http://bitchofhearts.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] bitchofhearts.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] houseofcards_rp2012-05-24 02:59 pm

[OTA] A Mother's Love...

There was nothing that said she had less than perfect love for her children. She, at least, had something that came close to the appearance of love for them. She devoted her time to their education, she devoted her skill to their training- indeed, she had given up husband and suit for their protection. Or, rather, for Hadyn's.

And yet he repaid her love and devotion with abject folly and indiscriminately poor choice. Was this the son she had raised? Had she not given him milk from her own breast, nursed him through illness, kissed his head when he laid down and slept? All she had ever asked from him in return was the pure, unquestioning obedience of a son. She asked of him perfection, and dutiful study. In her hands Hadyn's future could reach for the stars- but only so far if he chose not to listen.

First the medical studies- a swift departure from the theatre. And perhaps she could have been persuaded to it except for the eventual truth- he would be forced to study Outside. And what would the Outside teach him? With all their sins and disregard. They did not have respect for their parents, they did not have respect for anyone. So then how could she trust these beast, foul and loathsome, to teach her son? And once more- what if they taught him other things? Other...ideas.

She would hate for her hand to be forced. But then- death was not always the worst fate for man or animal. There always came a time when putting them down was more kind and useful than letting wallow in their pitiful lives.

Still- if the boy could only think to amuse himself with quick, useless displays of force, then perhaps she had failed in her teachings. Such trivial, vile behavior was left to the dogs on a hunt. He was to be Ace, not some mindless drone who reacted with no small pleasure to the breaking of bones. The girl had hardly been worthy of his skill, and simply ignoring her would have likely been as effective- and much less likely to display his vast collection of martial skill.

So perhaps it was little surprise to those who knew Laureline for who she really was, that she was sat on a bench, quietly reading her book while Hadyn was standing some feet off in a most uncomfortable of positions. Should he fall- he would get up, and start his exercise over. Should he make it through the exercise? He would begin a new one much more challenging than the last. And he would continue to do them without break until she was satisfied that he would not make the same mistake twice.

[identity profile] acethatmatters.livejournal.com 2012-05-25 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
Julien nodded to Laureline as he left before approaching Hadyn. "She doesn't seem particularly pleased with you." His voice, at least, sounded even, calm. But also no hint of how he actually felt about his erstwhile student at the moment either. No censure, no disapproval...but no approbation or amusement either. Nothing to give the boy any clues as to how the conversation would go.

"How long has she had you at this?"

[identity profile] maskofhearts.livejournal.com 2012-05-26 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Most of the day, My Lord," Hadyn said, sparing Julien a quick glance before he slowly began to shift his stance to the next movement in the sequence. His legs burned from exhaustion, but he refused to give in to it. If he gave in, he'd only have to stand and repeat it all from step one again- and after the hours of working to where he was?

He did not want to start over again.

[identity profile] acethatmatters.livejournal.com 2012-05-26 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
"I see."

Well, Hadyn wasn't his son to tell him to stop and take a rest, so Julien doesn't bother with that.

"We won't be meeting in a practice room tomorrow. Instead, I would like to see you out on the main field at five A.M. We will not be using weapons."

But you might want some good tennis shoes.

[identity profile] maskofhearts.livejournal.com 2012-05-26 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
Five A.M.? Five? Hadyn hesitated slightly in his movements, glancing at the Ace as if to see how serious he was- or just to get a clue as to what this was going to be....

Before he nodded.

"As my lord says." He murmured with a slow exhale.

Tomorrow was not going to be fun.

At. all.

[identity profile] acethatmatters.livejournal.com 2012-05-26 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
That earned him the briefest upturn of the Ace's lips as he nodded.

"I'll see you then. Goodnight, Hadyn."