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 Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:47 pm
 ☆Contents☆
☆Credits☆
Mortis - Kisetsu no Ai
Autumn Bellerose- Scarlet Electra132
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:19 pm
 AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
She was normally above such tasks, guarding a cart delivering goods from one kingdom to another was usually a job done by newer recruits, or by veterans who were unable to fight in wars. Mortis was neither. There were only two things that would justify her being in this position, either she was being punished for something, which was very unlikely, or they were guarding something very valuable. It really did not matter which it was, she disliked any sort of guard duty, she had been on guard her entire life, sometimes she wanted to take a break. Read of book, drink some wine, weave, mindless tasks. But those would wait until she got back, right now she needed to find a way to keep focused on the task at hand. This would be a great chance for her to see hubris once more. It had been such a long time since she had last visited this kingdom perhaps many things had changed in the last 53 years. It was likely.
This caravan would end up at the palace, but they were stopping at several places along the way, minor gifts for the lesser nobles. She hated these games that nobles played, buying favors from each other. All that ended up happening was that the people under them got hurt. Wars were not started by the working class but by the royals who were unable to get along. They played games of chess with real lives, it disgusted her. But they were the ones with power so it was important that one played by their rules or punishment would be had. That was something that Asmoda planned on avoiding going through again.
She sighed as her horse continued to walk forward, at least she did not have to walk. There were some benefits of serving a royal family for many years. Though she was not native to wrath, though most people alive now would not know that, she was still trusted enough that she was given high positions. She might be guarding a caravan, but she was the leader of this group, hell she had personally trained most of the people here, god it made her feel old. Not that it was a problem, she had not actually aged in quite a long time, it was one of the benefits of being an angel, 270 years and she was still in top condition.
Finally they had arrived at their next destination, the house of one of the counts and countesses of Hubris. Mortis did not know which one, she did not actually care which one. What she did care about was getting somewhere to sleep. It was starting to get late. Some of the other men would make the delivery, she did not feel like it. Instead she would go in search of some food. It was very likely that there would be a meal provided, and while Mortis was fine eating with her men, she had watched them grow up, they were like her children, she did not like the idea of eating with the people here. There were only two things that were ever done, the nobles would eat with the men, looking down on them, or they would stay separate making sure that their servants only got the 'bad' food. Neither option sounded particularily good to Mortis. She would find the kitchens herself.
She slung Cruor over her shoulder, smiling at the familiar feel of the spear on her back. It was unlikely that she would get in a fight her, but stranger things had been known to happen. Only a fool went into unfamiliar territory without preparation. Sighing to her self, she walked in the grand doors, towards the kitchen.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:35 am
 Autumn knew that there was a delivery that was due to arrive today. As the servant brought her the news of the caravan outside, she wondered if she should make her way down to supervise the hand off. But then again, was there any real need to do that? She sighed, deciding that her servants were capable enough and letting the messenger know as much. He went to supervise the details himself, knowing the Countess did actually care about whether or not she and her household were represented well even if she acted disinterested. It was getting late though, wasn’t it? She called him back to her side. Make arrangements for the night for them as well. And make sure they are fed. He nodded in response, grabbing another servant that was passing by to help him coordinate his orders.
She sighed again. Another gift from Wrath. She didn’t really care for the pleasantries, though she wouldn’t object. The woman was sure her Uncle knew what he was doing playing nice and all. And it really wasn’t her place to tell him how to run a Kingdome. She was but a Countess and his niece. He was the ruler of an entire people and her elder. Or maybe she was just not interested in his dealings. Either way, the gifts were not turned away for the simple fact that she didn’t feel like causing a ruckus. Lost in her thoughts, she made her way towards the Dining Hall for dinner. Someone unfamiliar was down that hallway. Hmm…who on earth would be carrying a spear indoors? Must be from that caravan… Autumn wondered whether or not to say anything. Wasn’t it up to her to investigate things that she didn’t know about in her own home though? She paused as the woman walked up. There was a polite smile but a subtle coldness to her words as she held with every female she met. You must be from Wrath, I am the Countess Bellarose. I thought perhaps your caravan might be tired from your journey and I have made arrangements for you to stay the night. Would you care to join me for dinner? The woman was by herself, she must have been the leader, right?
