Obscene Symphony

Obscene's Scratchpad

Amalia woke to pain. It seemed that was her whole world now. It was still dark outside but the first light of dawn could be seen blushing the sky. Amalia wrapped her blanket around her and went to stand at the small window, looking out at the few stars beginning to wink out. Much like the will of the more headstrong girls here would begin to fade out before disappearing altogether.
Putting weight on her heels made her wince, but it was at least bearable. She ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to make it presentable. Would it be too much to request something to comb her hair with? Probably. Best not to ask for anything. Better to wait until they felt like providing it.

The door was thrown open as rudely as the day before, but it was expected. Amalia followed the other women to the dining hall, biting her lip to keep from whimpering with every step.
Unlike the fruits and brightly colored offerings from the day before, now she only saw meats and other heavy foods of the Drakken. The smell of it made her sick to her stomach. She had never eaten meat before. Her father's land had been on the sea so fish had abounded, along with vegetables and some fruit traded with other nearby holdings. But meat? They had never had a need for it. What was she to do? She couldn't not eat. But she also didn't want to become ill.
One guard eyed her sharply as she hesitated over the meat. Not wanting to get into any more trouble Amalia put some on her plate along with bread. Most Gems were eating the meat without issue. Amalia's stomach lurched at the sight of the fatty juice dripping onto the plates. The smell was offputting as well, not enticing to her in the slightest.

Her eyes scanned the room and she spotted the girl from the day before, Lienna. Amalia felt terrible. She had been in so much pain the day before that she had not responded when Lienna tried to speak to her. It had been so rude and that was one thing Amalia never wanted to be.

Carefully making her way over, Amalia sat across from Lienna.
"Please forgive me. My pain distracted me yesterday and I fear I ignored you. I am so very sorry. It was unintentional, please believe me."

She looked around at the other Gems who were eating the meat and swallowed past her suddenly very dry throat. "Have you... ever eaten this?" she asked, then realized how strange the question must have sounded. "My home was by the sea. We ate fish and vegetables and sometimes fruit. I have never had meat before," she explained, poking at it with her fork. "Will this make me ill?"

After a few minutes talking with Lienna a hush fell over the room as the warden entered. Amalia paled, if such a thing was even possible with her fair skin. Her heels pained her too much to leap up quickly to kneel. What if she was punished again?
Panicked, Amalia leaned over the bench she sat upon with her face near the seat, praying it was enough to avoid angering the Drakken.
Her fears were unfounded. He barely acknowledged the women as he passed by. Amalia sat upright again, her hands shaking with a mixture of anxiety and relief. His announcement was a shock to say the least. A hot spring? And they were being allowed to enjoy it? To actually enjoy something?
Amalia looked at Lienna with fearful worry. What if it was a trick? A cruel joke to excite them only to dash their hopes? Another tactic to break down their spirits?

"What if they lie?" she whispered to Lienna, not wanting to be heard at any cost. "What if this is a veiled cruelty? Lienna," she said, reaching across to take the other woman's hand. "I am afraid. I do not want to be. I want to be strong as I was trained to be. My whole life my parents were preparing me for this, for the time I would be taken by the Drakken. But now that is has actually happened... I am so afraid."

Amalia wakes to pain and goes to breakfast. She wonders and asks Lienna if the meat will make her ill since she has never had it before. When the warden makes the hot springs announcement Amalia doesn't trust it and confides to Lienna that she is afraid.

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

@Belleoh yes of course! don't let me slow you down!! I do apologize for taking so long. I will be replying very soon! Within the night!

The City Of Luce Prima (Supernatural creature RP)

Sierra Tikaavik

Interactions

@Prosaic

Sierra couldn't help but smile back at Alder. He may have been a bit much, but he had a huge personality and she would be remiss not to be charmed by it. He seemed to go whichever way his mood dictated, like a leaf on the wind. He exuded an air of freedom that Sierra found to be quite enthralling. Perhaps that was why he hadn't yet scared her away.

She stuck close to him as he led them through the market, doing her best to avoid the rest of the crowd and not lose track of him at the same time. When they came to a small shop, Alder held the door with unusual fervor and beckoned her to choose a spot.

