The Unquiet Past, part 1

[lilfluff]

After debating for much of the day I decided to post the first portion. For anyone who skipped the previous post this is my unofficial nanowrimo effort (I haven't actually taken the time to set up an account at NaNoWriMo.org). I spent the first several days working out who the characters were and a few of the major plot elements, which means that at my current words per day rate I will run well short of 50k words. I'll have to see how many words I manage on the weekend, and if I manage to keep modestly upping the words per day rate.

Warnings: This is a fanfic for those allergic to that, set in the universe of Peta Hewitt's (chaypeta

) comic Terinu. Set on the world of Vulpine Prime, so yes, if you're allergic to furry the majority of the population are aliens who look like anthropomorphic foxes. For the rest of us, part one of the story comes under the cut.

{include: non-standard disclaimer} Terinu is a really cool and nifty webcomic. If you think my story is nice, go read the source material, it's even better. Fanfic written without prior approval or permission of Peta. She has been pretty cool about fanfic in the past however. Hey, she's nifty. Have I said to go read Terinu yet? Oh, but make sure you have time to work through the archives. Aren't Rufus and Melika made of awesome? The rest of the cast too, but hey, extra props to the Vulpine characters since this fic is set on their homeworld. Peta is of course free to ignore or use anything here as she likes. It's her sandbox, please don't send me home before cookie time, I wanna finally try a Tim Tam. (Silly grocery store put up a display bragging about stocking "Australia's Favorite Cookie" and stocked the entire display with packages nigh a month past the sell/eat by date). {end: non-standard disclaimer}

“We have arrived, milady.”

Doris looked up from her notes as the ground car rolled to a stop. Giving a soft grumble, a growl really if she was to be honest with herself, as she looked out at the town she had arrived in. Turning her eyes back to her driver. Forcing her ears to lift once more. I am a Sharpear, she thought to herself, they will see me calm and in control.

“So I see Nicol.” Looking quietly out the window for a moment. Delaying the inevitable. “Excellent driving as always.”

As she opened the door she could see a small welcoming delegation approaching ahead of the rest of the commoners who had spotted her arrival. Time to go do as Mother wishes and listen to the scoundrels, sighing softly as she caught herself once more. No, I cannot show any of that. Time to go listen to our subjects however much it galls.

The soft patter of a child's feet caught her ears as a human girl ran up to the approaching welcoming delegation, sharing a few quiet words with two of the adults. Not even half my age I expect, Doris thought to herself as she looked over the girl, still a child, but surely old enough to know better than to interrupt adult business without good reason. The quiet words finished and the girl turned to Doris with a shy smile and walked ahead of the delegation with more measured steps the rest of the way to her. Bowing deeply as she reached Doris.

“Milady Sharpears, please allow me to welcome you on behalf of the families of Five Spring Valley.”

Doris frowned for a moment before she caught herself. But the girl noticed, freezing in place for a heartbeat before seeming to mentally check for how she might have offended. Straighting her back and at least trying to speak in a steadier less excited voice, perhaps hoping to sound less like a child. “Please be most welcome among us in this time of remembrance. We are honored by your presence milady.” The girl held out a paper wrapped bouquet of flowers flashing her shy smile again.

Doris forced a smile to stay her face this time, I will not take things out on a cub, I will not do that. “Thank you, child. They are quite nice.” Accepting the flowers Doris saw the girl's smile grow before she bowed and darted back to the welcoming committee, accepting a quick hug from one of the human males before slipping back to the small crowd that had gathered.

A tan furred vixen came forward after the girl retreated. “I am Talli Quickfoot, milady, head of Five Spring Valley's town council. I must admit we feared we would have to do without your family's presence this Remembrance. The Remembrance is only held every ten years and it just wouldn't be the same without a Sharpear attending.

“If I may introduce the others, Henry Jacobs, of the Twelve Families Historical Society.” One of the human males stepped forward and bowed, showing the top of his red furred head to her, no not fur but hair, she reminded herself. “Darrin Liard, manager of medicinal greenhouses.” An elderly gray furred male bowed in turn, appearing quite healthy for his apparent age. A handful more were introduced before Talli turned to wave forward one more at the back. Doris finally noticing a face that grabbed all her attention.

