[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/DLGhcA0.png[/img] [sub]The Learner, The Martial Dancer[/sub] & Hermes + Xiaoli [/center] [hr] Hermes stared down past the bump that had taken over her belly and at her feet. Reddish soil slowly rose up around them, and with a loud [i]shluk[/i] Hermes pulled one out, leaving a fine imprint of her sole. A few thoughts crossed her mind as she stood staring at the imprint, the brook she stood in rolling past her shins, clear and crystal. She stood outside the walls of the estate, in the very brook that convinced Xiaoli to settle; since then it had been renamed Chunshui in honor of its service as their home. The Dreamer’s quoll cloak hung on the branch of a tree nearby and her pants were rolled above her knee, she was here on a hunch. She leaned down and scooped up a handful of the clay and rolled it between her fingers. It was firm and silky, and stayed in the same position she left it -- for the most part. A few crumbles fell off the ribbon forming between her fingers and she frowned. Finally she decided to scoop up a larger handful, she turned and dumped it into a small stone pot for later. A few [i]shluk[/i]s later and she was out of the brook, only the very bottom of her pants dripping with water. She picked up the pot and her sandals with one arm and swung her cloak over her back with the other. The brown and white speckled garment fell to her calves and engulfed her shoulders in a warm fuzz, leaving a gentle smile on her face as she walked through the gates of the estate. There in the courtyard Arya danced to the tune of her own humming, reminiscent of the Palace’s song. The girl had her hair up in a loose ponytail, and as she spun, so too did her dress twinkle in the light of Heliopolis. Lady Xiaoli had done wonders fixing it for her, the blood had been the hardest to get out, but it looked good as new. She also wore the bell that Choppy had given her, now on her right wrist. It rang lightly as she moved her arms, but nothing answered its call. She danced with her eyes shut, having practiced to the point where she had grown comfortable with the courtyard’s surroundings. Her legs moved with uncanny grace as she moved in a rhythmic pattern, swaying like a leaf on a cool breeze. Occasionally she incorporated a fighting move, but whether it was intentional or not, was hard to determine. Hermes couldn’t help but smile at the girl, proud of how much she had grown and how quickly she had learned. She walked over to her workstation, which had grown considerably bigger since its days as a simple butcher table. She placed the pot on one of its three tables, under a reed shielded awning. She put her hands on her hips and turned to Arya, “What day is it?” Without pausing or even opening her eyes to disrupt the flow of her dance, Arya hummed. [color=ivory]”Kalmarsday...Maybe?”[/color] before doing a small twirling jump. “That’s tomorrow,” Hermes frowned slightly, “Today is Li’kallasday.” She pushed the pot onto the sunniest part of her table and looked over a paper stamped to the wood with a stone, the designs for a time telling creation drawn across crudely. She sighed, it was far from adequate. She rested a hand on her protruded belly and scoured her notes. “I’m certain the exalted creators will be more than satisfied with the days’ names.” Xiaoli came out of the family house with a basket of laundry. She strolled out through the gates momentarily, then almost as soon as she had exited, she came back with a steaming basket of freshly washed clothes. She carried it over to some lines of thread that she had tied between the roof of the family house and a nearby pole. She flipped the articles neatly over the threads, taking great care to avoid nasty folds and the like. “Hey,” Hermes looked away from her work and at the laundry with a slight disappointment, “Did you ever get the chance to wear that numbat shirt I made for you?” “O-oh,” Xiaoli cooed quietly. She turned and gave Hermes a forced smile. “Yes! I did, aaaaand… Well…” She cleared her throat and pulled a wet skirt out of the basket. “... It was very, uhm, soft! Very soft and, uhm… Open? Oh, yes, it would breathe well in the summer--” “You didn’t wear it,” Hermes stood up straight and put her fists on her hips. Xiaoli let out a sigh. “I’m sorry, dear - I wanted to try it on, but then it ended up in the bottom of the laundry pile by accident, and, well…” She fished the shirt out of the basket. The already amateurish attempt to make a shirt had seemingly not survived a divine wash - as such, it was a little ripped. Hermes’ face turned serious, her lips pursed into a line. Slowly the edges of her lips curled and she started to laugh, “It was so ugly, I was so embarrassed.” She laughed, “I didn't know if you’d actually try it on!” She cackled. “Oh, dear, don’t say that! It wasn’t ugly, it was…” She snapped her fingers looking for the right words. “... It was a valiant attempt!” She gave her a sheepish grin and swung the rags over the drying line. “I’ll see if I can mend it after it dries, okay?” Hermes face glew just a bit, “You’re wonderful.” She turned back to her work and then shook her head. Xiaoli blushed a little. “Oh, you flirt,” she snickered. She gave the workbench a quick stare. “Say, what’re you working on, dear?” “Well,” Hermes scrunched her nose in thought, “You know how I decided to break a day cycle into twenty-four segments? I’m trying to figure out a way to keep track of them during the day -- so if you wanted to know how many segments were left, you could know.” “Oh yeah, you’re working on your time management project again.” With a quiet ‘hup!’, Xiaoli lobbed a water-heavy pair of pants with adjustable midriff over the line. “What methods have you tried so far?” “Arya and I tried a controlled burning of some rope,” Hermes admitted, “But that was a mess.” She looked up to the sky, “Did I clean that up?” [color=ivory]”Yes.”[/color] Arya hummed again, [color=ivory]”But only after it got out of control.”[/color] she snickered. “Shh!” Hermes said through a smile she was trying to force away. Xiaoli let out a frustrated sigh. “Okay, where did you burn it?” “Outside the walls,” Hermes defended, “It was near the water, we’re just missing a few patches of moss is all.” [color=ivory]’That and some sweetgrass. It smells really good when you burn it at first. Then not so much.”[/color] Arya giggled. Hermes shot Arya a betrayed look, then looked at Xiaoli, “There’s not much else I can do with -- well,” She put a hand on her stomach, “Not much besides tinker and think. Oh! Do you think we could melt ice really slowly?” She looked at her notes and frowned, “No, that’s stupid. Especially during Lustrousitime.” Her finger on a marker for the season of spring. Xiaoli took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “Alright, uhm… What are you basing your time on? You said they fell into twenty-four segments, but what are these based on?” Hermes blinked and looked up from her papers, her eyes slightly pink with fatigue, “The movements of Heliopolis -- what if I used shadows? Oh but then what about night-time.” Xiaoli shrugged. “I mean… Most people will be sleeping at night, won’t they?” She lobbed the last article of clothing over the line and strolled over to the workbench. She put a warm hand on Hermes shoulder and stared in marvel at her work. “You are so diligent, you know that?” “That’s true,” Hermes put a hand over Xiaoli’s fingers, smiling, “Thank you.” She turned to Xiaoli, “Well keep the center of the courtyard clear, maybe I can try and build a shadow-thingy or something there, that’s where Heliopolis is strongest.” Xiaoli’s eyes went wide. “O-over my mural?” She took a gander at the stone carving of the eastern hemisphere that she sculpted in such detail and her face contorted into a pout. “Oh,” Hermes blinked twice, “Of course not.” She smiled, “I’ll find the perfect place for it, don’t worry.” Xiaoli’s pout remained for a moment. “... I certainly hope so,” she mumbled sourly. She looked around the courtyard. “Ideally, it should face the south and receive influence from both the east and west, yes?” “Yes,” Hermes nodded, “Maybe outside the southern gate? We can make a dias for it --er when I have an actual design in mind.” Xiaoli gave her a sly grin. “Just tell me if you’d like some help with the drawings.” She ran her eyes over Hermes’ notes and let out a gentle chuckle. “Your writing is improving by the day, dear.” She picked up a stray paper and inspected it. “You might be ready for calligraphy soon.” “You think so?” Hermes looked at her with a certain joy in her eyes. Xiaoli nodded encouragingly. “Yeah! Your strokes grow prettier and prettier - how’s you speed? Write a sentence for me.” “Speed is my specialty,” Hermes mused, dipping a stray brush and quickly --albeit clumsily-- jotted down some of her observations about the clay on a stray piece of paper. Xiaoli winced ever so slightly, but made great efforts to give Hermes a broad smile. “Wonderful, Hermes! Just…” She hummed curtly. “... Just slow down a little on the horizontal