In My Own Little Corner (Open)

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Sera hummed quietly as she sat quaintly at the sewing machine working on her next project. If quaint meant, sewing like mad! It was almost the end of the month and Anime AX was just around the corner and she had only just been granted an idea for a group-play that she wanted to try. Sera didn't watch anime(lies) she just liked the various potential costume designs she could divine from the shows, each one more original than the last.

Well, that wasn't entirely true either, a lot of the costumes looked generally the same. Like how was one supposed to tell the difference between Haruhi Suzumiya and Usagi Tsukino? Their school-girl uniforms were essentially the same, save for a few subtle color changes, as was their hair, also denouncing the difference in color. What she really enjoyed and found to be a challenge were the elaborate costumes that one got from Cardcaptor Sakura, Madoka Magica, and Princess*Princess. This time she had a great idea to combine a group-play from different universes(how did she know so much about it no she did not study anime specifically for costuming ideas). First there was Alucard. Then joining him would be Robin Sena. And after that, we'd have Vash the Stampede coming in from nowhere!

This was going to be the best cosplay even ever and she was going to win the gold this year!

Sera clipped the thread on the machine as she finally finished her project.

...and she held up the little boy's onesie with a very delighted smile.

She slowly put lowered it into her lap, her smile fading with it. What was she doing? Sera had more important things to think about, not about the fact that her biggest, bestest, most favorite(and only) older brother had finally procreated with someone...someone she didn't know(at the time). Sera's hands clenched into the fabric as she suddenly stood up, forcing her chair backwards, and tugged at the the completed article with the intent to rip it in half. She held it like that, on the verge of tearing at the delicate threads, until finally all the tension seemed to evaporate from her and she threw the onsie across the room and into the door.

Or rather, right into someone's face.

She didn't care, and just slumped back into her chair.

[Alice Halifax]

Seeing former students walking the grounds of Hammel wasn't uncommon. The school allowed any former student to come back to check up with their former trainers and teachers if they wished, after all, the school had been a home for its students as well and as such, many had formed a bond to the place. Alice was no different. While the school was far different from the home she came from, it was more home than any other place for her. Here at the school, Alice had learned and saw much. I know its odd to think that someone such as Alice could think of Hammel as her home, but if you looked at her past here, you really wouldn't question her bond. Here, Alice had been forced to interact with others of different social standings and those who were in very bad places in their life at that moment. She saw life at its rawest and simplest here. Hammel had grounded Alice in a way, not completely, but in a small way. She learned that anyone, regardless of their social background or financial standing, could become someone great and important. Also, some of her teachers here had given her what he parents did not, and that was attention. The teachers and trainers here truly wanted the best for their students and some took great pains to give their charges someone to help center and ground them.

Alice had been visiting an old teacher of hers, a woman who had helped Alice find her love for painting and sculpting. She had spent a few hours with her old teacher, talking of past times and new ones, but now it had been time to leave and so Alice was casually walking down the hall of the school which was littered with other classrooms. She passed the home ec room and heard the familiar sound of a sewing machine. Slowing her pace, Alice couldn't resist the urge to look in on what appeared to be an empty classroom. She had a natural curiosity, which was good and sometimes not so good. Alice decided in an instant to just walk in the room to see what was happening and for her curiosity, she was greeted by being attacked by some sort of small outfit. Alice jumped and let out a small yelp, taking a step back as she grabbed the outfit quickly from her face. She took a few small breaths and smiled a little at her own reaction. Her blue eyes drifted over the small onsie she now held out in front of her. It was cute and rather well made judging from the stitching. She then turned her attention to the young woman sitting down, rather defeated looking. It was Sera, someone Alice knew rather well believe it or not.

Alice and Sera were a few years apart in age, but Alice had known the girl long before Hammel. Both of the girl's came from rather wealthy families with meta backgrounds. Alice's father dealt in rare acquired goods as he referred to his job and Sera's family was one of his biggest clients. The two families spent some time together as they shared similar view points and what not and as a result, Sera and Alice had in a way grew up together. The girl's had a good bond between them as they both came from proud backgrounds and especially since they shared similar views in certain areas of life. Sera was a part of Alice's newly found "family" as she referred to them. A small group of people who all had something to gain from each other and who all lacked something in their life which bonded them in some way or another.

Alice smiled broadly now, tossing the onsie back in Sera's direction. "Something you want to share with me Sera?," Alice asked, somewhat curious as to why the other would be making a baby outfit. Alice couldn't see Sera stupid enough to get pregnant this early in her life, but hey, stranger things had happened.

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Sera and Alice had met many years ago, around the time when Sera was finally coming out of her shell enough to make(buy) friends without using her brother as a safety net. They’d met through their parents and, as many of their types of family did, were expected to get along and become friends. At the time, Sera had been hesitant and quiet. She expected Alice to be much like every one else she’d come across. While that much wasn’t untrue of the older girl, she had also been kind to the young Sera. To say that Sera had gained a kind of childish attachment to the older girl would be an understatement. Alice was like the older sister she wished he had, comparable enough to her very own older brother, Malachai.

