Snippet #2107228

Ellisia watched as one of the other clones left his caretaker, a woman she didn’t recognize, who had the…the strangest look on her face. Wondering what had caused such an expression, Ellisia heard the footsteps halt, directly before her. Turning her gaze from the woman to the man before her, she met his gaze for a second before blushing and looking down. “Oh, no,” she protested. “I am happy to do my duty.” A brief smile flashed across her face, and she added, “And there are many places that I would not rather be, such as in a pit of snakes. I think few places are as bad as that would be,” she added contemplatively, brow furrowed as she thought. “But perhaps it is you who does not wish to be here?” She looked up now, gaze straightforward and honest, albeit a bit confused.

She found his gaze somewhat disquieting, hard to meet, but she had no idea why. Still, she forced herself to look him in the eye, as it was what manners required. Pushing herself to her feet, she smiled again, though this time her face had a gentler cast to its features, no humor in her level gaze. “We have not been introduced properly, no? I am Ellisia Julens. It is a pleasure to meet you.” And it was, for Ellisia found everyone a joy to be with, even the scientists who poked her with needles and examined her so often, to be sure she was healthy and normal, or at least, as normal as could be expected.

She felt the gazes of many, if not all, of the others in the room, focused on the two of them. Turning to the other clones, she said, “Perhaps we should all introduce ourselves? The others are taking a long time…I hope nothing is wrong,” she added, worry coloring her words and clouding her gaze as she bit her lip, letting her curly brown hair fall forward over one shoulder, a curtain to hide behind, the flimsiest of shields. This situation was not the most ideal, and she did not wish others to see the discomfort on her face as she felt the tense atmosphere, the scientists standing around the edge of the room as though they were some strange animals on display. Many of them did not even bother to hide their curiosity, eyes gazing hungrily at their creations interacting. Ellisia, though normally compliant and sweet, hated to be treated like a thing, like some strange being that belonged completely and utterly to another, though she knew that that was not the case. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to lay some claim to her own body, her mind, even her soul. Trying to interrupt those dark thoughts before they blossomed fully, she looked back at the young man before her, gaze perhaps revealing more of her emotions than she would wish to share.