Time
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Post by Time on Aug 17, 2023 15:42:35 GMT
Roman grit his teeth and regretted his choices. The fact that he was angry at himself, Roman bit his lip, blinking in the darkness as he only heard worry for themselves rather than anything else. He didn't know these... Things... For lack if better term. Nothing they did made sense. No such thing as names, instantly assuming him as dangerous, hell, he wasn't even sure if they could show empathy.
Did they even know what that word meant?
As one approached and spoke up, Roman had to fight back his frustration in a ragged sigh. Looking up, he suddenly realized he was surrounded, but that they were glancing to the left or right, avoiding looking directly at his phone's light. It wasn't until now that he began to notice something strange. The fact that their teeth were like gemstones, and their hides shone like a rock with many minerals and tiny crystals reflecting the light. Suddenly, it occurred to Roman why they were so sensitive to light. His thoughts immediately went to the stupidest thing of sparkling vampires, as he sealed his lips to keep a single resounding laugh from escaping his mouth.
Of course, as this Lizard.... Stonekin as he supposed was actually an apt name now; spoke up about what needed to be done. Somehow, his father had gained some sort of role beside their King, and that role needed to be filled. He immediately began to worry. It was clear from how he had been surrounded that they weren't going to let him go without filling the role of Him. Whatever that role was suppose to be. He cast his eyes down, before taking his phone and checking the recent text. Reading it quickly, Roman realized that he still had problems. Specifically with collectors that had not gotten the memo that all debts had been foreclosed on. Thinking about it, something wasn't adding up. Why would collectors be calling him? Something was going on, between this.... Impossibly that he was witnessing, and how suddenly his father had died, things were now obvious.
If he wanted to figure things out, he needed to first figure out what his father's goal was. Pulling down the settings for his phone, he turned off the flashlight, instead opting to use a white screen, and adjusting it. "I cannot see in the dark, but tell me when the light no longer hurts.". Once a optimal light and color was met, Roman would stand up once more.
"Alright. Take me to King." he said, as he looked at the sea of stonekin who glittered like stars and a cavern of gemstones.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 17, 2023 17:05:21 GMT
"Sun to yourself, just follow", one of them ordered, of course, it's not the first time they had to guide a human through the tunnels.
The group of stonelings walked on their hind legs in lockstep, but otherwise in complete silence, the array of red eyes being still quite visible in the glinting dark. Though Roman's sight was limited, he could still see that the walls were close to him in this strange tunnels, and he could see when they parted ways into a much wider expanse. If he could tell anything by the distant glint of shinier minerals, and by the odd red glint of the stonelings that hurried through the place, was that there was an expanse of stone about as large as the mall itself before him, with the odd sounds of scratches and strikes as the critters dug and scraped its surface. It would be a sight to behold, but any attempt to divert the sun for a better glance would be quickly reprimanded.
Standing out in the hollowed ground was a single hole, it was just slightly too small for a person to go through comfortably, he would have to squeeze through, but he could see sunlight on the other side, this lead to a bright outside, so it made sense that it was the least spacious of these corridors. "You meet King, Kin of Sun", the group instructed him that this was the way to go. The hole squeezed out into a wider corridor, reaching into a rather short, sunlit room from what he could perceive. In front of him was a single of these stonelings seated upon a humble chair. They looked no different than the rest, save for their eyes being bleached diamonds, blinded from constant exposure to sunlight. Behind it was what, at first glance, appeared to be a mural of the starlit sky, with large flourishes of gold.
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 17, 2023 19:40:12 GMT
Roman followed, nodding as the stone kinling clarified that any degree of light was uncomfortable. Walking with them, Roman had time to see them in a bit of more detail. He realized his strike with the Tire Iron would have been lethal regardless of where he struck, what with them being only two feet tall or so. Seeing the cave walls barely illuminated from the slight reflection of his light near his feet, Roman couldn't make out all the details of his surroundings. What's more, as he continued on with the escorts, Roman realized that this was indeed a small kingdom, with the sounds of mining, chatter, and everything else. He didn't move his light from his feet, not wanting to unintentionally provoke people.....
