• Completed • I Got Your Crazy

[Ashira Ward]

Vhalar 22

I don't own you, you just belong to me.

"Of course when Marta wrote to my Mother and told her how you didn't know anyone here, I just knew I had to take you under my wing! I'm sure we'll be the dearest of friends."

Cooed Inanna for about the seventh time. Ashira nodded, smiling, and hoping it looked more gentle and happy then it felt. It felt like very nearly a grimace, like at any moment her exposed teeth might lengthen, she might become a wolf and rip apart the woman sitting across from her.

"It's very kind of you, I'm enjoying our brunch together."

"Of course you are! Your family is rural aren't they? The Wards are too of course, but that's the Wards. When you've that many nels anywhere can be fashionable. You certainly need me though. Look at your dress!"

"Ah?" She fought to keep her tone friendly.

"Entirely the wrong colour. Burgundy, like mine! And you could at least wear the choker. Honestly it's like you're not even trying. I suppose you don't know any better though."

"I am surprised you are not still in black."

This earned her a scowl. Inannas husband was one of those who had fallen defending the city in the recent civil war. Not that you'd know it. The hourglass, shading to plump blonde was immaculately tuned out in the latest fashion. Victory curls adorned her head, maroon marilyn skirt hugged her curves. Her makeup was also flawlessly applied, eyelashes far longer and blacker than nature alone allowed, and full lips far redder. No surprise, her family was well off. Though her own last name was common, she shared ancestry with the Andaris and Venoras. Which she had told Ashira about at length. Twice so far.

"I mourned as was proper for my poor dear husband, but I can't be selfish. I'm in my prime after all, I need another husband so I can bear children and carry on my line, and help make up for all those we lost. Of course finding a husband of suitable breeding is easier said than done." She sighed dramatically, pouting, before continuing with a wicked gleam in her eye. "Aren't you still childless? How long have you been married again? You're so lucky to have such a patient husband, most would have taken steps to find another more fertile wife by now. And to be so patient when he's already overlooked your breeding!"

Though she'd been set on not giving Inanna the satisfaction of upsetting her, Ashira stiffened. Only her dark complexion kept it from being obvious that the blood was draining from her face. A nearly overwhelming urge to smack the woman across from her began to grow and swell until she thought she must have to give in or scream. Instead she took a sip of her tea.

"Yes, I'm very lucky to have a husband so devoted to me to call my own." She agreed calmly, while she raged inside.

"Oh all men start that way, the heir of the Wards is a prize though, other women will be after him soon enough. Even if he gets a bastard on one of them, that would likely be enough." Inanna chattered on, eyes gleaming evilly as she watched the other woman. Ashira was controlling herself well, but Inanna was used to playing these games with other courtiers, and could read the other woman.

"I'm sure they will try, and they will regret it. Pardon me, I fear I find talk of bastards unbecoming. While I thank you for your company and guidance, I will excuse myself."

Ashira rose, heading for the door leading out of Inannas home, set on never returning again lest she claw the others eyes out. The Thorns were hardly commoners! At least she wasn't some mutt riding on the coattails of real noble houses! Even more unforgivable however had been the implication that Inanna was going to make a play for Everett. That was something that she could not overlook or allow.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot how easily offended rural folks are, you simply must forgive me, let me make it up to you! Come back to my home for dinner tomorrow, I promise it will be worth it! I'll have my cook make something lovely! You and Everett don't have any help currently do you?"

That wasn't a true question. It was another subtle jab. Showing she knew how they lived, and that she lived better. Ashira almost refused, as Inanna was likely expecting. At the last moment however, she changed her mind, and a stillness replaced the taut fury. She turned back once more, standing in the doorway.

"Of course, it would be my honor. It would be foolish of me to refuse the friendship of one so well placed over some silly etiquette differences. Until tomorrow." She even offered the other a slight curtsy, before leaving and heading for home. Her smile and plan growing.

[Ashira Ward]

When Ashira reached home, heel still complaining a bit from the blister she'd earned upon it two days prior, she went straight for the back pantry which had become her work space. Blister wasn't all she'd brought home from her foray after all. She smiled at the looped plant which lay upon her work table. Gloves and goggles were put on, and a glass vial was set. She likely wouldn't need the goggles, but Hogweed was nasty enough on any skin that she hated to think what it might do to ones eyes. Well. She hated to think what it might do to her own eyes. She quite liked thinking of what it might do to certain other blonde busybodies for examples.

