the selection | semi-advanced discussion

aster began walking around the market place. she had been notified that she was chosen for the selected, so she was a bit excited. after all, they would finally get the money they needed to pay off their debts. she was currently in angeles at the moment because her mother had to speak to their loan sharks, to inform them that they'll be able to pay off their debts soon, or, at least pay enough of it off to satisfy them. she was told to look around the marketplace in the meantime. she was in angeles a couple days earlier than she should be, especially since the limo would be picking them up at the airport, so she thought it was a great chance to explore. since it was the capital, she was thinking she could also make money playing music. she had her violin with her, as well as her mother's guitar. she was safeguarding both. she found a clear spot within the marketplace and took out her violin, tuning it so she could play. her mother didn't leave her with much money, and she didn't have enough to get the boots she needed. she was going to the castle, and while she didn't have nice clothes, she might as well have shoes that didn't have holes in them. her clothes may have holes, but that didn't mean that her shoes needed them either. she sat there tuning it, moving her blue hair out of her face. "to think, soon enough, we might not have to worry about this kind of thing.." she muttered to herself. she glanced toward her bag, where a small fennec fox was rummaging around. it was still a baby, and while it was a fox, fennecs were usually small enough to be pets. naturally, when she found it, she decided to take it in. she whistled a bit, and the fennec, went over and sat in her lap. in its mouth, it had a grasshopper, which seemed to still be alive. she smiled a bit at her baby fennec. despite being in such a lively area such as the capital's marketplace, the girl still managed to tune it all out.

((thank you for waiting!))

Vivien screamed that day when she got her application accepted. She was on clouds despite her sister being taken to jail. At least the events of last night settled one thing in her mind: her sister was a weak minded person, easily influenced by the words of others. Vivien never let peoples' comments get to her head. She already knew her worth and if people simply thought of her as an arrogant person, that was their problem. She would never apologize for knowing she was the best. And her old teachers could prove it.

Vivien was wearing a chocolate brown coat with a velvet green turtleneck underneath. Her beige pants reached the ankle of her calf high boots. They clicked the pavement with every step she took. The market was unusually busy today. Maybe the excitement of the new Selection made everyone want to get out more, in hopes of witnessing the new cast of selected. Vivien wanted to get out of the house before they took her and the rest of the selected to the castle. Despite her having a cool exterior, her stomach twisted and turned. She just needed to relax before meeting the prince.

There were multiple musicians out in the market, each having their own collection of change by their side. It took all Vivien had to not run up and take their money. But if word soon got out that she was a chosen selected, the rumors of her stealing from the poor would catch like wild fire. And worse, her one shot of being a powerful queen would be dashed away. She couldn't let the prince hear about her antics.

Vivien walked down the market when a girl with a shock of glorious blue hair caught the corner of her eye. As well as a pair of two, sharp ears sticking out from a pack. Interesting... Well, if she were to be queen, might as well learn about the people she would rule.

Vivien made way for the girl and smiled when she saw a violin. If the girl were to play something nice for her, she may be so inclined to help the poor soul. "Hello," she said, smiling wolfishly. "Are you playing by yourself? Or are you playing with a band?" Vivien talked with her hands tucked in her back pockets, arms spread out as she leaned on her side. She flicked her black bangs as she spoke.

aster continued to tune her violin as she sat there, ignoring her surroundings. she hummed to herself, wanting to think to herself. after all, she had a lot to think about. she needed a proper plan. though, she had no intentions on actually winning the selection. after all, what prince in his right mind choose a girl who considers their best outfit to be a black shirt that has no holes and a pair of ripped jeans. what if she didn't even make it past the first round? what was she supposed to do then?

as she sat there lost in her thoughts, her fennec tapped her nose, gaining her attention. she looked up and saw a girl had walked up to her. she listened to her speak, a bit surprised anyone had walked up to her. did she know this girl? oh no, did she forget someone else? this was going to be awkward. "Hey." she greeted before taking a deep breath. "I'm playing by myself. at least, I plan to. I don't really have a band per se." she said, deciding to answer the stranger's question. perhaps she didn't know this girl?

"I'm only in the capital temporarily, so I was hoping I could play a bit while I'm here. I mean. technically I'll still be in the capital, I'm just not sure if I'll really be able to explore and walk around like this, as I'll be busy." she added. she offered a small smile to the girl before her. she then realized the girl probably approached her about wanting to hear something, not hear about her. she finished tuning her violin before looking back up. "was there something you wanted to hear? I might be able to play it." she asked her, petting the little fennec that was rubbing against her violin like a cat.

the fennec leaned into her pets, its tail swaying behind them before jumping out of her lap. the fennec seemed to have a lot of energy, but she couldn't play with it because of the crowd. so, instead, the fennec ran circles around her audience, which only consisted of Vivien at that moment. aster, however, didn't seem to mind and just allow the fennec to do that, as long as they didn't jump on the person. as they ran, they spotted a fly, which they pounced on and held under their paws. it seemed more like a puppy than a cat really, at least, what with it's energy.

