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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 14, 2009 18:31:14 GMT -5
Heike was smart. Heike was good at planning things and even better at following through with them. As she listened to the other Rabbit's simple statement, the burning hatred in Aimili's expression eased slightly, her severe frown even easing itself into a cruel little smirk. She was still crying, however, when she sat back on her haunches and combed the fur of her belly aside to show her scratches. They weren't bleeding freely any longer as they'd never been deep, but they still showed clearly against the fur there.
She explained to him everything that had happened in the last few weeks, finishing with the events of a few minutes ago. By the time she finished, the girl was fuming again, running her claws again and again across the ground and grinding her teeth in annoyance.
"Worst of all," she said, ears flattening again, eyes narrowing conspiratorily. "I think it lied to us. I think it's male."
Being a male wasn't such a bad thing, but in this Warren being male and hiding it from the Czar was grounds for death. Vikenti hated being led on and lied to more than anything else, but simply telling her father about the Esterberry's true gender wasn't enough. She wanted more. She wanted him to die.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 14, 2009 18:46:55 GMT -5
"I shouldn't go," he said quietly to himself as he curled up trying to ignore the voices. It continued. It wouldn't stop no matter what. He rolled out of the bed. Maybe... if he followed the crying it would stop?
---
He sat and listened carefully to everything. His ears swiveled in thought. The last statement was like a nail in a coffin. Shashi was a he then? The Avington had no doubt about it. The way he acted. The way he looked. The way he treated his sister.
"Then we'll make him die." Heike said as his grin grew wider. "We just need to make the Czar see him for what he really is. Perhaps we should arrange for a little mishap where Shashi ends up accidentally acquiring something from the Czar."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 17, 2009 19:09:28 GMT -5
A strange little shiver of excitement went through Aimili's body, and she felt a small grin slowly slide its way over her mouth. Her bone paws clicked together as she considered it. The Czar would almost certainly be furious with the news, and if the rumors that she'd heard were anything close to true, then the Jack would be more than happy to make an example out of the little prick of an Esterberry.
She didn't know why it was that the thought entertained her so much, but it did. She turned back to look at the Avington, nodding to herself as she considered their course of action.
"The Czar wakes early, doesn't he?" she said thoughtfully, rocking back on her haunches once more. Her skeletal hands lent her a strange dexterity, and she stroked at her chin as she thought. "We'll go to him after he's had breakfast, then. It'll only be an hour or two before he wants that. Will you help me bandage myself before we go?" This was almost an afterthought, and she winced slightly. The leaning and rocking had lead to her wounds stinging once more.
~*~
Breakfast had been served, and Aimili padded quietly down the hall, her little tail flick-flicking thoughtfully as she went. She glanced back at Heike, her ears raising. Then she knocked softly on her father, the Czar's, door. It was a harrowing moment, but her excitement made it all the more tolorable.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 17, 2009 19:23:48 GMT -5
Heike nodded to Amili. "He'll be up in two hours or so. Breakfast normally doesn't take him very long." Of course Heike's definition of "long" was different than most people. Either way the rabbit perked at the thought of making Shashi suffer.
"Of course!" Heike said to her comment about the bandages. How could he forget something that important. The rabbit hurried over to a small chest, flipping it open and pulling out a variety of bandages.
---
Heike followed her down the hallway, a bit of anxiety showing through the twitching of his ears. Otherwise he was dead silent, and had no problem with watching the younger leveret tap on the door. She had learned to be so responsible!
And it was so wonderful that she was willing to lead someone to destruction.
--
Shashi hid under the bed, covering his eyes. He was panting and sweating. It didn't make sense. None of it did but he... he was seeing FACES no matter where he looked. He curled up into a tight ball, trying his hardest to keep his eyes closed.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 17, 2009 19:36:41 GMT -5
Vikenti wiped the last traces of his meal away from his face, daubing his napkin in his water glass and using it to make sure that there was not a trace of food left in his ivory fur, and no crumbs in the golden beard. The knock at the door caused him to look up, yellow eyes narrowing slightly. Normally, the Leveret who took his dishes away waited until he had left the room before entering, but perhaps something had been slowed down and they were in a greater rush to deal with the cleaning?
Intrigued to find out what it was that was important enough to disrupt his morning routiene, the Jack called out. "Come in,[/b]" and shifted slightly to a more... appropriately intimidating position, hand curling into a fist that he then rested his chin on.
~*~
At the positive reply, Aimili glanced back at her companion and swallowed her nerves. There was no turning back now, was there? Not that she really wanted to, but in all honesty, the Czar was terrifying. All the same, she pushed the door open carefully, bowing low enough that her ears scraped across the floor. Only then did she enter fully, glancing back to make sure that Heike was following her.
"M-master, it is with great sadness that I come to you today," she began, voice wavering with her nerves. She swallowed. "Something... something troubling has recently come to my and Heike's attention, regarding the Esterberry Leveret Shashi."
