A fruity tang prominently lingered on her tongue the longer her canines impaled the viscous substance, as she dazed off into her muses while sitting by the same windowsill she frequented in her room. Absent-minded and captivated by the pitiful scenery below, she was considerably a shut-in within the castle-- besides, one would be insane to refuse the safeguard bestowed upon the privileged, for the localities beneath were blanketed with calamitous discord.

Bubblegum; a fine creation, much to her liking. Once a perfect structure, it remains resilient even as it is ravaged by teeth. Unmeant to be devoured, the procedure perpetually steadies until the chewy substance loses savor, and becomes a flavorless vessel of insipidity.

Just like the fate of the civilians of Ataraxia.

The dazzling red hues in her pupils reflected against the glass, flecked with a ray of shine from the radiance outdoors. The weather outside was adequate; the sun glazed across the land, though it didn't signify that the suburb was any brighter. The bustling citizens below were a mere blur within what she assumed to be the central marketplace, unable to be perceived by the naked eye from the altitude of her position. Not by natural means, at least, but it was very much possible in the era of magic.

"Idling by the window again, Levi? The inanities below aren't a sight for sore eyes, dear."

A new figure hovered above her own in the sheeny reflection of the glass, as a pair of orange eyes (resembling that of pumpkins, or perhaps persimmons) scrutinized the gum-chewing girl. From the mirror image alone, she discerned the other female's luscious, light copper locks, neatly framed around her face. The girl dressed herself as extravagant as always to reflect her lavish lifestyle, consisting of a lavender floral pin, golden pendant, and choker adorned with black ruffles. A bright honeysuckle dress embellished with more floral designs fixed on her form, accompanied by even greater appendages. In comparison, the bubblegum girl was far from ostentatious, preferring simple, single-colored robes with her low, pink-dyed twintails.

An audible 'pop' sounded, as her bubble burst. Her bubblegum bubble, at least-- her temper stored a greater capacity than a mere breath freshener, or so she thought. Reluctantly tilting her head to the side, her pupils locked with the late teenager, narrowing her eyes in displeasure.

"It's been how many years? Five? Seven? May I remind you that my name is Levia? For Ataraxia's sake, it wouldn't kill you to pronounce the extra syllable, dearest." Levia rolled her eyes, lightly sighing with a tint of irk in her tone. "I'll do what I want, thank you. You should know that I'm fond of this landscape."

It was true that the landscape worked its wonders on alluring her attention. The skies outside naturally blended together in their vast variety of blue hues, mixed in with ample amounts of sunshine and precipitation for Ataraxia to shine as a nation with desirable climate. Outwardly, the country appeared as a heaven to reside in. It was, until a few decades ago.

The quantity of things that could go wrong in only twenty years baffled her.

Down beneath, however, the inhabitants were a mess with their gambles, while the authorities clasped no intention to mend matters. They were the ones who implemented the chaos to begin with, and Levia undoubtedly found it disgusting. Absolutely revolting, as the nobles observed from afar for their own entertainment.

But, by staring out of the same windowsill at the same sight everyday, was she not alike? One of the filthy bastards who watched for their own amusement, failing to take action.

The copper-haired lady's glossed lips tugged up into a delighted smile, her soft, dainty giggles ephemerally filling the air. "Ah, this certainly takes us back a while! Yes, well, doesn't Levi sound better, though? I mean, Levia is such a handful to say."

"I want to keep my name as is, but I appreciate the suggestion. I find that quite ironic coming from you, Scheherazade. Your name, I'm afraid, is a pain to spell and pronounce." she spontaneously riposted, crossing her arms.

Petty quarrels were not uncommon for the pair, although reminiscing on the past, such disputes ceased to exist in the years of their early adolescence. They were born shortly after the methodology of the Grand commenced, when the country of Ataraxia fell into ruin. As both pairs of parents succeeded to survive the mess of games, their children were ultimately welcomed into a life of pampered privilege, free of the burden of those who scavenged outdoors.

The prestigious resided in the Castle of Ataraxia-- or now, most commonly known as the Grand Castle. With just a select bunch of fortunate families, segregated from the hell faced by common mongrels, they often lived isolated from the inanities, keeping to themselves. Not many children lurked around either, so the duo was bound to have crossed paths sooner or later.

Their friendship started off as well as any other, with two relatively well-mannered kids bonding over typical play-dates and hangouts. The connection seemed to strengthen over time, a sense of trust towering up to the point where a mutual warmth was shared. In turn, it meant being able to comfortably joke and squabble knowing that the other party would return the favor.

Presently standing proudly at seventeen years of age, they were practically best friends. Allies who relished a life free of agony, thanks to their heritage.

Scheherazade blinked widely, sheepishly smiling in surprise and defeat. Over the years, it became evident that her most attractive feature happened to be the stunning grins she cast on a daily basis, able to enchant all. "Eh? Touché, I suppose that's true, Levi. But you've got to admit that Scheherazade is a lovely name, fitting for a master magician such as myself."

Unlike Levia, Scheherazade had a knack for magic, more so than the average person. With a deadly arsenal of spells and power at her disposal, she was regarded as a prized possession to the higher-ups.

The bubblegum fanatic paused mid-conversation, pondering on the disasters trampling on the common-folk as they spoke. It always seemed to escort an internal commiseration whenever her thoughts drifted to the topic, which unnerved her on multiple occasions.

"Say, Scheherazade. What if I wanted to head down there? Where the general populace is, with their sorrowful games?"

After bluntly choosing her words, another bubble emerged from Levia's brim lips, the pinkish tint of translucency forming into an imperfect sphere. As she vigilantly watched for any changes in the magician's reaction (who manifested nothing new, maintaining her glorious, exemplary smile), the bead snapped once more, unlike her obstinate hopes.

"Levi, dear, have your aspirations gone to playing the 'hero' of this tale? Even when you're already considered an elite, top-tier civilian from birth-- I can't tell whether you're valiant, stupid, or even masochistic to risk your perceptive senses like that."

It wasn't to say that Levia's impulses weren't justifiable, however. From what she'd read and heard in hushed whispers from her parents, rations used to be distributed equally, equality was present, and sufficient resources were granted to satisfy every man's needs. Havoc was not wrecked in such a horrendous fashion, and Ataraxia genuinely lived up to its name of serenity.

Rebellion ceased to sweep the nation despite the absurdities of the current order; Levia presumed that trepidation consumed the people far too heavily to try, as the imbalance of power between classes posed a threat. Or perhaps the obstacles simply outweighed the benefits, although she lacked the experience of truly comprehending the situation to arbitrate.

Scheherazade's calculating stare prevailed, as her lips pressed into a thin line. Her countenance betrayed no emotion, tone tinged with an unknown sentiment as her words smoothly slipped within a single sentence.

"Knowing you, I would ultimately have to say that you're insane, you lovable lunatic."

non compos mentis :: of unsound mind

♪♫ Soundtrack :: Wadanohara OST #31 - "Dinner Party"

Banners © obsidianix