Hope everyone's had a great start to the week! Here's your weekly dose of Toxic.
I know quite a few of you have been anticipating something like this, so for those who have been waiting for it, this is the chapter. Enjoy!
- K. Chandler
"Yes, but where is Gray?" Juvia frowned at this "Lion" person gesticulating in front of her.
She had come to the party expecting Gray, but he wasn't even here! Instead, one of the googly-eyed ambassadors had latched onto her like some sort of insect. This was beyond disaster!
"Well, Miss Juvie—would it be presumptuous of me to call you Miss Juvie?" The Lion flicked his ridiculous hair before making like he was going to kiss her hand.
Juvia shuddered. "Yes, I think it would." She jerked away from Lion's undoubtedly cold fish-lips.
"Very well. Queen Juvie, then. On behalf of the Kingdom of Isvan, I offer my deepest respects to your kingdom, Queen Juvie." Lion made a grand, sweeping gesture, a bizarre mix of pompous chest puffing and groveling.
"Gray?" she reminded him.
"Ah, yes. His Highness is indisposed, so I've come to represent Isvan—"
"Indisposed? You mean he's sick?"
A guilty look crossed the Lion's face. "Ah. Well. He…had other business to attend to. A pressing, urgent matter. He's asked not to be disturbed."
"That's truly unfortunate." Juvia started to walk away, but the ambassador kept up with his longer stride.
"Really? I think this quite the fortuitous meeting," he called. "After all, we got to meet, yes?"
Juvia rounded the corner, almost slamming into Lucy. For once, Juvia was glad to see her.
"Save me a dance?" Lion shouted after her.
"Oh! Juvia…" Lucy said. She looked rumpled, hair sticking up every which way. Her smile turned sunny when Juvia arrived, but there was something insincere about it. "How are you liking the party? Did you find someone to talk to?"
"You could say that…" Juvia said, shooting a glance at the Lion. Thankfully he had found someone else to pester. "What are you doing here?"
"No reason. I needed a break from all the dancing," Lucy said. "I need to go to my room and freshen up. Do you want to come with me?"
It was strange standing in Lucy's room. It looked so different from when they were children, no more stuffed animals or dolls on display. Things certainly had changed. Juvia had seen the slow transformation through her scrying bowl as her former friend slowly became someone so preoccupied with her own perfect little life that Juvia fell to the wayside.
Echoes of the past leering from every wall brought a new level of resentment.
The large window still looked out into the courtyard below, but the walls were a warm champagne color where they used to be a whimsical bright pink. A writing desk, now covered in stationery, was pressed against the wall where a tiny table and pair of chairs used to be. A sophisticated white sofa now stood at the center of the room and a long mirror leaned in the corner. Even Lucy's bed, in an adjoining room, had become sophisticated with its twin rose-bud canopies and dainty, frilled comforter.
Even the way she sat in front of her vanity, unpinning her hair from its elaborate style and brushing it made her look like she had hopped out of the pages of a storybook. Why did Lucy's life look so perfect? It just wasn't fair.
Lucy was no storybook princess. There was something insincere about her, the way her smile was just a little too stiff and her reactions were just a little forced. Her sunny demeanor seemed to come and go, disappearing every time Juvia looked away, only to reappear when Juvia turned back.
Was this how the Temptress of Magnolia seduced all the men around her? With her fake little smiles and deviousness oozing from every pore?
"It's been a while since it's been just the two of us. It almost makes me want to go behind the castle and have a little tea party with our dolls again," Lucy laughed. "Those were good times. I'm glad we can still talk like this. Honestly, and as friends. Because I think we need to talk."
Friends, she said. Honest, she said.
There was nothing honest about this. And they certainly weren't friends. Not anymore.
"What did you want to talk about?" Juvia asked.
"I got Gray's side of the story on what happened yesterday. As you might have guessed, he was very upset. Juvia, you can't put things in people's food like that. Or their drinks," she clarified quickly. "It could be dangerous."
"Hartsting isn't dangerous," Juvia said. "It was just meant to help things with Gray. And I won't lose him. Not to anybody," she added, with a hint of teeth.
"I know," Lucy said. "And I'm trying to help. Honestly, I am. Nobody would be happier than me to see you two happy together."
