takes place shortly after we are normal people

Legion's swarm--which had, at some point between Polaris and Cepheus, changed to mimic that of a Tunnel Runner they had seen--buzzed along into the hallways of the palace. They were in awe of this place--its strange light, the taste of food upon the air, the distant sounds of... what was that?

...Entertainment?

Despite being tired from the very long journey, which had taken them into the evening hours (and from their magic use--they were constantly alert to possible fungus), they swept forward with a loud buzz. They nearly outpaced Parthenium, for a moment, in their excitement--and the moment they were informed that 'concessions are free' and that a free show called Nest Nannies was now being shown, they turned back to their dog-friend.

"Free food!" they hummed happily. "And something called a Show we can see inside?! ...Will-... Will Legion's friend--will you carry food for us..?" they asked, a shy hopefulness about them.

They could only really carry little bits of food--enough for each mite to have the tiniest snack. But if Parthenium brought something-... they could have a feast!

@Parthenium

Oh, this place was so busy and exciting! She'd never seen so many people in one place before. While the Palace wasn't crowded by any means, it was nice to pass by one of the Gembound who cared for this place every so often as they walked. It made Cepheus feel so much more alive than Orion did.

Parthenium let out a delighted gasp as Legion pointed her toward the concessions stand. "Oh! Look at all this... stuff!" She peered at the array of treats; they didn't look anything like she was used to eating, but they smelled delicious. "Sure! What do you want?"

After sniffing at the rows of concessions, she decided on a large, soft pretzel for herself. She asked the fox-like creature staffing the stand for a bag to carry both Legion's food and her own at once, and then looked back at the nanite swarm, sweet brown eyes shining. "All right, let's go watch the show!"

F E V E R F E W
Will you stay with me?

@Legion

Their decision--a simple "what would you like to eat"--was a comically difficult one. They scented sweet things, and wavered at that. Buttered popcorn--that was appealing. Cotton candy! Toffee! Churros! The hive lost form completely, buzzing up and down before finally settling on a simple one.

"Those?" Legion suggested almost shyly, buzzing vaguely in the direction of a corn dog. They generally ate meat--carrion, where they could find it. They considered themselves cleaners, really, but this odor of both plant and meat combined, all thick with fats, smelled delicious.

And then they were off--taking a dog-like shape to accompany Parthenium into the darkened room of the theatre. Here, they grew fascinated at once: the large, flashy screen and introduction music (like the clanging of metal things smashed together) held them briefly rapt before they began to scan the seats, almost all of which were empty.

"Those are--placed to sit?" they asked Parthenium, buzzing closer and speaking in hushed tones by instinct. This felt like a quiet place. "They are so many sizes! And shapes!" Fit, no doubt, for the butts of a dozen varities of Valkhound. "-Where do you want to sit?" they asked, excitement still humming through every word.

@Parthenium

The clanging cacophony of the soundtrack was deeply intriguing to Parthenium, and she paused for a moment to simply absorb the sound before setting the bag of food down, lifting her head, and adding a melodious, drawn-out howl to the theme song. Evidently, she had not picked up on the same cue for quietness that Legion had.

She matched their hushed tone, though, when she responded to their question. She wanted to make her friend happy! "We should sit... in the middle somewhere? So we can see the screen well! Not too far back, or too far in the front." The screen was so big that she'd have to crane her head up to see it if she sat too close.

Ah--hm. "... How will you sit?" she wondered. Surely it'd be tiring for Legion to watch the show while hovering in the air, but-- "Will you be able to see? Are the chairs tall enough?"

F E V E R F E W
Will you stay with me?

@Legion

They laughed--almost giggled--at the question.

"We can all sit!" they explained--and to demonstrate, flitted to the back of the nearest chair. There, the entire swarm lost shape--settling, like falling dust, to blanket the chair-back.

They were high enough that they could see over the next row--and low enough that they'd never obstruct anyone behind them, being as they were a fraction of a centimeter tall.

Their carapaces shimmered as they rose back up into the air--and held rapt, for a moment, as an introduction came on-screen. Masters-? Working? "We don't know about these things," Legion confessed, turning as a swarm to hum toward the center of the theatre as Parthenium had suggested.

They found a couple chairs that seemed suited well enough, and draped their thousand mites over the back a second time, myriad eyes turning to peer at Parthenium. "Here?" they asked, cheerful, hopeful, and for once even their tiny Queen was placated. There was no Hive to be found, here, after all. Parthenium was not held in the grip of some sinister power, to betray them later, as their old 'family' had--no. She was only a kind friend, could be trusted--they could... relax.

Enjoy themselves.

They turned to gaze up at the screen. "Do you know what this is about?" they asked.

@Parthenium

The pots-and-pans quickly faded, the various pairs of Masters peering at the cameras--names captioned beneath--fading.

"Today we're here," began a shrill and overly-cheerful voice, "with Masteeeer Dawa!" A spotlight shifted, flashing over a small, pale sheep--barely larger than a lamb--who was standing before a large chunk of oily stone. "-Who's making one of our many loyal and powerful soldiers!" There was a distant sound of crowds cheering, though from the little lamb's lack of reaction, it was probably added in post.

"Can you tell us a little about your process today?" the voice asked.

Dawa--soft-voiced, doe-eyed--turned toward the camera. Her delicate description--of a large and elegant creature--was painted over, on-screen, by a questionable illustration of such formed from dancing light. It looked large, and as the Master spoke of its body (from the ground up: sturdy, many-toed feet to long, strong limbs and a large ribcage for extra lung capacity) the illustration was adjusted.

She turned back to her work, and the camera briefly toured the working space: a small flower plant grew beside a hunk of shattered golden armor, and a little pool of water glimmered, bathed in violet wisplight.

"And it looks like the second of our pair is finally arriving!" The camera was spared a brief, threatening glance by the massive black dragon--his insides glowing orange with his inner fire--who plodded in. He drew over to Dawa. There was a soft apology for his lateness. A raise of one great wing, as if to shelter her, and murmured acknowledgment--all of it meant for her ears alone--that the design was a good conception.

"MASTER RAHEERAH!" Another spotlight, another cheering crowd, and a glare from the dragon. "Can you tell us what you're doing to add, now that you're finally here?"

The image came up again: the creature Dawa had shaped. Raheerah explained his changes, and his reasoning, with monotone irritation and as he did so, the image changed to his specifications. Long talons, spines along its back, massive fangs and dripping venom.

The episode would go on for quite some time, the two Masters deep in their work, the design being tweaked or altered in some way, their discussion on the purpose and features they had chosen for it. And the chrysalis then began to spark and swell, growing their new creation.

Eventually, some half an hour later, the episode ended with a footnote: a scene, filmed later, of the creature hatching from its stone. It was alabaster white, with an organic armored look to it that made it almost look formed of plastic, areas hollowed or empty where it might leave out weight. It looked wicked, red eyes gleaming, with a great number of fierce teeth, talons and spikes.

"Another job VERY well done! Not as well as mine! But it's passable--WOOO! Let's hear it for DAWA AND RAHEERAAAAH!" The creature snarled, lunging for the camera--which tumbled away--as a fake crowd's cheering erupted once again.

Then the credits music rolled. This, again, sounded like a multitude of clanging pots and pans.

@Parthenium