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Ellen Winter

"Which me is the real me? What role do I have to play?"

0 · 7,803 views · located in Noraneko

a character in “Into The Woods”, as played by Ninja Bunny

Description

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❝Destiny weaves the path of our lives.❞
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【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||







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{β˜› β’»β“Šβ“β“ Ⓝ⒢ⓂⒺ ☚}
Narcia Seraphim
{β˜› β“ƒβ’Ύβ’Έβ“€β“ƒβ’Άβ“‚β’Ίβ“ˆ ☚}
Ellie | A nickname for her friends on Earth
Sera | What those in the Royal Army call her.
Nee | A nickname for those who knew her as a Princess.
{β˜› β’Άβ’Όβ’Ί ☚}
16

{β˜› ⒼⒺⓃⒹⒺⓇ ☚}
♀

{β˜› β“ˆβ’Ίβ“β“Šβ’Άβ“β’Ύβ“‰β“Ž ☚}
Homoromantic bisexual
{β˜› β’»β’Άβ’Έβ’Ί ⒸⓁ⒢ⒾⓂ ☚}
Miyuki Shiba || Mahouka Koukou no Rettoussei



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❝ The face to rule the nation? ❞
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{β˜› ⒽⒺⒾⒼⒽⓉ ☚}
Quite small, yesh.
{β˜› β“Œβ’Ίβ’Ύβ’Όβ’½β“‰ ☚}
Very slender, befitting a Princess.
{β˜› Ⓗ⒢ⒾⓇ ⒸⓄⓁⓄⓇ ☚}
Black as ivory!
{β˜› β’Ίβ“Žβ’Ί ⒸⓄⓁⓄⓇ ☚}
Cold as ice!
{β˜› β’·β“„β’Ήβ“Ž β“‚β’Άβ“‡β“€β’Ύβ“ƒβ’Όβ“ˆ ☚}
An angel-wing shaped birthmark on her back that she never understood.


{β˜› ⒼⒺⓃⒺⓇ⒢Ⓛ β’Άβ“…β“…β’Ίβ’Άβ“‡β’Άβ“ƒβ’Έβ’Ίβ˜š }

Ellen is someone of refined beauty, keen, cold, and very easy on the eyes. Her features are sharp and defined, with long black hair and pale skin to give her an almost ethereal appearance. Her eyes glint with intelligence and experience, as if she were something more than what she seemed, something more than just a normal girl. Ellen's small, very short for her age yet when she's serious she can give off a feeling that you're an idiot for underestimating her. Though it's rare, hidden behind those cold ice and that stoic face is a playful smile, a joking grin. Though Ellen tends to dress in neat, semi-fancy clothing, don't think she's just a feminine girl.
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β™™I'll sacrifice anything!β™™
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β˜› β“β’Ύβ“€β’Ίβ“ˆβ˜š
β₯ Freedom | A normal thing to like, but Ellie loves the freedom to do as she wishes.
β₯ Reading | It's common to find Ellie curled up in a corner, enjoying a good book.
β₯ Technology | She's always been a natural with gadgets and computers.
β₯ Fashion | Ellen is fond of making and wearing clothes of her own design.





❧




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❝This fate of mine before me❞
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β˜› β’Ήβ’Ύβ“ˆβ“β’Ύβ“€β’Ίβ“ˆβ˜š
⌦ Being worried about | Ellen's smart, she knows how to handle herself.
⌦ Needless cruelty | She won't just let someone suffer if she can help it.
⌦ Wet animals | They tend to smell really bad.






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β˜›β“†β“Šβ’Ύβ“‡β“€β“ˆβ˜š
Nightly walks | In the dark, it's easier to see the stars and the sky.
Foot tap | When idle, Ellen enjoys tapping her feet to an imaginary beat.
Book in face | When she's annoyed, she hides from the world by burying her face in a book.


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β˜› β“Œβ’Ίβ’Άβ“€β“ƒβ’Ίβ“ˆβ“ˆβ’Ίβ“ˆ ☚
⌦ Unfriendly] | Ellie puts up a cold face for those she doesn't really know.
⌦ Dependency | As much as she hates it, she's emotionally dependent on Cress.
⌦ Self-Sacrificial | Has a bad habit of hurting herself to help others.
⌦ Overconfidence | Sometimes she's a little too sure of herself.


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β˜› β“ˆβ“‰β“‡β’Ίβ“ƒβ’Όβ“‰β’½β“ˆβ˜š
β₯ Analytical | Ellen knows how to stay calm and look at a problem from many angles before taking action.
β₯ Techno Wizard | She's... seriously nearly magical with technology.
β₯ Royal Aura | Ellie gives off a natural intimidating aura when she's angry.
β₯ Calm | She can keep her emotions in check when times get tough.


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β˜› β’»β’Ίβ’Άβ“‡β“ˆβ˜š
Isolophobia | Fear of solitude, specifically in regards to Cress.
Potophobia | Fear of alcohol
Chiratophobia | Fear of being touched

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β™™A Princess or a human?β™™
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{β˜› β“…β’Ίβ“‡β“ˆβ“„β“ƒβ’Άβ“β’Ύβ“‰β“Žβ˜š}
Intelligent | Cunning | Political | Curious | Stoic | Steady | Harsh

Ellie is definitely someone whose mental acuity is her best attribute. She's sharp, she's quick, and she knows how to see people for who they really are. It doesn't take too much effort for her to weave through lies and see the truth for what it is, making her a natural for discussions and debates. Because of her intelligence, however, it makes her feel isolated and not-in-touch with most people, thus it's difficult for her to make friends, and is naturally closed off from most. People mistake it for not caring because of her tendency to hide her emotions from everyone but Cress. Around her cousin, however, Ellen becomes energetic and playful, and is willing to express herself and show her inner self, the self that loves to talk and to wonder and to think about deep things like philosophy or destiny.




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❝Where do I go from here?❞
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{β˜› ⓅⓁ⒢ⒸⒺ β“„β’» ⓄⓇⒾⒼⒾⓃ ☚}
Ashia Palace, upper tiers, the Kingdom of Ourania
Sierra Nevada, California

{β˜› β’»β’Άβ“‚β’Ύβ“β“Ž ☚}
Azel Seraphim | 45 | King | Biological Father
Nirana Seraphim | 41 | Queen | Biological Mother
Leona Winter |4 4 | Adopted Mother | Sister of Cress's Father
Marcus Winter | 48 | Adopted Uncle | Cress's Father | Deceased
Cress Winter | 16 | Cousin

{β˜› β’½β’Ύβ“ˆβ“‰β“„β“‡β“Ž ☚}
Six years ago, the younger sister of Marcus Winter went on a walk in the Yosemite National Park. She found a ten year old girl there, lost, alone, and with no memories. When Leona checked her at the police station, no one recognized her, she wasn't even in the registry. Leona was barren, unfortunately - after a miscarriage years ago she found herself unable to have a child. This ruined her marriage and her then husband left her, so she decided to adopt the nameless child and name her Ellen.

Ellen was always a strange girl. She was naturally curious, but she was also quiet and reserved, preferring not to talk whenever possible. She was incredibly intelligent even when she was young, and very quickly learned about the world. Still, Leona was afraid that Ellen might've ended up afraid and alone once she was thrown into an unknown environment like school, so since she was the same age as Cress, Leona moved to a house closer to where her brother's widow lived, one of her best friends for a long time, Louise Winter. There she introduce Cress to Ellen and it was then that fate was decided.

Cress showed Ellen the world, and it was her that helped Ellie feel as if she were really a part of the family. The two were as close as real sisters, and was what was needed to help ease Ellie out of her natural shyness, bringing out the repressed child side of her that liked fun and playing around. Of course, Ellie's almost magical ability to warp technology however she wanted only proved to be worse and worse as time went on and soon enough, Ellie saw men in black suits following her around. They took pictures of Cress, using her as leverage to draw Ellie out and she agreed to help with whatever they wanted if it meant they'd leave them alone.

The girl was forced to create strange futuristic weapons that humans had never seen before and she always felt horrible for knowing that her knowledge was going to be used to hurt others, but she had to prioritize Cress, because her cousin was almost everything to her. From then on, though, Ellen started closing herself off again, distrusting those around her and made sure to always think through things before doing anything hasty. She wasn't sure if Cress or the rest of the family ever knew about the incident, but Ellen wasn't sure she'd ever tell anyone.

Then one night, Ellen fell into a trance at the family summer home, hearing a strange voice that made her feel things she hasn't felt for over six years. She followed the voice, not knowing her beloved cousin, Cress, was following behind her, tying their fates together...


{β˜› ⓄⓉⒽⒺⓇ ☚}






β’Έβ“„β“…β“Žβ“‡β’Ύβ’Όβ’½β“‰: ⓉⒽⒺ_β“†β“Šβ’Ίβ’Ίβ“ƒ





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[center][font=aa]❝It's time to break the umbilical cord. I don't need you anymore.❞

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[center][font=aa]❝I hate you. I hate myself, I can't stand it anymore. Please look at me, please look at me!❞

【[size=97]Ι—ΞΉΞ±Ζ–ΟƒgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:[color=#30b818][b]#30b818[/b][/color] β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя [color=#d1ca00][b]#d1ca00[/b][/color][/size]】

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[center][font=aa]❝Even now, the smiling savior is a façade.❞

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So begins...

Ellen Winter's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




Cress was quiet at first, processing this information. "I'm sorry for your loss," Cress wasn't sure how she felt being a part of a rebellion. She had never been a part of anything like this before. It felt weird and also kind of new, she liked it though. Cress the rebel, Cress the one who would dismantle an entire world to bring her cousin home. Yeah, that had a good ring to it. Cress looked at the Doctor's hovel. She had a lot of work to do if she was going to change this world. Cress would have to start small though. "That seed packet? Can I have it back? I want to show you how to use it." She went around the back with Aya, marking out a place in the dirt.

Cress knelt down, turning over the dirt with her hands, digging into the tough earth. "Can you get me one of those tubes of food and some water?" Cress asked, seeing as how there were no nutrients in the soil. In the meantime she plotted out the space, determining where each plant would grow and knowing how much the roots spread out, around how big each one would get, etc. Once Aya had returned, Cress took the tube. "There are no nutrients in the soil, therefore we're going to put some in using this." She rubbed the soil and the tube together, which made the near white dirt turn a deep brown. Finally, Cress inserted the seeds, covering them back up and watering them with what Aya had brought.

"Some plants need more water than others, I'll take care of it for now, but I'm gonna teach you how it works so once I'm gone you can take the garden over and provide for yourself okay?" Her hands and pants were dirty, but Cress didn't care. She had never minded dirt. The girl rather embraced it really and seeing the other children in the rubble tear, it appeared as though they didn't seem to mind the dirt too much either. Cress smiled, she would definitely fit in here that was for sure. Back inside, Cress went to wash her hands. "Just tell me what to do," she said to the Doctor, prepared to help.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro nodded her head, "Yes Princess." Shiro smiled, finally she was allowed to do something. Shiro unlaced the dress, the corset, the bra. She put the nightgown over the Princess's head and buttoned it up. "Is that alright?" Shiro asked, going to hang the ballgown back up. Night had fallen, it was a beautiful evening and up here there was no light pollution. Shiro loved to sit on her windowsill and look at the stars, sometimes she would fall asleep there and wake up on the floor. Shiro could see the stars through the balcony door and she admired them for only a moment.

She felt someone pat her head and Shiro looked up. Nee was doing it and it felt weird, but also kind of nice. Shiro listened and smiled, her expression genuine. "I'll do everything in my power to satisfy you Princess." Shiro said, seemingly oblivious to the true words that the Princess was speaking, that she wasn't just being pleasant. Shiro was sure that after the initial shock of being moved from Earth wore off, Nee would be like the others. She would order Shiro around, punish her when she did something wrong. Shiro was sure of it, so she was doing her best to remain a great servant, to not get punished once the Princess returned to herself.

