quietmounds | (no subject)

(no subject)

WHAT in person
WHERE the... cemetery?
WHEN day ""136""

[somewhere in cam... cour... uh, qm, there appears to be a new plot of land—some overgrown with weeds and other weed-adjacent plants, and some with towering oak trees and the like, and some with just perfect patches of freshly mowed and manicured grass...

also

there are tombstones every scattered all over this area, with the name of your father or father-figure on them, regardless of whether or not they are here or dead or here-dead.

yeeeeesh.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do you remember?

Yes.

A man came to see me in the gardens. Okoye was there that day, barely initiated to become a trainee, tasked to watch over me. Obviously, she was much more of a playmate than anything.

One of the cats wandered off during feeding time, and before I could run after it, he came up to me cradling the thing in his arms.

"A good king watches over all of his citizens; no matter how small," he told me. "You'll make a great king some day."

It wasn't until after when I told mother that I realized who he was.

Edited 2018-06-20 15:51 (UTC)

It must have been right before he left.

Mama said he watched over me, as a baby. He even cried during my investiture ceremony. I don't remember, of course, as I was only twenty days old.

How could his—his, murder, stay secret so long?

...

[he shakes his head, fisting up his hands before relaxing] I don't know. I... wish I had been more insistent, when baba would not reveal what happened. I just—I trusted him. I thought he could do no wrong.

It was hardly your responsibility at the time.

... I should have known. He was—devastated. I never saw him look so heartbroken, not before or after. All I could think of to say was that he was the best king Wakanda had ever known, so that he must have made the right choice.

I told him he was so great, he would always reign. That when Bast came to carry him off to the ancestors, I would fight her off myself. Can you believe that?

Easily, having met you once or twice in my life.

[but her voice is soft, and she squeezes his arm]

But when Bast came, there was nothing I could do.

Edited 2018-06-21 21:39 (UTC)

[glances up at him, but instead of saying anything, just puts an arm around him and leans her head against his shoulder]

I'm sorry. I never apologized—for leaving you alone then.

I've never expected you to be able to be everywhere at once.

I'm still working on that technology.

[deadpan]

...

[heh. he leans back, sighing] I loved him. Both father, and uncle N'Jobu. I simply wish I could have done more for them.

I know.

Maybe that's why...

I'm imposing on N'Jadaka. Maybe I'm simply displacing my affection.

I don't think that's the problem, brother.

You don't?

[more seriously]

I think your affection for him is for him. He changed you. I can't say it's not about our fathers, but it's not just that.

He says he doesn't want to be a martyr.

Are you treating him as one?

Not that I'm aware.

Edited 2018-06-23 00:44 (UTC)

So it's fine.

I told him about the rites we've been researching for uncle. He seemed to like that, at least. But he was surprised. He had no knowledge of our ways.

He clearly has some.