[h1] Sann & Justine[/h1] [sub]AKA Wilhemina and Decaffeine[/sub] [@Ariamis] Well, it seemed that the chaos had become full blown, with a tournament being hosted. The Valkyrie of cruelty smiled somewhat. At first she seemed to think Odin would have put her through the humiliation without precedent. It turns out, Odin wanted booze and some scraps more than dealing with a newly created underling, so as long as she did not abuse her newfound status, everything would be fine. Granny Kitty seemed a bit distraught. She had a spine, despite being a cat, that much Sann knew. Perhaps, on another time, when she had believed in princesses and knights, she would have reassured her. Well, she would fight for her regardless. She had been the entry to Sanctuary, and her opinion seemed to influence Penny to a certain extent. So keeping the fluffy kitty happy was a good idea. Still, Penny had been busy creating this whole thing with that dream girl. She had pegged Penny to be a bit… more cold than she was displaying. Well, that was good. No matter how she chose to hide it, she was still born of that weakling Jason. She did never strike her as the person she could get along with, and the person who was dependent on others for self-growth, and recent developments were, perhaps, a repeat of the past. She missed yearning for a twisted expression of attachment. Different from her twisted love of her own mother. Different from the regal grandmotherly stern behaviour of the kitty. She had spotted her prey, with all hubbub. Justine… How had she cheated death exactly? Actually, was that even Justine? She just looked like a little fawn with her face, not the proud cruel tyrant mistress of the night she once was. Well, there was certainly some time to kill before Dina called for her services. Even if it meant doing very erotic wrestling. Sann was no fool, and as a good past nerd, knew exactly what was in for her. Rachel seemed a clueless zealot in accepting. Granny Kitty was perhaps the only person who could match the length of the stick up the rear or the Inquisitor. Oh well, Justine awaited. She simply skipped a couple of wingbeats, before landing on the fallen vampire and enveloping her. “Hi. You’re that Justine everyone talks about? I heard about your exploits. Pappy Odin told me.” [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/nBgNtpQ.png[/img][/center] [color=fff200]”At the lake? I don’t know, that seems a bit chilly,"[/color] Lily spoke in response to Alex’ suggestion. [color=fff200]”We could first ask Dan if he’d let us practice over at the sunny side."[/color] After Justine had signed up for the tournament, Lily went with Alex to ask Dan about the possibility of training back at the tropical islands. Justine was about to follow when she stopped, a look of concern on her face as if she had sensed something. [color=bc8dbf]”Ah!"[/color] That was when Sann got the drop on her, the former vampire girl having failed to recognize the pounce in time. [color=bc8dbf]”Y-Yes, that’s right,"[/color] Justine answered in a dejected manner, not struggling in the hold of her wings, though she did blush as she realized what her cheek was pressed up against. [color=bc8dbf]”Pappy? Are you referring to Odin?"[/color] "He is the Allfather to us valkyries… so pappy." Sann tilted her head. "More amenable than the horror called Father, don't you think?" She said. "Can I call you Decaffeine?" Justine blinked, surprised that this apparent stranger knew of her former Patron. [color=bc8dbf]”Uh, sure,"[/color] she answered, and now attempted removing herself from Sann’s hold to get a better look at her. [color=bc8dbf]”May I ask your name in return?"[/color] Sann allowed Justine to leave her grasp, but not before brushing her with her fluffy wings. "Aww… no rebuke?" She said. "I am Sanngridr. Chosen of the Slain. Now cleaning that stupid simp puppy's mess." She said. [color=bc8dbf]”If that is how you wish to call me, I see no need to rebuke it,"[/color] Justine answered. In her old life, she would never have accepted a derisive nickname like Decaffeine, and would have struck the offender with her crimson nails. However, the girl no longer cared if she were to be called names. However, Sann’s own name was something that she did care about, especially the words after it was given. [color=bc8dbf]”Wait, you don’t mean..."