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Ayanna Filia

"My name's Aya! Let's be very good friends, okay?"

0 · 4,992 views · located in Noraneko

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

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❝How nice a world without tiers would be! ❞
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【ɗιαƖσgΟ…Ρ” cσƖσя:#30b818 β™™ тнσυgΠ½Ρ‚ cσƖσя #d1ca00】

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







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{β˜› β’»β“Šβ“β“ Ⓝ⒢ⓂⒺ ☚}
Ayanna Filia (Or is it Korhyia Filia?)
{β˜› β“ƒβ’Ύβ’Έβ“€β“ƒβ’Άβ“‚β’Ίβ“ˆ ☚}
Aya | It's shorter and cuter, duh!
Squid | It's her nickname with the rebels. Aya has no idea why,
{β˜› β’Άβ’Όβ’Ί ☚}
14

{β˜› ⒼⒺⓃⒹⒺⓇ ☚}
♀

{β˜› β“ˆβ’Ίβ“β“Šβ’Άβ“β’Ύβ“‰β“Ž ☚}
Aya has no idea!
{β˜› β’»β’Άβ’Έβ’Ί ⒸⓁ⒢ⒾⓂ ☚}
Chiaya Misono || The Rolling Girls



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❝Make as many people happy as possible!❞
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{β˜› ⒽⒺⒾⒼⒽⓉ ☚}
She's a tiny little thing.
{β˜› β“Œβ’Ίβ’Ύβ’Όβ’½β“‰ ☚}
She's tiny in this way, too!
{β˜› Ⓗ⒢ⒾⓇ ⒸⓄⓁⓄⓇ ☚}
Honey blonde!
{β˜› β’Ίβ“Žβ’Ί ⒸⓄⓁⓄⓇ ☚}
A shimmering amber!
{β˜› β’·β“„β’Ήβ“Ž β“‚β’Άβ“‡β“€β’Ύβ“ƒβ’Όβ“ˆ ☚}
She has one fanged tooth! Below her clothes are also a large series of bruises, some worse than others. She keeps them carefully hidden.


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

Aya is cuteness and bubbles mixed into one small package! You'd have trouble believing that she's a rebel warring against the Monarchy, due to her happy-go-lucky smiles and her radiant optimism. Hair of gold, heart of gold, as some might say. Aya's eyes shine with innocence and curiosity, and a desire to explore the world and see the people live happily. She's quite feminine, enjoying putting blue flowers in her hair, and almost always wears a dark green jacket for all-purpose travel.
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β™™We gotta find a reason to fight!β™™
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β˜› β“β’Ύβ“€β’Ίβ“ˆβ˜š
β₯ Riding! | Aya's bike is her favorite thing!
β₯ Music! | Listening or playing to it is great!
β₯ Friends! | Friends make life worth living!
β₯ Happy Daddy! | Life is better when Daddy is happy!





❧




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❝Always know when to give up!❞
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β˜› β’Ήβ’Ύβ“ˆβ“β’Ύβ“€β’Ίβ“ˆβ˜š
⌦ Unfairness! | Everyone deserves happiness!
⌦ Pain! | It really hurts, okay?
⌦ Angry Daddy! | Angry Daddy makes everything worse.






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β˜›β“†β“Šβ’Ύβ“‡β“€β“ˆβ˜š
Vroom! | Sometimes, Aya makes bike sounds for no reason.
Twirl~ | If she's bored, twirling to make the world spin is fun!
Blink! | She blinks a lot.


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β˜› β“Œβ’Ίβ’Άβ“€β“ƒβ’Ίβ“ˆβ“ˆβ’Ίβ“ˆ ☚
⌦ Innocent! | Aya doesn't really understand what war means yet.
⌦ Naive! | She still hasn't been hit by the darkness of the world.
⌦ Fragile! | Both mentally and physically, Aya's quite pathetic.
⌦ Self hatred! | Ayanna really doesn't like herself.


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β˜› β“ˆβ“‰β“‡β’Ίβ“ƒβ’Όβ“‰β’½β“ˆβ˜š
β₯ Friendly! | Aya is very good at making people like her!
β₯ Hard working! | She's willing to put in the effort for her goals!
β₯ Quick Witted! | Even if she's naive, Aya learns really quickly!
β₯ Talent! | Ayanna's an expert bike rider, and can play the guitar!


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β˜› β’»β’Ίβ’Άβ“‡β“ˆβ˜š
Nebulaphobia | Fear of fog
Necrophobia | Fear of death/dead things
Hemophobia | Fear of blood

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β™™Who matters most!β™™
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{β˜› β“…β’Ίβ“‡β“ˆβ“„β“ƒβ’Άβ“β’Ύβ“‰β“Žβ˜š}
Naive | Witty | Idealistic | Delusional | Impressionable | Self loathing
Aya has two real personalities, one being dominant and the other only activating under certain circumstances. Most of the time Aya's bright, cheerful, and ignorant of the world around her. She likes making friends, she likes trusting people, and if she sees someone lost and scared, Aya would be the first to go and comfort them. She's genuinely nice and caring, and loves putting everything she has into helping someone. She's kind, she has an easy time empathizing with others, and like devoting herself to helping others.

But when it's time for discipline, when it's time for her Daddy to tell her the things she did wrong, Aya changes completely, becoming a self hating hollow shell of a person that accepts each beating. She truly believes she deserves it and doesn't even try fighting back, because her mind translates the pain as her Daddy's show of affection. It's difficult to say which side of Aya is the real one, or if there's a real Aya in the first place.




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❝I won't let it control me!❞
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{β˜› ⓅⓁ⒢ⒸⒺ β“„β’» ⓄⓇⒾⒼⒾⓃ ☚}
Ashia Palace lower tiers, The Kingdom of Ourania

{β˜› β’»β’Άβ“‚β’Ύβ“β“Ž ☚}
Loghain Filia | 42 | Father
Penoma Filia | 39 | Mother
Korhyia (Ayanna) Filia | Died at 7, would be 14 | Sister
{β˜› β’½β’Ύβ“ˆβ“‰β“„β“‡β“Ž ☚}
She was born to the Filia family, with twin sister who she loved very much. Aya and Kora were best friends even from the start, and they latched onto one another even as infants. There were differences, though, subtle differences that only grew as time went on. Aya was the bright child, the happy and energetic one that everyone loved while Kora was the quiet one that was always weaker and inferior to Aya. Even as the world and even their parents started preferring the loving and adorable Aya, Aya was so perfect that she even loved the quiet and shy Kora just as much. The sisters were each other's light in childhood, both unaware of their parent's involvement with the rebellion.

Aya was perfect and Kora was the unloved child. So when Aya turned up broken and amnesiac one day after school, life changed. No matter how her parents tried, they couldn't get anyone to care enough to help, and they didn't have the money needed to get her hospitalized. They had no way to find out who hurt her, and because Aya had no memories left, the bad guy got free. She died days later at home, in a house she didn't recognize, surrounded by strangers. Loghain turned to Kora and deluded himself into believing she was Aya, that it was Kora who died, and he put Kora's name in the death registry.

Of course, Kora resisted at first. She knew Aya would never have wanted this, so she tried to maintain her sense of self, but then the beatings started. Try as she might, Kora couldn't maintain her sanity and she believed, deep down, that she was Aya, and that it was Kora who died. She took on the traits that Aya had while alive and became bubbly and friendly and lovable to everyone, tricking the world that Korhyia had died instead of Ayanna. Over the years, if she messed up, if signs of the old Kora showed, the beatings would start again, and she never once fought back.

Daddy was right, wasn't he? Daddy was always right. So when he decided to give her a gun and teach her to fight, Aya didn't resist. She was excited, because she knew that fighting for Daddy's cause, fighting to create equality and to avenge Kora was something that Daddy would've wanted. So she trained, she practiced, she learned and even earned her own bike as a reward for her good behavior. And eventually, one day, when Aya was 14, she found a lost older girl on the street and invited her to her home...


{β˜› ⓄⓉⒽⒺⓇ ☚}






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



So begins...

Ayanna Filia'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 ||




When Cress awoke the room was mercifullly quiet, she was still in bed, her chest still hurting from the defibrillator and her ears hurting from how Itward had pulled them. She managed to pull herself up to lean against the wall and tilted her head back. She knew it was only time before he came again, this peace wouldn't last but for now Cress could relish the quiet, dark room, one of the skylights streaming in a bit of sunlight so it wasn't totally dark. There was rain, she could hear, it pounded against the ceiling seeming to shake with rage, just like her. She pulled her legs in, unable to move her arms much and leaned her chin on her knees, her stomach growling.

The door creaked open, tiny footsteps pattering like each raindrop, carrying in a plate of food, same red hair shared with her other siblings. She stepped in as silently as she could, but relaxed upon seeing the prisoner had awoken. She placed the plate of what seemed to be an eel-based dish in front and stood at a bit of a distance. Her eyes seemed to show concern though it was impossible to really tell what the silent girl was thinking. She had more cooling pads in her arms and held them out in an offer if there was still residual pain from being revived, watching Cress carefully.

Cress held out her bound arms. "A little help?" She asked, knowing the girl would probably get in trouble if she unbound her. She wasn't expecting to be, she just couldn't feed herself the way she was tied down. She hated being dependent on people, on a little girl who had been horribly wronged. Cress would make it right, she would kill Itward and bring Nio to Serpina so that he could take care of her. Plotting Itward's demise was what kept her together, when he was touching her the only thoughts in her head were the life slowly being choked out of his body.

The girl blinked and discomfort flashed on her face for a moment. She pushed the plate closer and mimed eating by mouth, an apologetic downward tilt of the head. She then went to the restraints, loosening them just enough so that Cress could reach with her face but giving no more leeway. She then unwrapped the coolant pads and placed them over her chest, fastening them in place with the adhesive at the tips of each pad. She wasn't technically allowed to do it, but Nio wanted to help a little bit, she didn't like seeing the prisoner in pain even in peace time, but there was no need for Cress to know it was unauthorized. With a slightly nervous face she pulled away and watched in case Cress needed anything else. If there was a way for her to convey that she would fix her brother, she would heal him and make him nice again, she would have said so, but that was impossible to communicate.

Cress leaned forward, no doubt this was Itward's order to make her feel like an animal. She picked up a piece of the dish in her mouth, the texture interesting in her mouth. It was sweet and salty, almost like eating a snake; she chewed thoughtfully, swallowing and picking up another piece. Cress coughed, choking. "Shoot, do you have water?" She asked, the food stuck in her throat from eating too quickly.

The girl glanced up at the ceiling, at the rain, then felt bad for making the joke. She bowed and nodded and pattered her way out of the room, returning with a glass of water. More anxiety was on her face but only for a moment - hopefully no one noticed the subtle dash of pain-killing powder added, with sugar to try and hide it. She held it to Cress's mouth, a gentle slope, letting her drink at her own pace.

Cress chuckled and shook her head, "Thanks, but I think I'd have a hard time getting to that." She said with a gentle smile, reminded of Aya. She watched Nio shuffle away and then the girl came back with a glass. Cress drank slowly so that she wouldn't choke, noticing the water had a bit of a sweet quality. When she finished Cress gave Nio a nod, noticing that the discomfort had left. "Thanks," she said, using her elbows to gesture inwards to the cold packs. "I know you probably aren't allowed to do this." Cress said quietly, wondering where Itward had gone. She didn't want him to come back; hopefully he had gotten hit by a pod or maybe fallen off the edge of the tier.

Nio nudded, a little glad at the recognition but not exactly needing it either. Unfortunately this peace didn't last as the door to the mansion was slammed open. Nio glanced at the packs, then decided to leave them on, hearing her brother yelling for her to tend to him. She dashed out to prepare a warm bath and food, leaving Cress alone in the dark room. After about half an hour, the door to the room opened, and it was Itward yet again, a look of irritation and anger clear on his face from whatever the meeting with the Queen entailed. He stared at Cress, wanting an outlet for his frustration, and then his eyes trained on the attempt of care Nio had done, turning and shouting something at his sister. She scampered off and then it was just Itward and Cress. He began the day by punching the rabbit across the cheek, panting. "I. Fucking. Hate. That . Tyrant. Bitch." He growled. "And that stupid smug princess, too."

Cress's head snapped to the side from the punch, she could taste blood no doubt from biting her tongue so Cress spit at him. "Don't talk about my cousin that way asshole." She growled, feeling feisty. She wanted to punch him harder, to show him how much she could make it hurt but the binds wouldn't let her. "Coward, take these off so I can really give you a taste of misery."

Itward grinned with pleasure at the punch, at how she spat blood in resistance. This was what he needed, after that stupid getting-into-head session earlier and then with the Queen and he just needed something to go his way for once. "You're nothing like that ice bitch, you know." He ignored her challenge. "She sat there, smiling the whole time, but you're made of fire. You're different." He pulled at the bandaged rabbit ear - Nio's work, most likely - tearing until more blood dripped from it, glowering at the girl before him. "...That reminds me. There was a rumor once, of a second princess. From whatever description there was, you sure seem like a match." He snickered. "Hah. No wonder you piss me off. You're related to the tyrant slut, aren't you?" (e)

Cress cried out in pain as he pulled on the rabbit ear. He was looking hunting for a fight and Cress was too stupid to give it to him. "Some say the world will end in fire," Cress spoke through grit teeth. "Others say in ice. I should think that both would be nice," it was a warning, a testament to the fact that his world was going to collapse, that he would get pummelled from every angle. "I'm not a Princess, don't compare me to them. Narcia is too good for you, don't think for a second I'll let you have her."

"I already have you as my pet, and she doesn't fight nearly as hard." He smirked at the threat, knowing his only real threat came from the Queen. The Princess couldn't stand against him, she didn't have the allies or the resources to take him out alone. And the rabbit was a toy, a thing that existed for his pleasure, and perhaps more if he so decided. This time he grabbed at one of her mounds, squeezing the tip as hard as he could, crushing that sensitive spot with a voracious smile full of malice. "Nee deserves to be broken." Itward growled like a mad dog. "She ran away to Earth, she never had to see what I did, do what I did. And she thinks she can act all superior." He then ran a hand down Cress's spine. "But don't worry. I'll still play with you once she's mine. You're too delicious to pass up."

"You think she had a choice in any of this?" Cress was getting angrier by the second, she moved her shoulder around, trying to find a way out of the stupid binds. Ellie wouldn't fall for it, Cress wasn't going to let Itward get his hands on her. He reached out then, ripping off one of the bandaids on her chest and squeezing that section as hard as he could. "Stop that!" She barked, realizing how stupid it was to yell that, that now he would know how truly sensitive her mounds were. "Nee didn't want to be sent away, it was that wicked witch of a Queen who orchastrated it all." Cress wasn't sure if she was right, but she figured it wouldn't take too much guess work to find out the truth. His hand was on her spine, fingers running down towards her tail. Goose bumps raised on her flesh and she tried to scooch back but she was already pressed against the wall. "Don't touch me!"

She yelled for him to stop, so naturally, he tore of the bandaid and crushed both of them with all of his might, lingering, and then he yelled for Nio to retrieve some toys for use. These were primitive, and the girl's eyes were dull and empty, unlike her animatedness earlier as she brought forth clothespins. Itward put them on the peaks, three per, and let them hang there, flicking them downwards to test the pain. "Stupid." He smirked. She really just exposed her weak point so easily? "Should've made Nee kill Aine." His head hurt as he said it so he shook his head, not wanting to go back to that place. "She abandoned me just like everyone else did." He was becoming agitated again, he had to cool down, so he pressed a hand down between her legs again, remembering last night. "The way you shook when we were done, you can't deny you liked it." He scoffed smugly, relishing the victory. "I made you feel good in a way only a man could. An animal like you probably prefers it rougher, huh?" (e)


He was twisting them, making it hard to breath, hard to think. Her heart beat faster, she was breathing harder as he gained satisfaction from her pain. "D-Don't," it accidentally came out as an almost moan and Cress quickly stopped herself so that he wouldn't get the wrong idea. She did not like this, it hurt. He called for his sister and Nio came in with six clothspins. It didn't take much guess work to know where he was going to put them and she cried out in pain when he flicked one downwards, the tugging sensation making her feel sick. "I hate you," she growled, "don't you dare touch me." Her head was spinning, her body was working against her again, getting excited for no reason at all. No, she didn't like this; why wasn't her body listening to her mind? A blush sprang to her cheeks and she tried to hide it. "I'll kill you-" Cress said quickly, "Don't you dare!"

This was better, this was how it was meant to be. The girl was at his mercy, not the other way around. He was in control here, no one else! Her blush as pleasure began mounting, her moan, but also the pain that sparked from the pins that pinched on the sensitive spot felt good, it was euphoric. Itward needed more of this, he needed more of her cute little threats, helpless against his will. "Fine, you'll have a small mercy." He plucked one of the pins out, yanking it off instead of unclasping it. And then he placed it on her special spot, clamping down with a face of wicked pleasure. "There's better, isn't it? It feels nice, right?" And then he placed his fingers at her sides, deciding to try something new and exciting, and fun for everyone. He started tickling her without mercy. "Do hold in your bladder, unless you want more augments. Humans can hold it in, can't they?"

