'nother bit.
-------------------
I get to the garage. Kiura's there, obviously. She's even manifested. That's not too strange, I suppose, given the circumstances, but... she's manifested, curled up on the hood of the car and sleeping? That doesn't make sense. She looks really peaceful like that, almost angelic, but it just doesn't make any sense. On the whole, she should be burning more energy from being manifested than sleeping would give her. Why would you go to sleep if it wasn't restful?
"Kiura."
She mumbles a little, and shifts slightly.
"Kiura?"
Nothing.
I walk over to her, and lay one hand on her manifested shoulder. She's even put enough effort into the manifestation to make it feel soft and warm to the touch. No sense at all. I shake her gently. She opens up her eyes slowly and looks up at me, smiling.
"Hmmm?"
"Kiura, it's near midnight. Time to go."
"Oh, okay."
She sits up on the hood, and stretches luxuriously. (But spirits don't - no, nevermind. It's not worth thinking about any more. It will only give me a headache.)
The nearest major intersection is about fifteen minutes walk away. I go on foot, travelling to the appointed place only with what is most truly Mine. She walks beside me. I'd have thought she'd bring the car, but she doesn't choose to, and it is her choice. We talk of random things. It turns out she *can* manifest a sense of smell. She'd been working on it for a while, and really figured out how to do it right just recently. I'd never known. The roads are empty this time of night, which is good - it means that we can do this in the true center of the crossroads and not bother anyone. I start to do ritual.
First, I inscribe a circle with chalk around us both. It won't do much to block anything in either direction, but this version lets off a noticeable glow, and will make us that much more obvious in case any late-night motorists *do* pass by. Then I begin with the Gifts. The Spiritual is, of course, Primal Iron. It's the last of my stock, and getting more is going to be annoying, but life is what it is. She accepts it gracefully. It dissolves away in her hands, and she breathes in sharply, eyes closed, a smile on her face as the power of it pours into her. The Practical is a bottle of car wax, and the promise to use it. It's only *just* practical enough to count, but I figured it would make her happy, and it does. We can get the repair work done without the intervention of ritual. Finally, the Frivolous is a smallish set of fuzzy white dice, with silver pips. It's silly. It's *awfully* silly, but I know she's wanted a set for a while now - and for the second time today I am hugged unexpectedly. She really *has* put a lot of effort into this manifestation. After a short while, she regains her composure and steps back again... and she's *blushing*? No. Never mind. Headache, remember? On to the ritual proper.
"Kiura, Spirit of Metal, I, Vincent Keddington stand before you, to offer a contract for your services, as we have discussed, as we have agreed, as we have sworn. At this time and in this place, I stand ready to bind myself by it, to you. Do you do the same?"
"I do, Domitor."
I nearly lose the thread of the ritual with that one. That's not normal. Kiura *never* calls me 'Domitor'. *Ever*. Thankfully, my bone-deep indoctrination in the Forms carry me past my shock. Messing up on this one would be *bad*.
I reach out my hand. "At this time, and in this place, I *do* bind myself to you. By my Will and by my Power, and by the Contract we have sworn I do bind myself, if you will but complete it."
She reaches out her hand, and clasps it around my outstretched wrist. I grasp her wrist in turn, closing the circle, and listen. She's been acting awfully strangely, and this is a critical bit. What she says here will be important.
"By my Will and by my Substance and by the Contract we have sworn, I do complete our binding."
That's all? No. That's a fairly normal response (well, normal for fully consensual contracts, anyway - not like they're all that common) but... there's something she's not saying. I can feel the space in the magics, shaped by intent but not words. I.... I don't have time to think about it. The last line's coming up. We speak it in unison.
"By our Will, so it is done."
I feel a crackle in the Fabrics, and a rush, as by our Power the world is reshaped, and then she collapses against me, nearly intangible, nearly colorless. Wait. That's right. She spent of her *Substance* on this thing - and by the looks of it, she spent awfully heavily. She looks up, a weakened smile on her face, and speaks softly.
