A Date Across Time! -- Beelzebub Gets a Glimpse of Retkan

[12:12] [user]Retkan[/user]: Beelzebub had been Fu’d before, but now... [b]now he was being Retkan’d![/b]

The energy strands that held him in a state of semi-stasis were warm, like a blanket fresh from the dryer. While he couldn’t move or speak, Beelzebub could listen and see. Thus Retkan prattled her Magical dribble at him [b]quite happily![/b] [color=purple]“I call this a Timestream. It’s not one of my own personal ones, but it contains some Fragments I look after. I don’t want to remove them until I’ve studied each fragment to be sure no needed connections are lost. Fragments sometimes rely on others in their vicinity the way universes need one another to exist for stability purposes. Otherwise without its parallel in close proximity or otherwise bound, it will collapse.”[/color] Said Timestream was a vast magenta-hued abyss with various violet and black, reflective fragmented shards of all sizes floating about. Retkan’s form was aglow in white, as was Beelzebub being tethered by her magic. [sub]But her energy SCREAMED of Mechikabura..[/sub] She worked to use her hand and steer rogue shards from their path as if flicking the air and moving them upon command without even a touch. [color=purple]“That’s the one we’re going to! See the golden glow ahead? That’s how I mark fragments I’ve collected. Usually they’re white but when the aura turns golden, it’s a visual signal that my attention is needed. One of my contingency plans, should I not be able to hear or feel it calling...”[/color]

Up ahead was a large violet shard, golden aura ablaze. Retkan trailed through the Timestream, whisking herself and Beelzebub right into its [color=yellow][b]blinding light.[/b][/color] That odd warmth grew and a weightless feeling took over as if the air were so light one could just float away. [color=purple][sub]“Umm.. Can you see yet? Blink a few times and open your eyes now...”[/sub][/color]

Beelzebub would be hit with his senses all at once: [b]Gravity was back![/b] The scent of fresh rain from a spring day, the wet humid air, the oddly sweet taste of watermelon to the tongue from the ambient environment, and the sound of thick, heavy breathing from what rest ahead. He would find himself freed of Retkan’s magical hold, only to open his eyes to the world of that fragment. They stood on ground of teal colored grass, the ambient area like a jungle with trees of faded redwood bark and blue leaves. The sky was an ominous mustard yellow that stretched on forever in all directions. The fragment itself was so small that the very ground a few feet behind them was cut off, resulting in what they stood on being more of a floating island than a contained in-land mass. In front of them however was what looked like the large mouth of some sort of cavern with thick build ups of algae and moss all over its surface. The entrance was filled with what appeared to be dangling green vines, which moved and billowed in steady motion... [b]The cavern was the very source of that heavy breathing sound. [/b]

Retkan stood there, staring at Beelzebub with wide, hopeful eyes and was now quiet. This was one of the most dangerous things she had ever done and it was [b]FILLED with nonsense![/b] She was nervous, giddy, brimming with emotion she had no understanding of. [b]And she was THRILLED.[/b]


[12:25] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] on the other hand, was [b]CONCERNED, CONFUSED AND VERY MUCH OUT OF HIS ELEMENT HERE.[/b] He had no clue [b]what[/b] he was witnessing! All of this phantasmagoric scenery that unfolded before him, wrapping around him and Retkan like a pocket of obfuscating mystery... And that's [b]nothing[/b] to speak of what Retkan was channeling right now! He needed to say something about that, but the words were caught in his throat like a popcorn kernel-- His adam's apple bobbing with the ministrations to speak, but nothing... Nothing would be able to slip free of his lips-- Even though they were wide open. His pupils dilated in shock of it all-- The reflection being bounced off every shard that surrounded him... [sub]He swore he could see scenes of long past unfold before him, like a pre-recorded video.[/sub] "[color=red]What... What [b]is[/b] alla this, Retkan?... Where're you-- !![/color]" Before he could finish formulating any semblance of an inquiry, he's pulled right into that shard up ahead, wreathing him in a blinding yellow glow. "[color=red][b]Guah![/b][/color]"

Everything snaps back at once. Taste, smell, touch... And the [b]weight[/b] of a world's gravity bearing upon his [b]BULKED UP BACK[/b] like an anchor. He unceremoniously faceplants into the grass that lied beneath him-- Smacking him in the face with its minty odor. As he pushes himself back up onto his own two feet with a disoriented stagger, he manages to get himself re-acquainted with [b]reality[/b], and rubs the back of his head, looking behind him. What in the world?... "[color=red]...U-Uhhhh... Retkan-- This is... Kinda an odd locale for a [b]date[/b], don'cha figure?[/color]" Comedy was the one way Beelze could steel his nerves against the unknown. He'd gotten such a thing down to an art form. But would it be enough for him to shrug off what he was witnessing right now?... Undoubtedly so. Like a lost puppy, he stood behind Retkan, expecting her to start slinging out some answers before he starts issuing more panicked questions.


[12:36] [user]Retkan[/user]: She floated there, blinking down at Beelzebub and holding back a small giggle. Well, not really. It escaped with his faceplant and questioning! [color=purple]“[sub]Odd?[/sub] I suppose so.. but.. a date is.. is when one person wants to know another person and time is taken for this date. [sub]Not the fruit date. Two very different dates.[/sub] And I want to give you both. I gave you one. Now.. this one. I can think of no better way for you to know me then to.. [b]know what I do![/b] Only Nitmer and the voice in my head get to know this. And Nitmer is my attendant and the voice is.. [i]strange.[/i] But you.. [b]you are different.[/b] I.. just do not tell Fu, please?... I.. I have a fragment to give him. This way I am a good girlfriend because girlfriends do this for males. And I promised him. But you.. [sub][b]you are.. special and different.[/b][/sub] So.. so you can know me.. and.. see what I do.. and even help!”[/color] Her cheeks were positively tomato’d with no better way to explain. While she liked what Fu did and he was pleasing to look at.. [b]she actually LIKED Beelzebub[/b] for even more reasons beyond some celebrity crushing.

