| Logs |
2011 July 15
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Taps Logs |
When the Cat's Away
While the Proud Mary is safely docked once more in Baton Rouge, no one has dared interrupt the king with his favored Hetaera, in order to tell him so. Since no one is sure precisely what to do, more goods have been brought from the palace, and Theophile, in the little galley, is calmly cooking breakfast for everyone. Eacharn too is still aboard -- no one has quite dared throw him off, after all -- and supposedly keeping an eye on the last remaining kidnapper.
It's not too terribly long after dawn, therefore, that there's a small ruckus on board the elegant old paddleboat: Mary wishes to see her parents. Being a child, she's sure there must be something wrong with them, and that's why no one will let her in to her Papa's quarters. She is, however, an observant and resourceful child, so she goes to find the other king. She knows he likes her parents, so surely if he demands to see them, she can find a way to slip inside as well?
Eacharn answers the knock on his door still wearing the same clothes from the night before. His hair is untidy and he's obviously not had the best of nights. The visiting king had spent it pacing his room and remonstrating with himself. He is usually a reasonable man; he's a bit horrified at what might have happened last night had he gone back off to St. Louis in a huff. With all that in mind, he's expecting one of Roy's guards or one of the various butler-type servants aboard to tell him breakfast is ready. Finding a small, determined girl at his door is a surprise that has him blinking and furrowing his brow.
Mary curtseys politely -- she's a good girl -- then pipes in her soft voice, "Good morning, King Eacharn. Can I come in, please? I need your help."
Eacharn blinks again and steps back, opening the door for the little girl -- little princess, actually. "Of course, Princess Mary." Some very small part of himself -- the part that spent a sleepless night wanting to go to his Lady's aid -- is amused at the seriousness in the child's demeanor.
Mary curtseys again, determined to impress the king into helping her, then slips quickly into his room. Once there she pours out her story: Lizbet won't let her in to see her Papa or her Mama, and no one will tell her what happened, and Lizbet broke her promise to wake Mary up when the rescuers returned -- oh, she says she was asleep too, but Mary's worried it's really because someone got hurt and no one will let her in and she needs to know and she can help if they'd just let her know and, and...!
At that point Mary has to stop, struggling with tears. She looks up at the tall man, her voice choked, "W-will you help me, p-please? They won't let me in, but if you were there and yelling about seeing them then the guards'd be watching you and I could sneak in and then we'd both be able to help!" She sniffles, bravely wiping her eyes so the tears don't show, and adds firmly, "I know you want to help too, because you like Mama 'Chana and she says you're a good person and -- and she knows!"
Eacharn listens to the child as she starts pouring out her story. As it goes on, he finds himself having to put a hand over the lower part of his face to hide the grin that keeps trying to run away with his expression. Once she starts nearly crying, however, he's not having to fight laughing any more. He goes down on one knee so he's at eye-level with her, and he makes sure they have good eye-contact. She's small and frightened and Eacharn remembers, though it was more years ago than he wants to think, what it was like being small and treated like you were being silly when things felt really serious. Carefully, so as not to worry her, he lays his hands on Mary's shoulders and says, "Princess, I can promise you that neither your Mama 'Chana nor your Papa Roy were hurt last night. But if it will make you feel better, we can go and see if they'll let us see them." Plus, this gives him a chance to go and fuss over his Lady without it seeming like it's all on him.
Mary nearly wilts with relief at that! Then she takes a deep breath, straightening and doing her best to look sturdy and determined, like her Papa says she should when she feels small and scared. She grabs Eacharn's hand, "Th-thank you so much, your majesty! We can go right now, okay? It's almost breakfast and I got on a clean dress an' everything!" Her eyes are shining with relief and unshed tears as she smiles a bit shakily at him.
Eacharn squeezes her hands very gently, "Give me one moment." He brushes his hair and steps behind the screen in his room to change his shirt before taking her hand and walking with her down toward Roy's stateroom.
