Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

A/N: Sorry for being away for so long folks! The exams are finally over! However there is going to be a three/four week gap between posting soon since I'm going to Ghana for three weeks! So there'll be no chapters for a while. I'm going to be taking a slight 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' sort of slant on the finishing school Cassandra attends since I thought the sort of language Libba Bray used was quite appropriate to this story. Anyway here you go!

The Montressor Academy for Young Ladies

For Shining Petals

Cassandra waited in the cold office of the headmistress of Montressor Academy for Young Ladies to arrive to give her 'a warm welcome'. From what she had heard about finishing schools and their headmistresses she knew she had to use that phrase rather loosely. This was only from common sense though not hearsay but then again you only needed common sense of figure out that. Speaking of which, when she thought about it, finishing schools in principle were supposed to teach you common sense but actually they only taught you to dismantle your own sense of the concept and depend upon that of your husbands. She looked around the office and she could tell from the decorations and design that she wasn't exactly a cheery woman and that it was likely that she had never left this school since she first arrived as a girl. She knew that some people could just never leave places. Especially old, spinster teachers. Even the name sounded cold and stifling. In sounded like a prison which was what finishing schools more or less were. You were just going from one prison to another once you walked out the gates. It was like a vicious cycle which couldn't be stopped unless its victims found a way to jump out of the currents. Instead of being at the Interstellar Academy she was sent to this one.

She looked around and felt like she was about to cry. Don't cry now, Cassandra. You don't want her walking in on you crying. Its not the ladylike thing to do...She thought scornfully. Instead of going to a school which could actually teach her something she was being sent to one which would lead her to a colder, darker house to breed children and knit instead of into the open sky. Even the thought of it made her want to vomit. This was what happened when you let a money-obsessed son become head of the family. But there was no one else who could become their father's heir. There was George but he was not the first son and even if father made that his will she was sure Fredrick would have found a way to fight against that wish. His problem was that he was vain and greedy which made him the perfect candidate for a troublesome older brother. She wore a black, silk dress which she had tailored almost dug into her chest considering it was the first time she had worn a corset. She ran her fingers over the delicate fabric as she stared at the desk. The dress was tight everywhere as if it was confining her to a life of misery and mourning. Her brother found it horrific that she would be attending a finishing school without one. She smirked to herself, knowing that in his own symbolic way, he was entrapping her to his will. He wanted her to grow up to be the respectable lady which would make her family a lot of money.

What he forgot was that it was he who had to give the money not the other way round when it came to marriage arrangements. It was rather foolish really but she couldn't help but feel a little amused at the fact that he was going to be in for a surprise whether she married or not. If he succeeded he would have to give up something he coveted more than anything and he would be surprised to find that his sister wasn't as submissive as other women her age. When she first put it on Cassandra felt like she had all the air in her lungs being sucked out. She felt like she was drowning and desperately swimming to the surface to regain some air. It even hurt to breathe. When Gina tied it up she gave her a pitiful look as if she was walking to her death that day. She tried to put it on a little loosely but Fredrick came in to inspect her work and asked to make it tighter.

She rode in silence with her brother, whenever he attempted to try at small talk she replied with one word answers. He knew that she never liked small talk about the rain or about how lovely the Academy was going to be. Or about the neighbours new palour. She was more concerned about politically issues...Oh what a thought! A woman who cared about politics. Oh wait there was a member of parliament who was a woman, how did that slip Fredrick's mind? Silently communicating to him that she blamed him and hated him for what she was being confined to and that she was doing to fight the whole way to her prison which she would eventually escape from. The room was not only cold but the servants failed to light the fires but she could feel the eerie, dark atmosphere which hung upon the school, this room being its source. She shifted in her seat, glancing over her shoulder to the door which remained unopened.

