| Logs |
2012 February 18
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Taps Logs |
Chasing Your Affection
Malachai and the rest of the townies settle down from the excitement of Alg's appearance, but it takes a few stern looks and nudges from the more sedate amongst them to get the more excitable ones calm. Even though yesterday was a holiday, people have work to do today -- especially since some of them will be re-supplying the caravan.
Back at the caravan's encampment, Sulochana returns home, thanks both Alg and Fantine for looking out for her so well, and then scoops up her cranky youngest daughter, heading off for a nap with little Risha. Apparently Rattler and Hana had headed off with some of the other caravan folk to check and see if they could help in the town's forge, to move along the repair of the wagon wheels.
In Friendsville, Malachai finds himself wondering how many of the caravan folk will be staying behind. He knows, after all, that several of the townsfolk have been having flirtations with outsiders they found attractive or interesting. He also finds he's having a harder time than normal with his classes for the youngsters. It's been decades since he's felt this moony, and a couple of the children can't help giggling at his distraction. After he loses his place in the Book for the third time Malachai makes up an assignment for the younglings, challenging them to try to find two identical leaves and bring them back. It's a lesson he's used many times over the years to show that even things that look almost identical have differences.
It also has the added benefit of taking a long time. Once the children are off on their explorations, Malachai hunts down Rachel, who earlier went to the caravan with the promised food for lunch. The young woman is teaching her own class, showing some of the young teenagers how to fletch arrows -- after all, the pack can't bring in all the meat needed to feed so many. Malachai interrupts the young woman's teaching to ask if she saw 'Chana at all when they took the food, and Rachel shakes her head, "No. The caravan-folk said she was sleeping and shouldn't be interrupted. They were very solicitous and concerned that she get plenty of rest. Some of them were working on making soap and some of them apparently came in to town to check out the smith and the carter's shops."
Malachai nods -- both of them can hear the steady, calmly repeating *clang! clang! clang!* echoing from down by the blacksmith's -- and Rachel ducks her head to hide her grin at the way her Nonnu is looking distracted. She innocently suggests he go take a walk to clear his head. Malachai agrees that this sounds like a great idea and grabs his hat before heading out on a not-so-random stroll.
Suraksha has, in the meantime, spent several hours catching up on her sleep. When she awakens she is (unsurprisingly) rather hungry -- and very much appreciates that Buddy is there with an uncompromising expression on his broad face, and a big plate of food for her! His grim expression softens a bit as she exclaims with delight and gives him a quick hug, then happily sets about devouring the food. Rishima has a few bites, but after that (not really being hungry) she patters off with Alg to go play with the dogs and the other children.
Once she's done eating, Suraksha sighs contentedly and decides a bath would be a truly excellent idea! Not only does she currently feel grubby, but she also likes being clean after a hunt. Shortly thereafter she is strolling contentedly towards the stream, occasionally waving and calling cheerfully to her extended family. She's carrying her basket of toiletries over one arm and wearing a warm wrap and soft boots; it is early fall, after all, and while it is warm now, Sura knows she'll be cooler when wet. She knows the stream is clear and cool in the middle of the day right now, though, and there are a couple of very nice pools that will be excellent for bathing.
Rattler, knowing his cherie, has chosen the one she's most likely to make for and decided to surprise her. It also doesn't hurt, of course, that he has never quite shaken the tinge of jealousy that makes him want to make sure he gets time with her when she returns from being with a client. The small woman laughs as she spots Rattler, her golden-green eyes lighting up as she calls, "What's this? Can't a girl find a nice, peaceful spot for a bath any more?"
Rattler himself has shed his clothes and tossed them over a tree limb. He laughs at her teasing, having submerged himself up to the waist. "Well, if you'd rather be alone..." he drawls and starts to pull himself out of the stream.
Suraksha giggles as she sets down her basket on a nice, sun-warmed rock, then turns around with mock ferocity, her fists on her hips, "Young man, you get out of that pool right now, and you are in for such a talking-to!" Her eyes sparkle and her small grin flashes as she adds with some mischief, "Besides... you will not believe what happened to me last night!" She knows it is simply Not Done to talk about one's clients -- but she strongly suspects talking about being drugged and shifted into a wolfen form does not qualify as talking about an actual client!
