Where Elvish Blood Sings: The Quest.

[Fish_Tales]

**The Fish swims up the grotto, thinking it might be be time for a quick hello to his writing partner. He has no superpowers, the simple vanilla fish, but he gets out and - amazingly - walks to the cottage in the tree.

"Nice," he thinks to himself when he sees it.

The light is filtering through the tree canopy, keeping the direct sun off him. The Fish doesn't like the sun directly on his skin and he is grateful that the elf lives in such a place.

It's quiet so he worries that he may be disturbing her. Nonetheless, he has walked a longer distance than he ever has before so he figures he should have a quick drink, just to rehydrate. There was a time, many years ago, where the Fish wouldn't be able to have just one quick drink, but he had grown more disciplined lately.

He walks up and is about to open the door, but then pauses. He is from a small town and everyone just walks in to help themselves. "I should get of that habit, not everyone is the same, and younever know what you might be disturbing!" He knocks on the door.**



Hi Thyri. You home?

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Opening the door to my first visitor since shaping my tree, I'm a little surprised to find Fish here, but then I recall that are is a certain kind of fish who can come ashore for brief periods. Smiling warmly, I step back, inviting him to enter.*

Hello Fish! Come right in. You're welcome here!

 

[Fish_Tales]

**He's pleased when the door opens and he sees her welcoming face. He makes sure to wipe in case there's any water still on him and walks in. Walks - he still can't believe it! Must be a magical place....**

Thank you. I just thought I might visit you at a place with a more appealing entrance for once! This is a certainly a special place

**He stands and gestures towards himself with his temporary arms and shakes a leg**

How have you been? You look like someone who has been thinking.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Leading the way to a comfortable chair, offering my friend a drink of cool spring water.*

I've been doing a little, and a few ideas have come to mind. I'm compiling a vocabulary for little Katrina so I can keep track of what words she's heard spoken. Might make it fun to craft her responses to James.





(Have to step out for some food for a bit. Back soon.)

 

[Fish_Tales]

**She hands him a glass of the purest water - he takes a small sip - wow. Refreshing. He sits back in the chair.**

Compiling a vocabulary sounds like a very organised and sensible thing to do. It would actually be amazing to watch her capability for expression grow and keepinga track of it will make it so more realistic. That's an inspired thing to do.

I've been slack myself - my work writing tends to kill off my creativity because it is so dull!




(Not a problem)

 

[Annisthyrienne]

**She hands him a glass of the purest water - he takes a small sip - wow. Refreshing. He sits back in the chair.**

Compiling a vocabulary sounds like a very organised and sensible thing to do. It would actually be amazing to watch her capability for expression grow and keepinga track of it will make it so more realistic. That's an inspired thing to do.

I've been slack myself - my work writing tends to kill off my creativity because it is so dull!




(Not a problem)

I can definitely relate to that. My work in this last week has been very stressful, not bad really, but hectic and with little results to show for it. Makes it frustrating when I have in mind what I want to accomplish for the day, and find myself sidetracked with a bunch of little brush fires to stamp out all day. My kind of work requires creativity, but a different kind, more of the problem solving variety in spatial awareness.

I really wanted to get a post done for Katrina this weekend, but things just didn't work out that way. Hopefully she'll whisper in my ear soon and I'll let the words come out.

 

[Fish_Tales]

I understand the stresses of work in RL.

I would not worry about Kat - she will come to you when she feels like it and your mind in ready. AsI've told you before, I value the quality of your writing and the thought you put into it. The waiting does not worry me one bit!

I find the story popping into my head at odd times - which is a good thing, it means I'm interested. It may not be the best thing when I'm swimming and I still have 20 or 30 laps to go as I can't jump out and write down the ideas!

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Laughing light heartedly.*

Sometimes my ideas come to me in dreams, but usually my best thinking comes while on my drive to or from work. Especially if I read through the previous posts in the story just before leaving or going to bed.

 

[Fish_Tales]

**Likes to hear her laughing. Finish drink and nod in agreement.**

Yes, I think there is something to be said for the concept that if you are doing something fairly mundane, such as driving or swimming laps, then the ideas have a place to flow into to. In my head, that may not be too much room, but it still seems to be enough

It's such a rewarding thing. I envy people who can write creatively for a living.

As you say, your work is creative and I was in a sort of related field to you (engineering), but the creativity always seemed to fall behind budgetry constraints and political fighting!

