Flashback Is Your Mother Controlling Too? (Elem)

[Gianne Basete]

40th Day of Spring, 500 AV Afternoon Zeltiva "Ow!" she screeched, struggling to get away from the needle that just poked the flesh of her leg. "Be quiet, child! If you would stop fidgeting I wouldn't keep sticking you," her mother scolded, grabbing Gianne's arm to hold her in place where she stood on a wooden chair in the middle of their living room. Gianne was miserable, wanting this whole thing to be over. Her mother was sewing her another dress, and she was trying the latest monstrosity on. It wouldn't be ugly to any other girl but her. It was just the fact that it was a dress. In someone else's eyes, it would appear to be very flattering on Gianne. Green, her favorite color, with long sleeves and a deep rounded neck. It stopped right below her ankles and was embroidered with gold colored thread, with a pretty sash tied around the waist. But all she wanted was to be in her shirt and breeches again, and go play. "Please? I don't want another dress, ma! You know that!" Her voice was very whinny but she didn't care. Her mother scowled and continued to place pins in the places that needed drawn in. "I won't hear any more of your complaining now, Gianne. You need to act more like a lady, and you will wear this if it's the last thing I ever make you do." Gianne immaturely mouthed along to her mother's next words, having heard them over and over throughout the years and knew when to expect them. "I think I can feel my ulcers coming back." "Dad says you never had ulcers. He says you say that just to make things seem more dramatic." And no sooner had the words left her mouth before she felt the stinging remains of what had been her mother's hand slapping across her tender rear, no doubt leaving a red blotch. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes and her chin quivered as she started in surprise, nearly losing her balance off the chair. "Don't talk like that! It's very disrespectful. I'm your mother, and you'll show me at least a little respect where it's due. Your father isn't always right. He's not a doctor." Gianne leered at her, trying to hold back the tears that were tightening her throat. She was about to say something she would later regret, but at the moment would do anything to get out of this situation. "You're a monster. You make me do things I don't want to do, and dad is always right because he's smarter than you!" she yelled, feeling the tears spill over and tumble down her cheeks. A look of shock flitted over her mother's face, then hurt. Tears brimmed in her own eyes, and instantly Gianne felt like crawling in a hole and disappearing. She had never made her mother cry. Or at least not witnessed it. "I'm...," she started, trying to find the right words to apologize. But she could tell the sadness was also starting to mix with renewed rage. It was obvious from the pink pallor her mother's cheeks were taking. No way was Gianne getting another smack. Like a startled deer she lept from the chair and darted for the door, fumbling with it for a moment before yanking it open and sprinting outside. She could hear her mother yelling her name behind her, but she didn't stop. Gianne didn't have any shoes so the rough texture of the dirty street outside instantly started scraping her feet. It had recently rained so there was standing water in a few places, and she splashed straight through a puddle, spraying the new dress with muddy water. People in the streets gave her odd glances as she darted by, hair whipped out behind her like a brown flag. Her tongue practically lolled as she started to wear down, little lungs gasping for air. Finally, after having ran and zigzagged down several streets and made it a few blocks from her home she stopped, hunched over hands on knees gasping for breath.

[Elem Bree]

Elem watched the little inchworm draw itself up and push across his finger, over and over again. The rake still hung in his other hand, as if he might actually use it soon. The little green life was so amazing to the young boy. It was so much more exciting to study living things, rather than dumb old dirty shoes. His father had been telling his mother that it would soon be time to show Elem the basics of cobbling, so he could be ready to take over the family business. It was possibly the worst idea Elem had ever heard of. More inchworm.

He heard the sound of his mother clearing her throat behind him, which made him casually flick the inchworm away like a reflex action and grip the rake firmly, though he had turned himself around now, as if he might rake the street outside the yard. Turning to his mother, he simply said, "Sorry, Mom. Got distracted by an inchworm." He would never lie to his mother. His mother was the most beautiful, warm woman to Elem. the boy was probably biased, though. her long brown hair, diminutive appearance and shining blue eyes made her seem like a nature spirit. Not to mention her otherworldly understanding of plants.

