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Post by Jules on Feb 2, 2009 1:34:26 GMT -5
A small, cloaked figure approached the Cemetery of Lost Souls in a nervous run-walk. This being the first time she ever stepped foot into Chimera, Ofelia was understandably scared. However, her mission was a noble one and what courage a girl garnered from a cloistered life on a Candy farm was seeing her through her treacherous journey to bring her long lost best-friend news.
The only reason she knew Nellie was still alive was because she was an avid (and possibly the only) reader of The Wail. It usually took a few extra months for her to get her hands on a copy, so she hadn't yet read the reprint. Although it wouldn't have dissuaded her from the trip.
She had packed her bags for a few night's stay, told her parents she was going to a really long sleepover party and had made her way inch by inch, fright by fright to the doorstep of Alexander and Nellie's crypt-turned-cottage.
Even standing there in a middle of a cemetery, Ofelia couldn't suppress a note of girlish glee that she would be seeing her Nells again. Often, they'd been mistaken for sisters. They had the same slightly candy-padded-but-a-hard-worker-shape, and the same milk-maid pale complexion. However, Ofelia's hair and eyes were dark and her face a little less childish and innocent (looks could be deceiving).
Knocking on the door, she pushed back the hood of her cloak and hoisted her basket up. It was heavily stocked with flowers, candy, and a family portrait she had swiped. This whole famine thing was scary and Nellie was probably worried about her family and Ofelia had thought it only right to do this for her. Besides! She wanted to meet a Prince.
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Post by Princess Katie on Feb 4, 2009 21:18:47 GMT -5
Nellie had woken up this morning with a strong (and random) urge to make herself pretty. And Nellie didn't want to make herself pretty for Nellie, Nellie wanted to make herself pretty for Alexander. So, before Alexander even thought about waking up she picked out her Nightmariest dress and locked herself in the bathroom. She spent a lot of time trying to fix her hair before deciding to leave it down. She even tried to put on a little makeup, but she didn't know how. So she ended up making a mess and having to wipe it all off. Nellie studied her finished product in the mirror, a touch of uncertainty on her face.
Well. She either looked like a Nightmare trying to look Dreamy or a Dream trying to look Nightmarey. Either way. She looked pretty, if she did say so herself, and hopefully her efforts would not go unnoticed.
So Nellie took a deep breath, unlocked the bathroom door, and skipped out with a silent "Tah-Dah!". But the only person there to bear witness to all her hard work was Killer. Nellie frowned. She remembered, now, that Alexander said he was going to go help out with the whole famine thing today. He had said something through the bathroom door this morning, but she had more or less ignored him.
So she flung herself down on the couch in a flurry of self pity. Her pity party was short in gestation, though, as there was soon a knock on the door. He was home early! She didn't dress up for nothing! Nellie opened the door with a big smile on her face.
But it wasn't Alexander.
Ofelia?!
She gasped and fell against the door jam for support. It was like she was seeing a ghost (albeit, she was the one who was supposed to be dead). "Ofelia! I--You--! 'Ow'd you foind me!?"
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Post by Jules on Feb 4, 2009 21:44:22 GMT -5
"Ain't cha gonna invite me in?" Ofelia said instead of answering Nellie's question. "Don't worry, yer folks still fink you're pushin' lollipops." She swept passed the staggered Nellie with a bright smile on her face, which faltered a little when she took in the full scope of the the crypt. "This is...cozy." Placing her basket on the table she turned around and held out her arms.
"Nows I haven't seen you in months and some of that time, I thought you were dead. I was finking, "Nellie offed 'erself and didn't even tell me about it". That hurts Nellie, it does. That my own best friend didn't tell me about her secret plan to run away wiff a Prince." She put on a pout. "Whatcha got to say fer yerself? Did you fink I'd rat on ya?"
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 4, 2009 22:25:22 GMT -5
It felt very grown up, and not in the good way, to be drudging home, tired and beaten from a day’s work, but still looking forward to that pretty face. By nature, Alexander was not a selfless and giving person (like, say, his siblings), but he would work tirelessly for some people. Alright—for one person, and since he didn’t have the direct means to help her, he had to compensate for what he was taking—barrels and barrels of fear, so he could take those three or so jars from Camilla and feel like he had earned it, like he had provided for her.
