Bella's claw tips press into her temple as if to stop the rush of blood. She squeezes harder, and harder, and harder, until the only thing that keeps her from opening several small rivers of the stuff is the way her fingers slip off of sweat-slicked skin at the last second. Her teeth clench tight enough to be painful, and she forces the Auspex shut, as though blinding it could silence it, as if the source of this pounding in her chest was something in her sight and not...

"What... did you DO?!"

That bastard, that bastard, that sick fucking, tubes-and-wires, hollowed out [i]bastard!![/i] How dare he, how dare he, how dare he?! What did, what did he see?! What did he do? She snarls and hisses with unrestrained disgust. Her arms flex and her fingers curl like daggers. Her shoulders roll back and push her chest forward so that the already tight buttons on her jacket are strained right to the point of bursting. How dare he? How dare he?! Those are hers! They're hers, damn him! Don't touch them, don't touch them! Don't! Touch! Her! Memories!

"BELLA!"

She wheels around, startled by the sound of her own voice snarling at her. Her own face seethes at her, her own body draws closer until she's forehead to forehead with herself, circling, shoving, glaring. Her claws tense again, ready to pounce and tear and kill herself... kill Mynx. Out of the way! What are you doing, don't let him, don't don't don't DON'T!

"Bella." her own voice spits her name again, dripping with venom worthy of a Toxicrene, "Do NOT make me look stupid."

Her birth-eye widens in shock, until the pupil swallows the entire field of gold. She needs another breath or two, but then...

"You're right," she says, and nothing else, "You're right."

Bella takes a step back and turns away from the dais so she can run her hands through her hair with something she can pretend is privacy. Her breathing slows to tiny hitching shudders, and finally goes calm. Smooth. Controlled. At her back, Mynx offers Birmingham another deep bow-and-curtsy.

"Wine, Magos. We're appalled you haven't offered any. You made us stand by the docks and drink our own vintage, is it any wonder we're a little testy at the end of this long journey?"

"It's a poor attempt at hospitality," she agrees, spinning around again and matching Mynx's facial expression exactly, "Your other gifts and gestures are very easy to misconstrue without it."

"Her Imperial Majesty calls it the 'lifeblood of diplomacy' for a reason, you know."

"Share it with us."

"We'd heard the Order has conducted deep research into new compositions and flavors."

"Her Majesty wishes good will."

"Her Majesty wishes compliance."

"But Her Majesty requires beauty in all actions."
"But Her Majesty requires beauty in all actions."

"Offer this last boon, and we'll forget your indiscretions."

"Offer comfort and hospitality, and we will listen gladly."

"Just one more thing, to show you really care."

"We'll accept you're in compliance."

"We thank you for this... mm, lovely gift."

Bella turns toward Vasilia, and smirks. She sniffs derisively. But the Auspex glares coldly through the vagabond "captain's" defiant features, and her golden eye is dull and listless. Even when her smile breaks and she licks her teeth within an inch of Vasilia's nose to bathe her in hot breath, the act is cold and pointless. There is no joy in what she's doing, cruel or otherwise. She reaches forward and grabs Vasilia by the chin.

"We've been waiting."

"A long time."

"To get to talk with [i]you.[/i]"

"...Your crew seems a little shorthanded today, doesn't it?"

"What dumbassed little overcomplicated scheme were you planning on running this time, hm?

"It doesn't matter."

"She's not here."

"She can't protect you."

"You belong..."

"...To us."

[Bella is Talking Sense with Grace at Birmingham to keep him comfortable with the way this scenario is unfolding for the time being. [b]11[/b]]