[Event- 39th: Of Being] The Nuances of Noon [Nephti]

by **Kaleidoscope** on October 8th, 2016, 4:26 pm

The other woman nodded, mutely. Yet there was something vitally different about the two. Not just their age, not just the fact one had more arms than the other... It seemed Nephti truly believed that everyone deserved a chance at life. That everyone wanted to on some level to survive. To Eleanor, these 'facts' meant nothing. Because she knew that not everyone deserved the life they had. She had seen many things during her life, some which would shock, other things which were just the usual. Yet of her many years of life, she had come to realise that there were people who didn't deserve it. And she had started to place herself in that category.

Yet she said none of this to Nephti. There was something so tragically beautiful about this girl with all the hope in the world, that she couldn't help but nod, a tear still trickling down her pale face. She didn't..- she wasn't going to make this girl feel what she felt. So, attempting a cracked smile, the woman instead whispered quietly again, "Thank you, Nephti."

Hastily she wiped the back of her hand gracefully across her face, dislodging tears as she propped herself up again.

From below, a man shouted, "Wha's going on up ther?" His voice loud and uncouth. Thankfully, Claudia seemed to be trying to keep the crowd less aggressive, to let the young girl do her work. Soon, the voices stopped bleating so much.

"So, Nephti. You think I'll bring hope to the world?" She laughed a wry chuckle, mixed with the darkest hint of despair. "In this kind of state I don't think I bring hope to anything, let alone anyone. But go on... what is your vision of the world? What is your story? There must be a reason that you are so intent on saving my wretched soul."

As she spoke, she reached a hand out maternally to pat Nephti's head. She felt sorry for the young child, who was being as brave as to talk to some woman who must seem crazy. The woman smiled again, this time with less pain, more... affection.

by **Nephti** on October 17th, 2016, 5:35 pm

Nephti smiled at the woman, in such a fragile state. She couldn't see clearly, blinded by her tears and the dark. She needed a candle, and that was Nephti was. "I will say my story - you understand then."

She lent back, holding her glowing hand before her. The vortex was beautiful, incredibly deep and glowing with ancient, divine power. And she had been given it. Smiling, the Eypharian let her mind wander past events, searching for the perfect place to start. The beginning. That was where every story had to start.

"I was born in Ahnatep, land of the desert, of the Eypharian." She closed her eyes as she spoke, letting her accent ring through and picturing the rolling sands and columns of stone and rivers rushing around the place she had once called home. "I had slaves, money, everything. Then I was slave - everything changed. A dhani stole me. Sold me to family who came here."

She halted, thinking back to her fear, the anger and the pure emotions that had driven her. Suddenly, everything had gone to nothing - she was a possession, she was surrounded by everything she hated. Everything she was meant to own. "I was scared. Alone. I knew nothing. But then I met woman - Benshira." Faltering again, she hung her head, ashamed of her prejudice and hatred. That woman had become her best friend, but at first, she had spat on her. "I thought her as slave. But she had hope, and she changed me. She taught me Priskil and hope and light. She should have hated me. I was of race that enslaved her, years and years ago. But Priskil helped her. So she helped me." Nephti looked up, smiling at the woman, "Like I help you. She taught me to be kind to boy I cared for. I hated him, but then I realised I had to be kind. I had to have hope. Priskil saw. She was kind too. I realised - it was alright. In the end, everything is alright."

Moving her hand forward, she held the woman's tight, looking up to her with only hope in her eyes, for the woman. "I promise Priskil to bring hope. A light can always burn in the darkness. I want to help people be a light, for them and for others. And to start a flame, I must be one. Do you understand?"

She moved closer to the woman, pulling on her bangles slightly. "You have hope - if you did not have hope, you would have died already. You hope someone will save you. Who are you looking for? What are you looking for?"

by **Kaleidoscope** on October 27th, 2016, 9:36 pm

Despite the tears, despite her pale, drawn face, the woman's eyes widened as she took in Nephti's story. All this from someone so young, a life of slavery that was such an uncommon sight in Alvadas. Eleanor half-heartedly wondered how Nephti had arrived in the city, but didn't question it. It was clear that although the girl seemed at peace with her life now, it was still a moment that had greatly shaped her life. Eleanor knew a lot about those moments, and didn't pry because of it.

