And We All Fall Down [Avery]

[Sidra Cotton]

Rain fell with heavy drops outside the walls of the Hammel Institute, the clouds were so heavy with the stuff that the sky itself was nearly black. This, of course, suited Sidra's mood to a positively capital T. Except that her roommate was once more listening to boy bands. The very sound of whatever poppy, cookie cutter vocals were being sung over the poppy, cookie cutter instrumental grated against her ears. So, Sidra did one of the only things she possibly could: grab her violin and beat feet out of there.

Finding a place to plug in wasn't difficult, the theater itself had a sound system and amps that were usable by the students. It didn't take long for the (now wet) goth girl to plug in and tighten her bow. Drawing it across the strings of the once solid white violin. The white had been added to with horizontal black stripes, which in turn had started to wear away, giving the instrument a rather worn look. All of this suited Si just fine.

Wet as she was, it only seemed to enhance the dark and elegant-ragged look she was going for. Her boots were planted shoulder length apart, their red and black brocade on either side of the leather lacing was darker for rain. The boot tops were hidden by what was once a lovely white skirt that had been burnt and torn in strategic places to give the wearer a rather- haggard appearance. Above the skirt rested a burgundy underbust corset with a white cameo addition. The cameo addition, however, was not a pretty silhouette of a young lady, but rather a drawn picture of a human heart as seen in medical books sans the labels. The corset was tight-laced over a torn black lace top and fingerless lace kid gloves completed the ensemble. She was covered, gothically, but covered.

Pulling the bow across violin strings again, the notes filled the empty theater and Sidra closed her eyes, showing solid matte black eyeshadow to no one. Taking a breath she began to play. E Nomine lyrics filled her head as bow and fingers worked together on the violin to create the accompanying music. If it were real, if the hall were filled, and her favorite German Goth Band were there with here, there would be a stand up bass, drums, and piano. But it wasn't real, and only the rain accompanied the violin and her imagined vocalist.

[Avery Sainsbury]

'A new school a new start' Avery told herself as she walked down the hall. Her hair was now wet from the rain outside and her black jacket shown with sparkles of water. Avery brushed the water droplets off her jacket as she got into the dry building. Her face showed she was upset slightly that her appearance was altered. All she could think about was the time she took to do her hair that was now wasted.

Her flat ballet shoes clicking against the hall way floors, she looked for a bathroom. Avery couldn't stand to look in disarray. She loved and took pride in her appearance no matter what and the rain outside had dampened her mood. Finding a bathroom she went in and looked into the mirror. Sighing she studied her reflection, then shook her head.

Standing up straight she put her purse on the sink. Opening it she took out a tiny bag. She called it her bag of tricks. Wiping the mascara off her cheek she reached into the tiny pink bag. She fixed her mascara, put more light purple eyeshadow on, and replaced her eye liner. Satisfied Avery started to brush her semi-damp hair.

Putting everything back Avery heard a slight noise. Hurrying to put everything back in place so she could check out the noise. Her hair was poofed up to look better when it was wet and her fresh makeup sparkled. Opening her jacket showing off her sparkle dark purple tank top, Avery rounded the corner. Slowly she approached the open door to were the music was coming from. Quietly she sat down and watched the girl on stage play her violin.

Avery was amazed at the sound of the music. Crossing her legs and placing her bag on the ground she smiled. Enjoying the sound of the music she let out a soft sigh that she hoped was inaudible. Her hands lightly tapping along with the beat.

[Sidra Cotton]

Noticing neither the other girl's entrance nor the wistful sigh of enjoyment, Sidra continued to play. Her bow creating artful arcs over the strings as the music reached it's crescendo. The lyrics that played through Si's mind screamed and then died just as she lay a hand over the still vibrating metal strands that created the music. Her eyes opened a smile spread across her face, fangs bared only to freeze when she spotted a blonde someone sitting in the auditorium.

Who...

Eyes narrowed, which did nothing to improve the teen's ability to see the figure, as the goth lowered the violin holding the neck between her ring and middle fingers with the others curved up to cup the pegs and scroll at the top. The blonde looked like a pop-tart. Not the strawberry filled breakfast pastry, but the air-headed, super popular, dullest of mundanes. Though pop-tarts were fun to squeak.

Lowering the violin bow with her other hand so that it's tip rested against the floor and her grip on it shifted enough so that she could use it to point, like one would a rapier, Sidra's chin rose to an imperious angle and she looked down her nose at the other girl.

