All alone in her room, sat a girl of sixteen in the middle of a wide, extravagant room. Everything felt so cold as the second hand on the clock continued to tick by, Antoinette herself feeling like her own time was stuck. Eyes were locked onto the clock, wondering how such a small thing could represent something so big. Something so finite. Finite huh⌠echoed through her mind as she closed her eyes, tearing her piercing gaze from the ticking hands of time.
Her mind, while so full of thoughts, felt empty. Pieces of torn cloth interlaced between her hands, loosely falling much like time was falling between her fingers. Time, time⌠time. Why didnât she just have the time to decide what was the right thing to do. With every blink her future felt more clouded. It would help if she could just feel something towards the situation. Anything. It was beginning to feel like her suppressed emotions had become a dwindling fire in the back of her mind. They were starting to smoulder, and soon, Antoinette was convinced they wouldnât be a part of her anymore.
She stared down at the fragments in her hands, watching them slowly being pulled by the force of gravity. Wouldnât it just be so easy if fate felt exactly like a magnetic force. Like it was pulling you somewhere. Instead, it felt that grasping at straws was the only way to make things work in her life. Except, it had gotten to the point where she wasnât even trying anymore. Her mother held the cards to her fate. A puppet of sorts to her mother felt like all that she would ever be. She was no longer the player in her own game.
On the opposite side of the same coin rested a chance. A chance for a change that she so desperately needed. Her father had offered to move them back out to the countryside, to another small village far away from here. For once in her life, it had almost felt like her heart was beating with the tiniest slither of happiness and hope, something that she herself tried to not hold onto too desperately. Hope was always the one that seemed to let you down when you needed it the most.
And yet, it did, as her mother had told the both of them no. No she would not come.
No matter how long Antoinette seemed to look at her current situation, her mind and her body was frozen. She couldnât move, she couldnât think. All that flooded her mind was the idea of betrayal and abandonment. The feeling of freedom was so close and now it felt like it was just being torn from her hands once again. Much like the pieces of fabric between her fingers. Her eyes were resting gaze on the fabric once more. The longer she stared, the longer she felt something built up in the pit of her stomach. Slowly, hands clenching the pieces in her palm, it all seemed to come flooding out.
The fire flared up once more.
Antoinette screamed at the top of her lungs as she felt an outburst of anger and realisation. Why was it that this woman always seemed to have control over her decisions while making her think that it was what she wanted. The pieces of fabric from the dress she had torn up from her motherâs latest collection were flung across the room. Deciding that she had no use for them anymore, and no use for her mother anymore, a conclusion was soon made then and there. If she didnât have control of her own fate, well then she would just get rid of it. She had no need for things that she had no control over.
Fate can go screw itself and die.
With that decision clear in her mind, the bluenette got up, brushed herself off and headed towards her dadâs office. The sooner she could get out of this witchâs lair the better. She was done with being controlled and she certainly was done with being âLouiseâs daughter.â From now on she was Antoinette Marie Dubois, and from now such things had no importance. It was time to play fate her own way, with her own makeshift set of cards. Goodbye precious life.
The music echoed in her mind as she approached the doors of the Summer Masquerade, a slightly unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling sitting in the pit of her stomach as she was greeted by the doorman. For a moment it didnât feel like anything grandiose, and if she had been her younger self she would have called for a driver to turn around and pick her up immediately. Definitely not the kind of place her mother would have in mind for the heir of the Dubois family fashion company.
Before she had the chance to even find her feet in the building, Antoinette found herself being whisked away into a changing room. Before there was a chance to speak, eyes met downward to focus on a bottle that was now in her hands. Looking up at the curtain that had been drawn closed, the blue-haired girl held the potion up to the light to read the words âdrink me.â Everything about this situation just seemed bizarre, but it was the air of mystery that kept her intrigued.
Besides, there had been hardly any excitement when it came to her life lately, what was the worst that could happen?
Finishing the potion in almost one gulp, Antoinette felt herself become a little nauseous for a moment. Closing her eyes to somewhat bring her balance back, she turned her body to look at the mirror that had been placed behind her. First she was met with her own ruby red eyes, only to find her vision slipping downward to evaluate her whole body. Eyes widened with realisation.
Was she⌠a teenager once more?
Met with the version of herself that she despised the most, Antoinette stared back at the girl in the mirror with no words to describe her feelings. The girl staring back at her was absolutely stunning. Beautiful long blue hair, curled to perfection and pinned by the very best of stylists. Her doll like features were emphasised by her dark lashes and red lip to match her eyes. To top it all off, she had been dressed in one of her mothers most beautiful wedding dress design that she had made with specifically her daughter in mind. A blue number that could only be defined as extravagant and extra.
All Antoinette could do was scoff at the appearance in front of her, before exiting the changing rooms to attempt to enjoy herself among the commoners. A place certainly not fit for someone like herself. If only her mother was here to actually take her away.
Violet jumped when someone called out to herâŚfrom right behind. This was the end. Violet was going to be kidnapped or beat up for walking the wrong way or something. She hadnât even gotten a full year of schooling done and she was going to end up in some trash can with mice because she couldnât navigate the islandâŚ
Wait, that voice sounded familiar.
She turned around to see her guildmaster, and Violet felt happy to see a familiar face in this sketchy area! It was her guildmasterâŚwho had found a guild member lost on Leuda Island. This was embarrassing.Â
âO-OhâŚM-Miss. AntoinetteâŚâ Violet stuttered, still jumpy from being in this area, âI-I was just on my way to do errands a-and IâŚg-got lostâŚ?â
[ ć ] -â- Antoinette felt a little bad as she watched the girl jump at the sound of her voice. âTsk, this girl wouldnât make a very good explorer, would sh-â Antoinette had spoken to herself mentally, however stopping when she realised who the girl was in front of her. Violet Brunel her name was, the girl who had happened to have tamed that summon the other day... Undine she was most certain it was. Definitely a girl like herself that was highly underestimated when it came to her power.Â
   â... Antoinette is just fine.â Was the first thing that she thought to say. It sounded weird hearing someone call her so formally, when she always made a point to her guild members that she didnât need to be spoken to in any formal kind of way. Besides, they were all just as talent as her, the only thing she had on them is that she had to actually organise them. Heck, even Violet was older than her. Antoinette should have been the one being formal towards her. However, her pride was more important and she wouldnât dare let someone think that she thought of them as above her either.