She nodded once as Nephti asked for her understanding. Oddly, it was as if she was the child now, and Nephti the teacher. Their roles strangely reversed, Eleanor felt a stab of shame that she was so very weak. A shame that quickly folded into nothing but a strange sense of calm as she absorbed the young girl's words.

The woman shocked herself as she spoke without truly meaning to. "I've been searching for something all my life. Not a who, as such. Never a who. But something." She fell silent again and clenched and unclenched her fingers slowly. It was painful to talk, yet she continued, her voice in a whisper. "I was much like you, in a way. I was a vapid young woman, full of desires and self-importance. I was interested in fashion and beauty, in the physical form and the art of garments and clothes. One day, I met a man. He was beautiful, and strange, and peculiar. I wanted to impress him, so I showed him my designs and my ideas. I was so achingly full of myself, and he laughed at me. At my art, at my designs and my life. I was 'lacking imagination, lacking any kind of subtlety, or flair, or self."

"I was a blank slate, is what he said. And then every day after that, I was cursed with this mark." Her eyes had grown dark with recollection. With a vicious tug of her sleeve, she revealed a black triangle with a swirling, lacy spiral in the middle of it. Etched all around it were scars, clawing and cutting and glaring red, purple, brown. Self-inflicted scars of such ferocity that it barely looked real on her arm. The mark remained pristine, an island of perfection on battered and ruined skin.

"Ever since then, I have slowly begun to realise that my every dream I had was boring. This city became a city of ghosts, to me. My family left, my mother died and left me this house but it was no good because I was good for nothing."

She levelled her eyes, hard like iron, towards the young girl. She tugged her sleeve down again. "I've been looking for a way to end it ever since. I was convinced that someone could help me end it, someone could persuade me to be something interesting for once, to end my own life and be brave. And now you tell me that there is something worth living for, and... I can't deny that I want to listen to you."

"I want to listen, and you want to help me, and together I fear, I truly fear that you will convince me otherwise. But can't you see that with this act, I could finally be something? To have a life as endlessly nothing as mine would surely be brightened, even at the end of it, by having done something as interesting as taking my own life. Surely that's a crazy enough reason to die for."

by **Nephti** on November 3rd, 2016, 11:31 pm

Her story pained her. She was a young woman who had made mistakes in the past, been full of herself, who believed truly in that she deserved the world. Just like Nephti. She had been punished, too, just like Nephti had - she just hadn't been rewarded for learning from her mistakes. Unlike the once slave, this woman was still forced to live with this pain, instead of being given light.

Extending her hand, the marked one, she tried to touch the triangle, if the woman let her. A gnosis, but a curse, not a blessing. From Ionu, it had to be. It was the triangle, his symbol, and it did the opposite his illusions did. Nephti stared at it, almost trembling. Why would a god, a god who brought marvel and wonder to the world, curse people like this, bring them to consider taking their life for something so small?

"Please," she finally spoke, letting the words linger in her mouth before she let them, "You can be more than a woman who jumped. You are something. If you live, you can help other people. Show Ionu you are interesting. You learn - you then teach. Be remembered. Be more. Brighten your life by brightening others."

She faltered again, trying to understand her pain. This woman's pain, not her own. She had never been cursed, yet she felt like she had. Beauty had gone from her life, but she had found it again. "Illusions are beautiful. But so is world without illusions. Leave the city. Find Ahnatep, the city with the blue men, or the city with the knights. Or another city. I listened to many. About many." Frowning at her mistake, she tried to make it clearer, then stopped. She didn't need to.

"Just try. See the world. Find your place. Wherever that is, I want to help. I will help. Just let me." Sighing deeply, she extended a hand towards the woman, waiting for her to take it. "Don't let this be the only thing you do. You will always have more dreams. You will only have one life."

by **Kaleidoscope** on November 12th, 2016, 5:37 pm

Nephti's trembling hand found the mark before Eleanor could think about pressing her away. She stayed perfectly still as her fingers touched the skin, the mark feeling slightly colder than anything around it, the ridges of the scars tough and puckered. Then she pushed her hand away as if slowly coming to her senses, and pulled her sleeve back down with a sharp tug.

Yet despite her skittish movements, and her almost nervous expression, the woman could feel Nephti's words sinking in, taking root like the dead plants that littered her balcony. Feeling guilty for pushing the girl away who was only trying to help, she leaned forwards and took her hand, trying to smile and just about succeeding. Her dark hair shadowed her features, and she brushed it down her back.