strokes so they don’t accidentally cross over the vertical strokes, okay?” She gave her a peck on the scalp. “Oh,” Hermes cocked her head as she looked at the characters, “I'll try.” She turned to Xiaoli and grinned. “I hope I’m not intruding,” A grainy voice suddenly swirled. Hermes twisted as quickly as she could manage, “K’nell!” The gentleman stood under the gateway, arms crossed behind his back and a buzzing smile on his face. Arya snapped her eyes open immediately at the sound of K’nell’s voice, twirling to a stop as she stared at the god for the first time in person. She cocked her head, a smile forming in her eyes, then lifted off the ground and flew towards him, arms outstretched, saying. [color=ivory]”Oh K’nell!”[/color] There was a soft ‘oof’ as Arya’s hug connected and the Gentleman gave her two tiny taps on the back, “There there.” Xiaoli froze up, spun on her heel and fell to her knees and hands the blink of an eye. “Your Holiness K’nell! Such a honour to receive a visit from Your holy presence.” “Yes,” K'nell gave a respectful grin, his eyes flickering, “Your home is quite the sight, Xiaoli.” His eyes fell on Hermes’ belly, and then her muddy legs, “Ah, I do hope your taking care, dear. It is quite the burden you carry.” “I am!” Hermes smiled and put her hand on her stomach, “To what do we owe the honor of your presence?” “A thought,” K'nell began to walk towards the two, motioning for Arya to follow him. “In light of some thinking, I've decided on two things: first to bless your home, and second to bless your guest.” “My, Your Holiness,” Xiaoli said with a giggle. “Your sacred protection and permission for us to settle here are already blessings beyond what we could ever repay. What more could we possibly deserve?” K'nell looked at the kowtowing girl, “Rise, Xiaoli -- The blessing is already done. It stands just for you all to witness it, so that perhaps in the future, its physical presence will remind even the simplest of animals of the first two blessings bestowed.” Xiaoli first sat up on her calves, then slowly rose to her feet. She looked discreetly around for the blessing the god had mentioned. But when she saw none, a gentle curl too the God's face. “Walk with me, my dears,” K'nell charmed, “ It's just outside the gate.” The God turned on his heel and began to walk away. Hermes looked at Xiaoli and took her hand, following the God from behind. Arya let out an ‘ooo’ as she floated leisurely around K’nell, her long dress flowing behind her. The girl’s mind was abuzz with whatever blessing K’nell would bestow upon her. Did she even deserve one, she wondered? Xiaoli squeezed Hermes’ hand and took a deep breath as she was pulled along. Just outside the gate, the God stopped and turned. There standing guard over the opening was two obelisks, each just a few feet taller than the women. One stood a solid black like the platform of Limbo while the other was an alabaster white similar to Hermes birth colors. The God waved a hand, “One will mark all who live or are invited into your home,” He pointed to the white obelisk, “It will not be a physical mark, but a mark for my weavers. They will know to give them only their best dreams.” His eyes glanced over Xiaoli, “Even to those who find trouble dreaming.” Xiaoli blinked and looked away flustered. Before anyone could speak, he introduced the glossy black obelisk, “And here I house another gift for you. I have instructed one of Tendlepog’s nightmares to enter this stone. As such this obelisk will stand guardian over your home, and should anyone enter uninvited or else cause harm to this estate, out will emerge my own retribution in the form of that nightmare.” He folded his hands behind his back and turned to the women, “It is with a certain joy that I present these to you: a sort of token of our original agreements and relationship.” Xiaoli could not help but once again fall to her knees and hands. “Your Holiness’ graciousness and generosity is truly divine in nature. These gifts will be treasured immensely.” She permitted herself to look up at K’nell with misty eyes. “... If-if it’s not too rude, this servant would like to express its most sincere gratitude for the alabaster obelisk… This servant looks forward to seeing the Palace.” “Ah!” K'nell seemed to have forgotten something, “Which reminds me, implication of the obelisk aside: you are cordially invited to the ballroom of the Palace.” “A b-ball?” Xiaoli said with blinking eyes, Hermes putting her hands on her shoulder with a gleeful smile. “B-but I can’t--...” She