Once Upon A Time, There Was A Boy Who Died

@dangerouslydelightful        Sirena & Sebastian   Thread        Sirena & Josefine   Thread        Saga & Mikkel   Thread        Eli & Sal   Thread

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@perfectpixierp        Saga & Greta   Thread        Dianthe & Millie   Thread        Sirena & Elric   Thread

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@swornbylove        Sirena & Julia   Thread

@dangerouslydelightful        Claudiu & Maryella   Thread

@perfectpixierp        March & Ember   Thread        Dianthe & Gilen   Thread

Why had it felt as if she was losing Claudiu all over again? As if she was that small girl again, thrusted into a carriage and sent far -- far away from the lands she remembers. Those first evenings as a child were difficult, Maryella recalling the fact that she stained her face red from the crying. Her governess, then, often teased her and yet somehow, in the end, consoled her on how it will be okay. Okay. How was a child meant to understand such words? In a land far from home, with no such family to hold her hands or caress her cheeks? She felt abandoned with no prospects of a better future.

Now. Oh now she felt very much the same. Claudiu -- her family was her life. Through letters they often reminisced about silly little memories at the palace. Once she created her own new memories, laughing finally and enjoying the pleasant conversation with suitors, she soon wrote about that instead. After some time, however, the letters stopped coming. She knew then that a worse fate had finally befallen home.

“My dearest brother,” she murmured, speaking the same first words she often wrote in those letters. She had not wanted to fall back into the similar routine, waiting eagerly for a new set of words to arrive. It was much too stressful, never knowing whether family was safe or not. Now that Claudiu had returned alive, Maryella feared losing him all over again. “I do very much wish to go with you. I am simply afraid. My time was meant for me to find a suitable suitor to marry, one which would help our family at the time.” Unfortunately she was much too young to carry out her duties and her kingdom perished. “Should you grant me more time, perhaps I could still be able to continue my search?”

Maryella picked her words wisely, as if speaking to a stranger once more. Claudiu had been blood, but their separation left them worlds apart. A small girl, so full of life and joy had no longer been present. Maryella, while still as cheerful as can be, was now replaced with a grown adult. She was intelligent. Strong. And yet she still understood the ramifications of warfare. She was no longer clouded by the idea of becoming a queen and marrying her prince charming. No. She knew that kings killed kings -- and oh how she wanted desperately to be part of the reason such kings fell.

“When I left as a child, I was not given a choice. I was taken away as a prize and our home was still burnt. Let me change that now. I have learned how to be of use. Instead of running through the corridors carefree, I now know there is a game we must play. Let me play.”

Claudiu felt himself flinch at her words.     Those were the words that use to greet him with each of her letters.     How ironic that the same words that once brought him joy would make the knot in his stomach drop to anchor him to the spot.     He had just fully turned his back to her when she began to speak again.     Perhaps he could act as if he hadn’t heard her and leave before she  -  but Maryella began before he could finish the thought.

Claudiu felt a twinge of confusion at his sister’s use of the word suitor.     He was unsure where she was going with her dialogue for but a split second before she made quick work of dredging up a larger,     much stronger flash of irritation with her follow up suggestion.     No,     request?     Her tone was much too sweet for merely suggesting.     Claudiu felt the tip of his tongue begin to harshly run edges of his front teeth  -  a tell-tale sign of his irritation he picked up some years ago.     Was this an excuse to decline his offer to return home with him?     That didn’t seem quite right.     He had just given her room to decline without reason,     hadn’t he?     He had just said she could stay and that they could stay in contact through letters..     Or was that the issue?     Did Maryella not want to have any contact with the Lup?…     With him?     Was he so big and scary that she was frightened to simply say no to him?

❛ Be of use ❜   ?     He questioned internally,     brows furrowing harshly down at the door handle.     What was she on about?     If this was an excuse she was beginning to go too far.     Before he could stop himself,     Claudiu turned back towards his sister and her silent ladies-in-waiting by her side.     Some morph of a sneer and confusion on his face.