She just smiled in her usual way. " I hope you didn't flick it toward the tomatoes. They love to chew the leaves." This prompted Elem ot look about for the little critter, much to his mother's delight. "Just finish raking up the leaves and whatnot from the garden, okay? Your father and I are going to the markets." He nodded and moved himself directly to the garden. "Okay Mom. Love you.", he said, craftily pulling sticks and leaves from the rows. As his mother left, he noticed other worms on the leaves, just as she had said. He pulled one free and escorted it out to the street, speaking to the little thing as it inched across his hand. "No offense, but Mother would like you to go elsewhere. Can't be helped." He flicked it over into another yard.

As he turned to return to his hunt for worms, he heard a splash and the panting of someone running. Turning, he saw a little girl bent over, breathing heavily. Placing the rake against the wall of the cottage, he walked over. " Hey there, you okay?" He looked back behind her to see if anyone was chasing her..

[Gianne Basete]

Gianne nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of the boy's voice. Her eyes were wide with fright as she whipped around to face him. "What?" she asked uncertainly, panting slightly so as to still her pounding heart. "Sorry, um, yes! Yes, I'm fine." She offered up a crooked little smile, shuffling a few shy steps forward. "What are you doing?" Her inquisitive eyes took in the rake and garden, which was groomed neatly. "Chores?" The word tasted bad in her mouth. She was never given chores anymore. Her mother didn't trust her with any sort of domestic labor and her father didn't want her getting hurt trying to help him with repairs around the house. The boy seemed to be a little older than her. Their hair color was almost the exact same shade, which she was fascinated by. His was a tad darker though, more like chocolate where hers was like tree bark. Gianne was absently fiddling with her sleeve when she felt the wet blotch blemishing it. Curious, she looked down at the ruined dress, for the first time actually realizing it was stained. Two bright spots of color bloomed on her round cheeks as she tried to smooth away a mud stain. Alas it made it worse, smearing down her side and transferring to her sleeve. Trying to act like it was nothing, she looked back at the kind-eyed boy with an awkward smile. "Oops."

[Elem Bree]

Elem smiled as the pretty girl tried to act natural, when she was clearly out of her element."Yep, chores. But, I like working in the garden. It helps us eat healthy and I like making my Mom happy." He watched her smear the mud in her dress, snickering a little. He knew just what to do, his mind already cooking up a solution. He didn't want to come too close, as she already seemed scared for some reason. Little girls got scared easy. No big deal.

"I can get those stains out fo your dress. I get dirty all the time playing or working in the yard. Believe me, I've seen my Mom clean stains just like that out of my clothes. Maybe just don't rub it in anymore, okay?" He started walking toward his house, thinking about the two lemons in the kitchen. He knew his Dad would get mad for him using one, since they cost lots of money. He thought lots of Mom's ideas cost money, but he never complained when it was time to eat. Almost to the door, he turned to see the girl again. She hadn't moved.

"Hey, come sit on the bench by the garden there. I am going to get some stuff to clean that. My name's Elem Bree." He waved at her, the standard kid greeting. " I'll get a shirt and pants of mine so you can change and we'll get that cleaned up lickety split!" He hurried inside, leaving the door open in his rush. He grabbed up a lemon and a knife, a bucket of water and some salt. He dropped the salt and lemons in the bucket. Easy carrying. Smart thinking, Elem!Then he hurried to his room and grabbed a shirt and breeches off the floor, tossing them over his shoulder and picking up the bucket on the way out to meet his new maybe friend..

