| Logs |
2010 October 04
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
The Tiger's Mate
The fight starts to move toward the door, clumping up there as Moynahan's men try to flee. Some of them head for the door that produced Sna'tha, only to find there's no escape there either. There are no windows. The big tiger drops the arm and sweeps back and forth through the room. Her instincts keep drawing her back to protect Roy, but family feeling makes her keep an eye on Sna'thaid as well, to ensure her safety. More than once Roy sees her leap across the entire room in eerie silence, roaring only as she crushes or slaps away some unprepared thug. She's careful not to get in the way of the deadly spray of bronze needles from Sna'tha, or block the pinball-like bouncing of the goblin -- he ends up bouncing off her a few times, in fact, with no apparent problem. Sulochana's muzzle, paws, and chest are splattered wet crimson, as Roy notices at one point when an enemy before him simply drops with a cut-short scream -- violently yanked down by the tiger before he could swing a chair at Roy's head.
By the time the yelling and screaming all dies down, Alg is squeaking happily as he bounces from body to body, collecting his "treats." It takes a few minutes for everyone to realize when the only people left alive are Roy and Suraksha's people. Once he realizes it, the king stalks over to where Moynahan's corpse lies and snarls down at him, "I hope you burn in the lowest level of hell, you piece of shit." He kicks the lolling head with one heavy boot and rips the pocket watch off his striped waistcoat.
Sna'thaid leans against a wall, insectile eyes making her face look oddly expressionless just now. Her old woman's clothing contrasts weirdly with her slender, delicate physique. Bear is growling quietly, glancing around warily in between licking a long, shallow slash along one shaggy arm. The big tiger is panting, bloody jaws parted slightly as she turns slowly in the center of the room and checks everyone is either dead or all right. Suraksha chuffs a low laugh at Roy's comment, then looks around. She pads over to the beautiful, granite-topped desk and leaps heavily up onto it, kicking off a body in the process. She reaches one big paw up, pulling down a long shelf and indifferently watching the bric-a-brac fall crashing to the floor.
Roy catches that and says, "Whoa! Whoawhoawhoa! Hold on!" He has shoved the watch into his pocket. Suraksha picks up the long shelf in her jaws, looking around at Roy... then she pads over to a pile of broken, shattered furniture and tries to jam the shelf upright into it. Roy looks at Sna'tha and asks, "You got any clue what the fuck she's doin'?"
Suraksha growls a bit frustratedly, dropping the shelf and sinking her claws into one end, breaking pieces off so it ends in a jagged spike. "Pi-gh! Wan' hea' on pi-gh, li-gh you say."
Roy's broad white teeth flash in a vicious grin, "Oh, lovely, we can do better'n that." Suraksha pauses, looking up at Roy with her ears pricked in sudden interest. He looks around the room and then reaches up above the fireplace, where Moynahan has had it decorated with a shield and two crossed swords -- neither of which looks sharp or in good repair.
The slender sidhe woman smiles fondly at the big tiger, reaching out with all four hands as she starts collecting her bronze needles. Her voice is a weird mix of soft buzzing and flute-like harmonics, sounding oddly attractive, "I suspect my godsdaughter is making sure the legends of what happened here will spread and grow, and they will live in fear of what happened to this scum."
Suraksha drops the shelf as she sees what Roy is doing, and trots swiftly over to Moynahan's body, bounding lightly over the entranced Alg as she does so. She grabs a shoulder in her bloody jaws, then looks expectantly at Roy. The king jerks one of the swords free, "Oh, we'll make sure o' that, but we wanna send a message with this." Beside the fireplace is a large urn filled with walking-sticks. They're made of every conceivable material; one in particular has a silver head with the embossed clover-M's on it. Roy holds the sword in his left hand and twirls the walking stick in the other, "Let's get the head off and we'll put it on this."
Suraksha grins happily through her bloody teeth, then trots over to Roy, easily dragging the small (next to her) body. She drops it at Roy's feet, unwittingly looking like she's playing 'fetch' with him, and puts a forepaw firmly on the chest to brace the body -- then she looks expectantly at Roy again. Across the room, Sna'thaid's dragonfly wings have spread out; they shimmer beautifully iridescent in the blood-stinking room, and she sings a soft song of triumph to herself. She chuckles as she glances at the tiger and the man, then grins at the bear, heading over to help him bind up the shallow cut. Her voice is very soft, "Aren't they adorable together?" The bloody-muzzled bear grunts quietly, then snorts.
Roy isn't squeamish. He uses the sword to take off the head, which takes a couple of strikes and makes him mutter, "Asshole didn't even know how to keep a blade sharp." Next he steps on the tip of the cane, breaking it off so the end is jagged, and jams the head down onto it, lip curling at the disgusting sound it makes. Suraksha watches intently, helping brace the body and head with her broad, powerful paws. She growls happily once Roy is done, backing up a step to give him room to place it wherever he wants.
Roy returns to the fireplace and uses the poker to knock a hole in the mantle, into which he jams the end of the walking stick. It makes a really very gruesome display and the king seems proud of himself. He turns to the big cat, eyes gleaming, "Look good?"
Suraksha sits back on her haunches to study it, tilting her head back and forth once... then she turns to Roy, her gory jaws agape as she chuffs, "Goo'! 'hank 'oo!" Roy may be starting to recognize the expressions: she's beaming at him in tiger. She rises, purring and enthusiastically rubbing against him like the huge cat she is -- and almost knocking him off his feet.
Roy snorts and has to shift to keep from being knocked onto his ass. He shakes his head and whispers, "You had me awfully pissed off at you there, cherie...." He scritches through her thick ruff around her ears, still quiet, "Hope you don' ever hafta pull that kinda shit again."
Sna'thaid's cool voice buzzes in soft amusement to them, "Lovely job, children. Time to go, unless you wish to have to face Roy's men." Sulochana is looking blissful at the scritchies, but at the dragonfly sidhe's comment she glances over, then growls, "Yah. Rhi-fer." She turns and nudges Roy, putting her side against him and calling quietly, "Al-gh!" The goblin looks up and blinks. He's a sight! He's clearly been rolling around in the blood, as well as collecting his treats.
Roy says, "River sounds good. Let's get goin'..." He hesitates, "Cherie, shouldn't you be two-footed for this?"