She didn't understand what the Princess meant by it was time to build a bridge though. A bridge to where? Did the Princess want to cross a body of water? Technically, Ashia Palace was an island, around it was water that led to other lands. They were not the only ones on this planet, but they were by far the most advanced. No one cared to acknowledge the other cities or systems since they didn't care for Ashia, so their universe consisted of this caste, an inescapable city that swallowed its victims whole and drowned them in a life of misery or fortune based on the luck of where they were born.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

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❝Two lives overlap. Which one do I call real?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




Without the corset, breathing was easier once again. Ellie sighed in relief, gathering up her tools and scanned her room for a suitable hiding place. It wouldn't do for anyone to see, for anyone to think she was planning anything. Still, there were many puzzles to figure out, and many threats, not just her biological family. If she couldn't find a way to contact Xion, the rebels would definitely kill her on sight, wouldn't they? Even with Cress's input, it'd be difficult to be spared in that scenario, right? Ellie was aware of her status as a symbol of oppression and control, dominion over the weak and unfortunate, and there would definitely be a public outcry for her execution if the Monarchy were to ever fall.

Another possibility would be that the Cherubim family was plotting something from the shadows, and would eventually kill the Seraphim from behind. Ellie knew Nirana and Azel were trying to ascertain that problem with the ball they threw for her 'sake'. Itward would definitely have her killed, or worse, keep her as a slave. That'd be the ultimate victory for the Cherubim family, wouldn't it? Ellie couldn't let that happen, but simply executing them without reason would only pit the rest of the noble families firmly against her.

"Thank you, Shiro. Feel free to speak your mind here. I promise, I'll never hurt you." She gazed honestly at her blonde friend for a moment before placing her tools and scrap materials and other such devices inside a box, then she fastened the box underneath the balcony - though she almost fell as she leaned out past the railings to secure it in place. Still, like this, it was incredibly unlikely that any of her things would be found unless Shiro was asked directly. "In this room, the two of us are equals."

The night sky was beautiful. Was Cress looking at the same sky, much more illuminated than the one on earth? Were they seeing the same sight, was it possible that she and Cress had this one, tiny connection linking them in this world? Cress was fighting her hardest, doing her best, so Ellie would do the same. If Cress was building her end of the bridge, Ellie would as well, and hopefully one day, the two would connect in the middle, finally being cousins once again.

"I'm not sure how much you know, Shiro, but..." Ellie frowned slightly. "Can you tell me all you can about Itward Cherubim and Aine Dorones?"

Her memories had gone slightly fuzzy, and Narcia's presence had all but faded. It made sense. The girl was still technically only ten years old, so most likely she'd have gone dormant for the time being. So this meant that the nights belonged to Ellie, where her mind was truly her own.




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❝I don't know to fix me. Is there something wrong?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Seed packet? What? Aya was confused, what the heck was Cress talking about? Aya blinked, then she remembered those weird things that the fire girl had given her earlier. She fished them out of her many jacket pockets, and handed it over, not really knowing what to make of it. "Uh, here." She murmured, curious and slightly afraid. What was this? She'd never seen anything like this, ever. Aya followed Cress behind the Doc's place, where Cress examined the ground for what seemed like a while. The rebel couldn't really make heads or tails of this - what was going on? Shouldn't they go and greet Doc, and start helping out with the sick and the injured?

"I'll get them!" Aya went into the doc's place, greeting him, as well as the patients who were still awake. "Doc, doc, Cress - that girl with the leg and the super cool eyes from before - she wants tubes and water! Do you have any extras? I'll fly supplies to you again tomorrow, extra, if you want!" The doctor was tending to one patient, feeding the child some sort of pill for this weird, strange, rotting sickness. More and more people were getting it, and no one survived. Doc said before that it was contagious, but not person-to-person transmissions. Possibly it was water, but there was no way to be sure.

"Everything here is for the public." The doctor said kindly, crinkling his crow's feet in that way that made Aya giggle. "Take what you need, Squid. Also, that girl, is she...?"

"Yeah, I recruited her!" The blonde grinned cheekily, holding out two fingers in victory. "She's gonna be your assistant, so, uh... teach her stuff! Keep her safe!" With the requested things in hand, Aya scampered back outside, finding the girl with holes dug into the ground, handing them over and watching Cress.... mix the food into the ground and then bury the seeds with it. She explained and Aya hung on to each word, an eager smile spreading - until she realized that Cress was going to leave her behind one day.

Aya didn't want that to happen, but she knew it had to. "Thank you, Cress!" Aya seemed to sparkle as she spoke, understanding a little. "So soon we'll have those big tree things! That's so cool, thank you so much!"

Once they were back inside, the doctor started by showing Cress to the patients, and began his teachings on what medicine did what, what machine thing could fix what, and many other things. He gave Cress self-sanitary things like gloves and face mask stuff, and Aya wanted to feel like she could help, too! But she knew she still had more supply runs to do.

"I have to ship more food and weapons and other stuff now." Aya turned and waved at her new friend, determined to make the most of what time she had with her until it was time for a permanent goodbye. "I'll pick you up in the morning, Cress! We have show you to Xion!"

And with that, Aya hopped back onto her bike and flew home to retrieve another box, back to her daily duties once again.


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Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




Cress waved goodbye to Aya as the girl hopped on her bike. She went back inside as the Doc showed her how things worked. She cleaned cuts, fixed wounds, used machines and tools she never would have dreamed existed. If they had, had this sort of technology on earth then maybe Dad... No it was better not to think like that. Her father was dead, there was no way to reverse it. She remembered the funeral, they had waited until Cress was in rehab to have it since there was no body anyways. A day draped in black, her mother cried, her brothers were destroyed. A family had been smashed to smithereens and there was no way to repair it.

There were a scattering of people there. Work buddies, fellow photographers who had come to pay their respects, family of course. Cress had been in a kid sized wheelchair, she hadn't even known they had made ones that small. She had been in one once before, when she had fallen out of a tree and pretended to be confused so she could get out of a test the next day. Her mother had taken her to the hospital and had been so relieved to see that everything came back fine, that Cress wasn't really concussed, her punishment had come in the form of no desserts for a week.

This time though it was different, it was raining. Cress was covered in band aids, her arm in a cast, her brothers solemn. At first she had thought it was rain drops on their face but now looking back it was tears. Tears for the father they had pushed away, tears for the father who had wanted to teach them about the world and they denied him. Now their tears were salty, bitter and full of regret. Cress had felt numb. There were no tears, no sadness, no relief. Her father had died in the car, she had watched him, had seen the life leave his body and in that moment had been so afraid.

There were no tears left for a body that hadn't been fished from the lake. Her father had loved nature so much he became a part of it. He had left his family for it and now... Cress was all alone. Her mother had wanted a change of scenery, she wanted to honor the memory of her husband and so they replaced sprawling cities with quiet forests. Her brothers had been pulled from boarding school and they turned to Cress to try to understand the father that had taught her everything he knew. It was only a month in when their Auntie brought home a stray. Her name was Ellen and Cress had taken her into the family with open arms, filling the missing void in her heart.

Now that hole was torn open once more.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




The Princess went out onto the balcony and of course, Shiro followed her. "Princess!" Shiro grabbed the girl before she could fall, pulling her back onto the balcony. She didn't seem disturbed or out of breath in the least bit, but Shiro on the other hand had used up far too much energy trying to keep the girl from tumbling down into the Rubble Tier, or worse, into the ocean below. Only the privileged knew how to swim with their expanse of expendable water. No doubt Nee knew how to too, but a fall from this height, even into the ocean, would kill her. They couldn't lose the Princess they just gained and if needed, Shiro would sacrifice herself. She didn't want to die though, not yet, not when there were so many things she still had to do.

So many things and yet... she would forever be here, serving the Princess until she outlived her usefulness. In a way it was comforting, knowing she would have a bed to sleep on and food to eat. She didn't have to eat paste out of tubes or sleep in a house made of crumbling dust. Nee said that in this room they were equals but the Princess really had no idea, that even if she took away all the spyware, how far apart their tiers truly were. If words could break walls, could undo caste systems, then they would have done so long ago.

"Aine Dorones.... It's confusing because I heard she was dead. We're not allowed to know anything more than rumors though," Shiro shook her head. She could already get in so much trouble for speaking to the Princess so formally. "I do know that Itward has been on the political upswing since Aine's death. He's been gaining favor in the court and is wooing every family he can. He's been starting a rumor mill that the reason Aine was killed was because Serpina betrayed the crown."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Two lives overlap. Which one do I call real?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




Ellie nodded, once again praising Shiro, thanking her, but she was much more afraid now that she had earned this information. That man who had - had touched in such horrible, disgusting ways, he was absolutely going to be a problem in the future. Aine was also more or less confirmed to be dead, but she wondered what game Serpina was playing at, having someone act as his deceased daughter. Perhaps he had betrayed the Crown, but there wasn't yet enough information to go on to make a judgment just yet. "So they're definitely enemies, the Cherubim." Ellie murmured, a slight frown, the same look as when she was faced with an intriguing yet difficult puzzle. "They'll probably challenge this family once they have enough power in the court."

Now, there was something else of concern. That was, of course, sleeping arrangements. "I need to speak to my mother." Ellie murmured, holding her hand out for Shiro to take. "Will you take me to her?"

The Queen was in her room - the King was elsewhere, most likely talking to the leaders of the military for war-type things, so it was just her in all of her cold, cruel might, not saying anything as Ellie approached, curtsying and sitting down across from her, facing her mother's frozen eyes. Queen Nirana was flawless as always, showing no weakness or anything of the sort.

"Mother, I'd like to have Shiro sleep with me from now on." Ellie spoke emotionlessly, trying to copy Narcia's manner of speech as best as she could. "I am still unaccustomed to life in Ashia Palace, so I'd like the company, to help ease me back into this life. I hope that won't be a problem?"

Ellie waited for a long while until Narina finally nodded her head, smile widening and giving the image of a deadly serpent, circling its prey. "That should be acceptable for the time being." She said, waving her off. "Rest up, dear. There are people I must speak to. I shall see you in the morning."

Once she was safely back in her room with Shiro, Ellie locked the door and flopped down onto the bed, patting the other side for Shiro to get on. "Now that you have permission, it'll be fine to sleep with me, won't it?" Ellie had a strange smile on her face. "It will help with the loneliness, Shiro." She curled her legs, forming a fetal-shape, preparing for sleep. "It was nice meeting you. I hope you'll be happy with me. You're a sweet girl."

Ellie missed Cress. Where was she now, anyways?




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❝I don't know to fix me. Is there something wrong?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




After the supply runs were finished, Aya returned home. She felt cold, she was shivering, even as she took the jacket off, draping it over her mattress to use as a blanket to cover her and keep her warm. She'd already taken a bath at Serpy's so that problem was fine, but there was another issue to deal with. It ate away at her, giving her guilt and shame and finally, Aya could no longer hide it, walking to Daddy's room to wake him up.

"Daddy, I was bad today." Aya admitted, knees shaking. She let her clothes fall from her body, revealing herself to him, having trouble breathing from the fear. This was what she deserved, this was her punishment. Every time her mind stopped being Aya and tried to change - change into Kora, or sometimes even Aine - this had to happen. She was Aya, she couldn't be anyone else, because both Kora and Aine are dead. It's silly to take the name of a dead girl, right? "I was Aine today, Daddy. Please, fix it so I will try harder next time. I was a bad girl. Aya will be Aya."

"A very bad girl, Aya." Was the only response and the beating began, all over the body, never the face or hands or anything that showed.

Once it was morning, Aya had a box full of medical supplies on the back of her bike and she flew off towards the doc's place. Today was a big day, a special day. Today they were going to get to show Cress to Xion, and have her officially join the team! Doc's place was same as always, though he (and Cress now, probably) slept in a different section of the house from where the patients where. Aya snuck in, using her Gravity Drive to float the meds at her side. It was too heavy for her to carry, obviously. She crept into the house and sat the box down near the doc.

"Here ya go! I added more as thanks for taking Cress in." Aya smirked, and the doc took the box, looking through what was given with a smile. "Thanks, squid. Helpful as always, huh?" The blonde laughed cheerfully, careful not to accidentally bump her many new bruises against anything because they were still sore and tender. She didn't mind though, because it was love, wasn't it? "How was Cress? She's cool, isn't she?"