With care, she cut a short length of the plant off. The section she wasn't using immediately, she made sure that the cut end was resting so that it pointed up into the air. The part she was, she positioned the cut stalk just inside the mouth of the vial and slid her gloved fingers down its length, squeezing out the sap. There wouldn't be quite as much as if she'd processed it immediately after harvesting, but it would be more potent. Slowly the sap dribbled into the vial. When she'd gotten all the could that way, she took a scalpel and carefully slit the plant in two. This was one of the reasons she'd started with such a small section, she didn't want to lose control of it and have any touch her. Her gloves stopped it fully, but most clothes would only slow it as it seeped through. Once slit, she used the dull side of the scalpel, running it along the stem to squeeze out any remaining sap, which she then scraped into the vial.

This was all done slowly and carefully. She neither wanted to waste any, nor to make a mistake. So although she'd only brought the one, large plant home, it still took nearly three breaks to fully process, by which time she had two vials of the sap. Stoppering them, she gathered up the processed remains and tossed them into the fire. The smoke that resulted was black and made her wrinkle her nose, but it was harmless. She didn't want anyone else (Everett) too accidentally touch the remains before they'd fully dried and become safe, nor did she want any evidence left to point to her. This took care of both concerns.

While still gloved, she went and poured about a third of one of the vials into yet another vial. The full vial and three quarter full vial she carefully stowed away. The new vial she looked at in satisfaction. After ascertaining that the stopper was on tightly, she washed it, removing any trace of the sap from the outside and making it safe to handle. Her gloves she rubbed in a pot of dirt she kept inside for potting plants, the dirt sticking to the sap, and removing most of it. She did this several times, before brushing off as much dirt as she could, by the time she needed the dirt again the sap would be dry and harmless, and then went to wash the gloves. She washed them while wearing them. You couldn't be too careful. Hogweed wouldn't kill you but.. She smiled, eyes flashing. Threaten her. Try and steal her husband. No.

This done, she cleaned the house, and then did her best to prepare an edible meal for herself and Everett. It might have been a job, but it was true. They had no staff, and neither had needed to cook for themselves before. It rankled that she found herself lacking in this field, but she didn't have time to learn to be a chef. She had much more important skills to master before she could turn her attention to such, such trivialities.

Skills like the one that allowed her to make what was currently in the little vial. Not that that took much, it didn't need to be treated at all, just harvested before it dried and kept sealed so it didn't dry up once harvested. Of course, you could dry it, powder it, and reconstitute it in liquid later, but she wasn't sure if it affected the potency at all. Would it be more potent? Less? It was something to experiment with later, but not now. Now she wanted something that she knew would work.

Pleased with herself, she waited for Everett to come home, tonight would be a good night, assuming he'd not had a bad day. All was in order in their home, dinner was on the table, she was disinclined to fight with or pick at him. He would likely be angry with her after tomorrow evening but.. That was a problem for them. Tonight was a night for falling into each others arms and bed.

[Ashira Ward]

Vhalar 23

She'd brushed her long dark hair out. She did not like the victory curls look, and seeing as she couldn't currently complete the 'in' outfit of the season, she wasn't going to take part at all. She'd rather be the woman who didn't fit at all then the one who made a sad, failed attempt. She was wearing her good dress, black chiffon. Again, technically not the latest fashion, but on Ashira it was timeless. Assuming one wasn't a vicious socialite trying to destroy a rival of course.

"Oh look at you! How quaint and adorable!"

Inanna gushed as she ushered Ashira into her home.

"Thank you." came the reply. Knowledge of what was to come helped her to stay calm, even when the digs began immediately.

"Do come in, I've had my chef make a lovely roast, I'm sure with the shortages you've not seen much meat recently, and certainly not this well cooked."

"You are too kind, sharing in this time of scarcity."

"Oh it's hardly scarce for people like me, but don't you worry your little head over it." Inanna assured her, waving away the thanks.

The table they seated themselves at was almost comically large. For a moment upon seeing it, Ashira hoped they would sit at opposite ends. Then conversation would have been impossible. It was not to be however. Inanna seated herself at the head of the table and had Ashira seated on her left. Another subtle slight. Ashira allowed it to roll off of her like water off a duck.