[color=purple]“I call this an Echo Cavern. I mean, I did.. until I realized it’s actually a truly living organism. I suppose I should name it proper... [sub]but even a name would still make it an Echo Cavern too I guess.[/sub] Anyways! This is what we’re here to upkeep today! Now we just need to—oh.. That’s right. [b][i]It doesn’t know you...[/i][/b] Hmmm... I know!”[/color] Suddenly Retkan blinked in and out, and [b]she was blinking in and out all around the confused and panicked Beelzebub.[/b] With each blink she was [i]just rubbing on him.[/i] She was rubbing her hands to his cheeks, her back against his back, hands across his broad shoulders and neck, her arms over his chest.. Each leg and arm was bodily hugged. Retkan even ran her fingers through his hair a bit before finally setting herself back down besides him. [color=purple][b]“There we go!”[/b][/color] With no other explanation, she grabbed for Beelzebub’s hand and went to [b]drag him along[/b] to that cavern mouth and to the odd green curtain.



[12:46] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] 's shoulders seemed to slump as he watched Retkan [b]sprint[/b] with the misinformed concept of what love is. She's one of the most confused females he's ever met to [b]date[/b]. [sub]Hardy har.[/sub] But the way she seemed to put him above his own cousin... It was kinda [b]nice.[/b] Distractingly so. His own cheeks glowed with the intensifying palpitations of his own heart, stepping back slightly as Retkan stepped in to really peer at his face. It was a while since the prince was actually caught on the back foot for once. It didn't unnerve him as much as Retkan's insistent attitude did... [sub]And then there's that [b]malevolent, unknown energy[/b] that swirled within her. What in Dabura's name [b]was[/b] that he was feeling? It left him parched, cold... Like it was something he should [b]never[/b] be standing near.[/sub] With a furious shake of his head, he ventured to try and speak. "[color=red]Ugh, look, Retkan, I--[/color]"

And of course, she talked right over him, dismissively flattening what he wanted to get out as she begins her own explanation. Wait. [b]It?[/b] Does she mean to imply that that cave was [b]alive?![/b] He reaches a hand out, but Retkan begins jumping and blinking all over the place like a glitching character in one of his own games! And it didn't help that she was [b]caressing him every opportunity she got.[/b] "[color=red]AH-- W-Wait! Retkan-- [b]RE--RET KAN![/b] Aha-- [sub]Ti-Tickles! Weshouldn'tbedoingthisonthefirstdate![/sub][/color]" An intermix of unmanly giggling and squirming, before he was spared from any further bodily contact after the demon girl had performed what she wanted to do. He couldn't even ask what that was, as he was once again pulled along by Retkan into that cavern mouth with a distinct sense of [b]trepidation.[/b] [sub]They're literally walking into a mouth. This has all sorts of wrong implications. But as concerned as Beelze was, he was more [b]excited[/b] than anything![/sub]


[12:56] [user]Retkan[/user]: [b]Retkan was on overdrive.[/b] She was brimming with innocent intensity that despite the darkened circles about her eyes, kept her gaze wide and excited. [i][sub]That lack of sleep was going to get to her one of these days.[/sub][/i] Her eyes studied Beelzebub, and she heard each word.. but for once... [color=purple]“No waiting! I.. I am too..[b] too happy to wait![/b] I can TALK to you and I cannot talk to others. Nitmer does not let me talk anymore and I cannot talk to Fu and I worry about my special Fragments and his science. And this... this is my.. most special Fragment..”[/color] Which she apparently wanted to share with Beelzebub!

As if being [i][b]scent-marked[/b][/i] by Retkan wasn’t[i] invasion of personal space[/i] enough, Beelzebub would find himself [b]covered[/b] in that green curtain. [sub][b]They were not vines![/b][/sub] Each tendril was more like the tentacle of a jellyfish-octopus-hybrid with tiny poking tongue-fingers, all of them varying in size. [b]And each one wanted to taste and smell the newcomer Retkan had brought.[/b] While the strange cave anemones parted for her and gave the occasional slight caress against her hair and shoulders, she held her free hand up and likewise touched them right back in wordless greeting. [b]Beelzebub got covered and mobbed[/b] instead and had what would feel like [i]trillions of poking fingers feeling over his form in total [b]investigation invasion[/b][/i] as Retkan pulled him on through like a carwash. The ground under their feet also now felt spongy and squished moistly with each step.

[13:07] [user]TP Captain Taiolu[/user] has left the channel.
[13:07] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] was [b]beginning to get worried[/b] about Retkan's current state of mind. Had the poor girl lost it from being surrounded by people she's unable to empathize with, let alone [b]talk to?[/b] And on top of all of this, she was being so [b]insistent[/b]! He almost felt bad about trying to get her to calm down, but he was trying to do it for her own sake! Temper her expectations! With a compliant roll of his eyes, he just goes along with what the girl has planned, allowing himself to be dragged on this impromptu adventure with her. And if that wasn't enough, he felt the vines tickle him. They were actively tickling him. They were going into his pits and over his neck and [b]THESE WERE NOT VINES AT ALL.[/b] With a panicked, uproarious shout, Beelze [b]IMMEDIATELY[/b] acts in accordance to what you should be doing when something that isn't a cute girl is fondling you! [b]EXTREME AND VIOLENT PRECEDENCE![/b] "[color=red]WH-- [b]WHAT THE HECK!?[/b][/color]"

He flails around like a teenager in a moshpit, thrashing his arms and punching away every tendril that dared approach him-- The spongey surface he walked upon made it harder to retain his own footing, incurring him to stumble back, and meet with the ground he walked upon once more, flopping down onto his steeled back. With an exasperated sigh, he looked up at Retkan in order to actively question her now. [sub]He tries to keep his eyes as fixated upon her face as possible.[/sub] "[color=red]What the heck is alla this, Retkan!? Timestream? Echo Cavern!?... Since when did you have this much power?[/color]"


[13:26] [user]Retkan[/user]: As Beelzebub began thrashing, the vines retreated a bit and began thrashing back with their potent electrical shocks and surges. [color=purple]“Weh? Oh! Ah.. you are going to be treated like Nitmer! It does not like Nitmer even when he is [b]not[/b] dancing!”[/color] Dancing? This was dancing?! Apparently! She quickly tugged Beelzebub through as quick as she could! This way he would not end up toasted, tazered or worse—[i]fighting the Echo Cavern like Nitmer often did.[/i]

As the last tendrils unwrapped from Beelze’s head, he would be able to see the sight before them. The cavern was tinted blue and dark with an inky, glassy surface stretched across its interior floor, which was divided into various sized pools by black veins. The walls held fungi of neon blue hues to give off that bit of light while the cavern’s dark ceiling was covered with speckles of crystalline shine like an endless starry night. That breathing sound, it was coming from the walls themselves, which pulsed with an almost [b][i]sickly thickness to the air.[/i][/b] The ground they stood on cut off at the glassy pool.

