[center][h1][b][color=DAF6C7]Ríoghnach "Riona"[/color][/b][/h1][color=DAF6C7]Location:[/color] Palace Corridor [color=DAF6C7]Time:[/color] Morning[/center] From a distance, they appeared to be two women who overcame the status quo and forged a close bond. A lady and a maid walked side by side, not caring that they came from different social classes or what others thought of their relationship. Lady Morrigan tossed her head back, laughing heartily at something that only she and her friend (and possibly the knights that followed them like shadows) were in on. Her melodic laugh and hand on her companion’s waist captured the beautiful bond between the two. Surely, the stone-cold expression on the maid’s face stemmed from shyness or was an attempt to keep some semblance of professionalism while on the clock. “Can you believe it? The little tadpole thinks he’ll grow up to become something other than a frog!” Lady Morrigan covered her mouth to suppress another laugh from bubbling out of her. “Here, I thought Alaric was a wet blanket. Who knew he could be so funny? A natural joke, that one, much like his father.” If anyone thought she meant jokester, they kept their thoughts to themselves. The knights didn’t seem to have a strong opinion on the matter, and every servant they passed was doing their darndest to blend into the background. Out of sight, out of mind. “What about you, kitten? What do you think?” She asked, even though she clearly didn’t care. “I think it’s positively precious! I mean, think about it. They’re all adults, but they all cling on to this unfounded, cockamamy, delusion that they have absolutely nothing in common with—or, heavens forbid, even believe they’re better than—Edipoo, like naïve children who still believe in fairy tales. When will they finally accept the reality that we’re not all that different? Blood is thicker than water and all that.” Riona didn’t respond. She was practicing the advanced technique of blending into the background while in the clutches of a predator. Unfortunately for her, the longer they remained beside each other, the harder it became to ignore a certain scent following her. “Edin, Adelard, Alden, Alaric, Anya. Every single Danrose that exists, has existed, or will exist, thrives on debauchery. Even pain—because honestly, really, what is the actual difference between them? The only reason why Alaric is the black sheep of the family is because he prefers to inflict pain on himself rather than bestow it on others… I’m willing to bet he pays extra so he can beg his whores to punish him.” The noble drew the maid closer, pressing her body against Riona and making it harder for both of them to walk. The offensive smell assaulted Riona’s nose and seeped into her mouth. She tasted it on her tongue. “That’s why, and I hate to be the one to break this to you darling, but that’s precisely why those words he carved out on the wall? They mean nothing. It’s all for show: he’s playing you like a violin, just like Anya played Darryn, giving you false hope.” The smell mingled with her words, somehow making them equally sickening. “Alaric enjoys playing the role of a tragic prince. It makes him feel good, like he accomplished something by pretending to be a martyr. I suppose being a spare gives them the luxury of playing out whatever fantasy they like. They’re allowed to dream of a purpose beyond being a baby maker… [i]Which is more than Anya ever had.[/i]” A rough note slipped between the cracks of Lady Morrigan’s usual silken tone at the end; just barely audible enough to register as anger. “Riona.” Reflexively, her eyes shifted in Lady Morrigan’s direction. “Riona, Riona, Riona. You might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even you must’ve noticed by now. Alaric is comfortable with the way things are. He just uses his family as an excuse to do nothing. And why do you think that’s the case?” She whispered, so close to Riona that she felt her lips brush her ear. “Because his father is a parasite, his mother is a monster, he’s a Danrose… and he’ll never change ‘for the better.’ None of us do.” A long and heavy silence hung in the air. Riona sensed, rather than saw, Lady Morrigan’s gaze fixed on her, waiting expectantly. Riona continued to look straight ahead, not dignifying her with a response. The noblewoman’s hand abandoned Riona’s waist and slid up her back, claws extended. She sucked air through her teeth as the bruises and cuts inflicted by Lady Morrigan flared with pain. She whirled, glaring daggers and baring her teeth, ready to curse the woman out. Riona jerked away from how close Lady Morrigan’s face was to hers, but she maintained the scowl, even when the filthy hand reached up to tap a finger on her nose. “Boop.” The blonde said before wrapping her hand around Riona and pulling her into an awkward embrace. Whiffs of Edin’s favorite cologne gagged the maid, and she lifted her hands up to shove the other woman away. “Play nice, kitten,” Her Ladyship warned in a hushed voice, “they’re not nearly as understanding as I am.” The silver glint from swords partially unsheathed caught Riona’s attention. The knights stood motionless a few feet away, but it was clear from the way their hands were gripping the hilt that this was the first and last warning they were going to give her. Riona's hands hovered in place, unable to accomplish what they set out to do. When the strawberry blonde backed away, her violet eyes twinkled, and she gave off an air of smug delight. Then and there, Riona saw Danrose’s signature blonde and blue eyes through the pink glass that hid her true colors. That’s all it (whatever outside blood the royal family introduced into their twisted family tree) did, though: distort the obvious. It wasn’t strong enough to overcome what the Danroses fundamentally were. If anything, it fed into them and amplified their worst qualities even more. This bothered Riona because it meant that she believed what Lady Morrigan told her to some degree. [i][color=#DAF6C7]I[/color][color=#D5EDC0]t[/color] [color=#CBDDB2]d[/color][color=#C6D4AB]o[/color][color=#C1CCA4]e[/color][color=#BCC49D]s[/color][color=#B7BC96]n[/color][color=#B2B38F]’[/color][color=#ADAB88]t[/color] [color=#A39A7A]m[/color][color=#9E9273]a[/color][color=#998A6C]t[/color][color=#948265]t[/color][color=#8F795E]e[/color][color=#8A7157]r[/color] [color=#806049]h[/color][color=#7B5842]o[/color][color=#76503B]w[/color] [color=#6C3F2D]f[/color][color=#673726]a[/color][color=#622F1F]r[/color] [color=#581E11]t[/color][color=#53160A]h[/color][color=#4E0E03]e[/color] [color=#581E11]a[/color][color=#5D2618]p[/color][color=#622F1F]p[/color][color=#673726]l[/color][color=#6C3F2D]e[/color] [color=#76503B]f[/color][color=#7B5842]a[/color][color=#806049]l[/color][color=#856950]l[/color][color=#8A7157]s[/color] [color=#948265]f[/color][color=#998A6C]r[/color][color=#9E9273]o[/color][color=#A39A7A]m[/color] [color=#ADAB88]t[/color][color=#B2B38F]h[/color][color=#B7BC96]e[/color] [color=#C1CCA4]t[/color][color=#C6D4AB]r[/color][color=#CBDDB2]e[/color][color=#D0E5B9]e[/color][color=#D5EDC0].[/color] [color=#DAF6C7]A[/color][color=#D1E7BA]p[/color][color=#C8D9AE]p[/color][color=#BFCAA2]l[/color][color=#B7BC96]e[/color][color=#AEAD8A]s[/color] [color=#9C9071]t[/color][color=#948265]h[/color][color=#8B7359]a[/color][color=#82654D]t[/color] [color=#714834]a[/color][color=#683928]r[/color][color=#5F2B1C]e[/color][color=#561C10]n[/color][color=#4E0E04]’[/color][color=#561C10]t[/color] [color=#683928]d[/color][color=#714834]e[/color][color=#795640]v[/color][color=#82654D]o[/color][color=#8B7359]u[/color][color=#948265]r[/color][color=#9C9071]e[/color][color=#A59F7D]d[/color][color=#AEAD8A],[/color] [color=#BFCAA2]r[/color][color=#C8D9AE]o[/color][color=#D1E7BA]t[/color][color=#DAF6C7].[/color][/i] Riona’s shoulders sagged. “You shouldn’t have… what was the saying commoners use? Put all your eggs in one basket? Yes. You shouldn’t have put all your eggs in one basket, my dear.” [color=DAF6C7]“... I don’t understand what you are referring to, [i]milady[/i].”[/color] Lady Morrigan giggled, “Silly me, my mistake.” She grabbed both of Riona’s hands and spun her around in the middle of the hallway. After a couple rounds of playing merry-go-round, She led Riona in an oddly familiar dance down the hall. The knights had to walk in wide strides to keep up without having to resort to jogging after the two. Riona recognized the moves from the ball after a couple of steps into the spontaneous dance, which led to a thought. [color=DAF6C7]“You put my name in the lottery last night.”[/color] Her suspicion came out as an accusation rather than a question. “Hm? Oh, yes. Anya gave me the idea. After that delightful fiasco with the palanquin and seeing how much it put the Alidasht guests into such a hissy fit, I thought it’d be fun to see what would happen if a Shahzade was partnered with a lowly servant.” How Lady Morrigan could smile without it coming off as a menacing grin was a mystery Riona would never solve. “What a borefest that turned out to be. So anticlimactic! I was convinced they’d slice you open on the spot.” She pouted, “I understand that what’s-his-face is still young and inexperienced, but by the heavens, he really needs to learn not to leave a girl unsatisfied.” [color=DAF6C7]“Shahzade Munir Ibn Raif al Kadir.”