He was enjoying this far too much, Cress decided. What if she were Nio? Is this what he did to his poor little sister when he had no servants to torture? The thought made her heart clench painfully. If that was it then she'd take it, she'd do it for Nio so that the girl didn't have to be subjected to Itward's hands prowling across her body; or perhaps it was only her overactive imagination attempting to come up with some sort of compensation for going through this. "T-take it off!" Finally he took one off and Cress cried out in pain as he pulled it, sighing in relief as the worst one was off. It didn't last long though, he spread her legs, putting it somewhere much, much worse. She yelped, wiggling, trying to make it stop. "Take it off!" She screamed, "P-please, it hurts! Take it off!" Cress had never thought she would beg. White hot pain was crawling through her legs, but her body continued betraying her, becoming excited despite the pain. He was saying things, it was hard to hear through the pain. He told her to hold it unless she wanted more augments. No- Cress didn't want anymore; she had no idea what other sort of augmentations they made but Cress didn't want to find out. So she held it, squeezing her legs together as hard as she could even though she hadn't been allowed to pee all day and had just drank a cup of water.

It seemed like it was working, her death threats had stopped, turning into pleas and begs and cries. The girl tried to resist, tried to save herself from future augmentation but Itward was determined to win. How could he not, when the girl's body was already heaving with desire yet again? "You like the pain. Just like a dog." He purred as he continued the tickling, continued the torment. And just to make things worse, he called for Nio again. "Get some water." He ordered. "I'm sure the new family pet's quite thirsty." So as his fingers continued stroking and digging and attacking her body, Nio brought another cup, pouring the water in at a faster pace than before, eyes downcast as she did so. And so the tickling continued, but he decided to mix a new element in, just to keep Cress sharp. He relieved one hand and then used it to flick the pin attached to her special spot, watching the pin bounce from the flick before turning his attention back to tickling, to trying to reduce her to an animal.

"No!" She mewled as he tickled, her cheeks flushed bright pink. "S-stop!" She tried to wiggle him off of her, she tried squeezing her legs together to get the pin off, but both actions were useless. "I am not a dog!" She managed to growl, somehow her body finding it an appropriate time to release a giggle. "S-stop!" She tried again, stuttering as his hands ran up and down her sides. Nio came and he stopped only to make Cress drink a cup of water. Then he continued and it was getting harder, Nio brought another cup, making Cress drink it faster. Her stomach was a bit swollen from her pee belly, but she didn't want to go. Cress was not going to lose control, she was not going to let him win. Then one of his hands lifted and she thought it was finally over only for his hand to begin flicking something he shouldn't have. Her cheeks turned even redder and she shook her head, trying to press her legs together to make him stop. "Get off of me!" But it came out as an unintentional moan. "I-I'll kill you!"

He was winning, gaining the advantage, her cheeks become more and more flushed as the game continued and Itward knew this girl wouldn't last much longer. Of course, he wasn't an evil man, he always allowed for options, for ways out if it was too much. "There's a way to make me stop." He said invitingly as he continued tickling her, exploring her most tickle-sensitive spots without mercy or kindness. "It's easy, Cress. All you have to do is beg. Beg me to stop, beg me to save you, and to go after Nee instead." He licked his lips. "But make it convincing, because the augments I have in mind are.... quite appealing. My hopes are up, you see." He ordered Nio to toy with the pins on her chest as he handled the tickling and so the girl did, toying and tweaking every so often, refusing to look, a luminescent red on the girl's face. Itward was going to win, he felt the heat rising in his chest. This girl would break like all the rest.

"Don't touch her! I'll kill you! I'll cut off your foot and make you eat it!" She threatened, but it didn't sound like much of a threat as she giggled right after, tears in her eyes from crying. "My cousin is off limits," That's right, Cress would preserve, she would keep fighting if it meant keeping Ellie safe. This was the least Cress could do; she remembered getting into scrapes as a child for Ellie, coming home with bruises and cuts and Ellie would always tsk and shake her head just like Auntie and then tend to her. To remembered warm summer days where she taught Ellie to climb trees like her father had taught her, and remembered catching Ellie before she could fall. "If this is what it takes to protect her then I don't care!" Cress had an idea, she angled herself slightly and then released her bladder so that it went all over Itward. She was breathing hard, her legs quivering slightly at the relief from finally releasing the pain that had built up in her bladder. Then Cress was really laughing, he had thought he had won yes, but Cress counted this as her victory.

Itward grinned as her threats started again, punctuated by giggles and tears. She was grasping to maintain sanity but she wouldn't keep it. "All this, for what?" He asked invitingly, soothingly. "She'll never realize your sacrifice. It'll all be for nothing, you stupid rabbit." The assault continued, becoming more and more vigorous, the girl didn't have much left in her, and her cheeks were the color he liked most on a girl. "You can never tell with ice types. She probably kept you around for protection, and smiled at you so you'd happily wag your tail for her sake, all the while dancing to her strings. Nee never cared, not about anyone." And then Cress angled herself, Itward too busy in his taunting to notice - but Nio did and she jumped in front, burning with shame and love both. And that pissed Itward off almost as much as the talk this morning had. "Go clean yourself up, Nio." He growled, then grabbed at Cress's throat, choking her, straddling her. "You'd relieve yourself on a child, you disgusting animal!" Then he laughed, one of evil and rage both. "When you next wake from the augments, you won't even see the human in you anymore!" (e)

"That was your fault!" Cress growled, why that little girl kept protecting Itward Cress had no idea. "If you hadn't taken her voice she would still be human!" She spat at him, "Instead you took it away, you took her will to fight so that you could keep her as your pet! You're the real animal here!" Fear made it hard to breath. Why did he want to change her body so badly? She was afraid fo waking up to find she had suddenly turned into Aine. That wouldn't make sense though, he said human meaning... Oh God, what sort of augments did this monster have in mind? Something weird was happening, her collar made it hard to breath and she choked, trying to inhale. She glared at Itward, struggling with everything she could until darkness overtook her and she was afraid she was losing her mind.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Archon had found them, Shiro hadn't moved. She was holding the Princess's hand, sobbing. "What happened?" He asked, clearly disapproving of the informal touch. "She-she fainted," Shiro sniffled. Archon frowned at the puddle she had made, that she was still sitting in. "I'll take care of her, go clean yourself up and prepare some tea." He said gently and lifted Nee into his arms. "Y-yes th-thank you," Shiro shuddered, wiping her eyes as Archon walked away. Shiro stood, doing her best to clean up what remained of her little accident with her dress and then hurriedly went back to her room, stripping the dress off and throwing it into the waste bin. She drew a bath, not having realized that she was shivering until she sank into the tub, hugging her knees to her chest. No doubt the Princess was cold too, Shiro would prepare an extra special brew so that the Princess didn't catch a chill.

Shiro dressed in a warmer outfit and remembered the Queen's warning. She put shoes on and then headed to make some tea, bringing the tea cart from the kitchen and to the bedroom. "Excuse me Sir Archon I must ask you to wait in the drawing room while I change my mistress to ensure she doesn't fall ill." He left and Shiro wiggled Nee out of her clothing, hanging them up to dry. Without much thinking about it she replaced the Princess's undergarments and put her in a nice gown with long sleeves that went to the floor. Once Nee was decent and she was tucked into bed Shiro went to fetch Archon. "Please allow me to pour you tea to show my gratitude. Unfortunately it's the only way I can express my thanks." He had a sort of sad smile, but he nodded and allowed Shiro to pour it.

"One of my servants ran off into the rain today." He admitted, glowering at his tea cup. "Was it Aine?" Shiro asked as she served him a tea cake. He seemed startled, "how did you know?" Shiro put the serving fork down and smiled gently, "She didn't seem too happy when I spoke to her yesterday." Shiro replied and Archon seemed surprised that Shiro had the intelligence to notice such things. Of course, it was her duty to notice when someone had discomfort, how else was she supposed to know when the Princess was hurting then? "Thank you for saving her." Archon made a noise, almost like a scoff, saying that this wasn't saving, but he made Shiro promise that he would owe her a favor later on. "Yes! Anything!" Shiro agreed with a smile. What damage could one little favor do?

When Nee finally awoke, Shiro was by her side, holding one of her hands and sitting on the floor as she awaited for her Princess to awaken. "Princess!" Shiro gasped in relief. She got to her feet quickly, moving out of the way so that she could speak to Archon whose only concern seemed to be whether or not Nee had completed her homework. Homework? Shiro wondered, thinking back to the day before when she had come in after Archon had left with the fake Aine. Was that what the Princess had been doing before the entire ordeal with the Queen's punishment? Oh no! It was Shiro's fault that the Princess was failing then! Shiro would have to try harder than, she couldn't be such trouble for the Princess.

Shiro climbed onto the bed beside the Princess. She took the Princess's hands and looked sincere, "Sometimes even changing one life at a time can make a very big difference." Shiro said quietly. She was referring to everything the Princess had done for her. Shiro was the one who was supposed to be taking care of Nee and yet the older girl seemed to do much more for Shiro than the servant could ever have hoped. "You're doing your best Princess," then Shiro had an idea and she smiled, clasping the Princess's hands in her own. "What if you went down to the Rubble tier to hand out presents? That might help!" Blankets and toys, things lying around the castle that they had in abundance that could make even the smallest difference. It would also be a way to win her people's favor.

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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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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




Narcia stared at Shiro. Then she started to smile. Then she started to laugh, she laughed for a while. Then she said, while ruffling her friend's hair fondly. "...Shiro, I'm so blind. How have I not thought of that yet?" Yes, doing something like that to gain support with the commoners would be good, and it wasn't an action necessarily linked to the rebels, either. And she wanted to be able to improve lives for everyone. Ellie felt bad that a side of her seemed to completely dismiss the weak and powerless as allies, focusing only on gaining the help of the noble houses and possibly Xion. Even the weak had voices, even the weak mattered. And if enough of them rallied and worked together, something amazing could happen. Ellie blinked at Shiro, beaming with pride. "...Shiro, you just helped me finish my homework!" She then hugged her and snuggled her, showering the girl with affection in a way she normally reserved for Cress in her silliest of moments. "You're a genius! Thank you! Thank you!"

Was that Aine's mistake? Focusing mainly on garnering noble support and discounting those in the lower tiers? Was that what Corren was talking about? So, was that a hint, when he spoke of having her head stuck in the clouds? If that was a subtle way to tell her to look lower, to look broader, than perhaps she found her answer. And Ellie couldn't stop grinning about it, feeling happier and happier that Shiro was at her side. "I couldn't ask for a better friend and roommate! And then something re-entered Ellie's mind.

Cress. Her cousin, her best friend, the one person that mattered above the rest. Cress was in danger! Heron no doubt cast her out or sold her to her mother as a rebel and that couldn't, she wouldn't let it happen. "Shiro, wait here." Ellie took her electric knife, fear rising in her face. She had to find out where Cress had gone this instant before anything horrible happened to her. So with panic - which in hindsight wasn't the smartest of ideas - Ellie dashed out of her room, intending to locate the chip database. Ellie forced her way into the darkened room, shoving a datachip into the hard-drive to mine it for chips that were inserted within the last while, and then she brought up the faces of each, scrolling to eventually find Cress. She marked down the chip ID code and then Ellie felt Cress's fire burning in her eyes. The Cherubim Mansion. Ellie's first move was to wipe the chip from the database, essentially disabling both the collar and chip, then she turned to leave the room, only to find herself face to face with the worst possible person. Queen Nirana. A knight she didn't recognize grabbed her by the arm as she swung her knife, pulling her wrist back. She kicked, she struggled but eventually a needle jabbed into her throat, sending her to sleep.

"Call Shiro to the interrogation room." The Queen ordered one of the servants. "We'll have her chop off your dominant hand so you learn not to cause any more trouble, dear daughter." Ice and fire both swirled in Ellie's eyes. She wouldn't give in. She wouldn't, even if she lost a hand, she'd find a way. "I won't lose to you, mother."


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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya was restless even though she was told by Xion to sit and not make a fuss. Cress was in danger, bad things were happening, Aya didn't want it to happen, she wouldn't let it happen. Cress, she failed to find Cress, even as Mia giggled and smiled at her and tried to cheer her up. It seemed Serpy sent Mia down to the Tower Tier early and had her enrolled as a special guest under his family name in the prestigious Tower School. Mia was already having fun learning to read and write and she wanted to help spread flowers to the Rubble tier to make it prettier. Aya didn't know how that would help, but she did know that saving Cress was important. She had her bike back but Xion had it locked away somewhere she couldn't get it easily, and that made Aya upset and frustrated. She needed to go find Cress, she couldn't just sit around here and do nothing!

"Xion, Cress is my partner." Aya was hunting through the safehouse, trying to find a hint to where the Archon family gun was, to find her bike, to find her gravity drive (not knowing that the third was stolen by Itward). She was angry, she was frustrated, she was useless and that was the worst of all. "No operatives left behind! You said so, you promised, Xion, we have to! Let me go, she's with the evil Itward, he's hurting her, I know it! Please!" Aya was begging and crying but Xion kept refusing. "It's too dangerous." She said, annoyed now but not unsympathetic. "Especially since you're still recovering. I have agents on the way to retrieve her."

Aya stared and stewed in anger. "No, that's not good enough! I want to help! Aya wants to help, it's Aya's fault I left her behind, let her get caught! Please, I have to. I'll never forgive myself if I just sit when she's hurting!" It felt like her chest was going to burst from the pain of failing Cress. Aya would rather be taken by Itward and hurt by the weird machine again if it meant she could save Cress. Was this strength? She didn't know, but she didn't care. She was a failure. She was terrible.

"Please let me go. It's my fault, so please. I have to. I need to save her. I need to get her back." She wouldn't take no for an answer. Aya was ready to fight Xion if she had to, if it meant she could go rescue her friend and take her back. No one left behind, right? Or was Xion just another filthy liar too?


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 pain again when she awoke, this time it came from everywhere. Her clothes were gone, this time there were no band aids though. Her collar had been removed and replaced with a different, fancier one covered by ribbons. Cress's head swim as she felt a tube in her arm and realized she was strapped down. Her eyes widened, this was not Itward's room. She tried to move but her entire body was strapped down to a table. "Let me go!" Cress screamed, shaking. Three people came in, all wearing surgical masks and gowns. They used a marker to make lines on her body and Cress had the sickening sense that her organs were going to be cut out and sold to the black market. They only drew around certain areas though, injecting her bottom with something that made it feel weird and then drawing circles around her chest. Cress had heard of this before and her eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

"Don't you dare! If you want to walk out of here alive you won't touch me!" She hissed but they didn't seem deterred by her threats. There was only a mild sedative to keep her still administered through the tube. The world swirled, but the pain was very real as well as the blood that flowed down her sides. They worked painfully slowly, doing things that made Cress uncomfortable to think about. What was happening? Why were they doing this? Her chest felt tight as they closed it, their technology so good that there was no scars or signs of incisions. Her chest was heavy, like they had put something inside of it. "Such a waste of a palette," one Doctor said, "It's a shame he only wanted C cups." Cress was going to be sick, she wished she could choke on her throw up and drown but there was a tube in her mouth to seep up any liquid. "The Botox injections to the bottom will make it nice and firm too." It, they were degrading her, speaking as though she were a blank canvas to be painted on.

Once they were done with that they began doing other things. There were some sort of weird goggles that were placed over her eyes with little needles around them that poked into her skin. They were tugging her hair, fixing her ears that Itward had nearly broken. It felt as though they were making her hair longer but Cress couldn't tell. The goggles didn't seem to serve any purpose aside from causing her pain. She could smell chemicals and she felt like she was going to be sick again. What were they doing? She wanted to make them stop, to take the scalpel and stab it into one of them but she couldn't move.

When they were done they put her in clothing, probably the most embarrassing outfit to have ever graced her body. Silk black lace and long gloves, garter belts and thigh highs. Her chest and behind were larger, the skin tighter and firmer. The feeling of heaviness went away and it was almost natural, the pain still very present though. They put her back in Itward's bed, chained Cress up and positioned her so that she could see herself in the mirror across the room. Cress blinked, they had wiped the blood out from underneath her eyes where the needles had poked, nothing had been done to her face, her cheeks were a bit flushed though from the medicine. Her hair was long and dyed a lighter shade to compliment the ears which had been replaced with new ones. Professionally curled ringlets spiraled around her, ending mid back and her rabbit tail was even fluffier.

"What did you do!" Cress screamed, "What did you do?!" She struggled against the binds, knowing that it was hopeless but refusing to give in; her fire burned brightly as ever though.


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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 happy, she was a good girl, a smart girl according to her Princess. Shiro nodded her head, smiling, "I'm glad you like my suggestion Princess, I'll assist you in anyway I can." She looked determined and Shiro was glad that the Princess had finally found her way in which she could help the Rubble Tier. By bringing them gifts she would no doubt earn their favor and makes their lives easier. Shiro kept replaying it in her mind, praising herself for being so quick witted. "I'll be waiting with dinner for you," Shiro assured her Princess and watched as she left. Yes, Shiro would be here, preparing everything the Princess needed. She was glowing as Nee left, going about her chores in cleaning up the room. Shiro put things in the washing basket and then dumped them down the bin that would take all of the fancy gowns to the large laundry room below. She swept up food crumbs and scrubbed every window to make sure that they were clear from the rain before.

