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Default Location for Weather Girls
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The Chrysanthemum is a part of 
Weather Girls.
2 Characters Here
Elise von Hresvelg [625] "Hide away from the light, the rain is the only refuge."
Winter Matsuri [625] As gentle as the falling snow.
Start Character Here »
Setting
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
"What are you doing here? Where's Carter?" Oliver asked as Winter arrived without him. "He took a detour," she replied, settling on the couch. She closed her eyes, draping an arm across her face, indicating that she was no tin the mood to talk. Serenity was sitting on the desk, eating a bag of chips. Lunch would be delivered soon, then they would head to the training room to get some exercise in. Elise and Ezra were the last to return, right before their lunch trays were delivered from the Ender Family's personal kitchen. They sat in a circle on the floor as they ate, Winter not very talkative. "Hey, you've barely touched your food." Carter noticed as Winter pushed the pasta around on her plate. "I'm not that hungry," she replied softly.
They headed to the training room next. Winter changed out of her dress and into a pair of exercise pants and a tank top. "Hey, want to spar?" Carter offered, since Oliver was helping Serenity train. "Fine," they went into the sparring ring. Winter on one end, Carter on the other. The electronic monitor counted down for them, Carter attacking first. He was eager, it seemed, as though he had something to prove. winter dodged his first attack, a sand whip. She kicked her leg upwards, an ice block flinging from seemingly nowhere. Carter's eyes widened as he dodged, laying flat against the ground. Ice snaked towards him, forcing him up. She struck him across the chest, the dull edge of an icicle pushing him back. "Fight back," Winter grunted.
He stumbled, but remained within the confines of the ring. A dust devil kicked up around her, growing larger until it surrounded her. She couldn't see three feet in front of her, the sand stinging her eyes. He came from behind her, Winter quickly putting up a wall of ice, the thud of Carter hitting it sounding like a deer that had just discovered windows. Winter whirled around, trapping him in four walls of ice. He pounded his fists against it, the sand slipping through small cracks, grabbing her wrists. She was pulled closer, Carter trying to rope her in. Winter thought back to their first fight, how he had buried her in sand, nearly smothering her. She pulled both wrists suddenly upwards, pushing Carter into the ice wall he was trapped within.
The sand dispersed, Winter slid the ice box outside of the circle, forcing Carter to forfeit. "I win," Carter nodded, falling ot his knees, panting. "How are you not exhausted?" He asked, no doubt having used all of his spiritual energy in that match. "Because I rely on my own power," she turned away from him. Winter had been studying the movements of the Heirs, how they directed their energy flow. She was studying a lot, now that she didn't have any instruments to occupy her. Elise wheeled up to her, asking her if she wanted to go to her room. "Sure," as long as they traveled in two's, nothing bad could happen. Right?
She pushed the wheelchair towards Elise and Serenity's room. Winter had been sleeping in Oliver's room for the last few days as it was not safe to be alone. "I'm just sick of... boys." Winter admitted as they reached Elise's room. "Yeah, I'd like that."
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❝Inside the mirror do you see someone else in that body?❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
Elise was clearly tired out. This was not just being weak or healing. This was being set behind. Two days of the virus, and then another day recovering from being stabbed had weighed hard on her body, setting back her recovery many times over. At this point she really was going to become a burden. Was she going to need Ezra to fight with one hand on her wheelchair handles at all times? No, this was not going to work, but she was not healing fast enough. Was she going to need the operation? It was customary for a Hresvelg to never undergo operations without strict vetting that it was a safe procedure, but normal vetting systems were unavailable right now. Still, with those thoughts pressing on her conscience she took herself to Winter, greeting her. Winter accepted the offer and together they set off to her shared room with Serenity. Oliver was yelling at Serenity and telling her to have some overtime training, so this would be a private movie afternoon just for Elise and Winter.
So it was as expected, Winter was sick of boys right now. "They can be a little overbearing, yes." Elise gave Winter a patient, understanding smile. She knew the feeling. Between Garrel and now Gordon Grant forcing their desires and wishes onto her it really put a sour taste in her mouth when thinking about men and their posessive natures. Elise did not want to be an object and even now she was still anxious about if Ezra was only holding back his true self. She knew it was rude to think poorly of him, Ezra had only ever been excellent to her. "Hmm, then shall we watch a film with a female hero?" She handed it to Winter to press against the holovision set Oliver had set up in her room to kill the time while she and Serenity were infected.
"This one is a new age revival of the old X-Men series from the old era." From an age a long time ago that no one alive now still remembered. "The title of the film, Storm, is about one of the X-Men members, Storm, and her fight as a member of her team." Elise had seen it already - she was a part of the industry after all - but she wondered if maybe Storm's struggles as a female hero might help Winter a little. Elise often helped compartmentalize her issues by watching movies that helped her gain new perspectives, but this kind of processing may not be up Winter's alley. "Or we could enjoy some more fairy tales if that would be more enjoyable?"
She nodded approvingly, making idle conversation. "I saw the end of your fight with Carter. It probably felt good to put him in his place." Before Elise would have been able to put up a good fight against Winter but now she knew she stood no chance. "How are you? Considering the experimental operation, has there been any unforeseen side effects?" She was guaging whether or not it was safe, using Winter as her... no, she should not do that. Elise needed to not use people like she used to. "I do not want to be a burden." The idea was frightening. "...But I am afraid. Are you sure that the operaton is safe?" She needed more practice being honest and upfront with her intentions, at least with those that deserved it.
There was something she wanted to admit, a fact that was becoming all the more clear the longer this apocalypse continued. "Anyone can see that you worked hard and earned your strength, your skill. You persevere even in the most impossible circumstance." It was an ugly emotion but the black eagle wanted to air it out before it turned into bad blood in the future. "I was genetically enhanced as a child." She explained quietly. "My mother engineered me into the perfect image. From my red eyes to my petite figure, silky hair, even my intellect, it was all chosen by my mother." She sighed, looking calmly at the holo film playing before her eyes. "Unlike you, I never earned my talents. I was given them. You are far more than someone like me can compare to." She was envious of Winter for being able to earn her accomplishments. Elise could not take credit for any of her own. Even Daryl Dixon first casted her because of her striking red eyes and resting piercing gaze as a child.
"You may be a Matsuri and a lesser noble, but in a small way, us being sisters made me a little happy in the beginning." Sure, she became annoyed after a while and employed tough love with, while good intentioned were ultimately not effective in the long run, but in the beginning a part of her was hopeful that they could become close, even if she did not want to admit it. "Is it okay if I still consider you something like a sister?" She looked away, clearly embarassed by the concept. "If that is too intimate, then feel free to refuse. I will not take it personally."
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
Winter took Elise to the room she shared with Serenity. While the others continued to train, Winter and Elise would be taking off early. She was glad for it, to be honest. She did not want to watch Carter and Oliver gang up on each other in their dumb fued. "Overbearing is an understatement," Winter rolled her eyes, settling on the bed, sitting across from Elise. "Anything is fine," movies were hard for her to pay attention to. She hadn't grown up watching them and while she could appreciate them, she was no longer as starry eyed as the first time she had seen one. Winter put on a movie called X-Men, "It's fine, I don't really care what movie it is." She popped it into the holo player, the movie beginning. She sat back against the mattress, the two of them silent for a few minutes.
"It did," Winter admitted. "I never paid him back for our fight behind the Opal," now she had put him in his place. Her knuckles still sang with satisfaction. Winter wasn't a violent person, but venting her frustrations was nice. Especially since she had no instruments to play with. "I haven't noticed any side effects," she admitted. "Nothing bad as of yet," Winter flexed her fingers, holding them up to the light. "I think it's safe, considering the amount of research that went into it." She would hope that something like that would be safe considering they had used it on her. Then again, she had always been something of a test subject for the adults to muck around with. As though her life wasn't hanging in the balance of their whims.
They fell silent again, the movie continuing. Winter glanced at Elise, wondering what she meant. Elise thought she had it easy, she thought her life had been handed to her on a silver platter because of her genetics. "You know, when I was little, I would have given anything to meet my parents." Winter admitted, "Sometimes, some of us have things that others envy." She knit her fingers together, "We don't get to control it, especially as children, but we can't exactly be jealous of circumstances that we had no say in. You didn't choose to be born like that, but you made the best of what you had and that's enough, isn't it?" She smiled, "Of course we can still be sisters." Winter smiled, she still enjoyed the thought of having siblings, even though she was an only child and an orphan.
"Not by blood, but by something stronger." She held out her pinkie, offering it as a promise. Gas began to leak through the vents, odorless, invisible. Winter felt a tickle in the back of her throat, a cough rising in her chest. "I'm gonna open the door, I think there's a smell in here-" her vision was blurry. She tried the handle, only to find it locked. "Elise I think we're trapped," her head was spinning. She had to get them out of there. Winter slammed her body against the door, groaning. She was coughing, her vision doubling. Panic filled her chest and lungs, "Elise-we-we-have to-" she fell to her knees, unable to see. Winter passed out, sprawled on the ground, her lungs still burning.
When she awoke, it was in a place that was all too familiar. "No," she groaned, "no, no, no." She tugged at the restraints on her wrists and ankles. She would recognize her old room in the Chrysanthemum anywhere. How had this happened? They were supposed to be safe. The Slithers were supposed to keep this from happening. Was Elise here too? Winter didn't know. There were multiple tubes sticking out of her body, different colored liquids flowing into her veins. What was this? What were they doing to her?
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❝Inside the mirror do you see someone else in that body?❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
Thanks to her enhanced immune system and her genetic modifications, she was able to resist the drugging for now. Still, she was not going to be able to get out without putting Winter at risk so for now Elise did what she could and left little water traces behind. As she fell and pretended to fall asleep - of course no one saw through her act, who could? - she left the water traces bearing the DNA of the captors. If Ezra was able to understand her hint, they would scan the DNA on the water and find out who exaclty betrayed them, who was working for the Doctor. Really, Elise almost sighed as she was taken out. Did they really think that this was going to work? This was just her chance to get at the Doctor, just like her original plan. He was a problem that needed to be comtained, and if used properly, would be a useful tool to bring about the fall of the Chrysanthemum.
Why did she bother to leave the traces? Well obviously the agents would have known to disable the camera systems before enacting their plan. Why did she not try to save herself and her sister before being taken? Obviously because it was to her benefit to have closer access to the Doctor.
