| Logs |
2013 May 15
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Crazy to Love You
When Rohana is settled to the manitou's satisfaction, Bringer returns to the bed -- although he pauses at 'Chana's words and smiles wryly. "I should have thought of that. Yes, I do know a bit about snakes -- about a lot of animals, actually. I suppose I still think of you as a human that takes different shapes at times. Blind spot." He settles onto the bed and moves to wrap his arms back around her, if she'll allow it.
'Chana laughs softly, sliding very willingly into his arms and up against him. She sighs a bit in relief that he seems happy still to hold her, then says carefully, "S-so while I wass feeding Fantine... I, ahh... I had a bit of time to wonder -- about you, and feeding, you know? Sso... so is it all right if I assk you a few quesstionsz, please?" She's nervously playing a bit with the buttons on his shirt, her fingers sliding beneath the cloth to brush against bare skin as if it reassures her, and when she's not careful her serpentine lisp comes back.
Bringer strokes her hair and can't help a small gasp of hope and surprise, which he quickly stifles; another thing he knows about snakes is not to startle them. Sulochana flinches slightly at the small gasp, but when he doesn't seem upset she carefully relaxes a bit. The manitou makes an unwitting sound as she slides her fingers along the bare skin of his chest and his own hand moves to stroke her bare shoulder and down along her shoulder blade, "Ask, lovely. I'll answer as best I can."
'Chana doesn't immediately say anything, instead simply stroking her fingers slowly along his skin, taking a moment to reassure herself... finally she takes a deep breath and says firmly, "I -- I w-wass wondering wh-what you get from -- from the blood!" She flinches again as she realizes she sounds a bit strident, and softly adds, "I, um, ssorry... I'm a little nervouss here..." She takes another breath, then tries again, "I jusst... er... well, I mean, you feed from passsion, right? Sso what... what is it blood givesz you that'ss... well... extra? ...or... something?"
Bringer smiles softly and takes several deep breaths. He's about to speak of something intense and arousing, and he wants to sound at least rational, "Would you say Fantine is your lover?"
The Naga considers that carefully for a long moment. Finally she shakes her head, "I... think it would depend on how you define lover, sweet man. There are men I've met who define it as just penetrative sex, and under that definition she's certainly not." She can't resist the mischievous grin, "Of course, those aren't very interesting men as lovers either..." She coughs once, a bit embarrassed, and adds, "But if you're asking if we share, umm... strong emotions for each other, with perhaps a hint of protectiveness and affection all intermingled, then... certainly." She frowns as she considers, then adds, "Um... actually, that's not a very good definition either. I mean, under that one I, ahh, would have to consider both Ohkwa and B-buddy and... er, and I'm babbling and I'll shut up now." She leans her forehead against Bringer's chest and laughs ruefully, "Sorry!"
Bringer laughs softly, "Mmm... but when she feeds from you, there is an intimacy beyond that you feel with just a family member. When she feeds from you, your heart races and your body responds. She clings to you like a child nursing or like a woman in the throes of ecstasy. You are giving her life when you give her blood." Listening closely and empathically, 'Chana shivers in intense remembered pleasure... and nods. Without meaning to, her fingernails scrape lightly and sensually over the manitou's skin. Bradley groans very softly at the touch and then has to take several more deep breaths, "You can make it very hard to speak rationally, lovely." 'Chana curls her fingers up, whispering an embarrassed, "Sorry." He smiles and continues, "You put your life in her hands. She puts her life in yours. It is a sharing and a trust which is so intense that it leaves regular passion by the wayside." He smiles a bit quirkily, "There are other ways to do that in lovemaking, and I am sure you learned of them as a Hetaera, but the blood feeding... it is the most primal."
The Naga thinks for a while, then says slowly, "But... is it... well... like, cheating on my part when I know I can stop her? And... she needs the blood. She'll die without it. In a sense... am I taking advantage of her need, to -- to titillate myself?" She sounds a bit guilty as she speaks; this is an internal question she's struggled with unsuccessfully for a while.
"Does she know that it arouses you to have her feed from you? And you must be aware it is both arousing and necessary for her." He smiles and leans down to whisper in her ear, "Think of the chocolate mousse the first night you came to me. Food. Necessary, and as sensual as the flick of a lover's tongue along your thigh."
