Heavy asks and hasty retreats
She couldn’t help the way she pupated. The color of her blood nor her looks, if she had it her way she’d be a violetblood living in the thralls of luxury. Lowbloods waiting on her hand a foot, while she did already have that in a very albeit minor way. It didn’t change her aspersions, nor did it change the grimy halls she found herself walking down every week.
What she was doing was not only extremely dangerous but stupid. Taking sensitive history anywhere but to the censored archives could have her kicked from her position in society and much more likely culled. The eyes of each of the, very strange portrayals of death on the walls of the Subjugators hive. Larixx had to step over bottles, puddles of muddy colored blood, pieces of rotting flesh her stomach twisted instinctively clutching the data slab in her hand tighter. Oh she was going to puke.
The air was sickly sweet with rot and incense but also thick with the smell of sweat and body odor. She grimaced and bit her tongue trying to focus on the very long bath she’ll be taking later. The only respite to such an assault on her senses came in the form of the office of a purpleblood. Not just any purpleblood though, the eldest daughter of the Grand Highblood. Something that should have been impossible if not for her cherub mother. As well as incredibly illegal. Gaining what was left of her bearings, she turned the handle stepped inside the office shutting the door quickly behind her.
The room was clean, put together but still held an air of such delicate chaos such that if any one thing felt out of balance it would fall apart. Thankfully didn’t smell like rotting unwashed bodies covered in sugar. More like old paper and ink something she was used to.
“A pleasure as always miss Anguim.” The voice came as sickly sweet as the smell outside. It wasn’t too forced, not like her own usually was just polite. The troll if she could even be called that didn’t match her voice.
“Likewise, miss Makara.” Larixx forced, a polite smile cracking on her face out of habit. One that was very quickly dropped they’d known each other long enough to drop the pleasantries. Methodically walked to the chair in front of Cleaios’ desk. Sitting straight, maintaining eye contact she placed the slab in front of the other.
“What brings you to me this time? A word to the right highblood? Perhaps a favor owed to the right person? Or is it just, for pleasure.” Cleaio mused, her voice one of playful knowing and simultaneous curiosity. A question both partly known yet unanswered. Either way whether known or not the information slab was taken unusually bony hands. Larixx glanced at the retreating slab, internally checking the boxes of their interaction. Her part of the bargain was fulilled.
“Do not be crude Makara. Our relationship outside of this exchange is irrelevant. Though, yes I do need to ask a favor of you. In about a week there will be a gallery showing. I know a highblood of your caliber has not only heard of it but will be attending yes? There will be many very important people in attendance that I would like to have the opportunity to possibly meet.”
“I beg to differ, our relationship is quite… pivotal to conversations such as these. As well as the outcomes.” Cleaio trailed off allowing silence to fall between them she smirked. Though to Larixx it looked more like a baring of teeth. Cleaio’s unnatural heritage coming to light in the way it intended. In a way it was, a slow m ethodical threat that offered more than words could express. “Though I digress, I have heard of this showing. I was in the understanding that you as important as you are would also be in attendance?”
Cleaio had always gotten under her skin, which in of itself was a feat. Larixx didn’t have pretty privilege nor normal privilege. She was top of her class in lawschool, what she didn’t have in status she made up for in wit. That wasn’t enough, it never was. She straightened her posture in the chair. Thinking very carefully about what she was going to say. “Well, it seems your understanding was misguided. Would not be the first time Cleaio, certainly will not be the last. We cannot expect to be correct one hundred percent of the time can we?”
Cleaio’s smirk falls the hollow contours of her face further expressed as the emotion was pulled from it. Seems she’d hit a sore spot. It made Larixx shutter internally, she’d taken the time to study the other’s face before. The proportions were wrong some under exaggerated some over. Cleaio stood slab in hand walked around her desk to a shelf behind Larixx. The teal despite herself followed, body turning just enough that when she looked over she could see the other woman. So her eyes could trace the contours of the form beneath flowing fabric. Tall, lengthy unnecessarily so dwarfing Larixx in height easily. The cascade of curls only added to the view she had to catch herself staring.
“No, we cannot. I will see what I can do, we will be in touch of course.” The playful tilt came back, a little more forced than before. It was possible she wasn’t in the mood for their usual banter. Though it was very possible she had actually offended Cleaio. Either way the dismissal was curt and clear, she rose slowly preparing herself for the journey out back into the mess of sticky decay and overwhelming smells. She reached for the door but froze midway. As a hand very slowly ran across her shoulder a gentle but firm stop that made her tense. Preparing for the worst that never came.
“This ask of yours, will be fulfilled one way or another but. I do expect that I will be repaid accordingly.” Cleaio continued. The intention clear, though her touch helped cement the point. Her hand without protest continued its journey, a few claw tipped fingers running down the length of the other’s spine in a way that made her shiver. Larixx clenched her teeth grabbed the offenders forearm stoping her. “You will be, do not doubt me now when I have consistently delivered upon what we agreed.” A hollow but curt chuckle came from Cleaio as she turned to face Larixx.
“Oh where was this attitude at the last time we had one of our more… personal meetings? You haven’t been going easy on me have you? Anguim?” Larixx scoffed releasing her forearm. “I do not have time for your games Makara.”
“Do not lie to yourself, nor me. You know I cannot stand such behavior. Less I need to remind you what happens when you do such unbecoming things Anguim?” Cleaio purred, her head giving a slight tilt in question. The air was thick with things neither of them wanted to deal with in the moment. For once Larixx was very silent, her face felt hot she was probably blushing teal all the way down her neck. The comeback she desperately needed wasn’t there she chews on the inside of her cheek in thought for about a second. Until she found her best option to be a swift exit out of Cleaio’s office, she’d rather face the rot then another second with that insufferable purpleblood.
