"I wish that I had some artistic leanings. But, it is what it is. What kind of sculpting do you do? Clay? Bronzes?"
While not terribly talented herself she did enjoy art and recognized the talent of others. It was also one of the first things Mara had actually said about herself so Damaris wanted to keep her talking. She wasn't nosy, not particularly, she just liked to know about people. You never knew when the information could be handy or when you just might like some one.
She laughed at the idea that the kitten would have a memory of the accident.
"What about 'Lucky'? After all he was lucky not to have been caught in that mess."
Another laugh followed Mara's thought about having to live with it. She could only imagine what Graham or Dougal would name a kitten or puppy. And heaven forbid Ambrose should try, although he seemed to give his horses reasonable names.
"Maybe you should present the men with a few options and let them pick from those. Probably the safest option."
It was good sound strategy, you got to pick the battle and decided how much control you were going to give up and it let your, well opponent wouldn't be appropriate here, but it let the others involved have some input.
That Might Have Been My Fault (Attn: Damaris)
Mara trotted along the Nachton streets, well fed and heading home to Jin and Amir. Her paws made no noise as she hopped here and there, over garbage cans, dancing along fences, through gutters. She enjoyed traveling the city this way; it was like an obstacle course. The streets were far too busy, even this late at night, for a lone feline to wander close to. Natchon's roads were a twisting turning maze of roaring traffic, particularly here at the intersection of two major highways.
Even as that thought flitted through her mind Mara caught sight of something flashing at the corner of her eye. She turned and tilted her head, looking for the quick splash of color. Finally she spotted it, and her ears pricked forward as she realized it was a small animal.
A kitten.
She leaped down from her fence, glancing back and forth along the street. A stray kitten, wandering into the middle of the off-ramp where fast-moving traffic was blending into regular local traffic... it wasn't safe at all. Mara had a soft spot for cats, particularly strays. She couldn't let this little one suffer. If she could pick it up and sniff it thoroughly, she might be able to locate its mother, if it had one.
Quickly she darted out into the street. As she did a bright pair of lights rounded the off-ramp. Instinctively she turned and was blinded by the headlights. Her heart thumping she ran further into the road instead of turning and running away. Her little nose told her the kitten was here. She heard the screech of tires, reached out with her paws, and snagged the kitten, pulling him close.
There was a sudden rush of wind; horns blared, deafening her sensitive ears. How fast had the car been going, anyway? She should have had plenty of time! It was as if the driver hadn't even slowed at all! Mara clutched the now yowling kitten and flattened herself down, giving a little moan of distress as the car, thankfully, passed over them.
She raised her head and watched, wide-eyed, spots dancing in front of her eyes, as the car that had just passed over her careened up onto two wheels and then slid onto its side into oncoming traffic. She ducked her head as several crunches resounded through the street, followed by horns in a plethora of keys that made her head ring.
Horrified, Mara grabbed the squirming kitten in her mouth, ran to the side of the street, and deposited him safely in an empty trash can. Shifting forms she placed the lid on the can to keep her little fugitive inside. Then she crouched, pulled her cell phone from her jeans and called 911.
She was a little bit mortifed that, in sixteen hundred years of vampirism, this was her first actual car accident.
Damaris
12 years ago
Mara
12 years ago
"Fencing is an art," Mara said softly. She'd watched Amir at practice many times, not fencing, obviously, as that wasn't his primary form of attack or defense, but at martial arts in general. Mara knew many of them and was a very capable fighter, but Amir made it look like poetry to her. There were occasions when going through forms was almost meditative for him and she'd seen him do many practices with his eyes completely closed. She did not doubt that Damaris could turn her skill into an art if she hadn't done so already; fencing was beautiful to watch when done by experts. Somewhat more painful to the eye when beginners were involved, but it was still an art.
When Damaris asked what medium she used she smiled. "Glass," she replied softly. "Blown and sculpted."
Mara held her kitten up and looked at him. "Are you Lucky?" she asked, bringing him down to touch her nose to his tiny, cold, wet one.
"I don't know," she said with a shake of her head. "It's not very lucky to lose your family and get stuck on the highway roadside."
He was an interesting mix of lucky and unlucky. Mara let an impish grin drift across her lips. "I will let the boys choose. If they can't find something suitable I will simply call him what I like. You know - obey, obey, obey, then do what you want."
