Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"I t-thought Aj said that y-you two use contracts as an excuse to kill t-the other party...?" Ali asks, peeking out again.

 

"No, that is what we were commonly used for. Contracts were not necessarily to kill, they may be to help with something, or in dire cases, look after someone. This is not a binding contract, but an extension of the Shadow Royalty's forgiveness. While you possess this contract, you will be subject to protection in our palace and may ask for three things from us. Anything at all." Shadow Stephanie says.

 

The rune takes longer and hurts more, but it's over in a minute.

"I'll tag along if you'd like."

"O-okay... I-I guess..." Ali says, still trembling.

 

"Again, I'm very sorry about what's happened," Shadow Stephanie says, "I don't think any of us intended to get someone killed, nor hurt. I didn't realise Katie could be so...violent."

Shadow Stephanie sits down next to Ali.

 

"I-I don't understand... it's a hard decision, because what we've h-heard of your group... the Hive Master is almost a safer alternative. W-we piss you off, and that stuff h-happens, like o-our customs and our selves don't matter either way..."

 

Crystal looks at the runes once it's done.

"Fine with me. Meet me at the portal room, I'm putting this back."
I say raising the robe in emphasis.

 

They're intricate and etched into him rather permanently, his shapeshifting unable to get rid of them.

"Will do. I may need a minute, though."

 

"I really don't want to see you end up under the Hive Master's control," Shadow Stephanie says, "Please don't use this example to...gain a view of us. I'm sure Katie will be dealt with appropriate punishment for her actions here today. I really do actually want to help your people."

Shadow Stephanie sighs, "If you want, I could help out here for a bit. Clean up the mess, do the dishes, that sort of thing." She offers.

 

"I-it's hard when t-this is all we see, but... s-sure, I could use some h-help since sister left." Ali utters, shakily standing up.

 

"You go make yourself a cup of tea and calm down, I'll clean everything up." Shadow Stephanie says, getting up and patting Ali on the back, smiling kindly.

 

"I thought you said shifting with them would be hard."
Crystal mentions to Linoa.

"Take your time. I'll be at the portal room."
I say, jetting off back to the bunk room.

 

Ali obliges, wasting no time adding more than a pinch of sugar to her tea.

"If I did it, it would be."

Rineth nods, flying off.

 

Shadow Stephanie heads back into the restaurant, surveying the scene.

 

"What if I wanted to get them off?"
Crystal asks Emerald, curious.

Once at the bunk rooms, I put the robe back in the closet, and head to the portal room.

 

The dead Anubi has their bloody snout caved in, and those alive have split themselves between rage and sorrow, none of them daring to look at Shadow Stephanie.

"Then you come back to me."

Rineth seems to be absent for a while...

 

Shadow Stephanie heads over to the dead Anubi, kneeling beside it and seeming to pray.

 

The cafe stays silent, tension in the air despite the scent of Ali's tea wafting from the kitchen.

 

"Okay."
Crystal says, thinking.

I just wait.

 

"Excuse me, how do you honour your dead?" Shadow Stephanie asks the cafe once she gets up.

 

"We have no rituals for the desecrated." One says, anger and hesitance in their voice.

"Up to two more." Emerald says.

Five minutes later, Rineth arrives.
"Sorry about that. Any proposed ideas?"