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ERIKA'S GARDEN - LATE AFTERNOON
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Xochi works to set-up some of the items that she and Nesseth have collected from the marketplace, placing candles along the edge of the dead grass, a quiet sorrow in her actions.
Nesseth seems equally somber at the moment as he works under Xochi's quiet instructions to get the firework set up, as well as other ceremonial odds and ends that are considered 'offerings' for the departing spirit. There's no mask or quiet resilience to the situation right now, just a certain sadness.
Xochi nods to Nesseth as she finishes, a melancholy smile across her face. She breaks the silence of the moemnt, "As the sun sets... we shall begin. I... hope I have met the requirements of the ritual."
Nesseth hums as he slowly pushes himself upright again and takes a moment to dust his pant legs off, then gives Xochi a similar, wan smile. "It should be enough for what we're hoping to do, with what we've got on hand. Our ancestors should know that we can't always observe rituals fully, all the time..."
Xochi bows her head, folding her hands in front of her, "They will know that our intentions are for the best, I hope, yes." She pauses, chuckling quietly, "Truth, Nesseth, I have never seen fireworks."
Nesseth tilts his head a little as he moves up next to Xochi. "Really? They can be... nice to watch, honestly. I've not seen them too often, myself, but what I do remember of them was nice." He sighs as he looks around at the candles, "Even if the current reason is... less so."
Xochi lets out a sigh, carefully moving closer to Nesseth so as not to disturb any of the offerings and such that they have set up. "Yes... this is all a new experience, but one I wish circumstances had not crafted."
Nesseth extends an arm to the side and gives Xochi a light, sideways hug, knowing they both likely need it at the moment. "Yeah... I wish it didn't come to this either, but... well, all we can do is do what's right, and keep going forward."
Tarbin finds himself and Melia cautiously approaching the all-too-familiar garden, though the streets beyond have been cleaned up a fair bit since that day. He looks at Erika's house, then down the alley toward the garden. He catches the tail end of a voice, familiar to him. He is still hesitating at the entrance to the alley though, not quite sure what is going to happen by walking into the garden with Melia 'on board'. He mutters to her, though not sure she's quite present right now after the events with Teis. "It sounds like they are here. Maybe... Keep yourself inside for now, at least while we're in the garden." He takes a breath and starts carefully navigating the underbrush and entering the clearing with a slight shudder. He slows when he sees Nesseth and Xochi in the hug.
Xochi returns Nesseth's hug, feeling fairly certain that she will need his support as the night begins. "Going forward is all we can do, yes. For the sake of those who cannot..."
Nesseth takes a moment to swallow a lump in his throat before nodding quietly. "Exactly..."
Tarbin steps forward quietly, taking note of the clear display the two have set up. He lets out a quiet sigh, stepping up next to Xochi's other side, bowing his head slightly and closing his eyes, without directly interrupting their words.
Xochi turns at the sound of Tarbin's sigh in the silence. She smiles at their friend, "Tarbin... it is good you are here."
Nesseth blinks and leans over a bit to look at the newcomer when he hears them approaching. He pauses for a moment, then nods with a small smile. "Ah, Tarbin... I'm glad you could join us."
Tarbin lets out a curious hum as he turns to look at the other two with a nod and cautious smile. "I hope you don't mind if I join your grieving ceremony."
Xochi shakes her head, "Not at all. We would be honored if you would join us. We wished to invite both you and your friend Teis but the wolf at the door said she wished not to be disturbed, nor did he know where to find you."
Nesseth nods at Xochi's words. "Yeah, Jax kept the gate barred for us, which is understandable, since Teis was pretty well out of sorts... I don't really know where you've got your place set up, too, or else I'd have gone to find you for this."
Tarbin looks to Xochi, closing his eyes as he gives her a slight bow. "Thank you, Xochi. I've grown a small home outside the West for now. Teis is doing better now, I spoke with her a few hours ago."
Xochi lets out a sigh, "This is good. Perhaps we should return to get her before we begin? We are... attempting to do a ritual of release, to guide the spirit of the Elemental towards the stars, in line with the traditions of my people."
Nesseth nods again. "It's the closest we can get to a full funeral service, but since we don't have a body to bury or anything, it's about the best we can do."
