This is part 4 in a series in which Chaos-Two is searching for a gardener (or multiple).

Part 1 is here --> Job Interview: The Sentinel

Part 2 is here --> Job Interview: Oliver

Part 3 is here --> Job Interview: Diot

Chaos-Two was so so happy to have gotten not one, but two gardeners to follow him, not to mention both would be willing to mentor him in healing! He took up Oliver on the offer so that Diot could focus on the garden more, but it was still amazing!

Master Vargas was going to be so proud of him... Hopefully Master Vargas thought it adequate. Maybe their eagerness to complete this task and do it rather early by the standards the Leviathan had given them would add to Vargas' pleasure.

"Alright, I'm going to call the Sentinel now," Chaos-Two said, making sure Diot was still hanging on before he turned back to Oliver, brows furrowed, "... I don't know if the Sentinel will react the way you're hoping. Maybe, but I doubt it."

They'd raised the Sentinel, they knew how the Sentinel generally was, and they doubted he'd changed that much. Stoic, monotone, practically emotionless. There was no caring in him, as far as Chaos-Two could tell, and it broke their heart a little. Chaos... it ruined people. Turned what could have been flourishing personalities into monsters hellbent on destruction. Or in the Sentinel's case, taking every scrap of emotion away.

Chaos-Two didn't like corruption.

"Sentinel!", they called out, "I've returned! Oliver is here."

@The Sentinel @Oliver @Diot

The Sentinel stepped forward, halberd stiffly in hand, the butt of it resting against the rock. Ghostly eyes regarded the incoming trio; from beneath the faint shadows wisping across his form, he examined them.

"It returns," he rasped, his voice a hollow rattle. Gaze shifted to the visitors. "And it brings others," he observed. He studied Diot only briefly; memorized the tiny shape, wondered what use it could possibly have. Magic, perhaps. Size was no indicator of that. His scrutiny swept back to Oliver, and he offered a dispassionate observation.

"It expressed a desire to meet, but it did not come. Swallowed, perhaps, by the twisting tunnels. Now it knows where to find it." A brief pause, his indifference evident in every line of his body--he was already looking back to Chaos-Two. "The Master lingers near the darkened Spire."

Nothing else was offered, though the Sentinel stepped aside, his attention sweeping back down the tunnel along which the three had come.

Any hope--hope that had cautiously gradually grown, swelling and trickling up in him as they travelled--sank away as the Sentinel regarded him. He'd come up alongside and behind Chaos-Two, blue eyes wide, looking at the shape that had grown so much since last he'd seen.

It still didn't look like his father--the Dad that he remembered was just a dog, quadrupedal and hefty, square-headed and solemn-faced. The creature his father had morphed into right before the end, though--Sentinel sort of resembled that. If a... skeletal, horrific, glowing version of it.

"So, you didn't-..." ...want to see me? came the finished thought, unspoken, because how wretched and pathetic did that sound? His voice was already meek, and hurt, and he sank a little where he stood.

Damn-... That burned. He'd been under the impression that the Sentinel had wanted to see him--that's what Chaos-Two had told him. He fired a questioning, confused glance to his guide, then looked back to Sentinel, brow furrowed-... But it didn't really seem the time to ask about it now. Not with him already directing them to Vargas-... and looking away.

For an instant, it was like losing his father all over again, and Oliver's gaze lingered on the Oil-stained Onyx that lingered on this stranger's chest. My stone, he thought, sadly; my father's stone. And look what it had become.

Quiet, he crept the other way--a little further into Draco, as if to indicate that he was ready to move on. He could try to talk to the Sentinel later. Right now, he knew, he'd need to focus on why he was here.

Blue eyes squinted a little at Draco's Voidlit emptiness. "...It doesn't really look like a good place for farming, does it?" he mused, aloud--but wait, hadn't Chaos-Two said something about the garden being grown outside it-? "I still bet I could, though, if you wanted plants to grow here too," he added, thoughtful. A ton of fake lights and water, and some dirt brought in in baskets as he'd done for Canis, and--well, it'd be a lot of work, but impossible was not a word he much used.