Suraksha shakes her head, enunciating carefully, "Nah nuff enn-ah-ghee." Alg galumphs over to Sulochana and happily shows her a handful of his treats before stuffing them into a bag at his waist. She chuffs impatiently at Roy, then purrs and runs an affectionate tongue across the side of Alg's head when the goblin bounces over. The big bear is already squeezing carefully through the door, and Sna'thaid picks up the bloody robe and the small sandals. "Let's go, children -- quick-quick!" She follows the bear out, Alg squeaking happily and bouncing after her.
Roy mutters, "Well, then, let's get you a side of steak." He doesn't make a move to mount back up, striding along beside her instead. Suraksha blinks and watches Roy walking next to her, speeding up a bit in her surprise so he doesn't leave her behind. She glances up at his face, her ears tilted worriedly back and her tail swishing slowly behind her. Roy keeps his eyes ahead and doesn't know the new body language well enough to read the worry in it. He follows Sna'tha's lead and trots up to murmur to her, "I know a place we can go get cleaned off."
The huge insectile eyes turn to Roy, facets glittering slightly in the moonlight. She nods, murmuring, "Get on Jyotsana and direct. We need to be running once we hit ground floor, and we need to be in the middle of the ruts on the road until all the blood on our feet has dried." She jumps the last few stairs, landing very lightly with a buzzing of wings on the huge bear's back. Alg grins demonically up at Roy, then bounces over Sulochana's large body in search of her tail, as she trots carefully and heavily down the rickety stairs.
Roy bristles a little at being ordered around, but realizes it makes sense. He swings up onto Sulochana's back, tucking away the information on this other name, and murmurs, "Once the blood is dry on our feet, I'll get us to a safe spot on the river."
The big tiger shivers once to make sure Roy is settled, then turns her head and growls, "Wh-herre?" She is already picking up speed, Alg chuckling and bouncing happily along behind. The big bear falls into line as well, and the small cavalcade heads down the darkest street, away from the sounds of men shouting to one another and lighting torches as they work up the numbers and courage to go see what the terrible sounds in the night were due to.
Once they can leave the middle of the street, Roy leads them through the back alleys of his city, slipping past the city guards that are shouting and heading toward Moynahan's lair. The place he brings them to is well outside the city limits and has a gentle slope down to the waters of the Big Muddy. Suraksha sighs tiredly, slowing to a padding walk as she follows Roy's directions and heads down to the water. She stands at the edge for a moment, sniffing carefully and looking back and forth... then glances at the others and chuffs a soft 'all clear.'
Roy crouches at the edge of the water, dipping his hand in and concentrating, looking a little distant. He's humming to himself, a meandering sort of tune, and murmurs, "Water's a little roiled up." He hums a little louder and murmurs tenderly, "C'mon, m'sweet lady, settle down. Settle down..." The water goes glassy calm in a semi-circle perhaps fifteen feet across and the mud settles, giving them clean water to wash off in. Once that's done Roy starts rinsing the blood off the parts of his clothes that the water won't ruin.
Shortly thereafter everyone but Alg is cleaning up with enthusiasm. The bear is simply lying in the water, upstream from the rest of them and with some good clean Mississippi mud over the wound to draw out any poisons. Alg is sitting back and looking grumpy -- he'd been firmly ordered to at least rinse off, despite his protestations of how much he liked blood -- and Sna'thaid has rinsed all the clothing and laid it out over nearby bushes. Now she's rinsing herself off, while Sulochana is nearly blissfully rolling over and over in the water to get all the blood scrubbed out of her striped coat.
The dragonfly woman straightens from where she stands in the water. Her body is opalescent by moonlight, very androgynous and with the glittering wings springing out of her shoulders. She watches Roy with that alien face for a moment, then smiles, fluting, "I see my godsdaughter was right. She assured me there was more to you than just another ego-centered rogue. Anyone who will come rescue an old woman he doesn't like, accompanied by nightmare creatures, is good enough to court my godsdaughter." The bear snorts amusedly; Sulochana flips abruptly over in the water so she's upright, and yowls an aghast, "Znaaah!" She comes splashing hastily over, shaking water off her coat and growfing in her attempts to speak clearly, "Ss-chah-khnn', Roy! Chuzz ss-chah-khnn'!"
Roy listens to this extraordinary speech with an amused and surprised expression, "Well, it's good t'know you approve of me, Miz Marcie." He has stripped down to trousers and boots, "But I think you might be misunderstandin' things a bit."
The dragonfly woman glances haughtily at Sulochana, her buzzing voice getting slightly annoyed, "I am not joking, Jyotsana. Stop that." The huge tiger -- almost startlingly -- flattens her ears and looks sheepish. She pads over to Roy and nudges him strongly, "Zhay! Wrro-ngh -- spla-hn!"
Roy smirks down at Suraksha and strokes her ears, "Cherie, you really need ta have fewer teeth for me to unnerstand ya."
Suraksha growls a bit frustratedly -- then goes still, staring at Sna'thaid with a surprisingly guilty expression as the dragonfly sidhe murmurs coolly, "Yes, Jyotsana, why don't you change and talk to us, hmm?" The big tiger's head droops, and she mutters to the water she's determinedly staring at (so she won't have to meet her godsmother's eyes), "...cah-nnght..." Sna'tha folds all four arms and glares at the unhappy looking tiger, and the bear hastily studies some fascinating dirt on the side of the river, one paw firmly over his muzzle so he won't accidentally slip a chuckle.
Roy smiles his most charming smile over at Marcie and says, "I very much enjoy the time I get t'spend with your goddaughter, but we've arranged things to work very nicely for both of us. I got a city to run and she's got ya'll to think 'bout. It apparently looks like it's somethin' different. Hell, if she an' I weren't spendin' so much time t'gether, this whole thing wouldn'ta happened." Suraksha looks relieved, nodding several times -- which looks weirdly unnatural on the tiger. Roy goes on, "Man in my position, people close to 'im turn inta targets and liabilities." He shakes his head, "Don't wanna put ya'll into more danger." He starts shrugging back into his shirt, "We need to feed this lady, too. She's just 'bout eaten ever' steak in the palace." Roy's rather glad it's dark, because he can feel how hot his face got at protesting that he was happy with the relationship he has with the tiger-woman.
