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GG's heels clicked down the dock, in cadence with his style - loud, shouting out each step. He usually took pride in this, but in this rare occasion he wished he had a less obvious arrival (or a shorter dock...) Miles, the fabled "super diver" had been sitting on the edge for a good two hours, silent and staring at the sea. Ever since they had left the Cavern of the Gods he felt distant. Oceana had already tried to cheer him up, and pressed the matter to see if there was anything to be said beyond "I'm fine". Her best sea slug video had failed her (which Miles would agree were cute on a better day) and Hayako was never one to comfort others well. This led to pleading looks toward GG of all people. They had called in the cavalry, and so here he was trotting down the dock in his loud ass horse shoes.
If Miles heard him approach he didn't do much to show it. When GG sat down, Miles was still, but subtle motion welcomed his presence. He settled in, taking the time to adjust his necklace.
"See anything nice out there?" He asked in forced casually.
Miles stayed quiet, letting GG feel more out of place as time passed. Maybe he should have made Jean do this, he was made to sit in silence, it was what old men were built for. Or maybe Miles was better left alone. How the hell would he know what he needed?
GG was about to try again when Miles started in a quiet voice, "Have you ever wanted to touch the truth even if it consumes you?"
He blinked. "Uhhh, no. That might just be a 'you' thing."
"Haha. Yeah. Figures..."
"Hey, I mean- " (crap that was the wrong thing to say) "- you've got a... an adventurous spirit. Truth is good." He tried to shift away from his misstep by probing Miles again, "Why do you ask?"
Miles took a deep breath. He waited, and for a moment GG thought that he'd offended him. But then he broke the silence, "I've been chasing the Song of Dragons for months now, more than... I loved the story in college; The idea of something so beautiful, that it will cost you everything just to hear."
He held a wistfulness in his voice.
"When we were searching... each time, it held true, 'the Song of Dragons brings misfortune'. The more I heard of it, the more I thought, or believed really, that it was cursed."
"Alright..." GG waited to see where he was going with this.
"Even despite the curse, or more truthfully because of it, I wanted to find that end. It would have been an honor. I would... become part of it, if that makes sense. I'd know the song and in return, it would take me away."
Miles took a slower breath, "When we were in the cavern... I remember almost running out of air."
GG remembered. Miles had been the one to swim through most of the temple, having chased the others being pulled by the changing currents. GG has only seen Miles less than calm once. When they reached the altar of Horus, he could see his desperation, his shaky hands, and gave him some of his air. It was dangerously low, GG saw the meter on his tank. A few more minutes and he could have drowned.
"I keep thinking... maybe the curse did take me. What if I'm dead?"
"What!?" GG shouted. Was that what this is all about? "Miles if you died I would have known, I was there"
Miles started to move his hands more emphatically, "But what if I did!? What if this is the afterlife they were talking about? I know myself, I wouldn't want to leave you all. What would stop my afterlife being a replica of life before without knowing I died? What if this is all just fake?"
GG leaned forward to put a hand on Miles' shoulder.
"Miles. You're here."
"But-"
"Listen, I am the GG. You can't imitate gold, and that's me baby! I'm the real deal, and I know that for sure. And if I'm real then that means you've got to be real, because I'm not talking to thin air."
GG crossed his arms with a triumphant smirk. With that, Miles started to laugh, genuinely. Alright, GG thought, now we're getting somewhere.
"GG, only you can make being self-centered a philosophical argument."
"I'm taking that as a compliment" he said.
"Please do. Honestly, I wish I could have that confidence."
"Hey, it takes practice. It may seem impossible, but even the great GG had to work to reach celebrity status. How about this, let's go back, get some dinner going, and I'll give you pointers on the way." He said.
Miles smiled and stood up from the worn edge. "Okay, but I told you before, I'm not wearing priceless artifacts as jewelry."
"Okay, see, rule number one, your style has to have story. And you cant tell that story if its in a dusty box somewhere."
"You mean somewhere like a museum?"
"The museum didn't swim to the bottom of a well to find a lost castle full of treasure. Nobody there is going to tell it right. So, that ring is yours for the keeping."
"Alright, alright. Thanks GG."