The journey to Canis went well and now they were approaching the part of the caves that were deemed to be Draco. Diot had never been this far out, so he was taking in every detail of well everything! Flora, fauna, and the twisting paths of the caves as well as which tunnels to take for the fastest and hopefully safest way back home in between his shifts. V-Chaos-Two was a very kind gembound, though it was clear they had a lot riding on this task they were given by their Master; Vargas.

Oliver also seemed to be quite kind even with the small amount of time they had come to know each other. He was a black dog with ebony wings that mirrored their pelt in hues, unique and a comforting sight of traits of gembounds from his past and those he had only heard of when he himself was so young. Granted Diot was sure he'd come to known and learn more about Oliver in due time especially if this meeting with Vargas went accordingly and they both were to work together.

At this point, V-Chaos-Two had called someone... The Sentinel? Such another unique name, perhaps it was their title- or a naming convention in these parts; or those perhaps in The Chaos Forge?... Either way, they certainly looked the part and Diot waved to them in silent greeting. And even though the conversation wasn't really any of Diot's business...it was hard to NOT hear that Oliver and The Sentinel were perhaps connected in some way?... But...with how things seemed to be going he wasn't entirely sure from this new gembound's words...or what he managed to hear of Oliver's either...

Still, he could only hum, letting V-Chaos-Two do what he knew to do. Diot was but a guest here at this current time and he hoped he could offer help in a way that seemed fitting for Vargas to accept his offer. Oliver moved on ahead and Diot would remain upon V-Chaos-Two's shoulder unless requested otherwise. But soon he too took in the room of Draco and- well it looked a bit rough but...it had its charm in its own way as most rooms did. But he certainly hadn't seen a room quite like this. But that didn't seem to deter or discourage the marmoset, not one bit.

"I'm sure we can work with this, if we can build from ash and muck- then just some time and care will surely be enough."

Well...and magic too, Diot was very curious on how this place would go; especially since...something did feel off about this room...it was different- the air...and perhaps those who too walked within its confines. But he supposed not all of the cave would feel quite like home.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two clenched their jaw as the Sentinel spoke. Disappointment welled up within them, as well as guilt. They'd hoped so badly that maybe the Sentinel wanted to see someone, wanted to connect, but there was nothing there.

"... I thought he'd changed," he said to Oliver softly, ears pinning as he brushed past the Sentinel.

"We will not build the garden here," Chaos-Two said, "It will be outside in Pegasus. I fear the plants will only suffer if they are grown here, even if they are far away from the Black Spire. And eating contaminated plants won't bode well for anyone. It would be easier, too, to grow them outside. In the sun and in fertile soil with a water source nearby."

They stopped for a moment to smooth down their quills once they were far enough away from the Sentinel, eyes focused on the ground.

"My apologies," they said softly, "I had hoped for a reunion or something of the like. I am so sorry that I misunderstood."

Chaos-Two looked to Oliver briefly, mouth down-turned before they continued onward, ears down. But their dull demeanor didn't stay, and they forced themselves to look lively. Now they would meet the Leviathan.

"Master Vargas!", they called out, "May I speak with you?"

@Vargas (and Oliver) @Diot

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"Yes," came the bellowed response, off by the Black Spire, the voice somewhat distant. "Here," he added, just in case they missed it.

When the group drew closer, Vargas turned to regard them with a scrutinizing gaze. The little winged one--he recognized that one, had seen it before. The dead dog's child? One of them, yes. The tiny monkey was--well, tiny; there was no real other word for it. Vargas shifted his gaze last to Chaos-Two.

"Yes?" he asked, waiting.

Chaos-Two's words earned a gently dismissive shake of Oliver's head. "No, it's okay," he answered softly, and his expression was earnest.

And as for the plants-? He glanced around Draco again, pondering. "Have you tried?" he asked, with curiosity rather than any form of argument.

He turned his focus forward, toward Vargas: the lurking beast he'd seen outside the Trial. The one that had killed his father. He felt... wary, to say the least. A little resentful-? Maybe. He didn't like feeling that way. There were only a few Gembounds he'd ever met that he could really say he didn't like. Usually it took mass murder to manage that.

