The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
When she came to her room in the Stravos Archontiko, the very first thing she looked for was her dearest Sibylla. There was so much to discuss! Yet, when she looked in her first hiding place, the doll was nowhere to be found.
Odd.
Perhaps she left her friend in the other spot? The Stravos lady checked there also and yet, found nothing.
Very odd.
Surely, Sibylla was in her last hiding spot, by the bed? It was the only answer. Chara was not a forgetful woman, but perhaps the stresses of the day had gotten to her.
What she found upon checking the last logical place Sibylla could be nearly made her scream. There were signs of disturbance and what was worse, her most prized possession was gone.
Absolutely gone.
Someone must have touched it. A servant perhaps? It had to be. Why when she got her hands on that fool! Chara’s fists balled and shook. Her teeth were clenched tightly together as she whipped around and stormed out of her room.
She should have been calm and composed, but that doll meant more to her than most people did. Someone had taken it and someone would pay for it. There was the matter of keeping rumors from spreading.
Just think -- Chara of Stravos with a secret doll. Oh, the mockery would never stop. No, she had to be discrete about this. Her eyes, sharp and furious, scanning the area around her. Someone knew what happened and she would find out who.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
When she came to her room in the Stravos Archontiko, the very first thing she looked for was her dearest Sibylla. There was so much to discuss! Yet, when she looked in her first hiding place, the doll was nowhere to be found.
Odd.
Perhaps she left her friend in the other spot? The Stravos lady checked there also and yet, found nothing.
Very odd.
Surely, Sibylla was in her last hiding spot, by the bed? It was the only answer. Chara was not a forgetful woman, but perhaps the stresses of the day had gotten to her.
What she found upon checking the last logical place Sibylla could be nearly made her scream. There were signs of disturbance and what was worse, her most prized possession was gone.
Absolutely gone.
Someone must have touched it. A servant perhaps? It had to be. Why when she got her hands on that fool! Chara’s fists balled and shook. Her teeth were clenched tightly together as she whipped around and stormed out of her room.
She should have been calm and composed, but that doll meant more to her than most people did. Someone had taken it and someone would pay for it. There was the matter of keeping rumors from spreading.
Just think -- Chara of Stravos with a secret doll. Oh, the mockery would never stop. No, she had to be discrete about this. Her eyes, sharp and furious, scanning the area around her. Someone knew what happened and she would find out who.
When she came to her room in the Stravos Archontiko, the very first thing she looked for was her dearest Sibylla. There was so much to discuss! Yet, when she looked in her first hiding place, the doll was nowhere to be found.
Odd.
Perhaps she left her friend in the other spot? The Stravos lady checked there also and yet, found nothing.
Very odd.
Surely, Sibylla was in her last hiding spot, by the bed? It was the only answer. Chara was not a forgetful woman, but perhaps the stresses of the day had gotten to her.
What she found upon checking the last logical place Sibylla could be nearly made her scream. There were signs of disturbance and what was worse, her most prized possession was gone.
Absolutely gone.
Someone must have touched it. A servant perhaps? It had to be. Why when she got her hands on that fool! Chara’s fists balled and shook. Her teeth were clenched tightly together as she whipped around and stormed out of her room.
She should have been calm and composed, but that doll meant more to her than most people did. Someone had taken it and someone would pay for it. There was the matter of keeping rumors from spreading.
Just think -- Chara of Stravos with a secret doll. Oh, the mockery would never stop. No, she had to be discrete about this. Her eyes, sharp and furious, scanning the area around her. Someone knew what happened and she would find out who.
Circenia didn’t consider herself a meddlesome woman, but she was sure there were those who would disagree.
Keikelius’s absence in the house made the princess notice things she’d never noticed before, hear sounds that would have otherwise been drowned out by her husband’s presence. One of those sounds was voices coming from her daughter Chara’s room, at hours of the night where it was… unseemly... for anyone to be in the room with her. Down the hall, the room was just close enough for her to hear said voices, but not close enough to hear what all was actually being said. Did her daughter have a man in there with her when she thought the rest of her family was asleep? One of her maids, perhaps, coming in for a late-night chat?
Whatever it was, the Stravos matriarch didn’t know. And Circenia was not a woman who was used to not knowing things.
So, while Chara was out of the house doing… whatever it was she was up to… Circenia decided she would have a quick peek in her daughter’s room. If it was a man, perhaps he would have left something there for her to find, some telltale clue that would give her an indication of what exactly was happening night after night.
