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Category Archives: Greater Beyond
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The delicate flowers atop the mountain
swaying under the sunlit breeze
Commerce and activity of a civilization
buzzing at the frequency of commonality
The sparkling river speaks its motion
mystically winding and exuberantly flowing
Another day at the public house, opening up
to the unknown callers of fortune and circumstance
The raising of mighty voices in hope and resilience,
holding each other through the worst for a new day
Warmth of an invitation, sharing presence
in relaxation, enjoying a fine home together
The waves call their lovers, profound
depths echoing with life, wisdom, and adventure
Bucolic contentment through hard work
growing and making to share and enjoy
Haven of the outer reaches, perspective
and distance as a refuge for healing
Elevated inner sanctums comtemplating
their perpetuity as ever, the cooperative edifice
The youth seeking their best potential,
at home or away, decisions weighty and enticing
Lush gardens in bloom, the rambling
affections of their tenders in gentleness
A sky unlike any other, seen from the
firm ground, the greatness of being.
150 \ 342
Carrying very little, she walked. In this now, she wasn’t worrying about where to go, or when, or who saw her, or how they saw her. Some of the world was intact. Some of the world had been destroyed and changed forever. She felt the same about herself.
Soleil’s mind kept returning to the subject of stories, as though within all the events there could be a key she sought, and it was somewhere in this. She wasn’t exactly a writer by trade, though she could turn a good paper. Someone, people, got lost to the story, and that’s where they are now. It felt like more than just a way of coping; there was an imperative to understand.
There were no physically detectable traces of what happened to her father and Sturlusson. Flashes from a dimensional tear, and some blood on the sword. All that was left were the hints in everything, and this expression of story that kept coming. It was true that if anywhere, they would be in the story of this time, as though it were a place – at least, from her perspective. There were people, in many places, completely untouched by not even a ripple of these movements in the lives they live. That was assuredly so.
She continued to describe these feelings between bewilderment over misfortune, and awe over development and discovery – just in case the words would come close to describing answers to restless questions. They may settle or resolve in their time, or sleep to wake upon opportune occasion. She entertained the questions, or in other words, mysteries, like friends. Troublesome as they may seem, they would help her remember. It was part of this natural inheritance, and now coming into her own. She spoke to the air, unashamed, hearing her mind, moving forward.
What have stories
meant to me?
Enlivening or empowering,
a fountain of learning
for deepening understanding;
ultimately, also,
the mind’s play.
A refuge or
an escape, either way
and additionally, a
kind of portal.
The narrative is
in the consciousness,
however it’s expressed.
The story is in the breath,
the beat of the heart,
awareness from
moment to moment.
No question of
whether or not
there is a story
in the consciousness –
only a matter of which.
Like the sound
of many rhythms,
the stories blend
and weave together.
One part stands out
from the rest if you
listen carefully,
one voice from the
multitude, one story shines.
We begin, a tale is spun,
and it ends.
The energy of the day
pours into its moment
of reflection and expression,
reverberating through
other realms, itself
a reverberation.
The frame of awareness
is what makes a song,
makes a narrative –
the attention paid.
How is the story held,
cherished, and understood?
Through the telling,
experiencing, recognition,
and acknowledgment.
The way it’s received,
the method of relating,
the spark of its embodiment
or manifestation. A story
has its own story,
of formation, of
being known; awareness
of awareness. What is
the story when there
is no story, what happens
when a story ends, or
disappears? A shift of
dimension or meta-parallax,
within the nested
levels of experience.
Stories are as fractal
as natural physical
phenomena; get closer
and there’s more detail
and it contains another
entire story, leading to
another world filled
with stories. Tangential
or central, the connection
comes through almost
any and every part of it.
149.4 \ 341
“The contact digest for today is vivid and full of vitality.” Mireille had been allowed to peruse incoming memorandums for the past year, and had used her access today while processing the internal upheaval. “Is it true that you met Ravl Pliskin? There was a hint.”
