FREE CONNIE

[cullionfish]

Characters: The Condesce and YOU
Setting: The Aquarium
Format: Action brackets
Summary: Condesce is in her element. Spoilers: that's not a good thing.
Warnings: The god damn Empress of Alternia.

[The aquarium level was quiet, save for the short little ripples running through the water. Toward the center, there was an obvious large shadow pursuing other, smaller shadows -- some of them even larger than its pursuer.

Condesce swam gracefully, entertaining herself by terrorizing the various marine life amongst her person. Every now and then she would pin one to the seafloor with a flurry of gold, trident in hand. If not, she would snatch them out in front of her expertly with practiced talons.

She doesn't seem to be paying attention to the doorway, but the moment someone steps foot onto the floor, they will notice that her form halts all movement and that there is a distinct yellow stare cast in their direction.]

Comments

[cullionfish]

[The sea-dweller tilts her head in curiosity. Well, this one was certainly mouthy and didn't seem to recognize her. Perhaps she was also from the timeline that Dualscar's strange descendant had emerged from, as he hadn't quite recognized her either.

Interesting. Perhaps she would need to put her in her place as well. Not a beat later, Vriska will find that Condesce has disappeared from her rock...and that a crab will come flying straight out of the water and at her hair.]

[ceruleanspid8r]

[In an instant, Vriska has Mindfang unsheathed and swinging for the crab, losing a good chunk of her hair in the process because cutlasses aren't designed for precision in such close quarters...and when the target's so small to begin with]

Wow, way to be rude. I was only trying to be nice.

[Which is true, it's just her definition is somewhat lacking]

[cullionfish]

[If the Empress had heard her, there's no indication aside from a flicker of moment from behind the rock. She's swimming straight around to fling herself out of the water like a breaching shark in an attempt to startle the cerulean, prepared to swipe the sword straight out of her hand if she attempts to swing it at her.

If not, then she will merely be greeted with Her Imperious Condescension, leaping between walls of water with a very shark-like and predator grin on her face.

Careful Vriska, it looks like she's swooping back around.]

[ceruleanspid8r]

[Vriska's stance is defesive but she makes no move to strike yet. She's smart enough to know that you only strike at a highblood when you have reasonable defence to back it up, even if she's not used to said highblood being a sea dweller, so while she's gripping Mindfang tightly she's not on the offensive, yet.

Still, she can feel the adrenaline pumping already and this prompts the faintest hint of a grin]

Starting to wonder how you got culled here. Pretty sure you could take our Empress without even having to try.

[cullionfish]

[Oh good, at least she had a head on her. Upon hearing that statement, however, all her questions were answered. This troll was from the same timeline as that Eridan had emerged from.

She hadn't quite hashed out what was going on in that world before she had upset the seadweller. So after she had looped around, Condesce emerged again, though this time in a rather graceful step from the wall of water.]

I don't doubt that.

[ceruleanspid8r]

[One didn't survive as many fights as Vriska'd been in by making careless moves; she also wasn't in a hurry to fight in an environment which was far better suited to her opponent than to her.

She stayed cautious as Condesce emerged, but that she seemed willing to converse somewhat left her more assured that maybe she could talk her way out of this. Playing to the right side being something she had a lot of practice in.

In her own way, of course.]

Of course, that's not saying our Empress is much of a fighter to begin with. Still, I imagine it must have been quite the showdown back then. Wonder how many of them it took to subdue you.

[She's part curious, part flattering and part, well, Vriska]

[cullionfish]

A disgrace to the tyrian legacy, in that case.

[Her gaze darkens slightly. Condesce is no stranger to flattery, though she's reluctant to trust it from a cerulean of any kind.]

[ceruleanspid8r]

The tyrian legacy, if there is one, is rotting in a polluted sea. That's the disgrace.

[cullionfish]

Excuse me?

[That seems to hit a switch that might have been better left in the off position.]

[ceruleanspid8r]

[Vriska barely flinches]

Well. Just strikes me as a long way to fall from the top to hiding out in an ocean that may or may not kill you before the land-dwellers do. Kind of hypocritical of the new highbloods when you think about it.

[cullionfish]

[She's really mad Vriska, you might want to quit while you're behind. In fact, she seems to be too busy processing this reality to answer coherently.]

Impossible.

[ceruleanspid8r]

Just be glad you don't have to live that reality.

[Which is the closest Vriska's going to come to acknowledging that this sea-dweller seems to be taking the news of the alternate Alternia really badly.]

[cullionfish]

[ITS SHITTY, OK??? Not just for her, but for the natural order, for the entire plan Scratch had set in place. It wasn't supposed to be any other way.

How would she even handle that? Aside from killing everyone and everything. But if her lusus was dead--

No. She's not going to think about this anymore.]

So long as you are very aware that such realities are little more than blasphemous slander, then I will be willing to overlook this little meeting.

[Maybe. Its just a cerulean. A cerulean wiggler at that. Does she actually care?]

[ceruleanspid8r]

[She can't help but roll her one good eye]

Yes, yes, ours is the freakish reality that insults the natural order of things, I got that memo when every other troll in the tower keeps insisting you're still in charge. Not that it even matters while we're here but hey, if it means that much to you.

[Yup, just keep digging, Vriska. That'll help]

[cullionfish]

[Yeah nope, that's the end of her patience.

Vriska will be taught some manners in the form of an attempted grab for any part of the wiggler she can reach before she attempts to toss her rather violently into the tank. During this, she will attempt to rip Mindfang from her hand before she flies in that direction.

If she can't, whatever. She cares more about getting her into the water and shutting her the fuck up.]

[ceruleanspid8r]

[Unfortunately for Condesce, Vriska's used to keeping a death-grip on her cutlass.

Unfortunately for Vriska, that doesn't help her dodge the grab and hurl into the water and she sputters and flails to try and avoid drowning immediately]

What the fuck?