[h1][center][color=9e0b0f]Lavinia[/color][/center][/h1][center][i](With a special guest appearance from [color=Aqua]Astoria[/color], as played by [@Sanguine Rose])[/i][/center] [u][b]Three weeks ago...[/b][/u] The transport finally lifted off. Luke was fine. Ria had started figuring out the logistics of training with Gwen. She even did a quick check in with Leon to verify Felix was effectively diagnosed comatose but healed as best as the other support mage could. Perfect time to talk to Lavinia. Yes, Gwen had said it was her fault, but it didn't sound like something her sister would suggest someone else do. Perhaps if Lavinia hadn't shouted before doing so she might have believed it, but not as the scene unfolded. Ria approached Lavinia, just as she'd said. The problem was, she didn't know how to approach the question delicately. Or, rather, tactfully. So she decided to start off the next best way. [color=Aqua]"So, Lavinia, are you ready to tell me why you screamed - and I quote - 'Die, freak' before kicking Asher in the genitals?"[/color] [color=9e0b0f]“Um.”[/color] Lavinia had known it was coming, but that didn’t make her feel any better now that the moment was here. [color=9e0b0f]“...It seemed like an appropriate way to express my terrible wrath.”[/color] There, that sounded good. Made her feel a little less embarrassed about her terrible decision-making. [color=9e0b0f]“If I had merely kicked him, it could have been construed as an accident, no? Yet now he knows that it was me, and shall curse my name ‘till his dying breath!”[/color] That was an answer, Ria supposed. Though it seemed to bring up more questions. Her brain wasn't quick enough to stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth, though. [color=Aqua]"You know Asher's in our guild, right? For, like, two weeks? He was helping with the fight. He saw what you can do. All he was doing at that moment was helping me warm back up after I chilled myself trying to keep Felix's brain from frying. So why did he need to feel your wrath?"[/color] [color=9e0b0f]“Wait, that was-“[/color] Lavinia’s eyes widened, her surprise partly genuine. She’d known Asher was in the guild, of course, but... [color=9e0b0f]“Then you two weren’t... weren’t actually...”[/color] What was this sudden relief, welling up from deep inside her? She still had to give an answer though. [color=9e0b0f]“I t-thought you were doing something else. That’s all.”[/color] And then she realized how that answer could be construed in the context of her actions, and quickly corrected before Ria could reply. [color=9e0b0f]“Gwen said he was picking on you! A-and I saw you trapped in that terrible, um, bear hug, and I just could not abide to watch!”[/color] She folded her arms, putting on what she hoped was an expression stern enough to offset the color of her cheeks. [color=9e0b0f]“If anyone seeks to harm you, then my vengeance shall be swift and grossly disproportionate! Though I’ll admit, I may have acted rashly this time...”[/color] But that didn’t answer her own question. [color=9e0b0f][i]I could tell he wasn’t attacking her, not really. So why...?[/i][/color] Ria's brows furrowed as Lavinia fumbled to put the situation together. It certainly looked like wheels were turning. But then why did the blood mage look like she was blindsided by the facts. Then the truth was out. Gwen really did put Lavinia up to it. Her friend and occasional pillow was just trying to protect her. A cheerful smile spread onto her face as Lavinia continued to explain. When she'd finished, Ria laughed softly. [color=Aqua]"Yes, perhaps a little rashly. But now I know it was meant to be for good reasons. I think you truly left an impression on him, but I don't think it's the right one. You should explain your actions to him too. So he knows he can trust you if you two ever end up working together again. Do it for me?"[/color] A bit of tension eased out of Lavinia at the realization that not only had her explanation passed muster, but had earned her a measure of forgiveness as well. Ria really was so gentle and innocent about these things. [color=9e0b0f][i]Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to her? Because I want to break that kind spirit?[/i][/color] But she didn’t want to, not at all. She might even say she liked that about Ria, if a horrid villain such as herself were capable of appreciating positive traits. [color=9e0b0f][i]A-and anyway, to say I’m drawn to her would be an exaggeration... probably.[/i][/color] [color=9e0b0f]“Hmph!”[/color] She turned her nose up proudly at the suggestion of reconciling with Asher. [color=9e0b0f]“For you? Do you presume to order me around?”[/color] She sounded affronted, but her eyes belied her tone. [color=9e0b0f]“I’ll do it for myself, you hear me? And only for myself. I don’t need him as my enemy just yet, so it’s simply coincidence that our wishes happened to align!”[/color] Ria stifled a laugh into a giggle she tried to hide with a hand. It was just like Lavinia to insist a kind thing was truly selfish. She could accept it. [color=Aqua]"Yes. It is merely a coincidence your desire to clarify that you two are not enemies yet lines up with me thinking it would be good to make sure he understands it was just a misunderstanding. Torys would likely be put out if we could not manage to work with the others in the guild."[/color] She offered Lavinia a smile. [color=Aqua]"You did good today. I don't mean like in a moral sense. You demonstrated a lot of prowess against the dragon and in your support after the fight. I mean, Zenith owes you for keeping him alive, after all."[/color] She placed a hand on the older mages arm for a silent moment before stepping away. [color=Aqua]"Well, i have to go talk to Gwen. Looks like you're not the only one who misunderstood a situation."