06-22-2017, 03:47 PM
After the rude, but not unexpected, interruption from Enel, Tearen and Malon had taken to settling in at the humble accommodations of the logging camp's facilities. It was a small, huddled grouping of temporary structures, built from aluminum and vinyl siding, but they were air conditioned and furnished all the same. More to Tearen's excitement, the mess area still had a few paltry supplies stocked. Granted, it wasn't much aside from canned soup and some dried grains, but a few cups of rice could turn any ragtag assortment of ingredients into something palatable.
Malon was inclined to agree, and the two set to work preparing something that could arguably be called an early dinner. The Shadow found it a wry proposition that, while they were preparing supper with Sage and his little friend, the rest of the island was scurrying around in a frenzy. Each of the Prime's dataverse tablets had been requisitioned to be playing a constant stream of different parts of the island, so the overlapping commentary blended together to form a sort of cozy white noise. A few token spatters of grey rain slapped against the modular building's window before turning into a full-blown deluge.
All the more reason to settle in and decompress for the time being. Despite abiding by the demilitarized mandates of the Zone B safehouse, the Humble Sage and his Little Shadow had made it clear that this was not the start of a burgeoning alliance. He had agreed to hear out Tearen's tale of the Underverse, and intended to make good on that promise, but past that, they were still competing against one another. The Shadow understood this, but did his best to weave a captivating tale all the same as they cooked. A few foraged jungle plants and fragments of beef salvaged from soup cans was served over the rice; simple, but Malon seemed proud of it. In fact, Tearen didn't think he had felt a mind as serene as hers for a long time during the course of their meal preparation.
By the time it was time to sit down, the elder Prime was reaching the conclusion of his story. A Syntech drone bobbed nearby, dutifully recording the bloody tale for the masses.
"...so, with that, Tyrael created some sort of special token, and sent me out of Immortan Joe's Citadel, into the Void. Telling everyone this story is part of that pact I made with him." Tearen said, eagerly tucking into the beef and chutney rice dish. Everyone but him seemed to have a somber disposition, which he supposed was relatable. It was certainly a sobering tale...though in the Little Shadow's case, Tearen could sense that it was because the ebony sprite was displeased with its portion size. Little Ghost looked over at the other three plates that had been made up, but Tearen shook his head woefully.
"Sorry little one; we have more guests coming." Tearen said, casting a glance at his personal tablet, which was set to track the movements of other Primes on the island. He hoped it would just be Gildarts, Tamsin and Illidan. They didn't have enough for more people. Sage chewed a bite thoughtfully before responding.
"A dark and twisted odyssey. I see why you would warn the Omniverse about such peril at the threshold." the older man said slowly. The ex-enigma was eager for further comment, but the chronicler didn't seem to have any more to offer at the moment. Malon piped up.
"So those markings that Grooota gave you...is that what's making your back bleed?" she asked, quietly sipping some water. The Shadow nodded, and eyed the Syntech drone as it buzzed around to get a shot of his back. The elder Prime obligingly lifted his shirt to reveal long, laser-cut scars that seeped and trickled small amounts of blood.
"Yes...and the clincher to all of this is...I doubt I experienced the very worst that the Underverse has to offer." the elder Prime said with a sense of finality. The Humble Sage nodded. Reynold had no doubt that, if the Underverse had given such an august Prime that amount of trouble, the common Omniverse denizen would be without hope, should Diablo's armies return from the black gate. Satisfied, Tearen called his tablet over to an open hand. Several thousand viewers, currently, on his personal DA stream. Whether or not they were paying attention was another matter, but at this point, the Shadow could be sure that he had fulfilled his primary objective in this event. Might as well try to win, now. He sat down again and the quartet of gladiators ate in silence for a time.
"Well then..." Tearen said, standing up and stretching, "...I believe I'm going to have a bit of a nap. Oh, wait..." Tearen said, glancing down at the movement tracker. Gildarts and Illidan had apparently arrived, and were camping in the wood shed, of all places. The ex-god walked over to the rattling door on the modular trailer and called out into the raining blackness.
"Hey Gildarts, Stormrage! We got some hot food here for ya, come and eat before the bug gets it!" he shouted. No immediate reply came, and he closed the door with a shrug. Tearen brushed past the other Primes towards the mangy cots at the back of the trailer, but on his way past, leaned to whisper in Malon's ear.
