Two Eyes Cenote return

Whatever had possessed her had passed. And then, she knew she had to go back. Medusa could scarcely express what had come over her, but the experience was one Medusa wished to pursue again—after much rest, much eating, and much pampering. And maybe, just maybe, an apology to Gucci—dear ol’ dad. 

The scent of Toula (be still her beating heart!) was here—Senmut (blech) too, more recently. Medusa began to sing a hymn learned upon her travels to the Gods at the borders, calling for company in a separate breathe. Akashingo had expanded! And though she missed the red sands and would return to them…

This place was gorgeous. Who was she to not let herself lay in leisure here in the interim?

Carefully she stepped from her family's den. Bright sea eyes staring at the world around her. She followed a path she had begun to trade along the borders. Her father hadn't started training her in Ernest yet, which she was a little irritated with him for. How was she going to be a good Mazoi if he didn't teach her?

She chuffed at the white creature and waited quietly. She reminded her of Beastie, and she needed to see if an adult would take her to theprison again to visit him.

A little thing came to her—a kid, she realized. Medusa blinked at them, and had to pause to ask herself what anyone else other than herself would do. Be nice, probably. Her song died in her throat and she sat on her haunches.

Hey there. You know about Akashingo? she asked, wondering—could this runt even speak yet? How the heck was she supposed to know the development rate of these guys?

a child was not fit to welcome home the Lady of House of Gucci. a child clearly did not know the importance of this woman nor how she should have been greeted by many luxuries. so he ushered the child off so that she might find somewhere else to scuttle about.

my Lady Medusa, he greeted her with a sweeping bow. a glorious day to have you among us again. he looked upon her as if he looked to the sun — fleeting with the fear he might go blind from divine radiance.

your father has come for a visit before we gaze upon the glory of Akashingo. he informed her warmly despite the lingering nasal sound of his speech. but perhaps you might wish for a cleansing first or a feast after such travels?

Medusa scarcely had time to finish her sentence before an all too familiar face presented itself to her. And Medusa didn’t really know how to feel about seeing it, because it meant daddy-o was most certainly here—first, she let herself feel a little smug that this beauteous place was of couuuurseee affiliated with Akashingo. How couldn’t it be? And of course the Gods led her precisely where she needed to be.

But also, They fucking didn’t, because she so did not need to see that man right this very second. Medusa expected a day, two—and had hoped for four, which with his tiny build and the unknown distance of Akashingo shouldn’t have been an impossible ask! 

…yet… didn’t They? Here was Charmion, who could pamper her to her hearts content, which the Gods knew she deserved… 

Medusa laughed just before Charmion returned, not at all blind to the fact that she was making the Gods work for her. Except, if You can hear that, I of course am not, as You are like… my operator, right? So don’t smite me or mine for that, You are in total control… she looked skyward for any thunderclouds. 

Instead came Charmion. Thundercloud enough, in a way. But the storm cleared as she sighed to hear all of his niceties, mostly just relieved to be back to normalcy. The Wilds were too savage a place for her liking. Sure she had found a hunk of a man to hunt for her, but his meal prep was lacking. 

I think both, the Hemet decided, turning her eyes to look at Charmion who was awkward as ever. You can look at me, you know. The Pharaoh here isn’t going to have your head for it. I bet she’ll love you, actually, Medusa considered that for a moment. …technically, you’re free here. She’ll free you to do as you please, and then, you can renew your oath to our family and it can be your choice, Medusa smiled at the animal who served her house. Who had just been given to them as some gift. Kind of fucked up, actually, but Medusa hadn’t really thought too hard or felt too bad about it up until remembering that here, the higher court had morals and hearts.

