longer.blue

An Invitation 3/3 --------The Next Day---------- Marisa padded slowly down the stairs, towards the kitchen looking for a piece of bread to tide her over until she could go and get something for lunch, but the second she pivoted to see it, a pair of watchful eyes were already locked onto her. Silent and hungry. Marisa's legs wouldn't move past that point, the voice in the back of her mind whispering to run back up to her room. The feeling only subsided once the Owl fey moved, walking back over toward the oven, and making herself busy. "Its not the full moon yet, Marisa. I was just surprised that Haruka had not beaten you to breakfast." As Marisa slowly joined the creature from the other side of the island, taking a small piece of bread. "I won't be in y'all's hair long, I'm gonna get started early today." "You don't seem to eat much here. Why? You partake in meals at dinner, but hardly touch anything for Breakfast. As for lunch, theres no telling where you eat, much less what. Are you truly not hungry for breakfast? Do you have an eating disorder? *Or are you just scared to take up space?*" It hurt to hear, but Shiola could see right through her. She saw her more than Bridget, who had gone through her struggles before her, and more than Ashling, the clarvoyant, down into her core. She was blunt with it too, whether because she didn't know tact, or didn't care for it. Marisa opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. She didnt even have the space to fill her mouth with her slice of bread. The silence coasted on for an awkward amount of time before Marisa finally gave a response. "I dont need a heavy breakfast. It weighs me down." Another excuse. It hadn't been long, but long enough to share a space at least. She didnt look to see Shiola's response before she took a bite of the bread, looking toward the front door. Then, the clang of a plate being set on the marble counter quickly caught her attention. Bacon, eggs, and what looked like lost toast (French toast) sat on a pair of plates in front of Shiola. "I appear to have made too much. If not eaten, the food will go cold, and nobody will be happy to eat it. Even less happy to see it go to waste." Shiola was telling as much a truth as Marisa was, exchanging what she had been given. As Marisa tried her best to look for a reason to leave, to save the food for someone else, Shiola was already taking it to the dining table, placing one across from herself, and one for herself to enjoy. "The syrup is in the pantry. Go ahead and fetch it." Something in that ignited Marisa back to consciousness. She wasn't in charge of her. She could just leave, she didnt need to eat this condescending food, but just as quickly, it died again. Marisa sat down with a glass bottle of thick brown liquid sliding it across the table to Shiola. Taking the bottle, the chef dollopped a bit onto their toast before sliding it back to her companion, who followed in kind. "You may have more, Marisa." "I dont want more." That at least, was genuine. She tapped at the food a bit, looking like she was testing it for poison before she took her first bite. It was immaculate. The eggs were scrambled, which wasnt typically Marisa's preference but the spices were able to flow much more seamlessly through it. The lost toast was made with butter melted under the egg, allowing it to be much closer to pancakes. It was all wonderful. It was as if the food itself was made to be eaten by others. To be enjoyed by others. "You look as if you enjoyed my dish. Im glad. Bridget and Pleat may be the ones that cook most often, but that doesn't mean that I cannot-" "Shiola!... What exactly did I sign up for? Last night, with you and Haruka." Shiola took themself aback at being interrupted in such a panicked manner. "...are you scared? You know that you're allowed to back out at any time." They said, tilting their head with a slightly concerned look. "No, I know I can. I know I can, but I dont even know what to be scared of. I mean, hunting each other? Thats a little more than just tying someone up with rope." "I agree, from that perspective it looks like a lot." "So what am I getting myself into?" "A hunt." Shiola says plainly, letting the words sink into the air once more, solidly, before elaborating. "Quite some time ago, Haruka found a transmutation spell that works on material forms. Creatures. So, she can morph another's form into an animal, another person, or something in between if you'd wish. One day after we met, she had presented me with a sexual frustration that she had to be chased, cornered, and devoured by a predator. I rather enjoyed the idea of getting to do so, and have enjoyed getting to watch as my prey scamper around, breaching safety only for it to be wrenched away from them, or for the light in their eyes to flicker once they realize there's nowhere left to run~" Her voice slowly dropped, echoing dully across the lower floor as Marisa became frozen again, watching as Shiola's eyes narrowed in on her, her hand sliding slowly across the table. There was a word there that lit Marisa's warning signs like a Yule tree; 'devoured'. Just as easily, she sits back up, serious and dignified. "We set up a safety net in case anything happens, so either of us can safeword out and return much like your return portal." "...what animal do you typically become?" "We've done many, from a fox and a rabbit, to an owl and a snake, to a Lynx and a Robin. Usually I let Haruka decide. She's yet to disappoint." "And, when you say devoured, you mean..." Shiola's eyes narrowed again, stalking. Marisa becomes so focused on how her own nerves shot up, she almost fails to realize Shiola has risen from her chair. "I mean that once you are chased to your absolute limit, I show you what your inevitable end is as a creature designated as my prey. I preform the ultimate act of power, as you become mine. I eat you." The predator circles the table, resting behind Marisa, outside of her point of view. Marisa knows in her heart that if she moves right now, in this instance, she will die, her heart screams as it pounds, and as the arms come around her chair, she closes her eyes and braces for the inevitable... but once she eventually opens her eyes, her empty plate is gone. Turning her head, Shiola is diligently cleaning it in the kitchen, her eyes no longer on Marisa. "Maybe you will evade me though, Haruka did. Once."