Chapter Text
Something had changed about Bug. Eden only realized it a month or so after it happened; a strange aura surrounding the insectoid that Eden couldn't quite place.
It had struck Eden as odd for weeks. Sometimes bug would refer to herself as multiple people, sometimes she wouldn't. Eden didn't really question it, as one of the gods was a collection of multiple people, it wasn't super strange for a mortal to be something similar. Then there was the building of the tower of the gods or the barn in quick succession. Too quick for a normal person to build.
Then lavender seemed to act strange around Bug, as though walking on eggshells.
Until... Pephi revealed herself to Eden.
At first, Eden thought they’d been seeing things; they’d been drowsy the past few days from working, it wasn't an impossible thing to be seeing things. But after a long moment of staring, Eden came to the conclusion the floating Bug above them was not, in fact, a hallucination.
"What the..." Eden muttered at first, calling up to their friend, "Uh, Bug? Whatcha doing up there?"
Bugs blank eyes shifted down to stare at Eden for a moment, then she landed in front of the goat origin with little effort, "Hello there!"
This. This was not Bug.
"...who the f*ck are you." Eden couldn't help the hiss from falling from their mouth.
'Vessel. Do not.'
Xiolraeth’s earning went ignored.
'Bug' merely giggled, "aww, you figured it out so quickly! Oh well. I'm Pephi Iozzu!"
Pephi iozzu. God of life and mobs.
Edens parents were worshipers of Iozzu, as well as the god of the Aetherius.
"Why are you... in my friend?" Eden asked
The god, puppeting Bug, chittered, "well she's my vessel, of course!"
There was a long sigh in Edens mind, echoing from the god watching behind their eyes.
"How long has this been going on? Why am I just now noticing?" Eden interrogated.
"A few- months? It's been a little bit since we noticed you were here!"
"Me? Why me?"
"You’re the vessel of Xiol, of course! He hasn't been around for a while, even for us gods. Can't blame us for wanting to hang around."
Eden opened their mouth to speak, only to yelp softly. The markings along their flesh began to faintly glow, as did their eyes. A clear sign that Eden was no longer in control. Xiolraeth was.
Pephi gulped.
"Pephi." Xiolraeths voice, far deeper than the body he was controlling could possess, held an echo, underlying irritation in its tone, "what do you mean, 'us'?"
The other god blinked, backing away as she rose bugs clawed hands, "Did I say us? I meant me! Totally! Magi totally isn't here to!"
"...Which one is Magis vessel, Pephi."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Pephi."
"Xiol..."
"Pephi Iozzu, if you do not tell me which vessel is Magi's, I will remove privileges."
"It's the raccoon origin, Stripes?" Pephi chirped quickly, antenna twitching, "Don't tell Magi I told you though! I think they wanted to tell you themselves."
"Fine, I'll talk with Magi about it myself." Xiolraeth sighed, crossing his arms, "You have not been bothering the mortals, correct?"
"...well you see." Pephi chittered, a hint of nervousness in her tone, "I totally didn't scare Lavender..."
"Pephi Iozzu."
"Listen! I just fell into the cavern a little! It's his fault for thinking I'd let Bug fall!"
"... He was not aware of you, I take it?" It seemed all Xiolraeth could do today was sigh, rubbing his temples, "That was a cruel prank, Pephi."
"But it was so funny!!!" Pephi protested, "he tried to catch me! Then pouted like a puppy when I laughed at him!"
"And it is cruel none the less." His words barely hid the amused chuckle in his voice. He sighed again, "...I have been absent... I apologize."
Pephi lit up, floating down to pull Xiolraeth into a bone crushing hug, chittering, "Doesn't matter! I'm just glad you're here!!!"
Xiolraeth curled his arms around the younger god, smiling, "And I am glad you are here as well."
After a moment, Pephi pulled away, grabbing ahold of Xiolraeths hands, "Cmon, I think were long overdue for some bonding!"
"And what sort of bonding do you have in mind?" Xiolraeth asked, not bothering to pull from the joyful god of life's hands.
"No idea! I'll think of it on the way!" Pephi giggled.
