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[Thugren]

goood girl."

 

shango says with a breathy coo, walking over to the shelves and grabbing some material.

 

"Now...when you apply plaster.... YOu have to make sure it is perfect...No bumps and ..."

 

she seems to get an idea.

 

"OOOOOO....Make ida sit here for me sweetheart...Ill work on her while you work on alduins creation."

 

Zero coks his head and grabs some jerky, and you can almost hear his voice.

 

"here she goes.."

[Oce]

Vale furrowed her brow as she accepted the plaster from Shango, glancing back towards the door as Ida strolled through, like a puppet on a string. It nearly made her laugh as she directed Ida to sit on the chair, the doll's movements stiff and calculated. There was little difference between Ida and unfinished doll beside her, and it made the girl wince, even as she approached the latter. 

 

Smoothing out the features of the doll with the plaster, she tried to ignore Shango nearby, instead giving her full attention to ensuring that there were no imperfections as she ran her thumb over the doll's cheek. He was going to be gorgeous, and she had no doubt that he would have an interesting personality. She merely hoped that the dragon would treat him kindly rather than using the doll solely as a cheap trick. 

[Thugren]

you work tirelssly along shango who buisies herself getting ida to be the beautiful doll the doll maker sees in her visions.

 

 Like a doting mother shango bounces between both projects, helping you properly set plaster, and showing you how to make a more humanoid doll of your own.  Loving hands cover the lifeless limbs with doll flesh, giving the inanimate object a much more human look, and as shango shos you how to put the blonde hair and blue eyes on alduins doll, she is adding dark black eyes and black hair to ida, to give the doll a sinister yet alluring look.

 

Zero watches the entire time intently, watching vale and bringing her and shango water as needed to keep the two doll makers content, soon shango pulls back and whipes her brow.

 

'phew..its done."

 

its true, alduins doll was perfect, looking like a young man of about 22 . he was fair haired and baby faced, but he looked like somone with genuine kindness and merit. 

"good girll..Good girl.."

 

shango purrs, patting your head at the progress you had made, she looking ida over.

 

'She looks human now.."

 

the mistress says, running her hand along idas now fair breasts and up to her chin.

 

"I just need to put a soul in it..."

[Oce]

Seeing the two dolls actually be brought up to humanistic standards in appearance was astonishing. Even though her arms ached from the constant movement and her fingers grew numb from being held up so long, it was contentment that filled her chest. Going from bareboned to beautiful masterpieces with just a little bit of time and effort. If it weren't for Zero occasionally bringing them drinks, she would have gotten lost in the work, forgetting about the passage of time entirely until the two were finally finished. 

 

While Alduin's doll was pretty in his own right, Ida was gorgeous. It was like seeing a basic rough sketch being elaborated on until it was a full fledged piece of artwork, beautiful enough that it could be stared at for weeks and you would still find new things to enjoy about it. For Ida, the list was seemingly endless; sharp features with full lips that pulled back into a wicked smirk when prompted, black eyes that almost seemed to peer into your soul, and .. Was Shango groping her? The girl nearly flushed, but she silently willed Ida to smirk up at the mistress, looking too pleased for something so simple. 

[Thugren]

suddenly, zero stands up and shango smiles. In the door frame  is a man in a black trench coat coat,  his features are sharp and on the sleeve of his shirt written in white is the word, Absolver.

 

"Krausus.....Its about time you came here.. I trust your sister and sethis are on the job?"

 

the man nods and cocks his head at the dolls.

 

"Yes miss shango.. I was told you needed me?"

 

shango smiles and stands up, pulling vale to her side as she grabs two orbs from the desk.

 

"I need you to pull two souls to these cores. can you do that for me? i can show you how."

 

the man takes the cores, revealing several pins each with a different unknown meaning, but vale sees something that strikes her as off. The pin of what looks like a crimson wolf. She had known this symbol, and the more she looked at him, the more she realized  she knew this man. In her old villiage she had seen this man handing out food and water during times of famine and hardship... He had been there as some form of "vanguard" for some political party doing business nearby.. Their presence helped keep off raiders indefinitely but..

 

"And the girl.."