The night continued in much the same vein. Ashira keeping herself from returning the barbed comments as much as possible. The meal was likely good. Certainly it was expensive. She didn't notice. It was like sawdust upon her lips. An unwelcome weight in her stomach. She was too keyed up to want to eat, but she had her part to play. Towards the end of the evening, Inanna, who had already had more than a few cups of wine, was gesturing emphatically with her most recent goblet, going over precisely what was wrong with Ashiras outfit, and how it was likely the best she could do, poor dear, but Everett Ward really deserved better, when she spilled the contents of said goblet upon Ashira. It was hard to say whether it was intentional or if she was just drunk, but Ashira saw it as an opportunity, and she took it.

"May I use your bathroom to clean up please?"

"Of course! Oh goodness, you simply must accept my apology! Perhaps it's good you don't have any good clothes after all, I'd hate to have ruined something you'd miss!"

The dress was black, the wine white, Ashira was certain she could make sure the stain didn't remain, but that was secondary. The girl who'd been serving them, the only servant Ashira had noted so far, showed her to bathroom, and seemed intent on entering with her.

"I will see to it myself thank you. As you may have heard I am accustomed to sough roughness." She added sardonically. The girl looked startled, and almost smiled before she wiped it from her face and scurried away.

As soon as she was alone Ashira began scanning the counter tops of the far too mirrored room. A woman like Inanna would have many cosmetics, and it was these that Ashira wanted. Powders were discounted immediately. Perfumes were too thin, the thick sap would be immediately obvious, if it didn't gum up the spray head entirely. Finally Ashira settled upon two things. A moisturizing lotion, thick and perfumed, and Inannas shampoo. She drew the small vial from her cleavage, where she'd hidden it, and emptied half of its contents into one, and half into the other. A quick shake to both, and she re-stoppered the vial. She gave it a wipe with one of Inannas towels. She didn't think anything had remained on the bottle, but she did not like to take chances. She hid the vial once more before seeing to her dress.

All this was done in the space of perhaps five or seven bits, before she let herself out and walked back to the table. Inanna waited with a platter of pastries.

"Oh look, you can't tell the difference at all, wonderful! Desert? My chef is one of the best, as you've noticed."

"No thank you Inanna, you've been very kind to me, but I fear I enjoyed your company so much I did not note the hour. Everett will be expecting me home. Besides, I am not as lucky as you, to be able to eat whatever I want, I must watch my figure, Everett doesn't like fat women. We simply must do this again though."

Ashira smiled sweetly at the other woman, who in her drunkenness gaped at her, at the obvious, and truthfully petty insult. Still, it felt good to give back a little of what she'd been getting all evening. And that was only the beginning.

That night, home and in her bed she smiled. She wondered if Inanna had bathed yet, or if she would wait until she woke, hungover. Of such thoughts were sweet dreams made. As she curled closer to Everett, resting her head on his chest she smiled wickedly.

[Ashira Ward]

It took awhile for word to reach her, removed as she was from the gossip of Andaris, but it did eventually. Lady Inanna had come down with some 'disease'. Her blonde hair had fallen out in patches, and where it had fallen out her scalp was red and blistering. The same blistering had occurred on her body. As Ashira knew, it would happen anywhere she'd used her moisturizer. Small blisters and rashes springing up with a break of the sap being applied.

If she'd gone out into the sun it would have been even worse. Ashira hoped she'd not been able to bear much on the rash, that they'd brought her out to a doctor rather than bringing a doctor in to her. If it was left entirely alone, it would heal without being disfiguring, if she scratched though, or if the wrong treatment was used.. Left her be scarred for life. As ugly outside as she was then.

See who's husband she would be stealing now.

'Not mine', Ashira thought, looking for all the world like some great cat, satiated upon it's latest kill.

[Whisper]

Ashira Ward

Peer Review

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 0/5
Structure: 5/5

Awarded Knowledge

Fashion: Appropriate Mourning
Politics: Playing the Game
Politics: Sabotage and Subterfuge

Extras

Loot & Losses	[/color]xxxxxx	Injuries
None	[/color]xxxxxx	None

Fame	[/color]xxxxxx	Devotion
None	[/color]xxxxxx	None

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Comments

This was a good thread - first I've read about a PC who isn't completely nobility in Rynmere! Was cool to see how the other side lives! Looking forward to reading Ashira interacting with the wealthy and influential PCs out there!

I couldn't see many obvious knowledges - this was more of a 'doing' than 'learning' thread. But if you think you want more, please let me know.

As you can see, I have provided feedback and reasoning behind my review. If you have any questions, comments or criticism about your review, feel free to send me a PM and we can discuss it.
Thank ye.