Just as dinner arrived there was a second knock and Shiro went to receive it. "Can I assist you in something Knight Finnley?" Shiro asked with a smile, he scratched his head awkwardly and gave a short bow. "I'm here on the Queen's orders to bring you to the interrogation room in suspicion of a plot to overthrow the Queen." Shiro gasped, shaking her head. "I wonder who would speech of such tyrannical things." She followed him willingly, humming to herself as they walked. "I'm sorry," Finnley apologized and Shiro was about to ask for what when he grabbed her shoulders, pushing her into the wall. "Queen's orders," he whispered, cuffing her wrists behind her. Shiro whimpered, he picked Shiro up easily and threw her over his shoulder, her stomach landing hard on his elbow. What was happening? Why was he doing this?

"Please put me down and explain what's going on," Shiro tried to be reasonable but he said nothing. He deposited Shiro into an interrogation room where the Queen herself arrived. "Oh Shiro, you've been very bad." Shiro whimpered, flinching away. The Queen lifted her, seating Shiro in her lap and stroking the girl like a beloved pet. "Narcia said she'd take care of your punishment, but it takes a Queen to get things done." Shiro didn't understand. Suddenly she was pushed onto the table, Knights holding her down. "Why?" Shiro croaked and the Queen only shook her head with a fake sense of sympathy. "Assisting with the rebellion and right under our noses too."

"I don't understand," Shiro whimpered and shook, squeezing her legs together so she wouldn't have a second accident that day. "You've been a bad girl Shiro, very bad." Shiro wiggled, there was a needle positioned over her eye. "No tell me, where is the rebel? Where is Auna Dorones?" Shiro squeezed, shaking her head, "I don't know, I haven't seen her since the ball!" Shiro insisted, closing her eyes tight. "Please-I-I have no knowledge of any sort of rebel in the Princess's presence." The Queen sighed, as though something truly unfortunate were going to happen. Her eye was forced open and slowly the needle was inserted. Shiro's screams echoed down the hall. Finnley looked away guiltily, wishing he had simply said he couldn't find her.

"No one is going to save you," The Queen whispered, relishing in Shiro's pain. "So tell me Shiro and you can save yourself. Where has the rebel Auna Dorones gone?" Shiro whimpered and begged for it to stop, for the pain to be over. The Queen merely sighed and shook her head, ordering another punishment. The more Shiro insisted she didn't know, the more punishment she received.
When they left, locking her in the interrogation room with burns and bruises and a bleeding eye, Shiro curled up into the corner and cried, fragments of her mind glittering to the ground like fairy dust.

Setting

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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




"Why did you join with the rebels, Nee?" Heron sounded pained as the two were made to watch Shiro's punishment, punishment simply for being associated with Ellie. She knew nothing, the Queen was very aware of that, and she was being punished anyways. Ellie would've preferred taking it, taking all of the pain for the girl that she tried to hard to fix, only for everything to turn terrible. "She knows nothing. She's an innocent. See? See what happens when you rebel? People that matter die!" The knight was fierce as she shook the restrained Ellie, though Narcia refused to speak. If she spoke she knew she'd cry. Calm as ice, cool as frost, that was the key to victory even as Heron yelled and pleaded. "That's why it's best to not fight, that's why it's best to pretend everything's fine because no one can do anything! You're so stupid Nee, you're just so stupid!"

Maybe she was. Maybe it was hopeless. This was fate, Ellie figured, mind beginning to numb as Shiro screamed and cried on the screen. Why build a bridge if the water would rise and destroy it in the first place? She should never have bothered, should've just given up immediately. Because of her, Cress and Shiro were being hurt. And she was powerless to stop it. If only she was never born, never went to Earth, if only she were always Narcia and never Ellie. And so Ellie retreated and Narcia took control.

"She promised to save Nio, didn't she?" Narcia's voice was like an ice dagger stabbing into Heron's chest. "You're loyal because she was the only one willing to fight Itward, right?" Heron's eyes flickered for a moment and she slammed her spear right next to Narcia's throat, missing on purpose. "Shut up, Nee." The girl growled. "You don't know anything. You don't know the things he did to her." But Narcia's smile only grew. "He took her voice."

The Queen then walked in, pleased with Heron's service, who bowed to Queen Nirana. "Take my troublesome daughter's hand. Both of them." Her grin glistened with malice. Narcia remained silent, knowing not to beg, because there would be no mercy. Instead she stared deep into Heron's scarlet eyes, a cold even stare that hit the girl who was once a friend. "Yes, Queen." Heron said crisply and it was two clean slices and Narcia knew she was done for. Blood spurt from the wounds and she felt as if she were about to faint, but she had to hold on despite the pain. Narcia refused to scream, refused to cry, she didn't react at all as her hands were stolen from her. The Queen glanced at her with her catlike grin. "Tend to her wounds, Knight." She said cheerfully and left, allowing Heron to cauterize the stumps that used to be hands, to wrap them up in bandages.

"This isn't right, Heron." Narcia said evenly, trying to hide her pants and heaves. "You know that this is cruelty. You can't keep pretending the Queen is a just and kind person." Doubt flashed in the knight's eyes as she watched her friend - once the wizard of tech, and now it seemed that was stolen from her for good. "This is for Nio's sake." The fang growled, turning away, punching the wall in fury. "I have to save her." And then Narcia knew she won. "Itward stole the best part of Nio when he took her voice." The ice princess said with a grin. "And now, you stole the best part of me when you took my hands. I see the family resemblance now. You and Itward are the same." She laughed but it sounded hollow and weak and her stumps throbbed horribly - but not as horribly as the knowledge that she'd never get to build again. Even if they gave her new hands, she'd lose the vast majority of her skill as she'd have to get used to using hands once more. They'd never feel quite the same. "Don't pretend you're better than him. We both know you're not."

And then the red ponytail swayed and the restraints were sliced up, freeing Narcia even though the princess was too weak to move. Heron lifted her up and placed her on her back with a grunt. "I hate you, Nee. You better have a plan to save Nio." Narcia smiled, this time warmer. "Of course. But first, Shiro. Take her to the Tower School and then you and I will face down your brother." So then Heron nodded, crying as she ran, and then she screamed at the top of her lungs. "I am Knight Heron, Princess Narcia's fang, and the blade of justice!" Her voice echoed through the halls as the strongest knight of Ashia Palace pledged her team. Even with Narcia on her back it was as if she wasn't weighing Heron down at all - a fury of spear slashes and twirls and bashes and strikes was all too easy for her fluid and practiced movements.

"Why did you hate the rebels?" Narcia asked as they approached the interrogation room. Heron paused, guzzling water to get a breather. "Because of them, Aine died, my father died, Itward went insane, and Nio's voice was stolen." The knight proclaimed, voice full of bitterness. "I don't even know why I'm helping you, you stupid princess." And then Heron kicked down the door to the interrogation room, pushing Finley aside and lifting up the bruised and battered Shiro. "Ally of cute girls is here!" Heron shouted. With Shiro bundled up in one arm, Heron only really had one hand to use to swing her spear but it was still enough to get them to chip database where Heron simply destroyed the machine entirely, not bothering with deleting single chip codes. With that done, Heron sprinted to the palace entrance where she entered her pod, shuffled Narcia and Shiro into the back, and drove, leaving Ashia Palace behind, heading to the Tower Tier against the torrent of rain.

"I'm sorry, Shiro." Narcia used her mouth to brush the girl's hair out of her eyes. "Ellen - I mean, I should have protected you. I broke my promise. So please, Shiro, punish me as you see fit."

Eventually they reached the Tower Tier even as the Untouchable Tier went on high alert. They made their way to the Tower School, a safe zone and were greeted by Xion. Heron carried Shiro in like a princess where a girl in a green jacket took her, looking confused and agitated. With that, the Knight returned to her pod, Narcia still in the back, somehow still awake despite her wounds. "It's okay to cry, Princess." Heron wiped at her own tears, knowing she might have just doomed her sister for good. "You lost your hands, so now I'll serve as them for you. I'll cut down your enemies for you! All I ask is that -"

"We'll save Cress and Nio and kill your brother." Heron smirked and placed a sloppy kiss on the lips before they returned to the Untouchable Tier. It was time to get Cress and destroy the evil Itward once and for all.



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya didn't know what to do with Shiro, but she was very glad to see that she'd gotten out of the castle. Aya didn't really understand, though - what? What the heck even happened just now? Why did the Princess have no hands, and why was that Knight helping out now? The blonde rebel was confused as Mia looked up from her homework to glance at the new patient. "Who is this?" The little girl asked curiously. "Is she a friend?" Aya wasn't sure - while Shiro was a victim and everything, she was afraid of trusting anyone again. But Mia's eyes were so hopeful that maybe Shiro was someone else to play with, and well, the girl was only ever kind to her. "Yes, she's a friend." Aya said, nodding. "We'll keep her safe here."

The girl had a feeling the red knight and the princess were going to get Cress now. If something major just happened, of course Cress would have to be saved, right? The princess - if she was really as nice as Cress said, there was no way she'd leave her cousin behind for Itward. The idea made the once cheerful girl feel sick to her stomach. Corren Archon's teachings then sprung to mind so Aya dashed to another room of the safe house, looking through the medicine cabinets and other things, before finding a name that stuck out. Morphine. Aya took some vials as well as a syringe and returned to Shiro, unsure if she was even awake.

"My name is Aya, and I'll be the doctor!" She said, trying to sound chipper and happy as she used to, trying to copy Benkov from Serpy's place. "This will take the ouchy away." She then injected one dose of the narcotic and tossed the vial into the trash beside the bed. Aya then patted Shiro's golden hair and went to find something else - the dress she'd given her. She draped it across the girl's body like a blanket. "Here, it was yours after all." Would that help? Aya hoped so. Maybe if she was nice enough, Shiro would agree to join the team.


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 was waiting, she knew he'd be back, that it was only a matter of time when the pain faded and Itward would return to torture her again. With her augments fixed he would no doubt break them, he would make her bleed and feel things that confused her. So Cress waited, on edge, her eyes so full of fire she felt as though she could burn straight the door. "As soon as he comes in here I'll kill him," Cress murmured, waiting.

Itward entered the room, Nio following with a tiny little frown on her face. She stared at Cress for a moment, as if horrified at the changes. Itward couldn't have been more pleased, seeing the longer hair - easier to pull out - the bigger mounds and rear, more flesh for him to grab and stroke, and of course, the fluffier tail and ears that were simply delectable. The girl must have gone through pain - she was kept as conscious as possible during the operation, as per his orders. "I wonder who this is?" Itward's voice was cruel and mocking as he approached, keeping an eye on the bindings. "You don't look anything like the Cress I once knew. What's your name, girl?"

Cress's expression slowly turned from a glare into a smile. "My name is Murder and I'm going to make you suffer." She would scratch out his eyes, make it so he couldn't scream like poor Little Nio. Tear off his family jewls so that he could never hope to hurt another again. They'd praise Cress, telling her she saved everyone, that Itward was a monster that needed to be put down. They'd sing her praises, she was sure, completely delusional. "I hope you're ready to pay for everything you've done." For Aya who he killed, for Nio who he maimed, for her sister who was targeting next.

"Wrong answer." He held a hand out and Nio gave him what seemed like a mix between a whip and a stick. "That's not your name, new girl." He smiled as charismatically as he could, full of warmth and friendliness before striking at the augmented swelling of the chest, watching them ripple with the impact. "Your new name is Lapin. It's an earth-language translation of rabbit, so I thought it was fitting." He stepped closer, examining the breasts, poking and prodding to see how the augment had settled in. "Almost as if there wasn't even an augment to begin with." He was already excited, his body was heating up. "If we're talking about payment, you still haven't suffered for kicking me earlier. That was uncalled for, wasn't it?" He waved the whip-baton-stick object in front of her face as a threat. "So, girl. Tell me your name."

Cress watched warily, knowing that with that stick he was going to be up to no good. She had to be careful and yet, she wanted to be reckless, to dare him to try to break her. The more he pushed, the harder she would push back. He struck the odd whip against her chest and Cress cried out, hissing as she pushed herself back against the wall, knowing she was trapped. Her chest was still sensitive from the surgery and it was already terribly uncomfortable to begin with. "Don't touch me!" Cress growled as he spoke once more, saying that her new name was Lapin. No doubt he expected Lapin to simply give into his will. "That's a stupid choice," she shook her head with a chuckle. "When you name something it's reaffirm that it's yours, that's why idiot dwarves like you name their smallest parts something big." Her eyes flicked downwards so that he would know exactly what she was speaking of, grinning with a sickly sort of smile. "My name is Cress and I will never be yours."

She was still being stubborn so he stuck her again - this time twice. Once just under the rubs, and the second at the tops of her thighs, very close to a certain spot that did not want to be hit at all. "It's like you don't know how to listen, even with those ears of yours." The man shook his head ruefully, as if disappointed, but he was pleased, he felt warm, he needed something like this after what happened before. She then insulted his size and that made him grin a little, knowing it was a challenge. The stick was roughly the size and thickness of his forearm and he brandished it in front of her. "Well, if I wasn't big enough to satisfy you, how about I put this in? Would that satisfy you, Lapin?" She was still resisting, fighting, and that made the breaking much sweeter in the end.

Cress's ears, her real ears, were burning. Was someone talking about her? Plotting a rescue? No, they couldn't, if they came she wouldn't get to kill him, she wouldn't get to tear Itward apart like an insect being dissected for a scientific project. If they tried to rescue her, Itward would take them too and Cress couldn't have that, she didn't think she could save anyone. He didn't seem to take her insult to heart, smiling as though it were a harmless joke. He brandished his weird whip before her, asking if he should put that in instead. Cress knew he was bluffing, that he wanted the satisfaction of doing it himself. He was still calling her that stupid name, Lapin, like it mattered. He was really trying to claim her, it seemed, but Cress wasn't going to let him do it. "How about I take my arm and shove it so far up your butt that you'll be walking funny for the rest of your life?" She had a perfectly pleasant smile on her face, as though they were speaking about the weather.

Itward smirked at her suggestion, almost appreciating its creativity, not that he'd never admit it. Of course, he wanted the satisfaction of taking this new rabbit body as his own and the rod would take some of the pleasure away, but it seemed the girl wasn't afraid at all of that, was she? "How are you enjoying your new body, Lapin?" He stared at each curve, each change with eyes that ravished her, and then his hands were on her and he was biting and suckling but just for a little bit, he couldn't go all in yet, of course. "This is a pattern, you know. You act tough, but the sooner or later, all you can do is beg. Your voice begs me to stop, your body begs me to make it feel good - it's pretty much all you can do. Isn't that pathetic?" He rubbed at the new ears teasingly, delicately, almost tickling. "If you really hated it, you'd never have felt so good every time." Itward was getting into the fun, but Nio had a sudden strange feeling. She decided to leave the room, just in case something was about to happen.

Cress was confused as to why he was enjoying this. He was challenging her, she realized and she was playing right into his hand. He was getting into her head, it was supposed to be the opposite and she was mad at herself. Her rage showed, her eyes blazing. "Don't touch me!" The girl snapped, pure fire. There was no cheeky blushing, no embarrassment; he had already seen her at her most exposed, at her weakest, so why would she be embarrassed now? He was sucking and rubbing and her body was doing that weird thing again, where it got excited without her permission. Even though she hated it, even though she was resisting. "You're pathetic," Cress laughed, but it was hollow, there was no joy in it. "You call yourself a man? You're nothing but a coward, a pathetic excuse of an acting head of the Cherubim. I bet your dad is looking down on you in shame." Cress spat. She hardly noticed Nio leaving, the little girl came and went as she pleased so it wasn't unusual.

Itward's whole body stiffened at the mention of his father. He slammed the whip between her legs after a full swing of his arm, almost shaking in rage. "My father was a failure!" He roared with the might of a beast. "He believed in Aine's little fantasy of a happy world, and then he died and left us all alone for the Queen to take me and make me - make - my father was a wreck of a man, believing the fanciful lies of a useless little girl and he got what he deserved!" He was breathing hard, his mind going back to that horrible place again and that made his anger worse. "Aine -" And then something strange happened. "...I never wanted to kill her. I tried to say no but she wouldn't let me and I had to because Aine wouldn't stop!" He dropped the whip and punched the rabbit - it wouldn't hurt as much but flesh on flesh felt more satisfying. "I hate you. Stop screwing with my head you filthy earthling."

That was when Nio rushed back in, a sword that could be charged with energy was placed hastily in his arms. Itward's eyes went dull as he realized what was happening. He kicked Cress - Lapin - whatever - hard in the chest and growled something about being back later. Then he heard someone scream in a way only his sister could without being embarrassed. "I am the Princess's fang and the savior of all cute girls! Brother, I'm killing you, here and now!" The knight dashed forward, spear whirling, generating a glowing sort of energy but Itward grunted and countered, knocking his sister back. A rematch, it seemed, and as the siblings clashed blades and danced through the rooms, Narcia made her way to Cress, pushing past the terrified Nio, regarding Cress in confusion. "...Huh? You're -" And then Heron shrieked. "That's Cress, you stupid princess!" The redhead glanced for half a second and that was her mistake - she almost fell and rolled back to her feet, but now Itward had the advantage in their fight. "J-just because Ellie's hiding, she's still your cousin, Nee!" Then Narcia scowled and turned back to Cress. "...Sorry. Hello, Cress." Of course with her hands as stumps, she couldn't really do much to help, though she tried to weaken one of the arm restraints by kicking at it. "We're getting you out of here. Can you move?" She then shrugged a jacket off of her shoulders for Cress to cover herself with if she managed to break free.