 

krausus says, tipping his head toward vale, startling you back to reality.

 

"does she have a particular soul that she wants in it?"

[Oce]

Vale was about to try to hide from the stranger's sight when Shango captured her. She smothered down the whine that tried to escape her throat, simply leaning into Shango's side limply while trying not to make it obvious that she was afraid. Really the only thing she was really successful at was keeping her expression from looking terrified. This man, Krausus, was terrifying. Even though he looked rough, he was clean, which in her mind what made him different from the thugs that had cut out her tongue. It also reminded her that judging people based on their appearance led to incidents. 

 

Then she remembered him. He had been friendly back at her village. He had tried so hard to earn their trust, but because of his unfriendly appearance, and bad luck, they had ignored him for a long time. But he never gave up. It was admirable, and he really had helped them, and her... She twitched as she refocused on him, eyes widened. Though she lost her tense posture and had the smallest of smiles on her lips, she shook her head at the question. There was no one, alive or dead, that had considered her a friend. And because of that, an unpredictable stranger that may just hate her was her only option. 

[Thugren]

krausus crouches and smiles at her.

 

'can you please describe the kind of soul you want than? i need to know waht voice to look for when i pull."

 

Shango smiles and runs her hand up and down the girls side assuringly, smiling at her as if they where picking up a puppy from a store.

 

'go on baby girl...Tell him what kind of soul you want.... Its time to make ida come to life."

[Oce]

Vale managed to hold Krausus's gaze when he knelt in front of her, peering at him curiously rather than fearfully. She only looked away to glance at the disabled Ida, a small frown on her lips. She was grimacing when she refocused on him, nervously tugging on Shango's clothing behind her. She didn't want to speak. But merely pointing at the scars around her throat was not going to be a suitable excuse. ".. I need her to be what I am not."

[Thugren]

for a long time, krausus doesnt speak. His eyes glow a soft yellow, and he cocks his head.

 

"Strong and outward.....Unafraid."

 

he nods and stands as shango hands him the stone, taking him to a room where vale can see him through a pane of glass. 

 

"now boy...Close your eyes...and listen to the souls in that room.... "

 

The young man nods and closes his eyes, holding his hands above the orb.

 

"now baby girl.."

 

shango purrs, bending over and resting her cheek on vales shoulder.

 

"I need you to imagine that soul in that room....I need you to wish for it harder than youve wished for anything..."

[Oce]

Vale would have winced at the blatant jab, but it was the truth. She was weak, to put it simply. Ida had to be strong enough for the both of them, which undoubtedly would be a difficult task. In the very least she wasn't doing the procedure, so she simply leaned into Shango and listened to the instructions meant for Krausus. It certainly was interesting that her mistress referred to the intimidating man as a 'boy'.

 

She exhaled softly as Shango's head rested on her shoulder, her eyes drooping as she focused on her task. There had to be a soul in that room. Someone that would ensure that she wouldn't be pathetic her entire life, and ensure that she wouldn't be alone. Vale had never asked for much in her life, considering all she had was the frame for a doll, but this was the one time that she wanted someone to be there for her.

[Thugren]

The room begins to fill with what looks like oily vipers or wriggling works . They buffet krausus from all over and the cor begins to glow an ominous purple.
A cocaphant of voices fill the air , all vying for freedom , all screaming for release from their pain when one speaks purely and with power.

“ it is me ...”

The moment that voice rises over the other , krausus pulls it from the air , forcing it into the crystal

And shango smiles , squeezing inhaled arms lightly .

“ perfect...”

Gradually the illusions fade and krausus picks up the glowing core, carrying it out to vale and offering it with a smile.

“ here you go vale.”

He says with a smile .

“ this should be exactly what you need for that doll.”

[Oce]

Vale visibly shuddered as she heard the voice, only remaining standing and still because of Shango's touch. She couldn't tell if it was fear or excitement that coursed through her veins, prompting her hands to shake as she accepted the crystal, hugging it to her chest wordlessly. This didn't feel real. She apparently had Shango now, but the hollow shell of of Ida had been with her for so many years. Through so much abuse and loneliness.. And now Ida was getting a soul. 

