VRISKA! // a moment to ( breathe ) [flashback]

[Zelda]

contempt loves the silence, it thrives in the dark

the fine winding tendrils that strangle the heart

It took but a moment to use the spell, and once it was done, Zelda was nobody. Nothing.

And she loved it.

She was eighteen and newly engaged; the silver ring glimmered on her left-hand ring finger, even in her disguise. In times like these, she wanted to share her joy with the world, which was something she could not do as a Princess. So her hair turned a rich auburn color and she donned a short dress, and she became Laine.

It was easy, slipping out of the castle like this. She darted about, hiding when necessary, and after a while she had melded with the crowds milling about Castle Town. It was lovely, wandering the streets; when she smiled at a stranger, sometimes they smiled back sometimes they didn't. The inconsistency thrilled her, as she never knew what was going to happen next.

Even with her heart palpitating and wearing a smile so wide she thought she might burst, she found herself utterly calm; she was out of the castle, and that itself lifted a weight off her chest. Father could handle things, she figured, and even princesses-in-training needed a moment to breathe.

[Vriska]

And then Zelda got mugged.

The thief, their identity masked by the waist-long filthy black mane that covered their face, came out of a dark alley, seized her left hand, tore off the ring and then ran like hell.

It had been six months, and the thief wondered if this was what having a death wish felt like. They'd just robbed a hylian. A hylian. A rich one, judging by the ring they now clutched in their hand. Even if a freak like them could manage to pawn something like this, they would surely be tracked down and killed for just touching it.

Running as fast as they could, the thief slipped into the relative safety (there was never any safety for a freak like them) of Castle Town's network of alleys.

[Nightmare Darklight]

"STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM."

Oh hell no.

Oh hell no.

It didn't take long for Alexander to notice his fiance was out and about After all, she wore that disguise whenever she went out of the castle, even with him. He knew that disguise of hers and could see right through it. After all, she was the love of his life, the one he was going to be marrying, so how could he not know? The moment he saw her, he was already making his way over to her, confident she'd at least recognize him through all the armor. He had to admit though, he was surprised that of all the people he would end up marrying, that it was the Princess of Hyrule. Of course, he wasn't marrying her because of her status.

It was because he loved her.

And because he loved her, he was naturally just a wee bit pissed when he saw a crazy hobo (who he was thinking was wasted) grab the ring he had given her and fled. No. There was no way he was going to let that one slide. Rage boiled through his blood, and a stern desire to commit bloody murder and risk court martial coursed through his veins. His legs started to carry him faster as adrenaline was pumped throughout his body, and for a moment, he passed by his beloved. "I'll take care of this, don't worry." He briefly reassured her as he ran past her. Oh this little shit was gonna pay for mugging Zelda.

However, he soon realized that a foot chase throughout the alleys would be futile, and that she would outrun him in a foot race. So, he used his knowledge of the town to his advantage, cutting through a few corners and ending up at what he was guessing would be the exit she was going to come out of. After all, snatching a ring and running, he had to guess that she was going to be trying to pawn it after this was all over, so he'd head towards the pawn shop and wait by that exit.

As he passed through the crowd, he made his way to the exit he was aiming for and gripped his spear. Lightly glancing around the corner, he saw the shadows of the culprit, and even a glimpse of her body. Lowering his sallet so it would cover his face, he readied his spear. The footsteps came closer, became louder, and at just the right moment, he swung his spear, much like a bat. The blade wouldn't even touch Vriska if it hit. Rather, the shaft of the spear would slam into her neck and send her sprawling on the ground in the street for the public to see.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Zelda]

contempt loves the silence, it thrives in the dark

the fine winding tendrils that strangle the heart

And then Zelda got mugged.

Wait. Zelda got mugged!?

It happened so fast, she hardly knew what was going on; one moment she was just walking along the street, and then next some... person (as she couldn't tell their gender, given the curtain of hair covering their face) had stolen her ring. Her ring, the engagement ring that Alexander had given to her.

And now, apparently, the engagement ring that Alexander was chasing after.

As soon as he passed by and told her that he would handle things, Zelda ran after him, running as fast as her legs would carry her. Was it dignified? Absolutely not. But it hardly mattered, since she wasn't really Zelda now, she was Laine. And Laine could chase after thieves all day if she wanted to.

She didn't bother calling out to him as she ran; it was really important to her that she got the ring back, and she didn't want to slow Alex down at all. Goddesses knew that it had to be hard enough for him already, running in all that armor. Still, she had to at least catch up to him.