Cress screeched in pain as he shoved the whip up there. Thankfully her body didn't work against her, it bled instead and didn't open to take it. She needed him to keep talking, to tell her what happened next, what the Queen put him through. She silently urged him to continue, taking the abuse. He pulled the whip back, dropping it and punching her instead. Cress coughed, blood spattering on the sheets. Her jaw hurt, but she needed him to continue. "Aine was right," Cress panted, "She was right and you were wrong and that's why you hurt everyone!" That was when Nio rushed back inside, holding a sword. She pushed it into Itward's arms and Cress was given an unexpected break as he stood, his eyes becoming hollow as he growled about being back to finish this session up. Thank goodness he hadn't put it in, Cress didn't think she could stand that again. She shuddered, tilting her head against the wall and closing her eyes, thanking the invaders inside her mind when someone started yelling, a very familiar voice.

That traitor knight, the one who had pledged herself to Ellie and then dumped Cress right into Itward's lap. What was she doing back here? Coming to relish her win? The fact that she kept Ellie inside of her cage. No doubt that stupid red head would come in, gloating. Cress hadn't expected there to be two, she hadn't been prepared for her cousin to see her like this, bleeding from her bottom and exposed like an animal. "Ellie," Cress gave a revered whisper, as though she had seen an angel. Her cousin didn't recognize her, Heron did though and she yelled at Ellie, calling her stupid and that name, Narcia. It felt like an insult, as though they were trying to hide her true cousin with the guise of this fake Princess.

Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the stumps, the bloodied dress. Ellie apologized and kicked at the chains uselessly and Cress felt terrible, this was her fault, if she hadn't accidentally given her position away this wouldn't have happened and Ellie would still have both hands. Cress slowly shook her head, "No, I can't move at all." She replied, giving a slight demonstration of her fruitless struggle and hissing in pain since it burned.

Narcia regarded her supposed cousin, kicking to no avail, knowing she wasn't going to be any help at all. She tried to call Ellie out, to coax her back into control but the earthling girl refused, as if losing her hands broke her. Narcia had a dirty expression on her face, trying to ignore the sounds of sword clashing against spear just outside the room. "...Ellie isn't here. I can't draw her out." Narcia admitted, but she shook her head. "But that's not important right now. We have to - I have an idea. Promise not to panic." Narcia then turned her back on Cress to watch the fight. "...Be happy Ellie isn't here. You wouldn't want her to see you like this."

Heron didn't want to admit it but all of her fighting earlier had her arms sore and she knew she was slowing with each strike. She wanted to finish the fight quickly but she and Itward had fought since childhood, they knew each other's styles and techniques, and they knew each trick the other had. Anything she tried, he'd be able to reflect but she was quickly losing strength in her cramping arms as sparks flew between them. Finally she was knocked back, only managing to keep balance by stabbing her weapon into the floor and using it as a support. That was when the Princess threw herself at Itward while his back was turned, tackling him and he tossed her to the side, kicking at her, screaming something or other. Narcia's eyes were calm and focused though and she nudged her head at Cress's direction. Heron groaned but walked in, slashing the restraints apart and tossing the jacket at the girl. "Tch. Probably not enough to make it up to you." She didn't know what else to say so she returned to the attack, forcing Itward away from the Princess. And then once again Nio jumped between them, stopping the fight altogether, both siblings staring hatred at each other but unwilling to put Nio at risk. Narcia's voice was low and weak as she regained her breath. "We can't waste time. The Queen's armies will be here any moment now." She warned, making sure everyone heard her words.

"What do you mean Ellie isn't here?" Cress asked dangerously, this was her cousin's body so what- unless she had an alternate personality? Was that it, was that the Nee everyone insistantly referred to? She regarded the girl somewhat cooly despite the incescent burning in her legs, in her lungs, in her eyes. "Fine, I won't panic." She felt a pang of guilt, Cress was simply glad that they hadn't walked in on Itward claiming her body. "Tch," she cursed, just thinking about it made her infuriated. She watched her cousin sashay over to Itward, then throw herself at him. "Ellie!" Cress screamed, lurching forward against the chains, breaking her promise not to panic. What had she done this for? All this suffering to protect her cousin and she was just going to throw herself at him like a bone at a dog?

Heron seemed to pick up some sort of subtle hint and Cress's chains were broken. Her arms were back at a normal angle, her legs able to move. Heron deposited the jacket into her lap and Cress shrugged it on. There was no time to waste, just as they said. Then Heron went back and delivered another blow. Cress stood, the pain in her legs awful but she needed to go, they needed to leave beore the Queen came and made everything worse. "Hang on," Cress went back over to Itward and kicked him as hard as he could in his most sensitive area. "I told you, you'd pay." She hissed and turned back around, straightening her jacket, little rabbit tail seeming to floof in satisfaction, and followed her cousin out.

Narcia kicked open the pod door, hastily entering, wincing a little from the pain but knowing Cress had it much worse, that she had nothing to complain about. They had to leave, there wasn't time - but where was Heron? What was - "That idiot." Narcia snarled and climbed back out to find the knight staring miserably as Nio tended to Itward, the brother's body shaking from the kick to the jewels, straining to try and speak but failing. "Nio, come on." Heron was shivering as she tried to convince her sister but the mute girl shook her head and climbed over Itward's body, refusing to let him die, refusing to be taken away from him. "You can't save him! He's a monster, he'll never come back! He's hurt too many people now, Nio!" But Nio wasn't listening, she was leaking tears and trying to shield the scion of the Cherubim family as best as she could. "Please." Heron begged. "Please come with us. We can fix you, we can give back your voice." Narcia snarled, nudging with an elbow at the knight. "We have to go. There's no time, don't you get it?"

"You promised, Nee." Heron hissed. "You promised you'd help and-" So Narcia did what she did and kicked the girl off of Itward, bundling her up in her arms. Heron's whole body stiffened in rage for a moment but she just stabbed the ground instead. She glared at her brother as she retreated, even as Nio struggled against the hand less Narcia. "Be lucky I haven't torn you to shreds." Heron whispered. "I won't force Nio to watch you die."

Once everyone was in the pod - Nio crying and trying to fight her way out, to get back to her brother, Heron began the drive back to the Tower Tier, to return to Xion. She ground her teeth in silence, too angry to really speak. Nio curled into a corner and wept soundlessly, so Narcia turned to Cress and placed her head on her cousin's shoulder. "You did well, Cress. You're safe now."

Cress didn't look back. It was a relief, such a relief to know she was finally free, that she could rip off the collar and toss it back at his face. She wanted to make him hurt so much more, but she knew it would only haunt her later. So Cress turned tail and followed Ellie and Heron, only, she didn't notice that Heron stayed behind, trying to convince little Nio to go with them. Narcia kicked the pod door open violently and Cress crawled inside, attempting to keep in her whimper as she accidentally leaked some blood onto the seat. through her torn undergarments Shoot, she'd have to clean that. Cress put her leg over it in hopes that Heron wouldn't notice. When Cress turned to say something to her cousin she noticed the girl was gone. Cress cursed and tried to go back in, but she bit down on her lip when her weight shifted, groaning from the pain. So instead Cress turned her head, her eyes widening as she saw herself.

Not her augmented self, mind you, it was a snapshot of her at the ball, smiling prettily. Cress knew the exact moment too, she hadn't noticed anyone taking their pictures. It was when they were first walking in. Of course, how could she have been so stupid? Underneath it were a set of words, but Cress only focused on the last line. Dangerous tyrant; if found please report last known whereabouts to Queen immediately, prize will be reward for any substantial information. Cress wanted to curse, but there was no time since the next pictures to come up were of Shiro, The Princess, and Heron, side by side, the same words underneath their names and titles. Knight Heron, Princess Narcia Seraphim, Servant Shiro, the screen blinking to another advertisement, this one of a beautiful garden and a reminder to conserve energy use.

Ellie, or Narcia really, returned, carrying a struggling Nio whom she threw onto the seat beside her. Cress tried to soothe Nio a bit the same way she had tried to soothe Aya when she was upset. "Hey, it's okay. We're free now, isn't that great? You'll have your voice back. I'm sure you'll like to sing again, right?" Cress smiled her first genuine smile in days. It was going to be great.

They were driving there now, going to the middle tier, the Tower Tier. "Thanks Narcia," Cress whispered, "I couldn't have done it without you though." Whenever the hovering pod somehow went over a bump she would wince and hiss. "I guess now the real battle has begun." She said as they passed another electronic billboard.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Shiro didn't speak, even when Finnley returned to beg her to make something up, knowing that she didn't know anything. "Please, you can use just about any excuse, just tell her something." Then Finnley had to leave again, getting called once more to the Queen's service. They were going to come back, Shiro knew. They would come back and hurt her again, hurt her with swords and fire. She was rocking herself in the corner, clearly in pain, eyes full of tears, mixing with the blood running down her cheek. She wouldn't listen to anyone, she was inconsolable. It was all her fault, if she hadn't done this then the Princess would be alright, then the Princess wouldn't be suffering. Shiro didn't know what she did but she was sure, she knew that it was bad. She had never been punished like this before. She didn't understand though, why wouldn't anyone tell her what she had done?

So she hugged her knees and cried, waiting for someone to return to bring more pain, knowing she would be punished again for things she wasn't allowed to know about. When the door finally did open, she cried and flinched away in terror, trying to back up against the wall. Someone lifted her, taking her in their arms like a fallen body and holding her close. Shiro kept both eyes squeezed shut, too scared to look, to see where they were going. She heard noises but they made no sense to her. Ali of cute girls? What was that supposed to mean? Then Shiro realized it was Heron. That wasn't right though, Heron was aligned to the queen. Surely she was here to Shiro to a different punishment, maybe she would set her on her feet only to punch her so hard that she flew off of the balcony again.

Shiro wouldn't trust her, but it went against her training and it made her head hurt. She had to-Heron was a knight after all. Shiro didn't open her eyes until she felt the wind on her cheeks and one blue orb peeked out from her good eye at the front entrance of the castle. Sure, Shiro had been down the steps all the time but she had never been allowed out. How? They were walking past the barrier so easily and she whimpered, shutting her eye and bracing for the pain, the electric shock, the crippling sensation of her legs becoming useless but none of it happened.

Heron finally put Shiro down inside of her the pod car. Shiro had never been in one, but she had no sense to admire it. She opened her eye again, the one that didn't bleed and looked at the Princess. "No," her heart sank and she trembled. This was Shiro's fault, if only she had told them, if only she had made something up like Finnley had told her too. She wasn't smart enough though, she wasn't smart or brave no matter what Heron or Nee said. "I'm sorry," Shiro whimpered. "Please, take mine!" She pulled back her sleeves, showing her own hands as though it was so simple. "I'm not much use anyways so please-or-or she'll punish me again." She broke down crying, afraid, so terribly afraid of the Queen coming and putting her in that room again.

The pod stopped and Heron swept Shiro into her arms. The tiny blonde screamed, knowing that this was it, she was going back wasn't she? "Please," Shiro begged. "Don't take me back there! Please! I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything so please!" She didn't realize that she was safe, not even as she was handed off to the blonde who was bigger than her, but still small. Shiro felt terror clutch her heart, she grasped at the blonde's shirt, burying her face in the fake Aine's chest. "No, please, don't take me back there." She whimpered through her tears. Shiro was breathing hard, clearly in pain. She could hear someone asking who she was, if she was a new friend.

Safe? Shiro didn't understand. She looked up at the girl, realizing that they weren't in the castle, that they were somewhere else entirely, going to a room that was almost like a lab. "I-I don't understand," Shiro whispered hoarsely as Aine put her down on the bed there. It hurt to move, to think and Shiro didn't think she wanted to understand. She was laying down, watching the girl on the floor, using one eye to take it all in. Aine ran off, coming back with a needle. She introduced herself as Aya. "I-I'm Shiro," she whimpered, shrinking away from the needle. Aya promised it would take the ouchy away, but Shiro didn't like needles. The needle went under her skin and Shiro felt weird, dizzy, like the world was slowing.

Aya draped something over her, a fabric that Shiro recognized. She shivered, curling up beneath her dress, the one she was wearing in tatters. "W-where are we?"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




After the battle at the Cherubim's mansion, things changed drastically. The first thing they did, of course, was have a doctor tend to everyone's wounds - first was Cress, reverting her back to her usual fiery self, freeing her from that augmented body that wasn't really her at all, making her human again. The second was fixing little Nio up, giving her back her voice. Oddly enough that weird blonde girl, Aya, seemed intend on overseeing this operation, and thus she became something of an assistant doctor for the later operations. Narcia had her stumps augmented with generic hands that felt awkward and clumsy compared to her own deft hands, but it would have to do. Heron had a few minor touch ups here and there from her fight with Itward - she had cuts, yes, but they were all flesh wounds, nothing serious.

Shiro was despondent and scared in this new environment so she naturally roomed with Narcia, a familiar and friendly face. Each night Narcia would comfort and console the girl, telling her that she was free from the Queen, that she was safe and wouldn't have to worry anymore. She apologized for letting her get hurt, for not protecting her like she promised. Narcia was aware it was going to take much more than just promises and hugs to fix the girl but they'd make it over time. It wouldn't do to bury oneself in worrying about that problem when there were other things at hand.

Speaking of hands, tech building was going to be an issue. These new hands were clumsy, they weren't deft like her own, they weren't as good as her natural hands. Narcia didn't complain, but it was going to be a hassle. Further adding problems was the fact that, unfortunately, the components and materials were simply of a lower quality than what was found in the Untouchable Tier. Creating things such as gravity drives and laser weaponry would have to wait for the time being. While Narcia understood that everyone was glad to be alive and everything, wasting time celebrating and being happy would only weaken them in the end. So Narcia spent one day congratulating everyone and then buried herself in work, in trying to grow accustomed to these new hands for the time being.

Ellie never came back, though, and in a way, that disturbed Narcia. She thought she'd have been glad that that soft girl left but she missed the company in her head. It was nice, and without her, her head felt lonelier. Perhaps things were as they should've been, but Narcia didn't exactly feel that way. Missions continued of course - Heron often leaving during the day to gather up tech for Narcia to work on, Aya transporting supplies to other rebel safehouses, and Narcia was fairly certain Cress was working on gardens to beautify the Rubble Tier but she wasn't sure. Narcia wasn't sure how to speak with Cress. The memories were there but they weren't hers, they were Ellie's. And perhaps there was a little guilt that in a way, she stole her cousin's body.

It was morning, a week after the battle. Narcia stretched, still feeling uncomfortable with her hands, and she went down - Nio had cooked food as usual, some sort of sweet bun roll. Narcia picked up two plates, smiling at the girl who still refused to speak, who still cried at night for her brother, and nudged Shiro awake in their room.

"Good morning, Shiro." Narcia grinned icily, but friendly as well. "Would you like me to dress you? To draw you a bath? Do you need assistance in eating? Narcia is ready to serve!"


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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya was fairly certain that she was possible super cool! She learned how to nurse and new all about medicine and bandages and first aid and all that stuff! Sure, it wasn't like she was a surgeon or anything but heck was she the coolest nurse in all of the Tower Tier! She was happy to see Cress again and a little surprised that the girl thought she was dead. "No way! Aya won't die, because we're a team, you silly rabbit!" She exclaimed, back to her normal warm and bubbly self - but her eyes shone with experience that wasn't there before. Aya was growing up, bit by bit, but somehow she still had some of her innocence intact as well. Maybe it was because of Nio and Mia around - Aya felt the need to act more mature for the two little girls.

Narcia asked for her bike early on, wanting to check the gravity engine to see if she could build a new drive for her but they were missing materials, even if Heron came home with a new batch of complex machines every day - and sometimes a little bloody, too. As the days went on, it was finally time for the catheter to be removed and now that Aya understood medicine and health care, she knew not to be afraid. It was painful but it was good to have the pads removed. Peeing was a problem - it was always a problem but Aya kept it a secret, only Cress was allowed to know how much it hurt.

Once the catheter was removed and whatever was possible to heal healed, Aya was back on supply duty, sometimes with Cress - though usually when Cress was around she also brought around gardening tools as well. It was fun, it felt like the old days, but Aya knew these peaceful days wouldn't last. The first sign of trouble was Nio - at night she'd try to escape and the weird lesbian knight Heron and Aya would have to chase her down and bring her home. Nio still wanted to save Itward, to make him better because she was all he had, but Aya didn't really understand.

After bathing and eating a sweet bun roll and drinking a little water, Aya decided to flop on the ground lazily. Heron was tenser the last few days, the knight seemingly stressed about something and it was probably related to Nio, right? Nio wasn't happy either, even if she happily cooked for everyone, it was clear she wanted to go back to Itward. It was sad that even though Aya helped fix her voice, she still wouldn't talk. A weird part of Aya's head wondered if she should try to talk to Corren Archon again, to find him and let him know that she was okay. But she was still flopped on the floor, sprawled out, trying to chat to Nio. She talked about food and about flying on her bike but finally she got a reaction. "So, I heard you liked singing, Nio? Is singing fun? You should sing for us!" Nio ran off crying, back to her room and Aya wasn't sure what she did wrong. Heron came down and gave her an angry look, though.


