FIC Arrangements Part 6
Apr. 21st, 2008 11:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jessara40k_ljTitle: Arrangements chapter 6
Series: Final Fantasy VII AU (Cetra Restoration AU, linked here)
Pairing: Brangwen/Elena
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: If they were mine Aeris and Zack would still be alive, and not just running around in the Lifestream spying on Cloud. Since Aeris and Zack said goodbye to Cloud at the end of AC and disappeared into the Lifestream I guess they aren't mine.
Warnings: AU, slavery, reference to f/f
Elena jumped a bit as she heard a knock at her door, but a deep breath settled her nerves enough for her to invite whoever it was in. She just wanted to meet this Brangwen, to get a bit of an idea about how she was supposed to behave, and with every knock at her door she tensed up in anticipation of meeting the woman who would control her life for the next few years. Ironically most of her current stress was coming from the very courtesy she’d been so impressed by, from the fact that even Cloud, her owner, would knock before entering her room.
The woman entering was one of Cloud’s guards, and a woman, so probably Brangwen and Elena sunk to her knees, spreading her skirts around her to hide the faint shaking of her hands as she bowed her head.
“Elena?”
“Yes madam.” Elena looked up at the woman and forced a small smile, hoping she hadn’t said or done the wrong thing already.
“Get up, you don’t have to kneel to me.” She held out a hand to help Elena up, and Elena felt her smile ease to something more natural as she put her hand in the other woman’s. “And I’m Brangwen, you can use my name.”
“Ah, yes Brangwen.” She wasn’t beautiful the way Rowan was, but Brangwen was attractive, handsome, with an almost masculine look about her whole attitude and her eyes were a striking, almost golden, brown. “Would you care to sit down?” Brangwen hadn’t released her hand and she used that to lead her over to the group of three upholstered chairs set near the window, assuming the Cetra’s agreement. It wasn’t as if she was strong enough to force a warrior caste to do anything she didn’t want to, and Brangwen didn’t object, not even speaking until they were both sitting down.
“Thank you. You know how to dance the mariatha, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes Brangwen.” How did she...of course, Brangwen must have been the guard who’d shown them where they could practice on Rowan’s courtship visit and watched with Scarlet. “But I haven’t had the opportunity to practice in the last week or so.”
“Why not? Have you been forbidden to or something?” A hint of anger coloured Brangwen’s voice, and Elena felt warmed by the thought that it was on her behalf.
“No, I just didn’t want to leave my room in case you came to meet me and couldn’t find me.” Or couldn’t be bothered to look.
“I wasn’t sure I should come to see you before I signed my contract with Cloud, but...Cloud told me that you’d wanted to talk with me.” Brangwen leaned forward, resting one hand against Elena’s cheek with a smile. “You were the dancer wearing an amber costume when I saw you practising your mariatha, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was.” Elena was glad to know that she’d made enough of an impression for Brangwen to remember her, even if she did have to ask for confirmation.
“You were the best dancer there, the only one who danced with the passion the mariatha deserves.” Brangwen sat back, her expression hinting at an almost reverence as she spoke about Elena’s dancing.
“Thank you. I only asked to learn an active form of dance for my art, I never expected to love the mariatha as I do.” And her craft of gem carving had turned out to be more enjoyable than she’d expected as well.
“It isn’t really surprising that you were taught the mariatha then, it’s got a long history, and it’s very important to the warrior caste. A lot of us learn how to dance it ourselves when we’re young.” That was news to Elena, neither of her previous warrior caste owners had indicated anything like that. “I know all of Cloud’s guard know how to dance the mariatha, and I’d like to dance with you at some point, nothing set, just free dancing together.”
“If you would enjoy that. Do you want to dance with me today?” She wasn’t sure why she offered - Elena wanted to be in practice if she was going to dance with her mistress, but Brangwen had asked so wistfully that she couldn’t help responding to that desire.
“No, not today.” She frowned and one hand moved to rest on her lower belly for a moment. “I wouldn’t want to give it less than my full concentration. Not to dance with someone who uses as pure a style as you do. And I couldn’t do that today.”
“Cramps?” Elena wasn’t sure what Brangwen meant by describing her style as ‘pure’, unless it was the fact that as a concubine she had more time and energy to devote to something like dancing while fighters couldn’t afford to waste too much energy on something so purely ornamental. Or maybe it had to do with the way she was speaking of mariatha as something almost spiritual, like the way some of her teachers had described it and the way it almost felt like a meditation at times.
“A bit yes. Not enough to stop me fighting if I have to, but enough that I’d go for stuff I don’t really have to think about when it comes to training. When are you due?”
“In about two weeks.” Elena didn’t even have to think about her answer - it was Brangwen’s right to know.