Soleil nodded. “It was a fairly smooth dealing. I wish you the same in any such event. He may have understood the logic when I gave him facts.”
“Our civilization is going to need some post-traumatic therapy. We need to support the new happiness, the new dancing. We have veterans and their families on our hands after the loss of the fleet and the anomaly massacre; there’s a lot we haven’t caught up with, care-wise, since troubles started to pile upon each other. Civilian survivors of Anzi, HA235, neighborhood lockdowns, heirloom tower reawakenings, darklab demonstrations, and burnt groves. There is going to have to be a mobilization to rescue our sanity, well-being, and identity. Aquariid redevelopment cannot be ignored this time, and might even be a key component to human recovery.”
“Recover Together. It may work to apply that philosophy on many fronts.” Soleil was content to let her younger sister’s insights go unchallenged. Strategically, they were on the same page. The shifting dynamic was pleasant, so she just added what she could. “The Aquarii’s Symbias trees now claim Vedani as a type of family. Kao-Sidhe visibility is an entire cultural element that may entail its own revolution. I would expect there to be some new departments of study and practice for the next age.”
“On another note, there’s also going to have to be some smoothing out with those banding with some reflexively defensive dragonslayers. The returning Red Nexus Dragons are proposing to agree not to eat any humans, as long as they receive enough seekers to satisfy their elements. We’ll need to find those with the courage.”
“On the topic of dragonslayers, I’m returning Dusk-Arrow to the collection for which it was destined. I don’t need to keep it.”
Presence was sufficient as they nibbled and sipped, facing forward side by side. “The construction for the housing of the collection is nearly finished. The work on that was fast, after Grandmaria died. They’re asking for opening gala scheduling.”
“Maybe with your Ascendancy.”
Mireille tasted those strange words. “My Ascendancy.” She turned to meet her sister’s eyes. “I hope and believe that you may be onto something in designing your new job.”
“I think I know what it is.”
“Iron it out before the impending time for announcements. I don’t expect to have any argument.”
“I can get some convincing endorsements, and I can call in historical indicators.”
Mireille sighed. “I’ve done my best, but who, in these worlds, is ready for what’s coming next?”
“Oh – I brought something.” From an inner pocket, Soleil produced two gemstone pendants of exquisite rarity. “I know you’ve read the scroll, so you know of the Aureny. These are Vedani-wrought Aureny gifts that are attuned to their communication frequency scatter, which they tell us connects naturally with humans as well.” The sisters put them on, and sipped admiringly.
Without excusing herself, Soleil rose and began walking down the platforms. Mireille watched, letting her go from her place upon the cushion. Almost out of sight, Soleil looked back and nodded before leaving.
149.3 \ 341
“So. Dragon Food.” Mireille broached this intrinsically unusual topic with matter-of-fact practicality.
“You found Dragon Food?”
“As a first Kao-Sidhe to consciously register, he is a personable one. Of course, I may have seen one or many, and succumbed to a pervasive cultural conditioning to erase erratic phenomena – which is what they are. Whether or not or how this is supposed to work, there is a greater wholeness in the feeling and function of a world that acknowledges them. It’s an interesting ongoing empirical experiment. They’re not entirely scientifically provable, are they; but without them, the data is wrong. We missed them terribly, didn’t we… yet how could we have missed them entirely?” In her assessment, Mireille seemed open to new experience.
“They require an awareness that may be a building block to a very different kind of world. Acknowledgment is the least they demand, while we should yet keep a close eye to our bargains with them.”
“While other bargains have ended. Foundationals appear to be currently experiencing a form of resource implosion after an untoward joint venture. They also used to funnel to Father.”
“It seems rude, doesn’t it, some of the things we must discuss. But we know why we must. I noticed that the technologies are newly working again with the restoration of the dragonroads. Congratulations. On some of those levels, people are surely rejoicing.” They took a moment to handle the weight of their losses against this.
Bones of Starlight 3 : Greater Beyond 