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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 1:12:09 GMT -5
It was late afternoon. The sun had sank low enough that the cold-blooded creatures of the Nile began to again crave its warmth, having retreated into the water for most of midday when the heat was a little too strong to be comfortable. This was the time of day that was Set's favorite to take crocodile form, as basking on the bank was perfect temperature. Morning, too, was a time many of the Nile's crocodiles took to the banks to warm up for the day, but Set was not a morning person to say the least.
He was not especially discreet in most of the animal forms he could take. His natural one, of a Typhonic Beast, was eye-catching no matter its size, and immediately identifiable as him. His other forms were larger than average - in a crocodile's case, much larger. Considering the Nile was full of enormous crocodilians as it was, Set's size stood out considerably. Even if he had not been a god, other crocodiles would have surely given him ample space on the bank. And he did enjoy his space.
The god had shut his golden, slitted, crocodile eyes, enjoying the feel of Ra's rays sinking into his scales. He had chosen a small island of sand in a shallow portion of the river, so there were a few yards of shallow water, barely ankle-deep, between him and the bank. But no other crocodile had placed itself between him and land, nor had any other stationed itself on his island. When he felt the river lap at his very tail tip, he absently pulled it to the side so the water would not disturb him in the least. However, something else next disrupted his basking. His eyes opened drowsily. The god could feel a gaze on him, though he only heard humans some distance away. He did not yet muster the motivation to turn his head to look around, but swept his eyes across the bank carefully.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 1:30:48 GMT -5
**(Note: Anything said by Barates in italics is Greek. Otherwise it's Egyptian~)
Stumbling over the overgrown reeds and cursing at them under his breath in Greek, Barates blew an irksome leaf out of his face as he struggled to shove its fellows away with his hands. It had taken him forever to get those chores done, and he had (quite literally) slaved away until each of his chores were done. Okay, so it might have taken a little bribery on his part and the loss of an extra kilt for his chores to be done so early, but as he buried his toes in the warm sand with a happy sigh, Barates felt all his woes seep away.
This close to the river, it was almost as if he were on the ocean again, and the shifting sand beneath his feet gave the illusion of a boat. It was a soothing sensation to say the least, and as he finally wrestled his way from the reeds, he let himself collapse with a thump, legs akimbo and head tilted back to bask in the sun.
This was, he found, the best spot to watch-safe enough where he wouldn’t get eaten but close enough he could see most minute details.
Letting his eyes roam lazily towards the sparkling rivers of the Nile, Barates smiled-though not before shooting a dirty look towards a wading hippo. If the animal gave any indication of noticing the dark look, it didn’t seem to care, instead flapping its tiny ears to bat away oncoming flies.
Muttering a choice word under his breath, Barates scowled at the mammoth creature a moment further before he continued his cursory look of the waters, a frown slowly growing on his face.
Normally, one could see more crocodiles, either sunning themselves on the banks or lurking in the warm waters. Brow furrowing slightly with disappointment, Barates lips tilted downwards in an expression that was most certainly not a pout.
He had been looking forward to watching the large reptiles (and secretly, hoped that he’d get to see one maul a hippo). The fact that he couldn’t spot a single one fell on him a bit harshly. About to stand up, Barates stopped still, mouth agape as he stared wide eyed at the creature lounging lazily on a sandbank.
That had…that had to be the largest crocodile he had ever seen! It must have been at least the size of two ships.
It was….it was…it was beautiful!
That long tail-the river lacking at its tip; those large eyes, closed as it bathed in the sun! Only a few scarce feet of water hardly deep enough to go past his ankles between them!
Absolutely magnificent!
Heaving a delirious sigh, Barates continued his rather vibrant appraisal of the massive crocodile, noting each scale with the air of one very much in awe.
So lost was he in his rapture, the young man barely noticed when the large creature his large slitted eyes to drowsily gaze at the banks.
And when he finally did notice?
One might think, that being a human being with a functional brain, Barates would have scooted back and skedaddled right out of there. As it was?
He let out an awe-filled gasp (that was very much not a squeal, thank you very much) and grinned broadly, eyes filled with delight as he breathed out one single word in the tone of those truly reverent.
"Amazing!"
