Flashback Killing Hearts

[Jed Sitai] Wherein past history reveals character.

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This lazy agricultural settlement rests on the swampy shores of the Middle Suvan at the delta of The Kenash River. The River's slow moving bayou waters have bred a different sort of people - rugged, cultured, and somewhat violent. Sprawling plantations of tobacco and cotton grow on the outskirts of the swamp in the rich Cyphrus soils, while the city itself curls around the bayou and spawns decadence and sins of all sorts. Life is slower in Kenash, but the lack of pace is made up for in the excesses of food and flesh in a city where drinking, debauchery, gambling, slavery, and overbearing plantation families dominate the landscape.

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Killing Hearts

Postby Jaadis Sitai on September 7th, 2013, 2:20 am

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13th of Spring, 501 AV.

To Jaadis, the sickroom smelled like death.

She had smelled death only once before, when a clumsy old grandfather had fallen off a balcony and died. Much and more of the Sitai family had come out of the woodwork for his burial. Jaadis remembered the obsequy like it was yesterday; The hot summer air breathing in from the swamps; the old cemetery gravestones, pressing up out of the ground like stone fingers; and the open casket that stood before her, in which the old man himself had been displayed for all of Mizahar to see.

Most of all, though, she remembered the stench. In death Grandfather stunk like a wild pig, and though much of the family was far enough away to grin and bear it, Jaadis had been standing up front with Uncle Dervain and his brood – for her mother hadn’t roused herself to attend the funeral, of course. The smell had almost made her heave, right there, as the last funeral rites were given and a favorable reincarnation was prayed for. But she had felt the hot eyes of her family on her back and had no choice but to choke it on down.

Jed Sitai’s bedroom reminded her of that day. The sickroom, she had taken to calling it, for her cousin was poor of health more often than naught and weak besides. All of Kenash knew that. He was the head of household’s child, however, and that permitted him several luxuries that Jaadis doubted several more distant relations would have been provided. He was still a child, however, younger than Jaadis by four years. Perhaps in time he would grow into a strong man. But Jaadis doubted it.

Today, like most days, the sickroom was inhabited. Jed had come down with some sickness again, and Jaadis didn’t know and didn’t care. She only knew it was not infectious. Consequently, his door was open, and house slaves went to and fro...but Jaadis lingered at the threshold. She and Jed were not exactly close – they barely talked, in fact. Because of Jaadis’s mother and the way she was scarcely anyone talked to Jaadis. Jed might inquire as to her presence, and though she had a pretext, it was a flimsy one. And then there was that smell!

But Jaadis felt the fire burn within her, and knew that something had to be done. She had to find a release.

So, like Grandfather’s burial, she stomached the stench and pushed her way in. “Cousin?” she inquired with her sweetest voice as she entered his chamber. She was sixteen, and innocent and pretty besides - surely that would overrule any objections Jed might have? Jaadis couldn’t be sure. “I’ve brought you lunch...”
Last edited by Jaadis Sitai on September 23rd, 2013, 11:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Credit to Banickle for creating the Sitai insignia (since I'm going to use it often)!
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Jaadis Sitai
From on a throne of roses
 
Posts: 31
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Joined roleplay: June 24th, 2013, 10:20 pm
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Killing Hearts

Postby Jed Sitai on September 10th, 2013, 5:51 pm

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Sometime during the night, the fever that plagued him for days departed, leaving behind a mess of sweaty nightclothes and sheets. His lips parted, stretching as yet another yawn tumbled through. Rubbing at his watering eyes, the child pushed himself up from the pile of pillows, wincing at the familiar pounding in his temple. Another migraine, this time likely caused by the irregular sleep the night before, or so his personal doctor informed. Jed tried to remember the doctor's orders, but each thought sent another stabbing sensation to his skull, discouraging anything but muffled groans.

