RE: The Primarch Keeps Breaking Things
04-27-2017, 08:23 PM
Maripaz' Diner is a modest affair, tucked between an Elvish apothecary and a used-books store. Barth holds the door open for doe-Elana—you're not being racist with that label, by the way, just practical—and you squeeze through before he lets go.
"Barely anyone comes here outside festival season, but the food's just uh-may-zing." She ushers you and Barth toward a booth by the window, and gracefully slides into place beside him. You end up alone on the opposite side of the table. Wow, these booths are wide. "Sorry, what's your name again? Chris? I think it's so funny that your sister and I share the same name."
"Yep, funny."
You force a smile for this bubbly creature, whose physique and personality seem mismatched. She's six feet of lean meat and muscle you wouldn't want to bother. Sweet face aside, doe-Elana looks like she could punch everyone in this room into another galaxy, and have energy to spare for gryphon wrestling.
"So-o, are you guys gonna watch any of the events?" Doe-Elana smiles at Barth, whose expression hasn't changed once in the past fifteen minutes. "You know, I'll be doing the treasure hunt again this year. I'm looking forward to punching another couple skyboars in the throat."
For whatever reason, you're not surprised. If Barth is, it doesn't show.
"Do you participate often?" he asks. Doe-Elana's eyes shine.
"Grand champion three years running." She tugs down the collar of her top, exposing part of a pale scar beneath the left wing of her clavicle. "I've been up close and personal with everything in the Maze. None of 'em lived to regret it."
"That sounds terrifying," you say.
"Nah, not really."
"I meant for the monsters."
"In that case, oh yes." The bloodthirsty glint in doe-Elana's eyes catch you off-guard. "It's worth it, though. You know what the grand prize is for clearing the Maze?"
"... Is it a wand?"
She blinks. "Wha? No. Something way better than a glorified twig. It's...."
>_