When I was a child, I used to tell my grandmother, "Mam-mam, I am a gypsy!." She would say, "No, you are Russian,"....and I would say, "But I want to be a gypsy." And she would laugh. The long years that have separated us, separated me from my people, their beliefs; even my own blood and family that I swore to honor and preserve their ways. Have I failed them, or is this the path the Gods have chosen for me?
Zinna "Willow" Lylee Bȃlan ■ ■ ■ ■ Meztli Alpha
Time for the The Basics!
whitehur?╰☆╮ Watch out, I'm classified as a Lion Beast of the female persuasion. As such, I have starry-sky-blue eyes and dirty-sandy-brown hair. I'm a level Six, and I stopped aging at Twenty-five years old, too. What, you don't believe me? Fine, I'll show you what I mean! After that, do you need more proof? For my own safety, I can't offer more than my Half Form, and just to be nice- enjoy images of my Human Form, another of my full form -enjoying the wind-, human form by the water, my favorite picture of my first lover and I, and that should be enough for now. I'm into men, women, men and women, but I have hobbies, too! Like getting severely emotional reactions from people through certain words, actions, and measures taken! ...what's that look for?
Sure, I'm a Monster, but I have Feelings!
whitehur?╰☆╮ Willow is very laid back, and has a beatnik sense of thinking and style. She doesn't like being grouped or categorized into anything other than the Meztli clan, she quite literally rejects and avoids conventional behavior and attire as she learned while growing up as a gypsy. She isn't spiritual or overly religious, Willow is all about being sensual, one with the body, feral almost; to say the least, this is a very carnal woman. She is also quixotic, so Willow tends to be a bit impulsive, especially when it comes to lustrous, greedy, or power hungry temptations. That being said, Willow is extremely seductive and sexual all around, though this could be tied in with her carnal appetite. Regardless that she already has two mates, Willow flirts and loves on just about everyone she finds appealing (or fun to mess with.) Another big thing about Willow that people usually don't notice right away; Willow lives only in the now, the past and future are kept very separate from the now in her mind, safely away from her imagination.
Yes, she is good with her words, but Willow tends to use physical actions, attractions and touching to get her point across. She loves to laugh, be loud, and gain attention & affection for all to see what happiness and freedom truly is. Never has she minded being rather forceful, or "my way or the highway", be it with words or physically. For the most part, she is a very kind and generous woman, but don't think she won't remind you of her generosity when trying to get something out of you. Willow is also a well known match maker, and enjoys trying to find people's mates. To be blunt, Willow loves doing anything to gain favor of the majority. Does she slap people occasionally when they upset her? Yes, but then she'll kiss it better.
Willow loves to be in control of everything, but loves making others lose their control, or stir an amusing reaction too. Several times she's said things to people, about their past or now, horrid things, that made them snap into their rage and turn into beast form. Her guards take them down, and she watches, usually blank, as if this isn't exactly satisfying enough. A bit twisted yes, but all in all, she has given far too much to society and the Meztli to be hated or seen as a dictator of sorts. She opened trade with the vampires and humans after all, and works with other Alphas as much as she can. She is very personable, suggestive a good portion of the time, and she treats a commoner like a king. Devious ol' Willow, is this really equality of all?
Everyone has something they're Good at!
whitehur?╰☆╮ Other than being a temptress of sorts on a daily basis to get her way, Willow can speak many tongues and knows of, and has seen much of the world. Being alpha for almost ten years now surely came with it's benefits, she has friends in high places, and most of her guards are in debt to her in one way or another. Living in the now also helps- she doesn't have time to worry about her future or dread about the past when all this merriment and whatnot is so open and available to her. Not to mention, Willow makes things happen, if she wants it, it will eventually be hers. The woman is lethal, sneaky at times, chances are she'll make her move when you're not even looking.
I'm a little lacking Here though...
whitehur?╰☆╮ Being worldly isn't all perks, it also makes you come off as dirty to more traditional, old fashioned, or even keener people. Willow and the Meztli clan are looked down as lazy whores by most others and their people, Willow has some very nasty rumors and curses that follow her name when outside of the Meztli territory. Willow's personal like and dislike do get in her way at times, or even cause severe distractions. She is impulsive, and a bit too over confident in herself and her guards (but has good reason to be). Because of how much Willow lies, it's hard for her to know if people are telling the truth or not, which could even cause disruption in her and her mates relationship.