Quickly glancing around to make sure no one was around to see her nosing around her daughter’s room and ask questions she didn’t really want to answer, the princess slipped inside and eased the door shut behind her so she might have a better look around. Inspecting the vanity tables and klines first, she found nothing that stood out to her as a lover’s token left behind, nothing suspicious of any midnight guests. Looking over at the bed, she noted the sheets were a bit rumpled, but no more so than just someone sleeping in them. Shaking her head, she decided this had likely been a fruitless venture, and she was interrupting her daughter’s privacy for no good reason.
That was, until she noticed the small hand peeking out from under the bed.
Lifting an eyebrow, Circenia stepped closer, leaning down and peering under the mattress to get a better look. Laughing softly, she pulled out an immaculately kept doll, one she vaguely recognized as the same toy her daughter had carried around when she was a small child. Was this who her daughter was talking to late at night? A woman of nearly thirty years still attached to a child’s doll?
Interesting. She intended to confront her eldest about this.
Waiting for Chara to come home, she sat calmly in the front parlor with the doll in a chair beside her, sat up with her arms folded in her lap like a person would be. Casually sipping at a glass of wine, she watched her daughter enter their home, go back to her room, and storm back out with a panicked look before she finally called, “Looking for something, Chara?"
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Circenia didn’t consider herself a meddlesome woman, but she was sure there were those who would disagree.
Keikelius’s absence in the house made the princess notice things she’d never noticed before, hear sounds that would have otherwise been drowned out by her husband’s presence. One of those sounds was voices coming from her daughter Chara’s room, at hours of the night where it was… unseemly... for anyone to be in the room with her. Down the hall, the room was just close enough for her to hear said voices, but not close enough to hear what all was actually being said. Did her daughter have a man in there with her when she thought the rest of her family was asleep? One of her maids, perhaps, coming in for a late-night chat?
Whatever it was, the Stravos matriarch didn’t know. And Circenia was not a woman who was used to not knowing things.
So, while Chara was out of the house doing… whatever it was she was up to… Circenia decided she would have a quick peek in her daughter’s room. If it was a man, perhaps he would have left something there for her to find, some telltale clue that would give her an indication of what exactly was happening night after night.
Quickly glancing around to make sure no one was around to see her nosing around her daughter’s room and ask questions she didn’t really want to answer, the princess slipped inside and eased the door shut behind her so she might have a better look around. Inspecting the vanity tables and klines first, she found nothing that stood out to her as a lover’s token left behind, nothing suspicious of any midnight guests. Looking over at the bed, she noted the sheets were a bit rumpled, but no more so than just someone sleeping in them. Shaking her head, she decided this had likely been a fruitless venture, and she was interrupting her daughter’s privacy for no good reason.
That was, until she noticed the small hand peeking out from under the bed.
Lifting an eyebrow, Circenia stepped closer, leaning down and peering under the mattress to get a better look. Laughing softly, she pulled out an immaculately kept doll, one she vaguely recognized as the same toy her daughter had carried around when she was a small child. Was this who her daughter was talking to late at night? A woman of nearly thirty years still attached to a child’s doll?
Interesting. She intended to confront her eldest about this.
Waiting for Chara to come home, she sat calmly in the front parlor with the doll in a chair beside her, sat up with her arms folded in her lap like a person would be. Casually sipping at a glass of wine, she watched her daughter enter their home, go back to her room, and storm back out with a panicked look before she finally called, “Looking for something, Chara?"
Circenia didn’t consider herself a meddlesome woman, but she was sure there were those who would disagree.
Keikelius’s absence in the house made the princess notice things she’d never noticed before, hear sounds that would have otherwise been drowned out by her husband’s presence. One of those sounds was voices coming from her daughter Chara’s room, at hours of the night where it was… unseemly... for anyone to be in the room with her. Down the hall, the room was just close enough for her to hear said voices, but not close enough to hear what all was actually being said. Did her daughter have a man in there with her when she thought the rest of her family was asleep? One of her maids, perhaps, coming in for a late-night chat?
Whatever it was, the Stravos matriarch didn’t know. And Circenia was not a woman who was used to not knowing things.
So, while Chara was out of the house doing… whatever it was she was up to… Circenia decided she would have a quick peek in her daughter’s room. If it was a man, perhaps he would have left something there for her to find, some telltale clue that would give her an indication of what exactly was happening night after night.
