Love
Ironhand 9943, The Dragontail Mountains
"Master I have a question for you." Sirene said as she bathed in a pond, deep in the Dragontail Mountains.
"Oh?" Eigengrau asked. She was also naked, and relaxing in the pond, as much as one could with all the water within a few feet of her frozen.
"Have you ever loved someone?"
"What brought this on, Apprentice?" Eigengrau asked, smiling.
"You're a filthy liar and won't tell me how old you actually are, but surely there must have been someone. I've loved and lost so many times over the years, and it hurts every single time." Sirene continued, only her head visible above the water as she laid back against a rock.
"There are many who have loved me, the most dangerous of all being Mira Frost." Eigengrau answered cryptically. "But there are a few I have loved. To be loved by Death, so few have had that honour, but you are one of them."
"I bet you say that to every Sirene." Sirene said with a smirk.
"Of course." Eigengrau replied, closing her eyes again. "What good is it if you can't love yourself, least of all?"
"Okay but who else?"
"It is not Vordea, before you ask. She is my closest, dearest friend, but I do not see her that way. Not to mention her... tastes."
"We're just going to move on past that." Sirene answered. "So who, then?"
"A very, very, long time ago, there was a man." Eigengrau began, her voice soft for a change, instead of monotone. "Steely eyes, a weary expression, shoulders that had borne weight for far too long. He was the first person I ever loved. For forty wonderful years, I abandoned my duties to spend every second with him. He was well and truly 'loved by Death'. Nothing else mattered except for him."
Sirene made no reply, and simply continued to sit and listen.
"I knew he would not live forever, I knew he did not want to live forever. For him, one lifetime was enough. He always called me his beautiful corpse." Eigengrau said, which caused Sirene to unexpectedly snort at that comment. "Do not worry, I found it amusing as well. No, the day he died was the worst day of my life up until that point. I took solace in that I was able to personally take him to Hell. I insisted on it, and Vordea saw no reason to object, for which I was grateful."
After Eigengrau finished, the two of them sat in silence in the pond for several minutes, before eventually Sirene spoke.
"Did you ever have any... ummm... children with him? Can you?" Sirene asked.
"I have had many children over the years with my male lovers yes." She replied, her voice still soft and gentle. "All of them powerful demi-gods associated with death. Alas, I cannot create new life with the wonderful female lovers I had as well."
"So you've had both."
"Of course. Death does not discriminate, neither does my love."
Sirene opened an eye and noticed Eigengrau had moved slightly closer.
"Do you... love me like that?" Sirene asked, curious.
"Only if you want me to." Eigengrau answered, her voice back to normal. "Even if you do not, I will love you as a daughter for all of your days."
"A mother suits you better than a lover." Sirene said, closing her eyes again.
"As you wish." Eigengrau replied. She made no outward reaction, but was happy with Sirene's response.
"Is there anyone right now you love?" Sirene asked.
"Right now as in?"
"The current frame of time in which you are talking to me, idiot." Sirene replied, opening an eye and throwing a stone at Eigengrau.
Eigengrau sat quietly for some time while she thought about it. There was one yes, but how would Sirene react to this information? She's always been a very pushy person, and wouldn't understand how slow relationships move between 2 Gods.
"Master?" Sirene asked, noticing Eigengrau smiling.
"I was considering if I should tell you. But I will, on one condition."
"Oh? What's that?"
"You must not act on this information. No matter how frustrated you get watching us."
"Fine. Who is it?"
"Vaust."
Sirene's other eye shot open. Vaust? She looked at Eigengrau carefully, but as usual her stone faced expression gave away nothing.
"Does he even know?" Sirene asked after a moment.
"Of course. Who do you think he built the Inn for? Why do you think I spend so much time there?"
"How long?" Sirene asked.
"Since before this kalpa. Courting between 2 Gods is not some quick mortal affair, Sirene. We will both be around for a very long time."
Sirene sighed. Of course. "It seems fitting, though."
"Oh?"
"Chaos has Order. It only makes sense that Death would have Luck."
"I suppose."
"Will you ever have children with him?"
"I have not yet born children of another God. An intriguing idea." Eigengrau said, opening her eyes again. "A moment, while I walk that path."
Sirene watched while the frost pulsed around Eigengrau for several minutes as she explored a new path in time, before she suddenly stood up out of the frozen water.
"My clothes, Apprentice. Where did you put them?" Eigengrau asked, looking around.
"What's going on? Where are you going?" Sirene asked.
"To the Inn." Eigengrau stated.
Sirene looked at Eigengrau's face and was confused. It wasn't a corpse pallor but quite flushed. What did Eigengrau see in those minutes? As Sirene handed Eigengrau her clothing, Eigengrau took the gray robe only and put it on.
"This is enough." She stated. "Bring me the rest later."
Sirene watched as Eigengrau ran off into the woods, instead of stepping through time. What in the hell happened?