Post by High Overseer Gelide on Mar 15, 2019 17:48:48 GMT -5
Even on the warmest days on the frozen wasteland of Frieza #17, thick and swirling clouds empty their frozen contents onto the world below, bringing joy to the overseer's heart. The blizzard's snow has a purity that elevates her hollow spirit, the world made as pristine as a clean sheet. The flakes fall slowly and air is almost still, but it is so thick that it almost obscures the view completely. Even the biting cold against her face was refreshingly nostalgic, herself indifferent to the frigidity.
Her caretakers, on the other hand, did not share their overseer's sentiment. Bundled under many warm layers, the duo shivered against each other. "Ma'am," came a voice from beneath what looked to the world like a pile of blankets, "isn't it time to go back inside?"
Gelide stared into the blinding snow for a moment longer, turning over her shoulder to her companions and said, "Now, Garnish."
"Yes, Ma'am?" replied the bundle of cloth through a woman's voice.
"Why would we do that?" Gelide spoke with a tilt of the head.
"It's very cold, Ma'am."
"It's very cold, Adorn?" parroted Gelide.
"It's very cold," confirmed the second bundle of cloth though through a man's voice.
Gelide considered this fact. It may be entirely possible, through some stroke of fate or otherwise, that it was cold outside. Brille filtered the snow from Gelide's eyes without blinking. "It's very cold," she murmured as she stepped slowly past them, stopping before a large door, sealed mechanically. One of the walking blankets wiped the snow off of a keypad at the wall, punching in a four-digit code through shaking fingers. The door clicked once then slid open, allowing the three of them passage. Ushered by the hands of her two caretakers, Gelide disappeared into the threshold, casting one last look over her shoulder. She saw only the gray of cold iron, sealing her safely inside.
Safe at last, Garnish and Adorn sloughed off their many layers, hanging up coats and scarves at the door. Underneath, they wore comfortable clothing. Once upon the time, they wore armor decorated with many distinguished acolates, recognized by the High Overseer for their loyalties and chosen above all else to watch over her in her Stratocracy's decline. Now, their esteemed duty was now ordinary task, their days spent within this fortress.
The fortress had once been no more than an emergency off-world bunker built by Lord Antarctic, all concrete and no personality. Near the ceiling were long low windows, no wider than the slits in a castle turret but lying on their sides. Without any circulation of air, the stagnant aroma made it dungeonesque and the unsoftened echo of deranged loneliness brought on a claustrophobic feeling.
Both cradle and coffin, Gelide was to spend the rest of her days within.
It has since been decorated to appear more welcoming by those who now call such a place home. Posters and framed pictures, both of artworks and photographs. Warm colors danced across the walls, repainted from cold gray. All in an effort to make their prison feel more like home.
Garnish and Adorn both could have left long ago, leave the withering Gelide to die on her own. The Stratocracy had long since fallen. She had no power over them, or indeed power at all. She had paid them up-front for their service - more than enough money to disappear in different directions and stay there for the rest of their lives. But always they wake up and faithfully care for Gelide until the day comes when she stops waking up - she had given them a life to live, and they owed her that much.
Together, they sat Gelide down at an empty table and prepared dinner a room away. Gelide glanced upward, her mouth pursed but slightly open and loose. Her eyes were fixed as if she were looking at something far away. She blinked, refocusing, suddenly aware that she was alone.
"Garnish? Adorn? Where are you?"
"We're making dinner, Ma'am. We didn't go anywhere." came Garnish's voice.
"You're making dinner?"
"We're making dinner, so don't worry."
A pause.
"Make some for me, too, okay?" Gelide said. "It's very cold, you know."
"You can count on it, Ma'am. We know." Adorn's voice came from the other room, albeit somewhat exasperated.
Gelide only smiled and nodded.
Her caretakers, on the other hand, did not share their overseer's sentiment. Bundled under many warm layers, the duo shivered against each other. "Ma'am," came a voice from beneath what looked to the world like a pile of blankets, "isn't it time to go back inside?"
Gelide stared into the blinding snow for a moment longer, turning over her shoulder to her companions and said, "Now, Garnish."
"Yes, Ma'am?" replied the bundle of cloth through a woman's voice.
"Why would we do that?" Gelide spoke with a tilt of the head.
"It's very cold, Ma'am."
"It's very cold, Adorn?" parroted Gelide.
"It's very cold," confirmed the second bundle of cloth though through a man's voice.
Gelide considered this fact. It may be entirely possible, through some stroke of fate or otherwise, that it was cold outside. Brille filtered the snow from Gelide's eyes without blinking. "It's very cold," she murmured as she stepped slowly past them, stopping before a large door, sealed mechanically. One of the walking blankets wiped the snow off of a keypad at the wall, punching in a four-digit code through shaking fingers. The door clicked once then slid open, allowing the three of them passage. Ushered by the hands of her two caretakers, Gelide disappeared into the threshold, casting one last look over her shoulder. She saw only the gray of cold iron, sealing her safely inside.
Safe at last, Garnish and Adorn sloughed off their many layers, hanging up coats and scarves at the door. Underneath, they wore comfortable clothing. Once upon the time, they wore armor decorated with many distinguished acolates, recognized by the High Overseer for their loyalties and chosen above all else to watch over her in her Stratocracy's decline. Now, their esteemed duty was now ordinary task, their days spent within this fortress.
The fortress had once been no more than an emergency off-world bunker built by Lord Antarctic, all concrete and no personality. Near the ceiling were long low windows, no wider than the slits in a castle turret but lying on their sides. Without any circulation of air, the stagnant aroma made it dungeonesque and the unsoftened echo of deranged loneliness brought on a claustrophobic feeling.
Both cradle and coffin, Gelide was to spend the rest of her days within.
It has since been decorated to appear more welcoming by those who now call such a place home. Posters and framed pictures, both of artworks and photographs. Warm colors danced across the walls, repainted from cold gray. All in an effort to make their prison feel more like home.
Garnish and Adorn both could have left long ago, leave the withering Gelide to die on her own. The Stratocracy had long since fallen. She had no power over them, or indeed power at all. She had paid them up-front for their service - more than enough money to disappear in different directions and stay there for the rest of their lives. But always they wake up and faithfully care for Gelide until the day comes when she stops waking up - she had given them a life to live, and they owed her that much.
Together, they sat Gelide down at an empty table and prepared dinner a room away. Gelide glanced upward, her mouth pursed but slightly open and loose. Her eyes were fixed as if she were looking at something far away. She blinked, refocusing, suddenly aware that she was alone.
"Garnish? Adorn? Where are you?"
"We're making dinner, Ma'am. We didn't go anywhere." came Garnish's voice.
"You're making dinner?"
"We're making dinner, so don't worry."
A pause.
"Make some for me, too, okay?" Gelide said. "It's very cold, you know."
"You can count on it, Ma'am. We know." Adorn's voice came from the other room, albeit somewhat exasperated.
Gelide only smiled and nodded.