[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/nBgNtpQ.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/tkl1KJU.png[/img] [color=tomato]“Justine and I with our open mouth face claims catching flies together.”[/color] [color=888888]— Oros[/color] [/center] Justine didn’t seem surprised by Alex’ revelation of his relationship with Lily, and nodded slowly to his words. [color=bc8dbf]”I see that she hasn’t slowed down one bit,"[/color] she added, as she glanced at the green-haired girl from one end of the room to the other. She blinked, surprised by the small animals and the familiarity Alex expressed with them, but decided not to inquire upon it. [color=bc8dbf]”Doesn’t seem like it,"[/color] she answered his question, as Lily was now over at the Christmas tree, hopping up in an attempt to reach a crookedly placed decoration. [color=bc8dbf]”But it is honestly only a matter of time before we cross paths again. She seems to know nearly everyone here. How enviable..."[/color] Justine’s enthralling weekly post conversation with Alex would soon be interrupted by a girl that wanted to collab with her. [color=tomato]“Hey! Lez-bean!”[/color] Taking Betty’s seat was some pink haired punk that wasn’t Sakura. She had looked rather pleased for most of the party thus far, if Justine had cared to watch her. Though even a less astute individual would notice her ‘nog-stash on her upper lip. [color=tomato]“So you’re supposed to be pure and stuff now, right? No connection to Father, no longer a monster, ready to repent, maybe get a waifu or three?”[/color] she lifted her glass to her lips. [color=tomato]“That last one’s for a friend of course.”[/color] By this point Justine was no longer startled by the appearance of sudden visitors, and sighed in relief as she also came to peacefully talk instead of berating her. However, she did look a bit befuddled by Oros’ sequence of questions, and she placed her bat plushie on the table to join her hands together on her lap. She hoped Alex didn’t mind the sudden interruption between their conversation. [color=bc8dbf]”Well, uh...I’m definitely not connected to Father anymore, that much I’m sure of. And I...I no longer feel the same drive that pushed me before. That must have been the influence of corruption. Yeah, these wings are not as powerful as before,"[/color] she said as she gestured to her back, where her white wings could be seen. [color=bc8dbf]”But, umm, did you mean to say wife with that last question?"[/color] The jovial girl’s demeanor changed in an instant when Justine posed her own question. When Oros’s cup lowered to the table, there was a sneer on her face. [color=tomato]“You mean to tell me you’ve been around the block for five-hundred years and haven’t integrated into weeb culture at all? We’re truckin’ called magical girls because of a bunch of Chinese cartoons for crying out loud! Jesus Christ, your old boss [i]was[/i] an ass hole!”[/color] Justine leaned back, confused and regretting that she brought the semantics up in the first place. Oros shoved her glass off to the side, and it slid aaaaaaaaaall the way down the table before coming to a stop at the other end. Oros wiped off her nog-stash, and her sneer seemed to come off with it as she was smiling again. [color=tomato]“But hey! Now you can get on Glimmr and figure out what the hell a waifu is, you old grandma!”[/color] She laughed. [color=bc8dbf]”Glimmr, huh..."[/color] She mumbled, clearly having lived in a very different world from Oros. [color=bc8dbf]”I’ve heard of that service. I could try making an account there as well."[/color] [color=tomato]“Now I was going to ask you something before you committed that [i]heinous sin[/i] right before my eyes, just let me regain my train of thought.”[/color] She lifted her finger to her lips and did just that. A few seconds later, she spoke. [color=tomato]“That’s right!”[/color] she folded her hands together under her chin. [color=tomato]“Your reception seems a little mixed, huh? Seems like a lot of your old enemies are willing to let sleeping dogs purify, and then you have. mmmm…”[/color] She glanced around. [color=tomato]“Most everyone in Cradle hates you?”[/color] Justine sighed. [color=bc8dbf]”Something like that,"[/color] she answered, and took the plushie back from the table. [color=bc8dbf]”I’d need to prove to them that I can be trusted. Do you know of any good methods to do so?"