It was then that Retkan seemed more.. at ease. She was still thrilled but her gaze and smile softened. She looked over the cavern.. then Beelzebub.. then the cavern.. and back to Beelzebub. [color=purple]“Since when?.. Uh.. all of the times! Like, of all times and time. Nitmer said so.. although I do not remember it.. and I.. cannot do many of the things I used to. But.. so long as I can visit you and my Fragments, I am... [b]happy.[/b] I.. [i]you cannot do these things?[/i] Like Nitmer cannot?.. [sub]See.. see this is why when I saw Fu.. I had to find out more![/sub] I have not met others who can do the things that I can do! That I remember.. and.. no one does what I do, but they do other things, like Fu and his science I do not fully understand.. and Queen Towa and her power that I do not understand and is scary and Nitmer with his Dreamscape and mind things I do not understand.. But this? [b]This I do understand...[/b]”[/color] Her hand trailed up, to just caress one of those tendrils reaching out for her before she dropped her hand away. [color=purple]“And.. if you do not understand... [i][b]that is okay[/b][/i].. I.. I do not expect you to. Nitmer does not. He.. dislikes this one. He thinks it is boring and ‘[i]stupid[/i]’”[/color] She does airquotes with her fingers. [color=purple]“But I.. I want you to.. to see it.. see what I like and do.. and.. to experience it and exist here.. just only for borrowing time. I.. I do not want to keep you even though I do. [sub]It is.. wrong.[/sub] I cannot keep you from your Sandland. That is yours and important, like my Fragments are to me.. and.. You shared its bread with me.. so.. so I will share this with you now. ...Does.. that make sense?... [sub]Or.. or is it.. nonsense like Fu says?[/sub]...”[/color]

[13:43] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] was standing at the epicenter of all of this, dealing with a tempest of emotions swirling within his mind and in his heart. He didn't know where to begin. Where to end, how to approach all of this. He was thoroughly beside himself with worry, but... The genuine [b]excitement[/b] that Retkan possessed was something that he couldn't bear to undermine with Nitmer-levels of paranoia, even though it was rightfully just to do so. He couldn't bring himself to rip that smile off her face-- It's the most comfortable she's been in ages! It'd break his own heart if he'd have to act like a rational demon and [b]get the Kaiohell out of here.[/b] And yet... This was mesmerizing. The scenery he was witnessing. It was all so macabre, yet so interesting... What sort of primordial realm did he get pulled into? And why does he want to know even more? As Retkan proceeds with her justifications, Beelze's silence is palpable-- And the stern expression on his face doesn't seem to bode all too well for Retkan-- Who must have been waiting for some sort of reaction, some sort of sentence, a quip, anything... And then, he speaks. "[color=red]...No. It ain't nonsense. Nothing of the sort. This... I don't really get it, but... What matters is that you're [b]happy[/b] about it. It's not boring and it's not stupid, it's... Something I haven't seen before! This is all amazing! But... I just wish I knew what to ask you... I uh... I don't really [b]know[/b] you, either! There's so much about your past you haven't told me and-- I feel... If uuuh... W-We're gonna be a [b]thing[/b], here, I feel you should start telling me everything you do remember. How you can do all of this, how you came to be, who your parents are [sub]andifIcanvisitthemsometime[/sub]-- AHEM. Uh... What I'm tryin' ta' say here is... Uh...[/color]" Beelze's face would be so hot, he wouldn't be surprised if steam began to rush out of his knifed ears at this rate.

"[color=red]...I really like you, Retkan. But ya gotta be honest with me here when I ask.[/color]" He ventured, turning around to look down at her with that surprisingly wizened stare of his, deeply curious and deeply concerned.

"[color=red]...What [b]are[/b] you?[/color]"


[13:59] [user]Retkan[/user]: She was positively worried it would be all.. [i][b]nonsense.[/b][/i] Retkan didn’t fully understand such, but she tried to convey it all as best as she could. [sub] It was HARD to try and break that nonsense barrier![/sub] [i]Magic and time?[/i] She could spout on about that for decades beyond infinity! [i]Emotions and existence?[/i] [sub]That was HARD and so full of [b]nonsense.[/b][/sub]

As Beelzebub spoke, she listened intensely, ever a good listener despite.. [sub]grasping some things came difficult.[/sub] [color=purple]“I want you to know me.. and I would tell you my past if I knew my past.. but I do not. Nitmer does not tell me much.. just.. that I destroyed our worlds.. and.. nearly destroyed him..”[/color] Her hand rose, to touch upon the scar on her cheek, ever a reminder despite it could have been healed away at some point in time. Her hands lowered to be held together as she gazed at Beelzebub like a scolded child, trying to answer questions. [color=purple]“I do not know how I do these things.. Nitmer said it must have been before he knew me when I took him but after when he was with me and met me from before when I was a child because I was not who I am now.. I.. do not know my parents.. Nitmer says it is best I do not. They are dead he said. I do not remember them.”[/color] So she had no emotional reaction or care as to ‘parents’ like someone should.