People. Why had he used that term? He wasn't sure, as he suddenly recognized a slim exit towards light. Following their instructions, Roman realized that he had no other choice, as he squeezed on through, before appearing before a Stone kin with diamond white eyes. It occurred to him that this one was blind, and although he wanted to ask something, he approached. His footsteps echoed in the hall, as he looked in awe at the mural of stars and what seemed like the sun. He stopped a few feet from the King, before looking around....
He didn't know if he was suppose to speak first, or wait to be spoken to.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 17, 2023 21:36:34 GMT
Looking around, Roman could see that they were surrounded by stone that went upwards, suggesting this was a valley, or a peak of some hollowed out mountain. The wall behind the stoneling was actually not as imperious as at first blush, it looked quite feeble and cheap, like it was made of paper, was it familiar? There were words in it, legible ones, and they said
THE GOLDEN GLIDER #7
And the Harbingers Of Nebulux!
Jack Donkey Variant Cover
"A pleasure, Kin of Dimitri". A deep voice took over the open atmosphere. The 'wall' folded back, and was put aside by a large, pitch-black claw, revealing an enormous creature behind it. Sharp, obsidian scales, burning, lidless eyes, a spiked tail that coiled twice around his body, and wings that spanned the width of the peak. A creature of myth of roughly thirty feet of height sat in front of Roman, hopefully the whimsy of it loafing like a cat, having a suave baritone, or just having casually put away a house-sized comic book somehow suppressed the urge to flee, that or, well, the hundreds of wronged stone lizards. "Thought, less so under these circumstances. Will you need a few seconds?"
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 18, 2023 13:59:40 GMT
Roman began to realize something was amiss as his eyes adjusted to the light...... And he stared in confusion and stunned silence as he realized what he had assumed was a mural was, in fact, a giant poster board for a comic issue reveal. Something he had seen as a kid before the Mall shut down! It brought back more memories, but before he could fall back into his stupor, Roman jumped at the suddenly voice, despite the blind stone kin not moving it's.... Muzzle, for lack of... Snout to speak.
It wasn't until then that he heard and suddenly saw a creature that he knew from it's general looks and description alone. His eyes went wide, he stopped breathing, and then....
He woke up on the ground right on his ass as he felt like he had been falling, as he instinctively caught himself. Confusion overflowed, as he didn't know what had happened. Looking around, he quickly remembered that he was in a cave, and he had.... Looking up again, this time from on his now sharply hurting ass, Roman nearly forgot to breathe again as he saw thr Dragon before him. Had..... Had it been it's voice he heard?! He then heard the other part, before slowly nodding..... And then suddenly slapping himself as hard as he could across the face.
Instant and white hot stinging pain errupted and flared for a moment in both his hand and on his face. Yes, this absolutely was not a dream. "Auhm..... I... ", Roman began to speak, only getting flabbergasted and worried again. Was this one of those anime dragons? One of the DnD Dragons? Or maybe those are insults to dragons! How should he approach this entire thing!
As he looked at the creature, he couldn't help but marvel at it. A being that had only ever existed in the human mind as figment and fable was standing before him! Well more laying.... No.... Lounging would be a more accurate term..... And he couldn't help but to see it almost like a cat. A big, scary, spiked tailed, obsidian scale covered cat.......
"I.... I think I'm good now." he said, shakily standing up. "Uh.... So you know who I am.... No need for the Sun Kin stuff?". Roman asked, before realizing he might be a bit too casual with his talking. "I mean, I apologize for the intrusion..... I am Roman Dimitri..... It's with grim tidings that I am the bearer of.... Well, grim news.... My father, George Dimitri has recently passed away. Murdered nearly a week ago."