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:46 am
AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
She was not left to wander the hall for a long time. A woman approached her a few minutes after Mortis entered the house. Judging by the clothing the she wore, she was not a servant, far above that actually. Her suspicions were confirmed as the woman introducer her self. Countess Bellarose, as if Mortis would not be able to tell who she was. The woman did keep her first name secret though, probably because she felt that a mere servant did not deserve to know it. These people were all the same.
She kept her face solemn as the woman spoke to her. The voice was so cold, almost as if the woman did not like Mortis. It was not the voice of a woman who did not like those of lesser rank than her, this sounded almost personal. It intrigued Mortis. She was certain that she had done nothing to upset this woman, it had been decades since she had taken a lover in Hubris, and that was only for a short while. This woman would not have been alive when it had happened, hell her parents probably had not. Normally Mortis would have refused dinner with the woman, she had no desire to be spend time with the likes of hers, but her curiosity outweighed her disdain. This dinner could prove to be interesting, perhaps it would be fun in a way. Not that they would become friends at her, but it had been such a long time since someone had the courage to be a b***h towards her.
"Not even a first name, and what am I supposed to call you." She refused to call anyone countess, my lady, madam any of the typical names. "Because you are so young I suppose I could call you child, perhaps you could refer to myself as mother, or some other such term. Now Child, I suppose that I will dine with you. Lead the way please."
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:56 pm
Autumn raised a single eyebrow. How cocky. She had assumed the other woman had not cared to hear her first name or had already known it. And yes, she might be younger than this guard but she was still the authority of this castle. James was nothing yet, it was Autumn that carried the title. Though a bit irked by the way Mortis addressed her, she really wasn’t bothered too much by it. She had her mother to thank for that one. A woman who was cold, even to her own daughter, maybe even colder towards her daughter because of the hallucinations she suffered from.I wouldn’t care if she was my –sister-, it would be less of an embarrassment if she were instead of my daughter…not right in the head, well, keep her out of sight from the guests.The previous countess had such a nice way of putting things. Though Autumn had picked up that perhaps her mother was colder towards her than most people, she still inherited that icy demeanor as commonplace for women to interact with. After all, being with her father as compared with the way her mother treated her was like night and day, temperature wise included.
But this woman seemed to have a bit more of a chill than most. And a bit more of a tongue. It had actually brought some sort of emotion to her face before she fell back into that default look of boredom she usually carried. But then again, Autumn hadn’t been to Wrath in a while, perhaps it was rude of her to ignore the placement of a name in her introduction. Play nice. Well, she wouldn’t play nice in one aspect. The woman wanted a verbal battle, maybe she would get one.Child hmm? Well, can’t say I like the way that sounds madam…or maybe I should address you as mother, you look to be a bit older than her though, perhaps Grand ma ma would be better, hmm?Or…maybe not. Autumn continued past Mortis, resuming her way towards the Dining Hall. She called over her shoulder. And you might have my name if you would be so inclined to give me yours. But it seemed you only want to be addressed according to age. She shrugged, her shock white hair falling off her shoulder. Her words carried no hints of malice though still the same amount of coldness if not a pinch more. Her features remained neutral for the most part as well, as if she really didn’t have a care how the other woman felt about her. Autumn was putting them up for the night, she was feeding them…she knew that she deserved some sort of respect, she didn’t need to earn it…even if it was unrecieved.Dinner is this way...Grand ma ma.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:07 pm
Kisetsu no Ai AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
The woman had not reacted how Mortis would have expected. Normally nobles started to yell and screech when you were sassy with them. They did not like to be made to look like a fool, especially by a person who was of lower rank than them. It had happened before, Mortis was not going to hold her tongue just because someone was higher ranking than her. There had been times where nobles got offended and tried to have her locked up, they never succeeded though. She had been 'brought to justice' once and it was not an experience that she cared to go through again. She would fight off the guards, disabling but not killing, and continue on her way.
This woman was different than others of her kind. Not only did she seem to have some sort of dislike towards Mortis, she was actually willing to talk back. Mortis cackled softly at the girls words, Grandmama, how… adorable. She shook her head staring at the girl. "I am far far older than your mother, and you give no name for someone who dislikes being addressed by age." The girl was lucky that she did not go with madam, for some reason that series of words bothered her. Which was strange considering that being called grandmama did not bother her at all.