Is it Story time already?
whitehur?╰☆╮ Between the smell of the freshly smoked Russian cigars, Willow and Mylѐne did not notice the new aroma of an animal; a beast that lurked with a thirst for the slumbering women.
You may not have been able to tell by looking at their clothes, but Zinna's family was wealthy. For years the Bȃlan family had been on the run from USSR officials, and were earning food and money through street acts and other such peddling. Several years ago Zinna's father, Ivan had been a wealthy politician, and had blood lines that went back to several different royal families and tides. Though just a few years after WW2, Felix was charged with treason- for attempting to give information to the US & allies about Stalin's secret atomic bomb projects. They traveled with a clan of Roma gypsies and made their way to the Ukraine before Zinna's eldest sibling, Raina was even born. They settled in with the gypsies, and Ivan enjoyed living without the severe materialism under Stalin's power. Ivan never exactly felt safe, but as his family grew, including by joining the clan, he began to feel connected to the world like never before, the simple life was for him. Of course this wasn't just Ivan, his wife and children- the traveling group also consisted of his two brothers and their family, and of course, their mother and her brother, uncle Felix. Ivan's mother, Anna (with even stronger blood ties to famed royalty) wasn't so keen on living like a peasant with gypsies. She had respect for herself and her heritage after all.
Living with the gypsies, Zinna grew up with the way of thinking that you live in the now, if you want it- you take it, no one owned her nor would they ever. Dressed in rags, Zinna pranced down the street with her siblings, cousins, and the community children. They were allowed to eat, sleep, and go where they chose, so long as they stayed in sight of the community members of the clan. Despite how lax the clan was about rules and freedom, Zinna still managed to make herself come out as a rotten child. The members could see right through that pretty little face and enchanting eyes, they could see the selfishness, curiosity, and yearning for more within. After tricking her brother Felix the II and two community children to sneak out with her and go to a festival- she was beaten senseless by her childless uncle Felix, though he claimed he didn't beat her for sneaking off. Felix said it was for running off in private with young boys, that she was an evil temptress. What's funny though, is he beat her with a cane made of a Willow tree's wood, which had been a present from her father, and was later the inspiration for her name.
Her face was thin, her legs long, and she was just developing into her more matured adolescence stage, when she was taken from her family. Having scampered off to one of the many anti-war protests of the time currently in France, a raid broke out and in the chaos the police grabbed up the wild twelve year old. Knowing she couldn't give up her family, she lied about her surname, said her parents were dead, thus was thrown into the cruddy foster care system of the time.
For three years she battled through the unsafe and unfit, even abusive homes and boarding houses. Zinna Willow was fifteen, almost sixteen when she arrived at her last foster home. Mylѐne was just hitting her early thirties, and had been widowed early on when her high school sweet heart (later on husband) was killed in the war. Mylѐne was a painter, but also worked at a local hospital as a volunteer. The woman had all the money in the world, but couldn't bring herself to leave Paris and couldn't think of anything to spend her money on other than pretty clothes. Willow tried not to like Mylѐne, she tried to hate the woman and before she could do anything to stop it, it developed into much more.
A desperate fight and struggle to leave, ended with Willow receiving a smack to the face and being pulled into Mylѐne's embrace. For the first time in years, the strong broke down and started crying. Even that didn't last long, for a moment later Willow reached up and pulled the woman into her soft, but firm kiss. From there on, the two were inseparable. It was because of this that they had to leave Paris; despite it being the late sixties, lesbian relationships weren't exactly acceptable, especially with the age difference. Willow convinced the wealthy woman to leave behind most of her belongings and riches and they ran off together to join a ban of gypsies.
For three years they traveled across Europe, when Willow made the sudden confession of her true name and heritage. She cried to her lover after hearing an old man sing a sad song of his home, mother Russia, while passing through the crowded streets of Kazakhstan. Mylѐne insisted they travel through Russia to see if her family had returned, and Willow agreed it was a good idea though she knew her father would never return to Russia. His children were raised like animals compared to his diplomatic upbringing, there wasn't anything to return to in Russia.
