-Kepler-

He hated Nox.

So much.

“Sculpting statues of Clare does not count as a non-Clare hobby.”

[I’m suggesting sculpting the history of the dungeon, not Clare.]

“Clare is the dungeon. Choose something else.”

Kepler scowled. [You’re being impossible.]

Nox waited.

The god had the patience of a thousand-year-old oak. It was infuriating.

There was very little Kepler wanted to do without Clare. He hadn’t thought it was a problem—it wasn’t a problem, but it was troublesome in this context. Damn Nox.

He growled softly. Curled in on himself thoughtfully.

It didn’t help that he was going crazy with worry. What if the delvers returned, tried to [Claim] her again?

Scraping his claws in the night-taste of the darkness, he tried to forget how Clare had pitied the delver. Had held him.

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He felt ill.

Nox sighed. “Kepler?”

[I’m thinking.]

He was thinking. The god wouldn’t let him go until Kepler satisfied him, and the symbiote had no idea had to do that, so of course he was thinking. He had to.

Had to forget that Clare had ignored him.

“If it makes you feel better—”

Kepler almost snapped at him that he felt fine but stopped at the next words.

“—she misses you. In fact, she’s been trying to reach you through your bond. Persistently.”

He sat up. [She…] His eyes widened. […she wants me back?]

Nox nodded.

Kepler sat back on his heels. He felt warm. The honey-clover-gunpowder scent of the darkness tingled in his veins.

[Can you let me go? I need to see her!]

“Hobby.” Nox demanded.

[I already chose a goal!] He used his best puppy eyes. [That’s good enough, right? I promise to work on it!]

“Creating an Avatar is an excellent goal. But you also need a hobby.”

Kepler groaned. It had been 23 hours and 20 minutes since he’d been kidnapped by the deity.

[Gardening.]

“Gardening?” Nox blinked at him.

It was a random choice. He’d say breakdancing if he had to, or anything else.

“Good.” Nox said. “How will you do that in the dungeon?”

[We have moss and other plant matter in our designs. When I get my Avatar up and running, I’ll explore the outdoors and garden there.]

There was silence as the deity observed him thoughtfully.

[Nox?]

Darkness swirled around them like a soft breeze.

“Very well.”

It was Kepler’s turn to blink. That had worked? Hours of soul-searching for a non-Clare hobby and Nox had accepted the only one he hadn’t thought about.

He normally would have been miffed, but…

[Great! Send me back!]

Nox chuckled. Waved a hand.

“Do well, child.”

And suddenly, Kepler was home.