"Oh..sorry-" They mumble nervously.
"You overheard me having quite an embarrassing moment so I just wanted to catch you to ask you to not share what you saw" Tarot laughs awkwardly and continues speaking. "I didn't expect it to be the clumsy demon from earlier."
Rayne raises an offended eyebrow at Tarot's words. "Wow..you're quite rude for a royal huh" She rolls her eyes. "Don't worry your highness, even us lesser demons have a sense of privacy, I won't tell anyone about your little incident here." Rayne scoffs while making an attempt to exit the conversation, however, gets interrupted by Tarot nervously mumbling something.
"No no... I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that, I was just shocked, please don't take it as offence" Tarot quickly explains as Rayne turns back around to listen.
"And please... Call me by my name, Tarot, 'your highness' feels a little bit formal for someone who's seen me in such a vulnerable moment." Tarot laughs scratching their neck with unease" Rayne stares at the royal in front of her a moment before deciding her next action.
"...Alright then, Tarot, I'm Rayne, pronounced like the weather you know?... Sorry, I assumed you were gonna be an egotistical asshole for a second there... Not to speak ill of the dead but my experience with royal demons hasn't been that great."
Tarot giggles at that and agrees "It's all good, I relate to that big time anyways... You know how the King can be, high and mighty." They pause for a second before asking "By the way... I don't see your mother around?"
Rayne smiles diverting her eyes to the bar.
"Well, she seems to have found better company, see that hot bartender over there that she's speaking to? Figured I should let them talk alone for a bit so I came here for fresh air. "
She laughs. "Didn't really expect to see the royal heir having an emotional breakdown instead"
Tarot turns to look at the stars while speaking "Ah yeah... That...Just something I need to work on--Well, your mom on the other hand seems to be having more fun, Pretty sure that bartender is a vampire by the way- If that matters to her."
Rayne giggles at Tarot:" Yeah no, that's never stopped her before- You know I'm half human right?"
Tarot looks shocked to hear that. "O-oh, Sorry, That was kind of insensitive."
They look down at their hands before speaking once more. "I'm not really used to having actual conversations with others, Usually when I'm speaking informally It's with my dad or Keli, -I've of course spoken to guards and citizens as well but they always seem to think of me as someone superior and It's quite frustrating... So- thank you for staying to talk to me like this." They give Rayne a bright smile.
Rayne returns an equally bright smile to Tarot and sits down on the steps, Signaling them to sit next to her. "No worries, I'll hear you out, Not like I have anyone else to talk to anyway" She sets her eyes on her mom and the attractive bartender flirting in the corner of the bar.
"So. What's bothering you?" She smiles gently at them while asking.
Tarot sits down next to Rayne with a small smile and tells her the story of the night stars that shine through the unwanted barrier, their past with the former queen and her death. "I guess I just never really got over what happened... Sometimes I just get an overwhelming insecurity over if maybe... She might not be actually dead." Tarot looks down with a sad expression and turns to Rayne with a forced smile.
"Probably just me being hopeful for no reason right?"
Rayne listened to every word the royal had told her and saw a little bit of herself in their eyes and looks at them with the same sad smile before opening her mouth to answer the question. "...I think I understand what you mean, to answer your question...I don't know, I'm sure if you asked anyone else they would agree with you and say you're just going through the trauma of losing someone but--I uh...Also lost someone and am having the same doubts."
Tarot looks at Rayne with surprise and a compassionate expression. "Do you mind if I ask who?" They ask carefully.
A slight sadness fills the air while Rayne responds "...It was my brother Myst...I have- had a twin brother that I lost 7 years ago, I know I was there when I lost him but--I don't remember much of anything, Mom says that he died in a fire? -But the weird part is that he should've never been at the place of the fire in the first place, --It was this old building from before the queen's time that was rundown and in the middle of nowhere, And they never found his body... I still have hope that he made it out alive and just--for some reason hasn't managed to come home from wherever he is right now.." She pauses as an expression of determination covers her face. "I'm going to find him. And I'm going to save him. Wherever Myst is."
Silence fills the atmosphere, The young royal looks troubled whilst the expression of the dark-haired demon pierces through the air. Tarot manages to mutter up something. "...I-I'm sorry for your loss--I don't really know what else to say, That's.. something."