Alice and Malachai were much closer in age, however. It made more sense that the two of them would have had something going on between them, though if there had, then Sera was blissfully ignorant of it.

The sullen girl looked up with a familiar smile starting on her thin lips as her eyes fell upon her blonde friend. “Alice,” she spoke her friend’s name, then turned her gaze out the window when confronted with the question. “I don’t know,” she lied.

Sera leaned forward in her chair and laced her fingers together, hovering the link over her mouth as she considered how to bring up the issue. “….Malachai’s a father,” she reported, as if it were the most devastating news in the history of mankind. Sera dipped her head to look at her feet, resting her forehead upon her clasped hands. “It’s not fair!”

[Alice Halifax]

Alice narrowed her eyes a bit, but not in anger just confusion. Malachi was a father? Had hell frozen over? Alice sat there as Sera fussed about how something wasn't fair, half listening to her friend. Instead Alice was still stuck on Malachi being a father. It wasn't something she ever saw happening....but she had been surprised before. "Wait a minute. Your telling me that lightweight brother of yours is a father?," Alice asked taking a long deep breath afterward. "Where the hell was I when all this happened and why didn't you say something sooner?", Alice asked sitting down slowly, her face still showing a bit of confusion. Sera had dropped a minor drama bomb right in her face...literally. "I mean....well......It all just seems out of place," she said, thinking about Malachi. He was so well put together, so driven. Despite Alice's teasing of him and her usual demeaning references about him, she respected him on a certain level. Malachi had always been good looking and had not his taste been in another direction, well, let's just say Alice might have gotten to know him on a more intimate level.

Bringing herself back to the moment, Alice smiled lightly at Sera. "So, I take it your not exactly thrilled to be Auntie Seraphine?," Alice asked teasingly as was in her nature. Alice herself was sort of excited at the thought of Malachi having a mini version of himself. This was sort of odd for Alice though but ever since her meeting with that Rachel girl, Alice had sort of been thinking and acting a bit different. Perhaps it was all the work she was doing on putting together a proper 'family' of sorts. She was finally getting the real attention she wanted and was enjoying being the supporter for a change. Alice was finding out that having others who needed you gave her the sense of power she craved so much as well. Sera was no different, but Alice was used to taking up the role of substitute 'sister' to the younger Sera.

((Sorry about the craptastic post I just gave you. I promise the next one will be better.))

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Sera nodded. She couldn’t believe it herself when she’d found out. Malachai was a father. If she hadn’t been standing face to face with the little dumpling along with his dumb minx of a mother, then Sera wouldn’t have believed it herself. But the boy, Christian, took after his father far too strongly, both in looks and, as she through she’d observed, his behavior as well. Such a smart little boy. So handsome. Always capturing the attentions of every female that walked by…

Sera felt the tears coming again and her bottom lip curled down into a trembling pout. “I…only found out the other day….he didn’t even tell me,” she squeaked. “And….” Her face twisted into something venomous. “That bitch of a mother didn’t even tell him until a whole year later!” That fact alone had Sera gripping the fabric she was holding(not the onesie) so tightly and with such tension, that the threads were slowly ripping apart with a sharp, steady sound. It helped(or maybe didn’t?) that her power had solidified the fabric slightly, making it more breakable.

The room had gotten a bit nippy.

Sera shook her head. “It’s not that…” She didn’t mind the Aunt part of it(well, she did, but for the wrong reasons). “His name is Christian, and he’s an absolute darling…it’s not fair. They didn’t even give me a chance to hate the idea, that stupid little Mexican bitch just had to steal him away all for herself out of nowhere with a little kid that I can never hate…It’s not faaaair.”

Boy, this girl sure knew how to throw a tantrum. And cry, yup, that was crying. Even so, Sera hadn’t cried this hard since…yesterday.

She turned to Alice, practically flinging herself into the chest of her ‘big sister’ and continued to bawl.

[Alice Halifax]

Being surprised or put into a state of social shock was not something Alice was used to dealing with, but once in a blue moon, this sort of thing just happened. It wasn't world ending news or even anything to really count as a drop in the bucket when compared to the rest of goings on in Alice's world, but the news of Seraphine being an aunt and her brother being a father just sort of set the world on its ear for a moment. People who were from the sort of families that Alice and the Roen siblings were from didn't have this sort of unexpected things happen to them. Sure, people had kids every minute of every day, but not those of their social standing. The upper class tended to have events planned out far in advance, even the usual out of control decisions such as having kids. Also, children of upper class families such as Alice and Sera tended to have a sort of voracious drive in life and having kids was one speed bump, usually avoided.