In a strange room the Black Eagle calmly awoke, opening her eyes. She was given tubes of some liquid, so she memorized their looks but her lack of pharmaceutical knowledge made all the labels on the bags meaningless. Clearly, though, this was the Chrysanthemum. The Underground City did not have such drab yet clean walls. "I am a Hresvelg, I am not allowed to take in strange medicines." She muttered, pulling out the wires with an annoyed sigh. She left a trace of water inside of Winter, as long as it remained in her blood stream Elise would know where she was. Somewhere in this building for sure, she could sense the water close by. Was this the same municipal building she was locked in before? Back before the apocalypse was forced on them?
The doors opened, armed guards rushed in, accompanied by nurses. They pointed their guns at her, standing at a specific distance so as to not have their blood drained from their bodies. The Doctor smiled at her, a keen look in his eyes. "My, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. I always did want a chance to get back at you." He wheeled himself in, looking thinner and more pitiful than before. "I remember specifically breaking your spine." Elise said, putting the mask back on again. "You are messing with me again. Are you asking for me to break your neck this time?" The Doctor did not seem phased. Of course not, why would he be? [color=#0C94CC]"And you people have questionable priorities to be working for someone who started the apocalypse."
"Did I? Or was it a plan by the nobility to frame me in an attempt to take over? If you're insulting me, you're insulting the President who trusts me." The Doctor grinned, clapping his hands as Elise moved her arm, ready to strike. A wave of water cascaded through the room, knocking the guards and the nurses away, pushing them to the ground. Her hand was at the Doctor's throat, ready to end it when suddenly her legs went out, sending her to the floor. "Muscle weakness, overusing your powers. You haven't recovered yet from the plague, have you?" He pressed a button on a device and then Elise's hand moved against her will, touching her cheek. "Please know that I took backup plans this time. You should remember this device very well, you've have weeks to grow accustomed to it." So there was a second motherboard? How did the Doctor- "I see that you are traumatized. Please cooperate with the treatment plan, or perhaps your worst nightmare might still come true." He wheeled himself out, the water draining in the pipes around her, the soldiers putting her back in bed while her body was frozen, plugging the wires back in.
He was right here. This truly was absurd. There had to be a way to take him out, otherwise what was all of her intelligence for if she could lose to someone like him?
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
The door opened slowly, Winter fully prepared to attack. "It's me," Mercedes looked panicked as she propped the door open, carrying what looked like a lunch tray. "You-" Winter growled as electricity suddenly crawled through her body. "Don't try to resist," Mercedes warned. She looked frantic, what had they been doing? "That man perfected a way to control us, we can't use our powers." She placed the tray down, her tone low. No doubt they were being recorded. "What did he do to you?" Winter asked, her eyes narrowed. "I tried to escape," it was clear that Mercedes was distraught. "They've been using me, I thought I had picked the right side but- they never stop." She shivered, looking around. There were several cameras pointed at them, Mercedes was a victim, just like Winter was, just like Elise now was. "Mercedes, what are they doing to you?"
She rolled up her pant leg to reveal it, an anklet with several needles clamped against her skin. "It's monster poison, the Doctor refined it into a serum to make us stronger, to make us controllable." That was what had was infusing into her, wasn't it? "Apparently, Lydia, the Slither, used to work how. That's how she knew- she started the process on you and now-" the Doc was going to finish it. She had never wanted to help Winter, she was making Winter into a tool for the Slithers, just like the Doc had been. Her stomach squealched unpleasantly. "I'm sorry Winter, I'm sorry. I tried to keep them away, but he, he's crazy. He's obsessed with you. He and Merlin, I don't understand why." Winter's hands clenched into fists, "I killed Merlin-" Mercedes nodded. "But the Doctor has his blood." They knew about that too then?
"Do you know what the end goal is?" Mercedes rolled her pant leg back down, lifting up the tray to reveal a knife. "I have to kill you before he can finish," she said softly. Winter froze, "if he finishes, they'll win. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I have to." She picked up the knife, there were cameras everywhere, what was she thinking? "Mercedes, no you don't have to-" there were tears in her eyes as she plunged the knife into Winter's stomach, the world suddenly exploding into vibrant shades of pain. "Mercedes!" The door burst open, she was ripped away. Winter was bleeding through the thin hospital gown, bleeding from between her lips. Something vital had been hit. "I'm disappointed Mercedes, your will was weak. You could have aimed for the throat if you really wanted to kill her," the Doctor tsked, rolling in. Winter tried to glare at him, but her body was convulsing.
How much more damage could she take? "We'll patch you up, don't worry my dear." He stroked her head, his touch loving, like that of a parent. Was that really what he thought he was to her? A Father? A creator? She spat blood in his face. "That's not a side of you I've ever seen before." He laughed, wiping the blood from his glasses. "No worries, we'll correct it." Something burned in her veins, it felt as though her eyes were being forced shut. "Let... go..." she gurggled, the metallic taste enveloping her tongue. Mercedes was screaming, whether it was with fear or with failure, Winter couldn't tell. She drifted off to sleep, the most painless state, her body no longer able to feel what was happening to it.
When she awoke there were bandages around her abdomen. She was no longer strapped down, but she was numb from the neck down. There were still tubes of flourescent colored liquid being pumped into her spine and arms. Monster poison, if what Mercedes had said was correct. Poison and possibly Merlin's own blood. "Zoku," Winter slurred. "Is it enough?" Zoku appeared before her. Yuuki was there as well, always worried about what Zoku might do or say. "Yes," she confirmed, her eyes gleeful. "Yuuki?" She asked, her eyes full of confusion. "No, it won't take away your ice." He confirmed, stroking her head despite the fact that his hand passed right through her. "Elise?" She slurred, feeling drunk.
"Not sure yet," Zoku shrugged. Elise... Winter needed to see her, she needed to find her, but her limbs wouldn't move, they wouldn't listen.
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❝Inside the mirror do you see someone else in that body?❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
After everything was finished Elise felt exhausted. She was too weak to fight back, even the Doctor did not seem particularly worried about her anymore. She used to be very strong, but ever since the plague and forgetting how to use her limbs, she had become pathetically weak. Still, the Doctor was here, drawing her blood so much that it made her feel as if she were going to die. How much was lethal? Elise was not trained in health, so she did not know but she had a bad feeling. "You're much nicer when you're compliant. Just think about the kind of relationship we could have had if only you were willing to play along." He replaced the bag in the machine, pressing a button to continue the extraction of blood. Even if she was strapped in, without the straps she would not be able to fight back regardless.
She could not see Ame anymore, it was difficult to even think. Over the past few hours she had been having her blood stolen from her. With how dizzy she was, trying to come up with some sort of plan was increasingly difficult. "Just like a doll. That's what Garrel liked, wasn't it? Oh, you shoud have heard how that silly journalist treasured you. You have quite the fan club." He pressed a hand to her cheek and she flinched, her heart racing. No, she had to stay calm. Was that not what mother always taught her? Stay calm and in control, a noble's poise and puissance was supposed to be above all reproach. "That is a lot of blood. Are you not afraid I will kill you?" The Doctor laughed even as the soldiers tensed their hands on their guns. "Please, if you could, you would have done so already." The Doctor looked gaunt and sick. Elise had a bad feeling even the rock inside of his head that Ezra planted was gone as well now.
Why did he want her blood? Why would he not just kill her? "You really would do well in killing me." She was speaking not because she wanted to die, but rather, she wanted information. Exactly what did he gain from leaving her alive? Clearly his main goal was Winter, but was there a need to keep her alive? "It's such a shame, your good looks are wasted. Of course you're going to die, a threat like you can't be underestimated." The Doctor chuckled, a gleam in his dull eyes behind the glare of the glasses. "I was just hoping for one last conversation with you before I make sure you can't get that revenge you so dream of." No, it would not do to get distracted. Think, what was he planning to do? What did he want?
"Why do you want to give Winter my blood?" She asked, narrowing her ruby eyes. She could not die, not after coming back to life. "Congratulations, did you think I would let you live after guessing my intentions?" The Doctor smiled, finishing the drawing of blood. How many pints was this, how many did they need to transfer her powers to Winter? "No!" Ame screamed, unheard even by Elise who could barely make her out anymore. "I don't want to go to Winter, her head is too crowded already!" The Doctor sighed, raising his hand. "Do it. Dispose of the body." The soldiers nodded, pointing their guns, the barrels staring down at her.
She had no way to fight back, but what could she do? She was a noble, so at the very least, she could die with honor. "Then I will smile as-" The Doctor clapped his hands and grinned. "Destroy her face, she doesn't deserve a pretty corpse after destroying my body." It wasn't just his spine. Even Elise could see it, the pain in every movement of his. Was this revenge? "Hey, Brat Princess." Ezra's warm smile, his eyes widening as he saw her, just another day at the Underground City. "Glad to see you're awake." Why was she still imagining things even now? Of all things to think of at the very end... "Ezra... I think that I..." The black eagle smiled serenely, her eyes gentle with affection as the guns fired, not feeling the impact as the bullets smashed into her face, sending her mind into darkness before she could even feel the pain.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
"Winter, you need to eat your food," she picked up her fork, her eyes dull. "That's a good girl," the Doc grabbed her chin, jerking her head upwards. A vassal of three Heirs now, a puppet for the Chrysanthemum to tote. Her head was always so loud, but the medicine made everything quiet. The blue liquid that tasted like bubblegum and made her limbs feel heavy and her tongue numb. She could hardly taste the food on the tray in front of her. "Mercedes is being rueful, she doesn't want to see the project completed. She ran away, that little brat, after everything I've done for her." He let her head fall back. Winter no longer felt like herself, a sub-conscious thought tucked into the back of her mind. She felt as though she was living outside of herself, with no control of what she did. She hardly looked like herself either, her eyes a cloudy purple and her beige hair nearly white.
"We're going to test your power, come." She followed the Doctor to the elevator. He kept looking at her, a keen smile on his face. She felt dizzy when she stood, as though there was a large weight sitting on her shoulders. They went down three floors before the door opened, a training room that utilized digital layout for practice. She was pushed onto the field, the scientist, doctors, and military strategists watching from behind the safety of glass. "Do it," The Doctor egged on. "Spirit armor, final form." Her head was flooded, slammed by the voices of three. She clutched her skull, wincing, as Ame, Yuuki, and Zoku all showed up, fighting for control. "We haven't decided on a cohesive look yet." Yuuki debated, knowing Winter couldn't reply. Her clothing glitched as the three argued, wrestling for control of the garb. "Stop!" Yuuki yelled at last, Zoku had a handful of Ame's watery hair. "We need it to be cohesive and functional."