'Chana shivers again with pleasure, her fingers once more tightening unwittingly on Bringer. She takes a slow, deep breath, then murmurs with shaky amusement, "It would seem you are returning the favor, at least as far as making it difficult to speak rationally!" Her laugh is throaty, but then she falls silent again, thinking hard. Finally she says slowly, "I... I guess by now, even if she'd originally felt obligated... she'd know she could say something to me... and know I would not be offended..." She's silent again for a while, reaching up to absently stroke her fingers through his hair as she considers. Finally she murmurs softly, "So... the intimacy? That is the only reason you feed from your retainers? -even the ones who do not find it intimate?" Even more slowly she adds, "What... I don't know how to ask this. If they want you to stop, how do they get you to do so?"
Bringer murmurs, "It is intimate, even if they do not realize. It is trust. And they ask me to stop. I have never had one have to ask me to, but that is the understanding." He is nuzzling against her hair and starting to caress along her hip where it goes from skin to scales.
The Hetaera sighs, relaxing under the caressing; she adores the simple sensuality of shared tactile pleasure. She just savors the lovely sensations for a bit, letting herself feel calmer and less worried about what she's considering... then she thoughtfully repeats an earlier question, "So, you never said, lovely man. Is it cheating somehow if I know I can stop my partner -- if it's not purely a trust-based exchange?"
"No, it's not cheating. The intimacy is simply different... and a bit thrilling."
Sulochana considers that for a moment, wondering if she's understanding what he seems to be inferring, "How so? Wait, so... you've fed someone that way too?!" With intense curiosity she lifts her head up enough to rest it on her hand and look down at his face. She grins interestedly, her eyes alight, "What was it like, to be the feeder as well as the fed, for you?"
Bringer laughs softly and leans to kiss the pulse-point in her throat, "It was intoxicating. It was a very direct hunger for her. A very pure hunger. Much like the way you hunger for beautiful music and a partner with which to make it."
'Chana murmurs amusedly, "There's a difference between hunger and need in that example, however. Is that how it was for her as well? Was this feeding for need, or for pleasure?"
"For need. She was starving -- at least the first time. It was not long after the Dying Off and she had been used to easy pickings. But the men that drove the big trucks died with the rest and she did not dare go into the smaller towns for fear of being killed." He is still caressing affectionately along her hip and the serpentine coils, "It took a while for the humans to adjust to everyone else being here as well... and her kind have always been feared."
The Naga nods slowly, "Fearsome Grandmother still speaks... only tersely of those times. Sna'tha will not speak of them at all." She's silent for a moment, her scaled skin rippling with pleasure under his hands, before she says softly, "What happened to her? What was she?"
Bringer is starting to get a little distracted by old thoughts and the feel of Sulochana under his hands, "She moved on once she'd regained her strength and it was safe. The word used for her is vampire, but I don't know what she actually was. There are so many beings that feed off blood. Your Fantine is a loogaroo, but she feeds off blood. Some would simply call her a vampire."
Sulochana's golden eyes are far-away as she tries to imagine what it would be like to be starving, surrounded by food but unable to eat for fear of violent retribution. Her voice is still soft as she murmurs, "Did you invite her to feed, or did she attack you out of desperation? Did she stop when you asked her to?" She licks her lips a bit nervously, her tongue flickering lightly over Bringer's skin once or twice.
There's a low, happy growl of pleasure as her tongue flickers out to smell his skin; the manitou is starting to get more than a little distracted now, "I invited her to feed. I know what it is to starve. She did not have the control to stop when I asked her to, so I stopped her. It was a struggle, but there was no malice in it. She thanked me later."
Sulochana goes still, thinking carefully even as she absently taste-smells her lover's skin again. He is her lover. She knows she cares deeply for him; she's both bitten him and given him almost everything she can offer, and it's clear her Serpent is also well-pleased with him. Further, she trusts him with her child, and previous to that she'd trusted him with her very life. She takes a slow, deep breath, then says softly, "I... I w-would like..." A small part of her is still twitchy that she doesn't know how to stop him, and she fiercely berates herself -- she's big and strong enough to at least make it damn difficult to feed from her! What is her problem?! The Naga stiffens... then deliberately makes herself relax. "Bringer, I d-don't know why I'm s-so nervous about this; I'm sorry." She hesitates, then says slowly, "Could I... could you, um... may I try feeding from you, to see what it's like? M-maybe that will help me calm down a little?"
