The Service of Venus

[Cascade]

It was an odd place, this. Perpetually in bloom, the forest to the east of Frigid Plague's own stood in stark contrast to the namesake of its neighbor. No doubt that it was touched by magic, but the alphess knew not to what extent. Was it merely the color of the trees that earned this forest its peculiar reputation, or was there something more? Something beyond the aesthetic that coiled like climbing vines around a wolf's subconscious. For someone born and raised in the valley where magic was commonplace—and for possessing such powerful magic of her own—Perjury was set slightly on edge by the notion. She would almost rather face a power like her own, something that she could at least see and touch. Magic that crept beyond the physical and into her most private self was vastly more unnerving than even the most powerful burst of flame.

Though, who could she blame but herself? Treason's words had not fallen on deaf ears—she did need to get out more. Admittedly, stepping outside of her own territory for once, even as short a distance as it was, felt very refreshing, especially with the last of the snow melted from the already uncharacteristically warm forest. But it was not just her cousin's nurturing advice that had driven her to choose this place. Of course she did not embarrass herself in her invitation by using its common name—she had simply directed Vanitas to meet her in "the forest to the east." She did not go that far as to entertain the notion that this would be some theatrical admission of deep romantic feelings on anyone's part. That was not even their reality. But her true mission was, for lack of a better term, a tall ask. Perjury did not want to simply spring the question on him while he was, perhaps, shoulder deep in a deer carcass. She had at least some sense of decorum, and for the sake of her nerves she hoped that the setting would take at least some of the surprise out of it.

What "it" was, was...very important, to say the least. As important as it was personal. She could not trust anyone but Vanitas to the task—he was the only one who could truly understand what it would mean, not only to Perjury, but to the Frigid Plague as a whole. Even if he refused, she knew he would have at least grasped the enormity of it.



Gyllbane

[Gyllbane]

"If I may be candid with you, Alphess, whatever it is you've brought me out here for - this, of all places, seems rather surprising for you." The deep, familiar voice winds its way through the trees as Vanitas reveals himself. His demeanor seemed as stoic as ever, feet planted squarely as he faces Perjury, one wolfish, furred brow arching with vague curiosity. The forest around them had already begun to show the turn of seasons, the ground strewn with the wisps of pink-going-brown leaves as fresh ones began to unfurl from the equally strange branches above.

When Perjury had requested his presence, he had initially thought nothing of it. By placing himself in a pack he had, of course, agreed to be at the beck and call of his superior - not that she had ever abused the power, of course, so he was happy to oblige when she called him out with her. The initial request that it be out of the packlands brought a bit of curiosity, yet as he had realized where she had meant it had only furthered his confusion.

Perjury had, as far as he'd known, never been one for romance. In fact she had showcased her disdain for it on multiple occasions, to which he had echoed his own agreement. Affection had never been a strong point for him, nor did he have any desire for it to be. Yet what other purpose could she have for this place, where wolves of a fairer ilk would come with their hearts full to bursting of something like hope, yet softer and tooth-rotting in its sweetness. This was not Perjury's way, and he struggled inwardly to understand her purposes here as he awaited her reply, his face belying little of his inner confusion.

[Cascade]

Vanitas' appearance set Perjury on edge, although it was the furthest thing from unexpected. He, like herself, had never been one to be fashionably late. The setting, rather that taking away some of the pressure of her indecorous request, only served to increase it. It seemed increasingly likely that she had been all wrong—instead of blindsiding him, she may have inadvertently led him to expect a much more intimate declaration? She was still most assuredly an evil-hearted wolf, not someone who would want to come across like a lovestruck pup. She was more pragmatic than that.

"You may be candid, Vanitas," she said in reply to his greeting, "In fact, I think that would be best for both of us. I wanted to get out of the territory, not only to stretch my legs properly but to be away from prying eyes. I have a request."

Her own mother and father had been very much in love. Evil though they were, they had truly been two halves of the same whole. Perjury honestly did not know if she was willing or even capable of baring her soul to another living being like that. Maybe some day, but that was not a pressing matter. Love could wait indefinitely—but her legacy was a ticking clock that she had ignored for far too long.

"As you know, I have presided alone over the Frigid Plague ever since the day I took my place as alphess. I was my parents' only child, and thus the last wolf who could properly carry on my grandfather's bloodline. Now that the spring has come, I have decided to secure my contribution to that bloodline while I still have my youth." Still standing, she looked up at Vanitas' face, knowing him too well to think that she could read his expression. Her small stature had never been something that she had paid much mind to before, as with her power she was more than physically capable of confronting any enemy that foolish enough to stand in her path. But here and now, where her power counted for nothing, it dawned on her what a sizable wolf Vanitas was, and for the first time she felt small.

"...It was your loyalty that elevated you to the position of beta in my eyes, long before you officially accepted the role. But I have also come to think of you as a companion. Know that I would not ask this of just anyone, but that I ask it of you because I hold you in high esteem." This was it.

"I would ask—purely on the condition of your genuine interest—that you father my pups."

