MOTHERLAND ･ﾟ☆

“that version of me is gone.”

“this changes nothing.”

“i was counting on it.”

“watch me.”

“it wasn’t like this before.”

“i can’t pretend anymore.”

“it’s a promise.”

“say it again.”

“don’t do this.”

“you’re late.”

“this is your last chance.”

“i made my choice long ago.”

“it was over the moment you left.”

“i had to see it for myself.”

“i’ve made worse mistakes than this.”

“you changed.”

“tell me the truth.”

“you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“you owe me.”

“you followed the wrong path.”

“this isn’t over.”

“i warned you.”

“you’re hiding something.”

“you’ll regret this.”

“they recognized the weapon before they recognized the person holding it.”

“is this a threat?”

“some things can’t be fixed.”

“help me understand.”

“it ends however you decide.”

“you don’t understand.”

“you can’t stop this.”

“you came back.”

“it doesn’t have to end like this.”

“you’re making a mistake.”

“we never make it out clean.”

“maybe it was the only one.”

“you remember me, don’t you?”

“you lied to me.”

“you’re shaking.”

“silence would have been kinder.”

“you shouldn’t have followed me.”

“i trusted you.”

“say my name.”

“i’m not afraid.”

“you knew, didn’t you?”

“is this goodbye?”

“things change.”

“you don’t have to be alone.”

“i mean it this time.”

“that was your first mistake.”

“you’re not who i remember.”

“we don’t have much time.”

“was any of it real?”

“that’s not what you said before.”

“listen to me.”

“and yet, here we are.”

“put it down before this gets worse.”

“look at me.”

“i regret a lot of things.”

“you’re bleeding.”

“i didn’t think you’d survive.”

“don’t say my name like that.”

“you knew i’d come.”

“maybe you never knew me.”

“why are you here?”

“you wouldn’t like it.”

“people like us don’t get happy endings.”

“you followed me into ruin.”

“before everything fell apart.”

“there’s always a choice.”

“we could still fix this.”

“you’ve said that before.”

“i never meant for this to happen.”

“you promised.”

“what did you do?”

“before you chose a side.”

“don’t turn your back on me.”

“before you betrayed me.”

“you shouldn’t have.”

“i’m trying to help you.”

“you’ve always known the truth.”

“say something worth hearing.”

“i’m not backing down.”

“help me, or get out of my way.”

“don’t be foolish.”

“you should have run when you had the chance.”

“i owe you nothing.”

“i had no choice.”

“i walked away when it mattered most.”

“i crossed a line i can’t uncross.”

“i remember you too clearly.”

“you still care?”

a selection of headcanon questions inspired by key bones in the human body.

skull.   what memories/thoughts do they guard the most from others ?

cheekbone. what makes them smile ?

mandible / jawbone. what are they incapable of saying out loud ?

teeth. what lasting mark do they leave on others ?

hyoid / neck. who taught them to speak up, or stay silent ?

clavicle / collarbone. who/what do they lean on when they're vulnerable ?

scapula / shoulderblade. what burden do they carry on their back ?

sternum. what makes their heart pound hardest ?

ribcage. who/what are they trying to protect ?

humerus. do they use humour as a shield or a weapon ? what from/to ?

radius. who/what do they reach for first in a crisis ?

ulna. who stands by them no matter what ?

carpals. what small habits do they have ?

metacarpals. do they ask for help or clench their fists and bear it ?

phalanges. what is their relationship with touch ?

spine. when do they lose their backbone, what scares them ?

pelvis. what future or legacy are they afraid/excited to be responsible for ?

sacrum. what sacrifices have they made ?

coccyx / tailbone. what outdated beliefs do they still carry, if any ?

femur. what drives them forward ?

patella / kneecap. how compliant/obedient are they, who will they kneel for ?

tibia. who/what keeps them moving forward ?

fibula. do they ever feel overlooked ?

tarsals. what past mistakes stick with them with every step they take ?

greyed lips draw back into an uncomfortable grimace that attempts to be a smile. avoiding their eyes once more, his attention luckily shifts to the yak just as it knocks over the table, saving him from another jump - scare. the explanation is at least endearing, he can appreciate setting up a table for your resident bovine to knock over for enrichment! ]

“ Oh, hah, that's pretty funny. -- ” [ he manages, but the cacaphony of tinkling noises alerts him that the other has scurried off. noticing the trail of tresses left in their wake, and the menacing yak in the room with him, he considers following along ... but decides to stay put. really, he's not sure what to do with himself. should he pick some of this stuff up?