[/color] She hesitated, before she asked: [color=bc8dbf]”Do you know of someone named Reaver?"[/color] "Meh." Sann said upon seeing Justine's passivity. "No fight at all."The Valkyrie said, before smirking. "We are intimate. Let's go for a small flight...Are those wings decorations, Decaf?" Sann said, before taking off in a mighty flap, gently grabbing Justine by the hand. [color=bc8dbf]”Wait-!"[/color] Justine attempted to protest, but Sann had already taken liftoff, bringing Justine up with her. By reflex, Justine also flapped her wings, and ascended up towards the upper area of the feast hall. Lily shouted down from below. [color=fff200]”Justine, where are you going? We got approval from Dan to go to sunnyside for practice!"[/color] Justine bit her lip. [color=bc8dbf]”I’ll see you there, I’ll just make a detour. Won’t be long, I promise!"[/color] The two flew out of the building, and up into the sky. Justine endured the buffeting winds, as she wanted to learn more. [color=bc8dbf]”Sanngridr, you seem to know much about me, yet I have never met you before. Are you an old adversary seeking revenge? I know I have made many enemies in my life of bloodstained servitude."[/color] Sann just gave a slight evil chuckle, before lunging directly at Justine, her attack consisting… of a single playful nibble. "I am here to help you. Reaver was mad, but madness fades away." Justine’s eyes widened, and she braced with her arm, only to lightly gasp as she realized Sann’s less-than-lethal intentions. [color=bc8dbf]”Help me?"[/color] Justine looked confused, and she slowly flew circles around Sann, trying to make sense of her riddle. It didn’t take her long to connect the dots. [color=bc8dbf]”...Re-"[/color] Sann didn't waste time. As soon as Justine was about to utter a single word, she pried off her own crown and slammed it into Justine's forehead, her own countenance becoming now wild and twitchy, but sealing the mental scrying Cradle agents were subject to. "Oh come on, don't spill the beans so soon." She giggled, unhinged. "This should buy us time." [color=bc8dbf]”Th-this is..."[/color] The moment Justine was forcefully crowned, she felt the dampening effect of the headgear; it subdued her thoughts into an inner shell, surrounded by a void of static. It was unpleasant at first, evidenced by Justine’s pained expressions, but soon she learned to focus her thoughts and ignore the strange effect. [color=bc8dbf]”They don’t know? That is...Impressive, I must admit."[/color] "In a sense, I died. Nobody can take a red coin and a black coin at once. But it was a necessary thing. Odin agreed for a chance… but removed my prized spear and condemned me to a life of serving drinks to grabby vikings." Sann just breathed."I was denied a fight with Penny. Now I have her close. It should be fun…" She licked her lips, her Destroyer getting the better off her. "And it pains me to see you. You used to be confident in yourself. You shouldered strength for the sake of your loved ones, even if Odin told me about how noxious Father was." Sann said. "He can see things many of us can. Even where Caroline is." Justine nodded, having now understood the circumstances for Reaver’s own metamorphosis. [color=bc8dbf]”So you’re set on fighting Penny...You must know how daunting of a task it is,"[/color] she said, followed by averting her eyes as Sann pointed out her own change in personality. [color=bc8dbf]”It was confidence, yes, but one born of crimson-hued insanity. That strength was only to cut a bloody swathe, all for the hunger of a beast with no fangs. I do not regret leaving Father, as he only held me back, like a bat on a leash."[/color] Justine looked back at Sann...And her eyes widened. Her lips trembled, and she stuttered: [color=bc8dbf]”H-How do you know about Caroline? Where is she? Where?"