They think for a bit before talking again. "You know... They never found my mother's body either--My dad told me she died from a sudden fire, He never told me where though and I don't know if Myst's disappearance has anything to do with hers since there's about 7 decades between their presumed deaths but...I-I don't know maybe I'm just reaching here-"
They get interrupted by Rayne's voice.
"-You think they're connected? It's a reach for sure but I need to find him, he's my brother..So I'll investigate any information that I get.
..This might sound silly but, do you want to work together?" She smiles excitedly.
"-We could both get back our families,
and something tells me that's not all there is to it."
She ends her speech with a deep breath.
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-Earlier at the Royal Fest bar-
Rayne's mother:
"Bartender!,
Would you be so kind as to hand me a glass of purple shine?" She makes a polite request and smiles.
The Bartender turns around catching her eye, they set down their towel and move to serve the customer.
Bartender:
"Certainly, Mrs...?" They say questioning.
"Oh, no, I'm not married...anymore anyway" She smiles gently.
The bartender nods their head and blends her a purple shine, Liquor brewed under the purple moonlight and topped off with a tiny cherry. Handing the drink to Rayne's mother they study her appearance for a little while and speak, "Ahaa...You must be the famous Lady Varis, I've heard much about you around the kingdom, Wasn't aware you'd be coming back here after..." They pause anxiously avoiding her eyes before continuing,
"Well...!
Never mind that, Great to have you back, and I see you brought one of your children with you I presume?" Quickly changing the subject.
Rayne's mother's smile fades for a split second before she takes a big sip of her purple shine and answers, "Please, call me Ilma, Best not to advertise my last name too much don't you think? And yes I brought my daughter, Rayne, Hoped it would do her some good to get out of the house for a bit."
Her eyes wander toward the balcony where her daughter and the royal heir chat, She smiles into her drink and turns to the Bartender once again.
"So, Bartender, do you have a name by any chance?" She says looking up from her drink.
The bartender leans towards Ilma, gesturing for her to turn her head. Whispering ever so silently into her ear.
"You can call me Nyx, pleased to meet you, Ilma."
Nyx pulls away slowly from Ilma's ear, brushing their hand by her jaw, feeling her face warm up at the gesture. "That's...a nice name, Nyx," Ilma whispers quietly before clearing her throat and straightening her back, her eyes dot around the bar landing on Nyx whose eyes are still caught on her.
"Okay! How about that second round of purple shine, Yes?" Eyes round with slight panic.
Nyx shakes their head with a coy smile on their lips, lowering their head while making another glass of Purple Shine. Nyx slides her the drink, watching her down it in one big gulp.
"Next one please!" She says in a hurry, placing the glass down in front of them.
Nyx raises their eyebrow at the action but proceeds with the request, making yet another glass of Purple Shine. They open their mouth to speak.
"This is your last one okay? Purple Shine is stronger than one would think." Placing the drink in front of Ilma, still holding onto it. Ilma sets her hand on top of the bartender's slender fingers, gently removing the glass out of their hand, she takes a sip of the drink.
"Don't worry Mx Bartender, my tolerance is higher than one would think." She smirks at Nyx who's looking at her with a confused look. They scoff and bashfully shake their head again.
"Alright then. Each to their own I suppose...Excuse me for a minute." The bartender winces and walks into the back room with an unsettling silence in the air. Ilma watches them leave, lowering her drink with a look of concern.
"..Did I do something to offend them?" She anxiously thinks to herself and decides to check up on the bartender after some time goes by and they still aren't back with her, leaving her bar stool she finishes her drink and leaves it on the bar counter, she walks around to the other side and finds a second Bartender.
"Excuse me? Bartender? I have a question" She yells out.
Bartender:" Right away Madam, What is your enquiry?" The second bartender turns his attention towards her.
"Well see, I was just wondering if Ny- I mean, If the Bartender who was serving me before, was all right, they left quite suddenly into the back room and haven't yet come back." The second bartender looks uncomfortable with her question and contemplates for a minute before responding. "Right...Unfortunately, I am not permitted to give you the direct answer you seek, but I can ask a question,
fangs, no?"
