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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Apr 8, 2009 19:49:21 GMT -5
Aimili hadn't slept well since the first night she'd arrived at Dorian's Warren. The heat was brutal, and she was so unaccustomed to it that she tossed and turned fitfully during the night. In the mornings, her feet seemed to drag, lacking the energy to obey her mind's orders. It was a task getting everything done on top of her lack of sleep, but she'd managed so far and she was feeling rather pleased with herself. When she finally crawled into her bed that night, sleep had taken her instantly and deeply. Her eyes had closed before her head had even hit the pillow. When she awoke, Aimili felt well-rested and rejuvinated, but this fact paled in comparison to something else. She knew immediately that something had changed, and that it had been something fairly major. She was seeing the room from a much taller perspective, and her heart quivered in her chest. Her first thought was that in the night, during her wonderful sleep, she had changed. Was it possible for her to become a Doe like that, without any warning or action on anyone's part? She was certain that it had to be. But then she'd crawled out of bed and found herself walking with a completely different motion. A whine escaped her mouth, a noise that no Rabbit would ever be able to make. Terror locked her limbs for a long moment before she found it in herself to make it to the washroom and observe herself in the mirror. What looked back at her was certainly her, but it also wasn't. The colors and mane were the same, as were the exposed ribs and bare forepaws... But everything else had changed. The shape of her snout and ears, her body, her legs... Even her tail was different. The most shocking part of all was the black mark that sat obvious on her chest. A marking that no Rabbit born could claim to have, a marking that she had seen so often when she was running errands for her Father. It wasn't possible, but it was staring her in the face. She was a canine, a Card complete with a ranking. And she had to get out of this place now, before anyone else saw. |
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Post by The Jenn on Apr 8, 2009 20:08:59 GMT -5
Dorian wasn't normally very fond of mornings. He favored lazily lounging in his bed and waiting for an hour or two until around ten, then leisurely making his way to the kitchen for a light brunch and some tea. Today, however, he felt like a little pampering and went in search of one of his Leverets to make the morning more about 'him'. Since he could hear Laurelin's voice in Vishka's room, tending to her, that left him with only one other to find. Someday he would have many more serving him, but until that day came... well. Pretty Aimili would do quite nicely. He encountered her just leaving the public washroom, nearly running into her as she came out. "Ah, my dear, I was wondering..." His voice trailed off in puzzlement as he stared at her. At first, taking in the size, he thought she had become a Doe. A very ugly Doe. By the White Rabbit's balls, what had happened to her ears? Only after wrinkling his nose in distaste at the withered appendages did his eyes gravitate downward towards the dark mark on her chest. Horror. "What...?!" he gasped, not even able to make a coherent statement. His first instinct was to drive the thing out of his warren without delay. A second after that thought flitted through his mind, another appeared. He would be down to only one Leveret if he did that, and he had very definitely paid for two. Oh no. He wasn't chasing her away. He was taking her back. |
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Apr 8, 2009 20:56:43 GMT -5
In her blind panic, Aimili hadn't been paying very close attention when she raced from her room, the motion of the canine limbs utterly unfamiliar and awkward. It just felt wrong! It only made sense that she would collide with Dorian of all the members of the Warren, as he was the one person she had hoped to avoid entirely. She managed to keep her mouth shut as he looked her over, but her tail did the most bizzare thing and tucked itself between her legs, pressing against her belly. How utterly unsightly! When the man's expected horror finally manifested itself, she whimpered again, backing up until she was pressed against the door once more. If it came down to it, would she be able to run? Didn't Cards have magic? Did she even know how to use magic? " P-please, don't be angry, Sir! I d-don't know how it happened![/b]" her own voice sounded different, somehow deeper, and her oddly floppy ears pinned themselves back. Of course, her begging had little effect, and she found herself grabbed and wrestled into a collar. A collar, of all things! She felt like a common hound (which was ironic, considering her body's new form) as she was dragged behind the Jack. She could only imagine where it was they were headed, and the terror she felt because of that knowledge was worse than even the fear of seeing the strange black marking on her chest. Vikenti hadn't been expecting any visitors, so when there was a knock at the door to his Warren, he decided to answer it personally. After all, he didn't want it to be anyone who could potentially harm a member of his family or staff, especially when he'd heard rumors of Cards lurking near the grounds. He certainly wasn't expecting to find Dorian at the door, dragging some creature his brain had difficulty accepting alongside him. " Dorian, my good man,[/b]" he greeted amiably as he tried to look around the other Jack. What on earth was that strange creature? " I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Has... something happened to one of my girls?[/b]" |
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Post by The Jenn on Apr 8, 2009 21:07:04 GMT -5
Dorian stared at the Czar, having slowly worked himself down from his previous horror at seeing a Card in his warren a few days ago and worked himself back towards indignation as they approached her father's warren. That would be the appropriate emotion for a 'wronged' Jack, or so he decided.
