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In all likelihood Khalida shouldn't be goofing off out and about, he does have a job to do. But his fun and enjoyment is always allowed, even encouraged by Kristen. So he's out in the human world to mess about. The fine dress they wear will be messy and the paint on his face will smudge but no matter. He doesn't get too close to the city when he first starts, sticking in the forest where he twists the light just so for different colors as amusement. Puffy's river splashes up to greet him, the Goddess focusing in on the stream to bend it to her will no doubt.
Then Khalida gets more curious and decides to go in. It's easy to get past the guards, they perceive him as a woman of high class and smile charmingly as she walks in. She flicks her fan in their direction as thanks. Inside bustles with people, mostly travelers stopping to sell their wares and gather others. She stands out against them all in her elegant silks and painted fan hiding a painted face. Only above her nose peeks out to look around curiously. Some stands have food while others are jewelry.
There are metal workers and flowers above. Smoke of all kinds fills the air, grilled meat and iron feel heavy on his tongue. She does stop in front of one, it's an older human with graying hair. She smiles cheerily at the Goddess. Khalida snaps her fan shut and smiles back. Laid out and hanging from hooks are all types of jewelry. Twisted gold with jewels shining bright. A particular set has caught her eye. A gold chain necklace paired with ruby earrings. "These are gorgeous, do you hand craft them?" She asks, his voice is carefully ambiguous, bigotry is common in the smaller settlements.
"Of course Miss, it's how you get the best quality. I'm Clara, I don't think I've seen you around here before?" It's an invitation for conversation, which means he'll be here longer and is more likely to buy more. She doesn't mind it, this is an information run. "Yes I'm here for business, lovely this place is, I've never been part of the crowd before." He's obviously not part of the crowd, no one bumps into her unlike the others constantly being shuffled.
"Oh, I'm.." She trails off, her gifted name would not work here, he's this city matron. "Tommy, I'm Tommy." They finally say. Clara nods as she taps absent-mindedly at the table. "Well Tommy, any others catch an eye as nice as yours?" Hm, Tommy, it's quite a nice name actually. He looks over the table. George would love a bracelet as blue as that. She looks up to Clara as she points at it. "Do you have any like this in orange or green? I've got three young ones who love to match." It would be a fantastic sale, the prices on her cards look a little higher than the common folk could normally afford.
"I'll check my extras." She grins and steps away to rustle around in her wares. Khalida turns her head just so and sees a young boy sneaking up on him. He's got long wavy brown hair, his shirt is ripped and too big, as are his trousers. She looks back at the jewelry as they feel his hand slip into the slit pocket of the skirt. "Hey!" Tommy feins a startle at the loud shout and whips around. A guard has the boy, gold coins dropped to the ground at his bare feet. "Just what are you doing?!" She scowls, the two struggling jolt and then pause. He rips the young boy away from the guard as gently as possible and leans down to be closer.
"Oh, darling are you alright?" While his eyes narrow and his eyebrows are scrunched he's smart. Brown hair whips as he nods, he hides in her neck like a scared baby. "Pick up my coins Sir, just what were you doing picking him up like that?" Her tone is no-nonsense and the guard drops to hurriedly collect the shiny coins. "I'm so sorry Miss I didn't-I thought-" He fumbles over his words before a new shout comes over them. "Tech!" Fluffy curls almost rip the boy from her grasp from the force of the hug. "Wilbur, his guy just tried to grab me from Auntie." 'Tech' grunts. Wilbur apparently, looks up at them with confused eyes before it seems to click and he shimmies into her arms as well.
The guard blows the dust off the coins as best he can before handing them back to her. In turn, she splits the coins into two hands and gives both boys a handful. "There you go, how about you go get some food, bring me back a peach yeah?" The two are clearly confused but nod and head off down where she saw the fruit. The guard still babbles apologies before he holds his hand up in a stop motion. "That's enough, those are my sister's boys and I won't be having you locking them up when I told them to grab anything I want, apparently they've forgotten to pay. You know how children are." He nods jerkily and takes a step away.
"Yes yes children, of course, I'll be on my way." She curtly nods before turning back to Clara. She holds two bracelets of the requested colours. "Yes yes those will do nicely, all three of them and the set please." The raven pauses before nodding and wrapping her items up carefully. Tommy hands her a bunch of coins, there's a few too many she waves off change for before turning. Both boys are running quickly to him. Once there, huffing and puffing, they hand her a peach. She smiles and hands them a coin each. "Your Aunt Tommy must be on her way now, but she'll be back. You stay out of as much trouble as possible in the meantime, yes?" Wilbur nods a nervous grin back at him while Tech huffs.