And there was the title again. "Lead the way my dear child." Mortis positioned herself so that she would be walking beside Autumn. She might not know her way around this place well, but that did not mean that she would let anyone walk in front of her. Lead was a positioned earned. This girl had earned the rights to have dinner with Mortis, something that very few people had, with the exception of her children. "I take it that my men will be seen to as well, I will be very upset if they were left to go hungry." She would not trust the girls answer in the end, the truth would come from talking to her men later. If it turned out that her men did not receive an adequate meal, then Mortis would have some lovely words with the Countess of Hubris later. The woman might have spunk now, but she would not by the time that Mortis was done. Just because she did not like to torture people did not mean she did not know how. Two hundred years was a long time to learn how to cause pain.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:56 pm
Autumn’s eyes fell to half closed as she adopted that bored expression that was her normal. Though the cackle by this hag set her off slightly, the only indication was a slight scoff in response. Was she laughing at Autumn? Because she was so young? Yes, perhaps eighteen was too young to inherent a title such as Countess but the girl thought she was doing a decent job to say the least. Was it her fault that her mother hightailed it out of her life? She’s old enough now, she can –have- the title and me and you will go on a vacation, hmm? I’m –sure- she can handle this by herself, she doesn’t really need us. The previous Countess had wanted so little to do with her daughter, it was a shame really. Her father couldn’t …or didn’t protest but it wasn’t really in his nature to do so. It was probably where Autumn got her patience from. It wasn’t that he was walked on by his wife, just that he didn’t see a need to cause a ruckus. Something the girl would learn better in time.”Oh? So you admit to your age?” Autumn was on the verge of calling this woman out about calling her a mere ‘child’ again but the way Mortis seemed to say it was…almost endearing? Her own mother didn’t have pet names for her, never called her anything but her name; Autumn. She was never called ‘child’, never called ‘my dear’ or anything that might give an indication that the previous countess was the mother of this broken piece of merchandise. It…made the Countess pause for a moment in thought though she kept in step with Mortis, still leading the way to the Dining Hall. She glanced sidelong at Mortis."As I’ve said, arrangements have already been made for all of you. Has your age affected your hearing?" Though her words might have seemed harsh, there was a touch less ice in her voice. It might not have been obvious to Mortis but the girl was growing more comfortable with her already though the change was incredibly subtle. The door approached and Autumn grasped the handle before the servant could. Her voice held nothing different from the coldness of before as she uttered a single word. "Autumn." As they entered the Dining Hall, Autumn took a seat that was already pulled out by the servant. A second one moved to pull one out for Mortis as well, a third bringing more dining wear to set before her as the table had only been set for one. The way Autumn reacted to the women servants was the same as she had towards Mortis when they first spoke but she was much warmer towards the men. Not that she offered scowls or smiles to anyone but it was almost perceivable that she seemed more comfortable with men. Though this wasn’t her true nature, she really didn’t have a preference in truth.
As they waited for the food to be brought before them, Autumn cleared her throat slightly to catch the attention of the attendant. She waved towards Mortis. "I believe Grand ma ma has an inquiry about our other guests?" The name wasn't said in mockery but flatly to all those except who knew her well. It was actually said in an affectionate manner in Autumn's head. The man in question looked at the Countess with a raised brow when she wasn’t looking. Was she…being friendly with this stranger? And…a woman stranger at that? Did she seem to have a bit more pep? Only someone that had been around Autumn for years would be able to discern a difference but it was there to those that were looking. She was a smidgen happier. The man didn’t question it. It was truly nice to see her happy for once, it was just too bad that it took her parents dropping her and leaving for it to happen.
Autumn's eyes went wider suddenly as she looked across the table from her and Mortis. Though there was nothing that Mortis could see, Autumn's eyes showed her a giant wasp flying towards the trio. She took a deep breath in and out, trying to relax her body. The attendant knew the signs. He was one of the few that knew her this well, knew of her condition. But he also knew of her pride and because of it said nothing though he wanted to at least rest a hand on her shoulder. He looked back up at Mortis waiting, pretending as if he saw nothing from Autumn.