Rattler grins and sinks back into the water just before it would have cleared his hips. His brows go up as she mentions something from last night; 'Chana's normally extremely discreet. Suraksha swiftly divests herself of her clothing, shakes out her wealth of hair, picks up her soap and washcloth, then slides with a sigh of nearly luxurious relief into the cool, sunlight water, "Ahhhh... been promising myself a nice, long, lazy bath since I woke up this morning..."
The runaway king takes the soap and washcloth from her and says, "Pull yer hair forward, sugar, and I'll wash your back."
Suraksha sighs contentedly again -- she'd been daydreaming about being nurtured for a bit, rather than her doing all the nurturing, and there's no one she'd currently rather be doing that with than her beloved and Chosen. As she pulls her hair forward she'll settle into place in front of Rattler and with her back to him, her expression drifting into peacefulness as he starts. "Mmmm... you feel absolutely wonderful, sweet man!" Suraksha just wallows in pleasure for a bit as her sweetheart sees to her, but finally she murmurs with a small smile, "Mmmm... so, guess what happened to me last night?" She giggles, adding, "Aside from being a Hetaera, I mean!"
Rattler smirks a little at her "guess what" comment; there are a few things he's fairly certain happened that he doesn't necessarily want details about. He doesn't mention out loud that helping her bathe means he gets to help get her back to smelling like herself, and not like sex and wolves -- at least, he's assuming the musky, wild smell is wolves. He's not got the geisha act down the way Eacharn does, but he knows how to soothe her, "What happened, cherie?"
Suraksha is silent for a few heartbeats, trying to sort out the slightly confusing melange of sensual input from that night... then (barring interruption from Rattler) she quietly tells her story to her beloved: the little bit of cake and the herbal/drugged drink the two of them shared, the gift of the beautiful wolf-pelt as well as who it was from, the entire town waiting outside in the firelight and moonrise... and then the shifting into a wolf! Suraksha is careful not to mention any of the sexual parts of the evening, but she does talk about the ensuing hunt... and then the trot home to flop out and sleep off the night. Rattler listens and his arms slide around her waist, brows drawing together as he pulls her back against him. His hands continue to move, washing the front of her body almost absently, "So... you think they've got some sort of Tap among them or you think the drink did it? Sure don't sound like simple liquor."
Suraksha leans her head back against Roy with a blissful sigh, relaxing against him with pleasure -- it feels to her like coming home! She murmurs dreamily, "Not sure, sweet man... think he said something about the kids all doing this too?" She muses for a bit, then adds thoughtfully, "Could the pelt be part of it? It is a wolf-shifter's pelt, after all, right?"
Roy dips his head and kisses the side of her neck, breathing in deeply. He's not got the shifter senses, but he likes the smell of her all the same, "Could be. It sounds like it's a true shift, too. That's not easy." He snorts, "I keep thinking of them as being human, but some of the non-human folk have stuff they can do that doesn't seem like Tapping to me."
Suraksha mmms blissfully at the gentle kiss, almost purring, "True shift? What's 'at mean, please, lover?"
Rattler mmms distractedly himself for a moment -- then brings himself back to the present, "I mean it wa'n't a glamour like the sidhe and Del use. You were actually a wolf."
Suraksha says, "Oh, right. Yes, definitely, lover; I know what that feels like, and it was indeed a true shift." She pauses, then slowly adds, "You know, sweetheart... just because they can change shape doesn't make them non-human, does it? "
Rattler winces a little, realizing how that might have sounded -- since she herself is a shifter, "They aren't fully human, cherie, but that doesn't make them less than human. It just makes them different... with some different rules to how things work." The hands that were cleaning are now half washing and half stroking; he's soothing himself as much as he's soothing her.
Suraksha sighs and smiles, relaxing a bit more at that -- she knows she's not human, but... well, she'd prefer her beloved didn't think less of her for that! She reaches up one damp, slender arm to loop it loosely behind her about the back of Rattler's neck, and tilts her head back for a kiss. Her eyes are half-closed as she murmurs with a small smile, "So, how different are we talking, mmm?"
