Dove wandered through the dark and somewhat cool passages hidden underneath Derses moon. Barely anyone knew about these passageways so silence loomed around the girl. She shivered once and rubbed her arms momentarily putting down her lantern. "I should of worn a cloak." Dove said kneeling down to pick up her lantern. She continued on her way as the only light source flickered off the walls and cast haunting shadows.

The Dersite girl was currently headed to the Temple of the Horrorterrors. Why? She needed to gather some things for spells she felt she'd need eventually. Besides she needed to get away from all that tension 'upstairs'. Dove looked around holding up her light to find the right passages to walk through. When she was younger she'd often get lost in the passages so she made it her mission to memorize how to get there. Knowing her she'd probably still get lost.

"Heh, if only I could just stay in the comfort of this darkness..." Her gray eyes closed for a moment as she stopped walking to just stand there. Her ear twitched as a faint noise was heard causing the girl to open her eyes and look around. Nothing. Once more she heard a noise. Lifting up her dress a bit Dove retrieved a dagger from its holding place on her leg. Hiding the dagger in her sleeve Dove looked around for whoever was making the noise.

A ball of light bobbed down the dark tunnel, sending flickering shadows across the purple walls. With this light walked Rose Lalonde, moving with grace and purpose. She in fact did not have anywhere to be or do, but had told the Condesce she needed to retrieve something from the Circle. The fake Queen was starting to get annoyed with her vague answers about the future, and she had said that this item would help. Hopefully they wouldn't have it there and she wouldn't need to start sharing more information.

She sighed, forgetting that the slight sound would echo through the tunnels. It did and the blond froze, cupping her hands around her spell flame to put it out if need be. She strained her ears and thought she heard something, but didn't know if it was just her mistake laughing back at her again or someone else moving. Not taking any chances Rose muttered the spell to kill the flame into her hands and started walking down the tunnel again.

To keep balance and from walking into something Rose ran her hand along the damp stone wall, moving slowly to not make a sound. Violet eyes squinted to see in the suffocating darkness. Every once in a while she thought she saw a patch of light, but was only the tunnels playing tricks on her. Being connected to a building filled with magic users and even having spells on it to prevent unwanted entry would do that to normal things.

There was another light patch growing around the corner of a tunnel ahead of her but there was no sound to go with it so the seer didn't lose time investigating.

The sound was coming closer. Dove turned to the pathway she thought the sound would emerge from and whispered to her lantern dousing the flame. Putting the lantern down Dove made sure she had a firm grip on her dagger. Had the Condesce finally managed to infiltrate this sacred area? The Dersite felt a growl rumble in her throat just at the thought. There was no way she was going to let that bitch touch her 'home'.

Dove thought about speaking but decided to keep silent, she'd fight with the element of surprise. With absolutely no light around Dove closed her eyes. Her ears continued to track the sound and when she felt it was close enough to her the girl opened her eyes. It was too dark to see who it was but it seemed there was only one of them, it'd be an easy fight.

Stepping up Dove tried to pinpoint the source and held up her hand in what assumed was the right direction. Once more whispers emerged from the girls lips and a spark left her outstretched hand and hit the target stunning it. "Who are you?" She asked walking up to the other person putting her hand down and instead going back to gripping her weapon.

As she neared the light that had been coming from the tunnel faded, just like all the others did when you got close to it. Rose paid it no mind, it was something common place. Too late did she hear the whispered words and began a defense charm. The words died in her throat as the spell hit her full force, knocking the wind out of her lungs and leaving the girl dazed. Half turned her feet her frozen in place at a painful angle that when the spell wore off would have her crash into the ground.

That voice.. I know that voice... She thought while mentally fighting against the spell to free herself faster. If she was expected to speak without the spell being taken off or altered it could only be a simple stunning spell. It would either wear off with time, be removed, or be broken free of. It has to be one of the circle to be able to be in these tunnels and likely not an initiate if they can do magic.

"Why not simply relight your lamp and see?" Rose asked, wanting to find out who the person was before giving herself away as well.