"Hey... any chance we could do that Covenant bit now? I'm feeling kinda woozy."
I nod, and reach for my ritual knife with my right hand, while holding her to me with the left. She looks just barely this side of losing cohesion, and my body heat given willingly will help her maintain long enough for the Covenant to do its work. A bit of juggling, the still mostly clean knife goes back in its sheath, and there's a fresh cut in my right palm, welling up nicely. I offer it to her.
She reaches her head down tentatively, and places her mouth to the wound, then slowly begins to drink. Bit by bit, the color flows back into her, bringing her back from near-transparence. She slips out from underneath my arm, and cups my hand in both of hers. I feel her lips gain warmth and solidity, and see her manifested body fully regain its form. She looks up into my eyes with an expression I don't understand, and makes some small noises that I can't quite catch. I feel the tingle, as for the first time we are connected by the Primal Covenant. I let her drink until she is done.
Finally, she lifts her lips from my palm, licks the wound one last time, and releases my hand. I bandage the injury, and then look up to see her standing, hands clasped behind her, looking downward. This is... not like her. At all. Not that I'm complaining. Not exactly, anyway. Worried? Yes. Confused? Definately. Not so much with the complaining, though - or at least not for the moment. She speaks.
"What would you have of me, Domitor?"
No. I can't take it. It's just way too strange. I reach out and lift up her chin, so that she's looking me in the eye again.
"Okay. Better. Let's go home."
She smiles at me, and then leaps into the air, releasing her manifestation. By the time I'm done cleaning up the Circle, the car is there. It really is nice to have efficient help. I get in, and we roll.
----------
It's a little on the shortish side, but it was pretty quick. As always, all feedback is appreciated, considered, and often responded to. Compliments are good, complaints are good, wild speculations are good, and concrit is particularly good. It's all good. Also, I know these are coming out a bit on the quick and short side for a moment. If you have a particular comment to make about a previous section, plese specify which one.
-------------------
I get to the garage. Kiura's there, obviously. She's even manifested. That's not too strange, I suppose, given the circumstances, but... she's manifested, curled up on the hood of the car and sleeping? That doesn't make sense. She looks really peaceful like that, almost angelic, but it just doesn't make any sense. On the whole, she should be burning more energy from being manifested than sleeping would give her. Why would you go to sleep if it wasn't restful?
"Kiura."
She mumbles a little, and shifts slightly.
"Kiura?"
Nothing.
I walk over to her, and lay one hand on her manifested shoulder. She's even put enough effort into the manifestation to make it feel soft and warm to the touch. No sense at all. I shake her gently. She opens up her eyes slowly and looks up at me, smiling.
"Hmmm?"
"Kiura, it's near midnight. Time to go."
"Oh, okay."
She sits up on the hood, and stretches luxuriously. (But spirits don't - no, nevermind. It's not worth thinking about any more. It will only give me a headache.)
The nearest major intersection is about fifteen minutes walk away. I go on foot, travelling to the appointed place only with what is most truly Mine. She walks beside me. I'd have thought she'd bring the car, but she doesn't choose to, and it is her choice. We talk of random things. It turns out she *can* manifest a sense of smell. She'd been working on it for a while, and really figured out how to do it right just recently. I'd never known. The roads are empty this time of night, which is good - it means that we can do this in the true center of the crossroads and not bother anyone. I start to do ritual.
First, I inscribe a circle with chalk around us both. It won't do much to block anything in either direction, but this version lets off a noticeable glow, and will make us that much more obvious in case any late-night motorists *do* pass by. Then I begin with the Gifts. The Spiritual is, of course, Primal Iron. It's the last of my stock, and getting more is going to be annoying, but life is what it is. She accepts it gracefully. It dissolves away in her hands, and she breathes in sharply, eyes closed, a smile on her face as the power of it pours into her. The Practical is a bottle of car wax, and the promise to use it. It's only *just* practical enough to count, but I figured it would make her happy, and it does. We can get the repair work done without the intervention of ritual. Finally, the Frivolous is a smallish set of fuzzy white dice, with silver pips. It's silly. It's *awfully* silly, but I know she's wanted a set for a while now - and for the second time today I am hugged unexpectedly. She really *has* put a lot of effort into this manifestation. After a short while, she regains her composure and steps back again... and she's *blushing*? No. Never mind. Headache, remember? On to the ritual proper.