“Finally, if he will forgive me for ignoring his claim to shyness. Lord Jagen Shaventail, here to represent his family at this Remembrance has offered his assistance to the planning committee.”

He smiled, “Oh, but purely out of transparent self interest.” Removing the cap of his house uniform before giving her a bow that would look more at home on a stage than a town square.

Doris took one look at Jagen, barely hearing Talli or Jagen's words. An honest smile coming to her face, “Jagen, I thought you said in school that you couldn't take that name of yours seriously. Why... How long ago did you...”

“Shave my tail?” The wave of his tail seemed to match the mirth in his voice, but looked ever so strange with only a short fuzz of fur covering it, nearly bare skin. “Just before I set out for my obligatory three in the navy. I still think the family history is a bit absurd. How we are ever supposed to complete a forgotten quest not one family member has puzzled out in centuries of trying. But if we can't take the absurd seriously, how can we ever hope to give the serious its due?”

Doris shook her head, her but her smile remained. “Somehow I always thought you would be one of the Shaventail's to skip that crazy tradition. But looking back, I do believe I can see it now in the Jagen I knew.”

“If I did skip the family tradition I'd feel obligated to use our old name instead.” Laughing at a thought, “You know as well as I that my family's old name is one of the secrets lost to the Subjugation. Even the Brushtail's pet digger doesn't claim to know that.”

“Crazy or not, I am happy to see you Jagen. I haven't heard a word of you since graduation.”

* * *

Heading in to the Planning Committee's offices, Talli motioned for Doris to follow her into an alcove. “Milady, I hope I am not being to forward, I truly don't mean to be rude. I want to say that you're presence here really does mean a great deal to us. You may not have said anything publicly, but for any of us who have paid attention it is clear that you do not care for Five Spring Valley. That you would still come – ”

“I would not be here given the choice Miss Quickfoot, you are right about that.” Doris frowned, giving Talli a hard look before continuing, “Holy Den Mother willing I will never need to return. I would prefer that this down town had never been founded, but that decision is long past deciding. You are here and you are part of my family's holdings. You have my word I will stay and do my duty to my family and people.”

“Oh, milady you don't have to say that. I never meant to imply that you wouldn't, we have never doubted in your honor. I only wanted to say that if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable you only need to ask. I –”

“Have already received my word. I do not wish to discuss this further Miss Quickfoot.”

“As you wish milady.” Talli seemed reluctant to stop with just that, but motioned back to the hall, “If you wish to rejoin the others we have a light luncheon prepared to discuss the final preparations.”

At one time Doris would possibly have been surprised to see the simple spread of food laid out on the table called a luncheon. A pair of platters held a modest selection of fresh fruit and small finger sandwiches. But her time in the Vulpine Space Force, even if she held no illusions about receiving somewhat better treatment than the average commoner recruit, was enough to have made clear just how much luxury she had grown up thinking normal was anything but.

“As I mentioned earlier, there are three traditional roles that the Sharpear's have at Remembrance. First, a few words are expected at the opening ceremonies.”

“I have a copy of what my Mother planned to say, I will need to make a few revisions but not many.”

Talli nodded and continued. “The Remembrance ends at the close of the week with a quieter ceremony at the Sharpear's marker in the Valley Memorial Garden. And since they days of Lord Gregor Sharpear there has always been a visit to our school and a speech at their assembly.”

Doris looked up quickly from skimming her Mother's planned speech. “An assembly?”

“According to what I have read, your great-grandfather heard that some of the cubs would be putting on a play and decided to go and watch them. After the rest of the events were over the Headmistress of the school gave her closing comments and Lord Gregor walked up and asked if he might offer a few words.”

To the other side of Talli, Henry spoke up. “Over at the Historical Archives we have a letter from one of the students who was there that day. She said it was Lord Gregor's praise that day which encouraged her to continue acting. The stage may have taken Mirelle Seladon from our town, but it's hard to argue with the results.”

“She was from Five Springs?” Her face still mostly blank, but surprise clear in her voice.

“Indeed. She settled with her husband's family to be closer to the major theaters, but she was born here. She left many of her papers as part of a donation to the Society in her will.”

“I see,” Doris frowned but nodded, “Mother didn't give me anything for that but I can manage. They are cubs not the Council of Farm Lords or a Court Martial.”

