With her perfectly brushed and curled hair floating lazily about her shoulders and her characteristically pink makeup spotlessly applied, Feferi Peixes glided down the hall with today's entourage of underlings and flatterers. Six inch heels gave her the extra height she needed to remind the world exactly who was in charge of it, and her carefully practiced smile and hair flip added the final touches to her already imposing figure. The other freshmen, who had known her in middle school, steered clear of her in the hallways because they knew she was their god. And even some of the upperclassmen, who had likely never seen her before, parted before her like a mass of adoring peasants as she made her way through the halls.
Her normal acknowledgement of the constant rain of praise was broken as someone who was clearly very distraught raced in front of her and disappeared into the bathroom. Feferi stepped back a bit, but of course her coordination was too good for her to even momentarily lose her balance. Her escort of acolytes came to a much clumsier halt, ramming into each other and shooting cross words at each other in hushed voices.
Perfect. Another easy convert.
Feferi silenced the squabbling girls with a flick of her hand. She turned her head just enough for her followers to know she was about to speak without gracing them with the glory of her face.
"Come on, girls. I have to fix my hair before the next class." Without waiting for her words to sink in, Feferi cockily made her way through the mass of people in between her and the bathroom door.
As the door swung shut behind her, she scanned for the girl.
There you are.
The girl was wearing an abominable olive green jacket, and her hair was an absolute mess. Her face was streaked with tears, and as Feferi approached she curled up a bit, pressing herself further into the wall.
You stupid idiot. Don't you realize you've been graced with the presence of your master?
"Hey, what's wrong?" Feferi's voice was light, kind, inquisitive. The girl was unresponsive for a moment.
Look at me, you little shit.
Her wide green eyes made contact with Feferi's for the briefest of moments before she turned away, sobbing even harder. Her cheeks flared red. "I...I...I'm sorry..." she managed to stutter.
You should be. You refused to look at me for an entire five seconds.
"What are you sorry for? You haven't done anything. What's your name?" Feferi tried to keep her tone light, but some of her anger rose into her tone. The girl seemed not to notice, luckily.
She'll make a perfect trophy dog.
"N-Nepeta. Please, I don't want to be a bother."
Well then stop being such a sniveling, useless coward and let me recruit you.
"You're not a bother." Feferi had never had to keep her emotions this checked. Her patience was wearing very thin. "Now, what happened?" And the trap was set. If the girl took this bait and Feferi comforted her, the girl wouldn't be able to stop herself from becoming one of Feferi's toys.
"I am a bother...or at least, I think I am...please stop pretending I'm not...if you are...I don't mean to assume...just...I don't want to make you late to class..." The girl's tears doubled.
Stop crying or I will hurt you. Don't you think I won't, you little bitch.
Feferi's smile was fading, and she made a point to stretch its life a little longer. "Jeez, stop being so stressed out. My next teacher won't mind." That much was true. Feferi had the teachers eating out of the palm of her hand. But she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to stand this blubbering moron.
Just start the damn confession so I can become your sheltering goddess.
The girl's mouth opened, but it was not a confession that streamed forth. "I am too stressed out...you're right...I'm sorry...please, don't talk to me. I wouldn't want to waste your time."
No, you damn fucking don't. So get this over with and tell me what the hell is wrong with you.
"I mean...I don't mean to tell you what to do."
At least you've got that much straight. I'm the one that gives the orders. You just listen and obey and nothing bad happens to you.
"I'm sorry...I just don't want to make things worse..." the girl buried her head in her hands and sniffed.
Damn you to fucking hell, you fucking asshole.
One of Feferi's loyal disciples timidly spoke up. "Hey, let's get outta here. She's weird, and I'm gonna be late." Feferi turned, a blaze of fury in her eyes. The girl gasped quietly as she realized she had referred to herself as separate from Feferi, 'I' instead of 'we'. "Your hair looks fine," she quickly finished. Satisfied with the reparation, Feferi allowed her minion to grab her arm, stood, and dove once more into the hall, her entourage gathering in its usual bunch behind her.
Damn her, damn her to hell, that little idiot. Couldn't she see that she had been touched a god? Did she not realize that it was I, Feferi Peixes, that had graced her presence?
As Feferi continued down the hall, her face remained completely, perfectly coy and unreachable, as always. But inside, her rage seethed and bubbled.
The voice of a teacher caught her off-guard. "Ms. Peixes. Late again, are we?" Her Money Management teacher stared down at her. She returned his glare, plaster smile still perfect, but the rage inside showing ever-so-slightly in her eyes. The teacher frowned. "Get inside quick, and I won't count you absent."
"How dare you order me to do something," Feferi muttered quietly as she passed through the door.
"What was that, Peixes?" The teacher's voice was icy, and something very close to fear ripped a hole in Feferi's stomach. But it wasn't fear. She was incapable of feeling fear.
"I said, how dare you order me. Don't you know who I am?" The 'fear' vanished in an instant as she asserted her position as reigning monarch of the ninth grade.
The teacher looked taken aback for a moment before pulling something out of his pocket. "Yes, I do. A very cocky freshman who's going to the office." He handed her a hall pass.
Feferi's smile vanished. Her acolytes' eyes widened in terror as they stepped back. When Feferi spoke, her voice was cold. "You little bastard. How dare you talk to me like that? I am Feferi Peixes, and you will treat me accordingly!" Her voice rose in volume until she was nearly shrieking. "Do you hear me, old man?! I will not take this blasphemy from you or anybody else! You will treat me with the respect I deserve!"
A hard hand gripped her shoulder. "Class, start tonight's assignment. I have to escort Ms. Peixes to the office. If I find anything funny when I come back, you will all receive double homework." Before Feferi's pride could possibly begin to fathom what was happening, she was being led to the door of the office and gently pushed inside.
The door shut behind her, and she felt a scream rising in her throat. Before it could be released, her eyes locked with those of the girl with the olive jacket. She was still crying.
I can't let myself fall to the level of such a common, worthless girl.
Feferi steeled her nerves. She took a deep breath, ignored everyone in the room who looked at her, and quietly sat, waiting for a moment to strike.
And at the other end of the room, Aradia Megido smiled. Let the first stage begin.