Goodbye.

[pearling]

[Private to Coyo, Sirius, Dracula, Loki, Kay, Rhade, Brax.]

I need to see you. Now.

[Added after she's talked to her people in person.]

When I came here, I did not expect to be here long. I thought that it would be easy to simply graduate an inmate and then leave. I did not realize how hard it was to change the ways of mortals, and I did not realize how much worse it would be with people leaving, or being taken.

Then I worried that the Admiral may have been lying, and I stayed after Edgar graduated. I did not expect what happened next, but now I understand why.

I am done here. I am sorry to those who I have hurt, and I hope that you are able to leave here soon.

The gardens should prosper, even in my absence. I have fortified them.

Comments

private

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

It sounds urgent. Why?

private

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

It is urgent.

private -> spam

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

I will come quickly.

--

[Coyolxauhqui hobbled her way to Persephone's cabin, an odd feeling lodged in the pit of her stomach. The tone was urgent, but Coyolxauhqui didn't sense that a disaster had struck. If the tone was urgent and there hadn't been an incident, it could only really mean one thing -- and the divinity wasn't sure how she was going to handle the news.

She knocked on the door and waited with arms wrapped around her waist to partially cover the bandages.]

Spam.

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

[When there was the knock on the door, Persephone opened it quickly, but her smile softened, becoming more real when she saw that it was her sister goddess who was on the other side of the doors. She felt a flash of something, and realized it was guilt when she saw the bandages.]

Come in my beloved, Coyolxauhqui.

Spam.

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

[She'd had a terrible week, but she put on a brave face and stepped inside the cabin.]

Persephone...what is it? [She reached for Persephone's hands.] Why did you want to see me?

Spam.

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

[Persephone frowned, looking at the goddess, and he held her hands tightly for a moment.]

I have graduated, and I wished to tell you in person.

Spam.

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

[She knew it - had known it. Had this happened when she first arrived, Coyolxauhqui might had thrown things and screamed, but the Doctor had taught her selflessness. She was happy for Persephone, her friend.

There was also some small feeling of relief, for the guilt of having involved her fellow goddess in her scheme to sacrifice the Barge hadn't fully gone away.]

Oh, Persephone. [Coyolxauhqui smiled and pulled her friend into a tight embrace.] You are free.

Spam.

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

I am free. I will be going soon, but not yet. I wish to be among friends and happy before I go. I wish to spend time with you, because I care for you and will not see you again, save for the moon above us.

[Persephone hugged her friend tightly for a long moment, but she was mindful of the bandages that had been wrapped around the divinity's waist.]

Spam.

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course. Yes. [She smiled and pressed her face against her friend's shoulders, squeezing her eyes tightly to stop herself from crying. It would be twice in one week - a record for her.]

But when you miss me, you can look up and see my face. I will be wearing the bells.

Spam.

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

I will miss you, She Who Wears Bells On Her Cheeks. I will miss you every day.

[Persephone held the other woman tightly for a long moment, and then she pulled away and stroked the woman's face lovingly.]

I am sorry I pulled away from what I was feeling for you.

Spam.

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

[Coyolxauhqui gently shook her head.]

No, do not feel sorry. I felt so much guilt, Persephone. I led you astray. I should have never....

[When her voice broke Coyolxauhqui stopped talking altogether. She took Persephone's head in her hands and kissed her gently.]

I will miss you too.

Spam.

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

You did not make me do anything I did not want to do, Coyolxauhqui. I made my own choices; do not take the blame for them.

[Persephone kissed her back for a long moment, and then she took a step back.]

I made you something.

Spam.

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

[It didn't ease that guilt, but Coyolxauhqui said nothing of it. After all, this was going to be her last moment with the goddess.]

Made me something? What is it?

[She hugged around the bandages again, looking humbled by the thought.]

Spam.

[persephonepearl.livejournal.com]

[Persephone took a step away and then moved to the garden in the centre of room. She picked up a plant in a pot that had blooms shaped like half-moons. The petals were white, but the tips of them were crimson as if they'd just pricked someone and drawn blood.]

This.

Spam.

[leadsthestars.livejournal.com]

[Coyolxauhqui was stunned into silence. It was a gorgeous-looking plant, exotic and yet strangely familiar, and she took it from Persephone's arms and cradled it as though it was a child.]

I will love it always. [She smiled and gently ran her fingers over the petals, unaware that tears had begun to form in her eyes.] Thank you, Persephone.