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31_days2006-02-12 11:40 pm
beccastareyes) wrote in 31_days2006-02-12 11:40 pm
[12-Feb-2006] [Original] Ghostwalking
Title: Ghostwalking
Theme: Chrysanthemum promise
Series: Original
Characters: Elbetra Mairibai, Aerul Trunymai
Rating: G
It was cold on Yizaryn as the calendar turned over. Elbetra looked up from the report on his desk, signing it and sending it back to the radio tower. "Oh, is it time?" he said to himself. He tottered over to the light, turning it down to a flickering candle, then went to lie down on the sleeping mat in the corner, arranging his grey robes about him.
"Glad to see you remembered," Aerul knelt near him. He looked unchanged... no, that wasn't right. It wasn't that he looked unaged from the day Elbetra had last watch him shout defiance as the police moved in on his position. His face, if anything, had lost what wrinkles it had, giving his skin a taut, inhuman look, more like a mask than a real face.
Elbetra noticed his hair then -- done in a priest's style, with bleached ends. "A bit presumptuous, are we?"
Aerul shrugged. "What else but 'god' can you call someone who has defied death, and all the forces the church and government has mustered?"
Elbetra snorted, sitting up. "You didn't defy death -- you just are too stubborn to go find your ancestors, ghost."
"I might say the same thing to you, ghostwalker." Aerul reached out to touch the faded tattoos on Elbetra's face. "It takes a special kind of hubris to remove all the shamans from Daryn that you didn't overload, and even spit in the face of taomae itself with that religion of yours."
"I did what I had to do to protect my people," Elbetra said simply. The 'from you' wasn't said, but both could feel it hang in the air.
"As did I." Aerul glanced to the mat again. "You look horrible. You do know you're dying, right?"
Elbetra snorted. "Everyone's dying. But, yes, I know that I'm doing it a bit faster than most. I'm old, and tired, and far from home."
"Who will watch over them when you're gone?" Aerul motioned to the door of the room.
"They don't need me," Elbetra said.
"Oh, really? Most of the younger ones don't know why their parents and grandparents left Daryn. Sooner or later, they will meet with the homeworlders again, and then what will happen?" Aerul extended a hand. "Come with me."
Elbetra glanced to his desk. "Fine. But I'm staying out of things, unless there's an emergency. The living have enough problems without the dead trying to run their lives." He stood, walking to the door. "Lead on, old friend."
The body of Rubelao Elbetra Taom, once known as Elbetra Mairibai, was discovered when he failed to show up to a meeting to discuss the alien erys ship that had entered Yizaryn orbit. His last order had been for all with any powers to hide them from the erysrynyil.
Theme: Chrysanthemum promise
Series: Original
Characters: Elbetra Mairibai, Aerul Trunymai
Rating: G
It was cold on Yizaryn as the calendar turned over. Elbetra looked up from the report on his desk, signing it and sending it back to the radio tower. "Oh, is it time?" he said to himself. He tottered over to the light, turning it down to a flickering candle, then went to lie down on the sleeping mat in the corner, arranging his grey robes about him.
"Glad to see you remembered," Aerul knelt near him. He looked unchanged... no, that wasn't right. It wasn't that he looked unaged from the day Elbetra had last watch him shout defiance as the police moved in on his position. His face, if anything, had lost what wrinkles it had, giving his skin a taut, inhuman look, more like a mask than a real face.
Elbetra noticed his hair then -- done in a priest's style, with bleached ends. "A bit presumptuous, are we?"
Aerul shrugged. "What else but 'god' can you call someone who has defied death, and all the forces the church and government has mustered?"
Elbetra snorted, sitting up. "You didn't defy death -- you just are too stubborn to go find your ancestors, ghost."
"I might say the same thing to you, ghostwalker." Aerul reached out to touch the faded tattoos on Elbetra's face. "It takes a special kind of hubris to remove all the shamans from Daryn that you didn't overload, and even spit in the face of taomae itself with that religion of yours."
"I did what I had to do to protect my people," Elbetra said simply. The 'from you' wasn't said, but both could feel it hang in the air.
"As did I." Aerul glanced to the mat again. "You look horrible. You do know you're dying, right?"
Elbetra snorted. "Everyone's dying. But, yes, I know that I'm doing it a bit faster than most. I'm old, and tired, and far from home."
"Who will watch over them when you're gone?" Aerul motioned to the door of the room.
"They don't need me," Elbetra said.
"Oh, really? Most of the younger ones don't know why their parents and grandparents left Daryn. Sooner or later, they will meet with the homeworlders again, and then what will happen?" Aerul extended a hand. "Come with me."
Elbetra glanced to his desk. "Fine. But I'm staying out of things, unless there's an emergency. The living have enough problems without the dead trying to run their lives." He stood, walking to the door. "Lead on, old friend."
The body of Rubelao Elbetra Taom, once known as Elbetra Mairibai, was discovered when he failed to show up to a meeting to discuss the alien erys ship that had entered Yizaryn orbit. His last order had been for all with any powers to hide them from the erysrynyil.