End of an Era [Nako >>]

[carcinoGeneticist]

As much as he was loathe to admit it, Vikenti was an old man now.

He didn't let it show to those of his Warren or to those from the outside, though. They didn't need to know, didn't need to worry or to circle like vultures, waiting to pick up the pieces. He held himself with the same poise he had always had, clutching tightly to his lands with an iron fist. He wasn't dead yet.

Besides, his son had disappeared. For many long years, now, Vikenti had been holding on and waiting. What he was waiting for, exactly, was intangible and he still hadn't exactly put his finger on it. But Aleah's disappearance marked the end of that waiting, the Jack knew. He was glad. He was tired, now, and it was getting harder and harder to hide that fact. Things would be changing in a big way, but Vikenti had lived for long enough that he no longer feared such changes. In his own way, he embraced them.

It had started with his heart. Sometimes it thudded dully in his chest when he stood too fast, making his head spin. The only one who had seen these spells was his Ashta, and he had her swear her silence on the matter.

No one else needed to know.

Today, he was standing outside, breathing the cool fresh air as it passed through his lands. He was wearing a light robe, helping keep his body warm - Ashta had insisted upon it, not wanting to see him catch chill. He had protested weakly, but in truth been happy for her insistence. It was nice to have something wrapped around himself. He stared off into the Highlands as they rolled around him. Even now, he was waiting.

But now, he knew the waiting had come to an end

((I hope my assumptions are ok <3))

[Nako]

When Aleah made his way to his father's warren, he was prudent enough to take his Doe with him.

Though not necessarily for the reasons that would be obvious. It wasn't that he thought his father wouldn't supply him with a Doe for the night had this been any other sort of meeting, perhaps a trade. But this wasn't a trade. he was coming to his father to get what was promised to him. And he had a feeling it wouldn't be free, not really.

He brought his Doe so that she'd have a place to be safe if he… didn't make it. He's a good, respectable Jack. I always want you to remember that. He'd found himself rambling to her, fiddling with his vest on the way over. He was anxious and the young Jack could barely keep it to himself. He'd hardly slept the night before, but his mind was wildly sharp, thanks to his own nerves and the double dose of tea he'd drank before he set out that morning.

He took in a deep breath offering a small smile to his dear Torque Doe. She probably was not happy that another Doe would be joining them… but she hid it well. A rather honorable trait, and one that made her all the more appealing in his eyes. No more stalling. He stood up a little straighter and knocked against the door.

Moments later, a leveret peered through the peephole, carefully opening the door to look up at him. Their eyes widened with recognition, seeming to lose their voice. Aleah cleared his throat.

" Could you please inform The Czar that …" He paused. How was he to introduce himself? The former leveret son Aleah coming back after his absence as a Jack? No, that wouldn't do at all. "That… Jack Aleah is requesting a bit of his time."

"One moment, please." The door closed. It couldn't have been longer than two minutes before the door was opened again and he was allowed inside and led to the study. He knew the way, but followed the leveret just the same into the room where they were met with freshly poured tea. He held his cup close to his face, but seemed hesitant to take a sip of it even though his mouth was dry. He needed to keep it together, no matter how much his fur wanted to stand on end.

[carcinoGeneticist]

After the message was delivered, Vikenti found that he was in no rush to move back into the Warren. The first lesson his son needed to learn was that when he was at the home of another Jack, things would move at the pace set by that Jack. Besides, he wanted to remember all of this. He wanted to burn it into his memory, carry it with him for however long he had left to live. Though he knew in his bones that this was the end.

Once, when he had been younger, that thought had frightened him. Now, it was almost exciting - the prospect of being set free from his withered old flesh was just another stage in the Czar's existence.

He tightened his robe around his middle, gave the landscape one last glance, and headed back inside.

There was a brief surge of pride that went through him as his eyes fell upon his son. The boy was lean, well-decorated for the event. The only aspect that unsettled him was the tail that rose from behind - it wasn't Rabbitlike at all, more suited for something on the ass-end of a Card. He showed no sign of distaste, however, even as his mind wandered back to the memory of the creature that had been his daughter. No, that was not relevant now. Besides that single blemish, every bit of Aleah was exactly as it should be. Vikenti gave the other Highlander a small nod of his head, then raised an eyebrow at the sight of the Doe beside the man.

Well. That was certainly a good sign.

"Greetings, Aleah. You know me well enough to know that I have no desire to beat around the bush with you about this. You are here for what is owed you, and you will get it.[/b]" He spoke calmly, with a distinct note of respect in his voice that Aleah would have never heard directed at himself before, a tone always set aside for matters concerning other Jacks. "But it will not come without a price. Fight me, Aleah. Show me that you are a man worthy to carry on my name. If you win -- all of this will be yours.[/b]"

He gestured with a hand, to indicate the Warren, but his eyes never left his son.

