{Fire and Brimstone}

[♣Lolita♣]

"Desu desu desu.......".

We're the words being muttered by what seemed like a young girl,and she seemed to be running back and forth with a broom in her hand.What was she chasing or what in the name of the fire kingdom she was doing only one could guess.Truth of the matter was she was chasing one of the crows it had once again taken off with her meal she had prepared in the kitchen,being a living doll she did the chores here and was secretly a spy playing for both sides.

"My meal that I prepared desu,get back here desu".

The crow sqwacked and cawed then took off down a corridor,Lolita tripped over her dress and fall flat on her face.Groaning she just lay there with broom in hand and face against the warm floors,what rotten luck and after all the time she had spent on making that meal too.

"Stupid crow.....desu".

[.:Legato∴Kamelot:.]

∴ King Legato walked silently through his halls. The air was filled with the dry heat that hung about the castle, coming from the magma beneath the stone, and the lava flowing above. Despite this, the King gave the impression of being perpetually cool, his large white coat covering his under armor without any let out for the heat. ∴

∴ He wasn't eating anything at the moment, which most people wouldn't notice right off, though they were sure to think something was missing. It was like seeing someone for the first time without their glasses, and wondering what on Earth made them look so different before realizing they were gone. Yes, it was a very odd occurance to see Legato without some sort of food or snack. ∴

∴ But this anomoly was going to be righted in just a moment. He was headed to the kitchens anyway. He normally had a Pawn go retrieve his food, but he did often times go to the trouble of acquiring his own meal, much to he discomfort of the chefs. ∴

∴ It was just when he'd come out of the smaller arch of the hallway, and into the Great Room that he noticed the doll. It was running around after a crow with a broom, the crow clutching what looked to be food in it's black beak. A few rounds and the doll tripped on it's dress, leaving the bird to escape. ∴

∴ All this he saw without thinking anything, he wasn't bothered, perplexed, angry, curious, annoyed, sympathetic or any of those useless emotions some other lesser beings might have been. He wasn't anything really, except hungry, and so he continued his way into the room. ∴

∴ The doll was a spy, usually being in the White Queen's palace, possibly just as much as it was here in his palace. He withheld opinion on that, foregoing judgment for the time being. Acts of espionage were under the responsibility of the 'queens' so he wouldn't interfere unless need be. ∴

∴ He walked passed the doll, his steps slowing until had stopped just a few feet away from it. The doll has noticed him, he knew, and he waited to see if it would say anything before he continued toward the kitchens. ∴

[♣Lolita♣]

She just lay there whimpering because her good meal had gotten away,but hearing footsteps that we're quite familiar enter the room she was in she froze up.Those footsteps belonged to the Red King and when they stopped she gulped abit knowing they had stopped right beside her.The king was heartless to the core and didn't care about anyone or anything,not even a doll like her that always tryed to keep tabs on both kingdoms.But if she didn't pull herself off the floor,Lolita knew he would continue on walking not saying a word so she had to do something.

Raising her head she looked up slowly towards the king,her multicolored eyes blinked a few times.Then finally pulling herself up from the ground she brushed herself off the best she could still holding the broom and bowed,keeping her head down in respect for his majesty before raising it once more and looked upon the ruler in awe then spoke.

"Your majesty desu,i'm sorry that crow it.......well it took off with a delicious meal desu".

She pointed in the direction she thought it might have went,giving a small nervous laugh in the process but quickly stopped.Like he cared that a meal was carried off by a crow who was probably by now enjoying every morsel,every little juicy morsel.Her eye twitched in anger as she gripped the broom tightly,as that same bird came back crowing into the hall to taunt her.She swung the broom around quickly,yelling and cursing seeing the beast fly off once more but why wasn't it in pain from her hitting it unless.......oh no.

"AHHHHH LOLITA IS SORRY SIRE,FORGIVE ME DESU".

[.:Legato∴Kamelot:.]

∴ The doll told him about it's lost meal, though why exactly it felt the need to tell him was hard to guess. Did it figure he would help retrieve it? If it did than it was incredibly foolish. He blinked, focusing his cold eyes on the doll before him. Was there anything else? He wasn't sure, but he was still hungry and was about to leave the creature to it's own affairs when the bird came back. ∴

∴ It reacted too quickly and so rashly that he only had a split second to react. His powers, as usual reached first. They weaved in like threads into the doll's brain, stabbing subtly at a few nerved that changed it's motion. The motion itself was going to fast to stop, however, so he merely adjusted the doll's range, so the broom's thickness came short, not reaching his head, as his body reacted secondly to grab a hold of the broom-end in one strong hand. ∴