 

Ida already looked drastically different from her memories; less like a crude child's drawing and more like a 'human'. She stared up at Krausus in disbelief and silent wonder as she pressed back into Shango, her joints too stiff and her mind going too fast for her to focus on the final task that needed to be done. She was overwhelmed but she would take a several of seconds to calm herself, releasing a shaky breath, before she went to pull out of Shango's grasp and moving towards Ida.

[Thugren]

krausus says nothing as shango speaks the word of power, making ida open, and the former core pops out like a coinstore ball and cracks as it hits the ground. The doll is motionless, unmoving as it awaits its soul and even zero comes over curiously, his arm bisecting open to reveal a long blade in case the doll wakes up violently.

 

"Go on baby girl.."

 

shango says with a gentle coo in her voice.

 

"bring her to life so we can all see her wake up."

[Oce]

Vale winced as the old core shattered, still nearly crushing the new crystal to her chest. That cemented the fact that her Ida was gone, the original. Though even in the worst case scenario, where the spirit they had just summoned and captured turned out to be no good, all they had to do was summon another, it still made Vale feel a twinge of sadness. She had worked hard on that core. It was simple and rudimentary, but the girl couldn't help but feel a little sentimental about it. In the very least now Ida wouldn't be hollow anymore.

 

As she leaned over the doll, Vale held her breath. Apprehension and excitement were the prominent emotions tearing through her as she lowered the new core into place, carefully securing it before fidgeting nervously as she took a step back to allow the doll to awaken without someone too close for comfort. She gently closed Ida's chest when she realized that this soul had their own name. They probably wouldn't want to be forced into taking a new name at the whim of a child. 

 

That was when 'Ida' opened her eyes. She was still for several long seconds as memories berated her and strangers surrounded her. She didn't have time to feel overwhelmed as she quickly came to realize how much this body had been through. She didn't know everything, of course, but memories of it just being this doll and the girl directly in front of her-- Vale, she remembered. She could remember when this form was created, and what happened because of it. Vale being abandoned, Vale being ridiculed and tormented as no one could understand why the girl wanted a human sized doll. Vale's parents left shortly after Ida was 'completed', before the girl was able to fully control her doll. They called her a freak, while Ida sat by, unable to feel or speak for herself. Any 'friend' of hers left long before then.

 

Then came the memories of Vale being beaten. Rope circling the girl's neck, cutting off her oxygen even as she pleaded with the men to stop. The girl could have used the doll to fight back, but she didn't, instead leaving Ida sitting limply, the men already preparing a fire to burn them both. They escaped solely because one fool lit the noose first, burning the sensitive flesh on Vale's neck even as she struggled to breathe and screamed in agony. She didn't have Ida reach to help because she didn't want to burn the doll's hands.

 

There were several memories like this, but the only one worse was when they were on a ship and thugs had trapped them. Vale hadn't tried to fight back, even as they stomped on her ribs. Even as they pried open her jaw and cut out her tongue for "witchcraft". She hadn't cried out for help, because no one ever tried to help her. Until someone finally did. Blue hair, impossibly perfect figure... Another doll, one that tore the thugs limb from limb, as 'Ida' watched Vale curl into a ball, blood steadily leaking from her mouth. The other doll smiled down at Vale when she was finished with her slaughter, her soft voice saying: “Come on little flower..... Let's plant you in the master's garden.”

 

Shango helped put Vale at ease, Ida saw more than enough examples of that. Aurora worried her, and Zero? Ida hadn't been close enough to see how the two of them interacted. But she knew how Vale had interacted with her empty doll. That gave 'Ida' something to go off of, though she refused to act like somebody else. Which is why when 'Ida' refocused on the room, her eyes locked firmly on Vale's and ignoring the blade, she had Vale pinned to the wall before the girl could react. 

 

'Ida' didn't place a hand on the Vale's neck, or even her forearm, instead holding her still with hands on her shoulders. When she spoke, her voice was low and dangerous compared to what it had been before. "Stop feeling so goddamn sorry for yourself. It's pathetic."

