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Post by The Jenn on Jun 28, 2009 17:03:30 GMT -5
"I can't think of anything magical, and I usually just drink water. I... I suppose the Czar could have asked someone to slip something in the water. I didn't think of that." Valeny shivered, wondering if one of her own - formerly one of her own - could have betrayed her like that.
If asked to by their Jack? Of course they could. She wanted to cry.
When Aleah came into the room, she averted her gaze, wondering if he had done it. But no, she didn't think so. If anyone, he probably wouldn't have. She didn't think he was that good of a liar, and he'd seemed so surprised. "I'm sure he will," she answered automatically, the polite survival instinct of a Leveret kicking in while she tried to hold back any choking noises that would indicate how close she was to completely breaking down. She hunched in on herself and just breathed. Not very good conversation at all.
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Post by Nako on Jun 28, 2009 17:15:49 GMT -5
Aleah had heard his name just as he closed the door. Huh? Ears perking, he turned back around. Should he...? His ears quivered, he looked around hesitantly... They were talking about him?
I'm sure he will.
---
Ashta frowned, tapping the side of her spoon before setting it down on the tray. "You'd best do what you must to compose yourself. Deal with it... let it out, whatever you have to. Remember, some Does can die from grief. I know that this isn't what you wanted, but I am -quite- sure that this is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. What has happened, has happened. There is no going back."
She sipped her tea. Valeny hadn't touched hers, but Ashta would not push the matter. "I've learned a thing or two about Highland rabbits, my dear. They don't take things lying down; their pride won't let them. You -will- adapt, because you know that you must. With your new found rank, you will find that your pride will only grow stronger. And when Aleah is a Jack, I am -sure- he will take care of you. He cares about you, you know."
Oh yes, she'd heard the whispers; heard of the outburst when he told off the Avington leveret. Those leaps of testosterone and behavior changes was sure to symbolize some change occurring in her son. Hopefully, he would go through with those changes.
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Post by The Jenn on Jun 28, 2009 17:31:17 GMT -5
The older Doe's words made sense, a surprising amount of sense for the woman herself, and Valeny spared a thought to wonder if was only sane when others weren't. Her mind was far too centered around herself just then to let the fancy linger for long, whirling it away along with shreds of her common sense. She listened to Ashta in silence, eyes removing themselves from the table surface long enough to watch her face and see if she was as serious as she sounded.
Yes... she certainly seemed to be. This was just getting worse and worse. Her comment on Highlanders sparked the regional pride that was half-buried by all of this panic and confusion, causing her to subconsciously untuck and sit straighter. The posture was more becoming to a Leveret's pride than a Doe's, but it was something.
She couldn't comment on the words. Really, what could she say? They were meant to be heard, not challenged, however much her mind screamed that she would never feel pride in this eternal imprisonment. At least before, she had been property with a degree of freedom, free to choose her fate and lot in life. If she wanted to escape, she could try and potentially succeed. If she wanted the protection of a Jack, she could do her damnedest to make him happy and live a comfortable, if busy, life. Now she had no choice.
Now she was to be owned in word and deed, body and soul.
"We are very good friends," she managed, voice sounding strange. Please don't let the Hisstor mean what she thought she meant. It was one thing for the Czar to plan things. It was another for Aleah to... to...
She couldn't even complete the thought without shivering, her mind having trouble making sense of anything.
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Post by Nako on Jun 28, 2009 17:49:40 GMT -5
What??? What was that crazy woman going on about? Why would he tell her that? Biting his lip, Aleah had to stop himself from going through the door. The last thing Valeny needed to hear about was his stupid... conflicting feelings. Oh, she'd hate him. She'd -hate- him!
-------
"That is good to hear. I believe he cherishes your friendship. Are you sure you don't want some tea?"
Goodness, she was being difficult. Ashta hoped she would recover from this eventually. She'd hate for the little Doe to die. It would likely be upsetting to the entire Warren. Certainly the Czar would be upset by the loss, considering what her purpose was.
"Do you have any questions for me, dear? I'd imagine -something- is on your mind. It might be best to open up. It cannot be pleasant keeping it all inside."
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Post by The Jenn on Jun 28, 2009 18:03:25 GMT -5
Valeny took the question about tea as a veiled command to drink some and did so without really thinking about it, too used to obeying the Doe's whims by now. "Yes, thank you." She sipped again and stared into the rapidly cooking liquid, the ripples on the surface not doing enough to hide the significantly different features from her eyes. Her longer mane almost dragged in it and she quickly leaned back.
Questions. She stared at Ashta, going through the myriad of thoughts swirling around in her head. 'Why me?' 'What can I do?" "Where can I go?" None of them were appropriate, and probably they were all laughable. She was still young, only an adult for perhaps a year. She knew that Does were pampered trophies, sometimes adored by their Jacks and sometimes tolerated. They served the Jacks in whatever capacity was required. But there had to be less general answers than that. There had to be more to it. She knew what some Leverets did behind closed doors, even if she didn't precisely know the mechanics of it.
