Aug 19, 2023
I feel like my WoL is now gonna come to life and kill me in my sleep for doing this to her
seen from T1
seen from Singapore
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Israel
seen from Israel
seen from United States
seen from Israel
seen from Oman
seen from Israel
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Moldova
seen from United States
seen from Oman
seen from Brazil
seen from China
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Australia
I feel like my WoL is now gonna come to life and kill me in my sleep for doing this to her
Rough doodle of all existing Nemi ships so far
Dirty Little Clowns
Though this is a continuation of Elpis posts [ Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 ] and the Venatnemi oneshot, this primarily turned in Nemi's recount of her traumatic experience at the age of 14, killing a man who was preying on her best friend and almost being harmed that way.
Please heed the warning before reading: discussions of attempted child sexual abuse below.
X ◎ ∴ ∴ ∴ ╝ ϟ ☄ ✤ ╚ ∴ ∴ ∴ ◎ X
Nemi wished she’d kept a better track of how long they had sex.
Her guts hurt too much to move even with Venat’s best remedies. Going back to the present would not be as soon as she expected, and she had little less precious time to warn Venat . If she were any other person this wouldn’t be necessary, but… as the one to be key to fight Meteion, she would have to be watched by Hydaelyn from time to time, waiting for the right moment to awake the Echo and send her off in her adventure.
Which meant it would be inevitable she would have to witness her almost be assaulted as a child. She couldn’t just let it happen.
By the time she’d come to realize this, she’d already spoken to Venat of misfortunes and disputes were sprung by necessity, and what she thought led people with power to seek to subjugate and single out others for sole benefit. With her doubts on Venat dispelled, their discussion flowed more freely and constructively.
“Now, there is something else you should know and it concerns… me, though worse has been suffered by several others. But it’s going to be hard to hear. I won’t fault you for your emotions but, please give me space if I lose composure during it. I’ve, only told one other person once before.”
Venat frowned and sat on the other end of the bed, legs shy of touching each other. Nemi had gathered her legs up to her chest even if it would not cover more of her exposed body.
She told her of how her crafter village depended on merchants to sustain, anyone that would keep secret of a fled population of Duskwight that escaped Bittermill. How she’d grown up with the daughter of one such merchants that never came back, flinching hard when her black horns pinched her in hugs. They were 14 when a merchant requested residency, sending her friend way too many work requests and gifts. She’d seen him try to get audiences with her alone, finally slipping one note in her journals to meet him in the forest. Her friend had shared it excitedly with her, but Nemi tried to convince her hard that nothing good would come out of it. She insinuated that Nemi wanted whatever big treasure he could be saving, and she was jealous. Nemi just threw her hands in the air, calling her a blind child. She ignored her angry yells as she walked away, glad she crossed off the location and wrote a fake one before she could see it. If only she hadn’t been surprised in her workshop, she just wouldn’t be missed.
Fortunately, he’d come brought provisions and shared profit from goods he took from them before. If he never came back, he wouldn’t be missed.
The meeting place was in the forests outside, close to the cliffs near the start of Gyr Abania’s many rivers. She followed the instructions described in the note, blowing a shrill whistle. Instead of showing up to talk, the man tried to tackle her. It was when she avoided and spat at him that he lit up a shard-powered light, and heckled her for not having horns to grab onto. She threatened to crack his skull with her bench hammer, and he just laughed in her face. He didn’t when she hit his hand, snarling several dirty insults as he persecuted her to the edge of a cliff he didn’t get to see. His punches missed her head and she managed to hit his chest and his groin, but it all came to a stop when he swung the hammer out of her hands, flying off into the cliff behind them. He’d caught on her scheme and pushed her to the ground, trying to tear off her clothes and saying she would make do. She doesn’t remember if he dropped a Dagger at some point, but if she hadn’t palmed and caught it to slit his forearm open, then slice his eyes as he recoiled in pain, she wasn’t sure if she would be here. She’d stabbed his body until it fell off the cliff, never to be seen again.
Finally kneeling, Nemi registered the state of her clothes through her palms. The moon light wasn’t enough to show how much was torn or caked in blood. Young that she was, the weight of taking a life had made her heave, even if it was totally justified. She ran and slid down against some tree, screaming her lungs out. Coming back after doing something so stupid would just make things weird and stressful in her village. Her father would be so disappointed in her for not just telling him, thinking she could handle whatever mystery intention that monster had. She had been tired of other kids mocking her for still sticking to her mom’s Goldsmithing, even if requests for armor and weapons were more popular. She wanted to prove somehow she could handle something big, but deep inside her gut knew this would be something horrible… and it was. She’d been so, so stupid, and now she probably should run away, into the wilderness…
…but then, her father would be heartbroken.
With a sigh, she walked the long way back. How would she carry this with herself? She needed to scrub off everything, but the ghosts of grabbing still hung onto her guts like leeches. It was then that her friend found her with a lantern, covering her mouth in shock and rushing to aid her. If not for that, who knows where her mind would have wandered. Her assistance allowed her to get clean and not have to confess the incident, living peacefully the rest of her days she would still live there.
“So, I wanted to tell you this so that you could be, well, ready for when it comes to happen,” she chuckled, grabbing her arm for comfort. Her voice had cracked when she spoke of her friend being preyed upon, but she had to calm her hyperventilation recounting being trapped. It took many breaths and tears to continue the story, but she made it to the end. At least she had reacted better than when she told G’raha. “If, you would be so kind, I would rather not discuss this atrocity like we have the others-” she turned and froze, struck by Venat’s expression of utter horror and fear. She hadn’t emoted close to this in all this time.