Sna'thaid smiles as she watches the two entities, murmuring, "Oh, I sincerely doubt Jyotsana's been a liability for you. Still, I'm glad you realize the extent of your responsibility to her tonight." Airily she adds, "Come along, Bear! We should not return to the palace with them." She starts picking up her clothing, and she turns to the tiger with the light shift in her hand, "Here you go, dear. You can't go back with Roy in that form." The big bear snorts, rising and taking a breath, then vigorously shaking himself. Water goes flying everywhere around him. Fortunately he's still standing out in the river, so very little reaches the bank.
Suraksha looks torn, glancing between Roy and Sna'thaid... then she pads silently to the bank. Sna'thaid abruptly grabs one orange ear, causing the tiger to yip startledly -- a very odd sound from such a large body. Sternly the dragonfly woman adds, "One last thing, Jyotsana: if I find out you have over-extended yourself like this again, I shall have words with you!" Suraksha looks like she's desperately praying for the ground to open beneath her paws and swallow her live. Sna'tha releases, glaring at Roy, "Well? Get over here, man -- haven't you realized by now she's running on empty for you?"
Years of practice at keeping his real emotions off his face are letting Roy keep from showing every little thought in his eyes. He does, however, step lively, "I've already carried her once today, Miz Marcie. I don't mind doin' it again."
The dragonfly woman straightens, then chuckles softly, "You may call me Sna'thaid Mho'r, or Lady Sna'tha, since you are dear to my godsdaughter." That causes Sulochana to roll her eyes and give a groaning growl -- and a second later she's standing there in human form. She takes a deep breath, trying to get out, "Ssorr-ee..." and her eyes roll up in her head again as she collapses bonelessly once more.
Roy's brows go up, "Well, then, Lady Sna'tha, those daggers o' yours make a lot more sense n-" and he's grabbing for the collapsing Sulochana, muttering, "Goddammit. Not again..."
The sidhe woman smiles and nods her head graciously to Roy, making no effort to catch her godsdaughter, "And a very good night to you also, King Roy of Baton Rouge." She turns and walks silently into the night, following the huge bulk of the bear. Alg is still sitting on the bank, and he grins cheerfully at Roy, "Pretty lady fall down 'gain! You got," then goes back to nibbling something small in his clawed hand.
Roy smirks at Alg, "Looks like I do..." He looks up and down the river and says, "This is going to be one long fuckin' walk back to the palace. Better get goin'." He rolls his shoulders and starts to trudge back to the back entrance to the palace, muttering, "This was easier when you were carryin' me, darlin'."
Alg watches curiously for a while, then tucks his treat into his little pouch and bounds after Roy. He looks up at the man, walking along next to Roy for a bit, then asks, "No want pretty lady no more? Alg take." For the small goblin-man this is nearly oratory. He holds up the light silk robe as well, tucking the end into Roy's belt. It snags a bit on his claws.
Roy smirks down at Alg, fairly certain the goblin can't read his eyes, "Naw, son, I got 'er." He pauses, realizing she's naked, "Maybe we oughta pause, though..." He takes a moment to get the limp form of the woman into the robe and then thinks a moment. "Alg, I want you to know, I ain't meanin' to disrespect her, but my back is a helluva lot stronger than my arms..." He very carefully slings the unconscious woman over one shoulder. The goblin just watches silently, his unblinking eyes glowing scarlet sometimes as he turns his head. He bounds along with Roy once the man gets moving again, easily checking the trail ahead and behind as he goes. Suraksha is limp over Roy's shoulder the whole way back, her long dark hair swaying in a shadowy curtain and occasionally brushing against his boots.
Roy is as quick and careful as he can manage in getting them back to the palace. Still, as light as she is and as strong as he is, his back is aching by the time they reappear in his dressing room. He shoves the door closed and moves her into the bedroom. It's nearly dawn by now and he moves blearily to the door, opening it and saying to the guard there, "I feel like shit and I need some food and the biggest fuckin' pot o' coffee in the kitchen." He proceeds to order enough food to feed six people, hoping he'll get at least part of it. After that he returns to his room and settles on the edge of the bed, stroking 'Chana's hair worriedly.
Alg creeps up to peek over the side of the bed at Sulochana for a few heartbeats... then he looks expectantly at Roy. Roy looks back at Alg. "Whut?" he asks tiredly. It's possibly the least eloquent he's been in a long time.
Alg blinks big eyes at Roy, tilting his head. Finally he goes to the door, and before he leaves he says, "Alg no let others stop lady sexings." He nods firmly, then closes the door behind him, leaving Roy and Sulochana alone.
Roy blinks at Alg's comment -- then snorts laughter -- then roars with it. He glances back down at Sulochana and murmurs to himself, "She did say it helps..." Not realizing just how much like a fairy tale this might seem, he leans down and kisses her. It's hesitant at first, as he tries to decide if he feels okay about this -- and then the feel of her mouth under his and the scent of her mixes in with the adrenaline and he kisses her again, more hungrily. Suraksha sighs softly, her pale face warming a little. As the kisses continue, and Roy's emotions start to increase, her chest rises with another breath and her lips curve slowly to meet his. By the time Roy's passionate kiss has him leaning over her, gathering her into his arms, her eyelashes are fluttering half-open and her small hands are starting to stroke along his skin.
Roy groans against her mouth and breaks the kiss long enough to peel out of his sticky leather-and-denim britches and to kick off the hobnailed boots before he slides completely into the bed with her. He unfolds the robe from her body and then simply loses himself in her. The freedom of her not being quite coherent makes him feel free to let all the actual tenderness float to the surface as he kisses her, whispering endearments to her in the strange, melodic patois of his boyhood. Under him, she responds in dreamy bliss, inviting him with little sighs and whimpers, her arms loose and warm around his shoulders as he slides his body over her.
The arrival of the food and the small ruckus as Alg stops them from bringing it directly into the room is lost in the half-awake interlude of hot Louisiana breezes stirring the bed curtains and making the candle flames dance. Once he's spent, Roy carefully rolls himself over onto his back and gathers her up half-atop his body, tucking her head against his shoulder. Suraksha drifts blissfully off again, never having completely awoken.
