from the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin, being vaguely considered for maisondeportes

[aboveherknee]

[ Janet's very serious and formal at first ] I do not wish to impose upon thee, but-- but--

[ but now she huffs, getting visibly irritated ] I cannae ken why you'd wish to send me there, and me with child! You're either mad as a hare or plain cruel, and I wouldn't have thought it of you.

If you must "play" me, as you've said it, can you not do it elsewhere? Somewhere with fewer... evil spirits at play?

Comments

[mywarrenmyrules]

[mad as a what now?]

People are still saying that?

[aboveherknee]

[oh lord above its a giant talking rabbit... thing. You'd think the girl who got knocked up by a fairy knight would be less fazed by that, but...

She rallies as quickly as she can, though]

I'm... Not certain i know what ye mean, Sir Hare.

[After all, everyone knows hares go mad in the spring...]

[mywarrenmyrules]

[Bunny does go a little mad in March, but only for professional reasons. Is when all of his work has to be done.]

Bunnymund. I'm no sir. [He shrugs.] It's just an old saying, isn't it? Hadn't heard that one in a while -

[A pause.]

You're from an earlier time than I am, aren't ya? I'm always the last to know.

[aboveherknee]

And I'm Janet, 'tis a pleasure.

[ she curtsies neatly, despite her baby bump ]

As for the rest of it, this is more your ken than mine, if you've been here more than a night's time.

[mywarrenmyrules]

Pleasure's mine, Janet. Now what's this about sendin' you somewhere with evil spirits?

[That seems a little more important than time differences.]

Congratulations on the anklebiter. When're ya due?

[aboveherknee]

It's a manor house, which is apparently infested with all manner of... evil spirits and restless souls, and it sounds rather like a nightmare to me. And there's no way out of it, thanks to whatever magic infests the place.

On the... Oh, on the child? [ She presses her hands to her belly with a wry smile ] It's five months gone since the eve.

OH MY GOD TAM LIN JOIN US

[questionablewit]

Mad as a hare? I've never run across any particularly insane rabbits. You must have interesting livestock where you come from.

asldkfj hi I take it you like the ballad of Tam Lin? XD

[aboveherknee]

[ that gets a laugh ]

I don't know about where you come from, but where I'm from everyone knows hares go a wee bit mad in the spring.

The livestock is not all that interesting, though. How interesting could a cow be, or a sheep? Even hares are mainly good for being stewed.

Very much, yes! It's a terrific story, I've read several versions as well as the original ballad. =)

[questionablewit]

Hadn't noticed hares going any more mad than any other creatures in spring, I admit. It's not as though they say, "Mwahahaha, soon the world shall be mine!" while cackling. Cackling is definitely required for madness.

I've run into some interesting livestock. Stick with the boring ones, they're much easier to manage. For one thing, they're less likely to try and eat you.

hee. I'm a fan, but mostly in love with the cover that inspired her, by tricky pixie

[aboveherknee]

[ another laugh, and a shake of her head] You are unlike anyone I've ever met. What livestock have you that could eat a man?

I haven't heard that version! Listening to it now, it's terrific! Thanks!!

[questionablewit]

Me? Nothing unusual about me, just a woman with a couple of daggers to spare. And a dog. And a knack for finding trouble. [She appears to consider this, then shrugs.] Mostly ordinary, at any rate. As for what livestock could eat a man, big ones. With sharp, pointy teeth and mean dispositions.