[Nako]

Aleah had been borderline terrified. A small part of him that was still that frightened leveret was screaming at him to run. But the part of him that was a Jack was stronger and prouder than that leveret ever had been. If he ran now… he'd be nothing. An ear twitched at the sound of footsteps coming into the room, putting his own nerves in check before turning to look at his father.

He… looked different in his eyes now. What had once been a frightening hulk seemed much frailer now. Not helpless, no, but the flesh seemed to cling a touch more loosely off his muscles, his ears hanging a little lower from the weight of his adornments. With the robe on his frame, however elegant a garment it was, the weakness-seeking Jack part of him saw a man that was wearing something because he was cold… Something not within the norm for the once powerful Jack. Aleah's face had fallen just slightly at the sight of him, until his own gaze met his father's eyes.

Oh yes… a fire was there, as it had always been. Powerful and a force not to be reckoned with. His body was failing him, but the spirit behind his gaze was something that would never be squelched. This realization made his next statement make all the more sense. A genuine smile graced his lips, a similar twinkle in his eye that would seem odd to anyone who didn't understand Highland pride. The forgotten tea he'd been holding was suddenly remembered, and he took a gulp of it before setting it down.

There they were, engaging in the beginning of a dance Aleah had never been privy too. As simple the tune that Vikenti had set, there would still be the steps to follow. His heart picked up a few extra beats as he stood up. It was not an aggressive move, but one that would allow him to give a small bow of respect toward the Czar. But like his father… those eyes would never meet anything other than the Jack who was now his rival. A challenger.

"It would be an honor to accept your challenge, Czar." Yes, a great honor indeed. Much more fitting than merely being informed that he was to be 'exterminated'. But he should have known his father had more honor than that. "Where will the challenge be conducted? It is still your home front, after all." Still… but not for long. The determination in his voice spoke of his intent to win.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Despite everything that had happened, a part of the Czar's mind was still waiting for the young Jack to start cowering, to tell him he was wrong, that he would be going now. There would be no fight, and instead Aleah would turn tail back to wherever he was currently keeping his single Doe and wait for time to finish his father in a way he simply couldn't. He would come back to the wreckage and scavenge whatever was left. That simply wouldn't do.

Vikenti was very much of a "now-or-never" mindset. If Aleah didn't finish this today, he would make a deal with the White Rabbit and live forever. That would serve the world.

But his fears were unfounded. He found that he was feeling the first small stirrings of pride when he saw the look in Aleah's eyes, all pride and strength and the confidence of youth. Some of that would fade in time, but it was plain to see that he was making the right decision. "I feel that the yard is as good a place as any,[/b]" he replied evenly, referring to a large stretch of grass just outside of the nicely manicured gardens. It would be a fitting location - from there, it was not hard to see the rest of the Warren, if one knew where to look.

"Please, enjoy your tea. Lunch will arrive later. I will meet you there in - say, two hours?[/b]" A small smile tugged at the corner of the Jack's mouth, eyebrow raising slightly. "Do not disappoint me, Aleah.[/b]" And with that, the Czar took his leave of the pair. There was much to do between now and when they would have their fight.

[Nako]

Aleah nodded in agreement, pulling a watch out of his pocket to give it a look to check the time. "Two hours from this time, it is."

The time went terribly slowly. Aleah found himself compulsively running his blades against themselves in a motion that could easily be construed as aggressive. It was enough to unnerve the leveret that served them their lunch.

Aleah ate lightly of his sandwiches, carefully gauging how long he'd have to digest along with how much he should intake. The end result though, sadly, was that he was more peckish than full by the time came around that he needed to meet the Czar outside. Grimacing, he knocked back a cup of the cooled tea to ease the grumbling in his stomach, standing up and smoothing his vest carefully with the back of his hand.

"I'll be back soon, dear." He whispered to his darling Torquehelm Doe, smiling down at her in a way that he hoped was reassuring. He didn't give her time to show her concern, he made haste to step out of the room. He didn't want to give her time to protest if she would have even dared.

Aleah found himself walking out to the designated area one minute before the two hours was up; not too early so as to make him seem eager, but not toeing the line by showing up exactly on time. And not late; certainly not late. If anyone had the right to show up tardy it would be the Czar. Aleah found himself wondering if the man would even do so; if he did, no doubt it would be some other 'lesson' to teach his young self. That respect he'd heard in the Czar's tone earlier would only go so far. Aleah knew that much.

[carcinoGeneticist]

If the time went slowly for Aleah, it went by far too quickly for the elder Jack.

That was partly due to the lack of anxiety felt by the man, but it was equally because time spent by Ashta never seemed to be enough. In his age, Vikenti no longer felt shamed by the feelings he had grown for the Doe that bore his only children. Now, he felt no need to try and hide the obvious favoritism - the other Does he had were still given their rightful attentions, but Ashta had been invited to sleep in his own bed, even when the Need was not of concern.

