[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

The Nymph had never considered herself to be a religious person, nor one who was secure of her position in society. She did not have a reputation, but nor was she well-known, or even thought of in the slightest by fellow Elysians other than those she had managed to befriend. With her considerate and friendly nature, that ought to have been as easy as breathing. Unfortunately, she did not find it so. She had not yet grown used to Elysian culture and society, nor the significant changes from her big change from Earthen ways. Nor the lack of someone she was in a sturdy friendship with.

Sabrina had made friends with Piper, the art store's shy, insecure owner. And found she very much liked her, and could grow used to her company. And then there was Lora, her first friend. Lora was... somewhat different from Sabs, yet the Nymph considered her a nice person and altogether a pleasant person. Inimicus was a man who she was not sure about. Something warm and friendly about him, yet a little mysterious. Dark, if you will.

She had headed out into the warm morning sun of 9am, wearing a pale blue summer dress and flipflops, dark hair neatly tied back into a neat ponytail. She felt as if she was glowing, she'd never felt so refreshed or alive in Elysia. In her arms, she carried a wonderful bouquet of lilies and other delightful flowers - specifically asked to be purple themed -, and also a box of chocolates. Did deities like chocolates? Well, Xanth was getting them.

The underground materialised before her, already a mass of bustling activity in shops, with the people. It was full of life and business, and this early in the morning! The sun was out, too. This day had started out perfect, Sabrina thought as she smiled. It was quite cool to start off with, but the 'sunrays' were warm when they touched her skin. She exhaled contentedly as she gazed around and continued to her destination.

The Quadrangle was as pretty as last time. The flowers were well-kept and neat, the verge manicured, and the statue of Xanthorra tall and beautiful. Sabrina smiled and walked up to it, great and sparkling in the sunshine. "Xanth!" she sang pleasantly, then stopped. Maybe mental contact was a more sensible option? "Xanth? I know we haven't met before, and I know last time I gave my offering to a young child... But can you come? I want to become your servant." She smiled to herself. Hoping that would work.

[Xanth]

The last time Xanth appeared before Sabrina had been as a child to 'steal' the bracelet she offered. The Nymph of course had no idea but her generosity in the face of interrupted plans had charmed the girl-child Xanth. Not very many people would allow a child to take what had been intended for someone else, especially if that item had been meant to impress someone else, yet after only a brief hesitation, Sabrina had done exactly that.

In fact, Xanth still wore the bracelet even now around the ankle where she had set it the very day she had taken it from Sabrina. It was unusual for her to take a fancy to offerings in such a personal way but the bracelet - now an anklet - represented all the races of Elysia and thus those very close to Xanth's heart. It had also proven to be quite entertaining, as whenever she sat in her throne with her legs dangling over an arm, Faroah spent a great deal of time wrapped around her calf playing with the dangling charms. He claimed to be keeping it in tip-top shape but most likely he was attempting to fathom how to remove it from her person without upsetting her. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the tickle of his tiny claws against her leg through the fabric of her pants, and the reflected sparkle of the charms in his eyes.

Today, she was in a particularly tricky mood and saw an opportunity for mischief.

It was not unusual for Xanth to appear as a child. Indeed, it was one of her favourite forms for it lent itself to all manner of adventure. It was, however, the first time she had appeared as such when summoned for such a reason as this.

"Ew!" she exclaimed in her child's voice, cute button nose wrinkled in disgust as she stared at the Nymph's back. "Why do you want to be her servant?" Xanth was curious to see if Sabrina would connect the dots immediately. She had, after all, responded verbally to a telepathic summons that a child such as she should not have been able to hear, but people had all manner of ways to ignore such things or dismiss them as not happening the way they were sure it had happened. Xanth was interested to see how Sabrina would deal with not only that, but the reappearance of a child who had effectively stolen from her and the goddess the offering was intended for.