At the question of what she is.. Retkan’s slender brows knit in confusion. [color=purple]“I am.. a female demon, I think mammalian according to Doctor Gero because I have breasts he was looking at, [sub]which was very strange,[/sub] and I am warm-blooded. I am.. uh.. what is the word... Primitive! Yes. I am a primitive female mammalian demon that does not have a time to exist.. so.. I want to make a time one day..”[/color] This is when she actually.. [i]thought about it all for once![/i] [color=purple]“I think.. if I was alone.. besides needing Nitmer’s help like he said.. [sub]that is.. maybe why I wanted him too.[/sub] I had someone to talk to.. and do things with.. and teach and.. [b]I was not alone.[/b] I could keep him because he was going to die if I did not. I.. wanted a friend. And help.. and he is both. I needed that.. but now I.. I want.. to exist.. I want.. more?.. and he is not happy with this.. but I am.. and I.. really like you. So I will always be honest Beelzebub. Honest with you. I can do that.”[/color]


[14:10] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] kneels down to Retkan's height in order to stare right at her-- His gaze brimming with solidarity and understanding. He now knows [b]exactly[/b] what he needs to do in order to unravel the package of ambiguity that was this lonesome demon girl's history-- He needed to come to [b]Nitmer[/b], and ask directly. His eyes turn to the left, trying to think of how they could hold such a relationship, and what kind they even shared if it wasn't... Well, the [b]orthodox[/b] one! Why would he leave her hanging with the crushing answer of her having destroyed her own world? Much less him, and possibly her own parents? Given the power she wields, he could believe it... But he denied she could be capable of such atrocities. It simply didn't fit the image he had of her. With a vehement shake of his own head, his brow muscles furrow as he glowers back to Retkan, and gently places both of his hands upon her thin, noodly shoulders. "[color=red]Then... I'll be [b]more[/b] than just yer friend! If there's anyone you can trust in this world, it's [b]me![/b] Not just me, but those who genuinely do care for you! You shouldn't be afraid to reach out and grab onto what has you the most passionate! I can't imagine a life where I ain't allowed ta' be free in who I talk to, what I do, much less what I even [b]see![/b] At the end of the day... I'm kinda nobody, without this prince title a' mine. But y'know what? I could care less. If I can convince as many people as I can that demons like us... That we're not [b]bad[/b] people, per se, that'll be worth it in my book. I'll help you find out who you are, and I'll help make you whole. That's a... [b]Beelzepromise![/b][/color]"

He finishes this whole speech by pulling his hand back, and putting out his pinky towards her. A grin stretches his rugged cheeks. "[color=red]In some cultures, when you want to make someone keep a promise, you link yer pinky fingers together and go [b]"I promise"[/b]. You can hold me to it-- I won't let you down, got it? I'll teach you everything there is to know in this life you lead... That's my promise, Retkan.[/color]"

[14:31] [user]Retkan[/user]: She shrunk inwardly a little, clearly worried. This was all a [b]huge [/b]risk for her.. Not only did she knew that Beelzebub could harm her or the Echo Cavern if he wanted to with no risk to himself,[sub] although she could never see him in THAT light as far as she knew him..[/sub] She also had.. revealed whatever she could to him in an attempt for understanding while just.. being her fragile recluse self.

There came a small [i]flinch[/i] as her shoulders were grasped, only for Retkan to open her eyes wide at Beelzebub’s words. [i]The quiver of her bottom lip.. The way she puffed up and tensed, brimming with that excitement again.. that passion[/i].. [color=purple]“Beelzebub.. [b]you are FAR from nobody[/b]... In fact.. you are the [b]only somebody[/b] I can talk to and trust.. and trust enough to bring here.. where I and what I care for could be destroyed, while you are kept safe to return to your Sandland one minute from when I took you.. I.. I trust you. You are safe and comfortable.”[/color] As the promise was brought up, Retkan’s brows knit and she went to use BOTH pinky fingers to lock onto Beelzebub’s one as he explained. [color=purple]“I trust you.. and my promise to you is to be as honest as I can.. You.. are the one person I do not want to hide things from or hide from. Fu can always chase me for science and know small bits. But you.. you can know me.”[/color]

As one of those tendrils again reached out and tap-tapped her head, she remembered why they were there! [i]Besides her wanting to show Beelzebub what she liked and could do. This was all part of it![/i] [color=purple]“Oh! I am sorry Echo Cavern! Yes, here.. I will start. You will feel better and the Fragment will stabilize. Nitmer is not here for the energy gathering so.. contingency plan number four-hundred-seventy-eight will now be active. It will mean I cannot visit for a while again.. but.. you will be safe and feel better, and still existing. [i]That is what matters.[/i]”[/color] Both hands reached up to grab the tentacle and just nuzzle her face into it as if it were some soft kitten. Then it was released. [color=purple]“I need your help now Beelzebub.. I.. It would take a very long time for me to do this without you. Like it takes so long without Nitmer. He only watches. ...I am just not strong enough. [b]But you are.[/b]”[/color]

Retkan stepped away, out onto that glossy black surface. She actually stepped onto the air itself with the gravitational energy field so thick it made her float a bit weightlessly. Then she jumped, breaking down enough to make contact with a small cell of glossy surface. It rippled like water, a blue light pulsing through the cell of water before the energy field flared to life, prismatic hues bouncing off into the wall with the chime of a crystal bell. This bounced Retkan up into the air, only to come down again at another cell, the cell turning pink, another soft ringing sound echoing off. The energy gathered was being dispersed to.. well.. [i]only Retkan knew right now![/i] The Echo Cavern echoed energy musically like some brilliant lightshow of a trampoline across water. She was light enough to make soft crystalline pings.. but Beelzebub? [i]What would he make?[/i] If he joined.

[14:43] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] was just mesmerized, watching her elegantly bounce about like some sort of pixie. In truth, that's what she was to him. A pixie demon plucked out of the deepest recesses of his wildest dreams! He never once imagined he'd be able to meet a demon [b]this[/b] pure before! [sub]He'd completely forgotten all about that foreign energy he'd felt earlier. No clue what the was, and he didn't care.[/sub] Watching her be happy, frolic so freely... It was almost infectious, to a degree! Hell, [b]deeply[/b] infectious! With a slight trepidation in his movement, he stretches his foot out, before awkwardly [b]LEAPING[/b] forth to land into the glossy black surface of his own! Every languid, weighty step he took had the floor beneath him light up-- It was stompy and brutish, but he'd managed to barely keep pace with Retkan as he began to find his own rhythm-- Deep, bassy dings began to reverberate in contrast to the higher pitched chimes Retkan induced whenever she touched ground and passed over patches of the cavern's floor. With their combined efforts, the Echo Caverns began to come alive in a [b]symphony[/b] of color and sound-- The awe-inspiring power of music! He chased after her, gradually pacing his own steps-- Before long, every stride was made with a deliberate slowness, [b]weighty[/b], but not once disturbing the waters below him with an unruly splash. It was almost like they were... [b]Dancing![/b]

"[color=red]Retka-- Huff... Huff... Retkan! This is [b]awesome![/b] What the hell was Nitmer thinking, passing up on this!? This is [b]great![/b] It's like one big Dance Dance RevoL[u]UOGAH--[/u][/color]" His jubilance was interrupted as he took one step too deep, and fell [b]RIGHT[/b] into the water below! Down he sank like a crimson stone!

