To Sing a Song of Six Pence.....

The female gorgon lay upon the stage, her body curled tightly around her in fear. She had been caught a month ago, thrown into a freak show and drug around the country. Late one night the manager had caught her singing, and know exactly what to do with her. The fat, sweaty pig had given her back her ukelele which he had taken from her in when she had been captured, and told her she was going to sing that night at a bar and earn him money. So here she was, curled up in fright before all these burly, sweating, very drunk men with a sprinkling of females in the crowd. Only one caught her attention as being mildly attractive. But she wouldn't have the time to speak to her or anything. The men roared with laughter at her, calling her names like serpent girl and snake bitch. She shivered, the fans above blowing cool air on her and making her skin itch something fierce. Maybe if she just sang, and got this over with they would leave her alone.

She lifted her ukelele, and began picking a slowly song and was instantly pelted with several cans of beer, on full one striking her arm and she cried out. She quickly picked at the instrument quick, picking up the tempo of a different, quicker song. The man roared again, but this time in approval and began to demand her to sing. She shook, and began to sing a quick, lively tune dancing tone. She shook with fright, but her beautiful voice rang out pure and true around the room. Everybody fell silent, listening to her otherworldly voice and becoming enraptured by it. She began to sway her body to the tune, becoming less nervous and trying to keep they happy so they didn't throw anything else at her.

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery had arrived at the place, interested in seeing a captive Gorgon (a rare sight that had happened only four or five times before). He was enraptured by the vocal power of the Euryale Gorgons like any other being and surely could hear a Gorgon sing whenever he pleased, but there was something about captive Gorgons that made their abilities profoundly stronger. One other time he had seen a Euryale held captive and when she was forced to sing, it had been beyond divine. Perhaps it was the fear that drove them to new heights... nothing quite brings out the zest for life in one than the thought of their impending demise... Euryale's being far from an exception. A Euryale that felt it imperative to perform brilliantly lest death arrive on swift wings was something he did not want to miss.

The place was somewhat small but what it lacked in size it made up for in personality. The stools and chairs were leather-topped with brass studs lining the rim; matched perfectly with the authentic leather booths and polished wood surfaces. The people he had seen seemed rather nice and caring towards one another and Forgery Zaytsev thought it just may be a pleasant evening.

Then they laid eyes on her. They immediately morphed from civil denizens to spiteful warmongers as they berated the terrified-looking Gorgon. Sure, most (if not all) of them didn't realize that she was actually another species, but to treat anything so was disgusting... why would mortals choose to waste what little time they had in pursuit of someone to deride? The mood changed some after she began singing with some faster tempo, but Forgery did not appreciate them convincing her to sing outside of her natural rate. She wouldn't perform as well!

He shook his head and stood up. The instant he did, everyone in the building froze but himself and the Euryale. He took a few steps towards the stage and stopped about 10 paces away. "They don't deserve the music. What's your name, creature?" He stopped, thinking and finished, "And would you be willing to sing for me, sweet one?"[/size]

Vivian gasped as the room went still and silent, except for one lone man standing slowly from a seat. Her hands stopped picking the instrument and she leaned backwards slightly, afraid. If this being had to power to freeze the room, he must be very powerful indeed. When he stopped and spoke, she slowly leaned back forwards, almost as if she had been hooked with a fishing line and pulled back. She bit her lip, the slowly parted her lips and spoke.

"My...my name is called Vivian. And if you so wish, I would sing for you." She was willing to sing for him, but wondered if she would be allowed to say no even if she didn't want to. It was a strange thought, and it didn't matter for she was willing to sing. It was after all what she loved to do. And seeing as this man didn't have anything in his hands at all, nor did he seem like he was about to throw something or harm her in any way like the manager of the circus did at nights, she would sing for him happily.

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery smiled as she began her sweet music, allowing it to waft over him. The intracacies of the song were full of depth and emotion and if anyone else could have heard it they would probably have been led to tears by the ingenuity of it.

