Stressed out - Twenty one pilots
Australia 2024
First person pov
We all sat down around the large feast Gil had prepared for us. A vast amount of food was presented to us. My senses were intoxicated by the sight of the roast chicken, steak, and potatoes. Just looking at it made my mouth water. I'm so glad at least one of us can cook. I caught Gil's eye. "Thank you," I mouthed. We all took our seats and tucked into the meal straight away. Kingo scooped a large helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate before passing it over to Sersi. I quickly grabbed a couple of sausages from Ikaris's plate and devoured them before he could complain. I smirked at his irritated face.
Kingo asked Gil, "Is this what you guys eat every day?"
"Everyday" Gilgamesh nodded first, followed by Thena. "I cannot believe I ever left." I murmured, shovelling more food into my mouth. "I'm definitely moving back in." Everyone laughed at my comment as Sersi changed my food into a pile of ash. I grumbled as I made a root flick at the side of her face. I turned to face her, making puppy eyes at her, "Please change it back." She gave me a small smile as my meal returned to its original glory. "Sucker, works every time". The whole room exploded with laughter. Just like old times.
"Thank you for this," Ikaris spoke up. Gil patted him on the back and said, "Oh, you're welcome. Help yourself. " I looked up at him with gravy smothered around my lips, "Don't worry, we are." He smiled and began describing his homemade alcohol: "This is a trio of wine, beer, and mead." Designed for all of the soldiers in the Battle of Troy."
"That's so thoughtful," Karen praised. "It is very nice, sir." Karun continued to drink as Kingo pulled Gil closer. "Should she be drinking?" Kingo curiously asked. We all, not so subtly, turned to Thena, who was slowly drinking the liquid from her mug.
Gilgamesh whispered back. "No, hers is non-alcoholic. For kids." In fear of the warrior, Kingo and I offered her a brief grin.
He stood upright again. "I gave you the same thing, Spite." A small smile crept across my face, but I quickly hid it when Sprite made eye contact with me. "You can sip mine."I offered sheepishly.
"I was just kidding. Yours is a secret brew Odin taught me as a thank you after we helped defeat Laufey's army in Tonsberg. "
Loki was hot.
She wore a blank expression as an illusion turned Gilgamesh's outfit into a baby onesie with a bib that read "Gilga-mess". Kingo was the first to react with a loud cackle, then everyone followed. I let out a particularly loud snort at the sight. "Does the baby need his bottle?" I teased.
"What?" Gil looked down at his outfit, "Oh. I'm a big baby. very mature Can you stop? Stop. "
The sprite finally gave in, changing him back into his usual clothing from the 16th century.
"Speaking of Odin," Kingo spoke up. "Thor used to follow me around when he was a little kid." I stifled a laugh at his pathetic monologue. "Now he's a famous avenger and won't return my calls".
"That's a shame. I was hoping you could get me a date with Loki," I pouted. The room fell silent as everyone turned to face me, "What?".
"You know Loki's dead, right?" Sprite asked me sarcastically.
I just shrugged, "We all know he's not dead; he's probably hiding on another planet or somewhere in the multiverse." Everyone stayed silent, questioning my comment, but they quickly agreed with me.
"So, now that Captain Rogers and Iron Man are both gone, who do you think is going to lead the Avengers?" Sprite questioned.
"I could lead them," Ikaris announced. We all burst out laughing. "I figure I'd be good at that." He continued to try and plead his case.
"Yea, you would." Kingo agreed with Icky right away.
"Ajak didn't even choose you to lead us."
"Whoa"
"Ouch, Gil. "Ouch," Ikaris said while placing a hand over his heart.
"It's true, I think you'd cry under all the pressure," I remarked with a smile.
Ikaris shifted his gaze to me. "I'm going to let that one slide because, you know, you've always been bitter that I can fly and you can't." he said teasingly
"So you can fly. Everyone knows I'm better looking," I said, striking a pose. "And I promise you, I'll be able to fly one day and kick your ass."
Sersi quickly stood up, causing her chair to scrape across the floor, capturing our attention. Her face was riddled with worry. "Where are you going?" Ikaris asked.
"I'm just going to get some fresh air," she said as she dashed out the door, leaving the door wide open.
Kingo took another swig of his drink."This is really good, Gil. You know, I could sell this. Put my face on it, move some units".
"Who would want to buy something with your face on?" Sprite mused.
I quickly agreed with her, "I agree, I'd probably smash it if I saw it in the shop."
Kingo put down his mug and pointed at us both. "Menaces. Both of you I expected more from you, Trouble. "
Sprite and I just high fived, pissing off Kingo more.
Gil ignored our silly bickering, "I made it from corn. I chew each kernel myself and ferment it in my spit". Kingo immediately spat out his drink in disgust, "ugh."
A few hours later,
3rd person pov
Artemis lay on the sofa, throwing a ball in the air continuously like a robot. Sersi had been gone for a few hours now. The remaining Eternals had found something to keep them occupied. Gil and Kingo were having an arm wrestling match, (Kingo very obviously losing) Ikaris was waiting eagerly by the door, and Sprite and Thena were quietly catching up.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Art shot up at the continuous noise. She studied the room for the culprit. "IKARIS!" She shouted. The man turned to face her sharp gaze. "If you would be so kind, stop tapping your fucking foot. Your precious girlfriend will be back soon. "
Ikaris turned towards her fully, eyes turning an orange hue. "I don't know who you think you are, Artemis, but you can't speak to me that way."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but mummy isn't here anymore, so the powers you thought you had are gone. You're not in charge here, and you never will be. "As her rage rose , green ivy curled around her finger tips. Sparks flew across her palms as her anger almost reached its peak. This attracted the attention of the other eternals. "You flew too close to the sun, Icky." Artemis grinned as the vein almost exploded out of his forehead. Ikaris blasted a ray of cosmic lasers at Art , who quickly raised her arm to deflect the blow.
"Oh you've done it now" A light fire appread in her palm ready to ignite its target.
"STOP".
The two eternals turned around. Sersi stood in the doorway, her face stained with tears. Art's powers vanished, and Ikaris's eyes turned back to their normal blue. Ikaris immediately ran up to Sersi, checking her over. Thena came up behind Art, stoking her shoulder to calm her down.
Sersi sat at the dining table again, motioning for everyone else to follow her. She began to explain what Arishem had told her. The emergence, the deviants, and how they were basically just built to serve him.
"So, you're saying we're basically fancy robots?" Kingo said, slowly.
"And that our old memories are stored on a fake planet. In space? " Artemis concluded.
"And Arishem created the deviants," Sersi continued.
Artemis blew out a massive sigh at the news. Arishem created them. Arishem created the deviants. I'm not real. Druig isn't real. The conservation blurred around Art. Her head spun around the room.
"Art".
Artemis was startled when she felt a light touch on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" She raised her head to Kingo. His hazel eyes glowed with concern.
"Where is everyone?"
"They went to sleep trouble we're going to get Druig tomorrow morning," he said slowly, hoping to soften the blow.
She remained silent and only nodded, as if she didn't trust her own voice.
"Try to get some sleep," Kingo said, standing up and leaving for his temporary sleeping quarters.
Art tilted her head back. Shit.