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

[benigncancer]

We're not at war, Empress. You and I are allies, remember?

[And he would dispute the assertion that wars can't be won with words. Little by little, water wears away at the stone]

[cullionfish]

No. No, we are not.

[Just by the way he says it, its clear that she's had just about enough of holding herself back for the sake of appearances. She's the god damn Condescension, she will not be pigeon-holed into an accord she doesn't want.]

My patience with you and your band of miscreants has reached its end.

[benigncancer]

Really. [He says this flatly] So you're just bored of being allies with me, trying to find a way to get out of here together. Instead you're going to cull me for no reason...for what? So I can wake up later on? What's the point?

I really thought you were smarter than this, Condesce.

[cullionfish]

Frankly, I don't give a damn. I don't have to explain myself to you.

[There's a myriad of reasons that brought her to this conclusion, but most of them centered around frustration on several levels, the rest of them located in the highblood lust for blood that she hasn't been able to satisfy since she made this deal.]

You have nothing to show for this partnership and neither do I.

[benigncancer]

Not yet! But that doesn't mean there isn't some value in working together instead of fighting against each other!

[Ugh, highbloods are so irritating. He scoots forward and reaches out, papping her lightly on the cheek]

Come on, Empress. You gain nothing from killing me and there's a lot you could potentially lose. You're the one with the endless lifespan. Have a little patience.

[1/2]

[cullionfish]

You said it yourself. You'll be back.

[2/2]

[cullionfish]

[Pap'd.

The anger dissolves into almost childish confusion, the crease in her brow vanishing to be replaced with an expression akin to one a deer might wear in the midst of headlights.

It only lasts for a very long three seconds before her face cracks like glass and she's slashing out violently at Signless's outstretched arm.]

Don't you dare touch me.

[benigncancer]

[He draws his hand back, hissing as she slashes his skin, red blood flowing flee down his arm and dripping onto the stones]

I'm sorry, Empress. I didn't mean to startle you.

[cullionfish]

[That apology only makes it worse. She growls and claws her way up the rock to reach for Signless in hopes of dragging him back underwater. She has no plans to let him surface again.]

[benigncancer]

[He really has nowhere to go. He embraces her, shooshing and putting his arms around her neck. Maybe he'll drown, but he'll do it not being any kind of threat]

[cullionfish]

[She disappears back underwater with him and screeches in disgust, twisting and recoiling to try and dislodge him from her so that she can put distance between them, though not before a shudder of discomfort rolls down her spine.

The Condesce wants nothing, absolutely nothing to do with his platonic, nonviolent advances. It makes her skin crawl in ways she would never admit. She twists in his hold and attempts to scratch at any part of him that she can reach in the process of trying to wriggle away to the surface in hopes of leaving him sinking to the bottom of the tank.]

[benigncancer]

[He takes a deep breath before she pulls him under water, and feels her scratch and kick at him. He clings onto her as best he can before she finally pulls away, and he then he flails, moving ineffectually in the general direction of the staircase.

If he can remember where it was, and can get there before he drowns. It doesn't look likely]

[cullionfish]

[She puts a good bit of distance between them, heart pounding violently. It only takes her a second to recover before she's swimming at Signless again, torn between ensuring he drowns and keeping as far away from him as possible.

She decides on the former, hoping to kick him harshly in the back before he as a chance to grab her again.]

[benigncancer]

[He has his eyes open, though they're smarting. As she comes closer, he tries to dodge the kick, far more ungainly in the water than she. He grabs a rock and drags himself towards the light, his lungs burning]

[cullionfish]

[The Empress watches all of this unfold after he manages to dodge the worst of her kick. The Condesce reaches to try and pin him to the rock he's chosen to grab, nails biting at his already scored arm.

Die already.]

[benigncancer]

[No, no! He struggles like a trapped fish, looking up into her eyes and seeing no mercy there. His lungs burn and he scrabbles at her arm, trying to get free.

But finally his body betrays him. He gasps out the last lungful of air and breathes in water, and convulses violently as his body fights to survive for a few more seconds before he's finally still]

[cullionfish]

[There's a strange satisfaction that releases all of the tension in her muscles when she feels him fall still beneath her claws. Once she's certain he's gone, she rests herself against the rock and presses her hand to her forehead a bit shakily, red wafting off her claws and fading into the water.

Abomination.

The Condesce notes that the presence of blood has attracted several carnivorous fish. She pays them no mind, even as they seek to pick the flesh straight off her nails. She is grateful for the lack of audience, so they can not witness the perturbed stare that has made its home on her expression.

Eventually, she releases the corpse and leaves it to the scavengers. She doesn't feel any better than she had when she had set eyes on him upon entering the room. Once again, he had managed to ruin the joy bloodshed often brought her.

It troubles her. Makes her angry. Anger that can't be displaced. She can taste her own blood in her mouth as she puts distance between the dead troll and herself, lost in her own maze of thoughts and fury.]