By the time she blinks slowly, starting to really wake up, she realizes she's bone-deep exhausted... but she's had the absolute loveliest dream about Roy! She smiles dreamily, nuzzling up under Roy's chin and giving a small purr of contentment. Roy smiles sleepily down at her and kisses the bridge of her nose, rumbling in his sleepy drawl, "S'posed t'be some food... Alg mighta stopped 'em, though..." His hand lazily strokes her sweet behind. Suraksha giggles softly at the placement of the kiss, and wriggles her rear slowly into Roy's palm. She's not feeling quite verbal yet; she's mostly dreamily remembering how tingly she felt in the dream when Roy called her his cherie, and other words she didn't know but which sounded thrillingly tender. Roy smiles at the giggle and mumbles sleepily, "Don' matter. It'll be there when we wake up..." He pulls the blankets over both of them and nestles down tiredly himself.
Suraksha yawns quick and wide, like a cat, then brushes a hand in slow relaxation along Roy's front. She thinks a moment, words starting to return to her, and murmurs, "Hungry?"
Roy asks, "That a question or a request, sugar?"
Suraksha laughs softly in delight, nuzzling against Roy and running her tongue along his warm, slightly salt-tasting skin before she murmurs, "Are you hungry, lovely man?"
Roy mmms at the feel of her tongue on his skin, lips curled into a lazy grin, "Famished, actually. But Alg said somethin' about... ahh... not disturbin' us."
Suraksha grins as she turns her head and calls quietly, "Alg? If there's a food tray there, could you bring it in, please, dear?" She turns back to Roy, purring, "Good! I could spend an entire day in bed with you, feeling like this!" Her hands are starting to stroke slowly along Roy's skin, circling and caressing sensitive points that cause her to sigh with pleasure at his enjoyment. The door cracks open and Alg peeks in, then hastily scampers in dragging a cart. He peers at Sulochana's face, nods approvingly at Roy, then darts back out, firmly closing the door behind him again.
Roy watches this with a chuckle and stretches like a big cat himself, "I think I'm declarin' a holiday t'day. 'Till somebody comes t'me with some cockamamie story about Moynahan, I plan to stay right the fuck here, eat breakfast, and then spend the day in bed."
Suraksha giggles, then waggles her eyebrows at Roy, "Isn't that verb in the wrong place? Shouldn't the fucking be in the bed?" She grins, and seems inordinately greedy for touch just now; she sits up enough to reach food but keeps her legs tangled with Roy's, or she rests one hand on Roy and uses the other to bring dishes to them. She devours a good two thirds of the food, but she also shares with Roy, her eyes bright and warm as she giggles and feeds him bits and pieces of food from her slender fingers. Roy seems more than happy to stretch out and have a gorgeous woman feed him breakfast. Besides, it leaves his hands free to caress and pet her graceful form. The scoundrel king finds himself very grateful for the distractions of sex and food. All that conversation down at the river was getting into dangerous territory he'd rather avoid.
It's not until a few hours later that the food is completely consumed, and the two of them are tangled together blissfully once more, that Sulochana murmurs, "Had th' loveliest dream this mornin'... but how'd we get here? Las' I remember we were on the riv-" She stiffens, her eyes flying wide open as she remembers her godsmother's words -- then she covers her face with both hands and moans in embarrassment, "Oh, goddess, just kill me... kill me now..."
Roy murmurs, "Seems I've been to a great deal of trouble to do the exact opposite -- and I'd rather not talk to your godmother about your untimely death..."
Suraksha laughs in spite of herself, although she tucks her head against Roy's chest so she doesn't have to see his face. Her voice is muffled, "Er, yes, um... you do know the sidhe often, um... don't make a lot of sense to us, right?" She's floundering for a way to discredit Sna'tha's words without actually lying. She doesn't know how else to hide the feelings she has for Roy, which Sna'tha alluded to.
Roy says, "I know that if I don't treat you the way she thinks I ought to, I might wake up dead some morning." He smirks his most charming grin, "Since I value my sorry hide and I have come to enjoy havin' you around, I don't think she has much to worry about. We just might have to... I dunno... explain the reality to her a little bit."
Suraksha sighs in relief -- Roy didn't twig to what Sna'thaid was saying about her godsdaughter! She nearly babbles, "Oh, yes! Yes, that's a good idea, definitely. We should, mm-hmm." She nods a few times, falling silent... then adds sheepishly, "She, um... gets ideas in her head sometimes, and you can't change her mind. I'm sorry she embarrassed you last night. Thank you for not getting angry." She adds dryly, "Plus she seems to think I'm still only a 20 year old baby. She still calls me by my birthing name." She pauses, then adds a little awkwardly, "Uh, I meant... ten year old... -ish..."
Roy chuckles and says, "I noticed that. You've got a damn sight more names than me. Me, I'm just Roy Lee Beauregard Beauchamp." He pauses, grinning, "I guess that is a few names, comes to that." He nuzzles her hair, "Ain't embarrassed, cherie. Not in the least." He hesitates and then says, "Just wanted to let you know... I ain't expectin' nothing else, cherie. I know the rules."
Suraksha sighs in relief again, mentally chastising herself fiercely for her slip on age. She mmms peacefully at the nuzzle, leaning into him, and sing-songs his names softly, "Roy... Lee... Beau... regard... Beau... champ!" She grins, "I like your names! You have one that says regarding you is lovely, and one that says you are a lovely hero! Or at least that's what they sound like to me." She giggles, wriggling comfortably, then adds with interest, "So what do they actually mean? And what do you mean about rules?" She adds puzzledly, "Can you earn no more names after a certain age, or something?"
Roy chuckles, "Roy means king, sugar. And Lee means a field, like a farmer's. Beauregard means pretty to look at. Beauchamp means lovely fields. Goin' by my name, I was meant to be king of beautiful lands."
Suraksha laughs delightedly, "Oh, perfect!" She hugs him as she squirms smoothly up to lie over his chest and smile down at him, her eyes sparkling as she waits for the answer to her other question. Then she adds thoughtfully, "Actually, it's more than that: you're the handsome king and guardian of beautiful lands." She taps her fingers lightly on his chest, grinning, "Noblesse oblige!"