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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 wanted the augments removed of course, she wanted to be herself, to look like herself, but since her face was plastered on every wanted sign in every tier, she decided it was safer to look like this and so she only had the chest augments removed, keeping the rabbit ears and tail for now, no matter how much it made her fume. Her chest was back to its normal size and the Botox had since worn off. She had to wear a weird bandage down there, but the Doc promised it had special healing properties that would restore her special spot to how it was before Itward touched it, so that Cress could maintain her purity for someone she really loved. Since these versions of the ears and tail were much more sensitive and responsive, she had a bit of a fun time with them. Cress realized that her hearing was sharper, that when she was happy her tail would wiggle a bit. The Queen wouldn't recognize her like this and so Cress was free to come and go as she wanted.

The night she got back, after having her chest fixed, she and Xion sat in a private office, Cress finally able to feed herself as Xion served her tea. "So what vital information did you obtain?" She asked, serious. Cress took a long sip of her tea, clearly taking her time. She crossed her legs, then realized it hurt terribly and uncrossed them. "It was just as you suspected, the Queen made him do it, she molded him into this monster, no doubt gave him servants to practice on." Xion absorbed this, gave a nod. "You'll keep your promise right?" Xion nodded, smiling. "Yes, as soon as the rebels have one you and your cousin will have guaranteed safe passage back to earth." Cress sighed in relief and leaned back, that was at least one thing she could depend on.

She spent the week gardening, having Aya drop her off in the morning so that she could plant gardens with amazing edible flowers and different spreads of greenery, using the tools Serpina Dorones had given her to enable this sort of rebellion. It took her mind off of everything, the stress free work of gardening. It was just her and the plants, making a connection, ensuring that they thrived. The Doctor had taken care of the one she had started and it was growing. Cress tended to it everyday along with all of the other gardens she planted around the Rubble Tier. Children came to help, some stayed only to stare at the strange rabbit girl before running back home to make reports on the progress of the plants.

One morning, Cress was at home, nibbling on the sweet bun that Nio had made, complimenting the girl and telling her it was delicious. She knew Nio had Stockholm syndrome, she just had never realized to what extent. Even after Aya had done such a great job restoring her voice Nio refused to speak and Heron spent most of her time convincing her that it was better this way without Itward. Just his name made her mad, recalling having to sit there with Aya as she acted so brave when they took the catheter out. Their initial reunion had been a bit awkward, but after a bit of explaining Aya seemed to understand and realize that it really was Cress and not some stranger with the same colored eyes. Now they were sitting in the living room, Aya teasing her and calling her a silly rabbit. Cress laughed, she didn't take it badly, she was very light hearted about her predicament.

Nio seemed to take Aya prompting her to sing as an insult and ran away crying. Cress shook her head, "It's nothing you did Aya, she misses her big brother. You understand don't you?" Aya had knowledge beyond her years now what with the damage to her underside, Cress was sad she had to grow up so quickly but Aya still had that childlike sparkle in her eyes.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




When Shiro had awoken, there was an actual doctor there tending to her wounds, wrapping up the bumps and bruises and putting an eye patch over her eye, saying that it would heal, she just needed to give it time. This way Cress didn't look so silly with one eye closed all the time. The first eye patch she had, had been a plain medical eye patch but Heron had come back one day with a pink one so Shiro took to wearing that one. She didn't leave the room she had been given, Shiro stayed inside and the Doctor warned the others to give her space. This was her safe spot, where no one could hurt them, where not even the Queen could reach her.

Shiro didn't talk to many, if someone reached out to her she would flinch and pull away in panic. She had been hurt very badly and it was a slow process to heal. Her depth perception was off and so Shiro would occasionally misjudge something and fall or accidentally break something. The sound of glass breaking sent her spiraling into a fit of terror in which only Nee could console her. Sometimes she would hear the Queen screaming in her mind and she would hide in the closet and cry until it went away. Her collar was removed, but it had been there so long that Shiro felt uncomfortable without it and so Cress the rabbit had given her a ribbon to tie around her neck in its absence.

Shiro still tried to tend to the Princess, doing her best to draw baths and lay clothes out and make the bed. She spent most of her time though in the corner or hiding somewhere. Always in the room though, she wouldn't leave it. Not when they tried to coax her out with cakes she had never been allowed to eat, not when Heron claimed that she just wanted to play or when Aya came with things from the Doctor. Cress had left her a little pot with a single flower in it that Shiro spent her time tending too when the Princess buried herself in her work.

That morning though, Shiro awoke, trembling, feverish. She had slept in nothing in an attempt to make the pain go away, figuring that if she wasn't wearing clothes the touch would be much lighter. When she awoke the Princess was smiling over her, asking her if she wanted Shiro to do anything for her. The servant shook her head, "No Princess! The Queen would be mad at me if I let you do that," Shiro grimaced just at the mention of her name. She tried to get out of bed, but her lack of depth perception ensured that she fell right back down.

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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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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




Shiro wasn't feeling well at all it seemed, even with Narcia's attempt to cheer her up with a little joke. She was trembling and the poor thing was still more or less missing an eye, and thus she was clumsy when she was usually graceful. Was this the same sickness children of the Sanitary Tier seemed to exhibit? The princess placed the food down on the dresser and touched Shiro's forehead, feeling the fever with her hand. "The Queen can't touch us here." Narcia explained yet again, in a calm patient tone. Shiro tried to get up but fell - Narcia helped her back into the bed and under the sheets. Narcia glanced around the room with a calculating frown - yes, as requested, all glass was removed from the room to prevent another panic attack. "Besides, Shiro, you're ill. It's not your fault, it happens to everyone. More important than tending to me is making sure you rest up and recover." She fluffed the broken girl's hair a little, trying to give some affection. Honestly, Narcia wasn't used to this - she usually let Ellie handle things. But unlike most other situations where Narcia would scoff people for wasting time on emotional problems, she couldn't do that to Shiro. "In any case, taking care of you is something I enjoy. That won't be a problem, will it?"

Narcia went back down the stairs and found Aya and Cress. She mumbled a bit of a greeting to the both of them then explained Shiro's condition to the local nurse. The flowery girl got up within moments and went up to check on Shiro. "Good morning, Cress." Narcia said in her usual cold yet kind way. "There's still no sign of Ellie yet." She reported, in case her cousin wanted to know. Narcia then turned to leave like the socially awkward child she was, back up to Shiro's room - but was interrupted by a certain knight who shoved a strange device in her hands.

"It's a portable game system!" Heron said with a grin, nudging the princess's confused cheeks. "Play it, Nee, you'll love it!" Narcia stared at it, then back at Heron. "This is a waste of time." She murmured. "I need to keep working-" but then the red knight gleamed with pride. "Your hands still feel clumsy, right? Well, well! Now you can get practice with your fingers to try and get used to them!" Heron cackled and left to go on her daily supply hunt, leaving Narcia with the video game. She shrugged and walked back into her shared room with Shiro, finding Aya gently standing over her with an injection of sorts.

"Ah, hello, Nee!" The girl said with a warm grin, waving. "So I looked around for the meds to help ease it that you described before when this happened last time, but nothing." She shrugged, but then smiled, gesturing at the syringe as if it were her baby. "Look, though! This won't be as good, but it'll make the symptoms bearable for the day. Just - um - you do it. She won't let me, I think." There was a bit of sadness in those eyes but Narcia didn't question it. "Thank you, Aya. I'll take care of it." The nurse then dashed back down to Cress.

Narcia squeezed Shiro's hand with her right hand and placed the syringe over her arm, ready to inject. "I'm sorry if this hurts." She said gently, coaxingly. "But it's medicine to try and make it better. You can trust me, so be a big girl. Can you do that for me?" And then she pressed the top of the syringe, the drug entering Shiro's system.



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Cress said this was something like Stockholm Syndrome or something, where a captive victim sympathized with the captor. She didn't like it - Nio and Shiro were both having problems and being sad even if they were in the safe place. While Aya knew quite a bit on general nursy stuff now, she never got to read the psychology books because she ran away before Corren could read through it with her. Aya got up from the floor, sighing, and leaned against Cress for no real reason at all. "I want her to be okay." Aya's voice had a bit of a whining quality to it. "Shiro too! Everyone should be happy. But we'll protect them, won't we?" Aya and Cress were a team! One beautified the Rubble Tier - when Aya first saw the flowers sprouting she hugged and cried and thanked Cress lotses - but not for too long because her job was to bring stuff to the rest of the rebels.

She even managed to help supply Daddy again on one of her runs. And Aya knew that she was gone for too long so sometimes on her supply runs she would feel his correction love to try and fix her. "Aya's sorry, Daddy." She would say as the beatings happened. "I was Aine and I was Kora and that was bad." But the bruises were good and she kept them good and covered up because it was love, it was parental care and Aya knew she needed it or her mind would slip. Transport runs were a little more difficult now that she didn't have her gravity drive - the boxes were heavy - but she still managed somehow.

Although it seemed this morning she would have to wait to go on her usual job. The Princess came down and asked her for help with Shiro. "I'll be right back, Cress." The girl said, looking serious yet childish at the same time as she bounded up the stairs to check on Shiro. Nee told her before about this as a precaution, told her about the Sanitary Tier (and once it was safe, Aya and Cress would go there to help make it better, of course), but there was no medicine that specifically fixed it, none that was in the storage. So Aya sat and thought about the symptoms - fever, extremely sensitive to touch, shivering. And Aya knew what would work, imagining a sandy haired boy patting her head and giving her a cookie for being so smart.

"Here, Shiro." Aya said, trying to be as nurse-like as possible. "Here ya go! It's - it'll help! Trust me, okay?" But it seemed Shiro didn't, not really - the girl only ever really calmed if the Princess was there. So when the Princess did come, Aya gave her the meds and returned to Cress and Xion - the two schoolgirls were doing schoolwork in Xion's room - and Aya sat, announcing that Shiro would be fine for the time being.

"So, Xion!" Aya leaned in, an excited smile rising on her face as she sat next to Cress. "What's the mission! Anything special? Just supplies and gardening?" Because of the alert on Shiro, Nee, Ellie, and Heron, Aya was one of the only -and best - ones who could scour and scavenge up on the Untouchable Tier, to try and meet up with Serpy and maybe even Corren. Xion never assigned her to go up there yet, though, but she really wanted to. Maybe she could be more helpful that way!


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 ||




"Good luck," Cress smiled at Aya, "I believe in you." She smiled, reassuring Aya that the girl was smart and brave and she did amazing things even if Aya didn't think she did. When Aya left Nee came and Cress listened to her somberly. Ellie had yet to return, it was as though she was hiding something, or perhaps it was due to the loss of her actual hands. "Alright, thanks for telling me." Cress stood, Xion was beckoning her upstairs. She walked past the ice girl, patting her shoulder and heading up the set of stairs, sticking her hands casually in her leather jacket. "What's up?" Cress asked, casually sitting across from her. "She knows," Cress felt a chill creep up her back. "Knows what?" She asked dangerously and Xion leaned forward, as though they were girls at a sleepover party swapping secrets. "That the blood test came back positive." Cress stood, slamming her fist onto the desk. "Shit! How did she get her hands on it?" Cress growled and Xion shook her head. The two were an odd lot, one leader in an eye patch, the other with rabbit ears.

"I have theories, but the bottom line is a mole, either that or one of the servants we rescued might have a bug on them." Xion crossed her legs, bringing up a screen of all the ex servants they had rescued. "Shiro is the most likely since she was most recently with the Queen, but we can't touch her because she's too fragile. She also hasn't spent time in that room so it doesn't make sense." A big red X popped up on Shiro's face, the next few were servants Cress had never met that worked in the lab. "Of course we're going to do scans and questioning, this is an outrage. That was private information," Cress shook her head. "There's another thing," she looked up at Xion, rabbit ears flopping down. Cress pushed them back up, the ears twitching as though they were actual sounds. "Don't tell me it's more bad news?" She didn't think she could stand anymore. Xion grinned instead and Cress wondered what had gotten into her.

"Itward is under suspicion for treason and was publicly arrested." As though on cue, a clip played behind her of right after the fight, the knights flocking down on his house and arresting him. "It's because your chip was last registered there and it was the Princess's last spotting, but it's a victory." The two high fived, now nobles would be able to tuck their children in at night without the fear of having to give them away to that terrible man. "Nio can never see this." Cress shook her head, "Not until she comes to her senses at least." That meant he was still alive though, Cress hoped the Queen would take out his ability to have children, that way his terrible genes wouldn't be passed on. "One more thing, I need you to go up to the Untouchable tier." Her spine went stiff, what did she want? Another infiltration? "Of course it's nothing like the last mission," Xion said quietly just as Aya burst in.

"Aya, right on time I see!" Xion grinned and Cress quietly crossed her legs, gesturing to the empty seat beside her in front of Xion's desk. "I need you two to go to the Untouchable tier, there's a man named Corren Archon who wants to donate some medical textbooks and supplies to our relief efforts." Cress tilted her head to the side in question, she remembered Shiro running into the room when Cress had been staying with Heron. "Isn't that the Princess's tutor?" Cress asked and Xion shrugged, "He's a donor. Get going you two, there's more work to be done in the Rubble Tier afterwards." Cress nodded and stood, grinning at Aya. "I guess we've got our first real mission together." Cress smiled and ruffled Aya's hair. "Let's get going."


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Shiro relaxed a little as Nee reminded her that the Queen couldn't hurt her here, but that's what she had promised before, that day in her room with the electric knife and the belt. No, Shiro wasn't safe anywhere, the Queen would always find her, always punish her for things she didn't know about but was sure that she did. Nee promised though and Nee was her mistress, surely her words weren't lies. No, Nee would protect her, but she didn't, she would though, she promised. Shiro felt conflicted, she coughed, covering her hand with her mouth so as not to get the Princess sick. She tried to get up, Shiro needed to take a bath after all, but she felt dizzy and was clumsy, the girl tripped on her own feet and collapsed into the Princess arms. The older girl eased her back into the bed, tucking her beneath the blanket. She was failing, Shiro realized, failing at her only purpose in life.

Shiro flinched when the Princess reached forward to pat her head. Nee wouldn't hurt her, she promised she wouldn't so even though Shiro flinched she wasn't afraid, or at least, that's what she told herself. "No, it won't be." She whispered in a fevered daze, watching as the Princess left. Shiro was alone, instantly the panic came back. She balled her knees up to her chest, knowing that the person who walked in next through that door was going to hurt her. They would take her other eye again, burn her feet so that she couldn't run away. No, she didn't want that. Shiro could feel tears welling up and when the door opened she pushed herself as far into the corner as possible. The familiar sight of blonde hair soothed her. She wiped away the tear that had fallen from underneath the eye patch and pulled the blanket up to her chest. Aya, it was just Aya.

Not the Queen.

When Aya left she was alone again for only a moment before the happy blonde returned with a syringe. "No," Shiro whimpered, she didn't want the girl to come close to her with that. "No, not again, please." Shiro begged, covering her good eye with both her hands. "I need it, I need my eyes, please don't take this one too." She pushed herself into the wall, trying to make herself small, her terror apparent. As much as Aya said it would help and wouldn't hurt, Shiro didn't want it. She heard the door open, certain it was the Queen, but it was only the Princess, coming to rescue her. Shiro's shoulders slumped in relief, Nee wouldn't let them take her eye, Nee would protect her.

Aya left, handing something to the Princess that Shiro didn't see. Nee took Shiro's hand, squeezing it tightly in reassurance and Shiro knew she wasn't going to be hurt again. It was a betrayal though, while Shiro wasn't looking Nee said that the blonde needed something, that it would make the pain go away. Shiro looked up in panic, watching as the needle grew closer. "No," the girl whimpered, "Please, not again-" the medicine entered her veins, mixing with her blood and Shiro's body slumped forward into the Princess's arms in a sedated daze.

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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




With Shiro more or less sedated, Narcia left to gather up some of the smaller things she'd been working on. Nothing complex yet, just trying to work components together, trying to remember how to combine them into bigger parts, better parts, trying to remember how to make them work, which parts connected where, all of that stuff. As much as it was annoying to have to use this inferior tech as well as having awkward hands, Narcia knew that this would be good for her. It was practice - she could already figure out small substitutions here and there - instead of this high tech gadget she could use a series of these lesser quality gizmos to the same effect. The hands were still a problem, though. They were clunky, clumsy, and wouldn't make the tiny minute movements she wanted.

The problem was that sometimes she ruined the components by using a bit too much force here, or not enough there, or other such things. So perhaps, perhaps it'd be better to try to spend the day with Shiro and help her mental state - as well as grudgingly practice her finger dexterity with the video game Heron supplied. It seemed to have a rhythm game in it, where you pressed and tapped buttons to the beat of a song. Without noticing, an hour passed as she played, and Narcia grimaced, putting the game down, though her fingers were longing to pick it up again. No, she couldn't waste time.

