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[ A few days following this offering, Hakuno will discover every item given has been returned to her, including the hat that had previously been sent. There is no letter given in return, just a simple pile of things in Hakuno's room. ]
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (MEDUSA)
Marvin Bell (1937— )
Live as if you were already dead.
Marvin Bell (1937— )
Live as if you were already dead.
— ZEN ADMONITION
| 1. About the Dead Man and Medusa When the dead man splays his arms and legs, he is a kind of Medusa. Thinking himself Medusa, the dead man further splays his arms and legs. Now he can shake it, toss it, now he can weave a seductive glamour into the source of all feelings, a glamour known to roots and to certain eyeless vermin of interiors. The dead man knows the power of hair by its absence, hairy as he was at the near edge of immortality while his fame kept growing. The dead man uses the ingredients of cosmetic products made just for men. He pares his nails in the background, just as Joyce, the elder statesmen of rainy statelessness, pictured the alienated artist after work. He snips the little hairs from his nose and from inside the shells of his ears, for the artist must be laid bare in a light easily diverted. He wears the guarded fashions of loose clothing so that changes that might offend — the loss of a limb or a sudden hollow in the chest — may go undetected. Mortal among immortals, the dead man can change you to stone. |
2. More About the Dead Man and Medusa The dead man mistakes his rounded shoulders for wings. His shoulder blades suggesting wings, the dead man steals a peripheral glance and shrugs, causing a breeze. While the dead man's nails keep growing, the dead man has claws. Once the dead man has lain in the earth long enough, he will have snakes for hair. Who could have guessed that the dead man was so feminine? Who knows better the extraneous ripple of a long yawn? In the theory of the dead man, nothing accounts for his maternity. The dead man will not move out of harm's way, nor leave his children; he repeatedly gives his life for them. Who else may someday be beheaded by a sword made out of water and weed? Mortal among immortals, the dead man strangles the moon in saliva. Domed and tentacled, capped and limbed, the dead man resembles a jellyfish. Under his wig, the dead man's waxed skill belies the soft spot on a baby's head that turns whosoever knows of it to mush. The dead man speaks also for those who were turned into stone. |
Edited 2020-01-16 04:45 (UTC)
[ Healer has never been his role, it's difficult to even want to imagine searching for survivors among rubble and corpses. He had frozen a few enemies and just walked away from them, left them to their own fate like it had no impact on him. Maybe he'll try thinking about that later. Right now he's thinking about the quiet black room Hakuno had put together for him. Washing his clothes, finally getting all the grit out of his hair. A cup of tea. All the things she would probably be happy he was thinking about at all: downtime.
Bae gives away their return this time, rather than Griffon's loud voice. The piglet squeals noisily to see the other demon and comes to hop circles around V's feet in the snow. ]
Your very own welcoming committee.
Laugh it up, Shakespeare.
Bae gives away their return this time, rather than Griffon's loud voice. The piglet squeals noisily to see the other demon and comes to hop circles around V's feet in the snow. ]
Your very own welcoming committee.
Laugh it up, Shakespeare.
[The house is dark, when he first gets there. Dark and silent.
It takes about half an hour for Hakuno to end up home, groping through the snow and sleet. She's exhausted; her coat is stained with dust and soot and blood, with a dark smudge of all or one of them high on one cheek. She's mid-yawn as she tumbles through the door.]
......I'm home.
It takes about half an hour for Hakuno to end up home, groping through the snow and sleet. She's exhausted; her coat is stained with dust and soot and blood, with a dark smudge of all or one of them high on one cheek. She's mid-yawn as she tumbles through the door.]
......I'm home.
...oh. Well, humans are the minority in this house, anyways. He should settle in just fine.
[She rolls over onto her back fully and opens her arms invitingly.]
How are you holding up, Chevalier? Did you out-thunder many Thunderbirds?
[She rolls over onto her back fully and opens her arms invitingly.]
How are you holding up, Chevalier? Did you out-thunder many Thunderbirds?
Edited 2020-01-27 01:14 (UTC)
[ Someone who wants him!!! Griffon flaps and hops and settles down alongside her. ]
Those fuckin' thunderbirds. Think they're such hot shit.