Arms akimbo, dark pink denim dungarees fraying at the hem, Xanth continued to wrinkle her nose and waited.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

A short silence. Sabrina waited, the beautiful purple flowers and the chocolates in her arms, as she gazed up at the statue intently. While some would have been impatient, she simply stood, quietly contemplating that she was indeed simply just another one of Xanth's creations, and there was nothing that was a cause for her to visit the Nymph. Perhaps she already possessed an acolyte? Whatever the reason, she still stood there, waiting, and uneasy.

On Earth, she had never gave the God of the Christians, Catholics and Jews, nor any other Gods, minus the ones from her adolescent phase of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses fetish. It was not that she had believed in those monumental figures, but more of the fact that they fascinated her, each symbolic in his or her way; of war, of the earth, of fertility, of strength. Anything you could think off, and there would surely be a God or Goddess to set a good example and do their job for whatever they symbolised.

"Ew! Why do you want to be her servant?"

Sabrina turned around, pale cheeks flushing a soft pink, as she faced the owner of the childish voice. The child who had been here before, and received Sabs' offering, stood before her. The Nymph smiled as she laid eyes on said offering around the girl's delicate ankle, and she exhaled exasperatedly. It was hard to explain. When you had faith that an ethereal being existed, or at least in Sabrina's case, you knew that you ought to do something to serve. But this was from her point of view, and she calmly accepted that not everyone might agree.

She took her time to answer, and smiled again at the child. "Because although I have never set eyes on her, I believe that she exists and takes care of us," the Nymph answered simply, hoping to satiate the child's curiosity. She stood there for a moment, having answered automatically. Brief realisation flickered across her face, soon after followed by confusion and a moment of Sabrina being startled.

Sabs just stared at the girl incredulously. "Did I say that out loud? I was sure I said it in my head, honestly..." She hadn't heard any sound coming out of her mouth, nor did she remember actually moving her mouth. "You don't seem to be an ordinary child..." Sabs said, paranoia rather thick in her voice. She didn't want to make any false accusations at a seemingly innocent child, but was unsure as to whether she had said that out loud, or the child was more than she appeared to be.

[Xanth]

OOC: I am so sorry I took so long to reply!

A slow grin spread across the child's lips as Xanth recognised the flash of bewildered doubt on the Nymph's face. It was always amusing to see the reactions to her trickery. So many tried to pass off the extraordinary as the mundane by focusing on self-doubt, just as Sabrina seemed to be doing, and it always fascinated Xanth that they could be standing here at her statue, having summoned a goddess, and yet still be surprised when she appeared to them and read their minds. It was this innocence that tempted her to appear as a child. That and the fact that children were often overlooked, granting her the ability to pass unnoticed or treated kindly when anyone else might be thrashed into the ground.

"What is ordinary?" she exclaimed dismissively, her demeanor changing though her form did not. Her shoulders straightened and her movements became more graceful even as the frayed hem of her dungarees dragged in the grass as she stepped around Sabrina in a wide circle towards the statue, watching the girl sideways.

"I wanted to thank you again for the bracelet." Her grin became a genuine smile and she tipped her head to the side to look at the Nymph fully. "My beloved Faroah has been thoroughly charmed by it." Another grin, this time of amusement at the pun. And then, on to greater things of more import. "You wish to serve me, Sabrina Casius? Tell me, how would you do this?"

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

At least the little girl grinned. Sabrina had been more than a little afraid that the child would be offended by her paranoia, possibly taking her to be making accusations. She didn't know the psychological status that a child nowadays usually had, nor their emotional range. Not to mention a kid from Elysia. That was even harder to solve. Although she was nearing a month, probably over that, in Elysia, there was still a lot she supposed she ought to learn. Problem was, she had no-one to teach her.

"What is ordinary?" Sabrina assumed this to be a rhetorical question. She herself had lost a perfect understanding of the word since coming to Elysia, her race heritage. On Earth, the Nymph had assumed ordinary to be the type of person that most people conformed to be, but in Elysia, she supposed a lot of things were out of the ordinary. Just as a lot of things were ordinary. Their concept, however, seemed to scramble any sense the Earthen meaning seemed to have. On Earth, it would more than likely be strange for someone to have wings. Or horns. Or fangs. Or slitted eyes. Here, it was just everyday life.

