[h3][color=slategray]Nahargu'ul[/color] and [b]Iuppiter[/b][/h3]
[i]Written with [@JunkMail][/i].

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At last, someone pleasant to associate with, at least by the Sea-Fiend’s standards. As Iuppiter took his seat among the three-out-of-four Primals, Nahargu’ul turned and asked him a relatively simple question.

“Excited?”

Iuppiter turned to the god he considered his closest brother and nodded.

“Very much so. I cannot wait to see the world again. It’s been too long.”

Iuppiter opened his mouth as if to say something, but hesitated. He thought for a moment, trying to find his words. He stroked his beard and leaned onto the arm of his chair closest to Nahargu’ul.

“And you? Are you excited?”

“Ah…” Nahargu’ul began, “I would be lying if I were to say not. But… I dread to say that I am expectant of a… [i]less than pleasant[/i] state of things, upon our return.” He paused for a moment more, before adding, “Five centuries is nothing to us, but… to mortals, it is several lifetimes over worth of spreading their [i]filth[/i] wherever they can. You recall the running waters full of [i]refuse[/i] that I dealt with so vehemently?”

“Aye, I remember you being particularly angry with Yigzavath about it too.” Iuppiter said, his lips splitting into a wide smile. He imitated his fellow primal, waving his arms around loosely as if he was trying to be an angry octopus.

“Heh. True. But not [i]all[/i] of it was the Filthmonger’s doing.” Nahargu’ul said, glaring a bit at Yigzavath, who simply had his rotten, hive-riddled hands folded over the table, twitching slightly, waiting patiently - and yes, [i]angrily[/i] - for this deal to be done. Nahargu’ul narrowed his eyes and continued, “Much of it was on part of the mortals themselves. Tossing their waste into rivers, spoiled cargo over the sides of their ships… so much time without any intervention… it’ll look absolutely [i]horrid[/i].”

“I dont think it’ll be [i]that[/i] bad. Nothing we can’t clean up.” Iuppiter said, ever optimistic. He thought on Nahargu’ul’s words for a moment before he added his own thoughts.

“Will be interesting if they manage to invent flight one day. Their air pollution from fires is small now. Hopefully we can get some… good habits into them.” he said. He looked over the sea-fiend once again and seemed to sense his worry. “If you want any assistance, I’d be happy to help in anything I can do. They all know how good we are at… working together.”

“I may beckon the occasional strike of lightning.” Nahargu’ul replied, reclining in his seat. “In truth… I’m not [i]all[/i] so morose about it. Gives me… something to do, after all. Breaks the monotony of the ocean. At least, it will, for a time. Then, undoubtedly, things will settle again.” He sighed through his veritable [i]beard[/i] of tentacles. “I’ll have to savor the years, I suppose.”

“Should travel with me some, when that time comes.” Iuppiter offered, his whole demeanor changing to a more hopeful one. He knew Nahargu’ul very rarely left water. Maybe a few new experiences could do his friend some good. “Mortal or not, they sure know how to cook!”

“Maybe.” Was the Sea-Fiend’s response, expressing what [i]had[/i] to be a smirk with that unpleasant mess of a face. “Though you know my considerations towards the mainland. It’s just… so [i]lacking[/i] in the freedom of open water.” Another pause. “Such as unpleasant as any god would feel, outside of the one place they hold power over. Though, saying that to [i]you[/i] is…”

Again, he stopped. And sighed.

“Nevermind.”

Iuppiter reached over and patted the Sea-Fiend on the shoulder.

“The god of the sky walked the land like a man an era ago and will so again. Maybe the king of the sea should consider walking among our creations? They are after all, seventy percent water.” Iuppiter said, trying (and failing) to suppress the chuckle that followed. But it seemed the humor was lost on Nahargu’ul, who simply nodded in reply, and turned his head away, scanning the rest of the present Pantheon silently.