The café, as Alder had called it, was quite the place. It was small and intimate, with low ceilings and dark wood walls. None of the chairs or tables matched, the floor was carpeted with colourful rugs and the entire place seemed geared toward a warm and comfortable atmosphere. There was a small empty table in a far corner, flanked on either side by overstuffed chairs. "How about here?" she asked, not waiting for a response before walking over and taking the seat against the wall. She wouldn't normally have liked being cornered, but given the circumstance she decided it would be better to have her back to the wall and face Alder than risk someone (or something) else entirely sneaking up on her.

She sank into the chair, stuffing her bag under it as she did so, and quickly relaxed. The café was a lot quieter than the street, and even though it was still awash with unfamiliar scents, it was far less of an assault to the senses than the market had been. she felt kind of proud of herself for picking such a good seat; she didn't get to make choices for other people too often.

Sierra waited for Alder to settle, awkwardly deliberating on whether she should rest her hands on her legs or on the table as she did so. She decided on the table. When he settled, she finally opened her mouth.

"So, what do you want to know?"

Obscene's Scratchpad

The second Aurelia closed her chamber door, she leaned against it and dropped her confident façade, breaking into quiet laughter. Only then did she notice her heart pounding, the butterflies in her stomach, the rush of adrenaline from what she'd pulled. Her handmaids made their way into her bedroom via the discreet staff passages, all with mixes of horror and shock on their faces, only to find their mistress in a fit of giggles by the door.

What she'd done had been crazy, and so far outside of the acceptable behaviour of women of her stature, but she couldn't help but be childishly proud of herself. Not only had it been great fun to watch Ser Asher squirm, but it had been exciting. Come to think of it, it was the first time anyone aside from her closest staff had ever seen her naked. And yet she'd done it, prowling over to him, barely covered, close enough to smell him, close enough that he could have touched her. Yet, the binds of duty, invisible as they were, were strong. That was what excited her most, knowing that she could pull such stunts without repercussion, that size and strength mattered not when one held the power of the crown.

It was exhilarating.

She rode her adrenaline high only as long as it took her to get ready for bed, egged on by the buzz of excitement from her handmaids as they chattered giddily about what they'd just seen. By the time they had stopped, the novelty of the situation had quite outlasted its welcome. It had been a fun distraction, but it was only a matter of time before Aurelia's thoughts returned to her future, and dread crept back into her gut.

She dismissed her handmaids, telling the most senior of them to send word the moment her father became available, and was suddenly plunged into solitude. It had never bothered her much - in fact, after a day surrounded by hovering attendants it was usually quite welcome - but the silence that came with it disturbed her. Without the quiet chatter of her attendants, or at least the faint sounds of them going about their chores, Aurelia had nothing to distract her from the gravity of her situation.

She knew she should sleep, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Even if she thought she could fall asleep in the first place (which she doubted, given the quivering in her gut) she didn't want to miss her father before he retired himself. So, Aurelia decided to abandon her bed for the time being and take up a place on her favourite lounge, taking with her a book of poetry she'd loved since childhood.

However, when her chamber door quietly opened only about an hour later, Aurelia had fallen victim to the exhaustion of stress, and somehow managed to fall asleep, curled up in her chair. It was then that her father crept in, as gently and quietly as his old bones would let him, and took a seat on a nearby couch, not wanting to disturb her. When she awoke a few minutes later, he offered her a sad smile, and her eyes welled up with tears.

The two talked for some time, Aurelia moving to sit closer to him. She held her father's hand, embraced him. They each took turns in tears, laughter, and quiet conversation, until the sky began to lighten with the oncoming dawn. It was only then, having said everything she thought she could have said, that Aurelia willingly slept, and her father crept out one last time.

Obscene's Scratchpad

The second Aurelia closed her chamber door, she leaned against it and dropped her confident façade, breaking into quiet laughter. Only then did she notice her heart pounding, the butterflies in her stomach, the rush of adrenaline from what she'd pulled. Her handmaids made their way into her bedroom via the discreet staff passages, all with mixes of horror and shock on their faces, only to find their mistress in a fit of giggles by the door.

