Elkay expected more angry shouting as he knocked on the door, but nothing happened. As he was the only one that the Thantophor seemed to not hate with a seething passion, he had been designated as… well, basically the one who gets things done. Everyvok else just did normal guard duties, as well as the occasional cleaning duty while the Thantophor slept. Elkay got to talk to the deranged deity.
“What?” Arkadin asked through the door.
“I am here to check on you.”
“Why?”
“You do not normally sleep at 1500.”
Arkadin grunted and opened the door slowly. “I wasn’t feeling well.”
“Why?” Elkay asked. “Are you.. sick?”
“No, I just felt like I wanted to off myself and cease existing since everything bad in this universe is my fault and I feel I should atone for my sins in a somewhat extreme way.” Arkadin left the door open and climbed back into bed, leaving enough space for Elkay to sit on the end. Weirdly, Arkadin didn’t climb under the duvet, he just laid on top of it.
“That seems…”
“Extreme, I know. But that’s how I feel and it is very draining…” Arkadin eyed Elkay up and down. “Elkay, I have… a genuine question for you. One that’s hard to ask.”
Elkay sat down, as if Arkadin had requested him to. “What do you want to ask?”
“Would you still like me if I reverted back to my old Threavok self?”
“Uh…”
“I know you like me. I like you. I can’t say that about a lot of mortals, but I like you. I like a lot of the vok outside as well, but I like you more. We have more in common.”
Elkay sighed. “I do not… I do not see you that way.”
“Don’t lie.”
“I… Fine. Yes. I do find your appearance attractive and your personality pleasant, when you are not being a nasty rage monster. But when you go bad, you go very bad. Hate-able.”
Arkadin just nodded. “I know. It’s… a part of me. I’m a horrible thing. I don’t need reminding.”
Elkay took a deep, hesitant breath. “Still… You know I cannot… do anything… like that…”
The Thantophor sat up, tutting to himself. He scooted slightly closer towards Elkay.
“You are wasting your life, holding yourself back for some deranged beliefs. I know because I’ve done the same and now I’m sitting here in bed, eternally alone. I know you’re a Rethianos and you’ve forbidden yourself from procreating but that doesn’t mean you have to live a loveless life.”
“I do not really have much of a choice! None of us do! Because you got angry and decided to try and kill the universe, I have to spend the next 20 years here babysitting you!” Elkay’s frustration was palpable as he stood up in anger. Arkadin though just sighed and rolled back into bed.
“I know. I’m sorry. My apologies mean nothing, but I’m sorry. I ruined your lives.”
“And yet you try to flirt with me.”
“Wishful thinking on my behalf, really. Not that I’m even allowed to have proper relationships. All the rights I slowly reclaimed over the last millennium? Gone. I do miss our little late night talks though. They were enjoyable. You have no idea how much I wish I could take back my actions…”
“Wish all you want, those were your actions, now you feel the consequences.” Elkay shook his head in annoyance, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
Arkadin hesitated and considered going after Elkay. But he decided against it. Instead, he threw a blanket over himself, hiding the tears that had begun to drip down his face.