The Nymph had became unsure of just how she was going to thrive in Elysia. She had a feeling that the sanctuary would not really be a privilege that she would have for much longer, and would have to find a job sooner or later. Not only that, but she had enough money to lead a tidy, modest living. So, Sabs had promised herself that she would do something for Xanth instead. She wasn't much of a person to grovel and suck up, but she supposed Xanth might like that type of worship. Instead of the subtle awe that Sabs had for her.

Oh, so she was Xanth... That explained a lot. Sabrina had no idea how to show a little respect other than curtseying, and even then, she couldn't - her arms were laden with the flowers and chocolate. She chewed her lip and realised that something in the goddess had changed from the small child, instead she now looked more mature and... more like goddess material. But, alot of things could deceive. Just as she had been deceived by the appearance of a child.

"No need to thank me," Sabrina chirped up as if they were old friends, beaming gleefully. Gleeful that Xanth had enjoyed the modest but sentimental offering. She wondered if it was because of the representation of each race, or the nice thought of such an item being in someone's family for a long time. If she was being honest, the Nymph had no idea - she did not know what Xanth was like, or how she behaved, or thought.

"You wish to serve me, Sabrina Casius? Tell me, how would you do this?" Sabrina grinned sheepishly, not quite finding her tongue. She felt a little shy now, and shuffled her feet with slight tentativeness. "Well, I... uh... that is, if you don't have one... would like to become your Acolyte," Sabs answered, smiling childishly at the young girl. "And I brought you these. Personally, I think the white lillies are the prettiest." She held the chocolates and flowers out to the goddess, chewing a lip.

[Xanth]

Still in her girl-child form, Xanth took the offering with gentle hands and an equally gentle smile. "I thank you again, child - " There was something inherently amusing about referring to anyone as 'child' while she herself was in a child's body. " - and indeed, the white lilies are beautiful, though I am particularly partial to the purple hues myself." Winking at the girl, she lifted the bouquet to her nose and inhaled deeply, her eyelids fluttering shut as she appreciated the scent for a moment. She did so love flowers.

Wheat-gold curls slid over her shoulders and down her back as she opened her eyes and smiled faintly. "Tell me, Sabrina Casius, do you know what it is that my acolyte does?" She did not intend to embarrass or humiliate the Nymph but many Elysians came to her claiming they wished to serve as her acolyte, only to realise quickly that it was not the glamourous or glorious job they had imagined. The majority of them left shortly after swearing to serve her, often considering it wasted time on their part. Some even blamed her for tricking them, and so she had learned to be very clear about it from the very beginning.

"An acolyte does not receive money for their service." It was, in fact, a thankless job altogether, although if an acolyte did well, she did try to verbalise her appreciation so they did not feel that their devotion was wasted. "You may, in fact, be the subject of some abuse. Sadly, there are those Elysians who... do not believe I should be worshipped at all - " In all truth, Xanth herself disliked the term 'worship'; she did not enjoy blind faith but she had learned that humans, especially, would always find ways to deify her and that it was best - for everyone concerned - if she accepted the role. " - and they are not above attacking my acolytes in my stead."

Xanth watched the girl as she waited for that to sink in, the bouquet of flowers resting in the crook of her elbow as she held the chocolates against her thigh with her free hand. Depending on Sabrina's reaction, she would either turn the girl away with a smile or elaborate further on the job description.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

Though it could have been comical to see Sabrina, a young adult, standing with a manner of awe and respect for the young child, actually Xanth, the Nymph didn' actually feel awkward... much. Awkward because she wasn't the type of person to grovel and suck up, and because she had no idea as to whether the goddess would prefer someone like that... or not. She was making herself out to be quite kind an genteel to Sabs, and for the Nymph, that was the ideal employer/deity/goddess.

And for a moment, she wondered if Xanth really was a child. Sabrina realised how incoherently she would be able to relay what she knew about Xanth. She was a deity, and took care of her people in Elysia. That would be all that she knew about the goddess, two or three things about her tops. As the young girl with the blonde hair asked her a question, Sabs doubtfully nodded. Doubtfully because she wanted the goddess to know that other people's decisions and opinions would not sway her own. Like her element, she was stubborn and hard to be moved in her decisions, thoughts and opinions.