Bringer doesn't even hesitate, "Of course you may, lovely soul."
The Naga sighs softly and nuzzles against Bringer with a touch of relief as she considers that. Finally she asks cautiously, "Ahh... have you ever heard anything of my people, Bringer? I have no idea what drinking a lover's blood might entail, but it just now occurs to me that, um..." she sounds a little embarrassed, "-th-that some of the, er, nastier and more malicious stories about us say we, umm..." her voice gets small, "w-we... consume our beloveds' life essence? Is that -- does that mean blood?"
The manitou thinks about it and burrows his fingers under her hair to caress the back of her neck as he does so, smiling gently and encouragingly at her, "It may be. I do not know the truth of your people."
Sulochana considers for a bit -- and realizes she's stalling. She stiffens a bit, taking a deep breath and wriggling smoothly around so she's lying next to Bringer on the pillows again, like she was with Fantine. Firmly she growls, "I am stalling... and I will not be ridden by my fears!" She takes another deep breath, then grins with nervous tightness as she tangles one hand through Bringer's hair, "L-let's do this. You had better go first, though, all right?" She takes a quick, nervous gasp of air, then hastily adds, "And -- and you promise you'll stop if I ask, yes?"
The manitou cannot help a small joke, knowing it will soothe her a little bit, "Well, perhaps we can arrange for you to be ridden by something more pleasant once we are done with this, mmm?" Sulochana's laugh is a startled gasp, but she does indeed relax a little. He smiles at her and nuzzles along her throat, breathing in her scent. He will not drink from there -- it's too dangerous -- but he lingers for a moment before starting to kiss his way down over her shoulder and arm.
Sulochana takes several slow, deep breaths, trying to remember how it feels with Fantine... then she deliberately loosens her grip on poor Bringer's hair -- no need to pull it out by accident! She closes her eyes for a moment and runs her fingers slowly through her lover's hair, trying to just savor the sensations... then hastily opens her eyes again, her tongue flickering nervously several times. Maybe not trying this blind! Bringer relaxes himself and lets his sensual enjoyment and his arousal read through to her in his scent and his body language. He presses his body against her muscular serpentine tail and takes her arm, kissing the fingertips and nuzzling into the palm, laying a kiss there. Finally, he brushes his lips along her forearm until he reaches the crook of her elbow, where he can feel the blood so close to the surface.
Sulochana is trying hard to relax, but as Bringer nuzzles along her arm she finds herself almost flinching, wondering if each spot where he pauses is the point where he'll bite her. Her tail's end is nervously twining and untwining, and she's unwittingly tied her length about at least one of his legs, her hold snug with tension. She jumps as he brushes again against her skin, and finally simply says, "Sstop! Wait, I... thisss iszz making me..." She takes a deep breath, trying to quell her shivering, and enunciates carefully, "T-tell me please where you intend to bite? I -- I'm getting paranoid at this point."
The manitou smiles gently, "I was going to use the place where Fantine was feeding. The wound is already there and it will hurt less than opening a new one. But it is your choice. I do not wish to force this on you, lovely."
'Chana takes a quick, gasping breath, nodding tightly. She can hear her heart thundering inside her head, and her fingertips feel like they're tingling from her rising blood pressure. She takes a moment to calm herself deliberately, opening her clenched hands and making her tail muscles loosen up before she crushes something. Her lips feel numb, and she has to flicker her tongue a few times before she can speak clearly; she whispers, "All right. I'm ready. Go on."