[ He grumbles and grumbles until V's feet can be heard on the stairs. Just as Griffon promised, he's accompanied by a large cat. A panther that glows and flexes with red infernal energy on the inside.
V is similarly still dirty and sooty, like she is, since all he did was come home and fall asleep in a chair. He perches wearily on the arm of the couch and the panther sits beside him. ]
Welcome home.
[ That's the proper greeting. ]
Those fuckin' thunderbirds. Think they're such hot shit.
[ He grumbles and grumbles until V's feet can be heard on the stairs. Just as Griffon promised, he's accompanied by a large cat. A panther that glows and flexes with red infernal energy on the inside.
V is similarly still dirty and sooty, like she is, since all he did was come home and fall asleep in a chair. He perches wearily on the arm of the couch and the panther sits beside him. ]
Welcome home.
[ That's the proper greeting. ]
Never as hot as you.
[Her fingers still don't have their usual strength as they preen through his feathers, but she at least manages a slow, steady pace in her petting. She weathers his grousing with patience and gentle attention until V makes his appearance.
She lifts her head, and beneath the exhaustion and filth of battle and travel her expression is sweet and bright.]
Thank you. I'm glad to see you're okay; Griffon says we got a new friend, too.
[In his most Griffon way.]
[Her fingers still don't have their usual strength as they preen through his feathers, but she at least manages a slow, steady pace in her petting. She weathers his grousing with patience and gentle attention until V makes his appearance.
She lifts her head, and beneath the exhaustion and filth of battle and travel her expression is sweet and bright.]
Thank you. I'm glad to see you're okay; Griffon says we got a new friend, too.
[In his most Griffon way.]
I only had a little trouble, towards the end. [ He collapsed on the road to the Keep. NBD. ] With Shadow here now, I should be approximately as strong as I was.
[ It's reassurance, in its own way, to remind her how far they've come since she found him out in the snow. He lays a hand on the big cat. Shadow's simply larger presence was easier to be tactile with. ]
It understands, but doesn't speak human tongue. Personally, I find him very expressive.
[ Sometimes it, sometimes him, sometimes just Shadow or demon. The creature was a shapeshifter, it could be whatever it wanted. ]
[ It's reassurance, in its own way, to remind her how far they've come since she found him out in the snow. He lays a hand on the big cat. Shadow's simply larger presence was easier to be tactile with. ]
It understands, but doesn't speak human tongue. Personally, I find him very expressive.
[ Sometimes it, sometimes him, sometimes just Shadow or demon. The creature was a shapeshifter, it could be whatever it wanted. ]
That's a relief. I know how frustrated you and Griffon were, when you first got here and had so much taken from you.
[She keeps one hand reserved for continuing to pamper Griffon, lest he get his demonic dander up again, but raises the other one in a weak wave.]
Hi, Shadow. I don't know how much these two have told you, but I'm Hakuno. Welcome home.
[She keeps one hand reserved for continuing to pamper Griffon, lest he get his demonic dander up again, but raises the other one in a weak wave.]
Hi, Shadow. I don't know how much these two have told you, but I'm Hakuno. Welcome home.
[ Shadow groans boredly at her and gives a big, expansive yawn. It seems the cat has already made itself comfortable in these surroundings. His disinterest is really a good sign and V pats the creature approvingly. ]
Some of our battles were a struggle still, without him. He's very valuable.
[ Griffon does ruffle angrily. ]
I'm happy, to be all together again.
[ Rather than unruffle, Griffon looks away in embarrassment. He knows V can be sappy, he just knows better than to include him in it. ]
Some of our battles were a struggle still, without him. He's very valuable.
[ Griffon does ruffle angrily. ]
I'm happy, to be all together again.
[ Rather than unruffle, Griffon looks away in embarrassment. He knows V can be sappy, he just knows better than to include him in it. ]
Edited 2020-01-27 01:46 (UTC)
Ah, yes they're the same in terms of their composition. Shadow can take many shapes.
[ It would be some creepy body horror if he could maintain each unique digestive system.... What about if he was a guillotine.... Speaking of, ]
Watch for his tail. It's heavier than it looks.
[ It would be some creepy body horror if he could maintain each unique digestive system.... What about if he was a guillotine.... Speaking of, ]
Watch for his tail. It's heavier than it looks.
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