A fennec. The girl had a fox? Did she know how much those could go for on the black market? Not that Vivien knew, of course. She'd have to follow this girl. Maybe her precious fox could go missing and Vivien would have no idea where it went, offering to help her retrieve it, of course.

As the girl spoke, Vivien watched the fox a moment longer before staring into those big eyes of hers. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as the girl spoke. "Oh really?" Vivien's ears perked up. "Whereabouts in the capital? Don't tell me you found career as a violinist. If only everyone could make a living of the things they enjoy doing." She said with a small smile. She picked that line from a post she read.

Now ladies, make sure you're as sympathetic as possible.
People respond well to empathy. Especially the prince. He loves selfless women. Keep that in mind and you'll take the crown.

Vivien couldn't care less what she did. So long the money was able to pull through, the long hours were worth it. Modelling was all she knew and her parents were more than proud of her. She had to keep her place as the golden child.

"Oh anything will do, whatever speaks to that lovely heart of yours." Vivien said, flashing a wink. "Your hair is gorgeous, by the way. Where did you get it done? Whoever did your hair did such a fabulous job." If Vivien was being honest, she envied the girl's hair. It was fluffy, cute, and the beautiful shade of blue. She always wanted to get her hair dyed but was worried that with dying it, her hair would come falling out. And with modelling, she'd die first before setting a foot into a photoshoot. Still though, maybe with the Selection going on, maybe free time could be something she'd have more of. Not that her employers and odd jobs approved. But being the future queen was on a whole other league than modelling.

"Your fox is adorable!" Vivien said, crouching down as she patted her calf. It was true. The thing had so much energy that it was hard to keep track of its movements. Who couldn't love an adorable thing like that? "What's it's name?" She asked.

she watched the fox run around for a moment before looking back at the girl. "Ah, no. I didn't. I was chosen for the selection thing. I'm a bit excited, though, I'm not really looking to win. I just need the money." she said, stretching a bit before standing up. the girl was around average height, standing around 5'4", though, short compared to most others.

she then heard her comment about her hair. she liked her hair, but she didn't think anyone else would find it pretty. she smiled a bit. "my mom did it for me." she hummed. she rolled her sleeves up before bending down and picking up the fox. the fennec fox licked her face in response. "her name is spirit." she hummed. the fox climbed its way up to her shoulder, causing the girl to tense up a bit. she grabbed her bow and glanced toward the girl. "my name is aster by the way." she told her, trying to think of a song to play while also holding the conversation.

"mind if I ask your name?" she added soon after. aster seemed good at talking, or, at the least, keeping the flow of the conversation. as a musician, it was pretty important. so was multitasking. she took out a phone, one that looked pretty banged up, and went through the list of songs. she had made sure to prerecord certain sounds for certain songs, as she couldn't play the violin and the piano simultaneously. she and her mother often split up to get more money when playing as well, and they hardly ever had a gig together. she plugged her violin into her phone, which was then connected to a Bluetooth speaker behind her. it seemed like she was getting ready for the performance. she was here to make money after all, not just friends. the fennec jumped down and went over to her guitar case, bringing it forward so it wasn't behind her, but rather next to her. despite probably only having it for about a year at most, the fennec seemed well trained. or, at least, used to this routine. she took a sign that was in the guitar case and wiggled it around her neck, now holding a sign that said 'tips here' around their neck.

she gave a small grateful smile to the small fennec. it seemed intelligent for the most part and obedient. honestly, aster was even surprised at first. after all, for most of the year, the fennec went with her mother when aster was working. she smiled at the girl before her. it seemed almost effortless. of course, it became tiring, always having to smile. whether it's so no one worries about you or whether it's to make a good impression. of course, eventually, one gets used to it. kind of like how aster has.

(view spoiler)[sorry, it takes so long to reply, I have a bit of a migraine, so it's hard to focus. (hide spoiler)]

((oh it's no problem!! take care of yourself! <3))

The air was knocked out of her lungs. What were the chances she'd run into another selected? Should she tell her now or wait till they were all together and pretend she didn't know if she would get in or not. Vivien just nodded as she talked about the selection. What to do....