he catches most of what they say, head tilting like a dog perks its ear up when struggling to hear from the distance. it's good to know this has happened before; that he's not trapped, only misplaced …

this being seems trustworthy enough; odd but simply excited to have company. he can empathize with the loneliness. it's not often that someone looks forward to Cesare's company. ]

“ Word on the street is that's the best thing to make tea out of! ” [ he awkwardly chimes as he returns to his feet, bringing the table back up on its own legs. the undead only dabbles in food and drink nowadays, but a social sip or two wouldn't hurt ... ]

Meanwhile, Dawa had returned with the tea cups and various cutlery that… need not be here for tea and the like but was collected anyways. There were three cups, all of which were different in style and shape. Some chipped while there was one that remained rather pristine condition. But none of them belonged to a single one set, and that went for the accompanying plates and the tea kettle itself. There was sugar clumps and honey provided as well, along with whole lemons that could be sliced apart if needed. Cesare's joke did tickle them. Gosh! They hadn't heard someone else's jokes in so long. This guy must've been a real charmer back wherever he was from~ Dawa giggles at the tea comment.

What else goes with tea? This is what Dawa was halfway thinking about as they attempted to but together this tray. But with the flusterment and agitation done in the other room as they flitted about their kitchen-esque area they came bounding back in happily, setting down the tray on an antique chest of drawers as they started to collect the various objects that had been knocked over by their yak.

"It's amazing to meet you Cesare!~ Please, please, have a seat!" They chime sing-song and practically giddy. The deity starts allotting the tea cups and saucers, placing the large tea pot itself between the three of them (Jinpa is standing in the third spot.) They give Cesare the fine China as it were, the nicely preserved cup that didn't seem to have as much worn time, not so fuzzy around the edges, not as forgotten and discarded. Along with the tea instruments are the other instruments. Forks and knives and spoons of all kinds clatter onto the table as well, met with a blank expression by Dawa. How come? These aren't for tea, right?

Dawa sweeps the knives and forks at least back into the tray and sets it to the side.

there's moments where there's this sense of the in-between, the amorphous feeling that atieno carries that becomes very obvious. very overt in the company of others who have a certain sensibility about them.

especially while they are traveling, atieno has a way of carrying this presence with them, making it easy for them to be drawn to specific places and locations.

it's at one of these out of the way spots, a place brimming with beauty and views of the mountains stretching out before them. they seem to be at a crossroads practically when they encounter another.

Still though, Dawa feels quite relieved in having company from time to time. Oh so thankful that the film that seperates here from everywhere had become so thin and gossamer, allowing for crossover. The godling sighs dreamily, blearily as a hand holds a rouge branch from the forest mountain floor, using it to rear up and poke various fruits off the trees. A few fall down and three other arms pick them up, offering them to their guest. They don't know what these fruits are, or even if they're edible. Not that it will stop Dawa from trying.

he would be like a spider scrambling up the walls looking for a way out, if not for the company. not only does this deity emanate a sense of comfort, they are very easy on the eyes. the undead bows his head timidly; a rare, respectful gesture that would appall anyone who knows him.

brows furrow as he tries to grapple with their explanation, losing his grip as they ramble on. he quietly repeats “ sphincter? ” under his breath before giving up. ( an expert riddle - smith himself, there's something poetic here. ) ]

“ But I -- Regardless of what kind of hole, I don't know where that would be..! The portals usually spit me out where -- ”

[ the sudden, blunt nudge makes him bristle and jump like a Halloween cat, stumbling a few steps into the building which he felt meek to intrude on previous. seeing that behind him was a LARGE, hulking beast with horns, he's unsure whether to feel uneasy or thankful not to have been skewered. ]

“ GH -- ! Uh, my bad, big guy. ( Is he allowed to be in here..? ) ”

Jinpa does eventually push past the guest with a huff, marching into the empty space between the doorway and everything else, only to unceremoniously knock over a table with it's big yak butt. The table itself topples over and Dawa watches their beloved bovine companion now. "It's alright~ He likes to do this. I actually set stuff up on the table so he can knock it over." They then snap back to attention in a flighty frenzy. Skedaddling out of the foyer while speaking, their voice carries and carries until it doesn't, having gone too far into the temple.

"No need to be in such a rush! I'll help you find another hole to pop yourself right into! I rarely get company though! It's always something I look forward to! There's nobody else here, this world is on the downturn and I ...

... and that was about the time the last of the people were to be reabsorbed. It's been so lonely! But sometimes people fall in through the tears and end up here! I look forward to it!"

Their hair was trailing all through the corridors and they showed back up on the opposite side from whence they departed. Holding a tray of ornate little teacups and a large, equally ornate teapot steaming hot and steeping.