They settled down at last, picking what they thought to be the perfect armor. The digital battlefield started up, "you're going to bend the water with your breath." Ame advised, clearly nervous. Winter rolled her shoulders, breathing in. She shifted, water coming up like a wave, smacking against the digital monsters. She froze the water, hardening it, and striking them through the center. The ground beneath them rumbled, the metal in her staff bending, wrapping itself around her arm. She struck behind her, the false monsters attempting to creep up on her. There were murmurs of approval from those that watched. Until the ground began to shake. She turned to face them, her expression neutral. The water struck the glass, turning to ice, attempting to drill through it.
"Winter, no!" The Doc's voice came over the microphone. She hissed as electricity coursed through her, her spirit armor flickering. She lashed out, the metal unravelling from around her arm, attempting to pierce the glass. "Bad!" The electricity got worse, but her head was feeling clearer. Winter panted, this could not be good for her heart. Door, she needed a way out, but the doors were not made of metal, they were made of plastic. "Winter, stop this!" She encased herself in a water box, freezing it. There, she could give herself time to think. The cold didn't bother her. "What are we gonna do!" Ame screeched. "Shush, I just need to think." Winter replied, "Yes, be quiet!" Zoku agreed with a hiss. "Not the time you two!" Yuuki shoved them both away from each other.
"Out, out!" Winter clawed at her ears, they needed to get out of here, she was running out of-electricity coursed through her at a velocity that stole the breath from her body. She was convulsing on the ground, the the water acting as a conductor. "Shame, you never learn." The Doctor stood over her, she was wet and shaking. "You can't escape Winter," she was grabbed, wrestled until her arms were locked behind her. "I... hate... you." She panted, "You'll thank me one day." He stroked her cheek, "When you realize how strong I've made you."
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
Gas mask on, bloodied corpse in hand, Mercedes grunted, blasting the area around her with ferocious wind. Really, she should have left such a long time ago. As the monsters rushed towards her she donned her spirit armor. "Just wait a little bit, Elise, I'll take you back." She was dead, her pretty little face torn to shreds. It was only thanks to the black wing emblem on her clothes that Mercedes was able to truly recognize the former rain vassal. Kaze sighed, rolling his eyes. "She and the rock boy were close, so you should at least let him see what happened." Mercedes agreed, which was part of why she fled. She needed to get help, she needed the other Vassals to take action. Would they listen? Elise's body wold have to serve as proof. If they wanted any hope of saving Winter, the time to move was now.
After finishing off another horde of monsters that charged her Mercedes picked Elise back up again, gently, almost as if cradling a baby in her arms. Her pretty long silken hair, her ruby eyes that would no longer look at everyone with scorn. As unlikable as Elise was, this was no way for her to die. "So where was the Underground City again?" Naturally, the President was not one to take betrayal kindly. As punishment for turning against the President, all the adult nobles were executed. From friendly Jeralt von Hresvelg to pretty and shy Cynthia, they were all lined up and greeted by a firing squad. Only the children were spared, but Timothy was so traumatized and the other surviving children were so young they would have no power or influence. They were just sad orphans now, with too much money to their names. "And then that bastard came back." It only got worse when the Doctor returned. The next day Mercedes's father was killed by a mysterious poison. No one was allowed to investigate it either, but Mercy knew exactly who caused it. She even saw Serenity's family, even her two sisters, eight year old Annie and six year old Rina, taken in by soldiers. Who knew what happened to them after that? Were they even still alive?
No matter who Mercy asked, she was never able to find out what became of the last of Serenity's family.
What a stupid mistake this was. She was trying to protect Elise's corpse, to bring it back as intact as she could when she got sloppy. A monster's claw jabbed through her armor, sinking into her shoulder. "Get off of me, I have a job to do!" Mercedes growled, a blast of wind slashing the monster into ribbons, a hideous sound as it's fleshy scales melted to dust. Her arm throbbing, she continued towards the west side of town, the growling of monsters all around her. As she advanced through the infested city, Mercedes stumbled as best as she could. How long could she fight alone against the monsters? How close was she to sanctuary?
"Carter, attack with a strike of sand! Serenity, back him up!" Someone was yelling orders. The other Vassals, they were here? "I brought Elise! Please, you have to listen to me-" She cried, trying to get their attention. As sunlight blinded the mosters chasing behind her, allowing for whips of sand to crush their heads, a wall of jagged stone formed all around them, blocking off the rest of the monsters. They were here, all four of them. Ezra's eyes went wide as Mercedes laid Elise onto the cement ground, her corpse available for the mall to see. There was relief on Siri's eyes at first but they quickly turned into horror at the sight. "So you killed her. Do you remember what I told you?" Ezra pounced, pushing Mercedes onto the ground, a hand at her throat, clenching so tight she could feel her windpipe closing. "If you messed around, I could end you." Rocks aimed their pointed ends right at her, in a ring ready to strike.
"I-It was the Doctor! I didn't do this!" Mercedes cried, raising her arms in the air in surrender. Ezra kicked her, pain going all the way down her spine as his foot connected with her skull. "Ezra, control yourself. I'm the leader of the Underground City now, so you have to listen to-" Ezra pushed Oliver to the ground, growling. "It was only thanks to me we found Claude!" He growled, despair and hatred in his eyes. "It was only because of me we were able to lock Lidia in prison and exile your father to the monsters!" What happened? Did they also have an uprising while Elise and Winter were kidnapped? "I'm sure Elise still loves you, so you really.." Mercedes tried when suddenly Serenity jumped in front of her, the four rocks smashing into her sides instead.
Serenity slid to the ground, grasping at her crushed legs in surprise. "S-Siri!" Mercedes screamed, standing. "Ezra, what are you doing? I'm not the one that killed her!" Oliver and Carter grabbed Ezra, pinning him down. "Tell me everything you know." Oliver grunted while Ezra continued to yell and shout, unable to break out of Carter's grappling hold. So Mercedes told them everything, about the Doctor's project of making Winter perfect. "There's no time, we gotta save her." Mercedes gulped, looking at Serenity and her newly crushed legs. "We'll find a place to hide you, Serenity, then the rest of us will storm the place." Oliver decided, clearly the one in charge. "Mercedes, lead us to Winter. If you're right, we need to save her right now." Knowing Ezra, even if they wanted to wait, they wouldn't have the chance.
Before they knew it, Ezra was already rushing towards the Municipal Building where the Doctor was, roaring with anger. "It hurts." Mercedes giggled, tears falling down her face. "I'll hide inside this store with Elise... so you guys go after Ezra and take Winter back." Mercedes gulped, wondering how to break the news asbout her family. This wasn't the time, she would worry about that later. "We will. Stay safe, Siri, don't let the monsters get you." Oliver and Carter both helped transport Elise and Serenity to hiding, and after wrapping up Mercy's arm, folloewd after the trail of destruction Ezra left as he tore apart buildings and roads on his path towards the Doctor's head.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
Her chest hurt from the electricity, her entire body abuzz. She lay in her bed, knowing they would be here soon with the next dose. Slowly she sat up, the three Heirs awfully quiet as they sat on various pieces of furniture, seeming upset with one another. Winter sat at the piano bench, lifting the lid. She pressed one key, the familiar cool ivory a comfort. Her fingers began to play by memory, the last competition piece she had performed moving through her, flowing like water. Tears sprung to her eyes as she played, hot, and angry. She hated this. She hated her weakness. She wasn't strong enough, three powers and she still couldn't defeat him. A scream tore through her as she played, the melody changing. It was no longer gentle and flowing but an angry, quick rhythm. Her fingers pounded angrily against the keys, the bench falling back as she stood.
"Winter," Yuuki reached out to try and touch her, his fingers passing through her. "We have a little bit of time," he pointed downwards, at a grate in the floor. Her playing ceased, she knelt beneath the piano, "spirit staff, metal." Slowly, Winter pried the lid off. She would just barely fit. "Where does it go?" She dropped a piece of ice down the shute, the chunk disappearing. "I don't know, but it's your best best." She nodded, knowing that this could be her way out. She needed to go quickly, before they came with the next dose, before they tried to chip her like they did Elise, and she lost total control of her body. Winter eased herself into the grate, closing it above her. There were several cameras, she was fooling no one, but hopefully they weren't paying attention.
"Slowly," Ame said worriedly as she used her staff to ease herself downwards, trying to balance herself. It was dark, pitch black. It was a tight squeeze, bile rising in her throat. "I sense metal beneath you, a fan." Winter reached out, suddenly falling into a path. She sighed with relief, this shaft large enough for her to crawl. There was light as well, coming from various rooms. "Alright, let's find a way out." She shimmied through the vent, trying to be as quiet as possible. Had she continued downwards, she would have gone right into an industrial fan and would have been chopped to pieces. "Where did she go?" The Doctor, she could hear him. "Find her!" Winter crawled as quietly as possible, realizing that the walls around her were all metal. "Shit," she whispered, the collar starting up. She grabbed at it, electricity coarsing through her once more.
Her body convulsed, the grate loosening, her body falling through. "There you are," she was grabbed on both sides, the bubblegum blue liquid forced into her mouth. "We have enemies approaching, you know what to do." Her eyes glazed over, she felt like a puppet. Why couldn't she do anything right? "Spirit armor," Winter slurred, pointing her staff at him. "No," she was injected in the neck, "bad." Her mind felt as though it were inside of a cloud. "Capture them alive," Doc ordered. She nodded stiffly, turning around. "You'll need this," a mask was put over her face so that she could breathe outside. She stood at the gates, her mind feeling fuzzy. She needed to win, but she wanted to lose. Everything in her told her to win, even if her brain screamed not to fight them.
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
"The Doctor is going to force her to fight us." Mercedes explained as they neared the Municipal Building. "She'll have three powers, Merlin's, Elise's, and her own. We'll have to do whatever it takes to subdue her and hope we can heal her after." Carter's eyes were dark and steady. It was very clear that he wanted to make up for the past and that this was his chance to do it. "Ezra's already made a big mess of things, so hopefully he'll be able to put up a fight." It really was a clear path straight to the building, all thanks to Ezra and his path of death, corpses, and destruction. All they had to do was follow the ruines roads, the shattered buildings, the upturned rocks stained red with blood. "What's with the change of heart? You were set on following your family's duties and beliefs." Oliver eyes Mercedes with obvious doubt in his eyes. "The Doctor got my dad killed while you were all suffering from the plague." Mercedes grit her teeth. "So maybe this is a little bit of revenge for me."