“Nemi…That…” she tried to verbalize, breath shaky. “P-please forgive me for being indisposed, when it’s you who endured this aberration. I-it’s just… is there anything I can do for you? Now?”
Nemi stared vacantly ahead, slowly shrugging and looking down at her legs. “Eh, I turned out fine.”
Venat blinked dumbfounded, and gestured at her with stupefaction. “Look at the way your body recoils on itself! Not even being turned into a Lightwarden made you tremble so severely, and your eyes they, they’ve lost their light-” she covered one sob into her hand.
Nemi blinked and frowned, looking at her hands. “I, I was trembling?”
Venat nodded, extending one hand near her knee but not touching. “This pain is too different from others you described. The way you were reluctant to tell, how your young self was too confused and afraid to just talk to anyone…” Venat choked another breath when Nemi tookher hand, shaking again. “I don’t know how to make it up to you, making you recount this after you had such a wonderful night…”
Nemi’s sobs wrecked her more, and she threw herself into Venat’s arms as she bawled. Venat jolted with surprise but held her tightly, caressing her hair and pressing kisses to her cheeks as she cried her heart out. At some point, Nemi fell asleep in Venat’s arms. She knew for sure for the Echo dream of that night, which showed a criss-cross of floating meadows and water that she’d never seen before. Venat stood at the center, asking if she wanted a tour of the Southern plains. Nemi laughed and took it on eagerly, crossing what felt like 1000 and one worlds in one night.
Come morning she awoke first, and clumsily figured how to make this kitchen get some eggs rolling. She shivered and giggled as arms wrapped her from behind, teasing her that she was well enough to stand now. They would’ve made own diverging paths. Nemi stopounter if the eggs didn’t sizzle and call them to eat. They didn’t speak much then, sharing knowing glances and smiles. Even walking to the gates of the Entrance of Elpis, they glowed as they shared One Last Kiss and looked at each other, bidding to find the future in their of it. She clasped and looked back, throwing her one more teasing hug before leaving for the Rift. Their time together was but a flash, but all the more precious for being possible. They met each other beyond Warrior and Deity, and nothing would marr the beauty of that.
Not even her realizing the Dagger her young self was not from her attacker, for it was too spread out to be where it was. She ran back to where she buried that dagger, and wrecked back in sobs at the sight of it. She clasped it close to her chest like a lifeline, the hilt like Venat’s sword printing on her skin.
“You, you always cared for me… or was this a divergence because I told you? Could I have been even worse?” She buried her face in her hands, knowing Hydaelyn couldn’t reach out to answer. “Thank you, thank you and, I’m so sorry.”
Shooting Stars and Red Marks
Continuation from Elpis posts [ Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 ], but also works as a pairing one shot. After the clash at Ktisis Hyperboeia, Nemi has her doubts about Venat's advances towards her after seeing scant words to calm Hermes or Meteion. Venat is confused by Nemi's sudden coldness, and finds out the real gravity of the hurt Ancients of the future and the past have inflicted Now, how to mend that gap?
Based on my own interpretations of the Ancient world and the flaws that led to Hermes' downfall. Also drawing from life to make conflict so please keep that in mind. It's a relationship development fic first and foremost.
There are sexual themes implied at the end but not gone into explicit detail, so this doesn't need a label.
░ ▒ ▓ ☾ ♢ ☽ ▓ ▒░
From the moment she arrived, Venat had sensed the strange aether of her claws. They were more stagnant in their composition than the rest of her body, and were not used when she apparently punched Emet-Selch in the face demanding respect for her speech. This alone would’ve gotten interested in her, even if she didn’t have a mark of Venat’s magic that she never placed.
It was intriguing, the way she was honest and stammering even if her face was fully covered at the time… not being afraid to ask questions and posing the wildest ideas. Only in few moments did she pull nervously at the pink ribbon wrapped around her neck. When she unveiled her eyes, her pride of carrying individuality on her face, Venat felt in awe of such level of connection with blood brethren. Later, that woman had to unveil her beautiful brown hair and shout as vibrant as her red highlights, swearing and swinging harder at every mistake in her step. Venat couldn’t resist going all out on her when they sparred, thrilled as she tripped on her chest and looked up with those cute eyes of hers. Even her mind felt more enticed when she pressed on the makings of Ancient society. This is the sight she wished all other Humans to have! And then she had to stop on her tracks, struck by her words of comfort for others judging Venat’s decision to live beyond her seat… She could really see her, not just her deeds. It was an admirable quality, not missing even in face of the danger Hermes was setting in motion.She persisted on him with compassion and sincerity and convinced to let them women both be spared from Kairos… it made Venat feel lacking, even with all the wisdom and life forms she’d communed with and aided in her travels. They welcomed her and respected her, but did she connect with any so openly based on pure drive of compassion? Even with the power to do terrible things.
Which is what put Venat at a loss for words when she started to put up walls, right after they returned from Ktisis Hyperboeia.
“Nemi, are you alright? What was that about light corruption that you described?” She’d also observed her hiss with a long tongue, but she thought it another trait of hers. How she talked to Hermes about being twisted and unmade by light and, showed her claws… it explained why the aether in her body felt different when they grazed her sleeves.
“It’s not relevant. We should just get going,” sighed the woman in front of her. The woman who gave the name Neirmer, but revealed to her she’s actually Nemi. “It was just so Hermes would let us go.
“That’s a half truth… you’ve been nothing but sincere with every act. It’s writ plain in your voice.”