Roy chuckles and says, "Honey, most human people just get the names they were born with, lessen they pick up a nickname or something. Mebbe some titles. I've actually lost a name or two. Useta be called Rattler by a friend or two." He kisses her fingers, "Well, I'm doin' my best."
Suraksha smiles quietly, savoring the frisson of pleasure she receives from his tendernesses. When he's laid her fingers gently back on his chest, she murmurs, "In my family we earn our names. Jyotsana is my birth name, and Sulochana is the name I received when I finished Hetaera training. I won Suraksha when I first shifted shape under my own control, demonstrating I was capable of taking care of myself. I'll likely earn more over the years -- or at least I hope I do." She giggles as she adds, "Rattler? I like snakes. How'd you get that?"
Roy chuckles quietly and says, "Because I'd try an' warn ya off, but if ya didn' back down, I'd make ya wish y'were dead. I was a mean sumbitch as a kid." He thinks about it, "Tell me what your names all mean. We figgered mine out..."
Suraksha sighs happily, opening her mouth to give Roy her names -- then suddenly realizes she still might not want to translate her family name for him. She hesitates, casting her mind back over the night before in a hasty attempt to find something with which to distract Roy -- then blinks, sitting up distractedly herself, "Oh! I almost forgot -- dear Lady, but I owe you one heckuva apology! And a thank you..." She turns so she's sitting upright, leaning against Roy's side and holding one of his hands in both of hers. Her worried gaze rests on his face, "I, um... I am truly sorry, Roy, for making you so uncomfortable last night. I..." she struggles for words, then simply sighs and looks down at his hand, "I didn't know what sort of relationship you and Moynahan had, and I needed you to react genuinely. I apologize." She adds more softly, "Thank you for not just dumping me right there. I hope you can forgive me that." She still hasn't quite met his gaze again yet.
Roy smirks slightly. He recognizes that he's being put off, but he's willing to let her do so -- for now. His free arm slides around her shoulders and he says, "Well, I gotta say that I was ready to chew nails and spit staples when Bear first grabbed me. I don't take well to betrayal. But I know the value of a good bluff, and you ain't had occasion to know if I can make it look real or not if I'd known ahead 'a time."
Suraksha nods and cuddles back against Roy's side, relief flashing across her face. Her voice is a little small as she adds, "What, um... what did you mean last night when you said you hoped I never had to pull that shit again, please?"
Roy sighs and rests his head against her, "I don't like bein' deceived. It pisses me off. I know why ya did it. Hell, I've done the same kinda thing. But it'd be nice if you din't have to. If y'd just tole me what was goin' on, I mighta been able to help out a little more."
Suraksha strokes her fingers lightly over his chest, murmuring a bit guiltily, "I'm so sorry... I tried my best, Roy. I dressed to turn his head, and I demanded Marcie first -- I figured if I could get us all into the room I wouldn't even have to show proof!" She sighs, "But... it didn't work." She doesn't mention her reason for keeping her back to him during the "betrayal" -- she'd been afraid she might start crying if she faced him. Facing Moynahan let her concentrate on the little toad, and she didn't care about his emotions. Softly she adds, "I even made sure no one got near you while you were restrained. Again, I'm very sorry." She hesitates, then adds with stiff care, "If you -- if you'd rather I stayed away after this, I will certainly understand."
Roy's answer to that is swift and vehement, "Don't you fuckin' dare." He realizes he might have sounded angry, and takes several breaths. This is a dangerous crossroads; the wrong word could send everything spiraling out into the nether. Suraksha flinches slightly at his vehemence, going very still and waiting to see what Roy says next. Even her stroking fingers are unmoving. Roy's lips have thinned out and he says, "We need to get some shit straight here, I think, Sulochana." He tips her head up so she has to look at him, "What is it we're doin' here? Marcie seems t' think I ain't just a client." The king's face, normally mobile and expressive in the extreme, is as still as he can make it. He doesn't want to influence the woman's answer either way.
Suraksha blinks, trying to tilt her face away; when his fingers under her chin don't move it's her golden-eyed gaze that drifts uneasily to the side. Her voice is soft, "No, I -- I mean, she's not -- she doesn't, umm... ah, well, what did you mean by knowing the rules?" Her small fingers have unwittingly curled closed on his chest, and her muscles are tensed where she rests along his body.
Roy says, "Years back, when I first became a client and not just someone you negotiated with to get across the river, we agreed to some rules. You're a Hetaera. It's part of who you are. You're through my city three, maybe four times a year. When you're here, I treat you with respect and pay your rate as a Hetaera. In return, you spend time with me. Go to balls and parties. Stay in my bed. I don't expect you to be faithful. You don't expect me to be faithful. We enjoy one another's company and part as friends when you have to leave."
Suraksha is suddenly very worried. If he knows how she feels... will he not want to spend any more time with her? She knows her emotions are extremely unprofessional for a Hetaera, and that's what he contracted with her for -- not someone getting soppy over him. She takes a deep breath and nods, pulling on her training to put a pleasant smile on her face and meet his gaze. Roy's had a hard night as well, and his words don't come across as calm and uninflected as he'd like them to. It's obvious he's unhappy with something about the arrangement. "In my turn, I look forward to you comin' here and I make sure that I have the time t' pay proper attention to ya."
Suraksha has a really unpleasant sinking feeling in her stomach -- what is this leading up to? Her lips feel stiff as she whispers, "Yes?"
Roy looks down at her and his eyes are tight at the corners, trying to hold himself steady to have her tell him that's all it is -- and hoping she won't, "Am I misunderstandin' things?"
Suraksha's lips part to reply -- and then she realizes she's not sure what exactly he's asking her. She pauses and thinks a moment, trying to sort out her feelings. She finally says in slow uncertainty, "I... I am not sure what you're asking me, Roy; I'm sorry? Are you... are you asking me to -- to keep my emotional distance or something? Am I... visiting too often for you?"
Roy's lips press together again and he says, "No, cherie, I'm not. I'm askin'... why is it Marcie thinks I'm not just another client?"
Suraksha gulps in some air, feeling dizzy, and without meaning to a small, nervous squeak escapes her. She blinks, flushing bright red and hastily looking away, both hands unwittingly clenching on Roy. "M-Marcie..." She pauses, her brain racing for various ways to dissemble, to defuse the moment, to distract Roy... and then she closes her eyes and sighs, going a bit limp. She finds she won't -- can't -- lie to him; she's going to have to face the music, and take her lumps like the professional she is supposed to be.
