A bouquet of beginnings
It has been some busy times.
In a few short weeks, I have been accepted among the Pack, given work in the Midian Park, asked to help foment freedom of expression with the radio peoples (KAOS is the call sign), and been taken on as a student with doctor Nik at the clinic. Oh, and I have a new secret identity of all things.
I will go one by one, to be less confusing.
First, the Pack.
Well, I met and talked with Aidann and I quizzed her, not wanting to have any misunderstandings about what they stood for, you know? She said the Pack was about family and just that, and I thought, well, why not. They are all animal people and I am one too now. I met Angela the next night and she quizzed me this time, not very trusting because of what went on before with the Sarcina. I told her truthfully why i left and she asked if I would swear an blood oath to the Pack. I thought about it and decided I would. These things mean something important in Vodou. She held out her knife and waited and I waited for her to do the honors, and then she sort of sighed, poked the tip of my finger and casually went to put my blood into some sort of mechanical device on the main doors. It beeped and confirmed it had read my DNA and gave me access to the Den.
I was rather flummoxed. That was not an oath. I swore nothing and was asked to swear nothing. She is a strange lady.
But I had entry and I went in and mon dieu, the place is huge compared to some others, being outfitted in a way that I found pleasing on a very basic level. It melds with the ruins around it and I was told I could pick my own spot and decorate as I please, something I was never given with the church or the Sarcina. I hung some pictures and a few drapo and got my sleeping bag arranged. I will keep my flat, of course, as it is the closest I have to a peristyle, but it is nice to have another haven.
Now the not so good is that they seem to do nothing, not really. They laze about or they spar, or they flirt with each other, and that seems to be it. And they barely acknowledge me. I have had to introduce myself which I find difficult as it is not how I was raised, and they will smile briefly and nod then go back to their own thing. I tried talking with Luke and Aidann about my feelings and they said they would think about a focus for the Pack, a reason for being, if that makes any sense? We will see. I will give it a fair shot, even with an oath that is no oath, because I do not like to just come and go without giving time to see. But I miss the closeness I had with the Sarcina, the family, the sisterhood, the sense of good dear friends.
Meanwhile, one evening I came across yet another disturbed gathering by the Legion's bunker and their little strip of pavement. It seems to happen more and more so I leapt up to the roof there since the Pack has lots of trouble with them and they are now my peoples, we? I landed right at the feet of some sort of machine man, all in black, but he just nodded and ignored me. I did the same and listened as this strangely feminine man in a black coat spoke with a female soldier about being sent there to evaluate the work of Doctor Tres Asbrink. Then Rena came by, landing on the roof near me and she was all dressed in pretty red silks. She smiled in that way of mischief that she gets and I could see her ears and tail, even if they are no longer there. She told me to come to a party being thrown by her radio peoples, the ones I mentioned above? It was in the sewers, in Marina's brawling place and I hesitated because the stench is so so bad with my coyote sense of smell, but she seemed so relaxed and happy that I decided why not.
I am I glad I went, getting to dance a little bit and cut loose, and even if it is not the hours and hours of dancing we do at the honfour, it is still a way to honor the good god with movement and celebration, we? Chi and Mitz were sparring and taking forever because they are well matched, and then Damian showed up with his lover... pet? Vasha. She was glaring hate at everyone, me included and Damian had some sort of stare off with Markko of all people, who by the way, was dancing quite closely with Rena. That girl likes to keep men about - I wish I could do that, but I just want to wait for the right one, you know? Hopeless romantic or not, I want someone with the courage of Agassou, the wit of Legba, the passion of Ogou, the desire of Agwe, the wisdom and humor of Ghede.
Is it silly to be in love with the lwa? Bah, that is another entry I think.
So anyway, near the end, Pera and I got to talk which was nice because we have not spoken in ages and she told me to join her group. They are a radio station, but they are also about protecting freedoms for the little people, me and everyone else who lives there without the power of the UAC. They fight with the little things, like graffiti or other arts, or little pranks or what have you, and of course with the airwaves, and it just made my heart sing. It appeals to my own trickster spirit, what I gained from Legba's little joke, or maybe that was there all along and I did not know it? So now I am a coyote pirate.
So a few evenings later I was making my honors in the park, by Legba's veve, when one of the managers came by on her big black horse. She is called Asimu and seemed very friendly and even inquired after my health and well being. I was surprised but found myself in a pleasant conversation with her. She and her peoples, they come from Arabia she said, and they practice rituals of nature in the Park. They are seeking peoples to help maintain the grounds and help protect the wildlife and I thought I could do that, you know, seeing as I already spend so much time there. So I accepted the job, and Asimu, she said I could have a little garden plot of my own, so a few nights later, I planted a bunch of the seeds Grandmere had sent with me from Haiti. I hope they bloom!