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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 1:49:09 GMT -5
It didn't take him long to spot a scruffy head of short, dark red hair. Though not as vivid as his own, it was a luxurious shade nonetheless, tinted with deep hues that caught the sunlight. And the boy appeared to be ogling him. Set gave a lazy blink characteristic of a crocodile. How delightfully strange. Slowly so as not to startle the youth - though it was nearly impossible for one's every move not to look threatening when as a gigantic crocodile - he shifted to the side more in direction of the bank, turning his head to get a better look at the human eyeing him.
If his toothy maw could have been smiling any more, it might have. The god wondered how much it would take to spook this mortal... The stupid thing seemed only captivated for now, which was bizarre in itself. Gauging the boy's reaction with a growing excitement for this newfound little game, Set took a couple of steps closer to drag his scaly bulk to the edge of his island nearest the bank, so his long snout was nearly facing the youth. He was sure to move slowly so as not to appear outright threatening; if he hadn't been moving in the very direction of the boy, it might have appeared he was skittish and cautiously making some distance. Except he was doing the opposite.
Set had played this game before, but mostly with the pure intent to scare someone. This time he was more intrigued, as he was clearly dealing with a foreigner, and it appeared to be one strangely fond of crocodiles. A rare find indeed.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 2:01:01 GMT -5
Eyes only growing wider as the great beast began to move, Barates leaned forwards slightly, hazel eyes bright with delight. Ah! It was shifting towards the bank-and there-oh it blinked!
Laughing slightly as he watched the massive creature ease off the small island it was currently resting on, Barates grinned all the wider as the crocodile began taking a couple of slow steps, dragging its scaly bulk to the very edge of the sand bar.
Why, its snout was nearly facing him! And look! Look, it was moving towards him!
Giving another delighted laugh with little care to the fact that his sense of self preservation was screaming at him, Barates at least had the sense of mind to curl his legs beneath him, toes digging into the sand and the heat warming his knees. Eyes still locked on the creature, Barates tilted his head to the side.
The massive crocodile’s eyes seemed almost intelligent-mischievous and though the crocodile was moving slowly-cautiously even- it almost seemed as if it were intrigued. Captivated as the massive creature moved ever closer, Barates stayed in place and though he shifted to rest on the balls of his feet, his eyes were still wide with delight.
“My…” he murmured beneath his breath in awe, “You are a large thing, aren’t you? I'm sure you eat every hippo you come across. Perhaps you’re a God? I wouldn’t doubt it; no common crocodile could be as wondrous as you…”
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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 2:19:17 GMT -5
Like music, that exotic tongue; so badly did the god want to hear more. Something new and different than the sound he heard every day and night in Egypt, a melodic tone in a haze of dull white noise. The boy seemed so enthralled, Set wondered if inching closer would only coax him into drawing all the nearer. An interesting theory, but not one Set was willing to test further - he was too excited now, he didn't want to scare off his new toy just yet.
In seconds, the crocodile's grand form dissipated into a black, wispy substance as much akin to shadow as it was to smoke, and the cloud of this vapor billowed forward with startling speed - until the shining, silver eyes of a boy stared mere inches from the foreigner's face with the same electric look he had been casting the crocodile moments before. In human form, Set was even paler than the mortal before him, and his hair redder, too, sunlight playing through each strand's vivid tints of crimson and orange. His clothing was not that of any royal, but only the simple, common, linen skirt, his slender frame bare of jewelry. "You are... Greek, yes? Is that right?" He questioned brightly, giving the youth no time to recover from the abrupt show of divine power. "What is your name?" Set had all the look of a fascinated child, as if he truly was a 16-year-old who had never met a foreigner in his life.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 2:35:00 GMT -5
Leaning forward as he was in excitement, Barates watched the crocodile with the air of a curious child, eyes wide with delight and a broad smile across his face. That smile however, quickly morphed into a frown of confusion as the massive beast’s body dissipated into a black wispy substance and Barates could only yelp, falling backwards as the vapor billowed forward and he found himself face to face with the shining silver eyes of a youth.
“You-you…god?” Spluttering for words, Barates could only stare slack jawed at the crocodile-boy-god-thing before he gulped, wide eyes going over the boy er…god’s slim form. His skin was paler than his own, and his hair was a shining red-like blood and oh dear god he really needed to step away. Stumbling backwards, Barates barely had time to breath before the boy-god-god he was a god!-began questioning him in a bright voice.
“You are Greek, yes? Is that right? What is your name?”