What she'd done had been crazy, and so far outside of the acceptable behaviour of women of her stature, but she couldn't help but be childishly proud of herself. Not only had it been great fun to watch Ser Asher squirm, but it had been

The City Of Luce Prima (Supernatural creature RP)

Sounds like a plan!

make me a wolf pack

The City Of Luce Prima (Supernatural creature RP)

I’m taking forever to post and I’m sorry! BIG week for me this week, I just wrote a law exam and I have an accounting midterm in the morning, then a weekend full of work. I’ll post as soon as I get some time!

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

GM POST IS LIVE

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

GM Post

Gems: Morning 2 (Breakfast); Noon (Free Time)

For many of the girls in Shadow Worth, the second night proved to be just as difficult as their first. The cries of more than a few girls could be heard throughout the entire night, the sound bouncing off the stone walls a common one to the veteran guards. Those that had been subjected to the various forms of ‘corrective punishments’ focused their energy on recovering from their wounds, whether they be physical or otherwise, and those that had been witness to those punishments cried for a home that would spare them of such horrors. By now the bulk knew better, broken souls resigned to fates out of their control. It was not a difficult transition for those that had accepted it the moment they had been loaded into the caravans.

The morning began much like their first with the doors being thrown open crudely, guards barking at them to get up and get moving. They were ushered from their rooms and back into the dining hall where the tables were once again set up for their dining pleasure, though many would notice a slight difference this time around. Many of the Gem dishes had been omitted from this morning’s offerings, leaving a mix of primarily Drakkan foods on the table for the girls to tough through. Oddly enough, despite the still heavy atmosphere, conversations resumed as they had from the day before.

Wary eyes were kept on the guards surrounding the room, though for whatever reason it didn’t seem like there were as many of them present as there had been previously. Perhaps the drakkan running the place had figured enough of a point had been made to keep the girls in line, though there was always the possibility that it was designed as such to challenge any Gem who still thought herself an exception to the rules. The girls were left to eat and socialize for a small while before the man from before returned bringing with him a thick wave of tension with him, the royal from before nowhere to be seen for the moment.

Quite a few arose out of fear, expecting to be ordered to bow once again, several others shrinking down into their chairs hoping they wouldn’t be noticed and spared from further torment. Each were dismissed with a wave of his hand, girls cautiously returning to their seats to await the warden’s words.

”Your instructors tell me that your progress is coming along nicely. We might make decent brides out of you lot yet. Because of this, your benevolent prince has personally granted you a day off from your studies. You will be escorted from the hall momentarily to a natural hot spring located deep within the mountain this keep is settled on. It is expected that you will retain all that you have learned, and will not make us regret allowing you this kindness.” Almost immediately the room began to fill with excited murmuring. Was it possible they were actually being granted such a luxury in the freezing keep, or were they just being set up for more humiliation?

Sek Leon left the girls in the care of the guards who would escort them to their destination once they had completed their meals. Out in the hall, the man’s royal shadow raised an eyebrow at his choice of words.
”I’ve personally granted them this privilege, have I?” He questioned mockingly, quite familiar with the process by this point in time. Every year the girls were granted the privilege of visiting the hot springs so that they could replenish themselves. The discipline was necessary in order to assure their compliance, but if they were pushed too far, they would end up dying long before they could be delivered to their new lords; this was a lesson learned the hard way over the first couple of Reapings.

”What a compassionate ruler you are.” The two men shared a short laugh before continuing on their way, discussing the days to come in great detail. There wasn’t much time left before the finished products had to be delivered to their new homes.

Summary

The gems spend another night in their respective quarters, more than likely a more difficult night than the first. They are brought to the hall for breakfast in the morning, now with significantly fewer gem foods and more drakkan foods. Some still talk, some don't - your choice. Sek Leon announces that "due to their success so far in their lessons" they will be given a day off and taken to a natural hot spring nearby to decompress. The post ends with the girls still in the hall - they will be escorted to the spring when they are finished their meal.