* * *

The luncheon meeting was over in only just an hour, after which Talli offered to lead a short tour of the town's major features. The idea agreeable to Doris if only for the opportunity to speak with Jagen again.

“I still cannot believe you did that.”

“Surely my tail isn't the most interesting thing about me. Wouldn't you rather hear of my glorious time in the Navy Quartermaster Corp? I can tell you all about the nefarious crates we captured and paperwork mercilessly filed.”

“Jagen and paperwork? Is this a tale of romance? You always had a love of paperwork.”

“Certainly. But not one for polite company. After all, the quartermaster's paperwork was but a mistress, to give the story's scoundrel company until he returned to his true love, his own family's paperwork.”

She turned a puzzled look to him. “True, hardly a proper tale. I thought however that your brother held the position of Family Land Administrator?” Frowning at the sudden serious look her gave her.

“For a moment there I think I got an actual smile out of you. That would make two of them today. I will have to put this in my diary.”

“Jagen, be serious.”

“Oh, believe me, I am. Certainly you smile. Occasionally. I have pictures somewhere to prove it. But do you have any idea how rare it is for anyone to catch a true smile from you?”

“You are avoiding the question.”

“Very well, milady, if you insist I shall answer. Yes, my elder brother is indeed the family land administrator. But I convinced him that it would be no shame to accept an assistant. It so happens that as soon as he agreed he might be able to use one he found a volunteer right in front of him.”

They found themselves arriving at the greenhouses even as Doris shook her head at his obvious amusement. While Darrin gestured widely with his arms to the building before them and three more beside it. “Our four largest above ground greenhouses, which allow us to grow over a dozen medicinal varieties under controlled conditions year round. The lines we've bred here are considered some of the finest around. They provide not only for the local market but even provide one of this district's exports. I would show you the underground crops as well but –“

“But,” Talli continued for him, “while we could easily get to all our stops through the underground passageways, on a day with such perfect weather it would be a shame not to walk up here.”

Another male near Darrin, a representative of the local farmers as Doris recalled, spoke up. “It isn't only medicinal crops we're growing within the mountains. We have the largest mushroom crops of any site in the district and those next door as well.”

The rest of the tour proved much the same. Old buildings from the town's founding, some built on pre-subjugation ruins. Another old building for the historical society, with archives apparently in a private set of tunnels dug into the mountainside, although they didn't explore those.

* * *

Doris relaxed in her guest suite as evening came, declining all invitations with the simple explanation that she was tired from the trip and meetings. I will either need a better excuse tomorrow or simply endure.

“Milady, Lord Shaventail has inquired as to whether you would take any guests this evening.”

“I will receive him, Nicol, but please decline anyone else unless it truly sounds necessary.”

Nicol brought Jagen in to the suite's sitting room a few minutes later. Withdrawing after bringing them tea.

“Tell me Doris, do you think it's possible I might record a third smile on this trip?”

“This again? I may have exaggerated how tired I am, but it isn't a lie Jagen. If you actually have a reason for being here, may we skip the pointless chatter and get right to it? Or if it is only for the chatter, let me know now.”

“Doris Sharpear, I truly am serious. As cubs you were as silly as I can be, on any occasion I can recall our meeting as cublings you were as playful as I. That was quite a few times, what with our families being allied as close to forever as you can get in politics. And then when our schooling finally crosses that playful cub has become the most serious one in the room.”

“It is called growing up. Even you, Jagen, have managed a little of that.”

“There is more to it than that. Surely you know some of us worried for you. Even if you did make a useful study partner.”

“A useful study partner? Was that all I was to any of you?”

“And now Doris you are the one avoiding the question.”

“What question? If you want an answer, stop dancing your words around it and ask.”

“What happened?” Jagen shook his head, “No, I am pretty sure I know the answer to that.”

“Jagen, I am too tired for this.”

“You mean rather that you would prefer not to talk about it.”

“Fine. Since you clearly understand, kindly change the subject or leave and allow me some peace tonight.”

“I suppose the proper question is when will you get past it. I really was surprised to see you here. If word hadn't arrived I would have offered to step in soon. I may not be a Sharpear, but the Shaventails were...”

“I said, change the subject.”

“Do you really think Lady Marissa would want you, to,” Jagen's voice dropped as he suddenly found Doris standing directly in front of his chair, staring down at him without a trace of emotion on her face or voice.

