Telin had been watching the unusual being for a while now. They had been mingling with the crowds, mostly with three different groups, going back and forth and enjoying themselves, but also being constantly given drinks. They had been briefly introduced earlier on, when the Great Blades had arrived at Savepoint, but the being in question had been busy and they had barely had a chance to speak. It turned out, not only was the unusual being in charge of all the catering and drinks, but they were also the other Life Goddess that the Missing had mentioned. Which made little sense, because this being was Vokaic. Apparently, they were technically the same species as the Loopblades, and the Loopblades had all served them.
What concerned Telin more though was that he was certain that the Life Goddess was stealing glances of him, the same way he was stealing glances of the Life Goddess. And at some point, when things started to calm down, that Life Goddess wandered over.
“Hello!” the Life Goddess smiled. “Are you one of those Great Blades?”
Telin found himself bowing, but he didn’t expect the Life Goddess to sound as they did. “I am, yes. I am Voidblade, real name Telin Yisir. You may call me Telin though, dear Life Goddess.”
“Telin? That is a nice name!” The Life Goddess leaned forward. They seemed curious. “My name is Elkay-en Theanon-Photeianos, but you can just call me Elkay.”
“Huh…” Telin muttered. “You have a very similar name to both my team of Loopblades, Deathbringer and Unender, not to mention the gaggle of being Shocktrooper is leading around.”
“I do, yes, but I’m pretty sure I’m the first Elkay.”
Telin took a deep breath. He somewhat regretted it though. Elkay was giving off some sort of scent that Telin had just inhaled. She was also rather drunk. The smell of vodka and berries on her breath was oddly intoxicating.
“You are?” Telin asked. “And you are a Life Goddess?”
“I am, yes.”
“You are just… out here?” Telin was confused. “You are a rather… odd Life Goddess, if you do not mind me saying so.”
Elkay leaned forward some more. Telin noted that Elkay was a bit bigger than a Beh’ena. Winged, clawed and more heavily armoured. More attractive too. Not that Telin had ever laid with a Beh’ena. Telin had sworn himself to chastity, to never, ever produce children, because of his partial Voidborn heritage.
“I am, definitely!” Elkay tutted. “That is what happens when Kinisis decides to be a father instead of a mother, decides to rape a mortal and then hands the baby to a fucking Corruption to be turned into its plaything, instead of actually raising the kid…” Elkay paused. “Sorry. I am rather drunk right now. Normally I… I don’t talk about these things.”
Telin hesitated, then put things together. “You are the first child of the Final Mother.”
“Hmph. I’ve heard you Phantai are a little overly… worship-y of Kinisis and her family.”
“We used to be. We found out via Sini and Phovos, her youngest daughters, that Kinisis and many of the Mothers were not… motherly at all…” Telin quickly admitted. “I mean, my own memories of the Mothers are deeply faded now. Still, that does not make you a bad person. In fact, I… I… I think you are beautiful.”
Elkay eyed Telin. He eyed him a lot. “You think I am beautiful? I look nothing like a normal Life Goddess.”
Telin shrugged. “Perhaps not, but, well, most Life Goddesses are of a certain shape that is not designed for the desires of an ancient Beh’enu like myself. Then again, most Life Goddesses are unwilling to even talk to the common being.”
Elkay eyed Telin some more. “You find me genuinely attractive.”
“I… I… I do, yes. Because you are attractive.”
“I am not attractive.”
“You are to me.”
Elkay grunted as he glanced around. He was clearly looking for someone. “Aren’t you married or something?”
“Phos, Psehon and I are bound, similar to how the Tattered Three are bound… were bound before they got married. But we are not… uh… sexual partners most of the time. Psehon has his own interests and Phos routinely… services the Beh’ena of the remaining Warmths.”
“But you… you don’t do that?” Elkay asked.
“No. I have forbidden myself from laying with any female.”
Elkay inspected Telin some more. “But… why? You’re big and powerful and muscular and all that. You’re attractive too.”
Telin sighed and didn’t answer.
“Is it complicated?”
“Yes.”
Elkay sighed, then sat closer to Telin. “I… I get that. My entire existence is complicated. I’m a mess. I’m still trying to work things out. But also…”
Telin noticed that Elkay had trailed off. He had also summoned a new drink for himself. But he also summoned one for Telin as well. A fruity cocktail. A very alcoholic one.
“You are thinking things…” Telin whispered.
“I am. I am admittedly very drunk, and I had a lot of Skyan Teekay’s special brew. Normally, I wouldn’t consider these things at all. But, well… you are cute. I would like to do… things to you.”
“Things?”
“Sexy things.”
Telin frowned. “I cannot.”
“Why?”
“You are female. I cannot lay with a female.”
Elkay snorted. “Hah! I’m not female!”
“You…” Telin looked at Elkay, feeling very confused. “You are a Life Goddess. You are female.”
“I am not female!” Elkay explained further. “I present as male and am in fact intersex.”
“You… You are… you are like the Missing?”
“I am, yes. But, admittedly, what I have in mind doesn’t involve anything particularly feminine anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
Elkay nudged Telin’s glass. “How about you and I have a few drinks together, then we retire to my private quarters and have some fun?”
Telin opened and closed his mouth somewhat, then smiled. “That… I would like that.”
“Good!” Elkay downed his glass. “I’m going to fetch something fancier. You stay here, I’ll be right back!”
Telin nodded wordlessly. Elkay grinned, patted Telin on the shoulder, then darted off. As he did so, he sent out a quick message.
Darkpurger: Hi, Kuta, can I borrow some of your gear?
Spiritdrainer: My special gear?
Darkpurger: Yes.
Spiritdrainer: Of course.
Darkpurger: Wonderful. Thank you.
With a grin, Elkay picked up his pace. He had a plan and he was going to enjoy himself for once.