"Relight my lamp? Fine." The voice felt familiar, however like looking for a memory the owners name escaped her grasp. Dove looked over to her lamp and moved over to it before waving a hand over the item to relight it. Clutching the dagger harder Dove grabbed her light and stood up. Turning to the sound the dagger in her left hand clattered to the ground. "Oh."

Dove moved over to her fellow Dersite and putting her light down once more looked at the other girl. It was Rose, the 'Seer' and her fellow member of the Circle of Horrorterrors. It seemed that Doves stun spell had caught the girl off guard because she seemed to be in an awkward position. Releasing Rose from the spell Dove bit her lip as the girl fell to the floor. Offering her her hand Dove spoke. "I'm sorry, I thought it was an intruder and I... never mind."

Hadn't Rose joined the Condesce? Dove remembered overhearing some of her fellow Dersites talking about it. Did that mean they were doomed to failing? Surely Rose hadn't joined on her own free will...right? Dove blinked mentally yelling at herself for getting lost in thought, again. "What are you doing here?"

Rose blinked at the sudden light, even if it was something she expected. The first thing that her eyes focused on was the glint of steel in Dove's hand and then Dove herself. The dagger fell from her fingers as if the other girl had been hit with a stun spell rather than herself and Rose had to swallow back a sigh of relief.

Violet eyes peaked through the girl's messy bangs, inspecting the familiar figure before her and feeling like the same was being done to her. She hadn't really had a chance to see Dove alone since they were both initiated and then had to follow their separate paths. Her wonderings were derailed at that moment, the spell lifted from her. Without warning Rose wasn't ready for her fall to continue and landed in a painful heap, the air she'd managed to get back into her lungs expunged once more.

The Dersite lay there coughing, only sitting up and rubbing the spot on her head that had struck the ground when it had calmed to the point she could breathe regularly. "No, it is quite alright. Forgive me for.. sneaking. I didn't wish to run into anyone." Rose said taking the offered hand with the one that wasn't pressed against the throb on her skull. On her feet Rose stood, holding Dove's hand a moment longer than needed. Realizing so she let go and instead patted down her dress for excess dust.

"I assume the same as you, making a trip back to the Circle. There is something I need to locate for the Queen." Why had it come out like that? She could have phrased it any other way and yet those were the words that came from her lips. She hadn't seen Dove in the Palace or the tunnels till now, how could she know her position on the 'political' situation?

Dove merely blinked at the excess time Rose held her hand and watched the girl as she patted dirt off herself. When Rose spoke again Dove bent down to put her dagger back in its place as a frown overtook her features. "Oh, I see." She said straightening herself up before going back to her poker face. So it was true, Rose was with the Condesce. The Dersite girl began to look around at anything other then the other girl as she spoke again trying to get off the topic.

"Yes, I need to visit the Circle too. It seems I've run out of certain items needed for some spells. Besides it's so much calmer down here then up there..." Without meaning to Dove had brought the conversation back to the Condesce. Questions bubbled up inside the girl to ask Rose but she wondered if it was alright to ask them. Sure the girls had been in the Circle together but 'brotherhoods' were broken nowadays just as easily as red string.

If she did ask Rose anything did she risk putting herself and worse, the others in danger? Or was it possible to word the questions in the most neutral sense keeping both parties safe? On the other hand Dove wanted to walk over to her fellow Dersite and shake the girl to try and help her 'regain' her senses. But the more thought prone side of her once again wondered if Rose had joined 'her' because there was no hope. It was common knowledge that the girl was the 'Seer', so did she see something that caused her to choose one side over the other?

Once more the 'cogs' in her mind worked as she tried to think of other options. Maybe she was being held captive? But that seemed unlikely since here she was now. Was she being threatened with something? Again that seemed unlikely because Rose seemed like the kind of girl who wouldn't be threatened by anything short of the death of herself or someone extremely close to her. Was that it? Threatened by death? Dove rubbed her forehead and finally looked over to Rose with her eyes closed. Only one word managed to escape her lips in a whisper. "Why?"

Somehow it seemed inevitable that the conversation would somehow cycle back to the Condescension. Everyone had their stories of what happened when she switched sides, some rumors kinder than others though all didn't put her in a very kind light. Dove was trying to not look at her, but in the tunnel there wasn't anything to look at within the area that her light fell onto. It'd be easy to make a gesture and freeze her in place just long enough to get far enough away to hide, but she didn't want to do that to someone as close as Dove had been to her.