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:37 pm
AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
"Admit to my age?" She supposed she did not look as old as she really was, but she forgot that people from other kingdoms did not know her as the woman who watched their parents be born. She found that many woman feared aging, feared the wrinkles that started accumulating around their eyes, the loss of beauty. For Mortis it was not the same. She had been alive four times longer than many people lived normally, and it was very unlikely that she would be dying any time soon. Beauty was not important for her, probably because she had no interest in attracting a mate. Marriage was something for fools. For her age meant wisdom, she had experienced much in the two hundred cursed years that she was allowed to roam the world, she was wiser than most people she knew, not that she was willing to share anything with them.
"When you get to be my age you no longer care how old you really are. I am around two hundred and sixty three years old, I lost track of it for a few years in my mid hundreds. As I said after a while you stop caring." To be honest it was not just that she lost track because of the years, when you were the only one you stop celebrating your day of birth. She sighed, it had been so long since she had been wandering alone, but the feelings were still there, mostly because she choose to let them stay. They served to teach her things. She grew stronger because of the experience and she would not let herself forget what she had learned. She would not be caught by surprise again, she would not let someone hurt her like that again.
She could not help but laugh at Autumn's comment about her hearing. "I assure you that my hearing is fine, actually it is more than fine. I pride my self on my exceptional hearing." It was the truth, her job used to be the ears of small operations, it had been years since she was part of such a group, but she still used her abilities, they allowed her to stay alive. "The problem is the you young ones are so impatient these days, expecting everyone to know everything right away. I am sorry if I have offended you, but past experience has made me wary of word. Now if you be so kind as to lead your dear Grand ma ma to the dining hall, I am more hungry than I first realized."
Autumn, was that her name? She would have to find out later. She sat down in the chair that was offered to her. She could not help but notice that the table was set for one, how intriguing. Did the countess normally sit by herself, or was she the only one here. The servants were used to this though, the did not have to be told anything, they just did. She looked at the servant in question. " I just want to make sure that my men are being taken care of adequately." Her voice left no wonder of what would happen if she was not pleased with the condition of her men the next day. The servant nodded that they were.
Mortis paused her motion, seeing Autum's eyes grow wider. Her muscles tensed getting ready to jump out of the way of anything, that was trying to attack her. It was strange she saw no signs of an assassin when she entered this room, and she had never been wrong before. It was her job to take care of the royal family. She grabbed the small mirror shard that was attached to a bracelet on her wrist, using it to see behind her. There was nothing there not that she could see, nor could the servant, in fact he payed no attention to the girl. She could stay quiet about this, it was probably more polite for her to do so. But Mortis was never one to care about how polite she was, polite wasted time.
"Child what do you see." She asked, her voice holding the slightest amount of concern. Perhaps this girl could see visions of the future, it was not common, but Mortis had run into another person with the same gift. "Do not try to lie to me, I may be old but my mind is still sharp. You look panicked, what has caused this?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:47 pm
No longer care? So she wasn’t laughing at Autumn because of her youth. If Mortis didn’t care about her own age, then she most likely didn’t give a flying flip about the Countess’s. But she…Mortis was hundreds of years old? So old that she lost count? But subconsciously, it really did ease her mind, knowing, or at least feeling as if, this woman was not judging her based on her young age but based on something else entirely. What that could be was a mystery to the girl, one that didn’t intrigue her enough to solve. But how could someone just…lose count of their age? Even if they were hundreds of years old. If you were going to keep track for two hundred something years…then how could you simply ‘lose track’ for a mere few? Well, whatever, it wasn’t Autumn’s place to question this stranger, her life had nothing to do with the Countess’s household and therefore was really none of her concern.Did she just…laugh at me? Autumn frowned slightly. That was most definantly an outright laugh. But was that what really bothered the girl? No, it had been Autumn that had made the first joke and what was a joke for except for the intention to be laughed at? Well, with Mortis's snotty demeanor, the Countess had really not been prepared for a positive reception, much less any sort of mirth. Or maybe that was because she herself didn’t often express any. And she almost seemed…to enjoy the nickname that Autumn had given her as a glib. However, it was also that Autumn liked her nickname too though she had yet to realize it.
