| Logs |
2011 December 25
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Goin' Courting
Malachai has escorted 'Chana to a table with drinks: fruit cordials and fresh water and a kind of hearty, wheaty ale, as well as honey wine. The town elder is dressed much less soberly than usual, as are all the townies; their celebration clothes are brightly colored and the embroidery is far more obvious. Malachai's belted tunic is brilliant blue, and he wears a chain of heavy gold links around his throat as well as wide golden bracelets. His shiningly white hair is in two smooth braids. Once they've gotten their drinks, he guides her to a quiet corner just off the street. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
Sulochana has a sip of her mug of honey wine, glancing up at him over the rim with a mix of mischief and demureness in her sparkling eyes. She laughs as she lowers the mug, looking up at the town elder with her lips still gleaming from the drink, "Very much so, yes -- and thank you! Your people are being very kind to us." She reaches up and brushes her fingers lightly over one of the links of the golden chain, eyes dancing, "Isn't that... heavy, though, for such a light-hearted celebration?" She deliberately lets her fingers trail a bit more than is actually necessary, although her laughing, bright-eyed gaze never leaves Malachai's tawny-eyed stare.
Malachai chuckles and reaches up to wrap his hand around her wrist. He doesn't grip tightly, but she can feel the strength there, "You're the first strangers many of us have seen." He lets his thumb brush over the back of her hand, tawny eyes slipping down along her body. He's got the trick of letting a woman see that he appreciates her beauty without actually leering, "And the gold is a... mark of office?" Bright teeth flash for an instant as he smiles, "Everyone will be wearing their most beautiful things."
Sulochana nods at that comment, not bothering to free herself, "Oh, certes to that -- we are too." She curls her fingers around his and smiles with sultry laziness up at him as she teasingly adds, "I take it you are enjoying the view... as well?" She lets her own gaze slip slowly and appreciatively along his solidly muscled torso; she suspects he sees her as a simple 15-year-old Hetaera, and she sees no reason to behave in any way so as to discourage that.
Malachai's shoulders pull back a bit; he's not immune to a little pride, after all. He lets go of her wrist and reaches up to brush back the hair at her temple, "I have another gift for you tonight. Something just for you, not for your fee."
Sulochana smiles and tilts her head into the caress, resting her released hand on his chest, "A gift? Like what?" She pauses, then adds with a touch of concern, "You do know you don't have to give me more things, yes?" She trails the fingernails of her free hand -- the one not holding the mug of wine -- lightly along his tunic, letting the sensation thrill through the cloth to the skin beneath... and smiles as she absently licks her lips. He seems like a slightly stodgy but very nice man -- a good alpha, as Rachel said. 'Chana thinks tonight will be nice too.
The alpha/elder chuckles again and says, "I know I don't have to. That's what makes it a gift, little one." His hand is solid and warm against the side of her face, and he lets his eyelids droop slightly as her nails drag over the cloth of his tunic. "Forgive me if I am forward; I do not truly know how to ask this. Rachel says you have a daughter."
Sulochana blinks, pausing as she tries to think how Malachai has been forward. She laughs then, confusedly murmuring, "I... am not sure why you would think you are being forward right now... or what your question is?"
Malachai's eyes twinkle a little, "She says the girl looks to be four or five years old. Is she adopted?"
The Hetaera grins, turning to lean her back with easy familiarity against Malachai's chest as she has another sip of her wine -- she's guessing (from her experience with big predators) that doing so will trigger at least some protective instincts in him. "I am Mama or Auntie to almost all the children in the caravan -- and a few of the adults as well!" She leans her head way back against his chest to grin impishly up at him as she adds, "All the women of the caravan are -- as I said, we're quite protective of our children!" She pauses, then says in a less flirtatious tone of voice, "Er... is there a problem if I've had a child?"
Her thoughts are correct: Malachai wraps his arms around her, not quite enveloping her. One hand rests low on her stomach, the other high up just below her breasts, and he leans his head down, nostrils flaring as he breathes in her scent, "Oh, no. Being a mother is no problem at all. I was simply surprised to hear that such a young woman has a child of that age." His eyes are half-lidded and he resists rubbing his chin against her head -- for the moment, anyway.
Sulochana doesn't quite purr at the caressing, but she does wriggle comfortably against him -- she's quite aware what effect that may have. She chuckles as she does so, her voice throaty, "Mmm... then I think I'll tease you and not say!" She giggles, tilting her head to give him a mischievous sideways glance from behind her dark bangs, "They say men love mysteries, after all. Is that true?"
Malachai's hands flex as she wriggles and he makes a sound deep in his chest that isn't quite a growl. Wolves don't purr, after all -- but he can't help reacting to the feel and scent of her. For someone a century old, he is very solid and warm against her. This close, she can smell something heated and musky about him. It's not unpleasant. "We do like discovering things. Perhaps I'll ask your people, hm? Or will they protect your secrets?"
The Hetaera laughs! "Oh, no fair! You aren't even going to try to coax it out of me?" She giggles, turning in his arms and leaning against him again so she's looking straight up at him. Her golden eyes are dancing, and she's laughing slightly breathlessly as she presses her full length against him and nearly purrs, "Isn't it more fun to do it yourself? The... hands-on approach?" She provocatively walks the fingers of one hand up his chest as she purrs again, "After all... that's the approach I tried with a certain big... silver... handsome wolf, mmm?"
Malachai's hands shift as she turns; he ends up resting them on the swell of her hips, not quite pulling her against him -- though she can tell by the look in his eyes that he'd like to. He's not used to hiding his thoughts in this sort of situation and she surprises a laugh out of him, "Ah! I thought of joining you in your libations, little one, but we are not contracted until tonight." He takes her hand and brings it to his mouth, nipping gently at her fingertips and smiling down at her, "I hope you forgive me the intrusion. I did not expect to come upon you so this morning."
Sulochana dimples at the courteous apology, letting her fingertips brush lightly against his lips as she murmurs, "Forgiven, of course. I think you were as surprised as I, honestly. How can I blame you for that?" Her grin gets mischievous again as she adds, "So, do I get the coaxing, hands-on approach from you, then? Or will you be cheating and doing it the easy way?" She giggles, clearly teasing.
Malachai's voice is warming and he slides his hands up to rest on her waist. He can almost span it with his hands, "I think hands-on sounds tempting. You certainly feel as if you could be a mother." He lowers his head and nuzzles in against the side of her neck, breathing in her scent deeply, "I can smell the children on you."
Sulochana laughs delightedly at that, letting her arms loop about his neck as well. Then she sighs dramatically as she glances towards the partiers, where folks are eating and drinking and it looks like some musicians are starting to tune up. "I suppoooose I could be persuaded to talk... with a dance or two... or maybe... four?" The lithe young woman giggles again at Malachai, glancing almost coyly at him as she adds, "Gracious, I had better smell like the children -- I was giving them all hugs before we all headed out to your celebration here!"
Malachai chuckles; his voice has deepened involuntarily, "You are a tricksy one. I believe we should go find the musicians now." He dips his head and breathes in her scent again; his hands tighten involuntarily on her waist for an instant.
The Hetaera grins warmly as she notices the expression she'd surprised on Malachai's face: hunger -- the sort you see on the face of a man that hasn't eaten in three days and is looking at his first good meal. "Why tricksy?" She dimples mischievously as she murmurs, "Had we come through six months earlier, you'd be smelling milk on me instead!" She thinks a moment, then grins, "Of course, had we come through here six months earlier, you and I would never have met, since the bridge would still be there."
The town elder laughs again, "Mmmm... so, you have at least one that's barely weaned. I begin to think I have mistaken a thing or two about you."
Sulochana laughs again, "Oh, she's not a twin or anything, and she's growing up large for her age." There's a hint of pride in her voice at that; then she adds amusedly, "You need not worry either -- she's in good hands tonight."
Malachai shakes his head and says, "Then I suppose I must be thankful that something delayed you long enough for the bridge to go out. Our life would have been poorer had you not come."
Sulochana beams up at Malachai, "Aww! How sweet of you to say that -- thank you!" She doesn't quite skip next to him, although he can feel the enthusiasm and energy nearly thrumming within her at the prospect of dancing. The Hetaera looks around as they head towards the dancers, spotting the Amazons, "Look there -- see those two? They call me Mama too- oh!" She claps her hands delightedly, "Look, look at Rachel! Doesn't she look fine tonight?!" The young townie is almost glowing, in fact, as she whirls excitedly through a dance with the slender, handsome, and smilingly attentive Chanticleer.
Malachai walks with 'Chana toward the dancers, staying quite even with her pace. He's surprised to see the Amazons, as both Poly and Pippa look older than 'Chana, and Pippa is starting to look distinctly pregnant herself. His attention is yet again distracted, however, by the exclamation about Rachel. He blinks slowly, and the tone of his voice is approving as he says, "She looks like a woman. Rachel is getting quite old to still be a child."