Finally she looked back at Rose, but not really. She didn't even open her eyes when the single word that broke the eternity of silence between them. It was longer still before Rose replied. "I bet you're disappointed in me, that I've lost my sense and all the knowledge we grew up learning. Or that maybe I joined her because They said it'd be the only way." Rose gave a cold chuckle and shook her head. "Why?" she imitated mockingly.

The girl murmured into her hands and relit her small flame light, watching it float up to just under chin height. She let out a sigh and watched it waver, focusing her attention on it instead of Dove. She didn't want to see Dove's face then, didn't want to see if her words had angered, confused, even wounded her. "Believe me when I say, there was no 'why' to be asked. It is the only option."

Let her interpret it any way she wanted. Rose turned and started walking toward the temple, light keeping pace with her. "I don't wish to discuss it further. But... if you'd like to speak of other things..?" The blonde slowed down and looked over her shoulder, but didn't stop. She had a limited time that she'd be able to be down here and had spent a good chunk of it standing around awkwardly.

"I bet you're disappointed in me, that I've lost my sense and all the knowledge we grew up learning. Or that maybe I joined her because They said it'd be the only way."

Disappointed was not the first word Dove would of thought but she kept this remark silent as she opened her eyes to see Rose juggling her own ball of light though hers was not in a lantern. It seemed neither girl wanted to look at each other which caused the scene to be quite tense. Probably tense enough to cut with the dagger she had. The girl kept a straight face as Rose continued talking and eventually walking away.

Following her Dove shook her head. "I'm not a very good conversationalist. Besides I think I've heard all I wanted to know. Unless you have something to ask?" She said as she thought about the things Rose had said just a minute ago. If there was no 'why' something must have been up. Be it they were destined to lose or a threat. Either way Dove concluded it would probably be best if they kept their interactions to a minimal.

She definitely would miss the times she and Rose hung out in the Circle to try and at least get some relaxation in their lives. But that is exactly why she'd have to stay away from Rose. Dove cared about the other girl. You couldn't care about someone while a war was going to start, you'd just get hurt. No she'd have to do something to make it seem like she no longer cared. It broke the Dersite girls heart to come to that conclusion but it was better for the both of them. If Dove didn't survive then at least Rose's heart would be safe.

"Oh well, you had your fun with the little peasant children and now you've upgraded to being the lapdog of the Condescension. Oh what a happy day that must be. A little pat on the head when you've done good and a 'good job my little seer~'. Then you all retire to your warm beds innocent trolls screaming are your lullabies. The day will probably come when I am forced in front of her. She'll want me out of her sight thrown in the dungeons but she cannot take what I am willing to give. Except my life, except my life, except my life."

"Well actually... " Rose trailed off, trying to think of something they could talk to that would have no way of leading back to the current politics. She hadn't had anything actually on her mind to talk, she didn't expect for Dove to actually accept what she said. After the words had left her black smeared lips she hadn't thought that she'd want to continue speaking with her, she regretted just not saying she didn't want to talk about it.

When she finally figured out what to say and how to phrase it, the blond opened her mouth but it definitely wasn't her words coming out of it. A mangled half-gasp was all that was left from the words she'd planned to say, a squeaky croak. She stopped walking and just stared at the person that less than a minute ago had acted like her friend. It felt worse than the moment Dirk made her promise to stay behind. Than when she had to swear loyalty to the Condesce knelling in still warm blood. It made her's run cold and her heart break.

Dove kept walking, the glow of her light separating from the range of Rose's by the time she snapped out of her shock. Her black lips twisted into a snarl and she stormed forward. "That is rich, coming from you. You don't know anything Dove. Nothing. Just like when we were both learning. You always were behind in learning something, in seeing the point of anything. You always were La-di-fucking-da. I bet you've even gone and joined that disgrace of a rebellion!"

"That is rich, coming from you. You don't know anything Dove. Nothing. Just like when we were both learning. You always were behind in learning something, in seeing the point of anything. You always were La-di-fucking-da. I bet you've even gone and joined that disgrace of a rebellion!"

