Cliodhna laughs and jumps up, pulling Memnon to his feet. "Somewhere down there, I'm sure!" she grins, motioning with her head to the hull panel. "Would ye do the honors, Big Strong Man?" she asks, folding her arms and leaning her weight on one hip with a grin.
Memnon leans over and grabs the ring and hefts the plate up, moving it over to the side he motions for Cliodhna, "Ladies first."
Cliodhna grins and curtsies. "Why thank ye, my good man!" and starts climbing down the ladder. Peering around, she waits for Memnon to jump down next to her.
Memnon walks down behind her just as Friday rounds the corner.
"Friday! Just the man I wanted to speak with," Memnon says smiling.
Friday looks up and sees the two of them and he holds up his hands.
"Wait wait I'm sorry I barged in on you, seriously I...ahh" he says as Memnon throws an arm around him.
"Friday, Cliodhna and I were talking about a scientific experiment, weren't we Cliodhna?"
"Aye we were at that," she says stifling a smile.
"And we needed a third person and I said hey, Friday would be glad to help. Didn't I?"
"Aye ye did."
"Well I AM into science," Friday says looking at Cliodhna then Memnon.
"Are you kidding Friday, you're all about science," Memnon says as he leads Friday into his quarters. "So anyway I said let's find Friday, didn't I?"
Cliodhna nods, looking deeply into Friday's eyes. "Aye...ye did..." she says slowly." To Friday, her voice suddenly sounds faraway and echoey, and then he falls backwards onto his bed and begins to snore-- his glasses askew.
Cliodhna turns to Memnon with a grin on her face. "That was brilliant, Mem!" she laughs. "All right, let's sit back down on the floor an' have some fun!" Cliodhna sits cross-legged again, putting the backs of her hands on her knees, and waits for Memnon to do the same. "OK, back into a state o' meditation. I'll see ye inside." Cliodhna and Memnon close their eyes, and within seconds they're both standing in the neutral dream-space once more. "OK, now I'm gonna teach ye how ta find a specific dream. This is goin' ta be a bit more...intense than enterin' the last dream, so be ready. Now, concentrate on findin' Friday-- kinda like callin' ta him without speakin' any words." Cliodhna quickly grabs Memnon's hands and links her mind with his so she'll go where he takes them.
Memnon closes his eyes, "Friday," he says and suddenly he starts to float downwards past several dream bubbles until finally he stops at one. He pushes himself and Cliodhna through gently and the two find themselves in a small bedroom. Friday is sitting at a desk looking at the computer screen. "Poor guy dreams this stuff?"
Cliodhna raises her eyebrows. "Ach...he needs our help more than I thought! Well, all the better that his attention's diverted so ye can play around with the dream without him noticin' right away. Remember ta keep yer presence in the first level o' Phantasm if ye don't want him ta see an' hear ye. Then ye can work without bein' noticed. Now..." Cliodhna rubs her hands together. "What would ye like ta change about Friday's dream? Remember ta concentrate on every detail that ye're changin' or the dream will seem a little hazy and unfinished. It's a lot o' hard work at first, but I know ye'll be an expert by the time we're done!" Cliodhna touches Memnon's arm supportively and then holds her hands together and watches him.
Memnon closes his eyes and suddenly the room is gone and Friday finds himself at a beach with a tropical drink in his hand. His clothes have gone from jeans and a t-shirt to shorts and beach towel. Friday looks up and nods. "Yeah..." he says with a smile.
Memnon looks over to Cliodhna, "You think he likes it now?" he smiles mischeviously. As he closes his eyes several women appear and begin to sit next to Friday. One begins to feed him grapes, another fans him with a an oversized leaf, one refreshes his drink and the last begins to massage his back.
Cliodhna puts a hand over her mouth and laughs. "Aye, that he does..." then her brows lower in consternation. "Mem...I was right-- ye ARE a fast learner. The, uh, detail ye've created is...quite detailed." she folds her arms self-consciously as she looks at the women. "Didna know ye were a breast-man," she says in a rumpled tone.
"Oh yeah watch this," he says as he waves his hand and Brianna appears out of nowhere and sits next to Friday. She smiles and begins to disrobe as do the rest of the women.
"Oh Friday, I'm so lonely, Ahuru is always out there helping people but he never helps me," she says with a finger to her lip, her head down. "I want you to help me Friday..."
"Ok I think it's time for us to go...I don't particularly want to see what happens next..." Memnon says with a smirk.
Cliodhna is thoroughly distracted by the sudden appearance of Brianna, and starts laughing hard. "Woah, Mem-- Brianna would KILL us if she knew we did this!" Cliodhna watches the scene with a critical eye. "Too many women..." she murmurs, waves her hand, and the 4 generic bimbos suddenly disappear. "There we go...a nice private moment, coutesy o' yer friendly Fairy Godparents!" she says, dusting off her hands.
Memnon shakes his head, "No no, if you're going to have one of these dreams you might as well go all the way," he closes his eyes and the bimbos return. "Now let the man have some fun."