Quickly glancing around to make sure no one was around to see her nosing around her daughter’s room and ask questions she didn’t really want to answer, the princess slipped inside and eased the door shut behind her so she might have a better look around. Inspecting the vanity tables and klines first, she found nothing that stood out to her as a lover’s token left behind, nothing suspicious of any midnight guests. Looking over at the bed, she noted the sheets were a bit rumpled, but no more so than just someone sleeping in them. Shaking her head, she decided this had likely been a fruitless venture, and she was interrupting her daughter’s privacy for no good reason.
That was, until she noticed the small hand peeking out from under the bed.
Lifting an eyebrow, Circenia stepped closer, leaning down and peering under the mattress to get a better look. Laughing softly, she pulled out an immaculately kept doll, one she vaguely recognized as the same toy her daughter had carried around when she was a small child. Was this who her daughter was talking to late at night? A woman of nearly thirty years still attached to a child’s doll?
Interesting. She intended to confront her eldest about this.
Waiting for Chara to come home, she sat calmly in the front parlor with the doll in a chair beside her, sat up with her arms folded in her lap like a person would be. Casually sipping at a glass of wine, she watched her daughter enter their home, go back to her room, and storm back out with a panicked look before she finally called, “Looking for something, Chara?"
Of all the people Chara might have suspected to enter her room and move her beloved, Sibylla, her mother was not one of them. In fact, she was so certain it had been a servant that she was on her way to accost one until she heard her mother’s voice. Jumping back in surprise, Chara didn’t recognize the very unladylike sound she made. Facing her mother, it took a moment longer than she preferred to wipe the shock from her face and compose herself. A composure that lasted just as long as it took for her to look beside her mother and see Sibylla sitting perfectly still and perfectly posed.
How long had her mother been sitting there? Where did she find Sibylla? And more importantly, how had she not noticed? Whatever the answers might have been, whatever she intended to ask, Chara was unable to say anything more than ‘what-?’, and ‘where-?’. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her chiton, clutching on tightly, as she wondered if one of her maids had betrayed her and informed her mother in some way. Mostly, however, she wondered what it was she should say. She was positive the way her hands trembled had been noticed, if her wide eyes and flushed face had not.
Chara stood in complete silence, looking between Sibylla and her mother for many moments before she decided that she should, in the very least, be able to stand before her mother like a proper lady. She was a Stravos above anything else and she didn’t answer to anyone...except her mother. Well, no matter. She’d done nothing wrong and it was high time she stopped acting like she had. It was not a crime to have a doll, even if Sibylla was so much more than that. Why then, would she cow before her mother? That was just it -- she wouldn’t.
Though she couldn’t hold her mother’s eye for long, Chara detangled her hand from the side of her chiton, cleared her tight throat and lifted her chin ever so slightly in attempts to appear more confident and composed than she truly was. There. Better. She’d done nothing wrong and she’d convince her mother of that if need be.
Ignoring her trembling hands and twisting stomach, Chara took a deep breath to keep her voice from wavering before she spoke.
“Someone,” she said, attempting to keep her tone level, “I am looking for someone.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Of all the people Chara might have suspected to enter her room and move her beloved, Sibylla, her mother was not one of them. In fact, she was so certain it had been a servant that she was on her way to accost one until she heard her mother’s voice. Jumping back in surprise, Chara didn’t recognize the very unladylike sound she made. Facing her mother, it took a moment longer than she preferred to wipe the shock from her face and compose herself. A composure that lasted just as long as it took for her to look beside her mother and see Sibylla sitting perfectly still and perfectly posed.
How long had her mother been sitting there? Where did she find Sibylla? And more importantly, how had she not noticed? Whatever the answers might have been, whatever she intended to ask, Chara was unable to say anything more than ‘what-?’, and ‘where-?’. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her chiton, clutching on tightly, as she wondered if one of her maids had betrayed her and informed her mother in some way. Mostly, however, she wondered what it was she should say. She was positive the way her hands trembled had been noticed, if her wide eyes and flushed face had not.
Chara stood in complete silence, looking between Sibylla and her mother for many moments before she decided that she should, in the very least, be able to stand before her mother like a proper lady. She was a Stravos above anything else and she didn’t answer to anyone...except her mother. Well, no matter. She’d done nothing wrong and it was high time she stopped acting like she had. It was not a crime to have a doll, even if Sibylla was so much more than that. Why then, would she cow before her mother? That was just it -- she wouldn’t.
Though she couldn’t hold her mother’s eye for long, Chara detangled her hand from the side of her chiton, cleared her tight throat and lifted her chin ever so slightly in attempts to appear more confident and composed than she truly was. There. Better. She’d done nothing wrong and she’d convince her mother of that if need be.