Mara recited the little anecdote from one of the books she'd recently read*, smiling at the thought that she would actually apply such a quote to her relationship with Jin and Amir. She could never imagine either man expecting obedience from her. Perhaps on missions, yes, or in certain situations, but it had very little place in their personal interactions. Yet the phrase was humorous, and fit well.
They were nearing the Manor. Mara tucked her little passenger safely into her coat, cuddling him close. He gripped her arm with teeny needle claws but Mara didn't mind. She was used to kittens; if his claw hit a sensitive spot she simply reached down and gently removed it, tickling his paw until he put it elsewhere.
((* - Quote from "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lise See))
When Damaris asked what medium she used she smiled. "Glass," she replied softly. "Blown and sculpted."
Mara held her kitten up and looked at him. "Are you Lucky?" she asked, bringing him down to touch her nose to his tiny, cold, wet one.
"I don't know," she said with a shake of her head. "It's not very lucky to lose your family and get stuck on the highway roadside."
He was an interesting mix of lucky and unlucky. Mara let an impish grin drift across her lips. "I will let the boys choose. If they can't find something suitable I will simply call him what I like. You know - obey, obey, obey, then do what you want."
Mara recited the little anecdote from one of the books she'd recently read*, smiling at the thought that she would actually apply such a quote to her relationship with Jin and Amir. She could never imagine either man expecting obedience from her. Perhaps on missions, yes, or in certain situations, but it had very little place in their personal interactions. Yet the phrase was humorous, and fit well.
They were nearing the Manor. Mara tucked her little passenger safely into her coat, cuddling him close. He gripped her arm with teeny needle claws but Mara didn't mind. She was used to kittens; if his claw hit a sensitive spot she simply reached down and gently removed it, tickling his paw until he put it elsewhere.
((* - Quote from "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lise See))
Damaris
12 years ago
Damaris smiled at the quiet observation, but she did appreciate Mara's words. It was an art, martial, but an art nonetheless. She wondered if the other woman practiced with a blade at all. She might enjoy fencing with Mara.
"Do you fence at all?"
Glass? That was quite impressive.
"Delicate work and rather intense as well."
She had on numerous occasional been held in a trance like state watching an artisan working with glass. It was a fascinating art form.
"Well it isn't the best of luck but I've seen much worse."
A laugh burst forth at the philosophy proposed by her clan mate. Aside from the first three 'obeys' it sounded quite like something she say or do. There must be a bit of 'do what you want' any way in most of their kind you couldn't survive centuries without some kind of a back bone.
"That is a philosophy I could subscribe too. Well at least the last bit."
"Do you fence at all?"
Glass? That was quite impressive.
"Delicate work and rather intense as well."
She had on numerous occasional been held in a trance like state watching an artisan working with glass. It was a fascinating art form.
"Well it isn't the best of luck but I've seen much worse."
A laugh burst forth at the philosophy proposed by her clan mate. Aside from the first three 'obeys' it sounded quite like something she say or do. There must be a bit of 'do what you want' any way in most of their kind you couldn't survive centuries without some kind of a back bone.
"That is a philosophy I could subscribe too. Well at least the last bit."
Mara
12 years ago
"A little," Mara said to Damaris. "Amir enjoys many martial sports, so of course when fencing became modern and popular he learned, and I did too."
She didn't know about 'intense' for glass sculpting or blowing but some people found the incredibly hot temperatures intimidating, as well as the sensitive times at which you had to join two pieces, melt them together, or break them apart. It was certainly sensitive work, and delicate, yes, depending on what you were doing.
"I find it relaxing," Mara said with a smile, "And enjoyable. There's something very reassuring in the fact that the glass will react the same way to the heat and pressure every time. Very predictable."
You never could tell how a person would react to the same, and it differed with each. Glass was not so hard to predict. To read people, Mara had learned over the years how to read a million tiny signs, body language, micro expressions. She found glass much more straightforward.
The kitten seemed a topic of much amusement to them both. "True," Mara conceded, "it was bad luck but it was still luck."
She chuckled softly at Damaris' opinion of the obedience philosophy. "I have followed it several times myself," she said. "It is amazingly accurate."