  A sigh left her mouth. âYou really need to be more careful. If this was a voyage would you have let your guard down in such a manner? You know as well as I do what that would mean.â she questioned, slightly wondering how someone who seemed a little scatterbrained managed to tame such a summon.Oh well, it was not important right now. After her small pause, she simply uttered one word. âDeath.â
  âHowever not so extreme here on Leuda, but never the less dangerous. Especially in this part of town, you definitely could have found yourself in serious trouble. Even someone such as myself dreads walking through this part of town.â Antoinette left another pause in between her words. âAnd I canât lose important guild members to injury.â
   After her lecture, Antoinette let out another sigh, feeling like it was too tiring to keep poking at her right now. âSo... What were those errands that you speak of? I suppose someone such as myself can accompany you so you donât seriously hurt yourself.â she told her. âDonât get used to it. This was just out of coincidence I was here.â
Honestly, Violet was still tired after the festival, even if she wanted to pretend everything was alright.
Violet sighed, walking through the town as if she was in a daze. She thankfully took off her shift at the guild today after reporting her fight with Undine, which they were happy to give her since she was now the pact-holder of the spirit. Her classes werenât until the next day, but she still needed to go out to run some errands. Renew a science textbook at the University libraryâŚmaybe get her tools upgraded after finding some ore on ArcadiaâŚthink about scheduling a boat rental to go on a voyage. There hadnât been progress about the key piecesâŚso she figured that she should do her part as a guild member. She did pray for luck at the Dragon King ShrineâŚso she hoped that it would be fineâŚ
In the pocket of her dress was the water crystal that Undine had left behind shortly after her pact was made. Violet could hardly believe that she had actually made the pact. She remembered the spirit from when she was a child - a crybaby, really - and she would have never imagined meeting her like that as an adult. She gently took out the water crystal and looked at it with a calm face.Â
And when her eyes wandered to her surroundings, she didnât recognize anything.
ThisâŚdidnât look like the rest of town, to be honest. Violet looked around, seeing some odd things. Dirtied buildings, cracked pathways, and generally a fouler tone than the rest of Leuda. One of the larger buildings read âMire Apartmentsâ on the frontâŚwhat an unpleasant name for an apartment. Violet fought back a yawn and reached into her bag to find the map that Gaius had lent herâŚ
Only to find nothing. She had taken it out of her bag before she went to Arcadia because she wouldnât need it there. So when she took the Love Potion and the wine out of her bag when she came backâŚshe forgot to put the map back inside.
And now she didnât know where she had ended up at all.
Violet trembled, completely distraught that she had gotten lost yet again. She had been on this island for how long and she still ended up lost! She nervously stepped back, eyes glued to the ground as she tried to retrace her steps back out of this area. Why did people look so scary hereâŚ?Â
[ ć ] -â- The time had ticked over to another end of her shift, and as guild master that meant time to shut up the place and head home for the day. Nothing to straining had happened today, so Antoinette was in a fairy good mood. Well, as good of a mood that was possible for someone like herself. She went around the place making sure things were locked up well and good, before sighing as she closed the doors on another day at the guild. Sometimes she had to admit she loved going home, and others where she felt lonely without the place. Today happened to be the latter.Â
   Her walk home however, always consisted of a walk through one of the dodgiest parts of town, somewhere she didnât really appreciate too much. In her personal opinion, it was the kind of place where if you werenât paying enough attention to your surroundings, you would probably get something or yourself stolen by some random on the street. Definitely sounded very charming, being stolen by some stranger. Definitely what she had planned for herself for todayâs events.
   But it wasnât long before her gaze was caught by something, or rather someone that looked awfully familiar. Like an acquaintance of hers? Antoinette found herself quickening her pace a little to inspect the human that was ahead of her. They looked to be walking around a little... lost. Definitely not something that you could have in this part of town. And, of course, as a leader of the explorerâs guild, she felt that she was obligated to make sure that the townspeople were okay, and besides, she was in a good mood, so it meant she was feeling a little kinder today.
   Antoinette cleared her throat a little as she came within a close distance to the individual, however unable to identify her due to the fact Antoinette was standing behind the human that appeared to be a girl. âUh, are you okay?â she called out with her monotone voice, attempting to sound a little concerned. The girl seemed a bit shaky as she watched her try and reach into the back at her side, seeming to have no avail.Â
  She was a little lost on what to say, so hopefully once the girl turned around to her voice and Antoinette could maybe identify who she was, she might have more to say to this particular individual. The first part that needed attention though, was to make sure she the girl was okay. Â
After the whole incident with Undine and Violet making a pact with the creature, Gaius was exhausted. Dragging the poor girl back to Leuda surely was something, as well as bringing what was left of his stock from the Festival. Oh shoot, he forgot to get Angela a gift while he was there. Oh well, maybe heâd give her one of the charms he had left. But surely, there was someone back at the Guild who wanted to see him.
It had been quite some time since he took on a request or a mission from the Guild, so it was probably a good idea to check in and let her know of the one he and Violet completed. After all, she probably wanted to see him anyway.
[ ć ] -â- Antoinette sighed as she leaned back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling for a moment before returning her eyes to the paperwork in front of her. The usual legal requirements that were involved with sending people on voyages was something that seemed to never end. And, as usual, she was the one who got stuck back here managing the place instead of going on the voyages herself. Oh well, she couldnât have everything she supposed.