Ignoring her trembling hands and twisting stomach, Chara took a deep breath to keep her voice from wavering before she spoke.
“Someone,” she said, attempting to keep her tone level, “I am looking for someone.”
Of all the people Chara might have suspected to enter her room and move her beloved, Sibylla, her mother was not one of them. In fact, she was so certain it had been a servant that she was on her way to accost one until she heard her mother’s voice. Jumping back in surprise, Chara didn’t recognize the very unladylike sound she made. Facing her mother, it took a moment longer than she preferred to wipe the shock from her face and compose herself. A composure that lasted just as long as it took for her to look beside her mother and see Sibylla sitting perfectly still and perfectly posed.
How long had her mother been sitting there? Where did she find Sibylla? And more importantly, how had she not noticed? Whatever the answers might have been, whatever she intended to ask, Chara was unable to say anything more than ‘what-?’, and ‘where-?’. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her chiton, clutching on tightly, as she wondered if one of her maids had betrayed her and informed her mother in some way. Mostly, however, she wondered what it was she should say. She was positive the way her hands trembled had been noticed, if her wide eyes and flushed face had not.
Chara stood in complete silence, looking between Sibylla and her mother for many moments before she decided that she should, in the very least, be able to stand before her mother like a proper lady. She was a Stravos above anything else and she didn’t answer to anyone...except her mother. Well, no matter. She’d done nothing wrong and it was high time she stopped acting like she had. It was not a crime to have a doll, even if Sibylla was so much more than that. Why then, would she cow before her mother? That was just it -- she wouldn’t.
Though she couldn’t hold her mother’s eye for long, Chara detangled her hand from the side of her chiton, cleared her tight throat and lifted her chin ever so slightly in attempts to appear more confident and composed than she truly was. There. Better. She’d done nothing wrong and she’d convince her mother of that if need be.
Ignoring her trembling hands and twisting stomach, Chara took a deep breath to keep her voice from wavering before she spoke.
“Someone,” she said, attempting to keep her tone level, “I am looking for someone.”
Her daughter’s efforts at appearing calm were admirable, if ultimately ineffective. It was clear in the trembling of her hands, the uneasiness of her posture, and the way her voice held just the slightest timbre of anxiety that Chara was the furthest thing she could be from calm. Circenia was ultimately fascinated at her child’s reaction and wondered what it was about the doll that made her act like this.
“A doll is not a person, Chara,” was her calm response, indicating the toy on the chair next to her. “It is just that. A doll.”
Sipping her wine, the princess tilted her head curiously as she gazed at her oldest child. “Why do you hide this doll so carefully? What is its significance that you should keep it locked up so tight?”
Gazing at the toy in question, Circenia thought it was rather pretty, and it was obviously well cared for. She knew how attached Chara had been to the thing when she was a little girl, but such attachments were predictable and normal at that age. With a woman so far into adulthood, that was no longer truly the case. Was she so desperate for something to care for? Did she crave companionship so ardently that a doll seemed the best choice? Chara was a popular girl in the Court—men fawned over her and women wanted to be like her. She was a member of the wealthiest family in Athenia and sister to the would-be king. What did she lack so profoundly that turned her towards such an infantile distraction?
“Please sit down,” she implored her daughter who still stood so nervously in front of her. “I am not going to yell at you or reprimand you, if that is what you are so afraid of. I would, however, like to know why you are still so attached to this thing.”
Moving the doll, she indicated for Chara to take the seat it vacated, handing it back to her if she chose to sit. “Is… everything all right?” she asked tentatively, searching the young woman’s gaze for signs that pointed to the negative. Had her daughter contracted some form of hysteria? Was she succumbing to some poison of the mind? Or had this gone on far longer than Circenia thought, and she was only now taking notice of it? “Do you… need to talk about anything?”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Her daughter’s efforts at appearing calm were admirable, if ultimately ineffective. It was clear in the trembling of her hands, the uneasiness of her posture, and the way her voice held just the slightest timbre of anxiety that Chara was the furthest thing she could be from calm. Circenia was ultimately fascinated at her child’s reaction and wondered what it was about the doll that made her act like this.
“A doll is not a person, Chara,” was her calm response, indicating the toy on the chair next to her. “It is just that. A doll.”
Sipping her wine, the princess tilted her head curiously as she gazed at her oldest child. “Why do you hide this doll so carefully? What is its significance that you should keep it locked up so tight?”
