Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Eh. That could take a while, seeing as I don't know my way around this place. I'll just search for those elementals why you continue your tours."

 

A holokeyboard shows up on the table after they come back to take the empty plate and cup.
"I don't blame you for wanting to hide. I have for years."

"Okay. Come back soon, and I'll make sure you and your friend both get a tour of more than just the garden."

 

"I-I'm scared." Stephanie confesses, trying to hold back tears.

 

"Alone in unfamiliar territory, recovering from the brink of death... You have every right to be."

 

Stephanie can't hold back her tears, and begins sobbing; holding her voodoo doll tight.

 

"I suppose it doesn't help that I'm a faceless waiter, but that's irrelevant. Your recovery coming along smoothly?"

 

Stephanie sobs for a bit, before responding.

"N-Not really." Stephanie says with teary eyes.

 

"How bad is it?"
The fur-kobold glances around before starting to approach Stephanie again. The mess hall seems pretty much empty.

 

"I-I'm just recovering slower t-than I should." Stephanie says.

The kobold notices Stephanie's shadow seem to get darker, the things it covers harder to see.

 

They nod.
"I wear this mask because I had a run-in with death. I keep it to remind me that rushing recovery is a mistake. Your health will return, I have no doubt."
Pause.
"Is that, by chance, your shadow?"

 

"H-Huh?" Stephanie asks, turning around.

Shadow Stephanie appears in Stephanie's shadow, rising up from it.

"Who are you and what have you done to Stephanie?" Shadow Stephanie asks, knife at the ready.

"S-Stephanie?" Stephanie asks, tears begging to re-stream down her face as she embraces Shadow Stephanie in a hug, sobbing.

 

"I delivered her requested food and asked if her recovery was coming along. If you're hoping to kill me, I'm afraid you're a few years too late." They sigh, taking off their mask.
They're missing half of their snout, an eye, and their face has an indent like someone hit it with an axe and it never healed.
"Lex-Iji, waiter of this mess hall. I haven't met a living shadow in years."

 

"You from my reality?" Shadow Stephanie asks, comforting Stephanie. Stephanie decides to take off her helmet, revealing black hair with desaturated purple ends.

 

"No. I hear you have a whole society of shadows there, or at least, that's what was reported when one of my kind had to carry their queen home unconscious. I take it things are plenty different over there?"
Lex puts his mask on his shoulder, sitting down at an adjacent table.

 

"As far as I heard, Shadows don't exist here. Have I been mislead?" Shadow Stephanie asks, patting Stephanie on the back as she cries on her shoulder.

 

"I'd say that yes, you have a faulty source. Why?"

 

"I'd be interested to meet some of your realities Shadows. As long as they're not the hive master's clones." Shadow Stephanie says, a hint of spite at the end.

Stephanie's sobs seem to lessen as she hugs onto Shadow Stephanie, shaking.

 

"You may be somewhat disappointed. They're mere embodiments of bad dreams."

 

Shadow Stephanie tries to hold back laughter as to not seem apathetic toward Stephanie.

"S-Seriously?" Shadow Stephanie asks.

 

"Well, good dreams too, but yes."