[Finished] Longing For The Night

[Kitty]

She moved toward the tub, both ears standing forward with their ends being pulled down by rings almost inquisitively. She reared up onto her hind paws, placing the front ones on the edge of the tub as she eyed the water. Hopefully it wasn't some cruel joke as to the temperature, she didn't see any steam but you never knew... it was always a good idea to have a healthy dose of suspicion when you were a leveret anyhow. She did, however, bring a paw forward to delicately test the temperature with her toes. It was pleasant, not as cold as she'd like it but... pleasant.

She removed herself from the edge, going to remove her bracelets and then deciding against it. They were hers and she did not want to run the risk of this doe stealing them. It would be rather involved just to steal her simple trinkets, but some does were like that.

When she mentioned the naming of the leverets from her former warren she couldn't quell the urge to arch a brow as she peered at the doe. She also vaguely wondered if the lady knew how utterly creepy that expression was, she was such a strange doe! Talaith wasn't quite sure what her game was, and it was disconcerting. She resigned herself to her fate with the softest of sighs, turning back to the tub and... climbing in. She would have jumped but she wasn't entirely certain how well received the mess would be.

[Nako]

"Not much to say? That is all well and good though. Sometimes a response isn't needed for certain matters." Taking some opaque cream, she rubbed it in her paws and patted it into the mane and fur on the leveret. "This will ease the fur and make it easier to brush." If there was one thing a doe would know, it's how to take care of fur.


"Why are you not in a warren, Talaith? Who would run away from someone who gave you such pretties? Or.. were you abandoned?" Her face fell quite suddenly from its smile, hands pausing from its work and her eyes becoming quite dull. "It's such a pity... when pretty things just get.. thrown away." Her smile was.. almost sad as she resumed her work, running her fingers carefully through the shock of blue mane, picking out things that were stuck in it every now and then. "Please do tell me your story, little one. It's so rare to find a leveret that will talk to me."

[Kitty]

She'd figured out long ago that not speaking much was the best way around things, she didn't even really talk to other leverets much. She had her reasons, and her opinions, but she preferred to keep most things to herself. If it was strange for Ashta to find a leveret that would talk to her it was equally strange for Talaith to encounter a doe that seemed so interested in her. It was almost... unnerving. And... had she called her a pretty thing? No, that was just a reference to the trinkets she wore, that's all it could be.

She was going to opt for silence but she caught sight of the Hisstor's expression and it tugged at her mind. If her speaking would brighten the girl up, well, it wasn't like it was going to kill her now was it? She reached a paw up, moving a spike of blue from in front of her eyes, mohawks were funny that was when they were wet, and began to speak. She didn't really put much emphasis on anything, just... let it roll off her tongue.

Cause they're all idiots... Jacks that is, that's why I've run from every one of them I've come to be 'owned' by. Never had a home, if you'd like to put it that way... not even in the Glacier.

It felt kind of good to get that off her chest. A Jack would probably beat her senseless for saying such things, but it's what she believed and she'd never run across anyone that didn't fit perfectly into her classifications. She'd never be a pretty little doll for an idiot... never. The next little bit she said was softer then the rest.

I'd much rather be thrown away then... fawned over..

[Nako]

The leveret might has well have driven a stake through Ashta's heart. Her jaw dropped, her eyes bulged to show the whites in the corners.. and for a moment she said nothing, withdrawing hastily from the creature that had found it within herself to utter such blaspheme. How could she say such a thing? How could.. anyone rather be thrown away? That had been the part that had made her gawk. She knew there were horrible Jacks out there. She'd encountered and shunned so many.. rejected them in favor for her former Jack. Ashta herself had very little good to say about even most of the Does.. and little even to say about herself. She just.. existed.

Then, her jaw closed, solemn but not angry and continued to work on the leveret's mane of hair. "It's... difficult to understand that.. For a Doe.. a Jack is her everything. We can't... live without them. Then again.. they can't live without us. It's terribly unfortunate that Does happen to be more..." Then, the Doe's lip trembled, if only for a moment. "..Expendable."

She didn't like hearing these things from the leveret. It.. questioned her life. It questioned her ideals... but this leveret was an audacious window to a world Ashta knew nothing of, and was like a horrible act that she couldn't look away from.

There was a moment that there was some clarity in those dreamy, crazy eyes, and she shook her head with a rueful smile, grabbing up a broadly spaced comb to carefully pick and tease the tangles out of the leveret's fur. "The only way Does -can- survive it is to embrace it. Who would have known that a.. leveret was more free than I would ever be?"

[Kitty]

Oh gods she'd made it worse didn't she? The line 'idiot' ran through her mind several times and she looked away from the doe, favoring the wall, and sighed. She just seemed to have this innate ability to make things horribly ...awkward. This was turning out to be one of the most annoying baths ever, even if she enjoyed having her mane combed and scrubbed, well, maybe just a little. She continued to look anywhere but at the doe, listening and not wishing to utter another comment that would surely become another foot in mouth moment.

Her last comment, however, snagged her attention back and a frown lingered on her muzzle. That... was a misunderstanding that needed to be cleared up.

