▌༒︎ R̶E̶T̶R̶I̶B̶U̶T̶I̶O̶N̶ ̶I̶N̶C̶A̶R̶N̶

tripped and another couple pages of melnem art fell out of my pocket

@retribrutal — are you always this reckless or just around me?

❝Flattering yourself now, are you?❞ The Princess of the Dead shines with a multitude of colours this night — face a rosy pink and strikes of copper and bronze, covered in cracked silver armour and purple welts, saffron silk spattered crimson and gold. Her hand comes away from lips stained as her smile, ever bright as moonlight. Their paths have not so often crossed in Tartarus that this meeting is no pleasant surprise,

...how far they've come in the name of vengeance.

❝You might consider that I merely wish to recreate the events of past nights in as accurate detail as possible.❞ She's certainly crashed her way through these chambers in poorer states, and challenged the Titan of Time under worse odds.

These wounds hardly dampen her satisfaction as she swaggers toward her prize. Had thrown herself straight into the path of blades to win those last decisive kills, and she'll bear them proudly. ❝Or perhaps I'm simply more determined not to let you steal victory from me, considering how close to our goal we are.❞

Melinoë is half breathless, and not only from having spent her best efforts. She must sense it too, moments where their bond feels as tangible as a piece of string tying them together — in admiration and competition; moments like these.

And the wager need not be over yet.

❝Who'll it be, Nem? — who reaches the House of Hades first and claims Chronos's head?❞

been a while since she'd caught her down here, with the both of them carrying out other duties topside these days. EVEN LONGER since she'd seen her so carelessly shed this much blood, the likes of it splattered across just about every surface of one of Tartarus' newly fixed chambers. less and less gold flashing around the place, less sand filling her lungs.

didn't change the fact that she'd already seen the princess at the start of this night, watched her slip clean silk over her rested body, RELENTED to murmuring through the better part of the day about the mortals she'd hunted, kings and queens getting cocky when the supposed fall of the gods was well out of reach of their lifetime.

but it was DIFFERENT out here. always had been— wasn't just her who got reckless when the heat of a good fight got to her head. in a different way, at least.

〝 could be you've lost your touch. all that time on the surface. head's not in it anymore, considering what waits for you down here. a wager might be just what you need. 〞

an amused scoff escaped her mouth, echoing around them as she tore her stare off the appetising sight of her, PRACTICALLY torn to pieces trying to vie for the win. 〝 alright. maybe i am flattered. spilled all this blood on my account, just to get ahead. 〞just for her.

she waited for her approach before pressing the heft of her stare back on her. took in THAT SPARK in her eyes that could only be glimpsed when they happened to be in the same room, the same time. armour creaked as she leaned closer, arching down to meet her halfway as she eyed the mess that she was right now. fingers twitched to begrundingly offer her aid, but WITHHELD. she wanted victory so badly then she'd suffer the consequences. see how she'd handle it.

one corner of her mouth slipped upwards, the taste of victory already on her tongue, 〝 ... looks like you're on your last legs there, princess. still so sure about betting on yourself ? know that i'll take you for all that you're worth by the end of this. 〞

step 1. buy hades 2