As soon as she was going to brag about her being a selected too, the girl talked about her mother doing her hair. "Wow. Your own mother? How nice." Vivien whipped out her phone and unlocked it with a couple swipes of her thumb. "Why don't you give me her number and tell her I'd love to get my hair done by her." Not bothering to ask the girl if it was okay, Vivien leaned in and took a piece of the girl's hair between her fingers. Playing with it she smiled. "It's so pretty."

Vivien let out a giggle as the fox climbed on her shoulder. "Oh you. Spirit, is it?" She tapped the fox's nose. "How adorable." Not to mention the dollar signs popping in her head.

So the girl did have a name. "Aster? What a pretty name for pretty girl," she said, readjusting her hair as she flicked out a makeup mirror. "I'm Vivien. I'm a model," she said nonchalantly. The fox then seemed to be in tuned with Aster, jumping off of her shoulder and prepping for their act. She placed "tips here" around their necks and Vivien took out her ID and cards, holding out her wallet in between her slender fingers. "Play something nice for me and you can take away everything, sweetheart. She smirked with her arms crossed as she looked at Aster expectantly. Of course, she only had a couple fifties and someone like Aster could always use a bit of extra cash.

aster was a bit confused at first about her reaction, as she seemed a bit shocked. she tilted her head and smiled. Even when the girl leaned in and began playing with her hair, she didn't seem too fazed. her cheeks heated up a bit, but she ignored it. not wanting to touch the girl's phone and accidently drop it, she instead took out some paper and wrote the number down. she tore it out of the notebook and folded it up, handing it to the girl. "that's her number. one of her jobs is actually at a hair shop, so I'm sure she wouldn't mind." she said with a hum. it almost seemed as though she was used to things such as this.

"Thank you for the compliment. and it's nice to meet you vivien. it's cool that your a model as well. you are definitely pretty enough to be one." she hummed without much thought. upon getting the go-ahead shortly after, she nodded.

she took a deep breath before putting her violin in place. rather than a classy song you may expect to hear from someone with a violin, she played the song driver's license. after almost four minutes, she finished the song. by then, she had managed to attract a small crowd and even got a few tips. some pocket change here and there and a five. she took a small bow, a small smile on her face. the onlookers soon walked off and the small fox quickly swept all the money in a pile.

aster, after looking at her cute little fox, glanced toward the girl who had requested for her to play. "it doesn't exactly 'speak to my heart' nor was it heartfelt or anything, but I hope it will suffice." she hummed as she placed her violin at her side. "I like to believe I'm pretty good, so I hope it met your standards." she hummed. she wore a small smirk. it seemed she was pretty confident, at least, in her skills. unlike her previous reactions to the other girl's words, she seemed kind of anxious to hear her feedback, excited. almost like a kid wanting to be praised. sure, she was an adult, but didn't everyone want to get praised every now and again?

Vivien smirked at the girl's blush. Adorable. "Beautiful, thank you, sweetheart," she said as she pocketed the piece of paper. Would Vivien actually talk to Aster's mother? Perhaps. And maybe it would be wise to do so in preparation for the prince. After all, she wanted to look her absolute best when it came to matters of securing her future.

Vivien placed a hand over her chest. Aster definitely wasn't the first to compliment her good looks. But of course, Vivien wanted to bathe herself with all the compliments people gave her. "Why, that's nice of you to say," she said, twirling a piece of her hair. "No one's really said that about me. I just needed the money...." Anyone who knew her would laugh right in her face but maybe it was enough to get on this girl's level. After all, a beautiful person, like herself, who was humble and good looking? A rare combo to find.

Aster began to play and despite herself, Vivian found herself swaying to the girl's music. As Aster continued playing, a crowd was suddenly drawn into her beautiful playing. Vivien huffed.

I could play better than that. Then she'd really have a crowd.

Aster wrapped it up and Vivien clapped, along with the onlookers, as they drifted apart. As the crowd dissipated, Vivien stayed for a moment longer. She waved Aster off with her hand as she spoke. "Please, I never really believed in matters of the heart anyway. You just do what you gotta do." Vivien paused for a moment. The song was good. But she could do better. Much better. But for someone like Aster... it would suffice. God knows what kind of upbringing she had. Vivien pat her head and started rubbing her blue hair in circles with her thumb. "It was beautiful, darling. Let me know when you're free and I'll hire you to play at my birthday party." She smiled at the girl, eyes sparkling. "Now as for your reward, I believe this belongs to you." Vivien held out her wallet. "You were such a good girl." With her hand still atop Aster's head, Vivien looked down at the girl, holding out her wallet in the palm of her hand. "That is, if you still want it." Of course she was going to take it. The fifties were stuck together with a clip and loose twenties fluttered against the wind.