She rests her forehead against Roy so she can keep her eyes closed, and her voice is a little flat as she sighs and confesses to her terribly unprofessional behavior, "I -- I'm sorry, Roy. I know you didn't ask for this, and I never meant to make you uncomfortable, believe me... but some time over the past -- I mean, I -- well, my godsmother knows me very, very well, and, ahh..." she has to take another breath before she gets it out, "I... I have feelings for you. Unprofessional feelings, I know. Marcie can see it in my reactions to you."She sighs softly again, feeling the sting of tears in her closed eyes as she adds very softly, "I'm so sorry, Roy. I didn't mean to, believe me."
There are the tears again and Roy shifts, trying to hide being uncomfortable with them. He hugs her close and shushes her gently, "No, no, cherie! No apologies! Here, look at me..." He tips her face up again, "Yer startin' t' scare me here. Startin' t' sound like ya wanna stop comin' round. Don't think I'd like that a bit." It's the closest he can come, at the moment, to confessing.
Suraksha's smile is a little shaky as she lets him tip her face up again, and she blinks several times to keep from crying. Her voice is low, "No, it's not that I don't want to come around any more -- it's that I'm worried you won't want me to, or that I'll want to come around too much. That wouldn't be fair to my caravan family, you know?" She looks down again as she adds even more softly, "Professionally speaking... well, my training says I should stop contracting with you -- that it's not good for me."
Roy's voice is soft, "Cherie, please don't stop comin' 'round. It'd... I wouldn't like it at all if you disappeared on me. I promise I won't put no pressure on ya or nothin'. You come an' go as ya please. Just as long as ya do come."
Suraksha thinks about that, laying her head on Roy's shoulder. Her soft laugh is not quite a sob, and she rubs her face fiercely with her free hand before curling it up under her chin and against Roy's chest. She sighs gustily, feeling almost limply numb from the release of confessing, and murmurs, "I... I'm going to have to think about it, Roy, all right? I'm sorry, I don't mean to leave you hanging here, but... but I've got to make sure I'm doing what's right for all of us, and not just what I'd most like to do." Her voice has gotten small and uncertain again as she adds, "Does that make sense... I hope?"
Roy starts to nod at that, then says, "Well... if you might have to decide to stay away..." He rolls with her, putting his body over hers, "Then I intend to soak up all the time with you I can, sweetheart..."
Suraksha blinks up at Roy, her eyes going wide, then closing tightly. Her voice is shaky as she whispers, "I -- you make it hard to think sometimes, Roy, when you're being so nice." She opens her eyes again, the pupils dilating as she stares intently at him, and she says softly, "Will you tell me, please... how you feel about me?"
Roy smiles his scoundrel's smile and slides a hand down her side and over her hip, fingertips tickling her skin, "Why'n't I just show you, cherie?" He ducks his head to kiss the pulse point under her jaw and then nibble his way down the flat of her chest, breath almost cool against warm skin.
The exhaustion of the last twenty-four hours have her "Sight" vision blurry and unclear, but she can feel the tenderness in Roy's hands and the hunger in his kisses; she can hear, this time, the sweet terms of endearment and how his accent has gotten so thick that he's barely speaking English at all. He calls her his petite cherie and his belle chat. He compares her skin to sweet caramel and her eyes to drowning pools of golden chocolate. Roy doesn't dare speak his actual feelings, though, thinking as he does that it was his feelings for Sulochana which nearly got Marcie killed tonight.
Suraksha blinks tiredly and takes deep, shaky breaths. She feels weirdly light, and also as if she's melting inside: he likes her! He really cares about her! Her breathless, sobbing laughter is half-muffled against his chest as she abruptly throws her arms about his neck and hugs him very, very tightly, and tears of relief well up in her eyes. She knows he isn't comfortable with her crying, but the exhaustion and worry make it hard for her to keep control of her emotions. Roy chuckles and whispers against her ear, his teasing voice a little unsteady, "First time I've ever had a woman cry when I was tryin' t' seduce 'er..." He wraps his arms around her.
Suraksha's shaky laughter is mixed with tears, and she murmurs, "'S good tears, r-really -- j-jus' tired!" She gives up on words, instead hungrily reaching for kisses, her lips salt-sweet and desperately eager. Roy breathes a long sigh of relief: this he can deal with and understand -- and he's pretty sure she's said she doesn't want to abandon him. Still, he's going to make sure there are as many pleasant memories of this visit as possible.
The king is in the midst of seeing just how many square inches of her skin he can cover in kisses when there's a loud and desperate knocking on the door, accompanied by Alg's indignant screeching. Suraksha blinks a bit dazedly towards the door -- she'd been feeling very high there from Roy's touch -- and calls, "I, uh... it's all right, Alg! Who is it, please?"
There's a loud, nervous voice, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please, the captain of the city guard is here! He says it's urgent!" Roy rolls his eyes, "Goddammit... even after he's dead Moynahan manages to fuck up my day." Suraksha hastily covers a snort of laughter at that! He kisses Sulochana's navel and unfolds himself from the bed, wrapping a sheet lazily around his hips to go to the door and open it. As Roy is rising she sits up and quickly grabs his arm, reaching to cup his cheek with the other hand so she can draw him down for a short, sweet kiss -- then she releases, her eyes glowing with happiness. Suraksha stretches out relaxedly on the bed after that, pulling up enough covers to be decent -- but not so much that Roy can't still admire her lovely curves.
The young man there looks like he might be fifteen at the outside. He's dressed in a guard's livery, but there's very little chance he's as hard-bitten as most of them. The captain of the city guard is standing with the young man, a few streaks of blood on his face and his eyes just a little too wide. Roy says, "This better be worth me leavin' a lovely woman alone in my bed, captain."
Suraksha laughs softly at that, her eyes sparkling. Her voice is teasing, "You sweet-talker."
Roy smirks over his shoulder at her and then back at the captain. The older man says, "Majesty... it's... it's Moynahan." Roy's eyes narrow and he does a very good job of looking angry and tense. "What about 'im?"