Rattler loses himself in the kiss for a couple of minutes and sighs warmly as she settles back against him. He lets his ability creep out into the water, making it move a little faster around them: a relaxing, almost stroking sensation, "I mean a human Tap with some control over the human body can shift muscles and so forth to change their appearance, but they still look human. Werewolves, like Guy back home -- they change complete. Like you. Something comes out of ya'll that wasn't there before."
Suraksha nods slowly, that small, dreamy smile still curling up the corners of her soft lips. Almost teasingly she murmurs, "That's not... rules, though, that's different -- is it? Or is that what you meant?" She lazily rubs her head against Rattler's shoulder, then frowns slightly. Her low voice is a bit more awake as she adds, "I must say, I was a bit... hm. Disturbed, yes. I am not delighted that I was given a drugged drink without explanation or warning."
Rattler nods slowly and considers, "The carter and the blacksmith were almost done with our repairs today. Do you want to pull out soon as we can get everything settled in? Shake the friendly dust of Friendsville off our boots for a while?" He's trying not to sound too eager at the prospect himself. He's also starting to come to himself -- realizing this might not be the best spot for a seduction just now, pleasant as it is.
Suraksha wriggles happily in Roy's arms, feeling very warm and melty inside from the caressing water, "Mmm, wha'? Oh! Heh... sure, we shouldn't lollygag around. We don't want to take advantage, even if inadvertently, of the nice folks here. They are feeding us, after all!" She sighs happily again, her small fingers starting to trail over Roy's thighs as she purrs, "Sooo... did you have plans tonight, sweet man?"
Roy's grin takes on its familiar roguish character as he leans down to almost breathe against her ear, "Let's us just say that Sabrina has agreed to watch the girls for the night." Suraksha giggles delightedly, twisting fluidly in Roy's lap to bring her hands up and cup his now-stubbly jaw. Her kiss is warm and eager at first, then smoothes out into a slower, deeper, unhurried pleasuring. Rattler lets his own hands slip under the water to find her hips and pull her close for the duration of the kiss. He doesn't hide his body's reaction, but neither does he push forward with it. Later there will be time to do that; right now he's taking time to tease and remind her why they, the nomad and the libertine, chose each other.
Suraksha leans into Rattler's warmth with dreamy pleasure, and does not end the kiss until she must breath. Even then her soft lips drift only slowly away from his, and her eyes are half-closed in languid enjoyment. She sighs gently, her tilted, almond-shaped eyes gleaming behind the thick, sooty lashes, and murmurs teasingly, "Take me home, handsome man, or we're going to make love right here in the all-together!"
Rattler mmms and can't resist dipping his head to kiss the tips of each of her breasts, "Probably right. Can't just go gallivanting around with who knows what in the woods, eh?" He's also aware that Malachai has at least once watched people in this stream without making himself known.
Suraksha groans softly at the kisses, arching her back towards Roy as one hand clutches the back of his head -- he doesn't yet have enough hair to grab after all. "Oh... you tease!"
Speaking of Malachai... the town elder's stroll had taken him first through town and then around into the woods. Now it is taking him toward the caravan's encampment. He had not exactly meant to go fetch his mate, but his own restlessness has led him toward her. As he approaches the edge of their lands, though, he slows and considers. He gave this land to the caravan as their territory while they were here... and yet, what is his is his mate's, and what is hers is his, yes? Also, he finds he's eager to meet his mate's -- and his, now -- cub.
The caravan posts guards, even though they've been promised safety; they've been in too many situations that turned bad quickly to entirely let down their defenses. One of them, Joe, spots the roaming -- almost pacing -- Malachai and calls out to him. "Ho, Malachai! Come down to be sociable?" The lanky man strolls unhurriedly towards the Friendsville elder, a big dog trotting curiously ahead of him, tail wagging, to sniff cautiously at Malachai. The town elder looks down at the dog almost curiously. They don't actually have a lot of pets around Friendsville; most of the animals are livestock or game. Or wolves. He raises his eyes to see the human secondarily, and lifts his hand in greeting.