"Good, I'll see you again."
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It's really no surprise that Gods choose favorites. Throughout history and beyond Gods have champions, sometimes it's said they join the God when they pass. Being this it's also no surprise that Gods will join the mortal plane for a while, humans are so interesting.
They fight petty little wars and make castles destined to fall. Khalida has watched universes implode, seen civilizations collapse, and watched the trees break a branch. All are matched in importance to them. Earth is nothing more than a speck of dust in their eye, and yet they watch it closely.
These humans are not the first, they aren't the most intelligent, yet he is connected to them all the same. His and his siblings' every breath affects these tiny things, and yet he sighs fondly as one sets a pale of water over his brother with a laugh. "You know not to grow too attached unless you are going to do something about it." The sugar-sweet tone of the younger Goddess reminds. "Let me hope Niki, all I have is hope." She sits up next to him. "Four years is nothing to you, why so impatient?" Soft pink hair falls over the side of her face like a curtain that she brushes back. "Not impatient, I've waited far longer for them than you could ever know. Now they've finally come, and it is as street rats." He chuckles.
"They deserve all the riches they want, the finest silks of all. Tell me Khalida, are you finally going to bring them for your temple." A temple, a sacred thing for a God in their realm. Niki has two immortals of her own, two fine young men named Jack and Connor, sweet little things if loud. Despite being the 3rd oldest God Khalida has none of her own, it's always overrun with Tubbo and Ranboo (not that the humans call them these names, these names are for love) anyway. Poison flowers are a little trick the two love. Ranboo's poisonous touch to Tubbo's nurturing one complement nicely.
"Perhaps I will, it's only a matter of time before they start praying to me. Their city has me as the main matron. In any case, you have blessings to give, Wil told me the bread maker is to be wed today." Niki nods and stands, they have duties to attend to.
Of course, Dream will be there as well as the God of Lies and Separation, the bread maker's soon-to-be wife has been unfaithful.
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"C'mon Tommy! You're being too slow!" Wilbur complains loudly. His pitiful attempt to drag the God is rather amusing. The two have somehow convinced him to leave the woods where they always sit together. Khalida is dressed far too fine for her company, the painted face and silk dress give way to a high status. He tries to avoid the city while being with the two after what happened since they refuse the nice clothes she offers (it's harder to steal with people paying attention to you). Technoblade grunts as he's yanked from her side. The brunette has taken to being their little bodyguard. It's very sweet if unnecessary. Soon enough they will look high status as well.
"Alright Wilbur, you know I could trip if you continue that." The grip is lax immediately, he scuffs his shoe into the dirt bashfully. "Sorry Tommy, a glass welder was here yesterday and you missed it, I want you there to see it this time!" He explains, he's very excited to show them the cool glass he saw. "Well dragging her isn't helping." Techno scowls, Wilbur sticks his tongue out. Tommy chuckles quietly at their antics.
They come up to the opened gate, and a crowd of travelers that don't have a place in the city is there. A few guards check each of them over before they're allowed in. Tommy doesn't stop, he takes the brothers by the hands and walks right past. A quick trick of the light, like they were never there. The city isn't that big, and unfortunately, when you're a street kid you either develop a reputation or die. Wilbur and Technoblade are both clearly alive on either side of her. It's reminiscent of when they first met almost, the two huddled up close to him. He's shown through the streets by Wilbur as he talks about anything and everything. Khalida and Techno don't dare interrupt him.
If Tommy ends up buying Wilbur and Technoblade half of what they ooo and awe at then that's nobody's business but her own.
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Khalida knows everyone's waiting. Two years since she first talked to her boys. Four years since they caught his eye. He's watched them grow up, a shining 13 years now. Kristin's Immortal Aimsey is especially interested as she was only 15 when the Goddess of Creation and Beauty took her in. Her other Immortal, Phil, takes to making sure the young one isn't bothering him too much.
Karl is much too busy to deal with Quackity and Charlie though. Every other day they both come knocking wondering if two little ones will be running circles around her. Dream, George, and Sapnap don't pester him but they've known him their entire lives, he was there at their creations. So of course him finally settling down for a temple spot? The most interesting thing since Aimsey.