"My good sir," he began stiffly, ears standing in a clearly offended position, "when I came to you in search of a trade, I placed a great deal of trust in your integrity and breeding based on an excellent reputation throughout the region. I have recently been forced to call them into question, however, when this turned up in my warren."
He tugged the leash forward, pulling the former Leveret where she would be clearly visible. The bones and markings would be unmistakable, even if her build and the incriminating marking on her chest were foreign. "I traded you for a Leveret, sir. Not... not an enchanted freak, some sort of abomination."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Apr 8, 2009 21:16:49 GMT -5
The man stared at Dorian for a few seconds, emotions twisting his expression for a moment before his visage smoothed over once more. The... creature that was following the man, the common Card... the colors were the same, yes, as was the mane that was supposed to make her quite the treasure as a Doe. But she would never be a Doe now, she was simply a... a dog, a terrible common creature with none of the dignity of a Rabbit. But that fact was lost on Vikenti. A Rabbit of the purest heritage suddenly changing into a Card? It was unheard of, seemed utterly impossible!
And yet here it was, standing before him.
"I am as horrified as you.[/b]" Vikenti responded, his voice even if a bit clipped. He looked at the young Jack, finding it to be much easier to deal with his upset than even looking at the face of what had once been one of his prized children. Fury flashed in his eyes for the briefest of moments - what horrible magical device had the Jack let his daughter come in contact with?! - but it was gone almost as quickly as it came. "It only seems right that I compensate you in some way. I have another Leveret to offer you in exchange for this, and in return I should hope for your silence on the matter. I'll deal with the creature appropriately.[/b]"
He stepped aside, motioning for Dorian to enter. "She is a a good helper and I'll be sad to see her go, but you're right. You expected help in your new Warren, and help you will get.[/b]"
The canine stared up at her father and whined softly, hoping to catch his attention. She saw his hand ball up into a fist and clench, and she shied away from it. His rage was terrifying.
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Post by The Jenn on Apr 8, 2009 21:24:42 GMT -5
At least the Highlander wasn't denying the reality of Dorian's plight. He watched the man's expression twist into something unpleasant before returning to something much more even and neutral. If he'd known that the other Jack presumed the situation to be his fault, he would have squawked and made a much greater fuss of the whole thing. As it was, he simply wanted to wash his hands of the whole bizarre situation.
"That is very good of you. Of course I wouldn't wish to spread any unpleasant rumors." At least, so long as he was compensated for the trouble he'd gone through of hauling the thing back here as living proof. "The help is direly needed and will be appreciated."
He extended the hand holding the leash, more than happy to give the freak up to the whims of her former father. He could only imagine what the man would do to something that had apparently come from his loins and ended up in such a shameful state.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Apr 8, 2009 21:32:25 GMT -5
For a moment, Vikenti's emotions were calmed by what Dorian said. Really, his reputation was resting on this, and he worried hugely about what the others would think of him, having traded a creature that was clearly not a Rabbit. There was no longer any recognition in his expression, no part of him that recognized the girl as what she had once been - his precious little girl, his lovely daughter. As he reached out for the girl's leash with one hand, his precious weapon manifested in the other, the air around the blade sizzling with heat for a moment.
Yes, the creature would be dealt with, and he intended to let Dorian see that before he left to take care of matters. "Please, come in and have dinner. I would be honored to have you as a guest once more, and any Doe but my Ashta is yours for the night. I will join you for food shortly.[/b]"
At the sight of the weapon, every hair on Aimili's body stood on end, and she let out a terrified howl. Then, with strength that surprised even her (terror provided her with power she'd never thought she could show), she pulled, the clasp that bound leash to collar snapping and falling to the floor with a metallic jingle. Her momentum and adrenaline fueling every movement, she went flying out the door, long canine legs carrying her quickly into the night.
Vikenti could only stand there and watch her go. "The White Rabbit help it if I ever see it again,[/b]" he said in a low voice, his weapon vanishing once more as he went to lead his guest inside.
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