for his love and found him as undead. I remember him. He is to stop Romulus."
"You gave him a time period to do so. He failed, father."
"I thought his team was supposed to help him. I sent an envoy to make sure of that."
"They all failed, father."
He sighed. "Oh, well." He turned to the cannon again.
"Father, he asks that you give him another chance."
"I've spoken to my uncle once about him. It's up to him."
"Will you at least speak with him again?"
"Hades wants the souls that belong to him." Ares turned to Harmonia. "You don't know him like I know him, dear daughter. If there is something he wants, he gets it."
She raised her head. "Then I will speak with him."
Ares said sadly, "Do not deal with the Lord of the Dead, Harmonia. He hungers for what you have and will take it and more."
"I only wish to speak with him."
"You are like me, determined."
She smiled a little. "Like father, like daughter."
He lovingly reached out and tousled her hair. "Do not stay long in his realm, Harmonia, or you will be lost."
She stood up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I won't, father." She flapped her wings, and headed west.
As she flew west, the world grew darker. Most of the underworlds were located here, many different versions and many different cultures. The gates of Hades were built with living skeletons, screaming into the twilight. She passed through them easily and saw Cerberus, who saw her and roared, causing panic among the souls at his huge feet. She knew his chain only went so far, so she skirted as far away from him as she could and then entered the dark realm of the dead.
She could see the Elysian Fields as beautiful light in the darkness. Instead she turned from it and headed further down. As she did, her own light started to fade, and she felt heavier and heavier with despair. She fought it off, even as her own essence turned grey. She kept going further toward the center, where the despair and darkness was thickest. There stood another castle, similar to her father's, but cast in black marble. She flew into the sepulchre, and struggled to find her way through the labyrinth of halls to find her way to the gods.
"I see you, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite," came a booming voice all around her. She stopped, her wings fluttering. A man in full Grecian formal dress stepped out of the shadows, his eyes a glowing sickening green. His tunic swirled with darkness and spirits that clung to him. "Why do you come to my domain?"
"Uncle," she said, and went to her knees and prostrated herself at his sandaled feet. "I come to ask a favor."
"Many ask favors when they wish not to die."
She sat back on her knees. "Uncle, there is a man--"
"Kalius. I know of who you speak. When his time expires, the Reapers will retrieve him for me."
"No!" She grasped at the hem of his tunic.
"I have been denied his first lover. I have been denied his second lover. I will not be denied him."
"Give him more time, please!"
"What will you give me in return?" His voice seemed ominous. "I do nothing out of the goodness of my heart."
"What do you want?"
A dark chuckle escaped. "There is so much that I would want." He reached down and gently took her by the chin, lifting her up. "You look so much like your mother." He smiled, without any warmth behind it. "I want the Mage's service."
"The Mage has been spoken for, Uncle."
"His soul, not his service."
"He is not meant to be of the dark!"
"I see no reason that he cannot be both."
Harmonia gaped at him. "That's...impossible."
"Is it? Look at your champion, the man you are interceding for. He is not pure light, he is red as the blood he sheds for his patron. But he is a good man with a good soul. His soul will return to its proper place." He looked at her. "I am not evil, Harmonia, you know that. Otherwise, you would never have been able to come here. I am not of the Fallen."
"No, uncle, I know, but..."
"The darkness can be used for light. He has done it before. It's been done many times before, by others. It is not uncommon." He turned from Harmonia. "Have him serve me by using his dark powers for good, and I will wait for Kalius' soul."
"Uncle, that can't be done."
He walked away. "Anything can be done that is the will of God."