What we imagine is order is merely the prevailing form of chaos

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

Sunday August 30th, late afternoon[day 91]

Rain lanced down like it was trying to punish the earth for existing. The wind couldn't seem to make up its mind whether to help or  hinder the rain. Both were doin' a pretty good job of hindering me though. I'd been bouncing in an out of the spirit world a lot lately.  right now though it was just as miserable whichever side you were on. So I elected to get wet insteadda drowning in the spirit tides. Somethin' was building Over There.

An really, in spite of the weather it wasn't bad on This Side. I hada nice tree over me. A good view of a place where Gods in flesh lived, an I bet if I wanted to go hunt later I could find me something for a nice dinner too.

So I I straightened and dried the worst of the water from my fur an curled up for a nice late afternoon nap. Hoping the weather would improve.

{open to Eris}

Comments

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I step out into the glorious rain, waiting for my father's presence as I always do during storms. In a tree nearby I feel a presence and it stirs me. Something unusual here, though not elsewhere and I smile as I walk toward it. A tree. But not a tree, something wet and white above my head.

"You're not normal," I call to it.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

I surface from dreams of a road chase of three surprisingly agile little critters to a voice calling out near me. You're not normal,

I swivel my ears in her direction before I open my eyes to take in the dame standing in front of my tree refuge. Then my eyes open wider as my other senses kick in. Swirling chaos contained in human form. All the madness and glory of unlimited potential. She must feel cramped cramming herself down inta that body.

I blink my eyes at her. First the blue and then the green. "What's normal in Excolo?" I ask.

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I laugh, my beautiful voice ringing out in the almost-silence of the water hitting leaves and rock. Chaos churns a little about me, drifting up to test the air around the thing. The cat that talks.

"Excolo has a much broader definition of 'normal,' I think," I say. "By that, I suppose you fit. But I meant by the definitions of humans less touched than these."

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

Her laugh rings like silver bells and reaches farther out than her aura of chaos. That drifts over to test the air around me. I deliberately make myself relax. Anything less could hurt. She's got enough Power to drown most of us and still I think there ought to be more to a god walking around in flesh. Maybe she's invested it in something or someone.

At least with her aura so close I can get a good taste of it. I stick my tongue out and do so very briefly. Chaos, Greek. Eris.

Oh right. i should answer her.
Excolo has a much broader definition of 'normal, She's sayin'. By that, I suppose you fit. But I meant by the definitions of humans less touched than these.

I square my shoulders and lift my ears. "Well yeah. But if we was normal, Lady Eris, we wouldn't be havin' this here chat. Which in my opinion'd be a damn shame."

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I smile when he says my name. More should recognize me by mere sight. I shouldn't have to introduce myself like the humans do, shell or not.

"It would." Water runs in my eyes and soaks my body as I look up at him. I want to invite it in. The rain bothers me none, but cats seem to hate it. Perhaps he is not so different. "Do snakes disturb you, Cat?"

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She smiles when I greet her by name. That's a good sign. She looks at me consideringly. Then she asks me an odd question. Do snakes disturb you, Cat?

I shake my head. "Not unless they're tryin' ta eat me."

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I grin again.

"Good. Come, then." I turn and start moving toward the house, expecting him to follow me. "She won't unless I tell her to," I call back to him.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

Good. Come, then. She won't unless I tell her to, said with a grin. Ah! an invite! One does NOT turn those down. I wouldn't've anyways on account of my curiosity. She turns and walks imperiously towards the house, knowing I'll follow. I jump down and trot to catch up with her. Humans. And human shaped gods. Why's everybody gotta walk so fast?

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I stand against the open door, waiting for Cat to enter. I don't usually hold the door for anyone, but there is no way he would open it on his own. Once we are inside, I shut the heavy door and move to the bar.

"I don't suppose you drink?" I ask as I pour myself wine.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She holds the door for me, which is mighty polite of her, saves me having to phase through it. Eris lets the heavy door fall into place as soon as I'm through. Next stop is the bar apparently.

I don't suppose you drink? She inquires, pouring herself one.

"Matter of fact, lady, I do. Not often, but it's been know to happen." I say with a bit of a grin. My nose twitches a bit as the scents of the room hit me. Lots of booze, lotta Power, some blood, even some sex. And the Entities! Eris does not live alone. There are more gods who live here. Both of them male and both scents mingle with hers in a certain way. I hop up on a chair near the bar.

