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Post by sansatine on Dec 26, 2016 21:54:09 GMT -6
Old Bones
Gilded Bridge, Spring of 1700
One week before departure to Breim
Alois
Alois took a deep breath as a Chevalier and his pack horse passed her. She was unknowing, but her ears had pinned. They stayed that way as she scanned the ware being offered at this particular stand. She caught glimpse of herself in a plate's reflection and made herself visible relax. She was newly a slave in this horrible city. Previously a labor slave owned by the city, she had been 'purchased' by Albella. The word was bitter in her mouth. "Purchased". Such a word could not be put onto living, conscious souls. Even the dog that followed her around wasn't bound to her. He could leave whenever he wanted to, but he enjoyed her company and she was quite fond of him. Alois even asked Albella to ask him his name.
Alois continued shopping, buying mostly vegetables and the similar. Albella was locked away, finishing commissions of the season before anything else. Alois wanted to make her a dinner to show her that Alois appreciated everything she'd done. The thought of Albella made the collar at Alois' neck burn. Sometimes it burned with hate, but others pure and unaffected love. The idea of slavery is what made it burn.
She was walking not mindlessly, but aimlessly and deep in thought when she noticed a frail old man. He would fly away with the wind if it was strong enough- even without wings. He, too was buying groceries, but carrying them seemed a big task. Alois could tell he was a Slave. The ancient stallion was just bones and what flesh he did have was littered with just as many spots as scars. Her heart ached, so old and his masters made him do their bidding.
She approached him careful. The fiery mare was silver tongued but that didn't make her heart any less than gold.
"Excuse me, Sir? I'd like to help you carry your bags... please?" She asked warily, being sure to act polite and show respect even if he wasn't shown it at home.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2016 22:40:06 GMT -6
Bones
Pale blue eyes scanned the list as he packed away his groceries into the bags that slung across his spine. Thankful that he'd gotten everything, Bones picked up the heavy bags and slid them over his back, buckling the girth under his thin belly. Almost immediately, his back and limbs began to scream, and his face blanched in pain. He'd have Rosie come do this, but she was visiting her home, and didn't want to diturb her. But he was already in pain. Bones began walking toward the door of the shop when someone called out to him, offering to take his bags for him. Bones looked up, his pale blue eyes finding the others. "Oh! Uhm, only if you really want to" he said somewhat sheepishly. "I appreciate it, m'names Bones, what migh' yours be?" he asked as he unbuckled the bags, handing them to her with his own pale blue telekinesis. It was then she woud have noticed... he wore no bridle, no collar, nothing that would indicate slave status. He was friendly and seemingly gentle, thankful for her help. He was scarred, yes, and thin as a rail, but clearly of good breeding judging by his proportions. This didn't make sense. 205 words. |
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Post by sansatine on Dec 26, 2016 23:23:50 GMT -6
"Oh! Uhm, only if you really want to" he said back, seemingly being caught off guard. "Of course, I'd be happy to help you." Alois reassured him. The horse introduced himself as 'Bones', an extremely fitting name. As he unloaded himself, she watched him very carefully. He had no sign of ownership- no means of submission. "My name is Alois. I'm a servile slave from the Artisan district- for the painter Albella, maybe you've seen her work?" she said, avoiding a pause. Alois happily saddled Bones' purchases around her back along with her own. The weight was negligible for her- so used to carrying bricks and the like as a labor slave. They walked together. Alois had to alter her pace slightly to accommodate to his age. He didn't carry himself as a slave, he was old but not diminished in the way that slaves so typically were. He had the same air of loss though. Alois was too perceptive for her own good, but it helped more than it didn't. She had questions, though, lots. "Bones, where are we going? Where do you work?" She asked, trying to be nonchalant about her own curiosity. She meant no harm.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 22:28:21 GMT -6
"ah! So youre her assistant" he nodded, preferring to use that term than slave. "ive seen her work yeah, never bought any tho" he commented, plodding along slowly beside her. He was gaunt and gray, but friendly, and kind. They walked along in quiet for a moment, before Alois spoke up yet again.
"Oh! Oh i shouldv'e told yeh, I'm an adviser to th' king, so we're headin' back toward the Noble District, where ma 'ome is" he said. Bones suddenly realized, as he often did, that... she may have mistaken him for a slave. This happened every once in a grand while, mostly due to his physical condition. He couldnt say he blamed anyone for that. "it's... well it's a little far from 'ere, i hope i'm not keepin' yeh from somethin' yer bein' told ta do?" he asked, slightly bashful. He plodded along, his delicate, cracked hooves scuffing on the hard pavement. It was a hot day, perhaps a little bit too hot. Bones was sweating, his old hide growing slick and wet as the sun raged down from above. Though he'd had worse heaped upon him, heat was growing more and more bothersome with each advancing year. SOmetimes Valore was too hot for him.
WC: 207
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Post by sansatine on Dec 28, 2016 0:03:48 GMT -6
"ah! So you're her assistant" He commented. "In a sense, Yes. I don't do any of the painting though." Alois interjected. She was a musical talent, not an artistic one. Alois could never make anything with looking at... save the child in her stomach. She was pregnant but not showing enough to cause alarm, or not yet anyway. She wasn't exactly at a healthy weight to begin with so the weight she had on her didn't present as pregnancy half way to term. Albella hadn't even noticed. As he continued to talk, he revealed that he wasn't a slave. In fact, he was an adviser to the king. She studied his face to see if maybe he was joking. There's no way he could be telling the truth. His body, his scars, they told a story completely different from his mouth. He asked her if he was keeping her from some task or another. Alois looked to the sky before replying. The sun was still high. "No, you're not keeping me. I went out to get food for dinner. Albella has been painting all day. I left her lunch on the table. She wouldn't mind if i was a little late, either." Alois gushed while watching the bricks as they walked. She caught herself doing so and stopped. "Dear Bones, what is it like working with Amadeus?" she asked, changing the subject.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2016 18:29:05 GMT -6
"Oh, see I don' do no paintin' neither. Ain' never been good at it" he laughed dryly, a lopsided grin appearing. He listened to her for a moment, and as she asked about Amadeus, he almost visibly deflated.
"Stressful. Stressful as all hell. That's the best way to describe it. Under Solaris, it wasn't bad, she could 'andle 'erself, but Amadeus... I hate to say it bu' he can be a right moron. Good kid, sweet as 'ell, but should not be on the throne. His brother shoulda been, Alduin. Perfect king material righ' there." Bones sighed, a note of sadness in his voice. It had barely been a year since Solaris' death, a bit longer for Alduin and Marcellus. It still hurt nonetheless.
"Ah well, guess whats done is done yeah? Cant fix the past, as much as I wish i could" he chuckled, shaking his head. It was then clear why he looked so old. Stress. Stress could do that to someone. Though, that didnt explain the scars. Bones flicked his threadbare tail, the hard wiry hairs thwacking against his slick, sweaty back.
WC: 185
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