“I will not lie, things have been pleasant lately.”
Litvir glanced to one side, panting heavily, as Retvik put an arm around him.
“How are you… not… exhausted?”
“You did most of the work,” Retvik smirked. “But do you feel the same? Have things just been more pleasant?”
Litvir continued to pant, before allowing his breath and his heartbeat to stabilize. Giving was always exhausting to him, but it did make a change. Retvik’s statement though was… somewhat random.
“This was… pleasant…”
“Very true. For someone who claimed he never gave well, you were great. It has been even nicer though, just being you and me around here. Galyn certainly gives us plenty of space.”
“I… do not really follow…” Litvir was still tired. “I suppose, things… definitely are nicer without… a grumpy, miserable Life Goddess-like being wandering around.”
Retvik shrugged, then pulled Litvir closer. “Yes, that was… what I was wondering. I cannot help but feel a little bit bad, but Arkay’s presence lately has been a little… awkward. He has been upset and angry. At least his stalker issue has been temporarily dealt with.”
Litvir rolled onto his side to better look at Retvik. “He is as much of a bastard as the rest of us. I am surprised that you are actually willing to say that out loud.”
“Hmph…” Retvik grunted. “I feel mean even considering it. But yes, I feel that the last couple of days without Arkay around have been much nicer than usual. But I do not know if that is because Arkay is not here, or because things overall are just better for once.”
“A valid point. Do you want to talk more about this?” Litvir asked as he sat up, crossing his legs and summoning a pad and pen.
“You want to turn this into a therapy session?”
“I am just curious about your thoughts. You and Arkay have an odd relationship.”
“We do. An annoyingly strained one. None of us are who we used to be. Arkay used to be… less quick to turn to anger and tantrums. You are no longer a complete asshole…”
“Admittedly, that IS because I know my place around here. My old, pre-being-trapped-in-my-own-digital-landscape self would be torn apart by any one of you if I pissed you off. Which, knowing my old self, I would.” Litvir explained himself, knowing how much he had changed “But would you say you are unhappy with Arkay?”
“A… a little.”
“Well, me too,” Litvir replied rather flatly. “His personality shifts are annoying. When Arkay is himself, he is tolerable. When he becomes a whiny Life Goddess, I hate him.”
“That…” Retvik couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “That is how I feel as well. But I have been unable to say it because normally Arkay is always here. The bigger problem is that, well, Arkay knows how we feel.”
Litvir tutted, then frowned. “Very true. I have to give him credit, Arkay is very aware of his own faults.”
“And he does attempt to better himself. Doing so is quite hard.”
“Yes. That is true. I should know, I have been changing myself for the better.”
Retvik smiled, sitting up and pulling Litvir closer. “You have. And we appreciate it. These times are… weird and confusing for all of us, and the differences in ourselves are understandable.”
“Yes, true…” Litvir sighed, leaning into Retvik’s hug. “On the plus side, we at least get some time off soon.”
“Oh, Galyn is finally taking us somewhere nice?”
“Indeed.”
Retvik smiled some more. “That will be fun…”