The er…god, looked fascinated, and Barates found himself flustered, nodding his head slowly as he edged away from the god. As a crocodile he had been enthralling. As a boy? Well, it was a little off setting to be staring at youth when there’d been a massive beast before. “Err..yes, Greek.” he found himself answering, still in his home tongue, “That…that is correct.” Eyes widening as he finally caught himself, Barates stopped his slow creep backwards-edging away might offend him and even Barates was clever enough to realize that offending a god was about as smart as offending a royal- that it, it was a definite death sentence, or at least a sentence to a life of hardship and misery. “M-my name is….” and there went his brain.
Still staring slack jawed at the fascinated looking boy, Barates spluttered for words-By Hermes! His name, how could he have forgotten his own name?!- before he gulped and replied stiffly in a voice that led one to believe he thought he was losing his mind, though he did as least catch enough of himself to reply in Egyptian this time-however stilted it was, “….er…my name Barates.”
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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 2:55:30 GMT -5
A Cheshire grin spread over Set's boyish visage. It did not take any translating to notice how the youth was stuttering. How cute! Though not as enchanting as the natural speech he had exercised beforehand, it was still ear candy. The god was quick to close whatever distance the foreigner attempted to create, striding right after him with every stumble backward so that he remained just inches away. Of all the Egyptian deities, Set probably had the poorest concept of personal space. When he found something - or someone - that truly fascinated him, he did not care for keeping his distance, and had no regard for personal bubbles. And when he kept close enough to the youth at hand, he could almost smell a foreign scent on him - an odor not quite of Egypt, and just as new and exciting as the boy's language.
Set gave a strange tilt of his head not unlike a dog at the boy's initial answer. He was Greek then; the god had caught that much. Even when he could not understand what the human was trying to say, it was still so delightful to listen. Finally, though, the stunned thing managed to recall some Egyptian, and his own name. "Barates~? Barates!" Set tested the sound on his tongue. It was not a name he had heard before. "Is that all?" He asked almost pleadingly with another tilt of his head. Surely, there was more to the boy's name than that - maybe even an especially long title, as foreigners sometimes had. Those were the best.
"How long have you been in Egypt, Barates?" The god began again. He had to make a conscious effort to slow his words for the foreigner; a difficult endeavor considering his excitement.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 11:13:29 GMT -5
Mouth twitching awkwardly as his eyes looked for some sort of escape, Barates couldn’t help but flush slightly. Though he had stopped moving backwards, he still leaned slightly away from the boyish looking god, and by Hermes and Zeus above, the god was little too close for comfort- a few scant inches between them and for Barates to actually look at him, it required going cross eyed.
Not to mention, Barates thought somewhat nervously, he had yet to stand up and was still sprawled somewhat awkwardly on the ground, legs akimbo as he spluttered like a dying fish. Hand slowly moving towards his kilt in an attempt to pull it up somewhat (apparently scooting back on one’s rear tended to have a cause one’s clothing to move down), Barates flushed anew as the god tilted his head to the side, the action almost canine.
“Barates~? Barates! Is that all?”
Cheeks a wavering between a sickly white and a blazing red even from beneath the ruddy hue of his sunburn, Barates slowly shook his head, babbling before he could stop himself. “B-Barates Aster of Crete-Son of Diodoros and Aode.” His free hand moving to clap his hand over his mouth, Barates cursed beneath his breath-what was he thinking spouting off like that?! The god should have been happy with simply Barates, right? And spouting off his entire name like that…face flushing further, Barates cursed his fate.
Really, why did he have to lose his head when he saw things he liked? Or that made him nervous? Or that made him angry-though this situation was currently a mixture of panic and sheer awkwardness. It wasn't every day one met a crocodile turned boy turned er...god.
"How long have you been in Egypt, Barates?" Scooting back a step despite himself while quickly pulling his kilt up again when it began to dip a bit low, Barates blinked, stopping his movements as he thought himself. Without his knowing, one of his hands came up and his brow furrowed, losing his flush as he lost himself to his thoughts.
How…how long had he been in Egypt? It…it couldn’t have been that long, he was sure he was still in his twentieth year, having turned so the moment he had stepped into Egypt, perhaps a month before Pythios had…well, that matter bared no thinking, that itself being a two or so months before the Pharaoh’s recent death.
Counting idly on his fingers the number of days, Barates paused before he shrugged awkwardly, “T-three months?” Voice unsure and face clearly showing his unease with the answer, Barates frowned nervously before he added, in a bit of a surer voice, “Arrived a month before….” here he trailed off awkwardly, preferring not to speak, before he finished, “that. And then two months before Pharaoh dead, so three.”