They needed to do this fast of course, Serenity was the weakest of them and she was all alone with broken legs. Mercedes really couldn't believe that a former timid little girl was able to jump to protect her like that, a traitor. Mercedes had turned her backs on them, she had even tried to kill them before. She really did not deserve any of this forgiveness. "Winter's the strongest vassal." Cater said as they followed Ezra's path to the buiding. "But she doesn't want this either. We need to wait for her to hesitate, then knock her out." Mercedes held a necklace in her fist, emblazened with the black wings of the Hresvelg family. It was still bloody. "I'll show this to her, maybe that'll give us the chance we need to knock her out."
Ezra was already clashing with Winter by the time they caught up. Rocks and ice littered the battlefield just outside the main gate. Dead Enforcers lay all around, whether by Ezra or Winter's hand was anyone's guess. "Stop being dumb! Come back with us or I'll break the piano we bought for you!" Ezra growled, tears still streaking down his face as he sent rocks at Winter. He was wounded, was it on the way here or did Winter do it? "Winter, stop!" Mercedes ran out, catching up as Oliver and Carter did their best to support Ezra from the rear. "Elise got out too, she wanted me to show this to you!" With a gasp Mercedes saw as ice hit Ezra on the face, breaking his gas mask. "Get down! Here, I'll put on a spare." Learning from how Carter broke his earlier, Oliver always made sure to carry spare masks for the toxic smoke. As Oliver pinned Ezra down to adminsiter the mask, Carter held his arm out in front of Winter, putting down his sand.
"Just come closer. Elise really wanted us to hand this to you, Winter." Carter said, trying to ease her in. For once, he was putting away his flirting face and was facing Winter as an equal, as someone woth respect and fear. "Here, see? Don't you recognize this?" It was her bloody necklace, the pendant glinting in the morning sunlight. Mercedes held it up for Winter to see. "Come with us peacefully if you want to see Elise." Carter grunted, raising his voice. "Oliver's in charge of the Slithers now, so you don't have to fear being controlled anymore. We found Claude... he's safe and sound." He took a step closer, Oliver waiting to knock Winter out the moment he found an opening.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
"Winter, fight them." The bit in her ear crackled. She had no control, she didn't want to fight Ezra. Water was building up behind her, waiting for Ezra to approach. A wave the side of a small building was waiting, Winter just in front of it. "So, they've already made you their puppet." Ezra grit his jaw, clearly upset. Winter spread her hand out, closing her fist. The wave crashed down, but Ezra held on. She formed a pillar of ice to stand on, watching as the wave crashed down, droawning any livng creature around her. Anything except Ezra that is, who managed to secure himself on a rock. He stomped on the ground, a boulder flying upwards. He moved his hands, pushing it towards her. Winter dodged, metal twisting itself around Ezra's limbs. "Winter, stop! Just listen to me!" He tried, using pebbles to form armor around his arms and legs to prevent them from twisting.
"Winter, we need him alive." Doc reminded her, not wanting her to crush him. The others had arrived, what would Winter do? She would finish Ezra first, then move on to them. They had something in their hands, they kept trying to shove it in her face, but she needed to focus on Ezra. She had to defeat Ezra first, put him down and then work on the others. They were attacking her to now, though. Fine, she would do this all at once. The thing in their hands caught her eye. She recognized it, but why? Her head was spinning, the air was being squeezed from her lungs. Winter flung her arm out, a wave of ice catching Mercedes off guard, enough to make her stop. She growled, slapping at her own face. "Winter, focus." The Doctor scolded, trying to get her to pay attention. "We need all of them to complete you." All of them, but there was one missing.
"Now!" She whirled around, when had they surrounded her? Winter growled like an animal, a low, gutteral noise. Fire surrounded her, which she put out easily with water. Wind sliced at her, but she wove her armor tighter around herself to protect from the fierce winds. A rock slammed her into a wall, Ezra was still fighting despite the fact that his limbs were pinned down with ice. She saw it again, the glimmer of the necklace. Winter stepped back, realizing. It was jolting. "Winter, fight them." The Doc egged on, they were surrounding her. Oliver was replacing the broken mask, Winter clawed at her own mask, shaking her head. "Now!" Oliver yelled as spikes of ice flew from all directions. Sand grasped at her legs, pulling her down, her mask smacking the floor.
She could feel tightness in her chest as her breath was stolen from her, the combination of broken mask and air being squeezed from her lungs enough to make her dizzy. Her limbs were pinned down by sand, a team effort taking her out. Winter did not fight it, knowing that something was wrong, that she was wrong. Carter stood over her as she passed out, his expression one of pity. "I know it's not your fault," he said softly as she choked, struggling to breathe. "None of us are mad at you, okay?" She nodded weakly as her eyelids fluttered shut, her body giving out.
She awoke tucked into a bed, the familiar feeling of oxygen underneath her nose. Winter sat up slowly, the room dark, light coming from the hallway. Her head felt clearer than it had in who knows how long, her sense of time having been skewed. How long was she there for? A week? A month? How long was she asleep for? Her stomach growled, there was a tray of food sitting on the side table. Winter pulled the oxygen off, grabbing the tray. "Oh, you're awake." Ezra stood in the doorway, stiff. "She's dead, isn't she?" Winter asked softly, suddenly no longer hungry. "Yeah, she is." He replied, remaining in the doorway. "Did I?...." Ezra, shook his head, "No, you didn't. That bastard did," his hands balled into fists. He punched the frame, a chunk taken out.
"Ezra, calm down." Carter was suddenly there, his hand squeezing Ezra's shoulder. "Shut up," Ezra grumbled, stalking away. She didn't blame him, Carter was annoying. "You were out for a while, I was starting to get worried." She nibbled on a bread roll, "Well, my guess is that there were a lot of drugs in my system." She had a blurry memory of the last few days? Weeks? "Yeah, enough to tranqualize a horse." He confirmed, she dipped the bread in the soup, the food already cold. "Does it work? All three of your... powers I mean?" Power, was that really what it was? "Yeah, I can use all of them. I have three Heirs in my head that never shut up," Ame giggled nervously, "They don't exactly get along." Yuuki crossed his arms, clearly glad Winter could hear and see them again.
"Where is Elise-Elise's body being kept? I want to see her."
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
With slow sluggish movements, Mercedes gazed about the Underground City. It really was just as she thought it was, but also nothing like what she expected. It was certainly dirtier than the Municipal Building, but it was also much more homely and lived in. It was clear that the locals living here wanted to forget about the apocalypse, to simulate a normal life. Was that a good thing? Mercedes was not sure - the civilians living with the Chrysanthemum have grown used to the Apocalypse and were regularly helping out and volunteering with the soldiers. "Can I go and see Winter now?" Mercedes asked, looking calmly at Oliver, who had been interrogating her. "Sure, I'm done gathering information. But if what you're saying is true, that's really disgusting." It was only her suspicion but Mercy had a bad feeling that maybe the Doctor had chipped every single soldier. The way they fight in battle with the Doctor was like watching a single organism, a single hive mind, all pieces of the machine working in unison.
It was too perfect, it did not make sense.
"How is Serenity doing?" Serenity had been her best friend since childhood. She was always friendly and gentle, and now her legs were crushed by that rash Ezra. Really, Mercedes couldn't help but think of him as a dangerous element. He was always wild and out of control, doing whatever he wanted without regards to anyone else. "Recovering. Doctor Julian is working on her." Oliver explained, having put Julian in charge after Lidia proved to be disloyal to the right cause. Wasn't Julian that traitor who worked with the nobles that turned against the President? Mercedes stood up out of the chair, stretching her arms. "I have to go see Winter first." Mercedes needed to at least give the necklace to Winter. Or Claude, one of them would get to keep it as a memento. "I'll lead the way, follow me." Oliver said, urging her to come along.
Hearing Winter express her desire to see Elise's body, Oliver spoke up. "Julian probably finished preparing her body for the burning, so I can take you there if you're up to it." Because of how many dead they had, they could not bury each and every one, but rather, cremated the fallen to save space. The doctors in the Slithers would first make sure the bodies are presentable for the final showing, then would cremate them in private and give the ashes to a family member. In this case, Claude would be the one to receive it. "Just in this room. Do you want to say any last words?" Oliver watched as staff members opened the door, revealing Elise laying on a table, a veil covering her face, dressed up in finery bearing her family's insignia. Her hands were crossed over her chest, and the blood was all cleaned away.
"Her face was ruined. I think the Doctor told them his soldiers to destroy it." Mercedes grimaced, remembering the mangled mess of gore and bones her pretty face had become. Claude was sitting in the room, his chosen urn - one of silver and onyx with the emblem of a black eagle - his head down. Whatever words he shared with his sister, they were for him alone. "Are you okay?" Oliver asked, looking at him with odd concern. "Your wounds still haven't healed yet." Claude nodded, looking up. "I'm fine." His voice was muted, none of his old wiley energy was there. He just sounded listless, defeated. "...Ezra still hasn't come to see her. You should make sure he does before he loses his chance." Oliver frowned, nodding in agreement.
Claude looked at Winter, relkeved that at least she was safe. "Do you want some time alone with her?" He asked, his tone caring. Carter reached for Winter's hand, no doubt wanting to provide support, but then his face changed and he scowled as doubt crossed his face, pulling back his hand.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
She felt slightly unsteady as she rose, as though her legs were not used to carrying the weight of a human. Always her weakness, she hated it. Her room was filling with people, it seemed they had been concerned about her. Were they her friends? Winter still couldn't tell. She wasn't sure if she wanted to consider people close to her anymore, not after everyone she grw close to died. He was killing them purposely, wasn't he? The Doctor saw Winter growing close to others as a threat, but why? Did he want her to depend on him and him alone? Carter reached out to support her, Winter instinctively pushing him away, but still, he persisted. "You don't have to do that, you know? You can rely on us." His arm was firm around her shoulders, "Thanks," she said quietly, uncertain of what she was feeling.
She had noticed the piano in the corner, but currently had more important things on her mind. "You don't have to keep pushing us away, they can't make you do that anymore." Winter nodded, swallowing hard. The door opened, Mercedes and Oliver had come. Carter released her, glaring slightly at Oliver, as though it was his fault that he had to let go of her. She felt steadier on her feet now. "Yeah, I want to see her." Winter confirmed, following them. They walked in silence at first, then Mercedes spoke up. "You know I used to hate you," she confessed quietly. "You always acted so arrogant in school, like you were above everyone. You always had this look on your face when you were forced to talk to people. I wanted to punch you sometimes." She shook her head, "I know now. It wasn't your fault, but I couldn't help but despise you."
