This is probably gonna have more of a loose plot. I have a storyline set up here but some of the chapters are probably going to mostly just be shenanigans featuring Azula with Alcina and the Dimidaughters.
Alcina eyes the slumbering child. She has been a charming presence at castle Dimitrescu for a little over a month now. More than charming, the girl has become something of a gem to her. Something just as important and precious as her own daughters. Another black rose for her dress.
For all of her chaotic streaks and stranger mannerisms, the girl is everything Alcina could have asked for and then some.
She only hopes that Mother Miranda will be just as impressed.
She isn’t sure what she will do if the woman decides that her fourth child is unworthy. What she will do if that simpleton, Karl is crass and crude with the girl. She wonders what the girl will make of Moreau–that cretin isn’t exactly pleasing on the eyes.
She isn’t all to worried about Donna. Quiet and soft spoken Donna who would probably dote over Azula. It is Angie that might cause a stir.
She finds the the girl is prone to fitful slumber often waking up and crying out or crying out without having woken at all. She wonders what the girl dreams of. What troubles her so deeply. Alcina thinks of her own fears and nightmares; inadequacy, rejection, the very notion of losing any of her children…
She frets that all of these fears will come to pass in one fell swoop should Mother Miranda decide that Azula is a distraction or of no use. Absently she finds herself rubbing circles upon the sleeping girl’s back. Tonight seems to be a good night for her. So far she has slept without so much as a whimper or flinch. And maybe it is because this time she has fallen asleep propped up against an also slumbering Daniela.
Alcina stands up and tosses a blanket over the both of them.
She takes a generous mouthful of wine and leans back in her chair. She closes her eyes but there is no sense in trying to sleep; her mind is unsettled and it will remain so until the family meeting comes to pass.
.oOo.
Azula isn’t sure what has Alcina so agitated. She only knows that she is by the lack of conversation. Having enough of the silence Azula clears her throat, “good morning mother.”
Alcina gives a small cough, if only to give herself that much more time to gather herself. “Yes, good morning, darling.”
“You’re nervous.” She observes and the woman grows more tense.
“I…there is to be a meeting with my family today. I will be introducing you to them.”
She furrows her brows. “You think that they won’t like me.” And for the first time in ages she finds herself worrying over whether or not she is good enough. “I won’t be setting anything on fire in front of them.” Agni, she has been careless. She has let herself grow too comfortable…
“Mother Miranda is a picky woman. Hard to please. I assure you that whatever misgivings she might have with or about you are no fault of your own.”
She knows that it is meant to be reassuring when she feels a hand on her back. And yet she can’t find it within herself to be reassured. Unknowingly or not, she has come here to get away from the pressure for perfection. And she has been thriving in her freedoms. And now this Mother Miranda seeks to take that from her.
Mothers…
She has known only one good one.
She looks up at that pale and elegant face.
And she doesn’t want to lose her.
Her mother. Her mother and her three sisters. “What is expected of me?”
Alcina looks off for a moment. “She will probably take a liking to your fire. It is a…thing of interest.”
Azula nods. So this Mother Miranda is more like her father. She grits her teeth as a chill passes through her. “I will exceed your expectations, I promise.” She knows how to work a person like that. How to display her talents in the most satisfactory way, how to choose the most pleasing words, the words that people like to hear. “I know what I’m doing.”
.oOo.
But there is nothing that the girl can possibly say to reassure her. The unease and the feeling that she will lose one of the things that she treasures the most follows her throughout her day to day activities. She can barely eat for it, can’t bring herself to drink or rest. And so she finds herself at the family gathering hungry and tired and stressed among other unpleasantries.
She tries, to the best of her ability, to hold herself high and proudly. She observes the girl who looks most admirably collected and composed, chin up with her hands folded neatly in her lap in spite of the eyes that so plainly observe her.
Alcina has been so busy fretting over what her family might think of Azula that she hadn’t thought to worry over what she might think of them. Is it so unlikely that Azula will get a taste of them and decide that it is bitter and disgusting on her tongue?
“Who is this?” Mother Miranda asks.
And so it begins, “Mother Miranda, this is Azula. You will find that she is a very powerful and clever girl.” She pauses. “And she has a peculiar ability. A natural ability.”
“I should like to see it.”
Azula looks to Alcina and she nods her approval. “Go on, darling.”
The girl rises and inhales deeply. For a moment she closes her eyes and then the flames rise and with them so does the temperature. In a small and rigidly controlled ring they lick a cold and dancing blue. She raises her arms and the flames fan higher, she brings them down and the flames burn low. She releases her hold on them briefly to kick small bursts into the air.
She is an agile thing, graceful and fluid, light on her feet. She is effective and mesmerising. She lands with a soft thud and extinguishes her flames. She doesn’t bend nor bow. Rather she looks Mother Miranda in the eye directly. Alcina’s stomach flutters–she can only shift in her chair and hope that the girl’s display has earned her enough respect for the offense to slide.
“Fascinating.” Mother Miranda notes.
And in that one word, the girl’s fate is sealed.
It is the only word that Mother Miranda says of the girl and her fire. The only word and Alcina isn’t sure exactly what to make of it.
Surely it can’t be a word of disapproval, the girl would be dead already if it were. At Mother Miranda’s mercy, Azula has been left to mingle with Moreau, Beneviento, and that louse Heisenberg.
That louse Heisenberg who she takes a rather resentful shine to.
She has a flood of questions for him about his silly inventions and machines and he has an onslaught of answers to return.
Decidedly, Alcina shouldn’t be surprised; the girl has a curious nature, an insatiable appetite for knowledge. And this world has technologies that she has never seen. Lightbulbs had been a thing of mystery to her and then a thing to appreciate–lightning bending trapped in glass, or so she had called them.
Alcina can’t help but think it is absurd, but the girl has a collection of lightbulbs in her room, both burnt out and never used.
“You could create some amazing war machines for the Fire Nation. We can take back our glory with inventions…”
The unease in Alcina’s stomach grows, what if the girl decides that she enjoys Heisenberg’s company more. She clears her throat, “we should head back to castle Dimitrescu, darling.”
Azula seems to hesitate, disappointment flickering across her face.
“Aww come on, Alci, the girl has an interest in this stuff.” He gestures to his ridiculous hammer. “And I haven’t had anyone willing to let me ramble on about it in years.”
“There will be plenty of time for rambling later.” Alcina replies stiffly. “My daughter has had a long day and could use some rest.”
“She’s sweet.” Donna notes softly. “I would like to have a chance to speak with her myself.”
“And what say you, Moreau? Should you like quality time with my daughter?”
The man bobs his head. “If she will talk to me.” He seems to shrink back as Azula’s piercing gold eyes find him.
“But you’re afraid of her?” Heisenberg laughs.
Moreau’s head bobs again.
Hurt flickers across Azula’s face and Donna reaches out, “don’t worry, Moreau is fearful of most people.”
“You have a strong personality, that much I can tell.” Heisenberg notes. “That’s more than enough to scare Moreau.”
“Right, of course. Timid men fear powerful women.”
Alcina smiles quite smugly, “that is correct, my dear. You learn fast.”
“This is all very charming.” Mother Miranda speaks up once more and this time Alcina isn’t the only one to go tense. “But we have other matters to discuss. You all will have plenty of time to converse with the girl afterwards.”
And for just a few hours Alcina can relax. Azula has been accepted into the family. She has left an honorable impression.
It only dawns upon her as she is tucking herself in, that Mother Miranda may have a fate worse than death in mind for her.
Azula is the perfect host.
A good body to revive her own daughter with.