Vessel

Specializes in the Shade.

A scientist born with the gift to manipulate Shade-matter.

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"I've called you in here this evening," the Director said, staring with half-lidded eyes at the Mirror on the other side of the desk, "to give you the opportunity for employment at Floating Floes Sanctuary."

Nalice herself perched close behind her Pearlcatcher employer, but she wasn't here to talk. If everything went well, she wouldn't have to do anything at all. The same went for Laurence the Wildclaw, the Director's personal guard, who stood at attention beside the office's only door.

“I’ve gone over your file personally,” The Director continued (Embell, her ID card read).

“I never gave anyone any sort of file,” the interviewee objected.

“We made you one.”

Nalice knew that the Director’s direct approach to most situations could be unsettling for many dragons, but even her professional nature couldn’t prevent her from privately enjoying the startled look on the Mirror’s face.

Embell closed her eyes for just a moment, and Nalice heard her take in an almost inaudible breath, steeling herself for the coming conversation. “Before I get into the job details, I am morally and legally obliged to inform you that anything you hear from this point on is not public knowledge, and that we will be taking steps to ensure it stays that way. If you decide to stay for the next portion of this discussion, but change your mind after hearing the details, we will have to lock your memories of this conversation away. It’s not dangerous, but most people like to know these things beforehand.”

At the silent, incredulous stare that the other dragon was sending her, Embell added, “This is all legal, of course. We have the Arcanist’s blessing, and the papers to prove it.” As she said this, she pushed forward several parchments across the desk, all shimmering with the Eleventh’s personal seal.

The Mirror pulled the parchments closer, and the Director allowed her several minutes to look over them. When she was done, the Mirror leaned back in her seat, breathed, and said, “What the hell are you people even doing here? I thought this place was supposed to be a fancy rest-stop. Why in the world would you want to hire a Shade theorist?”

“I’ll take that as consent to continue,” Embell pulled the Arcanist’s papers back into their proper spot before replying. “I’ve seen your research, Vessel, and it’s sound, despite you working solely off of stories and rumors and your own sense. I’d like to change that.”

Vessel, the Mirror, had gained an ashy color to her fins. “By the Gods. You’re not saying that you’re keeping Shade here?”

The Director nodded, and Vessel made a half-choked sound, as if her words were stuck in her throat. The Director gave her a moment before continuing, “There’s more than that, as well, but those would be out of your department, and thus not relevant to this conversation.”

“More than the Shade,” Vessel murmured, sounding dazed.

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Art by JZBTHX!


Art by UpToMischief!