[/color] “What’s that, kitten?” [color=DAF6C7]“The Shahzade’s name.”[/color] “Hmm,” Lady Morrigan gave Riona the once-over. “Do you suppose that savages can sense those kinds of things? Did Moo Neir Evan Ralf Whatever-His-Name-Is feel kinship and that’s why he didn’t cut you down? I mean, even if you are a watered-down moggy, I think you can pass as an Alidasht. Oh, but what am I saying? They’re the type of cultured people who kill their own kind in a heartbeat to assert their dominance. If they thought you were even remotely Alidasht you wouldn’t have waltzed out of there unscathed.” Riona didn’t have the energy in her to point out that technically she didn’t leave the ball [i]unscathed[/i]. As they traced the steps, another familiar feeling started to creep into Riona’s consciousness. An uneasy feeling she experienced not too long ago, in Callum’s room. “I did wonder… Where did you learn how to dance like that?” [color=DAF6C7]“... I have watched many dances during my time employed here. I must have picked up on some things.”[/color] “But surely watching how people dance and actually dancing are two separate things, darling. You danced like you knew exactly what you were doing.” [color=DAF6C7]“Thank you.”[/color] The compliment was unsettling in itself, every step just made it worse. They were reenacting not just any dance. Why else would she bring this up? “You must’ve practiced so many times for your kind to be that good.” [color=DAF6C7]“Shahzade Munir was an excellent dance partner. I only followed his lead.” [i]Oh.[/i][/color] Riona realized. [color=DAF6C7][i]That’s why.[/i][/color] “Or maybe you’ve danced at a ball before.” [color=DAF6C7]“Not many balls invite servants as guests, milady.” [i]It’s the dance with Cal.[/i][/color] “In another life then.” [color=DAF6C7]“In another life.”[/color] The dip that followed didn’t surprise the maid in the least. Strange how much easier it was to trust someone you hated more than someone you liked even the slightest. When Callum did the dip, Riona braced herself for any outcome. With Lady Morrigan, she knew exactly what to expect. This Danrose would drop her like a sack of potatoes, given the chance. And she did, proving to Riona that she trusted this bitch more than she trusted the prince. She should’ve swan-dived straight into the floor herself for that line of thought. However, it turned out Vincent and Wystan were pretty good trainers. The lessons kicked in without thought. She broke her fall by slamming her hands against the ground before her back touched it. The palm of her hands stung and her back didn’t appreciate being reminded of its injuries, but she avoided hitting her head and getting the air knocked out of her lungs from the impact. Riona lowered her head against the floor and closed her eyes. She played back the image of a prince made of twigs and white as a sheet hovering over her. Every time she fell, he apologized with the same horrified look. When Riona opened her eyes, Lady Morrigan had taken the boy’s place. “Oops. I thought I’d be able to carry you. Kitten, you’re much heavier than you look! Have you considered shaving off some of that weight? You might as well since you’re fasting for two days anyways. It’ll give you a head start!” Lady Morrigan pressed a hand against the closest wall. The “wall” swung inward, revealing the entrance to the servants’ corridor. “Don’t just lie there, kitten! Up!” [i]Clap.[/i] “Up!” [i]Clap.[/i] “Up!” [i]Clap.[/i] “The others are waiting on you.” [hr][hider=TLDR: Danrose dental coverage 0/10, would not recommend. Trigger Warning: Vomiting] [center][color=DAF6C7]Location:[/color] Servents’ Hall [color=DAF6C7]Time:[/color] Morning[/center] Servants guilty of the heinous crime of “being [i]accused[/i] of over-polishing” the ballroom floor lined up against the wall in the servant’s hall. To ensure that they were carrying out their sentence, all convicted servants were called in for a surprise inspection. Lady Morrigan graciously reminded them that since lowborns were prone to cheating and forgetting, it was for their own good that she disciplined them swiftly to ensure that the lessons stuck. But in actuality, she simply wanted to whet her appetite for the (much bloodier) upcoming event. Lady Morrigan carried out the oral inspection with the thoroughness of a dentist and a blatant disregard for hygiene. She’d force tools into the servants’ mouths to examine their gums and teeth before moving on to the next servant without ever washing her hands or equipment. Riona was the first in line for the checkup, so she avoided cross-contamination