[EU] Just Us

Aureus paused, halfway through signing an electronic document. He glanced at the clock embedded in the top of his desk, the letters blurring in his vision. He pushed his glasses back up, and 11:45 PM snapped back into focus.

He groaned, leaning back in his chair, feeling it creak underneath his shifting weight. Nearly midnight, and he was still at work, like some sort of hyper-excited newbie. But fucking... this was Thetaiota’s fault, he knew, even if he’d stayed later of his own volition. Somehow, someway, he could pin the blame back on that ruthless Okapi. 

This wasn’t even really work. It was just promissory notes he needed to sign to buy that nice house he’d been mulling over. He didn’t need to be at work to do this stuff... and yet, he was. 

Aureus glanced back down, pinching the bridge of his nose. Everything was starting to get blurry and hazy, colors melting together in his exhaustion. Maybe it was time to catch a tram back to his condo. Maybe a late-night snack, too.

He stood, pacing the few steps it took to get across his office. Yawning, he pressed a button on the wall, and a few panels slid back to reveal an alcove of a closet. Aureus freed his coat from the storage and slipped it on, rubbing the elbows a bit as they chafed. Maybe it was time to invest in a new coat.

Or, it could wait. He rolled his eyes. Probably best to wait, if he was going to buy a house. 

He zipped up the front as he exited. His secretary gave him a nod and a call of “Goodnight, Dr. Medicillin!” 

It wasn’t until he was already in the elevator out in the hallway that it occurred to him that he’d never responded to her. Great. Now he looked like an asshole. 

Aureus groaned, rubbing his eyes. It was nearly midnight. It was forgivable. She probably already forgot he’d ignored her, anyways.

The more pressing matter was that the elevator was going up.

Aureus paused, mind-yawn, eyes widening, locked on the small floor identifier above the doors. Yes, those numbers were certainly climbing... and it wasn’t like the elevators were in short demand - there were five for the SCC Corp headquarters alone!

Which probably meant-

To his growing dread, the elevator churned to a stop precisely at Floor 132, a number that had grown to haunt his nightmares. The doors slid open, although no one was waiting immediately on the other side.

Aureus stood still for a few moments, praying that maybe the doors would close, that maybe it was just a simple fluke, but the doors did not budge. The noise of another elevator rising to his left stirred him, and with a sigh, he stepped into the lobby of the large office.

The fountain in the middle was what really sold it. Powered by a tiny water core or something like that, and with a small little statue of some random animal, it was an awfully stupid feature to put so high up in a skyscraper. The warm, plush benches around it almost seemed inviting, but Aureus knew better than to fall for their cozy trap. The windows, covering nearly every inch of wallspace, were dimmed and one-way, so that passing fliers wouldn’t be able to peek in.

The man at the desk of the far end of the room glanced up as the elevator doors hissed closed, sealing Aureus’ fate. A pitying smile spread over the other man’s features, earning a scowl from Aureus.

“Hey, he didn’t tell me about this,” the secretary said, in good humor. “Guess it’s a surprise for both of us?”

Aureus calmly - too calmly - made his way over to the desk, sidestepping the large fountain. “Whatever. Is he in his office?”

“Of course.”

He passed by the secretary calmly, reaching out and placing his hand on the scanner. An instant later, the door slid open, silent as a mouse.

Aureus stepped in to the somehow-even-grander office, adorned with gold-flaked, red velvet curtains, a dark wood floor, seats with cushions so deep one could sink into them, and a wall full of various fridges and storage containers. At the far end of the room was a semicircular desk, the top of it acting as a sort of touchscreen. It was currently projecting a small screen, upon which some movie was being played.

In the large chair leaned Thetaiota, a bag of popcorn in hand, a soft drink in the other. His feet were up on the desk in disrespectful nonchalance, toes curling every time some explosion went off in the video. He pretended to ignore Aureus at first, noisily drawing from the straw, eyes locked onto the screen.

Demigods. Always thought they were so special. 

“You rigged the elevator,” Aureus said, dully, stepping up to the desk.

Thetaiota ignored him for just another second before he put the drink and food haphazardly on the desk and flicked the screen away. He didn’t respond at first, staring up at Aureus, grinning ear-to-ear.

“Congrats, you fucked with me,” Aureus deadpanned, “can I go home now?”

Thetaiota let out a winded laugh. He wheezed for a few more seconds, slamming a fist onto the desk (Aureus winced when the touchscreen reacted) and nearly doubling over. It took another full minute before he could recover and form a sentence. “No.”

Aureus frowned.

“Here, take a seat,” Thetaiota continued, pressing a button on the desk. Part of the floor opened underneath Aureus and a chair shot out. The Immortal fell most unceremoniously and haphazardly onto it. “There! You’ve got a seat now.”

Aureus readjusted himself, rolling his eyes. “Can you please just cut to the chase? It’s really late.”

“That’s the idea!” Thetaiota gestured wildly, nearly knocking over the drink. “The creatures of the city are coming alive! The nightlife is slinking out of its caves and basking in the moonlight! The stars are as bright as they’ll ever be, Aurie!”

“What are you trying to imply, here?” he deadpanned right back.

Thetaiota allowed himself the smuggest of smiles, brushing his hair back. “You don’t get out enough, do you? Just holed up in your office all day, like a little prisoner without a sentence. So I thought, ‘why not give him some spice?’ So we’re going on a date. Sort of.”

“Can we please not? I’m tired and I have work tomorrow... it’d be better if I got sleep,” Aureus nearly sighed. “And I’m sure I’ll be more animated tomorrow.”

Thetaiota’s eyes snapped open, the smile suddenly becoming menacing, although little in his expression changed. “A bonus check would sure be nice for that house, wouldn’t it?” 

“Stalking my browser history again?”

“You’re on company Wi-Fi,” he chuckled, twirling a finger in the air. 

Aureus groaned, rolling his head back. Bright bars of florescent lights glared back, and he squinted, pretending for a split second they were the lights of the tram home and he’d be curled in his bed within half an hour.

“Fine. Just nothing too long, okay?”

Thetaiota sprang out of his seat and vaulted over the desk, placing a hand on Aureus’ shoulder a bit too firmly. “Excellent! I knew you’d agree, but it’s nice not having to argue like a pair of angry meutins.”