As she leads him along the hallway as swiftly as she can, Mary whispers, "When Papa yells the guards all listen real close to him! I think if you yell they'll do that for you too and I can sneak in and once Mama and Papa see me they'll tell the guards to be nice to you and let you in too, okay? Don't tell them I told you that, though." Her voice is disgusted, "They'll just laugh if you do."
The right corner of Eacharn's mouth twitches, but he manages not to actually chuckle, "Tell you what, Princess: let me just speak with the guards. They might let us both in. Sometimes asking nicely is better than yelling."
Mary gives Eacharn a dubious glance, but doesn't say anything. She's used to the adults figuring out she's right after they do the silly thing they wanted to do! She sighs softly to herself -- grown-ups! Poor things always have to figure things out the hard way, she supposes. She's quietly pleased with herself; not just blurting out that he's wrong is a sign of maturity, she knows! Her papa told her that... that was the time he told her to do what he said and not what he did, too. She beams a bit, realizing her papa will be proud of how she got in to see him!
Jacko is on the door when Eacharn and Mary arrive, and he stands more upright as the visiting king comes into sight with the princess. Eacharn inclines his head, and the captain of the guard relaxes slightly, "How can I help you, your majesty, your highness?" He's got an ear cocked toward the door and can tell that things have settled down.
Eacharn smiles tiredly, "Good morning, Captain. Her Royal Highness and I were concerned for the Lady Sulochana after last night's goings-on." He cuts his eyes down toward the little girl, trying to convey that it was her idea, then goes on, "Would you be so good as to let His Majesty and Her Ladyship know we're here?"
Mary blinks, then gives Eacharn a bemused look -- that's not yelling! That's not going to distract the guards! Jacko is silent for a long moment, his gaze shifting between the visiting king and the princess... then he says slowly, "I see." He thinks a moment longer, then comes to what he hopes is an acceptable compromise so as to not offend Eacharn, "If you'd wait here for a moment, please, I'd be happy to do so?" Mary watches with wide, guileless eyes, holding Eacharn's hand.
Eacharn carefully holds Mary's hand more tightly, "If you would be so kind, yes."
Jacko nods formally, "Your majesty, your highness," then turns and opens the door. Mary blinks up at Eacharn, then pats his hand with her free one as he tightens his grip, mouthing, 'ow!' and wriggling her fingers. Eacharn lays his finger over his lips and doesn't yet let up on his grip on her fingers. He has a rather good idea of just what's been going on in Roy's stateroom and is fairly certain the pair won't want their small daughter catching them in flagrante.
Mary knows Sna'thaid's style of martial arts is a secret, even though it is shared by her entire family. She also knows this is possibly her only chance to get in safely -- while Jacko has his back to her, just before he closes the door behind him. So she beams sunnily up at the visiting king -- then turns her wrist just so, just like scary Auntie Sna'tha taught her. The child is almost shocked at how easy it is to escape someone's hold, although that doesn't stop her from ducking swiftly under Jacko's arm and through the door. The captain of the guard is caught flat-footed -- Eacharn can hear the muttered, "Sonuva-!" as Jacko grabs for Mary.
The small girl squeaks as she ducks and rolls, then lunges for the inner door, anxiously crying out, "Papa, Mommy, I'm here, I'm here! Are you all right?! They won't let me in I want to see you I can help!" Behind her and Jacko the forgotten door swings open, allowing Eacharn an unobstructed view of Roy's outer room... and of the inner bedroom as well, as Mary nearly slams that door against the inner wall in her hurry!
Inside the bedroom, Roy half-sits in the bed and blinks groggily in the direction of the slammed-open door, asking eloquently, "Whuzzat?"
