Aya had gotten them all fed while she processed the news. She, luckily, had just enough food to feed 5 Eternals and 1 human, who's name, she found out, was Karun. She told him that as long as he didn't film her, things would go great between them. Right now, she was on Kingo's plane. She was being told about everyone's life after they had all split. Sersi and Sprite were in London. Kingo became a movie star. Gilgamesh and Thena had created a home that was isolated in Australia. They were on their way to visit Druig.
Aya had just been with Druig about two days ago, visiting on a bi-weekly basis. In fact, the bracelet she had purchased was going to be for Makkari, whom she was supposed to go visit tomorrow. She felt the plane land, suddenly not so excited to see everyone again. The situation had hit her. It was real. Ajak was dead. The Deviants were back. The Emergence was coming.
-2 hours later-
They were walking through the forest, having reached Druig's little commune of people. Aya looked around greeting people that she had just saw two days ago. Kingo's friend started talking. "It is very nice here, sir." He held the camera out, filming Aya playing with one of the small children before walking away towards a building with wooden doors. She walks inside. He spans the camera to film beautiful flowers.
Kingo scoffed. "Don't be fooled. Ignorance is bliss."
Sprite walked up to a random person, speaking to them in spanish. "Hey. We're looking for Druig. Is he here?"
"Yes. How do you know Druig?" The man replied, continuing with his task.
"Uh, we're friends...from college." The eyes of the man go golden.
"Sprite. It is so good to see you." The man said, obviously under the control of Druig and speaking for him. Everyone looked around for Aya, not having seen her walk off. When she had walked off, she went to go find Druig. She was the one to inform him that the group was there. Druig walked back out the doors she came through, Aya standing somewhat behind him and to the right.
"I missed you all." Druig said, coming to a stop as the people forced the Eternals to the front. He spanned his arms into the air beside him, grinning. "Please, make yourselves at home." He drops his arms and turns to Aya. "Now, are you going to tell me why you're back here? I mean, not that I mind. I'm just not used to seeing you in such a short span of time, my beautiful Aya." Aya smiled at him, turning to walk forward back into the building.
"Sersi will explain." Was all she said before she took a seat on one of the benches in the back of the room. Everyone else walked in, sitting themselves in the front of the room, Ikaris leaning against one of the pillars. Sersi gets right to explaining, leaving no time to waste. After she finishes, Druig stands there, leaning against a table at the head of the room. His hands were clasped in front of him.
He speaks after a long pause, obviously taking in all the news and the scratches on Aya that he could finally see underneath the proper light. "You've given me a lot of bad news in one go, milady." He says finally, looking up from the ground.
"Will you help us?" Sersi asks, desperate.
"I am glad that--" Druig starts, but gets cut off by Sersi's phone ringing, her ringtone Juice by Lizzo. Music not completely appropriate for the situation. Sersi rushes to silence her phone and reject the call as Aya giggles silently, the sight causing Druig to smile a little. Sersi silences her phone, pocketing it again.
"Hey, what's your service?" Kingo asks, leaning over in what is obviously a dramatic stage whisper. "I'm not getting any bars." Gilgamesh had fallen asleep, so Thena elbows him, starling him awake.
Druig's happiness that came with seeing Aya instantly fell. "Do you all remember this forest?" He asks, standing up straight. "It's beautiful." He takes a step forward. "It's the last place we all lived together. I've protected these people for 20 generations now from the outside world and from themselves." He says as he walks over to stand beside Karun. "Your kind, my friend," He says, addressing Karun, "you will be responsible for your own extinction one day. Don't you think?"
Karun starts nodding rapidly, almost like he was scared. But Aya could tell he was just nervous and wanted to give the right answer. "I think we must learn from our mistakes and do better, sir. You must not give up hope." As Karun finishes speaking, Druig takes control of him and makes him throw the camera he was holding into the wall. Druig's eyes were glowing a beautiful golden that Aya absolutely loved. Once she saw what happened she laughed. Druig turned to give her a smile. Kingo got upset.
"Oh, no you didn't!" Kingo says, standing up and walking to stand in front of Druig. "Okay, new rule, no more possessing people's valets."
Druig turned back to Kingo, his smile turning into a playful smirk. "Oh, where's your sense of humor, Kingo?"
"I'm sorry, sir." Karun apologizes.
"Don't apologize, it's not your fault." Kingo says, quickly turning to give his valet a look of assurance before turning back. "You are not a god. You know that, right?"
"How ironic." Druig says, obviously trying to goad the man into giving him a response. "Kingo, the movie star."
"I've directed things, too." Kingo says, trying not to raise to the bait.
"Oh, yeah? Like what?" Aya gives them a confused look. Who cares? She thought. The world is going to end and we're talking about directing shit?
"Some internet content." Kingo responds, lowering his voice. Aya tilts her head.
"How many views?" Druig asks, lowering his voice as well, as if they were speaking of some huge secret.
"I don't do it for the views." Kingo says, but before Druig can respond, or in Aya's case, interfere with the utter nonsense of the two's conversation, Ikaris does it for her.
"Let's go," Ikaris says, standing up from his position against a pole. "He's wasting our time."
"We need him!" Sersi exclaims, trying to keep her ex-lover from leaving. Druig decides that Ikaris was going to be his next target.
"Ikaris." He says in a sickly-sweet tone. "I've missed you. Are you going to charm or threaten me?" He asks, turning to face the man.
Aya stands up, walking to stand next to Druig, putting a hand on his arm to stop him. He simply smiles at her. "I mean, there's a third option, if you prefer that." Ikaris responds, so easily responding to the bait Druig was dangling in front of him.
"It must be heartbreaking to find out that you're not mother's favorite." Druig taunts, and Aya tugs on his arms.
"Stop it." She whispers, but her warning goes ignored.
"And I'm sure she'd be really proud of what you've been up to." Ikaris shoots back, causing Aya to look away from Druig to give him a look. It does nothing.
"Druig, this is serious." Sersi says, standing up. Druig gently pushes Aya's hand off of his arm and walked to stand in front of Sersi.
"I'll tell you what's serious." Druig says in a loud voice. "I've just been told I've been sent on a suicide mission for the past 7,000 years, and that my entire existence is a lie." At his words, Aya looks down, saddened by his words. Druig starts turning away from Sersi. "So, excuse me for not giving a shit about your plan right now." He finishes walking out of the building they were in, the door slamming shut behind him. Aya looks back up and turns around.
"Druig, wait!" She exclaims, running out of the building after him.