“You are?” Two words with only a slight venom behind them. Her exaggeratedly pale face with dark eye makeup and red glitter heart beneath the right eye was cold. Some might ask if she were even capable of human warmth and affection, but those who dared ask such had never seen the surly teenager with her family. Her clan. Though warm might not be the word used. Thawed, perhaps, but not warm.

The girl hadn't interrupted her playing, so that was a point in her favor, slight as it might be, but one could not forgive the sickeningly mundane and popularly fashionalbe appearance. The other girl could have walked straight out of the pages of Seventeen, or Teen Beat, or whatever other type of magazine Sidra's younger sister might read.

She would give this intruder an opportunity to justify her presence. Benevolently so.

[Avery Sainsbury]

As the music came to an end Avery looked up. Her mind boggled at the appearance of the other girl, she never quite saw someone who looked like that. Looking somewhat like she might blow her head off if she got that chance. Shaking her head, she looked straight at the girl. A little shaken she didn't know what to say.

"Um..I'm Avery. Avery Sainsbury." Her voice was shaking as she spoke. Not very loud or strong spoken. She was glade that it came out calm is and not squeaky. After all she hated to sound like a nosy popular kid. Blinking really fast was all the movement she could muster at the time.

Taking a deep breath she tried to relax. "Um...who are you? You play quite...uh.. beautifully. I was...uh... enjoying the sound of your violin. What is it..uh.. called?" She was still shaken up. Her shyness was showing threw the way she was speaking. Her mind not thinking clearly at all.

Slowly she stood up. Bending over to pick up her purse. Standing up straight she started to walk to the stage. "I..uh..am sorry to interrupt. The music it...it a..was so beautiful." Her voice was still pausing and splitting sentences. Avery was sure the girl thought her a freak.

[Sidra Cotton]

Watching the pop-tart with a judgemental eye, Sidra noticed with pleasure that the blonde took in her apperance with wide eyes. That was, after all, the intended effect. How long, Sidra wondered, will it take her to notice the human heart? A cruel smile curved the gothic girl's lips upward, baring the custom fangs once more.

Once the name was given, a more couth teenager would ease up on the glare. Not so with Sidra. Though the compliment to her playing was wonderful, it was only to be expected. She did play beautifully. Perhaps not masterfully, but better than most her age. She applied herself to the art with the same passion she did her apperance and her corsetry making. The latter actually gave her money when people were of a mind to buy.

"You did not interrupt," the goth pointed out to the pop-tart. "You just sat there and listened. You," another teeth-baring smile, "were smart enough to let me finish playing. I didn't even notice you were there."

Rude? Absolutely, but that was just how she was. Crass, to the point, and as far as Sidra was concerned, the center of her universe.

"The song," secretly she was pleased by the girl's question, "is called Mittenacht. I adapted it for a solo violin performance, but the original artists are the members of E Nomine." The groups name was said with reverence and not a small bit of longing. "Only the best German band ever." Now came her turn for a question. "Why did you come in? Don't you have better things to do, like fixing your make up or something?"

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery listened contently to what she had to say. Walking up to the stage she leaned against it as the girl asked her a question. A small laugh came from Avery's lips. "Actually I was fixing my makeup when I heard the music. I quickly put my makeup away to come listen. The sound was too beautiful not to sit,stay and listen."

Turning Avery looked up at her. "So whats your name? If you don't mind me asking." Looking over the girl, Avery had to admire her outfit choice. Of course Avery probably wouldn't wear anything like that but that didn't change the fact that she liked the design. The top seemed perfectly fit for the style that the girl was going for.


Avery admired clothes. She loved the different designs, the colors the shapes. "I like your outfit. It may not be my kind of style but its pretty. The style of the clothes seem to go great with the whole look your going for. I like it." Avery nodded basically to herself. Even though she liked it she knew she would never wear anything that dark. She like light colors like blues and pinks.

Avery leaned against the stage resting her arms on the top of it. Her eyes looking up at the girl she had yet to know that name of. Wondering why the girl seemed to be a little hostile towards her, Avery sighed. She didn't understand why the girl seemed to be a little hesitate and mean to her. It wasn't like she acted mean towards her it was just the way she looked at her.

[Sidra Cotton]

It wasn't that Sidra was singling the pop-tart out, she was this way with everyone unless they managed to win her over. If she did attempt the first steps of friendship, that person had proven to be interesting on their own. That, however, sometimes didn't work. Take the blonde carnie for example. That encounter had been lackluster at best and Sidra'd had such high hopes for it's outcome.

Ah well.