"Kiura, Spirit of Metal, I, Vincent Keddington stand before you, to offer a contract for your services, as we have discussed, as we have agreed, as we have sworn. At this time and in this place, I stand ready to bind myself by it, to you. Do you do the same?"
"I do, Domitor."
I nearly lose the thread of the ritual with that one. That's not normal. Kiura *never* calls me 'Domitor'. *Ever*. Thankfully, my bone-deep indoctrination in the Forms carry me past my shock. Messing up on this one would be *bad*.
I reach out my hand. "At this time, and in this place, I *do* bind myself to you. By my Will and by my Power, and by the Contract we have sworn I do bind myself, if you will but complete it."
She reaches out her hand, and clasps it around my outstretched wrist. I grasp her wrist in turn, closing the circle, and listen. She's been acting awfully strangely, and this is a critical bit. What she says here will be important.
"By my Will and by my Substance and by the Contract we have sworn, I do complete our binding."
That's all? No. That's a fairly normal response (well, normal for fully consensual contracts, anyway - not like they're all that common) but... there's something she's not saying. I can feel the space in the magics, shaped by intent but not words. I.... I don't have time to think about it. The last line's coming up. We speak it in unison.
"By our Will, so it is done."
I feel a crackle in the Fabrics, and a rush, as by our Power the world is reshaped, and then she collapses against me, nearly intangible, nearly colorless. Wait. That's right. She spent of her *Substance* on this thing - and by the looks of it, she spent awfully heavily. She looks up, a weakened smile on her face, and speaks softly.
"Hey... any chance we could do that Covenant bit now? I'm feeling kinda woozy."
I nod, and reach for my ritual knife with my right hand, while holding her to me with the left. She looks just barely this side of losing cohesion, and my body heat given willingly will help her maintain long enough for the Covenant to do its work. A bit of juggling, the still mostly clean knife goes back in its sheath, and there's a fresh cut in my right palm, welling up nicely. I offer it to her.
She reaches her head down tentatively, and places her mouth to the wound, then slowly begins to drink. Bit by bit, the color flows back into her, bringing her back from near-transparence. She slips out from underneath my arm, and cups my hand in both of hers. I feel her lips gain warmth and solidity, and see her manifested body fully regain its form. She looks up into my eyes with an expression I don't understand, and makes some small noises that I can't quite catch. I feel the tingle, as for the first time we are connected by the Primal Covenant. I let her drink until she is done.
Finally, she lifts her lips from my palm, licks the wound one last time, and releases my hand. I bandage the injury, and then look up to see her standing, hands clasped behind her, looking downward. This is... not like her. At all. Not that I'm complaining. Not exactly, anyway. Worried? Yes. Confused? Definately. Not so much with the complaining, though - or at least not for the moment. She speaks.
"What would you have of me, Domitor?"
No. I can't take it. It's just way too strange. I reach out and lift up her chin, so that she's looking me in the eye again.
"Okay. Better. Let's go home."
She smiles at me, and then leaps into the air, releasing her manifestation. By the time I'm done cleaning up the Circle, the car is there. It really is nice to have efficient help. I get in, and we roll.
----------
It's a little on the shortish side, but it was pretty quick. As always, all feedback is appreciated, considered, and often responded to. Compliments are good, complaints are good, wild speculations are good, and concrit is particularly good. It's all good. Also, I know these are coming out a bit on the quick and short side for a moment. If you have a particular comment to make about a previous section, plese specify which one.