The manitou reaches down with one hand and strokes the strongly clenching coils of her tail, "No. You're not. You're frightened of me. You don't want to be and you don't mean to be, but you are. And you are being brave in the face of that fear." Sulchana takes a deep breath, feeling half ashamed, but also half relieved he isn't angry and recognizes she really is trying her best. Bringer brushes his lips over 'Chana's fingertips, then presses a kiss over the center of her palm as she takes her deep breath. She gnaws absently on her lower lip, wondering why she's so upset... maybe if they did something... something that could help her relax some? She brightens slightly -- that's it! Maybe they should make love or cuddle or something first! She opens her mouth to make the suggestion...
Lips stroke over the tender skin on the inside of her forearm, tickling the tiny, pale hairs there until Bringer comes to the crook of her inner elbow. He can feel and almost taste the blood there, the small wounds left by the loogaroo clotted but not yet healed. "I want this so very badly, lovely, I really do and I promise to you that I will stop when you ask me to." The last is said with his lips just over her skin -- and then he bites.
Sulochana doesn't even get a word out -- all she knows is she was starting to relax -- and then, before she was ready, something bit her! Her body reacts reflexively, and her breath escapes her in a hissing roar rather than words as she lashes out wildly, trying to fling her attacker away from her. It's a convulsive, panicked reaction; she's not thinking clearly past the frantic urge to peel off whatever latched on to her. Bringer himself was relaxing when suddenly there is lashing muscular tail and the frightened hiss. When he finds himself thrown rather violently away, he reacts quickly. By the time he has come to a thudding, painful stop against the wall, he is in his native form, wings spread and talons scrabbling at the floor.
Sulochana is off the bed and curled protectively between him and the cradle, her eyes huge with wary fear and fierce anger, panting quickly and nervously. One hand is closed over her opposite elbow, blood starting to seep between the fingers, and her fangs gleam in the firelight. It takes a few breathless heartbeats before she blinks and slowly closes her mouth, a dumbfounded look crossing her face. She looks down at herself, back at the still peacefully sleeping baby... then her head comes up again to stare at the manitou. She blinks again, and then her face crumples as she tries not to start crying, "Oh, fuck! Oh, Bringer, I'm so sorry!" She slithers hastily over to him, then hesitates with one hand still outstretched, looking uncertain, "Er... Bringer? Did I... may I touch you?"
The manitou is shaking his feathered head and making a sort of hissing sound of pain, hugging one arm to himself. The Naga is a powerful creature, and he was not expecting such a violent reaction. He sways a little on his feet as she slithers over and then slowly nods, round eyes half-hooded. 'Chana lowers her height a little by the simple expedient of not raising her upper torso so high, and reaches out cautiously to him with her bloody hand. Her golden eyes are still bright, although now it's because she's blinking back tears. Her voice is a bit thick for the same reason, "I... I'm so sorry, sweet man, I d-don't -- I mean..." She hesitates, then shakes her head and says firmly in that still choked-up voice, "N-no, I'm being sstupid." She takes a deep breath, fiercely yanking herself together mentally, "All right. All right. Ahh... if you change shape, do you heal, like Ohkwa? Or do you need something like blood to heal?"
Bringer's beak clicks several times as if he's trying to speak, and then he makes another of those painful hissing noises. As he's starting to try and concentrate to change back, there is a pounding at the outer door. It doesn't sound like a knock; it sounds like someone trying to break it down. Sulochana whirls with an angry hiss -- she's still a bit twitchy -- but then she murmurs to Bringer, "Moses? Can you control him in this form?" The manitou's head too whips around at the pounding and he hisses again, then closes his eyes tightly, trembling with concentration as he tries to change back to his human form. There is shouting and the continued pounding in the hallway.
The Naga takes a deep breath, then leans to give the manitou's feathered cheek a gentle kiss, "I'll take care of it, sweet man. You take your time and change when you're ready, all right?" She turns, then pauses and softly adds, "Please... keep Rohana safe, yes?" before she darts out into the front room, closing the bedroom door behind her. She takes another deep breath, firmly reminding herself: she is a Naga, and of the blood of holy women and goddesses! She pulls off her silken shirt, using it to wipe her hand clean and squeeze it as an impromptu bandage in the crook of her elbow... then she slithers forward and braces herself, taking another deep breath before she yanks the outer door open and snaps with all the command she can, "Moses, stand down!"
