Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"You can leave it with her." Katie nods, smiling.


The guard looks sternly back at her, intimidating.

 

She hauls it over to Shadow Stephanie, bumping into her as she drops it.
"H-hey, miss Stephanie? Could you watch this coin for me? I found it under the sand."


"If a god were to come fly around and spread flowers, what would you do?" She asks, unfazed.

 

Shadow Stephanie seems to be holding a tropical looking cocktail with a straw in one hand, and she lowers her sunglasses to look at Spring when she bumps into her.

"Hm? Oh, sure thing." Shadow Stephanie says, extending her free hand.


The guard doesn't respond.

 

Spring puts the coin down, takes a break, then hoists it up into Stephanie's hand, winded.
"Th-thanks..." She sighs.


Miorah sighs.
"Ugh, this day is never gonna end..."
A small green portal starts to open nearby, showing a supermassive (vacant) earthen throne lined with ivy.

 

Shadow Stephanie's hand closes around it, before she puts her hand back by her side, the coin seemingly disappearing.


"What the hell are you doing?" The guard asks, drawing his blade and pointing it at Miorah. The other guard draws his blade too, and guards with large hammers begin to appear along the walls.

 

Spring smiles before heading back to the water, digging a bit to help Katie, though her size makes her efforts pointless.


"Killing me won't stop the flowers. If you could just say that you objected I'd want to hug you." She sighs.

 

Katie digs her way toward the waves, water eventually beginning to flow into the trench and trickling down to her hole in the sand.


A few guards sneak through the portal, looking around the other side, while others begin to surround Miorah, trapping her in a circle of them.

 

Spring tries to help fill Katie's pool faster.


Thousands of flower bouquets line the throne as the collossal golemic Gaia grows more.
"Mmm... no, not those, Shadows are bound to like something more subtle."
"Of course, Lady Gaia. Just remember, they're recovering from a dire tragedy."
"Then why wouldn't I go there?"
"It's still a bit soon."
"They could use a bit of love and care. Everyone can, through rough times."
"...I'm not going to get out of this, am I?"
"You haven't yet!" Gaia laughs.

 

Eventually, the waves create a steady stream of water down the trench, filling up Katie's pool. Katie sits in her pool as it fills, using the dug up sand to construct a wall around it.


The guards keep watch, gathering information and looking for anything suspicious.

 

"You have to be on fire to kiss me?! Eh, yeah we should get on that then."

 

Spring sits on the edge of the pool.
"Are all beaches like this?"


Gaia seems to just be going on one giant flower-spreading campaign, occasionally shifting to her fae form as Miorah grows flower after flower. She doesn't look like she enjoys this, contrast Gaia who looks happier than a child on their birthday.

She smiles.
"I don't, but it'd make us as warm as our hearts."

 

Katie nods as she builds a small castle wall around her pool.


The guards look for anyone who might have any information about what's happening standing about.

 

"Why don't people come here more often?"


Miorah would probably be a good person to ask.

 

Katie points at the hundreds of humans enjoying themselves on the beach, some building sand castles, other playing in the water or throwing and catching frisbees.


One of the guards sneaks closer to Miorah, remaining invisible, waiting for her to be out of the sight of others.

 

"Isn't there a ton more humans than that, though?"


That won't be happening.
"Okay, stop joking around. We both see you, shadows." Miorah mumbles, Gaia blissfully organizing bouquets.

 

"Well, yes, but they can't all come to the beach." Katie says.


The guards change strategy, the closest seizing Miorah.

 

"Why not?"


The portal closes as Miorah backs up a bit.
"Lady Gaia, a few demons have come to ruin your party." She shouts.
The golem turns to the guards, suddenly furious.
"Fools... going out of your way to ruin my celebration?" It growls. "Is that how you treat your goddess on her special day?"
"Lady Gaia, I have cut them off from reinforcements."
"Reinforcements? I sacrifice my wellbeing for their king and he sends them after me?! Hmph."

 

"Well, they have to work to earn money and stuff." Katie says.


"What the hell are you doing to the realm? Trying to poison the king with toxic flowers? Take over his mind with infective fungus?" One of the guards shouts.

"Tell us now or your assistant will be forfeit!" The guard holding Miorah shouts, putting his blade to her throat.

"Good luck getting to the king too, he's out of the realm and we'll notify him to stay out until your schemes are dealt with!" Another guard shouts.

 

"Aww, that's no fun."


Gaia glares at the guard holding Miorah captive.
"Leave my assistant alone and I'll tell you."
"I'll just let them go back, they've been super irritable with Ihra, Lady Gaia."
"But I want them to know it's my birthday and I feel sorry for them!"
"Everyone's skeptical, Lady Gaia."
"Then I'll keep giving people flowers until they remember the day!" She pouts.
"Please just end me." Miorah whispers to the guard. "It won't do anything, but if it makes you feel better, go ahead."

 

"Some people can't live our lives. My parents left me enough money to buy anything I wanted, really." Katie says happily.


"So it's your birthday? Then why are you giving gifts to others instead of receiving them yourself?" The guard asks, skeptical as predicted.