Nemi glanced off a tree, tangling her fingers in her ponytail. “It’s not a story you’d like, nor one you’d like to bear with,” she chuckled. “You’re better off not fearing things that won’t ever touch you or your fellow kindred. It’s not related to the final days.”
Venat stepped in her eyesight, putting her hand to her heart. “But you talked so openly of the wonders of the future! Don’t tell me you’re actually ashamed of its ugliness? Just at least, tell me why.”
Nemi scoffed. “What does that matter to you? It’s not going to affect you or your role as Hydaelyn.”
“Nemi… we are the last bastion in the universe to love life as it is. We must be united, and we can’t be if I don’t know how to support you.” Venat spoke gently, placing her hand on Nemi’s shoulder.
Nemi froze under her hand, grimacing with red cheeks and turning her gaze away. “It’s not that… I just don’t want to pressure you to understand something you won’t.”
That got a frown out of Venat. “What makes you think I won’t?”
Nemi chuckled darkly, turning her gaze back to her. “The fact you didn’t try to stop Emet or Hythlo from exerting excess pressure on Hermes. I had to do all the work.”
Venat squinted, puzzled. “But, they were just doing their duty as Convocation Members. They didn’t speak wrong.”
“That’s what I’m talking about! You, you didn’t think Hermes would be threatened by bringing up Amaurot with no assurances? It’s the same as saying we’ll kill Meteion for something she couldn’t control.” Venat’s wince at the word die made her frown. “Oh c’mon, you could not have seen death bereft of the grace and performance than these adorned ‘Return to the Star’ ceremonies must have.” She mocked the ceremony with hand blockquotes, raising an eyebrow as Venat stepped back like she had been slapped. “Maybe if I didn’t show up, this calamity would have started way worse…..”
Venat took a deep breath, closing her eyes firmly shut. “That our views are different, I don’t deny, and that chasm of the now and the future might be what spelled our doom. But is it so fair to blame our ignorance?”
“No shit Venat. You’ve never talked to someone with an ill heart before? You can create quirky dogs but not approach someone in a corner carefully. How childish,” Nemi hissed, but regretted it immediately. Venat’s eyes shuddered like one holding back tears. “In any case, the future was set. What ifs are useless.”
Venat opened her eyes at that, summoning Argos to her side. “In that we’re much in agreement. We must not wait time and check on the others, without being seen.”
◎ ∴ ∴ ∴ ╝ ϟ ☄ ✤ ╚ ∴ ∴ ∴ ◎
Nemi was reluctant to put her subconsciousness onto a dog, but Venat assured her the process was more of a mental piggy ride than something so invasive. She scoffed at being called a manner of creation by someone else, scowling under her breath: “It’s not my fault I got transmogrified!”
Once the link with Argos subsided, Venat touched her shoulder again with a sad look of concern. “Then, what happened was something done to you against your will?”
Nemi clammed up once again, turning and walking towards a mountain nearby. venat just followed at court distance, her hand still outstretched. “If it’s too painful a memory to recount in greater detail then… I shall stop imposing on you.”
Venat’s words cracked something in her, making her turn with tears forming. “I-it’s not that! I just don’t know what you see in me, and I’m terrified to find out.”
This made Venat’s jaw drop, shaking her head to fend off the stupor. “Whatever you would fear of me? I’m confused if I've offended you.”
Nemi bit her lip, her voice marred with watery edges. “You’re someone who’s only known me for a day, not as the powerful Warrior of Light or the Vaunted Warrior of Darkness.” The titles made Venat frown, to which Nemi turned away. “...I fear what you see in me, beyond the titles and accolades I’m glassed in… or if I’m just an eccentricity, and you won’t see me as I am now or in the future.”
Venat stared at her stunned, opening her jaw but struggling to think words. “No, no… That kind of fear, it's abominable you could be made to feel that way. How did you come to?” She grabbed at her mask, frowning. “I swear, I sincerely regarded you as I did any of the other people in this star. My interest has just been piqued strongly from your origins and no more.”
Nemi chuckled, still not looking at her. From the way other Ancients spoke to her and Venat still showed as much pragmatism as everyone else… She couldn’t help but fear her closeness could be more sinister after her fears were reinforced. Nemi’s hand locked on her shoulder, rubbing it. “I can’t help but think, because, you spoke of Meteion as someone to defeat…” her head lowered. ”...not someone who needs to be saved. That’s what every person of this society would think, it seems, especially with how every researcher gawked at me like some pretty pet to possess.”
Venat drew in a breath, closing her eyes. “I had nearly forgotten how my colleagues looked at other beings, having walked with people of all kinds and values for so long.I’m sorry your disguise forced you to such unkindness.” She walked to Nemi’s side, who stayed fixed on the ground despondent. “In regards to Meteion… You have shared much with her than I have. All I know and can think of is, the threat she presented to all I hold dear.”
Nemi frowned at Venat, confused. “Does it not do something to you that she looks, walks and talks like a child? Especially since as an entelechy she is more vulnerable. She could only take the full brunt of the hivemind. You can’t stop an inundation with such small hands, specially one cacophony so terrible morphed in dead stars…”
“And it's for that gravity that we must not hesitate,” Venat added.
Nemi took a step back. “Y-you think she can’t be saved?”
Venat squinted confused. “Do you see a way? I can’t ill pursue paths I don’t know how to take.”
Nemi glanced aside, showing teeth. “Not even willing to try… and I thought Hydaelyn was disappointing.”
Venat’s voice rang vexed. “Excuse me? You told me yourself of the horrible dimensions of loss the Meteia have afflicted on your world. You would hesitate to save it just because of her origins?!”