Tarbin blinks, looking towards the candles and considering the situation for a moment before shaking his head slightly. "Ah... Oh that. I don't think that would be... a good idea..."
Xochi blinks, "You... do not? It isn't much, we are aware, but we mean no disrespect."
Nesseth hums curiously. "No? Uh... is this... something against Yuretti culture or something?"
Tarbin shakes his head slightly, looking to Nesseth. "No, [brother]. I just don't want her to be put to rest."
Nesseth scratches his head in confusion as he looks at Tarbin, not even noticing that the Lizard is looking straight at him with clear eyes for once. "Uh... you're... going to have to explain that one to us, then..."
Xochi seems equally confused, glancing at Nesseth before looking back to Tarbin, "Yes... I am not certain I understand either."
Tarbin smiles cautiously as he looks down at the dead patch of grass, unfortunate fresh images coming to mind. His tails move in the grass at his side, turning color as he replies. "She is not gone." The dead grass slowly regains its color as he puts a hand to his chest. "She's in here."
Nesseth glances between Tarbin and the grass as his scales shift in color, not understanding. "...Uh... what?"
Xochi eyes the grass, rearing back upon her tail slightly as she sees it regain its color. She lifts a hand to her cover her startled expression. Part of her wants to believe this to be a sign, but more of her remains uncertain.
Tarbin looks to Nesseth again, light smile starting to turn into a grin. "The elemental didn't die. I failed, but Nature... She is stronger. The elemental, Melia, she is with me."
Nesseth simply stares at Tarbin for a few seconds, disbelief rising by the moment. "She... didn't die."
Tarbin shakes his head. "No, she did not."
Nesseth 's brow furrows slightly, dubiously. "...And she's in you."
Xochi lowers her hand, voice quiet, "...Our prayers were answered, then? The Moon does not abandon her children..."
Tarbin nods to Nesseth. "Yes, she is." He turns to Xochi, smiling warmly at her. "You may be right!"
Nesseth slowly steps aside from Xochi to look at Tarbin a bit more directly. "Tarbin... she vanished. She was dying when you and Teis took off for the manor that day."
Tarbin lets a light sigh out, smile slipping as he nods solemnly. "In a way. She lost all her magic, drained. But her body was just that, magic. What is left of her took the place of the only other magic in my body. You were there."
Nesseth shakes his head. "All I saw was your body rejecting those weird purple scales. [Brother], she's dead. You need to learn to let go..."
Xochi glances between Nesseth and Tarbin, thinking. "My heart soars, telling me that what you say must be truth. My mind... I do not understand how this is possible, save your words."
Tarbin shakes his head, expression hardening. "No, you don't know. She pushed out the curse and took its place. I know it. I've seen her, felt her." He turns to Xochi. "It's true. I... She can't prove it right now, she's exhausted, but..."
Nesseth 's own expression hardens in turn as his arms slowly cross over his chest. He's clearly not believing that Tarbin isn't just having a break of some sort from grief, considering the Lizard's state earlier, outside of the Bouquet Estate.
Xochi glances down at the healed grass beneath Tarbin. "Signs of miracles appear in other ways, Tarbin." She looks to Nesseth, "I... believe him. Perhaps that is foolish of me, but I have my faith."
Tarbin turns back to Nesseth, examining his expression. He suddenly lets out a single harsh laugh. "Nesseth, [brother], I see the doubt on your face. Think about that for a moment, please."
Nesseth shakes his head. "I've already thought about it, and I know what I saw. She was dying, her body vanished, and you were utterly beside yourself with grief, just like we were." He unwinds his arms a bit and points at Tarbin, "I don't think I care much for such a sick joke, especially since we're just trying to honor her memory."
Xochi looks at Tarbin's eyes, only just realizing the meaning of his words. That said, she remains silent, letting Nesseth vent his own grief and allowing Tarbin to say his peace.
Tarbin grimaces, looking at the finger pointed at him, then back to Nesseth's face. His voice is much quieter than a moment ago. "I was beside myself with more than just grief for the elemental. Horrified with what I'd done to the Flow, thinking I'd damaged it for nothing. Fearing it would abandon me. I was wrong, but you are also wrong. There is nothing to grieve right now. She is not dead. She is not a memory. Stop thinking of her as a... [mortal creature] tied to a body. She's an elemental, a powerful magic being. If anything could find a way to continue without a body, an elemental would." He steps toward Nesseth, "And we have a chance to undo my mistake."
