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 Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 12:05 pm
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The main room of the Rehab center was a little emptier than normal, on this night. Bellen had slowly become something of a regular in the rehab center, visiting almost every night in efforts to try and learn something from the way that those that worked at the center. She was relaxed then, carefully paging through a book she'd began to read when there was some downtime in the center. Bellen flipped easily through the pages she'd read, sliding a hand in her hair hand pushing her hair back away from her face. She squinted-- Obviously her glasses had no prescription, something that troubled her in more ways than one. Eventually she stopped and gave up, closing the book and placing it on her chair, making her way to a small group to the side and beginning to join in on the conversation, feeling a little elated. There was always something to do in the Rehab center, and social interaction was definitely one of the best things to do!
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Eco-friendly Shapeshifter
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 10:18 am
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Morning. Night. Morning. Night. Sleeping. Eating. Talking. Talking. Talking. Always talking, about the weather, the glory of alternia, the state of her mind, her 'progress'. Everyone wanted something. Doctors wanted results. Aides wanted to learn more. Her teachers wanted her to show progress.
If she could have, Milieu would have hidden in her room, away from the rest of the rehab patients. It would have been easier. Many of them still have their lusi close at hand. Seeing them hurt worse than anything ever had. Owlmom... To think that the rebels would take her guardian was simply too much. She could be dead or alive or who knew.
Still, the doctors and therapists were adamant that she not hide away. That didn't mean she had to be social. It was especially difficult when most of the patients didn't know Alternian Sign Language. They might chat for a short time, while she wrote on a whiteboard, but soon their attention spans would fade and they'd go and engage in a livelier discussion.
Tonight was no different. Milieu sat at a table, a book open before her. Complex Relationships and You: Insight and Information about the Ashen quadrant from experts and so-called experts.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:35 pm
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Bellen had just finished talking with a patient, something friendly and nice, before her gaze swept the room, falling on several groups of trolls she'd known from a distance. Her eyes kept moving from troll to troll, heels starting to shuffle slowly through the area with the same dreamy look on her face. Bellen glanced at the trolls nearby with slight interest-- There weren't too many sitting alone, most had some sort of a visitor or their lusus nearby. Only a few were out of the way and alone. Like that redblood. Or that green blood. Or even that blue blood-- Or... was that teal? Vremea squinted through her tinted glasses. It was always hard to tell the exactly bloodcolor of another troll when she was wearing these things. Maybe one day she'd find some... Contacts, or something. If she'd been found out right then and there she'd be dead anyways, it wasn't like she'd be double-killed or something. Lost in her thoughts for so long, Bellen's eyes finally started to focus on what she was staring at, a book on the table of the teal(?) blood that she couldn't help but recognize. She'd read it sweeps ago, when she absorbed information like a sponge.
The Ashen quadrant always reminded her of Milieu.
Vremea sighed, glancing away from the book and finding herself slightly interested in the troll reading such a book. When her gaze fell back on the troll, Vremea froze. Her eyes widened, and her body stiffened instantly, palms wet from the surprised sweat that appeared on her skin. The yellowblood swallowed. She looked away, frazzled and startled, taking shaky breaths to calm herself down as her eyes bubbled with emotion. She willed the tears down, however, bowing her head slightly before swiftly striding to the nearest ablution block, checking to see if there was anyone inside(or any sort of recording device), before locking it and promptly breaking down.
She hadn't been prepared.
She hadn't seen her in so long, seeing her now was something so startling, she could hardly believe her eyes.
Her Bellen mask had broken so fast it was definitely a new record. Vremea sniffled and struggled, wanting to fall apart from relief and pull her dearest, darling Milieu her into her arms, hug her, find out where she'd been the past...
...Sweep.
It was then that Vremea remembered where she was. She quickly composed herself, wiping her yellow tears away as quickly as she could before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. She lifted her shades and splashed water on her face, refreshing herself before managing to apply some quick concealer on her cheeks. She calmed herself down some, making sure she was in tip top shape. Alright. She could do this.
Bellen smiled at herself in the mirror before unlocking the door and thinking of a game plan.
Milieu had been gone for almost a sweep already. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of her since their arrival at the swamp, and Vremea was quite sure if Milieu had been ok, she would've searched for at least one of their group earlier. Odette was famous, so just reaching out to her would've easily brought her back home. And yet, here she was, at the rehab center, calmly reading books on the ashen quadrant like she used to as a child. Bellen forced herself not to dwell on simpler times, continuing to go over each possibility. What if this-- What if that-- They came to her in a rush of thought, and it was surprising even Bellen that she wasn't getting emotional throughout this. As she walked, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous to talk to her-- She was Bellen now, so she had to be Bellen as she spoke to her. Later, when she had her alone, she could be Vremea. But now, she was Bellen.