The big dog pants up at the elder, tail still wagging slowly... then she turns and meanders over to sniff at one of the rocks edging the field. The various members of the caravan have been subtly and not so subtly encouraging the animals to continue marking their borrowed territory, and so the big wolf-cross calmly does so. Joe has to cover a grin at that, hastily raising his gaze to smile at Malachai. He's faintly puzzled as to why the man hasn't answered yet, and slightly wary of the fact that Malachai can turn into a wolf... and so Joe drifts to a stop about halfway between the caravan and the edge of their temporary territory. Malachai smiles at Joe -- the close-lipped, non-threatening smile, "I actually came down to see if Sulochana is awake and ready to come back yet." These folk, after all, should be able to tell the two of them are mated, right? Even if they are just human.
Joe is silent for a moment, perplexed again -- doesn't Sura usually only spend one night as a Hetaera, unless it's a big social event? Then it occurs to the scout: clearly she must have negotiated for a second night. He doesn't want to queer the deal, so he simply smiles back and replies, "Well, while I don't know her plans, I 'spect she's gettin' ready if that's the case." His smile broadens as he adds, "She does sometimes take a bit. Just 'tween you and me, I 'spect she loves bein' appreciated all the more for the waitin', y'know?" He lifts his hat and rubs his forehead with the back of the same arm as he murmurs, "As they say, anything really worth havin' is worth waitin' for." The wiry man adds after a thoughtful heartbeat, "Tell you what. Why don't I go see how she's doin' -- let her know yer here, 'kay? Back in a bit." He'll re-settle his hat, nod to Malachai, and turn to head back to the caravan.
Malachai nods to Joe and says, "I'll wait here, then." There's one of the occasional limestone outcroppings one sees in this part of the country nearby and Malachai moves over to it, settling on it with the air of someone that's Being Very Patient. Joe snaps his fingers to the dog as he goes. Something feels... "off" about this to him, and he does like listening to his instincts. Plus... this is the first he's heard of Sura going back to town, and that sort of news does tend to get around in the close-knit caravan. Maybe he'll just check with Fantine or Sna'tha... see if they know about a second night as Hetaera being in Sura's plans.
Earlier, back at the stream, Roy pulls on his clothes slowly, making it almost as fun to watch as when he takes them off -- which Suraksha greatly appreciates! Afterward he helps 'Chana gather up her things, and carries them back for her. When she protests that she's perfectly capable of doing it herself, he drawls, "I know that. Jest like doin' nice things for ya, cherie." Suraksha's smile is delighted when Rattler says that, and she gets that shining look in her eyes -- the one that means she's deeply touched, and going to make sure he knows how happy she is that he loves her and she loves him. She walks closely next to him all the way back, one arm about his waist and humming softly. Occasionally she glances up at him, her sweet lips parted in a mischievously delighted smile; her hip brushes frequently against him as they walk.
Rattler and 'Chana make it back to the camp just as people are starting to get the bonfire built up, well before dark. The caravaneers aren't planning anything as elaborate as an actual party -- that usually requires a couple of days of recovery -- but they do want to have a good time tonight. Suraksha laughs happily as she sees people tuning up fiddles and setting out drums and other instruments, while passing around hot food that Buddy's received from the townsfolk. She does love a celebration!
When Emmett spots Sura and Rattler he grins, and the music starts up almost immediately. Sura laughs again, recognizing the tune, and grabs her lover's hands, "Oh, set the basket down, handsome man, and dance with me! Please?" Fantine tidily whisks away the basket of toiletries from Roy, and Sna'tha snorts amusedly at Sura's reaction, making sure there's a bowl of hot food and a warm blanket ready for her godsdaughter after the dancing. The caravan's children are already scampering around and squealing gleefully -- their version of dancing -- and a few other couples are starting to move out into the open space as well.
Rattler laughs and calls out to the musicians and they call back to him. By now the Cajun is just another fixture in the caravan. Even those that know his identity don't really have a problem forgetting who he is. He takes 'Chana's hands and grins down at her, "O' course, cherie! Been waitin' all day for this!" Suraksha laughs delightedly, swinging the two of them out and quickly into the swirl of dancers. As the music flows and drifts into a sort of dreamy invitation, the small woman smiles with languid joy up at her beloved and, without really thinking about it, starts to match her dancing to his.