Sulochana makes a small grumbling noise as Roy sits up -- that was her pillow! At the cry from Mary, however, the Hetaera raises her head, pushing her hair back and smiling in sleepy confusion as Mary clambers quickly right onto the bed and into Roy's lap, latching firmly onto him. For an instant Eacharn can see his Lady clearly: warm brown skin and sleepily sensual bedroom eyes, a silky shadowy tangle of hair and that soft, laughing smile on her lips as she almost purrs, "What's wrong, baby? We're fine, see?" Eacharn's heart leaps in his chest at the sight of his Lady so at home and so obviously happy... and also so very much all right; his own worry had been pushed firmly down, until Mary slid out of his grip and away like a greased eel. His pulse is racing; despite decades of training in court etiquette, he takes a couple of steps into the outer room before he can stop himself.
Mary is hastily pouring out her story to justify her actions, not quite strangling Roy as she hugs him around the neck. Jacko sighs and rumbles apologies to Roy, reaching for the child, and the Baton Rouge king waves Jacko off with a chuckle. He uses one hand to tuck the sheets more securely around his waist, holding onto Mary with the other, "Naw, naw; leave 'er be, Jacko. She's jest worried. 'S'all right, sugar-pie. Ain't nobody in here hurt." The king of Baton Rouge is unconsciously rocking his adopted daughter and making soothing noises to her. Blood or not, Mary is very much his child by now, "Me 'n Mama 'Chana wuz jest real, real tired after last night. It was a lotta work gettin' back t' th' boat after them bad guys took her."
Sulochana awws at Mary's clear worry and fright, sitting up next to Roy; one hand decorously and courteously holds up the sheet while the other gently strokes Mary's hair. Now she's sure she won't be immediately evicted, the small girl makes a quick grab with one arm to tightly hug her mother-by-adoption as well. Jacko steps back with a wry expression; as Eacharn moves into Roy's quarters he draws the attention of both the captain of the guard and Sulochana. Jacko frowns, while Sulochana blinks in slightly sleepy puzzlement, her voice still soft and smooth as velvet, "Eacharn? What are you doing here, dear?"
That causes Mary to look as well, blinking tears out of her eyes. "Oh! Can we let him in to see you're all right too please, Papa, Mama? He helped me get in!" Jacko's frown deepens, while Sulochana's eyebrows go up, and she looks like she's trying not to laugh.
Roy's lopsided smile is a bit wry as he glances toward Eacharn. "I reckon it won't hurt nothin'. C'mon in, Yer Majesty." This, of course, is highly irregular, but Roy's court is usually somewhat irregular. Eacharn steps into the room as Roy tells Jacko to go ahead and go back to his post, but please close the doors. The river horse king's hands are folded decorously in front of himself. It looks like a simply relaxed pose, but it is more to hide his body's reaction than anything else.
Jacko is definitely scowling by now; Sulochana laughs throatily from where Mary's got a near choke-hold hug about her Mama's neck. The Hetaera strokes the girl's back, murmuring teasingly, "We've got you, baby -- no need to strangle us both!" Once the reluctant captain has departed and closed the door, Mary slowly turns so she too is facing Eacharn, although she's careful to never completely let go of either adult as she does so. Instead she makes sure she's squirmed in snugly between her parents, each of her small hands tightly holding one of theirs.She takes a breath, then ducks her head, "I -- I'm sorry, your majesty, th-that I ran..." She hesitates, then lifts her chin, "No I ain't! Jacko wasn't gonna let us in -- I could see!"
As she takes another deep breath to explain, Sulochana murmurs amusedly, "'No, I am not,' honeybunch."
Mary blinks, mentally readjusting, then chatters in relief, "Yes, Momma: I'm not sorry I ran, your majesty, but you see? See?! I was right!" She nods earnestly, "You should've yelled like Papa -- that always works with the guards!"
There's a small, lady-like snort of laughter from Sulochana as she tucks the sheet carefully about herself, then goes back to reassuringly stroking Mary's hair. Over the child's head she murmurs teasingly to Roy, "Do a lot of yelling, dear?"
Roy doesn't even have the good grace to look abashed. He grins and shrugs, "What kin I say? Gotta temper."
