Neisha hovered menacingly behind Azure, gliding back and forth as she spoke. Francine knew she would start in on them next and wasn’t keen to hear what she had to say.

Francine was shocked at how easily Ginny glossed over the whole tawdry scene. Azure didn’t miss the look on Francine’s face, though, and made a note to circle back around to that when she talked to her later.

Ginny took the criticism; it stung, but she had come to know what Azure said was right. Neisha finally spoke up, oozing in her billowing robes and veiled countenance to Ginny.

She spat the word man out like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

Ginny finally slumped, pride fully broken.

Ginny broke down in tears. Francine was surprised to see her so vulnerable and didn’t know what to do or say. She actually agreed with Neisha but still felt bad for Ginny. She had never seen Ginny in action but was sure if she could handle herself in war and take out enemy soldiers, Harlane would be no trouble, a grim thought indeed. Azure finally turned on Francine and Argento, who were standing by awkwardly. Argento had been doing his level best to count the petals of the flowers on the mural.

They both looked at each other, stammering, and back at Azure, terrified they were in terrible trouble too. Francine knew it was a bad idea to sneak out, and how could someone not notice they were gone?

Azure put a hand on each of their shoulders and let them leave while they finished talking to Ginny. Frannie and Argento walked unenergetically down the hall back to the rooms where their things were being packed. Passing a closed set of double doors, they could hear Tony getting chewed out by a male voice they didn’t recognize. He came busting and swearing out the door when they were just a few paces past it.

Tony handed Francine a somewhat rumpled paper parcel but didn’t stick around to see Frannie’s reaction; he skulked off down the hall and into his room, audibly locking the door.

Muttered Francine, who couldn’t resist a surprise gift. It was a elongated, slim, extremely light package wrapped up in colored paper, even if it was a little crumpled from being in the inside pocket of Tony’s jacket. When she untied the ribbon and rolled the item free, she was shocked to see an emerald green plume that was soft and fluffy. At about six inches long, it was just big enough to make a real statement on the new hat she got without looking ridiculous. It was perfect. She picked it up, ran it between her fingers, then up against her cheek, smiling. Until her synapse finally fired up. Argento was already pointing and laughing open-mouthed.

Eyes wide, she let the plume float to the floor.

Frannie picked it back up and tried to hurry past Tony’s room as Argento side-skipped along beside her, pointing and laughing, childishly taunting her in a sing-song voice.

Argento continued mocking Frannie, making her more angry.

Argento crossed his arms across his body, grabbed his own hips, and sashayed down the hall.

Francine flung the door to her room open only to find a Hansina estate maid nervously packing and Ginny sitting on the bed crying, knees to her chest, face buried in a pillow. Frannie was momentarily startled and confused but came around after a moment to dismiss the maid packing and closed the door behind her.

Frannie just tossed the feather on top of the things that were being packed and flopped onto the bed next to Ginny. After a minute of Ginny composing herself and blowing her nose, she finally leaned back and started shakily talking.

Argento protested Francine’s agreement with Neisha’s description of men.

Francine just shushed him and returned her attention to Ginny.

Francine only half believed what she was saying because she objected to him, too, but she wanted to comfort her friend.

Frannie playfully pushed Ginny, getting her to crack a smile at least.

That lightened the mood, and they all chuckled a little. Ginny got off the bed and left to finish packing her things for the trip home. Argento took his leave, leaving Frannie alone and trying to finish packing by herself. Fortunately, all of the clothing had been folded. All she had to do was set a few more items inside her cases.

The hair prickled on the back of her neck when she heard Tony’s voice coming from the doorway. She obviously did have a minute; she was just shuffling clothes around on her bed.

She tried to draw herself up as tall as she could muster, look casual but intimidating, the way she thought Azure carried herself.

Seeing the hatbox, Tony walked in and plopped down on the made bed where Francine had been sitting a minute ago. He opened the round box, spinning the lid between his thumbs and forefingers.

Francine tried to protest and grab the feather back, but Tony was already tucking the plume into the hat’s band.

Francine sat down. On the other side of the bed and sighed.

Tony put the hat on her head and walked back down the hall to his room without saying another word.

CH 18~ Responsibilities

Second Chances Can't be Ignored

    “Ginny, will you please just enlighten me? What exactly was your plan?”
    “Azure, please don’t be mad at anyone else; this was all my fault.”
    “Oh, I’m not. From what you’ve told me so far, shockingly, Francine was the only one with anything even resembling a plan, as pointless as it was. That’s why I want to hear yours, Genevive. Right now, as your unit leader, I have serious doubts about your judgment capabilities.”



CH 18~ Responsibilities

Second Chances Can't be Ignored

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of K.B. Silver

About the Creator

K.B. Silver

Comments

Upgrade to see comments and join the conversation

Keep reading

Champagne

CH 18~ Responsibilities

Second Chances Can't be Ignored

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of .css-13w9qce-Text{display:inline-block;color:var(--text-accent);}K.B. Silver

About the Creator

K.B. Silver

Comments

Upgrade to see comments and join the conversation

Keep reading

Champagne

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of K.B. Silver