Tales of Dartha Grave: Dartha and Veronica Arrive in Soujel Aircity

Prompt #1 - Soujel Aircity

 

Dartha and Veronica enter the Flying city of gold and red flags, massive airships which seem to keep afloat above the clouds. Dartha runs toward the edge but Veronica pulls her back, not going to risk her falling over. The Air capital ship is an busy hub of activity, a bit too crowded for Veronica's taste really.

 

Deciding to take the path less traveled, the two dart through the allies between building and the like, pipes rattling in steam and power seem to yell at them as they pass through but hey, better then the screaming locals. Veronica almost envies the little foot tall mousefolk being too small to duck under these pipes.Fear that they are going to just burst and blast her face with steam, or worse.

 

Before long they left the alley and to a less traveled street, which is more their style. Sadly the mousefolk can not see high enough to make out what the sign said in those bright golden done flag, so Veronica has to read them, nothing too major really just some generic shops and such, nothing too fancy or such, mostly got little cute names.The Sparrow Cafe about the best there is, though the Murder Den would be cooler. Guess no crows in this world, ashame.

 

As Veronica turns to Dartha, a pipe bursts behind them, making them both jump and curse as a bit of steam hiss out in the alley and about the street. Almost on cue some construction Construct came in to try to repair it but damn it too late for their hearts. Freaking hell that was loud and right behind them!

 

Veronica leans down to check on Dartha who is practically clutching her chest with a gasp. Yes, Dartha is more or less an adult but kind of sees her as a kid to be taken care of, if not by body, by her mind and experience in the world. Mousefolk just have this wild curiosity and innocence about them like a child, well some children, most children need a time out. When it was clear Dartha was all right, Veronica decided to head to the Sparrow Cafe, thinking they deserve a treat.

 

As they enter they see the place packed full, so guess they are taking their meal to go. Up at the counter, Veronica notices the strange dog size Sparrow like creature in a suit and with three eyes instead of two…bit unsettling but. As she waits for the keeper to step up, the bird talks to her.

 

“Tweet! Welcome to Sparrow Cafe Lov! Care for a Bit of Treat today?!”

 

Veronica steps back, surprised by the bird talk, though why should she be, after all the weirdo and freaks she meets in the dang halls? Turns out this guy is a psychic creature named Terrow who cooks like normal folk by projecting mental apparition…so free labor and with cheap location why he is able to make so much to slash prices to draw in crowds to his out of the way corner of the ship city. Though Veronica feels silly talking to the bird, she orders some dark chocolate with a drink but no caffeine for the Mousefolk, so maybe strawberry milk?

 

Terrow send an apparition to lead them to an seat outside, nice view of the cloud far below as the two sit, well Veronica sit, the apparition had to help lift Dartha onto the chair. It is a pretty view and the two talk a bit…mostly complaining about folks in the guild hall…then the subject turns into pride of her kid Chevy as Dartha listens. Do not think she met him yet… but Dartha seem to never meet anyone cool outside of Keisha, Maria and Kiri…two of which were dead for awhile when one just seems to just STOP being dead.Dartha wonder if she will be too much for Chevy, will she just be annoying to him like how mousefolk in general annoyed people?

 

As if sensing the thoughts that has pass through Veronica head million of times before she smile and take Dartha hand and sternly tell her she far from annoying….and to prove the point, start to list off all the people she know in her life that annoyed her that are ahead of Dartha…lucky food arrive by the 23 person and the reason why he was an royal ass hole as Dartha breathe a sigh of relief.

 

It was amazing how little mousefolk really need to eat, but being an foot tall, there only so much mass of food going to fit in an belly that small for that body size… meanwhile Veronica kind of felt like an pig, sure she not stuffing herself by any means but she still eat far more than the mousefolk. Her pecking food like a bird is about the same as the Mousefolk gorging themselves. Well anyways, the sun was setting and a bit of the stars were shining so brightly it was like millions of spotlights from afar shining upon them. It was beautiful though Veronica was not going to admit it. It is likely to be better when the sun is fully down as well, but while they enjoy the setting sun, there was a commotion happening.

 

At first it did not seem like their problem but as it seem to get louder, they turn to notice an construction Construct going hey wire and some of the guards are trying to stop it..there was wires yank from it neck as it seem to frail about wildly before starting to charge left and then right. Veronica's defense is up but sure the guards got this, though hoping it is not too common, it is likely something that is bound to happen right?

 

Suddenly it charged through the outer table of the cafe, sending tables flying as it was aiming at the Dartha position. Without thinking, Veronica pushes the table over as a shield and pushes Dartha out of the path of the construct, but in doing so, it slams into the table with such force, it slams the table and Veronica over the rail. String of curses follow Veronica over the edge as she frail to grab on to anything but when she see Dartha running between the rail and reach out for her, and knowing the little mousefolk has no strength to stop her fall and will only drag her with her, Veronica pull her arm away as she fall away from the ship, it start to look tiny before soon, she hit the clouds.

 

Foggy coffin that engulfed her, so this how it end for her, falling to her doom? She hears the world below the flying airship is not fit for habitation and that most of the lands are jagged rocks, so they are going to have to scrap her remains off the stone rock formation when she lands. Morbid thought sure, but it beat thinking about the real thoughts she does not wish to think about… how sad Chevy will be to hear of her death… Sensitive soul, who deserves better than she gave him… no. It is best she spend her final moment thinking about how ironic her death is going to be, focusing on the morbid thought, not the sad thought.

 

“SNAP OUT OF IT BITCH!”

Veronica snap to and now as she look to see an vague figure in the clouds above her, while the clouds swirl to move back through her passing, it was still light to let her notice an figure following her, she see an glowing eyes and skull face, it was small, bigger then Dartha but certainly spoke in Dartha voice. Was this how the Grim Reaper operated? Veronica smirk to herself and give the final fuck you to the grim Reaper, you only get to do that once after all.

 

The figure grabs her arm as Veronica feels a strange sensation flow through her as the other arm grabs Veronica's other arm. As Veronica feels the energy spread over her arms to her body, the rate of fall seems to slow down, and just in time, as they come erupting from the bottom of the clouds line to the rocky crag of the world below.

 

They stop, floating there as the armor figure of 4 feet looks at Veronica while she looks confused. She slowly asks.

“Dartha? That you?”

To which the armor Dartha looked at her in her astral armor suit and said in a booming voice.

 

“Long live the Queen Bitch!”

 

Veronica just laughs, muttering long lived the queen bitch as Dartha takes her up to the ship, landing on a more calm section to rest. As the armor fades from around Dartha, Veronica feels like joking with her but after tonight's excitement, maybe it best to rest tonight. Nearly falling to your death was enough excitement for one day. Dartha was more than happy to agree.