[Gyllbane]

A request. The way she worded it did nothing to ease Vanitas' unease; Perjury was a pragmatic wolf, yet he did not want to know whether or not it would draw her ire, and to what degree, were he to decide to politely decline whatever the request might be. His expression kept carefully neutral, yet his concerns remained as Perjury continued.

Though as she went on, it seemed to fade a bit. Certainly this did not sound like the prelude to a declaration of love - and he had begun to fit the pieces together in his mind as soon as she had said 'bloodline'. His ears flickered minutely at her final statement; if Perjury had expected a jaw drop, or some sort of exclamation, she'd be sorely disappointed.

The interest was there, of course; what wolf would not want to continue their legacy, to give to their pack directly that future that they strove every day to secure? Yet Vanitas had never considered himself the fatherly type, had never thought of himself as someone who would ever care for progeny - he tended to merely tolerate them when they were around, and that was on the best of days. He had wondered, sometimes, about the Alphess' lack of a mate, yet had always simply brushed it off. No doubt she had had some sort of plan, being the sort of wolf that she was. Still, he had not imagined that he would be a part of that plan.

"I... am honored, first and foremost, Perjury." He nodded, his tone carefully crafted so as not to lead her line of thought one way or another about his intentions; it would not do to keep the Alphess on edge, as she no doubt must have been. "I will admit, it is... unexpected, that you would call on me in such a manner. If you would allow me a few concerns." If she acquiesced, he'd continue.

"I know you are a smart wolf, and as far as I have been able to tell, you are not romantic, so I know you will not believe this to be something it is not. I would do my duty to both you and your offspring should we go through with this, as your beta and as a packmate. I would only ask that you do not expect familial love out of me. Either for the pups, or for you." His tail swayed ambivalently behind him as he spoke. "I admire you as an alphess, and I respect you as a companion - but I am not, nor do I believe I will ever be, a 'family wolf'."

[Cascade]

Perjury nodded at his words, a promising affirmation. So there had not been a misunderstanding after all. "I do not expect you to change, Vanitas, nor do I want it. I do not wish my pups' childhood to be a mirror image of my own—I will take charge in their care, and you may contribute as much or as little as you please. In that regard, I hold you to no obligation. You do not have to become a family with the pups and I, and to be quite honest a romantic relationship is not something that I am looking for in the slightest. My only requirement is that the pups know who their father is—you may choose to have any relationship you want with them, or none at all, but this arrangement will be a matter of public knowledge. Secrets breed mistrust, and I do not like to keep them where they are not needed."

It was a relief to Perjury that Vanitas was receptive to the idea. With spring just arriving, the timing was perfect, and she did not want to waste it finding another suitable partner, let alone allow the ticking clock to sway her towards a desperate move. This was far too important not to make a calculated decision.

[Gyllbane]

Her words did much to balm the concerns that plagued him; the request was personal, but it came from a place that Vanitas could understand, if not feel himself. Perjury had a duty to her forebears, and that she had chosen him to help her along was an honor, indeed, if a bit of an unusual one. He nodded once more, the faintest change of expression the only hint of his reassurance.

"I would be glad to sire your next generation, then, if that is all you ask of me. You have no misunderstandings, and I have no qualms with being known as their father - a true parent I may not be, but I would afford the pups the security of knowing their sire." His tail flicked again behind him. "It would be undue of me, though, as a fellow packmate, to simply leave you to them. I will do what I can to... ease your burden. They are Frigid Plague's future, and I would afford them that care, at the very least."

He had been concerned, briefly, that his previous statement had misinformed Perjury of his intentions. A father he would not be in any sense other than biological, but parenting, he supposed, was a rather momentous task, even for someone as gifted as Perjury. Of course he would support her, just as he would if she'd chosen a true mate. It was what his position meant, and he would fulfill the duty with pride as he would any other.

[Cascade]

His acceptance lifted a great weight from Perjury's shoulders. Now that the uncertainty of when she could start raising her family had been cleared, she could relax. The pressure of time was nothing now. She was also happy to hear that he would assist her in the care of the pups. If nothing else, she would be sorely missing his company, and Treason's, if she had to divert all of her attention onto her pups. Being alphess was a full-time endeavor as it was.

"They will not lack good, strong role models, then," she said, "They will grow to be proud examples of Frigid Plague wolves."

It was now that Perjury was glad to have met with Vanitas in such a strange place—she was quite sure that most wolves of her pack would rather die than be seen in this pink, romantic forest. They would have their privacy.

::Some time later::

The sun sat high in the sky, having done away with the last of the early morning chill. The trees, less canopied than what Perjury was used to, let in a good deal of light and warmth, and the alphess basked in the plentiful rays that leaked through to the ground. The act itself was unlike anything else in her repertoire of experiences. Utterly bizarre, but deeply instinctual. In fact, she dared say that she even enjoyed herself. But she was not overly concerned with carnal pleasures. With any luck, their endeavor would be a success and her pups would come with plenty of springtime to spare. When it was a sure thing, she would go to the Honovi lands to visit Treason, just as she had promised.