The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

Four (Draft 3) "Allies"

"Oh, Murph, we heard you've been glum. Poor dear." Absinthe draped her arms about Morpheus; River climbed from the pocket to avoid their press.

"You've got something just there." Laudanum pointed.

"His name is River." Morpheus gestured towards the two Halfangels. "Absinthe and Laudanum. They're family."

"River's a pretty name, and such a pretty color."

Laudanum giggled.

"We're going home with you, Murph," Absinthe announced.

They continued, walking within view of the Styx and Los Angeles with its gleaming bridge and brightly painted reliefs along its retaining walls, and soon reached the tower.

They went together through the tower's maze. Absinthe turned green along the way, grasping at Laudanum's chiton. Green tendrils sprouted from her back and clung to each other to form web-like wings.

They entered the den through its front entrance, rather than the back-stairwell Morpheus often used.

Mother lay back on one of the couches eating potato chips. Absinthe flopped onto the couch and kissed Mother's face.

"Get off, you goof!"

"They're sisters. Half-sisters," Morpheus whispered to River.

Morpheus continued into the back hall to his bedroom, Laudanum walking at his side, and the Djinn just behind.

"This is my room." Morpheus stepped over a toppled pile of comic books. "It's always messy like this. It's a bad habit; I collect those, too."

Hepburn carefully placed the bottles on the shelf, while Loren set the box on the floor.

Laudanum stooped and stroked one of Hyacinth's petals.

"Stop that!" Morpheus moved Hyacinth from the box and lifted him to the shelf. "Everyone does that!"

"What? Pet Hyacinth?" Laudanum sat down at the edge of the futon. "He's a plant. Besides, Hyacinth liked everyone."

"But he didn't." Morpheus shifted his weight to one side.

"Ah. Well, he was Lacedaemonian, from Sparta. The boys are trained separately from the girls from an early age. It was normal for young men to look up to their teachers yet marry when older. Wasn't it?"

Morpheus couldn't help but laugh. "Laudy. He had a preference."

Laudanum shrugged. "I thought he had, yet didn't think it proper to say so, without him telling me."

Morpheus sat beside his brother on the end of the mattress. "I have a preference."

"You have been moping over a man-pire." Laudanum smirked as he gave Morpheus a sidewise glance.

Morpheus shook with laughter. River ran along his arm onto his left knee.

They sat in near silence for a moment.

"Not just about who I like, though I'm pretty sure about that since my time in the mirage."

"Murph, I don't know the right thing to say."

The others seemed similarly hesitant. Perched still upon a knee, River cocked his head at Morpheus. The Djinn were yet in humanoid forms, apparently seated atop the old storage chest. Hepburn seemed to watch Morpheus, while Loren was beside her gesturing to get Hepburn's attention.

"You don't have to say anything. I only mean to tell you, so that you don't have to quietly guess. I've started to find a preference for male forms. It's not like I deny I am...fluid. I do not lack..." Morpheus hesitated, seeking the correct word. "philautia."