Imperia grinned upon seeing Aaliyah's reaction. So maybe they had fought. But who? Who could Aaliyah have possibly fought? There must have been someone...Maybe they could get it out of her. But for now, they had to focus on the tiny scrap of a weasel here. As they spoke, they just watched. "Make me bow? Please. I'll never bow to you." They didn't say any more, only watching as they approached them, and thinking about how easy it would be to just kill them right then and there.

But that would greatly upset Aaliyah, and if she actually had fought recently, she'd have almost fought more than they had in these cycles they've been separate. They did want to make Aaliyah upset, though. Make her angry, for making them angry about her leaving.

They were interrupted by their thoughts when Envy began to...laugh? Why were they laughing? And that voice did not seem like their own. It was filled with...power. Something Imperia knew well. They watched with narrowed eyes as the laughter slowly died down, though the voice, although raspy, still seemed to hold that same power in it.

As they skittered back, their tiny tail flicked, and they grunted at their words. Been in their head? What? That...must have been some magic thing. Something that clearly wasn't fire. A thought struck them about how they were missing out on all kinds of magic. Perhaps...they should see if they could find other spells? Something beside fire. Something that could still injure. Maybe even kill. Kin-kin had done it, and made that sword. Maybe they could do it. Not make a sword, of course, as that would just be a pain to carry. But there had to be other spells they could get.

They had to make sure they would be better than Envy. The weasel seemed to know more magic than they did, but they could change that. They could learn all types of magic, and become even better. They'd be stronger physically, and have more magic. They briefly wondered why it had taken them so long to think of this. Magic could clearly help a great deal with fighting.

Imperia looked at Aaliyah as she turned to them, and they narrowed their eyes. Now was their chance to ask who they had fought! But they had to do it carefully. Maybe work into it. Rushing into things never helped. "So, Aaliyah. Tell me. What exactly have you been up to while I've been gone?"

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

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Li flinched ever so slightly upon hearing Imperia use their full name. There was a reason they had told everyone else to call them Li. Aaliyah just...always made them think of Imperia, and the way they always said it so harshly. Now was no different. As they continued, she frowned. What had she been up to? Not much, really. Not until she started that fire in Eridanus. But there was no way she could tell Imperia that! She also couldn't tell Imperia about her battle with Kal.

"Not much. Did some wandering. Felt good to be without you for so long. Such a shame that had to end." Okay..not exactly what she meant to say. She just had to hope Imperia wouldn't take too much offense at that...There was no way she could get into another battle. Much less one with Imperia! A part of her still itched to, though. But no. Their battle with Kal was much too fresh in their mind, and they closed their eyes briefly, trying to get rid of the image.

"Li Speech." Envy Speech.

Imperia grunted. Nothing much? Right. "Oh, come on. There must have been something. Got into any battles? Surely there must have been one. Right?" They watched as she seemed to close in on herself, eyes closing. "Alright, I know there's something. What is it? Come on now, spit it out. I don't have all day." Who could she have fought that would make her act this way? Something that cost her a lot of guilt. But who...

Realization dawned on them, and they couldn't help a laugh slip out. "Wait, wait. Don't tell me you," another laugh, "fought Kallista. Honestly, fight the very one you were trying to protect? Wow. I can't believe even you would do that."

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

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notes: here

Li opened her eyes and glared at Imperia, about to tell them to go away - maybe a good "fuck off" would do - when they spoke again. And she immediately froze. How did they figure it out? How did they know she had fought Kallista? She couldn't say anything to confirm it...But what could she say?

In her rush to say something, a few simple words just slipped out. "Oh, fuck off." With that, she turned around, and ran. Ran away from Imperia, away from their knowing gaze.

-exit Aaliyah-

"Li Speech." Envy Speech.

Imperia could only laugh harder at Aaliyah's response as she spoke and then simply ran away. "That's real mature of you, Aaliyah!" they called out after her as she ran. Well, at least they knew for certain that she actually had fought Kallista. The thought made them frown. What would have drove her to actually fight the cat she refused to kill and saved the life of, all those cycles ago? What exactly had happened to her to make her act that way?

With a shake of their head, they began to head the opposite direction. They'd never understand her. But whatever. They didn't need to understand her. With luck, they'd never see Aaliyah again.

-exit Imperia-

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

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notes: here