Aureus stood, but even though he tried, he couldn’t keep pace with Thetaiota. The Okapi had both height (therefore, a longer stride) and energy on him. Maybe in the morning he could’ve kept up, but at the moment, he was mostly dead weight being half-dragged along.

The secretary rolled his eyes, amused still, when they stepped into the lobby. Thetaiota waved him off. “Clear my night, Kineospora! I’m heading out on the town!”

The elevator trip down felt like a blink of the eye.

When they stepped out of the building, Aureus knew to be grateful for his coat. He drew it closer around himself, huddling in its high collar as the wind ripped around them. It was unusually chilly for Freendan. He hoped that wasn’t a sign of some weird climate accident. 

Reading all that Immunities propaganda probably didn’t help.

Thetaiota didn’t appear fazed by the cold, even though surely the stylish, but thin jacket he wore did little to block the wind. Maybe demigods generated their own heat. Maybe it was an Okapi thing. Fuckall if Aureus knew. He didn’t stop himself from standing closer to Thetaiota, though, who gave him a brilliant smile before focusing back on his cellie.

Aureus couldn’t make out what he was typing, but figured he was calling a private, single-car tram or something of the sort. They were automated, and usually functioned more akin to a public bus system, but rich folk just had to go around, burning money on whatever was in reach. Private trams were the perfect rich-people trap. 

Still, it wasn’t like he was paying, so who was he to complain? Thetaiota always footed the bill for their little ‘dates’... even if they weren’t really dating. Sort of. It was really complicated, and Aureus didn’t like thinking about it.

A arm wrapped around his shoulders. “I called my tram to head over here! We’ve got a few minutes until it arrives.” Thetaiota glanced around. “I suppose we can bask in the beauty of the night! Just look at how pretty the view is!”

It was a pretty nice view, Aureus had to admit. The SCC Corp headquarters were situated on top of a hill overlooking most of Galadia City, which was sparkling in soft yellow and blue light in the darkness. The waning moon was nearly at its peak, stars twinkling around it, casting the entire area in muted purples. 

It was sort of romantic, in a quiet, unassuming way. The leaves of the red trees planted around the building swayed as the wind picked up again, although it merely nipped instead of bit this time around. It brought with it the smell of fresh apples.

Thetaiota and Aureus stepped in near-tandem, heading down the steel pathway to the tram docking station. It was underground, with a large, polished staircase and tightly-reinforced, metallic walls. It would’ve felt boxlike had there not been plenty of posters, advertisements, maps, and information, flashing and moving on multiple screens. There were a few other people lingering in the station, most on their cellies, a few staring at the flickering ads.

A low whistling noise announced the arrival of a tram. Several people glanced up, and Aureus looked towards the far tunnel. A beam of light cut through the darkness before an automated public tram slid into the station, pausing perfectly still. The doors slid open, displaying the empty seating inside. Most of the people in the station shuffled in. 

A few warning beeps signified that the tram was about to leave, and then the doors slid shut. It zoomed away at a speed Aureus had trouble comprehending, letting out a high-pitched whine as it disappeared into the tunnels.

He turned to Thetaiota, who had stepped away to peer at one of the advertisements. Aureus picked his way to the others’ side, glancing up at the large screen as well.

“Dinner on the ferry,” Thetaiota read out loud once Aureus had skimmed it. 

A large ship was displayed on the Brachyspiraen river, with a few couples depicted clinking wine glasses together. Underneath were bright words insisting that it was a “fun and relaxing way for any group to spend a night tasting wines and exotic foods”. Further down was a phone number to call and a website to visit. 

Thetaiota pulled out his cellie, scanned the QR code on the ad, and began flicking through the prices of reservations.

“Are you sure we wouldn’t be late for it?” Aureus mumbled, resting his chin in his hand. “It’s probably midnight by now.”

“The cruise is only two hours long, and the next one starts at one AM, so we could make it as surely as two fish can swim,” Thetaiota said back, voice tainted by the smile on his face. “It sounds very relaxing, doesn’t it?”

“It sounds expensive,” he responded.

Thetaiota waved a hand erratically. “Money is no object, my friend.”

Aureus stuck his tongue out. 

Another whistle of air displacement announced the arrival of the private tram. Aureus knew it was Thetaiota’s by the ridiculous star and moon/sun decals all over it. Of course. 

Thetaiota stepped forward, opening the door in a too-gracious manner, gesturing inside. Aureus stepped into the seating area, which was warm and soft, in pastel pinks. Thetaiota slipped inside the egg-shaped vehicle, closing the door after himself. 

The tram slowly lifted off the magnetic track, and then whizzed away again.

“Traffic won’t be too bad,” Thetaiota said, voice almost too calm, different from his overexcited animation earlier. “Peak nighttime traffic is around one. We should have some time to kill before the cruise, though!”

“That’s nice,” Aureus mumbled absently, staring at the magazine rack to his left. He pulled out a holo-document and flicked through numerous, filled-out crossword puzzles. “Gee. You spend a lot of time in here, huh?”

Thetaiota laughed, shoulders shaking with the intensity of it. “I do!” the cheer had returned to his voice. “So many meetings, so many hands that must be shaken. It’s very exhausting at times.”

“Do people ever get on your ass about being Ravn’s kid?” Aureus asked, placing the document back into the rack. 

Thetaiota rolled his eyes, but the easygoing smile never left his face. “You ask that question like a broken record, you know.”

“It’s an easy way to ease into conversation. Harmonics know that you love to shittalk people.”

Another loud, almost-obnoxious laugh. “You know me too well! I shall hope you never try to backstab me.”

A smile slowly melted onto Aureus’ face as he leaned back in the seat. It was times like these that reminded him how Thetaiota and he became friends in the first place. Sure, Thetaiota was a bit of an overbearing, obnoxious, self-absorbed demigod, but at the same time, he had such an air of passion and genuine care around him. It was infectious to be around, and the banter they shared was always enjoyable.

He wasn’t even that mad about the elevator incident earlier. He didn’t feel tired anymore, which was a welcome relief. 

There was silence between them, now, but it was not stifling over overbearing. A simple lull in the conversation between two good friends, waiting for the next topic to breach naturally.