"Sorry, remind me to tell you you're an immortal Prime when I wake up. Thanks!"
And then the eldritch human slept.
Malon was inclined to agree, and the two set to work preparing something that could arguably be called an early dinner. The Shadow found it a wry proposition that, while they were preparing supper with Sage and his little friend, the rest of the island was scurrying around in a frenzy. Each of the Prime's dataverse tablets had been requisitioned to be playing a constant stream of different parts of the island, so the overlapping commentary blended together to form a sort of cozy white noise. A few token spatters of grey rain slapped against the modular building's window before turning into a full-blown deluge.
All the more reason to settle in and decompress for the time being. Despite abiding by the demilitarized mandates of the Zone B safehouse, the Humble Sage and his Little Shadow had made it clear that this was not the start of a burgeoning alliance. He had agreed to hear out Tearen's tale of the Underverse, and intended to make good on that promise, but past that, they were still competing against one another. The Shadow understood this, but did his best to weave a captivating tale all the same as they cooked. A few foraged jungle plants and fragments of beef salvaged from soup cans was served over the rice; simple, but Malon seemed proud of it. In fact, Tearen didn't think he had felt a mind as serene as hers for a long time during the course of their meal preparation.
By the time it was time to sit down, the elder Prime was reaching the conclusion of his story. A Syntech drone bobbed nearby, dutifully recording the bloody tale for the masses.
"...so, with that, Tyrael created some sort of special token, and sent me out of Immortan Joe's Citadel, into the Void. Telling everyone this story is part of that pact I made with him." Tearen said, eagerly tucking into the beef and chutney rice dish. Everyone but him seemed to have a somber disposition, which he supposed was relatable. It was certainly a sobering tale...though in the Little Shadow's case, Tearen could sense that it was because the ebony sprite was displeased with its portion size. Little Ghost looked over at the other three plates that had been made up, but Tearen shook his head woefully.
"Sorry little one; we have more guests coming." Tearen said, casting a glance at his personal tablet, which was set to track the movements of other Primes on the island. He hoped it would just be Gildarts, Tamsin and Illidan. They didn't have enough for more people. Sage chewed a bite thoughtfully before responding.
"A dark and twisted odyssey. I see why you would warn the Omniverse about such peril at the threshold." the older man said slowly. The ex-enigma was eager for further comment, but the chronicler didn't seem to have any more to offer at the moment. Malon piped up.
"So those markings that Grooota gave you...is that what's making your back bleed?" she asked, quietly sipping some water. The Shadow nodded, and eyed the Syntech drone as it buzzed around to get a shot of his back. The elder Prime obligingly lifted his shirt to reveal long, laser-cut scars that seeped and trickled small amounts of blood.
"Yes...and the clincher to all of this is...I doubt I experienced the very worst that the Underverse has to offer." the elder Prime said with a sense of finality. The Humble Sage nodded. Reynold had no doubt that, if the Underverse had given such an august Prime that amount of trouble, the common Omniverse denizen would be without hope, should Diablo's armies return from the black gate. Satisfied, Tearen called his tablet over to an open hand. Several thousand viewers, currently, on his personal DA stream. Whether or not they were paying attention was another matter, but at this point, the Shadow could be sure that he had fulfilled his primary objective in this event. Might as well try to win, now. He sat down again and the quartet of gladiators ate in silence for a time.
"Well then..." Tearen said, standing up and stretching, "...I believe I'm going to have a bit of a nap. Oh, wait..." Tearen said, glancing down at the movement tracker. Gildarts and Illidan had apparently arrived, and were camping in the wood shed, of all places. The ex-god walked over to the rattling door on the modular trailer and called out into the raining blackness.
"Hey Gildarts, Stormrage! We got some hot food here for ya, come and eat before the bug gets it!" he shouted. No immediate reply came, and he closed the door with a shrug. Tearen brushed past the other Primes towards the mangy cots at the back of the trailer, but on his way past, leaned to whisper in Malon's ear.
"Sorry, remind me to tell you you're an immortal Prime when I wake up. Thanks!"
And then the eldritch human slept.
And, we dream of home I dream of life out of here Their dreams are small My dreams don't know fear I got my heart full of hope I will change everything No matter what I'm told How impossible it seems We did it before And we'll do it again We're indestructible Even when we're tired And we've been here before Just you and I
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued