The Lost Child (INV)

Gris kept a nervous stare at the park ranger for a few moments longer, expecting him to press this matter within moments. Had it not been for the intervention of a glamourous bat-winged demon in the flesh she might have to have resorted to more obvious tricks. She could have just as easily ripped a portal and fled in escape from this man.

"What? I... I... Why, of course, ma'am. Put a good word in for me, won't you?"
The big fella stumbles, easily succumbing to this charming spell he was put under. CHeery and rose-cheeked he'd wave the pretty lady off and bound away from the trail and, importantly, away from Gris. Who kept her stance and hand at the ready next to that blade to her side. The slightest bit of sweat beaded on her forehead as this Qarinah educates her on a problem she's never had before. Hell, the revelation seemed to set her off a bit as she grimaces.

"What did you... You can sense me?"
The bond of two souls usually hid her presence. Just where did that blasted demon go... She still has his vessel, it made no sense! She would have to be extra careful, especially now that this caricature of a demon took interest in her. Rather than acknowledge her lack of suppression, greet her in kind, or thank her, the silver-locked lass kept squinted eyes on her.

"You're a demon, aren't you? Or a witch. But most witches I know don't... Well, look like that."
It was obvious to Gris at least. Usumi's escapades have exposed her to a plethora of these sorts. That knowledge would come in handy.

---

WC: 282
TWC: 715

No, no, she was totally right. Something definitely wasn't working right. Usumi's presence made her virtually invisible to most. So seeing some random ranger come over and nearly arrest her as a normal citizen was something else. She'd need to readjust and find a way out that she knew she had. Curiously, the demon seemed to mention the very exact Witch she was referring to. Like she was reading her mind.

"Yes, that sounds... Exactly like the witch I know of. Curious."
Must have been around enough. While Griselda let her warded composure down, her hands remained at the side of that katana sheath and handle. Watching the woman carefully as she again seemed insistent she'd be owed something for such a menial little task as getting that ranger off her back. Rather than give her identity out in full to a demon, the young hunter had a better idea.

"You can call me Gris. And I'm afraid I don't respect favors not agreed upon beforehand."
With a very quick movement that hand checks and completely slip the katana free. The speed at which would make most think she was about to just cut at the demon. But rather than that, she'd just show Q the backside of this stark ebony blade for a moment. And not a moment longer before flourishing it and holding it more at her side.

"And I know how to skip town. I just need to see if I still have that ability, something apparently came up..."
She pulled her eyes away and stared down at her own blade. It still felt like there was a presence of sorts in there. Just no response from Usumi at all.

"I'd rather not kill if I can help it, honestly!"

---

WC: 297
TWC: 1012

Run away. Flee. Hell, if she could, teleport. Was what she was hinting at with 'still having that ability'. But How much did she really need to explain to a stranger? One that could invariably use any sense of urgency, cowardice, or likewise against her? Griselda remained firm, eventually pulling the blade away from Q just as she was finished reading it aloud to herself. What she said immediately after would stump her previous stoicism. A twinge of a twitch in her eyes.

The sword almost immediately gets drawn back up toward the demon, this time with a more threatening sharp blade pointed out at her as the silvery white-locked girl frowned up at her.

"That, is none of your business."
Something stirred in the blade that she could just feel in the handle... Like being called out in that way offended the blade in particular. It wouldn't be the only oddity this woman had about her. Making some wrong guesses, of course, but was very open in her attempts. As far as mind spaces went, Griselda's wasn't exactly primed to conceal anything. Seems someone else used such a space constantly.

"I'm well aware of the limits. One such a limit seemed to be sprung just... Do you... know exactly what today is? Or when... Has Battle Island fallen?"
She was trying to get a proper answer to when she was shunted from Kai Kai space, where she didn't remember shit for a while. While she spoke, the images of a dark doppelganger of sorts seemed to spill into her thought along with the words 'Usumidori'. It's a kinda old name. But this human seemed to know it up and down as if she was concerned. In some fashion. If that concern was for them or herself, that wasn't known.

---

Griselda didn't know what was more shocking. That it's been months since she had vague sensations of Battle Island to now or that this demon either just knew Usumi was messing with her, to begin with. Or just looked through her head. A slight twitch in her eye broaches the stern glare she was giving at this point, her mind also filling with suspicions on how this demon knew and just seeing if she could even trust her within that time frame.

"I should have figured. He talked himself up a lot. Even among his kin."
She made some rough estimations on how Usumi exactly worked with Griselda, and on the surface... Yeah? He had gotten to the point where he could just assume control when he needed or wanted. To hear someone else besmirch her progress hurt though. Q would almost feel that tip push closer to her the moment she was called a disappointment by him. Taking an offense to it, defensively. It wouldn't really matter once they moved past the blade and to her.

While she held her sword firm in place, her body shivered. A cold rush of adrenaline hit her. The girl's heart skipped a beat as this attractive demon tried instead placating to a desire of sorts. To somehow break away from Usumi and bargain with her instead. Had she been caught earlier on, perhaps her mind would have been far more muddied with such enticing close proximity as this. It didn't even occur to Griselda until now that she was into that.

Usumi's latent presence seemed to catch on and not like this one bit. Her sword started feeling warm in her grip, yet couldn't do much else in its current state. Eventually, with a slight tint of red on her face, her wide eyes turn to Q's face beside her, and pull a free hand away from her sword. Moving it to brush against the other demon's face. At first, it looked like she was appreciating it. But it would be a short-lived moment as her hand trails quickly down to grip that neck. Physically, her hands are soft. But she's got some power behind her. She wasn't trying to crush her windpipe but it was less loving than a gentle hold.

"What an interesting change of pace. You see a small lady in need and you, a succubus, try getting her in another life-altering deal?"
Slowly, she'd push Q on back so they were properly face to face, not breaking up their little mutual hold here but rather staring deeply at her. Some part of her kinda wished her plot for revenge and power didn't just enable a violent demon, but she was naive then to think that would help her anyways. Now, she wasn't so naive. So, she'd then pull her back closer to where their faces weren't but inches away.

"I don't do bargains with other demons. Not while he's around, not when he's gone. Nothing after him. Want anything from me, you'll treat me as an equal bare minimum and offer something without the coercive demon nonsense."
It was a miracle she could even pull off being aggressive. And yet, she was being merciful while dealing with a pretty real threat to her personhood. Probably because Qarinah awakened something in her... Not something she'd admit lightly.

---

Griselda, even as anxious as she could be at times, kept her stance firm. Eyes locked. Not everything was simple for the youth though, she'd shiver at the ever-encroaching hands. Even the slight pain of digging fingernails wasn't all too bad. Had this been an actual magic trance Griselda would have felt something, but no. Qarinah was at least genuine in her methods here. The human clears her throat and rubs at the woman's neck with the thumb she held her by. Flattery got places.

"You certainly know how to appease the senses. You must have had a lot of practice molding the perfect words for someone such as me."
Griselda was a bit small for a human but commanded the demon's presence with her own. Her sword arm drops its raised stance just off to the side as it more tends to idle at her side. Waiting for the right moment, if ever. Her emeralds blink a few times up at her before trailing to meet this blade as well. Whether it was her intention to sow some seeds of doubt or not, Griselda always thought differently of her other half.

"There's... A point where I think of him as just another half of me. I would not be here without him, and vice versa. In that way, there's little separation. Even if his hunger for violence is overbearing."
Even if he was a monster who cared little for her. There was a sort of Stockholm's in that line of reasoning, but he wasn't always dismissive of her. That much was evident in the ways he'd even help her in the times people hunted her. It was him keeping his side of the deal, sure...

The constant flirting and precious sounds would eventually bust some of this woman's thoughts. Even if what Q said was sensible, these 'habits' of hers were getting to be a lot. Not that she pulled from her or anything though. That red thickens, and she found herself building up some sweat on her brow.

"But you may be right. As much as I know you're just trying to get something out of me, I know these words to be right. I should try doing this more, satisfying my own destiny. It's why I even put up with anyone anymore. Perhaps it is time I renegotiate with my friend here, once he comes to."
Griselda raises the sword for a moment, almost as if to strike out at the one she was holding closely. Winding its point up over her head before, instead, cleaving into the air. The sharp ebony blade pulled apart the fabric of space right next to them to open a slit of a portal. With another strike, she would widen it horizontally. Usumi's eerie shadow is still present.

"I do still have it! There. I know of a place that will be much quieter to discuss these 'deals' of yours. My 'way out' as it were when you asked earlier. Do you protest, minx?"
Those eyes look back into Q's as she wonders if she'd follow along with this. It wasn't unusual a portal for their kind, after all.

---