S a l e t é I I

XIII - Cheveux - Quatorze

Taking a page from the Deering book, that she would always be a part of, Cassia tried her best to stay positive over the hours that followed - the many, many hours. Furthermore, she attempted to do so in a more immediate way, the company of the other girls being the blessing that she valued the most. Conversations, card games, sitting with Zisel for a while... They were small things, and she was thankful for each and every minute that she could spend without her own thoughts as her only company.

Uliana had continued to extend both kindness and consideration to her, whilst Klavdiya had remained curious about her life up top, asking her new questions regularly.

What's your room like? Does everyone in your house look smart? How many rooms are there? You have a garden?

Such curiosity was both pleasant and quietly sad; pleasant because Cassia appreciated the attention, somewhat disheartening when she really thought about it, as it must have stemmed from a brand of amazement wrought from having next to nothing.

Cassia had asked about potentially phoning home, something that would have been both swift and direct. This apparently wasn't viable, as Lower Merveille had nothing in the way of reception for devices such as phones. She didn't really understand how that sort of thing worked, and - according to Monet - the decision to limit those sorts of options within the underground had been a deliberate one, overseen by higher powers.

"Lower Merveille is what you could call off the grid. Some call it a blessing, others call it a curse, depending on their reasoning for being here in the first place." The older girl had told her.

Taya had continued to avoid her. Cassia kept in mind the scene she'd witnessed following their return earlier that day, involving the broken crayon; Taya was young, and so earning her affection might have actually been a surprisingly simple affair, provided that Cassia could find something nice to give her. Replacement crayons, a new toy, something for her to do...

She'd picked up on how Taya was visibly interested in Polina, the girl always finding the doll more interesting than Cassia whenever they'd come more or less into contact. Cassia had no intention of letting Polina out of her sight for anything aside from serious matters.

Sitting in the back room with Zisel after she'd spent some time resting upstairs with Uliana had been another nice little exchange. Being one of the smaller rooms, the more subdued fire within felt more significant. Things were on the cluttered side - what with the sofa and its current state, and with all of the things Zisel used, plus the clothes she had hanging up - and yet the sense of activity brought about by such features was charming, in its own sort of way.

Everyone was doing their best, and it was that collective effort that Cassia believed imbued that touch of charm.

"Polina feels really well made... Nice and soft, though not flimsy either..." Zisel had been saying after Cassia had allowed her to hold her small friend again, and as she stroked her hair and felt her dress.

Her touch was delicate, maybe due to her profession, and she rubbed doll's dress between her fingertips, getting a feel for the fabric that it consisted of.

"What colour is her dress?"

"The one she has now is green, she has others back home. Green is my sister's favourite colour, you see." Cassia replied, more than happy to explain.

"Ohh. Is it a dark green? I'm imagining a dark green."

"Yes, it is. I guess it is kind of... I don't know, sea green? You know, its got that kind of tint to it."

"That sounds nice... Even your doll is fancy."

Cassia smiled softly, Zisel's words gentle and compassionate in tone, and yet... Imagining a dark green...