Needle and Thread

We Can't,

I'm going to try for a couple of Lyra chapters (well, mostly Lyra) so that I can do a short timeskip and get to the juicy bits! I hope you guys are okay with that.

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[Fandom+ (1)]

Lyra and Andesine ended up camping outside, after East tried and failed to get a single one of the residents to allow them in. East stormed off about halfway through the attempt.

"He'll be back," Andesine said.

"What makes you say that?"

"He's that type," Andesine replied sagely.

Indeed, the next morning, East had shown up looking as dapper as ever. He'd dressed himself in a deep blue suit that would have looked pretentious on someone else but sort of suited him.

"It's for camoflauge," he explained. "When I'm flying over the Grav Temple, nobody'll be able to see me."

"Over?" Andesine said. "Like... how far over?"

"Like far enough over so that I don't get sucked down it," East said. "The Grav Temple is special. Us Air elementals know how to build a first-class security system, unlike one mud-crawling people I could mention... but won't," he added hastily as Lyra and Andesine began to glare at him. "Because... that would be rude to the mud!"

"What does that even mean?" Andesine asked.

"I don't know... whatever," East snapped, a blush spreading accross his face. "Do you want to go or not?"

"Fine," Andesine sighed.

"D'you want me to carry you?" Lyra asked.

"No," Andesine shuddered. "I don't like that. How am I supposed to keep track of how long you've been dillydallying if it stops?"

"Point taken," Lyra said.

East looked from one person to the other. "He just insulted you," he said carefully. "And you're... saying he's right?"

"We have a system," Lyra started, then stopped. "Well, it's not so much of a system as a thing we do..."

"She admits that she's a piece of schist who needs my guidance," Andesine interrupted, "and I help her save the universe and not be as much of a piece of schist and occasionally take her to someone when she gets hurt in the middle of a battle. And, occasionally... be right. Somewhat. Really, I do all the heavylifting."

"So not true," Lyra said. "I'm the one fighting and saving the universe and crap."

"So?"

"What d'you mean, so? That's hard!"

"Yeah, but I give you advice."

"Not during the midst of battle! You might as well be watching from the sidelines with a bowl of popcorn, you smug little cockroach!"

Andesine rolled his eyes. "Fine. Fine."

East seemed slightly disgusted, or perhaps just surprised. "You two have serious issues," he finally declared.

"But you'll still take us," Lyra said.

East threw up his hands. "I'm practically being held hostage at this point."

"Yes, yes you are," Lyra replied, drawing her sword. "C'mon, take us. It'll be fun."

"Fine," East said. "But I can only take you as far as the entrance. Taking you further... well, I don't wanna die."

"Why? Is the boss ultra scary?"

"No," East shuddered. "I've never even seen the boss. It's the gravity changes that freak me out. I'm made of air, man. I'm not used to weighing more than air."