 

[Annisthyrienne]

It's almost as if I need my mind to be occupied with something that can be done almost on a sort of 'auto-pilot' mindset, then the ideas of other things can blossom. In the case of my stories, I can just about hear the dialogue or writing unfolding naturally.

I've also found the solutions to work related problems the same way. It's odd to work all day on some issue, racking my brain and getting no where until leaving for the day and driving home. Just about the time I hit the highway, I see it clearly in my mind's eye and it's like an epiphany. It usually makes me feel so stupid too, because it always seems so simple and obvious when it happens that way, and I wonder how I didn't see it before.

 

[Fish_Tales]

I don't think you're stupid at all - I used to do exactly the same thing, sometimes I was even flying home!! (bummer). The reason the solution looks so simple and obvious is because it usually the most elegant one. Ideas that come from sitting there trying to force it are usually stilted and seem artificial. Of course, it's unlikely that employers will say "Just do something fun for a while and when you get an idea, then come into the office"!

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Laughing* That would be so refreshing! The new management at my company are pretty progressive in their ways of doing things, they even installed a two way video system for teleconferencing. But they have yet to install nap cots or recreational facilities to spark creativity.

I took one of those online IQ tests once and scored 136 IQ, which according to them is only 5 points shy of Genius level. I printed the results to look at every now and then when I have a day that makes me feel pretty dull witted. It reminds me that I should be smarter than I feel when that happens.

 

[Fish_Tales]

Wow - I've never done an IQ test - maybe it's piscean discrimination. No wonder your writing is so good

Cots at work - shit, maybe they're thinking you all WON'T sleep

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Wow - I've never done an IQ test - maybe it's piscean discrimination. No wonder your writing is so good

Cots at work - shit, maybe they're thinking you all WON'T sleep

*Giggles* I have a feeling you'd do just as well. It was a strange kind of test, not based on knowledge that I already knew, but on things I had to figure out. It wasn't timed, which was good for me. I don't like pressure.

 

[Fish_Tales]

Well, basing it on knowledge you don't know, makes it all the more impressive.

*Gets up off the seat*

It was great to visit you here. I should really let you get back to your ideas - a genius needs their space! Oh - and there's also the small matter of getting my work done.....

I'll hope to be back soon if the scales on your chair don't bother you too much

*Walks over to Thyri and gives her a Fishy peck on the cheek*

Thanks for talking and take care. I'll see you soon (and be awaiting a post too....)

Seeya

*runs off with a wink heading for the water......*

Bye...........................

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Waving farewell to my friend, I watch him go as far as the little bridge over the stream in front of my tree. The stream leads to the river and the grotto, and I know that he'll find his way home from there.*

Bye Fish. Come back and visit any time.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

 

[Cheska]

Enter quietly and looking around, she leaves a Hearth stone by the stream, she nods as the stone finds it's own place.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Enter quietly and looking around, she leaves a Hearth stone by the stream, she nods as the stone finds it's own place.

*As the white mist that surrounded us begins to dissipate like the vestiges of a dream upon waking, we find ourselves at the end of the little foot bridge that spans the brook in front of the Fathertree. I watch as the little naked halfling kneels to place a stone in the brook. The gesture brings a smile to my face, and I know I made the right choice in bringing her here to my home.*

"Come little one, I'll show you around my home. This place is so rampant with wild magick that even a simple healer like myself can utilize it. My home, for example. With my ability to connect with living growing things, I simple sensed how the tree wanted to grow, and encouraged it to grow in a way to help us both. The Fathertree provides me with shelter and comfort, and I keep it healthy and free of disease. Come inside and be comfortable, Cheska."

*My hand trails over her naked shoulder in a soft caress, the slightest tingle of the skin on skin contact reminding me of the pleasure of touching her little body at the pool palace. The prospect of more of that pleasure makes my breathing increase in it's pace.*

 

[Cheska]

*smiles brightly an nods, she follows her elvin friend and enjoys the warmth of the forest and it's keeper*

"Thank you.. you are very kind."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Perhaps you should reserve that judgement until after I keep my promise.

*I carry her swimsuit. She won't be needing it. My hand rests on her bare shoulder, leading, guiding, kindly, even affectionately familiar in a way. Across the little foot bridge and to the base of the Fathertree, I open my door for her, showing her inside.