Outside in the hallway, the golem freezes so fast he actually topples over backward into Diana and Sna'thaid. 'Chana gives an alarmed hiss, her hand lashing forward to grab at one stony wrist, trying to deflect his fall somewhat so Diana and Sna'tha aren't harmed. The grab makes him tumble to the side enough that the two women -- one young and human, one older and sidhe -- are mostly just startled. Fast on what would be 'Chana's heels if she had legs is Bringer, holding little Rohana close against his chest, and back in human form, "Moses! Diana!" He looks around, quickly assessing the situation and saying, "Is everyone fine? We had a small accident that probably sounded like a really big one."
Sulochana sighs in relief at sight of Bringer, and by the time she turns to look back at the other two women she's smiling serenely. She opens her elbow, her voice rueful, "I was clumsy. Are there any clean bandages available? I had to use my shirt, unfortunately." Diana exclaims in horror and darts off for bandages; Sna'tha waits until the younger woman is out of sight to stare with narrowed eyes and a raised eyebrow at her godsdaughter. 'Chana sighs, "Moment, godsmama," then turns to the manitou. Her voice is a bit anxious, "Your arm? It's all right now?"
Bringer nods and smiles wryly, "Changing form causes small injuries to heal as the body reforms. Larger ones are more problematical." He's gently bouncing the slightly fussing infant girl as he talks. It's an absent gesture, as if he's had to do something very similar so often that it's muscle memory.
The Naga laughs softly in relief, leaning against him and cooing to her beautiful little baby -- then grinning sheepishly as Sna'tha pointedly clears her throat. "I'm sorry, godsmama. It was my fault; Jerome did something I didn't expect, and I over-reacted and flung him, er..." she looks extremely embarrassed, "um... oh, dear. Jerome, I've been a simply appalling guest tonight. May I try to make it up to you, please?"
Bradley laughs warmly and smiles a little crookedly, "I'm certain we can come to some sort of accommodation, sweet soul. But I think that right now..." Rohana is starting to fuss louder, "Someone needs feeding much more than you or I." Sna'tha looks as if she's quite aware she's not getting the whole story, but as Diana comes dashing back the sidhe remains silent. Sulochana carefully accepts the baby from Bradley, slithering back into the bedroom with Diana and cooing to the child, then settling and adjusting on the bed so her arm can be seen to, and at the same time the baby can feed. Diana is a bit excited at being able to help so, and after the bandaging she ends up curling on the bed against 'Chana, the two of them beaming happily down at little Rohana busily feeding.
Sna'tha tilts her head inquiringly at Bradley in the other room, murmuring quietly, "So... what really happened?" She's still tense and wary; she can't believe her godsdaughter would be this calm if Bradley had tried to force himself on her, nor does she believe the manitou currently needs to, considering the lamentable state of 'Chana's bond. With soft fierceness she adds, "The sooner we get her out of here, the better!"
Bradley looks toward the other room and nods, solemn and a little sad, "If she needs to reinforce her bond with Rohana's father, you need to get her away from here. She offered to let me feed from her in the way Fantine does... and I do not have the strength to resist such an offer from someone so dearly loved."
Sna'tha gives a short, sharp, angry hiss that makes Moses look up abruptly. Before she can say more, however, Diana comes pattering to the bedroom door and smiles, "'Chana asked me to give you both a message? She says Sna'tha should please talk to Poly, and she wants to talk to you, Papa?" From inside the room comes a soft but determined, "Now, please?" from the Naga.
Sna'tha hisses irritably again, sounding remarkably like her godsdaughter, then strides swiftly to the door. Leaning around Diana, she says firmly to the woman within, "Don't you go doing anything you'll regret, child. I'll talk to Poly, but then I'm coming right back." Sulochana just smiles serenely from where she's still nursing little Rohana, and the sidhe heads swiftly off, muttering under her breath. Diana watches her go, head tilted thoughtfully, then turns to 'Chana, "She thinks there's just one bond too, right? That's why you sent her to talk to Poly?" The Naga grins and nods, then beckons silently to Bringer. Diana giggles, glancing between the two older adults, then says airily, "Well, I'll just be off then!" before she closes the door behind herself and nearly skips off; she still loves happily-ever-afters.
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