Willow was twenty-three, and Mylѐne nearing her late thirties. They tried to remain coy about their relationship, but it seemed they weren't private enough with their romance. Of course the relationship already seemed odd, seeing as the two claimed to be cousins. However Mylѐne's accent was thickly French, despite being able to speak the Russian language; not to mention her hair was a dark, dark brown to match her dark brown and loving, understanding eyes. She was pale, Willow was tanned; not to mention Willow's dirty blond hair and enticing, spirited sky-blue eyes, and her strange Russian-Ukrainian and even French accent gave off to more worldly people, that this girl had been traveling her hole life, and had seen more than most. This in turn, also made the young woman seem almost dirty; but that's another story, for another time.
This didn't stop Борис or "Boris" from falling in-love with the women, sadly it turned into more of an obsession than anything else. Both women had shown him kindness, Mylѐne having run to Boris's aid while a gang of willy boys beat on him. This of course was sending the were-wolf into a rage, and Mylѐne was in his path as she started throwing rocks at the boys and screaming at them to go away. Willow came to her defense, quite a bit more aggressively though; when Boris saw Willow, it was like love at first sight, the rage vanishing. She was easy to fall in love with after all, but this was different, something he'd never felt before.
For months the man, out-casted as a freak by the elders and living almost as a nomad, he stalked them. Though he was in-love with Willow, he had no doubt that he wanted both of them. For years he'd lived alone, so sad and lonely, only being able to dream of sons and coming home to a wife. As deranged as he was, Boris was just a man with a need for love.
Werebeasts weren't exactly uncommon in Russia, though there were no known packs of werebeasts. Despite this, there were many legends and old folk tales of beasts coming out on the full moon. In most of the stories, there were occurrences of the beast kidnapping people during the harvest moon, though it was unsure if it was to offer them to some beastly god- or create an army of sorts. Being his only available information, and thinking back, it had been Harvest moon when he was changed, he came to a decision. This was his best chance to change the women, so he made his move. It was late in the night, both women were asleep on the pull-out sofa in the main room of the small cottage. He broke in, and mauled the girls the way he had been the night he had been attacked. It was too horrible to even get into- the running, screaming, begging for help and for the other not to die; just too horrible.
Shocked and mentally tortured by the incident, and then the sudden changes in her life. She was again stuck in one place, but this time with an awful man who had killed her lover. The ten years spent together were used to train and get used to her feral form, after a while there was some civility. Though his attempts to touch her, to bed her, to love her in any sense were all rejected. Willow had never felt so detached from everything. Five years later she realized she had stopped aging, but despite this she looked horrible, drained, so beyond depressed. Her mind changed, she made fun available to her in her own ways. Being the tormentor she was, she subtly seduced and teased the level four beast as she liked to do, which usually ended with her refusing him. This time he jumped for her, unable to hold his temptations any longer- and she snapped his neck, then dropped him to the floor like he was a toy she was no longer interested in.
By then it was the early eighties, time had passed so slowly for her, stuck in the cabin with that brute like an animal. A lot had changed, the people and the government had changed. Willow was ready to set out and find her self once more. The thought entered her mind to search out her family, but she doubted they would accept her new self so openly as she personally had. Her lion form was larger than a normal lioness, stronger, faster; in her eyes, the Gods had blessed her with a body to control all with. It was only fitting for her to be a feline of sorts, seeing how playful, lazy, and easily tempered she was. She grabbed herself a leather jacket, braided her hair as she did when she was working, but left it out of a bun, free to flow as they wished; and left Russia.
She lived a wild life style, but Willow knew the sex, drugs, & rock n' roll theme wasn't really her scene. Lucky her, it didn't last through the nighties. She had made her way to the US by then, seeing as that's where she felt like going. Willow had already seen most of the world, loved many lovers, befriended hundreds, and had blood on her hands from a few too many accidents. Though she felt she'd be able to control herself more in the US, now being a level five for some time and the burning to train more made her feel close to being a level six. This is when she met Jasper, a very attractive man who seemed to have a very familiar scent about him.