Suddenly an old, crinkly woman walked in and Cassandra knew the moment she set eyes on her that her days at Montressors Ladies Academy was going to be long, tedious years of Hell. She was one of those women who you knew on sight who had been rejected by someone and forever hated men and wanted to make young girls lives a torment before they went out to be rejected themselves. She was going to be counting the days when she would be able to leave and never come back. When she came in she more burst into the room and slapped the door into the wall making Cassandra jump. She was going to have to make sure that she didn't vex this woman in particular. She strode past her without even greeting her and glided into her seat. She looked down at the papers in her hands for a few minutes then looked at Cassandra or more peered down at her as if she were some specimen in a lab. In these moments Cassandra looked around the room trying to avoid her gaze. It was rather plain actually. It had only emerald greens, deep violets and plain dark browns blotched around. They were pretty colours but they were the only ones in the room. It was very dull, depressing and dark. She supposed that this was a supposed to be a perfect reflection of the woman sitting in front of her.

There was a small, simple mirror hanging off the wall to her right and a few drawers dotted around and some pictures Cassandra presumed were past headmistresses. She raised an eyebrow wondering how cliched this school was going to be. She was going to have to expect some cult-ish society which had been around for decades of this school being open which the teachers pretended they knew nothing about when in reality they had been part of it themselves. Or maybe it was haunted? She could see she was going to have a lot of fun ridiculing the school's system. Cassandra sighed quietly and turned her eye to the woman sitting in front of her. She was wearing a bland, grey suit with half-moon glasses perched on the end of her nose, Cassandra was almost worried that they were going to slip straight off her nose. However she knew she would be reprimanded if she said anything. She had dark, sharp green eyes which reminded her of a cat and a youthful but wrinkled face which had been worn out by tiredness and malice. After a few minutes she looked up finally. It was as if she had just noticed that Cassandra was there or remembered that she was coming to her school. She didn't apologise for keeping her waiting or smile at her. Instead she surveyed her with a critical eye and then nodded curtly as if she somewhat approved of her dress and appearance.

"It is a surprise, Miss Richardson that your father hadn't sent you to us sooner than this. Most families do, you understand." She added sympathetically.

Translation: What on earth has your father been doing with you? You'll no prospects whatsoever, don't worry we'll turn you into a proper lady in no time at all. It's still not too late to get you married to a respectable rich man who may possibly force you to go through six pregnancies and overlook a few affairs he may have throughout your entire marriage which is under no circumstances is an excuse for you to divorce him. Since that is not the lady-like thing to do.

"Of course you had a governess as you were growing up." She considered thoughtfully.

Translation: Therefore, we'll have to beat those habits your governess has obviously got you into the hang of.

Cassandra shook her head. "No. In fact my father taught me. Astronomy, Sciences, Geography, Languages and other such things."

The woman, aka Miss Henderson, aka the woman who is going to make Cassandra's life a living Hell for the next few years raised her eyebrows. She almost looked impressed.

"Most of those subjects aren't necessary for a young lady such as yourself to learn. However I'd be interested in knowing what languages you speak."

"Oh? I speak Gaian and Norvian fluentlyand I speak a little Karan." She replied.

"Ah. That is quite impressive. We do not teach Norvian but Karan is available. Tell me what level would you say you were at?"

Cassandra completely blanked. "Um...Level 2 or 3. I'm not quite sure."

"Well Level 5 is fluently. Level 2 is small talk and being able to say what your interests are."

"I would say Level 3, Miss Henderson."

"Very well, other languages we teach here also include Gaian which by the sound of things you don't need lessons for. There's also Yjai which is compulsory and Celesti. How is your sewing?"

Cassandra shrugged her shoulders which earned her a disapproving glance. "Fairly basic."

"Hm. We will have to mend that, Miss Richardson. How able the Arts? Do you sing? Draw?"