There, that should do. Hopefully the god would be happy now. And Barates, thought, perhaps he’d give him some space. Pausing for a moment, Barates blinked before he bolstered his spirit slightly a wry smile tilting upon his lips as he finally noted that the god had taken care to slow his speech. “….N-not bad with words. No need to speak slow. Can understand-just…just…not…not speak good.”
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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 16:21:01 GMT -5
The god's grin persisted. A long title indeed - this foreigner did not disappoint. Aster, Crete… Diodoros, and Aode. Greek names really did tickle his fancy. Set watched the color pour into the boy's cheeks. His face took on a fox-like expression of amusement; what fun this Barates Aster of Crete was! It sounded like he very well may have been cursing under the hand clasped against his mouth, too. Funny, that a slim, red-headed boy should so perturb the youth more than an enormous crocodile inching in his direction. If only he could speak in crocodile form, perhaps Set could make the human more comfortable.
His gaze dropped to eye the young man's periodic tugging on his skirt, and his grin spread all the wider. "No need to be embarrassed, Barates Aster of Crete. Nothing I haven't seen before," he chided teasingly, standing up straight and offering Barates a hand. If the boy's stuttering was ever going to calm, it was probably best he continue the conversation on his feet. Set nodded thoughtfully at the answer he received, and cast a playful smile when informed he didn't have to slow his words. "Do you have crocodiles in.. Crete?" He glanced back at the more normal-sized reptiles positioned some distance away. His silvery eyes glinted like a blade when he looked up to Barates again; though he had given the boy a little more space, he still stood closely, and in human form he was quite a bit shorter than the youth - which didn't seem to trouble him any. His expression was still alight with excitement.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 20:45:06 GMT -5
"No need to be embarrassed, Barates Aster of Crete. Nothing I haven't seen before,"
Face reddening further as the youth’s grin widened as he dropped an eye to Barates’ tugging of his kilt (really, he thought he’d been more subtle) Barates flinched and then grimaced, face torn between embarrassment and shock-a comical combination at the very least that left his eyes the size of dinner plates and his face redder then even the sun could get it.
At a loss for words, the Greek slave could only splutter uselessly before he let his head hang and grabbed the god’s proffered hand- though he did little to stop his periodic attempts at keeping his kilt situated about his waist. Pulling himself up with scarcely a grunt, Barates slunk the youthful looking redhead a nervous glance as he dusted sand off the back of his kilt, turning slightly to make sure he got the last of it. Whatever the god said, Barates still found it in bad form to be showing off one’s genitals at the barest glance-this wasn’t the Olympics after all and he was no doddering old man who liked to flash his bits just to catch a peak of a youthful face.
Grimacing at the mere thought, Barates shook his head quickly, dispelling the rather horrifying image just as the god continued speaking again. "Do you have crocodiles in…Crete?"
Blinking up, mouth still slightly agape from his distraction, Barates shook his head slowly “No.”he replied shortly, voice still a bit unsure but slowly gaining wind. "No crocodiles-but have large turtles-very tasty in soup. Also have boars and wolves- but no crocodiles.” The mere idea of seeing a crocodiles in his native country was a thought that provoked a happy sigh from the Greek’s lips, though the expression quickly fell as he glanced towards a wading hippo, and finished a bit grudgingly. “….No hippos either.”
“Crocodiles would be nice though. Pretty creatures. And would eat any Spartans that tried to swim across ocean. Don’t really care for Spartans. Too blood thirsty. Always complaining and saying Crete weak.” Snorting with derision as he got more comfortable in the god’s prescence, Barates paused before his face flushed anew.
Here he was, having already said his name and he hadn’t even asked the god for his! Glancing downwards slightly-really, he had expected a god to be much taller, as it was Barates was a good head taller-the Greek blinked, brow furrowed. He couldn’t be Ra, nor Horus. He had been a crocodile before so perhaps…”You Bast-Wait not…that dog…er…cat god…Sekhmet…Sobek?” Trailing off in a list of names while muttering a dark word to himself in Greek about just how many gods the Egyptians had (though truth be told, the Greek gods were just as plentiful) Barates shook his head before he blinked, trying one last name. “…Set?”