“So, I’ll make arrangements to meet you for a dance in about a week.” Brangwen stood, and Elena knew that this...meeting, interview, whatever it was, was almost over. It had eased some of her worries about belonging to Cloud but being...assigned to his spouse, but she still didn’t feel as if she knew Brangwen even as well as she’d known the Cetra who’d interviewed her with an eye to buying her.
“If you want to, I’ll be available any time. But I intend to spend the mornings practising my mariatha from now on, unless you wish me to do otherwise?”
“No, that’s fine, on most days anyway. I’ll come to see you after in the afternoons and I’ll tell you the day before I want to dance with you. But...Cloud said you wanted to meet me, was there something you wanted to ask about specifically?”
“Yes, I want permission to cut my hair short.”
“You need permission - never mind.” Brangwen shook her head quickly and Elena took that as a refusal, before she continued speaking. “How short do you want to cut it?”
“Somewhere between just beneath my ears and to my shoulders.” She’d prefer to get her hair cut to just beneath her ears, but she’d settle for having it just touching her shoulders.
“Hmm...that sounds reasonable enough. Go ahead. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” And with that she turned and walked out.
Series: Final Fantasy VII AU (Cetra Restoration AU, linked here)
Pairing: Brangwen/Elena
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: If they were mine Aeris and Zack would still be alive, and not just running around in the Lifestream spying on Cloud. Since Aeris and Zack said goodbye to Cloud at the end of AC and disappeared into the Lifestream I guess they aren't mine.
Warnings: AU, slavery, reference to f/f
Elena jumped a bit as she heard a knock at her door, but a deep breath settled her nerves enough for her to invite whoever it was in. She just wanted to meet this Brangwen, to get a bit of an idea about how she was supposed to behave, and with every knock at her door she tensed up in anticipation of meeting the woman who would control her life for the next few years. Ironically most of her current stress was coming from the very courtesy she’d been so impressed by, from the fact that even Cloud, her owner, would knock before entering her room.
The woman entering was one of Cloud’s guards, and a woman, so probably Brangwen and Elena sunk to her knees, spreading her skirts around her to hide the faint shaking of her hands as she bowed her head.
“Elena?”
“Yes madam.” Elena looked up at the woman and forced a small smile, hoping she hadn’t said or done the wrong thing already.
“Get up, you don’t have to kneel to me.” She held out a hand to help Elena up, and Elena felt her smile ease to something more natural as she put her hand in the other woman’s. “And I’m Brangwen, you can use my name.”
“Ah, yes Brangwen.” She wasn’t beautiful the way Rowan was, but Brangwen was attractive, handsome, with an almost masculine look about her whole attitude and her eyes were a striking, almost golden, brown. “Would you care to sit down?” Brangwen hadn’t released her hand and she used that to lead her over to the group of three upholstered chairs set near the window, assuming the Cetra’s agreement. It wasn’t as if she was strong enough to force a warrior caste to do anything she didn’t want to, and Brangwen didn’t object, not even speaking until they were both sitting down.
“Thank you. You know how to dance the mariatha, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes Brangwen.” How did she...of course, Brangwen must have been the guard who’d shown them where they could practice on Rowan’s courtship visit and watched with Scarlet. “But I haven’t had the opportunity to practice in the last week or so.”
“Why not? Have you been forbidden to or something?” A hint of anger coloured Brangwen’s voice, and Elena felt warmed by the thought that it was on her behalf.
“No, I just didn’t want to leave my room in case you came to meet me and couldn’t find me.” Or couldn’t be bothered to look.
“I wasn’t sure I should come to see you before I signed my contract with Cloud, but...Cloud told me that you’d wanted to talk with me.” Brangwen leaned forward, resting one hand against Elena’s cheek with a smile. “You were the dancer wearing an amber costume when I saw you practising your mariatha, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was.” Elena was glad to know that she’d made enough of an impression for Brangwen to remember her, even if she did have to ask for confirmation.
“You were the best dancer there, the only one who danced with the passion the mariatha deserves.” Brangwen sat back, her expression hinting at an almost reverence as she spoke about Elena’s dancing.
“Thank you. I only asked to learn an active form of dance for my art, I never expected to love the mariatha as I do.” And her craft of gem carving had turned out to be more enjoyable than she’d expected as well.
“It isn’t really surprising that you were taught the mariatha then, it’s got a long history, and it’s very important to the warrior caste. A lot of us learn how to dance it ourselves when we’re young.” That was news to Elena, neither of her previous warrior caste owners had indicated anything like that. “I know all of Cloud’s guard know how to dance the mariatha, and I’d like to dance with you at some point, nothing set, just free dancing together.”
