Experiments

"Experiments" is a BOTGD 2 Act 1 thread written on June 19, 2019.
==Summary==
Akkey and Fiendal both try out the task Milae requested of Akkey, to access a mental place or a soul instead of a physical place, and Akkey tries to go to where Greg is. She comes across Deoiridh instead, and the two of them catch up along with taking a brief daring dive over the ocean via Akkey's portals.
==Full Text==
Akkey Black: The sun was beginning to set. Children were being called in for dinner, stores closing for the night. Akkey headed for the highest cliff on Haligan where she knew Firkugaan was.
She sat cross legged under a tree that overlooked the main square; she knew the demon was amongst its leaves, watching and waiting. The nix-rabbit sighed tiredly, opening a very small portal and dropping a piece of paper in. “I need to know when Hunter wakes up. I’ll check in every morning.”
She settled in her spot, leaning back against the rough bark, listening to the sounds of the village.
Firkugaan: The demon watched the village silently as he learned more of what was happening. He was interested to hear the peoples stories.
He waited in the shadows as he felt Akkeys approach. He could vaguely tell it was her. But wasn’t too confident. As she sat against the tree he appeared slowly from the shadows, coming up behind her and gently bumping his head against her. How did looking for your nieces go? He asked, sitting next to her. Did you locate them?
Akkey: She brought up a hand to his snout, a gesture of comfort nowadays, “No, they’re not on Haligan anymore. Milae’s looking for Father, but I have no other leads.”
“So I’ll have to stay here a while,” she sighed, “I have other things to do as well, anyway…”
Firkugaan: Firkugaan gently moved into Akkeys hand as he sat by her. You must rest, I fear the days shall only get more tiring. His face was trained on her as he gently moved a wing to place over her. He knew that around the trees he was probably good cover should it rain. If need be you can stay on Haligan and I shall search around.
Akkey: She shook her head, “We don’t really have that much time to spare. There are few things I must experiment with…” She rubbed his wing distractedly, “Are you sure you want to stay hidden here? A lot of your former comrades are down there… it might help jog some memories.”
Firkugaan: I am afraid of how they may respond to my form. He admitted, looking down at the quiet village as the candlelight from within the houses began to be smothered one-by-one. With you it was one person. A person is smart, people are dumb, dangerous, panicky animals and you know it. 
Akkey: She laughed, “I suppose you’re right. How about just one person, then? Chief Grey is pretty level headed; you can also show yourself as Fiendal instead of Firkugaan.”
Firkugaan: The demon pondered for a moment. That is True, Chief Grey is well trusted. And as she is a chief, she may be able to tell the people not to fear me. He looked again at the village as the lights slowly left the homes. She is most likely, however, getting rest. Firkugaan turned and nudged Akkey in jest. As you should be.
Akkey: “I’ll go ask her tomorrow. But I-,” she stretched her arms up before pulling her water pouch out, “-have some homework.”
She poured all of its contents into a large bowl, the moonlight reflecting off its surface. She sat, hands folded on her lap, staring very, very intently into the water.
“Hmmm…”
Firkugaan: Firkugaan gazed at the water, wondering what she was looking at. He knew that Akkey was busy and didn’t want to interfere. He decided his best bet would be to hold his wings around Akkey and keep watch. The forest after dark could be a dangerous place and he wanted to know she was safe. As soon as you are finished, go to sleep. Time shall not be wasted. He extended his horns and began searching for any energies out of the ordinary.
Akkey: They stayed that way, unmoving, for a good ten minutes. Akkey suddenly groaned, glancing curiously towards her companion, “What are you doing?”
Firkugaan: I am making sure we don’t get attacked. Or more accurately, you don’t get attacked. He looked at Akkey and the small pool in front of her. If you don’t mind my asking, what are you doing with the water?
Akkey: “It seemed like… you were feeling something with your horns,” she mused before turning back to the bowl, “I’m trying to open a portal into a place that doesn’t exist.”
She leaned back, staring up at the night sky through the trees, “I’m currently stumped, though.”
Firkugaan: He chuckled a small amount before he looked to the water. You have me there. I can use my horns to sense the energies and emotions of other beings. He crouched slightly as he looked closer at the water. May I be of any use?
Akkey: She perked up at this, “Hmm… Other beings? Any kind of beings? Do they have to be physical?”