Gazing at the toy in question, Circenia thought it was rather pretty, and it was obviously well cared for. She knew how attached Chara had been to the thing when she was a little girl, but such attachments were predictable and normal at that age. With a woman so far into adulthood, that was no longer truly the case. Was she so desperate for something to care for? Did she crave companionship so ardently that a doll seemed the best choice? Chara was a popular girl in the Court—men fawned over her and women wanted to be like her. She was a member of the wealthiest family in Athenia and sister to the would-be king. What did she lack so profoundly that turned her towards such an infantile distraction?
“Please sit down,” she implored her daughter who still stood so nervously in front of her. “I am not going to yell at you or reprimand you, if that is what you are so afraid of. I would, however, like to know why you are still so attached to this thing.”
Moving the doll, she indicated for Chara to take the seat it vacated, handing it back to her if she chose to sit. “Is… everything all right?” she asked tentatively, searching the young woman’s gaze for signs that pointed to the negative. Had her daughter contracted some form of hysteria? Was she succumbing to some poison of the mind? Or had this gone on far longer than Circenia thought, and she was only now taking notice of it? “Do you… need to talk about anything?”
Her daughter’s efforts at appearing calm were admirable, if ultimately ineffective. It was clear in the trembling of her hands, the uneasiness of her posture, and the way her voice held just the slightest timbre of anxiety that Chara was the furthest thing she could be from calm. Circenia was ultimately fascinated at her child’s reaction and wondered what it was about the doll that made her act like this.
“A doll is not a person, Chara,” was her calm response, indicating the toy on the chair next to her. “It is just that. A doll.”
Sipping her wine, the princess tilted her head curiously as she gazed at her oldest child. “Why do you hide this doll so carefully? What is its significance that you should keep it locked up so tight?”
Gazing at the toy in question, Circenia thought it was rather pretty, and it was obviously well cared for. She knew how attached Chara had been to the thing when she was a little girl, but such attachments were predictable and normal at that age. With a woman so far into adulthood, that was no longer truly the case. Was she so desperate for something to care for? Did she crave companionship so ardently that a doll seemed the best choice? Chara was a popular girl in the Court—men fawned over her and women wanted to be like her. She was a member of the wealthiest family in Athenia and sister to the would-be king. What did she lack so profoundly that turned her towards such an infantile distraction?
“Please sit down,” she implored her daughter who still stood so nervously in front of her. “I am not going to yell at you or reprimand you, if that is what you are so afraid of. I would, however, like to know why you are still so attached to this thing.”
Moving the doll, she indicated for Chara to take the seat it vacated, handing it back to her if she chose to sit. “Is… everything all right?” she asked tentatively, searching the young woman’s gaze for signs that pointed to the negative. Had her daughter contracted some form of hysteria? Was she succumbing to some poison of the mind? Or had this gone on far longer than Circenia thought, and she was only now taking notice of it? “Do you… need to talk about anything?”
It was difficult to convince herself that she had, in fact, done nothing wrong, even as her mother appeared to be calm. It was just a doll...but then it wasn’t, was it? Clearly, it was something more, for her first instinct had been to correct her mother. Sibylla wasn’t just a doll. Dolls could be discarded and thrown away, but not Sibylla. Never Sibylla. Although she was panicked, Chara had not lost her mind (though someone could certainly argue otherwise). Correcting her mother in any capacity was not a possibility, no matter the situation, though perhaps now in particular would be an excellent time not to argue about the personhood of a childhood toy.
She knew, of course, there would be questions, but that didn’t make her any more pleased to answer them than she had been before. Chara inhaled quietly, still unsure about what her next choice of words would be. How, exactly, was she going to explain to her mother that Sibylla was a confidante above all? There were few Chara actually trusted with her secrets and fewer still she believed could be trusted with her darkest fears and insecurities. Sibylla could never betray anything that was said, nor could Chara’s thoughts be exposed as they could in a journal. But she couldn’t really say that, could she? It sounded ridiculous. “I don’t know,” Chara said without looking her mother in the face.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, trying her hardest to stay composed. It did help to know she would not be yelled at or reprimanded, though even that would be more preferable than having to explain herself. There was no need to discuss anything while being yelled at. She could handle that better than she could sitting next to her mother, trying not to show her aversion to the entire subject. Maybe if she gave vague, almost true answers, the topic would be dropped and she could return her room and not show her face again for a few days. That would be nice. Anything would be nicer than this.