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Post by swapgo on Aug 18, 2023 16:15:41 GMT
"Oh dear", Roman would hear faintly before fainting himself, perhaps he'd catch the dragon leaning his head down towards the blind stoneling in front of him, whispering gently into his ear. It had righted himself by the time Roman was attempting (and failing) to catch his bearings, to which it added: "I've naught but time, Dimitri, it's yours to borrow". The stoneling returned from whatever task he completed, taking his seat once more. There seemed to be a trail between him and the wall to guide his blind eyes. "Do you prefer 'Kin of Sun'? I find it such a lofty title. I'd expected the Living Torch to grace my court", he excused Roman between chuckles. Living Torch, that superhero from the Amazing Four? Roman might notice that the book the king had just put away was, in fact, joined with many similar others.
The dragon leaned his head back as Dimitri explained what happened to the illustrious 'him', prompting the dragon let out a smoky, suave sigh. "Ahh, that's unfortunate. I had hoped he was merely impeded", he also didn't offer much solace to Roman, the numbness of immortality. Something else might have, however, as Roman could feel something bump against him, it was a plastic water bottle that rolled his way from the narrow entryway, clean and intact. "And it strikes me that he didn't disclose any of this to you. Well, that is, in part, reassuring...his secrecy, not his demise, mind you", he continued, whatever secret Roman was privy to was likely him alone. "Certainly you've words pent up for me and my kingdom, some of them might even be questions", he lowered his head ever so slightly and turned his head around, lending Roman his ear.
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 18, 2023 19:13:30 GMT
Roman honestly felt surreal, this entire situation. In fact, if it hadn't been for his still stinging face, he was certain that he wouldn't believe himself before this-
'I'd expect the living torch to grace my court.'
Immediately Roman's eyes focused, as he more accurately paid attention instead of musing to himself. Golden flyer, Living Torch...... Wait..... Looking about, Roman realized that this dragon had collected something he hadn't expected.
Comic book hero paraphernalia.
Of course, with the mention of his father, and how he hadn't disclosed this, Roman sighed. "There was a lot of things my father didn't disclose. From his acquisition of the Mall which I just learned is apparently not mine from one of your denizens; to the fact that in doing so, he had bartered our house and home as collateral, to which because he had not paid his debt, has now been taken from me.... The mall.... The building that he had given to you, was the only thing he had left me."
Hearing the water bottle make it's way down to him, Roman picked it up. Holding it in his hand and looking at it, he still felt confused and conflicted. Normally anyone would freak the fuck out and run.... Hell, why hadn't he?
"Would it be rude of me to ask what is happening? I was away from my father at college to become a entrepre-..... I mean a merchant of sorts.... Uh... Actually, I'm not even sure what your extent of knowledge is.
Outside of the fact that you're obviously a fan of comic books."
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Post by swapgo on Aug 18, 2023 22:24:02 GMT
"I know not what my subjects told you but I presume you misunderstood, for which i'll blame you not", the dragon lowered his forepaw, tapping his fingers around the seated stoneling. "Their sight isn't great but their hearing is most acute, so in lieu of names they differ between people by pitch. It's been ages and I still can't figure it out", he said, it seems like half of the hes and hims weren't actually his father, they were just Roman himself, or each other. "The many walls that make the mall are of no use to me, it is the location itself that is of interest. Many momentous events occurred there, the fact that it is surrounded by derelict walls is just a convenience. I requested of my subjects that they kept it clean and safe as a gesture of goodwill to its owners". He rose his claw and drew his attention to his nails, rubbing them against each other.
"But you are incorrect, perhaps. The property, and its secret, was given to him freely, in return for an act of goodwill, so I'm told", the King added, how did George inherit the mall? Most importantly, if he had access to the mall, why did he need all of these funds? "It was him-...your father, that introduced me to this most useful diversion", the dragon patted the stack of oversized comic books to his left, upon further inspection, they were on a pedestal of sorts as to not touch the rough stone. "They were lying in the vaults as I had long given up on the vaster array of thicker books. Their tangibility makes them immediately enjoyable without the context of a human perspective", he answered, leaving quite a handful of unanswered questions along the way.
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Time
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THE ONE PIECE! THE ONE PIECE IS REAL!!
