xp_logs | Medusa and Ambur: Mother knows best

Medusa goes for a quiet walk in the garden; unfortunately, her mother is waiting with some unwanted news.

Medusa strolled through the palace gardens, taking advantage of the beautiful weather to spend some time outside. She barely noticed the guard who followed her on the winding paths as she made her way to one of her favorite spots to read, a novel tucked under her arm. She halted midstep, surprised to see her mother sitting on the bench.

Tucking a tendril of hair back from her face, Ambur smiled at her daughter and slid over to make room for her on the bench. "Medusalith," she said warmly, "Mind if I join you for a bit?"

“Of course not. You know I always love it when you can spend time with me.” Though she was curious as to what had caused her mother to seek her out. Sitting down beside her, she set her book down next to her. “The gardens are simply lovely. The colors of the flowers framing the pathways are just perfect.”

"Melbourne does a wonderful job designing them," she agreed randomly, turning slightly to face her daughter, "I was wondering, have you given any thought to the next few years? What you'd like to do?"

Medusa frowned and cocked her head. What an odd question. “Well of course, I know it is important to plan for the future. I will continue my training here and helping out you and father. My studies have been progressing well and I think I may even be able to start a new language soon.”

"Actually," she hesitated for a brief moment, she knew her daughter would not like to hear this, "I was thinking you might want to study in America with your sister."

"America? No, why would I want to go there?" She shook her head. “I have too much here that I need to do. I need to learn how to do everything you do and…” she trailed off. “It is not as though anything they have there we do not have here.” Especially if the phone calls from Crystal were any evidence.

"Well, not everything we do can be learned here, dear. Other cultures must be experienced first hand, and not from a villa or chateau on holiday somewhere. There are excellent universities in America for business and political science, both things you need to know about." Now that she had begun her campaign to send Medusa away it was easier to continue it.

“But we have excellent tutors here.” Medusa was not easily swayed and had never considered leaving Attilan for an extended period of time. “And there is much I need to learn about how things run around here, if I am to help Blackager to the best of my abilities.”

"Yes, well, " Lady Ambur was always diplomatic, even when dealing with her daughter, "Private tutors are not the same as having lessons in a classroom with other students, as your sister has been discovering. Blackager can do without you for a while." and her daughter would benefit without him as well.

Medusa’s hair began to swirl about in an agitated state, settling down as a smile spread across her face. “Perhaps, but there is the problem of setting up instruction at this point. It is not as though I can just enroll in a college the week before courses are set to begin. American institutions have strict rules about applications, so it would be best if I remain here to continue my studies, correct?” It was the end of August. School was surely starting, or had already started, so the issue was nonexistent.

This was why she was the mother and the adult and Medusa was not, "I've already taken care of it, as a good mother should. Columbia University is expecting you."

“How long have you been planning this?” Medusa asked, a bit of outrage slipping into her usually controlled tone. She rose to her feet, her distress apparent as her mind whirled almost as quickly as her hair. She was filled with the desire to stamp her feet and tell her mother that they couldn't make her go, but her ingrained manners stopped her.

Her mother smiled tightly, "It is not for forever, Medusalith, and it is not as if you can never come visit. You must broaden your horizons if you are to help lead our country." It would not do for her daughter to feel obligated to remain in the country. She needed to see what life was like outside Attilan, without royal responsibilities. "It would be good for your sister as well. I do not think she is adjusting quite as well as she wants us to think."

Despite her mother's logical argument, Medusa couldn't stop a single tear from rolling down her cheek. They were casting her out, sending her from home for no good reason that she could see. She had plenty of world experience, she had already spent time outside of Attilan during her travels in Europe. One look at her mother's face stalled any further arguments. Once Lady Ambur had made up her mind about something, changing her mind was like trying to change the tide. At least she would be closer to Crystal. Bowing her head, Medusa clasped her hands in front of her, willing her hair to settle. "Yes mother," she said, her voice wooden and flat, plans already forming to speak with her father and Blackager to try and appeal her mother’s decision.