RP:She Wants Revenge

Part of the Lies Within Us Arc

This is a Mage's Guild RP.

Summary: After finding out Quintessa (and Kasyr) has been taken into custody by King Macon, Khitti has a rage session and a fight with Brand. Some time after, Rilla finds her drinking whiskey on the beach, staring at the lost souls of the shipwreck near the wharf.

Rocky Shore, Cenril

Khitti || The sun was starting to set, turning the blues and greens of the day to the reds and oranges of the evening, and soon to be darkness of the night. Khitti hadn’t wanted to stray too far from the wharf where her husband’s ship, the Tranquility, was but she seriously needed to get away from there. She’d had a fight with Brand -again- and needed some air--and snagged a bottle of cinnamon whiskey on the way out of the ship. She’d long since settled down on a decently flat rock on the shore and took to watching the colors of the sky as it slowly changed and the ghosts as they roamed the shipwreck nearby. Every once in a while, she’d take a long swig of that whiskey. It burned, but it was a good burn. Unfortunately, not enough to burn away her anger though.

Rilla had a connection to Cenril that she couldn’t quite break, she’d made her home there for a number of years. It was getting easier to be around people, to be in the places where she’d been alive, but the young vampire was very much still settling in. The beaches were the most familiar, a place where she’d once fallen in love, gotten engaged, had a life. When she squinted just right at the fading light she could almost see it. As she walked the familiar path again, the first time since she’d returned, she held her boots in hand, content just to relax for a while. Usually at this time everyone was eating dinner, socializing, living their lives and the beaches were empty, but from a ways off Rilla spotted woman she thought she recognized on the rockier part of the beach. Ever-curious, she continued towards her, and once within earshot she called out, “Khitti?” A question more than a greeting, unsure about most things. She was tense, shoulders stiff, but she offered a quiet smile as she spotted the bottle in hand. “Ah, a whiskey night. Bad news, or bad day?”

Khitti turned to look at the vampire when her name was called, but offered nothing more than a nod for the moment. She was quick to wipe away the tears, but there didn’t seem to be any sadness. No, they were definitely tears of anger--which was arguably much worse. “Hey, Rilla. It’s nothing. Just a fight is all.” Should she even actually tell the woman what was wrong for real? She’d literally just gushed to her about the guilds last time the two crossed paths and now…? Now things were chaos and were once more slipping through her fingers, just as they always did. The redhead sniffled a little--mainly to get rid of the snot that threatened to pour thanks to her crying (gross)--and took another drink of her poison of choice for the night. “How have things been?”

Rilla || As Rilla approached it became clearer that something was wrong, and that was a situation she was out of practice with. Rather than acknowledging it, she chose to pretend she didn’t see it, arguably what she would have asked for if the roles were reversed. She gave a slight nod before she spoke, “Ah, that I understand.” An awkward laugh and she licked her lips and looked away out to the shipwreck, watching it for a moment before she shrugged. “Alright so far,” she said, “just getting used to being back.” It was easier with the sound of the ocean, the white noise to focus on instead of the sound of anything approaching. “What kind of fight?” She asked after a moment, her head cocked to one side as she studied the other woman. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” she said abruptly, remembering her manners, “I was just curious.”

Khitti mustered a faint smile for Rilla as she noted that things were getting seemingly easier for her, “That’s good.” The woman’s words were considered and there’s a long stretch of silence that seemed to go on forever until Khitti tilted her head in the direction of the empty spot next to her, indicating that Rilla could sit if she wanted to. “I had a fight with my husband. I mean, we fight a lot. It’s just how we are. Kinda happens when you get a couple of pyros together, you know? But, some problems have come up… and as per usual, I wanted to leave to deal with it. The issue with that is that involves me literally burning down the entirety of Larket on my way to see the King to get someone I care about back. My husband understands, obviously. It’s just… we’ve done that song and dance before with Larket and despite what that idiot Macon says, it was a stalemate. And we just let things fester there. They burned wrongly accused witches. They’re forcing their kingdom to worship Vakmathras and arresting or killing anyone that goes against it. This has been happening for a few years now, since the Warrior’s Guild and Frostmaw’s army did battle with Macon’s army on Larket’s bridge. Well, now the frakking moron’s gotten cocky and he’s taken two people from the Mage’s Guild into custody. I honestly don’t know anything more than that. I’ve been told nothing. I’m just like you. I’m constantly kept in the dark about everything. I don’t know what’s worse: this girl that might as well be my daughter being taken? Or that if people would’ve told me things, maybe this could’ve all been avoided.” Khitti sighed heavily and set down her bottle finally. “I get it. I know what it’s like to keep secrets, but goddamn it I wasn’t even there to help…”

