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Everything hurt...
Parker scanned her eyes across the area. She was kneeling, shackled to the floor by heavy chains wrapped around her wrists and neck. Two dolls stood at her sides. They were in a basement or somewhere underground, in a wide room. Scattered throughout the room were metal tables, chairs, tubes, and technical tools. Yellow panties' useless body was sprawled in a metal chair. To Parker's left was a huge pile of old junk and failed doll parts.
Dollhouse strolled on, holding the full sack in his hand, then stopped short. He looked down at the sack, then opened it up and reached in. Grabbing something out, he closed the sack back and tossed it into the pile with their other stolen goods.
Parker eyed the pile.
"Why are you stealing jewellery?"
"You really aren't bright on the whole villain thing, are you?" Dollhouse smiled as he stepped closer.
"No, I am. I'm just trying to see what you would need them for," Parker stated then looked at the dolls guarding her, "seeing that you've successfully built killing machines. What is your purpose?"
Dollhouse paused as a thoughtful look spread across his face. "You and I are a lot alike, with you being a magic and everything." Dollhouse stopped and Parker looked at him to continue. "We both know that feeling of abandonment. Of humiliation. Abuse. To be looked down on as if we were nothing. Are nothing, or so they say."
"What happened to you?" Parker asked filled with empathy.
Dollhouse took a breath and clasped his hands behind his back. "I'm about to tell you a story my dear and I want you to listen to it well."
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Intro: Helena, My Chemical Romance
12
Crazy with a capital K
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"As a child, I quickly found that I was different than the other boys. Where they would toy about with action figures and play roughly amongst each other, I would be inside admiring the beauty of a doll. With their features and the prospect of dressing them anyway you see fit, how could you not be mesmerized by what this planet has made out to be a 'girls toy'." The man started, approaching one of the droids. He rubbed his knuckle along her cheek. "They are so much more than mere playthings for squealing brats. But nobody saw them the way that I did. Nobody saw them for what they truly are."
'Okay. He's a loose one', Parker thought as she decided to heed to King's warning for hostage situations: to remain quiet.
"One day, I was outside dressing my favorite doll in fabrics I had stitched for her when a couple of boys walked up. They started attacking me verbally and then one snatched Susie from me and ripped off her head, then threw her down unto the filthy ground." Dollhouse dramatically said staring off like he was chasing a lost dream.
'Definitely crazy with a capital K'
"After that, something inside me just clicked. I couldn't protect my dolls the way they were. I had to improve them. From that day on, I worked long and hard to build them from the ground up. After failing prototypes left and right, I'd finally got it. The perfect doll. A killing machine as you like to call them. Everybody sees my dolls as monsters, but someone finally saw the beauty in my creation and he think it's time for everyone to open up their minds too."
"So," Parker said, "you started this whole tyrant, stealing and hurting people because some boys tore your doll?"
Anger streaked Dollhouse face, "They humiliated me! Everyone in school tortured me for countless years, and just when I thought the abuse had gotten at it's worse, this planet decided to prove to me just how wrong I was. I was a punching bag to everyone, including my own family."
"At least you were able to go to school," Parker said, then shook her head. "I'm sorry for what you went through. Nobody deserves to go through that, but that gives you no right to act like this. Many people have had a bad life, some worse than yours. You were wrong when you said we were alike. We are nothing alike. You have way more privileges that magics wish they had." Parker frowned. "Since you know so much about the villain role, you do know how this is going to end for you?"
"Indeed. With everyone on their knees bowing to me." Dollhouse said with an evil smile as he fixed up his demeanor.
"You don't have to do this. You can stop while you're ahead. You know you're not going to get away with this. When my family..."
"The doves, right?" Dollhouse asked abruptly. "Yes. Mister has told me about you. However, I'm not worried, because this works out perfectly. My dolls will eradicate those doves showing this measly planet their potential and I get to start working on my new masterpiece."
'Who is Mister?', Parker thought, but another question had her mind at a still.
"New masterpiece?" She questioned hesitant.
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Dollhouse continued to smile, "The first living doll."
A chill went up Parker's spine and the girl shivered.
Dollhouse stepped to Parker and reached down to unlock the chain around her neck. The metal clanged to the concrete floor. Parker then felt something land lightly against her chest and before she could question it, Dollhouse lent back, but kept his face close to hers though, making the magic uncomfortable.
Parker looked down and reached her chained hands up to grab at what was on her chest. It was the necklace she had been looking at earlier. She looked up at Dollhouse with furrowed brows.
Hey He smiled deeply at her, "I knew from the moment I saw you that you were perfect."
At that, Parker's eyes widened.
"Now," Dollhouse started as he stood straight, "let's send a nice invitation to your family. We don't want them missing the main event."
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DC guild...
King sat at a table with his head in his hands. It was completely dark and the only source of light came from a tall candle stick flickering beside him. His mind was a mess filled with way too many problems and not enough solutions. Everything was falling out of control by the second and King was getting extremely close to his breaking point.
Light footsteps coming down the stairs broke him from his thoughts and a hand softly rubbed across his shoulders.
"You should come to bed," Nara said, dressed in a wine night robe. She walked towards the wall where Rockie was fast asleep on a couch. She reached down and picked him up.