"I hated you too, to be fair." Winter replied, they were all making her out to be some kind of victim. She scratched at her arm, uncomfortable with the idea of suddenly being surrounded by people, of being able to rely on others. Elise had been enough for her, but now... Elise was gone. Was it her fault? Winter couldn't help but think so. "If I had been stronger..." her hands balled into fists, Mercedes placed a hand on her shoulder. "You couldn't have stopped him," she said softly as they reached thed oor. "That man is terrifying," Winter knew it too. Once the Doc had set his mind on something, there was nothing that would stop him. Claude was sitting in the room, wearing black. He was sharply dressed, even in mourning. Had he dressed Elise too? She wondered. She was wearing a white dress, full of lace and pearls. The emblem of the black eagle embroidered onto the lapel.
He reached out, then flinched away. Winter grabbed his hand, "How are you doing?" She asked first, wanting to make sure he was okay. He was the closest thing Winter had ever had to a brother. "Before we were separated, Elise asked me... she asked if it was okay to still consider her a sister. Is it alright?" Winter asked, her eyes stinging. She didn't cry often, she was emotionally stunted because of her childhood. She was never allowed to properly mourn. "Is it okay if I think of you as a brother?" Her vision blurred as tears ran down her cheeks, her face feeling warm. She hated crying, maybe that was why she tried to never let her tears flow. "Sorry," Winter wiped her eyes. It was her fault Elise was dead. If they hadn't been in the same room, if her lungs were stronger, if she had tried to fight harder. Elise wouldn't be dead.
"Is it alright if I have a minute alone with her?" Was it wrong to request this? Even though Claude had said it was alright. She was his sister, after all. Ame settled next to Elise's body, the most emotionally connected of them all considering she had lived inside of Elise's head. "Is she on the Far Shore?" Winter asked, her voice catching. "No," Ame replied, the watery looking girl had eyes full of tears. "She's waiting in line to be judged." Judged? Winter knew nothing about that. "Then there's still time," dammit, Winter was going to do something crazy. They had left her to her devices, they shouldn't have done that. "Winter, you can't bring back the dead." Yuuki said sternly, "even if you wanted to."
"Why can't I?" Winter asked, her voice trembling. "Elise didn't deserve to die. I have the power of three inside of me, what good is it if I can't fix her?" Her nails dug into her palms. "Well," Zoku started. "There is one way," she walked around the two of them, a crazy gleam in her eyes. "You might have to give something up though."
"What is it? I'll do it." It would be a small price to pay to bring Elise back. "I don't know, the cost is always different."
"Show me what to do." Yuuki slapped a hand over Zoku's mouth, "Don't you dare!" He growled as Ame burst into tears. "Do it!" She begged, Zoku grinning behind her closed mouth. A gate appeared before her, just like that day. "Here you leave the world of the living and enter the world of the spirits." Zoku floated around her. "Are you prepared to pay the price?" Winter didn't hesitate, she strode through the gate, falling.
"It's a living thing," something hissed, shoving her. She was in darkness, floating, warmth surrounding her. "A living creature," she was grabbed, pushed harder down. "You should not be here." They surrounded her, made of smoke. She was within a bubble, looking at creatures whose faces constantly changed, wearing the masks of the dead. "I've come to bargain!" Winter yelled. That's right, she had the power of three, she could do this. Merlin, Elise, and her own blood pulsed within her veins. "Bargain!" They screeched in unison, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. "And what does the human bring?" They circled around the bubble, shoving it, screeching. What did she bring? What would she give up?
"Give me my friend back!" The smoke hit the bubble, jolting her. "You have two dead and one living," the faces of Merlin and Elise appeared before her. They were wearing them, like masks, as though they were in costume. Winter needed to keep her emotions in check, she could not risk doing something rash here. "I want Elise Von Hresvelg back." She replied calmly, steadying herself. "Take her out of me, return her to her body." The bubble span again as they laughed. "So many demands from one human child." One of them attempted to strike her through the bubble.
"Divine protection! It has divine protection!"
"Zeus! Zeus!"
"Who is your Father!"
"I never met my Father."
"Move!" The creatures of smoke parted, a solid being appearing. His mask was that of the skull of a deer. He wore a long cloak and had the antlers of elk. In his hand was a cane with a looking glass perched on top. "You've come to bargain. You want a life, what are you prepared to give up in exchange?" It asked, its voice neither male nor female. "Take anything," Winter replied. It grinned before her, it looked wrong. Winter felt sick. "Anything? Then are you prepared to lose your sight? Your hearing? Perhaps a kidney or a liver?" It burst the bubble, Winter falling to the ground. "You have been touched by the dead and the divine." It held out a hand, "You will not walk away from here without paying a price." Winter glanced up at its face, its hollow eyes gleaming. "My leg," she decided. "Take my left leg." It laughed, "Leave one foot in the grave! I like you, I might just take all of you." Its hand stroked her head, a great skeletal dragging against her skull. She did her best not to flinch.
"Fine, a left leg for a life. Your friend will return, you will lose the blood of one." Winter nodded, prepared to pay the price. "Do it then." She didn't feel the razor sharpness of the scythe, she didn't feel herself falling.
Her leg was gone. She lay in the room of Elise's grave, bleeding on the ground. Her left leg had been left in the spirit world. "Winter!" Yuuki was standing over her as she cried out in pain. Zoku was there, Ame was missing. Did it work? Was Elise back? Her head was spinning. The door suddenly burst open, Ezra and Claude yelling over one another.
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
It all happened in an instant. As Winter fell, her leg vanishing into thin air, something else happened as well. "Wait, did Elise just..." Mercedes rushed over to her, was her vision just playing a trick on her? While Carter and Ezra fought over who to tend to Winter's new mysterious injury, Elise's body had suddenly twitched. A rattling sound came out, like a breath desperately trying to escape. "Her vitals are going crazy!" Her holo was lighting up on her wrist, she was definitely not in a stable state. "What did you do?" Oliver asked, dumbfounded. "You found a way to cheat death a second time?" The price of this miracle was Winter's leg. Yet Mercedes knew someone like Winter would be willing to pay this price a thousand times if she needed to. "We need to get help for her, who knows how long she can last with her body like that!" Ezra growled. "Instead of standing around talking about it, let's make sure they both live!" He gestured to Winter's leg, she was bleeding out.
Oliver nodded, taking his holo. "Julian, there's an emergency. We have two injured - Winter lost a leg, and Elise is in critical condition. Come quickly and bring your team." It didn't take long for them to all to come, Claude being the one clinging to Elise's hand, coaxing her and begging her to hold on while also thanking Winter and apolozigig for her sacrifice. "You gave your flesh and blood to save Elise, you'll always be family to me, Winter." He kept on saying, trembling as he knelt on the bloodied floor. The medical team arrived, and Doctor Julian took the lead. "Take them in, stabilize them as much as you can." He ordered to the nurses. "We need to stop Winter's bleeding and arrange for a prosthetic leg, while also examining the extent of Elise's injuries to try and help her." Mercedes gulped, looking at him. "Be careful. The soldiers use polonium rounds, so there's a risk of radiation poisoning." It was a special kind of solution made by the Doctor to make sure each wound killed, no matter where it landed.
Extensive surgery was going to have to be done for both girls of course. Elise would need plastic surgery again on top of everything else, or else she may find herself with a new trauma like after the explosion. Winter's case was less severe, but blood loss was still a serious matter, as was the problem of building a replacement prosthetic leg for her. Either way, it was going to be a mess. "The Doctor isn't going to just sit around and wait for us to heal them." Oliver growled, making the calls. "Kronya, for the next week, no one is to come in and out of the Underground City! Monitor all communications on the Holos to make sure the Doctor can't communicate with anyone on the inside!" Ezra grinned, raising his fist. "I'll stand guard for both of them. Only the biggest numbskull would try anything with me standing there." Both girls would have wards right next door so Ezra would be able to protect both of them at once.
A week later, ruby eyes opened. The black eagle blinked, feeling slow and pained. Someone was holding her hand, a boy with fair hair snapped awake in seconds. "El! Y-you're awake!" A strange pale girl was staring at her, tears in her eyes. "Elise, you're finally back! The doctors said to give up, but you came back!" Her hand went through the blonde boy's and it was very confusing. "Huh, are you Claude?" Elise sneered, finding this to be very funny. "I almost did not recognize you, why are you looking at me as if you cared?" She coughed, feeling weak and dizzy, her whole body felt slow and heavy. What had happened? "Where is mother? And Mr. Stuffles? And Vincent? Why is it you here?"
"This servant of yours is unsightly, and these robes are not to my taste. This hospital room does not nearly have the amount of ornaments required for a noble like me to sit in!" Claude's eyes fell and the pale girl began to cry. "Elise... do you not remember anything? You're back to your old self... do you not know about someone named Ame? Or about your powers?" Elise blinked, shaking her head, finding that movement to be a mistake, it only made the pain even worse. "Powers? You mean my authority as a noble? Hah, how could I forget that!" Claude looked even sadder as he clung harder to her hand. "There's someone who loves you outside... do you want to meet him?"
Someone who loved her? "Why would I wish to speak to Garrel? Send him away." The door opened then, revealing a dark haired boy with a furious gaze. "Stop acting, Brat Princess, I know you didn't forget any of this!" His eyes were red with tears as he yelled in her face. Elise grinned, taking his arm with her own weak grip. "I swear, you are the only one that can see through my acting. I simply wanted to snap you out of your sad face, Claude, a smile suits you better." Yet Claude only continued to cry onto the sheets, this time with relief. "Be happy you're cute, or I'd smack you for calling me Garrel." Ezra growled, looking upset. That was good, it was better that he be angry than sad. "I love you." She said, then looked away. "I wish to see Winter, so I will-" She tried to move. "Wait, what did you just-" Ezra was so cute as he blushed like that. Would he be impressed to see her able to stand? But...
Her legs were not moving. She happened to realize that she could not even feel Claude's pressure on her legs as he sobbed onto the bed. Her eyes widened as she began to feel dizzy yet again. "Ezra... I do not believe my legs are working." She whispered quietly. "I wish to see a doctor."
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
"You're lucky," Julian reminded her as he fitted her for the new prosthetic. "I know," she replied quietly. "But Elise dying wasn't right." He sighed as he leaned back, tightening a screw. Winter winced. She had to have a skin graft on her leg, samples taken from her back, then grown ina lab. The stump of her leg was healing, but it was still sore. "You know, not everyone has that privilege of just being able to bring someone back." Julian reminded her for the umpteenth time a she winced. "Too tight?" She nodded and he used a small lever to unscrew something. "Here, try that." She stood, using the crutches to hoble around the room. "Better," it wasn't uncomfortable, per say, her left leg had never been good, but it felt strange. "Your leg will learn with you," Julian reminded her.
