trans_9 | Story time is the best time. [open]

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Story time is the best time. [open]

The last few days (or was it weeks? He hadn't bothered distinguishing one day from the next.) seemed to go by in a flurry of new sights, textures, and plenty of delectable sounds. The number of things that still remained to be examined by a curious touch, or heard by a wobbly ear firmly pressed against it, seemed limitless. And so, his wanderlust was in full force.

With all the running around, he only barely made enough time to eat. And sleep? Well, sleep happened when he was just conscious enough to drag himself back to the living quarters; though a nook or cranny in a relatively deserted locale served him just as well. Despite his eagerness to get into anything and everything (even if that sometimes meant trouble), he still couldn't ignore the melancholy look his companion seemed to have about him, lately.

There was no feigned arrogance or annoyance when Fontaine referred to him as 'kid', 'side-kick', or 'elf', nor had the spirit beast made any innuendo-laced comments when referring to anyone and everyone they had met. His jokes seemed half-hearted and he hadn't even complained more than once about the elf's confrontation and following avoidance of Fontaine's so-called 'soul-mate'. It was all thoroughly depressing seeing his comrade in such a state, though he had just the plan that would cheer him up.

That had been more than an hour ago and what had brought him into the sensorium in the first place. Usually he just walked through, observing things the others tended to do, or did inane things, such as enjoying his daily ooze-like meals in new, exciting ways; seafood stew with equal parts Makrura, Whale Shark, and Kraken was surprisingly tasty. This time, though, the gentle hills and thick, twisted forests of Ashenvale surrounded them. Darkness would consume the entirety of the area if it weren't for the large, brilliant campfire in the middle of the clearing where they sat.

A variety of large beasts and creatures sat about; a crab, what appeared to be dinosaurs, spiders, a wasp, foxes and Fontaine. They all appeared to be clacking or screeching in low conversation, though most huddled near the edge of the clearing where a gargantuan wolf stood; his coat was white, tipped with silver streaks and his eyes shone brighter than the campfire did. He seemed to be telling a story about demons, a magical well and a group of 'Ancients' who fought them off long ago.

Nokosi was situated next to the fire, his long arms draped over lanky legs. His body was propped against the huge stump of a tree and a seagull was perched atop his head. As excited as the other creatures were to be in the presence of the great white wolf and hear his words, the elf seemed to only be half-listening. By the way his head was lolling to the side, only to have the seagull peck him in indignation, it was clear he was barely staying awake.

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"Oh! So you've met her?" If he was surprised by the books sudden outrage, he showed no sign of it.

"Yes..." he sighed, "She can't talk, which is very annoying; even more-so since she won't write for me either, but I've gotten over that by now."

The seagull that had been hopping between the elf and the orc went to perch on the corner of the demonic tome.

"Wait. She ran over you with her Elekk? Well," he ran a thumb over the row of trinkets and earrings lining his ear, nodding appreciatively at the sound. "She can have 'feminine charm' when she's not hitting things. Which is rare, I suppose."

"Yes! She ran me over with her elekkphant!" He still hasn't quite mastered the terms here. "You know her, huh? What is it, you're both members of the Blue-Purple People Lodge?"

"No. I met her in Stormwind near the Cathedral. Fontaine and I were people watching. We adventured together and she 'puts up with me', as I'm told." He shrugged as if the comment was of no consequence to him.

"I can see where that comes from, considering how different we are. That and I originally thought her race was made of hermaphrodites when she complained about romantic relationship woes. From what I saw of a few of them, anyways." His cheerful demeanor didn't change at all as he revealed such information. This would probably end badly for him, later.

Zetta didn't actually listen to most of this; he was too busy fuming over past indignities.

"Anyway, forget her. You and your sensitive-about-her-appearance friend, though, should go to that hotel I was telling you about."

"Fine. Fine. I guess I might as well if Fontaine wants to. You know, you're pushy for a talking book but I guess you're more interesting than most of the things I've seen around here.

"Pushy?! I'm an OVERLORD! I've ruled more square miles of terrain than your world probably even HAS! I'm the strongest mana power in the cosmos! And I condescended to tell you to do something you'll actually LIKE!"

Why does he even associate with these lesser races?!

He looked less than impressed.

"Eh. You were an Overlord in a place that's completely destroyed. But if we're going to be throwing titles on non-existent place, I'm an Overlord, too!"

The bird, now perched next to the book warbled a low tune then clamped its beak shut.

"And so is Barnaby."

The book was reduced to incoherent sputtering for a moment.

"Overlord isn't a title you can just TAKE!" he roared, when he finally had his voice back. "It's EARNED! I'd like to see YOU conquer and rule a Netherworld! Your mana power couldn't be measured with a microscope!"