The warmth of the cozy parlor greets us, welcoming me home with my guest. I know the little folk like their creature comforts, and despite the wild surrounds of my abode, inside it is cozy and comfortable, not just for me, but for any guests I may entertain. I show her to a stuffed chair near the fireplace.

This is my parlor and living space. I'll show you the bedrooms in a bit. *Blushing slightly* Please sit down and make yourself right at home, Cheska. I'll get us something to drink. Would you like mulled cider perhaps? Or a brewed chocolate in a warm mug?

*I slip out of my own swimsuit, the more to relax her so that she doesn't feel set apart in her nudity. I am completely comfortable with it, and think nothing of it at all.*

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Putting this here, because I want to remember it.

"I've often heard the analogy that I am, to God, as a wave is to the ocean. The same stuff, exactly. Just smaller in size.

That analogy has indeed been used many times, and it is not inappropriate. So now, let us define this "ocean." Let us propose here that God is The Creator. Very few people who believe in a God at all have an argument with that.

If it is true that God is The Creator, this means that you, too, are a creator. God creates all of life, and you create all of your life. It's that simple.

If you think of it that way you can hold it in your consciousness.

You and God are creating all the time--you on the micro level, God on the macro. Are you clear?

Yes, I see! There is no separation between the wave and the ocean. None. The wave is one part of the ocean, acting in a certain way. The wave does the same thing the ocean does, in smaller degree.

That is exactly correct. You are me, acting the way you are acting. I give you the power to act as you are acting. Your power comes from me. Without the ocean, the wave does not have the power to be a wave. Without me, you do not have the power to be you. And without you, my power is not made manifest. Your joy is to make me manifest. The joy of humanity is to manifest God.

Now there's a statement.

Here's another...

Life is God, made physical.

What is important to understand is that there is no single way in which life makes God physical. Some waves are small, barely a ripple, while other waves are huge, thunderous in their sweep. Yet, whether minuscule or monstrous, there is always a wave. There is no time when there is not a wave on the ocean. And while every wave is different, not a single one is divided from the ocean itself.

Difference does not mean division. Those words are not interchangeable.

You are different from God, but you are not divided from God. The fact that you are not divided from God is why you can never die.

The wave lands on the beach, but it does not cease to be. It merely changes form, receding back into the ocean.

The ocean does not get "smaller" every time a wave hits the sand. Indeed, the incoming wave demonstrates, and therefore reveals, the ocean's majesty. Then, by receding into the ocean, it restores the ocean's glory.

The presence of the wave is evidence of the existence of the ocean. Your presence is evidence of the existence of God."

Excerpt from 'Home With God in a Life that Never Ends' by Neale Donald Walsch.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

"The joy of humanity is to manifest God."

*Sitting in front of a warm fireplace in it's clay furnace, a large mug of hot chocolate warming my hands as I stare into the flames, contemplating.*

They say it is better to give than to receive. But why is it? I think I know.

We each like to form an image of ourselves, a vision of Who and What we are, what sort of person we are. We form the vision, the idea, but that is all it is. Sometimes we may even convince others that it is how we are, simply by affirming to them that it is so by what we say about ourselves. Sometimes they do not require any proof beyond that.

But it is not so. Not until it is made manifest by our action, by our 'being' that which we think of ourselves as.

And so, if I think of myself as a generous or compassionate person, it is really only an idea I have about myself. It is an image I might wish to cultivate that others might think of me that way. But it is absolutely meaningless until I can experience myself as that. Until I have the chance to 'be' generous, to 'be' compassionate, it is only theory. But when I am given the opportunity, and I express that which I believe I am, it is made manifest. It is only then that I can experience myself, know myself as that which I thought I was, as the vision I had of myself.

To the extent that this experience of my vision of myself is also my vision of what God is, then I have manifested and experienced a part of God, and experienced the Joy that that brings. In this way, it is truly more Blessed to give than to receive.

But wait.

Have I not received an incredible gift? I was given the opportunity to make manifest this belief I had about myself. I was given the chance to bring a theory to reality, to experience it as real, not just as a thought. I was given the gift of manifesting God in that small way. I was given that Joy.

And isn't it true what people say, that God works in mysterious ways. At least the manifestation of God comes in ways, and from sources, we don't expect.

Thank you to the one who gave me the gift of opportunity, allowing me to experience myself as a giver; the gift of Joy this holiday season. You've given me a part of myself, made real, beyond theory.

 

[Cheska]

 

[Annisthyrienne]