Liar, Juvia thought. Two faced little harpy.
"Promise, Juvia. No more, okay?" Lucy said.
Irritation rankled in Juvia's chest. Where did Lucy get off telling her what to do? This was really about keeping Gray from discovering his true feelings so that Lucy could have him all to herself. This was never about Juvia or what she wanted. No, this was all about Lucy. Everything was always all about Lucy.
"…I understand," Juvia said.
Lucy gathered her curls in her hand and draped them over her shoulder. "Not as good as it was before, but it's the best I can do on my own," Lucy said, tying the ponytail with a blush-colored ribbon from her vanity.
Curls. Just like Juvia's. Lucy was trying to be her. Trying to steal Juvia's place in Gray's heart.
"What do you think, Juvia?" Lucy asked. She whirled around, the shimmery blue fabric of her wide sleeves floating around her.
Blue. Gray's favorite color.
The color that Juvia had always preferred. Yet somehow Lucy was wearing it now?
"Very pretty," Juvia said, keeping her voice even to hide her true feelings from Lucy.
"If you like it, you can borrow it some time," Lucy said. She twirled in front of the mirror, surveying her reflection critically. She smoothed her hands over her corseted waist.
As if Juvia wanted Lucy's second-hand hand-me-downs.
"It might even look better on you," Lucy decided. "How do you get your waist to look so small? You've got such a great figure."
Annoyance bubbled in Juvia's stomach at Lucy's fake compliment. They were the same size!
"Oh, that's nothing," Juvia said, smoothing down her own corset. "You just have to know how to wear your corset the right way."
"Really?" Lucy said. "Without my mom around… You know how it goes. I have people who help me get ready, but I never had someone to show me these things, you know?"
"I see," Juvia said. "So that's why you always look so huge."
"Huge?" Lucy repeated.
There was something delicious about how Lucy's brows furrowed, and her shoulders drooped. Little Miss Perfect deserved a turn at feeling less than beautiful.
"I'm not saying that you're fat, exactly… Just that this isn't flattering," Juvia said.
Lucy hugged her arms around herself. "Does it really look that bad?" Lucy asked, squirming.
"You could fix it if you laced your corset up tight enough. You could be a perfect hourglass." Juvia narrowed her hands, indicating a tiny waist.
"It's worth a shot, I guess," Lucy said, leaning backwards to try and tighten the corset further. The restrictive nature of the corset left her unable to flex her arms around to reach the laces at her back.
Juvia schooled her features to a mask of indifference. It was too funny watching Lucy huff and puff as she tried to reach behind her. It was like toying with an animal before killing it.
Finally, cheeks flushed and breathing hard, Lucy gave up.
"What's wrong?" Juvia asked.
"I can't quite reach," Lucy said.
"Here. Juvia can help," she said, coming to stand behind Lucy. "Put your arms down, like they'd normally be."
Lucy did as she was instructed, folding her hands neatly in front of her.
Juvia took Lucy's corset laces in her hands, pulling hard.
"Urk!" Lucy jerked, un-ladylike grunt escaping her.
"Oh, too tight?" Juvia asked, false concern mirroring Lucy's feigned admiration.
"No, that's okay," Lucy said. "Does it look better?"
"A little. We can go a little more, though. Suck your stomach in," Juvia said. "And hold it."
Juvia increased the tension, watching Lucy squirm in discomfortable. Vanity was such a sin.
"Done yet?" Lucy asked, her words starting to sound a little breathless.
"Almost there," Juvia said. She waited until Lucy let out the breath she had been holding before drawing the corset tighter.
"Juvia, I—" Lucy broke off with a sharp gasp. "J-Juvia!"
"Are you uncomfortable?" Juvia asked.
Lucy nodded, red-faced and sweating.
Good. Lucy was finally getting what she deserved.
"But you're not in pain?" Juvia asked.
Lucy considered before shaking her head, looking delightfully miserable.
"We should keep going," Juvia said. "Don't worry. We're almost done. It'll be worth it. You'll see."
It wasn't fair that Lucy had everything when Juvia had nothing at all.
Lucy was well-liked. Lucy was popular. She wielded a power over men that Juvia could only wish for.
"J-Juvia. I'm…getting d-dizzy…" Lucy took a stuttering breath.