Next topic.

Aureus’ smile faded. He knew the elevator incident still nagged at him, but in a different way. It wasn’t about the fact that Thetaiota strong-armed him into coming along, no - that was normal, expected. What upset him was....

“You’re not still angry about the 5k6.9 incident, right?”

The question did not land gracefully. Thetaiota tensed visibly, shoulders straightening, sitting up a bit like a wooden board. Aureus would’ve winced, if he lacked the control to not visibly react. 

Thetaiota stared at him before very stiffy turning his head to the right. “Of course not.”

“Then this is totally unrelated to the incident, and is literally just for fun times?”

Silence.

Aureus frowned. “Please don’t lie.”

“It’s related, but only marginally,” Thetaiota said, strangled, a little too quickly. “As if it were of the same taxonomy genus. But I am not angry with you! I simply wish to reconcile any broken bonds and make amends. I am very sorry for screaming at you, and I want to ensure you understand that clearly.”

Aureus leaned back in his seat. “I’m not even upset about you getting angry. You had the full right to. That was a disaster of terrible proportions.”

“How’s your arm treating you?”

The too-sudden change made Aureus blink. It took him another half a minute to register what Thetaiota meant. His head lowered, locking onto his right arm, and he slowly pulled up the sleeve of his dress shirt. 

Cold metal glinted in the synthetic light. Aureus turned the prosthetic over, curling his fingers into a fist experimentally.

“Honestly, I forgot about it until you brought it up,” he admitted. “I guess that’s a good thing. Means I’m used to it or something.”

Thetaiota nodded. “Well, that’s good news for once.”

“Don’t think I didn’t catch that,” Aureus reminded him, “like I said, I’m not upset because you got angry.”

The Okapi pursed his lips before responding. “Then, pray tell, why are you upset?”

Aureus sighed, fixing his sleeve. “Honestly? No clue. That’s the part that sucks about emotions. I can’t really tell if I’m upset with myself or everything that happened. Just, like... I feel like I could’ve prevented the entire accident. Like... someone died. That’s heavy and I don’t know how I feel about it.”

“There was no way you could have accounted for a malfunction of that extremity,” Thetaiota said, voice so confident that Aureus swore he believed the other for a second.

He didn’t argue, though, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. 

Thetaiota seemed to sense the doubt emanating off of him. “5k6.9 was a simple factory error, isolated to a single android. Once we find it and reprogram it, there will be absolutely nothing to worry about. I am positive the press will not find out - they are but senseless flies buzzing in the darkness of rumors and uncertainty.”

“I guess.” Aureus took his glasses off, peering at the lenses. He wiped them on his shirt before continuing. “Your best guys are out there, looking for them, right?”

“Of course,” Thetaiota assured him, “they will find it no matter the cost. I told them I wanted it brought in without damage to the OS or the chassis, but that if needed to reprimand it, destroying it was viable in emergencies.”

Aureus shuddered. “I wonder how it feels about that.”

“I imagine poorly.”

“I mean, imagine if someone started a manhunt for you,” Aureus mumbled, gesturing lightly. Thetaiota raised an eyebrow. Aureus’ face tinged pink. “Well... like... with intent to kill you, I guess.”

“You worry too much,” Thetaiota said, speaking with the wisdom of a thousand years in his voice, expression amused. “Don’t focus on the bad-smelling cheese. Just eat what you like.”

The tram dinged, slowing to a stop. Thetaiota glanced to the door, Aureus following his gaze. “Where did you program for us to go, anyways?”

Thetaiota stepped out, holding the door. “Simply downtown. There are many venues here, a wide selection to taste! Usually I find myself at the higher-end restaurants, on behalf of the people I am meeting with, so it’ll be nice to see some other sights.”

Aureus climbed out. Even in the underground tram station, the city’s massive population was obvious - the place was packed, and there were five different tram lines cutting through the room. Thetaiota’s hand slipped around his own, squeezing the metal of his prosthetic. He could feel it, damaged nerve endings still picking up on contact.

The taller Okapi pulled him through the crowd and up the stairs. The street wasn’t much better, but there was at least more breathing room. Bright neon lights flashed at every corner, advertising everything and anything under the sun, complemented by the smell of food and the stench of casual pollution.

“There are so many options at our fingertips,” Thetaiota whispered in his ear, leaning down to reach. “Probably not the best idea to head to a restaurant, though. Save room for the cruise!”

“Right,” he loudly whispered back. “Let’s just walk around, I guess?”

Thetaiota took his hand again and headed off down the sidewalk.

They gathered very few looks. While Thetaiota was arguably an easy face to match to a name, it was dark outside, and there were plenty of other taller races mucking around. He blended in just fine, which is probably what he preferred. Aureus rubbed his hand softly, feeling bits of fur resist for only the slightest of seconds before he pushed them back.

“Sorry for what I said earlier,” he called out a second later.

A curious glance was thrown his way.

“You know, about the manhunt. It was kind of insensitive,” Aureus said, lamely.

Thetaiota shrugged. “You are quite fine. I did not take offense to your statement, and you didn’t intend for it to be malicious.”

Aureus blinked at the ground. “Thank you.”

“It is of no concern.”

Thetaiota came to a stop in front of a stout building squished between two others. Aureus clung to the taller’s arm, glancing up at the flashing sign advertising drinks and fun. 

“A bar?” he asked, unable to keep the incredulousness out of his tone.

Thetaiota laughed lightly. “It’s certainly something different!”

With a sweep of his tail, he headed for the door, smile easy going and light. It was actually quite an attractive expression on him, if Aureus was being honest. Before he could enter, though, one of the bouncers took a step to the left, blocking the entrance. Thetaiota paused, standing up straight, tail curling back up again. Aureus blinked at the larger Underworlder.

“Sorry,” they said, a bit too gruffly. “No more Ictus Giraffes after the last one trashed the place. The ban’ll be lifted in probably a week, come back then.”

Silence hung in the air. Unlike in the tram, this one was tense. Thetaiota was staring at the Underworlder with wide, almost innocent eyes, although Aureus knew that expression was anything but forgiving. He braced himself, ready for an outburst - whether that be physical or a screaming fit.

