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[Thugren]

aurora smiles, wrapping Vale in a tight embrace and pulling her into the bountiful warmth of her chest.

 

"YOure a good little girl...I can see why the mistress likes you."

 

Shango coughs and you are allowed to your feet.

 

"Now dear.."

 

Shango says with a small smile, opening her left aneye and considering you with a casual glance.

 

"Are you going to leave ida sitting there...All touched on and alone? The poor thing needs to be woken up..We have to go."

 

xero leaves the room and goes to the sleeping girl, stroking her face tendelry and leaving a small tray of sweet beside her.

 

"We have a very pleasent date today."

[Oce]

Vale would have yelped if she hadn't of been getting smothered by the doll's chest. She didn't wrap her arms around the doll, awkwardly leaving them hovering over her sides, hesitating in shoving her away out of instinct. She was being favored by Shango? It seemed fairly obvious by this point, but Vale still wasn't sure how to deal with it. Not to mention that little voice in the back of her head that whispered that she would just be betrayed once more. Though Shango wouldn't call her a witch; they had the same ability, though the older woman had mastered it while Vale was barely novice level. Though she would be a useful pawn after training... Is that why Shaco was tolerating her? Because she could act as a soldier for her?

 

These thoughts raced through her mind as she was held tightly by the doll, though Shango's obvious cough put them on a temporary pause. It was hard to imagine the mistress coughing over something as common as choking on her spit, so when Aurora released her, she realized that Shango was warning her back. Vale shot the woman an appreciative glance as she hunched into herself, arms crossed over her stomach as she recovered from the startle.

 

When Shango opened one of her eyes, Vale leaned forward to observe it closer. Something seemed off about it, like it was a little too glossy and the pupil wasn't focusing on her properly. Without realizing it, the girl now stood directly in front of the mistress, her fingertips just barely resting on her cheek. "False eye," she asked before she recoiled. "I apologize, that was rude to ask."

 

Shifting her attention to Ida, she tried to imitate the snap Shango used, though the sound didn't seem to command much attention. Puffing out a cheek, she glanced back at Shango enviously. 

[Thugren]

Taking her hand, shango makes the girl snap, sowing her the way to make the sound and force ida to awaken .

 

"Do it with commanding tones child...She is your doll...Wake her up ."

 

Ida awakens slowly and as you touch her face, shango stops, and everyone looks at her at once.

 

"Yes child... "

She coos as she nuzzles vales hand tenderly, before, slowly, carefully opening her other. The pupil is all black and a singular spiraling serpent is in the center in an eerie green.

 

"I am blind.....This eye cannot see the mortal realm...Only the strings that connect everything.."

[Oce]

Vale furrowed her brow, frowning slightly at the sharp noise; she wasn't fond of loud noises, much less when she made them. She also wasn't very fond of so much attention on her, much less Aurora's, so she tried to hide in front of Shango the best that she could. The nuzzling of her hand was likely the only thing that kept Vale from apologizing more profusely, and it certainly worked to quell some of the panic that always seemed to be lurking underneath her skin.

 

The cursed eye didn't frighten her; in her mind it wasn't overly different than her situation. Except neither of her eyes shifted so eerily or granted peculiar abilities. It certainly didn't prevent her from smiling a bit sadly. Brushing her thumb across Shango's cheek before pulling away to point at her own different color eyes, she mumbled something. 

 

"Heterochromia. I have a silver eye and a green eye." It was such a pathetic comparison that she winced, but she didn't shy away. She felt sad for Shango, even more so know that there had to be more to the eye than she was saying. But the girl wasn't that ignorant when it came to boundaries so she didn't ask, and silently promised herself that she would never, lest it upset the mistress. Though, there was a question that she was a little curious about to resist asking. 

 

"So you can see the connection from me to Ida. How about a connection from me to you?" It was an innocent question; Shango was her mentor, after all. 

[Thugren]

shango smiles, cocking her head at your question as she closes her eye.

 

"of course theres a connection between us silly girl...... Just as there is a connection to all of us."

 

shango reaches carefully into the air, and seems to hook her finger around something. Carefully she tugs it, and reveals a gossamer thin thread, connecting from shangos chest to Vales.

 

"See?"

 

she chuckles and scoops up a heavy jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders.

 

"Lets go now child....DO you need a coat..... Or a snack? Its going to be a long day."