Rilla hesitated, but after a moment she moved to sit with the other woman, setting her boots down beside her as she did. She was silent as Khitti spoke; her brow furrowed as she listened. She knew how it was to fight with the person you love, that was a big part of what love had looked like for her as well, and she nodded slightly. It had never been what Khitti was describing though, never such a noble cause. “I’m sorry, let me make sure I follow.” She said when Khitti finished, “You and your husband had a fight because your friends, presumably,” she shrugged, “are being held hostage in a place known for burning witches and you want to burn it down?” Her sense of right and wrong had always been a little off, but this seemed cut-and-dry. Didn’t they deserve to live? Blue eyes searched the woman’s face for a moment before she looked away, rubbing the back of her neck with one hand. “I’d already be halfway there to burn it down in your shoes. You’ve got more impulse control than I do.” She almost-joked, glancing over her shoulder for an instant and then right back to Khitti. “Getting your friends back would be the hard part.” She was nothing if not pragmatic about such things, it wasn’t exactly her M.O. but Rilla was no stranger to plotting revenge, even if the revenge was never her own. “I don’t think you needed to fight with your husband to drink about it though. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.”

Khitti || “If it were a few years ago, I’d already be there. But, I can’t take as many chances now. I was a vampire then. I did almost die a few times--and actually did twice technically--but for the most part, I was untouchable. But now? I’ve got no damn clue if I’d come back again if I died and I can’t leave Brand alone like that again. I literally made it one of part of my wedding vows,” Khitti said, chuckling faintly. “Unfortunately, all of this involves politics. I can’t just waltz into that town and destroy it--I don’t even know if I could do that on my own anymore. But, it involves politics and… I’m probably going to have to follow the Mage’s Guild’s lead for the sake of our friends. I’m sick of this constant “let’s kiss and make up!” with Larket that people do to keep the peace. Queen Hildegarde, from Frostmaw, did the same thing after our huge battle on Larket’s bridge. All because Queen Josleen is her friend. And you know what happened after that? They started burning witches and Hildegarde did nothing and wouldn’t let my brother Lionel and I and the rest of our army take them out. And now… here we are. I’m tired of there not being retribution and I’m tired of not being able to get it myself.”

Rilla ’s eyes fell to her lap as Khitti spoke, watching her own hands as she tapped her fingers against her leggings. It was incredible to even consider what Khitti was saying as an option. Most of it seemed impossible, but magic was never really for her and it kept most doors of that sort firmly closed and locked. “I understand.” She said finally, biting the inside of her cheek. “I imagine it’s incredibly frustrating to know that you could have stopped it sooner.” She sighed, crystalline gaze lifted, searched her face. Rose-tinted lips pursed slightly in thought, entirely unsure what the right thing to say or do was. At her best she’d had a hard time with feelings on the whole. “It’s all so much that’s changed since when I lived here, it’s overwhelming.” She admitted sheepishly, rolling her shoulders back as if it try to shake off the stiffness of discomfort. “Why does Larket burn witches? It’s not like they’re unheard of, they’re nothing new.” One hand rose, brushed an auburn curl that the wind caught behind her ear again, although it would ultimately be a fruitless attempt and she knew so. Legs stretched out in front of her idly, unsure of what to do with herself as-per-usual. “If I can be what I am and be in no more danger for it, then why shouldn’t someone whose powers can help or harm?” It just seemed strange, twisted logic that she would probably never be able to wrap her brain around.

