Rosa Wants to Play

[hazlogs]

It is currently 11:31 Pacific Time on Sun Apr 27 1997.
Currently on this calm and crisp spring late morning in the general St. Claire
area, it is 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16.1 degrees Celsius). The wind is coming
from the north-northeast at 0.7 mph. The ground is parched. Skies are clear
with a probable chance of precipitation.
Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous Moon phase (65% full).

The Sept Compound(#2075RAM)

Rosa Nagua springs out of the trees, practicing her climbing and pouncing
maneuvers.
Erik is curled up by the fire, lying on his side on the ground. Sleeping?
Rosa Nagua churfs at Erik. Wake! Come, play with me!
"Uh?" Erik uncurls slowly, lowering his head to adjust the mask, which seems
to have gotten twisted 'round.
Rosa Nagua churffs again. Play with me. Take on the wolf form, and climb
trees, and leap, leap leap!
Dylan enters the compound.
Dylan has arrived.
Rosa Nagua prances about Erik, cheerilly, singing leap, leap, leap!
Erik sits up, his movements slow and stuff. He winces slightly at Rose's
cajoling. "Um. Wolf form?"
Rosa Nagua flicks her ears. Yes. Yes. Wolf form, and climb trees.
Dylan pads in, bare feet pattering cheerfully on the parched earth. He has a
load of dead wood which he sets beside the fire, smiling at Erik and Rosa.
Rosa Nagua churffs at Dylan, too. Play with us. Do you remember how?
Erik seems to pull back from Rose, slightly. "I'd rather not."
Dylan sets the wood down and grins, "That is not the sort of thing I am likely
to forget, but I have a task or two to take care of first." He puts some of
the wood in the fire, and leaves the rest beside it for others to add as
necessary.
Rosa Nagua teases the cliaths. Rather not? Task? The Wheel misses play. It's
members have forgotten how. Don't you know the wolf form? When did you last
climb a tree?
Erik's tone of voice is growing strained. "I know the wolf form," he says, and
shuts up.
Dylan leans over and lays two fingers on Rosa's muzzle, just for a second, in
affectionate remonstrance. "I climbed a tree this morning, as I do most
days. Different trees. And sometimes people like to be asked, instead of
teased and challenged. If you want to play, why don't you think of a game
that Erik Sings-from-Shadows will be comfortable playing, instead of
twitting him about one which he is not?"
Rosa Nagua stands still well corrected, then thinks a moment, concentration
evident. I can play a /card/ game?
Dylan grins and straightens up. "Ask him," he says, darting a laughing glance
at Erik, and then moves toward the groundskeeper's shelter.
Erik shivers and edges closer to the fire, watching the little Uktena warily.
Rosa Nagua's tail droops. I can play a word game?
Erik uhms. "What kind of word game?"
Rosa Nagua's tail raises. A guessing kind? I don't know? You must know a game
you like?
Dylan emerges from the shelter with two large water skins, glancing over to
see that the two are talking, and then disappearing in the direction of the
creek for a moment, before returning with them filled.
Erik shrugs. "I don't know many games," he admits.
Dylan looks over. "Maybe you would let Rose teach you one, then? A guessing
game, perhaps?" He kneels down beside a small plant and waters it carefully.
Rosa Nagua begins recounting the games she knows. I know sparring. Sparring is
good. I know the follow-the leader-game? I like follow-the-leader. I know
the name-the-spirits game. And the what-am-I game. I know the do-what-I-sing
game....
Erik seems bemused by all the attention, and resists somewhat, but eventually
caves in. "How do you play what-am-I?"
Rosa Nagua explains by example. She sits way back on her haunches, then leaps,
and lands, making a croaking-growl. She repeats. Looking at Erik, she asks
what-am-I?
Dylan moves to another plant, only watering the most recently transplanted.
The dry earth soaks the water up gratefully as he moves around the clearing.
He listens to the interchange with pleasure.
Erik tilts his head. "A frog?"
Dylan finishes emptying the water skins and vanishes back into the
groundskeeper's shelter.
Rosa Nagua wags her tail. Yes. Your turn!
Erik rubs at the back of his neck, then stands up, hesitantly. He pauses a
moment, then stands very tall, very straight and alert. Carefully he takes a
step, then stops, looking all around.
Rosa Nagua looks at Erik. You are a crane?
Dylan emerges from the shelter again, very slowly and quietly, this time, as
though he is, in truth, approaching the animals that are being mimicked, and
does not for all the world want to startle them. He stands halfway up the
stairs of the shelter, just watching.
Erik pauses, glancing at Rose with some chagrin. "Close."
Rosa Nagua's tail wags. That is a hard one. Is it a bird?
