Strike Witches 2012 Episode 11: Children of the Danube [IC]

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Wyndton House, County Kent, Britannia
5th of March 2012
9:49 PM

As usual, it was raining in Britannia. Correction, it wasn't just raining this early March day, it was literally pouring down a soggy mess of snow and water totally indiscriminately over the Kent countryside, mixing in with and making the already soggy mess on the ground even soggier. In the middle of this unholy mess of a weather system a lonely black sedan drove up the long approach way up to a looming castle, a teenage girl staring out at the miserable weather from behind the windows of the rear passenger seats.

The terribly relentless weather had been like this the second Sybil Catherine Picton landed in Brize Norton after a very long and exhausting flight from her most testing tour of duty yet. Although she was still holding up her calm demeanour, the strain of having done so for the past month and the mental exhaustion of dealing with completely mad subordinates was beginning to show. All she wanted right now was a bath, her warm, comfortable bed waiting for her in her room, a hot cup of tea from Noel - her lady's maid, and a book to read to sleep.

Clutching her long coat tighter around her frame, as if trying to ward off the howling storm aroud her, Sybil stepped out of the car and quickly in under the umbrella of the family driver. Together they walked up to the front door, rang once and was received by Mr. Lowe the chief butler.
Stumbling over the threshold and collapsing into the arms of Lowe Sybil muttered a quiet "I'm sorry." before greeting Noel with a weak smile. She then listed her requests.
"I'm going to need a bath, tea and a book in my room please, would you mind Noel?"
"Of course not Milady, I'll get to it right away."
"Camomille with honey, no milk, please."
"Yes Milady, right away."
Smiling back gratefully, Sybil felt the arms of the old wizened butler helping her up the stairs while Noel ran ahead to tap the bath. Ten minutes later Sybil would sink into the warm scented water, being in the exhausted state she was in she almost fell asleep in the tub if Noel haven't called her for her tea. Showering quickly, Sybil sank next into her four-poster bed, the tea tray with some mail resting on her sheets. Sighing, she grabbed a scone with one hand and opened her letters. The one from Air Staff Headquarters noted to her that she had been promoted one step to Permanent Squadron Leader from Flight Lieutenant and Temporary Squadron Leader for her service - or rather lack of service in her opinion - in the 501st and was now a Dambuster with immediate effect. Sighing again, this time happily, she gulped down her tea and dozed off in a deep sleep.

---

Wyndton House, County Kent, Britannia
12th of March, 2012
10:30 AM

"Are you ready yet Milady?"
"Yes Noel, soon enough. Is sis ready yet?"
"She is. Everything's and everyone's set now Milady."
Standing in front of her full-length mirror and checking every detail of her outfit for tonight, Sybil Picton managed a happy smile at the thought of her friends and old comrades coming over to celebrate her promotion. The new No. 5 Mess Dress with the ranks of Squadron Leader had already been laid out at seven this morning, the old one having been destroyed in Italy together with one of her subordinate's lives. The entire house had been cleaned during the past few days and groceries bought for this event. Sybil was now Sq Ld, of equal rank to Ruya if not in seniority, and new uniforms befitting of your new rank and a clean house was the number one priorities for your promotion dinner. Her hair had been done by Noel at nine o'clock in the morning, in a long ponytail down her back, and at five p.m. this afternoon everything including the four-course dinner was to be set and ready. But first on the schedule was elevenses with her friends, the tea was already boiling. Not a minute too soon because the bell ran at exactly 10:45.
The door opened no sooner than half a minute after the bell had rang, by the Head Butler, and wearing a bright smile on her face Sybil came down the center stairs with her sister Georgie in tow. At least the weather was fine today...

[Hetland 2]

A scarred woman in what looked like a expensive white ballroom gown stood at the door. A look of mild annoyance marred her otherwise fairly pretty face. Ever since she found herself in a family again, her mother and sister had non-stop been using her as a dress up doll, and while it didn't annoy her a lot, it did kind of bother her. And now... Now she had to wear her dress uniform. Or rather she would have, had her family let her out the door with it on, instead, she was sent out the door with a rediculous silk gown. "I look terrible in this..." She raised her flask in the air and sighed, Her fingers slowly traced the scar on her chest. It was deep. It should have killed her. But here she was, still alive, still kicking, but... why? Why was she still alive. It didn't make any sense.
She sighed heavily, "Oh well!" And rang the doorbell, grinning widely.

[Wolfenium]

A scarred woman in what looked like a expensive white ballroom gown stood at the door. A look of mild annoyance marred her otherwise fairly pretty face. Ever since she found herself in a family again, her mother and sister had non-stop been using her as a dress up doll, and while it didn't annoy her a lot, it did kind of bother her. And now... Now she had to wear her dress uniform. Or rather she would have, had her family let her out the door with it on, instead, she was sent out the door with a rediculous silk gown. "I look terrible in this..." She raised her flask in the air and sighed, Her fingers slowly traced the scar on her chest. It was deep. It should have killed her. But here she was, still alive, still kicking, but... why? Why was she still alive. It didn't make any sense.
She sighed heavily, "Oh well!" And rang the doorbell, grinning widely.

"Y-You look pretty..."

Standing behind her with a lowered head, Svetlana looked rather embarrassed in her rather childish cyan blue dress and plain white shoes. A work of her late mother, it felt rather awkward to be wearing the same dresses as she wore as a child a few years ago. Sure, the skirt now felt a few inches higher, but overall, it fit her just fine. Hiding her distinct blush, she could tell she looked silly, like an elementary student playing the fairy godmother in a school play. But those were the only outfits she had, and she had been distinctly told in no small words that she was not allowed to use her uniform, which did not qualify as a dinner dress uniform.

"You seem... royal..." she uttered in a softspoken voice to Maria, trying to avoid her gaze. However, part of her felt a little pang of doubt about the Maria before her. She could tell distinctly that she had been shot dead back in that mission in Rome. How on earth she managed to survive the shot, she did not know. But the Orussian was still quite mad at Maria for hiding the truth and herself the whole time.

[Nachfolgia]

Friederike was standing behind the group in her usual mood. She was wearing a tight black dress that showed off her figure. Her long silver hair was tied up in a bun and part of her bangs were covering her missing eye, hiding her eye patch except for the strap that went around her head. She had light make up on and a cheap diamond necklace and earring set. To finish her outfit, Friederike was wearing black high heel shoes. She stood unsteadily in her high heel shoes as she had her arms crossed, her face having a hint of annoyance. She didn't care much for dressing up and attending formal dinners. She'd much prefer wearing her Luftwaffe uniform but Ruya had ordered everyone to wear a dress.