"Too late. I'm Overlord Nokosi, now."

The elf simply shrugged, though he had a smile from ear to ear.

"That title existed where I'm from, too. Guess I'll just go find an empty area, claim it as my own, rule whatever 'minions' I find in that 'land' and -then- I'll rightfully have the title."

"Just because you say it, doesn't mean anyone who matters will acknowledge it!" the book snapped.

"Because I'm sure everyone calls you Overlord, right? Right. Just like I'm sure you get an astounding amount of deserved respect as a book."

He had begun plucking long strands of grass and blowing on them, producing a high-pitched screeching noise.

"I will now and forever introduce myself as 'Overlord Nokosi' and when anyone asks, I'll say that Overlord Zetta and I are part of an exclusive club. Of Overlord pals."

The book paused -- then grinned horribly, as he imagined just what Pram the Oracle would do to anyone claiming to be an Overlord with that little mana power. (Or really -- what he'd do himself, if not for that whole VIOLATION thing. Still... maybe it might be worth it.

"Sure. You go riiiiiiight ahead."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Overlord buddy! I knew you believed I could take on the challenge of being a ruler of nothing."

His eyes rolled up and thought and he rubbed the stubble on his chin. "I guess I actually have to go exploring now so I can claim a place for our(secret)base of operations. I'll make sure it's ominous enough so you seem more intimidating."

"Try hydroponics," the Overlord said, dry and not at all helpful.

"That sounds wet. I don't mind but we don't want to ruin your...pages. You can't be an ominous and intimidating Overlord if you smell like mold," he added, quite serious.

"Besides, if you're telling me the name of a place then it's not that secret." He shook his head quickly, his piercings clanking together noisily. "No, no. That won't work at all."

"I have my OWN domain on the ship," the tome said. "Besides, the Sacred Tome is practically invulnerable -- especially with MY soul in it!"

"You already do? Well that certainly saves me a lot of trouble."

He leaned back against the stump, hands behind his head and legs crossed at the ankle. "So where's our secret hideout at?"

"One domain per Overlord!" the book snapped. "Overlords don't SHARE domains! Every Overlord is an enemy of every other Overlord! It's a constant battle of power and strength!"

"Oh...so one needs to rule alone," he sighed, disappointed. "But you know if we were to combine our efforts, our enemies would be blindsided by your cunning and our unorthodox tactics. They'd fall twice as fast since they wouldn't have any allies."

His eyes lit up and he bounced to his feet, arms spread wide. "Imagine how far our domain could stretch!"

"Oh...so one has to rule alone," he sighed, disappointed. "But if we did combine efforts our enemies would be blindsided by your cunning and our unorthodox tactics. They'd fall twice as fast since they have no allies to rely on."

His eyes lit up and he bounced to his feet, arms spread wide. "Think of how far our domain would stretch! A section of the ship," the elf said, nodding happily.

"Or an entire level!"

"I'm already the most badass freakin' Overlord in the cosmos!" Zetta roared, the amusement of moments before totally forgotten. "My enemies CAN'T fall faster! There isn't any faster to fall! And I don't WANT to rule the ship! I want my Netherworld back!"

"...Didn't we already go over that, though? I mean," he rubbed a hand over his cheek in thought. "The whole thing about the Ohm and wishes. You know, there's something that humans say about not crying over spilled milk. It seems kind of accurate, here," he nodded wisely. "I don't really care about ruling anything at all, but it sounded fun."

He dropped back to the ground, crossed his legs and draped his arms over them. "I've got no doubt about you being as badass and amazing as you keep telling me...agian and...again. It has to be true if you keep saying it, after all." The expression on his face told of him being fairly sincere despite the sarcastic undertones.

"But if there isn't 'any faster to fall', wouldn't that mean you'd have already become the singular Overlord of all the Netherworlds?" Yes, there did seem to be a subsequent question for every other question.

Yes, there DID seem to be, and Zetta was starting to dislike that fact.

"Just because I CAN beat everybody in the cosmos doesn't mean I HAVE to. I'm already the strongest. What the hell do I have to prove?"

"I just thought that was what demons did. It's what the Burning Legion does. So..." he dragged the word out with a curious tone. "To be completely clear, here- you are the most powerful demon back in your whereveritis and you have a magnificent domain that spans however far distance is measured in your realm. But you don't attack people because you already know you're the strongest which implies you don't need to expand your realm or want to."

A look of utter amazement crossed his ashen face, one that could be comparable to a kid seeing fireworks for the first time.

"You are the nicest demon I've ever met. Nehaalista would love you."

"She really didn't," the book said. "And I'm not NICE. I just don't care about people who are beneath my notice! Don't judge me by the standards of your Burning Nether Region!"

Story time is the best time. [open]

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