Jessie climbs out of the entrance to the buried shelter nestled among the
trees to the southwest.
Jessie has arrived.
Jessie wonders out of the shelter, looking around.
Dylan, who is still standing by the entrance to the shelter, looks around as
Jessie emerges and smiles at her, before going back to watching Erik and
Rosa at their game.
Rosa Nagua and Erik continue to play their guessing game, each mimicking an
animal or object for the other, while Dylan remains watching, half-hidden,
in the entrance to the shelter.
Erik considers a moment, then puts his hands on either side of his head,
spreading his long fingers. "Guess again?"
Jessie stops and stands by Dylan, nodding hello to him, then looking at Rosa
and Erik.
Rosa Nagua thumps her tail. Stag! It is Stag!
John enters the compound.
John has arrived.
Erik lets his arms drop to his sides and nods. "Um. Your turn."
Dylan takes a step forward. "May I play?"
Rosa Nagua churffs happily. When Dylan makes his offer, she looks to Erik. Can
he?
Jessie watches the game, but stands still by the entrance to the Shelter, a
slight smile on her face.
Erik glances at Dylan. "Er, of course."
Dylan's eyes gleam. He drops to the ground suddenly, folding in on himself to
make a small little bundle, tensely alert. He lifts his head to snif the
air, nose twitching visibly, scurries in one direction, stops, tests the
air, and then scampers to one side - a little awkwardly as his too-long
limbs get in the way - and launches himself in a remarkably fluid (for a
homid) leap at a low branch on a tree, where he clings, breath heaving
visibly, poised in mid-motion.
John approaches the clearing slowly, a somewhat troubled expression on his
face. He stops near the edge of the clearing, brightening considerably on
seeing the others present.
Rosa Nagua guesses, hesitantly... tree frog?
Dylan's eyes dance. He heaves himself onto the branch, perches precariously
for a moment with his arms tuckesd against his chest, and he gives a
startlingly realistic chitter. From overhead there is a rustle, and then an
acorn is dropped on the Stargazer's head. He almost loses his balance,
grabbing at the trunk of the tree and laughing, as he lets the imitation
slide away.
Erik hazards a guess. "Squirrel?"
Rosa Nagua's tail wags. You are good at the what-am-I game!
Dylan settles down on the the limb of the tree, homid-style with his legs
dangling, and looks up into the branches. "Squirrel," he agrees, still
laughing. "I don't know what I said - I think it may have been rude."
Jessie looks over at John then back to the game. The smile slips from her
face, but is not replaced by frown.
Derrick enters the compound.
Derrick has arrived.
Rosa Nagua looks to Erik... You could ask what he said?
Derrick wanders down the path absently, humming quietly.
John chuckles softly, approaching the fire and nodding in greeting to the
others.
Erik shakes his head at Rose. "I couldn't make it out." A pause. "Um, who's
next/?"
Jessie stands by the entrance to the Shelter watching the game the others are
playing.
Dylan slides down from the branch, landing on his feet. "Play well," he says,
taking in the whole group with the leave-taking.
Rosa Nagua points at Erik. The one who guesses, gets to go... Unless someone
else joins?
Erik casts about, then looks at Jessie. "Er, you want to join?"
John shakes his head at Rose, smiling. "I'll just watch."
Jessie looks down and blushes, "I wouldn't be any good at it. Sorry."
Dylan picks his way out of the clearing, stopping at Rosa's side momentarily
to scritch her before he goes.
Jessie looks over at Derrick, watching him carefully.
Rosa Nagua shakes her ruff, cheerily, at the scritching, then wurfs. Call out
if you wish to join. Your turn, Erik.
Dylan leaves the compound.
Dylan has left.
Derrick looks, for some reason, vaguely surprised to see so many people, and
skirts the edges of the clearing, simply watching, for now.
Erik freezes for a moment, his wits deserting him.
Rosa Nagua guesses, at Erik's posture... a chipmunk?
Erik seems to be suffering from a sudden attack of stage fright, actually.
John raises a hand to his mouth, concealing a slight smile at Rose's statement.
Rosa Nagua guesses again, when there's no answer... rabbit?
Erik just shakes his head and starts to retreat, obviously wondering how he
got into this situatin and regreetting it.
Derrick finally catches Jessie's look and shrugs at her questioningly.
Jessie shrugs back and turns to watch the game again, but watching Derrick out
of the corner of her eye.
Rosa Nagua scratches her ear with her hind leg, still not getting it. Fawn?
Erik sees only one way to halt this (albeit mild) torture. "Yes," he says to
Rose, quickly (too quickly) and sits down.
Rosa Nagua wags her tail. Faun! You are so good at this game. I almost felt
like hunting you! Okay, my turn... She makes a little leap with her
forepaws, and begins walking on her hind legs, unsteadily, balancing
precariously, one step at a time.