The Need was certainly not what brought him to her own bed for the two hours that followed. At the end of their lovemaking, Vikenti felt rejuvenated. He pondered briefly, how to tell his dear Hisstor lady what he expected to come at the end of this confrontation, but one look at her expression told him that there would be no need. She already knew. "Ashta...[/b]" he began, lightly stroking her mane. Then, he shook his head, a small smile on his face. "I love you.[/b]"

Within fifteen minutes, Vikenti was on the field, arriving a minute after his son. He walked at a slow, almost leisurely pace, standing across the field from his young son. There was a Leveret bouncing behind him, clutching in one hand a kerchief which would be used to signal the start of the fight.

"Aleah![/b]" Vikenti's voice rang out from across the grass, just as loud as it needed to be to be heard. The Leveret reached the middle of their makeshift arena, looking from one Jack to the other and then raising its paw. "Don't disappoint me, son.[/b]"

The kerchief fell. The moment it hit the ground, there was a rush of magic in the air, Vikenti's beloved weapon springing into his hand.

[Nako]

Aleah couldn't help it; his hair stood on end when the Jack called out his name. He quickly turned to face the proud fellow Highlander, fur standing out so obviously against his skin that he almost flustered. The drop of the handkerchief and the summoning of the weapon didn't do much to calm him either.

But even as his heart pounded, there was still that emotion that overwhelmed everything else. He was a Jack. The fact of it was evident in every fiber of his being, proven in how he'd lain over his Doe, proven in the ability to make a trade with a formidable Torquehelm Jack. Now, he would prove himself in battle.

It was thrilling.

Aleah summoned his own weapon, as much to show it off as to use it if he needed it. Unassuming and rusted, it wasn't until he expertly flipped it in his hand without a thought before catching it back into his grasp that he "I'd never dream of it. People who disappoint you often end up dead." He remarked in his more typical droll humor, crouching in battle stance.

Vikenti wasn't making the first move, he was a powerful bull of a creature that could move with surprising speed and power; that had always been so evident during his teachings as a leveret, though in those spars he'd always ended up with the butt end of a spear to the back of his head or a foot in his face. The thought of it heated his blood further as he shifted from foot to foot, getting a feel for his own speed and strength as he circled loosely. His body twitched slightly, as if expecting a sudden charge, jumping back as the man gave a swing toward him.

In the same motion, Aleah lunged, coming in toward the shoulder as the weapon made its first pass and lashing out with his rusty blade, attempting to make a pass behind him to dance out of the way of a retaliatory strike.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The elder Jack's eyebrow quirked upward sharply at the sudden appearance of the razor. So the boy had a weapon of his own, did he? It seemed a silly thing, especially when it was taken along with the blades that already adorned Aleah's paws. All the same, Vikenti was glad to see it. That meant his son was taking this fight seriously.

There was no need to waste his precious energy with a strong forward charge, especially considering the fact that his enemy was covered in blades. In another fight, a body slam might have been appropriate, but that was not the case now. The two circled each other for a long time, and Vikenti laughed at Aleah's quip. "You always were rather astute, weren't you?[/b]" he said easily, the words accompanied by the sweep of his weapon. Simply standing around would do neither of them any good at all!

It was time to get this little dance of theirs started.

As he lunged forward, Aleah nimbly moved out of the way, blade flashing out and striking home across Vikenti's shoulder. The man let out a grunt of pain and continued in his swing, spinning around and raising his weapon as he did. The movement was finished twofold - Vikenti's foot shot out and crashed into Aleah's ankle, and the flat side of his blade met Aleah's face. As painful as the blow would be, it could have been so much worse - Vikenti had used the blunt of the weapon purposefully, not wanting to slice the boy's face off so soon.

"Now, are you finally warmed up?[/b]" The Czar taunted, muscles bunching as he leaped nimbly back, holding his weapon between them. There was blood flowing freely from his injury, but it was of no consequence.

[Nako]

Ungh! White hot pain shot through his face. Curdling fear, then intense relief as his body realized it was a very blunt pain he felt on his face. He was also on the ground, his body going into survival mode as he flung himself away from the Jack, rolling swiftly out of the way to avoid any more injury. He stood up, obviously shaken and blood shooting from his nose.

"Ugh.. yeah. I think so. I was a might shorter last time I had to dodge that move." He admitted, though he now crouched slightly lower, looking a bit more keyed in to what was actually going on. Those feet. He'd have to watch out for those. The next time the Jack got him on the ground, he'd likely be dead. Despite his attempt at a cool demeanor, his ears glowed hotly red. Even with his sore nose bleeding, it was a superficial injury at best; his pride stung more now than his snout.

But they'd both drawn blood, both in their own way. There was perhaps a slight etiquette going on between them at that moment. Aleah's first attack was testing the defenses, and that blow to the face was Vikenti very kindly showing just how well those defenses were up. His tail lashed behind him, the length of it almost disturbing even to him. Hardly a rabbit tail, indeed.

He flicked the blade in his hand, changing its position so that it ran along the outside of his arm with the sharp end outward. He moved in again. This time, his posture strengthened, spreading his legs to anchor himself to the ground against the Jack's tricky footsteps.