#plot development drabble

Solemn footsteps echoed through the hallway as a tall figure with bright, emerald eyes made his way down to the lower levels of the manor. Down to the labs. The vaults. For resting down there was a person he cared about dearly. A woman. His sister. 

It had been a tragedy. Nothing more, nothing less. The day that they had gotten the call from the hospital. 

“She jumped.” They’d said. And a wave of shock, of sheer horror had spread through the manor. All color had seemed to drain from the world. All joy. He himself had made his way to the hospital to retrieve her. It wasn’t  procedure. They should have called the morgue. An undertaker. But Mr. Walter had said no. Had made his instructions clear. 

“Bring her home.” He’d said. And The Spine had been more than happy to comply. This couldn’t be the end. There had to be some way. And from what Mr. Walter had said, he seemed to be of the same opinion. 

So, he’d brought her home. Her body mangled. Bruised. His experience as a medic came in handy when he’d worked on putting her bones back in the right places. When he’d cleaned her up and dressed her in one of her white, lacey dresses. And then, he’d been told to put her in a vault. A vault that could reach subzero temperatures. To preserve her body, he’d been told. 

And so, he’d done as requested. Brought her to the vault, watching through a window as the temperature was lowered, and her skin was being covered with small, shimmering crystals. And she was left there. Frozen solid. Looking like she was but asleep. But the reality of it was far more grim.

He came down to the vault every day. He wasn’t sure why. And he would merely look at her. Waiting for some sort of news. 

This day, he wasn’t alone. A far taller being, wearing a top hat would be standing there. Looking in at the frozen figure. The automaton paused next to him, steam coiling from his black lips as they parted. “Any news, Baron?” He’d ask, baritone voice low. The taller being would let out a deep hum, smoke seeping between his teeth from his ever-lit cigar. “Not yet. I’ve launched a search for ‘er soul. I’ll bring it back. Just... Keep ‘er like this. As long as ‘er body is this well preserved, I can put the soul back and heal the rest of the body.” He spoke, slowly turning those red-brown eyes towards the automaton.

“Ain’t ‘er time yet. It ain’t ‘er time yet.” He’d mumble, a frown on that painted face of his. “I’ll find ‘er, Metal Man. I promise.” He spoke, before his body slowly started to dissolve into black smoke. He needed to search for her. He needed to brig her back. No matter what. 

The Spine would briefly watch the Lwa vanish, before he reached out to place a hand against the glass. That smooth, unbelievably cold barrier between him and the contents of the vault. 

The music blasted from the speakers of the studio, the slim, small form standing in the middle of the room was already covered in sweat. Her white, translucent skin was glistening under the pale light. It had been a longer session already, but... She needed it. Needed to get every frustration in her out. And this... This was her safe haven.

To be perfectly honest, she’d been in a strange mood lately. A few... Unwanted memories had been resurfacing, causing her to feel a sting of anxiety. It was a rare occurrence, for normally, she didn’t think too much about the past, but...

 “And I know There's nothing I can say To change that part To change that part To change-”

Her body moved smoothly, her movements fluent, but with more of an edge than usual. She was angry... Frustrated.. Upset. And those negative emotions needed to be released. And so, she did that through her dancing. Strands of hair were already clinging to her skin, she was slightly out of breath, but she continued to dance with absolute control and grace.

“So many Bright lights that cast a shadow But can I speak? Well, is it hard understanding

I'm incomplete?

A life that's so demanding I get so weak A love that's so demanding I can't speak!”

Someone she had thought that she would never see again had messaged her. Someone she didn’t need in her life. Someone who had caused so much hurt and trauma that even The Spine had completely lost his cool, back when it had happened... Why? Why now? Why did they have to come back to haunt her?!

“I am not afraid to keep on living I am not afraid to walk this world alone Honey, if you stay I'll be forgiven Nothing you can say can stop me going home!”

The chorus, that burst of hope, that reminder that she was strong, that they didn’t control her anymore. She’d leap into the air, gracefully, like a bird taking flight. Her movements controlled, but not choreographed. No, this was different. This was her emotions. Those chaotic, raw emotions within her, that needed release. It was graceful, yes, but there was a certain, untamed edge to it, that would make it tantalizing to watch.