[Oce]

Vale hummed as she eyed the string curiously. String between people would give away treachery, which she realized would be useful in Shango's field of work. It also was, in a strange way, reassuring that she would never have a reason to distrust Vale. She ignored the fact that it was flawed. There had to be some kind of benefit to keep her somewhat motivated. She shook her head at Shango's question, silently directing Ida to stand.

 

"I'll be fine, thank you," she awkwardly rubbed her arm before pointing to her doll. "I will just hug Ida if I get cold. Or, you know. I'll be too terrified and full of adrenaline to feel the cold." The joke wasn't as funny as she had intended it to be.

[Thugren]

Shango smiles and rubs her hand through her hair before she leads the group outside to the car.

It is a long black limousine, it’s windows tinted and dark, and as you step into it the driver takes off slowly.

“ ok..... so zero you will be working in your own.... Aurora’s and I will handle the engagement.”

Zero nods as aurora chuckles.

“ so little vale and ida are going to back us up.... this is exciting.”

[Oce]

Vale and Ida followed silently, the former finally getting her act together and appearing indifferent. She straightened her posture and allowed her hands to hang by her sides rather than nervously gripping her arms or fidgeting, keeping her gaze straight ahead rather than looking down at the floor. It took a bit too much effort to be comfortable, but she seemed to be pulling it off somewhat decently. Ida was much easier to control; she contained her ill feelings within herself rather than passing them off to her doll. 

 

The limousine was easy enough to predict, considering Shango's flashy tastes and obvious wealth. After they climbed inside, Vale settled against her doll, resting her cheek on the somewhat soft material of her shoulder. "Backup means that things aren't going to go according to plan and thus we will see action," the doll murmured rather than Vale.

[Thugren]

Shango smiles and folds her legs as the car pulls off into the Berlin streets .

A faint rain falls over them as they drive through the night , soon enough you come to a beer y’all where two guards stand out front .

“ here we are....”

Shango says with a smile as the door opens and she walks out.

“ let us put on our best faces.”

She pats both of her cheeks and smiles as zero leaves the vehicle without a word.

Soon aurora steps out and holds an umbrella and shango steps out, guiding you by the hand like a loving parent.

The guards let her inside without a problem and escort her to the back where a bunch of men in black cloaks and gas masks are arguing in front of ragged prisoners. They see shango and their leader, a man with wild orange hair and blue eyes comes forward,

“ you’re a long way from the opera hall dealer... came for some drinks with real men?”

Shango folds her arms and you see her tap her side, giving commands to aurora without even speaking a word.

“ I’ve come to ask you to stop killing indescriminately ..... you are threatening my ghettos and I’d appreciate it if you stopped.”

A few more guards come into the room behind you, cutting off retreat as you hear shangos voice .

“ be ready vale.....”

She coos as she cocks a smile.

“ this little one is my pride and joy.... I want a safe place for her.”

The man chuckles and moves forward, stepping into shangos space and places a finger to her chest.

“ we cal the shots here slant..... don’t forget that .”

[Oce]

Vale was hardly relaxed during the drive, but at least she wasn't shaking. She even managed to close her eyes for a minute or two rather than continuously glancing between the three other figures and the window. By the time the limo stopped, she had nearly dozed off, Shango's voice causing her to startle awake. Blearily rubbing at her eyes before she climbed out, the girl stuck close to Shango's side, remaining just within arm's reach of her mistress. Or so she had intended to, until the woman took her hand. Even though she was released before they went inside, it calmed her nerves enough to remain passive.

 

It was a combination of seeing the prisoners and the first thing the man said that upset Vale. Even though she restrained herself enough to merely tightening her jaw, she realized that it wouldn't pass with Shango and forced herself to relax some. There was three dolls nearby and Shango more than likely could take care of herself. It didn't matter that they were blocked in the room; Aurora and Ida were right there. Vale refused to crack under pressure. She wouldn't disappoint Shango, and she wouldn't be useless. 

 

At her mistress's warning, she focused more on Ida, prepared to command her defensively. Being actively aware of her doll made it easier, though it partially cut off Vale's own senses. The anger that sparked at the sheer audacity of the male nearly made the timid girl growl. She barely smothered it, though her breathing came slightly faster, refusing to stare at him because her glare would be too obvious.

