Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

The queue begins to form, and people are gradually called into the throne room.

A fire guardian behind Alice seems to notice her shivering, "Hey, you look cold. Need some warmth?" She asks, a warm aura surrounding her hands.

 

"Well... three."
Nilarq vaults off the pillar, Crystal damn near turned to dust from above as he tries to dart through the gap.

...

Crystal finds Nilarq offering him a hand back up, the dome down and the crowd applauding.
"If it makes you feel better, you're the best rookie I've ever seen."

________________________________

"Yes, please..." Alice says, a bit used to the frost charm helping.

 

The fire guardian weaves a warm aura around Alice, removing her chill and producing a bit of light around her. The warmth feels like a cozy sweater, not sweltering, but enough to stave off the cold.

"That should keep the cold away." The fire guardian says with a smile.

 

Something seems to re-enter Crystal after being shot out.
Crystal takes a few seconds, runs his hand across his face, shifts into a ball once, before shifting back into a kneeling position, taking Nilarq's hand and lifting himself up.
"Thanks."
Crystal says, turning and walking away.

 

Nilarq turns to you.
"Too much?"

"Thanks." Alice replies happily.

 

I just shrug.
"It was your deal."
Pause.
"A lot of people use the term 'kid' when talking about a rookie, or just someone under them. When you call Crystal a kid, however..."
I trail off.

 

As time goes on, more people arrive, enter and leave, until at 3:45pm, only two people remain in front of Alice.

 

"How old is he?"

Alice seems to be a bit nervous at this point.

 

"Older than me, but judging by how he is..."
I pause.
"Well it's hard to tell exactly, but he's certainly a little more naive than he looks."

 

Nilarq teleports to Crystal.
"Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to insult you."

 

He's upstairs, browsing the weapons.
"You didn't. You were really nice to me, actually."
He says, smiling a little bit.

 

Nilarq pauses.
"You seemed to take it hard. At any rate, good job."

 

"Yeah, I took it a little hard, but..."
He starts smiling some more.
"Thanks for taking me up on the offer. You didn't want to until I pushed it."

 

"I don't disrespect those who command it." Nilarq says, smiling back.

 

"How far do most get? And, tell me the truth, okay?"

 

"How far in terms of what?"

 

"Battling. You said that I did better than most rookies."

 

"I mean, I hold back until three, but you're the only one who didn't yield. On day one, no less."

 

"Really? I felt like a least someone would try."

 

"Usually pain tolerance comes before dying." Nilarq says flatly.