It is as Joe heads towards the caravan that the sprightly music bursts forth, which causes the lanky man to tilt his head in perplexity. Sura's usually careful to make sure there's nothing too exciting happening at the caravan, the few times she's had gentlemen callers. Perhaps she'd intended to meet Malachai in town, but he got impatient? Joe grins ruefully at that -- he can certainly understand feeling that way! He's had a silent, unconfessed crush on the strange and wonderful woman since the day he first met her. The lean scout is still smiling as he slips between two of the wagons -- and is promptly handed a bowl of nice hot stew and a thick slice of fresh bread. He smiles and thanks the beaming child, then turns to head towards Sura's brightly-painted wagon -- and goes still. There she is, by the fire... and considering the way she's dancing with Rattler, she's not going to be getting ready for any outside liaisons tonight, that's for sure!
Joe frowns absently as he nibbles on some stew-soaked bread, and his gaze travels around, searching for Sna'tha or Fantine. Ah... there's the sidhe woman close by: Sna'tha is standing on the edge of the circle of firelight, watching her godsdaughter. She's smiling just a little. As forbidding as she sometimes is, she can't help but like Rattler a bit for the happiness he brings to 'Chana... even if he is an arrogant pain in the neck at times. Joe starts pacing quietly around the campfire to her, wondering what the heck is going on.
Amongst the dancers, Suraksha moves with serpentine grace, but it's the joyous smolder in her faintly smiling gaze that really speaks to her beloved. The small woman can feel him as patterns of body heat and increasing emotion, her hands spread wide to caress the energy flow that thrums and vibrates around him as he dances, "shadowing" him with beautiful precision. As the music slows and deepens, so too does their dancing: they pass the "leadership" back and forth to and from each other so subtly, with increasingly intricate motions, that observers can't always tell who the lead actually is. People don't really do it on purpose, but a space forms around the king and the lamia as the shadow-dancing begins. They are both good dancers, of course, so they have the skill to do this. But it's not the skill that makes people leave a little space around them; it's the heat and intensity. The impression they give is that no one else matters just at the moment, as they dance almost as one being.
Joe coughs quietly as he approaches the sidhe woman; he's smiling faintly too, although it's at Sna'tha's clear fondness for her godsdaughter. The lanky scout would never admit to that, though -- he knows how important reputation is to the sidhe! Instead he manages to get a suitably grave look on his face by the time she glances over, murmuring, "Hey, gotta minute, Sna'tha? Something funny's going on out there." He jerks his head lightly once towards where Friendsville's elder waits outside the caravan circle, "Malachai seems to think Sura's got 'nother night with him... but here she is dancin' with Rattler. Sure don't look t'me like she has any outside plans t'night, you know?"
Sna'tha's brows furrow slightly and she says, "No. I'm quite certain they negotiated for just one night. She would have mentioned it -- and she does not let such things slip her mind." The sidhe's eyes follow to where Joe has indicated, but Malachai isn't there any more. The townie elder has gotten restless and begun to prowl around the edge of the encampment. He's not exactly meaning to spy, but he cannot keep still.
Joe looks worried at Sna'tha's comment, glancing towards where Malachai had been as he murmurs quietly to Sna'tha, "Awright, something's really mixed up here, then. Can you come talk to Mala-" he notices the elder is no longer there, and mutters a low curse word, glancing back and forth hastily, "Okay, now I'm worried. Where'd that man get off to?"
As Joe and Sna'tha are wondering just where he got to, Malachai has slipped around the perimeter of the camp. He's staying politely outside the boundaries, since he wasn't actually invited in, but he's peering closely into the gathering twilight to try to catch some sight of his mate. He's even starting to wonder if her people are somehow restraining her -- and then he catches sight of the fire and the clear space in front of it where 'Chana and Rattler are dancing. There is no mistaking the connection and the heat between them, and that tears a howling growl from Malachai -- a sound of anger and hurt that causes everyone to go suddenly silent and wary.
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