Sulochana laughs softly at his comment concerning his youthful relative, leaning towards him to quietly murmur, "Old to be a child? Isn't Rachel about 16? She's been a woman fo- oh! Wait... is 13 not adult here?"
Malachai chuckles again, "She is -- that is what I mean. She is sixteen and as yet unmated. I suppose it is partially my fault. I spoil her, so she puts it off." The music is cheerful and fairly simple, but some of the dancers are moving in quite complicated patterns together.
Sulochana thinks for a moment, then smiles faintly, leaning lightly against Malachai again so her words are just to him, "Is it truly that she puts it off, honored Malachai... or is it that she's not yet found someone worthy to replace you in her heart?"
Malachai laughs and brushes the backs of his fingers against the line of 'Chana's jaw, "That is a flattering way to put it. But that is a different kind of love."
The small woman smiles impishly up at him, her golden-green eyes warm with affection as she leans into his caress, "Different, perhaps... but is it so surprising that she take her time, in order to find someone equally special to her?" She grins more mischievously as she watches the slender sidhe and the exuberant young woman dancing, and softly adds, "Perhaps she's starting to search more actively now, hmm?"
Malachai openly laughs this time and a couple of people nearby glance over in quickly-covered surprise, "Affection works somewhat differently among us, I think. I admit, however, that I would be quite concerned if Rachel chose a mate not worthy of her."
Sulochana notes (with silent amusement) the surprise of those surrounding them -- it would appear her client is not ordinarily given to open emotion! If that's the case, she's pleased he feels relaxed enough with her to do so. She grins up at him, bumping her hip gently against him as she adds, "But enough about Rachel! She'll make her choice in her own time, I'm sure. For now... wasn't there some talk of some dancing for us, hmm?" She stands on tiptoes, resting her palms against his broad chest, as she whispers teasingly, "And while we dance, perhaps you can instruct me on how affection works for you here, yes?"
Those tawny eyes follow not Rachel, but Chanticleer for a while, and the town elder smiles his no-teeth smile. As she hip-bumps him, the town elder mock-stumbles, "Be careful of an old man, little one!" When she leans up and against him, he rests his hands on the swell of her hips again, "Why don't we save that particular instruction for when we are alone?"
Sulochana giggles, swaying her hips a bit between the curving hold of his strong hands, "Mmm, then affection can't be that different between us, I am thinking?" Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she laughs and adds, "Somehow I suspect you don't need that much extra care either, oh pack-alpha!" She laughs again, leaning away from his chest but into his hands as she tosses her head, her night-dark hair a silky caress over his hands, "Come on, then! Shall we dance? I do so love a good, strong dance partner, after all!"
Strong fingers squeeze her hips -- not unpleasantly -- as she wriggles a little, and he says, "Oh, I believe I can contrive to keep up with you." He takes her hand and bows over it and then leads her out onto the dancefloor, where the music is winding down from the last dance. Sulochana doesn't quite purr with pleasure at Malachai's response, and she has a twinkle in her eyes as she curtseys gracefully in response to his courteous bow. Malachai nods to the musicians and they start up a song. The townies all start moving into place: three couples to a group, and nine groups. The music starts out slow, with the couples and groups all moving in measured unison, so it's not hard for an experienced dancer to follow and see what she's supposed to do.
If he's at all attentive to her, Malachai can feel Sulochana's growing delight: clearly she truly loves dancing! She's quick and alert, glancing back and forth and emulating the other dancers in her set. The dance starts out slow and 'Chana has time to learn the steps before the second repetition, which is just a little faster than the first. Once she's mastered the simple, frisky, repetitive steps, she throws herself into the dancing with enthusiasm! Her footwork is light and sure, and she throws in decorative bits just for fun: colorful flourishes of her swirling skirts, laughingly mischievous eye contact with whomever her partner is as the couples switch back and forth -- and, just for Malachai, she turns up the heat a little bit: trailing her fingers lightly along his skin, occasionally licking her lips when he's watching her, and (when they are close) letting her eyes speak promises for the night to come. The Hetaera figures flirting so with him is safe, but she won't do more than tease others with her eyes -- if he's truly an old alpha, then it's a good bet he'd react poorly to more than that from her. She's happy to keep him feeling slightly hungry and interested and growly; she emphatically does not, however, wish to make him angry at some poor, lower-ranked pack member.
