Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

I don't seem to mind the smoke as I wait patiently.

 

It takes quite a while, but eventually you make your way to the front of the line, very few others behind you. You can just overhear what sounds like it could be a scream as the ground shakes a little, the guard opening the door for you and motioning you to enter. The guardian doesn't appear to exit.

 

I enter.
"I'm not going to ask."
I announce to whoever's present.

 

Shadow Stephanie sits on her throne, looming giant over the room. The room is almost completely dark, bar the red eyes of the guards lining it, and Shadow Stephanie's own eyes looking down at you.

"Oh, Thirteen. What brings you here?" Shadow Stephanie asks happily, smiling.

 

"I'm looking for Stephanie. I'm pretty sure she's at her mom's, but knowing that place I'll need some help to get there."

 

"She is, and getting there is difficult without her help," Shadow Stephanie says, thinking, "I could try praying to Praecantatia, since our link is a little stronger."

 

"If you could, that'd be nice."

 

Shadow Stephanie moves forward on her throne a bit, before crossing her legs and putting her hands together, seeming to focus.

Shadow Stephanie stays in her position for a while, before breaking it, briefly opening her eyes before re-entering her position.

A long while later, Shadow Stephanie stops praying, moving back into her rather dominant position on the throne.

"I wasn't able to contact Praecantatia, but I was able to contact Tenebrae. She said she'll contact Praecantatia for me, and will inform you of how to get to her," Shadow Stephanie says, "In the meantime, while you wait, you're free to order anything you want from the dining hall, take a rest in one of the rooms or find something to entertain yourself."

 

I turn to step back inside.
"You're right. She's fine. I just... last time I let someone take a minute to themselves, I lost a friend." I say, seeming concerned. "She'll probably call me a pervert for looking for her, though..."

________________________________

Scurn keeps quiet and very close to Thirteen, seeming a bit confused at Shadow Stephanie's words but remaining wary nonetheless.

 

"Scurn? Dining hall?"

 

“I’m not eating anything from here.” He scoffs, shaking his head. “My goal is to bring back aid, not come back home in a bodybag.”

 

"What happened?" Katie asks, sounding genuine with a curious expression on her face.

"I can assure you, all of our food is perfectly edible. You're free to order almost anything your imagination can muster," Shadow Stephanie says to Scurn, before turning back to you, "Who is this...friend of yours you've found?"

 

"Suicide." I say, seeming pained by thoughts.


"I'm just a lowlife spellthief who keeps neglected children healthier than they otherwise would be." Scurn interjects. "Well, orphans now. Idhaenna just razed the town. I promised to be a good boy, though, so as far as you care I'm just a lowlife."

 

"I'm...sorry to hear that." Katie says, seeming empathetic as she puts a hand on the human's shoulder, trying to be comforting.

"...You don't have to worry about that with Abigail." Katie says, smiling a little.


"Quite..." Shadow Stephanie says, doubtful, "Just don't take anything that isn't given to you, and don't break anything. The guards here are swift and effective. Do not get on my bad side, you are here under special privilege. Don't forget that."

 

"Neither of us can know that if we don't know where she is or what she's doing. I know it makes me sound like a stalker, but the one time I let a friend have alone time... the one damn time..." I grumble, seeming frustrated with myself.


"How could I ever?..." Scurn mumbles.

 

"She...wouldn't do that. She's probably just...taking a lava bath to calm down and not have an outburst at you," Katie says, trying to be reassuring, "The last time she did that...someone else died..."

 

"Okay, I'm sick of talking about death, even though Abigail and Aj seem to be death magnets. Care to change the topic?"

 

"We could play some of Abigail's games while she's out!" Katie says happily.

 

"I'm more of an arcade guy. Want to go back to the 'cano? I only wound up playing two games there." I ask. "I need a partner for one of my favorites, anyways. All games would be on me." I say, showing Katie the two tokens I got from my two games - along with a small bag of coins.

I toss a diamond on Abigail's counter, then pull a pen and sticky note out of my pocket before writing "Thanks for letting me stay, sorry for pissing you off. This should hopefully cover tolerating my presence - happy holidays."

 

"Oh, um, isn't that kind of far away?" Katie asks, "Plus, the area around it is really hot, even this time of year. I can only stand Abigail's volcano because she keeps in cool enough in here for me."