---

Drakken: Morning 2 (Preparations); Noon (Tourney Time)

It was difficult to say where the night ended and the morning began as the Drakkan youth found many ways to keep the party going. Even as the sun began rising, the flow of alcohol had yet to cease. Good spirits were still high and the excitement for the events of the day ahead could be felt in the air. The rowdy youths were already wrestling with one another, the occasional clash of steel rising above the boisterous laughter already filling the streets.

All across the city, drakken were making their final preparations before they were to make an appearance at the Pit. For many it was a chance to stretch out the muscles and get a little exercise in, but for others this was a major opportunity. This tournament might have been small but it was still held in front of members of the royal family and countless of other powerful lords whom it would be quite beneficial to impress. For those already in such positions of power it was a good opportunity to gauge the aspiring youth, one could never have too many allies in their pocket.

For the many receiving brides later in the week, invitations had been sent out summoning them to the tournament to spend the day hanging around the royal family, though invitation might not have been quite the right word. It had been made clear that their presence was expected regardless of whether or not they wanted to partake in the events. However, the royals had never been known to let their guests down when it came to the Reaping festivities.

Evienna stalked about the battlegrounds looking particularly irked. All morning was spent trying to get her entertainers in line, several having gotten expectedly but inconveniently ill. As much as she would have enjoyed disciplining them herself, she had to leave the fun for someone else so that she could keep the whole event on schedule. She had made sure the rest would be compliant in their duties before setting off to see to the accommodations, finding everything to be to her liking.