The world left her mouth in a dry, scared whisper. "What is expected of a Doe?"
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Post by Nako on Jun 28, 2009 18:21:10 GMT -5
Ashta paused, her cool composure suddenly broken off as she grew a distant look in her eyes; not quite the one she gained when she went off into a different world mentally, but rather a recollection of something... painful. She sighed, and set down her drink.
"Nothing, and everything all at once, Valeny... But a more enigmatic answer would be.. flexibility, and not in the way that comes to mind. I mean mentally, you have to be ready to -change-. You must be attentive; you must watch your back. Leverets can make mistakes; nobody expects much else of them. You must be an actor, a diplomat... And your Jack can never catch wind of your wit. Men don't do well knowing their Does have fight in them, but in order to be a good Doe, you have to have that fight. One must merely know how to pick their battles.
"You must remember, Valeny. A Jack needs you as much as you need him. You may be traded, you may not be favored, but no Jack can do without a Doe, even when they first come of age. It is all... a necessary cycle.."
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Post by The Jenn on Jun 28, 2009 18:33:45 GMT -5
Less freedom. More intrigue. Less forgiveness. More ruthlessness. By the White Rabbit, this was a nightmare. She listened with a dry mouth, the tea having only served to make it worse when combined with the cottony mouth of sleep. She couldn't imagine a Jack favoring her, not when she couldn't even accept what she had become. And yet, somehow, the thought of being a favorite was even more terrifying.
"Y-yes, I see," she said in a slightly dazed voice, trying not to feel ill. Her tongue flicked out to lick nervously at dry lips. Maybe Ashta wasn't the person to ask, especially after the woman just told her that she needed to watch her back, but she couldn't exactly be attentive with her mind having a panic attack. "What kinds of mistakes can a Doe make? Do you have any advice? What..." And here was the question again, the one that no one could ever give an answer to that would make it all better. "What do I do now? Right now? What... needs to happen?"
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Post by Nako on Jun 28, 2009 19:08:45 GMT -5
"Any mistake that you can talk your way out of." And at that, Ashta actually smiled. Personal experience, perhaps? "Forgive me, I've grown world weary over the years. It is rarely as bad as I make it out to be. These are questions that will be answered in time, but if it is of any consolation, I find it quite unlikely that you would be capable of anything so grievous that would be unforgivable. It is uncommon for a Jack to be able to stay mad at a Doe."
That... was a good question. Ashta hadn't thought much about it, more concerned about keeping the new Doe from having a complete freaking meltdown in her quarters. If she'd started breaking things.. she'd have had to take the little bunny out. "Well, there are things that should happen, and then there are things that will happen. In theory, the Czar would probably like to see you as soon as possible. Considering he's currently asleep, and I do not really wish to rouse him before his usual time of waking, it will have to wait till morning. You.. will stay in here with me. It is not appropriate for you to go back to the leveret's quarters."
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Post by The Jenn on Jun 28, 2009 19:16:48 GMT -5
What about a Doe who secretly rejects her place in their life, in her heart of hearts, and having to be near them? Valeny didn't say this. It wouldn't in any way be a good idea. Instead she swallowed and said, "Yes, Lady Ashta. I wouldn't want to wake him..."
That left her with a special terror for the morning, a dread of the dawn that would come and bring with it the Czar's waking. She would have to share a room with this unstable, quietly frightening woman, who might possibly go loopy on a whim and order her to do anything. But would she order another Doe around? Could anyone say, when she got into one of her moods? Valeny couldn't chance it. She merely bowed her head.
Something inside of her rebelled horribly at this timidity, the cowardice and submission that rose in her throat like bile. It was one thing to obey the leader of the warren and his ladies as a servant, but it was quite another to truly submit to them. She disgusted herself at that moment, paws curling into the cushion of the chair almost hard enough to rip the fabric. There would be small holes, she was sure.
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Post by Nako on Jun 28, 2009 19:42:26 GMT -5
She'd set up a small bed on the floor for Valeny. She might have even offered her own, but she had a feeling that the Doe would be more unnerved than flattered. Finally, when she was settled, Ashta went to the door and opened it, knowing in a way that only a mother could that Aleah was still there.
"What's going on-"
"It is time for you to go to bed, Aleah."
"But-"
"She will be fine, Aleah. Valeny will be staying with me until the morning. Then we will confront the Czar about these recent occurrences."
And just like that, Aleah was left alone having had the tea cart pushed back out for him to take care of to add insult to injury. There was one thing for certain; it would be a long, sleepless night for him.
---
"Wake up Valeny, it's time. It is best we catch him before breakfast lest he think we were dallying." Whether the girl had been asleep or not, Ashta was not sure; she'd been turned away from her so she could not see. Hopefully the girl had gotten some rest, though.
And so they walked, Ashta leading the way to the Czar's quarters. Upon arriving, she knocked. "Czar dear... I must request your council. An interesting turn of events has occurred."
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