[Gianne Basete]

She started guiltily at the mention of making his mother happy. Her own sharp words resurfaced, making her flinch like a scab getting scratched off a bad cut. Was her mother crying right now? Or was she furious, combing the streets for the daughter she was going to give a good hard smack? Gianne hunched in on herself a little as if to protect herself from the blow that wasn't coming quite yet. She could almost feel it though, like a premonition. It was going to be a bad one. The thought of punishment was forgotten though, at least for the moment, at the mention of a solution for her dress. "Can you really fix it?" The relief was plain on her face and in her voice. Being found with this new dress muddy would have made her mother's hand twice as sharp. She smiled crookedly, showing the missing front tooth she had a habit of poking with her tongue. She'd just lost it yesterday and was proud beyond words. Gianne had went around flashing her teeth at strangers on the street, much to the embarrassment of her mother and amusement of the strangers themselves. He went to move toward the house, but just as she was about to follow she faltered, hesitating in mid-step. What if there's someone in the house and I get in trouble? What if mother comes and I get in trouble? What if he doesn't fix the stain and I get in trouble?! I don't want to be in any more trouble! Her mind was whispering to her, getting progressively louder in her head until the voice was a shrill shout. The boy was at the door now and he turned around, understanding dawning on his features as he gave he ran alternative. Sit on the bench. Okay, I can do that. I think. She answered his wave with an awkward one of her own, offering another smile, though shyer than before. "I'm Gianne," she said, then added quickly, Basete. Gianne Basete, I mean." When Elem ran inside she shuffled over the bench, hopping up with a soft little grunt. Her feet dangled a few inches above the ground and she wagged them back and forth, hands clasped neatly in her lap. At least she would be out of this dress soon and back in boy clothes. She preferred those much more than girly things. Her little nose wrinkled in disgust, thinking back to all the experimental dresses and etiquette courses her mother had put her through. Gianne wanted to go with her dad and watch him work with the big, burly shipyard men. They were so strong it amazed her. One time she'd snuck off with him, much to her father's amusement, and tried to lift one of the heavy crates lying around. She'd ripped her trousers in the process. Maybe when her dress was clean, instead of going home she'd just go to the harbor and try to find her dad. He was supposed to be repairing a building at the docks today after what he called 'An angry contention that was relocated from the tavern to the harbor'. Gianne didn't know what that meant but it sounded very important and professional. Her mother had nodded sagely at his use of words the night before, and she had been oblivious but nevertheless in awe, thinking her father had been chosen for a very special task indeed.

[Elem Bree]

Elem soon returned, the bucket sloshing about. He had also thought to drop the knife inside, not wanting to cut himself. Besides, as much trouble as he might be in already for just getting the stuff without asking, holding a knife too would just be too much. No way! He plopped the bucket down at Gianne's feet, nodding. "Nice to meet you, Gianne Basete. I'm gonna need your help because normally this gets done with the dress off." he looked at her as serious as serious could be. Like [i[his Dad[/i] serious.

"That's just not gonna happen."

Reaching into the cold saltwater, he pulled out the lemon and knife, chewing at his lower lip as he put his full attention on the lemon, the knife cutting an even slice free. He was thinking like he was a fruit doctor, making an important cut to save its life. Once he had the slice, he dipped it back into the saltwater and then handed it to Gianne. "Here, put that on the stain and give it a good rub. You might want to get your hand under the fabric somehow. My Mom would have the dress firmly in hand, scrubbing the mud out with the lemon if she were here.

Might be giving Elem a stern talking to as well, but that was okay, They would probably be gone long enough for him to put everything back where it was. His mind floated off to the kitchen as he tried to recall where everything had been sitting in the first place. His concern pushed him to instruct faster. "Just give it some good scrubs, add some of that salt water. It should come right out. Is the mud why you were mad?" Girls probably didn't like their pretty dresses getting all muddy. He was still a little scared that she had been running from someone, Elem's eyes darting back toward the way she had came every once in a while..

[Gianne Basete]

