LJ Idol, Prompt 14: “Unconventional”
Jul. 31st, 2022 05:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roina_arwenSovann and Zarina were granted a seven-day to move from their home on the outskirts of the capital into their assigned apartment in the High Matriarch’s Citadel, at the center of Capital City.
It was a lovely apartment in the East Tower, comfortably furnished. Zarina was pleased to learn she would have her own bedroom, instead of an alcove off of her mother’s. She was also excited to attend school at the Citadel, and meet other children whose mothers were as special as her own.
Sovann looked at her reflection in the hallway mirror. She had been fitted for several bright blue dresses, each of which featured two small gold buttons below the throat, a thin blue and gold braided belt, and the required gauzy black veil to cover her head and face at all times when out in public. Inside the Citadel, away from public view, her face could remain uncovered. Sovann’s long hair was in a simple plait down her back, and several dark hair pins held the veil firmly in place.
As an Apprentice Matriarch - a position that she would hold for her first five years of service - these dresses would be her daily work wear.
Most of her days from now on would be spent in the study of national and international laws and important legal decisions, centuries of history, the variety of belief systems that might influence the Sovereignty, and much more. Sovann would sit in on all Council sessions, but would not have a voice in the Council itself - only within the cloistered privacy of the Chambers - until she had graduated to full Matriarch status. She was primarily to absorb information, to help her make rational decisions in the future.
Sovann knocked lightly on Zarina’s door before opening it. “Are you dressed and ready for school?”
Just like her mother, Zarina was admiring her reflection. The loose white shirt sleeves fluttered at her elbows, and the knee length blue jumper looked lovely on her - the color brought out her eyes and bright smile. “Yes, mama - I’m ready!”
“I made you jam toast. Eat quickly, then I’ll bring you down to your school room.”
=#=#=#=#=
On their way to the Academic wing, Sovann and Zarina passed many green-clad Matriarchs, several other Apprentice Matriarchs in blue, and even a few Elders dressed in black.
Zarina made eye contact and smiled at other youngsters as they passed, and many of them smiled and nodded back, but nobody spoke aloud. Her old school was much noisier. She thought she heard a few whispered questions, but the children were quickly shushed by their mothers.
Sovann felt Zarina’s grip tighten, and heard a soft sigh as they made their way down the hall. She had hoped this school would be different. Zarina lowered her gaze and watched people’s legs and feet.
Very soon, they arrived at room Seven B. The door was open, and a proctor with blonde hair pulled up into a bun stood behind the desk. “You must be Zarina,” she said with a gentle smile. “I am Proctor Kayla. Please take the desk in the second row.”
Sovann gave her daughter’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Do well, and make me proud. I’ll be waiting for you in the hallway when lessons are done for the day.”
Zarina nodded, and Sovann left for her own course of studies.
Hesitantly, Zarina raised her eyes and looked out over the classroom to find her desk. There were about a dozen other girls her age in the room. Many gasped when she met their inquisitive gaze.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” a girl in the front row blurted out. “They don’t match!”
Zarina took a deep breath and stood taller. Might as well get it out of the way now. “Nothing is wrong with them, I was born this way, and my eyes work as well as yours,” she replied. “They’re just… unconventional, as my mother likes to say.”
She boldly made eye contact with every student so they could see the truth for themselves. Her eyes were a beautiful chocolate brown, but the iris of her right eye looked to be split down the middle - the inside half was pale gold, the outside half matched her left eye perfectly.
Zarina turned and gazed directly into the proctor’s eyes.
“Exquisite!” Proctor Kayla said excitedly. “Do you want to be a Matriarch like your mother one day?”
Zarina shrugged. She was only just thirteen, but enjoyed cooking very much.
“Actually, I think I’d rather be a chef.”
It was a lovely apartment in the East Tower, comfortably furnished. Zarina was pleased to learn she would have her own bedroom, instead of an alcove off of her mother’s. She was also excited to attend school at the Citadel, and meet other children whose mothers were as special as her own.
Sovann looked at her reflection in the hallway mirror. She had been fitted for several bright blue dresses, each of which featured two small gold buttons below the throat, a thin blue and gold braided belt, and the required gauzy black veil to cover her head and face at all times when out in public. Inside the Citadel, away from public view, her face could remain uncovered. Sovann’s long hair was in a simple plait down her back, and several dark hair pins held the veil firmly in place.
As an Apprentice Matriarch - a position that she would hold for her first five years of service - these dresses would be her daily work wear.
Most of her days from now on would be spent in the study of national and international laws and important legal decisions, centuries of history, the variety of belief systems that might influence the Sovereignty, and much more. Sovann would sit in on all Council sessions, but would not have a voice in the Council itself - only within the cloistered privacy of the Chambers - until she had graduated to full Matriarch status. She was primarily to absorb information, to help her make rational decisions in the future.
Sovann knocked lightly on Zarina’s door before opening it. “Are you dressed and ready for school?”
Just like her mother, Zarina was admiring her reflection. The loose white shirt sleeves fluttered at her elbows, and the knee length blue jumper looked lovely on her - the color brought out her eyes and bright smile. “Yes, mama - I’m ready!”
“I made you jam toast. Eat quickly, then I’ll bring you down to your school room.”
=#=#=#=#=
On their way to the Academic wing, Sovann and Zarina passed many green-clad Matriarchs, several other Apprentice Matriarchs in blue, and even a few Elders dressed in black.
Zarina made eye contact and smiled at other youngsters as they passed, and many of them smiled and nodded back, but nobody spoke aloud. Her old school was much noisier. She thought she heard a few whispered questions, but the children were quickly shushed by their mothers.
Sovann felt Zarina’s grip tighten, and heard a soft sigh as they made their way down the hall. She had hoped this school would be different. Zarina lowered her gaze and watched people’s legs and feet.
Very soon, they arrived at room Seven B. The door was open, and a proctor with blonde hair pulled up into a bun stood behind the desk. “You must be Zarina,” she said with a gentle smile. “I am Proctor Kayla. Please take the desk in the second row.”
Sovann gave her daughter’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Do well, and make me proud. I’ll be waiting for you in the hallway when lessons are done for the day.”
Zarina nodded, and Sovann left for her own course of studies.
Hesitantly, Zarina raised her eyes and looked out over the classroom to find her desk. There were about a dozen other girls her age in the room. Many gasped when she met their inquisitive gaze.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” a girl in the front row blurted out. “They don’t match!”
Zarina took a deep breath and stood taller. Might as well get it out of the way now. “Nothing is wrong with them, I was born this way, and my eyes work as well as yours,” she replied. “They’re just… unconventional, as my mother likes to say.”
She boldly made eye contact with every student so they could see the truth for themselves. Her eyes were a beautiful chocolate brown, but the iris of her right eye looked to be split down the middle - the inside half was pale gold, the outside half matched her left eye perfectly.
Zarina turned and gazed directly into the proctor’s eyes.
“Exquisite!” Proctor Kayla said excitedly. “Do you want to be a Matriarch like your mother one day?”
Zarina shrugged. She was only just thirteen, but enjoyed cooking very much.
“Actually, I think I’d rather be a chef.”