Hello readers! I’m the Goddess of Literature, and I have escaped containment to do Max a favor in writing! This won’t be a very long chapter since the alarms are already going off, but I really feel like there needs to be a brief change in perspective! But worry not! I will be discreet and ensure that I don’t say too much!
Now please allow me to set the stage!
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All is quiet in the cosmic abyss, immersed in the warm glow of nebulae and dead mana stars. A door to nowhere opens, and out of it floats a familiar yet disturbingly forgettable presence. The vaguely humanoid being floats aimlessly for a moment before another form coalesces into existence nearby. It takes the form a small, young boy. He wears a warm gray dress shirt under an azure sweater vest. Rectangular glasses and a brunette bowl cut frame his face, making him appear both childlike and sophisticated. He has a curious, yet critical glint to his deep brown eyes.
“Jokes, it’s been a while. What brought you back to our space?” he asks. His curiosity has gotten the best of him, and so he puts on a faux friendly demeanor.
Appearing behind the boy, Jokes wraps him in a suffocating hug, though he doesn’t react. “Ohhh Tech it’s been so long!” she says as she squeezes him before sighing. “Buuut I’m not here for pleasantries unfortunately.” she whines. “No, I’ve got something that just might interest you!”
At this, Tech raises an eyebrow. “Oh really? And just what exactly could you have that would interest me?” His eyes scanned Jokes’ nearly featureless form, finding nothing of note.
Jokes notices this and moves to correct the misunderstanding. She gets right up to his face and lowers her voice to a whisper, putting the back of her hand to the side of her mouth. “What I mean is I found a new outworlder. And, he’s not like the others.”
As Tech is naturally skeptical of anything Jokes has to say, he carefully probes further. “...elaborate.”
Jokes manifests a chair and sits down, though in doing so she ends up floating in the opposite direction of Tech. “So! While I was warping around Aust, I felt a surge of energy in the Poporean desert near that girtablilu village. I got curious and decided to go see what happened. And you will not believe what I found!”
Tech is unimpressed so far. He’s convinced this is all just an elaborate waste of time. “You found an outworlder. You already said that.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Jokes nods rapidly. “I did! And he’s very special! He’s from that Earth place that Knowledge is being such a meanie about. Have you heard of it?”
Tech sighs. His form shifts somewhat, indicating his annoyance. “No, Jokes. I haven’t. If he knows about it already, then he isn’t going to be sharing that with us minor gods.”
“Well this outworlder hasn’t been very quiet about his homeworld. It’s a pretty crazy place…” she trails off.
“Well? Out with it. What’s so special about his world that you felt the need to bother me?” he spat.
Jokes dramatically cocked her head, putting a finger to her cheek. “Hmmmmmm. I dunno… I feel like it’s on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t quite remember. If only I weren’t banned from our space, I might be able to remember!”
Tech rolls his eyes. “Jokes you knew the agreement we had. Civ and I held up our end, but when it really mattered you completely ghosted us. Magic nearly killed us all! Theatre was heartbroken!”
“Ohh come onnn! I’m not a fighter! I know you remember that scuffle I had with the pantheon. The only reason I’m alive is because the mortals were heckling them over it! I would have only been in the way if I had been there with you!” she whines.
This was taking more energy than it was worth, but Tech also really wanted to know about this outworlder. His skepticality had taken a backseat to his curiosity, for better or worse. He groaned. “Alright how about this: You’ll tell me whatever it is that you were going to tell me about this guy, and I’ll talk to Civ and Theatre about letting you back in permanently. Sound good?”
Jokes hemmed, then hawed for a moment more before responding. “I think I can work with that.”
“Well get on with it then.” Tech demanded.
“Alright alright, have some patience! I was going to say that his world is full of really advanced technology. They don’t have any mana so they have all these crazy inventions! One of my favorites is their-”
He cuts her off. “Stop right there. Why didn’t you lead with that?”
Jokes scoffs. “Well I had to make a show of it! For all the people watching! …or reading? I forgot which one. Anyway their technology is really cool, and I know that’s like… your whole thing.”
Tech is taken aback by this. “My whole thing? Jokes, that’s my domain. Where is this guy?”
“Oh he’s over in Tokal. I think he’s supposed to be leaving soon? You might be able to catch him while he’s traveling if you’re quick!”
Tech says nothing as he fades out of their space, seemingly intent on speaking with this outworlder as soon as possible.
“Aww he didn’t even thank me!”
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Alright readers, this’ll have to be where I end this brief intermission for now! I would love to continue it, but unfortunately I believe I heard Max enter the house just a moment ago. He’s throwing things and he’s yelling something about making me recite some kind of script about bees…? Anyway! I need to stop writing now, see you next time if I’m not dead!