"He's too old to be picking up." King grumbled from his seat.
A smile slowly graced Nara's face as she peered down lovingly at the boy. "Nonsense. He'll always be my baby." She said then looked over to her husband.
He looked terrible. Bags and wrinkles were etched onto his face like they were tattoos. His weary eyes were red and could barely stay focus as they stared vacantly across the room. His body was hunched over and a bottle of dark liquor sat open with only a quarter of it left. Nara's heart throbbed painfully at the sight and she took soft steps towards King.
The whole day had everybody feeling almost hopeless, yet it was affecting their master the most.
She opened her mouth to speak, "Baby…"
"I know," He said lowly, letting out a dry laugh. He leaned his elbows against the tabletop and laid his chin on his clasped fist.
Nara stood still, staring solemnly at the love of her life. "I don't think you do," she said softly.
King huffed, then grabbed the neck of the bottle and brought it to his mouth. Killing the rest of the alcohol, he loudly sat the empty bottle on the table and continued to look ahead with a grim expression. He was silent, his adams apple bobbing with every swallow he took.
She tried again, "You really need-"
"No matter how hard I try to do right. Just when I thought that I've made progress or taken two steps ahead, life always show me just how… inadequate I am. It always throw some shit my way," King said and sighed, then looked down at the table shaking his head lightly. "To be a guild master is a great responsibility that's takes a person with the right qualities to hold. It weans the weak from the strong, both mentally and physically and honestly Nara. I'm tired."
He brought up his eyes to look at his wife and son, and Nara nearly rocked back from the unshed tears that wet them. "I know," he started again, letting out a humorless chuckle. "I know how much I'm failing at this. How much I've failed you. Them," he nodded towards the sleeping ginger. "I'm a failure at being master."
"Is that you talking or is that the bullshit?" Nara asked seriously, readjusting Rockie's weight in her arms. "Because the King Hindentt, third guild master of Dove Clan that I know and love would never say those words."
"You're just being nice, Nara." King said back. "Let's be real. I can't even keep my own kids safe. At this moment, Parker could be getting tortured or worse and I can't stop thinking how this is all my…"
"Just stop," Nara cut off. "We're all doing what we can, and the only thing that'll be your fault is if you're too tired to beat this Dollhouse. Now, come to bed and rest your mind. We have faith that Parker is okay and wherever she is, she wouldn't want you killing yourself before you can save her."
King actually laughed at that and thought, 'Who'da thought the day would come when I'm the one doing the stressing and Nara is calm and collected.'
"You're not a failure, daddy." Rockie mumbled sleepily against Nara's neck with his eyes still shut.
King smiled, then slowly rose from his seat and walked to the two. He ruffled Rockies' curls softly, then kiss the top of his head, "Love you son."
He looked to his wife gratefully, "You're absolutely right, love. We're going to find her and kick this guy's ass." He leaned towards her and kissed her lips.
Knock
The two stilled then looked to the door. They gave each other a look then slowly walked to the staircase. King took to the stairs and walked up to the door. Grabbing the knob, he wrenched the door open then stepped in the frame. He looked around, but saw no one and started to step back inside when something caught his attention on the ground. There was an orange card under his foot.
He reached down and picked it up then walked in.
Nara looked up and saw King reading a card with a grim expression. "Honey, what it say?"
"Dear Doves. Meet me in the District yard tomorrow at noon. Dollhouse. P.S. don't be late." King read out loud.
Nara stared at him with her eyebrows furrowed together, "The District yard? But that's-"
"Yeah," King said, "but he's calling us out. We have a meeting ground now. We go, get Parker and finish this once and for all. This Dollhouse don't know who he just messed with."
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The District yard...
The District, a few miles north of Berlim, itself was home to the Judges of Jasmine, and the giant courthouse rest not far from the yard. The District yard is a Plaza with all cobblestone flooring. Pretty colorful flower patches and bushes lined the area along with a giant water fountain in the center and a small pond on the outskirt. A small family statue of a little girl, boy, mom and dad, rested on top of the fountain. It was a symbol of Jasmine, for their unity or something along the lines. Usually the District yard would be bustling with people from all over sightseeing, but it was clear and empty with only the sun giving it company.
King, Nara and a few other members stood posted up while they watched Dollhouse stroll towards them with a grin on his face.
"Marvelous day isn't it?" He chuckled casually then stopped a good distance in front of them. He brought up his finger and repeatedly tapped it against his bottom lip as he thought, "My, it is quiet out today. I wonder where all the beautiful people are?"
"Where is Parker?" Nara asked aggressively.
Dollhouse smiled, then pointed lazily at the group, "Dove Clan I assume. I thought there'd be more of you."
"Cut the shit, Dollhouse. Where's. Parker?" King growled out, fisting his palms.
Dollhouse continued to smile then clasped his hands together behind his back. "Parker is safe, but she should be the last of your concerns for it is yourselves…," Dollhouse paused then a series of clanking could be heard rising in the background. Suddenly, over a dozen dolls marched menacingly onto the scene, some with weapons and some without. Dollhouse's grin grew even larger, "you should be worried about."
... Brain break...