“Leave. Now.”

“Doris, I,” he looked down, pinching the top of his muzzle as he closed his eyes. “Fruit. This isn't going how I meant it. Look. My family was a part of this town's start and even I find it bizarre. More so than my own family's history. Maybe as a cub, but surely now you cannot still hold them responsible for – ” His eyes snapped back open, he paw moving to touch his cheek where she slapped him.

“Shut up!” For all that her voice had grown louder it felt cold, more emotion betrayed in the swinging of her arm as it punctuated her words coming close to slapping again. “I know perfectly well Grandmother would scold me for it, but it bloody well is their fault. If not for this stupid town I would still have my grandmother! There is nothing, nothing they can do that will bring her back to me...”

Doris stared at her paw, finally feeling the sting from the slap. “Go back to your own rooms. Please. I'm sorry. I'm tired. Just go away.” Letting her arm drop back to her side. Turning and walking from the room without another word.

Jagen stared at the doorway until he heard a throat cleared softly at his side. Looking up numbly to Nicol. “Your cap, milord.”

“Thank you... I swear, I was only trying to help.”

“Yes milord. I believe it would be if you left now.”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

* * *

“Lord Shaventail has left milady.” Nicol paused at the doorway before turning to leave her to her privacy.

“Nicol.” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but he still heard and turned back to her.

“Yes milady?”

“You have relatives here?”

“Yes milady.” After she didn't speak he added, “An aunt and her family, milady.”

“After breakfast, I believe I can manage on my own. I appreciate your help, but you should visit them. At least one of us should get some enjoyment out of this trip.”

“As you wish, milady.”

*** End of Part 1 ***

Well. I guess it's a good thing I didn't promise a story of cookies and sunshine. I do hope however that the formatting doesn't end up utterly scrambled. It at least looks like I can do a copy&paste from open office and have the italics carry over. Looks like there is some other formatting interestingness and extraneous detail in the html it generates...

Royce mentioned some time back that he was having trouble getting Vulpine to argue in anything but a, "I'll polite talk you until it makes you bleed" manner. Well, just a guess here (okay, not a guess, it's right in her brief character notes) but Doris is not a happy Vulpine. She has at least managed to be polite in public.

Comments

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

No she is not happy at all is she. Makes me wonder what happened to her grandmother and why being there hurts so much. Nice bit of characterization there. I was inclined by the opening paragraphs to think she was just walking around with a stick up her tail, but obviously there's something deeper going here.

Don't stop!

"Sharpears" hehe. The family has done well since poor Sam died.

[lilfluff.livejournal.com]

*blink*

*ponders* *searches*

Well. No wonder I ended up settling on that as the best family name.

As for Doris, hmm, would it be telling to pull out notes? Guess it's no spoiler to say that she's trying to bury her emotions. And she really does think she's doing the right thing to do so.

"No really Doris, think of your great-great-great-great-(several minutes and deep breaths later)-great grandmother. What would she think?"

"Oh really now, you know that story is not canon."

"Doris dear, you aren't exactly canon either."

"Really now, next you will claim I'm not real."

Oh, look at the time. Almost midnight. Have to run. :}

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Snerks

Just don't have her run into a vulp Marine who's had 75% of his body replaced by cybernetics. :)

[lilfluff.livejournal.com]

Well, I did get 800 more words last night (completely messing up my sleep, should have been heading to bed when I started rather than when I finished).

With fighting, explosions, cheep special effects... But no 75% cybernetic Marines, vulpine or otherwise.

[mjkj.livejournal.com]

Nice one, thanks for sharing...

You really had me enthralled there :)

I just hope she will have some meetings with people that will get her over whatever it is that had happened (maybe someone who knew her grandmother and is able to put all into the right perspective/her grandmother's perspective for her...)

Looking forward for more :)

mjkj

[lilfluff.livejournal.com]

Meet someone and gain some perspective? You mean [redacted] who she will discover is [redacted] because of [redacted]? Are you peeking at my notes? Next you'll say you already know that [redacted] is going to [also redacted].


Today was a wash for writing (and sadly breakfast too). But I'm hoping tomorrow will prove more fruitful.

(And fight the urge to do more editing. Write, thorough editing can wait until a draft is done! Hmm, well, perhaps to add in that missing word.)