Eacharn looks around and finds a chair he can settle into. "I understand, Your Highness," he says very seriously to Mary, "But I think it would have been very rude for me to yell at the Captain. He's not my soldier, after all."
Mary opens her mouth to speak, then pauses to think about that. Finally she looks up at Eacharn again, "It's all right, though -- you could yell 'cause it was a 'mergency! and I was there to say it was all right!" She twists to look up at Roy's face, "That's right, daddy, right? I can say it's okay 'cause I'm the princess?" She blinks, then adds a little heatedly, "And Lizbet lied to me, Papa! She broke her promise and Momma says we should always keep our promises 'cause it's good business and she didn't so I had to, uh... to r'sort to drastic measurements!"
Sulochana rolls her eyes in amusement, murmuring to Roy, "She's got you there, lover!" The Hetaera grins at Eacharn, adding courteously, "I didn't get a chance to thank you for last night, Eacharn. Your help was much appreciated."
Roy smirks and says, "Now, punkin, we already had that do-as-I-say talk. Yellin' ain't the way to go, most o' the time."
Mary whispers to Sulochana, not realizing how good Eacharn's hearing is, "He's a good helper but he doesn't follow d'rections real good yet, Mama! I think he needs more training, like you say I do."
Eacharn has crossed his legs and is doing his best to look relaxed -- and not as if he's imagining going to kneel by 'Chana's side while she looks so cozy and sensual. Both Roy and Eacharn overhear Mary, though, and Roy has to quickly fake a coughing fit as Eacharn goes scarlet from the toes up, judging by how slowly it makes it to his face. Sulochana has to go to a very neutral expression to keep from bursting out laughing herself! Then Roy puts on his stern face as best he can and tries to go on with what he was saying earlier, "Lizbet was asleep by the time we all got back to the boat last night, punkin. So she di'n't break her promise."
Mary says disgustedly, "Did so, Papa! She said she'd stay awake and wait for y'all!"
By now Sulochana has managed to count to five slowly in order to suppress the laughter. She smiles down at Mary -- although her eyes are still brilliant with repressed amusement, "Sweetheart, have you and King Eacharn had breakfast yet? I don't know about you, but my tummy's rumbling! Maybe if you asked Chef Theophile very nicely for us, he'd be willing to serve us all breakfast here, hmm?" Mary seems hesitant to release either parent, so Sulochana adds gravely, "I promise no one will keep you from having breakfast with your Papa and I, baby. We need to clean up a bit, though, while you help Theophile get everything ready, all right? Can you do that for us, sweetie?"
That galvanizes Mary into action -- she squirms out of the bed and scampers out of the room, calling triumphantly over her shoulder, "Okay! See? I can help! I'll take care of everything!"
Once the door slams behind the child, Sulochana gives Eacharn a sympathetic smile from where she's still snuggled against Roy, "Sorry, dear." Roy barely manages to wait until Mary's gone to burst out in peals of laughter.
Eacharn relaxes with a puff-out of breath, "That is one unique child you have, Roy."
Sulochana giggles quietly, her eyes alight with happiness and warm affection, "She's a charmer, isn't she?"
Eacharn can't help but smile wryly at that, "That she is."
Roy chuckles and stretches, rolling his neck until it pops comfortably, "She's gittin' a little too clever, though. Makes me shiver t' thank what it's gonna be like when she's old 'nuff to start pushin' back on me." He slides unselfconsciously out of the bed now that Mary's gone, checking the water in the washbasin.
Sulochana is feeling much, much better, although she's still a bit sleepy. She feels safe now, though: in the company of her beloved and a man she's starting to become rather fond of -- and so she simply cuddles back against the pillows as Roy rises. She gives a small, almost kitten-like yawn, then smiles with relaxed -- and, truth be told, rather unwittingly powerfully sensual -- bedroom eyes as she watches Roy and Eacharn. Her hair, like the sheets, is comfortably rumpled and suggestively shadowing, and her contented voice is a lazy purr, "I suppose you have rather a lot of questions, Eacharn, mm? After all your assistance, the least I can do is answer a few."
