I-The Move In
"Now remember girls, this man is very successful and I want you on your best behavior" Lady Tremaine said, staring at her two young daughters Dresella and Anastasia as the carriage they were in continued down the road. Dresella immediately leaned forward, "Oh mother, will I get my own room finally?" she asked excitedly, as in the next moment she scowled, "and be away from this beast who has to kick me with her big feet all night" she added, turning to her sister, Anastasia.
Before their mother's recent remarriage, which was the reason they were leaving with all of their luggage packed on top of the carriage for the poor porter to deal with, both Anastasia and Dresella had had only a small room to themselves and they'd had to share two beds pushed together even. Neither of the two girls had liked this arrangement.
As Dresella's comment about her sister's feet continued to be followed by silence, the young girl frowned, "Hello! Miss Observant, I just insulted you, you should be getting angry right about now!" she said. Still nothing. "Anastasia, what is it?" her mother asked in only a half caring voice. The young red head sighed, "It's just...I miss dad" she said. Lady Tremaine quickly waved a hand in dismissal, "Oh there's not much to miss" she said, "He was a poor fool with hardly anything to his name. Now this new father of yours...".
"I don't want a new father" Anastasia mumbled. Her mother turned on her sharply, "What?!". The young girl wilted, "Nothing". Lady Tremaine kept her harsh stare leveled on her daughter for a bit longer to drive home how insolent a comment the young girl had made, before turning her attention out the carriage window. They soon arrived in front of the house and the carriage pulled to a stop. The porter promptly leapt from his perch to open the door.
Lady Tremaine exited first, with her two daughters right behind her. The front door of the house swung open and an amiable faced man with shining eyes stepped down the stairs and hugged his new wife. She faked such affection in return. "Well how was the trip?" he asked her, "Really, you should have allowed me to come and help you with your things".
"Not necessary at all, darling" Lady Tremaine replied, stepping out and glancing at the front of the house with a hungry, possessive look. She'd seen her new husbands stately manor before, of course, but she seemed to delight in every opportunity she could to remind herself that it was all hers now. Her husband, Sir Reginald Tremaine (ooc: just guessing at where the name comes from) turned to the two young girls standing near the carriage and graced them with a warm smile.
"Oh Calandre these must be your two daughters you told me about!" Reginald went on, and that was all his new wife had told him about them. "You know dear, I believe you forgot to mention their names to me" he continued, before smiling exclusively at the two girls, "and what are your names?" he asked them. Dresella and Anastasia both just stared silently for a while. The red headed sister spoke first. "A-Anastasia" she said in a small voice, glancing down at the ground; "and that's Dresella" she pointed.
Her sister turned annoyed and gave her a discreet jab of annoyance. Reginald didn't notice though and simply kept smiling. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you both, and don't worry I'll take great care of you and your mother. You're already like my own daughters this moment" he smiled with a twinkle in his eyes. Dresella just kept a blank look, as if she didn't particularly need that favor done for her. Despite being the one the most against a new father, as she glanced up, Anastasia couldn't help being drawn in by the man's warm smile. A small smile began at the corner of her mouth, maybe he wouldn't be so bad.
"Father?". Everyone turned at the sound of the voice and looked at the owner of the voice, a small blonde headed girl with bright blue eyes. The first thing Anastasia noticed was how stunningly beautiful she must already appear to be to the young boys she had the pleasure of encountering, stunning even before one took in the gorgeous blue dress she wore, such to match her eyes. Slowly, and so no one noticed, Anastasia brought a hand up to feel her own straight, drab, red hair and glanced at her ordinary dress.
The young red head had to swallow a small lump of despair and sadness as she saw this. No boy would ever talk to her again if this was her new father's daughter. Not that they ever had before. Dresella appeared to noticed the same thing as her sister and her eyes narrowed.
"Ella. Come, come meet everybody" Reginald said, using his nickname for his daughter as greeted her with a small hug. "Calandre, you remember my mentioning my daughter, Cinderella to you?" Reginald inquired as he and the girl turned his wife's way. Lady Tremaine gave a fake pleasant smile, "Of course. So nice to meet you child" she replied. Cinderella looked a bit unsure at her new stepmother's detached manner, yet curtsied politely, "How do you do".
"and these are your new sisters" Reginald continued, indicating where Dresella and Anastasia still stood. The dark haired girl just threw her head slightly in an acknowledging nod. "I-I'm pleased to meet you" Cinderella said, once more caught of guard by the minimal greeting she received. Anastasia still stood there with her hands drawn in front of her unsurely, yet as Cinderella's gaze swept her way she decided that, though more beautiful than her, this girl did seem very friendly.
"H-Hello" the red head said timidly, "I'm Anastasia". She stepped forward extending a hand. Cinderella beamed and took it immediately, "Pleasure to meet you". Anastasia smiled, "Uh, that's Dresella" she said, since Dresella didn't seem about to offer to introduce herself anytime soon. Again, the only greeting given was a head nod.
"Darling are we going to stand here all day" Lady Tremaine said, cutting into the girls' introductions. Reginald was quick to stroll over and open the door, "Oh no of course not, after you my sweet" he said, indicating for his wife to go first. Lady Tremaine brushed past the doorway and into the splendid home, another smile of satisfaction coming over her face. It was all hers!
Dresella quickly brushed past and followed her mother. Still standing next to Anastasia, Cinderella took her arm as they walked into the house and the two of them paused where Dresella was standing. "Oh I just know we're going to have such fun together as sisters" Cinderella said, a bright smile on her face ever since Anastasia's attempt at saying hello had caused her to feel more comfortable after the stiff greeting she got from the others.
"Ooh, you have to come see my horse" she went on. Anastasia looked interested, "You have a horse?". Cinderella nodded her head excitedly, "Oh I just know he'll love you both, come on". She took both of her new stepsisters' hands and prepared to lead them off when Lady Tremaine walked by. "Come along girls, we'll get you settled into your rooms" she said. Dresella quickly obeyed her mother and followed after her. "Thank goodness!" she whispered to herself when she was out of earshot, thankful that she'd been spared the boring trip of going to see Miss Beautiful's dumb horse.
Anastasia paused unsurely where she was standing next to Cinderella, confused as to what to do. Going with Cinderella to see the horse did sound like fun, and maybe she'd even get to ride--
"Anastasia" Lady Tremaine called again, the annoyance at either of her daughters not obeying her immediately present in her voice despite her best efforts at refinement. Even under a false polite front, Anastasia knew that tone in her mother's voice and, with a quick smile of apology to Cinderella, darted off to obey immediately and follow her mother and sister up the stairwell. Though the red headed girl did glance back over her shoulder a few times at Cinderella.
Cinderella just smiled back each time, and Anastasia attempted to return the smile, though the curious want to get to know her stepsister better was warring with the slight jealousy over her beautiful features. Neither of the conflicting thoughts were able to make sense in the confused little girl's head as she followed her mother up the stairwell.
Maybe it would all become less confusing as she got to know her new sister and father. Provided she was afforded the opportunity to keep this father and he wasn't taken away like the last one had been.