Viera Actress
Chapter 4
I realized a mistake I made last chapter. I have Ella's last name, Lyre, used early on instead of her first name. As a half-Hume, Ella has a last name. Ella Lyre is her full name. I also wrote that she was raised by Viera in the Wood. I decided to change that but forgot to edit that part out. I hope that didn't confuse anyone. I didn't realize it until I sent the chapter. In this chapter, Myko will meet her parents. And the Viera will try and help her get her play finished. Ella continues in Jote's therapy and actually makes a lot of progress, and the Viera and Jote remember a horrible secret about Jote's past that her mother tried to make them forget. Also, Rael confesses her love to Rush, and demands that Rush see his daughter with Mjrn (even though Rael hates Slya almost as much as she hates Myko). Myko's middle name is the French word for rabbit, in case you were wondering why I used Lapin as her middle name. I am fairly decent with wordplay sometimes, as you'll see in the Jote therapy session in this chapter.
"I don't need therapy! If any of us does, it's Rael! She's INSANE!" Jote complained.
"Just chill, okay? I'm not going to hurt you, just get to the root of your anger. I've never met a Viera so angry, and I specialize in Viera! And why do you need to train that Myko kid so hard?" Ella was saying.
"It's school. Go help someone who really needs it."
"I was told to help you, and I am going to do it."
Mjrn had returned home and had made her arrangements with Ella, as promised. She then took Myko and began teaching her how to write a little. Myko could read a little, because, as Jote suspected, Mjrn had taught her using Moogle Mail from Fran. Alja had decided to join them. She, unlike her sister Rael, liked Myko-chan.
"So, is Rush really as wonderful as my sister says?" Alja asked. Mjrn grinned.
"I only knew him briefly, but it was pleasant." Mjrn replied happily. Myko showed her a drawing of a grey coeurl. She had labeled it "Wiskrs."
"Look Aunt Mjrn! It's Whiskers!" Myko exclaimed. Mjrn picked Myko up.
"I wish Dana would let me do that." Alja said jealously.
"Dana isn't as little as Myko. Maybe Rae will have another child someday. Or you could have your own. You are old enough. Lord Janzyn will… you know… with any girl who wants it, as long as she isn't either related or a village leader." Mjrn stated. Alja looked shocked.
"You want me with your boyfriend?"
"Janzyn has many girlfriends. I'm the only one he considers his real girlfriend, but he has women over all of the time, and I know they aren't there for Lena. Lena would like it if they were, but nearly every female Viera that visits Jan has a kitten a year and a half later. If you want to be with Jan, I won't stop you. Heck, I'm encouraging it."
"Janzyn keeps trying convince my other sister Kira to sleep with him."
"Watch your mouth with Myko around."
"I know."
"I want to know where little Viera come from, but Miss Rael says that I don't get to know that until I'm old enough to have them." Myko added.
"I already told you before that little Viera are blessings from the Wood." Mjrn told her niece.
"Why don't you tell her the rest? My mother told me the full truth when I asked her, and I wasn't much older than Myko-chan here. I mean, it is true that they are blessings from the Wood, but there's more to it. Why not just tell Myko and get it over with?" Alja wondered.
"Myko isn't ready to know. She'll be harassing the other Viera about it. Asking more questions that a child her age doesn't need to be asking. And I will never hear the end of it from Jote!"
"And my sister will think it's hysterical. She hates Myko, but she will think that is funny. Rael is so terrible. I think she liked Kira more than me. When Kira left, she was Rae's only sister at that point. Mom hadn't had me yet. Rae is the foremost wood-warder, and the village respects that, but ever since Myko was born, she has become the biggest terror in town. Can I hold Myko?"
"I don't know. How about it Myko? You know Alja. You know she won't hurt you. Her only niece doesn't want her around, and she wants to hold a little Viera."
"Rehearsal for holding a baby Viera of her own? Okay." Myko said. She climbed up on Alja's lap.
"Do you have to talk like that?" Alja asked.
"Yep!"
"Here's an idea that Rae and Jote both won't like. How about I take you with me next time I go to pick up my kids? You can keep Janzyn company, if you want. I'm not saying you have to. If you don't want to, it's fine. It's just a suggestion. Jote and Rael won't be happy with either of us, but you need some love too." Mjrn suggested.
"I don't know. I'll have to think about that. It's a really tempting thought though." Alja responded.