[14:59] [user]Retkan[/user]: Retkan was beside herself with just a [b]pure joy.[/b] Nitmer never wanted to do any of these things. He wanted to just.. cull the things she couldn’t control and needed him to destroy and keep in line. Seeing Beelzebub take that first leap and hear that deep bassy ring made her smile brighten. [color=purple][b]“Yeees!!”[/b][/color] She squealed, clapping her hands as she bounced up in mid air and came back down. She hit each cell with that soft weight.. as despite her power, her energy wasn’t really able to make much of a dent. [i]But with each leap and cascading resonance from Beelzebub, that energy field build up was dampening and the water rippling became more languid, more real of contact and less of vibration. [/i]

[color=purple]“Nitmer would rather watch or kill the things that need to die from being too many. Like my quantum wasps. I want to give one to Fu. Maybe a Fragment that has the plants that eat people too. I think he would like those because they fight and he can do science and they need care I cannot give them too well because they bite, are poisonous and want to [b]always[/b] fight.” [/color]

As the field disrupted enough and Beelzebub lost his flying bouncing mojo, Retkan blinked and put her own breaks on of flight. [color=purple]“B-Beelzebub?... Beelze?!”[/color] She was.. worried! She had never been under the water herself... So she began circling around where he dropped and trying to peer through the inky black surface that rippled and reflected only the starry-like ceiling.

Under the water was harmless enough.. kind of. It as a black-lit watery realm filled with neon hues of strange parasitic sealife that lived as one within the cavern’s belly. Each strange plant and creature had its own energy, which was one cause of the build up against the watery black surface. As the cavern was still and dim but had colorful flare with its energy.. under the water world was a neon trove of living movement.

[15:33] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] suddenly [b]JUMPS[/b] out of the water, and grabs Retkan by the hips, pulling her right in with him! Before long, the two re-surface, Beelze laughing the whole time as he swims in front of her. "[color=red]Hahahahaha!~ Gotcha! Sorry, but I just [b]had[/b] to take advantage of that. C'mon! It's [b]awesome[/b] down there! Let's swim below![/color]" The demon insisted to his new companion. And... truthfully, it was hard to say [b]no[/b] to the guy when he was looking you in the eye like that! Such a kind stare... He releases her from that hold and backstrokes, letting her decide what they should do next. He was having the time of his life with her.


[15:48] [user]Retkan[/user]: [color=purple][b]“WAH?!”[/b][/color] Retkan was caught entirely off guard, being pulled under the water. Her worry was replaced with a tight, pursed-lipped smile that brightened the blush to her cheeks as she surfaced once more, hair soaked and draped down. [sub]It was so damn long. No wonder she kept it tied up![/sub] [color=purple]“Y-yes, yes you did get me! And now we are both wet!”[/color] Retkan laughed loudly, a giddy sound that echoed as she splashed at Beelzebub lightly.. only to get caught up in that [b][i]Beelzestare[/i][/b] soon after. She melted a little, glancing away shyly and back to him.. shy glance away again.. So conflicted! Her smile softened, and she nodded with excitement, hair whipping more water at Beelzebub. [color=purple]“I.. I have not been below before! It seems.. bright! Different!”[/color] And as Beelzebub backstroked, she swam forward and floated up, only to drop down upon his chest in a hug! [color=purple][b]“Yes!”[/b][/color] [i]Someone who wanted to explore with her... [/i]

Retkan all too happily went to tug Beelzebub under, bubbles escaping her as she gazed about the multiple caverns with their eerily lit passageways. For all of her time spent there, she had not once been under the surface.... and her eyes were wide with delighted experience of [b]potential![/b] She grinned, spinning in front of Beelzebub to give his nose a small playful poke before she took off ahead!


[15:56] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] was keen on following her! At the very least, when it came to swimming-- He was [b]more[/b] than capable of triumphantly thundering through the water like a shark! Now [b]this[/b] was where it's at! As they made their path through the fluorescent tunnels that surrounded them, taking in this deep, almost lonely and captivating scenery, it further cemented just how [b]wrong[/b] he felt Retkan's dependency on Nitmer was. It was bad enough that he'd purposefully prohibit her from actively enjoying herself and taking risks into the unknown like this, but from the way she talked, how little she knew in contrast to how "in-the-grapevine" Nitmer seemed, he was actively withholding knowledge of the outside world to her! Allowing her mind to stagnate in that unjust mediocrity of little thought! How cruel! It made his blood boil slightly... He needed to have a nice, long talk with the guy-- But at the same time, he was much too absorbed with what was transpiring at the moment.

Not a single one of his previous dates were as free-spirited and [b]adventurous[/b] as Retkan. How didn't he see it before? What he previously regarded as alien and intimidating, he'd come to know and appreciate a lot faster than even he expected to. Was this how she felt when she met him? Makes about as much sense as you'd think... It seemed for long minutes on end they swam, until they resurface in an entirely new area-- Glittering rocks litter the cavern to illuminate the way forth onto a sandy shore. "[color=red]...I know I've said it before... But this place is [b]amazin'.[/b] Yer amazin', Retkan. Can't believe Nitmer would wanna keep ya from this... [b]Why?[/b][/color]" He asked himself, her and him, wherever he was. What was he so afraid of that he wouldn't allow her to breathe in what she found interesting if it didn't hurt her?