He opened the door to their little home, thinking it felt too heavy, and maybe what he needed was a nice long nap. It was only after several seconds of blank staring that he realized Nellie had company, and it wasn’t somebody he knew. Actually, he’d almost thought Nellie was the other girl at first glance, as today, Nellie looked more girlfriend-of-the-Prince-of-Nightmares than former-sheepherdess. But, unlike Nellie, the other girl’s hair was dark, her cheeks a little less rosy.
“Hi,” he said finally—stupidly. His eyes, slightly lined, and more brown than orange nowadays, softened as they fell on Nellie. “You look pretty.”
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Post by Princess Katie on Feb 4, 2009 23:06:55 GMT -5
"Oh, you did? So the note and all woz convincin'?" Nellie looked rather proud, if only for a second. She thought of that note herself. In a flash the pride was gone and replaced with guilt. "You know juss 'ow offen I couldn't sleep 'cause I know 'ow I lied to everyone. 'Specially you! 'Specially you." She repeated, for emphasis. Nellie threw her arms around her friend and squeezed her tight. "I missed you so much, Ofelia! And I didunt think you'd tell. I just...well, I dun even know. I didunt plan nuffin', not at all. I just got up and left one night. I didunt have time to tell ya an' it would be too risky to send a letter back. And ow'd you find out anyways?! And--"
Her second 'and' died in her mouth as a very weary-looking Alexander appeared in the door. "Alexander! This is--" Nellie stopped and blushed a second. He noticed. "Oh. Thank you. I-- this is moi best friend, Ofelia. She found me!" She noted the obvious excitedly.
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Post by Jules on Feb 4, 2009 23:40:04 GMT -5
Ofelia hugged Nellie back readily, crushing the girl to her. "I missed you too. Don't do that again. So what's it loik, living wiff a Prince? I found out by the Wail, but I made sure nobody else saw it. I get laughed at if they catch me reading it anyways." Yes, she could read (!!).
And then the Prince came in and Ofelia at once understood why Nellie had dropped everything to run away and also was frightened. It was her first time being so close to a Nightmare, have one talk to her, that she merely pinkened and gave a little wave. "I did, I did find her. Wassnot that 'ard."
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 4, 2009 23:53:58 GMT -5
For a long moment, Alexander said nothing. Her best friend had... found her? And it had been, apparently, not that hard. How many other people knew she was here-- knew, and would care to not only come find her, but take her away from him? Then came the small bite of childish jealousy-- who did this girl think she was-- Nellie's best friend... Did she have a bracelet?
He blew out a breath and decided he would panic about it in a minute. Ophelia didn't seem particularly conniving or maniacal. They were probably safe, for now.
He smiled, barely, unable to help himself. The accent... the shy blushing... she was enough like Nellie, he couldn't help liking her. He waved back.
"I'm Alexander," he introduced himself and held out a hand for her to shake, "Careful. I'm a little warm."
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Post by Princess Katie on Feb 5, 2009 23:34:55 GMT -5
Nellie was not going to release her hold on Ofelia any time soon. "You read it in the what now? And no one else knows. For sure?" She rested her head on her friend's shoulder. "I miss youuu."
After another moment, of nostalgic reflection, Nellie released Ofelia and cocked her head to the side. "How long are you stayin'? Can you stay?"
With hummingbird-like speed, she turned to face Alexander, "Can she stay?...Oh. You look real tired. Y'okay?"
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Post by Jules on Feb 9, 2009 0:42:24 GMT -5
Ofelia stared at his hand for a long moment, unsure of what to do. Men shook hands, she didn't think she'd ever shaken someone's hand. What if she didn't know how? Timidly, she put her hand in his and gave it a quick, awkward shake before withdrawing. "I'm Ofelia. Why's you so warm? Sick?"
She squeezed Nellie back and nodded, "Well I were going t'stay, but errr, it's quite small here already wiffout me taking up more of yer air. And...Nellie...no one else knows, but dontcha fink they should? I mean yer mama's all broken up over you. She finks it's her fault. They can't do nothing if you just send 'em a letter telling 'em yer fine or something. It's better that they're mad at you then blame themselves for you offing yourself."
Ofelia had been thinking about this her entire journey, and she hoped Nellie wouldn't take it the wrong way. She was all for Nellie staying in Chimera and being a Prince's girl, but the Peeps were mighty sad. "I didn't tell no one, I swear. But maybe once they get over their angry, you can even visit 'em!"
