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mistral4543 · 08-11-2006, 09:24 AM

OOC>>> I'm going to be out the whole of tomorrow, Deiter, so I'm leaving it sufficiently ambiguous for you in case you want some night adventures for Altair

What was happening in the hall? What would Papa do to Altair? Robyn paced about her room, chewing her nails uncharacteristically. Could he have gone back on his word? She shook her head sternly. Papa would never do that. Papa is always fair and keeps his word.

Mentally, she went through the scenes in her memory that had involved Altair, Papa and herself. There were a number of these, but mainly moments when Papa had chanced upon them when they had emerged from forbidden territories, and lectured them thereafter. Groaning, she realised the pattern in all these dealings. Papa has always seen the wild, naughty streak of Altair. Never the gentle and kind side... And those instances had not even been of a harsh nature, such as those Altair had since run into. Please, Altair... don't fail me... don't fail us. Her faith was wavering when she considered her father's high standards of morals, those she herself had tried so hard to attain but failed in the past. Please, Papa, have an open mind...

It was then that she heard the familiar footsteps, followed by the familiar knock on the door and that familiar voice. Not knowing whether to rejoice or tremble, she answered falteringly.

"Please enter, Papa."

The father who came into her room bore brooding and weary eyes, eyes that beckoned to her to have mercy on him just as she was hoping that he would be forgiving towards her beloved. Papa is tired. And no wonder. Her heart began to ache for him, especially when she had learnt of Mama's death a few moments ago. My sorrow for Mama can never reach even a-tenth of that Papa must be feeling.

For she had never truly loved her mother, who had laid the barriers in the form of superficiality between herself and her daughter. In her childhood, she had heard about rare toys from kindly strangers; in her adolescence, she had started hearing about the hateful world of beauty, jewels, beautiful clothes, family wealth and inheritances. It was not that she abhorred these possessions - who in the right mind could, if they were there for the taking? - but because they pushed her away from the soul of Yasmine Mehlingard. The more she had tried to reach out to Mama, the more she had been repelled by those hurtful words. Now, it seemed that the death of her mother was in a sense, a release from a daily ritual which meant nothing to her.

"I have spoken to Altair, Robyn." She jerked back to reality, studying her father's countenance. It was not easy to decipher the feelings beneath it, however, because of his obvious exhaustion. "I have to tell you, daughter, that I am not impressed by the fresh tales he brings back." There was a coolness in his tone which half-brought tears to her eyes. "His only redeeming feature is that he tells the truth... but even that, he hides as much as he can."

Nothing that Papa had just uttered was untrue. She could only stand wretchedly, soaking in his preliminary judgement of the one she loved so much. I should speak up for Altair... But in Papa's current mood, to say more might cause her intentions to backfire. Besides... and here, her heart softened... Papa really should rest.

Nodding in a daze, she finally replied, her eyes glistening in the candlelight. "You have a right to your views, Papa, and it would be really unfair and selfish for me to start defending Altair right now, for I would not stop anytime within the next couple of hours if I were to do so." Was that a grin on Papa's face? Her spirits lifted as she saw that with just these words, she had managed to insert some humour into his heart.

"I hope that you will have a good night's sleep and sweet dreams, Papa." Impulsively, she walked up to him and gave him a bear hug, which he returned feelingly. "But tomorrow, you must give Altair and I another chance." She nestled her head against his broad chest. "Is it agreed, Papa?"

Gerald held his precious daughter tightly. If only I didn't ever had to let you go... On a night like this, when all momentous events seemed to be over, all he wanted was for his little girl to lie in bed, listening to himself count over and over again until she fell asleep. If only you hadn't grown up so soon. Why couldn't she forever be running up to him, demanding for more horseriding and archery lessons? Now, she might even have bested him! If only you hadn't fallen for that scoundrel so soon...

The last thought pained him and he tried to stifle it as he released her eventually. "I'll think about it, Robyn." He was not about to give up his authority so soon, and to let her be misled by a good-for-nothing... There you go again, Gerald! You've got to stop thinking, that's your problem.

Brushing her cheeks with the tip of his right thumb, he bent forward and kissed her forehead before wishing her goodnight.

"Sleep tight yourself, my pet. Tomorrow will be a better day."