aster just continued to smile. She wasn't sure if she bought the whole humble act, if she was going to be completely honest. she was sure the girl had gotten compliments before. she didn't understand the whole acting humble thing, it seemed to be a hobby of those in upper castes. she didn't care though. if keeping her mouth shut and smiling will get her the money, that's all that matters and that's all that ever mattered.

even so, aster seemed pretty pleased with the compliment. maybe she was just being prejudice, or maybe she was completely right, but even when offered a wallet full of money, the girl couldn't help but be slightly suspicious. after all, it was part of the reason their debt got so large. her mother trusted the wrong people, which added to their previous debt left by their father. at least her naive mother didn't try to sell her off. the girl seemed pretty happy with the offer, which she nodded at, but she did hesitate when it came to the money. instead of faltering, she just continued to smile. after all, there was nothing less attractive than a frowning woman, as her father always said.

"I don't want to take it all, but I'll be more than willing to take a twenty. it's all I need left to reach my goal." she hummed. she hadn't counted the money in her case, but it didn't seem to be much. if she was lucky, she'd have ten dollars left over to buy something to eat. it didn't really seem like the girl, unlike the one before her, planned to humble herself such as declining her offer. she'd take some money, just not too much. after all, it'd be plain stupid to take too much money from a person. especially if they turn out to be a bad person.

she had trust issues, sure, but it was expected. she had a right to be suspicious. after all, it's not like those in upper castes were exactly kind and forgiving, at least, not the lot of them. she, unlike the girl before her, was close to jumping from a caste five to a caste eight. homeless and still in debt. she couldn't trust others, which is why the selection was her best chance. they made a public announcement that they would be compensating those who enter. not to mention, if they looked at the previous selections if they tried to cheat them out of the money promised, it'd make the royal family seem cheap. not a great look. that's why she trusted that this plan would work. even if she didn't exactly make it far, being in the selected provides plenty of publicity. that was enough to perhaps help pay back their debts and keep a roof over their head. so, if in the meantime, she needed to smile and hold back her thoughts, that was fine. it's not like she was lying, she just wasn't coming out with her suspicions.

Vivien raised an eyebrow as Aster hesitated. She had her wallet filled to brim with cash and still, this girl hesitated? Maybe she was being too generous. Well, there was no going back now. If she were to be a respected queen, she needed to show the public she could be kind.

"You... You don't want to take all of it?" Vivien asked, instantly regretting saying out loud what she was thinking. She just didn't understand Aster. No matter what situation Vivien would be in, she was always eager for more cash. Didn't matter in what way it was delivered in. Pity, odd jobs, or the sheer fact that someone like her was their friend. "How about this," Vivien pulled out the wad of fifties and tucked her wallet back in her pocket, "you take this and we'll call it even. It was a beautiful performance, after all. And you're worth every dollar." She rubbed the girl's head one last time and shoved the fifties close to Aster's chest. "Take it, sweetheart." Aster would be crazy not to take it. Vivien would be crazy for giving it to her.

the girl's eyes widened a bit. she was clearly surprised. if they were insisting on giving her money, it couldn't be any good. they probably wanted her to pay her back. she wouldn't mind paying it back, but people usually insisted on paying back with interest, and she couldn't afford ridiculous prices right now. due to the girl's insistency, she was starting to get cold feet with even twenty dollars.

after regaining her senses, she shook her head, neatly putting the money she gave her into a stack and holding it back to her. she didn't take a single one. "on second thought, i think I'm just fine. I'll just pay a few more songs and I'll get the twenty I need." she said slowly. she offered a smile. "I don't need hand-outs, and I'm not really looking to owe anyone anything. it was a nice performance, yes, but it was just street performance. i get it, your nice and all, and you have money to spare, but handing out that much money recklessly will get you mugged." she advised, placing the money in the other girl's hands before going over to her case, picking up the money in there and placing it in a purse wallet. she put it in her bag and picked up her violin in the case, closing it up.

her fennec sat next to her, trying to get the sign off. after many attempts, spirit managed and climbed into the girl's bag with her money. she grabbed the sign and her violin case before swinging the guitar case over her back, the strap tightly around her. she put the backpack on so it was on her front rather than back, kind of like one of those things you put babies in to carry them around.

despite her words, aster didn't seem too insulted. in fact, despite the disbelief and hesitancy, she seemed to quickly get over it. it seemed more or so like this girl had to trust issues, and some serious ones at that. though, any normal person would be suspicious if someone were to offer them that much money without wanting anything in return. "i hope there are no hard feelings. you seem nice, so it'd be great if you become our next queen. assuming, that's what you want that is." She added. her little fennec popped its head out of her bag, which was slightly unzipped at the top so it could breath.