Nemi looked back surprised at Venat, who seemed surprised in return with how she raised her voice. She would not hesitate to cull any threat to what she holds dear no matter the form, just like a mother… This thought made Nemi chuckle and turn away again. Pure defensiveness doesn’t make you virtuous. Then Yotsuyu would have grown happy.
“Nemi, answer me!”
Her arms crossed firmly over her chest, trying her best to keep her voice leveled. “I get what you’re saying, but you're completely misunderstanding why tears forming on Venat’s shocked face.9m upset… The Meteia are possessed by ghosts of dead civilizations by virtue of their nature, not their will. And as I must stress,” she clenched her fists, voice gargled with anger. “She is a child, entelechy, ancient or not! I can’t believe you’re content to strike a child down rather than think of how to counter the awful sentiments caging her!” Nemi turned her gaze with anger, but gasped at the legacy of my time?”
“Is this… how the future looks down on us?” Venat whispered under breath, putting a hand to her eyes. “Is this the legacy of my time?”
Nemi put one hand on her own hip, looking down at Venat with a sneer. “I’m not going to be soft. Even if she’s dangerous, this is no different from what Hermes feared your friends at the Convocation would do: kill her rather than try to help her heal.” Nemi saw Venat’s mind spin with discomfort, but the storm in her wouldn’t be satisfied with this. She walked to her and unsheathed her scythe, pulling her chin up with the blunt side. “But do you know why I’m so sharp with you?”
Venat stared with mouth agape, swallowing against the metal. “You have bitterness against what I’ll become, and what actions I’ll take to lead mankind to be ready for this threat.” Venat closed her eyes, her temper leveling with that statement. “Is that it?”
Despite her battle might, she didn’t move away from the metal… Nemi felt her head cloud hot, but shook it out of that stupor. “I don’t know everything about Hydaelyn. I don’t know how she coped with the calamities advancingas her awakened Warriors walked to their deaths, but, if she thought like the people of this time then…” A scoff changed Nemi’s face to, resignation. “Then we were nothing but tools, after all.”
Nemi saw glowing blue eyes intensify, opened wide, and next second her back was pressed against the tile, Scythe knocked off as Venat wrestled with her hands. “After our sparr and everything we’ve done together, you still mock my values?! My heart?! Stop declaring I’m the same as everyone else who hurt you!” Venat struggled to pin closer to Nemi’s face, blocked by her firm elbows as she snarled teeth at her. “I may be a naive fledgling tumbling still in the frameworks that raised me, but I’m here, trying to listen and lend my hand to help you!”
Nemi’s angry sneer didn’t give in. One arm pull yanked Venat’s hair painfully, giving an opening to roll her over. Though they still struggled, their joined hands quivered against the ground with the hiss of Nemi’s close whisper. “Then you better listen, little Primal to be. The world that will be created by the Sundering? It sounds beautiful from someone used to it, but with all the seeming perfection and leisureness you see here, it will be abominable. We feel fear in our flesh and hunger empties our step. We can’t twist what’s around us to simply make a shelter, and for long we fought for food and land. I was blessed to be born after these times, but I see this forced by big bastards that abuse and divide for their sole benefit. I’m happy to spill blood and gore when I can get my hands on one.” She grinned madly on Venat’s face, green eyes and the shadow of her hairs all in Venat’s vision. “Can you look at our worst in our push from need, and not mistakes undeserving of living?”
With one groan, Venat pushed Nemi off and tackled her on the stomach. “Of course I would! That would be my fault, and I’m ready to accept the consequences of stopping my brethren from sacrificing each other in vain!”
Nemi hacked and coughed some blood, arms shaking as she levels a glare at her. “I-it’s one thing to hear than to, a-act…” Her head hung heavy with a test to cast. “Tell me, are there even laws to address such kinds of conflict?”
Venat gasped and casted regen on Nemi’s stomach, but binded her hands to the floor while hovering on her. “Everyone has food and warm chambers for their enjoyment in Amaurot. No one’s choice of concept or design is under the other…” Then her jaw dropped, clicking on Nemi’s meaning. “We can’t even conceive your words as possibilities. We, we’re not ready for worse…” She saw Nemi’s breath level, frowning slightly. “Would you be happier if we suffered?”
Nemi pulled against the yellow lasso and grunted, eyes obscured by her hair. “No, I,” she leveled her stare away, breathing heavily with flush on her cheeks. “It’s just frustrating to there be forces out of your control pinning your blood, your efforts, all of your life as worthless, no matter who says it. I don’t want to advance the ploys of, s-someone who sees me the same way,” she stuttered, trying to swallow the truth right back in her truth. Being under Venat like this, it was hard to bury her own heartbeat.
Venat let the lassos grow loose, laying next to Nemi on the grass. Her hand on her shoulder made Nemi hitch, to which Venat knowingly chuckled. “Nemi, I may have just met you for one day, but it’s writ plain in your voice you’re going in circles now… and not about inquiring on your story with corrupting light.”
Nemi glanced at her and the sky, pursing her lips, shoulders wracked by a sob that had no tears. “It hurts… it just really hurts, being in your presence and seeing all these things. It makes me angry, and lonely a-and, I don’t know, I can’t do words right now.” She bit her own shoulder, trying to control her breath. It was really those eyes, what those eyes did to her…
A beat passed. Venat traced her down to the forearm, looming over Nemi despite her averted gaze. “Have you concluded that you dislike me now? I thought…” She sighed, taking Nemi’s cheek gently to smile at her. “...that you were one of the answers I’ve been looking for. You’ve hurt and loved so much, determined to go as far as to come here for a chance to save your present. Recklessness I have seen, but your compassion and nobility…” Venat touched down to her hand, thumb rubbing to the base of one of her claws. ”You took care not to marr my skin, even though my coldness deserved your ire… I’d like to understand you more deeply, if you would let me.”
