A good relationship between genie and master was one of mutual respect and cooperation. The absolute best relationships were most like the relationship between close friends, siblings, lovers, and, rarely, soulmates. Sadly, masters were mortal, and they would eventually die.
If one of the pair were evil, then the relationship was one of pain. An evil master could force a genie to do much against her will, while any that risked binding an evil genie would eventually find themselves betrayed and destroyed. The absolute worse case scenario was when both sides were corrupt. If an ideal relationship between genie and master was a marriage, then the worst was like a constant war.
This was the reason for the safeguards. Both "master" and "genie" needed protection, though it should be noted that both genies and the most worthy of their masters held the opinion that the prisons should never have been built in the first place.
In any case, the safeguards, no matter how great, could be overthrown or circumnavigated by those that were clever. Mars could have written a large book on the matter. She'd spent her thousands of years in the prison being abused and surviving by fooling and betraying master after master. Still, it wasn't until Wiseman's words reached her soul and convinced her that Moon's promise that they'd be freed would never come about.
So it was that Mars came to be what he was now. Embodying, first, the worst of the genie side of the equation, and then, through the result of his treachery, the worst of the master side of the equation.
Jupiter and Ryuu, on the other hand, had a good relationship. Ryuu never even considered that he might command Jupiter to do anything, like Ranma had done before, he'd always asked her opinon on things and followed her advice. Which was why he did not feel that Jupiter was at all overstepping her bounds as she lectured him.
"She has been hurt," Jupiter said in a low insistent tone. "Badly."
"She looks..." Ryuu started.
"She looks fine?" Jupiter asked. "Not really she doesn't, I didn't know her before, but I'll bet she wasn't so quiet before. You cannot understand what was done to her." She sighed and reminded herself that he was just twelve, the term rape was probably a mystery to him, as it should have been. It certainly should never have been defined so thoroughly to one that Jupiter was given to understand was only eleven in mind. "I hope you never do understand. It is terrible what was done to her, and she may be fine physically, but there will probably be mental scars that last a long time, forever possibly."
Ryuu looked down, ashamed at the words as Jupiter looked over at Saturn holding Ranma comfortingly and leaning on her shoulder as they returned to examining weapons. It was a tender sight, and it seemed to Jupiter that Ranma was the one supporting Saturn for a moment. She paused, and perhaps she was supporting the genie of death as much as Saturn was supporting her. Jupiter turned back to Ryuu.
"And further more, she is not responsible for her father," Jupiter said. "Even if she had been, she's a genie now, mortal obligations mean nothing. So if you ask about her father, ask politely."
"I got it," Ryuu said. He sighed at being so close to his goal and yet so far.
"You know..." Jupiter said, hesitantly now. "You're...uh...cute when you pout like that..." Then she stepped back and headed back toward the group. "Uhh, my Master apologizes..."
See other episodes by Thrythlind
(Posted Sat, 12 Oct 2002 18:28)
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