❝     Be of use?     ❞          he repeated,     unable to contain the irritation in his voice.          ❝     You are not a tool to be  ❛ used ❜  Mary.     I see no problem with you running through the corridors carefree -     ❞          he cut himself off.     Simultaneously flexing his fist at his side and running his tongue over the edges of his front teeth again quickly before turning and opening the door.     Claudiu had long lost the ability to maintain a  ❛ dignified ❜   (  emotionless and unreadable  )  expression and tone at all times.     In fact,     he was rapidly becoming jittery from the exponentially building feeling of irritation within him.          ❝     Send one of your ladies or something if you become busy.     ❞          he bit out in parting as he left the room,     leaving the door to close loudly behind him.

A boy back in middle school had once joked about Eli being a doe.     His joke had been centered around the fact that her her surname,     Do,    is pronounced similarity to the name for a female deer,     doe.     The class had been moving chairs and he had wanted to help her carry hers  -  a show of how strong he was or something she figured.     When Eli has said she could handle it  -  which she could,     because it was just a chair  -  he made his joke.          ❛ Your name is literally doe ❜          he had said with a playful smile,          ❛ and we all know does aren’t known for being strong. ❜          She had made some returning quip about how does weren't known for being smart either,     but who was it that he went to asking for help with his homework a few days prior?     It was a pubescent boy’s best attempt at flirting and hadn’t really meant any harm.

However,     that same boy would probably get some sick kick out of seeing her now.     Trying to creep between store aisles while avoiding a wannabe WWE wrestler like some deer in the woods during hunting season.     Except,     Eli still wasn't a deer,     and the asshole currently stomping a two aisles to her left was a hunter without a gun or tacky full-body cameo gear.     No,     his weapons of choice were his arms.     His bulky,     super powered,     pskyer arms.     The same arms he had used to smash through the door.

Eli had closed up the store and was stopping at a Chinese place in New Alios on her way home to pick up take away for her and Erik when a woman frantically ran into the store front side of the place  (  it was half-store half-restaurant;     a hidden gem Eli was introduced to during finals sophomore year by a senior  ).     As soon as the woman got inside she had begun trying to lock the door,     loudly fiddling with the lock she was obviously unfamiliar with.     The store clerk had called out to her but she only responded with a jumbled cry about someone right behind her.     Eli had immediately felt a sense of dread in her gut and had reached  -  almost instinctively  -  for her taser just seconds before a huge shadow appeared on the other side of the door.     The woman screamed in pure terror  -  like something out of a horror movie  -  and sprinted towards the back.     The clerk began leaning down to reach for the phone under the counter just as the door burst into a cloud of dust and wooden shrapnel,     leaving in it’s place a hulking,     elephantine man in a wife beater and worn jeans.     The man had looked directly at her and made blood run cold.     Eli had looked toward the entrance to the restaurant  -  where the women had ran  -  to the man’s right.     She wouldn’t have made it past him,     so she had darted towards the aisles.     She gave a parting glance over her shoulder toward the clerk,     but he had already hidded behind the counter.     Good.     She had thought.     Or maybe bad?     Because that meant that freak probably only saw her.     This was confirmed a moment later when she heard his stomps coming her way.

So here she was,     one aisle away from the back of the store.     Her best bet was to try and circle back to the door  (  or hole where the door once was  )  when he reached the last aisle and run out to get help.     Gripping her taser firmly in her hand,     she made her way to the end of the last aisle.     Eli paused with baited breath,     listening to how close his footsteps were before taking action,     and sprinted for the door as soon as his footsteps reached the opposite end.     As she past the first gap she got another,     brief but clearer,     look at him.     He didn't look right,     but the sound of her heart hammering her ears and the feeling of terror in her chest made it difficult to take a moment to process why that was.     She sprinted at full speed for the door,     it was a straight stretch..