As this was said Dove paused midstep for a moment before continuing to walk. Her grip became extra tight on her lantern as she gave an inaudible growl. It wasn't that she was mad, no she was expecting Rose to retaliate but it's just she never expected it to impact her this much. She was taught by Horrorterrors, watched others die, seen how cruel life can be and didn't even bat an eyelid. But then Rose comes along and says this and her whole heart just shatters. Closing her eyes tightly for a second words eventually left her mouth coated with acid. But not the acid of hatred but the acid of sadness and loneliness.

"I don't know anything? Oh that's right, little miss Seer knows everything! When we were learning you just always had to be better, it was a competition for you wasn't it? Maybe I never saw the point of anything because there is no point. Life is a worthless gift that we have turned into a curse. We all had potential but no, you've gone and wasted your own by aiding a cause that will bring about the end. But then again that's probably for the best. Who'd want to live in such a disgusting world as the one you're trying to help create? But you're right- of course- about something, I have gone and joined the rebellion, and you know why? Because I saw a spark there, a spark that could maybe just maybe create the fire of a new age. And if I could help with starting that fire I'd be glad, even if I don't get to see it."

"Of course I always had to be better! Derse couldn't have some second rate seer, resting on laurels since the day they were born! Not like some noble's brat." She answered back immediately. The flame hovering just away from her shoulder flaring, being her only active spell and place to throw energy at. She'd now almost caught up to Dove again and was practically shouting at her. "Life's a curse? Lovely, coming from that always had it easier. Don't you, you of all people, give me the Potential Speech. You could always leave, do what ever you wanted."

A long hidden jealousy she had of most people in the Circle. A lot of them did leave, knowing only simple magics or nothing at all if things got too difficult. Even after she'd been done with her actual learning she hadn't felt like she'd had friends. She had handlers, making sure she didn't run off and do something, terrors forbid, fun!

But Dove dropped something important. The confession of her real alliance. If she went and told the Condesce, there could be a guard waiting outside of every entrance into the Circle's tunnels. She could be captured, forced to give away the positions of the hideout. "Do you really want to die for something like that, that badly?! No cause is worth dying for, especially not like that. Not because of the Condescension. Because of some stupid rebellion. You think she won't be ready? You're right, she can take your life, but do you want to just hand it to her on a lead platter, with those of everyone else in that hopeless movement?"

Was.. was she crying? Was this wet feeling she had on her face tears? She was too deep in her anger and shock to know, to even tell. The constant festering whispers were getting louder and the girl flinched, her light flickering wildly going from a bright white to barely more than a spark and then back again, casting hideous shadows on the walls.

"This world was already disgusting. Filled with disgusting shades of purple, disgusting people, disgusting buildings. Disgusting places. Disgusting plans and dreams. Disgusting backstabbers. Disgusting beings you once thought were close to you. Disgusting beings you thought would stick with you through anything. Disgusting, disgusting disgusting! Everything is disgusting!"

"Of course I always had to be better! Derse couldn't have some second rate seer, resting on laurels since the day they were born! Not like some noble's brat. Life's a curse? Lovely, coming from that always had it easier. Don't you, you of all people, give me the Potential Speech. You could always leave, do what ever you wanted."

"You have NO idea what's it like to be me so don't even start on that topic Rose. I may not have had the same troubles as you but that doesn't mean mine didn't exist. I could never leave, you don't understand. I have no place to go back to. My family knew I was different, a freak if you would. I left because I was a burden and I'm staying gone." Dove's hand holding the lantern had turned white from gripping the item so hard but she had no intention of loosening her grip.

"No cause is worth dying for? Come now even you know that's not true. There is always something to die for even if you don't know it. Sure I doubt the rebellion is mine but oh well. Do you really think I'd be so stupid as to let her catch me alive? Ahaha she can try. Besides I wouldn't tell her shit no matter what she did to me. If she's ready she's ready, they'll all just have to be prepared. You really don't get it do you Rose? I'll tell you a little secret. I don't care who wins because either way someone is getting screwed over, and I don't plan on finding out who wins either..."