Not the Amir had ever denied her anything, but Mara had on occasion gone against his wishes and done something she wanted to. Mostly in the last few years, when Subira's hold over him had become an obvious burden.
She didn't know about 'intense' for glass sculpting or blowing but some people found the incredibly hot temperatures intimidating, as well as the sensitive times at which you had to join two pieces, melt them together, or break them apart. It was certainly sensitive work, and delicate, yes, depending on what you were doing.
"I find it relaxing," Mara said with a smile, "And enjoyable. There's something very reassuring in the fact that the glass will react the same way to the heat and pressure every time. Very predictable."
You never could tell how a person would react to the same, and it differed with each. Glass was not so hard to predict. To read people, Mara had learned over the years how to read a million tiny signs, body language, micro expressions. She found glass much more straightforward.
The kitten seemed a topic of much amusement to them both. "True," Mara conceded, "it was bad luck but it was still luck."
She chuckled softly at Damaris' opinion of the obedience philosophy. "I have followed it several times myself," she said. "It is amazingly accurate."
Not the Amir had ever denied her anything, but Mara had on occasion gone against his wishes and done something she wanted to. Mostly in the last few years, when Subira's hold over him had become an obvious burden.
Damaris
12 years ago
That made sense and Damaris nodded in agreement. After all, she hadn't started out as a fencer it was a relatively modern sport. She perked up a bit when Mara said she fenced as well.
"Are you part of the Hunt as well then?"
There was no guarantee that a child would follow their maker into a certain order. She hadn't followed either of her makers, but Graham had followed Dougal and even though it had taken over a century, Ambrose had eventually followed her, so it wasn't unheard of.
Perhaps intense had been the wrong word. She had simply meant the art required a great deal of focus and that was reaffirmed neatly by Mara's description.
"Predicable? There are days I could stand some predictability. Maybe you'd let me observe some time."
She wouldn't presume so much as to try and learn though.
It would be interesting to see what she wound up naming the little fellow. Lucky might not be the best but... well he was Mara's kitten and as such Damaris didn't press the issue of the name.
"Something will stick in a day or two once you get to know him."
Certainly you couldn't tell anything of the animal's personality now. Not while he was scared, nervous and disoriented as he was bound to be.
"I think the 'obey' part is probably just to throw people off the track of what you're up to. A battlefield feign as it were."
It was just fortunate that Mara had chosen to 'obey' tonight. Obey really was too strong a word it was just cooperation. Damaris grinned to herself, Mara had done what she wanted even tonight, but it had been the same thing she'd wanted to do and it worked out quite well.
"Are you part of the Hunt as well then?"
There was no guarantee that a child would follow their maker into a certain order. She hadn't followed either of her makers, but Graham had followed Dougal and even though it had taken over a century, Ambrose had eventually followed her, so it wasn't unheard of.
Perhaps intense had been the wrong word. She had simply meant the art required a great deal of focus and that was reaffirmed neatly by Mara's description.
"Predicable? There are days I could stand some predictability. Maybe you'd let me observe some time."
She wouldn't presume so much as to try and learn though.
It would be interesting to see what she wound up naming the little fellow. Lucky might not be the best but... well he was Mara's kitten and as such Damaris didn't press the issue of the name.
"Something will stick in a day or two once you get to know him."
Certainly you couldn't tell anything of the animal's personality now. Not while he was scared, nervous and disoriented as he was bound to be.
"I think the 'obey' part is probably just to throw people off the track of what you're up to. A battlefield feign as it were."
It was just fortunate that Mara had chosen to 'obey' tonight. Obey really was too strong a word it was just cooperation. Damaris grinned to herself, Mara had done what she wanted even tonight, but it had been the same thing she'd wanted to do and it worked out quite well.
Mara
12 years ago
"No," Mara said, shaking her head with a smile. "I belong to the Order of the Night, same as Jin. The Hunt doesn't suit me but as Amir is my Creator, I have learned many of the things he knows. It has never appealed to me to live far from him."
Mara and Amir had been together for sixteen hundred years. She understood Jin's trepidation, the night she had admitted to him that she loved Amir. How must he have felt, feeling like he must compete with a bond so old and so strong? Fortunately he seemed to have accepted it and embraced it, for the three of them had fit themselves together quite comfortably now. Mara couldn't imagine not having both of her men nearby. She suspected Amir might eventually wander; their paths had always diverged just a little bit. She wouldn't let go of Jin so easily though; they were of like minds. They could follow the same road indefinitely.