It was a straight stretch.     The man let out a yell,     no,     scream  (  ?  )  from behind her right as she rounded out the door.     She spared him another fleeting glance that made her feel an even stronger sense of urgency despite him making no effort to run after her.     She was out and began running as fast as she could down the alleyway towards the main street.     She was halfway there when the world fell out from under her with a ear-shattering boom.     Eli was slammed into the brick of the opposing wall with a yelp.     She hit the cold pavement with a second,     somehow rougher,     thud not even a full second later.     Eli forced in a ragged breath in,     clenching her taser like a life line.     The ground shook,     and she started to roll to her side.     Only to be met with the sight of outstretched hands lunging down at her.

Eli choked on a scream as his hands wrapped around her neck.     His hands were burning,     like leather seats in car that'd been left out in the sun.     They were heavy and solid and dense  -  almost unnaturally so.     She swung her taser at his side,     feeling the prongs make contact before pressing the button with all her might.     She heard the spark of electricity a split second before the man let out an animistic noise.     His grip somehow got tighter.     Eli looked up at her attacker,     starring him dead in the eyes as she roughly kicked her leg out where his crotch should have been.     She choked on another scream,     a high strained sound,     as her foot came into contact with what felt like brick.     She swung as hard as she could at his face but even his face was solid,     unyielding..     She flailed and clawed and continued to press the taser into his side as she felt her self begin to weaken under his grip.

Damn,     Eli thought to herself.     Her vision was beginning to blur and darken at the edges like some heavy vignette filter over the world.     She felt her hand holding her taser hit the ground.     She couldn't die here like this.     She couldn't leave Erik and her Godparents to get a call about her being another victim of Alios,     but her lungs felt like she had swallowed fire and her head was going numb.

Eli had never felt so weak in her whole life,     and yet somewhere,     in the back of her oxygen-deprived mind,    she felt something blossom as the rest faded to nothing..

Ember rolled her eyes at his words. Letting her frustration grow. ‘Princess’ , the nickname made her stomach turn along with the sarcasm in his voice. What was his problem? She was trapped in this chamber; it wasn’t like she could do anything to him. Even if she was out, she couldn’t even throw a punch. The fact that she couldn’t see him was more terrifying than anything. 

Bringing herself closer to the glass she placed to her hand to it. Doing what she could to calm herself down. She was only making herself feel worse and what help was that going to do. Acting mad or pretending to be tough was only going to make him laugh, or worse, piss him off. She didn’t know his strengths or what power he had.

Staring into the emptiness before her just hoping, praying that someone would be there. Ember always hated being alone, it’s why she always kept her door open back home. Just knowing that her father was just call away if the nightmares came back was enough to comfort her. “I-I just want to go home” she said in defeat, resting her head on the glass.

March smirked for a second.     Feeling a small spark of slight satisfaction seeing Ember’s eye roll that she probably hadn't intend for him to know about.     However,     a spark was a spark,     so it did not linger.     March watched in silence as she brought herself closer to the glass and took a few seconds to search the the room again.     This time a little more frantic as her eyes darted around the room.     There was a look of desperation overtaking her features that hadn’t been there a minute ago.     The defeat in her voice when she found nothing made him perk a dark brow.     Was she going to cry again?     Was this the beginning of a emotional cycle?     Maybe she’s an emotional drunk?     Or just a crier in general?

❝     I’m sure you do.     However..     for the next few days you’re stuck with me     ❞          he said with a blossoming grin.          ❝     But don't worry,     I’m loads of fun     ❞          he added,     leaning forward to get eye level with her.     March paused for moment,     for dramatic effect,     then  -

❝     Boo     ❞          he softly exclaimed as he visually materialized before her with grin.

Mikkel pressed his lips to a smile before letting out a laugh. Whomever she was, Mikkel felt amused by her reactions – she truly was a beauty. “No worries, I merely need to get the bases for my drawing. A sketch, mostly.” He would fill in more details later, he was simply happy to have found someone willing to fall his craziness. 

“I could come down to you, if you like. I have an idea of where I wish for you to sit, someplace that will capture your essence perfectly!” He shouted through the window before disappearing altogether. Running down the steps, Mikkel burst through the front door and into the garden. “Have you ever posed for a drawing before?”

❝     Oh!     Okay!     ❞          she beamed up at the young man in response,          ❝     I’ll wait here!     ❞          And wait she did,     watching the corning for him to appear while idly rocking back and forth from heel to toe in place.     The small blonde practically skipped over to him and joined beside him with a small hop into place.

❝     Mn hm     ❞          she hummed with a nod,          ❝     My family did one a few years ago when Tyr and I were younger.     Mom and Aunt Elsa wanted a big family portrait to put in the castle beside the others.     It’s a big important tradition to have a family portrait there.     ❞          she finished with another nod as if agreeing with herself.

The leaves seemed to rustle a bit more, flowers opening and their stems moving them away. The garden itself began to shift slowly, slow enough you’d have to be in the gardens to notice truly. And finally the opening was made, the vines and stems had revealed the center and what it contained.

There lay what looked to be a woman made of deep green shrubs and decorated with flowers that accented parts on a person.  Palicourea elata where the lips would be, white hanging wisterias were sat like hair on the head and bits of nightshade sat where the eyes would be sleeping shut. That is, until they began opening.

Sirena’s eyes grew as the leaves around her feet began to shift on their own.     She picked up her skirt,     doing a turning in a semi-circle as the leaves shifted past her feet.     A sense of dread began to pool in her chest.     There was no wind,     not even a breeze.     So why were the leave moving?      Sirena gulped,     her pulse growing exponentially by the second.     With a shaky breath,      she allowed her eyes to follow along the path that the leaves seemed to be following.

They were flowing ahead,     where a mound of vines and bushes now seemed to be parting to reveal a small clearing.     No,     not a clearing,     a low growing bush?     At this point her heart was hammering in her chest.     The bush looked like a curvaceous woman laying there.     Like she was sleeping out on the grass and the flora had just grown over her.     Even had she not been terrified,     Sirena would have been disturbed by the sight.

Ember wished she had been more diligent. They always had talked about being on you’re guard while on the MU campus. When in doubt take a buddy with you especially at night. How could she have been so stupid. Jealousy…That’s how. She felt awful, worse than any cold she had ever had.

She wondered who the hell could have taken her. Of all people her. She didn’t think she had any enemies. She didn’t have many friends comes to think of it. She then thought of her connections. Maybe this was ploy to get her father or Uncle Mike in trouble.. it had to be. One was the CEO the other the mayor, many would want to hurt their little family. Who she wouldn’t know. She wasn’t sure she was even still in Monstropolis.

Ember’s head shot up once more “If I’m not then where are you? Clearly you’re in here somewhere.” She glanced at the camera. “You mentioned the camera is just picture..” she rambled “I don’t drink often… seems like I picked the wrong time to do so.” she placed here hands on her head “Next time tell them to go lighter on the chloroform….” she snapped rubbing her temples. She wasn’t sure if that’s what they had used but she assumed whatever they used didn’t mix well with her hangover. 

A smirk crept onto his face.     March placed his candy into his mouth and the hand once holding it into his pocket.          ❛ Clearly you’re in here somewhere. ❜          He leaned forward,     removing himself from his spot against the wall.     Oh yes he was.

He casually waltzed over to the glass,     silent as a cat as she mused aloud about drinking  -  he logically assumed  -  when she was napped.     So she was buzzed.     He reached her just as she started commenting about the chloroform.     March actually had no idea what they used.     He hadn’t cared much;     it didn't really matter what they used as long as she was fine afterwards.     He stood there for a second,     right in-front of her on the other side of four or so inches of reinforced glass.     That he did know;     the glass was reinforced.

He gave the girl a moment to see if she would say anything more before pulling out his lollipop to hold it near his shoulder,          ❝     So sorry about that princess,     I’ll make sure your complaint reaches customer services.     ❞          he replied with clearly fake sympathy.     He only spoke so she would look back up.     It's no fun if she doesn't see.     March thought to himself.