She had to question herself inwardly though. She had not known this person, had actually been set off by them, sassed by them…and yet she still invited the guard for diner. But Autumn really didn’t care whom it was with. She wouldn’t admit it, even to herself, but it was nice to have someone to eat with for a change. This sort of arrangement would have never happened had her mother been in charge here still. She would have sent to caravan on their way actually. That alone was probably the reason that Autumn would even think to offer them the stay instead of waiting for someone to request it. She herself never thought on it but many of the servants were glad of the change of hands, considering the young Countess to have a kinder heart than her mother.
She didn’t watch or give the attendant any sign while Mortis addressed him, keeping her eyes on the other woman. She didn’t need to give him a sign. When she wanted arrangements made, they were done, end of story. Because she was kind, the servants of her household tended to want to please her. And they knew her well enough that they knew what to do without having been told. However, as Mortis questioned his lady’s actions, he sighed inwardly, knowing what was next. Denial. Or some sort of decline in Autumn’s mood. She always seemed to be hiding her fate, not wanting outsiders to know. It was her mother’s fault. The woman was always harping on how much of an embarrassment their daughter was while her father silently listened. It wasn’t a surprise that the girl tried to hide it. "No, I…uh…just thought I saw some bug, light heart I have. It was really nothing…" Autumn looked down, her face carrying boredom again. As much as she might like this person, she wasn’t going to admit her sickness to a total stranger. She looked up, immediately regretting the decision as the wasp landed on Mortis, its huge stinger plunging into the woman’s neck. She flinched before looking down again. Damn, there was no way this guard…or more likely, warrior, would miss that. She kept her eyes down now, not wanting to give anything else away. The buzz of the thing droned in her ears as she waved the attendant off. It must have been as big as Mortis’s head. She wished so hard that she was better at masking her reactions, taking a quiet breath in and out before looking back up at Mortis, eyes locked on the other woman’s to keep from watching the wasp. It was a few minutes but the chef sent the food out, though it was two different plates. The one set before Autumn was roast fowl, steamed vegetables, and white wine while the one set before Mortis was what looked to be a steak and mashed potatoes along with a mug of ale. Autumn looked down at the food, the bored look plastered there as she once more called the attendant over, looking over at Mortis at the same time."I forgot to ask what you preferred…that is my betrothed’s usual meal when he accompanies me, do you favor something else?" The girl hoped that a change of subject might distract this woman from her ailment.
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:25 pm
AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
Why did people try to lie to her, did they really think it would work. She used to be naïve enough to listen the words of the people around her, 'you are family', 'I love you', bah she learned that people lied. She learned to look for the signs, and this girl was showing them. In her defense, she was not lying to try to hurt Mortis, which was enough to matter. She sighed as the girl tried to change the subject. "It is a shame that you have such a 'light heart', I had so much hopes for you, with all of the sass that you were showing me earlier. I had so much hopes for you. I am disappointed in you dear child. I asked you not to lie to me." She shook her head to show her disappointment.
She looked at the food set before her honestly impressed by the chefs work. The meat was good properly, but more important it was real food. Nobles had this tendency to not eat real food, they felt that presentation took the place of sustenance, it was rather sad. Mortis did not see the sense in eating something that took more effort to eat than to kill, and there was beer. Mortis brought the mug to her lips, and it was good. She would have to find the brewer later and give him her thanks. She knew that most people prefered wine, but nothing could take the place of a good ale, especially when it was coupled with potatoes and meat. She smiled, at least the countess knew how to provide guests with good food. She took a bite, studying the countess. "The food is fine, your betrothed has good taste." She could not take out the bitterness out of her voice at the word. She had her own thoughts about members of the opposite sex, they were not good.
"Now that we have discussed the fare you have provided me with, I think we should get back to a more important topic. Your flinching. You look like there is something behind me trying to kill me, which fortunately there is not. So what were you seeing, and please don't lie to me again, I don’t like it when people lie to me." She frowned slightly, her voice serious.
