a crystal flood — areto & bellamy
Jun 9, 2021 16:37:49 GMT -5
Post by tick 12a / calla on Jun 9, 2021 16:37:49 GMT -5
A R E T O
"There's a river on our island with a special story." She says softly, bringing her knees to her chest.
Bellamy's relentless, she'll give him that. And Areto may be tentative to share the secrets of her home, especially with a man, but her mother had been a masterful storyteller, and there's a comfort in once again hearing the stories that used to lull her to sleep.
It seems that the boy is eager for any information he can get though, and Areto almost admires his persistence in the face of refusal after refusal. He reminds her of Eriobea, all wide-eyed and wondering and painfully curious.
"It starts with Polyphemus, who was a savage beast from beyond the water. One day while sailing he saw Galatea, the fairest of the Sea-Women, walking along the shoreline of her home."
"He was immediately enamoured by her."
Areto glances over to make sure he's paying attention.
"But Galatea already had a lover - Acis, a child of the Wild-God. When Polyphemus ventured further into the island and came across the two of them lying together, he shook the ground and brought a mountain down to crush Acis out of jealousy."
"Galatea, wrought with grief, summoned a spear of rough coral and slew Polyphemus."
There's vindication there. Her voice rises and her fists shake with it.
"Where the monster's body fell, a trench was created. From under the mountain rock, Acis's blood dripped down into the trench and created a river which flowed to the sea, where their spirit could be reunited with Galatea."
Areto's hand rises and moves through the air, miming out the direction of the river. It's quiet save for the sound of Bellamy and his notepad. His pen scrapes along the page as Areto takes a breath and traces the pattern in the floor tiles.
"We say that when the tide rises and the ocean floods the river, that's them meeting again."
Then her voice turns more teasing, and the smallest smirk tugs at her face, "No one outside the island's ever heard that story before. And if they have, they haven't lived to tell the tale."
With that one story, he's already heard more about the Amazons than any other man will in their lifetime. Lysippe would berate Areto for that, but there's something in Bellamy's posture and in his eyes that doesn't make Areto feel as guilty as she should.
"Is that enough to satiate your curiosity?"
Bellamy's relentless, she'll give him that. And Areto may be tentative to share the secrets of her home, especially with a man, but her mother had been a masterful storyteller, and there's a comfort in once again hearing the stories that used to lull her to sleep.
It seems that the boy is eager for any information he can get though, and Areto almost admires his persistence in the face of refusal after refusal. He reminds her of Eriobea, all wide-eyed and wondering and painfully curious.
"It starts with Polyphemus, who was a savage beast from beyond the water. One day while sailing he saw Galatea, the fairest of the Sea-Women, walking along the shoreline of her home."
"He was immediately enamoured by her."
Areto glances over to make sure he's paying attention.
"But Galatea already had a lover - Acis, a child of the Wild-God. When Polyphemus ventured further into the island and came across the two of them lying together, he shook the ground and brought a mountain down to crush Acis out of jealousy."
"Galatea, wrought with grief, summoned a spear of rough coral and slew Polyphemus."
There's vindication there. Her voice rises and her fists shake with it.
"Where the monster's body fell, a trench was created. From under the mountain rock, Acis's blood dripped down into the trench and created a river which flowed to the sea, where their spirit could be reunited with Galatea."
Areto's hand rises and moves through the air, miming out the direction of the river. It's quiet save for the sound of Bellamy and his notepad. His pen scrapes along the page as Areto takes a breath and traces the pattern in the floor tiles.
"We say that when the tide rises and the ocean floods the river, that's them meeting again."
Then her voice turns more teasing, and the smallest smirk tugs at her face, "No one outside the island's ever heard that story before. And if they have, they haven't lived to tell the tale."
With that one story, he's already heard more about the Amazons than any other man will in their lifetime. Lysippe would berate Areto for that, but there's something in Bellamy's posture and in his eyes that doesn't make Areto feel as guilty as she should.
"Is that enough to satiate your curiosity?"