Instead, Thetaiota backed away, dead silent. He merged back with the crowd on the main sidewalk, quick-stepping away from the bar. His grip on Aureus’ upper arm was tense and tight, fingers curled in the fabric of his coat.

It almost hurt. Almost.

Aureus jogged to keep up with him, not wanting to be dead weight. “You okay?”

“Perfectly alright,” came the too-high pitched response.

“Spit it out.”

Thetaiota darted out of the crowd again, Aureus’ grip being tested to its limits by the sudden and jerky movement. They were now in front of a small, electronic-looking shop, lacking windows and much in the way of a sign.

Thetaiota took the chance away from the majority of the strangers to give an angry huff. “I am not a Giraffe. Do I look like one?”

“The Underworlder was probably just assuming,” Aureus said, “I mean, you’re tall, have stripes, and got a horn. Anyone who hasn’t seen an Okapi before would just think you’re an Ictus hiding a few markings.”

“Beyond that, they should have at least been able to tell who I am,” he mumbled, opening the store’s door. A bell lightly chimed. “Am I not the owner of one of the few mortal-controlled companies left?”

Aureus slid in easily after him. “Does it count as mortal-controlled if you’re a demigod?”

“It keeps it out of the lesser gods’ hands,” Thetaiota whispered under his breath.

The floor manager turned, giving them a warm smile. “Hello there, and welcome to the VR Shack! Are you two looking to give our newest system a try? Only 50 equans per headset! VIP treatment is only another 50 equans per!”

A VR shop?

Oh, oh, right, he read about them in some magazine a few months ago. Because buying a VR headset was apparently ‘too expensive’ or something, which was a total lie. The cheapest ones Aureus had seen in stores were all far less than 50 equans.

“Two, please,” Thetaiota said, reaching into his pocket and procuring his cellie.

The manager held forth a small scanner, which they then tapped against the cellie. In a second, Aureus could see 200eq transaction! Confirm? appear on the screen. Thetaiota hit the green button, presumably confirming.

They were led into a side room, where two almost-full-body suits sat, embedded into the ground on spinning platforms. The manager left them with a small booklet - probably instructions - and then promptly exited. Aureus turned as the door slid shut, staring at the metallic sheen.

“Virtual Reality,” he said, turning back to Thetaiota.

This earned him a shrug. “It’s something fun to do, is it not? It also is relaxing to be someone else for a while. I’ve only indulged in it once or twice, however - a rare treat, like a chocolate cake.”

“Don’t you have Dragenmire blood?”

The joke was ended by Thetaiota picking up Aureus, marching him over to one of the suits, and nearly stuffing him into the legs part. Aureus only blinked as the other gently inset his arms into the suit. Maybe Thetaiota was more used to VR suits than he was letting on.

“So we’re really doing this?”

Thetaiota was now halfway through climbing into his. “I paid for VIP service here, and I shall enjoy it to its fullest.”

“What if we don’t catch the tram to the cruise?”

“I set a timer to snap us out of it. Now, let’s make full use of my money, yes?” Thetaiota slid the headset on.

Aureus blinked before following his lead.

He breathed in as the fake world loaded in, displaying a wide, open field. The first smell that assaulted his nose was something plastic and artificial, masking the pretty smell of the flowery grassland. It was almost terrifyingly realistic. 

The sun beat down harshly, with no clouds obscuring its rays. A little ways away was a forest, dark and foreboding. Probably level two.

A small screen appeared a few inches in front of Aureus’ muzzle.

Welcome PHDDA41! You are currently LEVEL 4. Would you like to view your INVENTORY, STATISTICS, or LOG OUT?

Grumbling, Aureus swiped away the screen. Thetaiota let out a light chuckle. “Is that really your username, darling?”

“I made it when I was like, twenty. No judging.”

“Alright, alright.”

He glanced down at himself. His own body (albeit with some armor and more weapons than he’d be caught carrying around in real life) had loaded into the game. But his right arm... was still flesh. He’d need to update his avatar soon.

Aureus clenched the fingers into a fist. Sure, it was all a fake virtual reality, but... how haunting.

A sword materialized in his hand when he opened it again. Aureus grasped it firmly, inhaling a bit at the sensation. VR had always freaked him out a little - something about entire other worlds existing in computer programming and lines of code. Programming realistic AI probably should’ve deadened him to the wonders of technology, but a sense of awe still lingered. 

A cluster of slimes in the distance had caught Thetaiota’s attention. He lunged for them, carrying a rather heavy-looking two-handed sword. THETAIOTA1, LEVEL 52 floated above his head. 

The VIP part didn’t seem as obvious as the rest of the setup. Aureus shuffled towards the slimes as he mulled it over. The disconnect between moving and spacial reasoning was proving a bit difficult to get over.

Well, no one else was around, so this was probably a private (VIP) server. Privacy was another coveted thing that rich people would pay out the ass for. Not that Aureus would blame them - he’d pay extra for some peace and quiet after having the press hunt him like vultures.

“Theta,” he began, slicing at the nearest slime. “Can we please talk about 5k6.9?”

Thetaiota, armor clinking as his avatar moved, turned to glance at Aureus. “If you insist, yes. What about it?”

He parried a blow from a slime before killing it with a decisive slice down the middle. “Do you think they were... sapient the entire time?”

“The entire time what?” Thetaiota swapped weapons, firing an arrow into a slime that had nearly gotten the drop on them.

“Like... the entire time they existed. From when they were first turned on.”

The creatures shuddered for a second before squishing themselves together, forming a very large slime. Aureus leaned his head back, staring up at it. He supposed he should’ve felt awe or fear, but the current conversation was giving him a flurry of emotions that no simple simulation could mimic or overcome.

“I doubt it. If it were sapient the entire time, it would not have been so complacent at the factory and store. It would have acted more alive. The bug most likely came into effect when it recieved a command that it did not know how to respond to - rather than searching the database as it properly should... well, you know the rest, yes?”

Thetaiota leapt, sinking his broadsword into the slime. He slid down its side, splattering goo everywhere. It roared and a piece of the health bar above its head cracked.

“I guess,” Aureus nearly sighed, wiping the goo off his face. “Did you ever figured out who leaked the news?”

