|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 1, 2010 14:04:19 GMT -5
 Alicia wandered the strange warren listlessly. She had been taken in a raid by some dreadful unscrupulous trader and eventually brought to the Czar's warren. Her new home... She was less than thrilled. Why, it hadn't even been a proper trade! The highland leveret felt she deserved better. After all, she had been trying to become a doe for her beloved Emperor-- his most doting, most beautiful and favorite doe, she had no doubt. But now... Now she would have to start all over again as a nameless, faceless servant. All her careful plans had been ruined, her hard work gone to waste. What use was it to become a doe if she couldn't be sure of her Jack's affection? The Emperor had been a man deserving of her devotion. This new Jack, this... Czar, well, she had yet to determine if he was worth The Change. She sniffed unhappily as she found herself back near the leverets' quarters, where she had started some ten minutes before. It was always hard to find her way in an unfamiliar place. Even worse was the fact that she was among strangers. She didn't know who to report to, her jack was a stranger to her, and possibly worst of all, Alicia didn't know her duties or what was expected of her. How could she possibly make a good first impression like this? She wasn't just going to be another pretty face lost in the warren. She would be the prettiest, the most useful, the most popular with the other leverets, the servant all the does preferred. It was her rightful place in the order of things. Then, if he deserved her love and adoration, she would do her best to become the Doe of her Jack's dreams. |
|
|
|
Post by Greenie on Feb 1, 2010 16:38:44 GMT -5
Zulimar slunk out of the Leverets quarters, sincerely hoping no one was around to make her do dishes, finish the laundry, cook meals or the other variety of delightful chores. She'd had a rather peaceful morning; she slept in, she had a leisurely breakfast in the library behind an obscure stack, and she'd finished off the morning by hanging out in the gardens by herself. There hadn't been a Jack or a Doe in sight all morning, and even Bianca hadn't appeared - it always seemed to be Bianca discovering her doing nothing - and the Selkie had a feeling her luck was going to run out. She never was allowed to do nothing all day. Someone always had to come around and ruin it... It was rather nice being one of the "older" Leverets in the warren, though; the new ones didn't know top from bottom. She rather liked messing with them. Speaking of which... Zuli came to a halt when she saw the bright white-and-red form of one of the new Leverets. What was her name again? Astuckup? Aprissy? Abitchface? A-something or other. Damn Highlanders. Zulimar came to a slow stop, sitting in the hallway directly in front of Alicia's path. Her expression was lazily blank for a few moments, before it formed into an ever-so-slight smirk. "Shouldn't you be doing something, hmm? Dishes, perhaps, or laundry? It's rather rude for you to leave it all for the rest of us," She said in a mildly patronizing tone. It was hypocritical of her to not do any work and expect Alicia to do it instead, but that was rather Zulimar's style; since the Jack hadn't realized her lack of any real passion for chorework amidst all the changes in the Warren, she was perfectly okay with getting away with it. |
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 1, 2010 23:50:41 GMT -5
Oh! Another leveret, and a Selkie, too. There was a sullen laziness to her movements that was somewhat typical of the realm. Alicia smiled ever so sweetly at Zuli. "You make an excellent point." The highlander made sure her voice was nothing but agreeable. She knew that however much she disliked it she was the newest Leveret in the warren, bottom of the totem pole, and this antagonistic creature was her superior. She was not so dim as to be unaware of the confrontational nature of the comment, but it was always better to ignore a slight... not only did it keep things from escalating, it usually really annoyed the one trying to pick a fight.
She continued with a note of cheerful deference. "I've just come from the kitchen and the dishes are all finished." Alicia added a little shrug and a sheepish smile for effect. "I'm sorry to saw I can't seem to find my way to the laundry room-- perhaps you would be so kind as to direct me?"
Alicia kept her gaze demurely lowered, the very picture of submissiveness. It would do no good to go about upsetting people and making enemies on the very first day. Besides, who knew how much influence the blue and white lev had on the does of the warren?
|
|
|
|
Post by Greenie on Feb 2, 2010 0:08:03 GMT -5
Zulimar's fluff of wings swished ever so slightly as the Leveret tilted her head at Alicia. Wasn't going to pick a fight, was she? Atypical of Highlanders, but a nice change. Also incredibly boring, but such was her life, alas. No one to fight with, no one to bite, no one to try to tattle on her... She had it so easy, not that she was going to complain about that. "Yes, I do. I make a habit of it," She replied airily, without any real venom behind it; merely a note of ego and confidence.