They weren't done yet. Not until Juvia said they were.
"Just hold on a little longer," Juvia crowed. "It's going to look so good!"
For once, Juvia had all the power, and Lucy couldn't take it away from her. She could have Lucy on her knees, begging for mercy. If Lucy was out of the picture, then she could have Gray to herself.
All she had to do was pull.
With a smile, Juvia yanked hard on Lucy's laces, letting the corset tighten like a vise around Lucy's ribcage.
"C-can't bre-athe," Lucy gasped. "Juv—Sto…"
"What was that? I can't hear you, Lucy. You have to speak up," Juvia said flatly. "Tighter?"
Lucy jerked, chest heaving. Her mouth opened and closed like she was trying to form words, but all that came out was a soft groan.
Juvia gave one, final, vicious yank on the cords. That would teach Lucy for trying to steal Gray away.
Lucy's entire body shuddered before going slack. She listed sideways, crumpling like a puppet with its strings cut.
It was the thump of her body hitting the ground that made Juvia scramble back. She blinked like she was coming out of a trance.
What was she doing? What had she done?
She hadn't meant to hurt Lucy…
Had she?
"No… I didn't… I just…" Juvia shook her head, her voice trailing off. She sank to her knees.
She just wanted to scare Lucy. That was all.
It wasn't Juvia's fault!
As if that would change what had happened. What Juvia had done.
Juvia's eyes fell onto Lucy, face colorless and barely breathing. Her eyes had rolled to the back of her head.
The harsh chill of reality plunged deep into her bones.
"Hey, Luce? You in there?" a male voice called. The Draghi Prince.
Natsu? What was he doing here? Juvia leapt to her feet, panic seizing her like a giant fist squeezing her chest. If Natsu came, he would find out. He would know what had happened… what Juvia had done!
"Look, I'm not upset, okay? I just wanted to make sure we're cool."
What was she going to do now?
Maybe she could hide until Natsu left. But, no. What if he found her?
Natsu knocked again. "Lucy?"
Juvia shuffled backwards. She stumbled, crashing to the ground.
"I'm coming in," Natsu said.
No!
Juvia scrambled backwards on all fours.
There was nowhere to hide. No, she'd have to run.
Where could she run?
The window!
Juvia flung herself towards the window. This was the only way out.
The party was taking place on the opposite side of the castle, so the courtyard below was clear. It was also a long way down.
She didn't have any other options. She had to escape!
Hands shaking, Juvia pushed the panes open. She hoisted herself up onto the ledge.
The ground below was so very far away.
She would not be caught.
Juvia's heart thundered in her chest. She pushed off the ledge, just as she heard the door open.
The ground connected, hard and fast. Pain erupted in her knee. It was agony, but she Juvia could only whimper, winded by the fall. For the longest few seconds of her life, Juvia could do little more than lie sprawled out, dazed and unable to breathe.
Is this how Lucy had felt?
Suddenly, her lungs gave a gasp, sucking in air all at once. She could breathe… Oh, she could breathe!
Ignoring the spots that swam before her vision, Juvia pushed on her hands and uninjured leg, clawing through the dirt until she got somewhere so Bora and Gajeel could come and collect her.
Oh, the irony.
In the original Brothers' Grimm version of Snow White, the Queen's first attempt on adult Snow's life was with a corset with poisoned laces. (Actually, all of her attempts were poison-related, hence my focus on poisons and the title Toxic.) As the story goes, when the corset was removed, Snow was revived almost instantly. That, to me, didn't sound like any kind of poison, but I thought what happened to Lucy here was slightly more reasonable and fit the description.
That said, most corset enthusiasts will tell you that this is far from the most likely way to faint from a corset. Victorian Era tight-lacing horror stories usually involve being over-laced for a sustained period of time, and there's usually some other aspect (like exertion or overheating) that plays a part as well. Having a corset impede circulation is more likely than it impeding breathing.
So, is this specific scenario possible? If the attacker were a larger, stronger person (like Laxus or Gildarts or Elfman) and the victim were a smaller person with a slight build, I could see it being possible. It's not the most plausible scenario, but it's better than 'poisoned laces.'
Next time, in Toxic: Of course, the Ice Block didn't show until after Natsu had saved the day… and at the most inconvenient time possible.
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
