Of Wells And Cages (Aneira, Goss pls)

[Aselia Timandre]

Location: Kova’s Wishing Well Timestamp: 5th day of Spring, 510 AV ater. Syliras was a human city, built on firm ground and out of stone and clay and steel, but Aselia found that she was magically drawn to all the wet spots within its walls. A few days ago she had visited the local bath and massage location which had been a rather pleasant experience, and now she happened to come across a well on her stroll. As she tried to peek into its maw, her white silken hair fell over her shoulders and Linel, her magpie companion, fluttered his wings. He disliked when those pale strands came into his way, so he simply ascended to the massive frame that was part of the well and continued observing the Konti from there. In the meantime Aselia had caught sight of the glittering coins at the ground and realized that it probably wasn’t a good idea to drink from the water. Everything that wasn’t vision water tasted somewhat stale anyway … She remembered tales she had heard, tales about a well that was haunted by the ghost of a beautiful white woman. Maybe a Konti? She had also heard that it was common to toss in a coin and make a wish and sometimes the well changed the tosser’s life. Kova’s Wishing Well they called it. The rumors she recalled got her to thinking. What was it that she wanted out of life? Sure, Konti definitely lived longer than humans, but that didn’t mean that decisions were easier for them. In fact, it was common for Konti to change professions as they saw fit. Some possessed a wide knowledge base and enjoyed dwelling on multiple subjects while others were dedicated to a single craft or skill to become professional. Aselia’s sister Kamalia was a mage, a reimancer, although magic often did odd things to her. Aselia didn’t quite understand Kamalia’s motivation, but she quite admired her for her self-confidence – a term Aselia herself wasn’t too familiar with. Sure, she liked birds, liked water and the slight edge of coordinating communal projects. Eventually she leaned casually against the stone, facing the little square the well was located at and looking up at the sky. What did the gods have in store for her? It would be too nice to get an answer just for a single miza. But then, things such as friendship and the future couldn’t be bought. That the Konti probably knew better than others. Aselia was hesitant and while she thought about it, a low hum escaped her lips that soon transformed into a song she had once heard and now recalled. A sweet, crystal clear voice carried the melody over the square and into the surrounding allies. “I’ve been looking for a savior in these dirty streets Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets I’ve been raising up my hands Drive another nail in Just what the gods need One more victim Got a kick for a dog beggin’ for love I gotta have my suffering So that I can have my cross I know a cat named Easter He says will you ever learn You’re just an empty cage girl if you kill the bird Why do we crucify ourselves Every day I crucify myself Nothing I do is good enough for you Crucify myself Every day I crucify myself And my heart is sick of being in chains ...” OOCQuotation is from the song "Crucify" by Tori Amos, with one slight modification (god -> the gods).

[Aneira Haimati]

The song came to Aneira on the shifting breeze. A word here; a lilting hum there. She found her pace quickening despite herself, more curious as the voice drew nearer, or she nearer to it. Her painting lesson had ended not long ago, and she was traveling toward home. After lessons, her eyes were always more attentive to color, and she made an exercise of it on the way home. The usual sights and movements of the city suffused her with inspiration. The hues of the city grew in intensity, from the vibrant palette of fruits in the market or the vivid grey-blue of the ocean in the distance. Today, she was considering shadows. In the deepening afternoon, dark thunderheads commanded the sky, vast and uneasy. Shadows lengthened. The breath of spring stirring the air rose up into an agitated wind, catching her beaded hair and whipping it across her face. It guided that curious voice and song to her ears. As she rounded a building cornering the square, Aneira saw her. The pale hair was striking as it tossed on the wind. She leaned by the well, singing that song. Had it been a trick of the eye, or had a bird fluttered near? Aneira had passed by the well many a time, and always wondered. Whether it was flocked by tumbling children or gazed upon by some wishing romantic, the well always seemed to draw company. Now here it was, drawing her. It was a humble looking construction, she thought. Quite plain, and like any other well. What, she thought, as she came closer, was the attraction? One glimpse into its depths sparked the answer. Instead of seeing the glint of coins down below, she saw them for what they were. "Wishes," she murmured. Her fingers crept into her pocket, and she chose a coin. With one lingering glance at the pale woman nearby, she placed the coin flat on the edge of the well. Then, leaning on her elbows and peering in, she began to consider her wishes. Which ones to keep wishing, and which one to toss in? And as she wondered, a cool rain began to mist, making the water blur and shimmer.

