farsickness | An Angel Falls

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An Angel Falls

WHO: Merlan O'Keefe; Open
WHEN: October-November
WHAT: Merlan is back, naked, with a whole new body, and boy did she miss her forge.
WHERE: Forge, town
WARNINGS: To be updated; Naked angel

001. 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈; 𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈

God is a bastard. He knows it and at the time, she was pretty sure everyone else did, too. There was just something about the sky and the grey-greenness of it that struck Merlan wrong on a massively fundamental kind of way. The air felt wrong, too, people clustered outside in the late spring air doing what humans did. Talking about it. The supernatural communities were screaming about portents and signs and freaking out harder than they ever had.

It made her bones ache and her very genes itch. The magic part of her, well, that was a mess. She was back in Ballarat, sitting in her garden, holding up a death notice for her aunt as the sky looked like it was going to piss down death and destruction. Earthquakes in South America, the coast of California and various fault lines rended earth and sent tidal waves rushing in. Mass beaching events across the world. Communications disrupted worldwide, then.

Fucking end times.

Her magic rose, all of it, when ash began to fall. And she stepped through a rip in time and space. No, no. She fell through it, screaming, as everything around her burned. Merlan remembered it, all of it, and then God in His infinite assholery did something fucked up. He made her better than new as she fell, her made her an honest-to-whatever-deity-you-pray-to angel.

She was still screaming when she hit the ground in a tangle of wings and limbs in a familiar forest. There was darkness for a time, not due to the landing, just a heaviness of heart, of spirit where she drew her knees to her chest and her wings around her. Her voice was so raw, her throat burnt, that nothing was going to come out of it for a long while.

She stood, dirt streaked, naked, and discombobulated and let out a sigh.

002. 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈

Merlan walked the whole way to the Forge, too out of it to realise she could probably fly. Who knew how long it had been? But the forge was still standing and she checked to make sure her horse was still there. He was and happy to see her, too. She felt, vaguely, like a trespasser as she crept into her home, washed up, and put on a fresh set of clothes. Her shoes were there, too, which was a great relief, and by the time she felt close to normal, she had made a cup of coffee.

Strangely, it tasted really good black, and she sat out on the porch.

"Well," she said to no one save the wind, "that was officially the worst vacation ever."

003. 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝒶 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒

She lit the forge and chose a hunk of iron ingots to smelt with a touch of carbon that would net her some nice steel. There was nothing for anger and despair than good hard beating the everliving fuck out of metal. Merlan realised she wasn't going to tire around an hour and a half but the act of making the long blade of a sword without magic was definitely taking her mind off her varied worries and the shock, Hell, everything.

It also helped her think it through. She still had her magic. It was still there, weirdly. So what did that make her exactly?

"Angel mage?" she said aloud like God was going to pop in to confirm. "Mage angel? The fuck am I now, huh? You know, besides definitely not human anymore." God did not pop in. She slammed her hammer down. Damn this was gonna be a nice one. "Actually, Angel Mage, sounds brilliantly badass."

004. 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒹𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉; 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒹𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒹 - 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝒾𝓈 𝒶 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈

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Xue Yang has occasionally wandered to the Forge, poking around and checking on the animals there, though he hadn't run into the former occupant. He has to wonder if she'll ever be back - Xingchen had left only to return, why not others?

He'd thought of using the forge himself, but ended up just making sure the horse was fed and checked up on every so often.

Which is what he'd planned on doing today, as he works through a few things in his mind. He needs to tell his Daozhangs a few things that will hurt them. But they deserve to know, and he has to accept that. Take the chance they won't toss him aside.

And then he hears work being done in the forge ahead and pauses, head tilting as he considers this new development. No point in backing away though, so he approaches and pets the horse on the nose before calling out.

"Hello the forge!" He'd rather not get stabbed for surprising someone, thanks.

"Here," she says and the hammering ring of metal ceases as the hiss of steam rises. "I'm back. Did you need some work done or to borrow the forge? I'm probably going to take a break for a while."

Sweat dampens her hair as she steps back to scrutinize the shining sword she's produced. It still needs the hilt made but the metal is gleaming with a brightness that outshines her previous work in spades. She sets it aside and tosses her gloves to address him with a smile.

"Tea, perhaps?"

Xue Yang saunters over, arms loose at his sides. His sword is strapped to his back as usual when he's out and about, but he's very attentive to cleaning it and keeping the blades sharp as needed.

"I came by to see to my friend here," he grins over a shoulder at the horse. "But since you're back, I guess I don't need to." Which has him pout a little - he likes horses! But the pout fades at the offer of tea.

"If you're already taking a break, sure. Tea would be great." He studies the work she has before her with an admiring smile. "That sword is almost as pretty as Shuanghua!" Almost, because Xiao Xingchen's sword is the prettiest thing he's ever seen, other than the man himself.

"Mm, it's still rough, yet. I need to put details into it which will take a while but thank you," she said with a soft laugh. "I don't mind if you come by to check on the horse, please, I'm sure he enjoys the company."

Merlan gestures toward the porch and grins. The tea is good at least. She moves inside to change into something more appropriate to visiting and gets the water going for some black tea. After it's finished steeping, she pours it into a little pot and finds two little cups before setting them on the table outside with the two chairs. Then she pours Xue Yang a cup before filling her own. It's a nutty kind of tea, sweet but not too sweet.

"I know I was away for a while. I'm really just glad to be back."

The invitation delights him. "Then I will!"

Xue Yang follows with an answering grin. "It has all the groundwork for something great." And if someone isn't willing to put the work in, what's the point in bothering?

Claiming one of the chairs, he cradles the cup she pours for him and turns a more serious (and intent) look on her.