Listening to Sera as she went on to properly inform Alice of how this little bit of news had went unmentioned and unnoticed, Alice arched one eyebrow as the moment just got stranger by the second. Also, Alice began to notice how the temperature began to drop in the room. Sera was clearly shaken up, and yes while Sera was known to be a bit of a drama queen, she was justly upset by all of this. However, when those who had an ability such as Sera did, lost control of their emotions, 'things' began to happen. Alice's eyes slowly looked about the room as Sera ranted on about the situation concerning her brother and his newly found offspring. Alice was just waiting for some indoor snow or other some frozen related incident to happen. However, Sera's continued ranting brought Alice's attention back to her. Sera had begun to cry, again, but that fact didn't mean Alice didn't have sympathy for her 'sister'. Alice did have actual concern and care for Sera just as she did for a very small minute few and by few I mean just one other.

Sera flung herself into Alice, sobbing and Alice in turn held her. Alice stroked Sera's hair, comforting the other to the best of her ability. Alice had never received any sort of coddling as a girl and in turn she was sort of lacking in that department but did her best none the less. "Shhhhhh, it'll be okay sweetheart. I'm here now and I always make things better. Now, let's stop crying and put you back together. I know Malachi's your dear brother and all, but if anyone should be upset and bawling it should be him, not you," Alice said, using her ability to try and soothe Seraphine just a bit. She didn't exactly like using her power on those who meant something to her, but the situation called for a bit of meta intervention. Besides, Alice didn't push too hard, just enough to give her voice that pleasant sort of ring. "Also, I would like to know more about the mother of Malachi's kid and why it took her this long to come forward, because let's face it sweetheart, something just isn't right about all that," Alice added, perhaps because she was just naturally suspicious of everyone.

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Sera was more upset over this than a normal person should be, but she couldn’t help it! It was her brother of all people! And that bitch who called herself the mother of his child stole him away from Sera! That…that…!! Sera had half a mind to track her down and make the little vixen disappear and taking the kid in herself with a “note” that said she was leaving the baby Christian in the care of her dear father and aunt Sera. Yes…Sera wouldn’t be at all surprised if that happened anyway. These peasants which went around and got themselves irresponsibly knocked up had a habit of abandoning their children to the care of strangers. What did it matter if Sera just…helped it along? Made it happen sooner rather than later?

No, no, Sera knew she couldn’t do that. It was wrong. Besides, if she got caught…

As usual, Sera didn’t notice the drop in temperature in the room. Or the concerned way that Alice was looking around the room, as if she were waiting for something. Sera was completely involved and lost in her own misfortune, in the way she was literally stabbed in the back by her own precious family. She was going to die!, Sera was absolutely sure of it!!

So when Sera flung herself at her good “sister”, she was more than prepared to just give up on life right then and there, buried within the comforting arms of her friend. That was as good a place as any. Life had no meaning if she couldn’t be Malachai’s number one most important family!

Sera bawled.

Like she’d been known to do so many times before when she’d hit a bump in the road. She almost didn’t hear Alice’s attempts at reassurance. It was such a blessing to have someone like Alice as a friend and almost-sister. Many people would feel intimidated by her hypnotic ability, but it was one of the few things that could pull Sera from this sort of state quickly. Much quicker than if Sera had simply been left be. The Asian girl focused in on the soothing voice that cut through the sound of her own sobs, and gradually they began to quiet down. She felt herself start to relax, just a little bit at a time. Sera soaked in that calm for a moment before speaking up to answer Alice’s inquiry. “She’s just one of those money grubbing mexicans, I’m sure of it,” Sera declared. “A welfare mommy. I wouldn’t doubt that the only reason she came back was so that she could guilt my brother into giving her money. And then when she’s had her fill, she’ll take off with it and leave the child here.” Sera had heard of people like that and she couldn’t believe that her big brother had been trapped by one of those tramps. It was just so….undignified!

[Alice Halifax]

Alice continued to hold Sera, as she had a thousand times before. Seeing Sera break down like this wasn't new and Alice was almost immune to Sera's sobs and tantrums. She had grown accustomed to Sera's attitude and personality years ago, a feat not many could claim. Being friends, no, being family with Sera wasn't easy, but Alice knew that she wasn't much easier to tolerate either. Alice had thrown her fair share of tantrums in her life and Sera had helped her through a lot of them. The two young woman were perfect for each other. They shared many of the same tastes and had voracious desires for life and what it had to offer them. This was why she could see why Sera was so upset. Her brother, Malachi, had much of the same head strong attitude as the girls. The whole Roen family was like this, ready to take life by the neck and shake it till it gave them what they wanted. Malachi was now shackled down by his newly found offspring, putting the brakes on his plans for his life. This kid was going to handicap Malachi and that of course was going to affect Sera.