"Shiro, I'm going to wipe your sweat." She said to the room, unsure if the girl could even respond. She dampened some towels and went to wipe down her friend's body, making sure to be as gentle and soft as she could to not cause any extra pain. She wasn't sure how much the medicine helped, but hopefully it'd let Shiro be at peace until the sickness passed. "If it hurts too much, please tell me." As Narcia was still mentally ten years old, she didn't feel any particulary response to seeing the girl naked, but the way her growth was stunted for her sake was a tragedy, certainly. The girl was so small, so tiny and Narcia wondered if there was a way to make her own body match her mental age. She wouldn't admit it but there was still a mismatch every morning. Ten years old, but in a sixteen year old body. Everything felt wrong.

Okay, there was no time to worry about that for now, such a cosmetic change could happen later. So after wiping Shiro's body with the cool damp cloths she went back down and opened the fridge, wondering how to make food for Shiro to easily digest in her sick state. Nio seemed to have been summoned by the sound of the fridge and seemed oddly protective of her cooking role so Narcia explained it to her. Narcia returned to her room with a bottle of formula, offering it to Shiro. "Nio made it for you." The princess said as she put the bottle in Shiro's hands. "Remember to thank her later, okay?"

So Narcia sat down and started playing the game again. Eventually, though, disaster struck. The red light signified that the batteries were all but gone, sadly. There didn't seem to be a charger, so Narcia knew what her first mission was going to be. She'd have to create a charger to fuel her new addiction!



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Corren Archon? The tutor scholar guy! "He protected me from Itward before." Aya pitched in when Cress asked who he was. As she got on her bike and offered Cress a seat as always, they set off into the skies once again. "Corren... he's interesting." Aya explained their connection - how he took her in and taught her about medicine and how to read. He even made sure she knew how to fix someone's larynx, so it seemed Corren already predicted that Aya would be in a position to do so at some point. "He gave me cookies when I did well. He really likes teaching, Cress."

Now that she wasn't panicked and frightened, Aya understood what happened on the night Corren hurt her. He did it so that Itward wouldn't, and he gave her a pill to make her sleep so the hurt wouldn't be even worse. He was nice and he even tried to make it better after. Aya would have a lot to make up for later, wouldn't she? Of course, she never left the safehouse without the gun she stole, never ever. Maybe it was paranoia or maybe it was Aya realizing that this was a war, that it was serious, and taking everything like a joke would only make bad things happen.

"He was scared of Itward, like everyone was." Aya murmured as they paused at the tunnel that'd lead to the Untouchable District. It was scary - she hadn't been back there for quite some time now. Were all the little secret passages she remembered still intact? Aya wasn't sure, but hopefully they were. After all, this was a job only she and Cress could do - pretty much everyone else was recognizable, and Heron was the only one who could reliably fight her way to safety.

Oh, that reminded her. "Did Heron start training you with weapons yet?" She asked, glancing at her partner and best friend. It was a concern, definitely. Xion and Heron were the best fighters and Cress was already super strong with her wrestling stuff. Unarmed fighting wasn't as useful as knowing how to use a weapon, though - although Aya was a little scared of the gun, Heron taught her how to shoot with it, just in case. She didn't want to have to use it, but she knew it was necessary. Aya had a little frown on her face. "...I know, she hurt you and stuff, but fighting with weapons would help, you know?"

The blonde rebel took a deep careful breath. "Back to the land of the filthy pigs." She whispered and they flew through the tunnel, back to the Untouchable Tier.


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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 sat on the back of the bike, putting a helmet on and hugging Aya's waist as the bike took off, carrying them easily. "Thanks for getting my boots back by the way, I don't think I ever showed you my gratitude." Cress had an idea, she gave Aya a kiss on the cheek. "As thanks," she grinned, hoping Aya didn't take it the wrong way. To Cress, kisses were just kisses, they didn't mean a whole lot. Except, that had really stopped when Itward forced himself on her, his tongue in her mouth, his body invading her own. She still remembered the weird throb in her legs and shivered, glad that the Doc was able to retain her innocence afterwards. She had known the risks going in and accepted it so that she and Ellie would have a guaranteed way back to earth.

Cress would take Aya too, she decided, and Shiro if Ellie wanted since she seemed to grow attached to her lady in waiting-or perhaps girl in waiting was more fitting seeing as how the child was so small. Another atrocity of the Queen, there would be no way to fix that little girl, no way to give her the height the Queen had taken. Cress's tail wiggled as they reached the tunnel and Aya told her about Itward. "You didn't go back to Serpina's?" Cress asked, surprised. Then how had Mia ended up down there? Cress wasn't mad though, even though she had told Aya to go back so that she didn't get hurt. "I'm glad he protected you, to be honest I just wanted to get back to you myself, but I was on a super secret mission from Xion that I wasn't allowed to tell you about."

Otherwise Cress would have gone back faster. The day she had gone to Itward's with that steak knife to sabotage him had been the day she was meant to get "captured," but Cress had chickened out, remembering the first time, and then by a strange turn of events had ended up in his grasp anyways. "Someone like Itward needs to be neutered so he won't go sticking his jewels into everything he can get his hands on." For some reason Cress believed Itward was into animals and that's why he had forced animal ears onto her. Or perhaps he had simply wanted to demean Cress to a grade below human and that was the only way he could think to do it. She liked to think of keeping the ears as a show of rebellion, that even with them he still didn't break her.

Cress's lips pressed into a tight line, she didn't exactly want to train with Heron, not after the way the knight had abandoned her before. She seemed to have known exactly where Cress would end up too. "No, I don't want anything to do with that womanizing son of a-" in perfect comical timing, a pod horn bleeped at them to move. No doubt an untouchable that believed they were too important to be held up by a flying scooter. "I have my knife, don't worry." She pat her thigh holster where the knife, something more than a steak knife, was sheathed. They went past the checkpoint which had been installed in the Kingdom's desperate search for the Princess and zipped back into the city.

"Think he'll be waiting for us at the doorstep with more of those cookies you spoke about?"


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Shiro's head was spinning, she failed at forming words, trying to beg the Princess to save her from this drowning. Nee tucked her back into the bed and slowly, Shiro's eyes fluttered closed, the pink eye patch falling off and drifting to the ground like a leaf in the fall. She curled up in a ball, her hands hugging herself as though she had the stuffed puppy they had to leave behind. Her breathing became slow, but it was coming out smoother than before as it was obvious the pain didn't follow her in sleep.

"Good morning," Shiro sing songed, skipping into the Queen's room with one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. "Shiro, have you grown?" She asked with a frown, walking up to the girl. The Queen shook her head as though this was a great tragedy, sighing and patting her head. Shiro looked down, her new dress was a bit short. "Soon you'll be as tall as the sun flowers, much taller than the Princess." She seemed to be thinking. "I know, follow me." The Queen took Shiro's hand in her's and led her down the hall to the sick bay. "What are we doing here?" Shiro asked but the Queen didn't say a word. The door opened and they stepped inside. "Oh, Dr. Benkov, good I've brought Shiro for the thing we agreed upon." The Doctor nodded his head, rolling over in his chair and grabbing a tape measure. "Take off your dress Shiro," the Queen said and Shiro didn't question it. The Queen threw the dress out, saying that it was far too small anyhow.

"Lift your arms," Shiro lifted them, he did something weird with the tape measure, wrapping it around certain part of her body and then typed something into his computer. "Stay right there, it should be finished in a minute." He went behind a curtain and Shiro stayed still as the Queen stroked her neck. He came back with some sort of weird plastic that wrapped around her, making her back hurt. "Hold still Shiro it'll only hurt for a minute." The Queen lied as she always did. Shiro squeaked and struggled, her back hurting, the cast wrapping around her to mold to her body. "There, see? Your job is to stay cute and small, never be taller than the Princess."

Shiro looked in the mirror, the brace was the same color as her skin. "It hurts," she whimpered but the Queen only shook her head. "It's your punishment for getting too big," and Shiro accepted it, because she knew she somehow deserved it.


Shiro awoke when Nee wiped her down with a cool cloth, her clothes were gone, Nee said to tell her if it hurt but Shiro stayed quiet. If it hurt it was her own fault. She tried to open the eye that had been injured but there was still a bandage taped over it. Where had her eye patch gone? "Cold," Shiro whimpered as the Princess finished up. Nee left then, returning soon with something in a bottle. In a daze she took it from the girl, suckling the formula out of it. She would thank Nio later. Who was Nio? Shiro didn't know. Perhaps it was a cook or another servant the Princess had found. If the Princess had another servant though, did that mean Shiro was done being useful? Would she be sent to that place now that no servant returned to?

Shiro struggled to sit up. "Pee," she whimpered, pushing her legs together, quivering. "I have to pee."

Setting

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Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




Narcia's eyes were almost glowing as her fingers tapped the buttons. It was difficult, it was frustrating. Her brain sent the electrical impulse to command the augmented hands to move but they'd often press a few moments too late, resulting in a "Good" score for the note instead of a "Perfect!", which meant she only got half as many points as she wanted. Sometimes stars went across the screen that she had to swipe or tap but she sometimes tapped a little bit to the side which meant no points, and that was irritating as well. In the end, it seemed Narcia just wasn't suited for videogames - not until she had better augments or even her own hands back to her. While she could theoretically create better augments, Narcia didn't trust her ability with these hands to do a delicate thing like that. She could have the synthetic skin ordered but the finer machinery underneath was a problem.

In any case, she had to figure out how to make the charger. Making a plug of sorts to fit into the charging port of the game device would likely be the most difficult part, due to how small and precise it has to be. Wires and insulation were more than easy, anyone could figure that out. Of course, she had to add a thickness to the part that entered the outlet on the wall to keep it sturdy and strong. She - and then Shiro interrupted her thoughts with a need to pee. "I'm here, I'm here." The princess said, standing up, wondering why exactly she wasted so much time worrying about a game. Xion had a list of weapons she needed to finish for the week and to have supplied to other bases, as well as medical tools and machines requested by Aya. A videogame, seriously...

So she lifted Shiro up as gently as she could, knowing it was probably sensitive and painful. Narcia avoided glancing at herself in the mirror and placed Shiro on the toilet, glancing away. "Should I draw a bath for you?" Narcia wasn't really sure how to tend to a sick person, she never had to do it before. But she knew baths were soothing and nice for her, so maybe it'd help Shiro? The princess cursed her lack of knowledge for anything but technology, but figured the best way to remedy the problem was to try and learn.

"I'll wait just right here." Narcia walked out of the bath, then she went to where her electric knife was plugged into the slot. The girl pulled it out and swung it around a little. No, while it was a nice weapon, it wouldn't do. She needed something more - Narcia was aware that she was physically weak compared to people like Cress and Heron. Her skills were with technology so there was no reason for her to have to fight. But it wasn't as if knowing how could do harm either. Maybe she could - ideas spun in her mind, ideas of how she could stand on equal ground with Heron on a battlefield. She needed tech, much more tech if she wanted it to work, but it was a little exciting to be able to help in more ways than just upgrading and doing maintenance on weapons and medical tech.



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya was okay with the kiss, giggling a little as she received it. It felt nice, a little fluffy and she enjoyed it quite a bit. "The boots are a thing from earth." The girl said softly, smiling to herself. "They help make you you. It's good to have reminders of home around." She patted the bike fondly, almost glowing, remembering of when Daddy gave it to her and outfitted it with the gravity engine. It was one of her favorite memories after Kora's death and it made her happy to think about. Now that she had Cress and a bunch of other people too, Aya knew there would be plenty more good memories to have, especially once the fight was done and they won. It was a little sad to think about, though. Once the fight was done, Cress and Nee would go home to Earth, right? But that was - hmm. "...Cress, will Nee even want to go home?" Aya felt bad as she said it, knowing it was one of the main reasons for Cress to fight. "Ah, sorry. I didn't - we'll worry about that when it comes to it!"

Aya nodded. "...I dropped Mia at Serpy's and went to go looking for you. But then - well, things happened and Archon saved me." She didn't mention the rain, the desperate searching, the shooting of that one patrolling knight. No one needed to know about that. "We were supposed to be partners, though!" Aya puffed her cheeks as they whizzed through the streetlines then entered backstreet alleys that were out of sight once again. She glanced back at her fiery friend, a vague sour expression on her face. "No one left behind. I want to help if there's a next super secret mission."

"Hope we don't run into him again." The girl whispered quietly, fearfully. Itward was a monster. Aya remembered what happened to her, what he did to her and she knew what it meant now that she learned. She had a good cry and that was when Heron taught her to shoot. "I'm stronger now, too. Let's count on each other, partner."

They reached the Archon household, a servant opening and announcing them and Corren came to greet the two girls, looking particularly ashamed when he looked at Cress. "Aya, the cookies and donations are in my room." Aya nodded and went, but then she remembered something, looking down at the floor, feeling suddenly shy. "Um, um, I'm sorry for running off like that." The girl apologized, voice high and nervous. "And for not trusting you. And- and stealing the gun." The scholar's face broke into a bit of a smile which was surprising - he usually hid his emotions but maybe something happened recently to let him feel more free to be himself?

"You'll need the gun more than I will." He said sternly, back in teacher mode and Aya let out a little yip, glad she got to keep it. "And don't worry. I understand." He looked her up and down, then nodded. "I'm glad you've recovered from what my bro- from what Itward did." He patted her hair a little and then let her go to get the stuff. "And thank you for helping Nio. You did good, Aya." So Aya tottered off to get the stuff, wondering how she was going to be able to carry it without her gravity drive, remaining oblivious as the scholar apologized to Cress for her ordeal and for not helping her when he was there.

The books were heavy. The boxes of medicine and trauma kits was heavy. Aya tried lifting but she couldn't, she tried pushing but it hurt her back, though maybe it was because she was nibbling on a cookie from the bag as she did so, grinning like a cat with each bite. But yeah, this wasn't going to work. "Cress, help, I can't carry it all!" Aya whined. She as going to have to ask Heron to try to find a new gravity drive if Nee still didn't have the tech to make her a new one.


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 looked down, "Yeah, my boots are my only reminder of earth. You'll love it Aya, I promise." Cress was going to bust them all out of this prison. How anyone could stand to live on a place that still used a caste system and married off their children, it was backwards. She froze at Aya's question; it was a good one. "Of course she does!" Cress snapped, a bit on the offensive. "I mean, why wouldn't she?" A little sadder it seemed, the thought of her precious cousin not wanting to return to their family made her heart hurt. Now that she did think about it though, those words that Heron said, her eyes not having belonged to any earthling. "What if I'm not an earthling though? Do I even have the right to go back?" Cress looked at the street as they drove, using the back ways.

She felt guilty for not telling Aya about the mission. "You were in surgery," Cress said, "Besides, I couldn't let him hurt you again, not like that." She would absolutely never let Aya go near that sort of hive of scum and villainy, Aya was too pure for them, too pure for her. The girl was growing up though, now their resident nurse. "Now we'll do all our missions together. Okay? So don't worry about it partner," Cress grinned. Yes, she and Aya were a team. They were all a team, Aya, Ellie, Heron, Xion, they would beat this Queen and then... and then.... Cress had no idea. What if there was no way to get back to earth? What would she do then?

They had arrived. Cress took off her helmet and shook out her ears, the fluffy white stems bouncing right back up. They walked into the large, fancy house a familiar looking man walking out. Cress was taken aback, this was Nee's tutor? The man who had restarted her heart after she went into cardiac arrest? Oh yeah, Cress hadn't told anyone about that although somehow Xion had known, she had been tracking Cress's chip the entire time. They had managed to remove it safely with only a tiny scar as evidence that she was ever a servant. Now though, Cress was wearing a fake collar for safety reasons. Aya was her supposed master if anyone asked. It was no surprise, some Middle Tier families had servants too if they could afford to feed the extra mouth. "You-" Cress stopped as Aya greeted him familiarly, apologizing for taking the gun. Cress bowed, "Thank you for taking care of Mistress Aya," she had a role to play after all and when Corren wasn't looking, Cress threw a wink in Aya's direction.

Aya skipped off to get the stuff and Corren apologize for not helping her. Cress shrugged, "You were scared," she glanced at Aya in the next room. "Now there's no reason to fear him anymore." Corren's eyes widened and he glanced at her. "You-you're the one?" Cress winked, giving him a two fingered peace sign. "That was my handiwork." Aya called her then and Cress turned back to her. "Coming Mistress!" She called and walked off, taking half the stack and walking it out to the scooter, then coming back in only to see Aya slacking off, eating cookies. "At least share," Cress bent down, rabbit tail wiggling as she nibbled one. "Come on, we've got more work to do."


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Shiro's legs were squeezed together, her hands twisted at the fabric of the shirt that belonged to Heron. She whimpered when Nee lifted her, pushing her legs together harder so that she wouldn't have an accident. Finally she was on the toilet and Shiro could relieve herself. She blushed realizing that the Princess was standing right there. "I'm sorry," Shiro whispered, "I'm not a very good lady in waiting am I?" She tried to laugh but it quickly turned into the hiccups one made before sobbing, remembering all the training she had been put through to get to this moment only for her charge to be carrying her to the toilet. She slowly nodded her head when the Princess asked her if she wanted to take a bath.