with the other servants. The majority of ash from Lady Morrigan’s hand did, however, end up in her mouth. She couldn’t stand the taste. Riona left the line and walked over to the large dining table, where a pitcher of water and cups waited for her. One of the knights came up to her and grabbed her arm. When they tried to drag her back, Lady Morrigan spoke. “It's fine, darlings,” she said, only sparing a second to look at them, “as long as she doesn't leave this room until I’m finished.” Riona raised an eyebrow as the knight released her arm. She eyed the liquid in the pitcher before pouring it slowly into a cup. Aside from the water looking hazy, she saw and smelled nothing out of the ordinary. [color=DAF6C7][i]Did she poison it?[/i][/color] The maid glanced over at the strawberry blonde, who continued her work of tormenting others. Taking Her Ladyship’s earlier words as permission, servants who cleared her check scattered away from the wall. Some gathered behind Riona and motioned her to hurry up. Riona returned her gaze to the cup in her hand and took a tentative sip of the cloudy water before spitting it out right away. A cackle reached her ears. Riona turned, expecting to see the woman looking at her, but she was in the same position as before. Riona huffed and placed the pitcher down on the table. Her coworkers regarded her with wide, questioning eyes. [color=DAF6C7]“It’s baking soda,”[/color] she reassured them. She took a mouth full of the mixture, rinsed her mouth with it, and spat it back into the cup. [color=DAF6C7][i]Gods, why’d she have to put so much of it in it?[/i][/color] People who wanted the water for the same reason as Riona did followed her lead. The others backed away, disappointed. Right when Riona thought they’d get through without a hitch, Lady Morrigan let out a drawn-out, “Ooh, my.” All heads in the room turned to her as she tutted. “Kristoph, silly little pup. Do you know how to brush your teeth?” Kristoph looked both confused and startled by the question. “I, y-,” he stuttered, “yes, ma’am.” “Do you brush often?” “As much as I can, ma’am.” “Really? If that's the case, you’re a dreadful tooth-brusher.” “I…” Kristoph blubbered and collected his words to form an apology for his tooth brushing skill. “I’m sorry too. I could’ve pulled out your teeth guilt-free if only you had been taught how to brush them properly.” Lady Morrigan broke the silence when it became obvious that Kristoph wouldn’t speak any time soon. “Don’t give me that look, it’s very unattractive. I’m not trying to be cruel. It’s just that, when I see bits of meat between your teeth, and there’s no way of finding out when you last ate… I have no choice but to assume the worst.” “B-b-but I didn’t!” Lady Morrigan shrugged, “I need proof, sweetie. And so far, I found one and you have none.” Kristoph’s eyes darted around. “H, how?” How do you prove a negative? Lady Morrigan looked over her shoulder. “Someone pour this boy a cup.” At first, no one moved. Then, wanting to be in her good graces, a few servants grabbed for the pitcher. They squabble for a bit before coming to a mutual agreement and present Lady Morrigan with a glass. “Thank you, my pretties.” She held the cup in front of Kristoph. “Drink this.” He stared at the glass as if he’d never seen a cup before. “Preferably before I lose my patience,” she laughed. Kristoph didn’t need more encouragement, he downed the concoction lightning fast. His face twisted in disgust but managed to keep it in. They stayed like that for a while before she continued the conversation. “Did you drink it all?” He nodded. “Is that a yes?” “Y, yes ma’am.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, ma’am?” Unless he magiced the liquid away, it seemed obvious he drank it all. “Hm, I think I want a better look. Open your mouth,” she said as she positioned herself to his side for “a better view.” Kristoph looked even more confused than before. [hider=Avert thine eyes, Potter!]“Well, come on. Open wide! Yes, yes, that’s a good boy. Now tilt your head up. Mmmhm and–” she shoved her finger straight down his throat. Kristoph gagged and struggled until he retched up anything and everything in his stomach directly onto the floor. Some of the servants averted their gaze to avoid doing the same.