7 Shades of Sin

Vanity

So what if Vanity is a bit prideful? So what if she brags a little? That's no reason to say that she's shallow or besotted with herself. 'Snide comments are pretty much a given when you're better than everybody,' she preens. 'Honestly, there's only one Envy, not seven!'

If anyone is obsessed, it's Greed, so haters back off. Please.

She stops in a mall by a beautiful fountain that's spraying water in graceful arcs. She wishes that she could see her reflection, for she's certain if she ever caught sight of it, she'd never be able to look away.

There was a story like that, wasn't there? A man named Narcissus, who'd been so captivatingly beautiful and proud, that he'd rebuked all those that fell in love with him. One day, he fell deeply in love with himself upon gazing on his own reflection in a lake.

It isn't all that strange these mortals would invent a story about her, except for the fact that she's all gender bent. Oh, who is she kidding? She'd be gorgeous no matter what gender she was.

She hovers above the pool of water, and wilts slightly when she doesn't see her own face looking back at her. Of course, she was expecting that...but still, it's a horrible disappointment. Vanity feels theatrical tears spill onto her cheeks; what a dreadful thing!

She pities this world full of living creatures. Her face won't be seen by them until they're dead. Vanity clicks her tongue. She does hate dead people so much; their ghastly shriveled skin and sunken eyes are just so...uncomplimentary. Not to mention the horrendous stench that comes with decomposition.

Suddenly, a girl sits down right on top of Vanity. Well, technically, she goes right through, but it's the thought that counts. Vanity shoots up angrily--honestly, Anger needs to stop messing with her--and prepares to curse this insolent creature that dares disrupt her thoughts, before pausing.

She doesn't know what makes her stop, but she does. It's certainly not the girl's breathtaking beauty--note the sarcasm--or her confidence. The girl has neither.

In fact, she's sort of plain looking, with dull brown eyes and dirty blonde hair that looks like it can't decide whether to be straight or wavy and is caught in between. Perhaps it's just the expression on her face, like she can't be bothered to put a smile on. Vanity notices that she's wearing some sort of potato sack or trash bag--oh no, it's an extremely old t-shirt that has words so faded she can't make them out.

This absolute monstrosity would've been hard enough to forgive already, but on top of all that, the girl clearly had no sense of self-pride. She slouched and rolled her shoulders in as if she were trying to hide.

'Hide from what?' Vanity thinks irritably. 'It's not like you're so interesting that everyone's looking at you. In fact, I would say they're all looking at me if it weren't for the fact that...well, they can't see me. But that's besides the point!'

The girl clearly needs help. Luckily for her, Vanity is going to use her precious time to add a little spice to this otherwise bland dish--er, mortal. Or...better yet, she'll just use--ahem, assist this girl and the human can be part of the contest! A win-win for everyone, if everyone means Vanity.

"Kate! Come on, Quinta says there's a skirt she's been dying to get--" A girl with red hair calls out and the boring human raises her head. Blah, blah, blah. Vanity gets the picture. This human, Kate--that's an awfully boring name--is going to be hers, whether she likes it or not. Kate nods and climbs to her feet, shuffling slowly towards two girls.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" The girl with the red hair asks, and Kate shakes her head. This seems to be a ritual they go through everytime they go shopping. 'Oh, for Lucifer's sake!' Vanity rolls her eyes and slips under Kate's defenses, into her mind.