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December 19th:


Another Saturday's Overservice had passed. The hall erupted into a chatter that was rather more engaged than usual as people began to get up and shift around ready to leave. While it's impossible to tell for sure what was causing the crowd to be so warmly excited, it may have been something to do with the fact that the woman conducting the service and leading the prayers was different. New.

A new priestess.

Lacine got up to her feet a little shakily, pulling uncomfortably at the front of her new, starched robes. They felt strange - heavy, both with material and with symbolic importance. The insignia pinned to the front was larger, heavier, a badge of rank and status. The Priestess had had to pin it in for her that morning. Her own hands had been shaking too much.

She wasn't used to the robes. She wasn't used to sitting in one position for so long without being able to move. She wasn't used to speaking in front of a big crowd. It wasn't like it had been when she'd had to speak to the camera - then, she hadn't had any time to think about it. She'd been dreading this for days, and now that it was over her head was left spinning in the great, empty aftermath of her trepidation.

But she'd done it. She'd done it. The final stage of her initiation was done. She was a Priestess of the Benevolent Order of the Overseer. It was official. It was... unreal.

As if she'd been sensing her thoughts, Lorika's voice suddenly came into her ear while Lacine stood there on the podium, shell-shocked. "Well done. You did marvelously."

Lacine turned to look at her mentor, and suddenly found she was blinking back tears. "Do you think so?"

Lorika's sweet, pale face smiled back at her. Her eyes constantly toed the line between serene and exhausted these days, but now Lacine could see something sparking inside them. Her teacher was delighted. "I think so. Everyone's talking about you down there. You've caused more of a stir than I did. I think you did better than I did."

"You're just saying that," said Lacine. All at once, she was crying with relief and gratitude. Lorika embraced her, her face split into a big smile, and Lacine hugged back with all her might.

"Well done, Lacine. Well done."

And that wasn't the end of her congratulations. As she stepped down to the others, worshippers descended on her like flies.

"Well done, Lacine. Well done, well done."

A few pressed boxes onto her. Lorika, following close behind, had to reach forward and take an armful of all the sweets, chocolates and little teddies and trinkets. One of the little children it was Lacine's responsibility to look after passed her a hand-made clam doll, and Lacine bent down to hug and kiss her. All the while, their murmurs of approval washed over and around her like a warm current.

"A new priestess, at last! Look at your eyes! You look so beautiful in your robes! Your new hair suits you so well!"

"Lacine, look this way!"

The blue-haired woman looked around, a broad smile on her face, and the flash of a camera went off in front of her eyes. It would turn out to be a beautiful picture that would end up displayed on the notice board for weeks to come - Lacine, smiling in the center of her group of well-wishers, the doll in her hand, with Lorika just behind her, looking on proudly. The little girl was at Lacine's side, her own smile showing off the gap in her teeth.

When Lacine turned back round, however, she met a very different kind of face.

"Thomas!" she gasped, coming face to face with his... face. He looked like thunder and hellfire. "What are you doing here? You never come for services!"

He scowled at her more deeply, and her heart began to pound. Please, Overseer, don't let him ruin her day. Not today.

Then, he dropped his gaze, expression becoming sulky, and shoved something into her arms. "Made this for you. Thanks... for all you've done for me."

He disappeared, leaving her gawping in his wake.

"My goodness," said Lorika, beaming, "Thomas' sweet side came through in the end. How remarkable."

Lacine was staring at the gift. "Oh my god," she breathed, "It's... it's my old camera... he's repaired it..."

