Chapter 9 - Interlude, Part 2
[originally done right after 8, but everyone demanded an 8.5 for explanation]
YOYOY strolled into the familiar tavern, wonderful smells wafting in the air, atmosphere readily shifting into something nostalgic, comfortable. A solace, to be sure, in a crazed land where any moment of relaxation is valued fondly. He took a seat and blinked a few times in confusion, still pondering those same thoughts of which he was sure of a time ago, but now were wreaking havoc in the attic of his mind. Everyone’s favorite elf-dwarf barkeep entered the scene, “What’ll it be?”
Drexlin was smiling at the sight of a former fellow Fellowship member. I say former, because the Fellowship was now quite broken, a tragic event which was what coincidentally brought YOYOY here in the first place. “I just want to talk, old friend.” At this Drexlin’s smile faded at the sight of YOYOY’s own serious expression. “About?”
“Well, it’s just, you know, things are different now. I’m afraid I’ve grown quite melancholy, to be honest. I just have so many questions…” Drex rolled his eyes at this familiar plight before our lighthearted character continued, “Like, how did this happen? What’s everyone doing now? Is there not some quest we could all be endeavoring toward? I feel so useless, I miss our old adventuring days.”
Drexlin managed a slight grin as he sighed. “I guess it has been a while, hasn’t it? The realm of Anything is always changing, though. Archer decided he won’t roam freely across the plains, no longer causing random chaos, now settling for full Mod duties, a surprise to everyone. Meanwhile, Todd Almighty himself got a new gig as a Manager, somehow meaning he has even more power. Acid_Flux disappeared altogether, JWalker perhaps finally figured out he’s been in the wrong place all along, and Advocate just isn’t himself these days.”
A penguin squad in the corner chimed in unison, “Ain’t that the truth?”
YOYOY, still befuddled, managed further queries. “Ter-Soth, CardinalFang? Our favorite boy scout and utterly repulsive orcish imp?” Drex chuckled. “Ter-Soth’s still a bit freaked after the incident, and Fang’s around here somewhere.” YOYOY nodded, digesting everything. “DarkGuardian, Stormcrow, DarkKnightZach? Surely you know what three such heroic adventurers are up to these days.”
“Now YOYOY, you know I can’t tell you exactly, only that each is off to his own. They have better things to do than babysit a bunch of slack-jawed misfits, which is why I guess our Fellowship broke anyway. Even if it were those three, who ever heard of a dwarf, a man, and an elf hanging out together?”
YOYOY shrugged. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I just thought there’d be some grand end, a rage against the dying of the night (or is it light?), a final hurrah, you know? I feel like, right now, there’s some big moral to it all, some point to the story, but there just isn’t, is there?”
Drexlin hesitated, eyes fixed on some random pondering gaze. “Nope.”
YOYOY pondered for a minute. “Yeah.”
Drex twiddled his thumbs. “Yep.”
YOYOY ordered a drink.
© Eric Bailey