With his head burrowed in a pillow, any sound of entry fell on deaf ears. It was not until the familiar scent of oatmeal and feverfew tea that Jed realized he was not alone. He loosened his grip, commanding through the small opening in a hushed voice. "The table." Before retreating into the soft cavern. However, in sensing their hesitation, he took a closer look. "Jaadis." The child muttered, surprise stretching his voice. Removing his cotton helmet, Jed winced upon seeing light behind his cousin. Temporarily incapacitated with pain, the Sitai could only withdraw into a loose, ball shape as he tucked his head between his knees. After a moment, the throbbing subsided and he was able to speak. "Please close the door." Then, minding his manners, he added. "Thank you, but you didn't have to come all this way just to deliver this." His father would have been proud to see the young Sitai so courteous, the result of his privileged education and the validation that his mizas were well spent. Most of the family thought it wasteful, for they often whispered that Jed would not live his teens let alone amount to a person of use to the family. He was not unaware of their opinions, with his sense for the emotions and intentions of others more of a curse than gift in those times, but neither was he helpless to their words. Strength came in all forms, his was simply lying in wait.

When Jaadis came closer and away from the blinding light, Jed was offered a better view of his acquainted relative. Pale and red haired, a sickly combination that lead him to wonder who truly was the patient here. Yet she was lovely in her youth, sweet, an impressive amateur painting come to life. Otherwise, the child thought little else of his cousin, much like most of his more distant family. And why would he? His world was this room, and at times, the garden. Most tend to stay away from the infamous bedroom in fear of catching whatever disease plagued him at the time, sending slaves to the slaughter instead. He couldn't even remember the last time one of his family came to visit. Realizing this was a rare chance, Jed layered on the courteous tone, hoping she would stay long enough for him to question her presence.

"Please, sit." His small hand gestured toward a lone chair by the bed as he readjusted himself. With eyes bright yet equally distant, he continued to speak softly as he tread past the landmines of his migraine.

"What brings you here?"

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Jed Sitai
Wandering a walled garden
 
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Joined roleplay: July 30th, 2013, 10:15 pm
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Killing Hearts

Postby Jaadis Sitai on September 14th, 2013, 9:34 pm

Jaadis followed her cousin’s directions with the kindest of smiles, setting the tray of oatmeal and tea down on the table delicately. She closed the door even lighter, to spare Jed any more discomfort, and she knew the look she gave to the household slaves waiting without was enough to keep them from interrupting her.

She did not want to be disturbed while at her work.

Jaadis turned back to her cousin and saw it was worst than she thought. Jed was cocooned in a mess of sheets and a cotton helmet, his voice the weakest whisper and eyes watery. He was darker than her, given the Sitai hue that she sorely lacked - the hue that distinguished her as different - and yet the sheen of sickness made him seem to Jaadis as almost paler than her. A fever, the family doctor had said. Common among slaves and freeborn toiling in those dirty, disease-breeding fields, and it seemed that not even the dynasties could escape the suffocating swamp altogether. It was probably hell for Jed.

And then he asked her why she was here. Because you are weak, dear cousin, and that makes you an easy target.

But Jaadis’s large grey eyes were guileless. “You are right,” she sighed, “I did not come all this way just to deliver you lunch. No, I wanted to see how you were, dearest Jed. The whole family knows of your fragility, and I wanted to make sure you were getting better.” Only the lightest of stresses were laid upon the beginning of that last sentence, and she smiled innocently.

She took the seat Jed had offered. An expression of utmost care was on her face, and she leaned over the child to look down upon him. A hand rose to his forehead to feel the heat beating there. Lips, painted a light shade of pink, pursed in something that could be taken as worry.