Aster was definitely crazy. Vivien stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. Now why on earth would a thing like her reject good, hard earned money? The suspicion behind the generous amount of money was a hard thing for Vivien to comprehend. Especially given the fact that she lived on a silver spoon for all her life. Money was never hard to come by, and when it was, it was due to fact that she didn't get her weekly allowance. Which would send her in a fit for days till her parents compensated her, with interested. So when Aster didn't slapped the money out of her hands, of course Vivien thought of her as an ungrateful brat. What? Did Aster think she was sooooo humble to not accept the money? Playing her violin for sake of playing? If that was the case, why have her case sprinkled with spare change? All starving artists needed a way to pay for utilities somehow. "Why waste your precious time for a pitiful twenty?" Vivien asked, playing a sad smile on her lips. This girl was beyond her. Did she really think she was too good to accept the more than generous amount of money Vivien was offering? She despise the good hearted girls, they were always no fun. "Oh darling, I'm not a street banker," she said with a smile. "When I see talent, I see it fit to pay for what it's worth." Aster ruffled one too many feathers for Vivien's liking. "Is that a threat?" Vivien asked dangerously, flicking a pointed finger under Aster's soft chin. "I can handle myself just fine, deary. But thanks for the concern." She could outrun any one of these losers if she really felt like it.

"Queen? Oh gosh, no. I don't think I got selected. They haven't announced all the selected yet," Vivien said, retreating her finger. "But which girl wouldn't want to be queen? She would have to be amazingly kind and that's something I don't have. Patience isn't my strong suit." But something else bothered her. How did she know? Was Aster someone she had to keep an eye on? How could someone like her possibly know? "The past is the past," Vivien said, waving her off. "Best to always look forward, I say. I hope to see more of you and your.... violin and of course Spirit."

she rolled her eyes at the girl. that pitiful twenty the girl spoke of was enough to feed her and her mother for two days if they made good use of it. not a feast, but enough to get one meal. when she heard her comment about talent, the girl's brows furrowed. now it seemed like vivian had ruffled her feathers. she let out a scoff. "that's funny. that's the same thing I heard a trafficker say once." she huffed. she didn't seem too pleased with the girl's actions. she ignored the part about the threat. if this girl wanted to wave her money around and end up in a bad situation, that's on her.

when the girl talked about the selected, she sighed. the only reason she knew she applied was, well, wouldn't basically every girl? the chances of someone like her not applying were even lower. it was easier to climb the ladder to become queen through the selection and gain power. it's not like she was completely sure about it, and based on this girl's words, apparently, she didn't get a letter back yet. "I'm sure you'll get picked. You're pretty, you obviously have money, and you're a model. it's basically everything they could dream for in one." she said. it didn't seem like a compliment, though, it didn't seem like it was an insult to the girl before her. rather, it seemed more insulting to the royal family.

"and the queen doesn't need to be kind. she just needs to be nice. a queen that is kind is no more than a fool." she said. it was clear that the girl thought of the two to be very different things. and while the other may have thought she may be someone to keep an eye on, the truth was that she was just following her gut, and well, what she knows. she'd bet all her money that all the rich girls from waverly applied to become one of the selected. they were probably all even pissed that some poor good-for-nothing got picked as the selected from waverly. at the last bit, the girl just gave a bitter smile. "alright then. I'll head to a different location. have fun, hope you get selected and all that nonsense. spirit would probably be happy to see you again too." she added. she wanted to keep their interaction brief. honestly, it wasn't really like the girl to make enemies. however, it seemed a nerve was struck. she was merely being cautious, as any girl might do.

"also, it's best not to offer so much money to people. they might think you're a loan shark. believe it or not, not many girls on their own would accept so much money and take the chances of getting caught up with one. at least, not smart ones. you come off as one of those people who would sell a girl's body and then leave them for dead once they are no longer useful. it's nice at first until you offer them a buttload of money. then it's suspicious. don't be that suspicious stranger." the girl advised before she started to walk off. she was right, at least, with her experience. the kind of guys she described would compliment them and try to be their friend and appease them, then give them the money, let them spend it. once they spend it all, they close in on their prey and bite down. while she was sure this girl probably wasn't that and was just someone raised with a silver spoon and didn't know, the behavior was pretty suspicious. no reasonable person offers a couple fifty bucks to a street performer. the most she ever got from one person was a twenty.

in all honesty, if she really thought about it, the girl kind of reminded her of the guy her father tried to sell her to. though, it could be because she always saw the worse in people and assumed the worse. it's what's kept her alive and out of brothels so far, so it's working for her. though, it's easy to assume that she's never made that mistake where the best friend that she trusted unconditionally betrays her. she didn't allow herself to trust anyone enough to make a friend in general after all. she seemed nice at first, but honestly, it just seemed like she was a bitter child.