Erik hugs himself and watches Rose with a tense, uncertain air, unwilling to
make a guess and have it be his turn again.
Derrick, tired of standing with his hands in the back pockets of his jeans,
finally moves to skirt the group and sit down near Jessie, although he
doesn't seem to be focusing on her.
Jessie looks over at Derrick, "How are you today?"
Derrick shrugs. "Tired of junkyards. How 'bout you?"
Rosa Nagua keeps walking absurdly on her hind legs, concentrating on the feat,
occasionally looking around to get her bearings. So confusing, being a wolf
from this angle.
Erik pulls his knees to his chest and buries his face.
John doesn't seem to notice Erik's discomfort; his eyes are watching Rosa, but
his attention doesn't really seem to be on her.
Jessie shrugs back, "I don't know, just being bored here."
Derrick frowns. "No one's doin' any prelimnary fight teachin'? I've been
*tellin'* 'em..."
Jessie says "No, haven't done any fighting since I talked to you last."
Rosa Nagua cannot let go of her commitment to the game, and, deciding she is
not mimicking well enough yet to be guessed, starts to add affectations. She
looks at her left forepaw, as if concerned for the time, and there were a
wrist-watch there. She raises the right forepaw, and waves as if at a
friend. Step. Step. Step.
Derrick exhales a sigh. "I'm no teacher've fightin', or *I'd* do somethin'. I
should go find Serves Honor, maybe..."
Jessie shrugs yet again. "I'm not really eager to get beaten on, or to hurt
other people."
Derrick quirks a smile. "Neither'm I. Doesn't mean you shouldn't learn *how*,
though. An' really, trainin' doesn't hurt too much." He mutters, "Usually."
Jessie looks down and mutters, "Yeah, Usually."
John abruptly stands up, nods in farewell, and heads back toward the forest.
John leaves the compound.
John has left.
Derrick shrugs. "Well, look. You 'member that conversation we had last time I
was around. If it's important, a few bumps'n bruises... Do they *matter*
that much?"
Rosa Nagua finally get the idea that something is wrong. She drops to all
fours, and looks at Erik, confused.
Erik doesn't look at Rose.
Jessie says "No, I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about who I train
with." She frowns, "I don't know what will happen"
Rosa Nagua wurfs, quietly. ~Mister Fianna... have I hurt you?~
Erik shakes his head a little at Rose. "'M fine."
Derrick nods slightly. "Well, that's why I'm hopin' to get someone who can
deal with it. Non cliath type. Sorry for misunderstandin'."
Rosa Nagua blinks. I... I see. You do not wish to play with me.
Erik cringes slightly.
Jessie looks at Derrick, then softly says, "I don't want to lose control."
Derrick's face tightens, subtly. "Yeah. It's hard to know..." He trails off.
Rosa Nagua snorts, stung by this apparent rejection, and backs away, to the
tree line.
Erik lowers his head again, burying his face in his arms, shutting out the
world at large.
Jessie looks down unsure of what to say, as the once happy feeling in the
compound seems to be leaving.
Derrick calls over to Rose, "Hey, was that a specific kind of human, or just
generic?"
Derrick then says, "Er. I mean, normal."
Rosa Nagua curls her tail around her nose, indulging her bad mood with bad
behaviour towards her friend.
Timothy enters the compound.
Timothy has arrived.
Derrick's sitting crosslegged near Jessie, looking at Rose somewhat curiously.
Rosa Nagua remains curled in the shadows at the edge of the compound, away
from Erik, and away from the Silver Fangs.
Timothy enters along one of the main paths from the caern, more of a stroll
than the typical brisk walk he often moves at. Something has left the Silver
Fang elder in though, and he seems somewhat distracted for it.
Erik is huddled by the fire doing a remarkable impression of a catatonic
turtle.
Derrick looks over at the slight noise, and practically leaps to his feet.
"Timothy! Sir! Hi!"
Jessie looks up at Timothy, then at Derrick noting his response to the
newcomer.
Jessie gets up, and brushes herself off. Looking carefully at Timothy.
Timothy gives an unconscious little shake of his head, as if pulling himself
out of his own thoughts, back into the here and now, at the sound of
Derrick's voice. "Hello there, Derrick," he says, casually, as he continues
his way into the clearing. A few strangers here, though after only a glance
past Erik, he focuses more on the smaller girl.
Derrick grins at Jessie, then turns his attention back to Timothy. "She's
Jessie. I dunno if you've heard about her... The Taintin', the Cleansin',
Falcon sayin' she's ours, that sort of stuff? I tried to leave a message for
you, but it mighta gotten lost."
