Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was big! It was fluffy! And it was- ... hard? Valkyrie tilted her head, gazing at the statue in confusion. It was not, after all, a faekat. She pondered this newfound information, sulking just the tiniest bit. The little fluffae had been hoping for something new to play with. This stone thing would not do. She cast about, looking for something to do, and then she saw Blythe. Behind the stone/statue thing. "Play?" she inquired, peering curiously at the pint sized goddess.

Pol Rhys frantically bit his claws, flipping through a magazine. HE'D MISSED VALENTINE'S DAY. OHGOD. Sure, he'd sent Tegan a bouquet of some of the rarest flowers in Faetasia, but that had been a before gift, not a real gift. Waaaaaah.

And now she was probably going psychotic because the kids had grown. He wished he could help her, but there was only so much an angelique could do. All of the jewelry in this catalogue just looked silly compared to her. For a moment, he entertained an entirely unworthy thought - the angeliques to the Undead gods wouldn't have to bother. And Saranah would love anything. All Alastair had to do was get her some heart earrings, and tadah, she'd weep in happiness. What kind of present could you get for the goddess of Beauty?

But that was NOT a good thought! The squirrel flushed red, ashamed of himself, and buried his nose deeper into the pages.

Reports came in of an odd looking squirrel wandering all over Faetasia Island. That, in itself, was not very exciting - but he'd been spotted everywhere. You never really forgot seeing a blue multiwinged Fae that your neighbour in Solace said they met yesterday, and your friend on the other side of the island is calling in about today. Pol Rhys knew nothing of this. He'd been searching for weeks for the perfect Valentines' Day present for his beloved Tegan - and nothing came of it.

Until he stumbled on it. The PERFECT present!

"Hallo, stranger!"

Pol squeaked and jumped, wings flapping furiously to keep his balance. Failing, he toppled over on his tail. A multicoloured faekat leaned down to help him back up. "Sorry about that, stranger! I was just gonna say, you need a ticket to get in, 'less - ...you okay?" The squirrel's eyes looked slightly on the glazed side as he looked into space past the kat. Slowly, a grin spread across his face for the first time in weeks, and he tugged the poor confused Fae down to eye level. "Fine. Just fine." he chirped gleefully. "Hey - do you think you can show me who runs this place?" His voice was hardly above a whisper and full of conspiracy.

The faekat gulped. "That'd be...me, sir."

Pol grinned even wider. Perfect.

The soft sounds of movement in the temple caught the sensitive ears of young Blythe. She peered into the main area, her slim body hidden in the shadows, as she watched the visitor.

She left a gift. Good.
She was lovely. Good.

A suitable guest, Blythe decided.

"Greetings, mortal," she intoned, stepping into the light. Her fair reddish hair shone and her multitude of wings fluttered in a nonexistant breeze. She stood tall, her extraordinary beauty marking her as a suitable heir to the goddess herself.

Blythe hid a mischievous grin and put on her best Imitating Tegan face. She had spent quite a bit of time practicing, and except for her age and coloring, was identical to her mother.

"So I see," she replied smoothly. "Do you seek counsel, or did you come to gawk?" If her brother had been around, he would have probably blown her cover. Fortunately for her (and not so much for Gravity), Glory was nowhere to be found. Blythe stepped forward and leaned gracefully against the altar.

Ha! It was working! And technically, she wasn't lying. Just.. leaving out information.

"Gawking is all very well and good, and of course I appreciate the attention," Blythe paused and twirled, showing off her long tail and magnificent wings, "but bestowing wisdom or advice is so interesting."

Blythe eyed Gravity critically. "You are a meanki, and thus already of the most beautiful Faekats created. A worthy follower, I must say."

A follower of her? For her mother? For the Goddess of Beauty, (the title, not the kat)? Blythe was an ambitious girl, intent on acquiring a domain of her own.

"Yes, yes, unique... An intriguing follower to be sure." Blythe inspected her nails as if she didn't particularly care what Gravity might say next. "And would you follow me?" she asked, softly.

Just at that moment, Tegan herself hurried towards the public part of the temple... just in time to hear her daughter's offer. The goddess' eyes narrowed, giving her a dangerously beautiful look. She strode over to her daughter, not taking much notice of their guest.

"Blythe," she said mildly, dangerously, placing one paw on the teen's shoulder. "What have I told you about messing with visitors?"

Blythe jumped slightly, panic in her eyes. s**t. The glimmer of a pout crossed her face, but she stood tall. "I was simply testing her," she said, radiating innocence. "If she swore to follow me, she would hardly be worthy to follow you, Esteemed Mother."

Tegan snorted, managing to remain dignified. She wasn't fooled, and knew of her daughter's schemes. "Of course you were, dearest," she replied airily. "And perhaps you'll have her yet. But not until you're grown, and only if you prove yourself ready for the responsibilities of a doman." She cupped her daughter's chin with one slim paw and sent her off.

The teen grumbled, visibly seething, but was hardly in a position to argue.

Tegan, the actual goddess of beauty, turned to Gravity, a light smile on her face. "You must humor my daughter; she gets ahead of herself."

Gravity watched Blythe carefully, though before she could even answer another female appeared suddenly and Gravity knew. Even before Tegan spoke that she'd been toyed with. Clenching a fist and gritting her teeth she had to mentally calm herself, her fist easing slowly, ever slowly. She had a temper and she didn't like being jerked around or screwed with. Though instantly she snapped back, as though she hadn't even been the object of entertainment. Well, in a way that was her job, entertaining. But not when she didn't know about it.

Laying eyes on the true Goddess of Beauty made her feel a twinge foolish for thinking the other was the Goddess. Of course she gave herself points for having a gut feeling something was off. Smiling that same, etched smile she always did. Like a porcelain doll with a painted on mask. "I had a feeling something was amiss." She began, her voice threaded with polite, society talk. "Though I must say your offspring has inherited your beauty Goddess. Forgive my ignorance." Oh that hurt to say, like stabbing herself in the eye with a needle. She didn't enjoy flattering in the least, it wasn't in her nature to flatter anyone other than herself. But she did a good job.