"Janzyn would absolutely love you. I have fun with him. And as a salve-maker, you can keep yourself safe if you want. I mean, if you want to have a baby, Janzyn would be happy to help. If you don't, that's okay for him too. I didn't have kids with him the first time we were together."
"Maybe I will. I'll let you know what I decide. It's not an easy decision, you know."
"I know, Ali. I had to make the decision myself once. And I've never regretted my choice. Jan and I… we have something special. We have a child together, and that is a connection nobody can break. Jan loves pretty Viera ladies like us. It's a big decision, I understand. Do what you think is right. Don't listen to anybody else. Only you know what is right for you."
"You are correct, Mjrn. I am seriously considering going to see this Janzyn guy, but it is a big decision."
"Okay Jote, now this is a simple test of word association. This often helps give me topics of conversation from the answers." Ella said. Jote rolled her eyes.
"This is not going to work." Jote insisted.
"Let's just see. Wood."
"Mother."
"Coeurl."
"Wolf"
"Outside."
"Rabbitpox."
"See? I already figured something out. You are thinking about your mother, aren't you? What happened to her?"
"She… she got rabbitpox. She and Mjrn both did. Mjrn was only a few weeks old. Mom had already lost two daughters in a row, one of them from the same illness. Mom was devastated. Mjrn almost died, but Mom did die. One of the Viera told me that she heard Mom crying out to the Wood only days before, begging her to spare Mjrn, even if she had to die for her child to live."
"That's so sad. My father died, but he got old. Viera live so much longer than Humes. Mama wants me to give her grandchildren, but I don't even have a boyfriend."
"I'm happy that Mjrn lived."
"Jote, is your mother's death what is making you so depressed?"
"No. I came to terms with that years ago. There is something else that is bothering me. Something I can't even remember, but I feel deep inside of me that it is my biggest issue."
"Would you like to undergo hypnosis? It might help you remember the reason you're so bitter. I've done it before. I could easily put you under hypnosis."
Jote nodded. "I don't like the idea of hypnosis, but if it will help me figure out my problem, let's try it."
"We'll need a few of your friends here. If they remember something while you're hypnotized, it will help us both."
"Rael should be somewhere out in the Wood. Hala is around, probably making a potion of some sort. My older friends will be better. Alja has only been an advisor for three years now. She and Rael are sisters, though. I wish Kira was around, their other sister, she'd remember something, but she was born blind and ran off into the Wood ages ago. Rena might be useful, although she isn't as close to me as the other advisors. She doesn't even know that Myko is part Hume, like most of the others. She's only a lesser advisor."
"I can help." Said a voice Jote never thought (or hoped) she'd hear again. What was going on?
"Okay, if I look over there and I'm not hearing things, Fran, I'm going to be angry." Jote said. She looked, and sure enough, there was her sister.
"What is this I hear about hypnosis?" Fran asked.
"Where is your Hume friend?"
"He's looking for Myko. We have wanted to see her. We haven't seen her since you called for us when you were about to have Vinka. I still don't know why you called for us if you want me to stay away. I would like to see Vinka and the rest of the kids again. How are Janson and Slya? And why are you getting hypnosis?"
"Fran, I have a whole two years cut from my memory. You were young, that's all I can remember of the time. Delf had just been born. And then… it's just blank." Jote stated.
"I… this certainly is strange. I cannot remember either. I bet I know what happened! Something catastrophic happened, and Mom didn't want us to remember it, so she had our minds erased with some salve. I have heard that there is a salve we can make that can erase small parts of one's memory. The use of it is forbidden, but Sylva wanted to spare us the memory badly enough."
"Mom wouldn't have done that!"
"Why not? If it was as Wood-shattering as I imagine, she wouldn't want us to have to suffer the memory of it. I do not remember, but I do feel that something heartbreaking and excruciatingly painful happened."
"The last thing I remember that hurt that much was when I had little Sylva and nearly died."
Myko was still with Alja and Mjrn when Balthier walked in. Mjrn smiled. Myko went berserk with her happiness. She went and began hugging her father.
"Daddy! I've been wanting to see you and Mommy for a long time! I've missed you! Where's Mommy? I want Mommy!" Myko cried.
"Hello Balthier. It has been a while. And I'm sure Jote doesn't like you and Fran being here." Mjrn said.
"It was Fran's idea. She went to talk to Jote. She knows that we aren't supposed to be here, and Jote is tired of her coming back." Balthier explained. Myko was still hugging him.