"She was a great help. The kids love her already." And so Aya decided to sit around and wait for her friend to come, slurping down her nutrient paste with a disgusted frown. She was gonna have to ask Cress how people on her planet made food, and if it was better than this goopy gross stuff.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




Cress had spent the night in the backroom, sleeping on a thin mattress that hardly had any insulation. It was cold and she had covered herself with a sheet. It was a bit like camping, Cress thought. If she had, had her sleeping bag it would have been much more comfortable, but sometimes you had to rough it. Other than that the night was mostly uneventful, sometimes a patient would get up screaming and all the Doctor could do was quell their nightmares and pain by reading a story. Sometime during the night Cress had woken up and went to sit by the side of a little girl. She was whimpering, clearly in pain. Cress figured it was better she get up than the Doctor since he had taken care of anyone else.

"Hey there," Cress sat beside her bed on the floor, her fiery eyes like the low flicker of embers at night, lighting the mostly dark room. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?" The answer came in the form of a whimper. "How about I tell you a story?" There was no answer, only the slight whisper of breath. "Once upon a time there was a girl who lived on a mystical planet called earth." Even in the dark she could see the child's eyes widen in awe. Most likely she had never heard of earth, had never known any other planet to exist aside from her miserable tier in this scrapped up rubble hospital. Cress smiled, she knew she had the girl's attention now.

"This girl was an explorer, her name was Melody and she traveled the world far and wide searching for a treasure that no one else could find. It was rumored to be a magical item that could make people fly." The girl was enamored by the adventurer Melody, no doubt wishing she could fly too. Cress gave her a colorful description of the land, the vast greenery, details of plants, and dirt, and the smell of the salty ocean. "Melody was a strong girl, but she was also lonely hunting for the treasure on her own. Luckily, on her adventures she came across a boy named Mark. Mark had never stepped foot outside of the castle walls, he was an esteemed Prince that had to marry a Princess to forge an allegiance with a neighboring kingdom." Cress told the girl about the castle, how beautiful it was and how it sat on the shore line, but she also made sure to let the girl know that Mark was kind hearted and despite the fact that he was a royal, he was nice to the people.

"So Melody stormed the castle, holding the Prince hostage and making him take her to a boat. They escaped the Kingdom and at first, Prince Mark hated Melody, but then one night there was a storm and the ship crashed against an iceberg, throwing them into the ocean! They were swept up by the waves and Prince Mark had never learned to swim. Melody, who had grown up around the ocean her entire life grabbed Mark by the shirt and pulled him onto a floating door. Melody was freezing in the ocean and as morning came they washed onto the shore. Melody was sick from the cold and so Mark wrapped her in his jacket and made a fire, taking care of Melody until she was no longer sick."

Next was the best part, the real adventure the two embarked on in search of a treasure that could let people fly. It was a terrific story that Cress had made up, albeit she may have stolen bits and pieces from other such tales and movies. "Finally, Melody had her treasure but she realized that Mark was really the thing she had wanted. It was too late though, Mark was gone, off to his wedding day to marry the Princess Selene." Melody had to perform a daring escape from the bandits who had taken her captive. Cress outlined how she flew there and stopped the wedding, discovering she was really a Princess herself. "And they lived happily ever after." Cress smiled, the little girl shuddered and then... Nothing. She was gone, the illness having taken her. Cress stood, wordlessly pulling the sheet over the tiny body.

In the morning when Cress awoke, Aya was there. The blonde was as energetic as ever, asking Cress whether they had to eat from tubes. "No, we make real food. The kind Serpina eats."


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro was overjoyed at the fact that she wouldn't have to sleep alone. She couldn't show her happiness until she was out of the Queen's room, safely inside Nee's room once more. "Thank you," Shiro swallowed her tears. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her and she felt honest gratitude. Shiro went to her room to get ready for bed, taking out the hairstyle and allowing her blonde ringlets to fall. She dressed in a nightgown and crawled into bed beside the Princess, making sure to sleep close to the edge in case the Princess changed her mind or Shiro moved a bit in her sleep. She closed her eyes, able to fall asleep easily with someone there beside her. "Goodnight Princess."

In the morning, Shiro was the first to wake. She went to her room to prepare, putting her hair up and getting into a pair of clothes. A black skirt with a red shirt. She clipped on the gold chain that went into her breast pocket, covering up her collar with a cute ribbon. She nodded her head in the mirror, determining that she looked put together and went to go wake up the Princess. Shiro slipped inside quietly, drawing the bath and adding some bubbles in case the Princess wanted to feel pampered today. She had the chef prepare breakfast and then gently opened the curtains. "Princess, it's time to get up." There was a full schedule ahead of them, many things to do and lessons to learn.

Setting

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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Two lives overlap. Which one do I call real?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




Ellie slept fitfully, full of twists and turns, pain etching on her face in the dead of the night. She couldn't remember her dreams even if you asked, but the feeling of being trapped, caged up, and forced to walk a path you never wanted to walk were still resonating in her as she woke. She had no way of knowing it, but she mumbled the names of her earth family as she slumbered, their voices still echoing in her mind as the last warm place left. One day, Ellie would return to them. Her biological family, this royal family was something Ellie would never accept as her own. She wouldn't be the kind of person who would live off of other people's squalor, not if she could do anything about it.

When Ellie woke up, she half expected to have been returned to Earth, that everything about Ashia Palace was just a lie, a fake, that it wasn't real. After all, how could it be real? No, it was clearly a fake, and she would be able to say hi to Cress again and life a nice, quiet life out in Sierra Nevada, a happy sort of existence. But when she blinked and took her room in, Ellie's heart dropped. No, this wasn't a dream. It was real. Knowing that fixing everything wouldn't be easy, Ellie allowed herself time to cry, but only a brief moment. It wouldn't do to show weakness to the world, not as the Ice Princess of Ashia.

How silly of Ellie to hope for her problems to be fixed so easily. Narcia felt eager to start the day, now that everything was back to it's rightful way, now that she returned as the crown princess, ready to rejoin the life she was meant to live. And then Shiro came, the servant girl, announcing that it was time to wake. "Thank you, Shiro." Narcia nodded at her, smiling a little at the tiny blonde girl. Then Ellie broke through, fighting for control. "I hope you slept well. Better than the servant's quarters, right?" The earth girl reached out to touch Shiro's hair, gentle and fond. "This will be our safe place."

After the bath, Ellie once again walked back to her room, a towel draped around her body. Shiro would be at ease if she was allowed to do things for her, right? For now, that was all she could do for the girl, at least until the escape. "You can dress me as you like. Your fashion sense is great, after all!" Ellie admired the outfit her friend was wearing, mentally noting to examine the collar for tech once she could. "Stay by my side today, please."




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❝I don't know to fix me. Is there something wrong?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Real food? Rich people food? That was cool, that was almost unbelievable! Aya was so very impressed that everyone on Earth was allowed the food of the rich pigs. Wait, so then did that mean... Aya's eyes widened further as she digested this nigh-unbelievably portion of information. "So everyone from your home is super rich, huh? That's so cool, Cress!" Aya felt like bouncing, of course someone cool like Cress came from such a cool place. Maybe if there was a way, she'd love to see it. "If everyone was rich, then everyone could be happy, right? Right?"

The doc rubbed her head with a sardonic expression. "Squid, that doesn't even make sense. If everyone was rich, then the value of money would go down and everything would cost a lot. Nothing would change, then." The doc glanced at Cress with a smile, handing out a tray full of the nutrient paste tubes. "Help me distribute these to the patients, would you? Squid, you too."

Paste was gross and icky. Aya didn't like drinking it, but she knew she needed it or else she'd die. Earth must be so much better, she didn't get what the doc was saying but she did know that rich people food, Serpy's food was so much yummier than this gunk. "I'll help too!" Aya chirped and took a handful of the tubes, passing them around.

"So we lost another one." The doc had sadness in his eyes, glancing at the covered body. As Aya and Cress dealt with the food, Doc placed the body of the dead girl on a stretcher and carried her to a different room, making preparations to tell her family to pick her up and say their farewells. Rubbles didn't get funerals. They just died and that was it. No celebration, no nothing. "Thank you, Cress. You were there for her in the end, weren't you?"

Aya felt weird as she looked at it, at the body. She remembered her own dead sister, her twin Kohryia. Kora, for short! Kora was always a shy, quiet little thing. Aya missed her, Aya didn't want her to die. Other people would feel that same sadness, wouldn't they? "Her name was Milia." Aya said softly, shrugging a little. Honestly, when her illness had gotten worse, Aya was prepared for something like this happening, even if it was sad. "She always liked listening to stories."

Then a look of determination grew in Aya's eyes. "Once Xion wins and fixes everything, things like this won't have to happen anymore." Aya nodded. Yes, Xion would win. She trusted her, no matter what.


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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




Cress laughed when Aya asked such a question. "No, we're not all rich. I mean, my family does alright, but we grow our food in the ground. It comes from animals too, pigs, chickens, cows, some people even eat bugs which are these creepy crawly creatures in the dirt. I tried an ant once when I was really young and according to my dad I liked it." She laughed, remembering the story. The sound was light, incomparable to anything else. It was almost like a cross between a bell and a song, a tinkling sound that filled the room, made it almost seem brighter somehow.

"Even the rich are never happy." She pat Aya's head, a familiar motion that comforted Cress. The Doctor came over then and the light was gone as he spoke about the little girl. "I told her one last night, I was there when..." she trailed off. Cress looked at the ground, she had always been awkward in situations like this. Even when she was younger she had no idea what to say when people had told her they were sorry for her father's passing. "She was happy in the end though and at least she's in someplace ten times better than this tier." Cress kicked at the dust on the ground. Her boots were covered in it, it seemed that everything here was covered in dust.

"I'm going to change this, even if I have to kill them myself. I promise I will," Cress said through grit teeth, determined. "Take me to your leader," she followed Aya outside to the gravity bike. Where did this Xion live? In one of the other hovels? No doubt she suffered too, Cress was sure of it. Did Xion distribute more of these paste tubes? Did she give food to the malnourished? Cress had formed all of these ideas in her mind so that when they reached the middle tier, she was completely surprised.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro smiled, glad to be of help. "Breakfast will be here soon," she assured the Princess and went into the closet, going through the racks and rows of clothing. Finally, Shiro picked up a shimmering silver dress that rippled like water. She picked out accessories as well, a beautiful diamond choker with matching earrings. Shiro thought back to when the Princess pat her head, it was a nice feeling, she decided and she liked it. Shiro stripped the Princess of her gown, getting her dressed in the underwear before assisting Nee into the dress and accessories. Shiro brushed Nee's wet hair, doing an intricate waterfall braid before there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Shiro was certain it was breakfast and she was not disappointed. She took the tray, balancing it as she shut the door and placed it on the table.

"Breakfast today is a strawberry yogurt parfait and two eggs sunny side up with a bacon smile. Today's breakfast tea is a sweet chai with a hint of cinnamon." She uncovered the dish's silver top to reveal the platter with the food. Shiro smiled, stepping to the side. Her breakfast normally came in the form of scraps from whatever the royal's hadn't eaten. It would probably be waiting for her outside her door. That was one great thing about being a servant. Her food didn't come in the form of tubes, Cress had heard from other staff that they were disgusting and tasted rotten. She herself had never eaten one and didn't care to try it.

Shiro was imagining what would be waiting outside her door when there was another knock. "Shall I get it Princess or would you prefer for me to send them away?" That was probably the tutor or the Queen, coming to see how her daughter was doing. The thought of being in the presence of that woman made Shiro cower.

Setting

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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Two lives overlap. Which one do I call real?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




Ellie felt beautiful again as Shiro dressed her, picking out a dress that seemed to shine in the light, silver and soft, with a diamond choker and earrings to boot. Even her hair was done up nice and beautiful, her black hair seeming shinier than it ever was back on earth. Everything she wore felt ridiculously fancy, and it made Ellie almost blush at the pampering, even if she knew deep down that this life was one of luxury and waste, especially if things on the lower tiers were as bad as the rumors said. Most of the time people up here tended up ignore anything that happened below, so it was hard to really get much concrete information on how things worked. The nobles kept information hidden and covered up - much more secretive than before. Perhaps this, too, was a result of Aine's influence before her death.

