Interlude

When people looked up, they saw smoke, but from time to time this smoke would look back down at them. It saw a surprising amount from such high up in the sky, but it could float down freely whenever it wished. Through the warm or rigid air, and past the thin ears of malnourished young creatures.

§

It floated past the slums, some higher than others glistening grey in the dusky candlelight, intertwined with one another they shared the same past. Some showed signs of age, others old and weathered, but all presented the same steel walls, roof, door, everything. 

Nothing changed between these slums, perhaps the residents, their appearance and their special quirks, maybe they owned one too many beds. It would see people rise, age, eat, sleep and reach their inevitable demise, it was truly beautiful. Like watching the life of someone born at the same time as you, perhaps you never meet but you find yourself always in some way, connected. 

There would be some creature though, who on their peaceful way, collapses and refuses to get back onto their feet. These creatures would lay there… slowly melding the with ground they once tread on. The others would simply walk by, some would stop, but none would stay.

Its vision was limited to mere blurs of colour, and a lack of colour did little to help its situation. Gliding around the city it felt the fresh wind on its back, treasured the tiny particles of dust that tickled its back. It knew all sectors of the dome, its creatures’ machines and most of all it knew of outside.

§

It floated past the castle, it stood solemnly above it all, there was something always off about its imperfections. It was never really white, and the spire was most certain bent and its residents… far from kind. 

Generally, the only time the smoke ever saw red was in the presence of these castle dwellers. Windows littered the sides of the castle, refracting the flames down below. 

Within lay truly pristine corridors, taller prominent creatures and less vibrant smaller ones. Rooms hidden all throughout the castle, ones of red, grey and green but none of blue. The smoke was disappointed in the creativity of the creatures, having used green of all things. Surely a more fantastical such as a royal purple was necessary. 

High up in the castle rested creatures far quieter than others, resting more and always clean. They truly were Spotless in this far from clean room. Whether this was ignorance or innocence, the smoke could truly never know.

The smoke had noted several other of its kind throughout the dome, some died off others stayed for some time, not that they spoke. There was a certain beauty in the silence of its life, though a soft singing isn’t truly silent. 

Instead, it floated nearby various people, it observed their lives, quietly and without judgement. Judgement required too much effort anyway, so much emotion, thought, and action, far too much for a simple cloud of air.

§

It floated to the town centre, buzzing, probably the best word to describe the chaos. People worked, more than just the simple creation of gas throughout the dome, people became connected, shared edibles, hammered objects and much more. 

Such was the variety in the centre of a town it thought. Though at the same time there was nothing special, a random amalgamation of different beings or various talents all doing different things. No rhyme and certainly no rhythm, though somehow it flowed anyway against all logic in the smokes mind that such a life could never work. 

It still preferred floating.

There came a time when the smoke was bored, it had spent too much time floating around as well… smoke. Boredom does things to many people, though a transmutation is rarely one of those things. 

High in the sky, and it knew not how it began to leech. What did it leech? The essence of life throughout the dome and it did so for some time, no reason behind it really, it really was bored. 

Souls of those recently departed floated up as well, they joined the smoke. Together they flew a journey of thousands of generations compacted into an ethereal omnipotent being, yet all this emotion created dullness. Just as all the colour in the world mixes to create a dull grey.

§

It floated to the scrapyard, there had always been someone there. There was now and there would always be for as long as the dome still called. Apparently, the conglomeration of random chunks of iron appealed to some people, and apparently, it always would. 

Currently, a smaller creature resided there, it had even gotten a visitor recently, the small furball was fun to watch though. It leapt around so often it was surprised the creature hadn’t collapsed yet. 

The two creatures had grown ever closer recently, the smoke at the very least found some contentment in watching them.

Part of it wanted some new scenery as well, stuck in a bland metal dome became very boring very fast. Although recently it had seen some fireworks down below, those were pretty fun to watch while they lasted. 

It had wanted a change to the air in a while, and that change had most certainly come. Perhaps sometime soon, it could follow the creatures someplace else.

§

It floated to the farm, such a dreadful place. It had seen its beginning, grand and filled with animals’ food and wonder. Yet somehow it had died, far faster than anticipated as well, resulting in the bubbling mulch found within. 

Though it knew of the castle, green still stalked its way about, alongside the monochrome tetrapods eating the sharp blades. Few visited the farm now, only a young creature who viewed it with such distaste. 

The young creature came from the castle, yet it interacted with the others, it found this most odd. It also lacked that colour of red, almost always, a pure white.

It had watched the cities degradation for some time, and little had changed. Some come, some go, some aim for change, and all fail. No true change will ever succeed, the power of the creatures above fighting the defiance of the creatures below, it would always end in a stalemate. 

Only the kings would be left, staring into each other’s eyes.

§

It floated beneath the castle, such a dark place. It’s failing vision could not interpret the horrors around it, it sensed them instead. It couldn’t hear, smell or touch and yet it seemed to know exactly what happened in the room. 

Its presence sifted through the smoke, thicker than blood. The smoke could not feel remorse, nor any form of sadness. Only peace, it could watch the events that unfolded, and maybe at most feel a distaste. Some weak hatred of cruelty stemming of its once human roots.

It repeated this day after day, between houses throughout the dome. Following the lives of those beneath, sometimes tailing directly behind them. It entertained itself in several ways, sometimes circling around an unsuspecting being, or flying between non-existence obstacles in the sky. 

Forming an interesting spectacle of grey smoke weaving between more blobs of grey smoke, truly a sport to spectate. Though very few had the time, or patience to watch.

§

Finally, it floated outside, seeping through the cracks of metal to experience that grand colour of the outside. From dull greys to a bright blue, shining its way across the sky alongside a scorching sun. 

In this wonderous world it was warm, truly warm, far warmer than any other place on this barren world. What else was in the world? The smoke was almost too afraid to explore, perhaps when nothing was left in the dome. 

What lay beyond the thin line afar, would there be life or an empty expanse. High in the sky laid puffs of white, purer than the white within the dome. They were innocent, carefree and joyful and when mad they could darken. 

Sometimes it would disappear, other times it would brighten again. Yet the white creatures below would never brighten, only darken slowly, drenched in a thickening layer of dust, grime and sin.

The smoke slithered itself back inside the dome, not one had noticed it to disappear. It took some time to rest, circling its way above all else. Yet with all the power it had, sometimes such pleasures become painful to those dull at heart.