Back in Aspheri - Open - (Gabriel)

Bart noticed the glare directed at him from Shadow's part, and he rolled his eyes, thinking that Shadow would've done a better job noticing that that comment wasn't addressed to her. At the words 'formal wear', Bart's eyes twitched, and he turned his face to the demoness.
"...WHAT formal wear are you talking about, Shadow?" he asked, scared by the almost obvious answer that would come.

Shadow mimed thinking in an innocent way before grinning behing her mask.
"It'sbascially what my father wore. A cloak and a pair of trousers." She informed the Kraferr. She had remembered the look on his face whenever he found himself confronted by females of any species when he had no top on. To her, the sight of him at a ball, in the same formal dress as about thirty other seasoned demons, was going to be quite funny...

"Ah," Bart answered, giving out a sigh of relief and laying himself down on the ground, "that comforts me." A small smirk crooked Bart's lip, as he began clicking his long black claws on the ground again, "So," he continued, "when's this... 'Ball' supposed to take place, anyways? As soon as the Prince of Merthras receives the message?" Bart's tone was slightly arrogant as he spoke the last sentence.

Shadow scowled.
"At the moment, I don't want to know, although it should occur within the next day." She said. She frowned slightly at the tone of Bart's voice. The fingers on her broken arm twitched. A muscle spasm.

"So, tomorrow..." Bart contemplated the idea, already thinking about how massive the fight would be. He always liked this tingling sensation when something exciting was about to happen. "That leaves me time to prepare ourselves," he continued, before lifting his head to Shadow, and trying to act serious now, "Shadow, do you have a large, very silent room? With nothing in it, preferably?"

"Planning on training?" Shadow asked, one eyebrow raised. She did have a room he could use, the one where she herself trained with her magic. The only things in there were boulders of varying sizes to help her hone her magic.

"Do you wish for a training dummy, Kraferr?" Be'lakor asked the kraferr, a slight smirk on his face. "I could use the practice." Be'lakor chuckled slightly to himself, before walking over to the Kraferr. "Bart, is it?" He asked, stopping a few feet from the kraferr.

"Yes, Bart it is," he answered quietly, glancing in Be'lakor's direction, who's height still surprised him, "well, maybe some training, but it would mostly be for something else. Concerning us Kraferrs in a way." He lifted his eyes to Shadow, lifting one eyebrow. "So, you have a room for this kinda thing?"

Shadow's glance between the two had become a glare once more.
"What did I say about fighting each other?" She asked pointedly. She went on, not waiting for an answer.
"Yes, i have such a room. You need not fear about breaking anything there."

Bart's eyes swiftly drifted to Shadow's. He frowned slightly as he stood up, and crossed his arms. His voice was low, but loud enough to be heard as he spoke.
"Would you, or one of your bodyguards, be able to lead me to this room?" he asked, shifting from one foot to another in anticipation.

Be'lakor walked back to the side of the room, and leant against the wall. He closed his eyes and started to think about the situation to himself. He needed a way to quickly dispatch of the Prince's gaurds and engage the prince in battle. Be'lakor was honourable and would give the prince a chance, before cutting him down.

Shadow grabbed her mask, holding it over her face as a messenger walked in, accompanied by one of the Princess' guards. The guard frowned slightly at the princess, but bowed and left the room. THe messenger, the same one Shadow had sent to Merthras, bowed. As he straightened up, he said something in rapid Demonic, but Shadow nodded, following the words easily.
"The Prince has made all the necessary arrangements," She said once the messenger had gone.

Be'lakor chuckled to himself at the princess' words. "Typical, he was sure full of himself to have them made already, he must've been expecting you to accept." Be'lakor smiled, he was going to laugh when the prince would find that he would be present. The princess would not attend without her protector.

"So, no room, I guess?" Bart asked, lifting one eyebrow, "Eh, if not, excitement's only getting closer. Fair trade in my point of view." Bart's tail curled around his leg as he grinned, bearing abnormally sharp teeth. Bart felt sure of himself for this, because he didn't find any reason why he should fear. After all, he did get into trouble which he thought to be harder than the upcoming event.

Shadow got up to pace again. Without realising it, her magic started to spark in the air around, her forming swirling tendrils of the dark energy. She was angry, confused and scared, but she didn't bother to keep a handle on her emotions, she didn't want to there and then.

"You are well protected, Shadow. There is no need to worry. If it would comfort you, i can show you the extent of my power, you are in good hands in this situation." Be'lakor spoke aloud, looking to the kraferr for assistance.

Bart lifted one hand to his face, slapping his forehead hard with his palm. Be'lakor, darn it, that isn't the way you can calm someone like Shadow down... Stretching his face with his hand, he quickly padded over to the demoness, standing right in front of her and blocking her way.
"Oy, Shadow, the Prince will know that there's something fishy around if you barge in like that. Stay calm and casual, and maybe there won't be any unplanned problems," Bart muttered, looking up at the demoness, not as a ruler, but as a friend.

Shadow just growled low in her throat, walking around Bart. She stopped, remembering a memory that she had seen in one of her warrior's minds. Her reaction had been exactly like her father's would have been. She took a deep breath, turning back to the Kraferr.
"I'm sorry, I just don't know what to do. He's planned the ceremony for tomorrow, and it will take place in Merthras..."

"Yeah, 'can't be any worse', can it?" Bart answered as a rhetorical question, "Well, I say, instead of wasting precious time, we could be using it for more important things, such as foresighting and preparation. I think you're with me, aren't you, Shadow?" Bart replied, lifting one eyebrow at the demoness.

"I think I am," Shadow replied doubtfully, thinking about her acting like her father. Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she began pacing again, her violet gaze fixed on the floor, trying to think about something other than the impending ceremonies.

Bart rolled his eyes furtively. "...Such as the room," Bart continued, in a slightly hesitant voice, hoping not to push Shadow to the edge of her temper. His tail coiled tightly around his leg, flattening the black fabric under but making slices of the cloth flop over it. Bart seemed to have no control whatsoever on his tail, and that supposition was only greatened as he reached down and grabbed it firmly within a clawed hand.

Be'lakor was leaning against the wall again now, watching the Kraferr grab his tail. A hint of a smile flickered across Be'lakors face, but soon vanished. "This may not be the time, but there is a key piece of information I need. Shadow, do you want the prince to die during the ceremony, or afterwards?" Be'lakor asked, the look on his face quite serious, but also cool and collected.

Shadow looked at Be'lakor.
"No, this isn't the time," She snapped, her eyes flickering red. Sensing this, she took a deep breath again and turned to Bart.
"I will accompany you to the room. I feel a need to use it." She said, grabbing her mask and tying it around her her with her magic.

Be'lakors face was still serious, as he spoke in reply to Shadows snap at him. "The information is still required, wether this is the right time or not." Be'lakor spoke with power in his voice, a sort of authority. "This is a serious matter, you may not like it, but we need to have a plan ready."

Shadow turned sharply on her heel to face Be'lakor. Her violet gaze had morphed into four red eyes. Her black magic had gathered into a fire-like aura around her, black hair floating as if she were underwater. Wraith whined quietly, not knowing what to do.