Lake, Ada ~ The Swan Princess [OC]

" hi! it's so great to have you here.
care to introduce yourself? "

I'm Odette. I think. Well I was also Odile. Long story. Anyway my Storybrooke name is Ada Lake, Ada means wealthy you know, the same as Odette actually. But never mind. I'm possibly 19, or maybe 20. Not really sure. I don't have an occupation, you should know. You had to come down to this hell hole to interview me, but don't go... it's nice to be able to talk to someone. I was a swan you see, and princess. You know the 'Swan Princess'. Anyway.. what was I saying? Oh yes, occupation. Well I'd like to be a ballet teacher. Not that, that is even going to happen.

" great! so, where are you from,
and when is your birthday? "

I... I don't actually know. I barely even remember my age. I think it was sometime in June, maybe the 10th or something. But it could have been july. Birthday's never really mattered to me. All I know is that I was born in the summer to a loving father.

" so tell me a bit about your personality.
what makes you tick? "

I'd say that I'm a kind pleasant person, who does her best to do what's best. But others may have a differing opinion of me. I'd like to think I would have been an great ruler of my kingdom, with Derek by my side, if it wasn't for this curse. I hate this damn place. I feel trapped. It doesn't help that I am trapped. Trapped in this damn hospital. I hate hospitals. I hate doctors and I hate medication. I hate sharing my head with another person. Especially when that woman is me, but darker. With Odile in my head I'm a little more rebellious than I was before. I still try to do what's right, but I have these almost overwhelming urges to do bad. I hate feeling out of control. I should mention it to someone, but they'd think me madder than they already believe I am. Oh yea. I hate being thought of as mad. I'm not insane. I am perfectly sane. I was a swan. I wasn't imagining it. At least I hope I wasn't. I hate seeing children in pain, and I hate seeing children orphaned.

I like the sun. I miss the sun. I miss walking around outdoors, I miss paddling in the water. I miss a lot of things, but most of all I miss my husband, even if I don't remember him. There is a hole in my heart that I can't fill with anything else. I like romance, I like being loved, I like being in love. I like intimacy, I suppose you could call me an hopeless romantic. I like birds, I like remembering how invigorating and freeing it was to be able to fly. That was the one good thing about being cursed to be a swan. Being able to fly. It was an freedom all in itself. I like being free, though being committed to my husband doesn't mean I don't still feel free. I like my rings. I have these rings that I always wear

I'd love to be a teacher, of ballet. In fact I'd love to be able to dance and just lounge around in the sun once again. I'd love to be have children, and just be married, and watch the children grow. I'm quite the headstrong woman, capable of making my own decisions, and being on my own.

" wow! i feel like i know you already.
tell me what you've been up to lately. "

I was born to a loving father, King William, king of one of the seven Kingdoms. He loved me dearly. While my birth was a joyous occasion, it was also twinged with sadness, my mother, she died giving birth to me, and I never got the chance to know her. My father knew that he needed to join the kingdoms someway, and the only way he thought he could do it was by marrying me off to Queen Uberta's young son, Derek.

Me and Derek were forced together, and it's safe to say we both hated each other as kids. I think we were projecting our frustration at our lack of choice onto one another and it really showed. We barely spoke, and when we did... we were never pleasant to each other unless we were in front of others. We abhored each others company as we were made to spend as much time together as we could, in hopes that we would come around to each other. But the more time we spent together, the further apart we wanted to be. We honestly could see no reason for us to be together. None of it was my idea of fun. Nor was it his, but we were children, who were being faced with something far bigger than us.

As we grew older, and I grew from an ugly duckling into an fully grown swan, something changed in his eyes, and the way I viewed him changed. All of a sudden, I could see a future with the man I had abhored most of my childhood. My father and Uberta were overjoyed to see us get along, and set about announcing a betrothal, before I said yes, I asked him what he thought of me. He told me that I was beautiful... So a little upset I asked him what else was there? I was beginning to think I was just a beautiful object to him, that he could parade on his arm. He replied with “what else is there” and I think my heart cracked there and then. I turned and ran, asking my father if we could leave. I wanted to be away from him.