[/hider]Lady Morrigan studied the mess. “What’s this?” She pointed at the remnants of what could’ve been meat. “It’s,” through heavy breathing Kristoph tried to answer, “It’s from yesterday. B-before the order, ma’am.” He hastily added the last bit. Judging by their expressions, no one believed him for an instant. “Is that so?” Lady Morrigan’s violet gaze swept the room. She pointed at another manservant roughly the same age and build as Kristoph, who had already passed the inspection. “You.” she turned her palm upward and beckoned him with the same finger, “come here.” She repeated the steps she did with Kristoph on the other man and checked the aftermath of it: a puddle of fluids and nothing else. “And when’s the last time you ate?” The servant hesitated, sending an apologetic look in Kristoph’s direction. “Yesterday evening… before the party began. All the staff who were assigned to the ballroom… ate together. Nothing big… just, just enough to get through the night and maybe have room for… party leftovers.” “How very interesting!” She glanced pointedly down at the very distinct messes on the floor as if that were enough of an explanation. And it was. “So, Kristoph. My sweet, dear, silly puppy dog.” She knelt down next to Krisoph, pulling him close to herself. “In light of new evidence, I’m guessing you either…” She extended her index finger. “Ate the party food during the party, a crime punishable by death because it means you stole from the crown. Or…” As she extended another finger, she leaned in closer, “You disobeyed [i]my[/i] orders.” The weight of the two options crushed Kristoph alive, leaving the man sickly pale and sweating. “Which is it?” With a snap of her fingers, Lady Morrigan’s knights came to her side. One held open a book, while the other had a quill and inkwell at the ready. “Will I have to write your name here, Kristoph? Because I will if I have to. But because I like you, I’ll let you pick the date and time.” The tip of the quill sucked up the ink. “How about today? I can dump you in the arena so that we can kill two birds with one stone.” Krisoph shook his head. “No? What about after lunch? You can have your last supper and it’ll give you plenty of time to say your goodbyes.” Kristoph shook his head, more fervently this time around. “No? What about tomorrow? No? The day after that? No? A week from now? Two weeks? Next month?” Finally, Kristoph shouted, “I didn’t eat anything during the party!” “Truly? Then why didn’t you say so?” She waved the knights away as she continued to berate Kristoph in the softest voice imaginable. The knight left the book on the table before returning to their mistress’s side as Kristoph became increasingly rattled. So absorbed by the scene, none of the servants noticed Riona reaching for the book. If the book contained Lady Morrigan’s schedule, it should also include information about Darryn. Riona flipped through the pages to the most recent entry. Columns divided the pages. On the far left side there were lists of names, followed by a list of codes that Riona couldn’t decipher, columns for dates and times, two checkboxes (for what, who knew), a space for miscellaneous notes, and a space for signatures on the last column on the right. Riona found Darryn’s full name right under someone called Cameron Nesworth. Unlike the others, however, Darryn’s row was largely empty. The code was there and the notes section had a drawing of a horse smooching a heart with “Anya” at the center of it, but the rest was still blank. [color=00F8FE][i]“It’s not.”[/i][/color] [color=DAF6C7][i]It’s not, what? It’s not happening today? This week? As long as he’s useful as a hostage so you all behave? Never?[/i][/color] Riona sifted through the book, trying to find any other entries similar to Darryn’s. The closest one was an entry from six months ago for a newbie named Poppie who quit around the same time. There were three noticeable differences: her row had been crossed out with a single black line, a crown was drawn in the notes section, and there was a signature at the end. Riona pursed her lips. These signatures had to be approval signatures, signed by members of the royal family or judges. Panic surged through her mind. She made an effort to remain calm by telling herself that whatever the verdict was, Darry wasn’t in any immediate danger. According to the book, and from what she remembered from the morning paper, Lady Morrigan had a job to do at 11 o'clock. Riona could head down to the dungeon while she’s gone and see what’s what. The sudden eruption of shouting pulled Riona from her thoughts. While she was preoccupied, Kristoph and the servants began an argument. From what she could piece together, Lady Morrigan offered to forgive Kristoph for his wrongdoing if he named another person to take his place. This led to a lot of yelling and finger-pointing. The instigator of the infighting stood on the sideline, viewing the spectacle unfold with the shadow of a Cheshire smile dancing on her lips. She single-handedly broke any camaraderie this group of servants had up until this point. In a sense, that was her purpose in this castle: to break servants, sow the seeds of discord, and extinguish all possible realities where the staff rally against the royal family as one. Her knight whispered something into her ear and Lady Morrigan clapped her hands. “Quiet!” The servants halted. “Good. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you all how busy I am. As much as I would love to spend more time with you, my pretties, and sort all of this out,” She sighed. “I simply do not have that kind of time to spare. So! I’ve come up with a compromise! Pick one person from this side of the room,” Lady Morrigan hand gestured toward the servants still arranged in a line against the wall, creating an invisible divide between them and the others in the room, “to take one for the team. Then everyone will be free to go about their business… for now.” It didn’t take much to read between the lines: she was going to spring this up on them again, and again, and again, till the 48-hour mark. For some people, this was welcome news. Anyone who also ate and hasn’t been caught yet could get away with it. The servants collectively cast frosty glares at Kristoph. Lady Morrigan tallied up the votes in her head until she locked eyes with Riona. She tilted her head and blinked before placing her hand over her bosom. [i]Me?[/i] She mouthed. [color=DAF6C7][i]Yes, you.[/i][/color] The blonde was, from Riona’s perspective, “on that side of the room,” why wouldn’t she choose her? They held the staring contest until Her Ladyship twirled around, “That’s everyone’s votes! Congratulations, Kristoph. This is your chance to repent. Please sit down in a chair.” Kristoph scrambled to his feet and, instead of taking a seat, bolted straight out the door. Fully prepared for this scenario, the knights were on his tail even before he crossed the threshold. Lady Morrigan gently pushed the book in front of Riona to the side and unrolled a roll-up tool pouch filled with her favorite set of torture instruments. No one in the room had trouble hearing Kristoph getting the sh*t beaten out of him by the knights. [color=DAF6C7]“Hag,”[/color] said Riona, heavy as lead. Lady Morrigan gasped, “Ri-o-na! No name-calling!” She sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief she pulled out of nowhere. “It hurts my feelings.” [color=DAF6C7]“Oh, cry me a f**king river. Have your Edipoo cheer you up. That is where you spent the night after the ‘vamp of a housekeeper’ ripped you a new one, right?”[/color] Riona plugged her nose and fanned the air around them, [color=DAF6C7]“you reek of him.”[/color] “More like I smell like his Eau de Cologne Soleil Bleu. Edipoo’s body odor is,” Lady Morrigan giggled, tossing the cloth over her shoulder, “just that.” [color=DAF6C7]“Ugh. You’re just as revolting as he is.”[/color] “Aw, kitten, really. Why do you say such horrible things?” She pouted as she caressed her tools. “When you’re mean to me… it makes me want to be very mean to you.” [color=DAF6C7]“Wow, you’re telling me what goes around comes around? What a revelation.”[/color] The noble kept talking, despite Riona’s interjection. “You make me want to do such terrible things to you and people you care about… I might accidentally forget the courtesans are on holiday and send a maid into his room one night.” Riona’s heart stopped cold. “Maybe it’ll be one of the new ones? They’re very young. They remind me of virgin snow. So pure, so naïve… you can’t help but feel an urge to sully it.” When her heart started to beat again, it pumped black sludge instead of blood through her body. Her fingers twitched with anticipation. Just as they did when they wrapped around Callum’s neck or when she switched wild garlic with lily of the valley in the gardener’s kitchen. “Maybe, just maybe, it’ll be the raven-haired girl with the doll face that you seem to be really fond of. What’s her name again?” Riona’s hand shot out towards the table and latched onto the first object it touched. It didn’t matter what it was: they were all tools designed to harm people. Danroses were abominations, not invulnerable. Her arm trembled as it tried to move against the force that prevented her from smashing the object into the blonde’s temple. Lady Morrigan’s hand covered Riona’s, keeping her hand anchored to the table. Anger and hate have been Riona’s stalwart companions since the day she lost everything. Though anger landed her into more trouble than she could count, it fueled her with the energy to keep on going even when she’d rather not. Hate, the quieter and colder of the two, was not as passionate as anger was about life and all the difficulties that came with it. Its single-mindedness gave Riona a certain type of clarity. [color=4E0E04][i]Devour them, seeds and all.