08-11-2006, 09:24 AM	#263
mistral4543 Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: House of Freelight Age: 48 Posts: 3,159	OOC>>> I'm going to be out the whole of tomorrow, Deiter, so I'm leaving it sufficiently ambiguous for you in case you want some night adventures for Altair What was happening in the hall? What would Papa do to Altair? Robyn paced about her room, chewing her nails uncharacteristically. Could he have gone back on his word? She shook her head sternly. Papa would never do that. Papa is always fair and keeps his word. Mentally, she went through the scenes in her memory that had involved Altair, Papa and herself. There were a number of these, but mainly moments when Papa had chanced upon them when they had emerged from forbidden territories, and lectured them thereafter. Groaning, she realised the pattern in all these dealings. Papa has always seen the wild, naughty streak of Altair. Never the gentle and kind side... And those instances had not even been of a harsh nature, such as those Altair had since run into. Please, Altair... don't fail me... don't fail us. Her faith was wavering when she considered her father's high standards of morals, those she herself had tried so hard to attain but failed in the past. Please, Papa, have an open mind... It was then that she heard the familiar footsteps, followed by the familiar knock on the door and that familiar voice. Not knowing whether to rejoice or tremble, she answered falteringly. "Please enter, Papa." The father who came into her room bore brooding and weary eyes, eyes that beckoned to her to have mercy on him just as she was hoping that he would be forgiving towards her beloved. Papa is tired. And no wonder. Her heart began to ache for him, especially when she had learnt of Mama's death a few moments ago. My sorrow for Mama can never reach even a-tenth of that Papa must be feeling. For she had never truly loved her mother, who had laid the barriers in the form of superficiality between herself and her daughter. In her childhood, she had heard about rare toys from kindly strangers; in her adolescence, she had started hearing about the hateful world of beauty, jewels, beautiful clothes, family wealth and inheritances. It was not that she abhorred these possessions - who in the right mind could, if they were there for the taking? - but because they pushed her away from the soul of Yasmine Mehlingard. The more she had tried to reach out to Mama, the more she had been repelled by those hurtful words. Now, it seemed that the death of her mother was in a sense, a release from a daily ritual which meant nothing to her. "I have spoken to Altair, Robyn." She jerked back to reality, studying her father's countenance. It was not easy to decipher the feelings beneath it, however, because of his obvious exhaustion. "I have to tell you, daughter, that I am not impressed by the fresh tales he brings back." There was a coolness in his tone which half-brought tears to her eyes. "His only redeeming feature is that he tells the truth... but even that, he hides as much as he can." Nothing that Papa had just uttered was untrue. She could only stand wretchedly, soaking in his preliminary judgement of the one she loved so much. I should speak up for Altair... But in Papa's current mood, to say more might cause her intentions to backfire. Besides... and here, her heart softened... Papa really should rest. Nodding in a daze, she finally replied, her eyes glistening in the candlelight. "You have a right to your views, Papa, and it would be really unfair and selfish for me to start defending Altair right now, for I would not stop anytime within the next couple of hours if I were to do so." Was that a grin on Papa's face? Her spirits lifted as she saw that with just these words, she had managed to insert some humour into his heart. "I hope that you will have a good night's sleep and sweet dreams, Papa." Impulsively, she walked up to him and gave him a bear hug, which he returned feelingly. "But tomorrow, you must give Altair and I another chance." She nestled her head against his broad chest. "Is it agreed, Papa?" Gerald held his precious daughter tightly. If only I didn't ever had to let you go... On a night like this, when all momentous events seemed to be over, all he wanted was for his little girl to lie in bed, listening to himself count over and over again until she fell asleep. If only you hadn't grown up so soon. Why couldn't she forever be running up to him, demanding for more horseriding and archery lessons? Now, she might even have bested him! If only you hadn't fallen for that scoundrel so soon... The last thought pained him and he tried to stifle it as he released her eventually. "I'll think about it, Robyn." He was not about to give up his authority so soon, and to let her be misled by a good-for-nothing... There you go again, Gerald! You've got to stop thinking, that's your problem. Brushing her cheeks with the tip of his right thumb, he bent forward and kissed her forehead before wishing her goodnight. "Sleep tight yourself, my pet. Tomorrow will be a better day."