Vremea inhaled. Bellen exhaled. She was ready.
Slowing down her stride and approaching the table, Bellen arched her neck to look at the book. "That's a good book... Really clears up the fundamentals of Auspisticism." Bellen mentioned lightly, releasing a soft chuckle. Her gaze lifted to look at the tealblood, tucking a strand of hair behind her sponge clots and glancing at the chair across from her. "Mind if I join you?" She asked jovially, tilting her head slightly-- "I promise I'm not bad company!"
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Eco-friendly Shapeshifter
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:13 pm
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Someone was watching. Probably a doctor, Milieu surmised and buried herself deeper into the book. There were complex charts graphing the many ways an ashen quadrant could break apart or reform. Not everything was as simple as pity or hate. Pity... Milieu's face soured considerably, nose scrunching up like she smelled something unpleasant. Nothing ever went right with pity. Nothing ever went right. Nothing ever...
A soft throb in her right temple nyxed the train of thought. Wincing, she rubbed her head and sighed audibly. There was no point in dwelling on the past. She needed to get out of here, to get fit and strong, and then track down Owlmom. Certainly, Milieu was approaching the age when a Lusi left and took on another charge, but the time they had left or the lack thereof was not important. Owlmom had watched and trained her. She deserved freedom. Especially since it was Milieu's fault that her mother had been captured in the first place...
She was considering packing up when a drone paused at her table. Tall, with a pretty hat and dark glasses. Mili would have thought her blind, but she read the title of the book. Oh... Great. Someone wanted to sit.
Taking out her whiteboard, she carefully began to write down a response. Her cursive letters still as clear and crisp as they had been before her rehabilitation.
Quote: You are welcome to sit, dear visitor. I'm afraid my only means of communication are writing and sign language.
No... Milieu frowned at the board intensely. Something was missing. Ah! An embarassed smile curled on her lips as she shook her head. Quickly, she added.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:36 pm
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Eco-friendly Shapeshifter
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 7:22 pm
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I DON'T THINK THAT'D BE A PROBLEM
If Milieu wasn't mute, she would have been struck speechless. Her jaw practically unhinged as the message translated slowly, the rust on the gears in her mind grinding to a start. It was like exercising a muscle that was fatigued and underused... Wow. Normally bringing up Morse Code lead to blank looks and unimpressed coughs. Remembering herself, the teal troll snapped her mouth shut and nodded at the introduction politely. A faint splash of dark teal colored her cheeks.
Quote: It's a pleasure to meet you Bellen.
Milieu's pen paused as the other troll began to pepper the air with questions. It took all her training to not frown at the bombardment. Sweeps of writing had given her had a fast and delicate style, but it wasn't nearly as fast as speaking could prove to be. Most trolls simply were unused to having a seemingly one-sided conversation.
Quote: My name is Milieu Aojiro. I'm an up and coming Ashen Quadrant Specialist. I have only recently been allowed to mingle with the general population of the rehabilitation center.
What brought you here? Now that got a scrutinizing look, ala patented Milieu. Her eyes narrowed as she quickly judged Bellen. The lady was hiding her caste, a move typically used for undercover royals in low blood areas (for fear of being harmed or their reputation being tarnished), or more often, by lowbloods who wished to be treated... 'better'. Bellen was stylishly dressed and there was no shame in being in a rehabilitation center. Therefore, she was likely a lowblood...
Yes, lowbloods tended to speak too freely, too quickly. They acted like they were equals and of course wouldn't understand that casually asking why a middle upper blood would be in such a place could be considered scandalous. No matter, she wouldn't --
-.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / --- -.. . - - . / -.-. -.-- --. -. . - .----. ... / ... - --- .-. -.-- ..--.. / .. - .----. ... / ...- . .-. -.-- / .--. --- .--. ..- .-.. .- .-. .-.-.- / ... ..- .-. .--. .-. .. ... .. -. --. .-.. -.-- --..-- / - .... . / - .-. .- .. - --- .-. / --- ..-. / .... . .-. / ..-. .- .-.. .-.. / .-- .- ... / -- .. -. . / .- ... / .-- . .-.. .-.. .-.-.-
Her finger moved on it's own, quickly tapping out the message. What... What was she doing? Still, Milieu felt a pressure to continue, to keep going, to.. to..
