Tenuk approached the large, green dome with caution. Standing around it was a large, white, gun metal and blue Veth with what looked like wings. It seemed absolutely exhausted though, as it was panting heavily but also happily.
To the Veth’s right, a panel opened in the dome. Out of it stepped Death, mid-shapeshift, from a Veth-like form to her normal “I’m happy to see Tenuk!” form.
“Yay!” she burst out excitedly. “You’re here!”
Tenuk edged past the Veth, who looked at him lamely. It seemed… satisfied. Death smiled at it and the Veth got up and wandered off, probably back to its patch of territory.
“Um, what was up with that Veth. Never seen them like that before.”
“I fucked him!” Death grinned. Tenuk wasn’t sure whether she was being serious or not and decided it was best to let the whole thing slide. Did Veth even do that sort of thing?
Death had hopped back inside and was mixing potions. Or were they drinks? Again, Tenuk was uncertain. She always offered him something and he only ever accepted it once – she’d said it was a glass of cola, but it stank of Cassid sewage water. The thought of that reminded him of a trip to a Cassid city during the middle of summer when a sewage pipe burst across the road from his apartment.
Tenuk shuddered and tried to think of anything else. “Um…” Took him a second to say anything. “So, uh, Death, how are you?”
“I’m very well, thank you. Very satisfied. That Veth always does a good job with pleasure. Think I’ll keep him for a bit longer next time round. How about you? Got a girlfriend?”
Tenuk shook his head.
“Boyfriend? Nothing wrong with being into your own gender, you know. Less work for me.”
Again, Tenuk shook his head. “I spent a thousand years as a Rethan, they have the best of both worlds.”
“Oh, I’d disagree!” Death was still grinning. “The Drakiaks are giant, multi-organed all-sexuals who have gigantic orgies all the time. Far better than the monogamic relationships of the Rethavok and related species! You should get a partner though.”
Tenuk sat down on one of the glass stools Death had prepared. “I’ve had a few but they keep on dying.”
“Then maybe you should meet up with a Kronospast or something!” Death paused. “Unless you prefer the excitement of sex with other species. I can see the appeal of curiosity. Who wouldn’t want to be felt up by tentacles or something?”
The Kronospast remained silent, not really wanting to carry on this conversation with the personification of Death of all beings. “Why are you so engrossed in sex?”
Death shrugged. “It’s all part of the Cycle. Anything that is a part of it, I like. Birth. Food. Sex. Death. Food and sex in particular, since I do most of the death stuff. Being able to change into anything I want makes it all the more fun.”
“Why are sex and food part of the Cycle?” Tenuk asked.
“Well, you’ve got to stay alive a little before you die. It’d be boring as heck if everything alive in this existence spawned, created a copy of itself then died. Plus it makes things so much sweeter when I come along to complete and restart the cycle! Surely you like food and sex, Tenuk?”
Tenuk sighed, as Death started pouring more drinks. These ones smelled of vanilla but fizzed in bright blue and green bubbles. “I guess.”
“Silly me, I forget you are a Deitic again and don’t really need them. I always wondered if Deitics were so stupid because they never have to worry about the primals of life.”
“Primals?”
“Food. Sex. Sleep. Drugs. Water. Companionship. That sort of stuff.”
“Ahh…”
“But surely you have some fun stories? I’m pretty sure you slept with those little Dessaron things, and I remember when Retvik finally made his way here, we had some nice chats about you before I tore out his personality and absorbed him into the Vethic Essence. Ooh that reminds me I actually brought him here a few days ago for pleasure. Should have waited until you showed up!”
Death was rambling on a little. She seemed very euphoric.
“I’m a well-behaved Deitic, ma’am. I’ve grown up, I don’t try and do silly things like that any more,” Tenuk explained.
“Pity…” Death sighed. “Still, when I absorb you, we’ll do it for weeks. Months maybe.”
Tenuk was beginning to think it was time to leave. Thankfully for him, Death had already gotten up. “Ah, my new Veth have arrived, I must inspect them. This was fun, Tenuk!”
“If you say so, Death.”
Death bounced to her feet, disappearing in the shadows. “Always is!”
“Yeah… See you round…” Tenuk muttered. “Soon, I guess.”