[/color] She asked. [color=tomato]“Well, I don’t want to toot my own horn, but as a former monster girl who went from being hated by most everyone to loved by most everyone, and a good friend of the Cradle, I’d say that I’m probably the most qualified to help you. Possibly the only one.”[/color] Oros placed her hands together in front of her face, like she was praying. [color=tomato]“Trust isn’t what you need. Seems like most of the people at this party don’t really care that you almost doomed love and killed Mariette, or that you are responsible for countless magical girl deaths. Understandable really. I mean, everyone’s going to come back in fifteen or so years, and it’s not like you personally executed [i]their[/i] loved ones. Besides, it’s really, really obvious you’ve been purified now. All you have to do is not be an ass hole and the bulk of everyone will keep not giving a shit about lez-bean-von-this-smell. Most view the influence of a horror or monstrous mutation as something that is impossible to resist.”[/color] She pointed at Justine. [color=tomato]“But you and I know differently. While it’s difficult, it’s not impossible, and those who can resist don’t look favorably on those that don’t. Cradle is made of those that resist their dark urges, and they don’t see that strength in you. It’s also important to remember that most everyone else would care just as little had you been killed. But while the bulk don’t give a hoot, you can bet that there are a few people who are right pissed that you didn’t get the ax. Maura’s choice to spare you gave the Cradle a lot of negative PR. You can imagine how shockedthe Cradle agents are. Veronica always put the good of her agents first, and now Maura’s out here trying to do the pacifist route in Undertale.”[/color] Oros rolled her shoulders before lowering her hands onto the table. [color=tomato]”You don’t want trust, you want respect. Stop acting like a sniveling mouse. You can regret what you did, but let’s be honest; even if you’ve been purified, those dark desires were always a part of you.”[/color] She swung her arm towards the staircase that Eliza had run up. [color=tomato]“I could tell myself that I don’t care about chasing tail anymore. But I’ve decided to embrace that part of myself. I just don’t need nearly as much tail as I thought I did. What did you enjoy most when you were corrupt?”[/color] Justine occasionally nodded as she listened to Oros' advice, and bit her lip. [color=bc8dbf]”What I enjoyed most? Well, it's hard to say exactly, but it was the high tension. When I wove those grand plans or surrounded myself with thralls, I felt like a divine being who had the right to mold the destiny of the world. But more than that, when I faced off against my enemies, it was like a great fire was lit in my soul, a never-ending ride of thrills and excitement. It wasn't just about winning or losing, but living the drama."[/color] [color=tomato]“In other words, megalomania: The obsession with your own power or delusions of grandeur.”[/color] Oros sighed. [color=tomato]“But that was then. You’ve been purified, so those desires can’t be that intense anymore. Do you miss anything, Lez-bean? Your mansion? Your power? Your thralls? Your maid?”[/color] For a moment, Justine was silent. A single tear dropped into her bat plushie. [color=bc8dbf]”My sister, Caroline. She has disappeared for what must have been months now. I dearly wish to find her, so that I could release her from Father's curse as well."[/color] She wiped her tears. [color=bc8dbf]”Have you also lost people you'd wish to see again, Miss…?"[/color] She looked awkward as she realized she didn't know her name. [color=tomato]“Oros? Manager of the Golden Trove? Newest sensation in Penrose? Guess they let you go sooner rather than earlier.”[/color] Oros chuckled. [color=tomato]“But no. I didn’t have any siblings and my parents weren’t around much. Outside of them I’ve never had a relationship last longer than a few months, and I probably never will.”