Pride, Prejudice, Illyana and Zombies
(Lots and lots of zombies)
(An Illyana passage story)
Author's note: I rather like the Emma/Illyana interactions between chapters. I also like having Illyana forced into continuous social interactions as it allows more of her character be revealed then is generally shown in most stories. Plus, the Bennet daughters so just get along with her which confounds Illyana.
I'm taking extra time on this story as it is so Illyana character centric due to her reduced powers. (plus I'm just having fun with it).
Part 7a: Utopia interlude
Emma had a rather disbelieving expression. "First you embroider and now I find you play golf"?
Illyana replied. "Only under duress. Really can't stand the game. My drives are ok, but my chipping game is utterly appalling and the hole appears to always be cursed in some way to frustrate my putting".
"Somehow finding out that you're an angry golfer makes a weird kind of sense".
"Enraged as Elizabeth likes to comment upon. But so much of me was nothing but rage back then".
"And now..."?
"Less... well less enraged. More... different. Still not sure about some things, which in itself is a change... being unsure about what I am. What I'm feeling. Really don't like it at times".
"We all grow and change Illyana, part of life".
"Until recently I wasn't, now I am".
"Yes… God I shudder at the state of beauty care products that must have existed. I so hate bed head in the morning. Please tell me more about your recovery, it's delightfully fascinating".
And insightful to her mental state was Emma's comment to herself (Scott agreed with that comment, Scott was rather on the telepathic link quiet as he was actually believing the story and thinking about it).
Part 7b: Interludes as Illyana recovered (part 3)
Illyana had attended church for the first time in a long time. She was riding back from church with the Bennet family in the big carriage (her use of the cane had been quite prominently shown to one and all, partial act but mostly real at this stage).
The day had started overcast, then it had drizzled during the church service, but now it was a partially cloudy with sunshine. Illyana was in the front of the carriage facing towards the rear and sitting with Catherine, Lydia, and Jane, whereas Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and Mary were riding in the back facing forward.
Church had been interesting, for one she had not burst into flames so that was a really big plus. For another she had surprisingly both enjoyed the sermon and understood it.
"I quite enjoyed the extolling to smite the undead. Very forceful and emphatic" was her comment to the group.
"Yes, Vicar Elsberry does tend to get rather dramatic and impassioned." was Mr. Bennet's comment. In truth Mr. Bennet thought that the Vicar was a bit too impassioned but he supposed better some drama then an excessively dry dull sermon.
He continued. "We have not been able to attend these last few weeks due to your condition as I did not wish to leave the house, and you, less then fully protected. Now that you are mobile we will once again be attending each Sunday". One must maintain one's standing in the community after all.
"Father has a distant cousin who is a member of the clergy" said Catherine (who knew this would get her mother riled up, Catherine was annoyed that her mother had shushed her in church in front of everybody when it had clearly been Lydia's fault).
"Heir to my fine house"! Declared Mrs. Bennet with a sudden burst of heat.
"Please Mrs. Bennet, not now". Replied Mr. Bennet while shooting a sharp glance at Catherine that promised some extra and unpleasant training for vexing him. "It is Sunday; the day is lovely and not a zombie in sight".
Jane promptly raised and discharged her musket blowing the head off of a zombie that had made an untimely appearance and had started to amble after the carriage.
"Thank you my dear" Mr. Bennet mumbled while commencing to remove and clean his spectacles. He felt a headache coming on as Mrs. Bennet continued to go on and on about her dislike that the estate of Longbourn would be inherited by Mr. Bennet's his cousin upon his death, his presumed demise apparently less of an issue to Mrs. Bennet then the thought of having to move and be reduced in circumstances.
…
…
The leather corsets had arrived. The ones made from the Drake's hide. Seven female corsets and one vest for Mr. Bennet.
The girls amused themselves, in private, by trying on and adjusting the corsets for their particular body form. Mrs. Bennet was rather pleased that her husband had one made for her even though she did not partake of such vulgar activity as combat (although she was very skilled with a pistol if need be).
Illyana was less amused in learning how to wear a corset. "I feel like a Nike sneaker being laced much too tightly". Was her complaint as Jane pulled mightily upon the back laces. "I've never actually felt my spleen move before and I'm quite sure I don't like the sensation".
"Quit fussing" was Jane's unsympathetic response.
"The Greek goddess"? Asked Mary. Which briefly resulted in a discussion about brand naming and trademarks; which the Bennet's all agreed was most improper.
"I declare, these are both supple and yet can resist a knife blade". Proclaimed Jane with delight. "And much easier to breathe in as well as they flex delightfully".
"We shall all look so fletching at the Balls, and slaying the unmentionables as well"! Shrieked Lydia's with an excessive amount of exuberance and volume.
"And they can stop a musket ball, although not a point blank range, the ball must have time to be depleted in its velocity first". Jane lectured, repeating what Mr. Bennet had said. He quite liked his new leather vest, which was so much easier to wear then a corset.