(( twenty bucks is enough to buy a whole twelve pack of ramen noodles and get soda-

((did you want to end it on your post? <3 unless you had another idea??))

The fact that Aster remained unfazed irritated her. She was a real piece of work, wasn't she? Especially for a street rat. And the more troubling thing was that she was perceptive. A little too much for her own girl. And here Vivien thought she might have a chance in added this talented asset to her collection. If she were to play at her birthday, people would no doubt comment on Aster's playing talent. How did Vivien ever find something like that? Of course, it was out of the goodness of her heart that she wanted to show this girl off to the world. The girl's rejection hurt like a knife twisting its way into her heart. The ungrateful little.... No matter. There were likely more of her kind just as talented as Aster hoping someone could dust them off and raise them up.

Ah. So she just looked the part, did she? Vivien didn't know whether to take that as a compliment. If they were ever to meet during the Selection, Vivien made a mental to watch out for this one. If Aster wanted to, she could make Vivien's life hell during their time in the castle. Vivien put on a strained smile. "Thank you. Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky ones." It was only a few hours before they would collect the girls but Vivien had a feeling Aster would recognize her in an instant. Who wouldn't? Especially if that person just offered you a wad of fifties. She'd definitely change her outfit before they picked her up. Maybe the change of clothes would keep her under the radar.

They had to leave on a good note, if Vivien didn't turn this around. Last thing she needed was as a girl on the loose talking behind her back. "Yes, but it buys the affection of the people and that's all a queen needs." Aster talked of moving on and Vivien knew she had to do something quick before she left a bad impression as the insistent money shark. "Wait, I'm sorry," she said, seeming sincere for a couple minutes. "Good luck with all your preparations. And give the prince a good kiss for me," she said with a wink. "And of course I'd be more than happy to meet Spirit. The star of the show."

"Noted," Vivien said, mouth twitching as the girl continued. Her? Vivien? Leave people for dead? Never. She was a faithful friend.... at least to get all she could from those people she deemed useful. She wasn't some kind of leech! The very idea was preposterous! Vivien only paid for good talent and nothing less. She wouldn't dare pay anyone for anything less than good work. Unless she could get an amazing deal then of course she would snatch the offer. "Well, I hope everything goes well with the Selection. May you be the next queen!" Vivien exclaimed, giving the girl a warm hug. Just don't get in my way

(view spoiler)[ I don't have anything of the sort. I'm just kind of going with the flow (hide spoiler)]

aster sighed when she was stopped. What was with this girl? there was no need to make amends or keep a good image with aster, as she was no one of importance. honestly, the girl's behavior was actually sort of annoying. she listened to the girl's words, not bothering to say anything in response. she didn't feel the need to, especially about the kiss thing. she had no actual interest in the prince, nor did she wish to covet the throne. none of that was of real importance to her. in the end, the only things that were important to her was her mother, the little kids that were growing up in similar situations to hers or on the street, and their lives. her world didn't need to be big, it just needed to be happy.

she was just watching the girl quietly. she would love to get a look on what she was actually thinking. that would be great. she didn't care much for pleasantries. she was lost in thought when the girl suddenly hugged her, startling her. she tensed up and pushed the girl away from her, backing up a bit. "as pleasant as our conversation was, you are still a stranger I met fifty minutes ago. please do not touch me." she said. the girl had ever only hugged her mother, and with how often the both of them were working, it wasn't a very common occurrence. sure, she liked hugs, but only from her mother. she didn't know this girl, so it only made her feel awkward.

for all she knew, this girl could be really shady. she didn't want anything to do with it. hugs were an exclusive privilege for those who were close to her and that she liked. she didn't really have the best experience with strangers, so she definitely didn't want them touching her. "i have no intention of being the next queen, nor do I care if i actually win." she told the girl simply. she placed her hands in her jean pockets. "now, if you excuse me, i do have somewhere else to be."

((oh okay!))

Vivien couldn't help but stare at the girl before her. In the Braam family, if something was given without question, you took it. Didn't matter what form it took. Whether it be money, clothes, or jewelry, you received it gratefully. And you better make sure you returned the favor. Nothing came for free in the Braam family. Maybe that was why Lily was always the black sheep of the family. She was perceived as the selfish one. Lily never returned a favor with interest. Vivien made sure to treat her relatives to an expensive restaurant while reaffirming that they would always be a good ally in case she needed them. Lily never did make use of her connections. She burned bridges when she should've constructed some of her own. Vivien couldn't stand it when poor Lily relied on her so much. It was tiresome having to take care of her. If Lily understood the rules of their family early on, Vivien wouldn't think of her sister as a little leech.