Forgery, however, was not. He thought it pleasant, but it lacked the feeling of being dire. She had relaxed after he had forced the place into a standstill by too great an amount and her music was no longer desperately fighting for survival. He interrupted her melody before she had finished with a shaking head and spoke, "If you believe your situation improved, I'd like to remedy you of that belief." He smiled sweetly at her, pausing to allow the statement to sink in. He changed his tone to be that of a sweet kindness and said, "Do you know what happens to Euryales that are cast out from their people?" He continued without allowing her to answer, "They have all their vocal chord removed viciously and burned at an altar." He maintained his seemingly genuine smile, with any luck making her uncomfortable at this seemingly ever-grinning man that was almost threatening her. "Of course, that would be a horrible punishment, but be assured that if you do not satisfy my desire to hear a good song then you would be better off in the hands of an angry Euryale mob." His smile still as genuine as it had been when he began, he widened his eyes as he proclaimed to her, "If you do not satisfy, then I, Forgery Zaytsev, will break you."

Forgery fell silent and waited for her to respond and, perhaps, sing. There was no telling what she would do without cheating (which was boring), though he hoped what he had said would revitalize the fear she had had before and even make it stronger. Perhaps now he would be audience to a real song.[/color]

Her eyes narrowed at the male before her. How dare he threaten here. Her body twitched slightly from anger, and she moved towards the male, leaning forwards. Her slight serpentine accent came out thicker then she usually spoke in, giving away her irritation.

"How dare you threaten me! I for one did not abandon my people! They where slaughtered like animals! Killed out of fear and for the money their skins could bring them! They would not cut out my vocal cords for trying to get back to them and being captured. If you don't like my singing, be gone then! I didn't ask you do do whatever it was you did to these people!" As she spoke, her voice grew louder and louder as she took deeper breaths. Windows began to rattle in their resting places, several cracking deeply as the female gorgon come close to releasing her sonic blast. Having never used this nnate ability before, Vivian did not even know she had it, and was unaware of the power her rising voice was unleashing as several thinner glasses fractured around the room, splashing their contents across tables and hands.

Vivian got control of herself, taking a deep breath and pulling away from the man. She moved backwards across the stage slightly, resettling in the middle of the raised wooden platform. Throwing a glance at the man, whatever he was she strummed her instrument this time, starting up a hard song, full of anger and hate. Singing fast and hard, she sang of the anger and hate of others, of betrayal and back stabbing, throwing everything she had into the song, subconsciously using her power to amplify emotions with out even meaning to as she sang.

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery looked around casually as things started shattering, but then rested his eyes back on the Gorgon as she spewed fury at him. After she had silenced and began strumming, she redirected the rage into her song. She was unafraid to stand up for herself even against one who was of obvious might, but still wasn't such a fool as to not do what was required.

She was ideal.

As her ukelele produced sound, he knew he'd pushed the right buttons. Her voice bellowed out harshly but with every kind of desperation underlying each note enhancing the sound as she launched herself into full aptitude. Forgery got angry with the music, releasing himself into her not-so-merry melody completely. She weaved her people into it, heinous crimes against them still fresh in the minds of the afflicted. Her own pain and suffering twisted around her vocalizing strength with such passion that Forgery Zaytsev was genuinely enraged at the suffering that had been brought upon this poor, poor Euryale. Such a beautiful creature and such a beautiful voice, but to have such ability to sing a tune of pain required one to have had much of it in their life. Poor, poor Gorgon.

It wasn't until after the song had finally concluded that Forgery realized just how much he'd gotten into the song and he didn't bother wiping the flow of tears from his face. He still hadn't realized that he'd gotten so into the song that he'd forgotten utterly to maintain his Asian appearance and his true semblence had replaced it. The people in the bar were frozen still, but dead as well. Whether Forgery did it in his nigh hypnotic rage or the Gorgon did it in hers was unbeknownst to the Deity and of little consequence.

He stood there for a while, just staring motionlessly at the Euryale that had just outdone what centuries of Gorgon before her had vainly proclaimed impossible. That is, she had hypnotized, bedazzled, and in all ways seduced Forgery Zaytsev. His mouth still wide, he took great strides towards her with purpose gleaming in his watery eyes. When finally he'd reached her, he stopped, a good head or so taller than her, but somehow not looking down at her. He bowed, head nearly touching the ground, back rigid and legs stiff and straight. He stood back up from his bow and smiled at her. "If you'll have me, I'll have you."

word count:; 407
music:; Droppin' Plates by Disturbed
mood:; bored, dire, and tired
notes:; Fun stuff.[/size]

The female gorgon stopped singing, slowy, staring at the male. Her eyes flicked around the room, staring at the dead bodies and she looked slightly shocked. Had she done this? How could she have? She hadn't even done anything but sing. Her eyes flicked back to the man before her, who was now now striding towards her. She slid a inch or so back, hesitant as he approached. Gripping her ukelele tightly, she glared at him with hard brown eyes. As he spoke however, her expression changed drastically, altering from hard and angry to one of shock and disbelief. She spoke softly, her eyes wide as quarters, as she stammered softly.