"I find this… tight and restricting. Much like the rules here". Was Illyana's disgruntled observation. The rule being the dimension and society in general.
"Not all of us are so gifted of the female form Illyana" complained Mary. "Some of us need all the help we can get".
"And some of us don't" Lydia snidely stated which then resulted in a dramatic Kung fucat fight between Mary and Lydia until both Jane and Elizabeth ended it (after letting it go on for a bit).
"Lydia behave yourself and stop plucking at it Illyana" Corrected Mrs. Bennet. "You'll get used to it, and don't slouch". Like slouching was even possible wearing a corset.
"Yes Mum" answered Illyana who was already busy contemplating traveling in time and killing the inventor of the corset once she recovered her abilities. Hmmm, killing was too good for him, just condemn him to wearing his creation for the rest of his life should suffice.
Sadly Illyana's future vengeance upon a Mr. Charles Blanksberg was to be unsatisfying and unfulfilled. She was to find that he already enjoyed wearing female clothing and corsets; and being transformed into a female was one of his dearest fantasies (which Illyana did not fulfill).
…
…
"Some more tea Illyana?" asked Mrs. Gardiner, the wife of Edward Gardiner who was the brother of Mrs. Bennet. They lived in London and were up visiting for a few days. Mrs. Bennet was visiting at a friend's house (prior engagement) so Mrs. Gardiner was running the afternoon tea ritual as the resident senior Alpha female.
Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner were in the library imbibing of more manly liquids (Scotch to be precise) and engaged in a very private conversation about topics that Illyana suspected involved her.
The current topic of conversation was the new culinary delight of chocolate covered crispy bacon and this strange thing called a cheese cake (The Bennet cook was acquiring a reputation for originality in the district and a nice pay increase). Plus the ongoing enjoyment of the new fangled chocolate chip cookie.
Tea time could get problematic for Illyana. So many rules. So many traps. So much … subtlety. Tea time was many things:
Tea was sociality and status.
Tea was family.
Tea was intelligence gathering and gossip dissemination.
Tea was ritual and culinary expression.
Tea was social intercourse and social order made fact.
Tea was business.
Tea was about class and your place in it.
Tea was about being served (and who was serving).
Tea was refinement.
Tea was performance art.
Tea was continuality and the affirmation of all that was British.
Tea was dominance and pomp.
Tea was diplomacy.
Tea could be social humiliation.
Tea could be combat by other means.
Tea could be about so much more then tea.
The one thing Tea was usually not about, when it was with non family, was drinking tea and eating tasty things.
Illyana found Tea to be an unavoidable bother, apart from the actual tea and food, that Illyana enjoyed when it was good.
Tea with strangers was simple. Just continue to perpetuate the story of memory loss. Say nothing while conversing, very easy for Illyana. Deflect and pretend, all part of the act.
But Tea with just the Bennet daughters, that was… hard. So little for her to say, so much that Illyana wished she could say but knew not the words to say. Tea with them… hurt at times as she listened to the girly talk about what boy was attractive and how Suzy May had just so worn the wrong dress at the latest Ball and how a Mrs. Smith had used the wrong spoon at supper.
And yet… it was nice. Nice in a way that… They… liked her? How was that… possible?
Tea with them left her very confused. Nobody liked her, yet…
She liked having tea with them. Liked it a great deal. She just wished that she knew how to… share. Knew or… maybe it was if she dared to share.
…
…
The gravel rapped down upon the desk. The latest judicial decree involving Illyana was done.
Judge Norman Bleakly had issued his decision.
"Per the petition of Mr. Bennet, it is the decision of this court that Miss Illyana Rasputin continue to remain under the guardianship of Mr. Bennet and family until such a time that her lack of memory is rectified or more appropriate family relations are presented to and accepted by this court. She is of legal age to handle her own affairs but her medical condition renders her currently unfit to manage said affairs".
Nobody had contested the hearing. Illyana had hoped that the mysterious Professor Aida Durard, or some adjunct, would make an appearance, but no such luck. Shards, and she had even brought a special knife to help persuade in the loosening of the tongue.
"Well Sister looks like you will be remaining with us for yet a while". Elizabeth had beamed at Illyana.
"Sister"? Had been Illyana's questioning response.
"Well, Father is now your formal legal guardian and that simplifies things immensely" Stated Jane. "For now in the eyes of the law you are his ward and as such almost a distant legal relation with no claim on property one might say. A type of... sister describes it well".
"Another sister"! Proclaimed Lydia with her usual lack of decorum. "We shall dominate the Ball's from now on"!
"Some new battle formations will be needed" Grumbled Mr. Bennet. "The rotating six pointed star of death for one. Or the six points of death pyramid".
"Father! Must it always be about training"! Complained Catherine with a whiny tone.
"Yes" Was his simple answer.
…
…
Training continued, Illyana continued to improve. She was significantly recovered when the carnival came to town.