She looked back at Heike again, hoping that he'd continue.
Vikenti shifted, unable to hide his interest. This was indeed worthy of the disturbance!
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 17, 2009 19:51:30 GMT -5
Heike followed without hesitation. As terrible as the the Czar was, this was a urgent matter. He had to hold back the smirk on his face as he entered, keeping his head as low as possible without hitting the floor.
He continued smoothly, "We've discovered that the Esterberry is male, Master. He has been hiding his gender from you this entire time. Not only that, but last night he assaulted Aimili while she was sleeping."
The Avington knew that despite the way he treated his daughter, that deep down he loved her, and expect her to carry on the family name along with his other daughter. Of course, it was only a matter of time before she was forced to leave the Warren. Maybe.... maybe he would have a chance to go with her and bring his sister along.
But he shouldn't focus on that right now.
---
Shashi peered out from under the bed to look at the wall across from him. Slowly a face appeared. Horrible. Awful. He made a small whimper as it started calling out to him, begging.
What had he done to deserve this? Make it stop. PLEASE make it stop.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 18, 2009 21:11:11 GMT -5
As he listened, the Jack's eyes narrowed until they were little more than slits of irritation. He lowered his hand to rest it on the arm of his seat, posture shifting until he was sitting more or less upright, his full attention on his daughter and servant. There was a part of his mind that wasn't sure if he should believe them, but he did. After all, Aimili was blood, and Heike had always been a loyal servant in his Warren...
Besides, the bandages wrapped around the little hybrid's stomach lent some truth to what they'd said, especially since he could see where the blood had seeped through. He'd never say it out loud, but that was more than enough to put the Esterberry into bad standings with the man.
Aimili looked from Heike back to her father, ears perking forward ever so slightly. Had they convinced him...? It didn't take long for her question to be answered when her father stood, looking down at them with an expression that was almost kindly. Kindly and bloodcurdling. It was all that Aimili could do not to shiver.
They'd convinced him.
"Where did you see him last?[/b]" The Czar asked as he moved towards the door, fingers clenching slightly.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 18, 2009 21:26:44 GMT -5
Heike shuddered at the expression. Of course they had convinced him that something was wrong. An attack on his daughter was enough to make the Czar take action. What good Jack like him wouldn't?
They were important property after all. Especially his daughters.
Heike lifted slightly as he turned around, head bowed and eyes closed. "He's been acting strangely since I saw him this morning. Muttering to himself and such.... he is in Aimili's room, sir."
Heike's ear twitched. Strange wasn't the right word. He had been running around stopping and going, acting so strangely. It didn't make much sense did it? What had changed the rabbit over night.
--
Shashi whimpered as he thrashed under the bed. He slowly pulled himself out from under it. Trying his hardest to keep his eyes closed. It was all in his head. It must have been all in his head. Yes yes! He could go and work now...
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 18, 2009 21:42:46 GMT -5
Vikenti gave the pair a curt nod, and then hesitated in the doorway, turning to look at them again. "Do not follow me.[/b]" he said, weight in his tone. He had plans for the irritation, and he did not want his daughter to see what was going to happen. "Get to work on your usual morning workup. I will send for you when the issue has been taken care of. If I find that you've gone against my direct orders, I will not be pleased.[/b]"
That wasn't a threat. Both Leverets would understand that. Aimili wilted in disappointment, but she bowed and nodded all the same, hopping off to collect Vikenti's plates and stack them on the cart they'd been delivered on. She was terrified to go against her father's wishes, however, and so she'd keep quiet.
Vikenti made his way down the halls, not bothering to knock when he reached his daughter's room. He simply slammed open the door and walked in, folding his arms across his chest. "Shashi.[/b]" he said, voice cutting through the other voices that plagued the rabbit. "Shashi, why the hell would I want a lying little bastard in my Warren? What use could I have of a Rabbit with a tiny little cock in my home who leads me on and attacks my child?[/b]"
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 18, 2009 21:52:42 GMT -5
Heike was disappointed. He waited until the Czar was gone before he let his ears droop in disappointment. He wanted to see the bloody corpse of the rabbit, and horrible look of shock when the Czar walked into the room.
But he didn't bother to go against the Jack's wishes. He had work to do, and if he wanted to keep his tail intact he had to do his work.
---
Shashi struggled not to cry as he looked at the horrible image slowly coming out of the flat surface of the door. When it slammed open, he fell backwards moving backs as quickly as he possibly could.
His eyes were widened in terror as he looked up at the towering rabbit. He was talking about... Oh god. How did he find out? The rabbit had told him? How did he know that he was a he.
"No... no Master. I-I'm s-s-sorry!" He strutted out. His eyes focused on the floor, which was a horrible idea. He knew what would happen. His whole body shuddered in fear as he watched the form slowly come up from the smooth surface.
He couldn't ignore it. He couldn't.
He whimpered and crumbled. "ARGH! MAKE THE VOICES STOP!"
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