"Thank you, Shiro." Ellie spoke crisply and clearly, full of gratitude, happy that her friend seemed as if she enjoyed it as well. "Perhaps one day I could dress you, if you wish."

Breakfast was delicious as expected, and Narcia seemed to blossom with pride at Ellie's reaction as the food was brought out on a platter, Shiro seeming very thrilled to present it. "Should I arrange for your breakfast to be brought here from now on?" Ellie asked, tilting her head slightly before she started to eat. If Shiro was going to sleep here from now on, they could technically be called roommates, right? Even if the world was full of inequality, Ellie wanted this room to be a safe haven for the both of them.

"I can get it." Ellie stood up as Narcia questioned the futility of bothering to move to begin with, enjoying the feel of the dress rippling with each step, and she opened the door to find Queen Narina, embellished in a seafoam green type color, regal as always. "How have you slept, my darling?" The Queen asked, still refusing to touch, as if Ellie was still stained by her six years on earth. "Are you accustomed to being home once again?"

Ellie wasn't sure what to say so she allowed the Princess to take control. "Quite better than Earth, I must say." Narcia was cool and robotic as she always was, simply allowing the Queen to examine her body as if she were meat at a marketplace. "You need more fattening up. Shiro, make sure she eats so when it's time for her to find a suitor, that her body is strong enough to bear a child." The Queen's tone was sweet yet commanding, a threat behind every word. Ellie's spine tingled in fear, wondering how anyone could hope to stand up to her. "A young scion of the Cherubim family has expressed interest, you see. You've met him at the ball, haven't you?"

"Yes, mother." Narcia knew who she was referring to, and considered him a fine candidate, if not slightly unpleasant. Ellie hated it and felt sick at the thought. Cress had taught her that things like that were meant for someone you loved, for someone who mattered. Not for someone like Itward. "Your tutor will be here shortly, Narcia. Unfortunately, the one from your childhood had an... unfortunate accident, so we have his son to teach you all you need to know. Take care now, I have matters to attend to."

And with that, the Queen was gone. Ellie shut the door and turned to Shiro. "My old tutor, he likely died around the same time as Aine, yes?" She didn't remember much of the old man, but she knew that he and Aine were very close. It was likely that he too was executed.





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❝I don't know to fix me. Is there something wrong?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Growing food in the ground? But wasn't that dirty and weird? Why do that, why would anyone do that? Food was supposed to be this clean thing that keeps you alive and full, so it's silly, it's just so silly. Aya didn't understand. But then her eyes widened and then maybe, just maybe, she did understand. "The carrot stuff things, right?" The blonde seemed to glow. "So with those we can have rich people food always! That's so nice! Thank you, Cress, you're so awesome!"

Something weird happened on Cress's face, and Aya knew it might have something to do with her own experiences, back on Earth. Her daddy died, didn't he? And now her family probably thought they lost her as well! That wasn't right, Aya didn't want Cress's family to have to be sad, but she didn't want Cress to leave, either! Aya felt at odds with herself, unsure but was glad that Milia died happy, at the very least. "We should go." Aya's voice was hushed, glancing at the Doc who was already placing the call. "Give the family some privacy when they pick her up."

Cress wanted to be taken to Xion now, so Aya waved goodbye to the Doc and sat down on her bike, once again patting the back seat for Cress to hop on. "Xion's really cool, but she's kinda super serious sometimes." Aya shook her head a little, trying not to giggle as she revved the Gravity Engine and floated the bike up, zipping through a tunnel in the fake ceiling. "I fell asleep during a meeting once and she gave me a lecture. It was really mean! I was tired, Cress, you gotta understand!"

The middle tiers were very different from the bottom tiers. Things were still cramped and crowded here, but it was also nicer, cleaner, and there was less destitution that existed down on the bottom. One of the first things to notice were that people were well fed and they seemed somewhat happier, healthier. What the Tower Tier was most famous for was it's large tower directly in the middle, a large school and the most famous and bestest school for anyone around - even some people from the upper-mid tiers went to attend.

"Welcome to the Tower Tier!" Aya waved an arm, smiling at Cress as they flew above the buildings, circling around the large and almost gothic-looking tower that acted almost as a pillar for the tier above. There was some greenery about, though not quite as much or as nice as what was up on the Untouchable Tier. Parking the bike at the entrance and locking it to the thing to prevent thieves, Aya took Cress's hand and dragged her into the tower school thing, then down an elevator to find Xion's secret place.

"Xion! News, we have news! This is Cress, the girl from Serpy's report! Say hi to her, Cress!" The blonde girl hopped up and jumped onto Xion's back, excitable as she always was.


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Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




The roads here were paved, the sidewalks full of grass and mini plants like flowers and such. The children looked cleaner and generally healthier and well fed, like they actually had showers. Their homes, while piled one on top of the other like below, had stable walls and solid ceilings. They even had a sort of trolley that took them from the lowest set of homes to the ones on top, people crammed inside. Business men, children in school uniforms, happy couples, children playing on the sidewalks with actual toys and not sticks and bricks.

When Aya parked the hover bike, describing their leader, Xion, to her, Cress looked up at the large gothic style building. They had many like this on earth but here it looked out of place, almost awkward among the other large towering homes. So this is where the business was conducted, it almost seemed childish to host a rebellion inside of a school building but then again, maybe that was the point. Recruit young and you'd have a whole bunch of trigger happy children thinking that they were doing this for the sake of change, for the sake of equality.

Aya led Cress inside and the girl became quiet as they walked through the halls and into a room where Aya instantly jumped on someone's back, calling them Xion. So this was her? Cress had to admit she pictured the woman differently. This one was tall and slim, with an eyepatch and orange hair the same color as ginger. "Aya, what are-oh, so this is her." She turned to examine Cress and crossed her arms. Cress mirrored her, crossing her arms and cocking a hip, seeming to observe their leader in action. "I hear you're not from around here."

"What of it?" Cress replied, grinning. "If anything it seems you're desperate for an outsiders help." Cress ran a hand through her short hair, she hadn't had a brush but her hair was short so it was low maintenance anyways. Xion suddenly smiled, "I like you." She circled around Cress, "which tier are you from?" She questioned, shaking Aya off of her back and onto a chair. "I thought you already knew the answer to that."

"I just wanted to confirm it with my own eyes. So you're really from earth?" Xion seemed more curious than anything. "Yeah," Cress stuck her hands in her pockets, rocking back and forth on her heels. "I'm from California, the land of movies and stars."

"Movies? We don't have anything like that here." Xion shook her head, standing, she went over to her battle plan which was displayed on a holographic table, pieces moving and interacting to her motions. "This is where we're tracking our rebels, Serpina got a call this morning saying the Queen wants his estranged daughter Auna over for tea. Of course you'll go in with backup, we never send a soldier in without it." Cress shook her head, "I'm not a soldier. I'm just a teenager, Aya too. Children are not the tools for war."

"But they're all we've got. If the adults were willing to make a change they would have done it." Cress didn't want to believe it, that people were really satisfied with this petty existence. "You've got Serpina," she pointed out. "But that's only one," Xion replied, looking at her board of pawns. "I'm sending you with her to Serpina's Aya, you'll be on standby in case anything happens though. That queen is catty, I have a feeling she's going to try and pull one over on us. She probably knows there's an earthling here that isn't her daughter."


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro shook her hands and her head at the same time "Oh no Princess, I could never ask you to do something for a lowly servant like me." She said and bowed, keeping her head low since no one's head should ever be higher than the royal in presence. When there was a knock on the door and the Princess went to get it, Shiro felt instant regret. The Queen was there, her cat like smile sharp and viscous as always. Shiro quickly knelt even further, dipping into a curtsy and directing her eyes away from the Queen.

The collar picked up the disapproval though, the Princess shouldn't have been answering the door, Shiro should have taken care of it. It was only a small shock and Shiro yelped, touching her neck which only prompted further punishment that made her kneel on her knees and left her breathless. Shiro kept her head down until the Queen left and when the door finally closed she stood once more, smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt. "No, I can't ask of the Princess to do such things. It wouldn't be appropriate for a servant to eat in the same room as the Princess." Shiro said, her hands shaking. She hid it in the folds of her skirt, back straight, eyes averted.

"Aine's tutor was very close to her, he was in the incident when Aine died." Shiro whispered, wondering why the Queen was going along and allowing her daughter to believe that Aine was alone. Surely she must have been very aware of any plots that the rebels were attempting to form. What game was the Queen playing at? Shiro wondered, knowing she would never be privileged enough to know. She was only privy to the information that pertained to the Princess's health and welfare, anything else was deemed unnecessary and not appropriate for a servant to know of. No doubt the Queen was afraid of a rebellion, otherwise she would have never put such things in place.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Two lives overlap. Which one do I call real?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




Narcia didn't allow Ellie to outwardly react to Shiro's yelp of pain, her clear discomfort and most likely, punishment. Narcia almost didn't seem to acknowledge it at all, considering it a normal, natural thing for a servant to suffer. Ellie thought differently, she was upset and angry that such a thing was considered normal, and worse of all, she felt guilt for letting it happen. How idiotic she was, how naive. Of course she couldn't protect Shiro from everything, that was why she had to overthrow everything from within. Unfortunately it seemed her day was going to be filled with events and the like so she wouldn't have time to think and plot or to tinker and create more devices to help plot her eventual escape.

"...I'm sorry, Shiro." Ellie balled her hands into fists, shaking slightly. "I allowed it to happen, I should have stopped it. I was supposed to protect you." She made a promise and already she failed to renege on it. Ellie was going to have to be more careful to prevent it from happening. If she could get her hands on the collar, play with it, disable the electricity, that'd be nice, right? There was no time for that today, though. So Ellie walked over to one of her lamps and unscrewed the bulb from it, pressing her finger against the socket, feeling electricity course through her system. It was only for a second, and it hurt, but it made her feel better. Ellie wiped her eyes and smiled at Shiro after putting the bulb back in place. "There, now we're even. I said we were equals, so I'll keep my word."

Serpina Dorones was definitely a figure of mystery. How was he allowed to live after Aine's death? Wasn't executing him and making Aine into a servant the usual way to deal with treason? Aine definitely was a part of the rebellion in the past, but why was Serpina spared and still breathing even today? There was definitely a deeper conspiracy happening and not even Narcia really knew. Narcia's only advice was that Serpina had to be hiding something, had to be of value. It was sad that the old man died, though. If he was friends with Aine, he was probably a good person, even if Narcia considered him foolish for believing in the girl that tried to change everything.

Ellie sighed heavily, then composed herself, smiling at Shiro once again. "Feel free to go and retrieve your breakfast, Shiro." She kept her tone a little more formal, distant. Intimacy for now could only make things worse for the girl - at least until the collar was dealt with, and perhaps the chip as well. "Other than the tutor, will I have to meet anyone significant later today?" If there was a chance to meet with Auna (Cress) and the fake Aine, Ellie would gladly take it.




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❝I don't know to fix me. Is there something wrong?❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Aya was shrugged off of Xion's back and simply listened, remaining silent as the rebellion leader and Cress spoke. Movie. Moovie? Was that some sort of cow that liked to move around? Aya didn't understand that word, but she did know what a star was. Stars were those pretty far away things in the sky, the only real beauty that everyone was allowed to see, even the Rubbles. The one thing Rubbles and Untouchables shared in this messed up world. Aya smiled and hummed to herself, glad that Xion and Cress were getting along and being friends and then she listened to her orders. She was going to have to be Aine again, wasn't she? Daddy wasn't going to like it, but later tonight, Aya could repent for becoming someone other than Aya. It was rude to take the name of a dead person, Daddy said. Kora was dead so she wasn't allowed to be Kora. Aine was dead, so she wasn't allowed to be Aine, either.

"Byebye, xion! Cress, let's go, I'll take us to Serpy's right quick!" Aya then accidentally bumped her leg against the elevator, drawing out a hiss of pain. Her thigh was one of the places Daddy loved the most so it was still super sore. She giggled a little to hide it and eventually they were back outside the Tower School. "I'll have a dress to hide my wrist in case things get bad." Aya pointed to the Gravity Drive proudly. "So don't be scared! Aya will protect you!" Then they were flying again, but before it was time to head to the upper tiers, the blonde girl stopped, considering. "Once the war starts, Aya will get to fight and help. It'll be fun! What is killing like Cress, do you know?"