The blonde infront of her was proving to be more interesting that she'd given the cheer-leader looking type credit for. She found Si's apperance more interseting than frightening. Made no real comment about the human heart on her corset other than it 'worked for the look she was going for' and liked her music.

There was something very wrong with the picture. Challenging Sidra's biases against blonde pop-tart types was no on her schedule for the day and it was fucking with her zen.

"Sidra," the goth supplied her name reluctantly. Why wasn't she just walking away, or making the snide commentary of the pop-tart clan? Sidra's eyes narrowed further until she was looking at the other teen through slits. This was too much for her.

"So... you were in the bathroom fixing your makeup and just had to come listen to some stranger play the violin?" A recap, to make sure she got it right. Apparently she had. She was still superior! "Do you play anything?"

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery nodded "That's basically it. I love music. I wish I played an instrument but I'm just a shower singer." Avery laughed slightly. "Other then singing horribly in the shower I'm not very talented. Do you play in a bad or anything?" Avery was just trying to be inquisitive and friendly.

Palms of her hands face down on the stage she presided to tap her fingers while looking up at the girl. "Nice to meet you Sidra. If you couldn't tell I'm very new here. This place seems very nice." Avery looked around as her fingers kept a beat to an unheard song. "Did I bother you when I was just listening? Cause I didn't mean to bother you at all. Like I said I just couldn't help it."


Pulling her hands back she ran them threw her hair. Tossing it to make it look a little messy. Smiling as she did so. Thinking about the song that was played she made a reminder to put it on her ipod. Avery couldn't wait to dig her ipod out of her baggage. All her clothes and music, and her diary was in her bag. "So considering I just got here and stuff, I was wondering if maybe you knew anything interesting. Like places to hang and etc."


Avery slide her hands back onto the stage. Soon she leaned her whole upper body on the stage. Her neck was craned up to look at Sidra. Avery did really admire her choice in clothing. If it was in a lighter color maybe with sleeves and didn't seem so goth she would wear it. Blinking she let her mind wonder as she waited for the girl to respond.

[Sidra Cotton]

Grudgingly Sidra had to give this Avery pop-tart a little bit of credit. But ONLY a little. A very little. It wasn’t often that she came across the blonde cheerleader type who were willing to sit and talk to her, in spite of her glares and obvious superiority. Yet this girl, this Avery girl was withstanding it all. Had enjoyed the violin rendition of Mitternact by E Nomine… maybe that was her power? The ability to not be afraid of anything?

That made sense.

Pulling her attention back to the questions the blonde was tossing at her Sidra smiled again, this one was almost friendly. Almost.

“No, I’m not in a band. Never was, but I have plans to join E Nomine at some point.” Not that they knew who she was, but she would be absolutely perfect for them. They just needed to see that for themselves. And they would. Oh yes they would. “As for singing, you gotta start somewhere. The choir teacher here is actually really cool.” That in and of itself was saying something from the goth. “You could always sign up if that’s something your interested in.”

Okay, what the fark? Why was she giving advice to the girl? She was a pop-tart nothing more, nothing less. Or maybe her power was to make everyone like her? Si narrowed her eyes at the blonde again. She couldn’t tell, her own abilities didn’t involve seeing what other people could do unless there was a physical manifestation of it.

“You didn’t interrupt my playing, so it’s a minimal bother.” Minimal, but the teen was who she was and she wasn’t about to say she found the other intriguing. There were so many mysteries here at Hammel. Doc N and his level of goth or whatever was top priority though. There was something not right about that man and she was going to get to the bottom of it. If it was her last act at Hammel, she would know. “And welcome to prison, I guess. Did they take you without warning, or did they have permission?” The last was spit out like poison. They’d had permission from her own folks to take her, but no one had asked Si if she wanted to go. It was her life she should have been consulted.

“There really isn’t too much to do around here, honestly. I mean there’s the music shop, and skiing in the winter I’d presume. But you have to have permissions to head into town. I spend more time here than out there. Vermont’s pretty, I guess, it certainly attracts tourists for leaf-peeping or whatever.” And, because she wanted to brag, “When I’m not avoiding the homework I’m making corsets and custom costumes.” With a wicked grin and a too-obvious caress of the underbust she was wearing, Sidra wondered just how that girl was going to take that bit of knowledge.

“The grups around here aren’t too-too bad, but some are pretty lame. You gotta pick and choose for yourself which ones are worth getting to know outside of teacher/student relations. Well all more or less live here. Some have houses in town I guess, but they’re always here.”