Nemi’s breath caught at the touch, wincing and trying to catch her breath as tears flowed out of her. “Venat, your gaze hurts me because, I think I like you, and,” she whimpered and turned away on her side burying her face in the grass. “No, I shouldn’t have said that!”
The confession punched the air out of Venat, who had to blink out of the blow of those words. “Nemi…” she called softly, patting her cheek with one thumb. “Are you afraid of loving? ‘Cause I can take it slow if that’s what you need. I’m just as fond.”
Nemi stilled, shrinking away more after a beat. “Do you realize who you’re saying this to?”
Venat moved to lay next to Nemi, not taking her hand off her cheek. “To the announcer of my fate. You think I should be upset at the Sword you’ve placed in my hands?”
Nemi’s eyes finally trailed back to her, voice hitchy but face despondent with regret. ”I know you’re good with uncertainty, I know that, but…” Her nose crinkled. “I’ve done something terrible, affixing your fate to my will and my image than the spontaneous decision you would’ve made by your own hands otherwise… I’ve taken the decision from you and made it an imperative.”
Venat scoffed softly. “You complain of my ignorance, then wish for it? You’re confusing Nemi. Besides…” Her index wiped Nemi’s tears, smiling as her breath leveled. “I don’t mind this change of dynamic, sincerely. My mission will be easier with the hope of seeing you shine in your age.”
Nemi shook her head, gaze firmly fixed on Venat’s “You’re wrong, you’re so wrong… It’s cruel to make you watch with feelings.”
Venat just smiled wider. “It’s too late. Those feelings caught me and I’ll revel in them. I want to see this world we’ll create.” Her hand digs into her scalp, making her blush and gasp as her heartbeat ramped up Venat smiled hearing it. “Now, what about tying me further to your orbit, O’ Warrior of Light and Darkness?”
Nemi pouted and flicked her long tongue at her. “That was so corny.”
That was a mistake, for Venat closed on the side of her tongue with her lips. “You’re probably worse.”
Nemi’s pupils dilated as her body set on fire. Claws enclosed on Venat’s scalp and pushed her closer to kiss her awkwardly and rushed. Venat groaned at her clumsiness, massaging the sides of her neck to relax her grip. Nemi’s breath shivered and trailed her hands to her back, turning and locking lips with a better angle. Their limbs tangled further with every wave of their mouths, the water fountain the only other sound.
Venat finally gasped for air, drawing back with pursed swollen lips. Her white hair was now a messy matt, a disaster Nemi realized she made. She barely perceived her own breath as she felt the blaze in her grow even higher. Venat looked more enchanting disheveled like that… Then Nemi had to shut her eyes at a gust of wind exhaled by Venat, blinking and then taking in how petals now scattered and descended all around them. “You… you did this on purpose?”
Venat still panted, brushing messy locks behind her own ear. “No, you really took that much air out of me. I can’t believe you were not tired!”
Nemi sputtered and tried not to laugh. “I guess the Kojin’s blessing also works for kissing.”
“The what?”
“A enchantment to breathe underwater, I mean. Guess it provides oxygen in any case!” Nemi’s head fell back on grass with laughter, knees knocking Venat’s hips.
Venat chuckled and grabbed her chin, bringing her laughter to a flustered stop. “Let’s continue this at my chambers.”
“Ah,” Nemi lamented. “I don’t want to stop and walk that much again.”
Venat leaned closer with a smirk, making Nemi gulp. “We don’t have to.”
As she took her lips, Nemi felt her aether dissolve and expand to fall on soft sheets. She returned the kiss as her hands palped at the sides, not feeling the edges of the bed. A queen’s size, was it? This could or not be a room meant for two, a thought that flustered her further. Venat started to pull down the hem of her robe, and Nemi felt her heart jump to her throat. “W-wait.”
“Oh, did I misinterpret you? Your hands seemed to enjoy my chest a lot back there.” Venat said nonchalantly.
Nemi blinked and looked away, withdrawing her claws. “Before we go further, are you sure you’re not making a mistake?”
Venat tilted her head. ”I have never backed out of a decision, provided you want this too of course.”
Nemi shook her head, descending on her elbows and looking at the ceiling, voice neutral. ”I’ll kill some of your treasured associates, you know. I will have no mercy and this won’t change my thoughts on it, but I don’t want to make the future more complicated for you.”
Venat raised one eyebrow, climbing on top of her. “The people you described are too terrible. If anything, I’d be thankful you put them to rest from walking terrible paths.”
Nemi didn’t withdraw this time, chuckling as she knocked a knee against her thigh. “Then I hope you enjoy the show.”
Venat rolled her eyes with a grin, trailing Nemi’s neck ribbon. “You think you’ll make me mad?”
Nemi inhaled sharply and smiled. “I don’t need that to stoke you further. Rather,” she trailed off, pulling at her neck ribbon, “Let me tell you off the struggle with the Light.”
The ribbon unmade in one pull, and there were no barriers between them.