[Thugren]

it happens in a blur of movement., as the man retracts his arm, aurora steps forward and shango steps back. With inhuman precision Aurora makes a a blade of her hand and strikes at the mans hand perfectly between his knuckles. There is a loud tearing as the dolls powerful fingers split the flesh and bone all the way up to the elbow and she pulls her hand back, licking her fingers.

 

"Please dont touch the madam...Or next time ill take your head."

 

The doll says as the man lets out a animal scream, hripping his mangled arm as the other men press in around them, some igniting their hands with flame and others drawing blades.

 

"YOu bitch..Youre going to pay for that..."

 

the man grits, his teeth clenched agasint the pain as he forces the split ends of his arm together to attempt to stem the bleeding.

 

"Kill her...And the little girl."

 

The men press in harder and Aurtoras arms split open, revealing scythe like blades , but before the combat can start a laugh can be heard.

 

 

Everyone in the room all look at shango who seems to be laughing, and hard. She rests a hand on vlaes shoulder to steady herself and finally, she conmposes herself.

 

"Zero...Dear...SHow them the Dreams...."

 

the door behind the kneeling prisoners opens , and zero steps in, his handscovered in blood. At once , the chains holding the prisoners are split apart as if by blades, and he motions for everyone to leave. The prisoners Oblige, and shango lets out another breath, cupping Vales chin lovingly.

 

"Of night terrors...And guillotines.. Han."

 

 

She speaks the word of power, and zeros body roils , massive wicker blades erupt from his body, ripping through his hood and revealing grinders, and chains and hooks.

 

"handle them.."

 

The men try and back up, but zero moves upon them, pulping bodies and bones like a dervish of blades, aurora jumps into the fray beside her brother and shango reclines in a chair, still cupping vales chin.

 

To your right you see the door open and two more men come in, blades in their hand and look at the carnage. 

 

'Vale dear...."

 

shango says with a quiet purr.

 

"Rip them to shreds..."

[Oce]

Vale found the display grotesque, and while she was far from bloodthirsty, he did deserve it. She would protect herself this time, and she would protect Shango. As the people surrounding them took to arms, so did Vale, drawing Ida closer, the doll's arms lifted in preparation. The girl bared her teeth at the threat, not really caring that it made her look more like a young panther with her black hair. 

 

She was glaring at their opponents, mentally making wagers on which would lash out first when Shango began laughing. It shocked her enough to glance at the woman, momentarily losing that sliver of ferocity. She nearly purred when Shango held her chin; Zero had freed the prisoners so there would be no collateral. That made things easier on Vale. Until blood was being spewed everywhere as Zero and Aurora ripped people apart.

 

Ida was moving towards the two newcomers before Shango gave the order. "Han," the girl repeated in something close to a growl.

[Thugren]

ida moves like a stuttering film, her limbs snapping open and revealing long blades as the two men falter in their attack, pulling another laugh from shango.

 

 

"WHats wrong dragons...Afraid of a little girl."

 

her right eye opens and you can see the viper marks udulating menacingly as she begns to speak.

 

"FIght back Vale....Break them for me my dear."

 

Breaking from their stupor the men move clumsily, evading the bloodslick floor as they move to either side. 

 

The warrior on the left coming low to the ground , as the other comes directly at ida with his weapon raised.

[Oce]

Vale growled, practically snarled at them as Ida's usually blank face developed an arrogant smirk. Though Vale was inexperienced with combat, she wouldn't allow the blatant attack fool her. Ida lashed out at the male low to the ground, swinging her foot in a roundhouse kick towards the male attempting to capture her attention.

Ida was not human; injuries would not be able to incapacitate her. However, if one of the men made it to Vale, then the fight would be over and she would have failed.

[Thugren]

the kick lands with thunderous force, crunching the mans helmet into his face and sending him sprawling as he lands in a ragged heap.

 

"oooooo...Good kick little one."

 

Aurora says with a calm glee, being buffeted by a goat of flame that makes her growl menacingly.

 

"I swear im going to pull your spine out of your insides dragon if you split my damn hair ends."

 

zero eviscerates another man and grabs a length of chain, hurling it and wrapping it around the second mans throat and yanking him back onto his arse with a loud snap before going back to his combat.

 

"Oh look at zero...."

 

Shango coos as she drinks from a beer that had been left by the men.

 

"He normally doesnt break battle focus at all Vale...Thats odd."