"Daddy! You and Mommy have to see my play! It's going to be 'The Viera who cried Coeurl!' It's got a real coeurl and everything! Mr. Janzyn's sister has a pet miniature coeurl named Whiskers, and he's going to play the coeurl! We're getting the play ready for next week! I'm the star!"
"Like father, like daughter. My little girl is the leading lady now."
"I sure am! And I can't wait to show you my play!"
"Wow. She's really excited." Alja said.
"Well hello Alja. How are things?"
"I'm going to go and have a child with Lord Janzyn ASAP."
"You already decided?!" Mjrn yelped.
"Nah. I'm just yanking your chain Mjrn. Relax. I'm thinking about it though. Seriously. And it doesn't sound like such a bad idea. It actually sounds like an interesting experience. I think it would be nice to have a little mini Alja running around. I just don't know if I'm ready to have a baby Viera yet or not."
"Don't do that anymore, Ali! You freaked me out!"
"I'm sorry Mjrn. It just seemed amusing to tease you about it. I probably will do it, though. I know it was mere days ago I told Jote that little Viera wouldn't be good for me right now, but the more I think about it, the more I think I do want to have a kitten soon."
"Fran had a difficult pregnancy, Alja. And she is older and stronger than you and was carrying a smaller-than-the-average-Viera child. I don't know if you can stand that." Balthier told the young Viera.
"Fran has problems in her family. My family is stronger. Rae has to watch when she's with Rush all of the time or she'll have another child. You know she has one child. You've met Dana, my niece. I'll be fine. If I want a baby, I'll have one, thanks for your concern Mr. Bunansa."
"My Daddy knows what he's talking about, Miss Alja! Listen to Daddy!" Myko yelled.
"C'mon Myko. Let's go find your mother." Balthier said. He picked up his daughter and left.
"I really don't know what to do. Mjrn, what do you think I should do?"
"Alja, it's your choice. You can do whatever you want to do with your life. Nobody else can tell you what to do. I chose Janzyn, and I never regretted it. I can go to him whenever I need help, even though the man is pretty self-serving and only does stuff to get more attractive female Viera into bed with him. The night I conceived Janson and Slya, he had three women earlier taking turns making it with him. That's probably the reason he didn't father Slya. He had trouble that night. I could barely get even one good round with him. The male can't get enough Viera women. He's an expert at screwing. You'll be incredibly pleased if you choose to go with him. He knows just how to please Viera women. It might not be what you want, but it might be. And Jan will do whatever you want. I had him do some pretty interesting things that first time."
"I don't know. I have to decide. This is a major decision. I'm still a virgin, you know."
"Rael can give you advice. She's still your big sister. And she wouldn't want you to ruin your life. Jote and Fran told me to stay away from men for what they believed was my own good."
"I'll find her, and I'll ask her for advice. I know this is my choice and mine alone though."
"I know you'll make the right choice."
"I'll tell you when I have decided."
Rael and Rush were in the middle of one of their special moments. Rush had found his friend sulking, like she often was when they'd run into each other. Slya looked a little like her father. She had his eyes, and his pure white ears. Viera without black fur where considered a blessing. Jote and Myko also were pure white. Rael couldn't remember who had gotten her pregnant with Dana. It wasn't Rush, for sure. She was a pretty pathetic Viera if she couldn't remember who had knocked her up. All she knew was that she had been with tons of males during that time. The Wood had told her once who had fathered Dana, but she had long forgotten.
When a new Viera is born, the Wood tells her mother what to call her. If she doesn't, the mother has to find a name. That is what happened in the case of Nokvarle and her half-sister Tymzjna, and it was seen as a blessing. A mother Viera would always want to give her child a name, but the Wood would almost always give the name. Jote, Fran, Delf, and Mjrn were all named by the Wood. So were their sisters who died, Keno and Hane. Sylva was one of those blessed to have her name chosen by her mother. It was a rare occurrence. Rarer even than the birth of a male Viera.
Rush would spend time with Rael all the time. He wanted to screw Mjrn again, but that wasn't likely to happen. He didn't even know that Mjrn had borne his child, which was why he didn't ever see Slya. He knew that she had children, but he thought they were both Janzyn's. Rush would be with Rael every chance he got. He'd pleasure her immensely, but he had never gotten her pregnant. He wanted to.
"Rush, that HURTS! Stop it!" Rael yelled. Rush pulled away from her.
"I'm sorry Rael. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just don't do it so hard. I don't like when it hurts. I'm not Jote."
"Or Mjrn."
