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 Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:35 pm
She kicked several of the rocks, cursing under her breath.
Ever since her dear cousin had jumped into her face a few days before, she couldn't stop thinking about him. She'd nearly forgotten that he even existed until then, and she'd rather he had just died somewhere and never found her. But he had, and she couldn't change that. She just hoped he wouldn't find the herdlands, but knowing his persistence he probably would, the damn drekhallah. Ugh.
But, she couldn't dwell on his annoyance any longer, for fear of interrupting her work anymore. She had to concentrate, to get him out of her mind so she could work. She sighed, then inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, slowly twisting her ears forward. She had better, much more important things to think about right now, like the future of her little game that she'd so ungraciously kicked. She made a mental note to collect the stray pieces once she'd calmed down.
Damn idiot.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:42 pm
Castor approached the mare slowly, frowning deeply. Good day, Jocasta-hellene - he thought privately - I was just wondering if you might be interested in procreating with Meleager-hallah? Jocasta-hellene, I have a most wonderful proposition for you. Jocasta-hellene, have you ever considered having foals with a stallion you hardly know, and would you be terribly peeved if you did this and I then persuaded him not to make them his heirs, because really that’s a terrible idea.
Castor came to a halt and made a conscious effort to wipe away his thoughtful frown. Here went then. “Jocasta-hellene... Good day to you.” Well, it was a start. This was not going to be an easy conversation. By all Gods he was terrible a social situations... but then he couldn’t imagine that this was the sort of thing anyone would be very good at.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:48 pm
Jocasta hadn't heard him approach, and she jolted a bit when words suddenly struck her ears. "Oh!" She said, turning to look at the crossbreed, slightly surprised. She'd been too deeply engrossed in pushing Ajax out of her thoughts that she'd not noticed anyone approaching. She'd have to work on that. "Oh, Castor-hellene, I apologize. I.. I was deep in thought, and didn't hear you coming." Ugh, now she sounded like an idiot. Oh dear, just perfect. Ugh, stupid, annoying idiot.
"Umm.." Now, why was it Castor had come to see her? Perhaps she was flattering herself too much; perhaps he had to come this way anyway, and thought it rude to pass her by without saying anything. That was probably it, yes. "How are you today?"
Her violet eyes flitted to the stray rocks she'd so viciously kicked; she'd have to get them in a minute or so, but she didn't want to seem rude by ignoring the Master Tactician to get them. Whatever he had to say was doubtless more important than plain rocks. With that in mind, she turned to offer Castor a smile, still attempting to push the overo out of her thoughts.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:57 pm
The pale-coated stallion brought his eyes from a point somewhere past the appaloosa’s right ear to meet her gaze. Right then; eye contact established. Good. Humm. Now what. Oh yes. “I’m well thank you,” Castor said after a moment with a nod, “I trust you are as well...” She didn’t seem... she didn’t seem quite herself, but he couldn’t say what was wrong. He hoped it was nothing too important; they needed her to be on top form for this.
“I have a matter to discuss with you,” the tall stallion went on after glancing about to ensure that nobody else was within earshot. “A matter of great importance and great... delicacy. If you have the time now, it would be ideal; we appear to be unobserved at present.” So how was he going to bring this up? Should he mention himself and Meleager... No, no that wasn’t necessary. He could just say that the herd leader wanted foals but didn’t have the time to actually find a mare to be his mate. It wasn’t even a lie, and if Meleager wished to explain further then he could do so himself... Perhaps he should raise the matter of heirs with her while he was at it. She was sensible; she might well agree with him.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:08 pm
"Yes, I'm doing well," she said evenly; no need to tell him about Ajax for the moment unless he asked. But, he had sought her out. That was... interesting. Intrigued, the violet-eyed mare turned to completely face the crossbreed, pushing the matter of her irritating cousin out of her mind indefinitely. A matter of great importance and delicacy? She couldn't help but be a bit nervous and excited. Perhaps it was some important battle plan, or some such. That's what he would seek her out for, right? Yes, of course; that was her job. She was a tactician, after all.
"You have my full attention, Castor-hellene," she offered, dipping her muzzle respectfully. "I always have time to speak with you and anyone else that has any need for me." There. She hoped that sounded alright, she didn't want to put him off, or some such.