Tubbo and Ranboo (more so Tubbo) barge in like it's their temple to badger him. And one day he's done with it. She's just sitting on their throne, reading from a text Techno had stolen a while ago. A single light knock before Tubbo bangs in and starts looking around before sighing. "Tubbo." He freezes. Khalida is a kind God, not easily angered, with usually endless patience for his shenanigans, and that tone certainly is an angry one. He kneels down, head bowed, Tubbo feels Ranboo hit the cobbled floor next to him.
They sit there for several minutes, not daring to move a single inch. Heels click as Tommy descends her throne, they don't move. They stop right in front of the two cowd Gods. "You will remember I am the oldest Goddess besides Creation herself. I control Light, Loyalty, Love itself, I will not be disrespected by the youngest not of Dream. You are my brothers as I am your sister, and you will do to respect me. I control everything in this temple and I will tell you all when I bring my choosens back with me. I am Khalida." She hisses, he does not have to tolerate this disrespect, and it was foolish to let them think he would. "Rise Poison and Growth, you'll be allowed back tomorrow but not a moment before sunrise. I'll spare you any shame and not tell the others of this, but I will not let you scorn my worship. Leave." The two stand up and leave, no more words are exchanged, it would go nowhere with the God.
He's right, the two have disregarded her strength, scorned their sister, and were witless with their tongues.
Apologies will be exchanged the next day, they are not petty as the humans, they will not tear brotherhood apart for confidentless pride. They are Gods, they are brothers, they love each other.
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Techno and Wilbur might admit they grow a little concerned when they don't see Tommy for a few days. The little nook they live in has the perfect vantage point in the city, spotting the golden dressed woman is hardly a challenge. They brush it off but it hangs in the back of their thoughts until they see her again. It's been 6 days when they do manage to catch a glimpse. Red ticked lips and sharp eyes hidden by a sunrise painted hand fan. They follow her out of the city and have to jump through underbrush to catch up to her. Tommy sits on the bank, skirt pooled around her like its own pond. She smiles when the two stumble to sit down next to her.
"Wilbur, Techno. We need to have a serious discussion today." The brothers share a look. "Okay, what's going on?" Wilbur asks, he tilts over so he's leaned up against the Goddess.
"I'm sure you've noticed, clever boys you are, that I'm not exactly right." Of course they noticed, eyes flashing gold, sunlight twisting around her, pockets of gold somehow never ending. When they don't answer he continues. "What's the Matron your city worships?" She inquiries like she doesn't know. "Khalida, she's the Goddess of Love and Loyalty. What's she got to do with this?" Wilbur complains, she tilts her head to face him and smiles that soft one that makes Wilbur ache for a mother. She doesn't answer his question. "Did it never occurr to you how odd to was some random noble woman was just out playing with young boys in the mud? I'm sure it has, you're both smart as pie, but Wilbur," She stops like she's trying to figure out to phrase it.
"I'll put it bluntly then. I am Khalida my dears. When I decided to go to the mortal realm years ago, I saw Techno reach into my pocket. Then the guard had come, I was planning to just let you have it, it was obvious you didn't have spare coins. He messed it up, came over and grabbed you Tech. I couldn't let that happen." He clutches his dress fabric tightly, she's waiting for a bomb reaction. Anger or betrayal. She blinks open eyes she hadn't realized were closed. A smaller hand is curling around her fingers to get her to release the bunched gold. She looks quickly over to Techno who's holding her hand.
"I know I don't really talk, I'm bad at it. But.." He trails off for a moment. "You saw me try to take your coins, and Wilbur came and slammed into me. I know we look like street scum." He holds up a finger as she opens her mouth to protest. "It's true calm down. What I mean is, you still came back, you gave some grubby rats food and clothes. You spent days with us, fixed my arm when it broke, that wasn't helping to keep your secret by the way-" A snort of laughter fell from Tommy, followed by another before she's giggling heavily. "Anyway!" Wilbur loudly says when she's done. "Why are you telling us this anyway?" She sobers quickly. "Gods, we can, let's say, choose people. I haven't chosen anyone, my home temple remains empty when no other Gods visit. I've spent so long alone, and then one day when I looked into the mortal world I saw you two." She smiles oh so gently at them.
"I don't want to be alone anymore, I want the two boys who steal fruit and hammers. I guess I told you all this because I want you to come back with me. I have more food than you could ever eat and soft clothes that don't scratch your skin Wilbur." They both stop, it's an expected reaction but the possible rejection is a blooming pain in his chest.
"Yes."
Golden tears are shed, and homes are made. Sometimes finding someone can fit a piece of your heart back together.