Firkugaan: Not particularly, there are many non-physical beings that I have seen. The demon bowed his head as he looked at Akkey. Why? Do you need me to look for something specific?
Akkey: She pondered over the thought, her mind flitting through ideas like Nala did years ago through her abilities, “Can you find the energy of one Greg Ericson?”
Firkugaan: I can try. It has been a long time since I’ve had to find a specific person. He stretched himself out slightly as he began to lay down, wings still covering them. His horns slowly started to glow with a deep indigo colouring, small cracks in his wings became more apparent with the colour as his search grew wider and yet more specific. He was looking through every human he could find as he hadn’t felt Gregs energy before. His mind jumped from house to house as he scanned through each person, feeling their feelings, and as he stretched this power to its absolute limit, he could even get a sense of their name from how their energy held them.
He had searched many houses and gotten no sense of greg, the longer he spent searching in this manner, the more his usage of the power drained him. There was one house he could sense that he did not look through. It was an important house. When enough people think of an area as being important, It starts to build it’s own kind of barrier, and it can be tough to get through, let alone if he was successful, any psychics could twig what he was doing and kick him out. But he was losing precious time, so he would have to use the direct approach.
He sent his focus completely into the house and sensed for people, He could sense the air of the Chief and her family. Ah, Firkugaan thought, that’s why. He was approaching his threshold though, he searched the rooms and finally came across a person. He frantically looked over them, Deodirih? Greg? Both? The energy he focused told him the two names, but he only sensed the one person, what was happening to him? Abruptly his search area blackened as he returned to his own mind. His head pounding as he realised he’d pushed too far. He reared up and let out a loud, long, howling roar before crashing back down to the ground. He weakly turned to Akkey. The chief has him. But be warned, he is not himself. There is another being baring his name, body, or possibly spirit. He lay on the ground, unable to work up any strength.
Akkey: Akkey scrambled to him in worry, “Whoa! Fiendal… I’m sorry, are you alright? I didn’t know it would take so much.” She laid a gentle hand on his head, “It’s your turn to rest, bud. We’re okay here…”
She turned her head in the direction of Grey’s house. He found him… but he’s actually there? I though he would find just his ghost or something, not…
She scooted back to the bowl as Firkugaan rested behind her. It’s worth a shot… She closed her eyes, putting every bit of concentration into the water. Grey’s house, Greg’s soul… Visualise Grey’s house, connect to Greg’s soul… Her fingers twitched as it laid limp on her lap, pulling and pushing at invisible strings. The water nudged for a second. Then it exploded.
In the main house, Deoiridh suddenly felt a sharp jab within her. She cried out in pain, but as quickly as it came, it was gone.
Firkugaan: Firkugaan felt his body relax slightly as the pain left and he could only feel the exhaustion. He weakly moved himself against the nearby tree and let darkness wash over him. It was time to rest. His demon body slowly faded as he fell into a deep slumber, leaving a figure sat behind Akkey, his breath slightly laboured as he slept.
Akkey: Akkey stood in a hurry, soaking wet. “Well… That wasn’t supposed to happen.” She mused aloud.
She turned to look at Firkugaan, but he had morphed back into his human form. She walked up to him, running a hand through her hair.
“Fiendal, you’re back to being hu-” she stopped in her tracks upon getting a closer look. It wasn’t the teenaged boy that she knew him as; instead, there was a middle aged man, perhaps around her age, sleeping very heavily on the ground. “Fiendal?”
Deoiridh: Deoiridh gasped as she clutched at her chest. “Ugh feck!” She cursed. “Ah’m too young teh be ‘avin’ chest pains.” She said as she grit her teeth, waiting for the pain to pass.
Akkey: She crouched by him, trying to shake him awake. “Is that you?” But the man slumbered on.
Akkey glanced back towards the bowl. She felt the oddest sensation when she tried to open a portal; she almost had a connection, but it was like something, like a body, was blocking her through the opening.
She looked down upon the sleeping man again, and decided that she was too curious to let this slide. She took off her cloak and made sure to wrap him up warmly.
“I’ll be back,” she said to no one, standing up and opening a portal below her. She sank through the ground and rose up the other side, in front of the back door of the Chief’s house.