[/color] With that, she put a hand up as a wave goodbye before heading off to talk to her sister. Lavinia dismissed her with a casual wave of her own, a mere flick of her hand that spoke of cool aloofness. [color=9e0b0f]“Zenith was merely lucky that I still have uses for him. Be thankful that the same goes for you...”[/color] And as Ria walked away, she added in a much quieter voice. [color=9e0b0f]“Y-you did quite good as well.”[/color] Only when she was completely out of sight did Lavinia squeeze her eyes shut and smile a private little smile. [color=9e0b0f][i]She complimented me! Or, well, it may have been just a statement of fact... But she recognized my power![/i][/color] She could still feel the echo of Ria’s hand on her arm, a delicate warm feeling that somehow grew rather than faded over time. She really was behaving strangely around that girl, she realized. Lavinia had dismissed her entirely as a goody-two-shoes when they first met, and had gradually come to tolerate her companionship over time... This, however, was something more than tolerance. This feeling. [color=9e0b0f][i]It’s not affection. It can’t be.[/i][/color] With Asher. [color=9e0b0f][i]I wasn’t jealous. I couldn’t have been. [/i][/color] All those times Ria had quietly fallen asleep against her. [color=9e0b0f][i]I don’t look forward to them. I just accept it as... Oh, doggone it, I can’t do this anymore![/i][/color] She leaned forwards, resting her elbows on her knees and covering her burning face with both hands. Evil didn’t make friends. Evil didn’t like people. Evil didn’t... ... [i][color=9e0b0f]...I’m a terrible villain, aren’t I?[/color][/i] [hr] [i]Dear Asher,[/i] [i]I hope your balls are well. Renewed consideration on my part has brought to my attention that the force used may have been excessive, and that I have caused you harm due to a misunderstanding. This is mildly unfortunate, and I imagine you may harbor some small feelings of resentment against my person on account of your devastating injury.[/i] [i]However, now that you have felt my power yourself, you should know well that I am better to have as a friend than as an enemy. I hold no personal grudge against you, nor particular affection towards you, and it would please me greatly if I could go back to completely ignoring your existence.[/i] [i]Therefore, I propose a ceasefire between us. Attempt no foolish vengeance against me or mine, and in return I shall henceforth make efforts to spare you from my all-consuming wrath. Defy this agreement, and I shall crush you like a tiny bug beneath my heel.[/i] [i]As a token of peace and goodwill, I have sent you a groin guard so that you may protect your weak point in the future. Do not worry, I have refrained from sprinkling its inner surface with itching powder, for my whims are passing generous today.[/i] [i]Sincerely, Lavinia Lucardi[/i] [hr] [u][b]Present day.[/b][/u] She had tried to go to Asher personally, she really had. She did not fear his strength, after all, and could see no real reason to care if he got angry at her. It was just… Well. If she went to him in person, she’d have to [i]apologize,[/i] and that was entirely out of the question. Nobody would ever take her seriously again. [color=9e0b0f][i]They all fear me now, yet I must make efforts to preserve my reputation if I am to overcome my newfound… weakness.[/i][/color] Yes, that had been on her mind all these past few weeks. No matter if it aligned with her goals, Lavinia could not deny that Ria’s words had exerted a fearsome influence on her, and that the girl’s presence conjured up a range of decidedly non-evil emotions. Rather than world conquest, she found her dreams drifting to topics such as fancy candlelit dinners, and warm cuddles under blankets, and the feeling of another’s hand held softly in her own. [color=9e0b0f][i]Yuck![/i][/color] She retched at her own depravity. No self-respecting scion of evil ought to be thinking of such things! If it carried on like this, she’d end up hugging kittens and sniffing flowers, or even worse: actually being [i]nice[/i] to people! There was only one thing to do: she needed to toughen up and double down on her evil deeds. Maybe she wasn’t really bad to the bone, but with a bit of effort, Lavinia was sure she could eliminate this useless empathy welling up from her heart. And thus it was that she barged straight into the Guild Hall, her eyes looking for a target she could pick on. [color=9e0b0f][i]Aha![/i][/color] There was Gwen, and not far away from her a gaggle of adoring fans, worshipful fools who no doubt wished to shower the ice mage with affection and praise. [color=9e0b0f][i]Not on my watch![/i][/color] [color=9e0b0f]”Rejoice, trash!”[/color] She whipped out her grimoire, pointing a finger at Gwen’s fanboys with a cruel smirk. [color=9e0b0f]”I’m in the mood for some target practice. You shall all have the honor of dying by my hand!”[/color] Massive spikes of blood materialized in the air around her, their points turning ominously to face Gwen’s admirers. Some of them were wise enough to flee immediately. Others hesitated, grinning awkwardly as if they thought it was some kind of joke, only to yelp in alarm and run for their lives as a great red spear slammed into the wall just above their heads. Lavinia laughed out loud as she watched them scurry out the door like rats before a tiger, firing off a couple more missed spears as they left. [color=9e0b0f]”That’s right! Run, peons, run while you still can!”[/color] Then she turned her smirk towards Gwen. [color=9e0b0f]”Oops. Seems I’ve chased away all your fans… How [i]unfortunate.”[/i][/color] Another laugh, this one a low chuckle so as to make it clear that she did not actually find it unfortunate at all. Terrifying innocent civilians while simultaneously destroying the popularity of one of her own sworn comrades— oh, she was such a heartless, heartless devil!