Nesseth shrugs as his arms cross again. "She's an elemental. How can she still be around when she vanished after being cut off from her element? A flame doesn't survive when cut off from its fuel, and while we can start a fire again by reigniting the fuel, it's not the same flame as before."
Tarbin sets his hand to his chest, his voice taking a note of pleading. "I am her vessel for now. Her connection to the Flow. She lives through me." He sighs, gaze dropping as his voice drops again. "I know why you don't trust me, Nesseth, but please... I am not lying."
Xochi glances at Nesseth, uncertain of the sudden tension between the two lizards. "...a flame may die cut off from fuel. But what of plant, uprooted and set in new ground... is not this what we were trying to do? Albiet... with unexpected results, it seems."
Nesseth scoffs a bit. "A plant withers and dies if left unattended for too long without replanting. Erika told me as much about tending to plants before this, and as well as when I'd asked about that idea I had earlier, about transferring a cutting of that big tree elsewhere. We'd have had to replant it fast for it to take proper root."
Tarbin nods to Xochi, lighting up a bit at her example before turning back to Nesseth. "Melia is the plant. I am a pot of soil. She has time for now."
Xochi sighs, remaining somewhat between the two. "I... have so many questions. I wish we could speak to her somehow. I wish there was a way for you to show us, Tarbin."
Nesseth continues to stare at Tarbin. "I'd say show me, prove it to me, but I get the sense I'd just be seeing you do your usual magic."
Tarbin nods, turning to Xochi. "We can prove it, miss Teis saw and spoke to Melia using Nature magic, but could see her with the mana lens thing she has. Melia exhausted herself doing it, though. She's resting. I know that doesn't make much sense..." He glances toward Nesseth.
Nesseth seems to confirm something in his head as he sighs and shakes his head. He turns and starts to make his way to the edge of the clearing. "I think I've heard enough for now."
Tarbin grunts, turning to watch Nesseth go before looking back to Xochi. "So much for brotherhood."
Nesseth calls back, having clearly heard that thanks to honed senses from hunting. He doesn't stop heading out through the bushes, however. "I'm doing this because I care about you, Tarbin! I don't want to see you going insane!"
Xochi frown as Nesseth heads off. She turns back to Tarbin and bows her head. "This has... hurt him. A great deal. It hurt us all, as you know. I... will be honest, the past few days have been some of the most difficult of my life, putting my faith to the test." She sighs, glancing away. "You bring word that my faith has been rewarded. And signs that tell me you speak truth. But is that merely wishful thinking? Surely it must seem so, to Nesseth."
Tarbin steps toward Xochi, gently laying a hand on her shoulder as he gives her a warm, if cautious smile. "It's real. I would not be able to see without Melia's help. I would still be cursed, even. Nesseth is the only one who does not see, but we will help him, and Melia."
Xochi smlies as Tarbin places a hand upon her. "As I said... I believe you. This... if not this exactly, is what I prayed for. Using it as a means to restore your sight, to remove your curse. The gods work in their own ways to see things done." She chuckles softly, a bit of her odd humor shining through the stress of the moment, "I am sorry that you can now see the reality of this old snake and not just hear my voice."
Tarbin chuckles dryly, shrugging as he withdraws his hand. "I had an idea of you from when we met... Although... No, I must be remembering wrong." He turns away, looking the way Nesseth went. After a few moments, he shakes his head a bit and glances back to Xochi. "I should head home... I need to rest, as does Melia."
Xochi tilts her head, "Mistake? You mean..." She withdraws slightly, "Ah... Melia knows. Y-yes. Of course. Get your rest... you now bear the burden of her future. Carry it well, as I am sure you shall, Tarbin."
Tarbin nods to her with a difficult smile. "Thank you, Xochi. I will see you again." He sighs, losing his smile as he follows Nesseth's path out, turning Westward and travelling slowly home with much on his mind.
Xochi watches Tarbin leave as well, bowing as he goes. She takes a moment to think, planning on cleaning the site of their ritual up for now, when Nesseth's words return to her, 'Won't be mourned.' She looks down at the healed ring of grass, then coils upon herself in the midst of Erika's garden to glance up at the sky, watching it begin to darken as she prepares to make her prayers.