[/color] She demanded, though to Sann it sounded more like half-masked pleading. "It was nice. Refreshing even." Sann said. "Wouldn't you like to know huh? The Allfather, not that bargain copy you sucked up to… can see many things. For the right price that is." "Even you could, with the black mirror… but it's not like your current master will allow you to keep it." So this is where it ended up. Once, Justine was the one to offer a deal to Reaver, and while he refused at the time, the two enjoyed a non-equal relationship of pain. But now, the tables have turned, and she was the one to receive an offer, with her own sister as the bargaining chip. Fate was evil. However, she could not blame Sann, knowing that in an alternate world, she would have done the very same. She was a Mint agent, after all, and some habits die hard. That must have been why Sann singled her out from all the other guests, Justine thought. [color=bc8dbf]”Name your price,"[/color] she stated, trying to act more willfully. The stakes were too high for her to back down. Sann sighed, showing a tired expression, before out of nowhere she bit her own arm. "Whew." She said, controlling her impulse once more. "I am the middleman, but I figure lord Odin would deal in sacrifices or you becoming a follower. Or both. And about the Mint… Sonia is with them, so just… stay scarce." Sann said. "Rest assured… I won't press you that much. A happy Justine and out of the way Justine is a factor less in the plans of the city." Justine irked at the sight of Sann drawing blood from herself, reminding her of Reaver’s violent compulsions during the times they met, but it did not distract her from Sonia’s name being mentioned. [color=bc8dbf]”So she survived...And if she’s with the Mint, it can only mean that she’s trying to find me...To bring me back to Father’s shadow, actually,"[/color] she added, distraught by the realization. Justine sighed as she listened to Sann’s surprisingly positive reasoning, finding it bizarre. [color=bc8dbf]”Sanngridr...Thank you for sharing all this with me."[/color] “Well, It seems that it was a waste for Sonia to die, so I took action. But the thing is… Cradle or Caroline. Cradle or Sonia. You can’t have both at the same time…Think carefully.” It was then when Sann just smirked. “Oh yeah, that reminds me. Alibi.” She drew closer and closer to Justine… Justine would have been surprised by Sann admitting to have rescued Sonia, but on retrospect realized the appeal her former maid and her stern personality had for a masochist. [color=bc8dbf]”I understand..."[/color] Justine replied, followed by giving a worried look as Sann closed the distance between them. [color=bc8dbf]”Umm, what are you doing…?"[/color] Sann did not reply, instead she shot herself at Justine's face, planting a rather intense kiss on her mouth, all while grabbing her tightly with one hand, the other reaching for the crown. There needed to be at least a plausible explanation of the whole Cradle mind-probing not working for an amount of time. If she was still Reaver, she would have enjoyed it more, but she mirthfully smiled as she adjusted the crown unto her once more. [color=bc8dbf]”Mph!"[/color] Justine did not expect Sann’s kiss, and by instinct bit the Valkyrie’s lower lip, failing to puncture it as she no longer had her razor-sharp fangs. The moment it was over, she spat and wiped her mouth with her sleeve, looking disgusted. Then she saw the crown back on Sann’s brow, and grit her teeth. [color=bc8dbf]”Y-You should have warned me before doing that!"[/color] "Was it good enough to blank out? I don't think Sann is a bad kisser…" [color=bc8dbf]”I didn’t ask for a kiss in the first place!"[/color] She turned away, the flapping of her wings now more frantic. [color=bc8dbf]”So that’s how it felt to them when I collected them...”[/color] She mumbled to herself. [color=bc8dbf]”...It sickens me."[/color] She turned back to Sann. [color=bc8dbf]”Well, you have your cover story now, I suppose. Anyway, it’s starting to get late, and I should be heading back to Lily.”[/color] She sighed, as she looked down the horizon, at the tropical islands. [color=bc8dbf].”I have a lot to think about now.”[/color] "Aww I thought we could have a date in the sky. And liked blood and stuff…" Sann said. Was this the regal Justine? She was just a dreg. Well, she did need help. To achieve her own path. And given that Penrose was just Penrose… It would make a lot of people.unhappy, and cause strife. Justine shook her head. [color=bc8dbf]”Sorry, but I don’t think I no longer...Fit your fancy for the macabre,”[/color] she said, seemingly reviled by her last words. [color=bc8dbf]”Thank you for bringing me out on this...date. Goodbye.”[/color] She turned, and flew away, heading towards warmer climates. Sann just smiled. The seeds had been sown. Maybe she should bully Lily next? She smirked as she flew. Training was good too. Mayhaps the kitty could help.