Jessie looks at Derrick and then back to Timothy, bowing her head slightly.
"Hello Sir, I am Jessica, spirit warrior of the silver fangs."
Timothy says to Derrick, absently, "Scott and I spoke, though it was some days
ago." Still, most of his attention is on Jessie. There is a brief flash of
approval at what seems a perfectly polite introduction on the cub's part,
one he matches with his own, lengthier one. "And I'm Timothy Hastings, most
recently known as Timothy Holds-the-Line, ahroun to the Silver Fangs and
elder of the tribe we share. Here, I serve the Sept of the Wheel Renewed as
Master of the Challenge, and run with Gaia's Shield as a Child of Buffalo."
Erik twitches slightly at Timothy's introduction and partially uncurls.
Slowly. Reluctantly.
Timothy, if he notices Erik's hint of movement in the background, makes no
obvious sign of it. From his expression he seems to still expect something
from the cub in front of him.
Jessie looks back up at Timothy, waiting for instructions, unsure what to say
next.
Timothy waits, patiently, for several long moments, with an intentness to his
expression that might make you feel a touch of sympathy for his own
children. It's not an upset look, simply an expectant one, one that implies
the cub should be saying something at this point.
Rosa Nagua quietly watches, making no movement.
Erik sits up, his eyes going from Timothy to Jessie and back again.
Jessie softly says, "Um, I'm not sure what you want me to say now."
Derrick remains silent as well, managing, for a wonder, not to fidget.
Timothy shakes his head a little, another unconscious gesture on his part. "No
matter," he says lightly. And with that the moment is past, leaving Timothy
to continue on in the general direction of the fire pit here. "Has Scott
taken up teaching you, or perhaps Derrick?"
Derrick follows, and looks like he'd like to answer that one himself, but out
of respect for both Jessie and Timothy, he doesn't.
Jessie looks at Derrick then glances over to Rosa, "Well, Derrick has done
alot of my teaching, but Blackstripe has done a fair amount too. I haven't
talked to Scott much." She hesitates then follows Timothy towards the fire
pit.
Rosa Nagua's head raises, when Scott's name is mentioned. She pulls herself to
all fours, and approaches the knot of Silver Fangs, as if a message-bearer.
Derrick adds, "She's... I'm probably not experienced enough for some of the
issues she raises, sir. There's a lot below the surface that I just don't
have the training for. I can do basics, but..."
Timothy is heading more or less toward Erik, though that's by nature of
proximity more than intention. "I see," he says slowly. "Tell me, then, what
you have learned to date. No need to go into details, of course." There's a
pause at the end for Jessie to respond, and in it Timothy gives Derrick a
questioning look. Rose, so far, has gone as unnoticed as Erik, by
appearances.
Rosa Nagua remains docile in the posture of a messenger, patiently.
Derrick looks slightly taken aback. "I assumed Scott told you, sir. She was
apparently taught by people who were, if not Dancers themselves, at least
agents of them. There are things she doesn't even remember knowing that sort
of... come to the surface at the right time. That sort of trap... I'm smart,
certainly, but as I said, the training isn't there."
Erik ducks his head slightly, watching Timothy out of the corner of his eye
and looking as though he's trying to screw up his courage. But his courage
is at low ebb at the moment, and his resolve breaks. Getting up, the masked
Fianna scutters off to the edge of the compound and curls up at the base of
a tree.
Jessie waits for Derrick to finish then says, "Um, well we have gone over the
litany. I can shift to lupus and Crinos. Derrick has told me of the tribes,
and some of the interactions between them. I have heard alot of stories
about other Garou that have taught some lessons."
Rosa Nagua's courage doesn't seem to have Erik's good sense. She stands her
ground.
Long distance to Rosa Nagua: Erik is going to have to apologize to you. :}
Jessie's posture is defensive and tense, as if ready for combat, but not
obviously so.
Timothy pays little attention to Erik, or Rose either, for that matter. "He
mentioned that," Timothy says, briefly, to Derrick. After another look of
consideration he continues, speaking more to the cub than to Derrick at this
point, "He also mentioned that there had been a few... difficulties, in
dealing with Jessie. Though he did not elaborate at that moment."
Jessie tenses additionally at Timothy's comment, but doesn't respond.
Derrick doesn't seem to think this odd. "She's got this thing with dominance
and submission. Being respectful to everybody seems rather odd, to her. But
that's normal, for cubs. Takes awhile to get the Garou culture. I'm pretty
sure she still hasn't, but she will, eventually. Scott just seemed to think
it should happen *right now*."
Rosa Nagua's ears perk again at the mention of Scott's name, but she subsides
again, patiently.
Derrick amends, "Respectful in the way the Garou culture demands."
