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The Utopia Realm, Twilight's Castle: Theater's Room, Time: 12:50 AM
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In the theater room, a bunch of soldiers are sleeping in their pajamas, all wearing identical white pilot hats on their heads.
It was litter in absolute trash with popcorn buckets, cups of wine, and trays of leftover food.
The TV shows an anthropomorphic bunny and wolf about to kiss before abruptly cutting to the "Fin" title card.
"What...WHAT A FUCKING RIP-OFF!"
A man with brown bob-cut hair and white highlights on the front of his bangs, still in his black and white checker pajamas, expresses his annoyance.
"All of that romance shit, all that build-up for Rhina and Wolfy Romance. They throw all of it away for some side character's wife!" The man is irritated but doesn't want to stand up in anger, as a woman with long neon green hair rests in his lap.
"BULLSH*T! I CALL IT, BULLSH*T! RIGHT, HARLOT?!" He looks over to Harlot, who wears a sleeping blind mask with eyes on it, holding up a sign labeled 'Yup, so true Quartz.'
The sign quickly slips from her hand as she falls asleep, lacking sleep from Quartz's movie night.
"How...How dare you?!" Quartz is about to lunge at her before the door swings open.
"Ooooh, Quartz~"
Aether coos, looking around to find him before spotting him in front of the TV. "Ah, there you are!"
"Aether, whatcha want? Make it quick before I try to rip your eyes out." Quartz grabs his lady and shifts to the other side of his lap as Aether sits beside him.
"I got a job, and I require your help!" Aether stated Quartz lets out a 'tch' before deciding to hear her out.
"I want you to get upgrades for our dear Messengers of The Beyond at The Culture Festival," Aether smirks, raising a poster with the announcement of The Culture Festival.
"Alright, what's in it for me to do? You know I am so fucking pissed beyond belief right now?" Quartz stated, pointing at the visible vein on his forehead.
Aether sweatdropped at him, they don't understand Quartz, and his interest in a bad romance movie. "Well, you will be extra rich!" Aether needs to learn how to reward him properly.
"I already am piss rich. So money doesn't interest me much." Quartz stated, stretching his arm.
His toned body was wrapped around his tight shirt, almost not leaving a single air in the shirt.
"Ooooh! Nice build, I thought you were skinny since you use your bow most of the time." Aether pats his back, causing a flinch on Quartz from how hard their hand feels.
Quartz sighed, rubbing his back. "Thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately, I am not interested in someone who's in their menopause." He chuckled a little with a proud smile.
"Ooo, I could feel that." Aether closed their eye and shrugged, an insult like that doesn't hurt their feeling that much.
"Well, how about a new eldritch cartridge?" Aether continued their bargain with Quartz setting his girl aside for a bit.
"I already have too much of it. I suppose you would give me that cheap one that's made for a kid." Quartz started to pick up the trash that his crew was causing.
"Oh, come on! I am trustworthy!" Aether was in front of Quartz as he looked up at them.
"See?" Aether starts giving him the good ol' puppy dog eyes. It was the face of innocence that Aether had never seen in their time.
Quartz remains unfazed and starts to pick up the trash again, "Yeah, I am not doing that."
"Awww! Okay, how about your first-ever adopted son?" Aether clapped their hand together, forming a green aura before drawing the shape of a circle, creating a green slime.
"Isn't he just precious?'" Aether rubbed their cheek on the slime, trying to simulate cuddling it.
Quartz simply put the trash down for a bit and slowly walked up to Aether.
"I'm gonna call you Winston-"
Quartz suddenly smacked the slime out of Aether's hand and splattered it all over the wall, killing it instantly.
"I'm not ready for children yet," Quartz stated with Aether just looking at the wall that once was their newborn creature a second ago.
Aether stared at the slimy remains splattered across the wall in dismay. "Well, there goes that idea..."
They shook their head and turned back to Quartz, undeterred. "Okay, let's try this again. What would motivate the great Quartz to lend me his talents?"
Quartz scowled, going back to picking up trash. "As I said, I'm not interested in children or money. Maybe try thinking of something else I might want."
Pursuing their black lips in thought, Aether pondered what sort of rewards could tempt this ill-tempered archer. Suddenly, their eyes lit up.
"Aha! I've got it!" Aether snapped their fingers and a glossy movie poster materialized. "An exclusive, never-before-seen film guaranteed to satisfy your..." They eyed Quartz's brooding expression. "...unique romantic sensibilities."