The sword swung deeper into the slime, spraying its liquid everywhere. It would’ve been quite gruesome if it were gory or bloody, but instead it almost seemed... tacky.

It occurred to Aureus that maybe he should help.

“No, but I suppose what is done is done,” Thetaiota said, swapping weapons for a core shooter. He fired a few rounds into the beast. “They only know of the android’s murdering, though. Nothing of what... happened in the room afterwards.”

Aureus swiped his hand up. The screen from before reappeared, but this time he hit ‘inventory’. A small menu popped up, displaying his held items in neat rows. Sometimes it amazed him, that somehow machines could log all of this information for everyone who had half a mind to pick up a VR set and sign up for a new character.

“Did you not have your quick select set?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not a nerd like you, Theta.” with a tap, he selected a molotov. It dropped into his hands easily, already lit. “Also, I mean, I get it. The press has every right to be mad. Especially at me. I guess everyone sorta deserved to know.”

“Over two hundred people turned in their model six bots for refunds,” Thetaiota dryly responded. 

Aureus flung the molotov. It splooshed into the slime and then exploded, sending more bits and goop flying. “I know. I know that you don’t think I listen to you when you raise your voice, but I do.”

Thetaiota looked away. It took him a few minutes to muster up an “I know. I am sorry.”

LEVEL UP!

Aureus glanced above his head. Thetaiota joined him, blinking as LEVEL 5 faded away in the air.

“I’ll have to protect you,” Thetaiota lightly teased, prodding a bit of exposed shoulder. 

He brushed the other’s hand off. “Hey now, these are supposed to be low levels. I should do just fine.”

Fingers tightened in the fabric, and Aureus glanced up. Soft, confused eyes met coldly determined. Even if they were mere simulations of the real emotions the two were feeling, they were hauntingly akin to real life.

“You lost your arm,” Thetaiota said, simply, “because I was foolish enough to let you face a rogue android while I chose to linger in the elevator. Please. I am aware that this is nothing like that situation, and that this is fake - but at least allow me to redeem myself here, like a prince devoted to his beloved.”

Aureus closed his eyes briefly, exhaling. “On one condition.”

“Speak.”

“No more figurative language.”

A smile reappeared on Thetaiota’s face. He clasped his hands to his cheeks, letting out a giggle of a noise. “Very well then! I will speak of simile and metaphor as if they do not exist.”

“You just-!”

Laughter exploding in full force, Thetaiota darted towards the forest. Aureus gave hot pursuit, but his shorter strides (and lower speed stat) meant he had no hope of catching up.

Still - the rush of wind against his face, the earthy smells, the feeling of the dirt under his feet - it was exhilarating in the way that no smoggy city could supply. Sure, they could advertise any form of entertainment known to peoplekind, but there would always be a hollow missing fundamental at their core.

And, well, this was just another facet of that. It was all fake. 

But at the same time, there was something so pure about it.

Thetaiota slid underneath an outcropping branch. Aureus was able to simply jog underneath it, thankful for once that he was two feet shorter. 

Darkness closed in around them, as the foliage soaked up the sunlight. The ground crunched underfoot - a mix of dead leaves and needles. The smell of pine wafted through the air, crisp and stark.

These were things he would probably never get to experience outside of VR.

“Theta,” Aureus began again.

A wolf-like beast launched from the shadows at them. Thetaiota sliced it in half in one swing. “Speak.”

“We should take a vacation.”

Thetaiota paused, turning to stare at him incredulously. Aureus had to throw another molotov into the face of a charging wolf before it crashed into the Okapi.

“You’d think I just told you I was dying,” Aureus huffed.

Thetaiota shook his head, ramming his sword down the throat of another wolf. “No, no! But to hear such a thing coming from your mouth, of all mouths - it is as absurd as catching a wyvern in a river.”

“Going to a riverfront would be nice. Which one’s the big pretty dimension?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“You know. The one the Immunities are always pissing on about.”

Thetaiota tapped his chin briefly. “I believe it’s Euspiro.”

“That’s not too far,” Aureus replied, opening his inventory again and taking back out a sword. “It doesn’t have to be a long vacation, either.”

“The Euspiro University is also located there. We could see that, as well.”

Splitting pain erupted in Aureus’ right arm.

He swung his head around, feeling fresh panic rush his system. One of the wolf-beasts, this one with a nasty scar over a dull eye, had locked its teeth into the meat of his limb. The flimsy armor had bent easily, and blood was beginning to ooze.

“Fuck!” he howled, trying to wrench himself free. “Why the hell did they make this so realistic?!”

A broadsword cleaved the wolf’s head off in a single blow. It let out a tiny yelp before the body slumped against the ground and its jaw slackened. Thetaiota delivered a kick to the neck, and the head sailed off of his arm.

Aureus took a step back, rubbing the injury. Thetaiota wordlessly turned to him, procuring a small red bottle. With a flick, he opened it and poured it on the other’s arm.

The pain subsided and the wound sealed over. Aureus stared at his right arm, which was now as pristine as it should’ve been.

Should’ve been.

He glanced up, slowly. Thetaiota was panting a bit from the effort, clutching his broadsword in one hand so hard his knuckles were a bit white. Their eyes met, briefly.

“Th-thanks,” Aureus stammered out.

Thetaiota’s hand took his jaw firmly and then pulled him into a kiss.

It wasn’t unlike their normal kiss - something shy but frenzied, haphazard and messy, just like their relationship. A slight moving of mouth and tongue, and then it was over, Thetaiota gently pulling away. The two stared at each other for a second longer.

Low chirping and soft breathing were the only noises, in the middle of the cool, dark forest. The sheen of Thetaiota’s armor glittered in the low light, matching the reflection in Aureus’ glasses.

“Kiss me again,” Thetaiota whispered.

A sudden beeping from their wrists disturbed the serenity. They both jumped, startled, scrambling to check.

“Oh!” Thetaiota chirped. “The timer!”

“It’s already been half an hour?” Aureus nearly whined. “Damn.”

“Time flies faster the more you enjoy it,” Thetaiota said, gravely. 

Aureus lightly punched his arm. “I guess this was more fun than I thought it’d be. We should do this more often.”

“Soon, you shall be leaving me on all of our dates to do battle with slimes.”

“I just might.” Aureus cracked a smile.

He brought up the menu again, this time pressing ‘log out’.

Black fuzz ate at his vision, dizzying and dark. Aureus groaned, reaching up. The headset was suddenly very heavy on his head. With a grunt of effort, he was able to lift it off and then blink at the harsh light.

Thetaiota was already halfway out of his suit.

“You’re so fast at these things,” Aureus grumbled, undoing a few of the buckles. Thetaiota trotted over and lifted him out. “Thanks.”

“Any time,” the Okapi told him graciously. “Come along now. The river is down the street a ways. We may arrive early if we are quick like rabbits.”

Thetaiota took his hand firmly again - this time, his left. Aureus could better feel the softness of the other’s fur against his hand, plush and clean. He gave Thetaiota a squeeze, and the other responded in kind.

He nodded at the manager, who waved as they exited. 

The stench of the polluted city was unwelcome after the experience of nature. Aureus pulled his coat collar up over his muzzle, wincing a bit. Thetaiota didn’t appear phased, at least - he merely glanced around over the tops of most of the other citizens, getting his bearings.

Once he presumably found them, he darted into the crowd, hand still tightly around Aureus’. The warmth was comforting in the pit of his stomach.

Thetaiota bobbed and weaved through the crowd until they emerged out of the thick of it near the railing by the river. There was a smell around the area; Aureus knew it was probably the minerals and the chemicals in the river, but it wasn’t actually that bad. It masked the city’s smell nicely. 

Thetaiota paused, leaning over the railing a bit. Aureus mimicked the motion. “Do you see the cruise?”

“No. I was just admiring the reflection.”

Aureus’ muzzle turned downwards. The water was mostly shades of abyssal phthalo, murky and dark. But as the river flowed and shimmered, the pale yellow and red and orange lights of Galadia City sparkled on its surface.

“These little details,” Thetaiota said, voice breathy. “So many people overlook them, and mock the tourists who flock to them. But I cannot blame them.”

Aureus glanced at him, curiosity painted over his features. Thetaiota leaned on the railing over the waterfront, expression demure. 

“I do not understand that think. Things will pass and go, ebb and flow like the tides. I live an endless life - it may not be perfectly endless, but I have not died once, and I do not believe I ever shall.” he stood up a bit straighter, the wind pulling at bits of his hair. “Everyone rushes, and I stand still and watch.”

Aureus reached for his hand, placing his overtop.

“You understand what I mean,” Thetaiota sighed lightly, “even if your life is possibly even more fleeting than mine is. I do not understand the worth of living like the insect who breathes, mates, and dies.”

Aureus leaned against him, wrapping his arm around the other’s and resting his head against Thetaiota’s brachium. They stood like that for a few more seconds, drinking in the quiet river.

Thetaiota shook his head, taking Aureus’ hand once more. “We should be heading to the dock.”

“Y-yeah,” Aureus agreed.

The path Thetaiota led them on followed the winding river closely. It made sense, of course. It would be easier to see the docks from the riverside than, say, the throng of businesses lining the other side of the street. 

Sure enough, as they rounded a bend in the road, the docks glittered in the moonlight. Long, wide pathways of steel stretched into the expansive river, boats docked on either side. Most were massive - cruises and cargo liners alike, bobbing gently in the water.

“Do you seasick easily?” Thetaiota asked, tone casual.

Aureus let out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t think.”

The winding path down to the port was a bit steep, and had many stairs. Aureus nearly tripped once or twice, but Thetaiota managed to catch him every time. 

“Where’s the ship going to be docking?” 

Thetaiota pointed at a pier. “Right over there. See, she comes in now.”

Sure enough, a fairly-large cruise ship was coasting to the side of the pier. It was massive enough that Aureus nearly fell backwards trying to peer at its top. Sparkling white and shining, he could hear the chatter of the (probably drunk) passengers, even all the way down on the ground.

“Boats are wild,” Aureus mumbled. 

Rather than head to the ship, Thetaiota steered them into an offwhite building blocking the way into the pier. A receptionist looked up as they entered. A hallway to the right held dozens upon dozens of chairs and doors out onto the pier.

“Are you two here for the Neapolitan Cruise?” they asked.

“Yes,” Thetaiota said. Aureus let out a shaky breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. At least someone remembered what it was called.

“Identifications and boarding documents, please.”

Aureus nearly was ready to panic again, but Thetaiota merely pulled out his cellie and keycard. He elbowed Aureus, who scrambled to procure his own keycard.

“Both of the documents are on my cellie,” Thetaiota easily explained, his cool switch flipped on. He slid the cellie and keycards across the counter, under the glass, to the receptionist.

They scanned the cards and passed them back before picking up the cellie and punching in a code. Aureus watched their fingers fly at their laptop’s keyboard. It was intently familiar. He did the same exact thing at work... but for programming AI rather than boarding passes.

A small machine next to the laptop whirred before spitting out two small cards. The receptionist handed these and the cellie back to Thetaiota. “I loaded the ship map and a schedule into your cellie. And these are your VIP reservation cards, for use on the ship. You can board in the rightmost hallway once everyone else is finished disembarking. Have a nice day!”

Thetaiota graciously accepted and gave the receptionist a smile before heading down the hallway. He calmly sat down in a chair near a large fern, tail curling around. Both hands were placed in his lap and he crossed his legs.

Aureus climbed onto the seat next to him. “Isn’t there supposed to be more security?”

A few people were filing off the ship now and heading through the doors, laughing and talking. 

“Some people happen to recognize my face,” Thetaiota muttered darkly.

Aureus kicked his legs lamely. “That’s kinda fucked up, though, isn’t it? You get through without getting checked just because you’ve got a famous face. What if you had a bomb?”

“Yes, speak as loudly as possible so we do get checked.”

Aureus snorted. “Still, though.”

“I understand what you mean,” Thetaiota began, smoothing out a few wrinkles in his pants. “But it is far easier for me. And it is not as if I did not work hard to inherit the company.”

A silence fell over the two. Aureus stared at the floor. Thetaiota assuming his position of CEO at SCC Corp had been a mere five-hundred-years-ago. He’d been younger than Aureus was now.