In Friederike's mind, she looked ridiculous in her tight dress. The only reason she had the dress was because Anka had made her buy it back in Karlsland so the two of them including Heike could go clubbing. Anka was always the wild child among the trio and Heike just like being pretty so Friederike was the only mellow one. She was the voice of order and reason and more than once ruined the other two's fun but they still loved her like a sister. As Friederike stood with her emotionless expression, she shifted her weight to the right. In her unsteady position in the high heels, Friederike's ankles gave out and she fell face first into the ground. She softly moaned in pain as she struggled to stand back up. " Damn high heels, I can't even walk in these things." Friederike said to herself.

[Rupudska]

Ruya and Sohvi both arrived more-or-less simultaneously to the Wyndton house, despite Ruya having walked from a subway station and Sohvi just taking a rented broom. Ruya arrived in a long off-white dress with long sleeves, and a dark blue headscarf. Sohvi, meanwhile, had on a pale grey pant suit, complete with a blue tie. She had never really worn dresses, and no matter how wealthy Sybil was, Sohvi wasn't going to start now.

"Is she here yet," Sohvi asked.

"Not yet, ma'am, no." Ruya checked her watch. "She should be getting out of the airport right now, so she shouldn't be long."

"I thought you said the Princess would be here, Major."

"I said that she said she would try to be here, Lieutenant Colonel Haya. She may not show up, she may be too busy."

Sohvi closed her eyes, shaking her head lightly. "That Hanna.. she can be surprisingly fickle about these sorts of things."

[Occupied Deutschland]

Bushra fiddled with the cuff of her dress as she tried to figure out what to do with her hands and stared in amaze at the castle before her. She hadn’t worn civilian clothing in years, much less formal civilian clothing, and much less in a non-military setting. She’d been expressly forbidden from wearing her uniform, so instead had to deal with the long, loose black dress she’d gotten from the first Brittanian store she could find. The clerk had kept trying to sell her something slinkier. It had been incredibly awkward for her. At least her headscarf was familiar. The only wish she had was that she’d actually kept her pistol with her. She could’ve hidden it under the dress easily enough, but had worried about Brittanian laws on the matter. As well as whether such fell within ‘civilian clothing’, but the former had been what had stopped her. Now, she wished it hadn’t. Even in the short time she'd had it, she'd grown used to having the Orussian firearm near her. She guessed it was having to use it to save her own skin that had made her attached to the thing.

...In her unsteady position in the high heels, Friederike's ankles gave out and she fell face first into the ground. She softly moaned in pain as she struggled to stand back up. " Damn high heels, I can't even walk in these things." Friederike said to herself.

Bushra’s upward-looking mouth-open stare at the Brittanian castle—she could not imagine ever thinking of it as a house—was moved only by Friederike falling to the ground. Glancing over her shoulder at the Karlslandic witch, Bushra suppressed an inner amusement at seeing the other girl fall. This was her first real excursion since recovering from the minor shrapnel injuries and…head weirdness…that had happened back in Orussia. The suggestions and veiled threats to visit a ‘mental healthcare professional’ by the doctors in charge of her until her release had made her extremely sensitive about the spikes of pleasure she got from other people’s pain.

Not that that had been enough to make her actually see one of the hack ‘doctors’ for her head. That would’ve been a very large black mark on her file, she could imagine. Especially paired with…everything else she’d ever done. She was here to help kill Neuroi more than anything, it was all she could do for her parents and Asaad, and it was the right thing to do. She would not be taken off of duty just because she was an easily malleable nutc--idiot, in some instances. She’d put those behind her. They’d died with her teacher. She would be fine now, it’d just take some time to counteract years of his false teachings. She could do it. She wasn't insane.

Trying to do what she could, Bushra angrily shot an arm out slightly towards Friederike. “Do you need help standing?” She spat, attempting to get the question out before she could think herself into not doing it for some reason. Unfortunately, it also made the question sound more insulting than helpful. Bushra winced internally at the sound of her own voice, but didn't know how to make it any better. She was trying! She was really trying. It was just...hard.

[Nachfolgia]

Bushra fiddled with the cuff of her dress as she tried to figure out what to do with her hands and stared in amaze at the castle before her. She hadn’t worn civilian clothing in years, much less formal civilian clothing, and much less in a non-military setting. She’d been expressly forbidden from wearing her uniform, so instead had to deal with the long, loose black dress she’d gotten from the first Brittanian store she could find. The clerk had kept trying to sell her something slinkier. It had been incredibly awkward for her. At least her headscarf was familiar. The only wish she had was that she’d actually kept her pistol with her. She could’ve hidden it under the dress easily enough, but had worried about Brittanian laws on the matter. As well as whether such fell within ‘civilian clothing’, but the former had been what had stopped her. Now, she wished it hadn’t. Even in the short time she'd had it, she'd grown used to having the Orussian firearm near her. She guessed it was having to use it to save her own skin that had made her attached to the thing.

...In her unsteady position in the high heels, Friederike's ankles gave out and she fell face first into the ground. She softly moaned in pain as she struggled to stand back up. " Damn high heels, I can't even walk in these things." Friederike said to herself.

Bushra’s upward-looking mouth-open stare at the Brittanian castle—she could not imagine ever thinking of it as a house—was moved only by Friederike falling to the ground. Glancing over her shoulder at the Karlslandic witch, Bushra suppressed an inner amusement at seeing the other girl fall. This was her first real excursion since recovering from the minor shrapnel injuries and…head weirdness…that had happened back in Orussia. The suggestions and veiled threats to visit a ‘mental healthcare professional’ by the doctors in charge of her until her release had made her extremely sensitive about the spikes of pleasure she got from other people’s pain.

Not that that had been enough to make her actually see one of the hack ‘doctors’ for her head. That would’ve been a very large black mark on her file, she could imagine. Especially paired with…everything else she’d ever done. She was here to help kill Neuroi more than anything, it was all she could do for her parents and Asaad, and it was the right thing to do. She would not be taken off of duty just because she was an easily malleable nutc--idiot, in some instances. She’d put those behind her. They’d died with her teacher. She would be fine now, it’d just take some time to counteract years of his false teachings. She could do it. She wasn't insane.

Trying to do what she could, Bushra angrily shot an arm out slightly towards Friederike. “Do you need help standing?” She spat, attempting to get the question out before she could think herself into not doing it for some reason. Unfortunately, it also made the question sound more insulting than helpful. Bushra winced internally at the sound of her own voice, but didn't know how to make it any better. She was trying! She was really trying. It was just...hard.

