Author’s Note: I’m torn on how to handle this one. Charity bake sale? Very on brand. Doing Viscera Cleanup Detail? Also on brand. Which one which one…
“Come on, Sy.” I wiped a glob of v’rilk off my face and slung my guitar behind me. “Let’s clean this up.”
“Clean?!” His eyes widened. “Can’t we just leave it for the lesser spawns to eat?”
“And attract them to a mortal city? You know that’s a terrible idea.”
“It very well may be, but I have zero desire to clean this level of viscera up.”
“Then I’ll do it myself. Just hang back a minute.”
I got ready to play a chord that would lift me into the air when he threw an arm across my chest.
“Don’t waste your energy.”
“Sylus, we just fought off a Watcher flock. There’s enough gunk here to attract a pack of Gaunts. We can’t leave these people like this.”
“Might I remind you, Jeron, exerting your magic draws from my core.”
Heat filled my face. I was well aware of that, but it was only by his actions that ‘my magic drew from his core’.
“That sounds like a distinctly you problem.” I snapped back. “I’m cleaning this up.”
He scoffed. “I mean no offense, but…”
“Offense already taken.”
“But,” he continued, “I’m far more efficient at this.”
“Then do it!” I cried out. “Either you do it or I do it. Us doing it is also an option.”
“Just,” he pushed me back with his arm, “just stay out of my way.”
I stepped back willingly and motioned for him to go ahead.
Sighing, a wreath of tentacles protruded from his back. They slammed into the pavement launching him back into the air like he’d spent most of our fight. Once he was high enough, they spread out like a glistening net. Starlight webbing laced between them. A deep, somber hum filled the air.
Every ounce of v’rilk around me began to vibrate. The alien material by which all spawns of the Void were born was drawn to him like a magnet. Not a drop was safe as it was all pulled from every tiny nook and cranny into his net.
After a few seconds passed and no more goop flew up into the air, the web of starlight retracted and massive tentacles shrank back behind him. He landed on the ground beside me with an unceremonious thud.
“There.” He breathed. “Done.”
“That was a bit over the top, don’t you think?”
“Over the top?!” He shrieked. “It was efficient!”
“So did that burn more of your core than me doing it manually would have?”
“We broke even.” He snarled. “It was by far faster, though.”
“Well,” I put my hands on his shoulders and leaned up to kiss him, “thank you for saving me the effort.”
“Ugh.” He groaned. “Well now I’m both over and under capacity, if you catch my drift. Hope you can get us home because I’m shot.”
“Too full but not enough fuel for the fire?”
A snarl rippled across his lips.
“That’s okay, big guy. You did a good thing, cleaning this town up from the mess we made.”
“Doesn’t feel good.” He mumbled. “I think I caught some debris.” He spat a pebble out.
“You’ll feel better once we’re home and under some cozy blankets.” I offered him my hand. “I’ll even throw in a nice big pitcher of ice cold water to sweeten the deal.” He muttered something under his breath. “Shall we?”
“You got enough juice in ya to get us back?”
“You know I come with my own limited reservoir of magic. Limited and shallow, but it’s plenty to get us back home.”
“Buh.” He took my hand and I took us home.
Author’s Note: Super short one today. I wasn’t entirely feeling the prompt (definitely deviated from the concept) and it was a pretty crap day irl, but at least I wrote something, right? Just sticking to it can be hard enough for me so although this is a lackluster entry (imo), I’m happy to post it.
Eternity's Irys 