   But, it came time to stand up and stretch her legs, and take a break. The bluenette slowly brought herself up from her chair, her eyes gazing toward the request board that was not too far from her. However, the silence that she had been hearing for hours on end was interrupted when she saw a familiar face, a returnee from a voyage, and a long standing friend acquaintance of hers.Â
   âI am here, however I wouldnât really count this as my home...â she mumbled, her eyes looking to the ground for a moment before meeting Gauisâ own. âHmm... A mere traveller? You certainly donât look like someone who would work for my guild.â Antoinette teased slightly. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, and despite sounding like she didnât care, it was nice to see that Gaius had gotten home safely.Â
Earned some money for working and stuff I guessâŚ
[-3,000G] For living in the Inner Apartments.
[+2,000G] For your first (main) job.
[+1,000G] For your second (part-time) job.
[+2,000G] For being a Guildmaster (owner/boss of Explorerâs Guild)
[+500G] For updating your Biography / Diary pages.
[+500G] For updating your info in the Character Information doc.
[ Current balance: 19,900g ]
[ New Balance: 22,900g ]
[âŤ] â- âWell, I canât say thatâs very true now, since youâre with me. Surely whatever they wanted you to do didnât involve talking to incredibly handsome boys in piano rooms.â The corner of his mouth pulls up into a smirk, and he gives her a challenging look. He wasnât just going to let her keep talking to him that way and not respond in kind, of course. It was a all matter of give and take.
He shrugs, doing his best to not let his curiosity show. âI suppose, but itâs not likeâ what? Wait, you canâtâ!â Her name calling strikes a nerve, and he sputters at her indignantly. âE-excuse you, I am not a âsissy boyâ,â He had no problem with being called pretty though, because he was, âand, well⌠they never have, but⌠that doesnât mean going against their wishes would solve anythingâŚâ He mutters the last part, and looks back down at the plaza. It did seem really funâŚ. all of that wonderful music, and those laughing peopleâŚ
Any heart fluttering he could have felt from seeing the stoic girl crack a rare â pretty â smile was immediately halted when she called him a chicken, and he glares at her defiantly. âChicken!? Please. If youâre going to compare me to any birds, it should be as something as graceful as a swan, or cool like an eagle or hawk. Something befitting of my character! A chicken⌠hmph. HonestlyâŚâÂ
His face is twisted into a pout as he extends a hand to her. âCome on. If weâre going to do this, you might as well hold on to me. Canât have someone as small and cute as you getting lost in such a large city.â Not only would his father kill him if he found out Max was sneaking out in the first place, but he didnât even want to imagine what he would do if he found he had lost one of the girls from the party on top of thatâŚ
[ ć ] -â- âWell that might have been true if you were actually handsome. Someone likes to talk themselves up a bit, donât they?â Antoinette retorted, not daring to meet his eyes when she said it. She knew that she was lying, and she knew it very well. Anyone could tell at first glance that the boy in front of her was a sight to behold. Definitely beautiful. Definitely pretty. But thatâs what most of the boys were here. It wasnât something special. Plus, as Antoinette always liked to make a point of, she didnât care for ones looks enough to acknowledge such a statement. âNot that my parents care what I do as long as Iâm married off to their person of choice without complaint.â
   Antoinette couldnât help but smirk playfully at his reaction. It was always words like that that seemed to set them off. Boys and their need to be anything but a sissy boy. âWell, youâre nothing but a sissy boy if you actually want to stay here. I have no problems with going on my own.â Now that he had shown her the wonders that lay down below them, there was no way that she was going to wait around here and wonder what she missed out on. âItâs not about solving anything. Itâs merely nothing more than doing what you want to do.â Antoinette quickly coughed. âNot that I care about what you want to do. Youâre just some rich boy after all.â
   âChic-ken.â The girl repeated the words, each part of the word in its own seperate syllable. Antoinette couldnât help but find it amusing how he was quick to talk himself up. But, for once it didnât seem to annoy her like it did the other boys she had met. But, Antoinette couldnât help but ponder. What was wrong with the chicken in the first place? What did it ever do wrong to be used as the foolâs word? Poor chicken, she couldnât help but think to herself, despite how silly a thought it may have been. âWell maybe I might consider you something else if you come with me. Plus, who ever said... That the chicken had to be the foolâs word. It only is if you let it be.â
   Despite looking as if she was trying to hesitate, Antoinette couldnât help but be slightly quick to rest her hand against his once more. Despite hating this place, and not caring for this boy, there was a strange warmth she found with being with him. Not that it would last, or she cared obviously. What a stupid thought. âSo youâre saying that if I was large and ugly you wouldnât care if I got lost in a city? Absolutely kind you are.â she retorted. âBut I suppose Iâll keep your offer if it stops you from being weak about going to this common people event. Letâs hurry up and make our way there before they notice.â
  Antoinette paused for a moment. âYouâre gonna have to lead the way because youâre the one who seems so familiar with it, sissy boy.â
[âŤ] â- ââŚHmph.â He responds simply, not exactly having a comeback for what was technically the truth. No matter what he said, the girl would probably see through it anyway. For someone who looked so young, she was eerily perceptive, he was starting to realize. She mumbles something else after her comment, and he canât help but wonder what it was that she said. From what heâs seen from her so far, probably another disparaging remark of some sortâŚ
âOf course it wonât.â He defends, tightening his hold on her hand, but not enough for it to hurt. As snide as she was, the gesture felt⌠comforting. Filled him with warmth. Perhaps it was because she reminded him of his dear baby sister, on some level. Past the physical resemblance, this girl couldnât have been more different from his perfect Rosalind if she tried. âWell, itâll certainly be a better way to spend your time than wandering through the halls, or whatever it was you had been doing before you came in here.â
He moves forward, tugging gently on her hand, âNow come on, follow me.â Walking through the doors of the room and back out into the hall, Max scans both ends of the corridor before continuing on, relieved that no adults or servants had been in sight. After scaling a flight of stairs and walking down a few more halls, he eventually reaches a balcony that overlooks the majority of the mainland city, with the cityâs plaza in direct view. When the sounds of flutes and violins reaches his ears, he canât help the grin that breaks out on his face as he quickens his pace and moves closer to the railing, the blue haired girl in tow.