She turned to look at Rose and noticed the girls face seem wet. Dove's poker face faltered as she gave a frown before quickly turning away. This wasn't supposed to be happening! She was doing this to help Rose not hurt her! The girl continued to walk pokerface back on as she took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Did you really expect anything else? Rose...."

"Oh for- Would everyone stop using the parents line? Yes, I understand! Parents can suck. But remember the part where I don't have any? This is the only place I have to come back to, and clearly I'm not even wanted here." Everything was getting blurry now. Why was that happening? Angrily she wiped under her eyes but the tears continued to fall and just left her cheeks wet again."Are you forgetting the part where I was also forcibly put into the Circle to be raised when I was born?"

She didn't really have a comeback for the next part. She could name every story or history she'd ever read where people died, wars or sacrifice. They all ended up serving a purpose but she liked thinking there was another way to reach that without death. Especially not from the people she'd ever felt a sort of closeness to. She'd sooner sacrifice her own life than any single one of her friends putting themselves in jeopardy, and here Dove was talking about it all so lightly. She stared into the eyes of the girl when she turned around, "I don't want you to die." Rose mumbled. No matter how much she hated her in that moment, she hoped the Condescension never got her claws on the other girl.

They walked further in silence and Rose thought she'd finally gotten control over her tears, after she at last identified them as being tears, and the spell stopped flickering. "No. You're the only one I ever felt close to, Dove. You were my best friend! The only person I truly cared about... I didn't think you'd agree but I didn't think you'd be this... this..."

"I don't want you to die."

When Dove heard that she paused again letting Rose overtake her. A solemn smile appeared on her face when she whispered back "But I do..." She continued to walk once more behind Rose this time as the other girl continued talking. Dove held in her own tears as she began thinking. Now would be the perfect time to deliver the final blow to get rid of Rose. But could she do it? She had to. She just HAD to. Dove swallowed hard before speaking once more.

"No. We were never friends Rose...we were mutual comrades in a similar situation. Nothing more nothing less. I didn't care about you, how could I? I don't do the whole 'compassion for another' thing. Besides, what I've become? I've become better then you! You strayed from the path we were taught to follow. You joined her while I stayed away. We're no longer in a similar situation therefore we are no longer mutual comrades. Never friends, never. "

Dove continued to clench her lantern as she took in a deep breath to try and calm down. She couldn't do it. No she couldn't, not to Rose, anybody but Rose. The girl sunk to the ground and dropped her lantern causing the ball of fire to go out as she clawed at the ground. Tears were threatening to spill but Dove wouldn't allow them, even if it was more painful to hold them back. She could feel a sob trying to escape but she continued to take deep breathes ignoring it.

Being physically stabbed would have hurt less than the words that came from Dove. She stopped for just a moment but kept walking, as if if she walked fast enough the words wouldn't actually reach her. Then she heard the shatter and stopped, without turning around. Could she just smudge Dove out of her life now, for ever? If she kept walking, that's exactly what she'd do. The walls around her had dimmed now, making if obvious that Dove's lantern was what had shattered, not just her heart. She wasn't completely insane.

In her mind's eye They let her See a possible outcome of her just continuing to walk. Whatever magic residue that had been left her and became warped would find her by her sadness. With no light around to drive it off, it'd taunt and taint her. Fuck. Rose looked back and instantly regretted it. Now she couldn't just keep on walking, no matter how much she hurt. Just on the edge of where her light reached was her fellow Dersite on the ground, breathing heavily. Why she wasn't sure, but it never really meant a good thing.

Rose took a deep breath before turning completely and walking back to Dove and knelt in front of her. "Two years ago, I would have been ready to say the same thing. A year ago, I would have been prepared to just keep walking. Everyone else left me then too, I wouldn't have stopped you if you had too. But now... Dove, you're the only one that I have left. We grew up together, I'm not about to believe you don't care about that at all. We grew up together, I know you and I know what you're trying to do, and I'm not going to let you."

"I'm not ready to have you leave me too, Dove. I'm not ready to be alone again." She reached out and wrapped her arms around the other girl, stroking her long hair and doing terribly at holding back the new wave of tears. "Please don't leave me too.

"I'm not ready to have you leave me too, Dove. I'm not ready to be alone again. Please don't leave me too."