Cassandra knew now that she would have to try very hard not to roll her eyes. She had never been asked about this before in her life until now and she could see why it was until now she had been asked. Because it was a pointless question which had no basis for whether she had any prospects to offer for a favourable future. The last time she checked it wasn't necessary for a woman to have to do these kinds of things but as it seemed this wasn't necessarily the case. Not in the realm of finishing schools anyway. Therefore in her books she was right from her presumptions from before. They really didn't matter so she could lack in co-operating with the teachers. Hooray! There was some accomplished women who got by without having to play a tune or draw a pretty picture. She wondered whether Miss Henderson had heard of any of these women. Such as doctors or Space Captains for example. She was sure that there were even some women who were married who weren't able to do either of those things as well. Last time she checked the best way to judge whether you wanted to marry a man was because you loved him not because he based his affections upon you because of your drawing skills.

"Neither, Miss Henderson."

Miss Henderson sighed. "How about dancing?"

"I've never even been to a ball, Miss."

"Well at your age this isn't a surprise. We also have a block where you choose a sport. The choices are lacrosse, archery, horse riding and badminton."

"Archery. Please."

"Very well. It will be a small class."

"That's fine." She replied with a smile which soon disappeared when Miss Henderson looked up again.

"You will have to take up an Art, Miss Richardson. One which will require you to take up extra time but thankfully since you speak one of the three compulsory languages fluently you will have time for that and once you are up to speed with those in your year group you will attend lessons with them."

"I see. Well, I played a few notes of the piano if that is any help."

"We teach piano here." Miss Henderson replied hopefully. "Well, you will put you on for that. There is also Literature and Elocution will this be a problem, Miss Richardson?"

She shook her head wordlessly then blurted out Miss Henderson when she gave her a look.

"Very well. I am sorry for the passing of your father I heard he was a good man by reputation."

"And a good father." Cassandra replied. Miss Henderson nodded in approval to the young woman's diligence.

"I also heard you were raised without a mother for the past few years." Cassandra nodded.

"Yes. She died in childbirth to my younger sister, Victoria."

"No doubt she will be joining us in a few years time." Miss Henderson replied. Cassandra gave a faint smile secretly hoping that this wouldn't be the case.

"It was a very tragic way for you to lose your parents. I believe you were on the voyage your father was killed in." Cassandra nodded wondering where this was going. "It must have been rather traumatic."

Cassandra narrowed her eyes at her. What did she just say? She knew she would probably be scolded for the thoughtless, gormless expression on her face but she at least had a good reason for her to not pay any mind to how she looked at that moment. If she was trying to be sympathetic she was doing a poor job at her current occupation. Or she should never have distraught girls sent to her. She was going to have to make a mental note of that, which also meant she had to find someone who she would being sent for if it ever happened. What she was going which just rubbing it in. Perhaps she was trying to get her to cry then she would comfort her, tell her that everything was going to be alright. She would be able to abandon her heathen ways and she would become a young lady, marry a 'nice' and most importantly rich man and she would have her happy ending. So to speak. Only in terms of financial happiness not actual, emotional happiness. She was probably more likely to become an alcoholic than a whore who waited around a bar.

"I think its traumatic no matter what the nature of a loved ones death is." Cassandra countered. "I think its tragic that it was the one voyage I had been waiting for to go with my father which very well might be my last. My father told me many stories about it and I hoped one day I might accompany him."

"Really? What a queer thing. Usually that is a profession for a man to take up."

Cassandra tilted her head and resisted the urge to either scream or punch this woman square in the face.

Translation: You must be a barbarian in comparison to the rest of our boarding school girls. I'm going to keep a sharp eye on you in case you prove to be a bad influence.

"On the contrary, I believe there are many women now in the Space exploring field of work." She replied.

"Not many but there are some. Still, I rather think that women and men have always had their places in this society and it should remain that way. Any how it is time you went to your room where you should situate yourself."

Cassandra nodded and got to her feet. Miss Henderson raised her hand and gesture for her to sit down again. "Um, Miss Richardson, you wait before I dismiss you."

Cassandra tried not to scream at the woman and sat back down. She only had to wait for a split second until the old, infernal woman issued her command. "You may go."

Cassandra couldn't have got out of that room quicker.