There was movement instantly, and the screeching of chairs being thrown back as every person in the Parlay collectively stood from their meals. No one said anything—only the barest gasp from Dahlia—as Quinn’s hand came to rest on the glass, and she hissed her threat through it. 

For a moment nothing happened. Roaki had clutched the table tight when Quinn lunged, and her eyes had gone wide, but she’d not flinched, or reacted. Herr Donner seemed pleased in his unemotive way, cocking a brow at Besca. He cleared his throat to say something, perhaps the ease the tension, or condescend, or likely both.

Then Roaki stood and [i]threw[/i] her table over, splattering what was left of her meal against the divide before she lunged forward and slammed her own hand to the glass, right against Quinn’s, with a dense warble. The impassive stare had left her. She grinned madly, her wide eyes held all the composure of a rabid animal. 

That fire in Quinn’s veins flared at an alien stoking. A strong and sickeningly pure urge to [color=black]Fight[/color] was thrust upon her. Fight, Quinn. [color=black]Kill her [i]now rightnowrightnow[/i][/color] and it would not let up as long as their eyes met. 

“[color=ec008c]Do it! [i]Come on[/i]![/color]” she shouted, forehead pressed to the glass, staring up at her. “[color=ec008c]I’m gonna kill you—I’m gonna [i]rip you apart[/i], do you hear me? Slowly. Piece by piece. I’m gonna make them [i]listen[/i] to you die[/color]” Her fingers curled against the glass, like she was trying to claw into it. Blood mixed crudely with the drool on her lips. “[color=ec008c]And then I [i]am[/i] gonna come for them. I’m gonna start with that one, right there, and I’m just gonna keep going.[/color]”

[i][color=black]This dog needs to be put down[/color][/i] came a cry from within her. [i][color=black]They all do.[/color][/i]

Herr Donner grimaced, marched over. He took hold of Roaki by the collar and [i]pulled[/i] her away from the glass. She made motions to shake him off, but even she didn’t think to strike someone like him. 

“I believe the meal is over,” he said, and began to lead her away. 

“[color=ec008c]I’ll kill every last one of them![/color]” Roaki roared, still pulling, still fighting to get back to the glass, to Quinn. “[color=ec008c]And you know what’s sad? You won’t even be alive to thank me—![/color]”

The door shut, and as the rest of the Helburkans began to clean up, Herr Donner’s words seemed to be true. The meal was over. 

Dahlia hurried over to Quinn, Besca not far behind. 

“[color=skyblue]I—I’ve never seen anything like that before.[/color]”

“[color=gray]Me neither. House Tormont has a reputation for brutality but good god, that’s not normal.[/color]” She stroked a hand through Quinn’s hair, brow furrowing at how tense she seemed.”"[color=gray]Hey, hun. Don’t let her get to you. She might be loud, but she’s almost as new to this as you are.[/color]”

Dahlia took Quinn’s hand, the one she’d nearly smashed into the glass. “[color=skyblue]I should’ve stepped in. I’m sorry. Are you okay?[/color]”