A return to Dead Places

[Margrett]

Margrett shook her head but said nothing. Shuma put a tentacle to the floor.

Let Me See, Child. It Looks To Be More Than I Can Remove, But I May Be Able To See Her From Here.

[Celephai]

(If it's magic, and she knows it is, she knows better than to try just tugging at it.)

Celephai calmly walked up to Shuma, as if nothing could possibly go wrong with this event.

"Just, be careful. I got an odd feeling with it, once... don't want that to happen again."

And come to think of it, she did get this strange sensation that she was being watched. Then again, she always had that sensation, so it was probably nothing at all, in her mind.

[Margrett]

Shuma lifted her up gently and brought her up to his great eye, inspecting the collar.

You Are Being Watched. She Is...Concerning. You Say She Is Mortal? That Is Very Concerning. Here. Let Me Show You.

Shuma waved his tentacles in a circular pattern around him, tracing lines in the air. Purple lines of all lengths and patterns, coiling and uncoiling around them. They surrounded the three, blotting out almost all other sights.

These Are Life Lines. They Trace The Lifetimes Of Mortals. I Am Only Able To See Those Who Are Close To This Realm. Celephai, This Is Yours.

He gestured to a line, shorter than the others, but more vibrant, that seemed to pop into existence suddenly and curve and loop around, cutting off a few other lines at first and then coming into contact with few others.

This Is Margrett's.

Margrett's was thin and dull for most of its length, then became chaotic and bright, once intertwining with another large bright one. She cleared her throat.

That one's yours, then?

Yes. And This Is Your Mage's.

That line was deep purple, at one point become intertwined by a few others, restricted and held tight, until suddenly it turned deep deep black, coiling upon itself and ending those lines, then spreading out, far out until it dissipated.

She Is More Powerful Than Either Of Us In Our Current Forms. Possibly Both Of Us Together. She May Once Have Been Mortal, But I Am Not Sure What She Has Become.

[Celephai]

Celephai blinked a few times. This was an unusual sensation, to have been totally eclipsed by someone whom had just defiled her. There was going to be hell to pay, for sure... but Celephai wanted a distinct FLAVOR of hell visited upon the mage.

"...I see. The next step, then, is to set up a circumstance wherein she is not more powerful than us..."

The wise combatant first puts herself before defeat, then heads to battle.

She was being watched, though. This changed the situation greatly.

"Can she hear us? She cannot know of our plans, if we ever manage to construct one..."

[Margrett]

As Far As I Know She Cannot. Not Here. This World May Be Formed From Shadow, But Here It Will Not Listen To Her. Here, She Is Powerless. That May Be An Option for Her Demise. But It Will Be Difficult. She Cannot Come Here Unless She Wills It...Unless...

He set Celephai down.

You Will Need A Few...Things.

[Celephai]

"Power always demands sacrifice, All-Seeing Eye. What are these things?"

Celephai stepped back, crossing her arms. There was always a price. She was used to prices, but not currency. Currencies tripped her up, they never tended to convert favorably.

[Margrett]

You Will Need An Anchor In This Place. An Artifact Large Enough To Pull Her Here. Then You Will Need Something Of Hers, Something She Has Invested A Lot Of Emotion Into. Lastly You Will Need The Components For A Soul Gate.

He blinked.

These Will Not Be Easy To Find. Most Of All Her Belongings, I Suspect. I May Have The Artifact Here, But I Will Need Time. And A Favor.

[Celephai]

Celephai nods slowly. Her belongings would indeed be the hardest part, mostly because they had little to no access to such things. Wait...

That is a terrible plan. It has very little chance of actually working.

Yes, it was a very nearly suicidal plan, but it was the best idea she had for the moment. Cel turned to Margrett.

"The Soul Gate components, can you take care of them? I think... could it work if she invested herself into someone, instead of something? According to her, it is possible to own living things."

Celephai touched her collar.

Very little self-preservation.

It's revenge, it's totally worth it.

[Margrett]

Margrett looked at Cel and raised an eyebrow.

You know what that means, right? And...and who knows what she feels for you, if anything. I mean hell, if anything I should. I'm the whole reason we just had that little charade.

Either Of You May Work. Or Both Of You. In Her Own Way She Feels For Both Of You. Perhaps If You Were To Make Her Feel As Though You Were An...Investment.

Right. That may work. I think you should handle the Soul Gate. I'll find this artifact. I don't trust the big green guy to get it himself.

Shuma was silent.

[Celephai]

She is right. No need to go rushing off to your doom.

An Elder God playing reasonable and logical?

It has it's uses, particularly in that plane of existence.

Celephai nodded to Margrett.

"Apart from the total affection and doting remarks, who knows... you probably know her better than I do, at any rate. So, where would the parts for this Soul Gate be, presuming I have the capacity to retrieve them?"

[Margrett]

She shrugged and jerked a thumb at Shuma-Gorath.

Ask him.

In The Overworld, There Is A Place Where The Heavens Fought With The Forces Of Hell. The Rocks Themselves Pulse With Magic. Bring Them Here.

[Celephai]

Celephai considered this for a moment. Where would the Heavens fight with the forces of Hell?

Solve it later, we must make haste.

"Right. I can manage that much. Will that be all?"

She looked between the two of them. The emotion of love seemed to be a strange thing indeed. Maybe someday she'd find someone like that. Maybe someday she'd get another pair of tentacles. That was unimportant for now.

[Margrett]

One More Thing. I Would Like A Favor.

Margrett raised an eyebrow.

And what's what?

One of Shuma's tentacles touched the ground, and the rest followed, shrinking quickly and reorganizing itself in a flash of purple light. Standing in front of Marg was a humanoid...thing. It was green and looked a little bit like Cel, but wore a black suit. It gazed at Margrett with three purple eyes.

Apologize.

[Celephai]

Apologize? He wanted her to apologize? This being of chaos made manifest onto this plane wanted some mere mortal to apologize?

"...May be more human than he knows."

Celephai spoke in a light whisper. This was a personal thing, she recognized, and she should not interfere.

Indeed.

Nonetheless, she wanted to watch, at least for the value of entertainment. She stepped back, clasping her hands behind her and wrapping her tentacles around each other, trying her best not to be intruding.

[Margrett]

Margrett was speechless.

A...apologize? You want me to apologize?

Margrett walked up to Shuma and roughly poked his chest.

You were the one who left me.

You Gave Me And Ultimatum I Could Not Uphold.

I asked you to just...just trust me. You wanted proof of what I felt, but I told you to trust me!

You Would Not Say The Word.

I didn't think I had to!

You Know You Did. But You Could Not.

Their faces were getting closer now. Margrett was nearly frothing.

You should have known! After everything I did for you, after everything I sacrificed--

And Yet You Couldn't Tell Me To My Face. Why?

She was silent. Her jaw quivered. She looked down, then back up to him.

Because I can't. Not anymore.

Shuma said nothing. Margrett turned away and looked at Cel, pulling her hat over her eyes. Her voice was strong.

I'm going to find the artifact. You go back and find the gate. Find me here when you're done.