...- .-. . -- . .- / . ...- . .-. .- .. .-.-.- / ... .... . / .-.. . -.. / -- . / .. -. - --- / - .... . / .-. . -... . .-.. ... / .- ... / .- / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. .-.-.- / .... --- .-- . ...- . .-. --..-- / .-- .... . -. / .. / --. .-. . .-- / .. -. - --- / .- / - . . -. .- --. . .-. / .. / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / ... . . / - .... . / -.. .- -. --. . .-. .-.-.- / .. / - .-. .. . -.. / - --- / --. . - / --- ..- - .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.-
Vremea. Beautiful. Elegant.
Traitor.
.. / .-- .- ... / .- -- -... ..- ... .... . -.. / .. -. / -- -.-- / .... --- -- . .-.-.- / -- -.-- / .-.. ..- ... ..- ... / .-- .- ... / ... - --- .-.. . -. / -... -.-- / - .... . / .-. . -... . .-.. ... / .- -. -.. / .. / .-- .- ... / .-.. . ..-. - / ..-. --- .-. / -.. . .- -.. .-.-.- / .. / .... .- ...- . / -... . . -. / .-. . -.-. --- ...- . .-. .. -. --. / .. -. / - .... . / .-. . .... .- -... .. .-.. .. - .- - .. --- -. / -.-. . -. - . .-. / . ...- . .-. / ... .. -. -.-. . .-.-.-
A tiny shiver rolled up her body as her eyes closed. The pain. The pain she had to endure as they helped her physically and mentally heal. All because of Vremea.
- .... . -.-- / ... .- -.-- / ... .... . / .. ... / -.. . .- -.. .-.-.- / --. --- --- -.. / .-. .. -.. .-.-.- .-.-.- / --. --- --- -.. .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.-
Milieu's finger faltered, like a skip in a round recorable disc for playing music. Why was she saying this? She had just spilled so much to a stranger. Though, the doctor had said she needed to speak more openly of her past. Part of healing was acknowledging mistakes and moving forward. Regina was benevolent to all trolls who had learned their lesson. Milieu had learned hers well.
.. - / .. ... / .... .- .-. -.. .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- / - --- .-.-.- .-.-.- / -... . .-.. .. . ...- . / ... .... . / .. ... .-.-.- / .. ... .-.-.- / --. --- -. . .-.-.- / .. .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- / ...- .-. . -- . .- / .-- .- ... / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - / - --- / -- . .-.-.-
A single teal tear rolled down her cheek. Shakily, she wiped it away with her thumb. Whatever spell had forced her to divulge everything was gone. Eliminated. She swiftly wrote down on her whiteboard once more.
Quote: Forgive me, Miss Bellen. I'm still healing, you see. Something about you makes me feel comfortable enough to say all this. What a shock to learn a teal blood would be a member of the rebels. Ha! I was such a foolish child.
Do tell me about yourself, miss.
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 6:47 am
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Bellen tried very hard not to let her reaction give her the satisfaction it did, but the teal blush spreading across her face was enough to make her smile spread a little wider. She enjoyed to read her responses, reminiscing in their first interaction and feeling her insides warm up at the thought of having this back, of her friend being returned to her. Though, she was somewhat... Confused. Recently allowed to mingle with the population? It sounded like she'd been... Trapped...
Vremea swallowed, hands feeling a little humid from in her gloves. She offered her a sheepish smile as the tealblood scrutinized her, before she heard taps and pauses, mind immediately beginning to decipher them.
DO YOU KNOW ODETTE CYGNET'S STORY? IT'S VERY POPULAR. SURPRISINGLY, THE TRAITOR OF HER FALL WAS MINE AS WELL.
Bellen stayed silent, listening to the taps, suddenly not wanting to understand them anymore. But she listened. She stayed quiet, and listened.
VREMEA EVERAI.
Bellen's hand tightened under the table.
SHE LED ME INTO THE REBELS AS A CHILD. HOWEVER, WHEN I GREW INTO A TEENAGER I COULD SEE THE DANGER. I TRIED TO GET OUT...
I WAS AMBUSHED IN MY HOME. MY LUSUS WAS STOLEN BY THE REBELS AND I WAS LEFT FOR DEAD. I HAVE BEEN RECOVERING IN THE REHABILITATION CENTER EVER SINCE.
Lies. Vremea couldn't believe what she heard. She knew more than anyone how much of a lie Odette's story was. And for it to be twisted, used for the story of another troll so important to her-- Vremea could feel her skin crawl from disgust. They were all lies, they didn't have Fluffdad, and Milieu was the one who disappeared with no notice. Was she somehow taken, brainwashed? Vremea had never, ever done a thing to harm them, she could never, especially to-- Okay, okay, calm down. She was Bellen. Bellen.
THEY SAY SHE IS DEAD. GOOD RID.. GOOD...
Bellen.
IT IS HARD... TO.. BELIEVE SHE IS. IS. GONE. I... VREMEA WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.