"E...Ex...excuse me!! What? What do you mean, have you." She was confused, not sure what he meant at all. Having somebody could mean all sorts of things, depending on the the person. He could be meaning marriage, but so soon. They had just meet. Or perhaps he was meaning, something more personal. That was something she was unwilling to do. She tried to gather her composure, looking directly into the beings eyes before her, unfazed by his strange appearance. Actually, with his flaky shin the male before her strangely reminded herself of another gorgon preparing to shade his or her skin.

She grimaced then flushed with color slightly as the thought reminded her that was something she was due for soon, a time where she was weak and had been taken advantage of by the male carnies. She shivered at the memory, and went back to gazing into his eyes, one good and the other milky white and apparently non-functional. Seeing how powerful this male had been, it probably worked, but simply appeared as if it didn't. Her lips parted, her voice flowing around the silent room again.

"What is it you want from me, sir? You are powerful obviously and needed even ask if you didn't want to. But instead you do. So what is it you seek. Is it companionship? A friend, perhaps?" She smiled, shaking her head and sighing.

"Or is it that you you seek something else? Something, perhaps I am not aware off?" She trailed off, her gaze searching his face for the answer, trying to find the answer but the male's face was inscrutable.

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery chuckled at the flabberghasted Gorgon. "No, nothing like that. I don't want to marry you or mate with you or anything of that fashion." He sniggered at the thought. Forgery Zaytsev falling for a Gorgon after a song? Ha! A good song, yes, but a song nonetheless. "A friend... that's similar, but a closer word would be comrade. For now, though, of course, I wouldn't call you deserving of that title until you've earned it. To put it simply, I wish your reverence... your utter devotion and faithfulness that I will always take care of you."

He winced. He'd been too straightforward. It wasn't like him at all to be so upfront with someone... especially so minimally. If he was going to ask for her loyalty, she should at least know what she was getting into. He shook his head at himself.

"Whoa, hold on. I need to explain further. I am Forgery Zaytsev, God of Deception, one of many Gods and I find myself pitted against others but not without my own legion of allies. I may be on the verge of defeat or I may be ready to strike the final blow. This is not for you to know. Faith is what I require and if I have it, I want it unconditionally. I do not love all of my followers, though some love me desperately without reciprocation. You, with such a voice, could use this power that comes naturally to yourself to deceive well. If you are willing to enter a life of deception and trickery, I would have you. Though, don't be fooled, morals are important for even myself and those who follow me... perhaps more than they are to others. I won't go into that now, though. For now, I am simply extending my hand in offer. I will not butcher you if you deny nor will you gain immortality if you live. No, in fact, you'll probably become a martyr eventually. Few mortals have ever seen Shangri-La and fewer still were welcome. Fewer still survived, even if welcome. Your life would be, however, lifted from uselessness and despair and you could have purpose. I could fill you with my knowledge and you could adore me and we would gain together and lean on each other."

He stopped, considering a moment. Yes, that's enough. With any sort of luck, she'll be interested. Otherwise...

He smiled his smirk-like smile and winked at her. He opened his ruby red lips slowly and enunciated his inquiry for an answer, "Vivian Euryale?"[/color]

She nodded slowly, glad that the male did not mean what had crossed through her mind. She would probably have done right refused, on the spot if he had meant that. However, instead he spoke of her worshiping him. And through that, perhaps gaining powers. but more then that it would get her out of this hell hole. She contemplated it, her tail sliding along the floor from side to side as her brain worked. When he spoke her name, it failed to surprise her. Somebody this powerful, a god, would surely be able to glean her name from her own mind, or perhaps a mind around them. Or even he may have known before he entered. It didn't really matter.

