what once was mine.

[nowgoandgether]

Lena Austen has been turned into her six-year-old self. It was a shock to wake up and discover she was no longer a woman in her twenties and instead, the child version of her. She's retained enough memories to recognize people from her adult life, but her mannerisms and her way of thinking are now that of a six-year-old. It's quite a dilemma. That'

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[enjoythe_ride]

Bela still hasn't managed to get out of her shackled state, but unfortunately for her, she can't stay bottled up in the Kashtta all week. What she can do is wrap a coat around her shoulders and head out to work on some of the research that was given to her. It's not ideal, and the shackles still make enough noise to draw attention, but at least she's warm.

For the most part.

She's making her way down the street, and at first she ignores the talking mirror -- there seems to be enough strangeness wandering around the city as of late, but when she catches glimpse of who is behind the mirror, she does a double take and moves back.

And then she smirks.

"At least someone around here is telling the truth."

[lefttogive]

"Not surprised one as lovely as you would agree with me, dear," the Mirror says in a kind voice, a complete 180 from how she sounds when she speaks to John, since they've been going over the many fashion faux pas he's made throughout the years that she is aware of.

"Would it kill you to be on my side, woman?" John asks Bela, arms folded across his chest.

"Why be on the losing side?" the Mirror asks practically.

It won't be long before he notices the sound of those shackles.

For now, he is just completely offended by life.

[enjoythe_ride]

"Yes," she replies without skipping a beat. "It would be excruciatingly painful. You wouldn't like it."

She smirks a bit, before moving closer to look in the mirror herself, eying it with a careful business eye, because that's how she's used to looking at things like this. Mirrors -- they are complicated objects. You never know what someone could do to them.

"Besides. What fun is it if I'm on your side?"

[lefttogive]

"That's sarcasm," the Mirror informs John once Bela has replied.

He gives the mirror an exasperated look before turning back to Bela. "It'd be a lot of fun! My side is filled with fun. You cannot imagine all the sorts of perks people get just from choosing my side," John says to her matter-of-factly, noticing her inspecting the mirror.

"It just popped out of nowhere. Seems hellbent on finding the fairest of them all, though. And before you answer," he says to the mirror. "I get it's not me. Shut up."

[enjoythe_ride]

"Oh, I wouldn't take it too personally." And she's honest about that. "It's probably heckling because it has nothing better to do, and can't go anywhere."

Which, you know, is what she would do if she were in it's shoes. But she's not. She's in sandals and shackles. She thinks her affliction is a little more annoying.

[lefttogive]

The Mirror sniffs indignantly once again, though she finds she can't argue about that--she does not want to be here, and not-nice things happen when she is bored. That's all this really is. Boredom.

John frowns and takes a step toward Bela. "...What's going on with you?"

[enjoythe_ride]

"What?" she frowns, before glancing down at herself. "Oh, nothing. Just a minor Rift inconvenience. Nothing I can't get used to for a little while."

And hope that later it goes away.

[lefttogive]

John studies her, as if uncertain whether to believe her or not, but he won't push when there's a snarky mirror in between them.

"Hmm. Now she has a lot of promise," the mirror says, nodding her approval of Bela. Shackles and all. Gives more of a mysterious aura.

[enjoythe_ride]

That's a wise choice, John. It's a very wise choice. Mostly because -- not even she knows what's going on right now.

She glances back at the mirror with a bit of a smirk, before looking back at her guardian. "Maybe you're just not the mirror's type."

[lefttogive]

John's eyes narrow as the mirror continues to eye Bela appreciatively, before snapping its gaze back to John derisively.

"Please." He snorts. "I'm everyone's type."

Lightning sparks the mirror's edges. Apparently not, John.

[enjoythe_ride]

Bela sees that, before starting to tug on John's arm lightly. "I think it might be best if we go. Safer for all of us, really."

Because this may be her first magic mirror, but she at least has enough sense not to make it angry.

[lefttogive]

John glares at the mirror, but he won't fight the tug. He does not have the best judgment when it comes to the mirror, and it's only until they're allowed to be at a safe distance from it he speaks.

"Can you believe the nerve of that thing?"

[enjoythe_ride]

"You're the one who let it get under your skin," she points out, linking her arm in his as they walk. How she manages to do it without the shackles getting in her way -- don't ask. She's just that smooth. It's part of her charm. "If you open the door, it's not it's fault that it knew how to push your buttons."

Magical talking items are just like people after all.

[lefttogive]

Bela is the most charming and smooth, it's true. "Fine, I guess you have a point. I'll do better next time," John says, smirking down at her, pulling her closer once her arm is linked with his. It's nice to walk like this with her, shackles or no, and he'll keep walking and keeping her company for as long as she wants said company.

And that'll always be true, since he's not going anywhere.