"Rush, what's wrong with you today?"
"I'm never going to be a father, am I?"
"Rush, you are a father."
"Rael, are you pregnant?!"
"No. Mjrn… she had your daughter. Lovely girl. Her name is Slya, but since you don't know about her, Janzyn has to raise her with her twin brother."
"I've got a son too?"
"No. This is the extremely rare case of twins with two different fathers. Janson is Janzyn's, but Slya is yours."
"Mjrn is so clever! She couldn't get enough from Janzyn, so she found me! Impressive. Clever, clever girl. I love her even more now."
"Rush, what is your problem? Any other Viera would've yelled at Mjrn for cheating. You can't stop saying how clever she is."
"I'm attracted to clever Viera. She knew that she was supposed to have twins, but Janzyn had only managed to father one of her children. She instinctively knew she had another so she had to find another male. Mjrn is brilliant."
"There is a brilliant Viera who came into our village. Ella Lyre. She's incredible. She's a half-Viera, half-Hume hybrid, but she can even make Jote listen to her. She's giving Jote therapy. Jote tried to kill her at first, but then she earned even her respect."
"I want to know my daughter."
"Then come to Eruyt Village, and see her once in a while. I'd like that too."
"Why? You don't like me. You use me."
"No Rush. I don't like you. I love you."
Rush looked pleased. He was a hard Viera to read, but he also must've been surprised. "Really?"
"With all my heart."
Jote was going to get the hypnosis soon. A few of the advisors were standing near her, and were to tell Ella if anything sparked a memory. Fran was holding Myko, who was still delighted to have her parents around. Ella was going to put Fran under hypnosis too. Balthier was talking with Marl and trying to play with Vinka, who was hiding behind her father's legs so the scary Hume wouldn't see her.
"Jote was going to start teaching Myko stuff, like how she shouldn't trust Humes because they'd be mean to her or something. I think she was going overboard. Thank the Wood that Myko wasn't receptive to that or she wouldn't recognize herself as Myko Lapin Bunansa, she'd see herself as a full Viera." Marl told Balthier.
"And what do you think about Humes?"
"They're just like Viera with short ears."
"Look! Ella is going to do Fran first!"
"Put Myko down, dear. Now, Fran. You are going to go deep into your past. Your half-brother Delf was born two weeks ago at this point, and you are a child, watching your sister…
Fran saw it all. And it wasn't horrible. It was a happy memory? How could that be? It was a memory of Sylva, and of Gura.
"Gura! Hello!" Sylva called out. Her newborn son Delf was in her arms, Fran was peeking out from behind her legs. Gura had come to see Jote. He adored her. He wanted to marry her, and be the father of her children.
"Where is Jote?" Gura asked. Fran could remember his voice even when she wasn't under hypnosis. Jote always had him around until he got killed, and Fran knew him well too.
"She's off with her friends. Fran, why don't you have any friends? Meja has a daughter about your age."
Jote came running up. "Gura! Why didn't you tell me you were coming! I have something incredible to tell you! Something that is going to change our lives forever!"
Sylva smiled. "My little girl is growing up."
Fran looked worried. "I thought I was your little girl, Mommy." She said. Fran had always adored her mother. Sylva was a caring, loving mother and a wise leader. She cared so much for all of her children. She'd do anything for them.
"You're my baby girl. Jote is my little girl."
"Jote, you know I love you so much." Gura gushed. He had always been the lovey-dovey type. Fran had no clue what attracted her sister to him in the first place.
"This family is going to have another Viera to love soon. In about a year and a half, to be exact." Jote said happily. She had been so happy back then. Fran barely recognized her sister now.
"What?" Gura asked. Jote smiled.
"Gura, we're going to finally be parents. I'm pregnant!" Jote cried out. She looked radiant. Fran just about snapped out of her hypnosis. Jote had a child?! Why would anybody want her to forget that?
"Hear that Franny? You're going to be an aunt!" Sylva exclaimed happily.
"Jote is going to be a mom?" Fran asked.
"Jote is going to be a mom?"
Jote shook her head. "I'm not pregnant, sis. At least not right now." She stated, looking over at Marl, who winked at her.
"Jote, Fran is still under hypnosis." Ella told her.
"Then she's seeing something wrong. I was never pregnant to Gura. We tried so many times to have a child, but I never did. FRAN! YOU'RE HAVING A FANTASY!!"
"Jote, you mustn't break her trance. I think we're on the edge of a breakthrough here."