“If you would enjoy that. Do you want to dance with me today?” She wasn’t sure why she offered - Elena wanted to be in practice if she was going to dance with her mistress, but Brangwen had asked so wistfully that she couldn’t help responding to that desire.
“No, not today.” She frowned and one hand moved to rest on her lower belly for a moment. “I wouldn’t want to give it less than my full concentration. Not to dance with someone who uses as pure a style as you do. And I couldn’t do that today.”
“Cramps?” Elena wasn’t sure what Brangwen meant by describing her style as ‘pure’, unless it was the fact that as a concubine she had more time and energy to devote to something like dancing while fighters couldn’t afford to waste too much energy on something so purely ornamental. Or maybe it had to do with the way she was speaking of mariatha as something almost spiritual, like the way some of her teachers had described it and the way it almost felt like a meditation at times.
“A bit yes. Not enough to stop me fighting if I have to, but enough that I’d go for stuff I don’t really have to think about when it comes to training. When are you due?”
“In about two weeks.” Elena didn’t even have to think about her answer - it was Brangwen’s right to know.
“So, I’ll make arrangements to meet you for a dance in about a week.” Brangwen stood, and Elena knew that this...meeting, interview, whatever it was, was almost over. It had eased some of her worries about belonging to Cloud but being...assigned to his spouse, but she still didn’t feel as if she knew Brangwen even as well as she’d known the Cetra who’d interviewed her with an eye to buying her.
“If you want to, I’ll be available any time. But I intend to spend the mornings practising my mariatha from now on, unless you wish me to do otherwise?”
“No, that’s fine, on most days anyway. I’ll come to see you after in the afternoons and I’ll tell you the day before I want to dance with you. But...Cloud said you wanted to meet me, was there something you wanted to ask about specifically?”
“Yes, I want permission to cut my hair short.”
“You need permission - never mind.” Brangwen shook her head quickly and Elena took that as a refusal, before she continued speaking. “How short do you want to cut it?”
“Somewhere between just beneath my ears and to my shoulders.” She’d prefer to get her hair cut to just beneath her ears, but she’d settle for having it just touching her shoulders.
“Hmm...that sounds reasonable enough. Go ahead. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” And with that she turned and walked out.
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no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 12:37 pm (UTC)I really liked it^^
The way the two of them are so...natural around each other. A little apprehensive because they don't know each other, but it'll work out fine^^
And I'm impressed that warior castes learn to dance, too
*hadn't thought so*
but that explains why Brangwen knew about it...
*hands you cookies*
Good job~
no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 01:18 pm (UTC)I'm glad.
The way the two of them are so...natural around each other. A little apprehensive because they don't know each other, but it'll work out fine^^
Yes, it will. Elena is motivated to get along with Brangwen, and Brangwen doesn't see a reason to flaunt her power, she's more secure than that.
And I'm impressed that warior castes learn to dance, too
They usually learn to dance in that particular style. Elena asked for an active form of dance, and the mariatha has semi-religious connotations for warrior caste. (On a simpler level it's the most active form of dance the Cetra know)
but that explains why Brangwen knew about it...
You'll see the other reason Brangwen knows enough to assess Elena's performance later, in the chapter from Zack's PoV.
Good job
Thanks.
Thanks for new chapter
Date: 2008-04-21 11:03 pm (UTC)Why is it proper for Brangwen to have sex with Elena? I know that Cloud/Brangwen are at least pretending to be madly in love to avoid hurting other peoples' feelings, but .... Why would anyone even pretend to believe this tale when Cloud/Sephiroth are devoted to each other, and Brangwen prefers women?
Re: Thanks for new chapter
Date: 2008-04-22 08:46 am (UTC)Because Elena is part of Cloud's household, and so is Brangwen once she signs the espousal contract.
I know that Cloud/Brangwen are at least pretending to be madly in love to avoid hurting other peoples' feelings,
Not so much pretending to be madly in love, as to love each other. There is a difference,and once Cloud has made a 'good faith' effort to espouse politically he's allowed to look to his female guards for someone he could care about.
Why would anyone even pretend to believe this tale when Cloud/Sephiroth are devoted to each other, and Brangwen prefers women?
Warrior caste tend to prefer polygamous arrangements, hence the harems for high nobles and the way Rowan's parents have specification for outside lovers written into their contract and planned for the possibility that they'd want to adopt one into their family. So it doesn't seem that strange to the Cetra that Cloud could love Brangwen, but in a different way to the way he loves Sephiroth. As to Brangwen, she doesn't prefer women, she's equally interested in both, you just don't see her interact with any man she's interested in, and she, like Cloud, is one of the few warrior caste who wants manogamy, as much as she can get it. And she isn't important enough for her sexual preferences to be known anyway.