As Friederike's wobbly ankles struggled to support her, she heard the voice of Bushra calling out to her. She looked up and saw Bushra standing over her. Friederike gave her an empty glare, unsure how to react. For a while now, Friederike has hated Bushra with a passion even though she never showed. She never really showed any emotion. She still haven't gotten over Bushra trying to kill Princess Hanna of Karlsland. She knew that Bushra also didn't like her that much and wondered why she wanted to help. Anything that she did, Friederike took as having an alterier motive. " I'm fine." Friederike said bluntly as she finally stood straight up and brushed herself off.

[Occupied Deutschland]

..." I'm fine." Friederike said bluntly as she finally stood straight up and brushed herself off.

Bushra sneered as a surge of anger overtook her at the Karlslandic girl's refusal. An anger that wouldn't be suppressed because Bushra knew it was justified. She had been trying to be nice. That was clearly not worth it with the little Karlslandic bitch. Bushra jerked her hand back and folded it over her chest.

"Fine. Whatever you say. You were fine. Groaning in pain is apparently just something you do, and you really wanted to be down there because you just like the feel of the ground against your skin. Not because you can't even keep your balance in your shoes and ended up falling over like an idiot."

Bushra knew adding the last bit wasn't necessary, but the anger at the rejection of her offer of help demanded it. Friederike deserved it.

[Nachfolgia]

..." I'm fine." Friederike said bluntly as she finally stood straight up and brushed herself off.

Bushra sneered as a surge of anger overtook her at the Karlslandic girl's refusal. An anger that wouldn't be suppressed because Bushra knew it was justified. She had been trying to be nice. That was clearly not worth it with the little Karlslandic bitch. Bushra jerked her hand back and folded it over her chest.

"Fine. Whatever you say. You were fine. Groaning in pain is apparently just something you do, and you really wanted to be down there because you just like the feel of the ground against your skin. Not because you can't even keep your balance in your shoes and ended up falling over like an idiot."

Bushra knew adding the last bit wasn't necessary, but the anger at the rejection of her offer of help demanded it. Friederike deserved it.

" I may be falling from these damn high heels, but at least I'm not falling deeper and deeper into psychosis." Friederike said without even looking at Bushra, eith a blank face and her arms crossed. She didn't know why Bushra insisted on trying to make her angry, it obviously doesn't work. Friederike rarely shows any emotion, even though she does have them, she doesn't show them. That's why no one in the 501st or the Grunhertz ever know what the silver haired witch is thinking. " By the way, how is that fragile little mind of yours, Bushra?" Friederike said as she glanced at the Ottoman witch.

[Rupudska]

As the argument between Friederike and Bushra built up, Sohvi became more and more visibly concerned with the odds of them fighting. That is, until she noticed a pitch-black armored BMW sedan, escorted by BMW motorcycles, pull up to the estate door. This could only have been one person, for two reasons - One, a Karlslandic car escorted by Karlslandic motorcycles meant a Karlslandic passenger, and two, a Bavarian car escorted by Bavarian passengers. And there was only one Bavarian she knew of that would be showing up here.

Princess Hanna calmly strolled out of the backseat of her transport, walked down the path to the door, and telepathically grabbed Bushra and Friederike, lifting the two of them about a foot in the air and three feet away from each other.

"Now now, kindergarteners, let's not get in a fight, wouldn't want to give each other owies, now would we? Wouldn't want to be put in time-out, would we?"

[Nachfolgia]

As the argument between Friederike and Bushra built up, Sohvi became more and more visibly concerned with the odds of them fighting. That is, until she noticed a pitch-black armored BMW sedan, escorted by BMW motorcycles, pull up to the estate door. This could only have been one person, for two reasons - One, a Karlslandic car escorted by Karlslandic motorcycles meant a Karlslandic passenger, and two, a Bavarian car escorted by Bavarian passengers. And there was only one Bavarian she knew of that would be showing up here.

Princess Hanna calmly strolled out of the backseat of her transport, walked down the path to the door, and telepathically grabbed Bushra and Friederike, lifting the two of them about a foot in the air and three feet away from each other.

"Now now, kindergarteners, let's not get in a fight, wouldn't want to give each other owies, now would we? Wouldn't want to be put in time-out, would we?"

Friederike didn't notice the convoy of BMWs pull up to the manor, she was too busy arguing with Bushra. Well, the argument consisted of Bushra yelling and Friederike replying with her usual tone of voice. She was caught off guard by the sudden levitation, flailing around a little bit. Before Friederike realized who was doing it, the culprit stepped forward in an elegant dress. " Prinzessin Hanna?!" Friederike said in shock, her face barely changing expressions. " Verzeihung, bitte. Es soll nicht wieder vorkommen, Prinzessin Hanna." Friederike said as she tried to bow while levitating. " Solange Sie nicht versuchen dich zu töten wieder." Friederike muttered as she glanced at Bushra.

[Occupied Deutschland]

..."By the way, how is that fragile little mind of yours, Bushra?" Friederike said as she glanced at the Ottoman witch.

Bushra recoiled slightly at Friederike’s shot, shocked out of her anger temporarily by the question. It returned even more forcefully, however. She wasn’t insane. Her mind was just fine! Who the hell was Friederike to suggest otherwise? She hadn’t been the one picking fights and refusing help. It was Friederike’s fault.

Bushra began to respond to the barb, happy her emerging familiar ears were hidden below her headscarf. She did not even notice the sound of a car pulling up behind them.

*snip*

I’M NOT IN CONTROL!

Bushra jerked around in the air as she felt herself rise and get pushed away from Friederike. Unsure what was happening, the girl whipped her head left-and-right as if searching for an assailant. She quickly found it in a familiar face behind her. It became apparent what was happening from who it was.

Bushra froze in the air. Feeling at once her inner discomfort at the castle disappear in an ocean of fea—discomfort and…concern at the Princess’ presence. She’d been told—perhaps ‘warned’ would be a better descriptor—Hanna would ‘probably’ be here, but had just assumed when the Karlslandic noble hadn’t immediately shown up she’d been safe. That had clearly been incorrect.

A very soft, almost inaudible, whimper escaped Bushra before she could stop it. Hanna could read and control her mind and she was entirely in control of her body, what if she remembered…Bushra managed to stop that line of thought before it could betray anything further.