Deoiridh: She grunts as the pain is starting to ebb away. “Ah cripes I need some air.” She said as she stood up and headed for the back door and opening it, only to be met face to face with the Half-Breed. She squinted in the darkness but then grinned. “Akkey? Akkey Black is that you?!” She said excitedly
Akkey: Akkey had hopped away once the door opened, ready to hide, but the unfamiliar voice calling out her name stopped her. She couldn’t see who it was, but she knew it was female, “Who’s asking?” She called out
Deoiridh: “It’s me! Greg!” Deoiridh exclaimed. “Well… Not Greg exactly but I used to be ‘im but then ah died and was reincarnated 7 years before ah died and… Look it’s all really confusin’ as ‘el and ah don’t understand it completely but… ‘El you probably understand better than ah do, you’re ‘er agent just ask ‘er yerself.”
Akkey: Greg…?!?! Is that what happened? She froze for a moment, trying to understand what in Hel’s name this girl was saying. She cocked an eyebrow; not a lot of people knew she was an agent, and Hel had spoken of reincarnation with her before in passing.
She straightened, willing to listen, “Okay then, ‘Greg’. Tell me what we did at the Arnason wedding.”
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Hearing that she busted out laughing and continued to do so for a good few moment before she managed to compose herself. “We spiked the drinks and other things~” she sang as she continued to laughed. After another few moments she wiped a tear from her eye as she stood straight again. “Gotta be honest, I feckin’ hate havin’ teh ‘prove ah’m Greg’, shite but that was a good one.”
Akkey: Akkey smirked, and crossed her arms, “Alright, you got my attention. But you’re not Greg… At least, not completely. Memories, souls, all that jazz. Complicated stuff.”
“Come out here and let me see who you are.”
Deoiridh: She grinned and practically skipped over to Akkey. “I mean ah’m not him anymore? I dunno, it’s confusin’.” She said. “So, see anything ye like?” She grinned.
Akkey: “Of course you’re not, but you also kinda are.” she looked her up and down. A kid… Appropriate, I guess. Hah. I wasn’t expecting Fiendal to find Greg at all, thinking he was in Hel, but this would make sense. And it might’ve worked if he wasn’t in a body.
She grinned back, “What’s your name? How’d you manage to convince Mo– I mean, Hel to reincarnate you into the past?”
Deoiridh: “Muh name’s Deoiridh.” She said grin still on her face. “As fer the reincarnation bit, I dunno. Last thing in Greg’s memory is his death up until they lit ‘is boat on fire. And mah earliest memory is aboot three years earlier.”
Akkey: “Mmm…” she stared at her. The mention of his death struck a small pang in her chest. As much as Deoiridh is his reincarnation (allegedly), Greg was still dead. She shook her head, “Is that so. I don’t suppose you have an idea as to why you got reincarnated, as well?”
Deoiridh: “Ah was under the impression it was part of her big plan fer the afterlife, or some shite.” She said as she crossed her arms. “Not that ah’m complainin’ o’ course. Happy teh be alive in some form er another.”
Akkey: Her mind ran through the possibilities, coming to no conclusions. She sniffed, putting a hand to her hip, “So what brings you to Haligan now?”
Deoiridh: “Well… I originally came here cuz I kept ‘avin’ dreams aboot the place but didn’t know what they meant. So I came here and unlocked them and now ah’m just kinda… Hangin’ out and helpin’ out.” She looks kinda unsure as she says all this.
Akkey: “Hmmmm…” Akkey hummed, “I see. Well, you’re an interesting girl I suppose.”
Deoiridh: She snorts, “C'mon Akkey tha’s all ye got to say? Tell me how yer doin’ fer God’s sake.”
Akkey: She wrinkled her nose at her in amusement, “I’m fine. Up to my usual agent, nix, whatever have you business. The kids are all grown up; I heard Kettil has a thing for Iona,” she laughed before sobering, “Have you met with your family yet?”
Deoiridh: She waves her off, “Aye aye, though I dinnae know aboot Kettil and Iona. Juicy.” She grins but that drops slightly after. “Well… All except Warren. Ah… Ah don’t think she’ll care fer me like this.” Deoiridh said somberly.
Akkey: She pressed her lips, nodding seriously, “Yeah… but I think she might appreciate knowing her dead husband’s soul is alright.” She shrugged, “No rush, though.”