The blue lights on it faded, it looked almost like a real leg. "How long until I can switch from crutches to a cane?" The crutches hurt her under arms, they weren't easy to move in either. "As soon as you feel steady," she sat back down. "Is it painful?" She had been taking morphine around the clock for the last week. "Yes, but I'm used to pain by now." The sleeve she wore on the stump was helped with the rubbing of the prosthetic. "We'll go back to your room for now," Julian said as she picked up the crutches once more. "I'll make the final calibrations to the leg tonight." Winter nodded, following him back to her room. She had to pass Elise's room, where Ezra was standing guard. "Hey," he waved. "Hey," there were bags under her eyes. As it turned out, severe blood loss had consequences.
She settled in bed, adjusting her pajama pants. A knock came from the door, Serenity. She was wearing an exoskeleton to help with her legs. "Hey, I brought snacks." She smiled, walking inside, "How did the fitting go?" Winter shrugged, "Okay I guess. It's still uncomfortable, but I've just gotta get used to it." Whenever Claude wasn't with Elise, he was with Winter. He looked dishieveled whenever she saw him, but happy. He didn't know, of course, that Cynthia and Jeralt were dead. Winter wasn't going to be the one to tell him, she could hardly stand it herself. They were innocent, killed because they had made a bad decision. "What kind of snacks do you have?" According to Julian, she needed to gain at least ten pounds. "All the good ones," Serenity winked.
The door suddenly burst open, "Elise is awake!" Carter's cheeks were flushed. Winter scrambled for her crutches, Serenity handing them to her. The three of them burst from the room, heading to where Elise was. "You're awake!" Claude and Ezra were already in there. They were calling for Julian. Winter hobbled to Elise's side, the crutches awkward. "I'm so glad," she was relieved to see Elise's eyes open. Her face had been reconstructed beautifully, you would never have thought that she would have been shot several times. "I'm sure Ame is happy too," and Winter's head was less crowded now. No more Ame and Zoku fighting. Winter would not miss that. She still had the power of two inside of her and that was one too many.
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
Before any doctor could tend to her, before Claude and Ezra could call on the nurses, Winter, Serenity, and Carter, three new visitors, rushed to her side with varying speeds. Winter was using crutches, the rumors were true then? "Your leg..." So that was the price of Elise's newfound life? Suddenly Claude knelt on all fours, head on the ground, facing Winter. "Thank you, thank you for saving her." His voice choked up. "And I'm sorry, you paid a huge price to save her..." Elise sighed, rolling her ruby orbs. "Rise." She said, giving Winter a tired smile. "I am sure Winter made peace with her sacrifice." She was thankful too of course, but there was no need to express it. She had a feeling this was a task Winter did not need or really want thanks for.
"I am, but not because I don't like you." Ame grinned, flashing a peace sign. "But El's head is my home, and there's nothing you can do about it!" As nice as the commotion was, it was too loud, the noises piercing her head. But Elise did not want to chase everyone out and dampen the smiles on their faces at her finally waking up. "Claude was just catching me up on everything that I missed." Her body was working, but there were little things that did not feel right. She was already barely trying to recover before the incident, but who knows how far back this sent her now. She could feel it herself, how weak her body was, how much effort she needed to put into every tiny little movement. Not even to mention her legs, she had a feeling Julian would not bring good news after examining her.
"Sit. You earned at least that much." She groaned as she pat the space atop her bed for Winter to rest on, at least for the moment. "She's been working really hard on walking with the prothetic!" Carter piped in, never missing a chance to try and compliment Winter to curry favor with her. "So what made you decide it was possible to revive someone? If the Doctor finds out about this, you will be in grave danger." It was just another reason for the Doctor to go after Winter, another tool he would want to add to his belt. "If anything, I would suggest keeping my survival a secret for the time being." If they could hide Winter's accomplishment, just maybe it would give Elise the element of surprise for the next time she would clash with the Doctor, who would not expect a ghost to come back from the dead.
But Ezra growled suddenly, squeezing her hand so hard that it hurt. "No! You're not fighting anymore, brat. You're staying right here where it's safe." She narrowed her eyes, trying to catch her breath. "This battle will not simply wait. If there is something I can do to help..." Even though she loved him, she did not want to feel as if she was useless. She was still a Vassal, was there really nothing she could offer? "You can't even use your legs anymore, so just let me handle this. I'll tear the Doctor to pieces, and his President too." Ezra was definitely very strong, and with Mercedes as a new member of their team, this was ever more likely.
"Even if you try to hide it, I can see how much it hurts, brat. So just let us handle this from now on." He could tell even as she tried to hide it? How breathing felt as if her lungs were being burned, how shifting her weight felt like a knife was digging into her sides. Even so, there was a solution. "If I have monster blood infused-" Ezra glared at her, and she saw that he was trembling. "If you think I'm letting those doctors mess with you ever again you have another thing coming-" Claude put his foot down, having had enough. He smiled weakly, shaking his head. "We can argue this another time. Winter, are you hungry? Do you want me to go and get some snacks?" Snacks? Were they going to try and make her eat? The idea of food made the black eagle want to vomit, not only because of her stomach's weak constitution.
Ezra crossed his arms so tight it looked like a human pretzel. "Elise and Winter suffered enough. Between me, Mercedes, and Oliver, we're enough to finish this without them putting themselves in danger anymore." Ezra, who had always been happy to let them fight, after seeing what happened to them... perhaps he was tired of watching his two most important girls getting hurt. No doubt Chikyu was berating his inability to protect them yet again.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
Winter shook her head, "Please Claude, this was the least I could do for how much your family has done for me." After all, it was with them that Winter had first learned that windows could open. It was with them that she realized she didn't have to eat the vegetables on her plate, that she didn't have to eat anything she didn't want to. They had given her, her first taste of freedom and she could never repay them for that. "My leg is fine, it was the one I didn't like anyway," she half joked. Her pant was tied just underneath the stump. "On the bright side, shoes will always be fifty percent off." She settled on the spot on the bed that was pointed out for her.
Winter nodded, she could see Ame permanently now, perhaps she still shared some blood with Elise then. Or maybe her gate had opened up to it? Winter wasn't sure, she wasn't going to try and find out though. Two inside of her own head was enough and thanfkully, Ame was reattached to Elise. It was no wonder everyone had gathered here, they were relieved that Elise was alive, that she was conscious. After a week, Winter had begun to think that she had been tricked. That Elise was alive, but that she would not awaken. It seemed that now, it had finally happened. Winter was relieved, to be honest. Not only that Elise was awake, but that her sacrifice was not in vein. She had to confide in Elise, but later, when her head was on right and when she wasn't in pain.
What made her decide it was possible to revive someone? Well, perhaps that played into what she needed to confide in Elise. Or perhaps, it was time to no longer keep secrets from everyone. "It was strange," Winter admitted. She knew that if the Doc found out about this, he would use it against her. In truth, Winter had not planned to tell anyone, but since they were all here, they should know. "Your death felt so wrong and so foreign. I had the power of three inside of me, but I felt so helpless." She held up a hand, snowflakes dancing on her palm in a small flurry. "So I just... asked the universe to help me." Behind her, Carter laughed. "You just asked the universe? It doesn't exactly work like that."
"Maybe it does?" Serenity mused, "maybe because we're vassals? We have a little more pull?" It was a good theory, Winter thought. "I walked through a gate, I don't know where it took me, but I remember everything." She pulled on a piece of her hair, she really should cut it, it was well past her chest now. "They said I was blessed by the divine." Who was they? Winter still wasn't sure herself. "They said my Father... my Father was Zeus." The room had gone quiet. "Zeus, the Heir?" Oliver asked, "But I don't think I believe that, because Vincent told me that my Father might have been his son." It was all very complicated and not exactly in a way that Winter liked. Winter agreed with Elise anyhow, "We need to keep all of this a secret," who knew what would happen if word got out? Winter certainly didn't want to find out.
"Ezra, no offense, but shut up." Winter glared, "You think I went through all of this to need a big, strong man to fight in my place?" She jabbed a finger at his chest. "Stop acting self-righteous. We need all of the man power we can get. Elise is still a vassal and the monster blood fixed me, so why wouldn't it fix her too?" Ezra was acting arrogant, it was about time someone checked him. "Look, we all want this to be over, no one wants to get hurt, but the fact is, we all need to work harder than ever. Elise is back, but the fight is still going on. The Doc has new research and he isn't going to stop until he's gotten his way. We need to kill him and then the President."
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
Apparently Winter just asked the universe, and they took her bad leg away as payment for the miracle. Winter was not one to lie, but that truly was mysterious. Hearing Vincent's name again was like a spear in the heart. It was her fault he was dead, but because of that, she had a duty to be self sufficient now more than ever. Even if it meant taking the operation with monster blood, she needed to become someone that could support herself. Maybe it would even give her her legs back, if the Heavens were willing to grant that sort of miracle. "For now I will be kept secret." She decided, the plans already spinning in her head. "The Doctor will not expect to see me." But for her plan to work, there was one way to make it convincing. "I am sorry, Winter, but there is something I must ask of you."
She explained her line of thought. Before the next battle, she would give Winter her blood, just enough to give Winter power over rain. If it worked how she thought it did, once Elise's own blood replenished again Ame would be able to transfer back. "Th-that doesn't sound possible!" Ame cried, clinging to her again. "No way! I'm not getting separated from you again!" Claude flinched hearing it. "You only just regained a normal blood count, are you sure about trying this?" It was clear he did not want them to get hurt anymore, but they were Vassals, it was their job to get hurt if it meant succeeding against the enemy. It was not that she did not understand where he was coming from, but because she had these powers, she had a responsibility to see this duty to the end. "Then if that is not possible, we could play a trick." Elise's specialty with her powers was the ability to control her water even at long range. Even from inside the Underground City she could manipulate water as long as she had visuals. "So if I place some water on Winter and can watch through her holo, I can use it and we can pretend that it belongs to her."