[/color] After flashing a smile she scratched the side of her head. [color=tomato]“But we’re getting off point. What I’m trying to get you to do is address your shadow self. There’s some dark part of yourself that’s intrinsic to your nature, and ignoring it is what’s holding you back." [/color] Justine irked at the idea of coming to terms with her 'shadow self', but Oros continued. [color=tomato]“Here, let’s take your embarrassing exchange with Betty and use that as an example. Hold on, this will be more fun with props.”[/color] Oros scooped Justine’s madcap up and placed it on her head, which caused Justine to gasp. [color=bc8dbf]”Hey-!"[/color] She exclaimed. But Oros couldn't be stopped by words. She then slouched, squared her shoulders, and avoided making eye contact with Justine. [color=tomato]“Do I look like a divine being who has the right to mold destiny to my very whims?”[/color] She pulled her hat over her eyes and hugged her pig plush. [color=tomato]“I’m sorry Betty, the whole mind whammy thing was just done on a whim for the lulz. I-I didn’t really think it through, and I’m really sorry now that I have to face repercussions for m-my actions. You probably think I care more about what people think about me than actually being a good person. A-and-”[/color] Oros exploded with confidence. Her hands fell on her hips, her shoulders were rolled back, and her chest was puffed out. She was also bearing the toothiest grin that Justine had ever seen, and Justine was a former vampire. [color=tomato]“You bet your sweet ASS I care what people think about me! I’m not proud of what I did in the past, but I’m settling the score right now! And you wanna know why I mind whammied you, Betty? Because ‘Ronica made it super easy! You’re also a dynamite babe, and in the heat of the moment I thought it would be good to have you at my side. But when I got a hold of myself later, I realized I’d need to take care of Cradle first. So I passed you over to the Mint with the idea that I’d reclaim you later. Phu phu phu phu phu!”[/color] She plopped Justine’s hat back on her head. [color=tomato]“Wasn’t my second impersonation of you strangely more charismatic?”[/color] Justine couldn't believe how abrasive this girl was...But in her own way, she was trying to help her. [color=bc8dbf]”So you're saying I should be more confident about myself? That I...accept my past as a personal strength rather than a burden?"[/color] She looked down at the table. [color=bc8dbf]”That's surprisingly inspiring."[/color] [color=tomato]“Well it should hardly be inspiring coming from me. They don’t exactly air just anyone on the radio. My charisma is no joke.”[/color] She patted Justine’s funny hat and straightened out the ribbons. [color=tomato]“You’re a bad bitch lez-bean, but so was ‘Ronica, and that didn’t stop people from trusting her.”[/color] She looked towards Emily and Tetrad. [color=tomato]“Oh shit, they’re all going to ditch me if I’m not careful. ”[/color] Oros stood up. [color=tomato]“I know I said I haven’t had a relationship last more than a few months, but I’m trying to change that. If your relationship with your sister lasted five-hundred years, perhaps you can go at least half as long with Cradle. But it’s not going to happen if you mope around here.”[/color] Justine nodded, looking a bit better than before. [color=bc8dbf]”Yeah...That’s right, I shouldn’t be sitting here. I should be out there, talking to people. Even if some won’t like it, it means I’m making a difference, that I’m moving forward. Oros, thank you so mu-"[/color] But Oros had already left, off to join her friends. But, Justine didn’t feel bad about it. Justine clenched her fist. [color=bc8dbf]”My past...I won’t let it shadow me. My future is mine to make. Do you agree, mister Alexander?"[/color] [hr] Oros didn't get far before she was stopped by that nameless girl that participated in the Lord of Change's game. She just looked at Oros with her arms folded. [color=tomato]“What? I can't screw around a little bit?”[/color] The girl shook her head dismissively and walked off. Oros just smiled to herself and shrugged. She grabbed Emily by the back and hoisted her up into the air. Oros then shook her just enough to force her to release Tetrad, and carried the girl outside. [color=tomato]“See you later tit-rad!”[/color] [color=75c159]”That is [i]not[/i] my name!”[/color] But Oros was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to care much about what Tetrad was saying. [color=tomato]“Oh yea, it's all coming together.”[/color]