Eacharn is not used to such self-comfortable behavior as Roy is exhibiting, so it takes him a moment to get his thoughts together. It's a little easier for him when Roy pulls over a screen to put between the wash basin and the other two occupants of the room. The Hetaera tilts her head thoughtfully as she studies Eacharn. The man looks... rather haggard? She wonders if he got a good night's sleep or not. Surely he has no trouble sleeping on a riverboat? "Also, if it is not rude of me to ask, did you, ahh... get enough rest last night?"
Eacharn presses the heels of his hands against his eyes and snorts a tired laugh, "I don't think I slept at all last night. I was... concerned about you."
Sulochana blinks, then sits up, "Oh, Eacharn, I'm so sorry!" She hesitates, worry on her face, then calls softly, "Roy, sweetheart? You and Eacharn don't have anything official planned today, do you? Can he get some rest today, instead of having to worry about court or anything?" She reaches for her robe, trying to be polite and not flash the visiting king, as she adds, "Food will probably help, Eacharn, yes? Please, don't worry about me; Roy takes very good care of me when I'm silly and push myself too hard." It doesn't occur to her how surreal her words may seem to Eacharn: referring to the tiger's violently bloody retribution of the night before as a woman being "silly."
From behind the screen Roy's voice says, "Officially, I'd planned on questioning the cowboy you gave quarter to. So yeah, Eacharn can get some rest."
The visiting king is a bit disappointed 'Chana doesn't display the same casualness about dress as Roy. He does, however, blink when she calls last night's adventures silliness, "Lady... I know I helped, but before I got there you had already slaughtered several men. I am not certain that 'silly' is the correct word for a... a..." He falters, then adds, "You aren't an elemental, are you?"
Sulochana turns from where she's been wrapping her robe about herself, pulling the dark curtain of silky hair free of the collar. Her small smile is sympathetic as she shakes her head, "No, not an elemental, dear. Did someone tell you I was?"
Eacharn clears his throat, "No. That was my own assumption. I could tell you aren't..." he hesitates, part of him not wanting to reveal her nature -- then he realizes Roy is obviously quite aware of what she is, "I could tell by scent and such that you aren't human... and I just sort of worked from there. I suppose that came from the clothes I saw you in at the La Kitsune ball."
Sulochana laughs softly as she belts her robe -- a different one than when she spent the night with Eacharn. "Oh, my. Dear, one of my justly earned names, gifted to me by a manitou, is Xopuchmata... the Lady with the Fiery Kiss." Her smile is sunny as she beams at him, "It was my name, not any supernatural nature, which inspired my costume! My godsmother Sna'tha and I were playing small word games with our attire that night." She grins mischievously as she glances at the screen and adds, "It appears the costume was quite successful -- on several counts!"
There's an amused snort from behind the screen; Roy's ego is still a little bruised about that night, though he wouldn't admit it. He says between splashing sounds, "'Nother lover of hers gave her the name. Reckon it's some native word."
Sulochana picks up her brush, settling comfortably cross-legged on the bed, and pulls her thick mane of hair over one shoulder. Her slow, smooth brush strokes start turning the shadowed tangles into a darkly gleaming waterfall of smoothly silky jet. She giggles at Roy's snort, then grins and calls quietly, "It is, sweetheart! It's a beautiful gift in the language of his original people -- in thanks for saving his life!"
Eacharn watches the Hetaera brushing her hair for several minutes before he says, "Would you like help with that, Lady?" He's gotten a bit hypnotized by it, and had fallen into silence.
Sulochana pauses in her brushing, her small smile rueful -- she knows Roy's likely reaction should he emerge to see Eacharn intimately brushing his half-nude beloved's hair! "Am I distracting you from your questions, Eacharn? I apologize -- do go on, please? I'm sure you're wondering many things."
Eacharn realizes belatedly his offer was perhaps inappropriate; he shakes his head to clear it, "If you aren't an elemental, what are you? I've met werewolves, and they don't tend to become so exhausted... nor do they turn into things other than wolves."
