Post by Ayura on Feb 24, 2006 2:40:37 GMT -5
((Written several months ago.))
The trouble with mortal raiment was that it got dirty very, very easily.
Ayura towelled off her hair, feeling the aches and strains of the day's heroing melt away with a feeling that brought a mild pang of regret and nostalgia. Once upon a time, she had felt that way all the time...
... except that one never knew about true bliss until one experienced a state of non-bliss first.
Hm.
Groping for the pencil and notepad that she knew would be close at hand, after she had spent a whole afternoon secreting a large number of them around the apartment, Ayura quickly sketched out a Device that would induce non-bliss in the blissful. Of course, the most direct way would be to apply something that would be what most of the humans around here referred to as "torture", but she eschewed such crude methods, and not just because she had a vague notion that such techniques would be frowned upon by... someone.
The trick, of course, would be to remove bliss, but only temporarily. Perhaps something that interfaced with the brain... but no, that would introduce too many variables with regards to species and mutations...
A series of thumps and consterned voices interrupted her musings. Evidently the possibly-elf woman had fallen down the stairs again, and yes, that was her slow, quiet voice reassuring everyone that she was indeed all right, and she didn't see the fuss over something that was bound to happen all the time anyway. Ayura turned over to a fresh page, and began designing a self-perpetuating escalator that prevented any and all such accidents from happening. Unfortunately this would also prevent any passengers from getting off said escalator, but Ayura was sure that she could work around those problems, given some time.
Maybe a backup power source... steam was a favourite, but after that fiasco with-
"Attend."
The word was not so much spoken as heard, and Ayura instinctively dropped to her knees. She bowed her head, and clasped her hands in front of her. "Yes?"
"Ayura. This Is Haruel."
"Haruel? You're doing Planar Mortal Support now?"
"Yes, The Promotion Just Came In. We Are Happy In Our New Task And Will Strive To Do Our Best."
"Glad to hear that, and congratulations."
"Thank You. Ayura, We Require A Status Update. Please Attend."
Ayura brushed her hair out of her eyes, and frowned irritatedly. Reports were easily done, but strangely tiresome. She always felt drained after every update.
"Ayura, You Are Displaying Unnecessary And Unbecoming Emotions."
"What? Oh! Uh, it's the problem with living over here, think I. Spending time with humans, and picking up their habits."
"Ayura, Our Master Placed You On Earth For A Reason."
Ayura sighed. "Yes, Haruel. I know. Just... never mind. I'm ready for the upload."
After it was over, the voice that was not a voice said, "Ayura."
Ayura stared blankly at the wall. There was something she had to do, but what was it supposed to be...
"Ayura, Please Attend."
"Huh? Oh! Uh, yeah. What's up?"
"Ayura, Your Signal Is Fluctuating In Irregular Patterns. You May Wish To Invest In A Supply Of Fixers."
Fixers let the spirit center itself, reaffirming its core. For certain entities unused to extended existence on a plane, they helped remind the entity, in a deep, instinctual level, what it really was. Ayura shook her head. "No, I'm fine, really. I can get through this on my own."
"Ayura, Remember Not To Indulge In Pride. Our Master Has Allowed You A Lot Of Leeway, But Do Not Fall Prey To Sin."
"Of course not. I'll be careful, promise I. You can tell the boss that everything's perfectly fine here, and I'll be back in no time!"
"Your Sentiments Will Be Conveyed. Ayura, Our Master Wishes To Tell You Something. Personally."
"Eh?"
... and Ayura's world went soft and pink, with the smell of mountain ice and fresh dew and roses. There were voices in the background, familiar voices, laughing and talking, and if Ayura wanted to she could easily pick them out and identify them, but that didn't matter, because she couldn't seem to see very clearly anymore, and that didn't matter either. She was dimly aware that back in whatever the current reality her body was in, she was probably undergoing some strange and uncontrollably human reaction, but nothing mattered anymore, because she was wrong before, and this was the true bliss, that she used to be able to feel all the time, every time. And behind it all was her lord, and she knew then that even though she might be far from home, there was still a place for her there, and when her task was done she would be welcomed back home, she wanted to go home, she wanted to go home and nowhere else but home...
Sometime later, the hero known as Supertaster, or more informally as John, intercepted Ayura in the hallway. "You didn't answer when I knocked, so I slipped your mail under the door," he said. "And you've got another package from Cooke's in the office."
"Ah, thanks. I'll pick it up when I get back."
"Going out again?"
"Yep. Going to try to get my new security level by tonight."
"You seem pretty motivated," John noted.
"That's right!" Ayura gave him a thumbs-up. "Gotta get back home as soon as I can, say I!"
She bounced out of the doorway, oblivious to her landlord's bemused stare. The city lights reflected off the clouds in the twilight sky, but nothing could bring her mood down.