Not to mention she had to sit through some kind of fancy-dress garbage with the noble-born mind-reading-freak girl in some other Brittanian noble’s castle and…and…and…

Bushra clamped down on the whimper and gritted her teeth against the rising panic. Instead, she focused on the twisting anger at Hanna’s childlike treatment of her and Friederike’s baseless accusations. Friederike treated her like some kind of nutcase, and Hanna was treating her as if she were a child. It wasn’t FAIR. What had she done? Offer to help Friederike and then get called insane by her?

I’m fine. Just fine. I’ll show them! I’ll show all of them! They’re wrong, not me! I’m FINE.

I am fine.

Bushra bit her lip, recalling the feel of the trigger as she’d been about to shoot Princess Hanna over Greece. Or the spike of pleasure and anticipation she’d felt on the verge of hitting Anastasia in her burned legs back on the Yeager. Or the mad happiness she’d felt thinking of dismembering Princess Hanna and Ljiljana on the Yeager and watching them bleed all over the deck. Or the absolute joy she’d felt punishing her former ‘teacher’ with slow physical pain and then death. Or even the dismissive humor she’d found in ripping off his servant-witches finger. Or the pleasure she’d had at the thought of killing Nuray…

Well, I’m fine anyways, aren’t I? I’m still here, and haven’t killed anyone that didn’t deserve it. And now that teacher’s gone I can focus on killing Neuroi. I’m fine. I might have had some…trouble adjusting…But I’m fine.

Friederike said something in Karlslandic. Unsure what had been said, Bushra shot a glare at the other girl anyways. It was undoubtedly about her, and undoubtedly unkind.

“Well then, if you’re done being a condescending…witch just because I tried to help one of your countrymen and she can’t accept it…”

Bushra gritted her teeth harder and took a very obvious breath to calm down. Still glaring at Hanna, Bushra’s voice became somewhat less heated.

“Would you be so kind as to Put. Me. Down.” Bushra didn’t let a trace of her rage enter her voice, instead speaking as if disappointed. She too was perfectly capable of treating Hanna like a petulant child, and she deserved the label more than Bushra. Bushra wasn’t the mind-reading freak.

“Please? Prinzessin von Mind-Reader?” Bushra finally shot, smirking slightly. The front was entirely false, as Bushra knew an almost paralyzing fear and panic sat behind it at the powers Hanna had. But it was all she could do. She had to just try and ignore the girl’s powers, which was rather hard to do when floating in the air because of them.

[Wolfenium]

“Please? Prinzessin von Mind-Reader?” Bushra finally shot, smirking slightly. The front was entirely false, as Bushra knew an almost paralyzing fear and panic sat behind it at the powers Hanna had. But it was all she could do. She had to just try and ignore the girl’s powers, which was rather hard to do when floating in the air because of them.

"If you cut out the name calling, maybe she would have reconsidered," a snide voice called out, "if there's one thing Princess likes more than anything, it's discipling errant girls. She doesn't need brain power to break you."

Stepping in dressed in a long black dress, long gloves and high heels was Adela, a white shawl draped over her shoulders. Her usual shoulder-length hair tied up in a bun with an ornate hairpin in place, she looked straight off like a 20s socialite. A bit outdated, but nothing that did not fit the ballroom setting. In fact, it's a bit hard to recognize her with make up and a different hairstyle, as Svetlana took a bit to register.

"What do you mean 'break'," questioned the girl cautiously, "you don't mean torture-"

"This may be news to you, but there are people who're in to that sort," the Dacian spoke lackadaisically, gesturing at Hanna, "not like she bothers to keep that a secret, but you learn a new thing everyday."

"I... don't think I want to know..." the young teen spoke, a rather small frown stretched over her face. It did not take much for her to guess what Adela meant. After all, it was never hard to guess what goes through the woman's mind every seven seconds.

As the argument between Friederike and Bushra built up, Sohvi became more and more visibly concerned with the odds of them fighting. That is, until she noticed a pitch-black armored BMW sedan, escorted by BMW motorcycles, pull up to the estate door. This could only have been one person, for two reasons - One, a Karlslandic car escorted by Karlslandic motorcycles meant a Karlslandic passenger, and two, a Bavarian car escorted by Bavarian passengers. And there was only one Bavarian she knew of that would be showing up here.

Princess Hanna calmly strolled out of the backseat of her transport, walked down the path to the door, and telepathically grabbed Bushra and Friederike, lifting the two of them about a foot in the air and three feet away from each other.

"Now now, kindergarteners, let's not get in a fight, wouldn't want to give each other owies, now would we? Wouldn't want to be put in time-out, would we?"

"Besides which," Adela teased Hanna, glomping her as she reached the princess, "why're you here? 'Tis hardly a ball for a princess to grace, much less a foreign one; unless you have plans later tonight, at which case, why didn't you bring any of your partners?..."

[Nachfolgia]

..."By the way, how is that fragile little mind of yours, Bushra?" Friederike said as she glanced at the Ottoman witch.

Bushra recoiled slightly at Friederike’s shot, shocked out of her anger temporarily by the question. It returned even more forcefully, however. She wasn’t insane. Her mind was just fine! Who the hell was Friederike to suggest otherwise? She hadn’t been the one picking fights and refusing help. It was Friederike’s fault.

Bushra began to respond to the barb, happy her emerging familiar ears were hidden below her headscarf. She did not even notice the sound of a car pulling up behind them.

*snip*

I’M NOT IN CONTROL!

Bushra jerked around in the air as she felt herself rise and get pushed away from Friederike. Unsure what was happening, the girl whipped her head left-and-right as if searching for an assailant. She quickly found it in a familiar face behind her. It became apparent what was happening from who it was.

Bushra froze in the air. Feeling at once her inner discomfort at the castle disappear in an ocean of fea—discomfort and…concern at the Princess’ presence. She’d been told—perhaps ‘warned’ would be a better descriptor—Hanna would ‘probably’ be here, but had just assumed when the Karlslandic noble hadn’t immediately shown up she’d been safe. That had clearly been incorrect.

A very soft, almost inaudible, whimper escaped Bushra before she could stop it. Hanna could read and control her mind and she was entirely in control of her body, what if she remembered…Bushra managed to stop that line of thought before it could betray anything further.

Not to mention she had to sit through some kind of fancy-dress garbage with the noble-born mind-reading-freak girl in some other Brittanian noble’s castle and…and…and…

Bushra clamped down on the whimper and gritted her teeth against the rising panic. Instead, she focused on the twisting anger at Hanna’s childlike treatment of her and Friederike’s baseless accusations. Friederike treated her like some kind of nutcase, and Hanna was treating her as if she were a child. It wasn’t FAIR. What had she done? Offer to help Friederike and then get called insane by her?