turned to Hermes desperately. “My dear, I cannot dance as well as you yet!” Hermes let her hand fall into one of Xiaoli’s, “I had no idea what I was doing the first time, at least you’ve danced before. Besides, you have me, too.” “After all,” A cheshire grin grew on K’nell’s face, “A slip here and there is well worth the prize of--” He looked at the pair, “You’ll have to excuse me, I am getting ahead of myself.” He turned to Arya, “But let us not forget my second promise today.” He held out his hand, palm up. Arya paused from her viewing of the beautiful obelisks, and turned to K’nell with wide eyes. She looked at his hand curiously, then without hesitating and with grace, the girl placed her much smaller hand within his own, then looked up at K’nell. “There is a choice to be made,” K’nell said, “You have spent much time learning in the palace, under me as my ward. It is now for you to decide if you wished to be marked as such, and blessed with my protection beyond what you have already acquired. Should you agree, I shall tap the back of your hand, and a mark similar to Hermes’ shall appear, letting the world know who looks after your well being and turning away the wisest of antagonists. Should an antagonist not stirr, and should they distress you, they will be marked with nightmares until forgiven. Do you accept this blessing, my dear, shall you become one of my wards on Galbar?” A few tears began to fall from Arya’s eyes as she listened to the proposal. She thought on it for but a moment before saying, [color=ivory]”I’d love nothing more… to be…”[/color] she choked on her words but began to nod. K’nell gave a simple tap on the back of her hand and a spiral twirled about her skin, centered with a purple dot. K’nell let her hand fall back to her side, “Then you are, and you shall always have a home on Tendlepog and in the Palace.” Wide eyes gazed upon the new mark, it was beautiful as ever. She looked back up at K’nell before hugging him again as she said, [color=ivory]”Thank you thank you thank you!”[/color] It meant more to her then perhaps any of them knew, but to finally have a home, was simply bliss. K’nell gave her a few pats on the back, a gentle smile on his face, “Very good, dear, very good.” [hider=Summary] Yuh so Hermes is showing and she is checking out what clay is before she decides to go back to her workshop to work on time. Arya is dancing and humming all happy like in her new dress. Hermes gives her a little quiz, having started a calendar. Xiaoli pops up and starts doing laundry. They share a chat about time and settle on making a sundial. K’nell appears and blesses everythang. He gives the estate two obelisks, one to protect the home, one to grant the best dreams to everyone in the home, even Xiaoli. He then makes Arya one of his wards, blessing her with his protection and mark [/hider] [hider=might] K’nell, starting: 3MP 8FP 1mp discounted to 0mp on the obelisk of dreams (monument) 2 fp spent on blessing Arya: she is now under the ward of K’nell and should anyone distress her, they will be cursed with nightmares until forgiven (⅘ nightmares) 1mp discounted to 0mp spent on instructing nightmare to hole up in the stone obelisk Ending 3mp, 6fp [/hider] [hider=Prestigio] Hermes: The Martial Artist, The Scholar, The Dancer, The Mother, The Quick 3+28=31 -2 for title: The Quick 29 remaining Arya: The Learner, The Martial Dancer +13 Prestige Starting +1 For Minor Role +1 For Major Role +1 For Jolly Collaboration = +16 Prestige Ending [hider=Skills/Abilities Learned] +6 Prestige on Fighting +6 Prestige on Dancing +6 Prestige on Martial Dancing. +1FP for flight. +2FP for ‘evil eyes’ ability. Causes nightmares to those that distress Arya. [/hider] [/hider] [hider=The Hermian Calendar (So far)] Time: 24 hour increments, undefined -- no time telling method yet. Seconds, minutes and hours. The (9) days of the week: K’nellsday, Li’Kallasday, Kalmarsday, Narzhaksday, Shengshisday, Ashallasday, Abanocsday, Eursythenesday and Araesday Shorthand: K’nellsday, Li’sday, Kalsday, Narzday, Shengsday, Ashasday, Abasday, Eurysday, Araesday The four seasons of Urhu: Winter(Veradaxitime) , Spring (Lustrousitime), Summer (Heliopolitime), Autumn (Pyritime). Names are a WIP, no actual equinoxes yet or markers A year: Ill-defined without equinoxes, but determined to be after a single cycle of the seasons. No current marker Hermes has yet to define a month, as she is still studying the sky. The days are named after the gods she encountered on her first journey around the world. [/hider]