░ ▒ ▓ ☾ ♢ ☽ ▓ ▒░
Venat sat cross legged at the end of her bed, listening Nemi’s tale of taking down every Lightwarden, minor contact with Ardbert calmed her sickness, the Last kill cracking her skin until one old friend intervened, and then he was shot down for trying to foster the Salvation of the First. Venat’s hand craved to indulge in the heat of her figure, but Nemi needed her space to make this intimate revelation. Her back was turned to Venat, still clothed and splayed by brown and red of her hair let loose.
“I saw in that moment every friend lost,” she spoke solemnly, grabbing the edges of her robe. “All laying their bodies so I could step in the paths forged by their blood. All the grief of their losses hit me at once, and simmered into anger at the embodiment of our torture and manipulation through time right before me. Riding that wave of wrath, I wielded the light before I knew it and, turned.”
She pulled her robes down to her stomach, laying down and near burying her face on the sheets. Venat almost couldn’t hear herself breathe. Wounds were a part of many of her ventures as Azem, but the advancements of magicks made her flesh rebuild pristine as it ever was. No one in Amaurot had these marks called scars, nor been seemingly stabbed thrice and other times with different blunt weapons. Even the edges of those sabs seemed to cross like lines that reminded her of cracked porcelain…
The catch of her breath seemed to make Nemi stirr after a beat. She chuckled and continued. “The shade in my soulstone split us in three however, sparing us from fully being lost. This… these holes that you see, they’re all left of both facets of a Lightwarden, fighting to define their next course. If my Beloved Shadow hadn’t taken some aether and led my friends to reach my wounded soul, I wouldn’t be here.”
Clouds had rolled in the sky, robbing them of natural light. Venat swiftly summoned light in her hand, but almost dropped it from seeing the scars turn white and reflect all facets of the light spectrum like a prism. She reduced her light with a gasp of shock, then opened two fingers to see a tiny ray illuminate the hole of a rapier. “Your scars reflect the light… how is this possible? Stagnant aether should make it harder to move your light if it’s, crystal.”
Nemi chuckled and shrugged. “It feels no different than before really. Would this be a new field of study?”
Venat hummed, ghosting one hand over back as she thought of the Convocation. “Emmeroloth would take great interest in this, especially assuring there would be no ill developments from this over time.” She placed one finger tracing from the edge to the center, smiling when Nemi trembled and keened softly. She was so touch starved…
“Maybe I would be open to that, p-provided this matter stayed private,” Nemi gulped with fluster in her voice.
Venat hummed in agreement, pulling her torso back up gently. “Is it that other people react to scars negatively? Even if they signify survival?”
Nemi leaned more in Venat’s hands, wrapping her hands on her forearms. “I don’t want to be questioned on something born from her own emotional weakness, especially when it endangered so many people.”
Leaning into her ear, Venat whispered: “But from all you’ve told me, I think you needed to explode. You should walk proudly relying nothing you don’t want to. You owe no one anything.”
Nemi made another of her charming little chuckles, and turned affixing her with one eye. “Thank you, though I imagine… your curiosity isn’t satisfied?”
The way she rolled her last words deeper, the challenge in the gleam of her eye… Venat burned under that gaze, trembling. The person beholding could twist her neck without hesitance. And yet she bore herself here, daring her to touch further done near the water.
Venat dragged her lips in adoration on the center of her back, following the cracks up to her other shoulder. Every whine of hers was sweet, tasted with skin and whispers that she took in turn. Finally full bare and looming over her, Venat took in the rough edges of her figure, hardened by battle, the warmth of her flustered breath, the shy way her fingers curled over her chest, her little smile under those vibrant eyes inviting her closer. It was then Venat realized She was the universe, loss and anguish and wrath and death taken form in a life, mortal and terrible.The hand making Venat gasp put her friends to sleep. Fire and softness enveloping her would tear limbs and nails that dared to cross her path.
And this would be at Venat’s hands too, wouldn’t it? She would invoke many to struggle at the precipice of conflict and chaos. A world with disease, twisting of the flesh, heavy sighs, new rituals, markers of legacy and family, rifts set before birth, humility among indolence. Their union conceived it to persist: the future to be, where they’ll raise it to persist beyond their last breaths.
[ Next part, which can be skipped if you're not comfortable with discussions of child sexual abuse ]
Endwalker Story: Meeting Venat...
First Elpis Replay post, Previous to this part 2.
Post is what the title says. Yuri under the cut. Don't like? don't read
Leaving the transporter, Nemi asked what the hell was the bizarre Shark man in the distance. She probably had felled one of this before but to see someone deliberately created that was... icky. She heard Hyth start to rant about receiving more fads of this concept with no real thought for practicality of sense of an about to be living thing, when she tried to shake her arms and make him move away from the beast plunging at him, and then... A woman in white and a sword that, singed with familiar energy knocked out the Sharknado. Nemi knew who this is, but seeing her just swoop in like that...
"Oh wow... she's strong," escaped her mouth. "Heh, excus me?" ("Shit, I said that out loud," was regretted in her mind.)
That her first word was to bully Emet and expose him as a young piece of shit? And he wasn't retorting. Incredible. She must be a knockout at bars and parties but ah... what is she doing thinking this of the one fated to become something as distant and irrelevant as Hydaelyn? They were so, different.
"She sounds fun- AH SHE IS LOOKING AT ME"
She should have known Venat would recognize her own magic in the Blessing of Light. There was no point in denying it, much as she smiled courteously and swallowed. At least the fact Venat's acceptance of uncertainty meant that, she was taking this well. Others would likely freak out and attack her or something like that.
When Hades scolded her for keeping secrets of the fate of the star, she just crossed her arms and explained she couldn't have an impact, stipulating it was one of their own who said this before sending her here. Venat enthusiastically remarked they were "meant to meet" then, and she was looking forward to knowing more the person bearing her "mark." Nemi might have exploded.
