Shovels In Spades

"Snakes sound adorable. Is it really true that humans tend to dislike or even fear them?" Icicle asked as Daz got out of his car and sealed it back within its key.

He nodded as he began walking towards the heart of Fort Sky: GriD CrosS. "They're pretty far removed from humans and I think every single one has at least venom in their bite. A lot of people find them creepy or dangerous."

"Humans are far more dangerous though," Icicle reasoned. "It was humans that forced my original master to fail his invasion of this planet. They're scary if they work together. Snakes sound simply lovely."

Daz shrugged. "Everything's scary if looked at from the right person's perspective. Or the wrong person's, I guess. Anyway, we're here. Grid, did you miss me?"

"Hah! Who would miss someone they never see!" the massive purple crystal hummed dismissively at his approach. "I didn't miss you even one little bit."

'It's lying,' Daz thought.

"Wow! So you're Grid Cross?" Icicle asked. "I've heard a lot about you from my new master. You're much bigger than me... Do you have any special powers? I can make and control both ice and snowstorms."

Daz raised an eyebrow. "Ice storms too? You never told me that. Also, again, I'm not your master. We're partners of a kind."

"You never asked. It's harder to do though than the snowstorms," the globe at his waist reasoned. "And you are right, but I shall still address you as 'master'."

"Fine. Do what you wish," Daz said as he shook his head.

''We shall," the snowglobe happily replied.

GriD, however, hummed angrily. "It's GriD CrosS! Not Grid Cross. I can forgive him for it. He isn't a crystal. His mouth is limited. Plus, I know he tries his best even if he always fails. You are a sentient crystal too just like me though! Say my name right if you want to talk to me."

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry. I, uh, didn't know. You have a very nice voice. it's incredibly... magnetic," Icicle confessed as Daz unstrapped it from his waist and set it down on the floor.

"Of course it is! I can control gravity, after all!" GriD boasted before saying, "Your voice is okay too. I mean, I've heard better."

'There it goes lying again. Bashful little crystal that it is,' Daz thought before he said, "I'll leave you two to get to know one another. I'm gonna go meet Avulaway and then make you larger, okay, Grid?"

"Meh, go do whatever you've gotta do, Daz. It's not like you spend any time with me anyway," GriD spat out.

"I'm in no hurry to leave. I'm coming right back once I'm done. We can talk then, the three of us. I also have a task that needs doing which only a very capable Gravitation Distortion Crystal Sphere could accomplish. And, would you know it, you're the most capable one I have the pleasure of calling a friend," Daz said charmingly.

"Hahah, of course I am! I'm unrivalled!" GriD bellowed proudly.

'As easy to convince as ever,' Daz thought.

"That's amazing, GriD CrosS! It must feel good to get a task from your master," Icicle noted as it mimicked a clapping noise somehow.

Daz shook his head and sighed. "I'm his master as much as I am yours. Meaning not at all. I'm a friend to you both. Anyway, I'll be right back."

He heard the sentient crystals begin to discuss their abilities in more depth as he walked away.

GriD was trying its best to impress Icicle while Icicle was just happy to have someone like itself to talk to, clearly.

Daz couldn't help but chuckle as he compared them to children. A moment later, his vision was blocked by a quest clearance notification followed by several other notifications.