Upon inspection, she drew in her breath even further. "And it's enchanted!"


~~~~~


Lacine had had to learn all of her duties towards the community as part of her initiation. As she was walking back from her room, however, she had no idea she'd have to put her new position into practise so soon.

"Lacine! Lacine!"

"Oh, hello Stephanie," she said, as the blonde girl came bouncing towards her. She looked tense with worry. Lacine tried to imitate the Priestess' voice of calm. "What can I help you with?"

Steff came to a halt and looked at her edgily. "Um, I was thinkin'... do you think maybe I'm cut out to be an acolyte?"

That was a surprise. "What's the matter? Isn't the combat division working out for you?"

"Well... not really..." she replied, continuing to fidget.

"Do you believe in the Overseer and everything he stands for? Can you see yourself channeling His power for good?"

"...Uh...Not really..." she repeated, unable to meet the new priestess' eyes.

"Ah, then we have one big problem. Have you thought about being a mage?"

Steff started, and looked up at her as if frightened by the question. "I'd never be any good at that stuff..."

"You could always work in the kitchens."

The young girl drooped visibly. "I wanted to do something with my life, you know? I didn't come here to work in the kitchens."

"So I suppose being a maid is out of the question, too."

"Unfortunately, yeah."

Lacine smiled at her kindly. In truth, she'd just been humouring her, like she'd seen Lorika do, before bringing out the real advice. "You know, maybe you should just persevere. You aren't gonna become a master overnight."

"I know that," she replied quickly, blushing faintly, "I'm not stupid. It's not that."

"So what's really brought this on?"

Her fidgeting returned. "...Well... I don't like the new instructors... and... the other girls are... kind of..."

"The other girls?" said Lacine, cutting her off. The reason for the conversation suddenly seemed a lot more serious. "Have they been saying things to you?"

Steff's face screwed up a little as she looked at the priestess.

"Oh, Steff, why didn't you tell Lorika sooner?"

"Lorika is... a little scary..." she said, "N-not in a bad way. I just didn't want to bother her. But it's not me... not just me..."

Stephanie seemed to realise she was mumble-babbling, and stopped herself. "No, it's not me that they're bothering."

"Then who? Or what else is wrong?"

Steff's face crumpled even more tightly than before, and the girl hovered on the verge of tears.

"Steff, if you don't tell me what's wrong I can't do anything for you."

She didn't say anything, as if she were frozen in that position of unhappiness. Then, all of a sudden, she exploded right there in the hall.

"I miss the Captain!" she cried, misery gushing forth as if from a broken dam, "The other instructors just tell me I can't do anything right! He made me feel like I was worth something! He was always so kind to me! He's the only thing that made me stay here when I've felt so alone!"

"Oh, Steff..."

"I came here for a new start, Lacine," she sniffled, "But it's like I just make everyone hate me wherever I go. But then when I go home I remember what it's like there, too. I don't want to go back for good. I don't want to stay here. There's nowhere for me to go!"

"Steff, Steff, Steff," the priestess soothed, wrapping her arms around her, "The Order can be a home to you, if you let it. If the combat division isn't agreeing with you, you can just drop out. It doesn't mean you have to go anywhere. You can stay here as long as it takes for you to find yourself, and beyond."

"Mm... but..." she whined, sniffing and choking, "What if he comes back and I'm not there? Then he'll think I'm weak, too, just like everyone else."

"You and I both know that it wouldn't matter to him if you, I don't know, turned into a giant piece of broccoli," Lacine reassured. Steff giggled, in a polite way. "You get my point. It wouldn't matter, and you'd still see him around."

"You're right, I know..." Steff sighed, looking off to the side. "I wish my own dad were like him. Maybe then I wouldn't've had to leave home at all."

~~~~~

Lacine and Steff walked the halls together for a while, talking more about her situation and her options. By the end of their talk, Stephanie seemed more reassured and confident than she ever had been in the time Lacine had known her.

"Thank you, Lacine," she said, taking the other woman's hands. Her face broke into a smile. "I feel so much better now. Thank you!"

"It's my job now, apparently," Lacine smiled back. "May I... tentatively ask if you've got an idea about what you'll do?"

Her smile became a little sheepish. "Well, not really. I guess I'll keep going as I am for now. Though maybe I won't head for training so often..."

She paused. "I think I'll go to the library now. I'll see you later!"

"Bye, Steff!" Lacine called, as the lithe, blonde teenager bounded away.

It really surprised Lacine that Steff downplayed her talents so much, and she'd told her as much during their conversation. As far as she knew, no one outside of the administration knew about all of her achievements in the competitive sports world, which was doubly odd considering that the day she'd arrived she'd been kitted out in full flamboyant jazz-dancing gear, having fled from her home moments after arriving back from defending her title at the Eastern Islands International. Poor Steff. It really was as if she were totally overlooked. How that was at all possible was an absolute wonder, but... it looked like it was happening.

Maybe if she told her instructors, they'd take her a little more seriously, and so that was exactly what she'd advised if she chose to stay on in the combat field. Her pretty, pale face had lit up when she'd suggested the good it might do her with Jessie in particular. The image of her first satisfied customer's happy face floated in front of her eyes as she re-entered the main stairwell, only to find a familiar figure coming down the stairs.