Khitti didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that Rilla wasn’t able to comfort her much. She knew full well what that was like, as she was the same way. She wasn’t even sure if talking about it was helping her anyway. It hadn’t helped with Brand, but then again… Khitti’d been too pissed off at that point to think rationally. “It’s been so long, honestly… I don’t remember the true reason how it all started. All I knew is that it needed to stop. After awhile, they just kept using the witches as a scapegoat for all the murders and torture the Monarchy took part in. There was an earthquake, so it must’ve been witches. A strange curse that affected more than just Larket? Oh, it must be witches too. It’s just an easy choice for them to fall back on all the time. I mean, it always is, isn’t it? People like them, they always target the ones that are different--or at the very least, not like them.” The whiskey bottle was picked up again, more of the drink drained from it. Khitti considered things a moment, then offered the bottle to Rilla. “Even if I kill them… there’s always going to be more people like them to take their place.”

Rilla nodded, it made sense that they would, the same way it made sense that the Kuronii she travelled with would assume it was her if one of them was attacked by a vampire. “I never imagined the Monarchs to be so cruel here.” She shrugged, her jaw clenched before she reached for the offered bottle. She sniffed it first, let the smell of it burn through her nose before she took a swig. It warmed her from the inside out in a way that was almost like what she remembered being human to be like, it just never stayed. “Thank you.” She muttered and offered it back with a slight smile, the fading light casting shadows on her face. “Where I grew up nobody did such things. It was hell in a lot of other ways, but the witches were safe. Anything that helped you to exchange power.” Her eyes rolled and she shook her head with a laugh. It was hard to remember sometimes exactly what it had been like there, she was a teenager when she left and Rilla did her best not to think about it. “Who is raising these people?” She laughed to herself, her nose wrinkled slightly. “I’m sorry that this is what your life’s become now. I remember there being chaos, but it was all about alliances. Now it seems like everyone wants to play nice and stab each other in the backs.”

Khitti took the bottle back and shrugged, “There’s always a bigger fish. Someone worse than the monarchy in Larket. For the most part, at least, Larket typically keeps their nose out of other people’s business. Obviously, it’s just not happening right now.” She drained what was left in the bottle (which wasn’t much) and set it aside, “People get jealous of the things they don’t have. Witches specifically have the power to do so many things. -All- spellcasters do, but people get greedy and most of the nobles, especially in Larket, are snooty, selfish idiots that think money can buy them everything.” The redhead drew up her legs under her chin, both arms wrapped around them lazily, “I’ve never met a leader of any region that was wholly selfless. Not here. Not back home in Dhavislaav. I’m not surprised by any of this. Even if there had been alliances before my time here, there’s always some sort of underlying problem, you can only hide a sickness like that for so long.” Khitti sighed, “I’m sorry. This has all probably been very… uncomfortable, is probably a good word for it. Unfortunately, to know me is to know chaos, whether I’m the one that’s responsible for it or not.” A faint smirk was issued and a glance sent in the direction of the Tranquility, the ship not far off down at the wharf. The lights on the top deck had long since blinked into existence and the crew were getting ready to settle in for the night. “I suppose I should go back and make with the apologing.”

Rilla nodded, well aware of her tendency towards impulse where it simply wasn’t warranted. Most of the time she didn’t even try to stop herself, but if she was going to really exist here again she would have to learn. “I understand.” She said softly, content to just gather information as she went between watching Khitti and occasionally glancing over at the shipwreck when motion caught her attention. The woman’s sigh brought her from her reverie and she shook her head, straightening up slightly. “No, not at all.” She assured as she jumped to her feet and dusted off the backs of her legs with her hands to remove the excess sand. “I think that people who know me would likely say something similar. Although there aren’t a lot of them anymore.” She admitted with a sheepish shrug before she snagged her boots in one hand again and offered a smile to the other redhead as she spoke. “I’m sure that someone’s wondering where I am by now as well, but thank you for the whiskey and conversation. I’m surrounded by men who would rather jump into battle than consider diplomacy, the reminder is appreciated.” A slight nod and she pushed her curls from her face with one hand. “Best of luck with your apologies.”