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery nodded and smiled like she usually did. nothing really could get her down. Even being shy wouldn't stop here from meeting new people, she was so afraid of being a freak she didn't really like to talk to people. Thinking about what the girl said Avery sighed. "They took me. I had no choice, after that my parents left me here. My mom moved away...and my dad well he never really wanted me after my brother was born anyway." Avery hung her head for a second. Then looked back up and a smile was on her face once again. "But I try not to let that get me down. I have a chance to make a fresh start and meet new people which I love to meet new people."

Avery stood straight up and stretched. Feeling her bones stretch and creek she felt better. "As far as clicks go. I could care less about them. I don't like preppy kids. I never really got along with them. I try to get along with everybody and not just one sort. In my last school I was the outcast. Well in a different sort of way. I guess it was because all my friends where different. I mean my best friend was considered a nerd. But he was a good friend so I really didn't care. I'm sorry I have a bad habit of sharing way too much information."

Leaning back on the stage and clearing her throat she looked at the girls outfit and really couldn't imagine her making it. If she truly did make the out fit it was very professional looking. It didn't look like a girl made it at all. "I actually love your outfit. I mean if it was a lighter color and had sleeves of some sort I would wear it. I just don't really like dark colors. I think it makes me look very evil and I'm not and evil person. Some people can make it look good like you and others, like me make it look horrid."

[Sidra Cotton]

Ok this girl had to be fearless. She hadn't batted an eye at Sidra, and insisted that she liked meeting new people. Little by little that seed of respect was growing. Grudgingly. Okay so the pop-tart might not be so bad after all, but she was still a pop-tart. Non-cheerleader or not. So she didn't get along with preps, that didn't automatically make her an outcast. Preps were a breed all their own. Hell Sidra didn't along with preps but she wasn't an 'outcast'. She had her click.

Maybe not at Hammel, but she was part of a world-wide click.

However, there was hope.

Slowly, Sidra lowered herself into a seated position on the stage, still above Avery, but closer to eyelevel. That did not, however, make them equal on any terms. She was just suddenly more prepared to push her sales.

"They dont't have to be dark colors or no sleeves. The tanktop I got at the store, the corset and skirt are what I made. Well the skirt I modified, but still. I can make a corset in any color and most fabrics so if you want one we can make one for you, just let me know what colors and what style." Realizing that the poptart probably didn't know the different styles of corsets out there, Si supressed a sigh and continued, "You can swing by my dorm and look at the samples and pictures I have. OR you can check out my Etsy shop online and see what all's there."

If Avery became a paying customer she'd be Sidra's first on campus, which was huge. Bigger than big. Which also meant she'd need to tone down the animostiry towards the other girl who really hadn't done anything more than come in, listen to the music, and be chatty after Si had stopped playing. And there wasn't anything wrong with that exactly. Just that Sidra was elitist to an extreme.

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery smiled. She was starting to get into the idea of buying a corset. They looked nice and if it could be with sleeves and a little more on the conservative side, Avery would buy it. She like new and cool looking things. Thats why she couldn't classify herself as preppy. Preppy kids where way to stuck up. She like Sidra, she thought she was unique and pretty cool. Even though she still kinda seemed a little aggravated at her some how.

Avery couldn't stand any longer. She wanted to sit down. She hopped up on the stage and turned facing Sindra, sitting Indian style. "Oh I would love to buy one. I'm more conservative though. If you could make one that was a little conservative I would buy it. I really would like one. It looks comfortable." Avery sighed and rested her head on her hand. "Even if it had like tank top sleeves it would work. I just like sleeves really." Avery hated the feel of anything without straps. It made it feel like her shirt was going to fall down and reveal everything.

"The patterns are what intrigues me the most. Like a light pink with the mesh pattern would be wonderful. Even with maybe a jean skirt and a pair of high heels would look nice. I think at least it would look nice. Especially with my hair color, it would bring out the pink i think. I'm sorry I'm probably boring you. My only pet peeve is I always have to look good. Even though I like to jog and run, maybe play in the garden I still have to look good." Avery sighed and shook her head "Sorry about that. So how much?"

[Sidra Cotton]

Only mildly affronted that Avery chose to sit in front of her, Sidra reminded herself that the girl was a potential customer. Customers meant money and not having to wait for checks or transfers to go through and hit her bank account back in Georgia. She really needed to get an account set up in Vermont, but the banks wouldn’t open one for her without a parent being present. And since one wasn’t present… well that presented a problem.