"An acolyte does not receive money for their service."

As sheepish as it was, Sabrina grinned, and nodded twice eagerly. "That much I know," she giggled, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Even though she knew hardly anything about the job, she was willing to take the risk. There wasn't anything unsavoury about taking a risk. Well, despite the fact that she was probably going to be targetted by Xanth-haters at an alarming rate, if she grew stronger, she could show said Xanth-haters what she was capable of. Without violence.

"You may, in fact, be the subject of some abuse. Sadly, there are those Elysians who... do not believe I should be worshipped at all -" Sabrina nodded. She had had some suspicions that not everyone would agree with Xanth, even thouh Xanth had created Elysia, being a 'goddess'. She waited for the child to finish her sentence, her face calmly expectant. Sabs was surprised by how accepting Xanth was to this, how nicely she informed Sabrina of all the downsides.

"- and they are not above attacking my acolytes in my stead."

The Nymph chewed her lip and stared at the ground and her feet for twenty long, dismal seconds, filled with silent contemplation. Though the prospect of being attacked was not a pretty one. She could take solace in how close she would be to her element in the Quadrangle, close to the flowers... "It sounds risky," Sabrina answered, with as much what she hoped was confidence as she could muster in her voice. "But someone has to do it. And I want to be that person, if you don't mind." She smiled timidly, tentative and shy that Xanth would notice her lack of audible bravery. "Sometimes, you know, risks have to be taken to assist someone."

[Xanth]

Xanth smiled broadly and came to a standstill facing the Nymph. Indeed, "someone" had to do it. Though the girl's reasoning seemed more about obligation or duty than it did any great passion or zeal to serve her, Xanth did not detect any secrecy or untruth. Sabrina Casius did wish to serve her, and perhaps discover a little something about Xanth while she was in the process... which was perfectly fine with her.

Deciding the time for playfulness was over, Xanth slowly morphed into her more god-like form. Her wheat-gold curls faded into shining lilac locks threaded with purple; her eyes, only moments ago cornflower-blue merged seamlessly into dark purple eyes that shimmered ever-so-slightly with power; even her clothing, those ragged pink dungarees, transformed into opaque linen pants and vest a much lighter shade of lilac than her hair. Purple beads glittered at the hems and waistline, reflecting the sunlight, but her tattoos and wings were so faint they were nothing more than a mere suggestion to the naked eye.

Xanth crossed closer to her statue and bent gracefully to place the flowers and chocolates she had received next to the nearest offerings bowl as her hair cascaded over her shoulder, only to be pushed back as she straightened and smiled. "Your job as Acolyte is simple, my child." Gazing at the girl, Xanth tipped her head. "You will keep my quadrangle clean, neat and delightully pretty." Her eyes sparkled as she emphasised the word delightfully a little. "You shall attend my statue every day come rain or shine. Furthermore, while some visitors do fully intend to summon me to their aid, others are not entirely certain. There are those who come here for tranquility, a place to think, and I am happy to provide thus. There are those who seek guidance yet do not wish it from me. Others merely have need of an ear or a shoulder. Naturally, I cannot provide these things for everyone, and so you, as Acolyte, will provide such in my stead."

It was a tremendous undertaking. Some acolytes thrived in the role where others failed. It was two parts janitor (sometimes even involving a little gardening if Xanth was feeling particularly mischievous or tetchy), one part shoulder to cry or lean on, and one part advice columnist. "Of course, everyone needs an income upon which to live, do they not? I do not expect you to spend all your time here." A decidedly wicked glint entered her smirk then as she added, "Only most of it. As for the offerings..."

Waving an arm, Xanth watched with muted glee as the flowers and chocolates faded from view, a poof of purple smoke billowing from the grass where she had placed them. "I will take care of those. So," she added, after the briefest of pauses to study the Nymph. "Do you still wish to serve?"

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley