They didn’t fully understand all that Reseda said. Some of the words were big for a little chick. But she said then with a grin. Surely that meant something nice. At the very least, deep down they felt pleased with the action and words. Reseda seemed to approve of them. And what’s more, she was offering to name them.

They looked up as the Komodo dragon was talking, drinking in every word. Then came a powerful word, “lust.” It seeped from their ear holes deep down into their brain. Neurons fired and lit up parts of their mind. Something seemed almost familiar about the term. Some primal part of their instinct felt comfort in it.

“Lust,” they spook softly, tasting the sound with their own beak. The sound of it had a strange allure to it. They nodded. “Yes, that seems like a good name. Lust….” The sound lingered in the air. It stirred some part of them, reaffirming their very being on some sense. While they did not fully understand the word or it’s meaning, it was true what Reseda said in that it fit them well.

The momentary serene introspection was soon ended by a rush of excitement. Their new idol named them! This felt very important. “It… It’s an honor to be named by you! I’ll cherish my name forever!” They squawked the words out with a puffing of feathers. To think that they were named by the great Reseda! A truly benevolent soul they must have!

It was then that Lust realized something. Reseda had not simply hatched there like they had. They had travelled there. Surely, they had some reason. As Lust was now down from their entrapment perhaps the Komodo dragon needed to carry on their way. “Oh,” the bird thought disheartened all of a sudden.

“Wha-whe-I mean-can I-.” In the flurry of realization, Lust found it difficult to ask what they were desiring. “Whatareyoudoingnow!” they rushed out in a single breath, before ducking their head again in embarrassment before trying once more. “I mean, now that you’ve save me and all.”


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Reseda
notes: Whoops, I thought I had switched accounts. ^_^;;;

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda was very surprised at how this conversation was going. She'd never had the same kind of luck with other creatures, especially with Pride. If only she had been smarter with him, or he had been easier to subdue. Not that she had, no. She had destroyed the possibility of trust or even of alliance. She worried that he would not join the group at all.

Now that she was thinking of the group, though, she realized that she should invite Lust properly. But she had to do it carefully - to mention the word of Lust as a sin may create a reaction similar to Pride's. And she didn't want that. She wasn't even sure why Lust suddenly seemed so down. She frowned. "What do you mean?" When she finished her question, she understood. The gem was scared that she was going to leave them alone. She smiled again. "I'm not sure. I've just been wandering. It's kind of what I do. I just came to this room to look around. I've never been before. I'm always on my own, of course...unless..." She paused for a moment, as if she was contemplating. "Unless you'd like to come with me? Maybe? I could show you the caves or teach you magic?"

@Lust

Lust couldn’t believe their luck. They were being asked to join her? To follow along and learn from her? The idea of being a squire, a student of Reseda’s made their heart flutter. They were certain that this powerful female had a lot that she could teach them. To have her show them the caves sounded marvelous. And to teach them magic? How amazing! To think that they might be able to do something like what she was able to do in lifting them up. They were certain that Reseda would make for an excellent teacher. Surely, she would be as good at that as everything else she’s done so far.

And Lust was sure to let them know all this. “Yes please! I’d love to come with you! I’m sure you can show me and teach me a lot! You must know so much about everything!”

Lust puffed out their sad, downy feathers with a new sense of pride. If Reseda wanted to take them under her wing, err, scales then that must mean that there’s something in them that she sees. Something of value. Something worthy of her attention and care. They weren’t quite sure what it was yet. But there had to be something there for the Komodo dragon to take interest in them.

Briefly they wondered if it were possible, at some point and time, that they could be just as strong and confident as she was. She was absolutely amazing in every way it seemed. Maybe they could be like that too one day. They wanted to ask how she got that way. How did she get so big and powerful and kind and brave? But the words were caught in their gizzard. How do you ask something like that?

“Thank you so much Reseda,” were the words that came out instead.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags:
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda nodded, still smiling. A victory. Another Sin recruited, although it did not yet know what it was going into. But it would be vital that Reseda kept on good terms with this one. She could easily lose control of the others and having at least one that fully trusted her would hopefully be enough to convince them to stay long enough for her to get it back under control.

But Reseda was no fool. She did not think she would be able to control them all. Pride...and Envy especially. She would have to share the power with them. But as long as the power was there, in her claws, hopefully that would be enough. She just had to get there first.

But now, for Lust. Whom she had promised to show the caves. She did not mind showing hatchlings around. It kept her moving, it kept her learning, and it kept her above them, teaching them, making herself their protector and master. "So, where do you want to go first? We'll first have to travel to the room of stars, but there are many more connected to that one. There's the room of bones, the forest, the swamp, the room of the Spire, and perhaps others that I have not been. Or we could stay here and practice magic, or practice it elsewhere."

@Lust

Lust was surprised that their input was desired on where they should go or what they should do next. They were nothing special, they didn’t know about the various caverns or tunnels, of magic, or much of anything really. How could they possibly give a suggestion that sounded reasonable? Lust looked around the area absentmindedly while contemplating the correct answer. The wind howled nearby, thundering in their ear sockets. That was motivation enough for the time being.

“Let’s go somewhere else. I mean, if that’s okay. The wind is really loud here. Maybe to the room of stars? If you don’t mind, that is.”

It was clear that Lust wasn’t sure about their next plans. But Reseda did say they’d have to go there anyways. And the wind blew their feathers in every direction. Away from their hidey hole, it felt more powerful. While floating they were more at risk for being swept away, the danger was not fully passed. Reseda proved some shelter from the chaotic vortex but that was only temporary. If they were to stay, not much progress would be possible. And Lust did not want to think about the possibility of being swept away from the storm. They gave a tiny shiver at the thought.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Reseda
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda nodded with agreement. She also would prefer to get out of this terrible wind. She had not visited this cave before and she honestly wouldn't have minded if she had never. "Good idea. We will go to the room of stars. It is beautiful there. I think you will like it."

She lowered herself, offering her back to the young pigeon. "If you so wish, you may ride on me. The winds are strong and may knock you over. Your claws will not hurt me, my skin is thick and strong." She didn't mind at all if Lust rode on her back. If anything, it would create a closer bond with the young bird and she wouldn't have to worry about it getting flung off in the terrible winds. As long as it held on tight, of course.

@Lust

(sorry, short post rip)

Lust’s eyes widen as Reseda lowered herself to the ground and offered to let them ride on them. For her to lower herself, both physically and metaphorically, for the likes of them was confounding for the chick. The fact that it simply made logical sense didn’t even enter their mind. For them, this was an amazing honor. So much so that they paused for a moment to consider if they could actually accept the offer or not.

But Reseda was waiting and that seemed like a bigger offense at the moment. "Oh-okay then!" Lust waddled over and half fluttered, half crawled their way up onto her back. The Komodo dragon’s scaly hide gave tiny talon holds for the chick making the attempt easier than excepted. Before long they were settled on her back near where the shoulders connected to the neck.

The winds were stronger without the shelter that Reseda provided. It howled in their ear sockets, fluffing their baby feathers. Instinctively Lust tucked their head in close to Reseda and gripped as best as they could against her. “Reseda will protect me. She’s big and strong and kind. She won’t let the winds hurt me,” they thought to themselves. Yes, they would be safe so long as they stayed with the Komodo dragon.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Reseda
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

As she had told the young chick, Reseda felt very little or perhaps nothing at all as its talons dug into her scales clambering onto her back. She looked back to make sure it was secure and, once she knew it wouldn't fall off, she slowly rose herself to her feet.

For a moment, she tasted the air, trying to remember the way back to Orion and tasted a faint whisper of water on her tongue from the different humidity in the room of stars. She turned in that direction and remembered that this was, in fact, the way she had come in. She began to move forward, her thick, strong legs easily bearing the wind. The pace was a little slow, due to her size and weight, but the tunnel was not far. They would be out of the winds soon.

Another Sin has fallen into my grasp...
*exit

@Lust

Lust gasped softly as the reptile lifted up and began moving. While the pace was slow for Reseda, it was viewed much differently for the small chick. They clung on a bit tighter to the scaly hide. But it was mesmerizing. Pink eyes widen as they watched the rocks move past them. The wind was slowly having less of a pull on them.

It was all scary but also somehow rather … fun. They chirped, slowly releasing themselves from the nervousness of the winds to simply enjoy the ride that Reseda gave them. After all, the pigeon was still a child. A child being carried by an amazing protector and teacher. A child going off on a new adventure. It was like the beginning of a fantasy bedtime story; a young squire being claimed by a valiant knight off to learn and defend the world.... Completely unaware of what schemes Reseda was slowly forming.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Reseda
notes: Lust exists the thread

original coding by wulf for template purposes