“Ah-ah suppose so.” She said before shaking her head and trying to perk up a bit. “Anyways do ye wanna go do somethin’ fun?” She asked with a smile.
Akkey: Akkey raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t help but be intrigued, troublemaker that Greg always was, “Depends. What is it?”
Deoiridh: “Well there’s a bar on the island withe plenty o’ eligible lads and lasses fer the pickin, if yer interested.” She said with a smirk.
Akkey: She barked a short laugh, “Pass. That’s not my scene anymore, you know that.”
Deoiridh: She laughed with yer. “Ah’ve been dead the ah don’t know shite.” As her giggles calmed down she asked. “So what do ye do fer fun, oh Goddess o’ the flowers?” She asked.
Akkey: The old nickname tugged at fond memories. She grinned, “I stay home, Commander. I got family to take care of and an aging body that needs a nap.”
Deoiridh: Deoiridh slouched over and groans. “Ugh that sounds so boriiing.” She whines. “Are ye sure ye don’t wanna go do somethin’ fun? Or would ye rather go teh quiltin’ bee grandma?” She giggled.
Akkey: “You really want an adrenaline rush that bad, kid?”
Deoiridh: “If it helps ye wake up I’m game Grandma” she said as she stuck her tongue out.
Akkey: She rolled her eyes and turned around, looking up at the sky. She squinted, as if trying to find a very specific point up there.
“Ready or not,” with a flick of her wrist, two portals opened beneath them, and Deoiridh felt herself fall through. She wasn’t expecting to keep falling, though. Free falling at 10,000 feet above the sea.
Deoiridh: Deoiridh let out a cry of surprise as she realized she was falling, but that quickly turned into laughter of delight as she realized it was Akkey’s doing, she trusted her.
Akkey: She grinned, letting the teen enjoy herself. Akkey would do this sometimes, when she’s late night flying with Maru. She would jump off and take a nosedive into the like, her dragon with her.
She level her arms out, the rushing wind blowing her darkening hair back.
Deoiridh: Deoiridh does the same and angles herself towards Akkey and grabs her hands and grins at her continuing to laugh.
Akkey: Akkey laughed with her. She hadn’t felt this free in a long time, and Deoiridh’s enthusiasm was infectious.
They neared the sea surface, and she let the teen’s hand go. She needed all digits and concentration for this. With a deep breath and a crack of the neck, Akkey dipped the seawater beneath her, pulling up enough to catch them by their feet to slow their descent like a slide. They tumbled through the waves, and were gently deposited on the beach, spitting out saltwater.
“That fun enough for you?”
Deoiridh: She sat up and laughed, fists in the air triumphantly. “That was amazin’!” She exclaimed and she couldn’t stop laughing, too high on adrenaline. Once she started to come down she grins at Akkey and said. “My idea woulda been just as fun.”
Akkey: She blinked, the quickest image of pale blue eyes flashing across her mind, “Nah, I’m good.” She stood and dried them off, before pulling Deoiridh up by the hand, “Now go to bed or whatever it is you kids do at one in the morning.”
Deoiridh: She smirks, “Well that really depends on which kid ye ask.” She says with a chuckle. “But fine, I’ll head off to bed, ya geezer.” She came over and hugged her tightly.
Akkey: Akkey had to take a step back at the force of the hug. She raised her eyebrows, her arms hovering behind Deoiridh’s back. There’s still a cautious separation between Greg and his reincarnation for her, but admittedly it was fun to have that kind of banter again. She hugged her back.
Deoiridh: She gave her one last squeeze before releasing her. “Roight, g'night hon.” She called as she began to head back to Grey’s.
Akkey: “Good night,” Akkey replied, watching her from behind. She glanced at the pools of water by her feet, then back up at Deoiridh. I’ll try it once more. 
She quickly sat on the ground, and activated the same ritual she did an hour or so ago. But she was careful this time; no prodding, no poking. Just an opening. Visualizing Deoiridh and her surroundings, connecting to Greg’s energy.
After a few moments, Akkey opened her eyes. There waa no explosion, no reaction from the girl, but the same odd sensation had returned. Okay, that did something. I think… I need to try another approach. She sighed to herself, before opening a portal back to where she had left Firkugaan.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Act I
Category:Events
Category:Akkey Black
Category:Deoiridh Tuathanach
Category:Firkugaan
Category:Fiendal Hrothgar Hookless