And yet, all of the circumstances surrounding his acquisition of the company were shrouded in mystery. He hadn’t even told his boyfriend. It was secrets like that that made Aureus feel so utterly uneasy. No, he did trust Thetaiota... but the man had pulled a gun on people during the 5k6.9 incident.

“You seem more glum than a shriveled berry,” Thetaiota dryly commented.

“I’m just thinking about stuff, that’s all.”

A tail wrapped around his chair, the fur on the tip resting on his hands. Aureus threaded his fingers over it, tracing the dull cyan stripes on Thetaiota’s fur.

“What kind of stuffs? It would appear to be the bad kind.”

Aureus sighed through his nose. “Nothing bad.”

There was a bit of silence for a few moments.

“If you are as tired as you said at the company, truly, then you do not have to come with me,” Thetaiota said, gently. “We have already spent much of the night together. I am most satisfied.”

“It’s not that,” Aureus said, the corners of his mouth turning up. “Just thinking about... life in general.”

“Heavy thoughts lead to heavy minds, Aurie.”

“That’s a good nickname.”

Their conversation was broken by the approach of a staff member. “VIP boarding is open now, if you would please.”

Aureus glanced around the waiting area. There were more people around than he realized, but part of the area was roped off. Most of the other cruisegoers were on the other side. 

Wait a second. VIP.

Thetaiota stood, taking Aureus by the shoulder and steering him out the door. He lifted a hand to his face as a bit of the river water sprayed against the pier.

“You’re really going to waste that much money on me in one night?” he grumbled.

Thetaiota let out a barked laugh. “As long as it was spent on you, dear, it was no waste!”

The two climbed up the gangway, flashing their cards at the staffer at the door. Thetaiota entered with a flourish, instantly sweeping over the room and gleaning as much information as he could.

Aureus stepped closer to him, linking their arms. This was unfamiliar territory. To say that he was unused to being in the presence of wealthy people was an understatement.

The only exposure he had with the 1% was when he went on dates with Thetaiota. Sure, the occasional rich bastard would come into his office and demand a specialized robot, but they were in his element then.

Aureus was a fish out of water.

“Don’t be so scared,” Thetaiota whispered, voice low and comforting. “We’ll head to the top deck and see if there are preliminary samples, yes?”

“Okay,” he mumbled, clutching Thetaiota’s arm tighter. 

There were only a few flights of stairs. The ship wasn’t nearly as large on the inside as it appeared on the outside, which Aureus supposed was nice. Less time wasted walking.

The moonlight once again falling on him oozed calm once they’d reached open air. 

Thetaiota kept a gentle grip on him, leading him around. He didn’t mind. He was actually feeling a bit tired again... but to hell with it. Aureus wanted to try cool food. Just as long as he didn’t have to find the tables himself.

He blinked as Thetaiota gently shifted him into a nice, warm chair. Was this one of those self-heating ones? He’d thought about buying one ever since Thetaiota let him sleep in one at the estate. 

There was mild chatter directly to his left. Aureus’ eyes fell half-lidded. Wow. He didn’t think sitting down would make him so damn sleepy. Maybe it wouldn’t matter if he-

“Open up.”

Aureus blinked himself awake, staring at Thetaiota. The other was holding a fork with some sort of good-smelling food on the end of it, other hand cupped underneath in case it fell. 

“What is that?”

“Try it. I am certain you will enjoy.”

Aureus rolled his eyes, but opened his mouth obediently. Thetaiota gently slid the fork into his mouth, and he bit down on the metal as it was removed.

He paused to chew thoughtfully. This was definitely not something he’d ever had before. The taste was good, but indescribable. Something between ravioli and lasagna. Were those similar tastes?

“Wow,” Aureus managed, after the taste had subsided. “What was that?” 

Thetaiota, crouched in front of him, beamed. “A traditional Okapi dish! My mother used to make it for me when I was a child. They are serving it here!”

“I guess they weren’t lying about the exotic foods, then.”

“Not at all! Come see!”

Aureus sat up, groaning a bit. He almost wanted to stay curled up in the chair, but Thetaiota’s expression was just too damn excited (and cute). He couldn’t pass up on the other like that.

He glanced down the side of the deck. Table after table, laden with various foods and manned by numerous staff, stretched all the way to the far end of the ship. He was currently underneath an awning set up near the middle of the beast, by the stairs.

“Wow,” he mumbled.

Thetaiota helped him up and led him down the array of tables. The boat was bobbing up and down slightly, and while it wasn’t enough to make Aureus sick, it was a great (terrible) reminder that he wasn’t on dry land.

“So why was this on a boat?” he asked, watching Thetaiota graciously accept two shot glasses of wine. 

He passed one to Aureus. “To float along the riverside whilst we dine, of course!” 

Aureus swished the bright red liquid around. It looked a bit like blood. He frowned. That was stupidly morbid of him. 

“A toast,” Thetaiota said, clinking their glasses together.

“To what?” Aureus asked, raising an eyebrow.

He laughed. “Good fortune, perhaps. Bottoms up!”

Aureus downed the shot, throwing his head back and swallowing. The burn in his throat reminded him that this was a piss poor idea.

He spat a bit. “Ugh, Theta, you know I can’t hold anything.”

“You say that like I can,” came the slightly-tipsy response. 

“What percentage of this is pure? Fuck,” Aureus breathed.

“A lot,” Thetaiota responded, lifting the bottle.

“Where did you get that.”

“It was the sample!”

Aureus put his face in his hands. “Oh my gods. We are not getting shitfaced drunk on this cruise of Harmonics-know how many people.”

“Shitfaced? Nono, darling. Perhaps a little drunk, though.”

He didn’t protest when Thetaiota refilled his shot glass. He half-lifted it to his mouth, blinking. Thetaiota gently pressed a finger to its bottom and tilted it.

It tasted a little less bad the second time around.

By the time Aureus was done coughing, Thetaiota had given them both another refill. He shot the other a pointed glare. “We’re getting food and water after this. No more alcohol.”

“Alright, alright,” Thetaiota chuckled. 

They were both blasted lightweights. Two shots and already both of them were starting to tilt downwards. 

“Last one,” Thetaiota said with a cheeky wink.