It's not freedom, I'm chained to the bloody Jacks almost as you are... especially in the warmer climates. I can't exist without somewhere to go, and I can't linger in any specific area for long on my own either.

Her ears twitched back for a moment before returning to a neutral position. She was speaking to Ashta on an equal level, she knew it, but she'd be damned if she let her think the life of a leveret was anything desirable.

At least with the contract of a doe you're treated almost like an equal. We're pets and servants, highly expendable and easily terminated.... should a Jack wish it. There's exceptions I know, but... .really...

And now the water and her own toes were far more favorable to look at then the doe. Why oh why was she even continuing with this rant? This whole thing was utterly and miserably depressing but.... it felt good. She'd been biting her tongue, for them most part, for so very long... it felt good to speak up like this.

I guess what I'm getting at is... I'd just rather slip by unnoticed. But I stand out, I know I do.... and there's no neutral feelings involved in the matter either.

She looked up and over at Ashta briefly before dropping her gaze again with another sigh.

Sorry, Miss Ashta.

[Nako]

Ashta didn't respond at first, rather staring straight through the doe as she now began to work through the rest of her fur. Really, she wasn't doing a thorough job to actually comb out the leveret, but moreso just to get her clean, and all the burrs out of her fur that if left too long would coil into the hair and painfully close to the skin, with no hope of getting them out unless they were cut out.

Then, she smiled, sincere yet empty all at the same time as she pressed a wet paw to the leveret's lips.. just staring and smiling. Maybe it was because she was Hisstor that she acted so oddly, but being a doe probably did little to help her mental stability. "There there, pretty thing. Don't fret.. We must all play the hand we are dealt. I must play mine, as you must play yours."

Finally done, she rinsed her paws. "Just rinse yourself off and you should be fine. I won't use the soap on you, since it'd probably only mess up your coat. Such a unique texture.. Especially designed for keeping you warm, yes? A lot of good it does you at this time of year around here.." She was moreso making small talk now, hopping off to grab a towel in her teeth and bring it back.

".... Are you going to stay?" Now.. that was quite interesting. Normally she wouldn't ask such a thing.. she'd demand it. After all, she was a Doe, and leverets were her playthings. This one though... was different.

[Kiki]

Kitty and Nako receive 1 token each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe. This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe. Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!

[Kitty]

Her eyes widened slightly when the doe held a paw to her lips, effectively silencing her for awhile. It was... and odd gesture to her. Odd and, surprisingly gentle... she'd been fully expecting some sort of backlash ... but it didn't come. At the very least it didn't come swiftly, there were still possibilities. Somehow though, she didn't peg this strange creature to be the type to do unspeakable things. Oddly enough, she kind of liked this doe. She was weird and mildly creepy, but she was... interesting in a highly intriguing manner. Hmmm...

She resisted the urge to make a counter comment to Ashta's own somewhat philosophical one, her mouth had gotten her into quite enough trouble for the time being. She did as instructed, rinsing her fur as thoroughly as she dared, messing up those oils was something she didn't wish to do.. .really, and she was quite thankful to be spared the horror that was soap as well. Most soaps rinsed away most, if not all, of her natural oils and it... did strange things to her coat. Speaking of which, the other was commenting on that ...

A lot of good indeed... makes me kind of want to be nocturnal.

She flipped up whatever form of stopper there was to hold the water, watching it drain away with the dirt that had been clinging to her coat. It was hard to noticed how filthy you actually were when your own fur was colored similar to what was considered filth. She'd act on her own accord, running a bit of cold water for her own enjoyment and to at least somewhat clean the tub. If she had any time she'd make a note to give it a proper cleaning later... yes, there'd be a later she supposed.

The question caught her by surprise and it showed clearly on her face as she turned to face the doe. She was being asked if she wished to stay? That was ... a first.

I'll... give it a shot. I can't guarantee the length of my stay but, I'll stay for awhile.

What a strange beauty this Hisstor was indeed.

[Nako]

Ashta didn't like that the leveret wasn't completely sure. In fact, she might have even been a bit offended. Still... there was some sanity in her to tell her that she had in fact given the leveret a choice. With how odd this leveret was, it might be best she left of her own accord anyways. It would never do for her to attract the Czar. For now though, she'd enjoy having her around, and if she could ask it of Vikenti, she'd even like for this leveret.. Talaith, to be more exclusively to the duties of keeping Ashta amused. Yes, her own personal leveret.. that sounded quite nice. She certainly wanted to have a nice stock of leverets when she wished to sing to them.

For as intensely as she had mourned only moments ago, she now was quite chipper. "Well, I certainly hope that you come to like it here. It really is a wonderful place." Now though, she needed to find the Czar, and it might be a good idea to go and find her Jack and explain the situation. He certainly didn't seem the sort that liked to be surprised, and she didn't want to take a chance and anger him too severely.

"I really must go and find the Czar. You just go on and dry off and I'll go find him. After you are done in here, just feel free either wait here, or go to the leveret's quarters and wait there. I'm sure Heike might be around." And with that, she gave a cheery shake of her bunny tail and hopped out of the room.

((I'll grab up xenon when I can and figure out where we go from here. We'll either make another post, or have xe join this one XD I'll let you know what's going on when we figure things out.))