Timothy says to Derrick, mildly, "I'd like to hear what Jessie thinks, for a
moment. I'm sure she has a tongue of her own." After a pause, he adds,
"Though thank you for your comments."
Derrick subsides.
Jessie seems slightly upset, and tense. "Scott didn't like the way I responded
to Derrick when he was acting in a way that bothered me. He struck me and
ordered me to retire to the shelter. I neither hit him back, nor did I
disobey any of his orders. If he feels there is a problem, I am sorry."
Jessie seems slightly upset, and tense. "Scott didn't like the way I responded
to Derrick when he was acting in a way that bothered me. He struck me and
ordered me to retire to the shelter. I neither hit him back, nor did I
disobey any of his orders. If he feels there is a problem, I am sorry."

[Later.]
It is currently 17:14 Pacific Time on Sun Apr 27 1997.
Currently on this calm and crisp spring sunset in the general St. Claire area,
it is 62 degrees Fahrenheit (16.7 degrees Celsius). The wind is coming from
the northeast at 2 mph. The ground is parched. Skies are clear with a
probable chance of precipitation.
Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous Moon phase (64% full).

Jessie continues to concentrate, as her flesh moves in odd patterns as she
tries to achive the desired form.
Jessie contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Jessie shifts into Glabro form.
Rosa Nagua continues to encourage Jessie. Good. Relax. Feel. What do you feel?
What is your purpose?
Rosa Nagua contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Erik lurks at the edge of the compound.
Rosa Nagua stretches her spare frame and sinewy limbs, passing the limits of
the possible, to take on Glabro form.
Rosa Yeke joins Jessie in forms, close in size, opposite in coloration, not
quite so beautiful, but more physical.
Jessie looks down at herself, trying out movement in the new form.
Rosa Yeke says, ~What is your purpose, daughter of Falcon?~
Jessie shrugs and looks confused, "What purpose?"
Rosa Yeke says, ~Why are you?~
Jessie says "I am, is that not enough?"
Rosa Yeke says, ~Would Falcon choose you as daughter, claiming you over all
others who dared claim you, if this were so? Why are you?~
Jessie looks at Rosa, "I am the destroyer, spirit warrior of Falcon."
Rosa Yeke pads about, easilly, seeming unsurprised by this answer. What do you
destroy, daughter of Falcon?
Jessie says "I destroy those who corrupt."
Rosa Yeke stops. ~If I speak to you, my brighter self, of answers to these
questions, of what our purpose is, then I fail on two counts. The first, is
that these are serious matters, which should be guided by the wisdom of
one's own Elders. The second is more important. You know that in you, easy
answers may be false... In you, is the power to think through what you think
is knowledge, to judge it, to decide... is this who I am. Tell me... is this
who you are?~
Jessie says "No, this is who others would have me be."
Rosa Yeke resumes her pacing. She spies Erik. ~Fianna, come closer, please?~
Erik startles slightly, hesitates, then moves forward, his steps slow, his
posture apologetic and cringing.
Rosa Yeke begins, conversationally with Erik. ~Do you like me?~
Erik stops, hugging himself, looking awkward and foolish near to the tiny
Uktena and her adopted sister. "Uh. Aye."
Rosa Yeke looks at Jessie. ~Why?~
The question still directed at Erik.
Erik shrugs uncomfortably. "You... you move well," he says, finally, lamely.
Rosa Yeke says, ~Do... do I move well, Jessie?~
Jessie says "I don't think the way a person moves is reason to like them."
Rosa Yeke looks away from Jessie. ~I... have lived most of my life, moving
well to please others... I can assure you... it is... very effective.
Perhaps it is a poor reason to like another. But... when I was a child, to
be liked, I would do anything I had to. I was fortunate. All it took was a
little dancing, a little practice, some smiles. Do you think I gave away too
much of myself, to be liked, Jessie? Do you, Mister Fianna?~
Erik's answer isn't especially helpful. "Uh?"
Jessie says "To be liked I had to listen to my tutors, since they were the
only people I saw. Did I give away too much of myself?"
Rosa Yeke peers at Erik, for the longest time, standing still. But it is to
Jessie she addresses her answer. ~You are very strong, Jessie. One asks one
question, you answer another. That is strong. You are asked a question, you
answer with another, that is strong. Perhaps... it is not what a friend
would ask for... but it is honest enough, between two like us. I... fear
your elders will have little use for that manner, Jessie, but that is
another matter. The point is, you are strong inside. You decide how much of
yourself you give. How much you keep. Is this so?~
Jessie says "I was taught this, I sometime wish it was not so. But you are
strong as well, we are well matched, Rosa."
Erik starts to slink away, back toward a shadowy part of the compound.