But, what did he need to speak to her about? It probably was some strategic plan or something similar, otherwise the herdleader would have sought her out instead. Yes, that must have been it. Nothing else sprung to mind that Castor would come to talk to her about.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:15 pm
So... Leaping in at the deep end wasn’t the best plan. “Firstly... Firstly Jocasta,” he hoped she didn’t mind up dropping the suffix, “and I hope this doesn’t seem too strange a topic to start off on... What do you think of foals? I know you have none of your own at present, but have you ever thought of having any?” Alright, good; if she expressed disgust at the idea of reproducing, he would have to proceeded very carefully. If not, he might be alright. Certainly the situation was usual but that didn’t mean it had to turn out badly. She might be thrilled at the idea of having foals with Meleager... She might be keen for them to be heirs if they were hers; people did love to further their own bloodline. So selfish.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:40 pm
Foals.
As far from any strategic battle plan as possible. Well, so much for that idea. But, foals? She blinked. "Err.." Oh, how she hated awkward conversations. Did he mean foals with him? She certainly hoped not. He was a nice sort, very helpful and intelligent, but she didn't like him like that. How should she word it? Maybe he meant with someone else; someone else who didn't want to ask her? Maybe.
"Foals." Yes, it was a strange topic to start off on. Especially for a nequus such as Castor. It just didn't seem... well, like him at all, really. From what she knew of him thus far, at least. "Well.. I have thought about it and I would like to have them, yes; it'd be nice to be a mother. It'd make me feel... Feel..." How to phrase it? "Well, it'd make me feel like my work has more of a purpose, I suppose. Not that I don't feel it does now, of course; but knowing I'd be working not only to ensure the herd is prepared and safe, but that my foals would be safe as well, would make me feel even prouder of what I do for the herd." Well, that just sounded odd, but this was an odd conversation, so she guessed it was alright. Plus, that was how she felt. Surely anyone would feel the same, right? Yes, of course. "I hope that doesn't sound too strange," she added sheepishly, knowing it did sound rather odd, but it could be how she worded it as well. She thought of adding more, but she really hated rambling on about things, so she refrained from speaking again, and simply waited for the pale blue cross to reply.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:47 pm
Castor twitched a brief smile. “No, that doesn’t sound strange. I suppose if I were ever to have foals, which is highly unlikely, I would feel the same way.” Perhaps he would feel the same when Meleager had foals. Whilst they wouldn’t be his, there would be a certain connection to them and he didn’t doubt that he would want them to be safe, and in a herd that was one of the greatest in all of Urin. Foals gave life meaning. That made sense; they were the next generation after all, they would be alive long after their parents... or ideally they would be anyway.
“Well, anyway, that I suppose brings me to the matter I wished to discuss with you...” Trailing off, Castor glanced around once more to assure himself that they were still alone. “Whether you wish to decline this proposal or to mull it over further, you must keep it entirely to yourself Jocasta; this is of the utmost importance. Understood?” He was certain that she did understand, but it was best to wait for her to reply anyway. That way, if she did spoil things he could not be held accountable.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:54 pm
She was glad he'd understood, and at least partially agreed. At least, she thought he did. They did give life meaning and purpose, moreso than ever a job or role would, and they even gave that job or role more meaning. Yes; if only she'd thought of wording it like that to start with, but that was past and she couldn't change it now, so it would be better not to dwell on it.
So, she was right; Castor didn't want foals, he was merely asking for someone else. She felt a bit more in control of the situation, now that she'd managed to figure that out. The appaloosa mare hated feeling like she was floundering around in a conversation, not knowing what the other wanted. At least she had managed to unravel part of it, but it seemed he was about to tell her now, anyway. Thank all gods for that.
She gave him a serious nod, ears perked. "I understand, Castor-hellene. You may rely on me not to tell a soul," she said truthfully. She loved keeping secrets. But, really, who would want foals with her and why? Was it purely for the foals, or did they have some sort of love interest for her? She hoped it wasn't the latter; she didn't like any stallions in that way as yet, and it would make her feel bad that their feelings weren't mutual. But, again, she refrained from saying anything else in favor of waiting for the crossbreed's reaction.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:59 pm
Alright then. “Good.” Here went. “Meleager-hallah wishes to have foals, but he doesn’t have the inclination to take a mare as his mate. Therefore, he is looking for an exemplary Hellene who might share his desire for children. If you are agreeable to it, he would like that mare to be you.” Had that been to blunt? Perhaps, but he wasn’t one for mincing words and Meleager had known that when he’d asked him to do this. No, sidling around the topic was not what was needed. Frankness, everything clearly laid out so that she could make her choice one way or the other.
