TELL ME PRETTY LIES && story-time.

[align=center][div style="width: 500px; text-align: justify; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; color: black;"]Agathe was no child and yet, upon hearing Oni's call, the snow leopard abandoned the book whose pages she could not read in favor of approaching. She didn't appear particularly interested in whatever tale the Lunar Lieutenant might weave, and all but flat out refused to reveal that her real reason for being here was to ensure that he didn't bring a child to tears with uncouth and distasteful words. She felt little towards kids in general but felt obligated to serve as a babysitter - even if the title made bile itself rise in her throat. Babysitter. Agathe Ashyver, heir of the Ironbeaks, was now a babysitter. Her grandmother would order the execution in a heartbeat if she discovered what she had become.

Blinking a few times to dismiss her thoughts, Agathe would glance at Rodion. As she expected, his mother still had yet to retrieve him, but at least he seemed pleasantly excited about the promise of stories. She almost envied the sense of enthusiasm and wonder he exuded, bitter memories of her own, iron-forged childhood rushing to greet her from the recesses of her mind. She remained the picture of casual indifference regardless, merely ripping away her gaze to glare threateningly at Oni. It was time to see what he intended to tell this child and if it was appropriate enough to guarantee her silence.