She recovered quickly and helped her search for the lost concept, commenting "You sound like you prank people like that often." How exactly? Venat wondered and Nemi pointed to the idea of her, marking someone. Like what did that mean in this context? Venat explained it's really to find lives again in the great expanse of the world, be a small bee she gave water to or a traveler from another biome. She'd even begun fashioning a way to try to find this traveler magick for other people to use to find each other, but others were vexed by its complexity. This made Nemi surprised later, at the dinner in Venat's chambers, that botomless bags seemingly were not invented yet.
With the time come to tell everything... she concluded she might as well come clear and take the sash off her eyes, but keeps her hair tucked underneath. Venat was awed by her eye tattoo, warmed by its family inheritance meaning that Nemi shared with a smile. There wasn't such a sense of family permeance in Amaurot, and carrying something form your origin through your life was such a beautiful way to live the nature that made you. making her smile and say it's passed down and mixed in her clan of family.
Hythlo kindly intervened they needed to get talking, pointing to Emet sitting grumpily. He saw Thanatos' lesbianism bleed way worse from Nemi. And though he didn't want to believe what she would tell, it'd at least mean he didn't have to fear his colleague secretly hated him.
Nemi joined her hands and gave a heavy sigh. Her face was now stern with a heavy frown. "Well, form the beginning? be warned, you won't like what you hear... or maybe not, from what I've gathered here."
After she's done speaking, she just sits back with irreverent air, but does lean when Venat is vexed by Hydaelyn's decision to cause the sundering. That she finds odd opposing the 14th.. is she happy with society as it is then?
As they try to figure, Nemi just looks away, feeling mixed about pushing them to guess to themselves, wanting to argue with Venat that it's been millenia and people change over time drastically. "You don't have to fit yourself to this mold of the future. You are you right now." But Venat stresses she knows herself. It's just an exercise to find answers and logic to help the future.
Then Hades' interjection made her jaw drop and need to cover her face. Never would she think she'd feel second hand embarrassment for this guy. If only the Scions could hear this...
"Hmm, you do sound like the asshole I killed, I gotta say." "Neirmer! You said yourself we're not like the after!" "Sorry, I'm not gonna lie about what I did. You will come to threaten all I hold dear as well, and such fate can't be changed." "Even if your ridiculous story was true, I would not hurt you just for having an insufferable mouth! I'm a civilized man!" "True... it's just hard when you're not that different in personality of disrespect, you know? But let's move on." "..."
When saying she feels Hermes and Meteion seem center of the mystery, she expresses their grievances feel natural to any person of the future. She tries to ask who started the philosophy of "the will of the star" and if there were other rituals to deal with the grief of elected passing, and everyone looked lost for an answer. Nemi incquired if anyone ever passed away to disease or accidents, and they said even murders are inconceivable. Then Nemi wondered if they're truly so good warders of the stars if they can't understand the creatures who are mortal, specially the ones they create. Only Venat could respond that, she came to love them in their travels, and didn't neglect one detail to ensure her concepts' happiness... but she stopped creating after Argos. She didn't find the vastness of the world lacking of more life. At this, Nemi smiled and said they should search clues together.
They were surprised by how well they flowed with inquiries. Nemi got to make people open with casuality of their interests, letting Venat get to the heart of the matter in an unsuspecting way. Nemi wondered if Venat's travels made it so, since not everywhere can be like Amaurot's cushy walls. Venat said there are many people outside of these walls of all kinds, even some who don't like the Ancients, but people in the city rarely do acknowledge they exist unless they're to be saved of natural phenomena. Nemi recalled the volcano situation with Thanatos... but didn't ask about it.
Nemi drops the fact Meteion has more sisters casually, making Venat wishes she mentioned it earlier. Nemi apologized for this flaw, too used to filling reports that filled everyone up to speed. Venat squinted at her and she admitted it was more regular than that. Venat laughed and patted her back, saying she's so earnestly sincere and honest then. Nemi blushed as they walked closer to their next inquiry.
When the archivist lament Venat hasn't returned, Nemi is shocked. She almost yelled at them if not for Venat side hugging her and replying too briefly. way from them, Nemi asks baffled if everyone says they look forward to watching you her die, why do they think death is rest when they know it erases their self, not even taking breaks in their lives! No one sounds like they take a break in their actual lives! "This, this is bonkers! And I can tell you're not happy with it either. Don't throw that honor bullshit at me as well."
Venat looked at her transfixed, then admitted she, wished that people understood her choices. That walking with her makes her wonder if a future of mortals would think differently... Then asks her, how beautiful is the future?
Nemi says the future is more beautiful, that everything is free to take its own shape and form. There are always new discoveries, and... There are customs and beliefs, shaped by the nature one lives in, and traditions and beautiful art that would not flourish in this past.
When Venat asks of her adventures... she would tell her of the avdenturer guilds, of finding the crystals, of the floating city of Nymnh, of the many minerals that fortified her craft, of her village's ways of survival, of the rivers of Doma... every person she weeped for in her imprisonment in the lightwarden, the joy of Ala Mhigo' back's flag flying, the Winds of the Churning Mists, seeing the Night bloom in the First, what she has treasured with the scions and her friends.
When Venat responds with her speech about life, Nemi is totally awed, intertwining her own fingers and taking them to her heart. She asks why she talks of needing to help humans stand.To her, it just sounds like she just wants to behold life's beauty.