With the girl not taking the money, Vivien took it as an insult. Stuck up, good for nothing... When the girl commented on her hug, she couldn't help but snort. "Oh dear, maybe you need another one. Poor thing." Vivien made it look like she would give another when she backed away and smiled. "You really need another one don't you?" The way Aster was acting, she wouldn't doubt if the girl attacked her. Although... "What if I treated you out? You're bound to be famished waiting and waiting till they actually collect all the selected. How about it? Besides, it'll be a public place if you're worried I'm might try something," she said with a wink, tucking her hands in her pockets. Who could refuse a nice lunch out in the sun? No one. No one in their right mind would ever. But Vivien had an inkling that this girl just might do something as stupid as refuse lunch with a stranger. In that case, cheaper for her but Aster would definitely be missing out. Vivien would just have to keep an eye on her during the selection. No need to rush introductions once they met at the palace. Matter fact was that Aster would probably want to keep her distance from her the entire time. Maybe even start some horrendous rumors about her. If the girl dared to whisper so much as a letter about Vivien, she'd just have to handle it. No one ever said the pressure of marrying a glorious prince and the stressful roles that would come along with it would be easy. Perhaps during a party on the balconies would end in a disastrous suicide. They couldn't blame Vivien if she said she tried to help Aster. Her unfortunate death would only occur if the girl spoke. Either way, Vivien would do her best to be pleasant with the girl. No need to fester rumors especially ones that could easily reach the prince.

"Ah, but you should at least try nothing worse than a person who doesn't give their one hundred percent. There may be even more benefits the further you go into this competition. Maybe even more money than you could dream of." Vivien was in cloud nine. She couldn't help but imagine the luxurious apartment she'd had her eye on for quite some time. The gorgeous makeup one could never get enough of. Not to mention the food and room service that came with it. She could've died right then and there just thinking about it. "But what about lunch?" She pouted.

(( by the way, if you wanted to have vivien over at the limo, that's fine as well. the limo is at a different time than the regular thread (as it would take a while for them to reach the palace and we can't just have everyone spring forward to the palace without having any interactions with each other. it'd be an awkward limo ride if that was the case). I'll respond here soon

aster was starting to get annoyed. maybe it's because she preferred interacting with children rather than those her own age, but she didn't realize it'd be this difficult to shake someone off. children were stubborn and difficult, but at least most children still had some innocence to them. at least, some still did. she was glad children got to grow up in good homes, she really was. a golden spoon in their mouth and not having to suffer. that was something all children should be allowed to have. but that didn't stop her for distrusting the adults and finding brats annoying. and honestly, this kind of reminded her of a certain situation she ran in when she was a teenager. she remembered there was this rich kid, always offering her stuff, always wanting to buy her stuff or give her money. in the end, his ultimate goal was to just buy her. unfortunately, the girl refuses to be bought. which is probably why they were in so much debt. maybe if she just shut her mouth and allowed herself to get sold off, her mother wouldn't have such troubles. unfortunately, even if it was for her mother, she had no plans of doing so, no matter how nice it'd be for everyone. this girl might not be trying to 'buy' her, but aster still didn't like how willing she was to throw money around. she seemed to stiffen at the mention of the girl wanting to hug her again. her brows furrowed. it looked as though if she had tried to touch her again, the girl wouldn't end it with a simple push. she turned even paler at the thought of sitting across from the girl eating.

honestly, did this girl think that she'd accept a meal? if she was going to accept her offers, she would have just taken the money offered to her from the start. "I'll have to pass. I might get indigestion," she said with a huff. she didn't even want to eat with the royal family, something she'll have to do when she arrives as a member of the selected. she didn't want to eat with another high-class person unnecessarily.

she let out a small sigh. she wasn't sure what image she had on everyone, but she surely knew that that image probably didn't align well with aster. in all honesty, the only thing she wanted was to be free of debt and to be able to play freely. "i guess I'm the worse then." she said about her comment to trying. "if not trying is the worse, that is. oh no, i must be human scum. no, worse. I shall depart and repent deeply on my sins. maybe then I might reach some enlightenment." she began. it was clear sarcasm, but she didn't even put in the effort to make it sound decent. it was a monotone remark without much emotion. there goes her oscar award.