Rosa Yeke shakes her head. ~You can decide, Jessie, where the line is. I... I
think you have decided to let me closer than any other... but I think you
must still decide one more thing. Will you give away all of yourself? If you
live only for your own purpose, if your answer to the question 'Why am I' is
only what you say from moment to moment to please others... you will never
take root. You will never graft onto the great strong trunk that you belong
to. Is this what you want?
Jessie says "I can not answer with my heart, since my heart is not to be
trusted now. Until I understand who I am, fully, I will play the game others
want. I will learn the lines my elders want me to say, even if I don't
always get the cues right."
Erik sits down just outside of the firelight, pulling his knees to his chest
in a by-now familiar gesture, his manner withdrawn and depressed.
Rosa Yeke walks closer to Erik. ~Falcon will find your true heart for you.
Trust in the strength of the spirit Gaia has sent to be your guide. Before
you can find yourself, you must lose yourself.~
Erik doesn't look up, assuming that the words are not for him.
Jessie says "That maybe, but I will pretend all is well, and that the words I
say I mean. You have seen the elders response when I even question a little."
Rosa Yeke sighs. ~Mister Fianna, you must understand... I am sorry for this...
Come closer, please, sir?~
Erik turns around, glancing up hesitantly. "Er?"
Rosa Yeke beckons with her finger. "Please? I need you to explain, so Jessie
will know... Did you know your parents? Did they beat you?~
Erik gets up and moves toward the two girls. Sitting down again, he says
quietly, "I did not know my father, and my mother was put to death not long
after I was born."
Rosa Yeke nods. ~Because of having you, Mister Fianna?~
Erik nods. "And for lying about it."
Rosa Yeke says, ~So... It was your fault? And you were beaten for it?~
Erik shrugs uncomfortably. "Fianna Metis are always beaten. It's... for our
good."
Rosa Yeke looks at Jessie, but continues to question Erik. ~Why is it good for
you, to be beaten, Mister Fianna?~
Erik's fingers twist together fretfully. "It's... a matter of correction and
trial. Because Metis are more deeply flawed. More... effort... is needed to
stay on the correct path."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Is this the way you feel about beatings, Jessie?~
Jessie shakes her head, "Beating some one does nothing but spawn hate, or self
loathing."
Rosa Yeke shrugs. ~Do you hate the people who beat you, Mister Fianna? Do you
loathe yourself more, or less, for being beaten?
Erik shakes his head at Jessie, reluctantly correcting her. "It is
necessary... for me."
Jessie says "Why, because your parents did something wrong?"
Rosa Yeke says, ~Hush, you two.~
Erik glances at Rose and hushes. Cliath of no, he's submissive to the Uktena
cub.
Rosa Yeke says, ~Mister Fianna, who should beat you? Just your Elders? Just
those who outrank you?~
Jessie looks at Rosa, questioning in her eyes.
Erik shrugs. "Most outrank me," he says, simply.
Rosa Yeke nods. ~Would it surprise you, if I said I was never beaten in my
life, until the moment of my First Change?~
Erik tilts his head, looking at Rose from behind the mask. "No," he says. "But
you are not Metis."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Does it surprise you, Jessie?~
Jessie says "I don't know, I didn't think about it before you said it."
Rosa Yeke says, ~It's true. In my village, I was the daughter of a god.
Afterwards, a national treasure. The hero of half a world. Precious.
Coddled. No one ever laid hands on me. But, the Black Furies explained... I
was victim to things worse than beatings... in a way. Like you, Jessie, I
had trainers. Around the clock. They trained me in all things. They made
me... what I was. Is that better than beating?~
Jessie says "I'm sorry, I don't understand where you are going with all of
this Rosa. I don't think I can make the connection."
Erik, like Jessie, seems confused.
Rosa Yeke smiles. ~Is it better to be made a performing thing, a robot, who
moves only to please others, than to be beaten, but to still have a little
self left inside?
Jessie says "But I was both beaten /and/ made to perform. I still don't
understand."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Was one better than the other?~
Jessie says "How can you compare the two, both did harm in their own way."
Erik rubs at the back of his neck, silent.
Rosa Yeke says, ~Then what is left?~
Jessie shrugs, "I don't know, if I knew that I could probably answer the
original question of 'What am I?'"
Rosa Yeke says, ~But you chose to be their robot, because you prefer it to
being beaten?~
Jessie says "The tutors never beat me, just my father. I never chose to be a
robot. Nor did I choose to be beaten."
Rosa Yeke says, ~And now, for your tribe?~
Jessie says "I do what they say, to stop them from killing me, is this wrong?"