Taking a deep breath, Evienne looked out across the grounds that would soon be soaked with the blood of warriors from all across Drakka. A shiver ran down her spine with anticipation, more than just a little excited for the battles. She had half a mind to join in herself, but knew that she had more important things to attend to. Blood could be spilt any day she wished it to after all. Looking around, Evienne growled to herself, wondering where her uncle had run off to so close to the start of the tournament.

~~~

After all the preparations had been made, Evienne sent word to the guards to begin allowing participants and spectators alike to finally enter. The pounding of drums would welcome the fighters from the moment they arrived, pumping up the crowd for the bloodshed to come. As for the more important guests, their greetings were a little more… attentive. The royal family had collected taken to keeping one or two of the Gemmenite girls each Reaping for their own personal collection. Those that weren’t used to produce children were trained for purposes such as this where they would be at the disposal of the royal family’s distinguished guests.

These girls in particular had been adorned with shining jewelry and sheer cloth of varying colors, instructed use whatever charms they possessed in order to keep their charges occupied. Evienne was confident in their ability to do their jobs, though she would not be surprised if more than a few returned slightly worse for wear than how they had been sent out. After all, it took a particular kind of drakkan to earn the respect of the royal family and few of them were of the cuddly variety. She almost felt bad for the poor broads, knowing full well what sort of atmosphere they were walking into… But such a feeling lasted for only a few moments before the commotion of arrivals caught her attention.

”Perhaps I’ll actually find a plaything worth my time.” She mused, keeping a watchful eye out on the area should her presence be required or requested. It was her intentions to keep the crowds busy enough until the fighting could begin, holding out for the important arrivals before descending into the pit herself.

Standing center stage, the female drakkan held her head high with eyes alight with excitement.

”Welcome to the Pits my darlings! This week marks yet another successful Reaping of the Gemmenite lands by the grace of my grandfather. We wish to share this merry time with all of our subjects, not just those who have earned a bride this cycle, so it is in your honor that I proudly present this year’s Reaping tournament. It trust all participants are ready? Then let us begin!”

Summary

Final tournament preparations are made in the morning (amongst the continuing city-wide party from last night), and the tournament begins in the early afternoon, and Evienne (Prince Gaelnesh's daughter) gives a short opening speech. She also has some entertainment in store for any bride-winners who choose not to compete, in the form of pretty girls in sheer clothing. Have at it.

Prized Bride (A New Beginning)

Lienna Orhneaht

_{Trying to interact with: Amalia Solair @Belle}

Lienna was quite enjoying her chat with Amalia. It was the first time in... Oh, it must have been years, that she'd been able to have an intelligent conversation with someone, and Water gems such as herself craved that sort of connection. Her comment about worshiping multiple gods almost made Lienna laugh. How absurd! Of course one could pray to two gods. It was practically required - after all, it simply would not do to revere the Children without paying respects to the Mother. It would not do not to thank Pyrus for the fire that warmed their homes, or acknowledge Auram for the wind which sculpted the tundra, even if Naia was the goddess whom she most honoured.

Amalia's next words, however, were bittersweet. What she said about Water gems was touching, but she went on to vent her woes. It was true, the land they'd been thrust into had been forsaken by Vivari herself, never intended to house her most precious children. It was a hostile land, not just in its harsh climate and vicious wildlife; no, the land itself felt sick, like it would suck the life from any who dared venture too close. It had an oppressive aura that hung in the air like a rancid fog. Gems were not meant to be here.

Amalia's sorrow saddened Lienna in turn, and she truly felt for her. She had begun to reach out a hand in comfort when the hall was interrupted by a hard voice, commanding them to bow.

There it was, then. The deciding moment. Steadily, Lienna rose from her seat. She did not tremble. She did not weep. She did not question it. Instead, she knelt the way they did at home, before the Council, settling on her knees and lowering her face parallel to the floor with her hands supporting her. She closed her eyes.

Water always finds a way.

She did raise her head a little when the ruckus began, sparing a peek or two around the room, observing which Gems stood, which did not. To most of the defiant ones, she allowed little more than a judgemental glance. The purple-haired girl who wore a sash should have known to expect a punishment; the ones who stood, the one who was made an example of, they had let their petty desires cloud their judgement, and had only made things worse for themselves as a result. Perhaps they thought they had won their little victories, but Lienna was not convinced. One had been beaten, others had been stripped or mutilated. What had been gained here? Could they not see they were only playing into the hands of their captors? Why give them the satisfaction?

However, when she noticed that Amalia had remained standing, Lienna's heart couldn't help but soften a touch. She could tell that Amalia wasn't trying to make a show of bravado like the other foolish girls; no, even from their brief conversation, Lienna knew she was smarter than that. Why, then, hadn't she knelt? Why had she let this fate befall her?

When they were ushered out, Lienna tried to fall in step with her breakfast companion, but she seemed so consumed by her pain that she scarcely noticed. There, too, was the fact that Lienna was frightened to offer aid in plain view of the drakken, lest the same fate befall her.

No, she couldn't help her. Not yet. As cruel as it may have sounded to someone else, Lienna knew that to survive this, she had to put herself first for once. Hadn't she earned a touch of self interest? The gods themselves had watched her work for it for years. Her heart still hurt for her companion, but she couldn't jeopardize herself to offer aid that she could never give before punishment befell her, too. She just couldn't justify it.

~ // ~

As the day wore on, the Gems of Shadow Worth were subjected to such "lessons" as hours of blasphemy of the highest order, during which their keepers scorned the Great Mother and the elemental gods, disparaging them as weak and conniving and greedy. Lienna was insulted, but not moved. She was willing to obey them, to bow to them, to behave and make the most out of however little her new life had to offer, but her faith was strong. It would not be rocked by the insults of scorned, bitter children.

Their lesson on childbirth, however, was a different tale altogether. Lienna knew that Gems in her village had regularly died in childbirth, and that was with normal infants, infants who were made for and belonged in the Gem womb. These Drakkan children, it seemed, would be nub-horned monsters the moment they were born. Lienna's hand had instinctively gone to her abdomen during that lesson; she had felt her guts twisting at the thought.

Finally, the day ended and they were ushered back to the hall. Lienna forced herself to eat (though she was still a tad queasy) and, while she sat with Amalia again (well, sat near where she stood) she couldn't seem to get a peep out of the poor girl. So, having eaten her fill, Lienna allowed herself to be herded back to the rooms for the night.

Sleep came like an old friend, but stayed like an unwelcome intruder. The sounds she'd heard at breakfast, the things she'd learned about childbirth, the blasphemy drilled into their heads; it all swirled in her mind, haunting her.

Summary

Maybe not my best work, but 'tis here. Lienna thinks a little about theology before the bowing scene, is complaint but judgy, and makes it through the day half-decently. She tries, kinda, to talk to Amalia again, to no avail. Lienna has now made her decision to put herself first.