Sulochana chuckles quietly again, her thoughtful gaze drifting off, "I am not a werewolf, no." Her grin gets mischievous as she remembers Guy's reaction to her at the La Kitsune ball -- he's the only werewolf she knows at all well. She frowns consideringly, trying to figure out how to politely answer, "I... ask your forgiveness, as I would prefer not to, ahh... to tell all concerning my lineage, please? I can tell you this, however: I am a shapeshifter, and last night you saw one of my, um... you saw the form I take for battle -- the easiest one for me to assume, aside from this one." She looks up at Eacharn again, her amber eyes worried, "Forgive me, please, for not telling you everything... but it is not only my story to tell."
Eacharn nods slowly, eyes still on the way the brush pulls through her thick, smooth hair, "I see. I shift shapes as well, but it doesn't seem to take me the way it takes you."
Sulochana tilts her head interestedly, "You have more than the human and the horse form, then?" She grins ruefully as she adds, "Well, the shapechanging was only part of it last night, for me. I was doing a few other things too, to make sure everyone stayed calm and Mary was not taken."
Eacharn says in reply to her query, "Well... no. Though the horse shape is very variable." He nods, eyes looking up and to the right as he replays the moments between Sam breaking into the salon and his Lady leaving with the cowboy, "I know they took to your suggestion awfully easily."
Sulochana nods and sighs, "That was the hardest part for me: making sure it was me they took, and that no one started firing the crossbows. I'm still young, so that's not easy for me to do yet." By now Roy has finished washing off and is back around the screen, fastening up a pair of slacks as he comes. The king of Baton Rouge has a little swagger, despite the long night. 'Chana's gaze shifts reflexively to Roy when the king comes back around the screen, and her tilted golden eyes warm with affection as she smiles dreamily at him.
Eacharn feels another twinge; it's obviously more than simple physical attraction between his Lady and the Water Tap. Roy's own eyes meet 'Chana's and his whole face warms as he comes over to drop a kiss on the tip of her upturned nose. "She's gotta way with words, ya might say."
Sulochana lifts her face to Roy as he approaches -- then laughs delightedly, eyes sparkling at his comment, "Charmer!" She leans her head against Roy's hip as he stands next to the bed she's seated on, and smiles in lazy pleasure at Eacharn, "I promise you, though, that is a, ahh... a talent I use only in emergencies, Eacharn. It does not get used in business negotiations; that would be wrong. I've never used it on anyone except people who threatened the lives of those I hold dear." Roy lets his arm rest around 'Chana in a casually possessive way. He's not even aware of the body language he's using.
Eacharn feels some unconscious tension release when his Lady assures him of that. He smiles wryly, "I think it bled over a bit, last night. I know I was feeling some altogether inappropriate urges."
Roy nods, "Yeah, me too."
Sulochana blinks at that, a suddenly worried look on her face, "Oh, dear!" She bites her lip for a moment, thinking... then adds with clear embarrassment, "Gentlemen, I do apologize! That was certainly not my intent; I was frantic with worry for us all, and I wasn't thinking -- I blew a lot of energy with it. I should have realized." She brushes back her hair, giving them both a sheepish, sideways glance through the dark, silky strands, "Sometimes I... I'm young and stupid still. I am so sorry."
Roy pats the top of her head and says with far too much seriousness, "It's all right, little girl. We all make mistakes. Us big strong men forgive you."
She sighs as she adds, "I should have thought first; checked Sam and realized I could negotiate with him, instead of simply-" She blinks up at Roy incredulously for a stunned heartbeat -- then laughs aloud and smacks his rear with her hairbrush, "Oooh, you are so asking for trouble, mister!" Her eyes are dancing wickedly. Roy knows that look -- it's the one she gets when she's very close to doing something naughty and mischievous and very feline!
Roy's eyes are gleaming, but he yelps and rubs his rump as he pretends to scowl, "Hey now! I'm a goddamn king! Show some respect!"