Right now, the Doctor believed that Winter had her powers. To maintain the illusion of her death, Elise needed to keep it. "That makes sense. Teh Doctor will be suspicious if he doesn't see you using the rain he gave you." Oliver added, seeing the pragmatic side of things. "But first, we need to get you both back in working order." For Elise to stay in hiding, she would have to remain in the base for the next battle. If anything happened, she would have to rely on her own strength to keep herself safe. Ezra opposed the operation, he didn't want them to fight anymore but Winter spoke up on both of their behalfs. It was not like him to be controlling, but it was not as if Elise did not know where he was coming from.
"If I want to protect myself, I need the operation." Elise said with finality. No matter her feelings for Ezra, she would remain firm in her convictions. "That's what I'm here for! I can protect you both!" Elise shook her head, her ruby eyes glaring at him. "Your job is not to protect us." She said with a tiny smile, trying to ignore the throbbing stabbing pain in her side, the waves of nausea from her head. "You need to kill anyone that gets in our way. No one can destroy as easily as you can." Ezra was their wrecking ball, they needed him on the offensive.
Ezra grunted angrily, looking away. "Oliver, what about the polonium rounds? The radiation poisoning we get if we're shot - we need some sort of protection from that." Mercedes reminded them. Elise had become nearly crippled because of it, so they needed some sort of countermeasure. "Our first line of defense will be Winter. If she can use Merlin's power to keep the bullets away from us, we'll be okay. We also need..." Elise raised her finger, the black eagle had an idea. "I have ideas for a schematic. If done properly, we can have emergency patches to contain the poisoning when applied to an open wound." Oliver nodded in agreement. "Send the data to Julian once it's ready. Now, Elise, we need to talk about strategy and-"
Ezra stamped his foot crossly. "She just woke up, and she's beein pretending she hasn't been in pain this whole time. She needs to sleep if she wants to be strong enough for the operation!" His cheeks flushed with either anger or embarassment, he stormed out of the room in a huff.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
Winter nodded, Ezra was shooing them all out. "You should probably get some rest," Winter conceided, rising. "I'm sure Julian probably wants to talk to you too." She grabbed her crutches, Carter following behind her as she hobbled out of the room. "I'll see you later, alright?" Claude probably wanted time with his sister, no doubt. Did they know about their parents? Winter wasn't sure. Did she have a right to mourn them? Winter didn't think so. She wasn't their child, after all. "Hey, do you want to grab lunch in the dining room together?" Carter asked, Serenity giggling behind him. "Carter, just give up already." She teased, touching his shoulder. "I'm tired," Winter went to her room, closing the door behind her.
It was only a minute before it opened, everyone gathering in her room now that they had been kicked out of Elise's. Winter draped an arm across her eyes, but she had a small smile. "Lunch is on!" Mercedes announced, carrying Winter's tray inside from the hallway. Winter sat up as the others arranged themselves around her room. Carter and Oliver were already bickering about something. Serenity sat on the bed beside Winter, taking off the exoskeleton so that she could cross her legs. "What should we do now that Elise is awake?" She asked, "Maybe another movie night to celebrate?" Winter nodded, "Yeah, I'm sure Elise would like that." She stirred her food around on her plate. "You kow, Julian is gonna check." Mercedes reminded her, making Winter groan. Ever since she had awoken from having her leg sewn up, she hadn't exactly been hungry. It was an on going battle.
"Oliver?" Someone poked their head into the room, the boys stopping their fighting momentarily. "Yes?" He asked, straightening. "We need you," he nodded, following after the person. Winter watched him go, "later." He would be back, she knew. "Hey, why don't we all go for a walk?" Carter suggested. "We can go to the atrium," it was clear he was eager to stretch his legs. "Sure," Winter agreed, grabbing her crutches. Serenity put her exoskeleton on, the four of them heading out of the room. "Where do you think you're going?" The nurse asked at the door. "Just on a walk," Winter replied, "to the atrium," she added quickly. The nurse checked her chart and scanned her bracelet, the doors opening to let Winter out.
"Hey, you know what we should do once all of this is over?" Serenity started talking, bubbling with excitement. "We should go to the beach!" She was clearly happy, wanting the war to be over already. "Yeah, that would be fun. A beach episode," Mercedes agreed. "What do you want to do when this is over Winter?" Carter asked, curious. "What do you mean?" She asked, blinking dumbly. "I guess... go back to school?" They laughed at her, "No, we mean, something fun!" Serenity said gently. "I-I don't know... I don't have fun really." She thought back to her childhood. "There has to be something," Carter nudged her. "Hiking," Winter said suddenly, blushing. "I used to go hiking when I lived in the countryside," they all looked at her as though she had two heads. "You lived in the countryside?"
"Yeah, with my Grandparents. On a farm," had she never told them? Well, it didn't exactly matter. "Wait, didn't your Grandparents own Good Smile Produce?" Serenity vaguely recalled something like that. Winter nodded, "Yeah, the Chrysanthemum was keeping it from me," she had only been a child when she had been taken in by them, after all. "Well, since you're rich and all, you can probably buy as many pianos as you want." Mercedes teased, earning a punch in the shoulder.
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
"Are you okay? How are you feeling?" Claude asked, hovering around her as she pulled herself awake. He looked anxious and there was a team of nurses around again. "How long was I..." She fell asleep soon after everyone cleared out, but judging from their faces the black eagle had a feeling this was not just a simple rest. "You almost died again." Doctor Julian said calmly, pulling up his glasses. "You were asleep for thirty six hours, and a few times your vitals were going off the charts." She gulped, frowning. "Are those pain medications?" She gestured weakly to the various pill bottles at her bedside. "Yes, and if those wear off, you would be in severe pain right now." His expession was stern and Claude looked frantic. Where was Ezra? Elise was surprised he had not stormed his way in already.
"What is the prognosis?" Elise asked calmly. Her eyes were shaking but that was all the fear she could display. She needed to know what was going wrong, she needed to know how serious this was. "Like this you'll never be able to walk again, El." Claude's voice sounded as afraid as she felt. "The poisoning and brain damage means you won't even be able to control exoskeleton prosthetic legs, no matter how much therapy you get." So she would not be able to reattend sessions with Cocoa and Winter? Was Winter still in physio with her own - no, she needed to focus on herself right now. "And the rest? Why was I near death again?" Julian looked to his holo, held in clipboard form as it shimmered in the air in front of him. "You have extensive internal organ damage. Needless to say, should you live, your quality of life will be affected severely. You may not be able to live independently anymore." There was a professional sort of concern on his face and Elise was glad he did not lose his composure like Claude did.
But she was a little annoyed as well. "Sorry... but I want to decide my own quality of life." Something like that would not be decided by a doctor. "Are you suggesting the monster blood treatment that Winter received?" Elise nodded firmly, trying not to feel dizzy as she did so. "Winter has sacrificed her leg for me. I owe it to her to live my best life to show it was worth it." She winced, some of the edge of the pain coming back in, like a throb cascading through her torso. "Can she do it, Doctor?" Claude asked, pulling softly on his shirt. "Will you do the operation?" It was clear Claude did not want to see her weak and pathetic like this either.
"I promised your parents I wouldn't do anything like that to either of you." Julian's face was conflicted. It was clear he, like Vincent had vows he made as a servant of the Hresvelg family. "A vow of loyalty is not as important as saving my life." Her ruby eyes gleamed clear, full of direct intent. "Please allow me to undergo the operation." Julian sighed, clearly convinced by her words. "Take care of her, Doctor. I'll go let the others no so that they don't worry." He gave her a smile and exited the room. "You'll feel a small prick." Julian said softly, reaching for a syringe. "I hope to see you in better health soon, Miss." Elise closed her eyes, hoping that when she next woke, she would have the strength to fulfill her duty as a vassal and help bring the city back to normalcy.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
"There, you're doing so great!" Winter nodded, walking between two bars to practice on her new leg. "It doesn't hurt as much," Winter admitted as she walked. She wasn't hobbling on it either, like the first time. She had been practicing for the last two days, wanting to get back on her feet. "I think you can probably switch from the crutches to a cane today," Poppy, the physical therapist said. She was smiling, no doubt pleased with Winter's progress. In another corner, Serenity was working on her legs. They were nearly healed, which meant that she would no longer need the support of the exoskeleton. "I think that's all I can do today," Winter admitted, thoroughly exhausted from the work she had put in today. "That's fine, you're doing your best." Poppy agreed with a smile, fitting Winter for her new cane.
"You should wear your leg as much as you can, but you will be sore for the first few days." Poppy warned as Winter rose, trying out the new cane. She missed her Grandfather's cane, but if all went well, she would no longer need this after a month. "Thanks," Winter waved as she walked out. Ezra was waiting for her, looking cross, as always. "What is it now?" Winter groaned, pausing when she spotted him. "Elise is going to have the infusion," he looked like he blamed Winter for that. "That's her decision," she replied, walking past him. He followed her, she knew he would. "I don't get it, why do you two want to fight so much? Why can't you just let us protect you!" He grabbed her shoulder. Winter shoved him against the wall, pushing her cane into his shoulder. "Let me put it in terms you can understand, since your head seems to be made of boulder."
She leaned forward. "You aren't the strongest Ezra. You're not even the second strongest. The Chrysanthemum will eat you alive, they'll kill you like they did the first time. They have an army, we don't stand a fighting chance against them without Elise and I." She withdrew her cane, realizing she was being unecessarily cruel. Ezra looked down, he seemed almost sad. "Why do you care so much?" He asked, kicking imaginary dust on the ground. "I don't care about what happens to the Chrysanthemum," Winter admitted. "For all I care, they can rot in far shore." She leaned on her cane, her new leg already hurting. "I care about my friends and about killing the Doc." Once Winter did that, maybe she would be able to sleep well at night without nightmares plaguing her.
"I don't want to lose you guys again," he stepped towards her, she was the one against the wall now. He was an inch away. Ezra slammed his palm against the wall. "You're too important to me. I love Elise, but you're my friend Winter. You've already sacrificed your life and limb," his shoulders were shaking. Winter reached awkwardly to pat him in comfort. "We'll be fine," Winter assured him. She tried to smile, "We're going to win this, okay? The heroes always win in the end, right?" He nodded, trying to smile. "Want to grab some cake?" He asked, straightening, clearly embarrassed at being seen like that. "I thought you would never ask."
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
With a rumbling echoing in her ears, Elise found herself shuffling awake. She rubbed her head, feeling a little tired. "What is happening? How did the operation go?" She asked, looking around. She was in her normal room, laid neatly on her bed with the sheets covering her up to her chest. She felt oddly... stronger, a sort of strength in her veins she did not have before. Was this what Winter felt too? The nurse looked at her with worry, then pressed a button. "Just lay down, the Doctor will be in to see you shortly." She said, glancing about. The rumble happened again, shaking the room around them. "What is happening?' Elise tried standing up only for nothing to happen. Why were her legs not working? Was the polonium poisoning that intensive? "We aren't sure. Ezra and Carter are trying to investigate it, but the earthquake warnings aren't coming up with anything."