Suraksha leans on her elbows and listens interestedly. The guard looks past Roy and then lowers his voice, not quite whispering, "Sir, he's dead. With a dozen or more of his men... we think..." Suraksha blinks, sitting up startledly in the bed with one small hand gracefully holding the sheet over her breasts. Her lips part as if to say something -- then she presses her free hand to her mouth and remains silent, watching with wide eyes.
Roy arches a brow and leans against the door jamb. Alg is giggling and whispering happily to himself. The king drawls, "You think? Captain, you got your post because I thought you had more brains than a stump. You cain't tell if a man's dead or not?" Sulochana blinks again, then makes a small choked noise. She hastily turns her head away, getting herself under control before she looks back; it would be rude to laugh at the Captain of the city's Guard.
The guard captain swallows hard, "Sir, it's not that we can't tell if they're dead. We just haven't managed to put enough pieces together to count up."
Suraksha quickly reviews: the Guard will likely assume she'd lie to protect Alg, who will likely fall under suspicion due to the corpses all missing their eyes. However, Roy can verify her alibi and Alg's, and Sna'tha and Ohkwari aren't here or known to suspect. She nods silently to herself, letting her eyes get bigger and more frightened looking at the captain's comment. Roy's brows go up and he gives a low, impressed whistle, "Shit. You're sure one of 'em's Moynahan?"
The captain nods, half-whispering, "We found his head, Majesty. On... on a stick. Over his fireplace." Alg snickers and scampers past Roy to climb into the bed with Sulochana, bouncing on the mattress like a child.
The king drawls, "Well, well, well... sounds like that man finally stepped on the wrong toes, don'cha think? Bring the head... not to my room! Don't want it stinkin' up the place. I'm gonna post a reward. Anybody can prove it was them took the head, I'll give 'em... oh... I dunno. I'll give 'em somethin' nice. Make the notice nice an' vague."
Suraksha reaches out to stroke Alg, whispering softly just to him, "Good job, Alg -- very good! Remember, no talking to anyone about this, yes, please?" The goblin chitters happily, bouncing a few more times before he curls up against Sulochana's hip and under her arm, big slitted eyes watching the guards, eerily unblinking.
Roy figures his announcement will cause a whole lot of people to start trying to figure out how they can claim it was them. He drawls, "Make sure that news gets out through the guards, too... come to think of it, let 'em know I'm puttin' a bounty on the head of anybody can be proved to've been workin' with 'im." Suraksha raises an eyebrow at that, wondering if Roy recognized anyone in the warehouse -- or rather, recognized someone truly betraying him to Moynahan. She remains silent and huddled up on the bed, one arm around Alg as if for reassurance and her eyes wide with worry.
The captain nods, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "Yes. Yessir. Will do."
Roy says, "Well? What're you waitin' for? Hop to!" The captain nods and scurries off, leaving Roy smirking at him. To the guards at the door -- two of the ones Sulochana helped question -- he says, "Make sure that gets out through the grapevine, please."
Suraksha waits until Roy closes the door again before she grins amusedly at him, murmuring, "Good allies indeed!" She leans forward, reaching for the bedspread that has been tossed higgledy-piggledy on the floor, and draws it slowly back towards her. As Roy's filthy, bloody fighting gear is revealed she murmurs, "I covered it up quick while you were walking to the door. Figured you didn't want your, ah... escapades of the night known, hmm?" She grins wickedly at him, her eyes sparkling, "Or at least not your actual ones!"
Roy laughs and leans over Sulochana, "Oh, darlin', you're a treasure."
Suraksha beams up at him, reaching a hand up to lightly stroke her fingertips along his cheek. She draws him down to her, if he'll let her, murmuring softly, "Alg, watch outside, please?" The goblin has already bounced out of the way, sniffing interestedly at the bloody leather and denim. He glances up, then slips relaxedly outside, and Sulochana does her best to distract Roy once more.
It's some time later that the couple are contentedly entangled once more, and the Hetaera murmurs softly against Roy's skin, "Mm, so what's the nice vague reward I get for my nice vague assertion that I took the head?" She laughs softly, her breath warm against slightly damp skin, and curls up with pleasure against Roy.
Roy teases playfully, nipping at her earlobe, "Sugar, I took the head. With a damned dull sword, too... but if you wanna try an' prove to me that you did, I'm sure we can arrange something..."
Suraksha laughs delightedly, wriggling on top of Roy and grinning down at him, her hair falling about them like a silky curtain. Her voice is teasing, "Hold on here, Mr. Cocksure! I brought you the head -- you just cut it off!" Then she sniffs, then sits up and sniffs again, looking around. She takes a handful of her hair and sniffs once more, then wrinkles her nose -- looking about a cute little 15 years old as she does so -- and adds, "Pfew! I stink. We both seriously need a bath!"
Roy grins up at her, hands on her hips and kneading slowly, "You got any proof of that, miss? I mean, it's a serious thing, the givin' of a bounty like that..." He laughs at how adorable she looks, "Damn, woman, how many baths you need in a day?"
Suraksha hmfs amusedly at Roy, "This is my first today, I'll have you know!" Wryly she adds, "As many as it takes to get the smell of blood off me. Alg loves it, but I can't recommend it as an aphrodisiac." Then she folds her arms and raises her chin, her eyes dancing with mischief as she murmurs with mock-dignity, "What, my word isn't good enough for you?!"
Roy's eyes are wickedly bright, "Well, now, I'd love to be able to take yer word for it, ma'am. But I specified proof." The smell of blood apparently doesn't bother him, or it's overridden by the feel and sight of her sitting on his hips.
Suraksha abruptly unfolds her arms and nearly pounces on Roy, giggling and doing her best to tickle him as she cheerfully carols, "Then I'll just have to tickle it out of you, mister! Confess! Confess you saw and don't need more proof!" Clearly being slightly punchy severely impacts the efficacy of her internal editors.
Roy laughs and rolls her over under him, pinning her playfully down with his weight, "Hey now! A little respect for royalty here, missy!" They tussle and laugh playfully until they're both a little breathless; then Roy calls for an extra tub to be brought and hot water enough for both of them.
