C a R t E r

Choose your torture.

The sun, coming through the crack in the shutters seared into her eyes. As it always did. She rolled over and stretched, gazing at the now cracked plaster of her rooms ceiling. She'd gotten a little over enthusiastic with the dagger she kept under her pillow last night... Just because she was amongst family didn't mean they wouldn't try to stab her in the back the first chance they got.

Great family, she grumped to herself. Well, at least they didn't bother with guilt trips. She reflected idly on the possible antics of her 'before' family, wondering where they were and what they were doing... She shook it off and slid out of bed to glare at the shattered mirror beside the door. It had received the brunt of her anger last night after her humiliation in her Deception and Deceit class.

Her distorted reflection stared back at her, fragmented in little emotionless shards that seemed to dig into her skin despite the lack of touch. Her shimmered in the broken glass, light sapphire blue eyes glaring back at her like shattered ice pools. Her long, ebony hair hung down past her shoulders, caressing her pale skin with ghost like fingers. Her pale rose petal lips curved down into a half - hearted frown - empty shadows blanketing her face. She stepped back from the glass, tearing her eyes away from her own disbelieving glance.

She'd have to place an order for a new mirror. They should give her stress balls or maybe she should just use Dimitri. Either way she needed something. "Ten years in this place..." She shook her head minutely, pulling on her training uniform. It made her look sallow, not that it mattered, she'd looked sallow since arriving here.

There was no need to check her schedule, but she did it anyway. "Breakfast, washing, swordplay, martial arts, archery and staff, lunch, academics." She read each class in a whisper, voice trailing of as she came to the end. She may have been a resident at Insignia for a decade, but Julian still had to drag her to afternoon lessons. It was just like High School. Only minus the extremely...weird lessons, she told herself with brittle cheer.

She left the room, bed unmade, books piled on top of a plain desk and door hanging off the closet. Unlike, parents or guardians the Instructors in Insignia weren't pretty bothered with the little trivialities of tidiness. Carter yawned, winding her way through the castles many hallways to her partner in crimes' room.

She entered without knocking, and eyed the snoring bundle in the bed with curiosity. How to wake him this morning? Lift the mattress? Steal his sheets? Pour water on him? Hit him? Choose your torture! Carter chose the latter, and was rewarded with a sleepy "What the hell?"

"Get up Namir! Or we'll be late." Carter retorted.

Julian flopped back onto the bed, groaning. "But I was having a really good dream. Sarah Michelle Geller and SPANDEX!" He mused to himself dreamily.

Carter gave him a wicked grin. "If it helps you could imagine Master Saben in spandex."

Julian gave her a disgusted look before shaking his head. "You've ruined any possible dreams I would have had about spandex. I'm never going to forgive you!"

Carter chuckled. "I know, now are you going to move your furry ass!"

He made a non-committal noise and pulled the sheets over his head, Carter grabbed the bottom of the bedspread and yanked it down. Tug of War, and they both knew who would be the victor. "Come on Julian, I don't wanna miss breakfast." Carter confessed. Holding his sheets to his chest Julian made another noise, only this time it was more frustrated. "Oh come on, I'll rock paper scissors you for it."

Julian pulled himself back up into a sitting position, an unimpressed expression on his well defined face. "Okay!" He answered reluctantly extending his fist.

"One...two...three..."Julian glared as Carters' paper beat his rock.

"Why do I even agree? You always beat me at this game anyway?"

"You can tell what you're gonna choose from the look in your eyes." Carter informed him, smiling.

"Guess I should try it with my eyes closed." They both shrugged agreement to each other.

"One...two...three..."Carter looked down at Julians' fist. "That is one deformed looking rock." She commented.

Julian looked down at his fist mournfully. "It was supposed to be scissors."

"Hah!" Carter whooped. "I win!"

Julian looked annoyed at himself. "Would it matter if I said I wanted to change my mind." Carters glare pried him off the bed and toward his closet. "You're heartless Blake, very heartless." He told her pulling his uniform on over his boxers after wagging an accusatory finger at her.

Carter didn't miss a beat, she smiled. "I know, but that's why you love me!"

Julian gave her a filthy look. "Who said love had anything to do with it?"

Carter started her way out of the door waving a chiding hand at him. "Now, remember Julian Namir, in Insignia we are all one loving family..."

"They never told me that!"

"Lucky bastard, missing the pep talk."

Julian gave her a mournful stare. "I always miss out."

They joined in the flow of others in the monotonous white uniforms causing a wave of assassins and uninitiates heading for breakfast. The clamour of voices with muffled groans as people were tripped and shoved, swarming into the gigantic cavernous room

Breakfast as usual.

AN: Next chapter: action

Julian: *clutches heart* I'm wounded, really wounded. I could be mean if you want me to… *attempts mean* *sees red and runs for it*

And thank you reviewers. All two of you. :-D