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 11, 2009 2:00:39 GMT -5
Dear Hypnos. If Nellie ever ventured back to Dreamland, Mr. Peep would stomp straight over to Chimera, overalls and all, and hide himself a Nightmare prince. Alexander shuddered a little at the thought.
"Nah, I'm not sick," he said with a small smile, answering both Ofelia's and Nellie's questions. Utterly exhausted wasn't sick, right?
Biting his lip, he decided prolonging Ofelia's stay was probably the best option for now. "Er... it's roomier than it looks, Ofelia. We can fit you."
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Post by Princess Katie on Feb 12, 2009 1:44:04 GMT -5
Nellie was somewhere in between giving Ofelia a "are you stupid" look and sobbing from pure shame. She already felt so bad about this huge, life-changing lie, and Ofelia certainly wasn't helping Nellie forget that she had thrown her entire extended family the shock of an immortal lifetime. And if Ofelia thought that Nellie didn't wish she could visit every single day, then she was mad.
"I can't tell them, 'Felia! My father'll be so angry! Even if I didunt tell 'em where I am, just that I'm okay, my father'd get me brother and me uncles and prolly your father and brothers and uncles an' maybe the MacGreggor boys, and they'll foind me. It's better that they don't know, their sad'ud go away afore their mad'ud!" It was simply preposterous, suggesting that she could ever visit her ex-home again. That bridge was burned and Nellie wasn't a strong swimmer.
"But I can write to you! An' if ya can sneak away, ya can come stay with us for sometimes! And it'll be just like old times!" Nellie said in an imploring tone. A Please Don't Bring That Up Again Tone.
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Post by Jules on Feb 13, 2009 21:24:14 GMT -5
Ofelia pressed her lips together and considered her friend. She knew why Nellie had done it, and now that she'd runaway, Ofelia herself was next in line for Peter's wife. Which she liked about as much as Nellie, but she had no Prince to whisk her away.
"I dunno Nellie, they love you awful lots. Yer ma is pretty broken, I dunno if she'll get better or nothing. She's still wearin' black and she got this empty look in her---" She stopped though, catching Nellie's desperate look. Sighing, Ofelia shook out her hands as if to dispel the badness, although she kind of felt like she should take Alexander aside and give him a good talking to.
"I'll try and sneak away as often as I can, but I'm gettin' married." Ofelia put on a really big smile to show just how happy she was about this, and it came of so fake it was almost plastic. "And I would not suggest writtin' t'me. If anyone found a letter---your handwritin's kind of easy to recognize."
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 1, 2009 22:58:59 GMT -5
Alexander grimaced, scrubbing his hands over his face. This was getting really uncomfortable. Nellie had that 'maybe-I-regret-it-but-it's-too-late-now' sort of jittery-ness, which made Alexander feel guilty (not helped by the subtle look of accusation her best friend had given him).
Ofelia's high-watt smile of premarital bliss was almost blinding. "Congratulations," he said uncertainly. "My, uh, brother is... having a kid. He'll probably get married. It seems... happy." Cringe.
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Post by Princess Katie on Mar 1, 2009 23:11:59 GMT -5
“Married!” Nellie gasped, horrorstruck. Unlike Alexander, Nellie could see right through her friend’s forced smile. “That’s awful! Oh, god, just awful!” She took Ofelia’s face in her hands, as if getting closer to see through that façade.
“I mean…unless you…wanna?” She felt suddenly very guilty herself. She was able to run away and avoid marriage—fairytale-style. Ofelia did not have that option. Nellie looked over her shoulder at Alexander, pleading, but she wasn’t quite sure what she was pleading for.
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Post by Jules on Mar 1, 2009 23:23:58 GMT -5
"Oh who wouldn't wannner marry Peter? He's.....not ugly, and he can...lift a sack of flour over both shoulders real easy...." Ofelia's next attempt at an everything is good smile failed horribly and she just shrugged. "Yous and me was supposed to stick it out together, remember? We was gonna get married and make fun of our husbands behind their backs and sneak away t'play games and know I hafta be a real wife because you're not there anymore." Ofelia took a deep breath because she could feel herself getting angry with Nellie.
It was the first time she realized she was even upset with the girl, but now that she had, Ofelia recognized that she was as close to furious as a sheep-girl could get. Nellie was being really selfish. But she kept it to herself and just shrugged. "I don't really wanna, Nellie. But I hafta. I have responsibilities to my family."
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