Which meant she needed to adapt and have one too. Honestly, that would probably make my dad even happier with you—me too, of course, she prattled, now moving to step with them. Or had Charmion been bought…? She was horrible.
She had no idea. You choosing us, I mean—…if you would, 

How pissed would dad be if Charmion didn’t? Fuck, he’d probably hate Pharaoh for that one… and Medusa, she just wanted a minute of peace. They could get to that. Can you get me some huge meal and a hot bath prepared, before we see my father? I’m hardly presentable, and her dad would hate that too, she figured.

both!

of course, my Lady. he was no master of fellahin here but he was certain they might assist him when it came to the hemet. otherwise they might all succumb a terrible fate! well deserved for upsetting a vessel of divinity.

then she spoke in tongues! not quiet but his brain found itself twisted around these things she ambled vocally through. freedom and choices and nonsense! he never dared to utter these thoughts, of course. instead it was only a lingering smile on his narrow features.

my choice will forever be House of Gucci, my Lady. and he hoped that would dissolve any of these odd thoughts she might have held!

as for her deserved and desired luxuries! i would not do you a disservice such as that. dusted by travels and not bathed in things that would scent her holiness. it was true that perhaps Lord Gucci might find concern with a daughter returned to him in such wild conditions. which is not to say that you are not lovely at all times, my Lady! he chirped in a tack on that certainly came a moment or two too late.

but yes, the bath and meal! allow me to escort you to a pool. then he could allow himself a moment to slip away to a cache where he might bellow about how he had nearly insulted the divine Lady of his House.

She squinted at him, and then she decided that she would take him at his word and deal with the trouble later if he did something different. Good. That will be our secret, a surprise little gift that will surely delight when the time comes. I know your choice will make him so happy, She says with a smile, and ideally, that would keep at least this conversation between them and save her a headache these next few days. 

Anything else? Unlikely. 

But that was fine. Medusa had learned to expect that, and sometimes she had the good fortune of being able to use it to her advantage when she remembered. I know you wouldn’t, she complimented unthinkingly, a little too tired. Kind words from Medusa? A rare thing. And she would have thought nothing more of his initial words had he not tacked on the following sentiment, which earned a long look. Medusa did not think herself very pretty, but she did take offense when it was called attention to, and so she said, perhaps a little sharply, do not think to comment on my appearance again. it is enough to be groomed, and clean, but loveliness is not a thing a Hemet aspires to. She was not made in the image of the Gods, as the divine, but she could speak for Them at least.

A different sort of power. And while it might be nice to be pretty, Medusa did not think that she could handle being looked at for too long. She was unique in appearance, she knew, but nondescript enough to be left alone in her prayers and not hold the attention of any for longer than she was comfortable with. 

Medusa followed silently in step after this, and once they arrived she was quick to slip into the water. She did not look at her reflection until Charmion walked away, but any servant that remained near would see Medusa looking down and staring.

Shit, she was dirty. No wonder Charmion sought to make a recovery—ugly, pretty, one thing that was for sure was that even for her cold plunge in the river she was filthy. Medusa continued to stare, allowing her thoughts to drift to all the faces she had ever seen—none but for Midas could she find herself in. Medusa was a being who belonged to none, she felt—but she owed everything to Gucci, and to the first Pharaoh, who had permitted him to be her father through marriage. Because where the hell would she be now? 

Medusa never asked once about her mother. Sometimes Gucci would prepare to go into some verbal tangent about her, but Medusa had never been ready to hear it. So she never asked, and when it came up, she never listened. Because it didn’t matter—not if she wasn’t here. Better to not long for someone who probably couldn’t live up to her imagination anyway. 

It wasn’t as if her mother was some badass poisoner, or something cool. But she had been important enough to marry, and marry well, and Medusa had inherited wealth at least. And… love, as Gucci sometimes blathered. 

But not the sort of love Medusa has learned about during her travels. That was different. Warlock and Tall Dark and Handsome, the first, were whatever that was. Now though she felt absolutely nothing. Same word, different font, and it didn’t mean much to her. 

Except she did care about her dad, really. And even if she didn’t say it to him, she loved him too. Which was why she felt so guilty about running, and didn’t want to confront that guilt, or even humor being in the wrong. Which. Was she? It had been a Godsgiven mission that she had completed after all! 

Where the hell was Charmion? She thought she heard his steps padding her way, so she asked, how is his mood? Is he very upset with me? had Gucci ever been mad at her? 