Mikkel concealed his chuckle, having not wished to embarrass the young girl .”Look like? Why, no they do not grow or – They. How do I explain such?” He pursed his lips, settling back on the windowsill. “Why! You. Of course. I do not speak of the Greek mythology, I am merely saying that you are a muse. Simply speaking, you spark my artist creativity. I wish to paint you, how does that sound?”

❝     Me?     ❞         she parroted,     absentmindedly pointing to herself as she stared confusedly up at the young man.          ❝     Oh!     ❞          she chirped in understanding,     a smile blooming into it’s usual spot on her face as he explained.

❝     Sure!     I’m not too great at staying super still for a long time,     but I'll try my hardest!     Do you need me to come up there?     ❞

She shook in their arms, Maryella’s caring hand falling against the side of one of her ladies. A gentle slide of the wrist up showed that she was okay, alarming the rest of the ladies that they need not worry about her state. It was a typical reaction to seeing what she deemed to be her dead brother. Ever since she was a child, Maryella thought herself as alone. There was little to no word that any remaining relative survived. She was cut off, abandoned by all that she knew. To say she was happy – why that would be a lie. But she could not be angry. Maryella was not a defenseless child, she understood the tragedy of war.

The girl dared to take a step forward, her hand extending out slowly. She wanted to embrace him, to touch his face and fell the warmth of his skin on her fingertips. Maryella never thought she would be given this chance, a chance to smell the scent of her beloved brother again. She recalled the nights alone, where she only dreamt to be in the arms of one of them – any of her family. Maryella could never get rid of the image or the faint smell of her mothers lavender candle. 

“Too much credit?” She asked, unsure of what he may have meant. Maryella allowed herself to laugh, giving just the faintest bit of enjoyment out of a traumatic event. Still she shook, her body unable to catch up with reality. Oh how she wanted to scream to the whole kingdom – her dead brother had risen! “We could return?” Her eyes widen, as if trying to envision the sight. The banner of their family, the last two remaining figureheads of the line. Would they be welcomed? Would the civilians – their people remember them? 

“I have not been home since – Why I do not recall the last time I have seen the shores. Would I not be a stranger?” She asked, still not comprehending how this may have all happened. Truly Maryella was happy, beyond words she wanted to cry and sigh in relief. Regardless they were alone, their family still remained dead. “That is all I have dreamt about since coming here as a child. To be home, amongst the things I knew.” She paused, as if getting ready to turn her brother down. “I fear the worse. Will our lives ever be the same? If we go home – What will it be like? You will reign as king?”

He grabbed his tea to make himself look composed. “Princess Sirena…” He started. Placing his cup and book down so she would have his full attention. “My most humble apologizes. I have been poked at a few too many times this evening and I did not mean to take my frustrations out on you.” He admitted with a soft smile.  

He had in fact felt bad at how rotten his attitude had been. It felt like it had only been days that the council had put out that Lamia was looking for allies. He was bombarded and he felt like his much coveted alone time was slipping away with a blink of an eye. “I hope you are enjoying your time in Lamia?” he inquired “I hope you and the Duke liked your gift and your room was up to your standards.” smiling softly “You know we are more than happy to accommodate for what ever you need.”

Sirena sharply inhaled.     She had barley taken a single step away from the man when he spoke her name.     So now he notices her.     Sirena thought a second later as she turned back to the man with a cordial smile re-plastered on her face.          ❝     Of course Your Majesty.     Please,     think nothing of it.     I am sure receiving such an influx of guests must be taxing.     ❞          she replied,     giving him a small reassuring tilt of her head.

A small lump grew in her throat as he asked questions in  -  what she could only assume  -  was him trying to recover ground with her.          ❝     I have Your Majesty,     everything has been lovely.     Your kingdom is beautiful.     ❞          Probably,     Sirena had been so preoccupied unpacking her items before any maid could show up and offer to assist her that she hadn’t given the gift more then a cursory glance.     Then after going through her social obligations  -  which included her introduction to the man before her  -  she left Sebastian laughing with some lord from somewhere she didn't catch the name of in the main hall.     They had seemed to be friends,     so it was an optimal opportunity for her escape.