"I sense that you don't realise how selfish I am, Nephti. But." She sighed, echoing the girl. "Leaving Alvadas is something I debated over, many years ago. But don't you think that it hardly matters? Ionu after all isn't confined to this city. At least, I don't think he is. Wherever I go there is a shadow over me. I suppose it is up to me what I do with my life, but to brighten other people's lives... to visit other places... I'm not sure I'm capable." She frowned, doubtfully. Then a shout from below twisted her face to anger, and she swiftly let go of the girl's hand, reaching to grab a plantpot and threw it down, viciously.

Then she carried on as if nothing had happened, as if there hadn't been an interruption, and as if there hadn't been curses thrown up at her from below. "But, you have given me hope, Nephti. I... I can't deny that. Perhaps I should reconsider this move. Other lands... you speak of an Ahnatep? Where is this place. I'm not sure I've heard of it."

The crowd, which had been quiet, now stirred up again. But for the most part Eleanor ignored them, even as beseeching words hit and stung her like bees fleeing a foe, even as she flinched to avoid some of the more aggressive ones.

"Tell me what I should do, Nephti. What should I plan. I can't... I can't think, not properly, not with all of this overshadowing me. So, please. Help me..."

by **Nephti** on November 24th, 2016, 7:48 pm

The woman pushed her away, but after thought. Hopefully, she was taking in Nephti's hope, her beliefs. Hopefully, she was reconsidering it all. Nephti let her hand be taken again, holding Eleanor's firmly. This woman needed to know that she always had Nephti's support, no matter what she chose or thought or did. Privately, the girl promised her that.

Her words rang with truth. Ionu could go anywhere and she would always be cursed, even if she ran away. But that was no reason to be scared. In another city, perhaps she could move on and find another reason to live. She spoke of shadows, and of inability. She didn't realise the light that existed too. Anyone with any worth could see it behind her eyes, no matter how sad they were. This woman had so much to live for.

Opening her mouth to speak, she began to formulate words until the woman turned, shifting to a dark beast, almost. People were shouting curses at them, but Nephti had blocked them out, her attention and world confined to this balcony. The reaction from the woman scared her, and she reached out to grab her hand again, silently urging her not to listen, not to care.

Mirroring the way the woman had switched, pretending nothing had happened, Nephti tried to distract her, speaking of Ahnatep. "It is in the desert. Eypharians live there - people like me. There are... there is water and rivers. Grand buildings. Jewels. It is completely different to Alvadas. Maybe, different in good way, for you?"

The crowd rose up like a swarm of bees and Nephti found herself yelling back at them, some Dhani curse she barely knew she knew. She started understanding Eleanor's anger towards them. Half were cruel, heartless souls who had been bothering her all day so far. Eyes flickering back, she hoped for the best.

"Come with me," she said, surprised a little at herself. Ever since Sayana had left her, she had had the opening to return home. She was no longer tied by anything, no longer forced to remain. But she hadn't taken it, and she wasn't certain why. Now, fuelled by her fate in hope and desire to help, she was planning to without any thought to it. She didn't let that stop her. "Come with me, to Ahnatep. Let me show you another world. You can do anything you want, there. I will help you. Please."

The last word came out almost as a beg, compared to her more demanding orders for the woman to join her. She stretched out a hand, hoping she would take it. "Please," she spoke again, barely above a murmur. For herself, more than anything. She wanted, no, needed to return. And she wanted this woman to join her, she wanted to show her another life.

by **Kaleidoscope** on December 17th, 2016, 10:22 pm

Her initial reaction to the girl's words were a hesitant frown, eyes darkening. The land sounded interesting, and she could certainly feel the girl's honesty and earnestness as she practically begged her. Eleanor shrugged and drew a cool hand through her hair. "Hey, I... I don't know Nephti. Really, it's a kind offer." She smiled, a fleeting, sad thing. "But I can't. It's like I'm tied here, by my past, my failings." She broke off, thoughtfully.

"Or perhaps I should..." She started to pace now, small steps of motion. A multitude of thoughts flickered through her head as she refused to look at Nephti. Then she stopped suddenly, turning around to face the girl with an almost genuine smile now framing her face. "Nephti- thank you. You have given me hope, I... Something I didn't even think possible, with this mark. Why have I stayed here, when this mark is such a curse to me from this very city I live in?" She shook her head. "It's madness, surely. I never thought I was mad, but maybe I have been, all along."