I’m fine. Just fine. I’ll show them! I’ll show all of them! They’re wrong, not me! I’m FINE.

I am fine.

Bushra bit her lip, recalling the feel of the trigger as she’d been about to shoot Princess Hanna over Greece. Or the spike of pleasure and anticipation she’d felt on the verge of hitting Anastasia in her burned legs back on the Yeager. Or the mad happiness she’d felt thinking of dismembering Princess Hanna and Ljiljana on the Yeager and watching them bleed all over the deck. Or the absolute joy she’d felt punishing her former ‘teacher’ with slow physical pain and then death. Or even the dismissive humor she’d found in ripping off his servant-witches finger. Or the pleasure she’d had at the thought of killing Nuray…

Well, I’m fine anyways, aren’t I? I’m still here, and haven’t killed anyone that didn’t deserve it. And now that teacher’s gone I can focus on killing Neuroi. I’m fine. I might have had some…trouble adjusting…But I’m fine.

Friederike said something in Karlslandic. Unsure what had been said, Bushra shot a glare at the other girl anyways. It was undoubtedly about her, and undoubtedly unkind.

“Well then, if you’re done being a condescending…witch just because I tried to help one of your countrymen and she can’t accept it…”

Bushra gritted her teeth harder and took a very obvious breath to calm down. Still glaring at Hanna, Bushra’s voice became somewhat less heated.

“Would you be so kind as to Put. Me. Down.” Bushra didn’t let a trace of her rage enter her voice, instead speaking as if disappointed. She too was perfectly capable of treating Hanna like a petulant child, and she deserved the label more than Bushra. Bushra wasn’t the mind-reading freak.

“Please? Prinzessin von Mind-Reader?” Bushra finally shot, smirking slightly. The front was entirely false, as Bushra knew an almost paralyzing fear and panic sat behind it at the powers Hanna had. But it was all she could do. She had to just try and ignore the girl’s powers, which was rather hard to do when floating in the air because of them.

Friederike glared at Bushra when she made rude comments to the Karlsland Princess, a hint of anger in her otherwise emotionless face. " I suggest you hold your tongue, Private. You are being disrespectful to the crown princess of Karlsland and you are a low ranking member of the military, you should know your place." Friederike said with a blank expression on her face.

[Rupudska]

Friederike didn't notice the convoy of BMWs pull up to the manor, she was too busy arguing with Bushra. Well, the argument consisted of Bushra yelling and Friederike replying with her usual tone of voice. She was caught off guard by the sudden levitation, flailing around a little bit. Before Friederike realized who was doing it, the culprit stepped forward in an elegant dress. " Prinzessin Hanna?!" Friederike said in shock, her face barely changing expressions. " Verzeihung, bitte. Es soll nicht wieder vorkommen, Prinzessin Hanna." Friederike said as she tried to bow while levitating. " Solange Sie nicht versuchen dich zu töten wieder." Friederike muttered as she glanced at Bushra.

“Well then, if you’re done being a condescending…witch just because I tried to help one of your countrymen and she can’t accept it…”

Bushra gritted her teeth harder and took a very obvious breath to calm down. Still glaring at Hanna, Bushra’s voice became somewhat less heated.

“Would you be so kind as to Put. Me. Down.” Bushra didn’t let a trace of her rage enter her voice, instead speaking as if disappointed. She too was perfectly capable of treating Hanna like a petulant child, and she deserved the label more than Bushra. Bushra wasn’t the mind-reading freak.

“Please? Prinzessin von Mind-Reader?” Bushra finally shot, smirking slightly. The front was entirely false, as Bushra knew an almost paralyzing fear and panic sat behind it at the powers Hanna had. But it was all she could do. She had to just try and ignore the girl’s powers, which was rather hard to do when floating in the air because of them.

Hanna very slowly put Bushra and Friede down on opposite sides of Sohvi and Ruya, but didn't lower them far enough so that they could run away... yet.

"I will stop being a 'condescending bitch' when you both stop acting like children. I don't recall the Karlsland Witch training program teaching girls to bicker with each other, let alone getting into fights over something as petty as not knowing how to walk in heels. And you, Bushra, you supposedly want to represent the Kurds, right? Well you're doing a damn fine job of representing them, according to the Ottoman government."

She then put them down. "Es gibt keinen Grund, sich zu entschuldigen, Feldwebel."

"Besides which," Adela teased Hanna, glomping her as she reached the princess, "why're you here? 'Tis hardly a ball for a princess to grace, much less a foreign one; unless you have plans later tonight, at which case, why didn't you bring any of your partners?..."

Hanna shrugged, gently prying Adela off of her torso. "I have my reasons. Just wanted to say hi, at least. Maybe enjoy what pathetic excuse for coffee the British have."

[Minroz]

“Nihao~! I hope we aren’t late.” Ai boomed cheerfully, entering in.

She is wearing her country’s national dress, the cheongsam. Ai’s dress helps accentuated her slim, curvy figure combined with her fun-loving personality as well as her womanly charms of an upper-class upbringing.

Noticing something amiss, her gaze gave to observing everyone in the room with keen insight. “Aiya~ I see we got some magic show going on. Freddy, Bushra, what’s gotten into you two to be like this?~”

She sees Hanna and grins. “Hey Hanna, long time no see~” Ai gave a casual wave, not caring about the princess’s status. “It’s been while. Are you the one doing the magic show on these two poor girls? Hehe~”

“Ai! There’s no need to announce it like that. You’ll be making the gods cry like that.” Appeared the exasperated oriental man behind her chides, it’s Zheng Yusheng.

Yusheng on the other hand, unlike the girls, he wore his formal PLA military uniform. To which he kind of sticking out in the room like a sore thumb because of it. And besides, he doesn’t have a tuxedo anyway.

“Oho~” Aigiarn smirked, her right hand whipping out an stylised hand fan seemingly out of nowhere, opens it and covers her face like a noblewoman. “But it didn’t happen, dear ol’ Zheng. Because the gods are happy where I am, they want me to enjoy life to the fullest.”

[“O God help me.”] Yusheng mumbled in his native language. He noticed the Karlsandic princess and gave a brief respectful bow. “Your highness, please do forgive her. She’s always a one to get excited over everything, absent-minded at times and not to mention...daft.”