Rosa Yeke says, ~Yes, if that is all you get from it, yes. That is very wrong,
and you know it.~
Erik hesitates, and then nods in agreement with Rose.
Jessie says "Whould you change as fast as I? How am I to stop who I was and
become who they want in such a short time. I have no choice but to pretend."
Jessie pages to Rosa Yeke and Erik: /would/ not whould.
Rosa Yeke raises her hand, quickly, drawing it back as if to strike at Erik,
not following through, but the motion is the exact prelude to beating.
Jessie tries to stop Rosa, grasping at her hand.
Erik cringes. The reflex is automatic.
Rosa Yeke lets Jessie get between her and Erik. She steps away. ~So... as with
him, so with you? He cannot help himself but cringe from a blow... you
cannot help but be false to a teacher? Like that?~
Jessie says "That's not fair! I'm trying to learn, but I don't want to die!"
Rosa Yeke smiles. ~Your old teachers, they didn't have a chance, Jessie. You
are Gaia's. You belong to Falcon, all the way through. Look at your own
first instinct, when I moved. Listen to the first word you seek... 'fair'.~
Jessie says "Then how can you call me false to my teacher?"
Erik remains a silent witness to this conversation, his gangly body quite
still.
Rosa Yeke looks a Erik, now. ~I... I apologize for my... disrespectful motion
to you, sir. It was... part of explaining something... Will you forgive me?~
Erik sighs softly, ducking his head. "You don't have to call me sir."
Jessie looks at Rosa, waiting for an answer to her question.
Rosa Yeke says, ~Jessie, you will know, inside... when you are true, when you
are false. Usually. But your teachers, from your tribe, stronger in the ways
of Falcon than you, longer in Falcon's service, wiser in Falcon's
revelations... they will know more often. Perhaps, they will accept when you
repeat a lesson like a mimic and no more than a mimic, because there is
virtue in repetition. Perhaps, sometimes, they will correct you with a
punishment, and you will not feel it is fair or right, but you will still
suffer the punishment. But you will, far far more often, grow out of the
trash your old teachers sought to bury you in. And only your tribe can do
this for you.~
Jessie looks down. "I hope you are right. Now may I leave this form, or did
you want to show me something."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Stand on one foot?~
Jessie shrugs, and stands on one foot, again.
Rosa Yeke pads around, watching, studying how adapted Jessie's balance is to
her never before tried form.
Jessie works at keeping her balance, it is more of a struggle than in homid,
but she manages.
Rosa Yeke says, ~On your hands, upside down?~
Erik clasps his hands together, fingers twisting like vines.
Jessie hopes off her foot, and tries to balance on her hands. It is obvious
this is not easy in this form, but once again she manages.
Rosa Yeke says, ~One hand?~
Jessie looks at the ground and concentrates, then tries to lift one of her
hand, balancing on the other. She manages for a while, but becomes unstable
and falls.
Rosa Yeke sits down. ~Well, I think you can begin training with someone in
Glabro, and not fear killing an experienced warrior by accident.~
Erik scoots back a bit to give the two some room.
Jessie sits up looking at Rosa, "I don't know. It is possible I would shift to
Crinos and attack. I seem to be better at control in that form."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Mister Erik... have you seen many battles?~
Erik winces slightly, then shakes his head.
Rosa Yeke picks up the 'letter opener' left for Jessie earlier by Derrick.
~They did not teach you to defend Gaia? Not with claws, or fangs, or bladed
weapons?~
Erik leans back slightly, his manner uneasy. "Well... yes... I mean, they did."
Rosa Yeke says, ~But... you do not love combat?~
Erik hunches his shoulders, his tone chagrined, even ashamed. "I... it makes
me ill."
Rosa Yeke says, ~They teach everyone here to fight, Jessie. Perhaps you were
taught better. Perhaps worse. But we have few... accidents in practice.~ She
throws the letter opener, casually, off-handed, wrong-handed, easily into
the wood-pile with a definitive *thok* ~It takes a lot to kill us. And we
always practice with teachers watching.~
Rosa Yeke pages to Erik and Jessie: Sure. :)
Jessie says "I know, I'll have to find out eventually what I am capable of,
just not looking forward to it."
Jessie says "If you don't mind I think I'll go rest in the shelter for a
while."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Goodnight, Jessie.~
Jessie contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Jessie shifts into Homid form.
Jessie says "Good night Rosa, Good night Erik."
Jessie walks around the length of the low mound in the southwest edge of the
clearing, ducks down, and disappears from view.
Jessie has left.
Erik murmurs a good night, quietly.
Rosa Yeke says, ~We will have to teach you not to cringe, if she is to learn
that it is possible to trust.~
Erik pushes his hat back a little, and his eyes are bemused.