[/i][/color] Lady Morrigan countered the maid’s deadpan expression with dilated pupils and wide smile to match. Her nails sank deeper into Riona’s skin. Right as it threatened to break through, three figures appeared at the entrance. “Have him sit over here.” Lady Morrigan retracted her claws and plucked the instrument from Riona. “Ooo,” She turned the bone rongeur in her hands, “nice choice, kitten.” The Lady hopped over to Kristoph who was getting strapped down into a chair. “Bad, bad, boy. Didn’t I say that this is your chance to repent? Why would you squander your chance to become more than you’re worth by running away? [i]Tsk-tsk.[/i] I say. [i]Tsk-tsk.[/i]” The blonde prowled around Kristoph, toying with the rongeur as she did, then took a seat on his lap. “I do understand, though. You were frightened and you let instinct get the better of you.” She stroked the side of his face. “I can’t blame you for what you are, so I forgive you for that. Like I said before, I like you, Kristoph. I really do. So I’ve decided—even though heavens knows I shouldn’t let you off the hook this easily—not to pull out all of your teeth.” The tension in Kristoph’s body visibly dissipated. Lady Morrigan laughed at his reaction, which in turn caused him to laugh weakly. Next thing Riona knew, a handful of servants were nervously laughing along with them. The Lady twirled the bone rongeur in her hand. “I’ll settle with cracking open four.”[/hider][hr][center][color=DAF6C7]Location:[/color] Danrose Castle, Staircase to Dungeons [color=DAF6C7]Time:[/color] 11:00 [color=DAF6C7]Interaction:[/color] Darryn [@princess][/center] Riona dashed down the steps, skipping a few. Her satchel bounced around and the contents jostled inside. The tussle for space became so intense that a jar tumbled out of the bag and clattered onto the floor. Riona backtracked quickly at the sound and swooped it up. She exhaled a breath of relief to see the jar didn’t break and the poultice inside was safe. As promised, Lady Morrigan broke four of Kristoph’s teeth. Two teeth had their crowns cracked open, exposing the pulp. She practically crushed another tooth into pieces so that only fragments of the root remained. The last tooth was fractured, but compared to the other three, the damage was minor (as minor as a fractured tooth could be anyways). It would’ve been kinder to just pull the teeth out, but that wasn't how the noble operated. If there was anything she could do to prolong the suffering, she’d do it for her own amusement. When Her Ladyship and her knights finally departed to ruin someone else’s life, Riona raced to her room to fetch medical supplies. Although the medicine in Callum’s room and the medical chamber was of higher-quality (magical, even) and headache-inducingly expensive, she couldn’t risk sneaking in during the day. Her homemade remedies, made from the cheapest ingredients available and plants straight from the garden, would have to do. In her room, Riona stuffed all the medical supplies she could in the satchel, along with a clean set of clothes and a coin bag. After she grabbed a cape, she rushed back to the servants’ hall to attend to Kristoph. Not that there was much she could do for him. Riona wasn’t a doctor, let alone a dentist. The best she could do was numb the pain long enough for him to be treated by a real healer. Once the staff took Kristoph to the hospital, Riona grabbed her belongings and hurried to the dungeon. She was about to reach the bottom of the stairs when Darryn hobbled into view. Her eyes widened. [color=DAF6C7]“Darryn!”[/color] Unless he had been hiding his ability to break out of jail the whole time, the stableboy walking freely outside of the cells must’ve meant they had released him. A wave of relief washed over the maid. Riona hugged Darryn, then backed off as soon as he winced. [color=DAF6C7]“Sh*t, I’m sorry. I- I just thought that…”[/color] She studied Darryn, taking in for the first time the extent of his injuries. Riona cursed again before stepping to Darryn’s side. [color=DAF6C7]“How bad is it?”[/color] She readjusted her bag so it wouldn’t get in the way and draped the cape over her arm. Riona offered the other arm, [color=DAF6C7]“Need help walking?”[/color] He nodded weakly, even though it seemed painful to do it, and held onto her. They bumbled around for a minute before they got the hang of the new arrangement and lumbered up the stairs, one step at a time.