Vargas-... Had his actions been murder? Oliver thought so, on one hand. Or maybe it'd been the Merchant's fault. He really didn't know. But he'd agreed to come here, so he kept quiet, a bundle of black fur and feathers with blue eyes just watching Vargas without all that much expression.

He hoped the Master wouldn't turn on them, or treat them as his slaves, or harm Diot--the little primate was so small, and Oliver worried for him.

Diot hummed, V-Chaos-Two's knowledge of the land would be important so when they spoke up on where the farm and gardens would be he was keen to listen. Though the worry of contamination of something...called the Black Spire was- well worrying to say the least. Still he was curious, he knew nothing of this place but he had heard of one spire before; THE Spire- and to his knowledge most he had known before knew of it...but The Black Spire in a place such as this- well...That was news to him, as well as it was fitting in both the name and atmosphere of Draco.

Diot remained silent through a conversation that was not his, but he only shared with them in the solemn silence that followed. It did seem to be that Oliver and The Sentinel were perhaps connected in some way...but that was none of his concern and while he was a very curious gembound- he was not one to pry into details such as this when the reactions of both parties were clearly disappointed

V-Chaos-Two's dull demeanor left just as quick as it came and Diot could only give a pat of reassurance to the large gembound. It was time to meet the Master known as Vargas. In which- the voice alone bellowed across Draco from where they were now and...well Diot wasn't sure what exactly to expect but it certainly wasn't this.

They were enormous and violet, a form that he had not seen anywhere else in the caves. Well-the eyes...V-Chaos-Two had somewhat similar...perhaps similar species?... Related? He was not sure, but regardless of what who or anyone really was- Diot did not expect to see something akin to a leviathan in the flesh.

Vargas glanced them over and Diot could only wave in a small but warm hello. There was something in the back of his mind telling him perhaps this was a bit more than he bargained for. But- he would ignore it. He was raised all around giants and he was never one to judge solely on appearances. One's actions and reasoning spoke to what and who they truly were, and he hadn't see anything from Vargas just yet. Regardless though it was clear this giant, Vargas, commanded respect. And boy did Diot have questions galore, but now at least was not the time. He would let V-Chaos-Two and Vargas converse till it was.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two swallowed, "No. But it would be more difficult and Master Vargas already thinks that's where we are putting it, I think. Besides..."

They lowered their voice to a whisper, a smirk drawing over their face, "It gives me an excuse to get out of here sometimes."

They smoothed down their quills as they approached the Master and stood partially in front of Oliver. Protectively, perhaps? They were grateful for Diot's support, and Oliver's.

"I've returned with gardeners," they said, shoving down the urge to puff out their chest, "Two of them. This is Diot and Oliver, and both have actually offered to mentor me in healing. I've talked to them both separately but I wanted to talk to everyone about tending the garden. Like building a house or shelter to stay in while they are here, for Oliver has his garden to tend to and so does Diot. I brought up the idea of a schedule to Diot, too."

They didn't say where these gardens were, to keep them private to the two.

"And I also brought up possible... payment? Payment for assisting the Forge with the garden," they said, "Though I was at a loss for what."

Chaos-Two was nervous, as they usually were around Vargas, but with two innocent people next to them, so horribly exposed? They were more than nervous.

@Vargas (Oliver) @Diot

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas studied the two, moving to look at Oliver--though the bird-dog moved out from behind Chaos-Two, anyway. All three met his gaze, and he examined them for a moment before again looking to his spawn. "Good. This is promising, then, on two fronts. I will need to see them working. Show me what you can do, both of you," he said. "And tell me your abilities, and your limits."

Toxic gaze jerked back to Chaos-Two at the mention of rewards.

"Hmm. Do they have anything in mind?" he asked, looking back to them, again. "If they perform well, once the farms are complete, you will be rewarded for having recruited them to begin with. Assuming they do well," he added--common sense dictacted that he wasn't about to reward a couple ruts in the earth and nothing else.