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

"Hmm," I hum and look at him. "Whiskey?" I ask. His voice sounds like that of a whiskey drinker. My hand dances over the bartop and brushes at his wet fur lightly. The fur almost hums with power. I like this thing, whatever it is.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

Eris hums to her self as she looks at me. Whiskey? She offers. "Yes, please." I answer. Her hand brushes my fur ever so lightly. I shiver once at the touch combined with the tingle of her power. an involuntary purr starts to rise within my chest.

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I nod and pour some whiskey into a shallow glass then set it before him. I lean forward, elbows on bar, and swirl my drink.

"You haven't told me your name," I observe. "Which is your given form? Cat or something else?"

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

Eris nods and pours me some in a shallow glass. From the rising scent its an expensive one. I taste it. Yep. The good stuff.

She leans forward and gives her drink a swirl. You haven't told me your name,Which is your given form? Cat or something else?

"Thanks." I rumble through that rising purr. I take another quick drink as I consider the question. "I'm called Chester, m'Lady. As for forms, this is the first solid one I've had. Before that I was as formless as the Air.." I chuckle a bit. Yeah, s'bit of a joke that. Bein' as how I'm an air elemental, but it's true. Before that first pact I HAD no real form. An even now on the Other Side I return to that state. Which is handy sometimes.

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

He purrs and the sound resonates through the air, stirring Chaos yet again.

"Chester," I repeat in my glorious voice. "And formless as air? What are you then? An elemental? We had some of those in Greece, but most of them were female and...nude."

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She repeats my name. It sounds wonderful coming from her luscious lips. I drink more of her excellent whiskey. And formless as air? What are you then? An elemental? We had some of those in Greece, but most of them were female and...nude.

I chuckle once more. It blends right into my purring. I lean back from my drink. Letting myself flop backwards to expose my belly. "One out of two ain't bad. I never wear clothes. Don't gotta use for them. Yeah, I'm an Air elemental, as well as being a familiar. S' why I gotta different shape."

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

"Familiar," I purr and I feel more than see Aphrodite perk up her head from a couch in the room. "You have more of a mind than some. More than the scarecrow and the woman of clay. More gift than my Aphrodite. What brings you here?" Fingers trip over his exposed stomach, making the rumble louder.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

I see that I have definitely roused her curiosity. And that of another. A large snakehead rises from the couch to give me an unblinking stare. I give it one back. Yep. There it is. A link to the goddess who purrs back at me. You have more of a mind than some. More than the scarecrow and the woman of clay. More gift than my Aphrodite. What brings you here?

I shrug. An Eris runs her fingers over my belly nearly distracting me from giving her an answer.

"Mental stuff lies in the Domain of Air. Y'can also say that I am a spirit of knowledge an' wisdom as well. A pretty good assistant for a witch or wizard."

Hunh. So there are other familiars in town. Woman of clay... that sounds like a Golem. Wonder who has that? An the scarecrow could be a family heirloom for one of the farm families. Wonder if Hermia knows of them?

Oh right, yeah, she asked why I'm here. "Came to see what has the Power flows in town all ramped up."

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

"You can see it then? Smell it? Taste it?" What I wouldn't give to feel it. My fingers play in Chester's fur, but I barely feel it. I am too focused on stretching myself out enough to feel. "What does it feel like?"

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

You can see it then? Smell it? Taste it? She sounds wistful. She keeps strokin' my fur but her eyes go distant. The snake keeps its attention fixed on me, but it ain't a danger to me. As Eris' Familiar it won't go after me without the Mistress' say so. Even if it does look like it might be big enough to try for me.

I wriggle a bit under her hand tryin' ta get everything in the perfect place. Ah! that feels soo good.

"Yep. that I can." What does it feel like? She asks. Still in that wistful, dreamy voice.

I try to explain. not sure how well i'm doin' though. It's hard to explain a sense for which there are few words that aren't borrowed from something else. That an it's hard to concentrate while she's pettin' me.

"A warm...electric cascade that flows over and into everything. Right now it's mostly octarine with red an black streaks. In here, it tastes of Chaos but there are traces of Violence an Death. Out there..." I wave a paw at the nearest window. "Out there, it tastes of pure Power, so strong it nearly burns. Kinda like your whiskey."

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I nod silently, fighting tears that I feel rise up. They're gone when I look again at Chester.