Cliodhna turns to Memnon with her arms folded and her foot tapping. "Have...some...fun...?" she asks icily. "An' I suppose yer idea o' fun is as many women at one time as ye can get?" Without taking her eyes off of Memnon, she slashes her hand angrily in the air and the bimbos disappear again.
"No it isn't, but it might be to Friday, I mean look at him, he's having the time of his life over there!" Memnon says as he turns to wave his hand. Friday looks over his shoulder.
"Hey! Would you two keep it down! Jeez I mean nice dream and all if you two would just shut up!" He says at the two of them.
Memnon opens his mouth to say something but then closes it and laughs as he disappears.
Cliodhna looks at Friday in surprise. "He's...another Sandman!" she thinks, coloring in embarrassment. Then she leans over with a glare on her face and hisses, "pig!" and disappears.
Back in Friday's room sitting in her body, Cliodhna holds the sides of her head in her hands and laughs in embarrassment. "Ach, Mem-- he knew we were there the entire time! Well! That was a good final lesson fer the day: there ARE other Sandmen out there, so be careful who's dream ye enter!" Cliodhna laughs again and then peers up at Memnon. "Ye ARE a pig, ye know." she states simply.
"Oh now stop. I wanted him to have that dream. I thought you'd be happy with how well I was doing," he says standing up.
"Oh aye, try ta change the subject, why don't ye!" she says testily while standing up. "Fine...fine. Ye're right. I'm proud o' ye." She smiles reluctantly. "Brawn AND brains...what can I say? Ye have it all!" she gives a little grin, folding her arms again.
Memnon smiles and opens the door for her, looking back one more time he smiles at the snoring Friday and closes the door.
Cliodhna walks through the door and waits until Memnon is out in the corridor with her and has shut the door before she speaks. She puts her hands on Memnon's arms and looks up at him seriously. "I think it's a good time for that talk..." she says, her heart racing.
Memnon looks her in the eye and nods. He smiles at her gently almost reminding her of Ahuru. "Ok let's have that talk, we need to."
Cliodhna nods, suddenly feeling calmer. And speaking of Ahuru... "Mem-- go on ahead ta..." she gulps, "...our room, an' I'll be right there. There's somethin' a need ta do first." She looks up at him, her eyes wide and watching his.
Memnon nods and touches her shoulder a bit, "Ok, I'll meet you there. Don't be too long." he says as he starts down the hallway.
Cliodhna nods and exhales as Memnon starts walking away. God, but she's suddenly jittery! Facing a horde of spectres-- Leeches, too, for that matter-- doesn't even phase her, but the thought of being alone with the man she's fallen in love with leaves her quivering in fear! She watches Memnon disappear around the corner and climbs back up to the main deck. She sees Ahuru standing across from her with his arms resting on the railing, gazing out to sea. "Give me strength," she whispers. She knows Ahuru can't hear her, but asking for the blessing while watching him comforts her somehow. She walks over to him and touches him lightly on the shoulder with uncertainty.
Ahuru turns to Cliodhna and looks down at her. He raises his eyebrow, "Yes, Cliodhna?" He says sitting on the railing.
Cliodhna clenches her hands together in front of her nervously. "I'm sorry ta disturb ye, Ahuru..." Why is she suddenly feeling speechless in Ahuru's presence? He suddenly seems larger than life and filled with power, and she sees him for who is truly is at last. She fumbles for her words. "Memnon an' I...are goin' ta have an important talk." she speaks slowly and deliberately. "Seein' as how we've been constantly interrupted everytime we've gotten a moment ta ourselves-- whether at my request or not..." she gives Ahuru a little smile, "...it is important that we be left undisturbed, if ye'd let Brianna know. This is goin' ta be difficult enough fer me as it is," she says quietly, staring past Ahuru.
Ahuru nods at her seriously, "I understand Cliodhna. Go...have your talk with Memnon, you will not be disturbed." Ahuru smiles at her gently and puts his hand upon her shoulder.
"Do not be afraid to touch passion my child, especially when it takes you by the hand and calls your name." With that he turns and looks out upon the tempest once more.
Cliodhna stands there with her mouth hanging slightly open, feeling rooted to the spot in amazement. Then her eyes glaze over with tears, and she smiles and turns quickly, blinking back the tears and walking to the stairs. "Ahuru-- a man of few words, but at times just the right words," she ponders walking down the stairs. Before she knows it she's standing in front of her cabin door. She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and when she's ready she opens the door and walks inside.
Memnon stands up from the chair, "Hey," he says softly. "That was quick, you were only gone a few minutes." He says as he walks towards the door.
Cliodhna smiles and shuts the door behind her. She's pleasantly surprised by Memnon's sudden change in demeanor...relieved, actually. "I wanted ta make sure that this time we wouldn't be disturbed," she says quickly, walking towards him. When they reach each other, Cliodhna lays her hands gently on Memnon's forearms. She looks up at him intensely. "Mem...what do ye think o' me?"