Oh, and she also said that when I get my livestock order in from Markko, I can use their stables for a small chicken coop and to stable the bull. That is a huge relief. Perhaps I will be able to serve as a manbo for Midian after all, once the plants bloom and I can harvest them properly. I would love to start making gris gris and pwen and similar for those in need.
That same night, I headed downtown fresh from gardening, in such a good mood and hoping to find some Sarcina about to catch up and share a drink. I ran into Pera, then Mitz came roaring by on a motorcycle. She offered me a ride, oh, it was so so fun! I kept singing in my coyote voice, it was so thrilling, I just had to, and then, then, she let me drive! It was not as hard as it seemed and I think I did pretty well.
Later, Mitz and I got to talking and she told me a secret. A few weeks ago, I met a dark, cloaked lady who called herself the Black... Vixen? Something like that, now I forget the actual name. Anyway, it turns out it was Mitz in disguise and she and some other women, they have been working in secret to do just what I thought the Sarcina were meant to do, serving as a force to take on some of the truly evil souls that lurk in Midian. She invited me to be among them and I accepted, taking on the code name Black Gypsy. I have made a little costume which was hard because I have to hide who I am, but I think I have it. I got a big black skirt and if I bind my tail to my thigh, it stays down. A top to cover my coyote tattoo, and gloves for my paw pads. I made some drops that darken my eyes a good bit and some of my Mardi Gras costume to make a very pretty mask. A black sash around my head holds down my coyote ears and I cut little slits in and fiddled until I could hear properly.
In all honesty, I have no idea what I am supposed to DO as "Black Gypsy" but it was fun to make the costume!
Oh, I almost forgot! So much of the regelmen in Grandmere's books is about healing things that I decided to ask doctor Nik if he would take me on as a student and he said yes! So now I am kept very busy three nights a week, reading all that he gave me which is quite a bit, but it is all good stuff even if the science things makes my head hurt. Herbs and potions and pwen are much easier, I think. Find the curse or set the protection. But doctoring is good too.
Maybe I will help someone someday, eh?
In a few short weeks, I have been accepted among the Pack, given work in the Midian Park, asked to help foment freedom of expression with the radio peoples (KAOS is the call sign), and been taken on as a student with doctor Nik at the clinic. Oh, and I have a new secret identity of all things.
I will go one by one, to be less confusing.
First, the Pack.
Well, I met and talked with Aidann and I quizzed her, not wanting to have any misunderstandings about what they stood for, you know? She said the Pack was about family and just that, and I thought, well, why not. They are all animal people and I am one too now. I met Angela the next night and she quizzed me this time, not very trusting because of what went on before with the Sarcina. I told her truthfully why i left and she asked if I would swear an blood oath to the Pack. I thought about it and decided I would. These things mean something important in Vodou. She held out her knife and waited and I waited for her to do the honors, and then she sort of sighed, poked the tip of my finger and casually went to put my blood into some sort of mechanical device on the main doors. It beeped and confirmed it had read my DNA and gave me access to the Den.
I was rather flummoxed. That was not an oath. I swore nothing and was asked to swear nothing. She is a strange lady.
But I had entry and I went in and mon dieu, the place is huge compared to some others, being outfitted in a way that I found pleasing on a very basic level. It melds with the ruins around it and I was told I could pick my own spot and decorate as I please, something I was never given with the church or the Sarcina. I hung some pictures and a few drapo and got my sleeping bag arranged. I will keep my flat, of course, as it is the closest I have to a peristyle, but it is nice to have another haven.
Now the not so good is that they seem to do nothing, not really. They laze about or they spar, or they flirt with each other, and that seems to be it. And they barely acknowledge me. I have had to introduce myself which I find difficult as it is not how I was raised, and they will smile briefly and nod then go back to their own thing. I tried talking with Luke and Aidann about my feelings and they said they would think about a focus for the Pack, a reason for being, if that makes any sense? We will see. I will give it a fair shot, even with an oath that is no oath, because I do not like to just come and go without giving time to see. But I miss the closeness I had with the Sarcina, the family, the sisterhood, the sense of good dear friends.
