Friends, Bohemians, country people; lend me your ears: If anyone knows my work from the official wwry forum, they'll know that once upon a time, not so long ago, I started a wwry version of the classic Cinderella tale, starring Scaramouche as Cinderella. Well, to be honest, I wasn't happy with it. Scaramouche, no matter how much I adapted the story, was not a Cinderella figure. None of the Bohemians were - they're all too confident in themselves. But I liked the idea so I went to rework it, but sadly, nothing really fitted. Then, not so long ago, I went over to my bookshelf and began to re-read 'Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister' by Gregory Maguire. And it clicked, of course Scara wasn't a Cinderella, she was too cynical for that, but an ugly stepsister? That was her. Now, I don't mean that in an awful way, anyone whose read 'Confessions' will know that the main stepsister featured, Iris, has one of the most beautiful hearts around. And that's the type of character I see Scara as. Not conventially beautiful, but with a beautiful heart. (God look at the sappiness.) So, erm, yeah, hope you like.
Chapter One: In Which An Email Is Recieved.
"One new message," the mechanical voice of the computer screen intoned. Sally wrinkled her nose, she hated the way that the computer was always on, the light of the screen blaring out at her at all hours. She never had gotten on well with the technology that, at her age, was meant to be considered as a permanent best friend, something that could always be counted on. She didn't agree. But still, she pressed the mail icon on her screen, watching as the small vid screen showed up, a pixallated image of her mother showing up.
"Girls," her mother smiled, speaking to both Sally and her sister, "girls the meal's ready, so if you can come down now, that would be great," the image finished, giving the same sort of cheesy smile that all adults seemed to use in an effort to really 'connect' with the teenage generation of today. As was always the case, even when the adults were teenagers themselves, no one really 'understood' teens and their 'suffering' and 'pain'. It was considered highly fashionable to complain about your parents, even though there really wasn't anything to complain about. Sally sighed, clicking the sound on her computer off, before standing to go downstairs.
"Mother, I need the new hot pants," Sally could hear her twin, Serena, say in a haughty voice to their mother, causing her to roll her eyes. Serena didn't exactly 'need' the new hot pants, but they were the new fashion, and an access pass to the Globalsoft VIP Fashion Club meant an early download, and Serena just happened to have that access pass. So did Sally, if she were being truthful, but she was reluctant to use it , not being all that fond of the latest fashion and preferring to wear clothes that she felt comfortable in, rather than uncomfortable yet fashionable outfits.
"Of course dear, I'll transfer the Euros to your account right after dinner so you can buy as many pairs as you like," their mother, Elizabeth, smiled kindly. It was a bonus of the family that they did have money, otherwise they would never be able to keep up with Serena's constant clothing demands, at least, that's what Sally thought. "Sally, dear, would you like the new hot pants out as well?" Elizabeth asked her. Sally looked up, and shook her head lightly.
"No thanks, I'm not into that fashion," she replied, looking back down at her meal, cheese burger with chips and coke to drink. She felt slightly sick looking at it, never having been all that fond of burgers. But it was considered 'cool' to eat burgers nearly every day, and it wasn't as though they were unhealthy anymore, so burgers it was.
"'Not into that fashion'…?" Elizabeth repeated, a hint of worry in her voice. Sally rolled her eyes, her mother was as shallow as a puddle, always wanting to look like a fashionista, way out ahead of the heard. Of course, she expected her daughters to follow this to the letter. Sally bit back the sigh that wanted to come out, it was at times like this that she deeply missed her father, but he had disappeared without a trace when she was only 10. "Dear, how can you not like the latest fashion, approved by the Killer Queen herself," her mother's voice was nearing hysterical proportions, as it always did when Sally did something the tiniest bit 'unusual.' As for the line 'approved by the Killer Queen herself,' Sally highly doubted that the ruler of the world had the time to sit and approve every single little thing that came out, surely she had better things to do, like dealing with the Bohemian uprising?