It was almost like she was talking to herself for a few moments, until she brought her attention back to the waiting Eypharian. "Yes, thank you. But I think if I do travel, if I step outside of this city..." She shook her head. Briefly, she stared out across the plaza, wistful look in her eyes, as if the baying crowds were non-existent. Her eyes filled with tears that didn't fall, until a more resolute look came about her. "I will do it. I won't travel with you, not out of disrespect or not wanting to, but because I need to do it by myself. To test myself, so that I know that I can do it."

"Yes, I shall do it." She nodded towards Nephti, and although it was quite imperceptible, she stood with a slightly straighter back, a warm light slowly creeping into her eyes. "Now girl, you should go. I, well, I need to think. By myself. You have helped me to consider something I wouldn't have, and you will have my forever thanks for that. But now, I need to contemplate this. All of what we have spoke about, about leaving, where I might go. This Ahnatep sounds like it may have suited me, years ago. Perhaps it might still. But take care out there. This crowd, they're fierce. I will retire inside, for a while. Where I cannot hear their voices. So I can think. Do you think you can get down safely?"

_____

As Eleanor was talking, below the crowds were surging again as some newcomers arrived, having only just heard about this strange woman threatening to plunge off a balcony. The increase of people were pushing Claudia closer and closer to the edge of the building, but she continued to look up, hoping that Nephti was okay, that it was all going to be alright. She swept her hair back nervously, and waited. If Nephti was to descend, she would open her arms to catch her and place her back on firm ground. Then, leading the girl, she would take her to somewhere where the press was less suffocating, and ask with a concerned expression, "Well, what happened? Is that woman okay?"

by **Nephti** on December 18th, 2016, 5:41 pm

Nephti watched the woman get caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts, debating her proposal, her begging, torn between this city, between a new life. Nephti knew how she felt. It was terrifying, standing at the edge of a cliff with your whole life with you, not knowing what was coming. But that was life. That was what the Fool represented - all the fear and unknown and risks - the new beginnings that everyone had.

"You have hope," she repeated quietly, her work done. That was all she could do. She wasn't going to take this woman, force her away, somewhere safe, she wasn't going to give her everything she wanted and needed to stop her from jumping. The Eypharian knew that the only thing Eleanor truly needed was to see the light. The girl looked up, eyes wide with happiness, smiling at her.

"You can do it. I understand," she replied softly, realising she had to make the journey alone too. When she had left Ahnatep, it was through force, with a million strangers and fear. Returning had to be the opposite - her choice and alone. She was still going to be scared, but in a different way. "I hope.. I hope life gives you what you need, Eleanor. I hope you do not lose it too early. One day, I hope to see you, better. I hope to see you as you should be." She rose slowly, moving over to the balcony in the woman's place as she disappeared. "Goodbye," the girl whispered softly, spotting the light inside her that had grown, and watching it go. Now it was time for her to go too.

Nephti carefully made the descent, climbing over the balcony while ignoring the crowd that had stirred with the woman's absence. Some yelled encouragingly, others wanted her to return, the entertainment to return. But the darkness had little strength now. Eleanor wasn't there to listen and had light to overcome the words they spoke.

Spotting Claudia in the crowd, she realised what her outstretched arms were for. Getting low enough, she dropped, finding the woman catching her roughly. She placed both feet firmly on the ground and looking up at the woman, without whom she could have never reached Eleanor. She let herself be led away, somewhere they had space to talk and move and breathe.

"Thank you," Nephti let out, the gratitude clear in her eyes, "Thank you for everything. She saw light. I know it. She will not jump. I know it too." Pausing, she let the events of the balcony run through her mind, reminding herself that it hadn't been a dream, no matter how surreal. Then she let it all out. "The woman was cursed. Ionu cursed her. She thought there was no place for her. But I gave her hope. She has light in her, now. I know she won't jump." Then tears came, of pure joy. The Eypharian let them run down her cheeks, her mouth wide with a smile. "Thank you for helping me help her."