Rosa Yeke says, ~Maybe we should get everyone to make like they're gonna hit
you, but not really, so you'll get too bored to cringe. Will that work,
d'you think?~
Erik thinks on that for a moment, and then shake shis head. "I don't know."
Rosa Yeke's nose twitches. ~Somehow, I think if you are beaten every time you
cringe... that will be more work, and take longer.~
Erik goes utterly, totally still, the stillness of a deer, or a rabbit.
Rosa Yeke says, ~I could try to make everyone promise to not beat you...
but... that'd be wrong, too.~
"I don't understand." Erik's voice is confused, young. For all his height, he
can't be yet twenty. "Why...?"
Rosa Yeke says, ~For Jessie. She must learn to trust. I... think it would go
far to teach her that... if you could learn to be brave, and not cower, like
that. It... would take a lot of valor, from you, I know. It would be a deed
of... generousity... if you could do it.~
Erik sits up a little. "For... Jessie?" He glances toward the shelter for a
moment, and then turns back to Rose. "I'll do my best."
Rosa Yeke nods. ~I... appreciate this. I... I know I can depend on you to try.
Poor Jessie... she is so weak, in so many ways... and that is where the Wyrm
will prey on her.~
Erik nods, his attention focussed outward now. He glances at the shelter
again. "Yes... but." He pauses. "Her elders won't like it, if they think
I'm... interfeing with her."
Rosa Yeke says, ~Yes. Only you and I will know... that the reason you do not
cringe and cower... is for this. It is the most generous gift, that is given
with no hope of... reward.~
Erik inhales a breath and lets it out. "Er, well, yes. Um, I'll do my best."
Rosa Yeke says, ~I will be sure Uktena gathers this into His heart, Fianna.~
Erik turns back to the little Uktena. "You don't have to do that..."
Rosa Yeke fades back into the shadows, comfortable in the shroud of darkness.
~It is already done, Fianna.~
Erik blinks. "Oh."
Rosa Yeke looks away. ~Some say that Uktena... is a fearful spirit. Do you
fear Uktena, child of Stag?~
You say "I... really don't know Him. Or Her. Or... um."
Rosa Yeke says, ~How... strange... you know, some who speak of your breed,
they say it like that... him. Or her. Or... um. Like that... How do Metis
know what to call each other?~
Erik shrugs. "I don't know what you mean."
Rosa Yeke says, ~How do Metis decide, if they are a boy, or a girl, or...
something else? I... had heard, you know... that metis are... neither.~
Erik curls in on himself, ducking his head. "Uh, er," he stammers. "I, um,
don't know about, um, others, but..."
Rosa Yeke says, ~But?~
Erik is obviously extremely embarrassed. "Well, um. I'm... I'm sterile, but
I'm built like.... er. you know."
Rosa Yeke says, ~While I was among the Black Furies... I knew a few Metis...
This happened for them, too. I thought only Black Furies Metis were like
that. An extra punishment.~
You say "Uh?"
Rosa Yeke says, ~To be built like a man, among Black Furies, is... not a
blessing.~
Erik sighs. "No, it isn't."
Rosa Yeke says, ~I have a scar. Would you like to see it?~
You say "Er... a scar?"
Rosa Yeke remains ensconced in darkness. ~Yes. A scar. A mark in my flesh.
From a battle.~
Erik seems caught by his own curiosity. "Er... where?"
Quiet pads up from the south, moving quietly through the moonlight-dappled
night.
Rosa Yeke mutters low, out of the shadow on the compound's edge. ~Very far
from here. Very near my heart.~
Erik obviously does not really know, quite, what to make of Rose. "Oh."
Quiet's ears flicker as she takes in the two presences here. She draws closer
to the fire, giving especially the metis a curious look.
Rosa Yeke rolls up her left sleeve, to the elbow, and extends her arm into the
light. The thin white mark on her forearm shows clearly in the mix of
moonlight and firelight. Her form subsides into human, as she moves forward.
"Hello, Quiet-rhya."
Rosa Yeke contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Rosa Yeke stretches her spare frame and sinewy limbs, passing the limits of
the possible, to take on Homid form.
John enters the compound.
John has arrived.
Erik glances around and ducks his head to Quiet. "Erik Sings-in-Shadow.
Galliard of the Fianna."
Anne enters the compound.
Anne has arrived.
Quiet returns Rose's greetings with a splay of her ears before answering the
Fianna. I am called Moon-Laughs-Quiet, alpha female of the Children of Gaia,
~Master of the Rite,~ and child of Uktena. Welcome.
Rosa Pinay rolls up her sleeve again, fastening it in place about her wrist.
Erik ducks his head again and gets up, murmuring his excuses as he slips out
of the compound as unobtrusively as possible.