Dove felt Rose wrap her into a hug as she stroked her hair causing the girl to let out a quite sob. "You don't understand! I don't want to hurt you Rose..." Dove tried to push herself out of the hug but in vain before just collapsing into the hug with her hands in her lap. She buried her head in the crook of Roses neck as tears finally left her pale eyes.

"I don't want to leave you alone, I didn't mean any of that...I care about you. You're the only one who ever cared back. B-but that's why I have to leave. Wars aren't fun Rose. If they find out that we actually care about someone other than ourselves they'll use that person against us. And I don't know what I'd do if they used you against me." Dove moved her arms to hug Rose but instead of wrapping around the girl they just fell to Dove's sides.

The only light left was Rose's small fireball and even then it wasn't much causing the two girls to be surrounded by shadows reflected off of it. Normal people would probably be scared but then again these two Dersites weren't your average noble girls. Instead the darkness comforted Dove as she leaned against Rose.

Rose remained silent, continuing the rhythmic hair petting of the girl weeping in her arms. She stared at the darkness, daring it to try and do anything to either of them before closing her eyes and resting her forehead on the top of Dove's head. Comforting words were harder to think of than a public speech. Words directed to only one person were so much different than to crowds.

"I know. I know, Dove." She said in an attempt to comfort the girl, rubbing her back in slow circles. "I know wars are terrible, they force people apart and even against each other, make others give in to protect those they care for. It is a terrible reality."

Rose paused, pulling back to look at Dove and brush her fringe from her face. "But to have one to fight for, one to protect. That can make all the difference in how hard you're willing to fight." She pulled Dove in closely again for a short, tight hug before letting go and standing. "I don't know how much time I have left before I'm expected to be back. Come on, lets get what we need." She said while offering a hand to help the other girl to her feet.

"Someone to protect..." Dove said to herself before grabbing Roses hand as she got up. Fixing her dress the Dersite let her blonde hair fall back over her eyes. Leaning down she scooped up pieces of the broken glass from her lantern and put them inside the now hollow item. Dove momentarily hoped that she could also find a spare lantern along with the items she came for. As she began to walk Dove spoke again "I wasn't lying when I said it'd be better for us to stay apart. I may not agree with what you are doing but if you truly believe that is what you have to do than do it. "

"Staying apart should be no problem. I rarely ever leave the palace, this trip itself is a special request. You avoid the Peixes, you avoid me. Simple." Rose said while shrugging. They walked down the stone path, practice not letting them be lost even with the previous confusion. "What I do is for the best choice of events for the people of Derse." Not wanting to start another argument Rose changed the topic and they made light talk until they entered the temple complex. For the two opening the door was no trouble and they entered together, Rose dismissing her orb of light since the enchanted torches of the Circle illuminated enough to see.

It was dark as it always was inside, which was still rather light after the darkness of the tunnels. A younger Rose, a Rose that had never been outside before and was so pale that even a trip to Prospit hadn't darkened her skin tone, had thought that the flickering purple torches and many coloured fireplaces were the brightest things in the world. She started down the hall toward the storage rooms, really hoping that what she was sent for both was and wasn't there. "The supplies for standard enchantments and potions are available at the main market for fairly decent prices, if I remember correctly. Unless Derse has been hit by a shortage of some sort... but I don't recall such being the case. What could be so special you need to come for private reserves?"

"Heh, I guess the best choice isn't the most moral one eh? Haha I should know...." Dove said the last part to herself before placing the broken lantern on one of the tables. The various violet torches and coloured fireplaces calmed the Dersite girl as it reminded her of simpler times. Walking over to one of the torches Dove waved a hand through one of the flames before bringing it to her face. Even though the flames looked strong in this dim area they were no warmer than a tea-candle. Flexing her fingers a bit Dove continued to stare at the partly heated hand before letting it fall back down to her side. Looking over to Rose the Dersite girl could see she was headed towards storage.

"I'm disappointed in you Seer, surely you understand why I came here instead. Don't you think it would be slightly suspicious of me to go around buying various ingredients during a time of war, even if they were a more common type?" Dove ran her long fingers through various shelves studying the items around her as she searched for the ones she came here for. Looking over to Rose, Dove gave a sad smile and sighed as she spoke again, but in a much quieter tone.