“How rude?~” Ai crossed her arms and made a mock pout.

[Occupied Deutschland]

"I will stop being a 'condescending bitch' when you both stop acting like children. I don't recall the Karlsland Witch training program teaching girls to bicker with each other, let alone getting into fights over something as petty as not knowing how to walk in heels. And you, Bushra, you supposedly want to represent the Kurds, right? Well you're doing a damn fine job of representing them, according to the Ottoman government."
...

Bushra's fists clamped closed as she lowered to the ground, "I never called you a bitch." she muttered underneath her breath, spinning around to look at the castle before her rather than Hanna.

Just because I can't see her doesn't mean she can't read my mind. What if she...thinks to me again? Bushra shuddered as she recalled the voice that had echoed in her head on the Yeager. The one that had been Hanna's and yet not-Hanna's. The one nobody else had heard. She felt the panic slowly rising again, but distracted herself as best she could with the facade of the castle. What if that's what she wants me to...No. I am not starting that again. I will not go down that road again. Bushra shut her eyes for a moment, no more than a moment, trying to find a moment of solitude and peace. But she was unable to set aside the fact that Hanna was right behind her.

"Please excuse me." Bushra finally squeezed out, directing the comment at no one in particular as she stared ahead at the castle. It seemed the only person she might be speaking to was Friederike. Or perhaps Hanna.

*snip*

Bushra listened to Ai and Zheng's exchange with half an ear, trying to distract herself from her own morbid fea--discomfort at her own presence. Ai's relaxed nature seemed like something she could imitate, something she should imitate. But she felt as if she was coiled up inside ready to burst. If she tried to act like that she knew she would burst, and she didn't know what that would mean. But she knew it could be bad.

Not knowing what else to do, Bushra snorted slightly at the pair's antics.

[Nachfolgia]

Friederike didn't notice the convoy of BMWs pull up to the manor, she was too busy arguing with Bushra. Well, the argument consisted of Bushra yelling and Friederike replying with her usual tone of voice. She was caught off guard by the sudden levitation, flailing around a little bit. Before Friederike realized who was doing it, the culprit stepped forward in an elegant dress. " Prinzessin Hanna?!" Friederike said in shock, her face barely changing expressions. " Verzeihung, bitte. Es soll nicht wieder vorkommen, Prinzessin Hanna." Friederike said as she tried to bow while levitating. " Solange Sie nicht versuchen dich zu töten wieder." Friederike muttered as she glanced at Bushra.

“Well then, if you’re done being a condescending…witch just because I tried to help one of your countrymen and she can’t accept it…”

Bushra gritted her teeth harder and took a very obvious breath to calm down. Still glaring at Hanna, Bushra’s voice became somewhat less heated.

“Would you be so kind as to Put. Me. Down.” Bushra didn’t let a trace of her rage enter her voice, instead speaking as if disappointed. She too was perfectly capable of treating Hanna like a petulant child, and she deserved the label more than Bushra. Bushra wasn’t the mind-reading freak.

“Please? Prinzessin von Mind-Reader?” Bushra finally shot, smirking slightly. The front was entirely false, as Bushra knew an almost paralyzing fear and panic sat behind it at the powers Hanna had. But it was all she could do. She had to just try and ignore the girl’s powers, which was rather hard to do when floating in the air because of them.

Hanna very slowly put Bushra and Friede down on opposite sides of Sohvi and Ruya, but didn't lower them far enough so that they could run away... yet.

"I will stop being a 'condescending bitch' when you both stop acting like children. I don't recall the Karlsland Witch training program teaching girls to bicker with each other, let alone getting into fights over something as petty as not knowing how to walk in heels. And you, Bushra, you supposedly want to represent the Kurds, right? Well you're doing a damn fine job of representing them, according to the Ottoman government."

She then put them down. "Es gibt keinen Grund, sich zu entschuldigen, Feldwebel."

"Besides which," Adela teased Hanna, glomping her as she reached the princess, "why're you here? 'Tis hardly a ball for a princess to grace, much less a foreign one; unless you have plans later tonight, at which case, why didn't you bring any of your partners?..."

Hanna shrugged, gently prying Adela off of her torso. "I have my reasons. Just wanted to say hi, at least. Maybe enjoy what pathetic excuse for coffee the British have."

Friederike bowed to the princess. " Ich weiß Frau Prinzessin ... aber ich bin zu stolz. Wir werden unterrichtet, unsterbliche Liebe für das Reich haben. Alle Karlslander würde das gleiche, was ich tat, wenn einige Ausländer schlecht Münder die königliche Familie getan haben. Verzeihung, bitte." Friederike said with her usual expressionless face. Even though she didn't look like she was sorry, Friederike really was and tried to express it the best way her personality would allow.

." I know Princess...but I am too prideful. We are taught to have undying love for the Empire. Any Karlslander would have done the same thing I did, if some foreigner bad mouths the royal family. I'm sorry."

[Rupudska]

Friederike bowed to the princess. " Ich weiß Frau Prinzessin ... aber ich bin zu stolz. Wir werden unterrichtet, unsterbliche Liebe für das Reich haben. Alle Karlslander würde das gleiche, was ich tat, wenn einige Ausländer schlecht Münder die königliche Familie getan haben. Verzeihung, bitte." Friederike said with her usual expressionless face. Even though she didn't look like she was sorry, Friederike really was and tried to express it the best way her personality would allow.

." I know Princess...but I am too prideful. We are taught to have undying love for the Empire. Any Karlslander would have done the same thing I did, if some foreigner bad mouths the royal family. I'm sorry."

"Ja, ja, ich weiß," Hanna said, turning around. "[Just try not to let your anger get the better of you.]"

Ruya made a brief *hem-hem* sound, and walked up to Sybil.

"Thanks for inviting us, Sybil," she said as she headed inside. Sohvi paused at the door and turned to face the gate (and everyone else).

"All right, girls, let's head inside. We wouldn't want our food to get cold, would we?"

[Minroz]

“Yipee! About time we’re going to have food~” Aigiarn chirped happily. She seems to be excited about food.

[“Ya Allah, I can’t believe Ai is a glutton.”] Yusheng mutters. But he remembers something amiss. “Speaking of which, everyone, where’s Lieutenant Shahin by the way, I haven’t seen her?”

[“Hmm? Oh hey, is that Nunu?”]

“Huh?”

The two turned their attention towards their Turkish friend who has yet to appear. To his and everyone’s sight, Nuray is wearing her stunning, black dress.