[Thugren]

it wasnt kraususes power that had gotten to the doll, or shangos in credible control. It wasnt a trick of fate, nor was it anything else , but pure rage that made zero act.

 

there is a loud discharge of air, the dolls body splits into segements, and he slams into ida hard enough to crack the wall of shangos room in a startling display of power.

 

Power floods his body, running across his limmgs in a torturous show of strength , and from his forearms wicked blades click and clack.

 

"Zero!"

 

shango yelps, moving forward to call the warrior down, a tinge of nervousness in her voice.

 

"Put the blades away dear... let ida.."

 

zero shakes his head and makes a raspy sound, like he was forcing something through an unused windpipe . He makes a ferw more rasping sounds before he manages to choke out.

 

"You ...Know... Nothing..."

 

Shangos eyes widen as zeros grip tightens.

 

"s .. uffr....suffer......suffering....Made......strong."

 

krausus attempts to pull the doll back but the psionics power crackles in the air hamlessly.

 

"Doll....We are...dolls..... Know your place...."

[Oce]

'Ida' laughs, even as she is slammed into the wall. She shook her head at Shango, meeting the woman's eyes for just a moment. This was between her and Zero, and she would not be made a fool of. The doll raised her hand, placing it on Zero's cheek rather delicately for someone who was just assaulted for assaulting someone else. "Vale is strong, I agree. She needs to show it. She is not meek like she wants to act." For someone being threatened with several blades, 'Ida' was surprisingly calm. 

 

Even Vale didn't feel panicked, simply going to place a hand on the top of Zero's head to both show appreciation and to help pacify him. It was not lost on her that Zero had never spoken before in this form. It dawned on her that most of the people in the room were tense, but she believed that Zero wouldn't harm Ida, much less Vale herself. 

[Thugren]

zero calms down in sections. His arms sliding their deadly weapons closed and his segements closing as he nods and stands back a step, dropping ida unceremoniously to the ground.

 

"Risky game there plaything.."

 

shango says with an airy breath as she strokes zeros face.

 

"He couldve killed you right aftere you got your gift of life..."

[Oce]

'Ida' chuckled, allowing Vale to help her to her feet. They were practically strangers, but neither could deny the blatant bond between them. In the very least they felt no malicious intent in one another, so standing close wasn't overtly awkward for them. "But he wouldn't have. Because it would make Vale sad." Her tone dropped, sounding forlorn as she glanced at the girl beside her. The kid had been through more than enough trauma in her short lifetime.

[Thugren]

zeros limbs shake, the power building within them barely able to leak from him safely as he turns to leave. Krausus goes to comfort the doll but he leaves without a word.

 

"What the fuck...is that doll filled with."

 

shango squeezes her arms with a smile.

 

"Hes...Hes filled with all my dreams..."

 

krausus cocks his head curiopusly.

 

'dreams?"

 

shango smiles and sways her hips as she turns.

 

"Of guillotines."

krausus looks around blankly as shango smiles.

 

"ida......are you sure you are able to protecy my little flower?"

[Oce]

It was weird for both of them to feel one another's emotions at the back of their minds, influencing with subtle suggestions. Even more so, the vague sense of the other's thoughts. It wasn't in words, just blurred pictures that mixed with the senses. It was disorientating, but it eased the tension 'Ida' and Vale. It revealed Vale's indecisiveness, looking worriedly after Zero. Just as she was about to follow after him, 'Ida' caught her wrist, shaking her head slightly as she pulled the girl to her chest. 

 

"Not this time, kid," 'Ida' whispered, holding the girl still while she rested her chin on her head. She stared at Shango, the intimidating doll appearing mildly protective of her counterpart. She didn't believe that Zero would hurt Vale had she followed, but he needed some space and her abandoning 'Ida' would make a poor first impression. The kid would be gone for hours, if her memories were true.

 

"I will do my job." There was little else to be said about it, though 'Ida' wasn't entirely certain why she was being so amicable about it. This wasn't quite the 'second chance' she was looking for, but it was something. Vale hadn't been cruel in her memories, though yesterday she had killed someone. But the guilt that had played across Vale's face... The kid had to be able to defend herself without feeling guilty.