âLook!â There is excitement in his voice and a pure, almost childlike, sense of wonder in his eyes. âDo you see the plaza? Down thereâ the performers? Do you see them?â He points down giddily, practically bouncing on his feet in excitement. âApparently they have a music festival in the plaza every weekend, with traveling bands and orchestras, vendors, stalls, foods, performers⌠it all looks so fun, doesnât it? I want to go down there one day, maybe even perform some music myself, butââÂ
He pauses, remembering the time when he had told his father just that, and got nothing but a dismissive rejection. With a small sigh, he crosses his arms over the railing and rests his head on top of them, watching the dancers below.  ââwell, never mind. I just felt like showing you this view, really⌠itâs so pretty, and it always cheers me up when Iâm upset about something, so I was hoping it could do the same for you.â
[ ć ] -â- And so for the first time in her life, she was letting one of these pretty rich boys drag her around the place. Her usual reaction, in which she had to fight off, was far from the current situation, and for once, she was letting things happen as they were. Not interfering for once. Weirdly enough, she had to admit it was nice. Nice to have someone else take away her thoughts just for the smallest amount of time. She could even dare say that she was kind of enjoying this meeting, not that she would ever verbally express that. Definitely not something she would let this boy know.
   âWell sorry, beforehand I was actually doing what my parents wanted me to be doing. Not that you could say the same, could you?â she questioned, as well as retorted. But, the boy was right, walking around the halls with a new found acquaintance may not have been so bad after all. A lot better than standing around with adults trying to marry her off like she was something for another family to gain. It was just completely and utterly annoying. Stupid adults not knowing anything as usual.
   Following behind the blonde haired boy, after a few halls and staircases, her eyes were met with a view over the balcony ahead of them. The plaza that everyone spoke about, it was lit up with so many different stalls and beautiful music that she couldnât help but stop and stare in awe for a little moment. The common people and their little stall gatherings or whatever they were called... Antoinette loved them so very much. Those were people having fun, not the people that gathered in these stupid fancy halls. And so, Antoinette spent a moment of silence leaning over the balcony, closing her eyes to take in the sound of the music.
   âIt sounds... absolutely amazing...â she said quietly, her eyes still caught by the sight ahead. However, she couldnât help but notice how his voice fell when he spoke about wanting to play music down there himself. What was stopping him? Parents? Like they would have known he was gone right now. That was when Antoinette decided that she was ready to break the rules, like she always did. Definitely was a special talent of hers. Â
   âItâs definitely pretty, but it may look prettier from down there...â she said, turning to him as she spoke. âHow about it, why donât you stop being a sissy pretty boy and actually do something that you want to for once. I reckon we could get down there easy. Youâre just making excuses if youâre gonna let your parents get in your way. How often have they ever let you do something that you want to do?â Antoinette gave a slight smile for once.Â
  The bluenette couldnât help but taunt, âIf youâre not coming Iâll go by myself, you chicken.â In truth she didnât want to go by herself, but if it was to prove a point, then why not?
[â] â-Â The Leuda Explorerâs Guild wasnât a place she went to often, but since she would having much more free time on her hands for the next week, she decided she would go an check it out, see if there were any request she could take up, or explorations she could go on.
Lillie never really explored before⌠honestly, the most travelling sheâs ever done was the short boat rides in between Leuda and Arcadia. For as long as she could remember, sheâs always wanted to go on a voyage⌠or at least venture out to lands beyond this small archipelago.
But she also had school to worry about, and responsibilities to take care of, so that was one dream she would probably have to hold off on for quite a whileâŚ
Smiling at the group of boasting guild members who had just returned from a voyage, Lillie folds her arms behind her back and makes to leave, turning towards the exitâŚ
âŚand bumping into a shorter, blue haired girl.
âO-oh gosh, Iâm so sorry, are you okay!?â Lillie sputters, holding her hands up but not exactly knowing what to do with them, leading to her holding them awkwardly in the space between her and the girl. She didnât seem harmed, butâŚÂ âI should pay better attention to where Iâm goingâŚ! S-sorryâŚâ
[ ć ] -â- Today had been a normal day of minding guild papers, debts and all the business that came with working as a Leudian guild master. Even though she was completely used to knowing how papers and whatnot worked due to her father having taught her from a young age, it did not stop the fact of them getting really boring. Antoinette had a huge attention span when it came to these things, however today it wasnât sitting. She couldnât sit still. So, she got up from her desk and decided to have a look at the request board and see if any new requests had been taken.
   However, she was greeted with a brown haired girl, rather cute she had to admit. However at first glance didnât look like the type to be taking requests for voyages and whatnot. Pondering over whether or not she should help her, Antoinette gave herself a minute before stepping forward to help this girl. However, just as she made her way towards the brunette, she herself had been getting ready to leave, ending with Antoinette being bumped backwards.
   Nearly losing her balance, Antoinette stumbles back slightly, looking up at the girl, who happened to be taller than her. âItâs fine.â she said simply, looking at the girl and her hands that were enclosed in her own. Antoinette gave an awkward half hearted smile, something that took a lot of effort to do for an ice queen such as herself. âAttention would be something needed for some of those requests up there.â She noted to the girl.
   âWelcome to the Leudian Explorerâs Guild. How may I help you today?â She repeated her very well rehearsed line, hoping it was enough to make her look a little less intimidating than most thought she was. Besides, the girl seemed relatively normal, and she liked the normal ones the most.