Ugh. If he was she would have to avoid him forever. She just couldn’t deal with it.

he allowed himself to feel something personal in that moment. although it still stemmed from his services, but there was a great honor in the Lady Medusa’s words. to bring happiness to the House of Gucci was all he worked for, day in and day out. thank you, my Lady. a soft tip of his head as they carried on.

yet despite the kindness she had touched upon, he knew he had set off a potential hazard too. tight lipped and silent as she rightfully swung a hammer. he dared not utter a word for fear that they would not sound right either! only an obedient nod and an avoidant gaze again.

he corrected this behavior in the way he gathered the food for her. all of the freshest things that could be collected, so that she might hydrate upon her feast as well as have her fill. fresh meat for nutrients and a savory element, plump fruits for a sweetness and that desired hydration. it would all be laid out upon a large palm leaf for cleanliness and presentation.

her voice herald his return and found himself content to be asked such a thing. no, my Lady. i do not know if his heart might ever be upset with you. and it was not flattery, only a soft spoken truth. worried, perhaps, but Lord @Gucci spoke only kindly worded thoughtfulness into my ears of your time away. by the end of his own answer, the food had now been laid proper for her enjoyment.

Shit. That was somehow even worse.

Medusa crawled toward the food and began to eat, offering her shoulders to be cleansed by him. Medusa admired the plate for only a second, too hungry to really appreciate it. But remembering where she was, and thinking of the golden Pharaoh, she paused to try and do just that. 

She could try and make an effort to be better here, couldn’t she? Nice touches, she said, lips stained with red. 

Thoughtfulness. Why couldn’t she have inherited that from him? What had she inherited? I think the Gods delayed me. Do you think he will understand? why humor this with the fellahin? She didn’t know. But she listened for the answer regardless.

he set out to work on the places she could not have reached by herself and as he cleansed, he wondered what pieces of the world she had seen. how long had she gone without being tended to? had the world known that one who communed with Gods walked among them? he found himself grateful to be the one to welcome her home properly.

her praise raised warmth in his cheeks. another thank you, my Lady escaped him between gently working free a burr. then a smile softly twisted his lips.

i believe he will. your father is a cultured, traveled royal who has surely seen or heard of sabbaticals... the burr freed of pale fur, he tossed it away from the reaches of her cleansed fur. i do not mean to prattle, my Lady, but i believe he will only feel joy when he sees you once more. no worries, no upset or discontent. it is a blessing for the House of Gucci to be full again, it is a blessing for the Gods to have guided you in time apart.

-wait, repeat that?

gucci stopped @Safiya in the hall, one paw on the youngin's foreleg - as if he had the power in anything but rank to keep her in place.

white ladywolf? mah servant escorted her?

not a second after the girl confirmed so, the lord took off running.

--



--

tinktinktinktinktink

GABBY!

weeping already at such volume that his precious child turned to a pale blur in his vision, gucci advanced without any loss in speed.

mah sweet dear! mah peach, what took ya so long where were-

in the midst of achieving mach 5 for fathers, gucci's own paws tripped him up, and the little lord went rolling headfirst, skidding on his face the rest of the way.

this state of being lasted vanishingly short, as quickly he'd hopped back on his fours to incessantly yap into her face, fat tears rolling down his cheeks, not yet daring touch her.

WHERE WERE YA AH WAS WORRIED DEAD WHAT TOOK YA SO-

and so on, and so on.

Gabby. Very few knew her by that name. She hasn’t the time to respond to the family help before her head whips around. She was so self-absorbed she hadn’t even heard him jingling in her direction.


Everyone, out! a pointed glance to the servant too, so he could ensure it, and when it was all obeyed…

Medusa melted. She became so very small before her father, tail beating against the water. She hadn’t meant to upset him. When he yelled, she showed him her belly to appease him and mouthed at his chin to quiet him down. 

When he was quiet, Medusa flopped to her side. I’m here now! So can we just forget that I was ever gone? she asked, and said, The Gods did it, I think They possessed me. They made me many things, actually. But I wanted to come home by the end of it all. I missed— she looked away, resenting her own feelings, unable to say you even if it was true, it here.

he can be skipped/PP'd now!

Lord Gucci!

he hardly needed the instruction to fly into a directness at once. he was quick to snap the heels of any fellahin who lingered too long and instructed all of them to go. this was not a moment for servants. it was for the royals of House of Gucci.

none may stand in their presence!

he was a fellahin, but he would become a guard to keep this moment private and away from prying eyes.