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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 21:26:55 GMT -5
His fox-like visage returned at the boy's persistent blushing, which lingered for some time, at least until the god's last question. Set stared, fascinated. "Boars and wolves... How exciting." His gaze moved to the hippos as they were mentioned, though he did not miss the sour look that crossed Barates' face. He smiled, laughing at what the foreigner had to say regarding crocodiles. "You like crocodiles~? Most Egyptians don't, I'm afraid." He scratched his head almost sheepishly. He laughed further at the explanation offered of Spartans. "Your land sounds so exciting. Creatures like giant turtles, and bears, wolves, Spartans..."
He tilted his head at Barates' thoughtful look, watching the gears churn in his eyes. He offered no response besides his unwavering smile until the youth guessed right. "Sobek was a good guess," he glanced to the crocodiles again. "But I am Set. God of sand and storm... and a variety of creatures most of Egypt isn't so fond of." He gestured to the crocodiles, chuckling. "Thus my more impressive form." His silvery eyes turned a sandy golden color, their pupils narrowing to slits, mimicking the reptilian eyes they had been a few minutes before. The change only lasted a few seconds, just long enough for Barates to notice.
"Do you cling to your Greek deities?" The god asked. His tone held only curiosity, no hint of malice. "Or have you taken to any of us here in Egypt?" At this he leaned in closer, though the nearer he came to the boy the further he had to look up to meet his gaze.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 21:59:19 GMT -5
"You like crocodiles~? Most Egyptians don't, I'm afraid. Your land sounds so exciting. Creatures like giant turtles, and bears, wolves, Spartans... Your land sounds so exciting. Creatures like giant turtles, and bears, wolves, Spartans..."
Eyes widening in surprise as the god sheepishly scratched his head, Barates blinked, flustered awkwardness all but lost in favor of the more pressing matter. People who didn’t like crocodiles?! “Why not like? Magnificent beasts-pretty to look at. Very big too- with scales. Like…like great beast from story!” Hazel eyes brightening with excitement as he began to praise the large beasts, Barates paused before he grinned. “Spartans not beasts! Men, like Nubians-but er…Greeks too. Like…like…” Trailing off with a thoughtful frown, Barates scratched at his chin, forgetting his unease with the situation entirely. “Clan? No…city? State?” Still guessing for words, Barates pursed his lips before he shook his head and waved his hand to dispel the thought. “Eh, not important. But men-Greek too, if not good ones.”
Pausing to think, Barates turned to look towards the youthful looking god once more, noting he had started speaking again, verifying his suggestions with a fox-like smile. “Sobek was a good guess. But I am Set. God of sand and storm... and a variety of creatures most of Egypt isn't so fond of.” Following the god’s hand as he gestured towards the crocodiles basking the distance, Barates blinked only to stare with delight as the God’s eyes, silver before- morphed into a sandy golden color with reptilian slits, mimicking their appearance from just moment before. Leaning down to get a better look-odd how this time he was the one invading another’s personal space- Barates released a delighted laugh only to frown in disappointment as the change disappeared as quickly as it had happened, just long enough for him to notice.
“Do you cling to your Greek deities? Or have you taken to any of us here in Egypt?” In the midst of stepping back, Barates tilted his head to the side, noting that the god’s tone held no sense of malice, only curiosity. It took him a moment to realize that the god was edging closer again, though each subsequent step caused him to tilt his head further back in order to meet his eyes.
“Not cling! Worship- Greek gods powerful. Not really want to get struck by lightning. Or lost on next trip. Gods vengeful.” Frowning a bit mulishly as he began a defense of those he worshiped, Barates scowled, bottom lip jutting out in an expression that was most definitely not a pout. Silent for a moment with the scowl locked on his face, Barates narrowed his eyes for a moment before he let his expression slacken, and added awkwardly, “Egyptian gods nice too though. Make pretty pictures.” Content to keep this for a minute, Barates tilted his head before he added, if a bit grudgingly, “More active too.” He said nothing more on the matter-it would after all, be a bit embarrassing to admit that of the Egyptian gods, Set had been his favorite- if only because he was the patron deity for foreigners.