"It's not that Mother," Sally forced the words out, in the kindest tone she could manage, "it's more that I'm not the beauty that Serena is, I'd much rather have a new book than hot pants," she finished, throwing her mother a smile. Although Serena was her twin, they were not identical. They were what was known as fraternal twins, and the only thing they really had in common was their gender. The line about preferring a book was not, for a change, false. Books had been coming back into fashion for a while, instead of the old e-books that anyone could access. To actually own a psychical book was seen as a sign of intellect, something which was admired and respected greatly. Elizabeth smiled, enjoying her daughter's desire for knowledge. For her own credit, Sally only liked the books as they took her away to a world which wasn't a world filled with contradictions and lies and deceit. It was her own private secret that she hated this world, and wished for something better, something … something different.
"Then of course you may have a new book, my Sally, just think, you could become an Executive to the Killer Queen herself if you keep up your studies," she patted Sally's hand, her eyes glistening at the thought. Sally, however, did not enjoy this thought, and fought to keep herself from retching.
"I've finished my dinner, alright if I'm excused?" Sally asked, moving from the table before her mother gave her permission. Serena followed suit, and the two wandered up to the adjoining rooms. "Hot pants, seriously Serena, what zone clone are you looking to blow this time?" Sally asked her sister, dropping the polite formal manner which both used in front of their mother, and allowing her natural unrefined London accent to shine through. Serena smirked.
"At least I can get a boyfriend, unlike a certain geek freak I could mention," she sneered, her own accent mixing with the politeness she forced herself to keep up, causing Sally to roll her eyes and cock her eyebrow.
"You really think I give a damn if I have a boyfriend or not," she said, laughing slightly. "I mean, god Serena, I'm not into the sort of boys 'r' us zone clones you and your mindless drones hang out with,"
"You are such a weirdo," Serena complained, flicking her bleached blonde hair backwards, a movement that she had perfected the moment she hit her teens. Sally scowled, why did her sister insist on using the same old tired insults that she threw at her every day.
"Oh yes, because I don't want to go out with a guy who spends more time in the bathroom than I do," she shot back, walking into her room and closing the door. She leant against the back of the door, sighing slightly, before moving over to her computer desk and picking up the homework she had been trying to do earlier.
A flashing icon on her computer screen diverted her attention, making her look up and frown. It was her email inbox, though Sally was sure she wasn't expecting any mail. Her frown remained as she pressed the icon, watching as the written email popped up on screen.
Reminder: Download only from the official approved Globalsoft sites only
Date: 25th July 2308
To: www / Sally - Jane (at) the Smith's . co . uk
From: Sender Unknown
Subject: Do You Feel Different?
To whoever is reading this email, First things first, don't worry. This email has been sent using a lot of different encrypted servers, so there's no way you can get caught reading this. In the HIGHLY unlikely event that you do, they can't arrest you for reading an email. You're safe. DON'T PANIC.
Second things second, if you are reading this email, either it's an accident or your answer to the question asked is 'yes, yes I do feel different'. Well, well done you. Despite the press put out by GlobalSux, people do feel different, and it's not a bad thing, it's a good thing, a great thing, something that you should be deeply proud of. But you have to keep this in your head - YOU ARE NOT ALONE. That's just what they want you to think
Last things last, if you are different, if you honestly believe that yes, you are different and hell, you're proud to be different, then come to this address: 268-269 Tottenham Court Road. Make sure you aren't followed, and don't act as if you're expecting to be followed. Come to this address as soon as you can. You'll meet others like yourself. That's all really. Oh yeah, one last, last thing: ya gotta remember this one: NEVER BE NORMAL The Bohemians
Sally stared at the ending of the email, half-shocked and half-amused at it's very existence. Her mind found it amusing that the Bohemians, the infamous haters of anything to do with Globalsoft, had access to a computer and to an email service, but her heart pounded with delight that her thoughts weren't the only thoughts like it in the world. Her eyes looked over the address again. She knew that place, or at least knew of it. It was dangerously close to the boundary fence, which separated the clean and safe and boring global world from the dangerous and wild and exciting world which the Bohemians lived in. "You are not alone," she muttered softly to herself, reading through the email once more. "Never be normal," she muttered once she got to the end of the email, looking away from it slightly to look at a picture of herself and her father. Her father hadn't been normal, and she missed him. Sally sighed, moving some stray hair out of her eyes. "Okay, alright, fine, I'll go," she decided.