01-17-2018, 03:49 PM
The moment stretched out. Matvei's eyes seemed to scan the group, mentally taking a poll. He had his supporters. But success was hard to argue with. And he and Valeriya had led them to the Above, though no one truly knew what that meant, what awaited them.
More importantly, Armande saw Matvei looking in his eyes. They were blazing fires of blue. Valeriya was his. By right. By fate. By nature. Not a soul would keep them apart. Not in this world or any other. This was husband claiming wife. Lover claiming mate. Parent claiming child. Brother claiming sister. Friend claiming friend. It was tribal in that most basic bloody and animal way where humans showed themselves to be little more than primates themselves, the veneer of civilization ripped away to reveal the brutal selfish struggle of natural selection, life verses death, the selfish struggle of the individual gene. The tribe was all. Valeriya was his tribe. And no one would seperate him from hi tribe.
Certainly not this pathetic man in front of him. His eyes moved to the door and Armande knew that Valeriya was there, watching all. He smiled tightly.
Part of him thought this was ridiculous, pleading before a crowd for what was his right. He was an adult. She was an adult. Their bonding and coupling concerned no one but themselves. But this was a simple religious oligarchy. The teachings held everyone together. It governed all. In time, they would see how much more complicated the world was. But for now, he had to work within the confines of their group.
More importantly, faith governed her. It was the core of her. It was not false to speak her language, to align himself with her group. He did have belief, after a fashion.
There was one simple objective fact that was completely undeniably irrefutable.
He HAD been led down to them. They- more importantly, SHE-
had been waiting for him. And Valeriya was the companion and partner that he hadn't realized existed. Together, they would defeat Apollyon and the returned gods. Together.
Matvei swallowed faintly, so that Armande was sure only he saw it in the faint light. "Father Rasputin speaks truth,"
he said, perhaps a bit more weakly than normal. he swallowed and his voice picked up.
As the man spoke, he felt the tension leave his body. No blood would be spilled this day. The Khylsty would remain at their current number. "There can be no more fitting choice as consort for the Eye than Father Rasputin. So let it be decided."
A murmur of assent and that was it. They were not big on ceremonies, it seemed. Or else Radenyi superceded all. He looked at Valeriya. They had not even asked her assent. But she was willing, had said it was their choice. Part of him found it barbaric even as he rejoiced that it was done.
She smiled at him, green eyes burning brightly.
It was done.
He nodded and went to stand in front of her. They had no ceremony but he would say something- to her. He took her hands- her rough and hardworking, tender and small hands- in his, looked down at her, and spoke softly, voice low. This was no one's- not the Khylsty. Not God's. Not the universe's. It was theirs and theirs alone. No one defined them but they alone.
"I am yours. You are mine. Now and always." Simple. Direct. True.
And he bent down and kissed her lips tenderly.
((Valeriya modded with permission))
More importantly, Armande saw Matvei looking in his eyes. They were blazing fires of blue. Valeriya was his. By right. By fate. By nature. Not a soul would keep them apart. Not in this world or any other. This was husband claiming wife. Lover claiming mate. Parent claiming child. Brother claiming sister. Friend claiming friend. It was tribal in that most basic bloody and animal way where humans showed themselves to be little more than primates themselves, the veneer of civilization ripped away to reveal the brutal selfish struggle of natural selection, life verses death, the selfish struggle of the individual gene. The tribe was all. Valeriya was his tribe. And no one would seperate him from hi tribe.
Certainly not this pathetic man in front of him. His eyes moved to the door and Armande knew that Valeriya was there, watching all. He smiled tightly.
Part of him thought this was ridiculous, pleading before a crowd for what was his right. He was an adult. She was an adult. Their bonding and coupling concerned no one but themselves. But this was a simple religious oligarchy. The teachings held everyone together. It governed all. In time, they would see how much more complicated the world was. But for now, he had to work within the confines of their group.
More importantly, faith governed her. It was the core of her. It was not false to speak her language, to align himself with her group. He did have belief, after a fashion.
There was one simple objective fact that was completely undeniably irrefutable.
He HAD been led down to them. They- more importantly, SHE-
had been waiting for him. And Valeriya was the companion and partner that he hadn't realized existed. Together, they would defeat Apollyon and the returned gods. Together.
Matvei swallowed faintly, so that Armande was sure only he saw it in the faint light. "Father Rasputin speaks truth,"
he said, perhaps a bit more weakly than normal. he swallowed and his voice picked up.
As the man spoke, he felt the tension leave his body. No blood would be spilled this day. The Khylsty would remain at their current number. "There can be no more fitting choice as consort for the Eye than Father Rasputin. So let it be decided."
A murmur of assent and that was it. They were not big on ceremonies, it seemed. Or else Radenyi superceded all. He looked at Valeriya. They had not even asked her assent. But she was willing, had said it was their choice. Part of him found it barbaric even as he rejoiced that it was done.
She smiled at him, green eyes burning brightly.
It was done.
He nodded and went to stand in front of her. They had no ceremony but he would say something- to her. He took her hands- her rough and hardworking, tender and small hands- in his, looked down at her, and spoke softly, voice low. This was no one's- not the Khylsty. Not God's. Not the universe's. It was theirs and theirs alone. No one defined them but they alone.
"I am yours. You are mine. Now and always." Simple. Direct. True.
And he bent down and kissed her lips tenderly.
((Valeriya modded with permission))