Chapter 2

     Living life with Magnolia was certainly a peek into how the Gods possibly lived their own lives currently. As in, they were bored as hell, which was really saying something. Magnolia asked questions constantly about what the things in Tinz’ house were. Especially his computer. He daren’t use it in front of her anymore after she bugged him 37 times (he counted) while he was just trying to play a game. In the end he just shut it off and held his face in his hands, nearly weeping from anger. Magnolia was blissfully unaware of the temper Tinz had; she somehow hadn’t unleashed it fully yet.

     And thus, it was a Thursday, a week after Magnolia first broke into his house. He woke up at noon for some godawful reason. He’d been waking up earlier and earlier now due to Magnolia’s interference. His eyes opened with a creak, and they peered over to where Magnolia sat. She was playing on his game console thankfully. Entertained for once, she watched the pixels dance on the TV as she struck the buttons to the beat. Tinz sighed and rolled over in bed. The sound of TV buzz and button mashing almost lulled him back to sleep until a burning sensation made its way up his throat. He was both ignoring it and mentally mapping his way to the bathroom in his head. The sensation became too much to bear, and he bolted to the bathroom, leaving Magnolia to watch him go with confusion.

     Magnolia paused her game tentatively and set the controller down. With a raised eyebrow, she followed Tinz into the bathroom, wrinkling her nose at the smell of burnt tar. She caught him just in time as he was lifting himself up from sitting beside the toilet.

     “Uh… you good?” she asked, a touch of worry in her voice. Tinz nodded and wiped his mouth. A small bit of black ooze was still there.

     “This happens often, don’t worry.”

     “...”

     The two stared at each other for a moment. Tinz coughed and broke the silence. “Should you go see a doctor?” Magnolia asked, daring to peer at the toilet; all she saw was black goop.

     Tinz rolled his eyes. “Have been for years, thanks. They don’t know what the hell this is.”

     Magnolia went back to the doorway and leaned on the wall. “Okay, what about a healer then? Surely they would-” Tinz interrupted her with a dry cackle, crispy from the burn in his throat.

     “Healers? That’s a good one… No one does that anymore,” he sighed. Magnolia was visibly confused at this remark.

     “What do you mean…?”

     “Healing is an outdated magic, technology is really advanced y’know? And even with technology, they can’t fix me. I doubt a healer would be able to,” he sunk back onto the wall behind him defeatedly. Magnolia cupped her chin in thought.

     “That’s fair, I mean, technology really has come far! I’m impressed with all it’s done, and you don’t even have that much stuff here,” she gestured around her. Tinz stood up wobbily and left to go back to his room.

      “If you like technology so much, you can use my computer. I don’t care anymore,” he waved limply before disappearing around the corner. Magnolia’s eyes lit up with glee.

     “Oh, coworkers, I’m so sorry for the heathen I may become!” she squealed, following Tinz.

     Tinz was asleep. That was a fact. Magnolia was sure of it. She checked twelve times after all. She cracked her knuckles and plopped down in Tinz’ desk chair.

     “Comfy… okay,” she whispered, “What does this box have in store for me…?” She clacked the keyboard a bit to wake it up. “Password…? Uhm… I think it was “blackforestlagoon97”, or something,” she typed it into the password bar with eyes glued to the screen. It changed to Tinz’ homescreen, and Magnolia jumped.

     “Yes!” she cried out, before looking to Tinz and shushing down. “All that watching him use this thing came to fruition. Now then, what do I…” she trailed off as she looked around on the computer, keys clacking even more as the day turned to night with the sky growing dark.

     Tinz rolled around in his sleep, wheezing softly as his throat was still sore from earlier. His eyes fluttered open, revealing his room to be dark besides the gentle glow of the computer. He didn’t stir much; he was much too tired for that. Even so, his mind kept thinking about things Magnolia had said. Things about healers, and the fact he now had such a powerful pen in his possession.

     His daydreaming was interrupted by Magnolia approaching his bed and smacking his arm.

     “Whhh… what?” he slurred, groggily staring up at her. Her gaze was suffocating, eyes wide and an eerie grin across her face,

     “You didn’t tell me there were other people on the ‘net, Tinz,” she murmured. By now, Tinz was thoroughly creeped out, and shrunk to his corner of the bed again.

     “...Was I supposed to?”

     “I checked out a streaming platform,” she slumped over, posture noticeably worse than before. “There are women on there, Tinz.” Tinz simply nodded, getting more confused by the second. “HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GO BACK UP TO HEAVEN WHEN THERE ARE CUTE WOMEN STREAMING GAMES ONLINE, HUH?!” She nearly screamed, leaning back with some sort of menacing pose. At this, Tinz’ composure broke.

     “I WOULDN’T KNOW! Just sneak something up there!”

     “There’s no wifiiiiiiiii…” she admitted with defeat, slouching onto the bed floppily.

     “I don’t c–” he began, before coughing violently. Magnolia looked up with concern.

     “...You know, I really do think you should see a healer. If there aren’t many left, okay cool and all, but with their knowledge they can expand technology and modern medicine to their greatest height!” she tried in an attempt to cheer him up. “Surely they can do something in this day and age.”

      Tinz looked up as well, pain apparent on his face.

     “Your tone of voice’s changed. Are those streamers really that good?” he deadpanned.

     “Is that really the right thing to say in this situation, dude?” she grimaced. “Well, whatever, cough up your… whatever that is. I’m gonna go look for healers on the ‘net, or something,” she hopped back to the computer a little too eagerly.

     The light clickity clack of keyboard noises filled the room as Tinz relaxed for once on his bed. Magnolia was doing who-knows-what; was she really looking for healers? He heard a disappointed sigh from her direction and peeked an opened eye towards her. She was leaning back, one side of the headset he’d let her borrow lifted off of her ear.

     “I seriously don’t see much,” she stated. “It’s all… bogus psychics, or historical articles.”

     “Told ya so,” Tinz yawned.

     Magnolia rolled her eyes. She then placed the headset down on the desk and stretched, clearly a bit tired from her excursion on the internet.

     “Well, I guess I’ll go back to watching–”

     “Wait, wait a second, you’re a Goddess, can’t you do healing?” Tinz asked, now rolled onto his side.

     She was about to put the headset back on, but instead glared at Tinz.

     “I am a Goddess of creation, not healing the already created!” she gasped in offense. “Now let me watch these gamers!”

     “...Whatever,” Tinz groaned, rolling onto his other side to continue his much needed sleep.