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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 17, 2022 19:40:57 GMT
To the Abyssal Father, the Nuns do not appear to be more than usually strict. Not actually cruel. He'll agree that the environment isn't suitable for a young girl who isn't demented from the Logrus, though...
However, he doesn't want to dismiss Cody's concern out of hand.
It is only proper that a cat, no matter how feral, would note an act of kindness. So he pads over to Dionisia and butts his head on her shin and purrs in thanks.
He could expect to be kicked by a Nun, but he's willing to risk that to observe how they treat Dionisia if she pets him.
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Post by Dionisia on Oct 17, 2022 19:52:31 GMT
Seeing the cat pat over she smiles and pets it carefully. Though her eyes then watch around in great concern.
" You should not be here. Sister of enforced Repentance does not appreciate animals in the convent or the courtyard." She sighs of course a cat would not understand her.
She takes another bit of dried meat and tosses it away towards the wall of the courtyard hoping the cat would go after it.
"Tossing vermin food, girl?"
With that voice Dio cringes and lowers her head as low as she can.
A sturdy looking nun with a whip which nearly seems to move on its own walks towards her. Dio quickly looks if the cat had taken the hint and went after the food.
SHe then lowers herself to the ground "I am sorry sister, i saw a stray cat and wanted to make it go away by tossing food towards the wall. "
The sister looks at where she tossed the food and with a speedy step she is before Dio striking her face hard.
"Stupid! more will come now, because you fed one cat. Idiotic girl. No wonder noone collected you yet." With every other word she strikes Dio.
The sister then turns to walk away. Only after a few paces to turn back flick her whip to Dio which coils around her neck.
"Time for another lesson girl." Dio is dragged behind the sister and she tries her best to keep up while stubmling on her feet.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 17, 2022 20:46:17 GMT
The Abyssal Father is uncertain of his next actions. He looks between Dionisia and the morsel she threw.
Seeing Nun approach with the seemingly self animated whip at hand he decides that it is best that he not allow his true identity to be discovered if he is captured.
He arches his back, hisses and spits, then bolts away: Hopefully beyond the reach of the whip.
By the rubbish pile he jumps up and from his position upon the wall he turns back to witness the unusually harsh beating the Nun metes out upon Dionisia.
The physical wounds can be shifted away...
Not easily, though, if she is being deprived of proper nutrition.
But the the Psychic wounds and scars may never be erased.
TBC.....
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 18, 2022 15:47:01 GMT
Abyssal Father, in cat form, slinked away to the edge of the Convent Ways where he shifted to his winged form and took flight back to the Sheltering Coils Temple where he is greeted by and anxiously awaiting Cody.
Abyssal Father didn't stop to shift away his wings or sanctify himself. Striding into the Temple he stopped before the alter on which stands the ornately carved statue of the Chaos Serpent. Its coils wrapped around various beings. "We first must both atone. Your request and my action have both lead to more suffering."
Abyssal Father, on hands and knees, removed his habit and retrieved a dagger from the alter. Only then shifting away his wings to fully expose his back. "Thirteen slashes."
Cody, with shaking hands and tears streaming down his face received the dagger from the Abyssal Father and slashed it across the older mans back.
Then he removed his own habit and took to his knees so the Abyssal Father could do the same to him in return.
With a stern look, the Abyssal Father said, "Do not shift these wounds away. We will fast thirteen turnings."
Standing, they both pulled their habits back on and returned to the Temple entrance and sanctified themselves properly and moved to the Abyssal Father's office. In there the Abyssal Father told Cody what had transpired at the Sisters of enforced Repentance Convent.
"We atone for your action of telling me of the poor girl's plight and my own action of causing her to receive another totally unnecessary punishment. For that, we both must share her pain and suffering. For interfering in her life."
"I would willingly take on all the pain and suffering if it would protect my friend. But without affecting any change in her suffering, out pain is a senseless waste."
"It is not at all a waste to reinforce your empathy. To know a real piece of someone else's pain and suffering. But also to know a bit of their strength and resilience for continuing to persevere."
"This doesn't mean that the matter is finished either. I, with you, will go to the Diocese and plead her case. Be warned that nothing may change. Or it may cause her situation to become worse for interfering in something we don't fully know or understand."
"Walk with me now and we will go plead on her behalf."
Together, Cody and the Abyssal Father walked to the Sanctum Serpentine Diocese and begged counsel.
Cody spoke first and the Abyssal Father bore witness to confirm that he perceived Dionisia's treatment to be abusive and unjust.
It appeared that the process was going well as they were passed on to higher authorities to restate Dionisia's case.
<OOC> In return: What, if anything, would they learn of Dionisia's internment? Why has she 'not been collected'?</OOC>
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 19, 2022 16:38:14 GMT
Cody and the Abyssal Father were passed through the upper and back down through the lower levels of the bureaucracy at the Diocese without actually getting anywhere. Everyone they spoke with was grim faced and sympathetic to their cause but offered no information or help. The one lesser demon that was assigned to guide them through the labyrinthine halls was the most helpful by simply summing up the situation.
"If yer little waifish friend iz Lord Suhuy's ward, az ye sez bein' tutor'd by 'im an' all, then ye best not be messing around in 'is bizz'ness. The Logrus izzelf will reach out an' smite ye iffen ye chooze to innerfere."
More than a turning passes as they worked their way through the ranks and are eventually passed over to the Prioress and the bureaucracy that oversees the Abbeys and Convents. Funneled down to the hall of records they were finally informed that, "You have been misinformed as there is no such person, living or dead, by that name or description currently residing in any Convent within the precincts of the Courts of Chaos. If there is no record, she simply does not exist."
With that last pronouncement the pair were escorted out.
It is a soul crushing experience. Coming to the unspoken understanding that they were not to interfere. Any action could lead to serious repercussions and more harm to Dionisia.
Both the Abyssal Father and Cody wept for a time before returning to DaggerWays.
{Unbeknownst to Cody and the Abyssal Father, word did reach the Sisters of Enforced Repentance Convent. The Edict: No beatings were to be conducted outdoors or in front of any Lay witnesses. For a time, the punishments got worse in private but the sum total of the punishments lessened after that. Things improved, if ever so slightly, for Dionisia.}
{Cody learned of the Soul Candles as Abyssal Father had described the scene of Dionisia working the fatty tissues in the Courtyard that day as she made them. As repentance and possibly a benediction to Dionisia, Cody donated tissues of his own with the hope that they may pass through Dionisia's delicate hands.}
{Cody passes by the Convent as frequently as he can as he goes about the Courts to collect alms. Always hopeful that he may see Dionisia. Being careful to avoid the eyes of the other sisters, he will try to catch her eye and give her a covert smile.}
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Post by Dionisia on Oct 19, 2022 19:25:19 GMT
All off a sudden Dio does not fully understand why she has been kept inside more. SHe was not allowed anylonger to do her chores in the yard or the gardens. But was just kept in the temple or the craft halls.
It was a while later that Dio was allowed again to step outside the walls. Still kept under a watchful eye. But often those spare moments outside she caught the eyes of someone. Someone she knows.
She does not smile that would be noticed by the nuns. But she does make eyecontact.
One time when a known poor soul came begging for alms Dio was told to give some. They always have good near their door for giving away to the poor.
Seeing the familiar face. That smile that gave Dio hope everytime. She gave a package of goods. With a slight touch of her fingers to his hand she dropped a small piece of fabric in the basket as well. A handkerchief perhaps? In it a small lock of her white hair and a few drops of her blood.
It might seem odd items. But Dio hopes that in her lessons of shapeshifting she had made clear enough that organic matter from the original holds power.
THe moment does not take long and from Dio her side no words have been spoken. A brief moment of eye contact, a soft smile and a brief touch of skin.
It is enough for Dio to keep her going for a long while.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 19, 2022 19:42:29 GMT
To keep up appearances Cody accepts the alms, "Blessings, Sister."
<OOC> Nothing is odd in Chaos. </OOC>
Cody walks away with tears in his eyes. Momentarily thinking that Dionisia has forgotten him. Then he inspects the alms received and is shocked to find the cloth containing the lock of hair and drops of blood.
His heart soars.
Only wishing that he could turn back, embrace her and share his blood and a lock of his own hair with her.
Or, perhaps she has divined his tissue donation and keeps a soul candle for herself, he prays.
He binds her gift into a locket he makes from the malleable metals he finds in the Abyss. To keep it near his heart.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 20, 2022 15:43:09 GMT
Gravity is expensive. You need a lot of mass or a particular amount of angular momentum and they both require a lot of energy to maintain.
Station Three uses both types. The cheaper sort of gravity is maintained on the assorted rings and pods that rotate around the central hub. The more expensive gravity was an extravagance that is only deployed on a small scale at either end of the central axis. The Command Pod at one end of Station Three and Pinnacle at the other. They both use mass-gens to create gravity. Standing in the Command Pod, Pinnacle is down, and vise versa.
Station Three was built from a central hub that became the axis. Then they built "up" to a ring. Then the hub was extended "up" along the axis and extended "up" to a trio of balanced pods. Then "up" again to terminate at the Command Pod. Then they extended the axis a long way "down" with cargo bays and landing bays. Then built "up" to more rings and pods.
Construction continued and more rings and pods were added and the whole Station grew. They terminated the other end of the axis hub with another large pod. This one, at the opposite end from the Command Pod they ironically named Pinnacle (The top being at the bottom).
There's also a funny way of gauging up from down on Station Three. If you are in one place, "Up" is determined by the relative gravity in that location. But you climb up the ladder to go down to the central axis then turn around to continue climbing down to get back to another part of "Up". So residents on Station Three will be understood when they say they're going "Up to down," or vise versa. It's verb-nouning.
But all of this is neither here nor there...
=====
Pinnacle is busy with more people arriving. As Dionisia floats through the corridor she begins to feel the tug of gravity. There are chevrons on the ceiling, walls and floor to indicate which way is up and conveniently located handrails to assist her to properly orient herself as she approaches the ramps that lead 'up' into Pinnacle. Placing her feet on the floor she begins to feel her whole mass. Gravity increases to ~normal~ as she begins to walk forward and up.
At the top of the ramp she sees a transparent dome overhead revealing an expanse of inky blackness that is riotously filled with specs of light. All the specs are of various brightnesses and colours. To one side there is an exceedingly large brightness that appears to be dimmed and filtered so as to not be overwhelming. Not quite opposite are a pair of orbs that are variously green and blue, somewhat conjoined.
Around you are dozens of tables and chairs filled with many people, mostly humanoid. In the center of the room is a circular stage.
There is a group on the stage enthusiastically performing loud and lively music.
As Dionisia walks between the tables several people invite her to join them. There aren't very many seats available but she is welcomed to sit at any of the few there are.
Closer to the stage, the area has been cleared of tables and chairs and the floor covering transitions from soft and plush fabric to a hard polished surface. Many people are dancing there.
A performer transitions from playing a flute to singing in a voice you immediately recognise, "Happy, and I'm smiling Flying parsecs to drink your water. You know that I love you. And above you there's no other. Let's go walking out. While others shout. Towards disaster. Oh, no we won't give it. Let's go living - in the past."
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Post by Dionisia on Oct 20, 2022 17:36:02 GMT
Dio is cautious, she does feel differently then when she visits a dream. And this place was wild.
But it was clear she was pulled into a direction. So she follows.
Watching her surroundings the people the building.
Until she arrives at the place of music.
Sitting she focusses on the stage and the music.
Recognizing the voice her heart flutters.
A big smile appears on her face.
She mutters a soft "If only we could."
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 20, 2022 20:44:58 GMT
Cody notices a white haired waif enter the Pinnacle and take a seat as he sings. His heart skips a beat but musically he manages to finish the song. He's never seen this girl in Station before but there's a memory of a different time and place that tickles his mind.
Over the applause he thanks the audience. "On behalf of the band, thank you. The next set will be performed by the D-Ring Quartet in just a moment."
The house lights come up as the band shuffles their equipment into a hatch and hop off the side of the stage.
As Cody's memory sidifies he grabs the hands of a couple of his bandmates and drags them across the dance floor towards Dionisia's table.
There's softer filler music playing while the other band takes the stage and set up their equipment.
Cody drops the hands of the other two band mates and gently but firmly pulls Dionisiato her feet and wraps his arms around her in a warm embrace. "I am so happy to see you!"
He wishes that he had something more poetic and eloquent to say as his mind chases shadows as he tries to make sense of things. Strangeness is a part of his life and so he just accepts the situation so that he can enjoy the moment.
"Jess. Cam. This is my beloved friend Dionisia."
"Dionisia. These are my creche-mates. Jessup and Cameron."
Jessup has all the same cybernetic ports as Cody but she's completely bald. You notice that most of the women keep their hair very short or completely shaved. Inversely, the men all have long hair. Some braided or kept in some exotic fashion.
Cameron only has a pair of wrist ports.
The other people at the table politely excuse themselves to make room.
Suddenly a cat-like creature dropped from the ceiling and plops onto the table.
Cody bursts out laughing and says "And this is Tch-Tch."
- Creature: Tch-Tch [The best way to describe Tch-Tch is a Lynx with six legs. It's fur is chameleon-like that it can phosphoresce and change colour. It's toes are equipped with both retractable claws and suction cups that allow it to climb vertical surfaces and cling to the ceiling. Cute, but also an efficient predator. A sort of indestructible furry space Tardigrade.]
Dionisia's mind is tickled with the purring sound. ~"Happy to meet you Dionisia."~
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Post by Dionisia on Oct 21, 2022 7:34:43 GMT
Dio joins in on the applause thoroughly having enjoyed the music.
Being pulled to her feet she still looks a bit confused or dazed. But she smiles a happy smile nonetheless seeing her friend.
She wraps her arms around him.
Not wanting to ruin the moment she keeps silent and just enjoys the embrace.
Reluctant she lets go. Seeing the others she smiles and nods.
Feeling the mental tingle of the purr of Tch Tch she smiles and inclines her head to the creature.
She then turns to Cody and speaks soft as if she whispers to a soapbubble afraid it will burst.
"It is so lovely to see you again you have been on my mind daily. "
Her long fingers carress his cheek.
"You have become my face of hope."
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 21, 2022 14:57:54 GMT
The D-Ring Quartet begins to play something almost frantic on their oversized stringed instruments. Plucking and bowing the strings and tapping and thumping the bodies of the instruments arrhythmically. Chaotically. But somewhere in the cacophony a melody emerges in the silence between the sounds. It's like an anti-music that they are playing. A much younger group of dancers take the floor. Cody's hand moves to his neck and you notice that he touches a locket that hangs on a short chain around his neck. The fine metal chain is blackish gold. (Or goldish black, depending on the light.) The locket is clear crystal and you can see the lock of hair has been woven around the small bit of blood-soaked fabric into a neat little bundle. Pit-Gold: This is a blackish-gold metal spat out by the Pit. Though indestructible like all Pit-forged items, it is malleable and can be made into coins. The material is impossible to adequately forge and cannot be found in Shadow, making it an ideal form of currency. Typically only the wealthy possess any Pit-gold. Pulp Chaos!"I made this, to keep your gift safe."Jessup takes Dionisia's arm, "C'mon, let's give our guest the tour."Cody gestures, "Well, to start with, we are in Pinnacle... Pointing above to the clear dome overhead he tells Dionisia about the view and Station. Station is just leaving the near proximity to a binary planet. The two planets, Nereus and Doris, share an atmosphere. He tells her of the Puffers, which are gigantic Tetraodontiformes fishes that can puff up like balloons and float out of the atmosphere. They naturally migrate between the two planets in the rarefied atmosphere between them, and sometimes beyond, to spawn. Their large fins are super black on one side and mirror like on the other that act as both wind and solar sails. The people of Nereus and Doris have domesticated the Tetraodontiformes and fill their ballast bladders with cargo instead of rocks and water so that they can move between the two planets. A large shipment of sea food had just been brought up to Station with the herd of Puffers. Then they were loaded up with Triticale wheat for their return trip to Nereus and Doris. 'N-D' for short. Cody rambled along: Station is in retrograde orbit around Ra. Instead of following or chasing the other planets, we intercept and pass them (Or vice versa?) to facilitate trade between them. The system is possible because all the Imperial Planets orbit nearly on the same orbital plane within the Goldielocks zone. Every couple of months we intercept the next planet in the orbital plane where we can offload/load cargo. I should also mention that there are three other stations. We all call our own station, 'Station' but our station is number three. Only One would call itself 'One' and nobody likes to think of themselves as anything but number one, so we just call it 'Station'. Jessup says, "Boring. Boring! Let's look at something else." With her free hand she slaps Cody on the behind. Cody picks Tch-Tch up off the table and lifts it to perch on his shoulder. Tch-Tch purx ~Let's fly~ ====== Dionisia is strapped into a snug bucket seat. She's in the pilot seat of a Flux Trainer. Ankles, wrists, base of spine, top of spine and temples are connected into the cybernetic AI of the machine. She can sense (Sight, smell, taste, hear and feel.) all of the space surrounding the small vessel as well as the Pilots of the other two Flux Trainers that flank her's. Tch-Tch is in a small nook behind Dionisia's head. It nuzzles her neck and radiates calm. Purxing ~We slip into Flux now. Fly like a bird on the wing. Relax and enjoy. Girls are naturally better pilots than boys. You have natural instinct. Trust it.~ Dionisia can feel the Flux Trainer connected to her nervous system. Wiggling a finger is like flexing a pinion feather at the tip of her wing. Not exactly, but the sensations are in alignment... Cody's vessel is to port and Jessup is starboard. "Alright Dio, just follow the buoys. Rat and I will follow and keep an eye on you. Once you get to the end of the path Flux will be wide open and you can let 'er rip!" A row of light beacons appear in front of her vessel. Jess calls Cody 'Rat'? Cameron's voice sounds in her head, "Beacons are lit. Trio are cleared to go. Have fun Dionisia. enjoy the ride, Angel." Cam called Dionisia 'Angel'? "Check." "Check."
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Post by Dionisia on Oct 22, 2022 9:02:16 GMT
This is quite something Dio follows and is amazed by all she sees, feels, hears and experiences.
Following instructions closely she just enjoys the full ride.
It is very strange being called different and that Cody is referred to in a different name.
Perhaps this is an illusion, perhaps a dream.
It does not matter for Dio she just enjoys and mostly enjoys spending time with Cody.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Oct 22, 2022 17:51:02 GMT
White hair, brilliant blue eyes and alabaster skin, usually wrapped in a white gown; Dionisia has never been called an Angel before?
The three Flux Trainers swoop and glide through a multitude of colours in the ethereal space flux between the stars doing barrel rolls and loop-d-loops. Passing within microns of each other and other objects. Through the cybernetic connections you can feel the space flux.
Wispy serpentine creatures emerge from gossamer caves that open out of vapourous canyon walls.
Tch-Tch purx ~Dragons~
In Dionisia's mind she ~hears~ Cody and Jessup greet and be greeted by the Dragons.
~This is Dionisia ~
The Dragons all greet her as they flit and fly along with the Flux Trainers. Having new ~ears~ to talk to they are eager to fill her head with all the local dragon gossip and politics. The chatter is warn and amusing.
=====
When the novelty begins to wear off, Dionisia is suddenly transported Green-Side.
It's a small grassy meadow filled with an assortment of wildflowers and surrounded by bushes and trees. In the distance she can see an old mansion on top of a hill. People on strange machines fly around the place.
"I had a strange dream where I met a young girl under the sea. It felt very real. When I saw you come in to Pinnacle I knew I was, am, dreaming now. It feels the same way. I like to dream of my life before. Live in my memories for a while. So I want to share these happy memories with you."
Tch-Tch rubs against their legs as they stand in the meadow. Jessup and Cameron are no longer with them. A woman with short black hair, ivory complexion and very blue eyes strides towards them, smiling brilliantly.
"Cody, aren't you going to introduce your new friend?" She says in a strong and commanding voice. You can sense a warm compassion hidden in the request.
"Of course. Dionisia, this is my Mother. M-unit I'd like you to meet. Emotionally choaking a bit, Cody softly inserts, "Wish you could meet..."
"Dionisia."
Dionisia notices that the women is carrying three crash helmets and all three of you are now wearing flight suits.
"My little Pack-Rat scavenges all sorts of trash and treasures. He repairs Them or makes new things, like these Broomsticks. She tossles Cody's hair and gestures to a pair of odd looking machines that, in another Shadow, look like chopper motorcycles with stubby swept-back wings and jet thrusters. She hands Dionisia and Cody crash helmets and dons the third.
Then she straddles one of the Broomsticks and gestures to the other. "Hop on"
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Post by Dionisia on Oct 22, 2022 18:36:44 GMT
Dragons. This is such an eventful dream she enjoys every moment.
Then at the meadow when Cody tells her of this being a dream and reliving beautiful moments of his life. She smiles and takes his hand.
"Thank you for sharing this with me. Besides you as a person giving me a ray of hope you even share these beautiful and personal moments with me."
Seeing the beautiful woman appear she smiles seeing the resemblance between the two. She politly inclines her head.
"Lovely to meet you, i can see where Cody has his beauty and lovely personality from"
Seeing the flying contraptions Dio is curious and smiles at Cody.
"Shall we?" Already accepting a helmet
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