[âŤ] â- As he listened to her words, Max could only feel sympathy for the girl who stood before him. To see yourself as nothing but a pawn and tool, to have no sense of self worth because you believe it was stripped away⌠it must have been a horribly sad life to lead. It was true, that he was blessed with a family that loved and valued him as a person⌠but perhaps there was some truth to what she was saying. That everyone didnât have a life so blessed, even within the upper echelons of societyâŚ
His smile â that hadnât been all that genuine, anyway â falls into a pensive frown, and Max uses the ensuing silence after her speech to think to himself for a moment, before his lips slowly pull up into a smile and he holds his hand out to her. The gesture was often one he did to Rosie, and he couldnât help but note the passing resemblance the girl had to his lovely little sister.
He didnât exactly understand what it was she was going through, but perhaps he could make it better somehow. âWell, even if that may be true, not everyone is against you, you know. Like me. Regardless of how your parents see you, or even how you see yourself, I only see you as a girl. A very human girl who is clearly upset and in need of a mood lifter.âÂ
He laughs. âSo, come on! I want to show you something.â Whatever concerns he had about his father discovering his misconduct had been momentarily forgotten, as the only thing currently on his mind was the girl in front of him, and what he could to cheer her up.
[ ć ] -â- Of course, as usual, when she lashed out the way she had, people always seemed to feel sorry for her. That wasnât what she had been aiming for, not in the slightest. However, it was hard to just ignore his words and not give a response when her opinion on the situation was the polar opposite. Besides, she didnât enjoy glamorising her life, lying was not her forte. Well, depending on the situation of course. Either way, she just stood in silence, waiting and slightly hoping that maybe he would have a reply for her.Â
   She watched as his rather fake smile turned into his true reaction to the situation, a frown. Everyone seemed to become so much more negative when she actually decided to tell them the truth about things. Not that she cared, because either way her life still sucked, no matter what response she got from others. Yet, her thoughts were interrupted with new curiosities sparked by the blonde boyâs words.
   Not everyone was against her? That was something she hadnât heard in a long while. It always seemed to feel like that. Especially with her mother, the main person she was always trying to impress. Maybe this boy had some points that werenât stupid for once. How lovely. âIâm not upset, just fully aware that the facade life most people live here is faker than your smile from earlier.â she merely retorted. â...But thanks...â The last two words were barely audible, but definitely there. He was right. Not that she could ever admit that to his face, but in her heart she definitely knew of his own truthfulness.Â
   Without a word, slowly the small bluenette girl put her own delicate white hand into his own. âI suppose having a look at whatever you want to show me wonât hurt.â she said, rather haughtily. Despite having softened up a little, she didnât want to admit to him that she actually felt a little more cheered up from this meeting. âIt better be worth my time.â
Earned some money for working and stuff I guess...
[-3,000G] For living in the Inner Apartments.
[+2,000G] For your first (main) job.
[+1,000G] For your second (part-time) job.
[+2,000G] For being a Guildmaster (owner/boss of Explorerâs Guild)
[+500G] For updating your Biography / Diary pages.
[+500G] For updating your info in the Character Information doc.
[ Current balance: 6,900g ]
[ New Balance: 9,900g ]
Casino visit under the cut!Â
[ New Balance: 19,900g ]
[ 1,600g to @fourstardaydream ]
However, being someone that enjoyed having money way too much, Antoinette decided it was time to hit up the casino. This way, she would be able to have a bit more money in her pocket. Besides, last time she got real lucky, so why wouldnât she give it another go? So, maybe this time, she could earn a little extra side money.
[âŤ] â- âIââ He starts, unsure of how to respond to that. Why was he trying to validate himself to her? Simple. Because she was a witness, because she could very leave and tell someone of his⌠wrongdoing. He was the scion of the de Sainte-Coquille, a person who was supposed to hold himself to higher morals and standards than the common person. He was to follow all rules, at all times. The prodigal son, the model student, the ideal boy. He was an icon, a standard for people to live up to. But even so, the girlâs words rung trueâŚ
If he understood his position so well, why do things to disgrace and jeopardize it? It wasnât like doing something he enjoyed was bad, but the way he was doing it was still wrong⌠why, though? Why did there have to be such a disconnect between what he wanted to do, and what he needed to do? Why couldnât he do both?
âŚAll of this was confusing, not to mention upsetting him. So, like with every other thing Max didnât want to deal with, he left it alone for later. ââŚThis party was starting to become such a bore!â He laughs as a lie â or at least he thinks it is â easily leaves his lips, feigning a mischievous grin as he looks down at the pretty girl with the ruby red eyes. âI know itâs against the rules, but whatâs so wrong with having a little fun once in a while? My life canât just be fancy meetings and arranged marriages all the time, you know~âŞâ
In an attempt to shake off her piercing statements, the boy puts on the facade of a carefree and mischievous teenage boy, though there was a small part of him that felt as if the image he had conjured up hadnât actually been an act, after all. That the web of lies he had been so easily weaving had been his actual feelings, on some level.
But that tiny part of him was ridiculous, and Max ignores it as he continues on, ââŚ.Youâre notâ youâre not a pawn, or a tool.â He frowns. âThose are such ugly words⌠you should be happy, to be able to help your family in such a way. I am. They raised me, nurtured me, taught me, loved me⌠my family has done so much for me, so itâs the least I could do, to give them something in return. To make them proud⌠but I doubt that would even come close to the gift of life that they gave me.â
âYou say I donât care, but I do. I care about repaying my debts, and doing right by those I loveâ the things that truly matter. Itâs selfish, to think about yourself and what you want, when there are people depending on youâŚâ Unable to take that piercing, beautiful gaze of hers any longer, he looks to the ground and sighs, trying his best to ignore the rather selfish thoughts that had crossed his mind earlier.Â
[ ć ] -â- Antoinette could have cared less what this boy did. She wasnât one to talk when it came to disobeying her parents will, and well, her just being here was as much of a sin as himself. Hence, she was in no place to be telling anyone about anything like this. However, the boy seemed to think that someone like herself was the type to run off and tell the adults. In her mind, it was rather amusing. Imagine actually telling her mother or his parents that some blonde boy was disobeying their rules. She was a little girl who was meant to be seen not heard, so such an action would end with a scolding from her parents.
But, before she knew it, the boy changed his attitude on the situation, completely. Saying the party was a bore? Well, Antoinette couldnât disagree on such a statement, however the fact that he had been so scared about being told off earlier definitely left her questioning his motives. What a strange young boy he was indeed. âI never said there was anything wrong with having fun, youâre the one who stopped yourself from saying it. It might be nice if you actually made up your mind though.â Antoinette found herself slightly frowning, not sure how to read this boyâs words. He definitely was a confusing one.Â
She didnât enjoy people who werenât sure about what they wanted. People who always focused on what others thought of them, they were everything that she tried to avoid in her life. Antoinette found when she met with people like this, they were a constant reminder of why she hated this life that she had been given very, very much. It was all fake, all a facade. Even the boy right now... He was putting on a facade to hide his parentâs ideal facade. It was all too confusing.
Antoinette sighed, shaking her head. âPeople like you, thinking that the world canât be ugly. That ugly words canât be used to describe someoneâs life.â she frowned, letting out a sound of frustration. âYou know what, not everyoneâs familyâs are the same. Just because you got lucky with a family that obviously actually cares about you as a person, doesnât mean that everyone else has as well. My parents donât love me, all theyâve taught me is that I will always be nothing but what my physical value is to them. They pretend to love me because Iâm considered to be beautiful. They pretend to love me because Iâm what will help them climb their way up in this world of riches and facade.â
Antoinette had to take a moment to process what she had said, before returning to her same blank expression. âYou can only be what your parents have taught you. I guess you canât know any better if your parents are the model example of selfish, right?â she sighed. âThey depend on me for money, thatâs it.
[ ć ] -â- Antoinette wanted to leave as much as he wanted her to, it was quite obvious in his body language that he was not happy about her decision to have her order corrected. But, as she usually was, she liked to prove her point, and this was the way she felt it could be done. Besides, no one got away with getting her order wrong after a hard dayâs work at the guild.Â
Of course, people had noticed the pair of them having their rather public argument, well, tea fight. It was slightly amusing to see someone that thought so highly of themselves in such a state. His poor blonde hair wasnât looking so blonde at the moment. It kind of looked like a botched dye job in her eyes for a moment. Oh well, as long as it wasnât her own hair she didnât really care.
âPlease donât waste my time more than you already have, sir.â she said in a sickly sweet voice, accompanied by a mocking smile before returning to her frown once more. âIt would also be rather virtuous if you could actually get things right too this time. Arenât you just full of good virtue today.â Antoinette hated how he spoke as if he was so forgiving. He seemed like the kind of guy to be kind to your face and make you like him, but in the end he was just trying to make himself look good. She wouldnât stand for that however. âMediocrity⌠Maybe you should find a new job then, seeing as this cafe is pretty nice and youâre part of its staffing. Youâre a bit mediocre to be working here.â
Antoinette couldnât deny that she thought he was rather stunning. Stunningly average of course. Well, thatâs what she wanted to tell herself at least. In actual fact, she had thought he was slightly worth her time before he pulled this stunt on her. Oh well, it ended worse for him in her opinion anyway.
But, as he placed the cup down, she slowly got up from her chair, taking the cup back up and handing it back to him. âMaybe you should have it. Maybe then youâll actually appreciate cherry tea as much as myself. Then youâll be less likely to get it wrong, no?â And maybe then, if she ever decided to come back after this episode, she would actually get the right order if served by him.
[âŤ] â- It was becoming increasingly apparent to him that this back and forth would get neither of them anywhere, so he takes a breath and decides to hold back whatever retort he had for her rude comments. Such an ugly attitude⌠it was truly a shame, considering how cute she was. She was definitely the kind of person he would have been interested in, had she not opened her mouth. He wonders if he felt the same when he met her before⌠wherever or whenever that was.
He waits for her to take a sip of the tea â an action that would probably be accompanied by another snarky comment â but is surprised to see that instead of that, she stands up and gives it back to him instead. Her expected comment is met with a tight smile, and Max is almost tempted to take the cup and dump it over her head, give her a delightful taste of the cherry tea she loves so much. But as he was the better man, he would not stoop to such a lowly act.
Instead, he bows slightly, and speaks to her in a level, pleasant tone. âOf course, Your Rudeness. I only wish to satisfy you⌠perhaps next time you will be more appreciative of both my service and presence.â If there even would be a next time. Max was not looking forward to seeing the girl again, but he had a feeling he would. Fate was strange like that.
He assumed she was intending to leave, so he turns on his heel, preparing to head to the back of the shop and start getting ready to head out himself. His hair couldnât stay like this, andâ Goddess, he didnât even want to imagine how it looked right now. âNow, if that will be all, Iâll be taking my leave. Thank you for visiting Chagall Cafe, and we do hope to see you here again sometime.â Except not really. âGood day, MissâŚâ
ââŚ.â He freezes when he turns to look back at her, his gaze catching on her eyes. The girl was considerably smaller than him, and he had been so focused on the tea being dumped on him that he hadnât taken too much notice of her appearance. She had felt familiar, yes, but those eyes⌠those pretty, ruby red eyes⌠they reminded him of someoneâŚ
âŚWell, even if she had been that girl, that meant nothing to him. It wasnât like she had been his friend or anything. Just someone he talked to once. Perhaps it was a good thing he hadnât gotten to know her back then, as she proved to be an absolutely insufferable person. ââŚGood day.â
And with that, he walks away from her, feelings of annoyance and nostalgia swirling in his chest, with the memory of a meeting long past lingering in his mind.
[âŤ] â- Max bites the inside of his cheek upon hearing her answer, smiling so hard that it looked almost sickeningly sweet. Of course she wouldnât make things easy for him. He should have expected her to stay and humiliate him some more, he really should have. Well, he supposed he would have toâŚÂ âroll with the punchesâ, as the common people often put it.
Ignoring the stares and snickers of the people around him, he pulls a handkerchief from his suitâs breast pocket, and wipes away the tea on his face in one fluid motion, deciding to leave the mess that was his hair for more⌠professional hands. After he dealt with this insufferable girl, he would be taking an early leave and head straight to the salon to let Allen or Mistel fix this horrible, horrible mess she made.
âJust like how I can forgive you for having absolutely no manners or proper house training at all! Of course. Forgiveness is a virtue, after all~⪠anyway, Iâll be right back with your tea, maâam.â He chimes cheerily, with a noticeable edge of sarcasm, before turning on his heel and facing away from her. The blonde takes a few steps forward before stopping and turning his head back slightly to look at her from the corner of his eye. His voice is low as he speaks, loud enough for only her to hear. ââŚAnd of course, why would you expect much? Mediocrity attracts mediocrity, after all.â With that, he walks back to the kitchen, leaving her to stew on the comment. Make a blow on his pride, and he would return in kind.
Hmph. Not that anything about her â excepting the personality, of course â was mediocre in the slightest. The girl was rather pretty, almost in a doll-like way, and Max suspected he would be rather interested in her had this⌠incident not occurred. But that was a âwhat ifâ scenario, and there was no point in him dwelling on it. Regardless of how visually appealing she may have been, her attitude and manners were horrid, and he didnât have much tolerance for her type.
Once he gets the correct order of tea and brings it back to her table, he sets it down as gently as he can, and canât help that same feeling of familiarity from earlier when he gets a closer look at her face. He was almost certain he had met her before, but whereâŚÂ âThere is your cherry tea. Would you like anything elseâŚ? A sandwich, or cake, perhaps?â Hopefully nothing so you can leave already?
[ ć ] -â- Antoinette wanted to leave as much as he wanted her to, it was quite obvious in his body language that he was not happy about her decision to have her order corrected. But, as she usually was, she liked to prove her point, and this was the way she felt it could be done. Besides, no one got away with getting her order wrong after a hard dayâs work at the guild.Â
Of course, people had noticed the pair of them having their rather public argument, well, tea fight. It was slightly amusing to see someone that thought so highly of themselves in such a state. His poor blonde hair wasnât looking so blonde at the moment. It kind of looked like a botched dye job in her eyes for a moment. Oh well, as long as it wasnât her own hair she didnât really care.
âPlease donât waste my time more than you already have, sir.â she said in a sickly sweet voice, accompanied by a mocking smile before returning to her frown once more. âIt would also be rather virtuous if you could actually get things right too this time. Arenât you just full of good virtue today.â Antoinette hated how he spoke as if he was so forgiving. He seemed like the kind of guy to be kind to your face and make you like him, but in the end he was just trying to make himself look good. She wouldnât stand for that however. âMediocrity... Maybe you should find a new job then, seeing as this cafe is pretty nice and youâre part of its staffing. Youâre a bit mediocre to be working here.â
Antoinette couldnât deny that she thought he was rather stunning. Stunningly average of course. Well, thatâs what she wanted to tell herself at least. In actual fact, she had thought he was slightly worth her time before he pulled this stunt on her. Oh well, it ended worse for him in her opinion anyway.
But, as he placed the cup down, she slowly got up from her chair, taking the cup back up and handing it back to him. âMaybe you should have it. Maybe then youâll actually appreciate cherry tea as much as myself. Then youâll be less likely to get it wrong, no?â And maybe then, if she ever decided to come back after this episode, she would actually get the right order if served by him.
[âŤ] â- When he finishes out the song and finally opens his eyes, he immediately starts when he is met with the sight of a girl. His first instinct was to think that it was Rosie, having followed him away from the curiosity and her need to be at his side, but closer inspection alerted him to how different this girl was from his darling sister.
Unlike happy, cheerful Rosie, this girl seemed much too guarded and closed in, and her words had a certain edge to them that didnât particularly sit well with him. But as blunt as she may have been, she was right. The adults â and most importantly his father â would not approve of this sort of behavior. Honestly, there wasnât really much they approved of in the first placeâŚ. it was tiring.
ââŚTrue.â Max says simply, regarding the girl in front of him with a look of idle curiosity. Why wouldnât she look at him? It was rude not to make eye contact with others while you were speaking to them, after all. âBut is it so wrong to want some time to myself for oncââ Yes, it was wrong, what was he saying? Max lived and breathed for the de Sainte-Coquille. The will of the familyâs was his will, and he would act as they instructed to ensure the continued prosperity and success of the clan, since that was his sole duty. What he was born for. âAhâ no⌠nevermind. Forget I said that. I⌠donât know what came over me, really! Playing someone elseâs piano when I should be mingling at the party⌠how silly of me, not to mention rude.âÂ
He laughs sheepishly, standing up and stepping away from the piano, towards her. âI guess I just had a lapse of judgment⌠I assure you, it wonât happen again.â He smiles at her, though he doubts sheâs actually looking, and notes how cute and princess-like she looks. Almost prettier than Rosie. Almost.Â
He shrugs off her reminder about the countless girls his father had been trying to set him up with and redirects her own question back at her. âWhat about you? You look like someone fairly importantâ I would think the adults would be missing someone as pretty as you at the party, seeking to pair you with all  of those dashing, wealthy young boys.â
[ ć ] -â- When he finally stopped playing the entrancing melody, it was at that moment that Antoinetteâs and this beautiful boyâs eyes met. Her own ruby gaze met with his for the briefest of moments, before she couldnât handle the overwhelming feeling she felt from such a gaze. Her heart was beating faster, just like any young girlâs would when they saw a boy of such good looks. However, it was so foreign that she just had to keep her gaze away from his as she spoke.