∴ It was screaming something like an apology, but he wasn't listening. His eyes drifted closed as he felt something out of the normal. It was the bristles of the broom. They were touching him. The sharp points of straw had brushed against his cheek, not nearly enough to cause more than a little discomfort, and much to little to cut his flesh. But, none the less, it'd hit him. ∴

∴ And that was not to be tolerated. ∴

∴ His grip on the broom end tightened, and he suddenly jabbed it back toward the doll, the smooth wooden handle slipping through it's fingers to stab straight into it's artificial sternum. He moved so that he could pin the doll to the floor with it, almost subconsciously using his power to pin it's arms and legs still. He applied pressure until he felt something crack. ∴

∴ He wasn't angry. No, definitely not; he couldn't remember the last time he felt truly angry. The broom hadn't hurt him, and it hadn't annoyed him. But it hit him, and so the doll had to pay. It was just the obvious course of things. As he pressed down, he wondered if the doll could feel any of the pain he was inflicting upon it, or if it would just watch, desensitized, as he crushed it's chest cavity. He planned to ask, just for the general knowledge, but he quite suddenly thought up a better question. One he asked often, but seemed to always get a displeasing answer. He asked anyway. ∴

∴ "Are you afraid?" ∴

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[♣Lolita♣]

Lolita gulped knowing what would happen to her,such a silly thing as asking for him to forgive her.No he would never nope not even a single drop of remorse,she had hit him with the broom and now she was going to be punished.She could feel his grip tight on the one end of the broom,this wasn't going to be good.Trying to step back and turn to run,she didn't have time watching the smooth handle of the broom seemed to slip right through her fingers.The end hitting her sternum hard,falling to the floor Lolita was helpless like the doll she was.

Her arms and legs pinned she couldn't move,but just because she was a doll didn't mean she didn't have feelings and emotions.If the King thought she couldn't feel this he was dead wrong,she could feel the pain in her throat as she tryed to gasp for a little bit of air.Hearing something crack from the pressure he was applying on her poor arms and legs not to mention her sternum,the crack had been her right arm.But that was the least of her worries at the momment,she felt as if her chest.....the cavity that most humans or creatures had was being crushed.

Her eyes just stared up towards the king,was she afraid of course she was.Did he think her just some common doll who would just lay here not feeling anything,she was in pain just like any other being in this dark world would feel if they we're in her situation.Lolita was no mere doll,at one time she had been a special doll who was loved and adored.But here she was always afraid and scared,no matter which palace she went to it was the same thing.So was she afraid and frightened,of course and she would make them all see she was no mere doll.

"Y.....es".

[.:Legato∴Kamelot:.]

∴ The Red King looked down on the doll dispassionately. Oh, but it did look in pain, what with all of the tiny gasps and whimpers it was making. It's odd set of eyes were wide with terror, and he thought briefly that his adopted daughter would have liked to be here for this. Of course if hadn't occurred to him that he should let the thing go. ∴

∴ 'Yes.' It had said. Legato's lips curled into a small smile and he chuckled just a bit. It wasn't that he was amused, more that he found himself surprised that it would be honest with him. Many creature's within his Kingdom were usually afraid that that would insult him, or else to proud, and they were all rewarded with the consequence of lying to their King. Death. ∴

∴ So perhaps the thing would be fortunate today. His gaze traveled back to his current victim. ∴

∴ It's arm was broken a bit, he could see now. His amber eyes took in the way it bent awkwardly, and how the doll shuddered when his power forced it to move. It was hurting, most definitely. How unusual. ∴

∴ He went over this rationally in his mind. Perhaps he shouldn't kill it today. After all he didn't know yet if the creature could be rebuilt completely. And it would be difficult to get another spy, he assumed, though that was a job for his 'queen' Pieces. He looked back at the doll's arm and seemed to have an idea. ∴

∴ "Just one then." ∴

∴ He spoke calmly, and at once his power began to stab at his victim's nerves to comply. The injured arm jerked around violently, in a way that humanoids would never do of their own will. The bones snapped, he could hear, but his power kept the muscles from stopping. ∴

∴ He ignored the sounds the doll was making, waiting for his ability to finish destroying it's left arm. He only stopped when even his power could not get any more motion out of the broken limb. He stabbed at the nerve once more, as hard as he could and one finger barely twitched. He then, quite suddenly, released his old on the doll, his pressure on the broom coming off last. ∴

∴ He looked down at the doll with an expression unchanged from the one he walked into the room with. ∴

∴ "Do you wonder why I chose to only break one arm?" ∴

∴ He though briefly that 'break' might have been to tame a word, but he ignored the thought completely. ∴