Jasper was a were tiger, a very strong one too. He told her he was the alpha of a pack of beasts, though she didn't dare believe him. Of course Jasper believed in truth, honesty, love one another type of guy. Upon entering Meztli territory Willow felt a strike of familiarity. People pranced about in colorful garments, music played through out streets, people peddled, there were merchants with stalls and everything- it was like a gypsy clan that decided to stay put and settle down. And people of all sorts ran about, some with animal ears on their heads and distorted features.
She began to see the real world of the Meztli clan as Jasper showed her the lavish parties, and the sensual after parties. Living with the man, she learned that he had yet to mate to anyone, so he insisted that he loved everyone. She enjoyed that style of thinking, though she enjoyed the idea of being in power of all these beautiful creatures even more. Long story short, Jasper fell in love with the were lioness. It was possible that she was even his mate, but even if she had loved Jasper, Willow was too busy to notice. She made friends in high places, through any means necessary and Jasper started to notice. He pushed it to the back of his mind though, blinded by his love for the woman.
Jasper had been a level seven, and had been in charge for about five years, He seemed like he had many years ahead of him, but enemies, even Willow, had other plans. Willow hadn't intended for things to go down the way they had, but the thing was when you try to force someone to step down from power, things don't always go as planned. She made a deal with several guards, through several different means, and took over the base. They commanded Jasper to stand down, all he asked is what their plans were once they controlled the Meztli. Before Willow could answer him, a guard shot him twice in the back.
In honor of Jasper, she didn't change much. Other than almost doubling it's size, and opening the city up to humans and vampires of course. She made stronger ties with other alphas (or is in the process of), and anyone else she could get her hands on. She hosts parties, and festivals, was extremely well known & loved, even envied; so it wasn't a surprise that no one revolted when Willow announced herself alpha on the following full moon. Of course it's been almost a decade since then... The years passed a little too quickly for her liking. She felt change coming, like someone was going to attempt to revoke her power. That being said, ten years just isn't enough to feed that hunger for control.
I'm a sucker for stuff likeThis...
whitehur?╰☆╮ ♫ The Wind ♫ Causing Reactions or Conflict ♫ Partying - Dancing, singing, laughing, chatting, etc ♫ Being in control ♫ Friendly Attention & Respect
But I can't stand things like this!
whitehur?╰☆╮ ☪ Cold or fruity sweets and candies ☪ People being prudes ☪ Being told she's wrong ☪ People that aren't attracted to her or like her; including children ☪ Feeling / being ignored
I Bet You didn't Know!
whitehur?╰☆╮ So how does the Meztli Alpha manage to stay in control for so long? Friendly ties, popularity, promises made & kept; well, and the Russian lass has a different kind of lust for battles, and being in control. Also, it's one of her laws that you may not wear black in her presence. Sorry :/
◠ ★ ◡ - - - ALee-Lionwatch
Summary; Zinna's family ran away from Russia before Zinna was even born, only a few years after WWII. Zinna grew up living as a Gyspy with her five siblings, and was indeed a wild child. At the age of twelve, she is thrown into the French foster care system (this is when she changes her name to Willow), which is how she later meets her lover, Mylѐne. (She was 16, Mylѐne was 30ish and widowed) They join a ban of gyspies after being chased out of Paris (not literally), and later find themselves in Russia. Where a man named Boris obsesses over them and stalks the woman until he attacks them in attempts to change them to were-beasts. He kills Mylѐne in the process, and Willow is stuck living with him and having no contact to the outside world for ten years. So she goes to the US, and meets Jasper, the alpha of the Meztli. He loved her, but she was power hungry and wanted to control "all the pretty creatures", so in the end he was killed and the people loved her so much already (and she hadn't been the one to kill their relatively beloved Jasper) that no one revolted when she announced herself Alpha. Here we are, nearing ten years later, where Willow lives well, with her two mates. I at least suggest reading the last few paragraphs, where she meets Jasper and all that jazz. Though, I personally love her story of how she meets Mylѐne and before then <3
ALee-Lionwatch · Sun Mar 27, 2011 @ 01:55pm · 0 Comments |