With that said and done, Aya took the bike up through the familiar tunnels, taking sneaky paths and shortcuts and eventually were back at Sierra Square, hiding the bike behind the Dorones estate. She opened the secret door again and walked in with Cress. "Time to be sisters again, Cress! I hope you can see the Princess. Maybe we can steal her back today!" Aya giggled pleasantly. That would be amazing if Cress could steal Ellie away! How happy would it be for cousins and sisters to see each other again?

Once Aya was dead, she'd get to see Kora again, wouldn't she? Was it bad to look forward to that?


Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




Cress thought about it, she had never killed anything before, except for the bug she had eaten when she was younger. "I've never killed anyone, but it's not exactly something you would want to do." Cress thought about it, frowning. "Why would you want to fight? I mean, I know living conditions aren't great, but can't this be solved with words?" Why did everything have to be resolved with fists? "Even on earth we have wars, people are never happy with anything. Sometimes it's for good reasons though like taking away a ruler that treats people like animals." Wasn't this the same though? These people were treated like dirt, like the creepy crawly bugs in the ground and yet... They built everything, without the Rubble Tier, the Tower, and Untouchable Tier would be helpless.

"That gravity drive sure comes in handy," Cress whistled as they landed and went in through the secret door to Serpina's home. The man wasn't there, but he had left them a servant with a message. "Master Serpina would like for you to be extra careful, now come with me, we'll make preparations." The woman whisked them away to separate rooms, scrubbing away the dirt and grime of the Rubble Tier. Unlike yesterday, today they did Cress's nails while she soaked, saying that a daughter of an esteem family's hands would be soft to the touch and not hard from years of work. Cress's hands were in between, she had some scars from blisters and digging, but that was about it.

So she would wear gloves. The servant sewed the wig on to ensure it looked proper, then powdered the part with a dab of makeup to make it look as though it were her actual hair. She leaned against the wall as the corset was laced up, slipping on the garters and allowing the servant to finish up by lacing the dress up. "When meeting with the Queen, it's important to look your best. No doubt the Princess has no idea that you'll be there so you most likely won't be seeing her." Cress couldn't help but feel disappointed. They were in the podship soon after and Cress sat in silence for a minute or two before turning to Aya. "While I keep the Queen distracted, try and find out where the Princess's corridors are." If they could map it out than the next time they went they could try and extract her cousin from the castle. Right?

It would work, Cress convinced herself as they pulled up to the castle. There was a steward waiting for them, opening up the door and assisting them out. Cress stood a bit straighter, unsure if it was the nerves or the corset. She had never met with any leader of the first world, much less a Queen ruling an entire kingdom. What did the King do? Cress wondered, she hadn't had the pleasure of meeting him at the ball, not that Cress really wanted to. They all had those eyes like ice, just like Ellie.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro shook her head, "No Princess, I deserved it." Shiro insisted, "I disrespected you by allowing you to do my work." Shiro hadn't expected it to be the Queen at the door, otherwise she would have jumped to show the Queen that Shiro was worthy, that she could do this. Instead she had been met with disapproval, knowing she had done something wrong. Shiro looked at the ground, her shoulders shaking. Had she seen what the Princess was doing she would have stopped it.

"No Princess!" Shiro ran over to where the girl was touching her finger to something to be shocked. "Please, don't punish yourself for something that was my fault." Shiro led the Princess back over to the couch, having her sit down as she went to get the first aid kit. She knelt before the Princess, making sure to keep her gaze averted from the Princess's eyes. Shiro went through the first aid kit, only to find that there was no disinfectant. Oh no, what if the burn became swollen because she had done something wrong! Shiro racked her mind, but there was nothing in there that she could use a replacement.

She had to think fast, what could Shiro do to prevent this from getting worse? Then she remembered something, that people born in the sanitation tier, where she had come from, were born with an odd mutation that made their spit sterile. "Please excuse me Princess," Shiro said and gently took Nee's hand, uncurling it so that her fingers were splayed. She opened her mouth, gently sucking on the wound, ensuring that it was clean before she took the Princess's finger out of her mouth. "Does it feel better?" Shiro asked, wiping away the spittle that was left between the Princess's finger and her mouth. Shiro wrapped the wound quickly, ensuring that it would stay sterile. "I'm sorry," Shiro apologized, standing and bowing.

"I'm unfit to serve you, you should replace me, I make too many mistakes."

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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝A bridge shall be built to bring us together.❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




The burn on her finger was painful, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Shiro seemed to make it out to be. She was trying to show the girl that they were equals, that she would share some of the pain, but it seemed the girl didn't understand what she was trying to accomplish at all. "You didn't deserve any of it." Ellie insisted, even as Shiro panicked and fretted. Still, she let the girl guide her to the couch and Ellie lay down, careful not to crease her dress or ruin her hair in the process.

"I want to share your pain. Ellie stared deep into her blue eyes, full of meaning and intent, pressing her hand to Shiro's collar, lightly touching it but quickly drawing back in case it made her even more anxious. "I want to understand it, so that we can be equals." It was a small gesture, but hopefully if she kept making small gestures, Shiro would one day realize that she wasn't like the other nobles, that she was different, that she wanted to make things better. Shiro would one day be free, just as Azel had freed his own childhood friend once he ascended to the throne.

And then Shiro took her finger and sucked on it like how a baby would suck a pacifier. It was a strange ticklish feeling that wasn't all that uncomfortable, but strange nonetheless. She wordlessly let Shiro do it, and even Narcia was mesmerized. As Ellie knew Shiro was a good girl, Narcia begged to differ, saying that the servant was only pretending to care in order to avoid future punishment if possible, to take advantage of her kindness. The two sides of the princess were at odds once again.

Ellie smiled gently at Shiro as she stood. "I'll never replace you, because you're a precious friend to me." Ellie said honestly, squeezing Shiro's hands in both of her own. "I'll do better to protect you, to keep you safe. It hurts me when you hurt!" How could she get Shiro to see, to really believe and trust her?




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❝We'll break the night, and burn the pigs!❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Dressed as Aine again, Aya wandered the halls, smiling gracefully at the staff as she walked, trying to keep calm and composed. She had given Cress a tiny device with a button for her to press in case something went wrong. That button would make her Gravity Drive beep and Aya would know to come and rescue her and take them both back to the Tower, back to safety. "Don't hesitate to press it if you must!" Aya had pleaded before they parted ways in the palace. "I swear I'll come save you!"

What Aya didn't expect was to be grabbed from behind and forced into a dark room, the door locking behind her. The room had four occupants: herself as Aine, the tall redheaded Itward, that blonde girl, Shiro, and the princess herself, Narcia. "Now we're all gathered, huh?" Itward smiled as if greeting an old friend, letting Aya sit at the tea table, pouring her a glass with deftness and grace. Narcia's eyes were cold as ever, freezing Aya in her seat, unable to move. The room itself was pretty, like an indoor garden full of green and porcelain fences wrapped in a grapevine, music faintly echoing from somewhere above them to simulate wind and nature. "The three stars of the new generation, as the adults liked calling us."

"Hello again." Aya lowered her head at both Itward and the Princess, but neither of them seemed convinced. Her heart was racing now, this was super dangerous, but she couldn't just give in, could she? Cress gave her a mission, after all! Narcia's smile had that catlike dangerous quality that Queen Nirana loved to wear, and she seemed nothing like the cousin Cress once described. "Aine, we didn't get a chance to speak since I returned. We were such good friends, I truly missed you so."

That's right, it made sense that Aine and Narcia and even Itward all knew each other, once. This was very bad, then, wasn't it? Aya didn't know anything of how Aine was with these two, not even a little. All she knew was that when they were younger, all of the nobles were speaking of the three as prodigies, far above the rest of the noble children in terms of skill and intelligence, as the main three to eventually rule the kingdom together. Aine was dead, though, and Aya wasn't sure if the Cherubim and the Seraphim were really on good terms anymore, either.

"Heh, remember how we cried when Nee's departure was announced?" Itward's eyes flashed with nostalgia and something else, casually nudging Aya's shoulder like an old friend. "We promised to be best friends forever and that when she came back, everything'd still be the same. We were such dumb kids back then, weren't we, Aine?"

"We can still be friends, though." Aya forced a smile and glanced at Narcia, whose smile was unreadable. "Auna, my new sister, she can be your friend too! She'd really like talking to you, Narcia!" And then Aya felt danger rise from the ice girl in front of her. "Oh, please, no need to be so formal, my old friend Aine. Call me Nee, like you always used to."

Aya was terrified beyond anything else as she nodded, trying her best to hide her fear. "Yes, Nee. I'm sorry, it was just so long. I really miss-" but Narcia coldly interrupted her, Itward's smirk was gleaming as well, like they were two predators bearing down on her, cornering her. "If you missed me, you should've tried speaking to me at yesterday's ball, Aine. Weren't we such good friends?"

Aine - Aya, Aya had no idea how to respond. She knew she was probably trapped now.


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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




"It's so nice to see you again Auna," the two were sitting in a parlor, servants serving them tea and various cakes. "The pleasure is mine," Auna replied with a curtsy before sitting across from the woman, crossing her ankles and tucking them beneath the chair. She folded her hands in her lap, etiquette lessons coming back to her as she sat before royalty. "So how is your mother dearest, I heard that you and Serpina are quiet... estranged." She smiled, a knowing look with eyes that seemed to pierce straight into Cress's soul. "She is well," Cress replied, thinking back to the woman, her fake mother. "Resting in heaven, bless her soul." The Queen seemed a bit taken aback, as though she hadn't realized that Cress's fake mother was dead. "Yes, Father sent me away to the Tower school when I was very young, unfortunately I reminded him too much of my mother and so Aine and I never truly met until we were much older."

"And Aine, is she good?" The Queen lifted her tea, sniffing the cup. "This is terrible," she poured the hot liquid on top of the closest's servants shoes. "Remake a new pot," Cress didn't flinch. This was a test she could tell and so she hardly acknowledged the servant who took her cup and went on to remake a new pot of tea. This is how servants were treated, even in the olden days Cress could recall abuse to anyone who was different. This abuse was on another level, shock collars, pouring tea onto feet, even Cress could tell. "Aine is slowly growing used to my presence," Cress replied, unflinching. The Queen seemed to enjoy this quality though. Little did Cress know, Aine had been whisked away by Itward and Ellie.

"You know how she is though," Cress sighed and the Queen's eyebrow twitched. "Oh? Has she recovered from that unfortunate incident? I hear she and her tutor were very close."

"She very well nearly lost her life that night, thank goodness the tutor saved her from perishing and Father employed every method available. He always did prefer Aine," there was slight malice in Cress's voice, as though she were bitter her father chose Aine over her. "Are you bitter?"

"No, it couldn't be helped." Cress sighed, her posture straight as she watched the Queen while a servant brought a new pot of tea. "Much better," the Queen sipped at it and waiting for a social cue, Cress picked up her cup and sipped the drink. "It was better that way anyhow, I could focus on my studies, Aine could be the social butterfly she was meant to." The Queen's catlike smile grew and Cress had no idea why. She put her teacup down, a terrible feeling bubbling in her stomach, but she couldn't remember where the button was since she had been searched before stepping into the room. "Oh silly Serpina, sending an agent into my fortress. So tell me, who are you really?"

"Aune Dorones," Cress replied with grit teeth, the world spinning. "Those fiery eyes are not a trait among the Dorones blood line." The Queen stood, a hand on Cress's cheek, tipping her chin forward. "You're an unregistered citizen, that fake chip in your neck might fool the computers, but it doesn't fool me." She grabbed a fork from the table, it was a small one meant for teacakes and stabbed Cress's neck with it, digging until she reached the bloodied chip. The Queen crunched it in her hands as Cress gasped, hands gently touching the wound on her neck. "I'll have a servant look at that," she stood, gesturing a man over who quickly wrapped the wound on Cress's neck with another metal sheet, the wound closing and healing as it constricted, choking her. When Cress thought she was going to pass out it stopped and popped off and she could breath again, not even a scar left to show the mark.

"Take her to the holding room and do ensure that the Princess has no awareness to the girl's position."