Meanwhile, one evening I came across yet another disturbed gathering by the Legion's bunker and their little strip of pavement. It seems to happen more and more so I leapt up to the roof there since the Pack has lots of trouble with them and they are now my peoples, we? I landed right at the feet of some sort of machine man, all in black, but he just nodded and ignored me. I did the same and listened as this strangely feminine man in a black coat spoke with a female soldier about being sent there to evaluate the work of Doctor Tres Asbrink. Then Rena came by, landing on the roof near me and she was all dressed in pretty red silks. She smiled in that way of mischief that she gets and I could see her ears and tail, even if they are no longer there. She told me to come to a party being thrown by her radio peoples, the ones I mentioned above? It was in the sewers, in Marina's brawling place and I hesitated because the stench is so so bad with my coyote sense of smell, but she seemed so relaxed and happy that I decided why not.
I am I glad I went, getting to dance a little bit and cut loose, and even if it is not the hours and hours of dancing we do at the honfour, it is still a way to honor the good god with movement and celebration, we? Chi and Mitz were sparring and taking forever because they are well matched, and then Damian showed up with his lover... pet? Vasha. She was glaring hate at everyone, me included and Damian had some sort of stare off with Markko of all people, who by the way, was dancing quite closely with Rena. That girl likes to keep men about - I wish I could do that, but I just want to wait for the right one, you know? Hopeless romantic or not, I want someone with the courage of Agassou, the wit of Legba, the passion of Ogou, the desire of Agwe, the wisdom and humor of Ghede.
Is it silly to be in love with the lwa? Bah, that is another entry I think.
So anyway, near the end, Pera and I got to talk which was nice because we have not spoken in ages and she told me to join her group. They are a radio station, but they are also about protecting freedoms for the little people, me and everyone else who lives there without the power of the UAC. They fight with the little things, like graffiti or other arts, or little pranks or what have you, and of course with the airwaves, and it just made my heart sing. It appeals to my own trickster spirit, what I gained from Legba's little joke, or maybe that was there all along and I did not know it? So now I am a coyote pirate.
So a few evenings later I was making my honors in the park, by Legba's veve, when one of the managers came by on her big black horse. She is called Asimu and seemed very friendly and even inquired after my health and well being. I was surprised but found myself in a pleasant conversation with her. She and her peoples, they come from Arabia she said, and they practice rituals of nature in the Park. They are seeking peoples to help maintain the grounds and help protect the wildlife and I thought I could do that, you know, seeing as I already spend so much time there. So I accepted the job, and Asimu, she said I could have a little garden plot of my own, so a few nights later, I planted a bunch of the seeds Grandmere had sent with me from Haiti. I hope they bloom!
Oh, and she also said that when I get my livestock order in from Markko, I can use their stables for a small chicken coop and to stable the bull. That is a huge relief. Perhaps I will be able to serve as a manbo for Midian after all, once the plants bloom and I can harvest them properly. I would love to start making gris gris and pwen and similar for those in need.
That same night, I headed downtown fresh from gardening, in such a good mood and hoping to find some Sarcina about to catch up and share a drink. I ran into Pera, then Mitz came roaring by on a motorcycle. She offered me a ride, oh, it was so so fun! I kept singing in my coyote voice, it was so thrilling, I just had to, and then, then, she let me drive! It was not as hard as it seemed and I think I did pretty well.
Later, Mitz and I got to talking and she told me a secret. A few weeks ago, I met a dark, cloaked lady who called herself the Black... Vixen? Something like that, now I forget the actual name. Anyway, it turns out it was Mitz in disguise and she and some other women, they have been working in secret to do just what I thought the Sarcina were meant to do, serving as a force to take on some of the truly evil souls that lurk in Midian. She invited me to be among them and I accepted, taking on the code name Black Gypsy. I have made a little costume which was hard because I have to hide who I am, but I think I have it. I got a big black skirt and if I bind my tail to my thigh, it stays down. A top to cover my coyote tattoo, and gloves for my paw pads. I made some drops that darken my eyes a good bit and some of my Mardi Gras costume to make a very pretty mask. A black sash around my head holds down my coyote ears and I cut little slits in and fiddled until I could hear properly.
In all honesty, I have no idea what I am supposed to DO as "Black Gypsy" but it was fun to make the costume!
Oh, I almost forgot! So much of the regelmen in Grandmere's books is about healing things that I decided to ask doctor Nik if he would take me on as a student and he said yes! So now I am kept very busy three nights a week, reading all that he gave me which is quite a bit, but it is all good stuff even if the science things makes my head hurt. Herbs and potions and pwen are much easier, I think. Find the curse or set the protection. But doctoring is good too.
Maybe I will help someone someday, eh?
Your story is very compelling and I am mezermized.