Chrysanthemum was not a city built on any fault lines, so earthquakes really should not be happening. So what could explain the rumbling that made cracks appear on the ceilings? It didn't take long for Doctor Julian to rush in, looking somewhat haggard. Had he not been getting sleep? "It's good you're awake. We have a situation, but first, let's give you your examination." He barked a few orders at her and once it was done he was ready with the results. "So you've definitely become stronger, you're more stable and your organs are in proper working order now. At the very least, you're not due to die any time soon." Elise could feel her control over her rain more clearly too, but it would be hard for Julian to test that parameter, despite Ame's silly grin at her side. "But there is an obvious downside." She gestured to her useless logs pretending to be legs, frowning slightly. Julian bowed, lowering his head. "We were too late. By the time I began, the damage to your spine was irrepairable. With current medical sciences, you will no longer be able to walk."
She nodded, sighing, her ruby eyes reflecting mild disapoiintment. "Raise your head, do not blame yourself. I will manage until further research advances." Right now there was something more important to deal with. "So tell me about the rumbling." The black eagle wanted to get right back to business. Doctor Julian made sure no one else was able to hear in before beginning. "We're receiving radio signals of a massive monster digging its way towards us. Ezra and Carter are trying to get more information on it in the tunnels, to get a clearer image of what we're dealing with. It's almost as big as the Underground City, but if the people were to hear of this, there would be a panic."
So a humongous monster was going through the Earth to reach to them? Did it get lost after going through the portal and was trapped underground all this time? "And if we are not careful, we could collapse the pillars holding up the Underground City." The answer was fairly obvious to her then, even if it may be dangerous. "Against something like this, if we allow the monster to reach the Underground City, there will be casualties. Do we know why it is targeting us?" She smiled, an idea coming to mind. "We might be able to lure it to the Municipal Government's home base instead if we find out what it is seeking." A gigantic monster of unprecedented size? Even the President's army would have trouble handling that.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
Winter was sitting in the atrium when the floor began to vibrate. "What is that?" Oliver asked, sitting upright. He was laying in the grass, the two of them having been talking. Since Elise was out of comission, Oliver had been coming to Winter for strategy advice, since Ezra would just face any problem head-on and wasn't much of a strategist. Winter was no Elise, but she wasn't dumb either. "I don't know, but I don't like it." The doors to the atrium burst open, Carter and Ezra entering. "Do you feel that?" Ezra asked, brow furrowed. It was the first time he had left Elise's door. "Yeah, can you two go check it out?" Oliver asked as he stood. Carter offered a hand up to Winter, who took it, using both Carter and her cane to get back up on her feet. She was slowly getting used to her fake leg, but also becoming very good at hoping when she took it off at night.
"Keep us updated," Winter tossed Carter a comm. He caught it, the two of them heading out. "I'm gonna go to the office," Oliver gestured, opening the door. "Okay, I'll go back to my room." He nodded, wanting to keep tabs on where all of the Vassal's were at all times. "Could it be anymore obvious?" Zoku laughed, "What?" Winter blinked blankly, wondering what it was. "Oliver likes you," Zoku sing-songed, dancing around her. Yuuki rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Don't be ridiculous," he shot back, "Oliver tried to hurt Winter, remember?" Winter rolled her eyes at the two of them. "May I remind you, we're in the middle of a war?" She went to the door, "there is no time for dating." Not that she wanted to anyway, she still hadn't forgiven either boy, but the Heir's ignored her. "Please, he's trying to spend time with her!" Zoku replied, the two of them floating around her.
"Please," her room was within Oliver's residence, another single room, since all of the Vassal's had their own room's now, close to one another. Oliver wanted them to be safe, he claimed, so he wanted them to be close. There was still a nurse that came to check on her every day, since she was still technically healing with her skin graft. Winter plopped down on the piano bench, lunch having been left on the mantel for her. "You're gonna play now?" Yuuki asked, settling on a cloud of snow. "Yeah," Winter replied, setting her cane against the piano. The ground was still shaking, Winter had never felt an earthquake before, but she knew what monster vibrations felt like. "Strange," she murmured, these were much bigger. A knocking came from her door the moment she touched the keys, Winter sighed and rose. "Come in!"
Mercedes was there, looking happy. "Elise is awake!" She announced, "let's go see her." Winter nodded, following her. "Yes, let's." Winter wanted to see her, of course, she was happy that Elise was awake again. This way, hopefully, she wouldn't have to be alone with Oliver as much. "Hey," Winter entered, glad to see Elise awake. Doctor Julian was there too, evaluating her. "How are you feeling?" Surely she was still tired and sore from her infusions? Winter remembered being sore afterwards, but also having a surge of energy.
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❝I wonder if he will realize I loved him before the end.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#0C94CC ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #CC0C2E】
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
By the time Winter and Mercedes came to check on her Elise had already finished drafting the prototype for the anti-polonium patches for them to manufacture. "Make these quickly, I suspect the end of the war will be very soon now." Elise said, returning to her holo to run more simulations. Julian nodded, giving one last check of her vitals before rushing off to begin making enough patches to allow the Vassals to fight toe to toe with the Chrysanthemum's army. "Now where would be the best place to lure the monster?" She frowned, bringing up a schematic of the city, zooming the picture in on the President's third of the city blocked off by the electric fence by the north end. "If we want the monster to distract the army, we should guide it somewhere around Main Street at the Skylight Prime Bank and..." According to her calculations it would take the factory workers five hours to finish the required amount of patches.
"Elise!" Mercedes clapped her hands in front of her face, pulling Elise out of her thoughts. The black eagle blinked a few times, looking side by side at Winter. "Winter was asking you questions, but you were so deep in your head you didn't hear us!" Elise smiled apologetically, putting her holo aside for the time being. "Hello. I am doing okay, stronger than before, but not at my best yet." Ideally she would get some rest before the final operation but for now she still had to finish making her plans. "Doctor Julian updated me on current matters, and I am drafting a plan for the final mission." Mercedes gave her almost a pitying look and shook her head. "You just woke up and you're already trying to take over Winter's job! Winter was our strategist while you were out, and now you're replacing her!"
So Winter was Oliver's main advisor? She nodded in acknowledgement, settling her ruby eyes on Winter's own orbs. "Good work, I am not surprised to see our base still in one piece with you in charge." Winter had a good head on her shoulders, and she was one of the two people Ezra would listen to without kicking up a fight. "You just got up. Are you sure you're able to make plans this fast?" Mercy's face shifted in worry, looking at her. "While I cannot walk anymore, I am feeling okay. I must do my part to help us put an end to this fighting." She was weary - it was far too long since this city has seen peace and quiet. If it meant working a little harder, she was happy to do so.
A voice came out on Winter's holo then, it was Carter speaking. "Winter, the monster's really big! Ezra says it's even bigger than what our radars are warning us about!" Elise moved her holo, connecting herself to the call. "How long do we have until it arrives?" She asked, swift as a knife. "Elise, you're back? Welcome back!" Ezra's voice chipped in, sounding a bit farther away. She could almost hear a smile on his face. "Thank you. How long until the monster reaches us?" There was a moment of silence and then, "Twenty hours. Whatever plan you have, we don't have much time!"
If Elise's hypothesis was correct, then there was only one thing to do. "I have a plan, so we can enact it once the anti-polonium patches are complete." She grimaced, trying not to look worn out. [color=#0C94CC]"So in five hours, us seven vassals will travel underground to bait the monster to attack the Military Hall where the Chrysanthemum's army is-" Mercedes grabbed her shoulder then and smiled. "If we have twenty hours, then you need to rest for at least eight hours before we go. You need to be at your best, isn't that right, Winter?" Mercedes winked at Winter, no doubt to get her to agree.
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❝I put my arms around myself and I'm unbreakable.❞
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#BDA0CB ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #F7B3DA】
|| Dear Winter || AJR ||
Winter was glad to see Elise awake, already getting to work on a project. She didn't even seem to hear them. "That's alright Mercedes, she's busy." Winter said, taking a seat, as her leg was bothering her. It would take a while to get used to, after all. Distract the army? Monster? Was that what all of that shaking was? Winter Mercedes clapped her hands to garner Elise's attention, who seemed to shake herself out of her reverie. "I'm glad you're getting there," Winter smiled a small smile. Mercedes grinned, nudging Elise in the shoulder. "You two only smile when you're around each other," she pointed out. Winter shook her head, "That is not true," she mumbled, although it probably was. Elise loved Ezra, besides, the two girls thought of one another as siblings.
"I didn't do nearly as good of a job as you're capable of," Winter waved away Elise's praise. "I was just barely holding us together," she wasn't a great strategist, but her head was solid on her shoulders. Winter was better at problem solving in small quantities, not on a massive scale. "It doesn't matter if you can walk or not, as long as you can still fight." They needed all the vassals if they wanted to win this war and now that Mercedes was here, well, things were about to get a lot easier. Serenity too, had been training. Everyday, they had all been going ot the training room to run simulations, to better manuever their team work. Winter was in the same position, but she was also working defense, now that she had two powers instead of one.
"If I can fight with a fake leg, you can fight with no legs." Winter's holo began to crackle, Elise patching herself in. They had located the monster's den, they had approximately twenty hours until the patches Elise had invented would be ready. "I'm sure your plan will get us through this," Winter smiled, coming closer to the bed. She leaned on her cane, trying to take pressure off of her fake leg. Mercedes wanted Elise to rest, it was clear she was concerned about her well-being. "You should try and eat something," Winter said, figuring Elise must have been hungry. Winter recalled feeling ravenous after her own procedure. All of that energy being taken up and all. "Should we leave you to rest?" If Elise wanted them to, Winter would leave. She wanted to talk to Elise though, without Mercedes around.
"I'm sure you probably have a lot you need to catch up on too," a lot had happened, things were constantly changing. Elise was dead when she was brought here. Speaking of which, where was Claude? Working? Normally he always wanted to be by Elise's side. "Has anyone seen Claude?" Winter realized that she hadn't seen him all day today either. She hoped that he was alright and not kidnapped again. Winter shook her head, nevermind that, she was feeling a little thirsty. She went to the sink to get a drink, grabbing one of the plastic cups on the counter. Did Elie want them to leave?