Suraksha is laughing and tousled on the bed as Roy goes to the door again. When he's closed it and turned back he sees Sulochana holding up and critically eyeing her silken slip. "Eww. I think this and the sandals are goners." She drops it and reaches for the leather and denim trousers, giving a small, startled squeak as she realizes how heavy they are, "Good heavens, Roy! Who designed these monsters for you?!"
Roy says, "I did, actually. Easier to move in than full metal armor." He grins and adds, "Shall I just toss that robe in the fire for ya? I'll happily pay for replacements."
Suraksha goes still, thinking for a moment -- then she darts over to search through the pile of clothing she'd left in his room from last night. The dress and petticoats are rumpled on the floor, but she sighs in relief when she finds the gloves and fan still sitting on the dressing table she'd placed them on last night. She picks something up out of the gloves and turns to Roy, holding it out. She smiles wryly, "Burn this with it, and good riddance." It's a wadded-up piece of parchment with some red wax.
Roy arches a brow, but takes the parchment from her, "I can see why you'd want shut of it." He casually tosses it, along with the robe and slippers, into the fireplace.
Suraksha smiles, stepping over to put an arm about his waist and lean against him as she looks down at the little pile to be burned. She murmurs softly, "Did you see it already, somehow? I knew you'd realized something was up when you came to see me yesterday with your 'charming rogue' mask on... but I did wonder why you had a bottle of red wine too." She grins up at him, resting her chin on his chest as she does so.
Roy smiles and slips his arm around her shoulders, voice soft, "I knew what had happened to Marcie. I needed to know how much you were willin' to tell me, cherie."
Suraksha nods in understanding. Her eyes are distant for a moment, and then she curiously asks, "If I'd told you what was up before we went into the warehouse... what would you have done different that would have helped?" There's no accusation or disbelief in her voice; she's genuinely asking so she can better understand her increasingly trusted ally.
Roy's eyes are a little distant, "I could have set up a perimeter around his safehouse. Had backup in place."
Suraksha smiles thoughtfully, "Backup would have been good, but would you really want people to know the king will brutally murder a gang -- without regard for individual peccadilloes amongst the individual members? This way, at least, you have deniability, and at worst it's the caravan who're regarded with concern -- and that only if anyone figures out it was us." She tilts her head thoughtfully, sliding both arms about his waist and leaning up against his chest before she grins and adds, "So, the red wine was to get me drunk and take advantage of me, eh? Naughty man!"
Roy grins down at her, "Oh, I had thought to loosen your tongue a little bit, I admit. I'm glad that it wasn't needed, cherie."
Suraksha laughs delightedly at that, letting her fingers trail ticklishly along Roy's sides, "Wine, eh? Tsk! Do you often attempt that seduction technique?" Even more teasingly she adds, "You know, you could just offer to teach me the zydeco dance. Wouldn't that be more likely to get me to fall into your arms?"
Roy laughs and shakes his head, "In truth, I don't normally need the wine." He swings her around, making her hair spin out from her body, "Only if you trip. You're too graceful to fall... well, usually. And you know, you weigh a helluva lot for such a bitty thing."
Suraksha laughs again, leaning back easily in Roy's arms as she's swirled gracefully around, her voice wry, "Oh, you charmer! That's just what every girl wants to hear -- that she weighs a lot!" She giggles, adding, "If you're going to be like that, then I'll just mention how cute you look when flushing hotly while talking to my godsmother!" She grins and winks, "Night vision!"
Roy snorts and taps her bottom with his fingertips, "Hey now! You saw me blushin', why'd you hafta try and make me tell ya I want ya to stay around?"
Suraksha pulls herself easily upright from where she'd been nearly lounging in Roy's arms as he swirled her around. She gives him a puzzled look, "Um... because I didn't know? Sna'tha has that effect on a lot of people, believe me!" She rolls her eyes amusedly, adding, "I've seen her cause grown men to shuffle their feet like awkward boys... just by staring disapprovingly at them! The only person I know who's scarier is Fearsome Grandmama." She puts the accent on the last syllable of 'Mama,' then grins mischievously at Roy, "Why, is there more I should know about what you said then?"
Roy snorts and crouches, hoisting Suraksha over his shoulder and declaring, "Too much talkin', not enough makin' love..."
Suraksha squeaks startledly, then laughs and lightly thumps a fist on Roy's back, "Put me down, you beast!" Before he has time to make good on the last part of that, however, the bathwater and extra tub arrive. She's breathless, giggly and adorably rumpled, and her eyes are sparkling despite her trying to look demure and proper as the bathwater is brought in. It's only after everyone has left again that she stands by the tub and drops her wrap. Curiously she asks, "So why did you take the pocket watch?" Stepping into the tub, she gets a wicked look, then giggles impishly at Roy. When he looks over at her, she cheerfully sweeps her arm along the water, creating a small splashing wave that flies right at him.
Roy's eyes gleam and he takes a breath, sweeping his hand through the air and sending the water spraying right back at her, "Hell, I don't know. Trophy. Souvenir. Somethin' to give someone so they can give it back publicly to be 'proof.'"
Suraksha gives a startled yelp, throwing both arms up and whirling away, "Eek! No fair!" She laughs, wiping water off her face as she mock-sternly adds, "That's going to cost you, buster -- I expect some really amazingly nifty water-Tap showing-off from you at the river, later!" She adds amusedly, "I was wondering at your reaction then, especially when I knocked down the shelf."
Roy chuckles and says, "Be happy to. I owe you, anyway." He settles into his own bath, sitting right alongside hers and sighs happily at the heat of the water soaking into his body, "Needed to have the place accessible enough for someone to know it was him."
Suraksha settles down into the tub, her dark hair swirling out in graceful waves along the water's surface, and also sighs happily. A moment later she smiles and murmurs, "Jyotsana means 'radiant like flames.' So I am the woman with beautiful eyes, radiant like flames, protector... I guess."
Roy sounds drowsy as he says, "Yeah, that describes you pretty well, lovely..." Either he's missing that she hasn't told him her family name, or he's willing to let it be for the moment.
Suraksha smiles again, also drowsily relaxing. She's had a difficult 24 hours or so, and it's nice to just rest and let the amount of energy she currently has be sufficient. She murmurs softly, "Thank you, sweetheart," as her eyelids droop and the warm water cradles her slight form.
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