"It's good you think that." Gianne nodded, equally as serious. There was no way she was taking off this dress in front of him, even if the idea of being out of its confines was appealing. She took the lemon and rubbed it with her fingers, testing out the texture. "How come lemon gets rid of the stain? Couldn't we just use water?" But she still did as she was told. First Gianne tried to just scrub the lemon on a patch of mud. It seemed to come up well, but there was leftover. Then she tried the other approach. She moved her legs around so that she could work her arm awkwardly up the skirt of the dress, placing her hand under one of the stains. Her tongue stuck out as she scrubbed viciously, nearly tearing the lemon slice into pieces. By the time that one stain was treated, the slice was like a ball of mush. Gianne looked up from her work at Elem's question. "Need a new slice," she announced first, holding up the mushy lemon. "And no, I wasn't mad because of the mud. I get muddy a lot. I don't tiptoe around puddles like some of the other girls. I think they're so silly." Should she tell him about her mother? There was no harm in it that she saw, but a little part of her was hesitant. The larger portion won though, and the words nearly flew out. "I'm running away from home! My ma' is mean. She never listens to me, and always makes me do things I don't want to do." Tears were welling up in her eyes and her face was becoming a blotchy mess. "I'm going to Syliras to live with my grandpa." She hadn't planned any further than running out the door, but it seemed like a fine idea at the moment. Gianne was even angrier when she realized that the tears were spilling over and down her cheeks. The emotions from earlier were running rampant now. She quickly wiped them away with a few furious swipes, but it wasn't long before more came to wet her face again. Her small shoulders started to shake as the hiccups started up that sometimes accompanied a good cry.

[Elem Bree]

Now that they were clear on the situation, Elem softened his features a bit as she began to scrub. "I don't know why. Mom says lemons are good for stains like grass and mud. She's never lied to me before." The passing thought of his mother lying to him made Elem a little queasy, but it passed right on through. He watched her scrub, unsure of what else to say. In a life of chores and wander, girls did not come that often. Fortunately she needed another slice.

"Righto!" Elem fished out a new slice and brought it to her, gingerly exchanging for the mush. He fingered at it a bit and tossed it into the garden. As he turned back, she was crying. Girls did that alot, from what he had seen. He felt terrible about it, though, because she said her Mom was mean. What a terrible fate! Elem wished he had something to give her for her tears, approaching her slowly. "What does she do to you, Gianne? It has to be terrible to run away. I would never run away from home."

Not wanting to scare her off, he carefully put his hand on her shoulder. "Tell me. Maybe my Mom and Dad can help if it's really bad." Elem's mind delved into the darkness of what her Mother did to her. Thankfully, his mind was fairly innocent, so it involved a lot of whippings and time spent in her room alone.

[Gianne Basete]

He asked what her mother did to her, but the question threw her for a loop. Everything she thought of, it suddenly didn't seem bad enough. At least by Elem's reaction. He said it himself, he'd never run away. Why had she? Gianne thought about the reason she'd run out the door. Her mother had swatted her, but it hadn't really hurt all that bad. Just surprised her. And she'd made her wear this dress. Was that a good reason to leave her home? Her mouth felt suddenly dry, and salty from the tears on her lips. They argued a lot, because Gianne didn't want to be like all the other girls who played with dolls and wore dresses. She wanted to wrestle with the boys and go to work with her father to see the big men build ships. Her brow knitted in a deep v as she thought hard. There's got to be something. "She spanks me!" But that didn't sound quite right. "Sometimes," she added uncertainly. Confusion swam across her red, wet face. "But it never even hurts all that much." When she admitted it out loud, it seemed like nothing at all. "She makes me wear dresses!" That didn't even sound like a good reason. It was just a piece of clothing, and Gianne didn't even have to wear them all the time. More confusion, as she stared at the lemon slice in her hand. Quickly, she looked up to Elem. "Your mom doesn't spank you does she? And makes you do things you don't want to do?" Uncertainty was swelling inside her with hot shame. I don't think I should have run away. She'd been so angry that she'd just ran out, not wanting anything more to do with her mother and this dress at that moment. But now... But now, if she went back, she'd get the punishment of a lifetime. Shame turned to fear. Fear of her mother's tears, upset, and her father's disappointment. Her dad. Gianne hadn't even considered what he would think. She'd run off, and had been so set on leaving them both. She could never leave her dad. More fat tears spilled down her cheeks, and her throat constricted as the fear flipped back to shame. "I think I messed up," she hiccuped, then burst into hysterical sobs. The realization hit hard and fast, bombarding her young mind with a confusion of emotions. And the best way for her to let it all out was to cry in front of this kind boy, who had been unlucky enough to be stuck with her at the moment.