They're cuddlers, really

[onthewind]

Raezenoth has just won a war. Well, he'd actually won it a while ago, but now is when things have settled and the divine borders have become a bit more set in stone. The leftovers of that annoying nature god are cleared away to become part of another god's domain - desert, mostly, Rae was the victor here. The new denizens of Rae's domain either get to leave for another place, or adjust to the tough but fair life of their new god.

Idania has admittedly gone a bit stir crazy. She spent so much time in Rae's land, defending him or going to show off how great Rae can be that she's pretty much only seen desert for the last - what, year or so?

It's time for a change of pace. She checks with Rae, he agrees that she can get some time to herself, and then she packs her things. It's time to fly somewhere new, to a place she hasn't seen before with people she's never met. She expects to go far enough away that people won't know the name 'Raezenoth,' so she doesn't pack light. She expects to be doing a lot of sleeping outdoors, floating comfortably in the air where no one can touch her.

She's flying at full speed for about five days in a random direction before she lands for anything more than bathroom breaks and some occasional jogging to stay limber. When she does, she recognizes absolutely nothing about anything around her. Good. This is definitely far away and unrecognizable enough for her tastes. She checks her supplies - yeah, definitely enough to last for her to explore this place properly.

While she was flying, she stayed away from the domains of gods, not wanting any sort of trouble or drama associated with them. Now, though, she's going to explore the first nice one she sees. Another day of walking, later, and she comes across a place that's obviously a domain.

Sometimes gods directly address her when she enters, but not always. Only one way to find out. She heads inside without fear, to explore the temple and village nearby.

Comments

[pythbox]

She is more or less right!

Just a few seconds after she crosses over, a divine voice addresses her.

"Hi! You must be the wandering acolyte Eala was telling me about. I'm Vio. Viokai. How are you liking it here so far? Anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"

He's very... bubbly, for a god.

[onthewind]

Idania laughs. "I am! It's nice to meet you, I'm Idania. So far this is the most adorable thing. Of all time. I'm pretty self reliant, though, thanks for the offer - I sleep in the air, it's comfy."

[pythbox]

"That doesn't sound comfy at all, I bet you can't make blanket nests in midair!" he laughs. "Blanket nests are fantastic."

[onthewind]

"It is super comfy, blanket nests or no!" she giggles. "One of my blessings is helpful wind, so it doesn't jostle me or anything, it's practically a blanket for me in itself."

[pythbox]

"Well, that's just adorable," says Vio. "Now I want a cozy wind blanket. My blessings are pretty great the way they are, though, I'm not gonna complain. If me and Eala ever meet another god who wants to join the cuddlepile, though, I hope they do flying and wind."

[onthewind]

Idania giggles more. "I'd offer up Rae, because he does both of those things, but I don't think he's a cuddler. I mean, I might be hilariously wrong, though. Want me to ask him? Oooor - actually, you can probably address him yourself."

[pythbox]

"Hi, Raezenoth," Vio says brightly. "What do you think of divine cuddlepiles?"

[onthewind]

"I wouldn't know," says Raezenoth, from his little vial of sand. "I have never been a member of one."

"That's not a 'I hate them,'" wheedles Idania.

"It is not."

[pythbox]

"It's really fun!" says Vio. "Probably a lot harder to do with you because you're so far away, but we have a double acolyte and all each other's blessings and stuff, it's handy that way. Eala'd want to talk to you a lot before we'd really let you join, but in the meantime my dreams of cozy wind blankets are not yet crushed."

[onthewind]

Raezenoth laughs, softly. "I understand."

"Wow, a double acolyte," muses Idania. "That's got to be awesome, they must be super powerful. You trust them a lot, right?"

[pythbox]

"Of course!" he says. "Eala's really good with people that way, she makes sure of everybody we ask to be even a single acolyte, but she made extra sure of Syriel."

[onthewind]

"Ah, and she's good with people. Smart!"

[pythbox]

"She's soooo good with people. I am too, but differently."

[onthewind]

Idania giggles some more. "You two are completely adorable, these are the cutest domains. Of all time."

[pythbox]

"Thanks!" he says happily. "I am proud of our cute domains. We have so many happy people and we help them out when they need things and they like us, it's the best!"

[onthewind]

"Excessively cute. Other gods don't give you trouble?"

[pythbox]

"Not really. There was a huge plague god here who burned out before we came up, so mostly I think everybody who remembers him is grateful that we're like the exact opposite of a plague god."

[onthewind]

"Pfff. Makes sense, but I bet they'll forget that in a century or two. Hope you two do well if that happens, you two are so cute!"

[pythbox]

"I bet we'll be fine," Vio says optimistically. "Hey, they're having a little feast in a village near where you are, wanna come?"

[onthewind]

"Ooooo. Yes! Yes I do, that sounds fun! They won't mind a random wandering acolyte showing up randomly by wandering?"

[pythbox]

"Nah, don't worry, I'll tell 'em you're coming," he says.

[onthewind]

"Aww! Thanks! Sure, then, which way is it? I'll fly right over."

[pythbox]

"This way," he says, and causes the nearest tree to point a branch in the right direction.

[onthewind]

"Thanks!"

Then, she flies in the direction the branch is pointing.

[hisowninvention]

Soon she will see a village! And in the village, she will see a person who turns and waves at her almost as soon as she's visible! He is quite tall and very pretty and not wearing a shirt. Or shoes.