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




"Thank you Princess," Shiro curtsied, "Your kindness astonishes me." The Princess received a call then from Itward and soon they were all gathered in a new room. Shiro went to eat her own breakfast during the short break and soon returned to the Princess's side, preparing tea and cakes for the duo. "Hello Shiro," Itward said, since the two had met many times before when Shiro was in training. "Hello Sir Itward," Shiro curtsied and placed tea settings out in the garden, he requested that she set an extra place and so Shiro laid it out, wondering who would be joining them. "Your mother really does have impeccable taste," Itward praised, patting Shiro's head. He had no interest in little girls, thankfully. His taste was geared towards more... developed females so Shiro was in no danger around him.

Shiro stood in the corner, silent as a mouse when they pulled Aine Dorones in. It was a surprise to see the girl from last night, the blonde that was almost as petite as she with sparkling eyes and a beautiful dress. Shiro was slightly jealous and she smiled pleasantly, not daring to make a peep as they conversed until Itward poured the tea. Shiro stepped forward to pour for the rest of them, she couldn't let Itward do her job, this was all she was good for after all. "Shiro, leave us," Itward insisted and Shiro turned towards the Princess, waiting for a response. "Go," his voice was firm and there was a tiny shock from the collar so Shiro turned, rushing out of the room so that she wouldn't get punished further. She walked down the hall, the Queen stopping her. "Where do you think you're going little mouse?"

"The Princess ordered me to get her dressing coat from her room since she's cold." A lie and the Queen knew it, the collar took a cue from the way the Queen stood and suddenly, Shiro couldn't feel her legs. "Don't lie to your Queen," she hissed and Shiro whimpered. They were so close to the Princess's room, she had almost been safe. "Chain her up in her room," the Queen said to one of the servants who lifted Shiro easily, taking her to the room she slept in that was close to the Princess's. It was small and nearly unadorned and the servant lay Shiro on the bed, chaining her to it. There was apprehension in their eyes, but the servant knew they couldn't do much of anything and that if they disobeyed, they would be punished too.

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Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝A bridge shall be built to bring us together.❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




This wasn't Aine, that much was obvious to both Itward and Narcia. Itward got up from the table, placing his hands on the girl who was trying so hard, so hard to hide her terror but it was impossible. Ellie wasn't happy about any of this, but she knew that as long as the fake Aine was being targeted, Cress was safe, right? Shiro was sent away and unfortunately, Narcia was tightly keeping Ellie on lock down, so she couldn't call the girl back to her side. In any case, Aine was dead, and this wasn't her. Whoever she was, the trap was set - or at least, it was until Itward was floated up - though despite being lifted in the air by what Narcia recognized as a Gravity Drive, he didn't lose his composure at all, instead made a curious laugh.

"Oh, Aine, aren't you adorable." Narcia sneered and the girl shook, chewing a lip in anxiety. This tiny blonde girl was certainly something, one of Xion's agents, perhaps. Ellie wanted to break through, to set her free and make her send a message to Xion, but Narcia wouldn't allow that to happen. "Stupid pigs, stealing everything, making everything worse." The fake Aine growled, ready to attack. "Aine won't let it happen! I'll -" Narcia deftly walked over and tapped the Gravity Drive, disabling it, tearing it off of the girl's wrist with ease. "You'll what, Aine? Did you forget that it was I who invented this machine to begin with?"

It was funny that this girl seemed to have the same ideals that Aine did. Still, with that done, Narcia's end of the deal was paid - Itward had the girl pinned down and secured, powerless under his strength. "Where are the machines and tools?" Narcia asked, and Itward directed her behind a tree, where a bag of supplies was, as well as an invisibility machine to hide whatever it was she made from the tech. The two made a deal - she would help capture the fake Aine and he would give her toys to play with, to try and have some semblance of freedom.

"Thanks for the help, Nee." Itward grinned, holding his prize, a satisfied smile. "Sure you don't want to be joined in marriage? We'd make a great King and Queen."

"I just gave you a suitable bride." Narcia's voice was sharp like a whip as she held the bag, turning it invisible with the device so no one would see it or suspect a thing. "Don't delude yourself into thinking we're equals, Itward." He laughed as Narcia exited the room and walked towards hers... to find Shiro missing. She could tinker and invent later, Ellie would never stop complaining if she didn't find the servant girl. So Narcia did the logical thing and headed for the room where her previous Lady-in-waiting once slept, finding the girl chained to the bed for something or other. Narcia almost wanted to laugh, but Ellie pushed through, releasing the cuffs and then hugging the girl close. "Shiro, I'm sorry, I never should've let you out of my sight, I'm sorry! Did they hurt you? Are you okay? Please, I'm so sorry, Shiro. Please forgive me." Maybe it was because she missed Cress, or because she felt horrible for what happened to the fake Aine, or most likely it was out of remorse for Shiro, but Ellie broke into a sob, hugging the girl to her, afraid to let go.




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❝We'll break the night, and burn the pigs!❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




"It's fine like this, Aine." Itward was licking his lips as he held Aya, and no amount of struggling would work. "The real Aine and I were betrothed before she died, so in a way, isn't this good? Once I take you as my wife, you'll be able to live as an Untouchable instead of those filthy lower tiers. You should be thankful, Aine."

"I'm not Aine." Aya whimpered, trying to fight but she couldn't, he was so much bigger, so much stronger, it was like a bear playing with a kitten. He loosened his grip and Aya squirmed away, sprinting to the door, trying to break it open but it wouldn't budge at all and Itward had her again, kissing her, smelling her and Aya cried and her fear overflowed, a yellow liquid leaking from between her legs, which only made her tormentor laugh and jeer. "Oh wow, you're just a little kid, aren't you? That's hilarious!" He forced another kiss, tongue wriggling in her, slimy and gross and disgusting and she couldn't get him off, even if she tried. "I'll have to fatten you up a bit with real food. Maybe augment you, make you bigger in the most important places. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Aine?"

Aya whimpered and shook but she knew it was hopeless. She wanted Cress, she wanted Daddy, she wanted to get out and get away. "I hate you, stupid pigs." Aya tried to sound brave, tried to sound strong like Cress did. "Why do you get to live happy while we Rubbles are always starving and dying! That's not fair, it's not right! Filthy pigs, I hate you all!" And that only made Itward's smile grow.

"You're just like how Aine was before she died." He snickered. "She said silly things like that too, even in her last moments. It'll be easy to erase your mind and mold you into the woman Aine was meant to be." Then Aine felt something jab into her - no, no, she was Aya not Aine, she wasn't Kora, she was Aya, but she felt tired and dizzy and then Itward lifted her up and everything went dark.


Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




She was staring at the sky through the glass, in some sort of dome beneath the castle, not even inside the structure itself. It was a fake sky obviously, but there were clouds drifting past in different shapes, the dome able to be changed to different scenery depending on what the controller wanted. Cress was strapped to a cold metal table, her dress ripped from struggling after waking up, her wig a bit of a mess from the brawl. "So, little piglet, why don't you squeal? Tell me everything and maybe I'll think of letting you go."

"What sort of deal is that?" Cress snorted, not falling for it. The Queen smiled, changing her gloves. The silk pair were laid in a pan, she donned an apron so as not to get her dress dirty and pulled on a pair of lab gloves. "Do you know where my daughter gets her scientific genius from?" The Queen asked, picking a small black box with a pair of tongs. "Me," she placed the box on Cress's stomach and it unraveled, wrapping around her dress, eating through her clothing. "What are you these?" Cress asked in a panic as her clothing disappeared, leaving her in panties and a bra. "Just I thought, you are an earthling."

"What are you doing?" She tugged at the restraints, the smooth metal holding her back from punching the woman in the throat. "Oh relax, it'll only eat things from this planet," the garter belt disappeared and finally, the woman called her weird bugs back, the things forming into a box once more and the Queen placed it in a box for safe keeping. She tugged away what was left of the wig and frowned. "Oh, you're that disgusting earthling that likes to play in the dirt. No matter, we'll fix you right up." She turned to her menagerie of tools, plucking one up with dainty fingers. "Let me go," Cress growled, managing to prop herself up on her elbows. The Queen grabbed one, tugging it out from beneath Cress and making the girl collapse against the table. "Open wide dear," Cress kept her mouth shut and so the Queen called a servant over who grabbed Cress's chin and headbutted her, which made Cress yelp. The Queen stuck her finger in Cress's mouth, prying her jaw open to keep it like that and sticking a pill on her tongue. Cress tried to spit it out but her jaw was shut tight with a muzzle like one would put on a dog.

"You only get to speak when spoken to. Now you think you're a wild stallion? I'm going to break you into a show horse little piglet." She struggled against the bindings, against the muzzle and the Queen smiled. "Now, let's first mark you with the brand. This means you're a prisoner you know, it shows that you're my property." She took something from her toolkit, a royal seal and touched it to Cress's hand. "This way everyone will know that you're my little pet." The metal seemed to heat on its own and Cress's back arched, she struggled, but the brand was seared into her skin, the smell of burnt flesh trapped in the vast room. "No one can save you now," the Queen whistled as she picked up the thing and placed it in a tub of cold water. She had another box, this one a bit larger. She placed it on Cress's chest, tapping the top.

"Oh it's been too long since I've last gotten to play." She hummed as the box expanded, looking a bit like an arc reactor from an earthen superhero movie. The Queen placed various discs across Cress's skin in joints and over central nerves. To test it out, she blew against one and Cress tried to scream, her sense of pain heightened. "I just leave you here for now," she touched a button and a fan turned on, blowing cold air at Cress. The Queen shut the door, glad she had sound proofed the room and typed in the passcode to lock it. She had given a servant orders to turn it off after ten minutes, knowing that the human would probably snap too quickly if she did it for any longer.

Meanwhile Cress struggled against the binds, her fiery eyes wide and burning as though they could sear a whole through the servant standing in the corner, pleading for help. Her body shook and she couldn't hold anything back, her legs trembling as she felt something warm flowing, dripping off the side of the table.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Every three minutes a shock would go down her spine. There was a sock shoved into her mouth to stifle the sound of Shiro's whimpers. She heard the Queen's voice in her head, telling her to take it, that this was for the best, that she had been bad and Shiro believed it, knowing that she had been bad, that she had lied. No doubt the Princess was busy at work with Itward and Aine, Shiro tried to distract herself with that, wondering what they were talking about, what sort of royal business was taking place. It hardly worked though and Shiro was ripped back to reality every time the shock went, getting stronger with each pulse.

The more she struggled, the more the collar constricted against her throat, like a boa constrictor. With no one here to stop it, her death was immanent. Shiro felt terrified, tears running down her face as she took the punishment, wondering if the Queen would let her die like this or if the collar would stop when Shiro was holding on by a thread, having learned her lesson. It wasn't the worst punishment Shiro had ever had either, but it certainly was the most frightening. Most of the time the Queen would be there, watching with distasteful eyes like seeing a worm squirm on the floor, ordering it to stop when she finally thought Shiro had suffered enough. Here though, the only thing to hear her screams were the metal birds on the windowsill that were really cameras to capture the outside of the castle.

The door swung open, someone ran inside, undoing the chains, telling the collar that the punishment was over. Shiro could breathe once more, her hands trembling as the Princess hugged her. Shiro whimpered, she didn't deserve hugs, she was a bad girl and bad girls got punished that's why... That's why the Queen did this, because Shiro was a bad girl. It was a harmless fib, it wouldn't have effected the Queen either way, but Shiro shouldn't have lied in the first place. "I'm sorry Princess," Shiro hiccuped, "I was a bad girl, I left your side, so please; punish me as you see fit." Instead though, the Princess broke into a sob.

Alarmed, Shiro looked up at the Princess who was hugging Shiro like a stuffed animal. "Princess, don't cry!" Shiro looked around frantically for anything that would make it better, to make the Princess's tears stop. She looked around her bed, picking up the first thing she could find to try and make the tears stop. It was a stuffed lamb that had obviously seen better days. "Look Princess, Mr. Lamb doesn't want you to be sad anymore. He'll even bring you tea if it'll make you feel better."