"...If the tides of war truly are on her side and you believe with all your heart, not just your powers, but your own self, that there is no other way...I'll join you.

She chose not to answer the girl, entering the second storage room and idly looking through the shelves. She would probably just grab a random item and say that is what she needed extra for a spell. Maybe poison? Nothing too deadly but enough to leave her feeling ill for a few days. Perhaps she'd even be able to avoid the ceremony the Condesce was planning... No, even sick she would have to attend, all smiles and frilly dresses. Maybe just cramps for a day... or she could use something that would give no ill effects and just fake it for a few nights? "As far as I was aware we are not at war yet, even if Peixes has been pushing for me to see more out comes to one as of late."

Rose nearly dropped the two jars she had been looking at when she heard Dove. She placed them back on the shelf so quickly they nearly toppled and fell off anyway but she didn't even notice, already turned around to stare at the other dersite. You- you don't really mean that do you!? Dove..." she reached out and took the other girl's hand in her's and gave it a light squeeze. "If I was sure it would let me see you again, I would say so. Gods, I would say anything."

"She is powerful, Dove. More powerful than I imagined a person outside of the circle could be. Her reach is wide spread and any sort of resistance to her wises... She's not in any way afraid to kill a person even one of her highest ranking officers if it will send the right message. But.."

Dove felt the light squeeze Rose gave her hands as she listened to the girl talk. Giving a small smile as Rose told her she'd say anything if it meant seeing her again Dove shook her head."Now now, don't let the emotions get to you too much Rose. I'll miss you too but I can't just join you without reason. I wouldn't feel right about it...heh. That probably makes no sense huh? I told myself I'd only aid them until things turned bleak, then return to neutral or you. Despicable, won't even stay to help my 'friends'. Always running away..." Her eyes were slightly dull as she said the last sentences but suddenly remembering who she was with Dove quickly blinked, bringing life back into her eyes.

Letting go of Rose's hands Dove turned away from the other girl. "But what Rose? Are you saying even she has some kind of strategic flaw? That'd be lovely to hear." Rummaging around merely to keep herself busy Dove internally sighed. Why had she said that stuff earlier? Rose didn't need to know how bad of a person Dove considered herself to be. The girl only hoped she'd shrug it off and continue their main discussion.

Rose mentally kicked herself for letting emotions get the best of her like Dove said, acting without thinking or considering who might overhear her or how Dove would react to her words after everything that happened in the tunnels. She wanted to argue the other girl's words, but everyone hated themself in some way, something Rose of all people knew too well. " Self preservation is not a despicable quality. It's a human one." She smiled weakly before dropping her hand to her side. "But..."

But she's confident, rightfully so perhaps, but overly confident. She does things because no one will stand against her and she's making enemies by the dozen every day. If people stood against her without fear of her or of death, it could be possible. Many would be gone if it went wrong, but it could be possible. Or just the actions of one, if only she'd stop being afraid to create her own ripples in the future. The right words, the right time... "Her power comes from followers, and as the highest blood she will always have them. She'll always have them, but she doesn't need more.."

She said before turning back to the shelf of poisons. Maybe she could slip something into the Condesce's own meal? Or her own, worst come to worst. She'd be weaker without her seer, and Dirk and Dave wouldn't have to worry about her being safe anymore.

Power from followers? Hmm I see how that can be both a positive and a negative. Followers provide protection, and a sense of 'doing the right thing' if it were. If so many follow you, you must be doing something 'right.' If you take away those followers you're left with the mind of the operation. I doubt she'd be easy to get alone but I assume if one was able to their chances of successfully defeating her would increase."

Grabbing a small satchel Dove began lightly placing various items into the bag. Moving along the shelves the dersite girl looked back at Rose who was near a obviously dangerous shelf. "I think your actual sight is failing you Seer. That is the poisons shelf, I don't think that would be very useful in your spells. Continuing to stare at the shelves and Rose, Dove went over to the shelves and shifted around the various poisons until she found the smallest bottle. Grabbing it she placed it in the satchel. Just because she told Rose to not grab any didn't mean she couldn't have any.