Mara turned her attention back to Damaris as her Clanmate asked to watch her at her craft some time. She thought for a moment and then nodded slowly. "I wouldn't mind," she said.
Nodding while Damaris spoke, both of the kitten and of the quote, Mara noted that they were about to pull in to the Manor. "Thank you again for the ride," she said softly. "I appreciate it."
She stroked the kitten, who stirred as the car slowed. Mara looked down at him with a smile. She would have to bring him to Pakpao's new apartment and see how he got along with Mongkut, who was now a full grown healthy cat. Perhaps this little grey fuzzball would give him some exercise.
Mara and Amir had been together for sixteen hundred years. She understood Jin's trepidation, the night she had admitted to him that she loved Amir. How must he have felt, feeling like he must compete with a bond so old and so strong? Fortunately he seemed to have accepted it and embraced it, for the three of them had fit themselves together quite comfortably now. Mara couldn't imagine not having both of her men nearby. She suspected Amir might eventually wander; their paths had always diverged just a little bit. She wouldn't let go of Jin so easily though; they were of like minds. They could follow the same road indefinitely.
Mara turned her attention back to Damaris as her Clanmate asked to watch her at her craft some time. She thought for a moment and then nodded slowly. "I wouldn't mind," she said.
Nodding while Damaris spoke, both of the kitten and of the quote, Mara noted that they were about to pull in to the Manor. "Thank you again for the ride," she said softly. "I appreciate it."
She stroked the kitten, who stirred as the car slowed. Mara looked down at him with a smile. She would have to bring him to Pakpao's new apartment and see how he got along with Mongkut, who was now a full grown healthy cat. Perhaps this little grey fuzzball would give him some exercise.
Damaris
12 years ago
"Mmmmm... other way around for me. My maker and my brother both belong to the Night. I'm the one that wandered."
Some how it made sense though. Damaris was a fair judge of character, not perfect but fair, and her instinct told her Mara wasn't exactly ... confrontational. It wasn't the best word, probably not the right word but it was the best Damaris could come up with.
"Still it is good to know a bit about the other side."
If only one of her children had taken to the Rose they'd have a perfect triangle. Of course, they had time. That might happen yet.
She smiled brightly, for the moment looking even younger than usual. Damaris hadn't quite expected an affirmative but appreciated it and made a promise to herself she'd not be obnoxious about it.
"Thank you. Let me know when is convenient for you and I will do my best to be inconspicuous. Quiet as a church mouse and all that."
Absently Damaris half waived off the thanks. It was something she would have done for any one who had helped her with that mess. Doubly so for a member of the clan. Truthfully, for a dog person, she didn't even mind the cat.
"Any time, I may still owe you for your help back there so it is the least I could do."
In the mean time though she was looking forward to a hot shower and a change of clothes. There might be time yet to night to salvage the evening if she hurried.
Some how it made sense though. Damaris was a fair judge of character, not perfect but fair, and her instinct told her Mara wasn't exactly ... confrontational. It wasn't the best word, probably not the right word but it was the best Damaris could come up with.
"Still it is good to know a bit about the other side."
If only one of her children had taken to the Rose they'd have a perfect triangle. Of course, they had time. That might happen yet.
She smiled brightly, for the moment looking even younger than usual. Damaris hadn't quite expected an affirmative but appreciated it and made a promise to herself she'd not be obnoxious about it.
"Thank you. Let me know when is convenient for you and I will do my best to be inconspicuous. Quiet as a church mouse and all that."
Absently Damaris half waived off the thanks. It was something she would have done for any one who had helped her with that mess. Doubly so for a member of the clan. Truthfully, for a dog person, she didn't even mind the cat.
"Any time, I may still owe you for your help back there so it is the least I could do."
In the mean time though she was looking forward to a hot shower and a change of clothes. There might be time yet to night to salvage the evening if she hurried.
Mara
12 years ago
"We go where we are best suited," Mara murmured softly. She could have been in the Hunt, she supposed, and she had considered it, but her abilities and interests lent themselves more to quietly gathering information, which was often how she was assigned. Yes, she did take part in the occasional intrigue, but intel was her forte. She enjoyed what she did.
