She's standing on kitten's legs. It could have been instant or it could have taken twenty minutes, she doesn't know, but someone threw a switch inside her and now her knees are wobbling with the strain of keeping her heavy body upright. Useless kitten's legs, too small and weak for the job. She can't stay standing anymore. She can feel her toes curling inside her boots, and with just that little motion the muscles that are supposed to be the proudest piece of her lineage melt into putty and she slips lower. Lower. Lower.

"Nngh, Mynx! You useless, guh, bastard! Faker! Th-this isn't a game... nnff! Anymore!"

Her claws drag across the surface of the bar, cutting deep grooves until they finally find enough purchase for her to drag herself back close enough to standing that she can look Mynx in her dumb lizard eyes. Her breathing feels ragged and labored. Her tail has gone limp, and her ears droop comically on top of her head, but her eyes are as sharp and full of fury as they have been since she left for space. Her arms may be straining just with the effort of keeping herself upright, but it makes her feel like a fighter just the same. That's enough to keep her tongue sharp through the honey-like wine.

"Don't you even [i]think[/i] of leaving me behind! The Princess is [i]my[/i] prey! I'm not, [i]hhhhhff,[/i] gonna let you steal my glory! You'll never get your cushy little job back without [i]me!"[/i]

Her face twists into a grim smile. There it is! Faker. Usurper! Always trying to take her spot, always worming her way into the Princess' good graces, trying to sit herself ahead of Bella, but where's that gotten her, huh? Look who didn't get taken, either! All those smug smiles, all that lying, and she got left behind just the same as everybody else!

Where did she... disappear to? Why wasn't she there when Bella was being punished? Why hadn't she lifted a finger to help her survive the Games? They were abandoned together! And yet! And yet!!

Bella slams her fist down loud enough to make every person in the area jump off their feet. Jealousy, anger, courage... whatever it's called, it surges inside her hotter and stronger than Mynx's poison. Just for a moment. Just long enough for her to surge to full height. Just long enough to lunge and seize the bartender's vest the traitor was wearing for a disguise. She slumps again, but now she's dragged Mynx down to her level. Bella's breath is hot and thick with the scent of her own blood as it washes over Mynx's face.

"I'm getting on that ship. I'm going to see her. Odoacer couldn't stop me. You won't stop me. And then I'm doing my job. So if you want back into the Empress' good graces you'd better start making yourself useful real fast or I'll..."

Her nostrils flare involuntarily. And then? A tear wells up inside her beautiful golden eye and rolls softly down her cheek. She snarls. Adrenaline. Effect of the poison, nothing more.