[16:15] [user]Retkan[/user]: She was not a strong swimmer.. [i]rather the opposite![/i] But at least the Echo Cavern seemed to come to her defense at times with underwater tendrils reaching forth and propelling her further with powerful pushes to her socked feet to send her whizzing about Beelzebub like some underwater wind up toy spiraling about. Each new thing was made note of, [i][b]had to be touched![/b][/i] Even a rather frightening fish that was more gnarly TEETH than fish or scales got an under-the-chin-scritch as if it were some tame domesticated baby ball of chinchilla fluff. Retkan trusted nothing there to harm her. [i]But no wonder she had NO sense of personal space! Nothing around her seemed to![/i]

As they surfaced, Retkan was propelled upwards in a small geyser, and so was Beelzebub! Retkan went to latch onto him in a hug and pull him back under with her only to resurface once more.. and she noticed the glittering rocks and white crystaline shore. It was so... different! Her cheeks couldn’t help but redden with Beelzebub’s words as she floated around him, just bobbing like.. well.. a fish to a hook really. Even with so much around to explore, her interest was locked on him. Then came more Magical babble. [color=purple]“Well.. the Echo Cavern does not like him... and.. he does not like when I do too much around energy. This is full of energy.. So I have many contingency plans and insurances set up to protect it and release the energy through the Fragment’s impulses to cease and mend any rifts that form from distortions or deterioration. But it is... taxing without Nitmer.. He is strong enough to drain the energy, even absorb it so I can use it for later to mend the rifts and retain new fragments or transport them before they cease to exist to be destroyed for new creation and ambient power.. and usually after this.. I do fall asleep. And that is... never good.”[/color] [i]Of course not! What happened when she fell asleep?[/i] Well the last times, she woke up thinking she was DEAD and killed by Fu! Then she woke up and found out that wasn’t true and Nitmer was all angsty and upset.. and moping around to the point she had to turn him into a cat! And at another time, she woke up with that wound that became a scar... [color=purple]“I just.. I have learned to trust him. That is his job. He knows what is best for me usually... but.. I don’t know.. things change.. and now that we are not just the two of us anymore, I want to know more and see more and do more.. but still keep my Fragments and find new ones. Nitmer... he is.. much much stronger than I am.. so like the Echo Cavern, I have contingency plans and insurances on him too. I.. apparently thought of that when we met.. so I am glad I was smart back then... he also knows things like.. dreams? Everyone has those? The images in the mind for sleeping?... I.. I do not. I never have and never do.. There is a nothing. He understands the mind and dreams but he does not understand that or does not tell me."[/color]

[16:28] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] crawls onto the shore, and flops back. He figures Retkan would do the same thing, sidling up to him and look up at that glittering ceiling above. Not once did it seem like his interest in her was waning-- Quite the opposite! He was deeply invested in everything she had to say, for it gave him further clarity to his following actions after this supposed date had concluded. Another beat of silence was shared between them, and Beelzebub broke through yet again with words of his own. "[color=red]Just 'cause he's stronger than you, doesn't mean he knows what's best for you. Only you do. Back when I still lived with my dad, I had fights with him a lot about succeeding the throne n' whatever. The man. Would not. Give it a [b]rest.[/b] N' so one day, out of all the genius in my head, I asked him: "If you're so focused on having me be king, why can't you be this focused on being a dad?" Shut him up right quick. Didn't really [b]expect[/b] it to, but, the followin' days... weeks... months... [b]years[/b] after, he started layin' off, but kept at it. Though, less with a persistence that said "[b]Just do this already.[/b]" and more... "[b]Do this if you WANT to.[/b]" It's still my choice, and it'd make him happy... But it's still [b]my[/b] choice, y'know? What I'm gettin' at, Retkan-- Is if all the things that make you happy make Nitmer antsy or angry or whatever the heck he wants to mope about... [b]Who cares?[/b] The important thing is that you're [b]livin'[/b] despite being stuck in such crummy circumstances. You don't know who you are, where you come from, why you're as strong as you are or why you're even doin' all of this besides it taking some of your time. Well, I say that's okay! The you of yesterday doesn't exactly represent the you of today. Nitmer doesn't want to let you move on. I say move on anyway. I'm happy you trust him, but... I'm sayin' ya need to trust [b]you[/b], too. Know what I mean?... Ack, m-my bad! I uh... [sub]Kinda ramble when I'm given time to. Shit.[/sub] Uh-- Look. Just... I'm just happy to be here. With you. Right now. Away from all that crazy. Dabura knows I could use a break sometimes from duckin' Uncle Mira, tryin' not to eyeball Aunt Towa, or just sorta slide outta Fu's experiments on a daily basis. They're all nutbars, and I can understand if other people see 'em as... Bad guys... But uh... They're still [b]my family.[/b] They'll always be! Even if they end up hating me, I could never bring myself to hate them back. I guess that's what you feel with Nitmer, n' I get it... Point being...[/color]"

Beelzebub rolls over in the sand, in order to stare right at her. [sub]Again with those blasted disarming eyes.[/sub] "[color=red]Give yourself a reason to dream, to have fun, to [b]love[/b] if you have to, even if it hurts the people around you. They'll understand once they see you genuinely happy. Be [b]bold[/b], Retkan.[/color]" He pleaded softly.

[16:58] [user]Retkan[/user]: She indeed followed after Beelzebub, climbing out onto shore and.. shaking wildly, much like  dog. Her hair was wrung out and then she just flopped next to him, her chin resting upon his chest so she could watch him—rather than that glittering ceiling. She listened most curiously. Royalty and thrones were beyond her mostly, but she knew the concept. That’s right.. Beelzebub was.. important, a royal. So she tugged her chin off of him to lay next to him and gaze up at that ceiling now. That was part of the whole.. respect concept.. [color=purple]“See.. you are strong and have family, and know how to act and react, to behave and what is expected and how to.. do things proper. As for me and Nitmer.. what is best for me.. No.. I don’t. I.. I have almost been killed many times.. because I do not know many things. Nitmer protects me. He knows much more than I do and it has been proven MANY times... including when we thought we were killed.. even though I.. [b]Fu would not do that.[/b] [i]I may not know him, but I know enough that I do think he would not hurt subjects in that way, especially if they are still of use to study and it does not involve them in battle..[/i]. but for us?.. The feeling was.. [b]real[/b].. and different.. and I still have.. magical problems even more than I did before... it’s why I borrowed you and made it so after this.. you will go to your own time one minute from when I borrowed you, [b]nice and safe.[/b]”[/color] She did not trust herself... [color=purple]“Move on?.. Well.. That is why [b]I am here with you.[/b] Why I do not want to return to our pocket dimension beyond time within the Timestream Nexus. I cannot now anyways.. and it makes my back hurt.. our backs hurt. He feels it too... but.. Yes, I am here and I am.. well.. existing! With others! [b]With you![/b] And this is.. is so much better than the.. yes.. nutbars. Nitmer is a nutbar too! He can be. He has gotten worse since meeting your nutbars. [sub]Our nutbars may not get along.. but as long as they stay nutbars and do not turn into dust, this is good.[/sub] I may not be able to bring them back like I could bring others back before.. I say buffoon instead of nutbars because Nitmer’s comic book pictures had the word and he explained it. He is a buffoon but he is my buffoon. [i]You.. understand. He is family.[/i] It was just.. me for too long and then us two for too long I suppose..”[/color]

