Chrysalis Chapter 1886 - Result of the Posedown

When Gylax and Tiny finally finish after an hour-long flex-battle for the ages, the two stand apart, breathing heavily, exhausted by the physical exertion they have engaged in. It’s difficult to read their bat-faces, but I think I see a gleam of mutual recognition in their eyes. They are satisfied with what has taken place here, and recognise in the other a kind of kindred spirit.

[Are you guys done?] I ask, utterly bored.

[We have completed the ritual posedown. Your ,] he grimaces with distaste, [has acquitted himself well. Impressive, considering he has never been around others like myself. He’s entirely self-taught?]

Sometimes, I really wish I could blink.

[I sure as heck didn’t teach him any of that. I mean… how could I?]

[It’s true, you don’t really have the build for it.]

[The for it? I don’t have the skeleto-muscular structure for it!]

[Yes, I suppose that’s true. A pity. You can’t enjoy the true wonder of the physical form.]

[What?! You, sir, are blind to the glory and splendour of the carapace. Imagine walking around with your soft bits all dangling about on the outside? It’s disgusting!]

Gylax only chuckles to himself, shaking his head, then his troubled expression returns.

[Is keeping monsters as pets a common practice among your people?] he inquires.

I can tell that it’s really bothering him, which is strange, because I’ve never met anyone who was against the practice.

[Most of my siblings don’t have pets, but some do,] I answer honestly. [I myself have three. They’re my friends.]

[Are they?] Gylax asks me, looking me in my compound eyes. [Or are they your servants? They have no choice but to obey you. I… I should not speak on this more. Your ways are not our ways. Only, we do not look favourably on the practice. Monsters should be free.]

As much as I would like to tell him that Tiny, Crinis and Invidia are most certainly free, I actually can’t. I’ve been trying to find a way to liberate them for ages, to no avail.

[Do you know of a way to free a pet?] I ask hopefully. [I’d like for them to have their full lives back, but I don’t know how.]

Gylax remains silent for a long moment, then speaks.

[If you find us below, we will speak of this more. For now, I should be going. You have shown me enough.]

[You know I have to walk you back to the sixth, right?]

[I suppose so,] he grumbles.

[Can’t have big lightning gorillas running around unsupervised. You never know what they might start flexing at.]

That gets a laugh out of him. He’s a nice enough fellow, Gylax. Not that you’d want to pat him on the back. You’d get stabbed and electrocuted at the same time for your trouble.

I escort him down to the swirling barrier between the fifth and the sixth and watch as the big ape descends back into his home layer. Reluctantly, I turn my back and begin to head to the fortress. I’d love to head down there for adventure and mischief—that is to say—serious business and such. During a wave is probably not the best time, unfortunately.

More than that, even the act of turning around is enough to cause the Call to yank savagely on my soul. Every step away from it is extremely ouchie.

I’m not a fan of the experience, to say the least.

Nevertheless, I continue to put one leg in front of the other until the sensation starts to fade. Well, ‘fade’ is a rather strong word. ‘Recede slightly’ is probably a bit better.

Stupid Call and its stupid soul… hook thing. The bit I hate the most about it is that I can’t always tell when my decisions are being influenced by the constant niggling sensation of being in quite a lot of pain. Maybe, in the back of my mind, I want to be done with it and start running down the levels just to make it stop for a while, yet I make the excuse to myself that I’m acting in the interests of the family, or trying to defend everyone.

In that scenario, I could wind up putting everyone in rather a lot danger. Which isn’t the goal!

Grumbling, I return to the fortress to find Tiny, sulking less than I might have expected. He didn’t get the epic fight he wanted, but he did get to perform in a mighty battle of flexing that seems to have initiated some deep introspection on his part.

I find him on the platform in the thinking pose, chin resting on one of his massive fists, brow furrowed, as he contemplates all things muscle.

[Hey, Tiny. How are you?]

He blinks slowly, pulled out of his thoughts, and looks up at me.

[Good,] he says simply. [Thinking.]

[About flexing?]

[Yes.]

Normally, I’d leave it there, there’s no need to intrude on an ape when he’s deep in thought, but after talking to Gylax, I’m prompted to dig a little deeper.

[What are you thinking about, specifically? Different sorts of poses? How you might do better next time?]

[Do better?] he sounds confused.

[You think you did everything perfectly, do you? I’m impressed.]

[No…] he suddenly looks excited, his big brown bat-eyes growing wide as he stares at me. [I can do it again?]

[What? Well… yes, I don’t see why not. We’ll be going down there once the wave is over, so you should be able to meet Gylax again. That’s the other big ape monster you met.]

A big broad grin splits Tiny’s face, and he hoots to himself with glee.

[Good!] he says.

He looks genuinely delighted, rocking back and forth on his backside grinning.

I can’t help but smile, so to speak, and give him an encouraging pat on the shoulder with one leg.

[Good for you, buddy, glad you’re happy. We’ll get you another flex competition for sure.]

Back to the chamber for me. Waiting for the wave to end.