Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Ihra sighs.
"I could really go for a massage right now."


That comes after all the individual parts are made.
"...Need help slotting everything in again. And the sealing."

 

Artemis takes Ihra to the massage parlor, heading to the changing rooms. A few Shadows and Guardians appear to already be getting massages.


Abigail puts the claw together again, before working out any rough patches on the workbench and sharpening it.

 

Ihra just waits for Artemis.


Ruby picks up both gauntlets and puts them on, moving her hand a bit.

 

Artemis waits by the entrance to the changing rooms.

"Aren't you going to come get changed?" Artemis asks.


The gauntlets move and flex easily, barely feeling like gauntlets and more gloves.

"Nice work, Ruby. That'll fetch a few hundred gold, perhaps even pushing a diamond with the craftsmanship and design." Vexa says, impressed as she enters the forge room.

 

Yeah, think that should be fine. If you ran into my pack, tell them I'll be spending a few weeks here then."

 

"I can't take my robe off without delimbing myself."


She turns to Vexa.
"Do you have a moment?"

________________________________

"I'll go speak with them myself. Keela's pack, right?"

 

"Oh..." Artemis says, "I guess you could just lie down on one of the massage beds then."

Artemis heads into the changing rooms.


"I'm a little busy, but sure." Vexa says happily.

 

"Yes." He nods.
"Thank you."

 

Ihra finds a vacant massage bed and lays belly-down on it.


"Okay... if I told you that everything I'm about to say is true, even though it will sound crazy, will you believe me?"

"Wolves are nice to speak with, anyways."

 

Artemis eventually comes out of the changing rooms in a towel, laying down on one of the nearby massage beds.

"Sorry for the wait, Miss Artemis and Miss Ihra. We've been a little busy." One of the masseurs says, cracking his knuckles as he walks over to Artemis and begins to give her a massage, another masseur walking over to give Ihra a massage too.

"It's, ooh, fine." Artemis says, enjoying her massage.

"You seem so tense, Miss Ihra. Just try to relax, let yourself go loose." The masseur massaging Ihra says, giving her a relaxing massage.


"What are you saying?" Vexa says, narrowing her eyes.

 

She's still tense, but loosens up ever so slightly.
"Not easy relaxing when you almost get killed twice in ten minutes."


"You should credit this fine work to Abigail."
Ruby makes sure Abigail can hear the conversation.
"There's a fire guardian completing the missing half of my soul. I'm hoping to turn her friends' opinion of me around... so maybe I'll be able to live on my own again too."

 

"Well, the palace's highest protection is available to you should you need it. The royalty made sure of that." The masseur says.


"...What?" Vexa asks confused, "So your girlfriend made this for you, and you want to look good to her friends because they're against homosexuality?"

 

"...Killed by Tenebrae."


"No. I was framed for her murder. Her friends think I killed her, but I saved her. I'm trying to make a living so her friends don't just kill me to revive her."

 

"What?" The masseur asks, confused.


"So...you took her spirit and used it to create those?" Vexa asks, pointing to the gauntlets.

 

"Tenebrae showed me no mercy earlier... I fear for her, even though she seems fine now."


"No. It's like... I have another consciousness inside of me. We both control the same body, it just isn't hers."

 

"You're worried Lady Tenebrae is planning to kill you then? I highly doubt she would be." The masseur asks.


"Hm, well I'm sure the old sorceress who runs the magic shop might be able to split you two apart." Vexa suggests.

 

"Not anymore. She already did."


"That's what I don't want. That results in me dying." Ruby sighs.

 

"That doesn't seem like Tenebrae at all..." The masseur says, surprised.


"Well, that's awkward..." Vexa says.

 

"I know... but I think she's back to normal."
"Sorry, Lady Tenebrae..." Ihra thinks.


"Yeah... my problem is that her friends are my only chance at getting to live. Problem with that, of course, is that they want to kill me."

 

Ihra doesn't get a response.

"Oh, this massage is wonderful." Artemis says blissfully.


"I could talk to them if you wanted." Vexa shrugs.