C.H.A.R.M.I.N.G.

Not a Damsel, Not in Distress

Once upon a yesterday, in a house across the road from the big scary tower that no one ever seems to be able to afford the rent on, Cassandra Lowery was having a bad day. A very bad day. The kind of day that when you wake up you just know you're not going to be able to get anything productive done at all. So, having woken up this morning in a room that she recognized as belonging not to her, but to The Evil Warlock Ashley, her mood turned sour the second the realized that she wouldn't be getting any real work done today.

She groans and stands up, stretching out her sore muscles as she looks around the, honestly rather nicely furnished bedroom for the entrance to the bathroom. Finding it, she opened the door and entered, pulling a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush from the medicine cabinet. For someone as evil and annoying as Ashley was, at least he was considerate enough to remember and stock the toiletries of his F.K.O.s (Frequent Kidnaping Victims.)

Rinsing out her mouth and putting the stuff away, she returns to the main room and starts to explore it for any changes since the last time she was here. The same pretty, albeit generic, still lifes of flowers and bowls of fruit were still on the wall. No new books on the bookshelf, though it did seem he had gotten a brand-new bookshelf since this one wasn't sagging any, and all the shelves seemed to still be in place. She pulls one of the books from the shelf, sits down in the nearby armchair and opens it where she'd left her place marker. She starts to read, knowing Ashley would be around eventually. She couldn't wait to hear what kind of demands he'd make this time, but she didn't want him to think she actually cared about them.

Maybe half an hour later, Ashley knocked on the door before entering. Cass looks up at him briefly, satisfied to see the mildly annoyed look on his face when it's clear she isn't paying him any attention. He coughs before speaking, "Um, hello? Can you put the book down please? I need to talk to you."

"Oh, I'm sure you do," Cass laughs and continues to read. "I don't care."

"Listen, I know that we never really got off on the right foot, but can you please cooperate with me just once?" Cass looks up again, and smirks a little when she sees that Ashley is clearly desperate.

Cass sighs and shuts the book, looking at Ashley. He flinches, and Cass snorts, "Alright, let me get this straight," she starts counting on her fingers. "This is the ninth time in two months that you've kidnapped me. Not only that, but you seem fixated on the idea that I am someone C.H.A.R.M.I.N.G. sees as important enough that they will drop everything and send their best and brightest to come 'save me'. So why don't we just jump to the part where you realize that you've made a terrible mistake and that you should have never messed with C.H.A.R.M.I.N.G. and the people who work for them, and just let me go?"

Ashley looks at Cass and blinks a few times, unsure of what to say next. Finally, he manages to stammer out, "Bu...but, of course they'll send someone. You're Nikolas' right hand man- er woman, plus when has C.H.A.R.M.I.N.G. ever listened to the rules when it came to Nikolas' friends. You're a Damsel in Distress, he'll show up. And when he does, I'll finally be able to-"

"Do what?" Cass laughs, cutting him off, "buddy, every time you've tried this all you've ever managed to accomplish is making a fool of yourself. And besides that," she finally stands up and approaches him. Her eyes turn from a light hazel color to red in the reflection of Ashely's eyes. She jabs a finger into his chest, "Let's get one thing perfectly clear. I am not a damsel. I am a commoner, not exactly something that C.H.A.R.M.I.N.G. generally drops everything to go out and help. And I am not in distress, I am mildly, no, very irritated. The only reason why I haven't left already is because I know Nik is going to charge through your front door any minute now, and when he does he is going to fall into the trap you set up for him."