"My Sense is gone," I explain softly. "Our father took it from me as punishment. But I can smell it here. Out there. As I grew close in my search, I could smell it here."

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She nods an her eyes go all shiny. But she doesn't cry. A tough dame. But then she's a goddess. an the Greeks, her people, didn't admire or tolerate weakness.
My Sense is gone, She explains softly. Our father took it from me as punishment. But I can smell it here. Out there. As I grew close in my search, I could smell it here.

"Sorry to hear that, Lady." Greatly daring, I give her hand a quick lick. There's a little jolt as her chaos tries to climb up my nose but I ignore it. "Your dad always did have a nasty temper on him. Did you find what you were lookin' for?"

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I smile when his sandpaper tongue touches my skin.

"I did. Part, anyway. My husband and my brother are here." My fingers move to tickle under his chin. "There is a lot of power gathering here. Soon they will have to choose. And so will we."

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She smiles at me. good. i think she likes me. I did. Part, anyway. My husband and my brother are here. She still sounds a little sad but less dreamy. I feel her fingers tickle me under my chin. I stretch out, my purr getting louder.

"c'n i ask who or what you're still lookin for? Sometimes I play detective an I don't do a half bad job, even if i'm the one sayin' it."

There is a lot of power gathering here. Soon they will have to choose. And so will we.

"That there is, Lady. I already know what mine'll be."

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

"c'n i ask who or what you're still lookin for? Sometimes I play detective an I don't do a half bad job, even if i'm the one sayin' it."

"My children. I know where they are. I'm not to go there. Neither is Ares, and they are his too."

"That there is, Lady. I already know what mine'll be," he says and I nod.

"Good. As the rest of you make choices then so can I." I smile and straighten, downing what's left of my wine. "Only then."

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

My children. I know where they are. I'm not to go there. Neither is Ares, and they are his too.

I frown a bit at this reply. There's anger and sorrow in Eris' voice. I don't like hearing either of those in women's voices. So I say, "Sounds like you need an agent to go fetch them or let them know where to come to meet you."

The we're on to the other topic.Good. As the rest of you make choices then so can I. She smiles and stops petting me to stand up and finish her drink.Only then.

"That could take awhile, Lady. Lotsa fence sitters in this place. Bound to be some who don't wanna take a side. Something might have to force them."

I roll back to my feet an go back to my own drink. Mmmm...good stuff. Finished, I sit back an lick the last drops from my whiskers.

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like you need an agent to go fetch them or let them know where to come to meet you." I nod. All I can do.

"That could take awhile, Lady. Lotsa fence sitters in this place. Bound to be some who don't wanna take a side. Something might have to force them."

"There will be," I say with a smile. "There always is. I do what I can in the meantime, but they'll all have to choose and I'll take what's left." I always do. "Hungry?" I ask when he finishes his drink.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She nods when I make my comment that is not quite an offer. There's a tightness to the movement that tells me that this topic is now closed. We may return to it later or not. Up to her.

I do what I can in the meantime, but they'll all have to choose and I'll take what's left. There's a hungry look to her smile as she says this.She may not be listed as a goddess of the hunt, but I would bet that this one enjoys hunting and is good at it.

I'm distracted form that line of thought by her asking,Hungry?

I nod. "I could eat, yeh." I'm practically starving, but no need to tell HER that. The more I stay on This Side the more physical things I need to look after an without a Master or Mistress, I have no guarantee of shelter or food. Got people I can go to but it ain't the same. I could Hunt for myself but there's only so much game around, don't wanna exhaust it or deprive someone who really needs it. Actually it's more likely laziness, why hunt when you can get someone else to do the hard work for you?

[erisdiscordious.livejournal.com]

I lead him into the kitchen and pull some meat from the shop out, setting it on the table for him.

"You're welcome here whenever," I offer, "But you might want to avoid Ares. Lúgh...depends on his mood. Mine, too, actually," I add thoughtfully.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

She leads me to the kitchen, and sets up some fresh meat on the table for me.
I rub up against her legs in thanks before hopping up on a chair to get at it.

You're welcome here whenever, she offers. But you might want to avoid Ares. Lúgh...depends on his mood. Mine, too, actually.

I look up at her. Yeah. Unpredictable. Chaos. Right. "Thanks for the welcome. an the heads up. I may drop by from time to time. Carefully." I smile but the meat is calling me, so I soon drop my head to the feat before me.