Eacharn is trying not to pay too much attention to the flirtation; he instead asks, "Sam?"
Sulochana lays aside the brush as she flows easily into a half-crouch on the bed, a wicked grin on her lips, "Oh, surely not damned? And respect... well, after all, can't a cat look at a king?" She giggles, her small hands swift as thought as she does a quick, ticklish pass along Roy's bare torso, then grins and winks at Eacharn -- she's not really thinking about decorum just now, in her relief at being safely back with family and friends, "The Warlord's man!"
Roy barks laughter and dances away from the mischievous hands, "Hey now, missy!"
Eacharn swallows a bit and keeps his gaze on the floor. He's not at all liking the surge of jealousy he's feeling, and he knows good and well that it's the wrong way to go to impress 'Chana, "Ahh. He seemed... polite enough."
The Hetaera giggles delightedly, pouncing gleefully after Roy. Seen like this, unguarded and joyous, her feline nature is easy to spot: she moves with a quick, sinous grace that doesn't concern itself with things like gravity or furniture, and in every mischievous tickle and bouncing dodge she betrays a quicksilver speed that makes it hard to lay a hand on her! Roy is human, but he's far from clumsy. Still, he's obviously on the losing end of this particular tickle-fight. She's clearly utterly unselfconscious despite the occasional flashes of skin under her light robe, cheerfully rolling over Eacharn's shoulder at one point, in order to avoid a grab from Roy!
Roy chases his beloved around the room anyway, only stopping when he finds himself with the large visiting king between himself and 'Chana. At that point he clears his throat and says, "Uhm... yeah... she's kinda..."
Eacharn raises his eyes to Roy's face, smiling wryly, "A handful?"
Sulochana tosses back her hair with a gasp of mock-outrage, "Oooh... men!" and fiercely tickles Eacharn as well! She's laughing and starting to get breathless, practically glowing with joyous sensuality and excitement! Eacharn, having not expected to be included in the play, makes a sound that's just a little too deep to be a yelp and jumps forward unexpectedly. He and Roy end up in an inelegant heap on the deck. Sulochana crows triumphantly, pouncing on them both, "Ha! I win!" She flops relaxedly over them both, giggling delightedly.
Eacharn is still startled and not entirely sure just how to react to this. Roy is laughing breathlessly and trying to reach around the visitor to get at 'Chana, "Just you wait 'till I get my han's on you, you little minx!" Eacharn oofs and tries to disentangle himself, but finds it hard to do with 'Chana so unconcerned about her state of dress or her dignity.
Sulochana wriggles around a bit as she dodges, then abruptly bounces away, still giggling as she turns up her small nose, "Hmf! Promises, promises!" Jumping subjects with unwittingly confusing alacrity, she happily adds to Eacharn, "Yep, he is -- he's an honorable man! He wasn't at all happy about what he was stuck doing, so it was easy to get him to do what I needed." She cheerfully helps pull the two men upright, giving warm and contented hugs to them both and sighing happily, "So glad we're all safe and sound!"
Eacharn hugs 'Chana back tightly and for as long as she'll let him before she moves on to hugging Roy as well, "I have to say, I'm not all that impressed with his honor if he was willing to kidnap a child."
Roy is nuzzling into 'Chana's hair as he rumbles, "Gotta 'gree. Kidnappin' a kid is just chickenshit."
Sulochana smiles dreamily, leaning into Roy with pleasure. Her murmur is almost absent, "Mmm, got th' feeling it was an either-or for him... that he was on the Warlord's bad side?" She sighs happily, nuzzling against Roy's chest before she adds, "Want to go talk to him after breakfast?" She blinks, then straightens, "Er... he is all right, yes? He's my responsibility now -- he surrendered to me -- and, um, gracious." Her voice is rueful, "I don't think I've been doing a very good job so far... spending the whole night either unconscious or recovering my energy!"