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Post by Set on May 22, 2012 23:11:48 GMT -5
Set laughed again. "There are crocodiles in stories," he replied. More laughter escaped him when Barates elaborated on Spartans. "Oh, I know, I know. I have heard of them. But the way you describe them..." He chuckled again. "They sound not unlike beasts." He nodded as the foreigner struggled for the correct words. "I understand," he offered, smiling. His smile only spread into another grin at Barates' examining his eyes when they shifted for a brief time. Humans were so easily fascinated... and frightened, too. Set wondered which forms of his might frighten his new toy. He would have to get to that later... though just the idea made him excited. The god sometimes regretted how distractible he was. Once he got an idea, it was difficult to push it from his mind...
He tilted his head at talk of the Greek gods. He had never met one. "Do you have any reason to fear the Greek deities now that you are in Egypt?" He again closed the little distance that was between them to peer up into Barates' face. "Egyptian gods can be vengeful too," he said softly with a playful smile, silver eyes shining. "Should you not be more worried about them while you're here?" The electric look in his eyes paired with his mischievous grin made for a rather unnerving combination, though there was no real threat in his tone.
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Post by Barates Aster on May 22, 2012 23:28:18 GMT -5
“Do you have any reason to fear the Greek deities now that you are in Egypt?” Frowning slightly as the god closed what little distance was between them, Barates made a move to step back only to realize he had gotten himself in a backed into a proverbial corner, the thick reeds he had stumbled through earlier pressed against his back. Crud. “Egyptian gods can be vengeful too, should you not be more worried about them while you’re here?”
Eying the tall mass of grasses behind him, Barates debated the benefits of running away only to quickly brush the thought away. Running away was cowardly after all-and he was no coward. Lips twisting into a scowl as he looked into the god’s silver eyes, he couldn’t help but find the youth’s expression somewhat unnerving, and slightly menacing despite the lack of threat evident in the god’s tone.
“Perhaps.” Barates muttered in a tone that was grudging to say the least, “But Greek gods always watching-even when far away. If angry can take out on family. Rather not have that.” Staring the god in the eyes despite the fact that his brain was screaming at him to run and cut his losses, Barates frowned before he smiled. “Sides, Egyptian gods can just make life miserable or kill. Not that much change from royals in opinion. Can’t touch family.” Though he looked somewhat proud of himself for his defense of his beliefs, there was a slight furrow to the Greek’s brow that gave away his unease-he had no idea if the gods here could hurt his family. Still, it was a chance he’d rather not take- whatever his own concerns (or lack thereof) to his own well being, messing with the Greek man’s family or friends from his native country was a touchy subject, and as he looked at the god’s mischievous grin, Barates couldn’t help but question nervously, stutter coming back as his anxiety returned full force. “…c-can you?”
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Post by Set on May 23, 2012 2:23:33 GMT -5
Set's chuckling escalated into a laugh that was almost more like a giggle, the somewhat frightening look on his face melting away into the genuine, innocent laughter of a 16-year-old. But he nodded knowingly at Barates' answer. "That is important to consider, I suppose." His eyes took on an amused spark, the look of a challenge in his gaze. Being the deity of all things foreign to Egypt, Set had an unusual ability for wandering out of his homeland. However, the farther he got from it, the weaker his power. Greece was not terribly far for him... but if he were to spend too much time there, his power would gradually dwindle away. Too long out of Egypt, and the kingdom's god of sand and storm could be rendered as good as mortal.
So long as the gods native to the region did not interfere, Set was sure he would be capable of having the time to do as he pleased to Barates' family out in Crete. But, fortunately for Barates, this did not interest him truly. Though it was an entertaining notion to hold over his toy's head nonetheless. At the flicker of doubt from the foreigner, Set cast a Cheshire grin, a rather sinister look billowing into his silvery eyes. But - before he offered any actual answer - the expression fell away rather abruptly, back into his boyish smile and innocent laughter. "That's not important," he replied lightly. "I'm not interested in harming your family, Barates Aster of Crete." A pause. He lowered his voice, "besides... I am sure you have made plenty of friends here who are just as vulnerable." The words were an ominous purr, but were quickly laughed off, Set even resting a hand on the youth's arm reassuringly. "So many of you mortals are so delightfully skittish." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Though I admit it is not without good reason; there are more... temperamental deities than me out there, after all. Even here in Egypt." He gazed out at the Nile.
"... So! Barates. What are your plans for the evening? Where do you live?" The foreigner did not appear particularly wealthy, but then, for his pale skin and unusually vivid hair, in human form Set didn't look rich at the moment either. Set wasn't one to judge a book by its cover; he would much rather rip it open to explore its contents for himself.
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