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Post by Time on Aug 19, 2023 1:42:27 GMT
Roman looked at the dragon with a flair of interest as it spoke of the way the stone kins worked. It made sense in a sort of way. Many creatures that lived in caves didn't rely on sight after all, but usually sounds. Nodding his head in understanding, he then reeled it back as the dragon spoke about the mall in such a way. "Wait, what do you mean?" Roman asked, after everything had been said. He looked at the array of comic books, and smiled. "I recognize some of these... The Stupendous Arachni-man, Amazing Four, Hey, that's the Invincible Bulk!" he stated, looking at some of the comics that were slightly off to the left and right and visible.
Smiling, he suddenly realized what the Dragon had likely meant, but he wanted to make sure. "Well.... I still have questions , if you're willing to answer them. You said that mall was host to various events. What did you mean by that? Next, why is there a cavern here. There isn't even a mountain or anything that could indicate this cave SHOULD exist.... Then there's the question of what now? Do I inherit this secret, or.... What? Your Stonekin said I needed to be the new Him.... But what is that exactly.... Actually.... Where are we? Is this even Earth? Or some parallel dimension? Oh god, what if this is like one of those Isekai moments and I'm gonna be stuck here until I defeat some demon lord or something!"
Roman squatted and clutched his head, staring down at the stone ground as his mind went back to it's usual overthinking habits. Then he snapped his head up as he let it go and looked straight forward with an epiphany. "Wait, actually, I can answer one of those questions myself...." he stated, pulling out his cell phone to check the signal.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 19, 2023 2:00:40 GMT
The dragon moved his wing aside for Roman to look at the enlarged books, almost recognizable by their usually creased back. He caught himself laughing as the boy continued to panic, "I know not of this Isekai thing, but that would mean you'd have to slay me", he dismissed the claim, apparently familiar with the concept of a demonic ruler, though he lost no time in moving on. "Why there are holes in the spaces between realms is a question as good as any. I was once long told they're quite abundant, problem is most of them are innaccessible, because they're beyond the sky...or underground". He mentioned, it is thus understandable that servitors of stone were able to come across such a portal. As to why this portal didn't always exist in the declining mall had to do with the reason it was evacuated so quickly; an earthquake, shifting the ground just enough to unearth this interdimensional phenomena. "I've been long awaiting this tear to reopen, for ages ago, a human breached it, and she condemned me to a meaningless existence". He sighed a slight flicker of flame, tapping his claws impassively.
To no surprise, there was no signal in this realm. Hopefully Mills wasn't calling or anything.
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 19, 2023 12:36:07 GMT
Hearing what the dragon said, Roman looked awkwardly at it, before holding his hands up. "Yeah, I'm not the savior of the world kinda person. If my father was able to go back, then I suppose it doesn't mean I'm stuck here unless you decide to keep me prisoner here." , Roman stated, as he noticed that there indeed wasn't any signal. He could also assume that the cave itself could stop cell phone signals, but Roman presumed that with the mention of portals and rifts to other worlds existing, both in what Roman could only assume was space and underground, it half made sense. "That's the thing. The building isn't underground. It's not like it was that much of a ruin before. Even if it.... Well.... Maybe thinking about something that is like this would only cause more confusion for myself, so it's best not to overthink it honestly."
Roman shrugged the thoughts away. Even if he could find out what it was that caused this phenomenon to occur, what could he do? "Besides that, it's strange. Maybe the tear doesn't always reconnect to the same world or place. I'm saying this because I've never heard of such a tale off the top of my head. Oh... I suppose I should ask your name, unless that's too personal or something."