she offered a small smile, though, not a very convincing one. "are you done? if you plan to try to buy something for me or give me money, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. i was taught to not take candy from strangers or to follow weird strangers places, and i would be just an awful student if I were to disregard what I've been taught." she said. she seemed pretty eager to leave. if they were to meet again, she'd rather it not be until the limo if the girl got picked. even then, she'd much rather keep their conversations short.

honestly, it wasn't like the girl before she did anything wrong. in fact, she found their conversation rather pleasant at first. the problem was when she tried to pay her in such large sums and then continue to insist on the matter. touching her didn't exactly make her impression any better. she didn't even see the girl as someone manipulative. in fact, her current impression is that of a brat who's willing to throw around her money. it was good that the girl was making the most of what was handed to her in life and making use of everything she could to survive, aster just didn't want to be a part of that. she's been warned of it enough by her mother. there was a reason that her mother was in such a position, and it wasn't just because she wanted to marry a worthless seven.

(( aster hates her,
but like,
i absolutely love people like vivien < 3

((cool! okay, i'll do that after replying over here. <3))

Awwww. Maybe she was making the poor girl sweat? Vivien pouted when Aster's face turned chalk white. She was only asking for lunch, nothing much could come out of a quick bite to eat. If she really wanted to do something to Aster, she would've drugged her as the crowd dissipated.

"Thinking about your stomach? Oh dear, you can't live life that way. Otherwise, what would be the fun in that? Take some risks now and again," she bumped the girl playfully with her elbow, "it could do wonders for a stiff girl like you." This much was clear: Aster wanted no part in whatever plan Vivien had for her. If she didn't break it off soon, Aster would definitely be a blabber mouth. Especially once she recognized Vivien. Maybe she would just have to play deaf till they were accomodated in their own rooms.

Vivien couldn't help but laugh at Aster's sarcasm. "Yes, you are the scum of the earth if you don't give it your all." She had no idea why she laughed by the way Aster put it, it was hilarious. As the conversation continued, she couldn't but think of Lily who always got irritated whenever Vivien would bother her with a house chore. "Weird? Me? Oh no, now I can't have you thinking about me like that now can I? See, you would never have seen me again if only you took that fifty. AND we probably wouldn't even be here for another twenty minutes if you had just taken it. What I can't wrap my head around is, all I want to do is pay you for your fabulous service, and you just won't take it." Vivien rubbed her long, polished nails against the palms of her hands. Even with her sharp mind, Vivien couldn't figure this girl out. If she wanted nothing to do with her, she could just leave and they could go on about their days but for some reason, she stayed. Maybe Vivien could've left too but the matter was that Aster didn't take the money, a manner that would be talked about endlessly, amongst the Braams, if she were Lily.

But if they were to part ways, she'd want it to be on her terms. "Well," she flipped her long hair over her shoulder, "it's been lovely talking to you, Aster," she said with a voice sweet as honey. "Who knows? Maybe we'll come across each other sooner than you think and you'll avoid me, sadly. Anyways," Vivien patted Aster on the head again, hoping to get some kind of reaction from her, "good luck on being a selected and I'll be sure to cheer for you!"

((haha. XD i would too. oh i'm so happy to hear that!! it's been a while since i've rped with a character like Vivien so i hope she wasn't too stuff. XD))

The girl rolled her eyes at the other's words. She honestly couldn't stand her. but, she no longer had any intentions to explain herself any further. She was trying to be polite by ending the conversation properly, but she kept being pulled back. Fortunately, the girl didn't outright attack her, so she would have no reason to leave rudely without a word. then again, her actions and words could be considered to be contradictory.

When the girl was finally willing to set aster free, she let out a long sigh of relief. "Yeah, I guess." She said. she didn't seem too bothered by the other girl agreeing with her comment about being scum, in fact, she didn't seem to even notice it at all. after all, if you hear something repeatedly, you eventually begin to ignore it. She didn't seem to like being patted though. if anything, she flinched when the girl reached her hand out. she had almost reached her own hand out to stop her, but stopped herself half way. she didn't want to be targeted by some rich families just because she touched their precious model. instead, she just glared at vivien. right now, she was being passive. aggressive, yes, but passive in the sense that she wasn't trying to hurt the girl before her. if she was going down though, she would at least go down fighting. that didn't seem to be the case here though, so she just tried to keep her cool. after all, there was no need to make any enemies if they weren't targeting her first. at her last words, she turned away and walked off. it seemed like aster had finally had enough. with that final goodbye from the other girl, she figured it was her chance to go. she did imply that they should depart. and honestly? aster just wanted her boots.

((i don't really have any other ideas atm. XD if you want to end it here, that's fine since vivien would probably just go out to lunch or something. XD))

(( we can just end it here