Fran saw what happened about a year later. Sylva was proud, and Jote clearly was going to be a mother. Sylva was awaiting the birth of her first grandchild anxiously.
"C'mere Fran. Want to feel your niece kicking?" Sylva asked. Jote laughed. She was so happy. What happened to her? Something terrible must've happened to the baby. That must've been why Sylva had made Fran and Jote forget what had happened. Fran didn't remember any of this.
"I can't believe this is finally happening. I was beginning to think that Gura was sterile, but he's not, and we're going to have a baby."
The next thing Fran knew, it was six months later. She and Delf had been put in the care of one of Sylva's advisors; Rael, Kira, and Alja's mother Kjmi. Sylva had gone out in the Wood to help Jote. Gura was staying with Kjmi too, as a male Viera could not be present during a birth, according to custom. And he knew that Jote would bring their child straight to Kjmi's to show Fran and Delf their niece. Sylva had been told by the Wood that the baby was a girl.
But when Jote and Sylva came back, Fran saw the problem. Jote was holding a dead Viera baby. The child had been stillborn and Jote wanted to show Gura his daughter before they buried her. The woman was a wreck over her child's death, and Sylva could not bear to see her daughter suffering like that. Jote still didn't seem to get over it months afterward. And Fran could remember it and remind Jote too. Delf, luckily, was only a year and a half old and wouldn't remember what had happened. But Fran and Jote had to forget, even if Sylva had to have the salve-makers concoct a forbidden potion. Jote still was never the same. She didn't remember her loss, but she knew in her heart that she had lost something precious and irreplaceable. That was when she stopped being so happy. Fran was lucky. She forgot everything and continued to be a happy little Viera up until Sylva's death.
Ella brought Fran out of trance. Jote was crying hysterically, Marl trying in vain to comfort her. Vinka looked upset that her mother was crying, so she started crying too.
"I'm glad Mom made me forget that! Fran, please tell me you were dreaming! Please!" Jote begged in between sobs.
"That's horrible." Ella said, pale in the face.
"I couldn't have lost my baby! I couldn't have! Sylva is the only baby I've ever had, and she's very much ALIVE!!"
"Jote, please. I'm so sorry about your daughter with Mr. Gura, but I can't breathe! You're choking me! Too much hugging!!" Marl choked out. How was Jote going to be consoled now that she remembered what she couldn't get over before? Jote was on her knees after letting go of Marl. Fran had only seen a Viera act like that once before; Sylva had lost two daughters in early infancy and had been a wreck too. She only got over it when she gave birth to Mjrn. And went hysterical again when Mjrn got rabbitpox, thinking that her daughter was gonna die.
"Jote, I'm so sorry. Poor little Viera." Mjrn said, stroking her sister's hair. Marl tried to get Jote on her feet, but she swatted at him with her claws.
"Mjrn, try to calm Vinka down. She doesn't understand what is going on. She's just upset that her mother is upset. Jote, please stop crying. It was a long time ago." Fran attempted to calm Jote down. Jote looked her straight in the eyes.
"My first daughter died being born. Your child didn't deserve to live, and she's still here." Jote snarled. Balthier heard that, and two Viera had to hold him still. He wanted to punch Jote. Fran backed off. She had to restrain herself before she tore Jote a new one. It was the knowledge of the tragedy she had faced that had made her say that. She didn't mean it.
"Jote, you still have Vinka. She's healthy and everything. And if she gets rabbitpox now, it wouldn't kill her! In two years, we're gonna infect her deliberately!" Marl comforted.
"Leave me alone." Jote sobbed. She tried to walk off. Ella stopped her.
"Honey, I'm sorry. We have to see if we can get any more information." Ella said.
"Haven't you tortured me enough with FRAN'S memory?! Why do you have to make me relive the actual pain myself? WHY?!"
"Jote, you won't believe how sorry I am that I have to do this to you. I never imagined that your past was so terrible. I'm just doing my job."
"I just hate tragedies." Myko said, with tears in her blue eyes.
And there's another chapter done. I know it's a heartbreaking chapter, but I promise the next chapter won't be as depressing. I would love more reviews. I hope everybody liked Myko being reunited with her parents. I try my best for Myko to be more cute and funny than anything, but I don't know if I'm doing that well enough. In the next chapter, we get more of Jote's horrible past, only from her point of view, and she runs off into the Wood to have time to herself, but Myko follows her and something amazing happens. And then Rush meets his daughter Slya.