Finally she nodded, her eyes glinting. "Very well, Forgery. I will worsship you. You are ssstrong and powerful. I sssee that. And I have no more desssire to ssstay here in thiss place anymore. I want to get out, to explore the world. That will never happen if I am trapped in this inssane assylum." Her lisp was evident now, her excitement clouding her ability to cover her hissing speech slightly. It was a brand new, astounding idea to her. To be free from this. All of this. It was amazing. She would worship him for freeing her. It was the least she could do.

[Varos Talantos]

At the Euryale's nodding, Forgery cackled inwardly. She would work well, he believed. The voice is a very powerful instrument and is highly underestimated in countless situations. Hers had yet to reach it's maximum potential, Forgery could see that. Gorgons didn't tend to reach their fullest potential because they were already the best naturally. No creature could even hope to do better than a Euryale vocally and as a result, they felt little need to try and improve their voices and never reached their full potential. If they did, who knows what they could manage?

Forgery listened to her statement and nodded back at her. "It is just for you to receive deliverance." He reached a hand out to her and touched the center of her forehead with his forefinger. Instantly the surroundings faded to a more tropical setting. "The Amazon Rainforest." Forgery stated matter-of-factly. "It has to date held secrets in it from the modern world and is the largest rainforest in the world. He turned towards Vivian and raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Is this a pleasant place for you? I would warn you of the water and of ants and jaguars, but especially the water and ants. Still, you've got a fighter's instinct and should manage well here. There are even a few Euryale colonies to the west and south of our present location... they'd likely permit you entrance. Unless you have another preference, of course?"

Looking around herself as the scenery changed slowly around her, fading away slowly then reappearing as an dense jungle around them. She smiled, feeling exactly at home even as he described all the dangers of this area. However, she was not scared of what was down here but this was not her home. She looked directly in to Forgery's eyes and shook his head while her smooth, lush lips parted.

"I thank you very much sir, but this is not my home and I don't partically care for going back to a nest, any nest. I grew up on my own, and would not know what to do surrounded by my own kind anyways." She smiled softly, shaking her hair. Her hands moved up, gathering up her smooth silky hair and began to play with it absentmindedly. She sighed and shook her head slowly thinking of where else she would want to go. After a few seconds, she was forced to answer or else running the risk of looking stupid.

"I frankly have no idea where else I would like to go. I have not been many places. Nor have I been around the world enough to have choosen a place I like better then another really."

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery smiled as the young Gorgon expressed uncertainty. Something about that always pleased him, really. He looked around at the dense rainforest and then back at Vivian. She wasn't sure where she wanted to be, she didn't know the world yet, and she certainly seemed uncertain of herself... yes, that much was certain. He mulled briefly and came upon the proper course of action.

"I won't let my followers be weak. The best way for one to not be weak is to be riddled with troubles, really. However, I am no sadist and would not attempt to bestow upon you more grief than is your due." Forgery extended his left hand and place it upon the Gorgon's right forearm. After flash of heat, he removed his hand and a tattoo of chapped lips was revealed. The color started as a purple but quickly changed to red, then blue in a constant cycle of different colors. "You are now my Weaver. You will find it easier to persuade others from now on to see your point of view on things. You are also an extension of me. Your actions reflect upon me and if you do not act in a manner befitting of a Weaver, you will regret this blessing. Deceive well and prosper. My eye is on you."

With that, the sky darkened and whispers filled the air, quiet at first but gaining in intensity until the entire area seemed to vibrate with the noise. Soon nothing could be seen and all other sound was impossible to hear.

As suddenly as the process began, the sound vanished and the sky cleared. Forgery Zaytsev was gone, leaving the Gorgon to her own devices.

The female gorgon sighed as he left and looked down touching the mark upon her right forearm. She smiled, shaking her head and began to slither through the jungle. She wasn't entirely sure what to do now but she was sure to find something. She stopped beside the river, smiling at it. She liked water, but she knew better then to enter the water. It was more then likely teeming with piranha as she had heard about them before plenty of times.

She paused, smiling and stroking her ukelele softly, humming as she thought up a tun to sing. Perhaps one of fullness now? Or maybe one of freedom? She chuckled, shaking her hair out behind her and parting her lips to start her song.