[Aselia Timandre]

The wind carried Aselia’s soul far, far up into the sky until she felt like floating above the whole of Syliras, until she was no longer a Konti, but an invisible being between earth and sky. Perhaps this was what such divine races as the Alvina and the Ethaefal felt, never quite belonging to one world, but able to more or less access both. When parting her lips, when catching the sounds around her and turning them into a melody, Aselia sometimes felt like that. But all too soon the last notes faded away and she somehow forgot what she had sung about. Her worries were gone, washed away by the smooth, crystal-clear beauty of her voice. Instead the song had brought another visitor to the well who was now curiously peeking into its depths. Amazingly quickly she was blessed with insight about its purpose. Aselia was watching her hesitantly while Linel stayed at the top of the well and chirped for songbird companions. The other woman was of an indiscernible race, possessing hair as black as Aselia’s own was white, a smooth, clear skin and sharp features. Her clothing style could be called elegant, but otherwise quite simple. Of course, it was nowhere near the simplicity Aselia preferred who was only wearing a white blouse and very short white pants that didn’t even properly cover her thighs. While it definitely was colder in Syliras than at the sunny Konti Isle, that didn’t mean that Aselia wasn’t used to rough weather. In fact, the nights she had enjoyed most were the ones she had spent under the vast starry night sky. Then the woman produced a coin from an unknown pocket, but seemed to hesitate just as Aselia had done it. That gave the Konti the needed connection to start a conversation. She did so in a polite and impersonal way, but still an invisible bond could be felt between the two girls who looked so different on the outward. With a slight twitch of her lips she said: “Excuse me, but I find it intriguing … the obvious difficulty to make a wish. Do you find yourself lacking them or being swamped by them?” Aselia was truly curious whether someone could be like herself or the complete opposite. The latter seemed likely, but then … even Linel, her companion for years, was more black than white.

[Aneira Haimati]

As Aneira glanced up to match the voice with a face, she instantly placed the bird with the woman. She couldn't say why, as it had perched on the well rather than with the woman, but they were connected. And it wasn't an insight of her own - nothing remarkable, no second sight that allowed her this notion - but something between them, perhaps of their own making. In any case, Aneira found herself catching her breath at the straight-on sight of Aselia. Though it wasn't quite magical, the woman somehow shimmered into the edges of her vision, more than she stepped into it. It was her colours, Aneira decided. Smooth, silk, glimmering white. And she looked so young - not unlike Aneira herself. The similarities drew her, and right away she took a liking to the Konti. "It's a paradox," she answered, catching Aselia's eyes with her own. It was often taken as rather forward, to strangers, the way she looked into another person's eyes with no shame. Her gaze was bright and steady. "I have thought of so many wishes, so many days. But now, given the opportunity to cast one down, I can't think of any that seem important enough." Though it seemed, with such a connection threading between them, like it might be the proper time for an introduction, Aneira felt it better to let that triviality wait. Instead, she rubbed the coin between her fingers, and then closed it into her palm. Her hand, traced with a delicate inking from thumb to wrist, turned to rest on the well's edge. "And you? Too many wishes, or none?"

[Aselia Timandre]

Aselia somehow sensed that the other one was fascinated by her appearance. The way her eyes were wandering over her face and meeting with the Konti’s vibrant violet ones and the words she chose – to her opponent it was obvious. Aneira spoke of wishes, but her thoughts seemed to be concerned with something or someone else, just like Aselia was interested in the black-haired woman. She didn’t even have an idea whether she was younger or older than her. However, then she managed to concentrate on the conversation. It would be a shame to be impolite after just having approached the other person! So Aselia nodded with an understanding expression and a somewhat apologetic smile. Her reply followed slowly. “Unfortunately many people don’t even realize how rich and blessed their lives are, not even in front of this well, I suppose. Maybe … we should honor what we have and leave it at that.” Again, the eyed the well from the corner of her eye, felt the rough stone structure under her hands. When she had worked at the animal center in Mura, those hands had been scratched and bruised from feisty claws. Even then she had been happy. Perhaps happier than now. It couldn’t be called a life, her existence on the streets of Syliras and in a home that was only borrowed. Oh, there definitely was a wish she desired to voice. Meeting the black-haired woman’s gaze again, Aselia mused: “I tend to have none … or I’m just not eloquent enough to voice what I really desire.” She paused and then fully turned to Aneira and gestured towards the calm water surface. “There is a wish that is very important to us, I think, to all of us, be it Konti or human or even Zith: Where are we supposed to go? What is our goal, our destination, our profession?” Thoughts rolled out of her mouth at a faster pace now. “I’m not on my Call, but even without divine guidance I find myself looking for something I can call mine. Something I can express myself through. Have you already found it?” There she abruptly stopped her monologue and waited. To be honest, she doubted that Aneira had already found her profession. She seemed too young … and humans had such a short lifespan!

[Dusk]

Warning to Aniera: This thread has been inactive for over 30 days. If you plan on continuing this, please let me know ASAP. Otherwise I will close this thread and award XP.

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Aselia Exp +1 Singing, +1 Observation, +2 Interrogation, +2 Philosophy Lore Aniera Exp +2 Observation, +1 Philosophy Lore Additional Comments Sorry you have a tendency to have unfinished threads. Anyway, I still wish to see Aselia more, since I am only teased by what small glimpses of threads of yours. PM me if you have questions, comments, or concerns.