Underground (Chielynn’s perspective):

The light from the candle in her lantern threw flickering shadows across the rough stone walls as Lynn made her way through the old dungeon. It was mostly empty as it hadn’t been in use for a very long time, but she was happy to see some of the old chains were still in place. That was a strange thing to be happy about, she supposed, but that was her life lately. The last few days had been crazy, but had also left her feeling more hopeful than she had in years. Vel was considering forgiving her, just the thought made her stomach tingle. And there was something about Vel lately, like he gave her hope that this whole broken family might yet be fixed. There was nothing she wanted more than that, she so missed having a family that loved each other. She couldn’t remember what it was like to not constantly be walking on eggshells, terrified of another fight, but Vel was beginning to show her. And she had to show him she was serious about making it up to him and earning his forgiveness. That was why she was down here in the middle of the night. Lynn couldn’t risk going down here when anyone might see her, but this place was key to the plan for her punishment that was taking shape in her mind.

She walked around the old cells for a bit, checking on the state of some of the chains. She was pretty sure this place had not been used for anything since the new holding cells were built, so well over a decade. She didn’t know much about metal and its care, but the chains looked to be in remarkably good condition. Perhaps because it was so dry down here? She leaned against the wall and thought. She’d probably need to bring a little table down here, and probably a chair too, Vel might need breaks to sit. She blushed; she was thinking about how her little brother might needs breaks when he… When he was… When he was punishing her. She didn’t want to articulate exactly what the punishment looked like, even just in her own mind. She knew though, she had a plan. She hoped it would be good enough for Velas.

As she headed back out of the dungeon, Lynn decided she would need help to pull this off. But who could she ask for help with this? The answer was obvious, Adeline. Lynn wasn’t stupid, there was no way Vel hadn’t told his twin about what he’d been doing to her. Perhaps he’d been sparing her the most explicit details, but she really wasn’t sure. Between how close those two had always been and Vel’s apparent willingness and even eagerness to do perverted things to her, his own sister, a suspicion was forming in her mind. If she was right about it, it would just make Adi an even better fit for this. She was in no position to judge Adi for what kind of sister she may or may not be to Vel. And she definitely had no right to judge Vel. Yes, she would ask her for help with this. Scared as she was, Lynn felt her resolve harden. She was going to do this, she would get through it, and it would put her another step closer to Vel forgiving her. That goal was worth doing anything for, even this, which would no doubt be the most humiliating and degrading experience of her life so far.