"That is alright... you have done a lot already." "What is it with you and this talk of winding down?" "Well, I heard you all don't know how to play but, you don't seem that lame. Surely this is a rest for you too inbetween?" "Hmm, maybe I'm as shaped by this rhythm of life you find so monotone." Venat took Nemi's wringing fingers and interlocked them with her own. "Maybe, you could stop me." Nemi gasped with heated cheeks. "B-because others don't appreciate the world how we do?" Venat smiled and lowered their hands. "Because you may hold answers I seek... tell me, has your journey been good has it been worthwhile?
Venat's question makes tears spring, but she rasps her breath and nods determinedly. , or well was going to. she is irritated by the interruption, wanting to talk to Venat more and her passion, and a measure of concern. But this moves her to think of the next possibility, and that is when she excitedly points at Argos. She is amazed by how much gruffier he is now, then fucking, questions why in the goddamn is the dog picky about fighting skills.
Nemi is intimidated by Venat's sagacious air, but she takes courage and takes her hair cover off. "If this is what it is, then I won't censure myself any further. You'll see my kicks fully!"
After Nemi endured Venat's last blast to one knee, Venat held her up and checked over her robes. Nemi gestures her to stop fretting even as she struggles to stand, giggling in her hold. "You should know... my real name is Nemi, Nemi Norxares. That's who endured your ravaging today." She smiled so wide that Venat's face burned up.
This only didn't continue cause Argos jumped on them, making them go witness the flight of the Meteia through the echo. Nemi would connect the tree nearby to the forms of those at Ghyr Abania,but colors of Lakeland. Venat wondered if she could gaze them through her mind, if she allowed of course... Nemi batted the hand caressing her hair away playfully, saying they really need to focus.
When they walked back to the others, Hythlo perked at seeing Nemi's face fully uncovered, and for what reason this time? When Venat teased Nemi to be civil, Hythlo grinned at Nemi knowingly. She could not hide, specially when Venat grabbed her hand strongly after she returned from the morbol gardens.
At the garden, she claimed to Hermes that she felt more safe to unveil in this world, now that she met someone like Venat. Hermes is puzzled, and Nemi explains she sees nature more freely than she thought. Something told her to, ask Hermes if it's alright, and give Meteion a hug and carry her on her shoulders. Hermes had to scold her the morbols were still around.
Nemi looks downtrodden when Hermes says "even you Venat." Guess she overstimated her a little or, assumed too much of her lives experiences, but it's not what she wanted to imply. Nemi stressed that "Despite everyone's lack of tact,"she really thought there was more to this they had to find out, for the sake of everyone's safety. This relaxed Hermes while Emet glared, continuing to formulate why the blasphemies were formed as they were.
Emet gruffed that she has capacity of better behavior and, well.I think there is no more to say lol.
Then when Meteion was invaded by the doom of necrospace, Nemi tried to reach her to calm her even as she too was twisting in pain and agony on the floor. She teared up when Meteion begged to be left alone, screaming into the nothingness to please not bottle up her hurt. She needed both Venat and Hermes to get her up and settle, struggling to explain what even just happened. Whatever it really was, they needed to find her fast. Who knows how a small mind like hers would decide to, make it stop.
Nemi tried but failed to counter Emet's insistence to take Meteion into the city, knowing stopping this would just be denial of what inmerse hurt had just occured. Hermes thanked her kindness, lamenting this society would not listern to her either. And so, he had to take flight to the top of Ktisis Hyperboeia. Though she fought to the top, she was the first to approach Hermes and beg to let her be present, at least to find a way. Hermes smiles sincerely at her before trapping them all in chains, putting her too distant to pass Meteion's last words before losing herself: "Please, protect all..."
When chaos unfolded at the escape, Nemi concentrated and broke her chains with her claws, hissing with her tongue and scaring Hermes off into losing concentration. She argued her presence meant to be the steps of humans of a different kind, who deserved to know the physical step to what their kind struggled with emotion. She recited Matsya's prayer, and showed her claws and tongue as evidence of the torture she'd endured for survival, and coming out of the other side with friends and love. Hermes looked up at Nemi's tearful gaze, and weeped as the Death of his kind acknowledged his suffering. He peacefully let her and Venat go, begging her to give Meteion a kinder fate.
Once they descended, Nemi asked Venat if she's okay. She asked if Nemi was okay, with all the twisting and corrupting she claimed to go through. Nemi sighed and shook her head, saying that was just for Hermes to hear really. Venat gasped and asked if she didn't trust her. that she too was horrified at the idea this world might be the last to love life. Nemi said it was not about that, but how she seemed to not be concerned to limit Emet and Hythlodaeus' pushing. She said they were just doing their duty as convocation members, and Nemi waved her hand exasperatedly.
"Exactly that! In your travels you've never learned how to treat people who are unwell? Maybe if I didn't show up, this calamity would have started way worse....."
Venat took a deep breath, and said they had to check on the others. Nemi sighed and followed, weirded but not opposed to Argos' mode of espionage. Nemi scoffed offended being called a manner of creation by someone else. "it's not my fault I got transmogrified!"
Venat begged her again to tell her what exactly happened to her, and Nemi questions her interest. Did she look at her like another bizarre creature like everyone else here? Was that why she was coming off so strongly on her? Venat stepped back like slapped,
"In that case, what do you think of Meteion? Do you think we have to simply stop her, or save her from the cacophony neither she nor the world that created her could bear?"
What is Venat's Answer?
I'll make that post, soon hopefully...
Dating Hydaelyn has consequences
Be careful Venat that hand reaches far