Blood from Stone [AU]

[Shannon zi'Marass]

That... does make some sense. Fine. Just a spark spell or three. "...Cin..." She swallows, swaying a little on her heels as her eyes close. "I need- I saw you buried. I kissed your cheek and-" She swallows again. "What... what was our pact? When you were Princess Lacebottom and I Bright's Charmfist. What did..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"That you would always be my knight in gleaming armor. That you would always rescue me, if I needed you."

She looks away, hating the hot tears that spring to her eyes. I've needed you, over and over, but you didn't come. You couldn't. I knew that. 

"And that I would always love you as my own sworn protector."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

With a soft, gasping whine, the merikos aasimar sinks to her knees. "I... it's you. You're alive, I..." Tears coming in earnest, she looks up at Cindy. "I missed you so much."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Shan," she says firmly, her voice a whip. "If you need to stay here and sob, do it after. I need to be sure of you. The last time someone found out what I was, I was locked away. I cannot, cannot, let that happen again. Do you understand?"

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon shakes her head a little, staring at Cindy with confusion. "What? Locked... why would I? Tie you up maybe but only if you're into that. Why would-" She blinks a few times, then her eyes widen. "You think- that I would be like- him? That I would-"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No," she says, though she holds up a hand. "First of all, I don't sub, I'm a domme only. But, no, I don't think you would do that. But you might tell the wrong person -- and my adoptive parents would try, but they cannot override a Light, or anyone suitably connected. I'm certain you know some very connected people."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"Being tied up doesn't have to be just for subs. Good for roleplaying or- anyway. And yes, you could say that, given that I'm a Light. Or, well, I shall be after the next full Lantern meeting. My father is..." Her smile thins, turning savage and very close to cruel. "Stepping down." I had to burn every favor I ever had, leverage every asset and sell myself in all sorts of ways, but I got him. Finally.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Always the ambitious one," she says, her voice distant, deep. "What will you sacrifice for your ambition, little knight? What losses are acceptable?"

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon laughs softly. "Your question is... moot really. I got the crown I wanted and I've already spent everything I had. Why shouldn't I? No family, all my friends were dead or false, the gods don't care and... Daddy dearest was the root of all of it so... I took the only things he ever cared about and..." She lifts a shoulder, the gesture careless but graceful despite that.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"And now you have leverage again, a new pawn." She states this bluntly, watching Shannon closely.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon surges to her feet, eyes flashing with temper. "You are not- damnit Co, I loved you! You were the only friend I ever had, the only person that didn't didn't betray me. I would never- Damn you. Damn you."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She relaxes, then, that hardness falling away from her eyes entirely, her face softening. "Alright," she says, softly. "Gods above, I missed you," she adds, in a whisper. "That passion of yours -- I never had it, not even in my professional life. I tried. I worshiped Ciren hoping to find it. But the best I had was enthusiasm."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

A test. I... of course. Co- damnit, Cin- was always testing. All fathers deserve to burn in the worst of the Hells. "And I inflicted countless tutors and lessons for decorum and grace upon myself, trying to match that cool elegance you wear to effortlessly." She shivers a little, then slowly rises to her feet. "I..." Her eyes rake over Cindy and she shivers again. Passion is often called a fire but they forget that when fires burn themselves out, the room always feels twice as cold and empty. "So... what now? Are you going to vanish again?" Will I lose you for a third time?

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No," she says quietly. "If nothing else, I have a home here, family, a promising career. And... I am recently single."

She lets that hang in the air, no stranger to the types of declarations Shannon was making a moment before.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Was that... No. Maybe? Co was never- but so much time has... Wait a minute... "My... The dossiers... they were clearly incomplete, as if nothing else, it should have mentioned you changed your hair color, but... they did mention you were dating zi'Tethras's daughter. Was that... accurate?"