"Was that a thoroughly comforted acolyte I just saw bouncing past me?" laughed the High Priestess as she descended, clutching the front of her robes in a ladylike manner to keep them from tripping her up. Gliding down the stairs like she did, she looked like a goddess herself in Lacine's eyes.

"Haha, it might have been," she replied loftily, grinning at her teacher, "Steff is a sweet girl. I can't believe she lacks so much confidence after all the amazing things she's done in her life."

"I think she's always been a little sheltered. Give her a few months and she'll be coming out of her shell, I can see it a mile off."

Lorika came down and wrapped her arm affectionately around the new priestess. "You've done so well already, Lacine. I can tell you're going to do a fantastic job."

Lacine crinkled up her nose. "I'll do my best, but honestly, I haven't done amazing things in my life like you and Steff and plenty of the others..."

"Sounds like someone else has a little bit of a self confidence problem," the priestess replied. She gave a small, rueful smile. "It seems like most of us are all in the same boat together."

"It does..." Lacine said, "But I'm improving. I feel better already."

Being a priestess was going to be a great thing for her. She could tell.

"I'm not really sure myself," Alexi said. "All I know is that he's a merman, and supposedly royalty. The way he acts sometimes definitely proves it. I wish he was still here...he's my best friend and I feel so stupid that I don't know more about him..."

Come to think of it, she thought, that's kind of how I feel about Total too...

((Kind of a dumb question, but do we have a timeframe for when the ball is supposed to start? I want to make sure I can clear up the deal with Mirassou before then. ^^))

The door opened without much hesitation, to reveal the priestess - half in her robes and half out of them - her long, green hair hanging loose in its natural waves. It was freshly washed and dyed and thereby at its most vibrant, and as an added surprise Lorika was wearing makeup. The dark circles under her eyes were carefuly concealed, her pallid face given an unusual glow thanks to the magical help of the powders. Her lips were carefully painted cerise, in a shade that perfectly complimented the ring around her pupil, which was looking bolder and brighter than ever thanks to whatever kind of wash Lorika had done on her eyes, which were sparkling and lively, the thin, almost invisible bloodshots which sometimes cracked through the whites totally retreated. Behind her, Yokuan sat at the plain, wooden desk, which had all of her makeup sprawled around on top of it. Lacine was nowhere in sight.

"Fel! How lovely to see you! You haven't been around lately!" Lorika said rapidly, buzzing with an energy she hadn't experienced since the War. She ushered the winged lady inside, talking breezily all the while.

"Oh, I'm not going to be wearing my robes for the ball, Yokuan found the most fantastic dress design and gave it to Adeline to make up for me, I can't wait for you to see it! To be honest I haven't had time for the final fitting, but with the speed of her alterations it shouldn't be a problem when I go to put it on later, and it may even be enchanted to fit to me anyway, I don't know, I haven't been in there to see her much I've been so busy! Yokuan was just helping me to do my makeup - you know, I never really got the hang of the stuff, I never had to wear it as a teen - ready for the cameras, did you know that the cameras are coming? I don't know if I told anyone, only I contacted them to do a follow-up on our restoration efforts and they'll be here around eleven to catch us while we're preparing for the fundraiser, so that's why I'm wearing my robes, and I'll be putting on all of my insignias just now, you actually just caught me in the middle of dressing as you can see. I still don't know if I should wear my hair down, but if I put it up I'll just have to take it down anyway later, but then again it might keep it tidy ready for tonight, oh I don't know...! Hair like mine is such a pain, and it's too long really, sometimes I feel I should cut it but it would break my mother's heart, and whenever people see it down they always tell me to keep it just as it is, it's such a bother to keep dyeing as well, I wonder if I should ask 'del about glamour, or maybe Yokuan could do it, perhaps holding an enchantment there would be less hassle than keeping on dyeing it, and then I could return to my natural blonde! Then again, I don't know if it'll ever be the same again, dye does do such awful things to your hair, but if I were covering it up anyway it wouldn't matter - oh god, look at the time! I sort of know what they're going to ask me, but I haven't prepared anything, it should be okay though, I've worked with Cindy before during the War, she's brash at first but after the first couple of times you get used to things. Up or down-? What do you think?"