“Clearly you needn’t give an answer right away,” Castor added. “If you have a message you would like me to relay to the herd leader I would be happy to, but if as yet you do not, then feel free to consider this matter at your leisure. Whenever you have made a choice, Meleager-hallah will make time you see you at the first opportunity.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:07 pm
Well, that was it, then. The herdleader. The leader of The Hellenes, the greatest herd in all Urin, wanted her to sire his foals. Out of all the mares in the herd, he picked her. She felt... flattered, really, but it would still feel sort of... sort of awkward, she supposed. "Why does Meleager-hallah wish to have foals?" He could just want them for the sake of wanting foals that wouldn't be like his first two, but then wouldn't he take a mate? Perhaps. Heirs, maybe? Well, if Castor knew then she hoped he'd tell her, but if not, that was fine.
"I should like some time to think it over," she said slowly, glad that he'd just come right out and said it. Beating around the bush was not her patch of elppas. "But I have no averse feelings about the idea. I'd like some time to make sure that I won't be missed much by any who may need me," and she'd have to tell her riruy as well, "and I'd like to speak with Meleager-hallah as soon as possible about it." At least she didn't have to give a full yes or no right then, but she didn't want either Castor or Meleager to think she hated the idea. Hopefully she worded that appropriately; she thought she did.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:18 pm
Castor nodded to the purple-eyed mare in approval. “Excellent; I shall pass the message on to him... If he is not too busy when I find him, is there some meeting place you would like me to direct him to?” Doubtless if not, she would be perfectly capable of making her own arrangements to meet the herdleader. She was, after all, an exemplary mare. “As to why... I...” Should he? Should he tell her, and try to subvert Meleager? No. That wouldn’t be right and yet... and yet he feared that if he did not, then it might be too late to object at a later date. “Perhaps... Perhaps that would be best discussed with him personally.”
He was afraid. He was actually afraid. If Meleager made his foals heirs, what was he setting the Hellenes up for? Helen had chosen Meleager because he was worthy; what an insult to her it would be to do otherwise in the future! The captains were not captains because their parents had been, he was not Master Tactician because his parents had been so why, why should Meleager’s children become the next leaders? It was wrong, wrong in every way. Meleager’s children might do well, but what of their children, and their children’s children? Choosing leaders on bloodline alone was as good as tossing aside all of their ideals right now for somewhere down the line there would be a fault, and the Hellenes would fall. ...Yet he couldn’t bring it up with her first. He had to speak to Meleager, and soon!
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:28 pm
She nodded her head thoughtfully, pondering on a good meeting place. It would be easier for him to seek her out when he had time to, and they could go somewhere more private for such a conversation. But such a thing felt awkward, for the herd leader to come to her, so maybe she should seek him out? Choices, choices. "Well," she began slowly, turning over the options and weighing each, "if it is acceptable for Meleager-hallah, I will seek him out in two days' time. But, if he is busy then, or for whatever reason, then you or he or someone else," she doubted the someone else part, but felt the need to put it there, "can tell me and I will come when he has time. Or, if he'd rather find me instead, then I'm always here and since I have nothing pressing at the moment, whenever he is free would be perfectly fine." There; hopefully that sounded alright. She didn't want to seem rude by asking that he come see her, but she didn't want to interrupt him if he was busy, so hopefully that would be acceptable.
Well, it seems Castor knew why, but he didn't wish to tell her. Oh well. "I will be sure to discuss it with him," she said with a polite bob of her head. And she would; it would be much better to know why he wanted foals, instead of just blindly having them with no understanding of the reason.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:32 pm
The tall crossbreed nodded again. “Excellent, I shall tell him that then. Thank you for hearing me out Jocasta; I hope the rest of your day is pleasant.” With these words and a last nod to the other tactician, Castor turned around and set off at a brisk trot. Two days. He had two days to persuade Meleager that making his children heirs just for being his children was a bad idea. He could do that. He hoped he could at any rate, because if he couldn’t... If he couldn’t he didn’t know what he’d do.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:36 pm
"Good day," she replied absent-mindedly, as she turned to look at her forgotten game. It seemed she had a lot more important things to think about now, instead of her simple games and and her annoying cousin. She still wondered why he wanted foals, but she would ask him that herself. Hopefully he'd tell her, since Castor wouldn't; otherwise, having his foals would be even more awkward. And she didn't like awkward situations.
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