So we left, but that wasn't the worst that could happen. What happened next was the worst. We were attacked by the vengeful Rothbart, who fatally wounded my father and kidnapped me, he wanted to marry me you see. [shivers] god I would never ever marry him. Anyway when I refused him, he cursed me, to be a swan during the day and only turn back into a swan when the moon hit the water on the lake, the one catch, I had to be ON the lake, if I wasn't I spent the whole night as a swan as well. Luckily I made 3 friends, Jean-Bob, Puffin and Speed. I adored each of them, and they helped me through my time as a swan.

I learnt from Rothbart that the only way to break the curse was the accept his proposal and he would break it, or to receive true loves kiss. Well with no Derek, my chance of returning to being a human seemed slim. I would never give in to the man who killed my father, and I certainly would not marry him, so he could ruin my fathers kingdom. So I remained cursed. Though, one night, myself and my friends planned a little... breakout. We stole a map from Rothbarts tower and flew off in search of Derek. We lured him back, only after he tried to shoot me. I haven't forgiven him for that. So I turned back into Odette while on the lakes surface, and Derek and me made up. I told him about how to break the curse, and he said he would make a vow of everlasting love at the ball that night.

He left, and what I didn't know was Rothbart... had overheard... He told me, way too pleased, that there was no moon that night, and that going to the ball was out of the question. Then everything went dark for a little while. When I came around I was faced with a carbon copy of myself. Only she was darker. There was no light in her eyes, and her lips were twisted into a smirk. Rothbart send her to the ball.. leaving me locked up. If it weren't for Jean-Bob, Speed and Puffin I would have never got out. So I flew for the ball, as fast as I could, but it was too late, by the time I got there, the doors were locked as were the windows, I could only watch in horror as my heart truly broke. He had vowed his everlasting love to another. I lost the will to live I think, and I flew weakly back, barely landing before everything went black for the second time that night. When I came around, I could feel Odile there, in my mind again, but it was different now, she was real. She was a whole other person. I haven't ever told anyone that... Still I don't know the details, but Rothbart was dead, killed by Derek and his friend. I was free to live my life.

We married soon after, and were happy for a while. Then the curse hit, and for some reason, whether it was the remainder of Rothbarts magic lingering in Odile or Odile herself, I kept some of my memories. I forgot Derek, and my love, and my father and Jean-Bob and the rest of them, but I recalled being a swan. I recalled Rothbarts curse and most of all I knew Odile was still there, whispering in my ear. I was pretty quickly dragged into the towns asylum, as soon as Mayor Gold had heard about it. When the nurses went to take off my rings... I kicked up the biggest fuss imaginable, I don't know why, but I couldn't bare the idea of taking the rings off.

" speaking of your family,
tell me about them. "

I don't have much family. Never did. My father died soon after I was cursed to be a swan and I never knew my mother. I have no siblings and no grandparents. Well I guess you could say I have no family what so ever... That's kinda sad. [Looks somewhat forlorn]

" okay, this one's between you and me.
got any skeletons in the closet? "

It's not exactly a secret... but I used to be a swan. I just have to keep it a secret to make them think I'm sane. The saner I seem the quicker I get out of here right? Right?

Odile... She's still here. I think even that part of me has a Storybrooke name, Adele, but she's battling for control. I'm kind of fighting her daily. But seriously they can't know [looks around wildly] they'd think me even more insane, and I can't have that.

Oh and I'm stuck in this hell hole with no one to rescue me.

" okay. a little more personal..
are you seeing anyone? "

I had a husband, but I don't remember him, all I know is that there's two rings on my left ring finger, and I can't bare to remove them. I kick up a fuss whenever one of the nurses tries too... I'm attached to them.

" well thanks for answering all the questions!
we'll get back to you, okay? "

Alright. Thanks for coming, I liked the company. Come back please?

" alright, one last thing..
sign this waiver, please? "

Ada Lake, the Swan Princess