The gears suddenly turned in her head and she realized what a ridiculous question she had asked. She had been so distracted by their wonderful gorgeous eyes and slender hands, As to not notice the very obvious sharp fangs in their smiles.
Feeling like she had made a fool of herself, she brushes her hand through her hair with embarrassment and leaves to find her daughter while bumbling to herself.
"Gosh...I'm one idiot"
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-Same time at the balcony-
Tarot:
"Here's my contact, call me if anything changes, or just for no reason...Glad to have a partner in crime, or well, mystery." They giggle at their words.
Rayne takes the note with Tarot's number and reads it, their handwriting is perfect, you can tell they've been trained in writing and calligraphy, she imagines the Advisor giving Tarot calligraphy lessons and smiles in amusement.
They shake hands and smile excitedly at each other, Rayne turns her head and sees her mother coming towards them, saying her goodbyes to the royal heir, she quickly walks away to meet her mother. Tarot watches her leave and settles their hands into their pockets, they lean on a nearby pillar, looking up to watch the stars and reminisce.
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A few minutes go by.
The Advisor taps Tarot's shoulder with a drink in hand.
"Here, your Highness...You look tired." He says with a stoic tone. He hands the drink to them as they give him a polite smile.
Keli had always been the closest Tarot had to a genuine parent, after the queen anyway, he had been the one to teach them how to walk for the first time as a little demon, the one who taught them how to write, how to speak, how to be a decent being in society, not to mention all the correct ways to act as a royal.
Keli might look uptight and just a little bit cold or off-putting, However, He had a good heart...Yes, perhaps it was one that was a little closed off to most but Tarot knew what was behind those doors and they loved him for it.
Tarot gives Keli a warm smile and pats his back with gratitude. Keli was not returning their smile but instead looked at them baffled with slight offence in his eyes.
"Now, I don't think that's appropriate behaviour for a royal demon, do you, Young Tarot?" He scolds, furrowing his brows. Tarot giggles at the Advisors remark and quickly apologizes,
"Sorry, Sorry, there was just some dust on you...Advisor." They burst out laughing while Keli tries to control the young royal's image. "Tarot! Please, try not to embarrass yourself or me any further, have some dignity for once." He scowls at them.
"I'm sorry okay!! Seriously you should see your face right now Keli, You're SO angry it's hilarious." Tarot can't hold in their laughter and continues giggling with tears flowing down their face, Keli watches their amusement with a disapproving look.
"....I'm leaving, Your Highness." The Advisor finally says having almost lost his fuse and not wanting to make a further joke out of himself.
The young heir collects themself with a deep breath, "Wait, Keli, Just a moment! Can you tell Father I won't be coming to breakfast tomorrow morning, Some uhh, 'Royal business' my presence is needed for, Tomorrow, Morning, Yeah?"
Keli sets his eyes on theirs for a few seconds feeling suspicious but reluctantly agrees.
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A mother and daughter walk together in the dim of the night.
Ilma:" I see you got along quite well with the royal heir" Her mouth curves into a smile.
Rayne glances at her mother's grinning face and rolls her eyes. "Yes I suppose so" She says with uncertainty. She has the chance to tell her mother about their conversations but decides against it.
"Just...Small talk is all-- I was just apologizing for what happened earlier with a drink." She avoids her eyes and lies.
Ilma raises an eyebrow and glances at her daughter's lying face. "...If you say so"
There is a silence in the air before Rayne speaks again, "So, how about you? The bartender seemed fun." She grins at her mother. Ilma's face reddens with embarrassment. "Let's not talk about them please, I probably won't see them again anyways." She looks down in disappointment but smiles. "They were quite nice though." Remembering their soothing voice.
Rayne's face brightens as she starts giggling at her mother's words. "Woah, get it, Mom!"
"Oh shut it already!" Ilma exclaims hiding her face.
"Alright, Alright, I'll stop, But I have to say It's nice seeing you out there mom, I know it's not been easy for you." She gives her a happy smile.
"Thank you, darling, I do appreciate your words." She smiles back. "Let's go home shall we?" She gives Rayne her hand.
Rayne takes her mother's hand and replies. "Let's."
The two women walk home with a sense of security.
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-To be continued-
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