That [b]BeelzeSTARE[/b]... Retkan’s gaze turned to his and the redness to her light lavender cheeks rose all the more. Thankfully she was oblivious to the symptom of crush essence and brimming nonsense. Yep. [b]Nonsense. [/b]It’s there as she tries to logic his words! Especially with his pleading... [color=purple]“But Beelzebub... ...[b]You are that reason.[/b] I have fun with you. I [i]know [/i]it hurts Nitmer. He.. You were his first friend I think. Like Fu is mine. [sub]Or the pink one I.. kinda remember.. She was.. before Fu.[/sub]”[/color] But just trying to THINK of that made her wince sharply in a sudden headache that faded as fast as it came on. [color=purple]“But yes. And he.. he does not like us to spend time but.. he also does kind of.. and.. I LIKE the time with you.. so.. that is me being bold. This is me being bold. Because.. I like you. So.. I have shared my most special Fragment with you, and I will show you a Glimpse to explain me and Nitmer.. and.. [i]and I will give you a Glimpse of this time I borrowed you for![/i] [b]YES! That is perfect! A Glimpse for you![/b] Can I do this? Would you like to have a Glimpse?”[/color] She had no idea if anyone even knew what a Glimpse was besides herself with her odd terms.

[17:04] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] leans his head up slightly upon her mentioning that sort of thing. A [b]Glimpse?[/b] Hell, that's more than he could ever ask from her! It's [b]perfect![/b] Gently moving her off and allowing her to sit herself back up, Beelze follows her motion, folding his legs inwards, and crossing his arms together with an insatiably excited grin crossing his face. "[color=red]Sure! Why the heck not, right? You've already impressed me with this whole Echo Cavern... [sub]I wanna come back sometime, anyway.[/sub] Maybe this can shed some light on my questions... [sub]It could shed some light on [b]everything.[/b][/sub][/color]" Beelzebub outwardly hoped. This could be his chance to piece together his own interpretation on what Retkan and Nitmer's own pasts were like, even if it's just a loose thread from the demon girl's failing memory, [b]anything[/b] would be good enough to infer just how deep into this proverbial rabbit hole he should go. Yes. He needs to see this for himself. He doesn't know what a [b]Glimpse[/b] entails from her context... But it's better than nothing! He looks over to her with an expectant, encouraging smile.

[17:19] [user]Retkan[/user]: She smiled brightly and scooted onto her knees, hands held together in a clasp. [i]Normally a Glimpse was.. easy peasy![/i] It was just a selective memory or moment set into magic form as a little energy ball to be gazed upon and watched! An energy divination orb of a past moment of time! However this was... [i][b]taxing.[/b][/i] Fu’s seal upon her was not something she could really handle and it had only been curbed enough to allow this trek out of [b]PURE SHEER WILL[/b]... [sub]and a bit of help from a freaky energy entity not at all her own![/sub] The small green orb flickered and whirled above her knuckles, but did not fully settle. It was all.. static-y and [b]crackling.[/b] [color=purple]“Erm.. Wait for it to.. to stop.. doing [b]that.[/b] Then touch it and you can watch it...[i] That uh.. is not supposed to happen[/i]...”[/color] However, this moment was fresh, in the here and now... so with another focus, a second orb appeared above the first.. just a simple calm ball of energy that took on a physical form of a green glass orb. It was handed to Beelzebub. [color=purple]“This one you can touch now. You can hold it and think of this here and now.. and you can watch us here and now, without us being here and now.”[/color] The second crackling orb she just eyed with [b]disdain and a sour pout[/b] before summoning a pouch and setting it inside, handing it to Beelzebub. [color=purple]“That one must settle... and that.. this is all I.. I can do..”[/color] That tired look came over her HARD and she looked like she was about to faceplant.. but kept her soft smile.. even as Beelzebub began to take on a more transparent form and glow white. The Time Recall spell was working its magic to take him back soon. [color=purple]“Beelzebub... Thank you.. for sharing this moment with me. It is a time I.. I will always be happy for.”[/color] And as he had done before to her, she reaches forth to actually tickle under [i]his[/i] chin now.
[17:25] *[user]Beelzebro[/user] took the orb into his arms, peering at it curiously. This was... Practically a [b]recording[/b] of this exact date they went on! Incredible! And it made his cheeks burn something fierce. And then the second orb which he took as well, letting it settle into a pouch for later viewing. [sub]Just what was lurking in [b]that one[/b] that had Retkan exert herself so much? It greatly worried him, of course.[/sub] As the Time Recall spell began to take effect, he began to panic slightly, grabbing into Retkan with all intent to [b]never[/b] let go of her, and hugging her tightly. "[color=red]W-Wait! Hang on, Retkan! There's so much I want to say! I had fun too... Don't worry-- We'll unlock your past together! That's a promise! The promise of someone who [b]lo--[/b][/color]" And without warning, he'd disappeared into thin air, yanked back into the strands of time to his own homeland... And away from Retkan, leaving her with that moment of serendipity and satisfaction that she'd [b]finally[/b] had her little moment of exploration with someone who truly cared about her... And, thankfully, vice versa! The Echo Caverns were a little lonelier now... But all the grateful that a new, [b]proper[/b] guest was brought into its belly like that, surely.
[17:27] [user]Superboy Jon Kent[/user] has left the channel.
[17:41] [user]Retkan[/user]: She swallowed hard and went to hug Beelzebub. That was a clinging, warm tight hug that tried to just.. convey everything she felt. Serendipity and satisfaction indeed! It lasted for just a split moment before Beelzebub was gone.. and he was back at Sandland. L[i]iterally one minute from when she had actually borrowed him, despite the time that had passed![/i]

Eventually that Glimpse.. that orb.. it would settle.. The green orb was alight, glowing and radiating with a strange energy that just seemed to be calling, begging for a touch. Upon touching it, the Glimpse flickered a little before two figures took shape within. However, one figure loomed, gray eyes peering at the watcher, poking at the shell of the orb like a fish from within, with fishbowl effect and all! Retkan was investigating!

