IC Date: 12/22/2025

Bacchus grimaced angrily at the realization that he and Tempesti had arrived outside the palace. ******** that. <******** them.
Pricks.
Treacherous fish ******** shithead.

In a clipped and distinctly irritable tone he grumbled, "Don't touch anything. If it used to be alive don't even breathe near it If it looks like it used to be alive, don't even breathe near it. Don't stray. Step where I step and watch the cracks in those heels."

The sudden shift in her friend's demeanor wasn't entirely unexpected and Tempesti couldn't deny the pang of intense guilt that lanced through her chest. From what he'd told her, trips to his planet weren't exactly rare and were necessary for the looting (did this count as looting?) that paid for his nocturnal escapades. Still, bringing a guest had to be nerve-wracking. Thanks for bringing me, I know it wasn't an easy decision."

"Not like you gave me much choice." The Tuath senshi's voice was uncharacteristically flat and came out as little more than a series of grudging grunts as they walked.


After this experience on Dagon this might have been the worst possible thing she could have asked of him. Maybe she should suggest going home. Someplace riddled with less horrific memories. But, face set with a grim scowl, Bacchus pressed forward in anomalous silence through the city's decrepit remains. The vast majority of the buildings were long gone, leaving behind only the faint outlines of foundations and the splintered trunks of the dead trees around which they had been built. The few structures that remained intact seemed to be carved from the rock itself in imitation of natural forms. Tree-like arches and pillars crumbled beside fragmented walls seemingly intended to resemble lichenous bark. The brutal heaviness of the place, however, thoroughly suppressed any appreciation Tempesti might have had for its melancholy beauty, as did the soot that lingered on most of the stone surfaces. Some massive fire must have torn through here, though she could hardly discern the cause and suspected that asking her guide would only further draw his ire.

Their footsteps and her own breathing within the protective mask were the only sounds present in this dead city. Maybe this entire planet. The idea sent a shudder through her nervous system as she futilely attempted to process the true weight of this speculation.

"We're almost there. Mind the bones, I'm the only one allowed to ******** around with those." Where Bacchus might have emphasized the point with an enthusiastic kick to one of the jumbled skeletal piles, he opted to avoid the risk of raising an undisturbed collection of spores rather than indulging his anger.

For now.

If they didn't want their remains scattered they should have died somewhere other than the street.

"Well, here we are."

Bacchus gave a dramatic, flourishing bow as he drew Tempesti's attention to the temple door.

"Let's get this over with."

As they passed through, he gestured toward the archive and watched as she took her notebook inside. She'd spend however long playing with those old tablets and stay out of his way while he shoveled coins from the temple treasury into his subspace. He used to demand that the gods show themselves as he wandered through the wastes, but the emptiness never had much to say for itself.