She seemed to say all of this in one breath, buzzing about more rapidly than a hummingbird's wings, gesturing expressively and packing away her makeup and glancing into the mirror - up or down, up or down? - in equal measures. She still wasn't wearing her stockings or shoes, and her feet padded gently across the carpet as she went. Her next stop after her hair seemed to be the bed, which was laid out with the remaining layers of her robe - the white, the teal and the adornments. Extra sashes, brooches and insignias were all laid out ready, as well as a special hairpiece-crown featuring the Overseer's symbol which she'd only really worn once for the Title Ceremony. She was obviously going the full hog for the cameras, adding as many signs of her station as she had in her possession, and from the array laid out on the covers it was obvious that the final result was going to be particularly resplendent.

"Do you think so...?" Lorika said gently, weighing her reflection up with a lofty kind of scrutiny. After a few moments, she seemed satisfied, and turned towards the bed. "Yes, I think you're quite right. It will make a nice change if nothing else!"

She plucked her first white layer of robe from the bed. De-attached, it was like a large panel not made to cover the entire body, which was made to fasten underneath the outer dark blue layer. She started to attach it, but stopped, looking around at Fel in concern.

"Oh, I'm so sorry...! Haven't you heard about the ball?"

Then, it dawned on her. "Oh my! But you've never experienced a Christmas before, have you?" she laughed, reaching out and taking both Fel's hands in hers. "It will be a lovely experience for y- your hands are freezing. Have you been outside in that flimsy robe?!"

Her tone had changed from amused to scolding in seconds, and she pumped a little energy into Fel to help her warm up a bit more.

There was nothing but talk of the upcoming ball, which made things difficult for Imaru as he was trying to learn to socialize more with his fellow acolytes. It wasn't so much that a social event was something he'd rather abstain from, more so that he felt completely out of place when it came to such a thing. Thank heavens it wasn't a 'bring a date' type of affair. That would have been awkward for introverted-Imaru, since as the days passed by, he began to realize that he was actually anticipating the event with some excitement. There was just one thing...

He had absolutely nothing nice to wear.

He didn't have the funds to buy an at-least decent outfit either. He began to give himself the "it's okay, it would have been lame anyway" speech inside of his head as he trudged through the streets of the island's main shopping area. Perhaps a trip back to his old stomping grounds of Durem might give him a change of environment he'd need to stop feeling like a sissy Sad-Sally about having to miss the ball.

A familiar high-pitched noise caught Imaru's attention, and he stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes scanned over a rustling bush and finally met with Se's own eyes. For a while he remained quiet, simply looking his old friend up and down, slightly hoping to indulge in some schadenfreude if she were to fall down tripping on her own boots. Unfortunately, she made it to his shoulder. It was a lot easier to smell the alcohol on her breath this way.

Imaru wasted no time beginning to walk again, taking Se by the arm this time, as if to answer her question of if she could tag along. Admittedly, he was happy to see his old friend.

"How do you like the Order? I know you came at a funky time with the death of the Professor, the middle of the repairs and all..." Imaru placed the money for the ferry fare, paying for both himself and Se. The last ferry out was relatively empty, and usually you'd find one or two pairs of hooligans drunk or something in the back. This time it looked like they'd play the role. It was just like old times before the war, all over again.

While Se's honest worries being spilled at his shoulder might have been an unexpected surprise on her behalf, Imaru was used to this happening when Se and Alcohol were involved. This wasn't the first and certainly wouldn't be the last time Se drank herself open. He gave her a little bit of a shake, like one that an older sibling might give their little sister. "You're okay. Nobody is going to hate on you because of your past loyalties. You're not the first SINner to run around the place. Plus, if anyone gives you trouble, just let me know, okay? I'll beat them up for you. I promised I would."

The truth was, Imaru knew exactly how she felt because he felt the same way in a lot of ways. He wasn't sure if he'd fit in. Hell, he was in the middle of finding out since he only recently made the decision to start socializing with his peers. He wasn't sure how far he'd make it knowing how he had deep issues with the Overseer's ways in the past that he had yet to get over. At least Se willingly and faithfully devoted herself to his way, regardless of her past affiliations.

Imaru's eyes once again looked his friend up and down. Her skin was beginning to feel cold to the touch. It didn't help she was only wearing so much. Shifting Se's head to his lap, he began to unbutton his white shirt. He regretted not having a jacket to give her, but his shirt would have to do. Luckily, Imaru was fond of the cold night sea breeze, and being shirtless was no problem for him. He draped his shirt over her carefully.

As the fabric fell to cover her skin, he noticed faint scratches he didn't at first. They were light, but numerous.

"Se..."