"Soon," she murmured. "I'll be back soon. Until then, wait for me."
The trouble with mortal raiment was that it got dirty very, very easily.
Ayura towelled off her hair, feeling the aches and strains of the day's heroing melt away with a feeling that brought a mild pang of regret and nostalgia. Once upon a time, she had felt that way all the time...
... except that one never knew about true bliss until one experienced a state of non-bliss first.
Hm.
Groping for the pencil and notepad that she knew would be close at hand, after she had spent a whole afternoon secreting a large number of them around the apartment, Ayura quickly sketched out a Device that would induce non-bliss in the blissful. Of course, the most direct way would be to apply something that would be what most of the humans around here referred to as "torture", but she eschewed such crude methods, and not just because she had a vague notion that such techniques would be frowned upon by... someone.
The trick, of course, would be to remove bliss, but only temporarily. Perhaps something that interfaced with the brain... but no, that would introduce too many variables with regards to species and mutations...
A series of thumps and consterned voices interrupted her musings. Evidently the possibly-elf woman had fallen down the stairs again, and yes, that was her slow, quiet voice reassuring everyone that she was indeed all right, and she didn't see the fuss over something that was bound to happen all the time anyway. Ayura turned over to a fresh page, and began designing a self-perpetuating escalator that prevented any and all such accidents from happening. Unfortunately this would also prevent any passengers from getting off said escalator, but Ayura was sure that she could work around those problems, given some time.
Maybe a backup power source... steam was a favourite, but after that fiasco with-
"Attend."
The word was not so much spoken as heard, and Ayura instinctively dropped to her knees. She bowed her head, and clasped her hands in front of her. "Yes?"
"Ayura. This Is Haruel."
"Haruel? You're doing Planar Mortal Support now?"
"Yes, The Promotion Just Came In. We Are Happy In Our New Task And Will Strive To Do Our Best."
"Glad to hear that, and congratulations."
"Thank You. Ayura, We Require A Status Update. Please Attend."
Ayura brushed her hair out of her eyes, and frowned irritatedly. Reports were easily done, but strangely tiresome. She always felt drained after every update.
"Ayura, You Are Displaying Unnecessary And Unbecoming Emotions."
"What? Oh! Uh, it's the problem with living over here, think I. Spending time with humans, and picking up their habits."
"Ayura, Our Master Placed You On Earth For A Reason."
Ayura sighed. "Yes, Haruel. I know. Just... never mind. I'm ready for the upload."
After it was over, the voice that was not a voice said, "Ayura."
Ayura stared blankly at the wall. There was something she had to do, but what was it supposed to be...
"Ayura, Please Attend."
"Huh? Oh! Uh, yeah. What's up?"
"Ayura, Your Signal Is Fluctuating In Irregular Patterns. You May Wish To Invest In A Supply Of Fixers."
Fixers let the spirit center itself, reaffirming its core. For certain entities unused to extended existence on a plane, they helped remind the entity, in a deep, instinctual level, what it really was. Ayura shook her head. "No, I'm fine, really. I can get through this on my own."
"Ayura, Remember Not To Indulge In Pride. Our Master Has Allowed You A Lot Of Leeway, But Do Not Fall Prey To Sin."
"Of course not. I'll be careful, promise I. You can tell the boss that everything's perfectly fine here, and I'll be back in no time!"
"Your Sentiments Will Be Conveyed. Ayura, Our Master Wishes To Tell You Something. Personally."
"Eh?"
... and Ayura's world went soft and pink, with the smell of mountain ice and fresh dew and roses. There were voices in the background, familiar voices, laughing and talking, and if Ayura wanted to she could easily pick them out and identify them, but that didn't matter, because she couldn't seem to see very clearly anymore, and that didn't matter either. She was dimly aware that back in whatever the current reality her body was in, she was probably undergoing some strange and uncontrollably human reaction, but nothing mattered anymore, because she was wrong before, and this was the true bliss, that she used to be able to feel all the time, every time. And behind it all was her lord, and she knew then that even though she might be far from home, there was still a place for her there, and when her task was done she would be welcomed back home, she wanted to go home, she wanted to go home and nowhere else but home...
Sometime later, the hero known as Supertaster, or more informally as John, intercepted Ayura in the hallway. "You didn't answer when I knocked, so I slipped your mail under the door," he said. "And you've got another package from Cooke's in the office."
"Ah, thanks. I'll pick it up when I get back."
"Going out again?"
"Yep. Going to try to get my new security level by tonight."
"You seem pretty motivated," John noted.
"That's right!" Ayura gave him a thumbs-up. "Gotta get back home as soon as I can, say I!"
She bounced out of the doorway, oblivious to her landlord's bemused stare. The city lights reflected off the clouds in the twilight sky, but nothing could bring her mood down.
"Soon," she murmured. "I'll be back soon. Until then, wait for me."