It was here that Vremea sniffled. Her expression of calm was swept into sadness, and Vremea felt her make-up efforts go to waste as her eyes bubbled with emotion. She willed them to stay in her eyes, and with careful breathing, they didn't spill. Milieu. Her dearest Mili, tainted by the government into believing such terrible things. Rendering her to tears at the mention of her own name. Vremea. There were moments she regretted using her identity for Odette's story.
This was one of them.
Bellen breathed slowly, reading her written words only after she'd managed to calm herself down some. She smiled weakly at the other. "Our past does not define us." She said softly, feeling the bile on her tongue bubble as she felt the nausea in her stomach build up. "I'm thankful you shared your story with me. It only builds my anger toward those terrible trolls." Bellen looked around wearily before beginning to tap out her own response, as if only trusting Milieu with this information.
- .... . -.-- / - --- --- -.- / -- -.-- / .-.. ..- ... ..- ... / - --- --- .-.-.- / - .... . -.-- / -.-. ..- .-.. .-.. . -.. / .... . .-. / .. -. / - .... . / .-. . -.-. . -. - / . -..- .--. . -.. .. - .. --- -. .-.-.- / .. .----. -- / .... . .-. . / -. --- .-- / - --- / .... . .-.. .--. / - .... --- ... . / ... - .-. .- -.-- .. -. --. / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . / .-. .. --. .... - / .--. .- - .... .-.-.-
Bellen offered her a teary smile, reaching over and carefully sliding her hand into the others. It was light enough for her to brush it off if she'd wanted, not wanting to force her into it.
.. / -. . ...- . .-. / .-- .- -. - / - .... .- - / - --- / .... .- .--. .--. . -. / .- --. .- .. -. --..-- / - --- / .- -. -.-- - .-. --- .-.. .-.. --..-- / . ...- . .-. .-.-.- / -. --- / - .-. --- .-.. .-.. / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / .... .- .-. -- . -.. / -... -.-- / ... ..- -.-. .... / -... .-. ..- - . ... .-.-.- / .. / .- -- / ... --- --..-- / ... --- / ... --- .-. .-. -.-- / - .... .- - / .- .-.. .-.. / .... .- .--. .--. . -. . -.. / - --- / -.-- --- ..- .-.-.- / -. --- / --- -. . / -.. . ... . .-. ...- . ... / ... ..- -.-. ....
Vremea physically could not finish the sentence. She instead trailed off before clearing her throat, hoping words would come better to her. "I do love to read." She murmured, searching for common ground between the two of them before looking up at the other with curious eyes. She only hoped the change of her backstory hadn't changed her entire personality.
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Eco-friendly Shapeshifter
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 3:11 pm
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Our past does not define us. That was a lovely sentiment, one that Milieu hoped other trolls would keep in their heart. They said those who repented would be forgiven by the crown, and thus far it seemed true. However... Milieu had her doubts.
At the thanks, she offered Bellen a small smile. No bitterness or real happiness, just a flash of gratitude (and maybe a smidge of surprise) that anyone would thank her for telling the tale.
THEY TOOK MY LUSUS TOO. THEY CULLED HER IN THE RECENT EXPEDITION. I'M HERE NOW TO HELP THOSE STRAYING FROM THE RIGHT PATH.
Oh dear... It hurt so bad to lose a lusus. A sympathetic frown creased her brows as she nodded to Bellen. They shard that then, the loss of a lusus. Though, Milieu supposed, getting owlmom was still a hopeless posibility as compared to poor Bellen.
I NEVER WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN, TO ANYTROLL, EVER. NO TROLL SHOULD BE HARMED BY SUCH BRUTES. I AM SO, SO SORRY THAT ALL HAPPENED TO YOU. NO ONE DESERVES SUCH...
Was that all? Bellen seemed to trail off, her finger no longer tapping out a message. While Milieu was sceptical of others, learning that the hemoanon troll had also lost her lusus tugged upon her blood pumper. Reaching across the table, Mili gently patted her hand, giving her a reassuring smile.
After a moment, the hand was withdrawn so that Milieu could write upon her board again,
Quote: I love reading as well. It was my favorite pastime with my lusus. Normally I read books upon the ashen quadrant, but there are a few other books I dabble in...
Similar to how Bellen had looked around, Milieu did so as well. No one was near, but still... She switched back to morse code.
.--. .. - -.-- / -. --- ...- . .-.. ... / .- .-. . / .- / .-.. --- - / --- ..-. / ..-. ..- -. / - --- ---
An impish smile crossed Milieu's face as she shared the secret. To think a high class troll would stoop so low as to read trashy pity novels. It was a laugh!
Quote: What are your favorite novels, Miss Bellen?
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 4:28 pm
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