∴ "Please do not assume it was for mercy I don't possess. My decision was quite rational. Had I broken you completely it would be difficult to find something new to replace you with. As for why only one..." ∴

∴ He'd already turned to walk away. Knowing that he was done with the doll already. He headed for the kitchens again, though he moved slow enough that when he spoke again she could hear him clearly. ∴

∴ "Well, you would need to have one to fix the other, I assume." ∴

∴ He continued on his way, as if he hadn't had any interruption. He let his eyes close, he seemed to be punishing evil himself more often than usual. Normally he wouldn't bother with hurting that doll, he would have just gotten a few Pawns to chain her in the Courtyard for a few days. He tried to think if anything was bothering him; but came up with nothing. Road hasn't checked in at the castle for a while now. His eyes opened, wondering where that thought came from. Was he bothered that his adoptive daughter hadn't returned for so long? ∴

∴ He almost delved deeper into that theory, until he finally reached the hall that lead to the kitchens. Oh, that's what it was. He was hungry, and unused to the feeling. He wondered why he'd ever thought it was anything else. ∴

(see, I'm nice! I was set to have Lolita's tiny little chest bashed in, but I substituted it for a bit of character development. Also, she can follow him if she wants, she's off the hook now since he wasn't angry with her. That is unless she's a complete ditz and/or idiot and touches Legato again. Then we can have more fun. ^^)

[♣Lolita♣]

"Just one then"

His words made her poor little body shudder,if that was even possible with the force of his power upon her.Lolita screamed out in pain feeling that her arm was being torn apart,it hurt it hurt so much.The pain shooting through her arm was almost too unbearable to stand,but she was nothing but a doll wasn't she and inside her was a soul but that was it.But she had a life of her own that was she was happy with,when he was done and she felt his power lift off her body she couldn't feel anything in her right arm it was numb and limp.Pushing the broom away from her,she sat up as he spoke.

"Because Lolita is not useful desu,if I am completely broken".

She should be relieved it was only one arm,but now she would have to fix herself.Is this what humans felt like when they got they're bones broken,this pain that shot out throughout they're entire being.Using her good arm she managed to stand,her right one limp at her side as she raised her multicolored eyes towards the king.She frowned at his words but saw he was already leaving for the kitchens,now she could turn and leave but she wanted to follow.Moving one foot in front of the other,she quickly ran after the King but looked away from him.

"Sire I am a doll with a soul desu,I can feel pain and sorrow and......".

She decided to bite her tounge there,why was she saying all this to the King.He cared not for feelings,and probably anyone who spoke about them we're executed.Lolita continued to follow keeping quiet for now,but every once in awhile she glanced up slowly towards the Red King.He seemed to be in deep thought about something but she was no mind reader,so whatever it was that was on his mind would be kept a secret from her.

Going into the kitchen she looked around,something smelled good in here.Oh maybe one of the bakers had made something yummy,she always like something sweet in her stomache but first she had to fix her arm.What a nightmare it would take her quite awhile,and she needed to find her kit to fix herself up with.

[.:Legato∴Kamelot:.]

∴ The Red King noticed the doll following him before it began to speak. He wondered briefly why it was talking to him. A doll with a soul... was that supposed to make it more human to him? It didn't make much difference. ∴

∴ He walked into the kitchen and took in the sweet scents that filled the room. Things were always being cooked in the kitchen - regardless of whether or not there was a chef around. Chefs were there for added flavor, and to keep the utensils in check... but now in the slow time between lunch and dinner, the kitchen was empty. ∴

∴ For the King it was just a well. He didn't need a bunch of nervous cooks trying to make him something fancy, he'd never had a taste for the upper-class gourmet. If he could have something that tasted good, it would be fine. ∴

∴ He walked over to the oven and looked inside. There was about a dozen sweet rolls browning within. Without much deliberation, King Legato opened the oven and pulled the baking tray out in one smooth motion. The burning heat of the metal tray lot on the King of a lava-surrounded castle. He searched calmly for a brown bag, and once he found it, dumped eleven of the sweet rolls unceremoniously into it's paper depths. ∴

∴ The last unfortunate sweet roll found it's way to the King's mouth as the royal turned away from the counter, brown bag cradled in his left arm like a child. He chewed slowly and swallowed, the baked sweetness was good and it was already beginning to make him feel better. Yellow-gold eyes stopped on the troubled and broken doll before him. He paused a moment, deciding to be particular yet again, and ask it something he really didn't care about. ∴

∴ "What were you going to say a moment ago?
You cannot end with 'and'; finish your statement." ∴

∴ The statement was to-the-point but explained, he thought, which gave her better opportunity to answer. He took another bite of the sweet roll and waited.