>>5182480>>5182473>>5182468You gather up your pack, change into a fresh change of clothes, and set out for the day. You nod to the tattooed woman as you leave, but she does not return the gesture, simply watching you impassively as you depart. From another follower, you get directions to the nearest apothecary—and, finding there are none, you settle for a general store known to stock feminine hygiene and beauty products for the lower rung of human society.
In your pack, you have enough coin to afford a small amount of the oil necessary to suppress the scale patterning which tends to appear across patches of your body when insufficiently moisturized. Of course, you could just have Irinnile shapeshift them away… But they are a symbol of your true nature, your deeper loyalties. They tie you to your mother, and her race.
‘Yeah,’ Irinnile agrees unenthusiastically, ‘you’re a loyal one.’
You slow down slightly in your walk, confident that you are now far enough away from The Incubus to have this conversation without being telepathically overheard.
‘Something is the matter,’ you say, matter-of-fact in your confrontation.
‘H-huh?’ Irinnile stammers.
‘I feel it as easily as you feel my emotions,’ you respond, though not harshly. ‘You’ve been strange all morning. Morose. What is it?’
‘…’S nothing.’
‘Irinnile,’ you begin… Then you moderate your tone. ‘Babe, what is it? You can tell me.’
‘…You’re gonna’ leave me.’
You blink in confusion, stopping short for a moment. Then, you press on, continuing your walk to the store.
‘What are you talking about?’ you ask. ‘Our souls are BOUND—’
‘Until you use your coin, an’ escape the Hells… An’ leave me down there. You almost went down inta’ hell for some fellow lizard-lady you barely even knew, but… But I saw your dream. Your dark glory. You’re… You’re jus’ gonna’ up ‘n die, and leave me down there. You were so MAD at me, that I didn’t tell you that you were hellbound, but I guess… I dunno’, I figured we’d get out of that together, an’ then BE together.’
You don’t say anything right away.
‘But… You’re not gonna’ stay down here with me on the mortal plain, either, huh?’ she asks. ‘And you can’t take me with ya’.’
