Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Shadow Stephanie tries to enter the drainage system, being stealthy as she does.


"Hm?" Praecantatia asks, confused.


"If you go back the way you came you'll find a large pond with a sort of temple structure in the middle of it. Go in there and it'll teleport you to another of Gaia's gardens designed mainly for water guardians." Gari explains.

 

“Are they rich if they never need to use the money?”

“You’ve probably been there. Many people have, it’s a nice view at sunset.”

 

"If you're asking a dictionary, yes, they are."

 

It stinks a bit and it’s a tight fit, but she manages to crawl in.
A few rats skitter by, though one seems to keep an eye on Shadow Stephanie.


“Your daughter died in countless timelines. I only found a few she didn’t. I’m sorry I couldn’t find the one she wasn’t hurt so grievously.”


“Back to the lake place? Okay, thanks.” Xlentia says, turning and starting to head out.

________________________________

“Which dictionary? There are countless.”

 

Shadow Stephanie makes a quick move to grab the rat looking at her.


"You...saved Stephanie?" Praecantatia asks, shocked.


"See you, Xlentia!" Gari says happily, waving.

 

"One that's got 'rich, having a great deal of money or assets; wealthy' as one of the entries. Maybe several have that entry."
I shrug.

 

It squeaks in protest before calming down a bit, nose wiggling at her.


“I can see every timeline. I can only change what I do. I kept finding timelines where her soul would be intact but her body desecrated... until I saw Rose. I saw that if Rose caused her to overload and cut the connection, her soul and body would be intact. That was the best outcome I could find. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to find better in time.” Petunia says, seeming to grow sadder as she explains.


Xlentia turns and smiles as she heads back, watching her step as she tries to get through the portal.

Mitch pauses.
“You raise a good point. You staying a while?”

 

"Probably. I don't have anywhere to be, soon. I think."

 

“I think you might be an interesting addition at the poker table. Tonight isn’t a serious night, just a couple hours to wind down after our shifts. No money or anything. You in?”

 

Shadow Stephanie looks at the rat for anything suspicious, before continuing through the drainage system keeping it in hand.


Praecantatia sighs.

"Thank you." Praecantatia says sincerely.


Xlentia feels something below her foot as she turns back, though a muddy guardian emerges from her footprint looking unharmed.

Once Xlentia reaches the portal altar in the pond, a huge portal leading out to a vast ocean opens in front of her; only the water, waves and sky visible.

 

"Sure. I'll try to remember not to count cards, unless you don't care."

 

“We play with unlimited 500 point rebuys, and we reset a stack at 5000. At least on casual nights, so if you’re into that, go ahead. A few of us’ll get annoyed, but no harm done.”

It has some kind of marking on its face, but it’s not until Shadow Stephanie reaches a split path does the rat start to struggle. Even then, it’s not by much, but it seems to be throwing its head to the left.


“No, it wasn’t enough. You said she wasn’t recovering. Something’s still wrong, and I’m sorry. Really.” Petunia protests, upset. “There had to be something better.”


“...Sorry.” She sighs.

She tries to get through the portal, wary of what’s below her.

 

“...I’ll decide later, on if I want to count or not.”
I smile.
“But I’m in.”

 

Shadow Stephanie looks down the left path.


"You can't predict everything that's going to happen. Even Temporus doesn't know absolutely everything about every decision's effect on the timeline. Sometimes you just need to stop looking at things from such a wide perspective, and focus on what's happening now." Praecantatia says, smiling kindly.


The portal seems to fit Xlentia perfectly, though she soon finds herself unable to feel the bottom of the ocean as she falls into it. It appears to be extremely deep, and water guardians swim about it freely.

 

“Should make for some interesting conversations. Might want to jump in the talk before we get too drunk.” Mitch smiles.

 

I nod.
“So, about this courtyard?”

 

It’s an upward incline, impossible to see anything other than the path. However, the rat stops squirming and looks down the path as well as Shadow Stephanie turns.


Petunia sighs, then nods.
“I still feel bad. I had a whole day to scry... I guess I should be happy I stumbled upon the timeline I ran with.”
Pause.
“...Does that mean you forgive me?”


“Watch out belo-wwww!” She shouts as she sinks.

“...Right, sorry. End of hall, on the left. Just a few traveling merchants, never anything else there.” Mitch says, picking up the pace again.

 

Shadow Stephanie glances down the right path, curious.


"I do." Praecantatia says, sliding up her goggles and offering a hug.


Water guardians swim out of Xlentia's way as she sinks, salty water pouring into Xlentia's mouth.

The light soon fades as Xlentia travels deeper into the ocean, bioluminescent fish being her only frame of reference as she feels herself hit a sandy floor.

Xlentia feels something large swim behind her.

 

The rat throws its head repeatedly to the left again.


Petunia pauses, still in her bubble, before reaching out and making a hugging motion, which Praecantatia feels despite the bubble.


She turns, darkness no hindrance to her vision as she continues to breathe despite being underwater, not seeming to care that she’s essentially drowning herself.

 

I follow him, looking around.