Surprisingly, she walked in like an elegant lady. When Yusheng looked, her look had captivated his mind and his imagination altogether. To his admittance, he finds her beautiful. But he’s too shy to say that to the Turkish girl – one he grew to fallen in love with.

“Erm…assalamualaikum, everyone…” The poor Turkish greeted shyly. It’s clear she’s not used to wearing such revealing dress especially at formals. “I’m s-sorry for being late. I-I f-f-forgot to bring my own dress. As y-you can s-see, I had little choice but to…improvise. So here I am.”

“Aiya, that’s too bad ah~. Better luck next time, sister. God willing~” Ai sniggers behind her fan.

“Mash’Allah…” Yusheng utters quietly.

When he and Nuray realised as they stare at each others’ eyes, they look away with flushing embarrassment. She started fidgeting while Yusheng scratched his head nervously. They’re being shy. But they sort of forget the people are watching them.

Aigiarn being an insightful girl, she noticed the two’s attractions and she finds it very amusing as her gleeful smirk of slyness shows. Ai too is surprised that Nuray is beautiful in her dress. The Manchurian girl is going to took mental note in her mind to tease them about their relationship later on. At the same time, she’s happy for both of them as their friend.

“Aiya~” She nudged Yusheng in the elbow. [“Go on, ask her for a ‘dance’ or something romantic. Y’know you want it. Heehee~”]

The Manchurian man looked on in annoyance at his charge who then gave out her Cheshire cat smile. Given up, he sighs before offering his hand to flustered Nuray like a Western gentleman. She accepts to his surprise.

“Shahin. I must say, you look nice in the dress.” Yusheng compliment her.

“Oh thank you, Zheng.” She replied, trying to smile. He nodded.

“Right, now we got everyone. Let’s go~.” Ai quips.

[Nachfolgia]

Friederike bowed to the princess. " Ich weiß Frau Prinzessin ... aber ich bin zu stolz. Wir werden unterrichtet, unsterbliche Liebe für das Reich haben. Alle Karlslander würde das gleiche, was ich tat, wenn einige Ausländer schlecht Münder die königliche Familie getan haben. Verzeihung, bitte." Friederike said with her usual expressionless face. Even though she didn't look like she was sorry, Friederike really was and tried to express it the best way her personality would allow.

." I know Princess...but I am too prideful. We are taught to have undying love for the Empire. Any Karlslander would have done the same thing I did, if some foreigner bad mouths the royal family. I'm sorry."

"Ja, ja, ich weiß," Hanna said, turning around. "[Just try not to let your anger get the better of you.]"

Ruya made a brief *hem-hem* sound, and walked up to Sybil.

"Thanks for inviting us, Sybil," she said as she headed inside. Sohvi paused at the door and turned to face the gate (and everyone else).

"All right, girls, let's head inside. We wouldn't want our food to get cold, would we?"

" Ja, Frau Prinzessin." Friederike said as she bowed respectively to the Karlsland noble. She watched quietly as Sohvi and Ruya walked up the stairs to the manor and Sohvi turned back around and calling everyone to come inside. " About time." Friederike said with a blank expression before slowly walking up the steps. She held onto the railing as she walked up the marble steps and cursed under her breath, still unable to walk properly in her high heels.

[Occupied Deutschland]

...
"All right, girls, let's head inside. We wouldn't want our food to get cold, would we?"

Inside?

Despite her own efforts not to show it, Bushra knew she stiffened at the word. Her back arched backwards as if trying to pull her away from the palatial castle and her legs froze in place even as the others began to step forward. There was a sharp soreness all along her jaw as her teeth clenched together painfully hard at the thought of entering the gigantic mega-structure, especially right alongside of the mind-reading Princess.

She should have just stayed away. She didn’t belong here. Bushra could easily imagine the Princess being comfortable inside such a place. Sohvi and Ruya she could understand as well. Many of the others also seemed to be comfortable with the locale, and the dress, and eating right alongside nobility, and everything else. But the thought was…discomforting to her. She’d had to come out to this fancy nobleman’s castle, put on uncomfortable and unfamiliar civilian clothing rather than her uniform, been forced not to wear her sidearm (despite prior attempts on her and other members of the squadron’s lives), been pressured into apologizing for something that wasn’t her fault once already, and she wasn’t even in the front door yet! Who was to say what ridiculous customs or mannerisms she was going to be pressured into abiding by so as not to ‘offend’ anyone once inside?

I’m not in control! I’m not in control, I’m not in control I’m not in control I’m not in control I’m not in control I’m—

Bushra closed her eyes so she wouldn’t be confronted by the grandness of the castle she was about to enter into. She’d been alright going into the Aya Sofia because she hadn’t been worried about what she was doing, but beyond that it was a holy place. This was just where someone lived. It was just a house to them. How could anything so gigantic be a simple house to anyone? Perhaps for a dozen or two families it would make sense, but for one?

I’m alright. I chose to come, and I can leave whenever I want. Nobody is keeping me here. Nothing will change about that when I go inside either. I can always just excuse myself as not feeling well. I can just say my injuries haven’t fully healed and nobody will question it. I am in control.

Unless Princess Hanna is—

Bushra slammed the door shut on that thought as hard as she could. But she could tell the question was still there under the surface of her thoughts, waiting for its chance to crop up again. She would just avoid giving it that chance. She would not embarrass herself. She was in control. She could handle a little discomfort with her surroundings.

"Yes ma'am." Bushra muttered in response to Sohvi. Determined, Bushra forced her legs to carry her forward even as her stomach seemed to sink into her feet. She could always leave. She just had to remember she could always leave. Nobody was forcing her to stay.

[Wolfenium]

Friederike bowed to the princess. " Ich weiß Frau Prinzessin ... aber ich bin zu stolz. Wir werden unterrichtet, unsterbliche Liebe für das Reich haben. Alle Karlslander würde das gleiche, was ich tat, wenn einige Ausländer schlecht Münder die königliche Familie getan haben. Verzeihung, bitte." Friederike said with her usual expressionless face. Even though she didn't look like she was sorry, Friederike really was and tried to express it the best way her personality would allow.

." I know Princess...but I am too prideful. We are taught to have undying love for the Empire. Any Karlslander would have done the same thing I did, if some foreigner bad mouths the royal family. I'm sorry."

"Ja, ja, ich weiß," Hanna said, turning around. "[Just try not to let your anger get the better of you.]"

Ruya made a brief *hem-hem* sound, and walked up to Sybil.

"Thanks for inviting us, Sybil," she said as she headed inside. Sohvi paused at the door and turned to face the gate (and everyone else).

