"I-I haven't found a replacement part yet-"
Adri: "Well none of us will be going to the ball if the hovercar's still broken, will we~?"
"They're too expensive!! If you would just supply me with some money instead of having all of my wages at the shop go directly into your bank account-"
Adri: sighing as if Cinder were a stupid, niave girl "Oh Cinder, we don't have enough money for your magbelt AND your dress-you'll just have to get creative, won't you~?"
"...But if I find the magbelt-a-and manage to find a cheap enough dress-you'll let me go...?"
Adri:"...Yes Cinder. If you somehow manage to do those things, I'll let you go."
A small orange light flickered on in the corner of Cinder's vision. She'd seen it many times before-it meant someone was lying.
"..."
She gritted her teeth and forced a smile
"Well then...I'd better get to it..."
She went to leave, Iko trailing behind her, but before she did she said
"And Pearl-you have a zit on your forehead."
She ran downstairs to the basement, taking a small sense of satisfaction in hearing Pearl's shrieks.
Peony came downstairs a little while later as Cinder was gathering up her tools into her messenger bag, huffing and keeping herself busy. Iko clapped her prongs with delight
???: "Cinder, did you hear what she said!? You can go!! Oh, we'll find you a beautiful dress-we can look at those adorable thrift shops on Sakura-a-and you can dance with the prince!!!-"
She sighed dreamily. Cinder slammed the second drawer of her work table shut with a thud, being forceful since it stuck.
"I'm not going."
???: "What-what do you mean!?"
"Adri won't let me."
???: "But she said if you fixed the hover-"
"But what about Peony's broken portscreen? Or-or the old gard 8.2-"
???: "But she doesn't even have a garden anymore-"
"That's not the point-as long as she can think of more chores for me to do, she'll keep finding ways to stop me from going-"