There was a shift in Sirena’s demeanor – Josefine knowing she spoke out of term. The difference between a princess and lady always play a part in how one could speak. “ I – ” She begun, her voice faltering. Josefine had not been sure what to say now, she allowed herself to ramble far beyond the necessary. “Why, I suppose we must all have our own views. That is what keeps the world sane, is it not?” She stated, though quickly shut her mouth afterwards. Josefine had not want to upset Sirena, they barely knew each other to begin with. “Enough of that – Why not tell me about your stay with the Duke? Your sister says he supports the Westergaards. I do not know much of that kingdom, but I have heard rumors. I fear they may someday cause us all a lot of trouble, I hope you shall not have to be involved.”

Sirena felt herself warm with embarrassment.     That was a bad reply.     It was a horrible reply,     and now the conversation was unpleasant.

Sirena smiled a rare genuine smile and gave a few quick nods as the other spoke,     silently grateful that Josefine was trying to move past whatever that was.          ❝     Of course.     ❞          she began.     The princess had felt her heart stop when Josefine mentioned the Southern Isles,     but she was spared the feeling of her chest fully constricting with dread.     Josefine almost immediately went on to say she knew little of the Southern Isles.     This was great for Sirena!     Now she could avoid any in-depth talk of geopolitical climates pertaining to the Southern Isles and  -  for the most part  -  Weselton.

❝     I would hope none of us ever need be involved in any ‘trouble’ that may or may not arise..     But in regards to His Grace;     he does indeed support the Westergaards,     as he rules over Weselton,     which has been a major duchy of the Southern Isles for over two decades now.     His Father made a personal deal with His Majesty King Hans in order to have Weselton join under the Southern Isles’ flag.     I can speak little on the capital or other territories,     but Weselton is a beautiful place.     You should pay it a visit if you are ever able my lady,     His Grace is very hospitable.     ❞

Ember could feel her mental and physical energy plummet. She tried to remember something, Anything, from the night before…. or nights. She wasn’t even aware of how long she had been gone. It couldn’t have been too long. She was still glamoured. “Shit!” She thought out loud she didn’t even consider that she might unglamour and what little she had left was in her bag. The one she was carrying when she was caught.  MU always rolled out a month’s supply to every student a day or two before people would run out. Her kit was probably waiting right outside her door and someone would notice and steal it to sell to the students off campus.

She was more anxious now than she was before, this new realization putting her at another risk of being in danger. She didn’t know who had kidnapped her. They could very well been humans, wanting to poke and prod at her. A human had gotten in no problem before. Who’s to say that more weren’t hiding out waiting for a monster who glamoured, looked like they couldn’t put up a fight. She was also slightly inebriated. Not enough that she couldn’t walk but enough that she didn’t care who or what Rich was doing. That much she remembered.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks quickly, keeping her eyes on the camera. Jumping almost immediately at the voice she heard near her. She wasn’t alone. Squinting her eyes to see if she missed anyone in the shadows, there was nothing there. Running her hands over her face “Great I’m hallucinating now…” she said releasing a sigh. 

With another twist of his lollipop,     he watched her blue eyes scan the room,     unknowingly passing right over him as her gaze got close to the door.     He raised a single brow as he watched Ember run her hands over her face and sigh.     She rustled a few stray curls into her forehead with the motion,     but she didn’t seem to care  -  or notice.

March had a pretty good view of her face now that she was turned in his direction.     She looked a bit rough.     Her hair was already messed up from where she had been moved around while she was unconscious.     However,     outside of that she still looked tired,     understandably on edge  -  she just woke up in three-quarters of a padded room  -  but also she just seemed a bit..     out of it?     Her eyes looked a bit unfocused,     like if she was buzzed or something.     Maybe she wasn’t fully awake yet?     Or maybe they really did give her too much?     It’s not like any of the guys who went to get her were in the business of regularly kidnapping people,     so they could have miscalculated her dosage despite Fungus probably telling them how much to use.    March had never seen anyone wake up from being drugged before,     so this might be normal behavior for all he knew.