“Can you see My eyes are shining bright? 'Cause I'm out here On the other side

Of a jet black Hotel mirror And I'm so weak Is it hard understanding

I'm incomplete? A love that's so demanding I get weak!

I am not afraid to keep on living I am not afraid to walk this world alone Honey, if you stay I'll be forgiven Nothing you can say can stop me going home!

I am not afraid to keep on living I am not afraid to walk this world alone Honey, if you stay I'll be forgiven Nothing you can say can stop me going home!

These bright lights have always blinded me These bright lights have always blinded me I say..!

I see you lying next to me With words I thought I'd never speak Awake and unafraid Asleep or dead

‘Cause I see you lying next to me With words I thought I'd never speak Awake and unafraid Asleep or dead

‘Cause I see you lying next to me With words I thought I'd never speak Awake and unafraid Asleep or dead

'Cause I see you lying next to me With words I thought I'd never speak Awake and unafraid Asleep or dead

I am not afraid to keep on living I am not afraid to walk this world alone Honey, if you stay I'll be forgiven Nothing you can say can stop me going home!

I am not afraid to keep on living I am not afraid to walk this world alone Honey, if you stay I'll be forgiven Nothing you can say can stop me going home!

I am not afraid to keep on living I am not afraid to walk this world alone Honey, if you stay I'll be forgiven Nothing you can say can stop me going home!!”

She stopped, reaching one hand to the sky as the song came to a close, nor short of breath, beads of sweat pearling against her skin, slowly trickling down her face, her neck, as her chest would rise and fall as she worked on regaining control over her breathing. 

Without further notice, she let herself fall to the ground, laying flat on her back. She’d had enough now, she had no more strength in her, and she would need just a moment to regain focus and control. Her hands moved up to cover her face, a slight sigh leaving her blue lips as she closed her eyes shut, clenching her teeth.

Plot drabble series for @deathmimedream​ and Baron Samedi Walter

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The endoskeleton had been completed. It was strong, but lightweight, because compared to the older body he’d had, this was to be made from new materials. But seeing as the plating would be made from brass, she had opted for a lightweight, but strong material for the endoskeleton. 

In fact, she had opted for the same material that made up The Spine’s plating. Titanium alloy. 

This body would be sturdy, that much was for certain. Tall, around 8-9 feet. probably closer to the 9, honestly. Now, this was the easier part for her. building the base, connecting all of the wiring. Even building the core. This, she worked on almost on a daily basis. She knew how to do this. But something that would be a new area for her, and would cause her a whole different level of trouble.... That was the sculpting. 

This was trial and error for her. She had done what she could to read up on how to heat the metal, how to sculpt it. And she had found that this was.... Hard. And it was frustrating. She’d lost count on how many times she’d scrapped a piece and started over.

She was a perfectionist, after all. And she wanted this to be absolutely perfect. So, after having yet again scrapped a piece for the thigh of the right leg, she found herself sitting in the corner of the work room. Frustrated, angry with herself for not getting that damn piece right. 

Maybe it was because she was lacking rest at this point. She’d worked on those inner workings for at least a couple of weeks, getting minimal hours of sleep. And she was tired. And emotional. 

This was the love of her life, after all. One that had been brutally taken from her. Killed. Only his essence, his very soul remaining. And she wanted to make this perfect. Right down to the etched details, the skulls adorning his vents and extended spinal pieces. 

A frustrated sigh would leave her as she pulled her legs up against her chest, wrapping her arms around them to keep them in place. She’d carefully rest her chin against her knees, pale eyes closing, as to avoid those tears of absolute frustration and fatigue. She swore that a voice was telling her to get some rest and continue in the morning, but she was stubborn. This process was already going too slow. But... She probably did need that rest by now. 

So she would slowly get up, and turn off the lights in that work room, moving towards the door. She took one glance behind her, at the unfinished, robotic body on that table, before leaving, finding that the smaller, female ‘bot, Key-Lock, was waiting for her outside, to escort her to her room. Carrying a cup of hot chocolate for her. She would offer a smaller smile, figuring that the others were probably worried about her at this point. Admittedly, she hadn’t exactly been very... Present for a while. 

So she would let the other walk with her to her room, taking smaller sips of that hot chocolate on the way.