Roy is easily distracted by 'Chana's nuzzling and it takes him a moment to gather his thoughts back from where they were, "Oh! Oh, yeah. Got m' boys watchin' 'im. Said not t' bother 'im. They're good boys." Of course, Roy's 'boys' are often enormous and/or supernatural.
The Hetaera almost bounces cheerfully around the screen, tossing her robe over it and calling to them, "All right, thank you, Roy!"
Eacharn clears his throat, "I... forgive me, but how exactly do you recover your energy? And how did you know he was honorable? Hard to tell from honorable when he's holding a crossbow on you."
Sulochana calls, "Oh, that's easy -- meat! That or sex energy -- that really helps too." She giggles, then adds, "Umm... I'm not sure how to explain how I knew he was honorable, but it's something I've used often. It just 'looks,' though -- it doesn't actually do anything to you, you know? That's how I knew you and Roy both were good people too." There's the sound of light splashing as she speaks, followed by some rustling cloth as she continues, "Also, I blindfolded him because I wasn't sure if either of you wanted him to know what you could do." She peeks around the edge of the screen, clearly not yet wearing a top as she busily wriggles into her pants, "Umm... was that all right, I hope?"
Roy chuckles and says, "Yeah, I think that was prob'ly right, sugar. I know I don't, and I'm guessing His Majesty don't either."
Sulochana beams at Roy's reply -- then goes still for a moment, thinking... then gives Eacharn a slightly worried look, "I, umm... think I'm a bit energy drunk -- I completely forgot to ask you if you'd please not tell anyone about this?"
Eacharn shakes his head, "I'm not likely to let secrets like that out, Lady."
Sulochana looks relieved -- then vanishes behind the screen again as she grabs her top. She's beaming sunnily at the men as she almost immediately comes strolling back out towards them both, pulling on the embroidered silken top and casually flashing a great deal of warm brown skin as she does so, "Excellent! Thank you both so much, then." She gives her clothes a few gentle tugs into tidiness, then starts swiftly plaiting her long, dark hair as she smiles up at them both, "Shall we?"
Eacharn is distracted several times as Chana comes back out; it's Roy that says, "Mary went to have Theophile bring our food in here, remember?"
"Oh, good point!" Sulochana finishes her braid, giving Eacharn a gently amused and affectionate smile as she recognizes his distraction. Glancing back to Roy, she adds thoughtfully, "Shall we all go talk to Sam after breakfast, then? I'm not sure I want Mary there, honestly."
Roy's face goes very still at mention of Sam being near Mary, "Cherie, that man, honorable or not, ain't gettin' within' ten feet of our chile."
Sulochana looks relieved at that, stepping between both men to lean comfortably against Roy, "Excellent." She thinks a bit, then adds softly, "Well, breakfast first, then I'll talk to Sam; you're both welcome to be there too, all right?" She adds firmly, "Sam can be fed while we're eating, yes?"
Roy says, "'Course he can! I may wanna kick 'is ass, but I ain't a tyrant." With a little bit of set up and a couple of orders, breakfast is ready for the three adults and Mary in the front room of Roy's stateroom. Mary seems utterly over-the-moon to be with her parents, especially since her worries have been so completely assuaged. Sulochana is good at making people feel reassured and welcome, and she does so for Mary and Eacharn respectively, during the small but delicious meal. Should anyone be watching, they can also spot just how much meat the Hetaera consumes! She's not ravenous, but she does eat about half the bacon. For Eacharn, watching the little family interact is bittersweet and lovely. He finds himself hoping he can one day have someone with whom he can be so completely himself.
After breakfast Mary is a bit unhappily whiny about leaving for her lessons, but then Sulochana promises the child can spend the afternoon with them if she's good. That causes Mary to depart, even if she's still less than thrilled. Once it's just the three adults, 'Chana looks at the two men gravely, "So... interview our sole survivor now?" Both Roy and Eacharn agree it's a good time to go talk with Houston's man -- or, as Sulochana smilingly reminds them both, former man.
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