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:01 pm
Her gaze leveled at the other woman as she proclaimed her…disappointment. Did she care if this stranger was disappointed in her? No, she really didn’t. She was so used to her Mother’s disappointment that the emotion from another person didn’t phase her. What. So. Ever. She lost her nervous smile, her gaze bored as it ever was as she stared straight into the other woman’s eyes, letting her speak.”Hopes? Well, that was a bit pretentious, was it not? We’ve hardly just met and now suddenly you have hopes? And you gained these ‘hopes’ from our little conversation where I have apparently given you sass? I must say, I might be disappointed in your forwardness as well. Tsk Tsk.”And though she had lost the concern about Mortis favoring her meal or not, there was slight relief in seeing the woman take a liking to the food. But the way she said…betrothed. Clearly there was some sort of dislike to the idea and for some mysterious reason, that might have affected her more than the actual disappointment in herself. But…her next statements froze Autumn’s words before they could reach her lips.D**n…and here I thought I had distracted her… Autumn sighed quietly through her nose. Tenacious. That was the word she was trying to think of for this woman. Yes. Tenacious worked quite well. And did she suddenly become so serious over some petty lie? Now the b***h was serious? Not earlier when she had been being so snotty? She looked back at the wasp for a moment as it drew its stinger from her neck, allowing her eyes to follow it as it buzzed away for a moment, her head remaining still. Her eyes snapped back to Mortis’s, locking on. No, there are no asailents attacking either of us at the moment and I’m not sure if I should be insulted at the suggestion that my guard is incapable of doing their jobs? Oh, and another thing, did you not think that perhaps some people lie for a reason? And really, who does like it when people lie to them?” She leaned closer, setting her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her clasped hands. And was that…hints of a smile? ”Perhaps I’ve decided to just not reveal the whole truth, have you thought of that? I’ve really only seen a bug. However, if you believe I’m lying, and it seems that you so love to throw accusations as such, then what is it you think I see, hmm?”
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:50 pm
AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
Mortis let out another cackle. "Oh dear child, I have the right to be as pretentious as I want to be. When you are my age you get certain rights." She took another sip of the ale, she really must try to buy a keg of this before she left. "And you are giving me sass now, though someone as young as you are probably would not recognize sass, they don't teach you youngens anything any more. And I am disappointed in you for being disappointed in me, didn't your parents teach you to respect your elders. Tsk, for shame."
She took a bite of the food savouring the flavor. She hated to admit it but the food was delicious. She stared at the woman waiting for an answer, maybe the truth this time. She fought the urge to tense her muscles as the young woman stared at something behind her. Maybe it was a trick, to make her uncomfortable, though for some reason she doubted that. The girl might be a bit of a b***h, something that Mortis admired greatly, but she was not mean spirited. Over the years she had learned to be good at reading people, it was something purely defensive.
She stood up from her chair, it was nothing, but she was still uncomfortable with the way that Autumn was looking behind her. She began to walk closer to Autumn. "I have been before your grandparents grandparents were born, I am far more capable than your guards. Let me be honest with you, I don't trust my own men, and I raised them all, I trained them all. Why do you think someone of my age and my status is on this trip? Certainly not to see the scenery, though your lands are beautiful. Only a fool would completely rely on their guards, and I did not take you to be a fool. Do you know how to defend yourself, probably not, they seem not to teach woman that now, it disgusts me. No matter I shall teach you later, you do not get a say in this so don't try.
Mortis grabbed a chair and pulled it over to where Autumn was. "I don't know what you are seeing, but you are seeing something, something more than a bug. If there was a bug there it was a figment of your imagination for I heard nothing. Now surely you would not be so cruel to your loving grandmother. You say you are not telling me the whole truth, I am hurt. So what is it that you see, are you a seer, able to see into the future, perhaps you watched me die eaten by bugs? Now do make this quick, my food is growing cold over there and I want to finish enjoying my meal. Your betrothed might be a worthless male, but he does have good taste in food. I will want to meet him one day, make sure that he is suitable to marry my dear granddaughter."
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:53 pm
Autumn felt a bit taken aback. Certain right? So with age some people decided that they gained rights to certain actions, certain words to utter? Autumn wondered at that thought. If this was a point a view that many people held, then did that imply that when she gained more years, she too would have certain ‘rights’ to say and do a bit more as she pleased than she did now? Somehow, she rather doubted it. Her features remained perfectly still, in fact, her entire being became still as she focused on Mortis. The other woman was disappointed in Autumn for the Countess being disappointed in her? What kind of mad sense did that make? None, that’s what kind. And if Autumn were to follow that sort of logic, then wouldn’t she have had the right to be disappointed the most? For wasn’t it Mortis that started this cycle of being disappointed? Autumn didn’t even care.