She let emotions take over her, fear and horror replaced with happiness, hope and relief. Once they had subsided a little, letting the girl shine through even brighter, the Eypharian looked up straight at Claudia. "I will teach you everything I know about Priskil," she finally said, remembering what the woman had asked, "But I could thank more. Tell me how."

by **Kaleidoscope** on December 18th, 2016, 7:08 pm

At Nephti's tears, Claudia couldn't help herself. Her own tears sparked in her eyes, making her smile and brush them away. She too was pleased, beyond belief, that Nephti had managed to help the woman. It had broken her heart to see the woman's sadness, but now thanks to this girl, she was in with a chance of survival in this harsh world. Pulling the girl into a spontaneous hug, Claudia laughed a melodic laugh, and gently pulled her away again to look down at her with an equally tear-streaked face. "Nephti, I am so glad to hear of this. I... I am truly lost for words."

She looked ashamed for a moment, the look surely unmissable on her pleasant features. "I used to be in a similar situation to her, at one point. Nothing quite so dramatic as threatening to plunge myself to my death in front of crowds, but. Well, I used to cause harm to myself. I grew too ashamed, later on, and now I'm a healer." She looked at Nephti with kindly eyes. "I still feel it, sometimes. The pain. Of not wanting to be on this world any more." She shrugged, and looked away. "But here you come, promising hope. And although you're only young, I can feel it. You spread hope." She nodded assertively, and knelt down next to the girl. The crowd seemed to fade into the distance as she sighed, and closed her eyes, before opening them again as they filled with hope.

"If you would allow me, I want to help you to help others, as I have done today. It fills my heart with gladness to do this. You have the gift, but I can be your help, should you need it. Or want it, even. I can bring you to places where it might be dangerous, and act as protection. I can lead you to the darkest depths of misery and help you fill it with light. I can be your ears, your helping hand, your crutch, should you ever need someone to lean on. I know you don't know me, I know I might be coming across as strange, spouting all this on our first meeting. But all I can say is that I feel the goddess' touch on my heart when I see you, when I hear you speak of hope and light and all things good."

"What do you say, Nephti? Would you let me help you? If you need to bring help to those in need, I can carry you there. It's a humble offer, and truthfully I don't have anything else to offer to you, except myself and my strengths as a woman. But if I can be of service, it would make me so very happy."

She nodded then, assertive yet fragile. She awaited Nephti's answer patiently, unsure even then if she would want her help. But if she did- well, Claudia would treat the girl with every respect. Someone blessed by the goddess Priskil! The woman grinned, secretly. They would bring happiness to Alvadas, of that she was sure. Hope in dark times.

Claudia :

Details :

by **Nephti** on December 19th, 2016, 6:40 pm

Claudia became a mirror of her emotions, tears of joy beading down her cheeks too. Laughing, the woman pulled her into a hug, full of joy from both of them. Then suddenly, her features changed to shame, and Nephti reached out, wondering why. As the woman told her story, she let her, understanding this was a different situation. Her eyes were full of hope. She felt pain, but that was okay. Everyone did.

Then Claudia offered her help, not here and now, but in general. She would protect her. She would take her to the darkness so she could bring the light. She would help her in anyway she knew how. All because she could feel Priskil, watching over them as she always did, when Nephti spoke of light and hope.

When the woman had finally finished, asking whether Nephti would accept the little things she could offer, she stood patiently, uncertain about it too. She had no reason to fear that Nephti would deny her help. Any light that wished to spread wouldn't be denied. Without words, Nephti nodded, eyes filling with tears again. She couldn't have hoped for this much. Claudia spoke of how happy she would become if Nephti said yes, without realising how happy she made Nephti.

She wouldn't be alone, not anymore. It would be so much easier to bring hope to the people in darkness that didn't see the light with Claudia's help, whatever the woman had to offer. Two torches shone brighter than one. Two followers of Priskil brought more hope than just Nephti.

"Thank you," she repeated from before, with more happiness, with more emotion, "We can do so much, together." Closing her eyes, she extended her marked hand towards the woman. Remembering the words of the Benshira who had taught her about Priskil, so long ago, she realised what this was. "We can start an Order of Radiance for Alvadas. So we can bring them light." The mark on her hand began to glow, brightly, catching the few eyes of the crowd that had disappeared from her mind. They would bring them light, and shine brighter than the city had ever seen. Together.

Closed [Event- 39th: Of Being] The Nuances of Noon [Nephti]