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Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝A bridge shall be built to bring us together.❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




"I wanted to protect you. Ellie wiped up the rest of her tears, trying to smile but knew it was broken, weak. Shiro was trying so hard to cheer her up, even though she was the one who was hurt, a little innocent girl like her, Ellie hated it, she couldn't stand a world like this. She wanted to uproot it, she wanted to tear it inside out, she wanted to change everything and make it a better world, a fair world. She'd send Cress back home, she'd give Shiro the freedom to live whatever life she wanted, and she'd rule from here, the Queen of Ourania, residing alone in Ashia Palace. Her birthright caused this tragedy, her family was corrupt and ruined everything, stomping on so many innocent lives.

Narcia wanted to roll her eyes and laugh at this idiotic earth girl, but was amused at her antics so she simply allowed Ellie to carry Shiro back to her room, the one safe place, and Ellie quickly locked it shut, not wanting to let anyone else in. The first thing Ellie did was grab at the collar as gently as she could, examining it with the new tools Itward had given her. She also flopped Shiro onto her back and pressed around to locate the chip, wanting to examine that as well. "I'll fix it." The girl whispered as she worked. "I'll save you, this won't ever happen again." Once she was satisfied, Ellie went to the balcony to retrieve her toolbox, then emptied Itward's supply bag on her desk with the box's contents as well. She pressed the button on the Privacy Module, frying any new bugs that might have been implanted, and began her work.

Once Ellie finished, she had two small devices. She synchronized them to the same frequency, tapping one and she felt the other one react in kind. The little tech wizard nodded, feeling accomplished. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it'd do for now. She put one in her fist and walked over to Shiro with as much warmth as she could muster. "Open up, Shiro, I promise, it'll taste good." She added artificial flavoring to make it seem just like candy and dropped it into Shiro's mouth, ordering her to swallow it without chewing. Then she swallowed the other one, and all of a sudden she felt a new connection with the little blonde girl, tasting candy even though hers wasn't flavored at all.

"Now we're connected." Ellie smiled, gripping Shiro's hands and feeling someone's hands gripping her own. "Whatever you feel, I'll feel it too. Wherever you are, I'll be able to sense you. I'll always come save you." Ellie hugged the girl, feeling herself being hugged. "But it's only a one-way connection, so if I get hurt, you won't have to feel it too. So don't worry, you'll be okay."

Maybe now the girl would understand. That would be nice, wouldn't it?






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❝We'll break the night, and burn the pigs!❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Before hell started, Aya had her wrists chained together above her head, and was forced to stand on her tippy toes before whenever she relaxed her feet, a wave of pain would rip through her body. Already she knew her wrists would probably never feel the same, the cuffs had needles that stabbed deep in, scratching against the bone, injecting something weird if they ever sensed the whole of her feet touching the office floor. Aya was tired, she was so tired but she had to keep trying to stand, but her toes felt like they were on fire and her whole body was shaking and trembling, a puddle of yellow below her, a mark of her shame. She was given a pill so she couldn't see anything and so pain was extra sensitive and Aya was just crying helplessly. Worst was that Itward didn't even seem like he was paying attention at all, just talking to her as if nothing was happening at all.

Being naked made it even more painful, and every so often he would walk over to touch her and lick her and make her feel weird and it was scary. He called her beautiful, but Aya felt like he was talking about food than anything else, as if she was some kind of meal. The fear never stopped but she knew she would have to let her toes and legs rest for another few seconds if it meant sacrificing her wrists even more.

"Pl-please... make it stop.."

"But Aine, this is your punishment." Itward's voice was gentle and kind, making Aya wonder if he was even watching her hurting, if he even cared. Every so often she heard the flip of a page, was he really just reading while her world was endless pain? "Remember, back when you were twelve, and you tried to start a war? You even charmed my father with your lies, you made him believe you, and because of him, he died. You remember, don't you, Aine?"

Aya didn't remember anything, because she wasn't Aine. She was Aya, Daddy said she was Aya, so that's what she was. She didn't want to be Aine, but she knew that Aine was watching her, trying to encourage her, to tell her to be strong. There was another voice trying to help, and she knew it was Kora. Cress, where was Cress, what was the Queen doing to her? Aya didn't know, she was scared, she wanted to go home and cry but Daddy would hurt her more and then the hurt would keep happening.

"I'm not Aine." She begged, crying out as she relaxed her lower body, preparing her upper body to feel pain all over, everywhere, it was getting hard to breathe now. "I'm Aya, Daddy says I'm Aya, I don't like this, I don't want this...!"

Itward chuckled nastily. "I mean, because of you, I'm now the head of the family. So maybe I should thank you, Aine." He grabbed at her belly, her chest, at that important spot no one was allowed to touch, and Aya whimpered and shook, wriggling but there wasn't enough strength in her to resist. "It is interesting, though. All these bruises... has someone been hurting you, dear? That would be horrible, wouldn't it?" No! Daddy was love, Daddy always loved, it wasn't hurt at all because Daddy was always right. "Oh, Nio, knock before you come in, would you?" Who was Itward talking to? Aya heard steps but nothing else, and she couldn't see anything. "Yes, that's Aine. I'm punishing her for her tricks, don't worry. Run along now, sister."

Aya was confused. Who was Nio?

"Ah, you can't see. Forgot." Itward laughed nastily. "She's my youngest sister, nine years old. She was very close to you before, Aine, you brainwashed her." There was a different emotion in Itward's voice now, but Aya couldn't figure it out because of all the hurting. "I married off my other sisters, but Nio's still unsuitable. Do you want to know why?"

The blonde wasn't sure she wanted to know. But she cried again as she went back on her tired toes, to give her arms and wrists a short break from the pain. "She tried to copy you, tried to make nobles join the rebels! Can you believe it? I couldn't let it happen. It's bad for the family, Aine. So I took care of it. I stole Nio's voice, so she can't speak out. It's safer this way. The disgusting Seraphim family won't go after her if she's mute. It's brotherly love, see?"

Aya just wanted to die because it hurt so much.


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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




"Stand up now, let me see." Cress refused and every time she did, she would get hit by a metal whip with a spike on the end that tore into her skin. The whip crackled and she whimpered, the muzzle preventing much more. "I said stand up, don't make me repeat myself." So Cress got to her feet, legs shaking, shame filling her stomach. The Queen had specially made a new torture device, a pair of cat ears and a tail that burrowed into her skin and responded to a neural transmitter she had injected into Cress's head. Despite it all, Cress was still fighting, her eyes burning, as though she could shoot lasers at the Queen. "Oh how wonderful, now you look like the truly pathetic animal you are." She put Cress's head, then pulled on one of the cat ears. It was a piece of complicated technology that made the tail and ears look real, they even moved about, the ears twitching in response to Cress's thoughts.

"Since you've insisted on doing your business like an animal on the table, I've demeaned to one you humans so cherish." The Queen said with a smile, as though she were doing Cress a favor. "Tie her back down, on her stomach this time." The Queen said to a servant and handed them a leash. Cress was back on the table, this time her arms and legs stretched out spread eagle. Cress had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, especially when something slid up her leg, then the other, two needles connected to some sort of machine. They went into her hands, a needle through each finger that pinned them down. It was terribly painful and she was bleeding.

"Try to hold it in kitten, lest you want to be punished further." No Cress did not want that. She didn't even understand why she was being punished now. There was a click of a button and something was injected into her, making Cress feel sick. Her ears began to bleed, the sound of a cacophony like an off tuned orchestra playing in her ears before deafening silence. Cress's eyes widened, she couldn't hear anything. Another needle went off, this one causing pain. It felt as though her entire body was on fire and she trembled, trying to make the burning stop. She could feel another puddle beneath her and tears in her eyes at the shame from the loss of control.

Another injection, this one making her limbs numb so that she couldn't feel the Queen's hands on her, running down her spine. "There," she said, but Cress couldn't hear it. Another injection, this one in her spine, a chip, just like the one the other servants had. This one was connected to the neural transmitter and the collar around her neck. Another injection and her mind slipped away. Cress could no longer see what was in front of her, she was back on earth, Ellie standing before her. Cress tried to call out, but her voice was lost. Her cousin didn't seem to see her though, she was standing beside someone else, someone very important to Cress.

Her Father.

The two were smiling, holding hands, and then, a car came from nowhere, hitting them both. Her father was flung away, but Ellie, Ellie was trapped beneath a tire. Cress tried to run with her, but her body wouldn't move and she couldn't make a sound.

When the illusion faded, Cress was shaking. She had peed herself again, the liquid pooling beneath her stomach. The rest of the needles were taken out, Cress wasn't even sure what they were for. "You've done it again," the Queen sighed, shaking her head. She put a leash on Cress, leading the girl out of the room and further into the lower levels, taking Cress to the bathroom. She touched the human's body, washing her down, stopping in exceptionally sensitive areas. Cress was entirely uncomfortable as she was doused with cold water and then blow dried. She was at least given new undergarments before being led back to that room and forced into a handstand against the wall. There was a needle pressed against her jugular, if she so much as moved, Cress would be pierced by it.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro wasn't sure what the Princess was doing, she watched as the female walked around busily, doing this and that with her tools. She lay on her stomach as directed, feeling the pressure of the Princess's fingers against her spine, searching for the chip. Shiro didn't understand, but she had never really been too smart in the first place. Sure she had learned to read and write but her education beyond that was subjective to what the Princess may need her to do. She could brew a pot of tea with the best of them, but watching a technological genius confused her to no end and so Shiro waited in the place the Princess had put her, not wanting to be punished again. She looked at her hands, noting how her gloves were stained with blood, no doubt from Shiro clawing at the bed.

She waited, feeling ashamed that she had made the Princess cry and then finally, the Princess came over. Without hesitation Shiro opened her mouth, swallowing the pill. Shiro didn't realize what it was for, but even if she had it wasn't as though she could resist. One of the Lady in Waiting's jobs was to ensure that nothing poisoned the Princess and if Nee asked her to do it than Shiro had to. "Princess no!" Shiro felt panicked, if she was punished then Nee would be hurt too. No, this wasn't fair, it was Shiro's job to protect the Princess, how could she do that now? Shiro felt panicked.

No doubt the collar would pick up her panic and assume she had done something wrong so Shiro forced herself to calm down. She couldn't allow the Princess to hurt herself like this, she would have to tell someone. "Princess, you are far too important." Shiro said, taking Nee's hands in her's. "I'm the one who's supposed to save you. I'm supposed to be your protector." How could she do her job properly now if Nee got hurt too? That's it, Shiro would just have to tell someone. No doubt she'd be punished severely for letting this happen, but Shiro would have to accept it if she wanted to save the Princess from herself.

"I'm sorry, I have to tell the Queen."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝A bridge shall be built to bring us together.❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




Ellie smiled peacefully at Shiro as she tested the pills, making sure they were only one-way transmitted by pinching her skin and seeing no reaction on Shiro's end. To make sure she pressed her nails until a tiny bit of red showed, smiling brightly. Yes, it was a success! But then her smile faltered as Shiro spoke, and although Narcia accepted the words without question, Ellie wasn't so sure. "Far too important? What makes me important?" Ellie asked pointedly, voice hard. "Why do I get to live a life of luxury while others suffer? What makes me so special? I refuse it, I won't accept it. I won't live happy if it means people like you get hurt." She gripped Shiro's shoulders in desperation, staring deep into the girl's eyes. "I want to share your pain, I don't want to be the kind of person that can be happy when others are sad! I won't, I won't become a monster like the Queen!"

Even if it was foolish, it felt nice to say it. To finally admit that she spurned her family, that she denounced them. These people were monsters, each and every one of them. Ellie wished she could've come sooner, that she could've somehow teamed up with Aine so the two could have worked together, but now Aine was gone so fixing this messed up world fell onto her back. It was Ellie's duty and Narcia just laughed, mocking and cruel as she always was.

"I'll make a new world, a different world." Ellie vowed, grabbing onto Shiro to make sure she couldn't escape. Ellie was always weak, frail, but it wasn't too hard to overpower the servant. "One where good people like you won't have to get hurt. Why don't you understand?"