Or maybe she did…there was a feeling of defensiveness as Mortis accused her of not respecting her elders…though it was faint. There was more of defensiveness about this woman bringing her parents into the fray. Her father had taught her as well as he could, it wasn’t his fault that his wife behaved otherwise. Autumn was brought up with manners, with the assumption that elders required respect. But for some reason, this woman set her off in a way that she didn’t quite understand. But it wasn’t an entirely bad way. It was…pleasant? To finally have someone that wasn’t tiptoeing around her like she was a time bomb? Even the servants that favored her, which was most of them, didn’t openly speak to her. Some status thing or another that prevented the casual interaction had been set in place long ago.
Mortis seemed to be enjoying the food. B***h. But…she was standing? Why was the mean lady standing? Autumn didn’t move save her eyes that followed Mortis’s as the other woman stood. ”Be careful moving around like that, wouldn’t want you to break anything now would we? Your age and all.” Unfortunately, that smile was wiped off her face as Mortis basically ordered something of her. Really? Where did she get the gall to order the Countess of Hubris around as if she were a mere chi—
That thought stopped mid sentence. Hadn’t she already established with herself that Mortis did not think of her as a ‘mere child’? Wait, did that matter? She was still ordering Autumn around! The smile disappeared as she too stood while Mortis drew closer. ”I do not get a say in my own actions? Who are you to take away my freedom?” But as the woman sat, Autumn sat back down as well, the incredulous expression gone, her bored one taking its place like a shell once more. She was…hurt? Now you accuse me of being cruel? Really, these accusations are getting a bit far fetched, aren’t they? How could I be so mean to my dear Grand ma ma?” She glanced around, becoming much more reserved suddenly. The attendant caught her eye, signaling the other servants to exit the room, leaving last himself. How utterly strange that the two seemed to click so quickly, going so far as to share secretes that not even most of her servants knew. But she was in charge now, and it was not his place to question her. Her voice was hesitant as she spoke, not even really knowing why she felt compelled to answer this person. She was just so…different. This woman acted unlike any other towards the Countess than most, probably all, of the people that Autumn had ever met. That included when she had been but a child. Her eyes found Mortis's. ”Fine. I am no seer. I am sick. I see things that are not there. Happy? Teach me to defend myself from that.” Was that a touch of bitterness in her voice? Was this strange woman really evoking that deep tension that Autumn held betwixt herself and her mother that was denied by the girl? ”And if you must know, I saw a wasp the size of your head plunge its stinger into your neck. Like I said, just a bug.” She looked towards her almost untouched food, no longer in the mood for dinner. The current subject somehow drove the words about her fiance from her mind for the time being.
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Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:30 am
AsmodaKingdom: Wrath Rank: Fallen knight of Patience
Her words seemed to have an affect on the young countess. The emotion in the woman's eyes was not sass, but something that she had never seen before in someone she had chastised. Usually the would look at her with anger, with outrage, not with a slight sadness. The countess was being defensive , just like the others, but she her defensiveness was from something else. Mortis would have to do some investigating.
She shook her head at the woman. "I am not taking away your freedom, in order to take something away it would have to exist in the first place. Neither of us have freedom. I am bound by my past actions, you by your title. We would be fools to think that we have any real freedom. Things will happen whether we like it or not, all we can do is prepare for it. If you choose not to, then I cannot stop you. But mark my words, one day you will come to regret this choice." Her eyes were haunted as she recalled events from the past. This was a warning, a warning from one who knew first hand the pain that life brought you. She would help spare Autumn the pain, if the girl would let her.
Mortis placed her hand on her head. "Forgive me for my accusations, I am old and my mind is confused. Of course you would never hurt your grandmother, you are too kind to me." She smiled at the girl, there was no snarkyness in her voice, for the first time in years she said something that was not laced with sarcasm.
She watched as Autumn lashed out at her. Telling her that she was 'sick'. Mortis felt bad for minute, she knew people who were 'touched' in the head. At least this girl knew that what she was seeing was not real, most people did not. "I am happy, I am glad that you felt you could trust me with your secret. You are right to be bitter, there is nothing that you can do to defend yourself from it. I can teach you to defend yourself from others though. Those who want to hurt you because you are different." reached out and placed her hand on Autumns arm. "Listen to me child. I only want to help you. Now eat your food. I don't want to see my granddaughter waste away.
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