   âI donât understand, if you knew it was wrong, then why would you do it.â she questioned, knowing full well that she was exactly the type to do such a thing. Antoinette never listened to what the adults had to say, but at the same time she didnât question their motives. Her mother was always consumed with the need to make money, especially from her, so Antoinette never questioned why. All she knew is that she would get the same lecture as usual, that she didnât understand because she was only a small child. âIâm not the one you need to reassure in a place like this. Iâm not the one you have to remind of the link between your actions and rudeness. I donât care if you play the piano in someone elseâs house. I donât even know you, why are you trying to validate your actions by telling me you wonât do it again. It sounds like the only one who cares is you.â
   Antoinette couldnât help her eyes wandering to the boy in front of her as he took a step forward towards her. The boy was definitely older than she was, definitely taller too. Definitely beautiful. Not that she cared of course. Rich boys were all snobby and stupid. Thatâs what she would continue to tell herself until she met one that actually was somewhat like her. But, for now, she didnât care.
   âMe? Oh Iâm not the important one here.â she said simply, showing no sign of emotion towards the boy. âI am merely here because the idea of marrying me off is important. Adults hungry for statuses, titles and whatnot, that is why I am here. I am a pawn you could say.â Antoinette looked around for a few moments as she thought of what she wanted to say next. What was the point of her being here now? Her mother had already chosen her a husband already. What was the point. âNot that it matters, Iâve already had my marriage decided. Already had my life decided. Not that someone like you would care, you probably love the idea of being married off for your familyâs sake. Like the others here. Youâre all the same.â
   She didnât mean for it to happen, but her mind began to run away with her. It was if pent up emotion was beginning to peak, and it was slowly seeping out of the sides of the box she had formed around them. Hatred was definitely the most evident.
[âŤ] â- Max hums to himself softly as he ducks away from the party, like he often did at these sorts of high society functions. He had no interest in talking to any of the girls his father was trying to marry him off to. By the time he was trying to introduce him to one named A⌠Amy? Anna? â something like that, the daughter of some famous fashion designer â Max had decided he had enough of the introductions and decided to spend some time on his own for a while, using a bathroom break as an excuse. As he wanders the halls of the mansion the adults had chosen to hold the party in, Max eventually comes across an empty room.
Usually, he would have ignored it and continued on, but the difference between this empty room and others was that this one had a grand piano sitting in the center of it. The blondeâs eyes light up immediately at the sight of the instrument, and he rushes towards it, a delighted grin on his face. After taking a while to admire its sleek appearance and the cool feel of the wood, Max glances around the room shiftily, as if he was making sure he was the only one there, before sitting in front of the piano once he feels the coast is clear.
Like a child in a toy store, Max grins giddily at the keys before he gently positions his fingers on them. There were many songs that he knew, but only one immediately came to mind. The boy closes his eyes as he begins to manipulate his fingers over the ivory, letting himself get lost in the calm, beautiful melody.
As he plays, memories of a time and place long past flow through his mind, and the words of a woman now lost to him echo softly in his ears.
âWhat was that song, Mother? It was really pretty.â
ââŚLove, dear. Itâs called Love. I was playing it when I first met your father, you know. He was so entranced by the song that he wandered into the room I had been playing it in.â
âAnd then you and Father fell in love and lived happily ever after, huh?â
âHeheheâŚ! Well, something like that. It was the start of it, at least⌠Iâll tell you the whole story later, honey.â
Smiling softly at the memory of his lovely mother, Max continues to play, not noticing the person who had wandered into the room during the course of the song. Instead, he continues to play, blissfully aware of the one person audience he had attracted.
[ ć ] -â- A princess. Thatâs what her mother wanted everyone to believe that the only daughter of the Dubois family was. A beauty, a gem that was like no other. Curls so tight and plentiful that it looked as if they were stuck in place, unable to move an inch from their current position. Face covered in some of the heaviest makeup ever seen on a nine year old girl. Dressed up to the nines in frills and bows galore, the perfect lolita girl. And, to finish it off, the delicate, petite appearance to match with such style. Despite not having been born a princess, it was highly believable that the only daughter of a famous fashion designer really was of royalty.
   As she stood with herself not too far from her motherâs side, she watched as her mother rejected marriage proposals galore. Antoinette stood, a smile plastered on her face so tightly it hurt to move, or even blink. However, it seemed that her mother had already chosen her marriage candidate, a boy of which she had already forgotten the name of. Desperately wanting to leave this main gathering of people in the main hall of the party, the bluenette excused herself to the ladies room.
   However, it was anything but the ladies room that her gaze was to fall upon in a momentâs time. As she wandered through the halls, a small nine year old girl filled with curiosity and the need to be away from these people, there was a noise that truly captivated her attention. Something that made her stop. A beautiful melody unlike any other she had felt before. Her heart felt itself drawn to it. It was if her body was moving on its own, slowly finding herself pushing on the doors of the room. It was then, that her eyes fell upon a sight and sound she had never quite experienced before in her small existence.
   All she could do was stand and stare at the boy that moved gracefully in front of her eyes. She wished that he would keep playing forever, the melody playing a song her heart had never played before. Yet, it didnât take her long for her to snap out of her trance once he stopped playing his tune of beauty.
   âItâs awfully big of you, to be playing the piano at a time like this...â she said to him, refusing to meet the boyâs eyes. âWhat would the adults say about you if they found you in here...?â Despite it sounding like she was accusing him of being reckless, she actually did admire not only his playing, but the courage he had to go against the adults here. With someone as beautiful as him, it was clearly obvious that he would be a highly sought after marriage candidate for many daughters here. âDonât you have girls to be married off to or something...?â