"Yes please," Shiro said, attempting to stand up to clean herself and promptly falling down. No, she couldn't make the Princess do that, that was too embarrassing, so Shiro reached up for the paper, doing it herself from the floor. She flushed, slowly and very painfully crawling towards the sink since the sedative made her too dizzy to stand. She couldn't reach the sink like this though. Instead Shiro wiggled out of her shirt, figuring that she was going in the bath anyways so it was alright. The Princess had already seen her nude, she had already seen everything of Shiro so it was probably alright. Normally, Shiro would never undress in front of the Princess unless it was the Princess herself undressing her. She would have been punished for something like this, but Nee had promised she was safe, that the Queen wasn't here.

Once the bath was ready Shiro allowed the Princess to assist her into it. The water was warm and she sunk into the bubbles, the heat relieving the pain in her body. She closed her eyes, tilting her head back and simply soaking. It was too painful to move, scrubbing herself would take too much effort. The tub was large, or maybe Shiro was just small, and she could stretch out easily. Unintentionally, Shiro had drifted off to sleep in the tub, the bubbles making little popping noises inside her ears. A particularly large pop startled her awake and she bolted upright, coughing, having accidentally drunk in soapy water.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




The training was going to need more time to reverse, wasn't it? Shiro still thought she was a lady in waiting, that Narcia was still a princess. She was still broken, shattered, and it was painful to watch. Narcia wanted to help her because once Shiro was fixed and whole again - if such a thing was possible - then Narcia knew Ellie might have the motivation to come back out. Or perhaps Ellie was still in shock about the hands, or maybe even from what happened to Cress. There were too many possibilities and it bothered the ice girl a little that someone who was technically her was so easy to break. Narcia was ice, she knew how to not let most things get to her, but for as icy as Ellie was, she wasn't on the same level. She broke and it was disappointing.

"What are you apologizing for?" Narcia asked with a frosty smile. "You're not a lady in waiting, and I'm not a princess. Now we're friends, roommates. We stand on an equal ground now." She furrowed her brow a little, already resigned to the fact that Shiro wouldn't understand this time either. "Friends help each other in need, no matter what."

She made the bath warm and added bubbles, then helped ease Shiro into it before she turned away to give the girl some semblance of privacy. Once outside she sat herself down outside the door, fiddling with tools to try and mold the steel into the right shape and length before connecting and soldering it to the rest of the charger, but then she heard coughing from behind the door. Leaving the unfinished charger alone for now, Narcia returned to Shiro's side, patting her back to help with the coughing. "It's okay. I'm here." She said in her best Ellie-voice. She drained the water and helped Shiro back into pajamas after drying her off - as gently as possible - and then put her back in the bed. That was when she heard someone crying somewhere below her, making it difficult to concentrate on the charger.

Nio was crying yet again as she was trying to cook up lunch. Mia was off to school and Xion was doing who knows what so it was up to Narcia to handle it. "Your brother was a rapist monster." She said, voice full of ice. "He hurt countless people for fun and killed one of my best friends. He stole your voice. It's a waste to-" And then the girl just cried harder and ran off, leaving Narcia standing there, bewildered. What? She was just telling the truth, wasn't she?



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya giggled guiltily as Cress helped her with the supplies. Cress seemed to easily take one half - ears flopping comically - and so Aya tried to push again but her back and bruises hurt again so she decided to help herself to another cookie, grinning and making little noises with each bite. Cress returned and admonished her so Aya smiled as innocent as she could, eyes wide with enthusiasm. "I calculatified - calcu - Aya thought up a way to maximize effificency! Efficiency!" She raised her cookie hand, then did a fist pump. "Cress! Everyone has things they are good and bad at, right? So, so, Aya decided that we should always focus on our skills and ignore what we're bad at so we make sure we're always doing our best!" The blonde rebel did her best grin, fluttering her eyes to convince Cress, to make her see sense. "Aya's good at eating cookies, so Aya'll take care of that job. Cress is good at moving heavy things, so you can do that, right? And plus, and plus, I'm the Mistress and she's my servant! That's-"

Corren flicked her on the forehead, no amusement in his eyes. "That's no excuse." He said, snatching the cookies from Aya and making her growl in protest at having them stolen from her. "Only good girls get cookies." He passed the bag to Cress and Aya whined, unhappy. "But you said Aya was a good girl before!" This wasn't fair, this was cheating! "You just like Cress more!" Corren turned back, still completely unamused. "I taught you to read, so I expect you to speak intelligently." So Aya stuck her tongue out at him. "Aya no smart talk! Nuh uh!" So then he walked back and flicked her again.

Once the supplies were dealt with, it was time to say farewell to Corren. Aya was still rubbing at her forehead dramatically after Cress loaded the stuff onto the sidecar of the bike and the two were off again. "I changed my mind, he's a meanie." The blonde rebel pouted, glaring with envy at the cookie bag in Cress's hands. "Teachers shouldn't pick favorites, that's unprofessional!"

They passed another wanted advertisement of Cress and Aya scowled bitterly at it, weaving them into a different part of the back streets. "You looked cooler before." She whispered so no one could hear, keeping her eyes straight ahead. "Silly rabbit."


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 ||




Aya was being mischievous, which for some reason made Cress happy. It meant that she was in good spirits and that's just how Cress preferred her friends, happy. "I think that's just the lazy speaking Aya. If you never do your bad things, how do you ever become good at them?"Cress shook her head, laughing. Thankfully, Corren came inside to help maximize efficiency. So Cress decided to do something that was maybe a bit mean. She let her pile fall on purpose and she jumped back with a tiny yelp, allowing her leather jacket to fall down her arms to reveal her bare shoulders. "I'm sorry Mistress," Cress batted her eyes, looking down, rabbit ears drooping as though she were afraid. It was enough to make Corren blush and look away. Cress wasn't doing it for him though, she was doing it to tease Aya and so she wiggled uncomfortably, then knelt down to pick it up, tail wiggling. Cress had figured out how to make her augments work to her will and so she could make even the strictest of men blush.

She winked flirtatiously when she stood and carried her half back to the sidecar, strapping everything down. "There," Cress nodded in satisfaction and turned towards Aya who was saying goodbye to Corren. "Everything is ready Mistress!" She called, giving Corren one last bow to show her appreciation as she was sure a servant would do. Once back on the bike she held on tight to Aya's waist. Cress saw the billboard and she looked down, feeling something strange in her stomach. Was it remorse? She missed her old hair, the easy maintenance of it, she missed not having to worry about washing ears and a tail she couldn't reach. She didn't look like herself, it was as though Cress was gone and she was... Lapin.

No! Cress shook her head, she couldn't think like that. She wasn't Lapin, she was Cress and Cress was a fighter! Lapin was some stupid pet name that idiot Itward had come up with. What was up with that name anyways? Itward, it was weird, stupid, and yet it was still somehow one of the most feared names of the nobility. With her ears safely tucked beneath her helmet they made their way back to the tunnel, the gentle lights powered by solar energy lighting their way. They'd deliver these things, hopefully there would be plenty of useful material to save many lives, then Cress would go back to planting her garden. Yes, the Rubble children loved the rabbit girl that came everyday to plant pretty flowers and make plants grow. Once they were healthy enough she would show them how to properly build fires for pots and pans to rest on and cook up yummy food so that they no longer had to eat tubes of paste.

Cress would show the Queen, she would show that woman who had tried to demean her to less than human. She could torture her all she wanted but Cress would bounce back every time!


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




When Shiro began coughing, Nee ran inside to pat her on the back, assuring her that she was there. Shiro's mouth tasted terrible from practically inhaling soapy water and she tried not to throw up on the Princess. "I'm sorry," Shiro apologized again. The Princess drained the water and helped Shiro out, drying and redressing her. Shiro ha to be a big girl, she reminded herself. She had to be a big girl. She reached over for the bottle that she had only drank half off, somehow feeling better after suckling from it like a toddler. Yes, she had to be a big girl, Shiro fell asleep soon after.

She awoke alone and reached down for her eye patch, trying to fix it around her head but it quickly fell loose and fluttered back down towards the ground. The door opened it, but it wasn't Nee who came in, it was Xion. "Hey Shiro," she said gently, closing the door quietly behind her. Shiro whimpered and pushed herself into the corner, trying to shield herself. "Hey, I'm one of the good guys." She smiled, showing her hands to display that she meant no harm. "I heard you weren't feeling to well." Xion got down on her hands and knees, knowing that when a person seemed big they looked threatening. Shiro relaxed a tiny bit, but she was still on guard. "No, don't take me back there." She whimpered and Xion smiled sympathetically. "No one is going to-" but Shiro wasn't listening. She had placed her hands over her ears, shaking. "Promised, she promised no one would take me back."

Xion crawled over slowly, she had to get the sweep over with but she couldn't do it with the girl like this. "I'm not gonna touch you," Xion promised. She lifted the eye patch from the floor and placed it beside the bottle, wondering if it was some sort of therapy technique. Xion could order pacifiers too if the Princess thought it would help get her servant back on her feet. Why were they going this far for the simple child? Shiro had been serving the Queen for a long while, she had valuable information on the castle and its infrastructure. They had removed Shiro's chip of course, it was dangerous of that was traced back to them, so they had sent it to the Rubble Tier to the scrapyards. "Please, I want to keep this eye, I-I need it. Please," she was rocking herself slightly, curled up in a tight ball. Xion sighed, it was clear she hadn't wanted things to come to this. She gently grasped one of Shiro's arms and straightened her, using a pen injector to give the girl a strong sedative directly into the thigh.

Once she relaxed, Xion took something else out of her pocket. It was the size of an earth smartphone, however it was much more complex. She pushed a button and the screen glowed a soft blue, holograms popping up that Xion used to wave over Shiro's body. As expected, the scan came back negative. Shiro was whimpering slightly, still shaking but that was a side effect from the sedative so Xion wasn't surprised. She ruffled the girl's hair, taking something out of her other pocket. "Nee told me about your toy, I know this isn't the same but it's the best I've got." She placed the stuffed dog on the bed and slowly Shiro reached for it. She hugged it to her chest, her eyes fluttering closed. She wasn't asleep though, the girl had begun humming and then she was singing.

Xion left the door open, going back to her office, the song sweet and strong, like a bird's warble after a harsh winter. Could this possibly be how Shiro expressed her thanks?

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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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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




Two girls seated above the main square of the training grounds in Ashia Palace, a bubble around them to block out whatever was being said. A wintry girl with cold, emotionless eyes and another girl, blonde, with eyes that twinkled as she spoke. Narcia Seraphim and Aine Dorones, watching the knights train, in their own little private bubble that drowned out all sound as long as it wasn't pierced.

"My lady in waiting is dead." The nine year old Nee said, as if it was of no consequence at all. "The rebels saw her and confused her for me. Thus, I'm being targeted, aren't I?" She turned to face her friend who didn't look happy at all about the news. Aine, Aine knew something, she was planning something and whatever it was, Nee didn't like it. "She did nothing wrong, she shouldn't have died." Aine said sorrowfully, kicking her legs. "Nee, this world is wrong, isn't it? We're here, we're rich, and yet there are people dying, starving, just because they were born in the wrong tier. That isn't right, you know? That's not how it should be."

Nee remained silent - according to her mother, it was all simply fate's design. There was no choice in fighting fate, was there? Whatever happened happened. There was no reason to mourn anyone or anything. There was no reason to feel attachment to anything. Aine sighed, staring into those frozen eyes. "Nee, why? Why didn't you cry for her? You practically grew up together and - you wouldn't cry for me if I died either, would you?" Nee wasn't sure what point Aine was trying to make. "She was meant to die, Aine." The Princess said quietly, not faltering for a second. "I don't want you to die, but if you do, or if I do, there's nothing we can do about it. There's no reason to cry." And then Aine cried, clutching her shoulder. "That's so cold. What did the Queen do to you?" The girl blinked, then shivered. "If - if you died, I'd cry for you! I would, I'll cry if anyone dies!"

The princess was confused. "Why?" She asked simply. Aine looked horrified and she shook her head. "Nee, you weren't like this before, you used to be nice before. What happened to you?" And Nee had no idea what she was talking about.


Narcia wouldn't make the same mistake again. Even if she wouldn't mourn her childhood best friend, even if she now understood what Aine was trying to tell her all those years ago, it wouldn't bring her back. It wouldn't fix her and make things better. The ex-princess clenched her teeth as she reviewed the list of requested things for her to work on, knowing she was falling behind, wasting time on the game system. This war would've already ended if only she agreed to help out her best friend. But now she had to take care of Shiro whose hair shimmered with the same gold, whose heart no doubt glowed the same. "Watch us win this for you, Aine." Nee whispered so no one could hear, drowned out by Shiro's beautiful singing. "Sorry for failing you." Narcia felt something strange in her chest but nothing came of it. She probably never had the ability to shed tears to begin with.

With the charger finished and the game system plugged in, the princess went to see Xion, thanking her for agreeing to take Shiro in, even if it was for a strategic purpose. Xion simply nodded with a smile and informed her the results of the scan, which was another burden lifted from Narcia's list of concerns to address. With that done, she returned to her friend's side, playing with a strand of her hair. She decided to crawl into bed with Shiro even though she knew she had work to do and plugged the cord into her game system. For some reason, it felt nice to procrastinate and play the game, imagining the notes were to the beat of her song.


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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Cress was unbearably cute as a rabbit, and she knew how to make it tittilating, even for the fourteen year old Aya. Her thoughts were complex as she drove through the checkpoint - Aya with a working 'Travelling Nurse' ID that more or less let her go wherever she wanted without problem - and took them through a series of tunnels, back to the Tower Tier, away from the Queen's watchful eye. Even though her fiery friend was very very attractive - pleasing enough to make Aya blush a little - it still made her sad that a sign of Itward's influence was there, changing her from Cress into someone else entirely. Joking about silly rabbits helped a little but every time Aya looked at Cress there was a tiny, yet growing sadness that she knew she had to bury. No doubt Cress wasn't the happiest either, that she had to give up her old self for who knows how long. Most likely if "Ellie" ever came back, she might not even recognize her cousin.

And Aya didn't like the thought of that at all. So they stopped, floating above the Tower School where Mia was studying. "Cress, can you hand me the transport list?" With the holo in her hands, bringing up the list of places she'd have to go, the girl was surprised to see her own name there. Ayanna Filia, and the good next to her name was a book about how the official nursing degree and the requirements. There was another book which was about trauma surgery in case someone got hurt in a fight. Both had been requested by Corren Archon, according to the holo. "Once a teacher, always a teacher..." The girl muttered.

Eventually they were back to the Rubble tier and Aya let Cress off, knowing she was going to go back to her gardening. Aya herself was excited to finish the runs so she could meet up with Cress and read while she watched. Reading was fun, it was like a whole new world opened up for her that was previously blocked off. Letters now made sense and the world was a little clearer for her. That was good, wasn't it? "And here's your stop!" Aya hid her sadness with a cheerful and playful wave. "Please rate your satisfaction with the Aya Taxi service so we can better improve for future rides!" Then she grinned. "The fare is one cookie! Hand it over, there's no ride and run happening at the Aya taxi!"

The Tier looked different, a very good different. It was beautiful, full of flowers that bloomed and it seemed to make everything brighter, more hopeful, more optimistic. And it was all thanks to Cress, the earthling girl. Aya's face changed into a more sincere smile as the wind blew and rippled at her trademark green jacket. "Thanks again, Cress. We'll probably never be able to repay you." Aya wanted to cry and she wasn't sure if it was happiness or sadness, so she hopped back onto her bike. She had to leave before it showed, because big girls can hold it in, and Aya was a big girl now.


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 looked around for the list, handing it to Aya. "Here you go," she said, knowing that Aya would zip around on her back, bringing good will and much needed aid to the people of the Rubble Tier. "You're doing great work Aya," Cress smiled, knowing their registered nurse could get onto any tier with ease. Cress had a fake chip embedded in the watch she wore that she simply scanned whenever they needed to see it to get in and out of the Untouchable Tier. They didn't bother on the way out though, simply waving them through the tunnel and down they went, to the Rubble Tier. Cress hopped off, taking her helmet off and putting it into the sidecar. "Thanks Aya," she smiled, "Oh comment though? Take it easy on those turns." Cress winked, taking a cookie out of the bag and handing it to her.

"It's no problem Aya, I'm just spreading what I love." Cress smiled, waving as the girl sped off. As soon as Cress reached her garden she was attacked by rubble kids who wanted to help. She had an army of little beautifiers who wanted to spread the joy. Of course they really just wanted the edible plants so that they wouldn't have to drink from tubes, but Cress was happy regardless. She taught them as she went, putting in berry bushes, sowing seeds for grass. "You're that rabbit that's putting in all these flowers right?" A pregnant woman approached her as Cress was kneeling in the dirt, gardening gloves half in the ground with a new flower. Cress stood, smiling. "That's me. Can I help you?" She seemed nervous. "I-I'm worried that the paste tubes aren't good nutrition for the baby." She said and Cress thought for a moment.