Upon hearing the news that blondie wanted something more cover-up than the underbust Si currently wore, the goth teen nodded her head thoughtfully. “I could do something overbust easily enough, that’s where most of my custom orders come from anyway, and add a halter to it? The halter wouldn’t really do anything since the boning in the corset keeps everything tucked and covered, but if you want the fabric there, that’d be easy enough. Or,” she pointed out thoughtfully,” you could wear it over a shirt like I’m doing.”

Taking mental notes as Avery went over the points she liked about the corset, Sidra pressed her painted lips together as she soaked it all in and was. When she wandered into having to look good, that was something Si could understand. If from a different perspective. ALL of her outfits were planned out carefully.

“Nope, not boring, just…” no, she absolutely would not say relatable, “you. You gave me a lot of good information, and I’ll sketch up some designs for you before I actually sew anything. As for cost,” she did a few quick calculations in her own head, tilting her face up to look at the fly system of the theatre. “Over busts are usually around $200, but since I know you I’ll drop it down to $160.” Besides, give her a decent deal, she’d be likely to buy more. She’d see instant results and spread the word around campus and maybe town if people asked.

Talk was better advertising than most other things. It was one of the reasons she was willing to give Avery such a discount. Mostly it was just cost of materials and a small chunk of time. “It won’t take long to make, after I get the sketch done and your approval, you can come over and check out some fabric samples. I’ve got most of ‘em boxed up under the bed because my roommates are lame and won’t let me take over the closet. There’s hardly room to work, but whatever. I can use the drama department’s sewing room. They’ve got a pretty nice surgur.”

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery nodded "160 sounds good and do able. I'm available anytime to stop by and look at samples or sketches." Avery folded her arms and smiled "Its really amazing that you can do this. Make corsets. I can't even sow to save my life. Its really cool. I kinda admire that. Must take a lot of talent." Avery tossed her hair again and then started to play with her necklace. She really wanted to get to know the girl but it kinda seemed as if the girl wasn't interested. Avery was kind of afraid to try but she knew that she would be upset with herself if she didn't try.

"So what is your gift? I mean what is the reason you ended up at Hammel?" Avery was just hoping that when it came back to answer the same question that she could without getting emotional tell her what happened. Avery was very emotional about the fact she almost killed her family. Even if she did want to hurt her father. It was her mother and animals that she was worried about and not anything else. Then again she could have easily killed herself.


Avery had to admit that she was slightly happy she was here. At least here if something bad happened maybe someone could stop it. Then again she still felt like a freak in a circus. Its like there are all these other people in the circus but there is that one that sticks out. Maybe it the contortionist or maybe the fire breather, One thing for sure is Avery felt like that one person. It always felt as if someone's eye's where always on her. Avery hoped if it came to it she could explain it to Sidra without sounding dumb.

[Sidra Cotton]

Flattery, Sidra though with a smile, will get you everywhere. Aloud she said, “It took a while to get right, the first few corsets I made weren’t good for anything. But it was something I wanted to be able to do and my dad was pretty supportive about the whole thing.” Of course her dad was supportive regarding almost everything she did. That was one of the things she loved about him. She was his first born and the most like him out of the trio. Of course, she supposed, it helped that she really was her father’s daughter.

When the question about how, or rather why she was at Hammel came up, the goth toyed with the violin bow for a moment before answering. She wasn’t ashamed of what she could do, quite the contrary. She loved it. When she could control it, which admittedly was a good portion of the time. Not all of it, but a moderate control was way better than what some of the kids here could do.

“The way the folks here explain it,” Si began glancing up from her hands and the bow, “is personal molecular manipulation which really doesn’t say much about it at all.” Personally she wished they’d come up with a better term for it when the first PMM-Meta had been discovered. I mean, it was all very technical which was how scientists liked to do things, but it was also insanely dull. Not that she had a better name for it, but the point stood. “Anyway, it means I can go ghost like so stuff goes through me and I go through it, or right to the opposite of the spectrum to where my body gets hard like a diamond. The only draw back,” she growled more to herself than anything, “is that my clothes don’t shift with me.”

That had been cause for poking people’s eyes out the first time it had happened. She’d gone intangible and her clothes had fallen right through her, leaving Sidra quite naked. While the teen wasn’t ashamed of her body, her breasts weren’t as large as some of the other girls, but they were perky and looked good in a corset. Ultimately that’s what mattered.

“What about you,” she prodded, “What landed you in this prison masquerading as a school? I swear I don’t know where they get their funding. But you know what I heard?” Leaning forward conspiratorially, Si was actually starting to like the blonde. “I heard they had a mutant somewhere in the school basement with the power of Midas which is how they pay for everything.”