Chara held her hands tightly together in her lap as the questioning continued. She sat still, of course, because she was a lady, no matter how uncomfortable she was. Was everything alright? Did her mother think she was insane? She was entirely too nervous to even begin to feel offended. She supposed it was a reasonable thing to think. How many noble women in the world possessed dolls as confidants? "Everything is fine, mother." It was tempting to ask why anyone would think otherwise, but the answer was fairly obvious.
"There really is nothing I want to talk about. I can assure you, there is nothing amiss."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
It was difficult to convince herself that she had, in fact, done nothing wrong, even as her mother appeared to be calm. It was just a doll...but then it wasn’t, was it? Clearly, it was something more, for her first instinct had been to correct her mother. Sibylla wasn’t just a doll. Dolls could be discarded and thrown away, but not Sibylla. Never Sibylla. Although she was panicked, Chara had not lost her mind (though someone could certainly argue otherwise). Correcting her mother in any capacity was not a possibility, no matter the situation, though perhaps now in particular would be an excellent time not to argue about the personhood of a childhood toy.
She knew, of course, there would be questions, but that didn’t make her any more pleased to answer them than she had been before. Chara inhaled quietly, still unsure about what her next choice of words would be. How, exactly, was she going to explain to her mother that Sibylla was a confidante above all? There were few Chara actually trusted with her secrets and fewer still she believed could be trusted with her darkest fears and insecurities. Sibylla could never betray anything that was said, nor could Chara’s thoughts be exposed as they could in a journal. But she couldn’t really say that, could she? It sounded ridiculous. “I don’t know,” Chara said without looking her mother in the face.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, trying her hardest to stay composed. It did help to know she would not be yelled at or reprimanded, though even that would be more preferable than having to explain herself. There was no need to discuss anything while being yelled at. She could handle that better than she could sitting next to her mother, trying not to show her aversion to the entire subject. Maybe if she gave vague, almost true answers, the topic would be dropped and she could return her room and not show her face again for a few days. That would be nice. Anything would be nicer than this.
Chara held her hands tightly together in her lap as the questioning continued. She sat still, of course, because she was a lady, no matter how uncomfortable she was. Was everything alright? Did her mother think she was insane? She was entirely too nervous to even begin to feel offended. She supposed it was a reasonable thing to think. How many noble women in the world possessed dolls as confidants? "Everything is fine, mother." It was tempting to ask why anyone would think otherwise, but the answer was fairly obvious.
"There really is nothing I want to talk about. I can assure you, there is nothing amiss."
It was difficult to convince herself that she had, in fact, done nothing wrong, even as her mother appeared to be calm. It was just a doll...but then it wasn’t, was it? Clearly, it was something more, for her first instinct had been to correct her mother. Sibylla wasn’t just a doll. Dolls could be discarded and thrown away, but not Sibylla. Never Sibylla. Although she was panicked, Chara had not lost her mind (though someone could certainly argue otherwise). Correcting her mother in any capacity was not a possibility, no matter the situation, though perhaps now in particular would be an excellent time not to argue about the personhood of a childhood toy.
She knew, of course, there would be questions, but that didn’t make her any more pleased to answer them than she had been before. Chara inhaled quietly, still unsure about what her next choice of words would be. How, exactly, was she going to explain to her mother that Sibylla was a confidante above all? There were few Chara actually trusted with her secrets and fewer still she believed could be trusted with her darkest fears and insecurities. Sibylla could never betray anything that was said, nor could Chara’s thoughts be exposed as they could in a journal. But she couldn’t really say that, could she? It sounded ridiculous. “I don’t know,” Chara said without looking her mother in the face.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, trying her hardest to stay composed. It did help to know she would not be yelled at or reprimanded, though even that would be more preferable than having to explain herself. There was no need to discuss anything while being yelled at. She could handle that better than she could sitting next to her mother, trying not to show her aversion to the entire subject. Maybe if she gave vague, almost true answers, the topic would be dropped and she could return her room and not show her face again for a few days. That would be nice. Anything would be nicer than this.
Chara held her hands tightly together in her lap as the questioning continued. She sat still, of course, because she was a lady, no matter how uncomfortable she was. Was everything alright? Did her mother think she was insane? She was entirely too nervous to even begin to feel offended. She supposed it was a reasonable thing to think. How many noble women in the world possessed dolls as confidants? "Everything is fine, mother." It was tempting to ask why anyone would think otherwise, but the answer was fairly obvious.
"There really is nothing I want to talk about. I can assure you, there is nothing amiss."