Ellie felt hopelessly lonely, lost in a world where everyone was evil, or too brainwashed to see the problems at hand. Shiro was hurt too much that she had no idea how bad the world was, did she? Her way of thinking was horribly warped. Maybe, maybe if - was it silly? Was it silly to consider teaming up with the Cherubim if it meant a chance to chance the current system and usher in a new era, an era of equality and peace? Itward would never go for it, but Ellie knew his weakness, from delving into Narcia's memories. If she could arrange for his little sister, Nio, to be moved to the main palace, he'd have the perfect hostage to force Itward to be her pawn.

A part of Ellie was frightened to admit that she was willing to use a hostage if it meant changing the world. But another smart simply smiled at Shiro, walking to the balcony, leaning on the edge. "If you tell my mother, I'll jump and die." Ellie said with a promise. "Because if you still don't understand how important you are to me, then there's no reason to keep trying, is there? I might as well give up, right?" Ellie watched Shiro, gauging to see her reaction.



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❝We'll break the night, and burn the pigs!❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




There was something inside of Aya. It was a weird machine-type thing and it connected inside of her special spot, forcing her to sit on top of it, feeling filled and stretched open and full of pain and agony, whimpering and moaning. She couldn't see, she was still blind but she didn't have to see to know something horrible was going to happen. Itward's hand was on her shoulder, caressing her spine, her side, hugging her from behind. Aya mewled in fear, wondering what was going to happen. Her hands were numb, she couldn't even feel them after the man released her from the first trap.

"Don't worry, Aine." His voice was smooth and gentle, as if the two were sitting on a couch, playing a game together or something. "This isn't punishment, it's just something I have to do. You understand, don't you?"

"No." The girl's voice was little more than a whisper on the wind, with no strength or volume to it. Her mind was in tatters and there wasn't much left in her. Every time she was about to pass out from the pain, Itward would stab her with something that felt like a needle and force her awake again to make the machine keep messing up her insides, to keep causing pain everywhere. "Aine doesn't... understand it..."

She was only released from the first trap once she surrendered and called herself Aine, knowing Daddy would be disappointed. She was so weak, so pitiful, and she knew Daddy would be sad that Aya was dead now, that she was Aine now. Aine quivered, wishing she had clothes, wishing this was just a horrible nightmare but that was too easy, way too easy. Aine needed to suffer for trying to trick the nobles, and this was the payback. "This will help you hold in your bladder." Itward said gently, licking the tears staining her cheeks. "I'm augmenting you, Aine, your feminine charms. Now, every time you need to relieve yourself, you'll feel intense, unbearable pain, to remind you to hold it in like a big girl. You can do that, can't you? It's not fit for a lady to spill all over her nice clothes, Aine."

"Yes, Itward." Aine mumbled, shuddering, not bothering to struggle as the augmentation was done. She felt something happening in her, something changing in her and it hurt and it stung and she hated it, she wanted to kill herself to make it stop, to go back to being Aya and to see Kora again and to sleep forever but no, that was impossible, it wasn't going to be that easy. "Like this, you'll also never be able to bear children." Itward took on a more menacing tone. "Only one woman's fit to bear my seed, and that's the Princess herself. You don't have the right, Aine, I'm sorry. But you understand, right?"

So now her ultimate duty as a girl was taken from her, wasn't it? For some reason that devastated Aine. She wanted to one day have a family full of kids and have them live happy lives and watch them grow and laugh and smile and love life. But like this, that was forever taken from her, wasn't it, all at the whims of this filthy rich pig. Aine didn't even have the will to cry anymore, her mind going blank as the augmentation continued, feeling every change happening within.


Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Let your soul take you where you long to be.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #CD5C5C β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #C5E3BF】

|| Flaws || Bastille ||




"You're a little animal and wild animals must be spayed appropriately." The Queen hummed as she waved her tools above Cress, the girl no longer in a handstand but laying tiredly bound against the table. What the Queen didn't know was that Cress already couldn't have children, the car accident had taken it from her. So she lay motionless, counting this a victory. The woman went in, using some sort of wand looking thing that made her squirm uncomfortably. "Move around and it'll hurt more," Cress let out what sounded like a cross between a whimper and a growl. "Oh hush now, I'm doing you a favor, grooming you for a very special boy." The Queen had no idea that Itward had Aine, otherwise she wouldn't have bothered grooming Cress for this. She needed the girl out of the castle though, the longer she stayed here, the more risky it was that the Princess may think something is wrong.

So the Queen finished up, cleaning Cress up and preparing her to be sent to Itward. She wrapped the girl's chest in ribbon, putting a little bow on her tail and putting her in a box, her body bound in pretty pink bows that matched her eyes. "Send it to Itward Cheribum as a gift from the Queen," she told a servant and the box was placed on an outgoing pod. Cress had been sedated so that she couldn't escape in transport but in her mind she was making plans, she'd escape, one way or another.

There was a servant waiting to receive the package and they picked up the box, taking it to Itward's room and preparing the gift as instructed, laying the girl out on the bed, replacing the muzzle with a ball gag and leaving the card on top. "Master Itward, there is a gift courtesy of the Queen awaiting you in your room." The Servant said, not meeting Itward's eyes and stepping outside while bowing, closing the door behind them. There was a tiny chip inside the ribbon on her tail that would keep Cress sedated until Itward came to open his present up. The card on top was one from the Queen's personal stationary, a handwritten note on top embellished with the Queen's flourishing signature.

Dear Sir Cheribum,
Please consider this an early birthday gift until the Princess herself is ready to receive you. The kitten has already been groomed specially for you.

Respectively,
The Queen, ruler of Ashia Palace.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя: #FFAEB9 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #63D1F4】

|| I'm on Top of the World|| Imagine Dragons ||




Shiro whimpered underneath the Princess's fury, the collar recognized the anger in the Princess's voice and gave Shiro a light zap. "You're not a monster," Shiro assured her. "But Princess, you're going to be the next ruler of Ashia Palace, me, I'm just your lady in waiting. I may be important to you but to everyone else, I'm just a servant. So please, don't hurt yourself like this." It was the first sign Shiro had shown of understanding, but Shiro also knew of the bindings of the caste system, that she couldn't prevent the Princess from doing anything she wanted because of the fact that she was the Princess and her rule was ultimate. So if this was what the Princess wanted then Shiro would have to go along with it.

"No Princess, please! If you die, I-I'll be all alone," it was terribly selfish and Shiro knew it and yet, she couldn't help it. The collar was picking up the signals of distress and as Shiro ran to the Princess's side to prevent her from jumping, the Queen was signaled. The Queen took her time getting dressed of course, she had to appear perfect in every way and so once she was done she made a grand sweep, heading out to check what was causing one of her servants so much stress. She would never have expected it to be her daughter, standing on the balcony with Shiro trying to beg for her to come down. "Please Princess, I, I need you. Ashia needs you!" The Queen picked up her gown, daintily coming over to where her daughter was standing. "Narcia, come down this instant." Her voice was cool and Shiro's expression was full of panic.

"It seems for once you've done your job," she said and Shiro actually fell to her knees in relief, knowing she had been spared from punishment this time. "If you insist on doing foolish things then I'll insist on foolish punishments," she grabbed the girl by her ear and dragged her daughter back inside. "Shiro come here," Shiro ran to the Queen's side, looking between the two. The Queen locked the door to the balcony and handed the key to Shiro. "Swallow it," she said and Shiro looked up in confusion. "Excuse me my Queen?"

"Don't make me repeat myself Shiro, you know how I dread telling you instructions twice." Shiro opened her mouth and with some difficulty, swallowed the key. She could feel it trying to come back up, the cold metal against her throat and she gagged. "Don't you dare throw that up," the Queen threatened. "These carpets are worth more than your petty life." Shiro nodded her head, placing both hands over her mouth as the Queen turned to her daughter. "You may have your freedom back once Shiro has passed the key, but until then, you are punished for taking such brash and ridiculous actions."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝A bridge shall be built to bring us together.❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#4ca2b8 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #8b4cb8】

|| Secret ~Black Vow~ || Rin/Len (cover by SirHammet) ||




"I'm the daughter of a monster, so what does that make me?" Ellie smiled, full of ice, feeling Shiro receive a shock and thus Ellie felt the pain of it herself, her body jerking as she stood up on the tails, arms outstretched like a bird's wings, overseeing the clouds and the endless expanse of the sky. One step, and this horrible nightmare would be over. Maybe if she was lucky, maybe if it was possible, this all could just be some dream and she would wake up at Cress's side, having imagined everything up. How nice it would be if that were possible. Ellie stared down below, knowing her body would burn up before she ever hit the ground. The air was thin up here, and she knew she was specially fitted with lungs that could breathe this air - as did everyone else that lived in the palace. "The only thing to do with a monster is to slay it, isn't that right, Shiro?" A sneaky little smile crossed her features and Narcia herself didn't seem to mind dying either, considering it simply fate's path if that were to happen.

Ellie's smile grew wider as she watched Shiro. "I refuse to rule a kingdom in which my lady in waiting has to suffer for my crimes." She said simply, wondering where this new bravery was coming from. "What if we both fell, together? You won't have to be alone. We could exit this horrible life as partners. I'd free us both. Come here, Shiro. I'll end it for the both of us." The princess held her hand out invitingly.

And then the Queen arrived, in all her glory, and that made Ellie's smile grow only wider. "...Hello, mother. It's about time you came." As the Queen approached, admonishing her, Ellie grabbed her, trying to overpower her. It was supposed to be so easy, beyond simple to just knock the Queen off to her death, ending her miserable existence once and for all, and bringing about a new age. "Just die already. It's my turn to rule." Unfortunately, Ellie had no strength in her upper body and she was forced down by the ear, dragged back into her room and the balcony was shut, locked, Shiro made to swallow the key. Ellie herself choked, feeling cold metal being forced down her throat. The urge to puke was there but Narcia gladly took control, maintaining her composure so Nirana wouldn't suspect a thing.

"Farewell, mother." Narcia whispered as Nirana left, their new prison made. And for once, Narcia seemed willing to cooperate, walking over to comfort Shiro, smiling and pointing at her own spasming throat. "See? I'll suffer alongside you. We're partners." Ellie was surprised but then Narcia told her, in a suddenly warm tone, that if her mother was willing to make her choke, than she would aid in the rebellion, even if it was pointless. Ellie sighed, wondering why she was ever like that as a child.

The first thing to do was to expedite Shiro's suffering so Ellie sat on her desk, tinkering, playing, clanking tools against various tech things until her task was complete. This was a bit more experimental as well as rushed, so there was no guarantee it would work. She pressed the light into Shiro's eyes with a little grin, knowing the frequency would activate the part of the brain to stimulate a bowel movement. "We're a team, Shiro. We'll topple the Queen. Work with me, okay?"




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❝We'll break the night, and burn the pigs!❞

【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

|| Hope of Morning || Icon for Hire ||




Aine was clothed in rags when Itward walked in, inviting Nio into his office as well as a familiar girl, wrapped in ribbons. He quickly chained Cress to the corner of the room, snapping his fingers in her face, trying to get her attention. After the augmentation, Aine was bleeding profusely from her wound between her legs, staining the mat she was allowed to sit on with red, every movement bringing pain. Her eyes were hollow and glazed, hardly paying attention to anything.

"Looks like she worked you over hard, earthling." Itward said with a smirk, reading the letter with amusement as Nio washed blood off of Aine's limp, unresponsive body. "Doesn't seem like you had a fun time. No worries, I mean to do nothing of the sort. You have a fire in your eyes, earthling, a fire I could use." The blonde girl remained silent, wishing she had the will and the strength to move, to somehow say something to Cress, to warn her, Itward was a monster he was evil, he hurt her in bad ways and stole Nio's voice. Nio was a tiny thing, emotionless eyes from being forced to live mute for the past few years since the first Aine's death.

"Let's make a deal." The man grinned invitingly. "Cooperate with me. Help me take out the Queen, the evil Seraphim family. I intend to become the King, to take the Princess as my own. Work with me, and I'll set you free, girl. Otherwise, I can make you feel much worse than you already do." He gestured at Aine's broken form with a little laugh. "So, do we have a deal? Shall we make a team for the time being?" He glanced over at Aine and shrugged. "I'll even set Aine free to return to the Rubble with you if you agree to team up with me. All I ask is for the Princess's heart, body, and soul."