"Before I say anything," he says as he gently pulls away from her and locks the door, "Friday-proof," he says with a quick smile. He returns to her.
"I...I think you're wonderful and...I missed you when I was little. When we first met I didn't recognize you. But after we talked that night I remembered everything, and I realized how much I missed you."
Cliodhna looks up at him with emotional eyes. "Ah Mem! I missed ye, too! I always felt that there was a part o' me missin' my whole life, an' when I first layed eyes on ye in the Met, my heart recognized ye if my eyes didn't. I...I think we were fated ta be together, if not in life then in death. It was Gaia who sent me ta find ye."
Memnon steps towards her and takes her in his arms gently, "Then who are we to question Her?" he says. He leans down and kisses her lips gently, holding her to him.
Cliodhna wraps her arms around Memnon and kisses him back just as gently-- breathless and feeling like the room has disappeared and she's floating in space. They take their time with this kiss-- as if making up for all the years apart, and trying to communicate the link that was always there yet never taken advantage of. The kiss finally breaks softly, and Cliodhna looks up, running her fingers down the back of Memnon's hair. The final thing she has to say, and the final thing she has to know before she will consent to be his. "Ta gra...I love ye, Memnon...I'm in love with ye..."
Memnon looks down at Cliodhna, Cliodhna he knew as a child, as a teenager and now as a woman. "I love ye, I mean I love you, Cliodhna."
He smiles as he says it, and Cliodhna can see in his eyes something of a determination that she saw in Ahuru's eyes and Amon's as well.
Cliodhna smiles back, her eyes looking at him in wonder. "Ye...ye remind me of Amon or Ahuru when ye speak with such conviction," she says in a breathless voice. Running her hands back up through Memnon's long, black mane, she finds the clasp that he always wears which keeps the sides of his hair pulled back from his face, and quickly unsnaps it-- fanning his hair out with her fingers. "I am yers, Mem...I give myself ta ye until the end o' time." she says in a low voice. She takes her trenchcoat off quickly-- dropping it to the floor along with the hair-clasp-- and then reaches up and uncoils her long, black braid from its customary bun, pulling it over her shoulder. As she looks into Memnon's eyes with eyes full of love and longing and trust, she unbraids her hair until it falls freely around her shoulders and down past her waist.
Memnon takes her in his arms and kisses her longingly. He runs his hands through her hair. He steps back a moment.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he says his voice low.
"Oh yes..." Cliodhna says duskily with half-closed eyes, feeling her corpus prickly pleasantly as his fingers run through her hair. Then her eyes open all the way. "Show me what love is. Show me how it feels when two people who love each other become one, because it will be my first time." Cliodhna takes his hand and holds it over her heart, looking up at him intently.
Memnon gently lifts Cliodhna up and walks her over to the bed. He brings one knee to the bed and softly lays her down upon it. He puts his hand upon his scabbard and lays down his sword by the bed.
Cliodhna reaches up and takes Memnon's shoulders, pulling him slowly down to her. She whispers, "Mem...how do I..." her eyes flick down to her clothing and back up at him questioningly. She can't remember ever taking her clothes off since she's been dead, and-- having been taught that her clothing was merely her corpus shaped how she thinks it should look-- she has no idea what to do now.
Memnon nods, "Like this," he says closing his eyes and suddenly his clothes seem to evaporate around him. "Just think yourself without clothes."
"Holy GODDESS!" Cliodhna exclaims to herself, looking Memnon over. She gulps and her cheeks grow pink as a little smile creeps onto her lips. "Thank ye, Gaia," she whispers. Then she closes her eyes, exhales nervously, and when she opens them her clothing has evaporated, as well. She glances up at Memnon with a smile-- her cheeks pinker than before, if that's possible-- and touches his face gently.
Memnon kisses her lightly upon the lips and holds her to him touching her cheek and moving his hand to her hair. "I've been waiting for this," he say whispering in her ear.
Cliodhna holds him, running her fingers across his back. "As have I," she whispers, and then when she realizes what's about to happen, her hands freeze on his back and she clenches her eyes shut and goes motionless in terror.
Memnon feels her stiffen up and opens his eyes. Remembering the vision of what happened so long ago.
"Cliodhna...open your eyes. Cliodhna look at me."
Cliodhna chokes back a little sob and wills herself to open her eyes. She concentrates on looking into Memnon's loving eyes, and when the moment she'd been fearing comes, there is no pain. It is gentle and loving and Cliodhna releases her fears as their love takes her to a height she's never experienced before. Their lovemaking is slow with a passion only two hearts in unison can bring, and finally, when all the world disappears, there is an almost audible click as something out there rights itself.
Up on the deck Ahuru watches the Tempest skies and smiles as he closes his eyes and breathes out a sigh.
"What are you smiling at?" Brianna asks him nudging him in the side. Ahuru wraps an arm around her, brings his gaze to her and motions to the Tempest.
"Things are as they always should have been," he says and squeezes her shoulders.
Wraith Game 12: "The Island of Fate"