She kept her expression carefully neutral. The dishes were done, were they? Like she'd know - she hadn't been in there all day. It would seem she picked the wrong chore to make fun of the girl with. Laundry, though.. Did she want to show her the laundry? She might get stuck doing laundry... Zulimar pondered it for a moment, purposefully keeping the Highlander in an odd sense of suspense. If she did laundry now, "helping" this other girl, then the warren would simply assume she would continue doing so for the rest of the day. One chore for a day of freedom was acceptable. "I suppose I can," She replied with a shrug, then pivoted and began walking in the way of the correct room. It was rather nice, being the enigma of the warren - no one knew exactly where she was or exactly what she was doing, ever, and it made it rather nice for her to get away with whatever she pleased.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 3, 2010 1:50:07 GMT -5
At the much friendlier tone of Zuli's next words, Alicia allowed herself a moment of triumph. Yes! She was already ingratiating herself with the other Leverets. This was going to work out perfectly. Outwardly, she continued her show of sweetness. It was actually far easier now that the Selkie had dropped her condesending tone. She was obviously strong willed, intelligent and confident-- perfect characteristics for an ally, or even, dare she hope, a friend.
At the very least, she had headed off the female's displeasure, which was accomplishment enough for now. And she was willing to lead the way to the elusive laundry room! Oh, Alicia thought, I'm good. I'm very good.
"That's very kind of you." She thanked the older levert with a little dip of her head, adding, "I'm Alicia. It's my pleasure to meet you." Her manners were perhaps little too formal, bordering on prissy, but her mother-doe had once told all her daughters that they should act like what they aspire to become.
Alicia had taken this advice to heart, and spent much of her free time indulging in home-made beauty treatments and practicing her social graces. Whenever the chance presented itself, she would study and serve the Does of Giovanni's warren as if she hoped to absorb their lovliness by osmosis. As a child, she had even dared a few times to ask a particularly bored and agreeable doe on how a lady could best please a Jack in... intimate ways. (She had been quite horrified with what she learned.)
As she followed Zulimar, even her walk had an ever-so-feminine sway to it, the doe's sultry strut rather than the leveret's scamper. In own mind, she was already nearly as appealing as any doe, and the change could only enhance her womanly charm. Although she was a capable and willing servant, determined to be the best leveret she could be, in her mind she was a prize, destined for so much more.
|
|
|
|
Post by Greenie on Feb 3, 2010 13:17:17 GMT -5
Zulimar rolled her eyes at the girl's chipper tone and easy compliance. Why must they all be drones, destined to follow in each other's footsteps? Why did they all want the same things? If it wasn't being the Jack's best bitch, it was being the Jack's hardest-working worker. It was all so predictable, and she was rather tempted to turn around and gag on the Highlander just to prove her point. That would ruin her plan, though, so she simply made a face and kept going.
"No, it's not," She said impatiently with a huff. Did she not understand the concept of self-serving? Zuli paused, seriously considering giving the girl a fake name so when asked who had taught her, she would pass on false information... but Bianca would see through that. "Zulimar." She said blandly, then sighed. This one was a lost cause, clearly.
"Here. Laundry, waiting just for you." She said in an incredibly false sparky tone, then sat next to the door and smirked at the leveret.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 3, 2010 15:37:43 GMT -5
Alicia ignored the eyeroll. What did her new aquantince hope to gain by being difficult? It puzzled her, because she was used to acting for her own advancement and expected others to do the same. She couldn't quite grasp the idea that Zulimar was simply acting on what felt good at the moment, that her attitude was an honest reflection of her feelings rather than some kind of manipulation.
When her 'guide' sighed impatiently and contridicted her thanks, it shed some light on the situation, at least in Alicia's mind. It was a test! Perhaps her jack has sent this disagreeable creature to test her grace under pressure! Her heart leapt a bit at the very incorrect idea that she had already captured his notice. But then, why should she be surprised? He had chosen her for purchase out of a great number of other rabbits. And why not? She was the very picture of lovliness.
She continued her act of sweetness with a lighter heart, now that she 'knew' what was going on. "That's a beautiful name. So exotic!" She chirped. She knew she was laying it one a little thick, but hardly cared at this point. What was Zulimar going to do, go back to her jack and report that the new lev was too nice?
"Ah, excellent! I just looove doing laundry." She matched Zuli's false cheer note for note, even throwing in a little wiggle of her tail as if she was truly delighted. Jacks liked a hard working leveret, and at the moment it was to her advantage to play up that image. She gave Zuli a conspiriatorial wink, showing that she knew quite well what was going on... or at least, thought she knew.