Aureus grit his teeth and took the last shot. It still wasn’t great but it was most certainly tolerable. It burned his throat less and he coughed less after it was all said and done. 

“That was just a... taste test,” Thetaiota said, placing the bottle back on the table. “To freshen our taste buds. For the food.”

Aureus rolled his eyes, slipping to the other’s side. “Where’s that Okapi dish you were talking about?”

“It’s over-”

“-THETA!”

Thetaiota, who had been in the midst of lifting an arm, nearly was sent flying by the impact of another person running into him. Aureus stumbled as well, flailing his arms for the panicked second where his balance was lost.

He managed to right himself slowly, staring at the spectacle in front of him.

“Escherichia,” Thetaiota growled, voice no longer easygoing and pleased. “Hello. Unhand me at once.”

The movie star instantly let go of the deadlock hug he had on his brother, but held Thetaiota’s hands still. “Brilliant! I was not aware you were going to be on this cruise tonight! I can’t believe we have accidentally coordinated our plans!”

Aureus frowned. Both brothers had a very... unique way of speaking, but something about Chia’s pattern had always rubbed him the wrong way. Like, as if Chia was trying to (badly) mimic Thetaiota’s accent.

“I came with Aureus,” Thetaiota said stiffly, jabbing at the earth pony.

Chia turned to him, eyes bright under his obnoxious star sunglasses. “Wow! It’s nice to meet you again, Dr. Medicillin! Are you alright?”

“Um, yes?” Aureus blinked. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Oh! Well, I suppose with the android incident only a few weeks ago or so and -”

Chia’s sentence ended in an eep when Thetaiota roughly grabbed his unbroken horn. “Don’t speak of that here.”

“R-right, of course, Theta!”

“That is not my name.”

“Yes, yes, I am sorry, Thetaiota!”

Aureus frowned. The tension was painfully dense. There was really nothing he could do to break it up, though. It wasn’t his place to criticize Thetaiota’s family or the way he treated them. 

But he was glad that they hadn’t had even more shots. The last thing he needed was Thetaiota drunkenly cussing out Escherichia. SCC Corp was already in enough trouble with the press.

“So, do you two attend this cruise often?” Chia began, clasping his hands together.

“No,” Thetaiota intoned, picking his way over to Aureus’ side and placing a hand on his back, between his shoulderblades. 

“Ooh wow, I could show you guys around! I know of only the bestest places to dine on the S.S.Neapolitan!” Chia clapped again.

Thetaiota’s fingers dug in a bit. The other’s annoyance was palpable, and Aureus did feel bad, but what could he do? These were two ageless demigods. He was a tiny Immortal. He had no place in their family tension and feuds.

“Where is your entourage?” Thetaiota made a dismissive motion. “Why do you not take them around to dine instead of us? We are busier than bees.”

“Well, they can wait!” Chia responded, but Aureus could now see the nervous smile he was attempting to cover up. “It’s not a crime to want to spend time with my big brother, right?”

Thetaiota’s grip had turned from tight to downright painful. Aureus grit his teeth, but remained silent. He could bring up the touching thing later. Best course of action right now was to make sure Thetaiota didn’t blow up at Chia in public. Oh god, the press would riot.

He reached for the other’s free hand, taking it gently and rubbing circles into the back of it. Thetaiota stiffened at first, but slowly settled, breathing evening out.

“We are fine, thank you. This is a date.”

Chia frowned, hesitating. He eyed their held hands before managing a nervous smile at Thetaiota. “Oh, is i-?”

Aureus blinked in surprise when he tasted Thetaiota.

The kiss was similar to the one they’d shared in the VR world. Messy, uncertain, and obsessed about the emotion behind it. It was so unexpected, however, it took Aureus a few seconds before he could muster up the ability to kiss back.

Thetaiota gripped both sides of his head, holding him tightly as he deepened the kiss. Aureus’ face flushed. Wow. Maybe Thetaiota was more drunk than he’d been letting on - he never got this frisky in public. And for good reason! The press, again, would riot.

The PDA was enough to make Chia turn an unflattering shade of red. “-O-oh. Yes. A date. I... I will see you two later.”

In haste, he disappeared into the crowd.

Thetaiota pulled from Aureus, who let out a small gasp for air. He peered after his younger brother until he was well out of sight, and then stood straight once more.

“Theta!” Aureus barked, wiping off his chin.

The Okapi gave him a somewhat-dismissive look. “Yes?”

“What was that?”

“A kiss, Aurie.”

Aureus’ face tinged pink. “Well, obviously! I meant why!”

“It forced Escherichia to leave,” he droned, waving a hand. “And I enjoyed a kiss with my partner at the same time. It was a win as sweet as the tastiest birthday cake.”

“Why don’t you just tell him stuff instead of making him uncomfortable all the time?”

“I do. He does not listen, like a stubborn dragonid.”

Aureus sighed, rubbing his forehead. “That’s- not like right now, don’t tell him stuff then. I meant like, have a real heart-to-heart with him for once. He’s family.”

Thetaiota frowned. “He is only family because our father chose to deflower a mortal multiple times. We have no relation beyond circumstance. Why shall I waste time on befriending him, when I may instead spend it on dates with you?”

Damnit. He used both logic and sweet-talking in that one.

Aureus rubbed his eyes before peering up at Thetaiota. The Okapi flashed him a smile of teeth and half-lidded eyes. He sighed, stepping forward and burying his nose into the other’s chest.

“Flattery is mean, Theta.”

“She is a most useful tool. See, now, your face is red like a dragonflower.”

Aureus smiled against the soft fabric of the turtleneck. “Can we take the samples home?”

“I do not see why not. We have VIP passes.”

“Cool. Will you grab some for me?”

Thetaiota cocked an eyebrow before bending at the knee and scooping up Aureus. “Were you more tired than you cared to admit?”

“Well you made me have like, three shots, and then deal with Escherichia right afterwards,” Aureus yawned. “And I was already sleepy. So now I am triple as tired as I was before.”

“I will carry you home, O sleeping beauty.”

Aureus nuzzled closer, sighing lightly. “Music to my ears.”

Somehow, admit the noise of the ship and the shifting as it left port, Aureus still found himself able to drift to sleep in the arms of the demigod.