Her flirtation is well received by the other males in their set, but they are all very respectful toward her, even when the dance reaches its conclusion. Teasing Malachai certainly seems to be having an effect, as his body language slowly starts to change during the dance. 'Chana figures if he makes the next dance a couples-only dance, so he can keep his hands on her, then she's achieved precisely the correct measure of tease and flirtation! She is schooled in many types of dance, and the old alpha almost seems to be stalking her at times, much like a tango.
None of the male members of the caravan are dancing this one. The steps, when slow, don't quite show the cunning interconnection, but when sped up it's more obvious that the dance is a stylized chase. There are seven repetitions of the set, each a little faster than the last, until everyone is swirling and throwing themselves through the steps with something quite close to wild abandon. The intricate swirl and interweave is breathtaking as the stalking body language becomes more intense -- not just from Malachai but from all the other males. Indeed, Malachai's body language grows more and more proprietary as the dance goes on.
When it ends, and the women are panting and laughing -- having been "caught" by their male partners -- Malachai's eyes are dilated so far that there's barely a sliver of tawny iris showing, and his nostrils are flaring. 'Chana knows body language well enough to know he is on the bare edge of kissing her, the muscles in his arms tense to the point of near-quivering. Sulochana is faintly surprised -- and rather pleased! -- at how powerfully the strong old alpha is responding to her. She's also quite glad to see he's not the type to snap and snarl to declare "ownership," and for that she's more than happy to repay him in kind. She turns her lovely, laughing face up to him, standing on tiptoes and brushing her fingers lightly along the sensitive skin behind one ear, encouraging him with touch to lean down to her. Her lips are gleaming and her golden-eyed gaze is inviting, as she whispers, "Don't I get a kiss in reward for mastering the dance so quickly?"
Malachai leans down until his lips are just brushing hers and half-growls, "You get a kiss for being something worth chasing." One hand stays resting on the small of her back, while the other slides up to tangle in her hair, holding her head in place as his mouth presses to hers. Despite the obviously barely-controlled energy, the kiss is slow and long and quite thorough.
Sulochana laughs softly into the kiss, sliding her arms about his neck to balance herself, and leaning her entire length against his. She meets him quite willingly for the kiss, her lips warm and welcoming, and she's not above a small, rewarding hip-wriggle or two when she realizes he's taking the time to truly appreciate her. Indeed, the fingers of one small hand trail slowly up the back of his neck and along the curve of one ear, as the two of them work on increasing the embers that smolder so promisingly between them. The Hetaera knows it would be easy to be a good "submissive" packmember to Malachai at this point. However, the fey in her knows it will be much more fun -- and likely far more exciting for her client -- if she makes sure he has to chase her a little bit longer!
The kiss is one of those that seems to go on for longer than it actually does, and 'Chana can feel the increasing tension in the muscles of Malachai's arms and back as time passes. When the kiss breaks, he nuzzles in behind her ear again, breathing slowly but heavily. When he finally does raise his head, he makes a point of smiling at her widely, showing all his teeth -- all of which seem very human. Those around them are very carefully Not Looking -- which means they were probably looking very intently just a moment ago!
Sulochana laughs softly, closing her small hand on one of his braids and pulling his head back with the fearlessness of the very young, the very stupid... or the very sure. Her voice is mischievous, "I don't know, Malachai -- it seems to me that affection here isn't that different from elsewhere!" As his body weight shifts slightly in reaction to her tugging on him, she wriggles free quick as a flash and darts away, still laughing and glancing teasingly over her shoulder at him. She doesn't show it in her expression, but she's checking to see if he's annoyed or cheerfully playing along with her -- as well as graphically inviting him to pursue her once more.
Malachai laughs and lets her tug on the braid, pupils still blown despite the brightness of the day. He watches her scamper off and then starts after her at a pace that's somewhere between deliberate and a stalk; the lupine body language is heavily in play. Sulochana is very pleased -- this is clearly an alpha who isn't heavily authoritarian. She grins at him, then skips with mock-careless indifference around the dancing field to where the musicians are, deliberately swishing her skirts so she's flashing her small bare feet and some of her smooth brown legs. When she reaches the musicians she pauses -- keeping an amusedly wary eye on Malachai so he doesn't pounce on her too soon -- and grins mischievously up at the players, "So, do you all know any dances that are couple-only, rather than group? Something..." she tilts her head and grins wickedly, "a touch... steamy, maybe? Like a mambo or a slow waltz?"
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