"All right, girls, let's head inside. We wouldn't want our food to get cold, would we?"

"Ja, ja," Adela chirped, following the girls in, "let's hurry up with the tea time, shall we? Whatever it is."

Standing still on the steps, Svetlana did not appear to hear any of that. Still pondering about Adela's words earlier, she seemed at a loss at how to react to Fei's pending departure. The key question, 'why', was ringing at her head the most. Why on earth was he leaving without much notice? It did not take long before her attention was sucked back to the party, as Adela quickly pushed her along.

"Come on, shrimp," she demanded of her, "don't want to melt out here in our nice clothes, do we?"

"But it's spring," Sveta corrected her quite blandly. Shrugging her off, Adela dismissed, "ja, ja. I was talking about you, ice cube. Whatever. Let's get moving."

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Wyndton House, County Kent, Britannia
12th of March, 2012
10:30 AM

"Sohvi and Ruya dear," Sybil was positively beaming at her old friends as she descended the stairs to greet the dinner party. "How have you been?" She added after giving a hug each to them both. "Remitonova, Bregoli, Masood and Adler. Welcome to Wyndton, it's my pleasure to host." Sybil continued as the rest of the group came into view, and then just about behind them the last person she sent invitations to.
"Your Imperial and Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Karlsland." She added a courtesy, "It's a pleasure to have you here." Turning back to the group standing between the hall and the porch she said with a smile. "Do come in everybody. Tea is waiting in the Blue Room. Noel and Mr. Lowe will take you there." As they moved past her porch Sybil let just a little bit of her formal hostess façade down and relaxed a little, having prepared herself to be the perfect lady for well over the entire morning, an usually exhausting procedure with this being no exception.

Having settled down in the Blue Room with the darjeeling conversation started. Naturally it was firstly to update on what her old unit has been doing and then moving on to other subjects.
"So ladies. What have you been doing in my absence so far? I've read you've been in Odessa."

[Occupied Deutschland]

Bushra was overwhelmed.

Perhaps the most minor contribution to that was simply terminology. A tiny portion of Bushra’s mind was confused over the choice of names for the room Sybil’s servants had led them to. It wasn’t very ‘blue’, and seemed more concerned with elegant comfort than the color it was named after. Unless it was named for ‘blue’ meaning sadness, but Bushra couldn’t see that making any more sense. Why would someone have a room specifically for being sad in? Maybe it was just a noble thing?

Bushra shook her head. She didn’t know Sybil exceptionally well and she couldn’t rely on such broad brushes about nobility to peg her. The Brittanian witch had left only shortly after she’d been transferred into the five-oh-first. She shouldn’t jump to such a conclusion about her based off so little. Besides, Bushra didn’t really think the room was made just to be sad in. That seemed ridiculous even by the disturbingly ostentatious standards of the massive Wyndton castle.

It was that matter, more than the more minor matter of terms, which was most overwhelming to Bushra. The ostentatiousness of the castle’s rooms and the mere presence of Noel and Mr. Lowe made Bushra decidedly aware of the massive difference in social station between her and Sybil. Had she not been a witch, she may have had the unlikely hope of apprenticing to a marketer who sold raw goods to manufacturers who then sold things to other marketers who maybe sold things to servants like Noel and Lowe who worked for people like Sybil. She felt decidedly out of place in the castle-mansion, like she should be in Noel’s position instead of her own. Especially when she remembered that Princess Hanna was even ‘nobler’ than Sybil. What am I doing here? I’m just going to make a scene. I’m going to do something wrong or say something I shouldn’t or…I don’t know…drink my tea the wrong way or something and get yelled at again or—

Bushra took a long, silent breath. She just had to ignore it. She couldn’t leave now after just arriving, she had to at least stay for a little while. Perhaps it would help if she just tried to focus on them all being witches? That would be easy if they were all in uniform and not eating in a palatial castle out of some fairy-tale dressed in civilian clothes with literal servants waiting on them. Since they were all of those things, however, it was nigh impossible to pretend what was happening actually wasn’t.

Hanna’s probably laughing at me right now, isn’t she? Reading my thoughts and just having a wonderful time enjoying my discomfort. Well, screw you Princess and screw your unnatural snooping too! My thoughts shouldn’t be any of your business. The servants are probably laughing at all of you right now, anyways! I’ll bet they’re thinking, ‘Oh they’re so noble they can’t even make their own tea.’ But they’ve got two times as much sense as you people. Our job is to kill Neuroi, not…have fancy tea parties in Brittanian castles!

I should have just stayed in the hospital. We aren’t accomplishing anything here!

Bushra couldn’t leave though. It would embarrass the rest of the squadron if she left so soon after arriving. She had to lay some groundwork first, act like her leg was sore or her head was still making her really tired. Then she could excuse herself because of it without making Sohvi or Ruya or any of the others look bad. She was still in control. Just because there were servants and wealth everywhere around her and mind-reading Princess Hanna didn’t change that.

Or does it? Am I really in control? What if Hanna—

For the second time in minutes, Bushra forced the idea away. The last time she’d gone down that road it hadn’t worked out for her, in more ways than one.

Bushra’s fists clenched in her lap and her jaw flexed. She peeked at Sohvi and Ruya out of the corner of her eye. They’d invited her here when they knew Hanna would be coming. Even though the last time she and the Karlslandic Princess had been together Bushra had almost ki—…gotten into a really big fight with the mind-reader. Now they were sticking Bushra and her in the same room together. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—make a scene here when they were trusting her that much. They deserved that much, for letting her stay and fight the Neuroi even with…everything that she’d done.

“Princess? If there is any way you can limit the amount of…mind-reading…you do on me, I would greatly appreciate it, please.” Bushra said, slightly quietly so she wouldn’t disturb Sybil’s words with the request.

As if I should have to ASK something like that as if I’m asking for a favor. It’s disgusting. It’s unnatural. It gives one person too much control. It’s too open to abuse. Especially in the hands of some stuck-up Princess who uses it to speak inside people’s heads, call them names, and get them punished for it. Bushra thought, bitterly remembering the moments prior to Sybil’s resignation and her own incarceration aboard the Yeager when Hanna had…spoken…inside her head.

Bushra shuddered slightly, but the motion was mainly hidden under her clothing. Instead she only allowed a neutral lip-pursing onto her face as she nodded at Hanna as if the request was one made between friends.

What if I’m only being so nice because she wants me to—

Bushra blinked slowly and took a heavy breath through her nose.