Alice petted Sera, trying to soothe her. What Sera was saying was making sense to Alice as she had the same idea. This unknown gutter trash which had shown up at the Roen doorstep claiming her baby was Malachi's just reeked of bullsh*t. It had even been a year before that street rat let Malachi know he had a kid. Alice was ready to take action and tear whomever this woman was apart. Between the influence of the Roen and Halifax families, Alice and Sera could practically get away with murder. Some would think about killing someone, might even run their mouth about it, but at the end of the day, it was all talk. With Alice, removing an obstacle from her or her family's path was as casual as brushing her teeth. This baby momma of Malachi's should have stayed away.

Alice hugged Sera a little, "Your struggles are my struggles sweetheart. You know I'll back whatever you want to do, always have. We're family little sister and we take care of one another," she said reminding Sera of the bond each member of their newly founded 'family' meant to one another. "Perhaps we need to find a bit more information on this gutter urchin clawing at Malachi's leg. See just who she is and what her game is," Alice said, offering Sera an idea, but in a way that would feel as if it was Sera's. After all, keeping her little sister calm and collected was what Alice needed.

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Alice, Alice, good old Alice. Sera didn’t know what she would do without her sister. She should have just gone to Alice from the beginning, as soon as she found out, instead of retreating to the home-ec room to sew away her sorrows.

Alice’s comfort was starting to sooth Sera from her emotional outburst. The room, at least, was no longer unbearably frigid. “I want her gone,” she practically growled out to her friend. This little Vanessa-tramp had no idea who she was dealing with. She would rue the day she involved herself in the affairs of the Roens. And with team Halifax on her side, there was no way that Sera was going to lose this war.

But what could they do?

Sera lifted herself from Alice’s embrace. “I agree,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. She didn’t need to cry anymore, Alice was here to help her. “I know how we can do it.” It was such a good idea, why didn’t Sera think of it before? “We’re going on a cabin trip. I think Malachai is going to bring that bitch with him….” Alice knew what she was getting at right?

[Alice Halifax]

Alice and Sera sort of fed off each other. Despite their age difference the two operated on the same page and level when together. Even when they were younger, Alice and Sera gravitated to each other and as such had bonded rather quickly. Alice was good friends with Sera's brother Kai and while those two had shared their own private moments together, Alice was always more closely tied to Sera. She found Sera's way of thinking very similar to her own and while the two of them could be self absorbed, they always seemed to be willing to drop everything if the other was in need. It was this bond which brought Sera into Alice's inner circle, her new Family if you will. Sera was perhaps the first seeing how long the two had known one another and how long they had shared this relationship.

As Sera began to brighten up, the room began to warm again and from the look in Sera's eyes, Alice knew her 'little sister' had quite the devious plan in mind. Alice had heard of the infamous Roen family camping trips but had never joined them in the event. This time though, circumstances were different and the idea sounded so promising. Kai's little tramp would be trapped out in the middle of nowhere with both Sera and Alice with little hope of finding any enjoyment. Kai would prove to be the only obstacle in Sera and Alice's fun, but Alice knew how to deal with Kai. He might have been strong willed, but in the end he was a man and as every woman knew, all it took was a slight touch or glance to make them dance. Also, given the past Alice and Kai shared, Alice figured she could use her intimate knowledge of him to incite some jealousy from the tramp currently attached to him. "I'll follow your lead little sister. You keep Kai off my back and I'll make sure our problem understands the severity of the situation she had put herself into," Alice said with a wicked little smile. It would be all too easy.

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Sera couldn’t imagine Alice being put into a similar situation, Alice always seemed to have her head on straight and be able to approach things with far more composure than Sera often could. It was no secret that Sera could become quite emotional at times. But if Alice had ever found herself surrounded by trouble, there wasn’t a doubt in Sera’s mind that she would fly to her friend’s side and help her in any way she could. No matter the situation, no matter what anyone else said, Sera would always be on Alice’s side.

The only exception to this case is if, by some twisted and unkind fate, the dispute happened to be between Alice and her brother. In Sera’s mind, only she was allowed to say unkind things about her brother, either behind his back or to his face. If she ever found out about certain past relations that Alice had with Malachai, then it would be the ultimate act of betrayal in Sera’s eyes. Alice knew how much Sera idolized her brother. And how incredibly, pathologically possessive she was of his attention. Just the thought of his affections being directed at anyone else drove her mad. She couldn’t do anything about outsiders, but someone like Alice ought to know better.

“I knew I could count on you,” Sera said in a sweet, tinsel-thin voice. Alice knew how to handle these kind of tramps. It, at times, made Sera envious of Alice’s hypnotism ability. Whenever she wanted, she could make someone do what she wanted of them with rarely any resistance. Sera wished she had something like that as her ability, instead of this dumb ice power that she couldn’t even keep under wraps when she was feeling the slightest bit irritated. It was always such pain.