"Any special instructions on the Does' linens?" She asked, now more serious in her demenor. Even if she didn't truly enjoy laundry, she was still going to do it well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Greenie on Feb 3, 2010 16:29:44 GMT -5
Zulimar watched Alicia's expression for a few moments, trying not to snigger. She was so naive, and it was obvious she was considerably younger than Zuli was. Not that Zuli kept any particular track of her age - their lives were measured by how many Jacks they'd had, not in years, despite how disgusting that was - but no one could be this stupid and have had experience with many warrens.
She gave the Highlander a queer glance. Her name was exotic? Who the hell complimented someone's name? And it was only exotic if you knew nothing, as it was a rather average Selkie name. Her entire litter had all started with Z, not that she could actually remember their names anymore.
Zulimar actually stopped in front of Alicia for a short moment, just enough for the girl to possibly bump into her, then kept moving. She loooooved doing laundry? Was she DAFT? Clearly she wanted to get stuffed into a laundry bin herself. One Highlander spin cycle, coming up! She gave her an even queerer look at the wink. Was her eye twitching? If the girl fell over into spasms, Zuli was not getting her help. There was something wrong with this leveret, she was positive of that. "Oookay... crazy.." She muttered almost inaudibly, still giving the leveret odd looks over her shoulder.
The leveret shrugged at the question, and reached out to the basket of sheets in question and toppled it over all over the floor. She pawed through them, as if pondering the question, then shrugged again. "I'm sure you can figure it out, hnn?" She smirked, and started to leave, then paused. "Don't worry, the Czar isn't picky... but some of those Does are rather... cranky, shall we say?" She stated with a "warning" tone, hoping she'd successfully scare the Leveret into freaking out a bit. "I'll come check on you in a bit!" Zuli then scampered off, cackling under her breath.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 22, 2010 14:40:34 GMT -5
As Zulimar finally spoke, Alica's false cheer froze awkwardly in place. Contrary to all expectations, it seemed the older leveret had no understanding of the concept of sarcasm whatsoever. Alicia was baffled. So.... Zuli used sarcasm herself, but couldn't recognize it when others used it? The highlander grudingly admitted to herself that she had probably been wrong in inital assessment-- Zulimar wasn't clever. In fact, this could be considered proof that she was a total imbecile. Well, strong willed and confidant still stood... two out of three wasn't bad, she supposed.
Oh, how it pained to her admit she was wrong, even to herself. Against all evidence, the vain little leveret considered herself a good judge of character, and couldn't easily accept proof to the contrary. All she could do was return Zuli's odd looks in kind, suddenly unsure how to proceed. How did one handle an utterly idiotic opponant? Alicia was uncomfortably aware that she now had no way to predict Zulimar's reactions. With somone that stupid, how could she possibly know what to expect?
Well, knocking over the laundry basket and then digging through dirty linens was certainly not a sign of someone who was all there. Alicia surpressed a sigh of frustration as Zulimar proceeded to give her absoluetly no information and then dash out chuckling rather insanely. This was not going well. Not well at all.
As for Zulimar's attempt to scare the new leveret, it was only partly successful. Alicia was very much freaked out, but for reasons beyond the vauge warning. She had no idea what was expected of her, no one of reasonable intelligence to ask, and had possibly just made a stupid and/or insane enemy. On her very first day. She wanted to cry. A small whimper escaped before she covered it with a cough and started scooping the spilled sheets back onto the hamper. That dumb, creepy selkie was probably still lurking about, and Alicia was too proud to give her the satisfaction of tears.
She decided that the only thing to do was to get on with things as best she could, and started looking around for supplies to start the laundry. Laundry done slightly wrong was better than just leaving it dirty... or so she hoped.
|
|
|
|
Post by Greenie on Mar 26, 2010 23:32:56 GMT -5
Zulimar was rather pleased with how that had encounter had gone, really. Who knows what the girl thought of her, but really, after that, it couldn't be anything positive. As long as everyone wrote her off as some version of unpleasant, it worked in her favor, and the details of their opinions were inconsequential to her in the long run. Amusing, maybe, but useless. It was rather fun to put on different 'hats', though, and confuse the lot of them.
She wandered into a linen closet (ironic!) down the hallway for a while and hung out until she guessed Alicia would be at least partially done with the mess that had been strewn across the laundry room. Zuli strutted back into the room and leaned against the doorway. "How's it doin' in here?' She asked cheerfully. "Any questions?" If the girl was smart, she would have figured out by now that she would never get any kind of real or straightforward answer from the Selkie, but it was always fun to ask anyways.
|
|