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Post by swapgo on Aug 19, 2023 15:39:42 GMT
"Oho, tempt me not. Afternoons are most dull after all", the dragon joked about restraining the lad, or at least hopefully it was a jest. Perhaps it shed some evidence as to why he was being so cordial with Roman; all of the King's subjects had to hide from the morning light, save for one, who seemed to have sacrificed his sight for the privilege of serving the dragon faithfully. "But I need you back in your realm, just as I needed your father. Simply put, there is a ritual, a spell, that allows one to force these seams of reality into existence, except, they do not pierce space; they pierce time", the dragon elucidated, casually admitting that spellcraft existed in this world, and by extension, Roman's own, particularly one so drastic as to challenge physics themselves. "However, it requires reagents that do not exist in my own realm, and that are scarce and valuable in yours. I sought a human's assistance in gathering them, in this case, George. He didn't make much headway in the task, however, his company more than made up for it, I felt like I could converse with the man for decades. I've nothing if not time, after all, but I was most concerned that that did not apply to him"
When asked about his name, the dragon let out a tired, smoky sigh through clenched teeth. "It is the single most personal question you can muster, actually", he replied, though his tone belied no anger or disdain towards Roman, just melancholic despondence. "I am King...that is all"
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 19, 2023 17:25:33 GMT
Roman wasn't sure if the dragon was joking.... But honestly, Roman didn't mind. To be honest, he had lost many connections in his time away from his hometown. Not just with his father, but people who couldn't stand the place, or worse that he lost touch with simply by not staying here.
And.... With how this Dragon spoke about his father, it was clear that the two of them were genuine friends. Either that, or it's a clever deception. The fact that the Dragon mentioned magic existing would normally shock Roman.... But it made sense. More than that.....
Taking a ragged breath in, Roman hadn't realized he was looking down in sadness. Hearing everything, Roman began to wonder. Looking up as King announced his name, Roman would speak once more.
"You said this ritual tears the seems of time, not space.... That implies that you're wanting to merge two timelines together. So, it implies that the tales we heard.... Of dragons, goblins, elves, dwarves, and even angels and Demons..... They're true. Which means something happened in the past that made all of you disappear without even a trace. You said it yourself King, woman sealed you here. And if magic exists.... Then that means there could be a magic that did this. What will happen with the two timelines merge? Or am I wrong in making this assumption?"
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Post by swapgo on Aug 19, 2023 18:19:40 GMT
"Ah, such wild imagination. If only...", the dragon rose his head and lost himself in thought for a moment, a very raspy "King" from his aide broke him out of his trance, and he excused himself with a theathrical clearing of his firey throat. "I know not half of those names you just recited, but it is likely that their existence in your fiction is a part of these phenomenoms, of humans taking peeks into realms other than their own", he picked up the Protectors of the Nebula cover from the stack of books, rifling to a page depicting interspace travel through designated FTL gateways. "I'm not from your world, never was. What I find most likely is that creatures from this realm fled to yours...", he closed the book dramatically, yet still with enough finesse to not damage the fragile paper. "Fled...from me"
The King held his breath as he put the tome away, and only after did he breathe out, high into the sky, venting flames as he recalled the feelings that this sorceress made him feel. "She did not seal me here, she didn't even close the gate. All she did was confront me with an ultimatum, and a pitiful curse. I had no interest on her world, for I wasn't done with mine, so I let the slight pass. By the time I had realized my mistake, the breach had disappeared. Year after year, I hoped it would open again, so that I could find her. It took but a century before I gave up, mortality would've claimed her", the dragon elaborated, his story suggested that magic and sorcery did exist on Earth once, buried in history, and that remnants from his world had long ago breached into Roman's.
"So no, worry not, I've no plans of causing some grand, temporal schism. I merely want to ammend that mistake, I want to go back and see her again. I have some choice words for her"
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 19, 2023 18:45:17 GMT
Roman felt a bit embarrassed and stupid, but he noticed the Dragon didn't exactly claim that. After all, it was more like a compliment. Though now it was clear what happened. Whoever this person was had cleverly exploited King's demeanor. "Yeah, that definitely sounds like a human.... Though maybe she's still alive. If magic exists, then I wouldn't doubt that it in combination with what humans have learned would make the impossible seem possible."
Roman smiled, as he listened to the tone of his voice. "Though if you ask me, this seems like the plot of a romance novel. The Dragon known as King, being captivated and indulgent to a woman who not only tricked gim, but dared to do so. I wonder if your choice words could be both rage and aspiration for her gall.... But I digress, I shouldn't joke about that.... Rather, I think I should ask. What did my father tell you about my world?" his face changing from one of joking and theatric banter to seriousness.
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