Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"...Can I help you?" They ask in a raspy, quiet tone.

 

"Ooh, scary." Shadow Stephanie says, pretending to be scared.

 

"Yeah, uh.. I need to wake up. The ferret told me to hug a fire elemental, however that may work."

 

Lex sighs.
"Okay, fine, there's always EBB. Anyhow, I gotta go. Hope you get to feeling better soon, Stephanie." He says, standing up and walking off at a pace faster than a sprint.

They blink.
"I, uh... guess I could help with that. You sure you want to wake up?"

 

"Yeah. Don't have much to do here anyways. I'll just return tomorrow."

 

They nod, holding a hand above your head.
"Stay safe, stranger."

You feel warm, then a scalding feeling washes over you as you jolt awake.

 

"Thanks." Stephanie says, mood already seeming better with Shadow Stephanie around.

"Well, what are we waiting for. Let's do something!" Shadow Stephanie says happily, looking around.

 

"That wasn't really a hug, but okay."

He rubs his eyes before getting up, looking around the cave.

 

There's a door back to the main hall, a massive and mostly empty mess hall, and a closed door to the kitchen.

The three dragons are all dozing off, Anne curled up and turned away (you can't tell if she's asleep or not).

 

Shadow Stephanie takes Stephanie by the hand and leads her out to the main hall, Stephanie barely having enough time to grab her helmet and put it back on.

"Why didn't you call for me earlier if you were feeling so...alone?" Shadow Stephanie asks, "Don't you remember when you summoned me? I said I'd always be here for you."

"I...tried to," Stephanie says, "My powers have been weaker lately."

 

Lenka is running towards the duo from the hall.
"Hey... I'm not too overdue, am I?" He shouts.

 

"And you are?" Shadow Stephanie asks.

 

"I already told you my- oh, uh... I thought you said something about your friends couldn't come? Whatever, it's nice to meet you, shadow-being. I'm Lenka, captain of this ship. I suppose I should get to know you as well, since Idhaenna assigned me to take you around the stars, were you to need it."

 

Stephanie decides to stay silent, as usual.

"Shadow Stephanie, Queen of the Shadows," Shadow Stephanie corrects, "The genocidal ones. Not the ones that pretend to be a plant pot."

 

Lenka gives her a confused look.
"...All due respect, the genocidal shadows don't have a queen. Wait... you mean that Pozel walked into a murderhouse getting you home?! If he's not okay, I swear to the stars I'm getting EBB to find his remains." He says, suspicious.

 

"Different reality, buddy." Shadow Stephanie says, suddenly appearing behind Lenka; dagger at his throat.

"We're a lot more...murderous in my realm." Shadow Stephanie whispers softly.

 

Idhaenna glares at Shadow Stephanie through the window, though Lenka appears unfazed.
"Is Pozel dead or not?" He asks, red marks creeping towards his pupils. "And are you going to keep me like this, or can I take my meds?"

 

Shadow Stephanie glares right back, before appearing beside Stephanie again.

Shadow Stephanie mumbles something to herself about 'peace' and 'overprotective gods', annoyed.

 

Idhaenna links with Shadow Stephanie.
"It'd be a shame if I forced my gifts down your throat... You said your gods have a tendency to reset your realms, no? You call that enough genocide for your bloodlust?" She challenges. "Lenka is to serve as an ally. If you do not want his my help, I will stop preparing it for you."

Lenka jabs another syringe into his neck, dropping to his knees again.
"O-okay... I need to stop cutting it so close... Uh, where was I...? Oh, right, is Pozel dead?"

 

"Ooh, shove your big meaty gifts down my throat big girl, I bet I can handle a lot more than you." Shadow Stephanie responds, glaring at Idhaenna.

Stephanie kneels down to help Lenka, trying to use some healing magic to help before seeming to get shocked by some kind of electricity, collapsing onto the ground.

Shadow Stephanie's attention is diverted directly to Stephanie in a split second. Shadow Stephanie quickly picks her up and forces off her helmet with a bit of a struggle. She puts her hand just above Stephanie's mouth to check if she's still breathing properly, before seeming to possess Stephanie through her mouth. Stephanie's body armour likely protects from Shadow possession, Stephanie's head the only exposed area.

Stephanie suddenly gasps, sitting up and trying to clutch at her heart; though more rubbing her chestplate. Her eyes appear to have turned greyish-red, and she looks a bit paler than before.