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Post by Nako on Mar 31, 2011 19:25:09 GMT -5
Aleah knew that feeling all to well, and the reality was that he'd felt it so recently that it was startling to think about. Desperation to achieve what he wanted, with the mind halfway there but the body unwilling. It was one thing which he could sympathize in a way that he wouldn't speak of verbally. Perhaps she'd just understand it subconsciously from the conversation they'd had.
He was only vaguely smug at her sudden loss of composure, even as she tried desperately to bring it all back together, he'd already seen it. He chuckled and leaned back again, the softest hiss of pain barely contained by a sigh. She was blushing now, and he'd certainly make her blush again in the future. But for now, the reality was all too clear. He was a Jack, and she was still a leveret.
He was beginning to feel the effects of the drugs he'd taken, which was easing the sharpest edge of pain.
"But sadly… until then. We are what we are. I expect you to continue your duties as is expected of you, which I do not doubt you are more than capable of, and in your spare time… let us try to grow about a handspan in height, hmm?" He gave her a good-natured wink as he further slid back into the comfort of his own chair.
"Until then, I think it is best I get some 'R and R'. Oh…. and it would be appropriate for you to eventually pay your respects to the deceased. Sir Vikenti and Lady Ashta's murals are in the back of the garden."
At that last statement, his expression became just slightly pained, though it wasn't from the shoulder.
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Post by Harpsdesire on Mar 31, 2011 22:43:22 GMT -5
Alicia caught Aleah's slightly smug smile, and some part of her felt she had made a grave error in letting him see her feelings on the subject. Another part of her hardly cared that he saw her feelings toward him. She knew that he had only recently ascended to his rank, that he knew her struggle intimately.
She was startled from these thoughts by his sound of pain, not entirely disguised by the sigh. The pain must be considerable for such a sound to escape a proud Jack like Aleah. She eyed his bruise-marked body with concern. It would probably be inappropriate to say something about it. His words confirmed this. They would keep their distance, as was proper.
Still, a discreet wooing of the lady was... customary, in many warrens, if Doehood was desired. She felt a faint momentary disappointment wash over her. So he thought it would take nothing more than a wink and a verbal nudge to win her over? Well, Aleah might just find himself mistaken. She was worth a little more effort than that.
For all her thoughts, there was only submission and sweetness in her carefully modulated voice when she spoke. "Of course, sir. I strive to prove you satisfied with my work." He would know from when they were both workers that she had a reputation as an unusually industrious servant, even if he could not acknowledge his former life. There was little chance that he questioned her ability-- more likely he feared that his interest would go to her head.
In fact, it already very much had. There was little bubble of gloating in her breast that promised to grow with every meaningful look from the first Jack to ever pay her any mind.
She nodded and began to back away, leaving him to the peaceful rest he requested when she suddenly stopped, eyes widening as the vain bubble burst in a chilling splash of horror. "L-lady Ashta?" Although Alicia has no particular special love for the often-difficult Hisstor Doe, her loss was shocking. Not surprising, really, as she would surely have no will to live without her beloved Czar, but the news still brought Alicia up short. Ashta had been the favored Doe, and she and Vikenti defined the place Alicia had called home for some time now. To think how everything she knew had changed while she was fleeing the Cards--! It was unsettling to say the least.
"I will, my lord." She amended, regaining her poise to dip her head to him politely.
The pain on his face was not open as he dismissed her, but it was noticeably there as Alicia dared to gaze at him. Aleah's life had changed in more ways than her own these past hard days, and he had lost his mother-doe as well, a lady he was fond of. She was sure he would only disdain the empathy that welled within her, so she swallowed all the consoling words the least-wise part of her brain seemed to generate against her will, and asked instead, "May I bring you anything before I go, sir?"
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Post by Nako on Jun 7, 2011 13:49:03 GMT -5
The surprise in Alicia's voice was enough to renew that deep sting in the pit of his heart. There was a conflict in him still about his mother's demise. A part of him was pained, yet another was relieved. Death seemed a kinder option than trading the devoted woman off to some Jack who'd never care for her like his father had. Especially not at her age.
Head turned away, the Jack almost missed the leveret's question. "Oh… Yes." He awkwardly readjusted his position to stand up a little straighter, obviously regaining his composure.
"Could you ask Layla to bring Valeny to me?" His first compulsion would be to ask for Dafina, but he had to carefully remind himself that he had other Does now. One of them in particular, he was long overdue for a reunion.
Not to mention, his seeing a Doe would perhaps put things back into perspective for the starstruck leveret staring up at him. A healthy reminder that it wasn't just him competing for her... but her for him.
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Post by Harpsdesire on Jun 23, 2011 21:14:16 GMT -5
He looked away, and Alicia silently scolded herself for her ungaurded words. Was he... angered by her minor outburst? Alicia's nose twitched nervously for a mere moment before she schooled her face into a neutral expression, solemn enough for the news she had just received without, she hoped, looking unpleasant. By the time that was accomplished her Jack was turning back towards her, visibly composing himself.
He mourned his parents, but didn't show a leveret his feelings openly... a true Jack. Alicia found, somewhat to her own surprise, that she rather admired him, even beyond his newly handsome figure and noble rank. She ducked her head submissively just a fraction as he straightened and his eyes fell upon her.
When he spoke, Alicia had to make an effort not to cringe. Valeny... she was a lovely highlander and but rather an odd sort of Doe. Aleah's intentions in making this particular request were not subtle. The implications were clear as day to Alicia, for she would have done just the same in his place. Any sense of triumph that had survived past the mention of Ashta's demise shriveled at once. He was sending a message, all right, and she received it with the sinking sensation Aleah had probably intended.
"Yes, my lord." She would not give him the satisfaction of showing any emotion at that, nor give him the slightest cause to be displeased. As she turned to go, something else occurred to her. Layla. Crafty Jack! He really did know the lowlander's name, probably using the term 'cooky' to keep an overly familiar servant in her place. She liked his style.
Without consciously deciding to do so, Alicia glanced back at him as she left the room. The look her eyes was just a fraction too bold and heated to be strictly appropriate, but for that brief second she wasn't thinking about appearances. Instead, she was considering what an entirely satisfactory Jack Aleah had become.
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