"Can I ask about that? It's...important."

"Yes, you can," she says agreeably. "I do have to say that I didn't remember this place once I was back in my world. I suppose being here again just brought it all back."

For a moment, she closes her eyes, savouring the easy sounds of the wind in the trees, Thunder stomping around in the paddock, the hiss of the fire in her forge. The bugs and birds humming and calling in the forest were crisp and sure. It would be cool, soon, she thought. A cawing caught her attention and she looked up to see a three-eyed crow looking down at her and calling. A few more arrived and she grinned. Her little flock of friends was back.

"Thank you." He's not surprised she didn't remember while she was back in her world. That's fine. What matters most is...

"Did you want to leave here?" Xue Yang is also aware that it might be different for everyone. That he can't lay everything on one person's experience.

Xue Yang's attention is also brought up and around to the crow, and he grins at it in hello. "They missed you!"

"No," she says with a soft chuckle. "I didn't want to leave at all. There's nothing back there for me, now. Especially now. An angry God destroyed my world." She holds an arm up and the leader crow takes a sharp dive to shimmy up her arm and hide under her hair with a low clicking, almost chuckling sound.

Soon the others came to mill around.

"I guess they did miss me. Well, I would have missed them, too."

Her answer has him let out a relieved breath. He doesn't care that it's obvious. It means a great deal.

Then the rest of what she says sinks in and he frowns. "Then I hope you get to stay here a very long time."

The head crow's dive and wiggle up her arm surprises a laugh from him and helps him grin again.

"I'm sure they know it, too. They're smart birds."

"I hope so too," she says in a soft voice, rubbing the three-eyed crow's chest with a finger. The crow rubs its head on her cheek and she laughs gently. "They're very smart as they ought to be. Have you enjoyed your visits with Thunder?"

Xue Yang grins brightly at the bird's reaction. He likes affection too, so why not the bird? So smart!

"He's a very mighty friend! We play games sometimes. He's fun." Yes, yes he does pretend to be a horse sometimes. Prancing and snorting at Thunder and chasing with no intent to catch. Just to have fun and keep the creature company.

"Good, I'm so glad you've been keeping him company while I was," she searches for the right word and shakes her head a little, "...unavailable. He's really a lovely boy. At least he wasn't bored. Would you like to help me here at the forge? I'd pay you for your time, of course, meals as well if you'd like. Right now, with cooler weather setting in, I should build a place to keep the hay dry and a shelter in the paddock if it rains or snows. Two extra hands would be well needed."

It's as good a term as any! Xue Yang draws in a quick breath at the offer, straightening up with a bright smile.

"I've been wanting to find better work. My husband doesn't like me getting hurt, and I've been helping one of the merchants keep his wares from danger. So working here would be much better!" He doesn't care about getting hurt himself, it's just annoying. But it upsets Zichen and he is tired of doing that.

"I know some things about working in the forge, and I'm good with my hands. I've been building a house for A-Lan and me, so shelter for the hay and Thunder would be much simpler."

"Brilliant, you won't have to worry about anything coming in from the forest here, either. I have magic in use to keep creatures away. The last thing I want is Thunder getting eaten. When the season is right we can plant crops as well. I mean to be as self-sufficient as possible. With your help, I'm sure we can do it."

Her smile is warm and bright as she fluffs the crow's head and in a show of looking pleased, he puffs out his chest and makes a softly satisfied sound. What a happy bird he is. The others drop in closer, inspecting Xue Yang.

"Your husband can be rest assured, you'll be just fine here. We'll figure out decent wages when you like but it'll be fair and you can take home food as well. You'll have to let me know or show me what you enjoy eating."

"I don't mind helping protect places. It's the getting stabbed and bitten that's old and upsets A-Lan." Not allowed!

Xue Yang fidgets a leg absently, he's a man who rarely stays still for very long. "I don't know anything about planting, but if you do, I'd be happy to learn. I'm strong, I can help!"

He grins at the puffing of feathers. And when the others set to inspecting him, he laughs and holds still to allow it.

"I don't care how much I make as long as I can support my Daozhangs and they're comfortable. None of us are that picky, though A-Chen doesn't eat much meat. I'm not sure if that's a choice or just because we were poor so meat was hard to get."

"I think we'll be fine," she says softly. "I do well with business, which means you will do well." She notes the meat comment and stores it away for later. "I'll teach you how to plant and we'll grow all sorts of lovely things. I would love to mee your Daozhangs sometime. If you ever need healing or if someone is unwell, please come to me and I can help. I am an angel and can heal wounds and make people better."

Her wings curve around her but don't startle her crow friend at all. They are blue and purple on the inside but on the outside, there are other colours, gold, mauve, and blue as well. It always feels so good to have them out, like a release of pressure.

He's almost bouncing, looking forward to getting started learning all these great, useful things! And the comment that she does well with business is a good thing.

"I'll bring them by in a day or so," he promises easily. Not even just because at least Zichen will want to meet her himself and make sure she won't take advantage of him - ha!

"An angel? I don't know what those are," there's almost an apologetic note in his voice. More curious than anything - and the wings draw his attention so maybe... "But healing is a very good skill to have. I would be dead without Daozhang Xingchen, and again here if not for Daozhang Zichen." He speaks of death and dying too casually for most, but it's a fact for him.

"I'll remember!" Because it's never fun to be injured when you could be doing other things. "You have very pretty wings." There's an almost childlike glint of awe in his eyes as he studies them. "Can you fly, too?"

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An Angel Falls

3 - meant to tag this ages ago, sorry! And let me know if you need me to edit anything <3

<3

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...I thought I responded to do this. Dammit.

<3

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