Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Yes. I was told that I caged up Katie's mother, yet I have no memories of doing any such thing, nonetheless meeting her until I went back to see if Katie was having a good visit." Xlentia sighs. "I gave her a special map to pardon me, even though it wasn't quite me. Seems to be a recurring thing..."

 

"You didn't seem that much more harsh, when I saw you. You still called me sweetheart, but you never used 'sentient shiny'."

 

I fly out of the ruins and check back on the tribal village.

 

"Well, you're shiny and you're sentient. How else do you want me to call you, sweetheart?"

At dusk, everything seems quiet. Everyone's laying around as if dead, but the moment the first would-be night stabber makes so much as a blink, they all get up at once and resume their bizarre habit.
One noteworthy thing is that the entire operation is silent, both for "victim" and stabber.

 

"Quite odd." I comment, flying around for a bit to see if there is anything else of interest.

 

Shadow Stephanie sighs, "This guy is stressing me out." She admits.

 

"I dunno. You're not wrong, or anything, I just haven't been called that before, and you didn't call me that before. Just pointing stuff out."

 

There seems to be a statue of a goddess and a small, fenced-in hut behind it.

"Seriously, what's wrong with going back and talking to him there? Plus, Xlentia wouldn't leave without you. She does think you're still there."

"Well, if it makes you uncomfortable, I'll stop, sweetheart."

 

"Alright, I'll go back and find him there." Shadow Stephanie says, opening a portal back to the centaur village and stepping through; looking for any signs of Sivius.

 

The massive dark and light energy forces are probably a good place to start. They seem to be coming from a cave nearby.

 

"It doesn't, really! It's like how I call myself a rock sometimes. That's just what I am, nothing wrong with that."

 

Xlentia seems confused.
"Okay then..."
Pause.
"Are you going to go explore with the others?"

 

Shadow Stephanie briskly glides over to the cave, travelling through another plane of reality so she isn't bound by physical forces, before looking around the cave.

"HEY! SIVIUS!" Shadow Stephanie shouts into the cave.

 

His body forms from wisps of darkness in front of her.
"Already recollected yourself? I'm impressed." He says, expressionless as always. "Well, if you'd like to try to convince me again, be my guest."

 

"Oh yeah, sure!"
Crystal remembers.
"I'm going to check something first, though."
Crystal gets up, and looks around for the starmap.

 

The Cornae and the starmap are still on Xlentia's back.

 

Crystal approaches the Cornae.
"Hey. Do we know what planet we're on according to the map?"

 

"Happily, you know why? Because I'm fucking done with your BULLSHIT excuses as to why you can't join us." Shadow Stephanie says, emphasising the word 'bullshit' by poking Sivius.

"You say you don't like me because I'm a queen. But you know what? I don't go around demanding an instant amount of respect from people. When I first met you, I didn't ask you to bow down to me and kiss my feet because I'm a queen. No, I complimented you on your appearance, I tried to be social. If anything, you're the one who demands instant respect. What did you do? You insulted me, you acted all high and mighty, 'bluh bluh I'm such an edgelord because of my existence'. You followed a stereotype before even getting to know me. 'Bluh bluh, oh, she's just a queen, she just wants me to fight for her'. No, I don't want to hire you to join my army so I can watch you run off and fight my battles for me! When we go to fight the hive master, I'm going to be there with you, fighting right alongside you with my friends. Which is honestly a lot more than you can say, hmm?" Shadow Stephanie asks, poking and pushing Sivius to emphasise words, "You've managed to trick everyone into believing your some fucking great hero or whatever for walking away from a war. You know what I think? What I know!? You're a coward. That's right, a coward, a wimp! A wuss! You're not some brave hero for walking away from a war, you're just a weak coward who was too scared to fight. At least when I go to fight, I know my friends aren't going to leave me behind to die because they're too scared. And, you know what? I don't think I even want you to join us. You're nothing but a weak fucking coward who ditched his allies in battle. You're not some hero, some messiah standing up for those who want to survive. You're a weak wimp, and no, I do not give a single flying FUCK that you're some 'illegitimate being'. Get a fucking hold of yourself and stop trying to bullshit your way out of your own flaws. You're not some kind of illegitimate being, you're just a coward. You can't face the hive master, you can't face the concept of war, you can't even face your own traits. You forced Vesius to take the heat because you were too cowardly to take it yourself. I don't want someone as weak as you fighting alongside us. I want a strong fighter who's going to stand beside me and my allies in battle. You're useless, rude, and, need I say it again, A FUCKING COWARD! SO GET A FUCKING HOLD OF YOURSELF OR GO DIE IN A CAVE WHILE WE DO ALL THE WORK!"

 

Sivius grins.
"Actions speak louder than words, warrioress." He says, drawing his rapier.
One thing stands out immediately - it has a paradoxium edge that's somehow stabilized.

"KLE-004." The cornae says.

 

Shadow Stephanie refuses to fight.

"If actions speak louder than words, you've preached to the world, deserter," Shadow Stephanie says, her arms crossed, "Go on, attack me. I dare you. You'll then officially be the 'bad guy' and you'll make your name even worse."