-.... - thank… SoSo…. HaHappy…. Nevin's head was ringing with a cacophony of voices, running together, overlapping and running together. It was actually agonizing, a tumult of sound that was making it hard to even walk. He had to lean heavily on Eteri just to stay upright as we moved through the streets. Poor Eterj was struggling with his weight - and when he tried to stand upright on his own, he fell forward and nearly hit the ground before she managed to grab the redhead.
Breathing heavily, he pushed himself back upright. “Is ok.. Almost home Nevin…” She spoke, her poor voice strained. he glanced at her, her ears flat against her head and her lips pursed in concentration. Her golden eyes focused forward. He held onto her shoulder and they pressed on.
The two reached the shop, and both collapsed to the floor. Eteri hauled him up and rested him against the wall before going back to the door and locking it. She left Nevin sitting there, groaning as she headed to the counter, shuffling around till she found a light blue liquid. One he had taught her helped relieve pain. She came back to Nevin and pressed it into his hands.
“Here.” He took it and downed it almost immediately, closing his eyes. He reached out one hand toward her, blindly groping in her direction. His hand looped around her neck and pulled her in close. She had to step into his lap.
“Thick flow my head… all at once is going to be a problem in the future…”
“....Prayers?” She asked, concerned. The man nodded once, and pressed his face into her hair. His body trembled once, and then again, and his arms tightened around her.
“I - I'll be fine, Eteri. I mean it. I'm just no-not used to them talking yet.” Eteri praying to him before hadn't hurt like this. But then - she was one person, alone. This was dozens all at once, and more kept coming, new voices cycling in and out as, he presumed, the people at the church passed the pearls around. At least he wasn't feeling their emotions as well.
My King. A dozen voices spoke in actual unison, drowning out the others. The others of the church. They do not understand the darker glory of your Crimson touch. Fret not. They shall be the light, and we the dark. We know you accept us. Nevin’s eyes had gone wide. Stark wide. Staring, unseeing, his gaze boring into the top of Eteri’s head.
“This what forgot.” A voice mused below him. “Need way drowning… to drown out voices, to turn voices into strength.” He gave a weak chuckle.
“Not sure what can distract me from this right now, love.” His voice was strained, a counterpoint to her thoughtful tone.
He felt her shuffle in his lap, adjusting herself. He bit back a groan. “Take Eteri blood.” She said as she pressed her head to his neck. Her voice still thoughtful. <”It makes you feel peace...it brings you comfort and it is entrenched in your divinity. So take as much as you need. Even if you leave me anemic.”> Nevin
Another voice rang out loud in his head, louder than the rest and just like before it was a darker tone. Your Crimson touch is glorious, we watch you and the girl of blue closely, we long for the day she too shall be showered in red. Spread your holy touch, Dear King Nevin’s eyes shot to the windows. Curtains drawn. No one would see in. But then - of course. Faces in the town. So they wanted to see him kill more. Near Eteri. They knew she was close to him. They didn't want to hurt her - because they wanted Nevin to coat her in blood. He growled. He would have to start watching the crowd around us more closely. He didn't need someone trying to sacrifice themselves to get that outcome.
“Nevin? Drink?” he blinked. He had - been distracted, but Eteri didn't realize that. Instead of immediately following her advice, Nevin tilted her head back and claimed her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. He would - have to deal with the darker aspect of the church. The Gallery. But later.
She murmured in response and pressed her body close. Reciprocating his passion with equal mounts of her own. As they kissed, his tendrils sank in, sliding into her flesh. She groaned into the kiss and let her body completely relax. Nevin shuddered at the sudden influx of blood. Honey and warm sunshine filled him.
His tendrils sank deeper still, almost against his will as they drew more. But - he needed it. The warmth of his lover, filling him as she ground against him, was mitigating the pain. Muting the voices in his head that had threatened to drown his own thoughts out. He only stopped when he felt that she was growing limp on top of him, a sign that she was approaching her limit. His threads did slid out, and he finally broke the kiss.
“Eteri helped?” Her voice sounded weak.
“Always, love. Now just rest, alright? I won't go anywhere.” Nevin cursed himself. Had he drunk too much.?
“Mmm… “ he felt her nod. “will serve my God. My Nevin.” He slowly stood up, cradling the catgirl to his chest as he took them to the bedroom. He set her down, then went to make some food for her - she would need it. And he needed her.
Nevin leaned against the kitchen counter and stared down at the cutting board as he let his tendrils dance about, collecting things to make food. Iron rich food - red meat and rice for energy. She liked simpler meals - usually heavy on garlic or the other seasonings he'd seen used in Akashima. He'd found he had developed a taste for it himself, and used the dark liquid she called ‘soy’ frequently, using it to replace salt in many dishes.
He felt an odd tugging on his back and looked around - to see that some of his threads were stretching out behind him, reaching towards the bedroom door. As soon as he was consciously aware they retracted, returning to his body. He let out a deep breath. Even now - even now, he wanted her with him. He accepted it. He wanted to be holding her, to have her nestled in a warm cocoon of his threads, not far from him. Just with him. He'd been away from her too long because of his fear, driving him to seek a ridiculous goal. He turned to stare towards his shop, then shook his head. “I will save her.”
And he would. He was - growing. Especially now, he could feel faint connections that hadn't been there before. Thin trickles of strength, strings of acceptance and understanding flowing into him. He closed his eyes.
When he got strong enough. He had to go there. He had to go to the Crimson Lands. There was - something waiting there for him. And he needed to deal with that. He needed to confront it - and figure out just why in the name of the Great Flow he was. Was he just an Avatar? Or - was he actually the God? He had a suspicion it was the latter.
He pushed it aside for now. He had to make food.