"Come with me," Cress said, leading her to a different section of the garden. "See these flowers? Grind up the petals and boil them in hot water. The stem will be good for you to eat." It was a beautiful deep purple flower that's bulbs hadn't yet blossomed. "I'll mark it so you don't forget. I'll be labeling all the flowers and their properties soon so just sit tight." The woman clasped Cress's hands in her own, saying thank you. She used to be a Middle Tier class, but had been bumped down since her husband was arrested for suspicious activities that were suspect to treason. Cress listened, offering the woman to garden. "Plants are just like children," she gestured to her army of dirty kids and smiled. "They thrive in the right environment, just like humans."

Cress was back in the dirt then, feeling at peace with her little green children.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Shiro had finished her song when the Princess returned, she felt at peace beside her, the feel of the Princess's hands running through her hair. It was relaxing, or maybe that was just from the sedative. Shiro murmured something inaudible that sounds like a cross between "Sleepy," and "Puppy." Her eyes fluttered closed, then back open as though she were fighting sleep. "Walk," she mumbled, the first sign of any interest in the world outside of the bedroom. Unfortunately though, Shiro fell asleep quickly afterwards, her head in the Princess's lap, arm fixated on the stuffed puppy Xion had given to her.

"Hello Shiro, I see you haven't grown a bit." Itward smiled at her, arm resting casually on the sword at his side. "Hello Sir Itward," Shiro curtsied. "How do you do?" Her smile was bright as she looked at the boy. The two were standing in the royal library, Shiro had an hour break for lunch time and due to the fact that the Queen was in a meeting so Shiro was going to read for a bit. "I'm good thank you, would you mind assisting me with something?"[/color] He asked and Shiro nodded her head. "I'll assist you in anyway I can." Itward grinned, clearly pleased with her response. He leaned forward, whispering something in her ear. Shiro blushed heavily and he pulled back, his grin seeming more predatory. Thankfully, the Queen saved her. "Shiro!" She snapped and Shiro jumped to attention, the brace ensuring her posture was perfect.

"Yes my Queen?" Shiro walked over, her foot catching on something and sending her sprawling to the ground. The woman shook her head and lifted Shiro up, "I swear your more clumsiest servant I've ever seen. We'll fix that though, don't worry." She was made to wear books on her head the next time she served tea, bring careful to keep her back straight and carefully balancing the tray. One of the books slipped off and the Queen narrowed her eyes. Another lady in waiting took the tray and Shiro whimpered, knowing what was coming. The shock crippled her, sending her to the ground in pain. "That's the third time Shiro," the Queen warned. "Come here," she walked over slowly, holding out her arms. The Queen picked up a clean knife, slashing at the skin on her wrists. Shiro didn't make a sound, knowing she'd be punished further if she did.

"Shiro now look what you've done, there's blood on the floor." She put a hand on Shiro's blond curls, pushing her down so that she was kneeling. "Lick the spot up until it is clean. You," she pointed to another lady in waiting. "Come here and make my tea properly pleased." Shiro stuck out her tongue, head facing the ground as she licked the cool tile, the coppery taste of blood filling her mouth. "If you're not going to listen Shiro I may as well just cut off your ears."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Shiro Character Portrait: Ellen Winter Character Portrait: Cress Winter Character Portrait: Ayanna Filia
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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




Shiro mumbled something as Narcia played the rhythm game but she was at a difficult section of the song, where the notes ramped up in speed and in frequency, making it impossible to hear what Shiro said. Hopefully it wasn't something urgent, but if there was an issue it could most likely wait for the time being, seeing as the girl seemed to be in comfort from either the sedative or the company of the one person she trusted. She looked like any child as she held the stuffed animal. Narcia was never a fan of children or stuffed animals however - children were an emotional pile of needless feelings and stuffed animals were a waste of space and material - but something about Shiro made it cute. Once Shiro had fallen asleep, Narcia gently escaped the bed, writing a note telling Shiro that if she needed her, just go check the workshop downstairs. With that done, the princess left and took the list of requested things for her to do.

Still, this work was mostly simply things anyone could do - fix the barrel on this gun, increase energy charge speed of this sword, other things. They didn't want anything fancy, anything creative, and that was a a bit of a shame. If only they wanted something much more elaborate - but perhaps it was for the best with her hands as they were. Once she became more skilled with them she'd be able to create something better for fine-handling, though it'd take time to get used to those hands as well. As such, it was time to let her mind wander again as she did this effortless work.

"My sisters are saying Aine's a target." A teenaged itward said to a ten year old Nee. They were at her favorite indoor garden in the castle, and rumors of the rebels have only been getting up and up as the months went on. No one knew who the ringleader was, but everyone knew the rebels were getting inside information from someone, and everyone's crosshairs were locked on the loving but naive blonde that charmed her way into people's hearts. "Nee, if she doesn't stop saying stupid shit, she's going to die."

Nee nodded, understanding but she wasn't sure what to do about it either. If it truly was Aine's doing, if she was the ringleader, then she would have to die, that much was certain. The ice princess wasn't a fan of the idea, but she knew that if that was her fate, then there wasn't anything she could do about it. That's not to say it wasn't stressful, however. "Most likely she wouldn't listen to us." Nee admitted emotionlessly. "She believes in her convictions." Itward grimaced painfully, grinding his teeth, running a hand through his hair.

"We're all basically a big family." He muttered to the indoor garden. "Each noble house could be considered cousins to one another! And yet we're all turning against each other, finding reasons to fight each other. Whoever's in charge of the rebellion probably has Aine as a scapegoat." Nee blinked, not liking this either. "She might be the one in charge." Nee interrupted quietly and that made Itward even more stressed. She spoke as if she were talking about the weather. "How can you say that? She's our friend, Nee! Aine's innocent. She has to be. Can't you say something to your mother? She's not the one in charge!"

The princess shook her head icily. "There's nothing we can do." And that made the only son of the Cherubim family even more stressed than before, almost shattering a tea cup in frustration.


With the weapons and the like dealt with for the time being, Narcia wiped sweat off of her brow. How odd to think that out of the three friends, the three prodigies of the younger generation of nobles, that she would be the last one standing. Narcia wasn't exactly happy about this revelation, that much was certain.



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya was nibbling on her cookie as she left the green area and returned back to the dusty browns she had grown up with, though there were patches of green here and there wherever Cress could find a patch of usable soil. Eventually the whole tier would be lush and beautiful and the children would be able to eat real food, not the nutrient paste that tasted like plastic goop. If Xion never started the rebels, if Serpy never agreed to help, maybe Aya never would've been able to eat a cookie. That was a a tragedy, if there ever was one. She dropped food donated from some of the better off in the Tower Tier to the public shared storage areas within the Rubble Tier, and then went to her Daddy to pick up something new - a bomb, to be sent to Xion. It was packaged specially in a way that would fool the checkpoint scanners into thinking it was empty.

"Aya's doing a good job!" The nurse said, brandishing her fancy ID at her father. "Everything's great! We'll win, we'll beat the pigs, won't we?" He congratulated her, he called her a good girl as he twisted her arm back to make sure she remembered to stay Aya. She didn't resist, but she never did because this was good. It kept her mind from slipping into Aine-mode or Kora-mode, it kept her sharp and aware that she was Aya. With a new set of bruises, Aya had Daddy package the bomb onto her bike and she set off to Doc's place. Aya had been spreading rumors of course, rumors that the fiery red-haired girl was dead and Doc was one who believed it. It was a way to protect Cress, to keep her safe even though Xion probably wouldn't be happy if she found out about it.

"Thanks again, Squid." The doc said as he took the medical supplies - a much higher quality than the ones found in the Rubble tier, at the very least. Aya winked at him. When she showed him the ID, he was proud of her, proud that she found something she could do in life. Aya knew how to read and when she read, the things stuck in her head really easily. Corren was impressed by her skill with it, but the student wasn't sure it was all that special. Wasn't that how it was for everyone?

Once her supply runs was done, returned to Cress with a new batch of cookies. The girl made a dramatic little sway - still wishing it was her friend instead of Itward's rabbit - but then sat down, pulling out the books Corren had assigned for her to read. "Don't mind me." She said, crosslegged on a flat stone, mind delving into the words. "The kids really love you, huh, Cress?" Later Aya was gonna need more target practice with shooting guns, and the girl wasn't sure if she was excited or not about that. She wanted to help and heal people, not kill or hurt anyone. But if the rebellion needed her to do it, she would in an instant. Anything to protect her new friends.


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 heard someone behind her, a familiar blonde sitting beside her. "Hey Aya," Cress grinned as a kid hopped on her back, another playing with her rabbit ears. "Alright, that's enough of that." She stood, pulling the kid up and flipping them, then setting them gently back down on their feet. The child giggled and ran away, the one on her back sliding off and picking up a shovel. "I think they like me a little too much," she admitted with a smile. "That's one of the books Corren sent you?" Cress asked, looking over it. It was surprising to learn that the Ouranian nation used English, especially considering they were so far away from earth. From where they were standing, or now kneeling, they weren't too far from where Aya had first found Cress, pinned beneath a half a car with a broken leg.

That had been one strange day and even now the details weren't exactly clear in her mind. Cress dug a trowel, in, scooping out a hole like she had a million times and putting in her final flowers. "Well, I'm all done." Cress smiled. She dusted off her hands and put her gardening tools in a bag, stuffing them into the sidecar like she always did. "Ready to go?" Cress checked her watch, there were no other appointments that she could recall and all of her flowers in this section were planted. She waved bye to the kids, wondering if Aya had anything else in mind. They could always go to one of the shops in the Middle Tier since the Rubble Tier was mostly factories for the two above. There were some home ran shops but it was mostly things they found in the scrapyard that hadn't been completely destroyed or compacted yet.

"Xion didn't say she had anymore work for us did she?" Cress asked, one ear falling. She pushed it back up, hands on hips. "If not we can always explore? Maybe go to the scrapyard and see if we can find anything useful for Nee?" Maybe she could find something that would bring the Princess so much joy her cousin would return. That would be nice; if only it were that easy, then maybe Cress wouldn't feel the stabbing pain in her heart whenever she thought of Narcia.


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❝Yes Mistress.❞


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

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




Shiro awoke dazed and confused. The sedative hadn't completely worn off and it was still painful to move. She tied her eye patch around her injured eye, the knot sloppy, completely different from her normal, graceful ability to tie. She stood shakily, pulling down on her shirt and collapsing against the doorway. In a fevered daze Shiro went down the stairs and out the door, no one there to stop her. She whimpered as she fell down the steps, wearing nothing but a shirt. Her eye patch fell off, landing on the last step but the girl hardly noticed as she swayed, walking down the side walk. Why someone would simply leave the door unlocked was a question for later, Shiro had no idea where she was going, her feet carried her occasionally stumbling and making her fall.

Her knees bleed, the palms of her hands were scraped and she continued moving on, unsure of what was happening. The sidewalk would have burned her feet had there not already been bandages wrapped around them from the burns the Queen had given her. As she walked, one came loose, unraveling with every step. She walked through an ally, a dog barking and snapping, causing Shiro to flinch away and turn back. No, she didn't want it, she needed that eye, the Queen couldn't take them both from her. She collapsed on a grassy patch near a park, a river that cut through it burbling. Her head spun and she could hardly keep her eyes open. The pain had returned in full force and so Shiro crawled on her hands and knees. She needed to move or else the Queen would find her and she would be punished again for being late or for spilling tea.

Finally, Shiro came across a tree and settled there, shivering underneath the shade. She pulled the shirt she was wearing down, wishing she had a blanket. Where had her puppy gone? Shiro wondered, hugging herself. She was going to be punished for not being prepared, for going out without undergarments, for being late. The blonde whimpered, knowing it would hurt. They would likely take her other eye, or maybe something worse. Maybe the Queen really would cut off her ears for not listening, or take her hands like she had to the Princess.

The Princess, where was she? Shiro was supposed to be taking care of. If she lost her charge she would, she would lose something too. Surely the woman in charge of her wasn't going to be happy. Nee had promised she wouldn't hurt Shiro though. Wasn't it a lie? Nee had promised she wouldn't get hurt and yet, Shiro had ended up punished. Why? None of it made sense? Who was Auna Dorones? Shiro didn't know. The Princess had been talking to her at the ball but the Princess promised she would be safe. That day in the castle, where she had finally met her charge after years of preparing, that had been a very happy day. The Princess wouldn't hurt her, she let Shiro sleep in her bed, she let Shiro eat beside her.

She made Shiro hurt though.

No, it wasn't true. Shiro's head hurt, she put her hands against her ears, trying to block out the sounds from the park and she drifted off to sleep.

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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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❝Are the rest of you so content to stay like this when it hurts like hell?❞

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

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




Working on the medical equipment was a little less boring, but also more difficult so Narcia couldn't really just daydream the time away as she usually did. One particular thing that was complex was creating replacement organs in storage - some for each member of the team, because you never know. Right now her assignment was to prepare ocular augments for Cress, so Narcia had to research how eyes even worked and how their structure was made. She scanned through one of Aya's basic biology textbooks, finding a whole section all about the eye and it's functions and build. It surprised Narcia more than she'd like to admit that the eye was very similar to a camera. With that in mind, Narcia found neutral transmitters that'd fit in at the ocular nerve and edited the internal wiring to be compatible with Cress's own nervous system based on the data the nurse got from scanning everyone.

It took about half an hour to finish one eye, but Narcia found herself stuck on one thing. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make the iris to how she wanted them, and yet she didn't know why she even bothered to make such a fuss in the first place. It was difficult to detail the pigmentation to accurately represent Cress's spirit and her fire - it was a mixture of a lack of the exact dye mix as well as the imprecise movements of her hands. Eyes were small, and there were a few bits of the internal mechanics that the princess wasn't quite satisfied with. This was going to be a problem if she couldn't find a way to get better hands at some point.

And then everything was ruined by someone barging into the base. "Nee, get your techno butt up here!" Who else but Heron? so Nee places the eye into a canister of fluid to keep it moisturized and walked up the stairs to the entrance where the knight set a shivering Shiro into her own arms. Her mane of red swayed as she explained that she found Shiro in the park, all alone. "She's fragile, Nee. You gotta take better care of her." Narcia regarded Heron coldly as she cradled the one-eyed girl gently. "Just because you're ice doesn't mean you gotta be mean to everyone. People need softness sometimes too, ya know?"

"Being soft is a waste of time." Narcia muttered as the knight pulled in a pile of scrap materials for use. Hopefully there'd be some useful things this time. "Why bother being emotional when there's a task at hand? There's no time to worry about the past now." Heron didn't seem happy about that, though, as she carried the box of tech down the stairs to Narcia's workshop. "You tried that, but Shiro ain't coming back, is she? Nee, don't make a cute girl like her cry more than she has to, okay?"

Nee grimaced, deciding not to bother responding, then took Shiro back to their room, placing her on the bed. She pressed a hand to her forehead and brushed her off a little. "Don't go leaving without me, please." Nee's voice was low and quiet, was it a plea or a command? "You're still not ready yet. You still need to heal." She went to get another sedative and prepared for the injection in case there was pain. An idea came to mind, however. "Shiro, once you feel better from your illness, would you like to help me in the workshop?" The girl's small deft hands were exactly what Narcia needed, weren't they?



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❝Being lonely is only fun in a group, it hurts more when it's actually true.❞

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

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




Aya was lost in her first book, the one about field surgery for emergencies and all that jazz. She made sure to absorb every word and then she checked her emergency pack of equipment - nope, nope, she forgot the defibs, she forgot tourniquets and the metal sheet bone fixer and the painkiller injections, though she did remember disinfectant and bandages. Aya made mental notes to always bring everything she needed for every emergency, because you never knew when you needed it, right? She laughed as the kids played with Cress, pulling on her and the like, but it was a little difficult to focus on two things at once. As Aya self-quizzed, she gave herself imaginary cookies from Corren as rewards. She'd make sure to add them to the imaginary list of cookies owed by her teacher and tell him next time they met. If they could, at least.

"You like them too, don't you?" The blonde rebel smirked at her friend, trying to picture the old Cress under the hair and the rabbit features but it was difficult and for some reason it made the loneliness worse, just a little. She wouldn't show it, though, that's just silly. She waved the book at Cress and smiled, nodding. "Yeah! Aya can be much more help when she's done reading this!" She felt a little giddy about that at least. Being a nurse just felt natural for her, it felt like what she was meant to do. Aya would make sure to be perfect!

When Cress announced that she was done working the fields, Aya patted her seat on the bike again, placing her books in the sidecar with her emergency pack and Cress's own bag. "Nothing yet." Aya said slowly, trying to think. No, not that she was aware of, there wasn't any other mission. "She might be waiting for us to meet her later for more, though, so let's not explore too much!" It felt weird being a little responsible but it felt nice, too. The nurse liked it, she liked knowing she was reliable, that people were counting on her.

It didn't take very long for them to get to the scrapyard. Unfortunately, Aya was clueless when it came to technology so she wasn't sure what to bring and what was garbage. "Um, I'm - Aya doesn't know what's good or not." The girl whined, then grinned a little, her usual playful self emerging. "And it's heavy! Aya needs to rest her arms in case you get hurt, so Cress can do the digging around!" She joked, knowing that if Cress needed or asked for it, Aya would be glad to lend her weak arms to try and help. She knew why Cress wanted this, though. "Maybe it might bring Ellie back." Aya whispered, reaching for her book again. She'd need to ask for a mental health book next time. Maybe there'd be clues in there to help!