Eternal Love [Druig]

Thirteen

Mumbai

After the whole ordeal at Ajak's, none of them could bring themselves to stay overnight. The empty house seemed too forlorn to stay in, memories of Ajak etched into every corner, every ledge and window, every book that will never be read again, and bed that will never be made again.

They drove in silence. Ikaris had volunteered to drive and no one had objected, perfectly fine with sitting in their own thoughts. Out of all of them, Ikaris seemed to most competent, so- they let him drive.

Now in Mumbai, the environment was nearly mocking as they walked through the colorful streets. Daylight poured down on them, casting them in light and keeping them warm despite their hearts that were cold in mourning.

They walked down a popularized street, following the sound of music and camera technicians rushing this way and that, speaking over radios in hurried manners. Ira was surprised none of them managed to collide head-first with another member for all of their heads were down or their eyes were distracted.

The quartet entered a large building, the music reaching their ears unchallenged now that they were so close. Many people bustled around, all working to get the bests shots on a movie that was being shot. On the main stage, there were multitudes of actors and actresses, all dancing and singing. Ira stopped as he soaked the sight in, the heavy feelings of Ajak's passing pausing momentarily as Ira's lip curled into a small smile.

There, Kingo took the main stage, inserting himself into the middle as he walked forward, moving his arms that showcased his muscle definition and then moving into a dance.

"Svaagat. I am Karun Patel." A man said, coming up to greet them. He was smiling like he wasn't physically capable of holding any other emotion on his face. "Kingo's valet." He said. "It's truly an honor to be in the presence of the great Eternals." He held his hands together like a prayer. Ira's brows rose in both amusement and skepticism.

Beyond them, the music died down as the scene came to a close and Kingo called "Cut! That was good! But we could do... 10% better. That was beautiful. Very, very good." He said and turned away, a happy squeal that sounded like it was half caught in the middle of a shriek and a mangled deer crying for its mother. "My friends from college are here. Hello Boss!" He walked straight up to the ground and wrapped his arms around Ikaris, coaxing the man into a hug. "Perfect timing! Welcome to the set of Legend of Ikaris I'm playing you! You like the costume?"

"We need to talk." Ikaris interrupted, his voice even and drastically lower than Kingo's voice of excitement.

"Tell the director I have some notes for him-" Kingo started talking to the man who had introduced himself as Karun.

"We need to talk to you in private," Sprite said, referring to the mass amounts of people that were still in hearing range.

"Oh, Karun, he's worked with me for 50 years. I trust him completely. Actually when we first met-- after Ira introduced me to the idea of acting, of course, thank you Ira--" He bowed to Ira with a smile only for a moment before rushing back into his story. "-he thought I was a vampire and he tried to steak me through the heart." Kingo rushed, nearly out of breath by the end of his spiel.

"I have apologized so many times." Karun laughed. Ira looked between the two men, bemused. He suspected they had an outstanding inside joke running between the two of them for quite some time now. Sprite didn't seem as amused though as she stood there with her arms crossed, waiting for the two children-like men to get a move on so they could get to the important part of why they had come here in the first place.

"Not quite enough times. Very close though, I'll let you know. Oh, I have to get ready for the next scene. Come to my tent, we'll talk there." Kingo was a mess of words, a man that had too many things on his mind and to do list and not enough time to do them. His mind was working faster than his lips could process the words. Ira was just surprised that most of what he was saying was comprehensible. "You guys are gonna love the next scene." Kingo was walking and talking now. "I come in, on a wire 'cause you know, I can't fly. Wait, are we getting back together?" He moved into his tent as he finally stopped long enough for someone to actually say something.