“You are so warm,” Jaadis murmured. “How do you feel?”
Last edited by Jaadis Sitai on September 23rd, 2013, 11:53 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Credit to Banickle for creating the Sitai insignia (since I'm going to use it often)!
User avatar
Jaadis Sitai
From on a throne of roses
 
Posts: 31
Words: 17477
Joined roleplay: June 24th, 2013, 10:20 pm
Location: Kenash
Race: Human
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Killing Hearts

Postby Jed Sitai on September 22nd, 2013, 10:48 pm

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"That's kind of you, Jaadis." He replied, swallowing her excuse with the briefest of reluctance. Living in near seclusion tend to make for an easy target, particularly when he was also negligent of the outside world. In the past, Jed would wait faithfully for a slave to return with news, any news, but now even in his young age he grew weary of the longing that followed. If the world was beyond his reach, he would create his own, or so the young Sitai believed. However, by pushing that reality away, Jed was oblivious to any rumors or scandals that involved his dear cousin. When combined by her sudden appearance and his desire for company, he easily dismissed the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach.

When Jaadis eased closer, her hand reaching for him, the younger Sitai was much too shocked by the gesture to react. Frozen in place, Jed simply stared back with that hazy look that seemed to melt his eyes into chocolate. Belatedly, he enjoyed the brief physical contact, soaking in the cool of her palm against his warm skin. She does care. The child smiled mentally with the thought despite the knowing that he was simply convincing himself to look the other way.

"I am better now, after last night's rest. Only migraines are left from the fever." He replied obediently, feeling as though he were being examined by his doctor and responded as a regular patient would. Once Jaadis removed her hand, he then reached over to the table and captured the gently steaming cup in his hand. Blowing over the surface, he then gingerly took the tea to his lips and sipped, drinking in the soothing texture. Satisfied, Jed placed the cup back on to the table and cleared his throat, already feeling some sort of effect (imagined or otherwise) reaching his aching temples. "The tea helps with them." He added calmly, filling in the silence created by his drinking. "I think the herb is feverfew? A slave mentioned it once." Jed was verging on rambling, so inexperienced as he was with socializing as slaves and servants obviously do not count. FInished with the tea topic, he was quick to find another.

"What do you like to do for fun Jaadis?"

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Jed Sitai
Wandering a walled garden
 
Posts: 18
Words: 12525
Joined roleplay: July 30th, 2013, 10:15 pm
Location: Kenash
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes

Killing Hearts

Postby Jaadis Sitai on September 24th, 2013, 12:12 am

Jaadis made the appropriate noises as Jed rambled, continuing to stare into his chocolaty eyes long after he had turned away. Was that happiness she saw there, perhaps even longing? Sickness could ravage not only the body, but the mind as well, she knew. Perhaps that is why he swallowed her pretext so easily. Something like contempt roiled her stomach.

She leaned back, and the joints of the aged armchair protested mightily. But beyond the squealing of her chair and Jed’s occasional slurp as he drank his tea, the room was utterly silent. Jaadis seemed content with this, as she reclined languidly with a single eyebrow cocked in utmost arrogance. Beneath were sanguine grey eyes, which almost seemed like thunderclouds, churning and rumbling, about ready to explode into rain and lightning.

And then Jed spoke again, and the storm raged even stronger.

“Feverfew? Yes, I do believe so.” Jaadis rocked her head to the side and smiled. “You would be well familiar with such a brew, wouldn’t you?” The smile grew biting as her words did.

When Jed asked after her interests, Jaadis stood up suddenly. “Oh, there are many things I would like to do, dearest cousin, but unfortunately you and your father are…standing in my way, shall we say?” Jaadis laughed, and yet there was no humor behind it.

The girl, so young and so hateful, tilted her head. Ringlets as red as roses were sent flying over a single delicate shoulder. “Let me ask you something, Jed. Do you remember the first time you ever fell sick?”

The storm in Jaadis’s eyes had all but broken loose, and yet the smile did not so much as flicker. Jaadis awaited her cousin’s response with nothing but poise.
Credit to Banickle for creating the Sitai insignia (since I'm going to use it often)!
User avatar
Jaadis Sitai
From on a throne of roses
 
Posts: 31
Words: 17477
Joined roleplay: June 24th, 2013, 10:20 pm
Location: Kenash
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Scrapbook


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