Quartz paused, eyeing the poster warily. It featured a buxom woman swooning against a heavily muscled, shirtless man on the cover. The title read: "My Immortal Lover's Furry Embrace."
"...You're offering me some kind of low-budget werewolf porn?" Quartz said flatly.
Aether faltered. "N-No! Well...perhaps a bit...salacious in premise. But I'm told the storyline has incredible depth and nuance! Tender, heart-wrenching romance at its finest!"
Letting out a derisive snort, Quartz turned away. "As if I'd stoop that low. I have standards, you know."
Gritting their teeth in frustration, Aether banished the tacky poster. "Okay, okay...how about this then?"
With a wave of their hand, a replica formed of the movie Rhina and Wolfy Romance that had so deeply disappointed Quartz. "The director's extended cut! Four hours of simmering romantic tension, lingering gazes, lush moonlit walks..."
Quartz froze, the trash falling from his hands as he slowly turned towards the proffered film. "You...you'd give me the original, undiluted vision? Before the studio bastardized it?"
Aether grinned victoriously. "But of course! A refined connoisseur like yourself deserves only the most overblown, melodramatic—"
"Deal!" Quartz immediately snatched the replica, cradling it reverently. "I'll get those upgrades for your stupid festival or whatever. Just let me bask in Rhina and Wolfy's slow-burn longing in peace!"
Chuckling at having finally struck a bargain, Aether clapped Quartz on the back. "Excellent! I knew you were a hopeless romantic at heart."
As the archer hurried off to his quarters, clutching his new prize, Aether shook their head in amusement. Sappy melodramas and cringe-worthy teen flings - the things they had to deal with to further their plans. All in a day's work for a schemer like themself.
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The Utopia Realm, Twilight's Castle: Skyline, Time: 12:50 AM
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Abel stood gazing out over the perpetual twilit skyline, Ren's comforting presence beside him.
Their momentary respite was interrupted by a shimmering green sigil materializing before them.
"Why, hello there my favorite nephew!" Aether's smirking visage appeared in the magical projection. "Don't look so glum - your doting aunt has arrived to brighten your day!"
Abel couldn't help but smile faintly at his aunt's typical dramatic flair. "Aether. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Pish posh, no need for such formalities!" Aether waved a dismissive hand. "I simply desired to check in on my brilliant boy's latest world-altering project. How goes the Artificial Sun Initiative?"
Abel's expression turned focused, all business. "The synthesis is nearing completion as planned. My team has nearly cracked the calculations required to stabilize the quantum singularity at the core."
Ren arched an elegant eyebrow. "You make replicating the birth of a star sound so trivial, dear."
"Mere child's play compared to your sorcerous talents, my lady," Abel replied with a wry smile.
Aether rolled their eyes good-naturedly. "Yes, yes, you two scientists are terribly impressive, we know. But more importantly - when can we bask in this artificial glory and finally bid good riddance to the endless night?"
"If all remains on schedule, the ignition sequence should be viable within the quarter," Abel reported crisply. "Assuming no further...unforeseen disruptions from our uninvited guests."
The statement hung pointedly in the air. Aether lifted their hands in protest.
"Now nephew, you know those rambunctious Lost Inquisitors have my utmost priority! Why, I already have the esteemed Quartz procuring vital enhancements for dealing with the little hellions."
Abel frowned sternly at his aunt. "This is no joking matter. Their meddling jeopardizes everything we've worked to achieve. I will not allow their chaos to derail the Realm's ascension."
"Agreed," Ren said, her crimson eyes flashing. "We must neutralize this threat once and for all before the Ignition."
Aether raised a placating hand. "And so we shall, fear not. Trust your favorite aunt to handle the unruly children. You just keep that brilliant mind focused on birthing our new dawn."
Abel held his aunt's knowing gaze a moment longer before giving a curt nod of acceptance. "Very well. We will continue preparations as planned."
"Excellent!" Aether clapped their hands together delightedly. "I'll leave you two lover to your star-forging then. Do give my rascally regards to that brother of yours, won't you?"
With a wink, Aether's visage winked out. Abel sighed deeply, turning back to the darkening skies with Ren.
"Sometimes I wonder if she understands the full gravity of what we're attempting," he muttered.
Ren merely smiled knowingly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "She understands enough to play her part. As must we all, for the Ignition."
Together, they gazed out at the coming artificial dawn they would potentially unleash upon this benighted realm. No matter the cost, the night would end.
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