❝     You're not.     ❞          he replied casually;     not if she was referring to him like she seemed to be at least,          ❝     Well,     not unless you M.U. kids like doing things a bit harder than weed and Smirnoffs.     In that case you might be.     ❞          he added offhandedly a second later with a little half-shrug she couldn't see.

Thread || Ember & March

Ember woke up with a jolt, her heart beating rapidly, head pounding, as her eyes darted around the room. The floor was solid metal, she felt her body rattle at the sight of it. She couldn’t tell if she was cold or if she was in the early stages of a panic attack. She felt like she was dreaming, or in this case inside one her nightmares. Looking around she noticed the padding surrounding her except for the glass wall in front of her. Standing up felt impossible, her legs were almost numb and her feet felt like they were 1000lbs. Walking closer to the end on the room to touch the glass wall she could feel her stomach tighten “What the hell…” she said under her breath. “HELLO! Is anyone out there?!?” she shouted before hitting the glass with her hand. She felt her cheeks grown warm with anger before she heard the sound of a soft humming above her. She looked up to see the camera in the corner.  Making eye contact with the lens she felt the coolness of tears begin to run down her cheeks “I don’t know who you are or what you want from me but you better let me out now! The CDA and my father will find me before you even have a chance to get what you want out of me!”

@autumnverglas​

Damn,     she was really out of it.     That’s what March thought to himself as he looked down at the mess of black curls and signature M.U blue and white spawn out on the floor beyond the glass.     She didn’t so much as flinch when the door shut a moment ago,     and it was a metal door,     so it was kind of loud.     He had half expected the sound to wake her if she hadn’t already come to on her own.

He pulled out a lollipop from one of his pockets and took the wrapper off before placing it in his mouth,     all the while still looking down at her sleeping back.     What did they give her to knock her out this hard?     Or how much did they give her?     She was supposed to wake up around now.     Fungus had said so,     and he was eerily accurate with stuff like this.     It had been over an hour but there she was still out like a light.     He stood there for a minute,     just watching for signs of movement,     but he couldn’t see any.     March heard himself let out a little sigh.     Maybe he should just come back in another half hour and try again?     He gave one final look and then began to turn and reach for the handle  -  about to undo his camouflage as well  -  when he heard the rustle of fabric.     March looked over his shoulder to see the girl’s figure finally beginning to stir.     He chuckled a bit to himself.     Eerily accurate.

Keeping his eyes on her,     he turned his back to the door and took a few steps to the side before leaning back against the wall.     She was looking around and starting to get to her feet now.     He started idly twisting the stem of the lollipop in his mouth between his fingers as she made her way to the glass and began shouting for someone.     His eyes shifted up to the upper corner of the room when she turned her head in that direction,     seemed she finally noticed the camera looming over her.     He moved his gaze back to her a split moment later and instantly his dark brows shot up to his forehead.     Was she..     Crying?     Well,     that was something.

❝     You're wasting your breath princess.     ❞          he started with a another twist of the lollipop's stem after she finished practically crying out her threat,          ❝     It's visuals only,     no audio on either end.     ❞

“There had seemed a time where one must consider two odds: to stay true to oneself or to drift off into the reality of our time. Is it not odd that we are subjected to the natures of our bodies? How are we to make a difference when we are handicapped from birth?”

Sirena had a cordial smile on her face.     She could tell her expression was still under control,     but she definitely felt one corner of her slightly upturned mouth twitch just now.     How did this happen?     Why did this happen?     When had the conversation shifted to be about sociology?     Sirena could fell her armpits becoming moist standing there as the other spoke.     Was this somehow brought up because of Melody?     Wasn’t...     she what they were talking about?     Sirena opened her mouth,     only to close it just as quickly,     like some fish out of water gasping for air.

❝     I  -  That is certainly one viewpoint to have on the subject     ❞