Having made the offer to let Damaris see her at work some time, Mara wasn't surprised when her Clanmate took her up on the offer immediately. She considered her schedule for the next week or two. "Maybe this weekend," she suggested. She had yet to move all of her sculpting equipment to the new house; she was considering leaving it where it was. She loved her little apartment over the shop. It was the perfect hideaway and while she didn't require a hideaway now, she still had a great deal of sentimental attachment to it. Even more, now that she recalled Valentine's Day with Jin last year. How could she even consider leaving the place to fall into disrepair when he had given her such beautiful memories there? Every time she walked through the door she felt warmth and love, remembered a sigh, a soft moan.
No, she thought, she would keep her little garage.
She briefly explained the building and its location to Damaris. "Come by on Sunday evening," she suggested. "I'll be there then. I'll show you how it's done. Maybe you can try it, if you like it."
Mara surprised herself with that offer, but Damaris had been kind and was nice to talk to. Mara thought they might enjoy spending a little time together. Perhaps Amir or Jin would be present as well. She might have to cook something again, just to be as hospitable as possible.
They arrived at the Manor in good course and said their good-byes. Mara was pleased with the evening. It might have started out a little bit of a mess but she had met a Clanmate and had a new pet to bring back to her men... who she was sure would be amused but not upset. Neither one was difficult to live with; Jin was, as always, the soul of good-humor, patience, and kindness. Even Amir, with his fiery temper and seemingly prickly nature, was easy-going at home. The kitten would have a good life, once he adjusted to the mingling scents of tiger, jackal, and mao.
((ooc: Mara out))
Having made the offer to let Damaris see her at work some time, Mara wasn't surprised when her Clanmate took her up on the offer immediately. She considered her schedule for the next week or two. "Maybe this weekend," she suggested. She had yet to move all of her sculpting equipment to the new house; she was considering leaving it where it was. She loved her little apartment over the shop. It was the perfect hideaway and while she didn't require a hideaway now, she still had a great deal of sentimental attachment to it. Even more, now that she recalled Valentine's Day with Jin last year. How could she even consider leaving the place to fall into disrepair when he had given her such beautiful memories there? Every time she walked through the door she felt warmth and love, remembered a sigh, a soft moan.
No, she thought, she would keep her little garage.
She briefly explained the building and its location to Damaris. "Come by on Sunday evening," she suggested. "I'll be there then. I'll show you how it's done. Maybe you can try it, if you like it."
Mara surprised herself with that offer, but Damaris had been kind and was nice to talk to. Mara thought they might enjoy spending a little time together. Perhaps Amir or Jin would be present as well. She might have to cook something again, just to be as hospitable as possible.
They arrived at the Manor in good course and said their good-byes. Mara was pleased with the evening. It might have started out a little bit of a mess but she had met a Clanmate and had a new pet to bring back to her men... who she was sure would be amused but not upset. Neither one was difficult to live with; Jin was, as always, the soul of good-humor, patience, and kindness. Even Amir, with his fiery temper and seemingly prickly nature, was easy-going at home. The kitten would have a good life, once he adjusted to the mingling scents of tiger, jackal, and mao.
((ooc: Mara out))
Damaris
12 years ago
That they did, some later rather than sooner as proved by her youngest off spring. But even that stubborn bastard had sorted it out eventually. Damaris just smiled in agreement.
Part of her had half suspected that Mara's offer to let her view the glass making process was more polite than sincere and as such was a little surprised that there was a near immediate offer.
"Wonderful. Thank you very much please let me know if there is anything I can bring."
She didn't know what one might need for playing with molten glass but it was only good manners to offer, just in case.
Having dropped Mara off at the door and exchanged polite farewells she went to park the car and find a shower and to call her business consultant and let them know she was running late.
(OOC... Out))
Part of her had half suspected that Mara's offer to let her view the glass making process was more polite than sincere and as such was a little surprised that there was a near immediate offer.
"Wonderful. Thank you very much please let me know if there is anything I can bring."
She didn't know what one might need for playing with molten glass but it was only good manners to offer, just in case.
Having dropped Mara off at the door and exchanged polite farewells she went to park the car and find a shower and to call her business consultant and let them know she was running late.
(OOC... Out))