 

the man struggles with the chain , trying to free himself as the man that had been kicked tries to stand, his arms giving way under him

[Oce]

Ida recovers cleanly from the kick, almost seamlessly shifting closer to finish the male off with a merciless curbstomp rather than leaving him to struggle to his feet. He wouldn't have spared them, Vale reasoned. He wouldn't have thought twice about tearing them apart. The girl was leaning into the back of Shango's chair before she realized it, her body too slack to support herself fully. It felt like she was inside of Ida; she was too tense at the prospect of failing her task. She would protect herself this time. Because not only did Vale have herself to protect, she had the mistress.

 

Vale didn't seem to hear Aurora's patronizing compliment. She couldn't afford the distraction. Not when every muscle in her being was dedicated to controlling Ida so completely. It wasn't a good thing, but it kept the panic down and smothered her fear. While anger coursed through her veins as much as adrenaline, it was a sheer miracle that she was still standing, even if she was propped up on a chair. 

 

"Thank you Zero," the girl murmured as Ida turned to the chained male, brandishing a blade that popped out from the doll's arm. With a fluid motion Ida went to gut him, for there was no purpose in nicking the blade on the chain.

[Thugren]

the dolls foot comes down on the mans head, and a sickening crunch fills the air before his body goes slack. Blood and gore splattered across Idas face and features as she rounds on the chained man and begins to bear down on him.

 

"oh....Oh hoho."

 

shango laughs with a warm smile,standing up and walking over to Ida and stopping her hand mid attack with a gentle tap.

 

"No no..Not yet vale...We arent complete savages."

 

zero and aurora finish their bouts of violence as shango comes over, crouching down and hugging her knees.

 

"As you can see......Youre going to die in about a minute if you dont give me some kinda name...SOmeone i can lean on so this violence can stop.."

 

Zero comes over and his stomach opens, revealing a hole in the shape of a head filled with long needles.

 

"Should speak soon or i may let my hand lip...HJolding my little girls doll in place takes incredible effort.."

 

The man looks side to side nervously , looking at the terifying bloody visages of the dollas and he stammers.

 

"Ill talk..Ill talk..Please.."

 

shango smiles and looks sidelong at Vale.

 

'you hear him dear?"

 

she says warmly.

 

'hell talk....Call off IDa for me ok?"

[Oce]

Vale's first instinct is to lash out, seeking to regain control of Ida in blind panic. It took a moment of Ida twitching before Vale ceased resisting Shango's influence, allowing her doll to stand back. Halting Vale's will brought on the fact that she had just brutally murdered someone. She fell to her knees silently, wrapping her arms around herself. What made her any different from thugs at this point? 

 

She simply nodded at Shango's request, gently tugging at her doll's will so that she would return to Vale, unsure if Shango would allow it or not.

[Thugren]

ida moves back intio place as shango begins to question the man, grilling him for information as aurora leaves the room. Oddly enough it is zero who comes over and crouches in front of vale, reaching int ohis bloodstained pockets to produce a slightly bruised, but completyely clean choclate bar.

 

He holds it out insistently, looking over his shoulder to shango who stands slowly and motions for the man to leave.

 

"Our night isnt over.....Not just yet."

 

she turns and smiles at zero who stands, allowing her to come over and embrace vale softly to her bust.

 

"Are your hands shaking child.....Are you afraid of the life you took?"

 

she places a gentle kiss on Vales forehead.

 

'I know i askd alot of you....but i will ask you to kill more for Me...If you do not want to..its alright."

[Oce]

It takes Vale far too long to pull herself out of her thoughts enough to register the chocolate bar waved in front of her face, and even longer for her unsteady hand to reach for it. The thought of consuming anything made her stomach churn even more, amplifying the guilt until Vale's eyes began watering, even as she silently begged them to stop. The fact that she had just took a life.. When everyone else would have killed her. Was this really the reality of the world? Kill or be killed? Her fingers tightened on the candy, breaking it inside of the wrapper.

 

Even as she is pulled to her feet and hugged to Shango, Vale remained still except for the violent spasms that racked her body every couple of seconds. She couldn't answer Shango, she barely even heard the words spoken so close to her ear. Until she realized that Shango would abandon her if she did not do this. A strangled whimper escaped her throat as she threw her arms around the woman and clung to her tightly. "I.. I need.. I want to stay by y-your side," she hiccuped.