[color=purple]“Nitmer, is it working? I can’t tell if it’s working.”[/color] [color=red]“It’s working Retkan. Trust me. Your magic always works! Why do you doubt yourself all the damn time? And whoever is watching is getting an eye full of your pretty face right now. Come on! Let’s get this picture rolling!”[/color] [color=purple]“Pictures do not roll Nitmer..”[/color] [color=red]“It’s an expression!”[/color] [color=purple]“What emotion does it express?”[/color] [color=red]“Not THAT kind of expression! Tch... You know we’re being watched still, right?”[/color] [color=purple]“Eeek!”[/color]

Retkan finally pulled her face back from the orb and finally they stood there. One could note she lacked the scar on her cheek. The two demons were side by side, the female standing with hands held in front of her and Nitmer, the male putting his broad arm over her petite shoulders.

[color=purple]“Hello there! If you’re watching this, then you’ve been pre-selected! You’ve been observed and have shown great potential! And that’s what we’re all about! First we should introduce ourselves! This is Nitmer. He’s my attendant, friend, and second in charge.”[/color] [color=red]“Hell-to-the-o! This is Retkan. She’s mine! Er.. My boss! And friend. Teacher. And pretty much everything that furthers my awesome! And together...”[/color]

Retkan leaned into Nitmer and her right hand went up to hold his right over her shoulders, their left hands rising to hold one another over their heads in perfect practiced pose! [color=green][b]“We’re the Renegades!”[/b][/color]

Retkan was trying to not laugh as her cheeks reddened, while Nitmer held his huge cheesy grin.

[color=red]“So what are the Renegades? Besides us? Well that’s fucking easy to answer! But uh.. I’ll let Retkan do it since she’s the.. smart one here..”[/color] [color=purple]“Renegade. It means the unconventional, one who goes against the standard normal of their kind, society, faction—whatever you want to call it! My friend Chronoa came up with it!”[/color] [color=red]“It means you’re fucking weird! Like us!”[/color] [color=purple]“Nitmer!”[/color] [color=red]“What? They aaaaaare!”[/color] [color=purple]“Also, language! You said those are bad words and we do NOT want bad impressions!”[/color]


[17:41] [user]Retkan[/user]: Retkan broke pose to elbow Nitmer in the gut before her hands came to rest in front of her again. [color=purple]“What we mean is.. You’re different. Unique. Special. Like us, you want a place to belong that will accept you, not just tolerate the fact you exist. Or hurt you because of it either. We want to offer that to you!”[/color] [color=red]“We also do some fun shit!”[/color] [color=purple]“Nitmer! Language! Uhm.. anyways.. yes, we do have some fun. As a Renegade, we explore broken, lost, forgotten and ruined times through what we call the Timestream. Now I know exploring time sounds dangerous!”[/color] [color=red]“It is!”[/color] [color=purple]“But not the way we do it! We don’t meddle in actual timelines and affairs that need to play out. What we do is vastly different.. We collect the lost or those otherwise doomed in their timeline and could use another attempt, a chance for life.”[/color] [color=red]“Like me. I was about to die a most fucking awful shitastic death of deaths until Retkan here paused everything. I mean EVERYTHING at the last moment.. Pretty much snatched my ass up and we were out!”[/color] [color=purple]“And I calculated everything so precise that it would be taken as his body was obliterated by the energy attack he was too weak to withstand, so no one would miss him!”[/color] [color=red]“Weak? Not missed? I kinda feel insulted here..”[/color] [color=purple]“Point is! We did not disturb time. So no issue with the Time Patrol! I kind of have a friendship with Chronoa who apparently handles time as the.. Kai of Supremes?.. Urgh.. why can I not remember these important things... While it doesn’t mean we’re off the radar, we do get some leeway.”[/color] [color=red]“But not from the Time Breakers.”[/color] [color=purple]“Oh.. yes.. them... See, many of our lost ones do actually come from them in a way. However, we avoid that group at all costs because Chronoa says to, so you will too.”[/color] [color=red]“Fuck yeah! We don’t need any other time meddling demons or time breaking anyone’s trying to crash our party! Besides.. uh.. they can be a bit intense from what we understand..”[/color] [color=purple]“Umm.. Okay Nitmer.. Yes. So, best to avoid them! That said.. we would like you to join us! Are you interested in closing rifts, opening rifts, exploring space and time, and pretty much helping those who are lost or otherwise doomed and have no place to go?”[/color] [color=red]“If so, punch the green thingy in front of you!”[/color] [color=purple]“NO! Do not punch the Glimpse! No punching! You need only put your hand up against it.. and one of us, or another Renegade, will come to you!”[/color] [color=red]“Retkan, there’s only two of us, what do you mean another Renegade? You replacing my ass already??..”[/color] [color=purple]“I mean that by the time someone sees this, we might have expanded our group a little. Relax Nitmer. You’re irreplaceable! Don’t be so paranoid, and mind your language. We’ll need to do at least four of these to pick out the best one. Anyways! Yes, use this to call one of us and we can help you settle in or begin your training to become a Renegade.”[/color] [color=red]“Looking forward to meeting ya!”[/color] [color=purple]“As am I! Uh.. toodles! Toodles is a fare well good bye, right?”[/color] [color=red]"Yeup."[/color]

Retkan and Nitmer both struck up their pose again, before breaking off the hands held overhead to wave. And the Glimpse froze, showing that image of the two oddly cheery best friend demons.