| Logs |
2010 December 24
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Fear the Night
The ride back down the mountain is hair-raising -- the Amazons are fantastic and reckless riders, and their ponies are eager to go. More than once Suraksha simply closes her eyes and prays, her faith in her foster daughters complete but her nerve failing her. Diana, less familiar with just how dangerous this would ordinarily be with less skilled riders, is squealing with delight as the ponies bound almost directly down the mountainside, spurning the easier, slower switchbacks.
The road eventually evens out into a long, smoother path, winding between trees and offering the ponies a relaxed canter. One wild and breathless ride later, they arrive at Bradley's home just around sunset. Diana and Sulochana both are tired; the young girl is struggling with keeping her eyes open, she's so worn out! She's traveled over 100 miles today, after all. Suraksha herself is wearily hoping the Bradley household will not mind putting her and the Amazons up for the night.
The house is all a-dither as the day-waking servants prepare to deal with their benefactor finding out his daughter has been missing for the entire day without sign of her. Suraksha smiles and slides carefully off the pony once they arrive, making sure Diana doesn't simply fall off instead of dismounting, then guides the girl to the front door, knocking and waiting. The Amazon girls grin and wait, grazing the ponies on the front circle. No sooner does the small woman knock than the door is opened by Elliott and, directly behind him, Moses. The elderly factor cries out, "Diana! Child!" and moves to sweep her up in a display of affection that seems oddly out-of-step with the face he normally presents. The stolid golem is behind them, looking as much like a wall as he can. It is several moments before Elliott looks up at the three women, almost nervously asking, "Can you explain this... please?"
Suraksha chuckles and smiles down at the exhausted girl, "Of course... but perhaps we should take care of Diana, and make sure her Papa does not worry, first?" She looks up at the factor and adds tiredly, "I would utterly adore some care for my foster daughters, their mounts, and myself as well... if we could so trouble you?" Diana's nanny Sally is already there with Nina, the housekeeper, to bustle her away to get her cleaned up and taken to her father.
There's a laugh behind Suraksha, and Poly calls over from where she's still relaxedly seated on her pony, "Just point us toward a barn and we're good, Mama Nightmane." Both Amazons, and all three panting ponies, look disgustingly cheerful to Suraksha's tired eye -- like they enjoyed the wild ride!
The factor says, "Yes, yes; of course." He calls out to a couple of the men in the house, who turn out to be stable hands, and they slip out to help the Amazon shield-sisters get fodder and water for the horses. Elliott motions Suraksha inside, muttering, "Stand down, Moses," to the golem. He adds to her, "He has not yet had time to truly stir out, so he is not aware of her absence today. We'll make sure she is brought directly to him."
Suraksha accepts the bags the Amazons hand her, shouldering them and sighing in relief, "Sounds wonderful, Mr. Elliot. We rode hard down the mountain to get her back in time." She offers Diana's bags to Moses, adding wryly to the factor, "She, ah... had decided to run away and join the caravan. She left a letter for Mr. Bradley but no one else, apparently." She grins as she adds, "We... showed her the caravan -- both bad and good -- and she decided she needed a bit more training and experience before joining us." She adds with a smile, "She's a courageous little thing, that's for sure."
Elliott laughs tiredly. His relief is evident in his humor, which has the same dry edge as Bringer's, "Let's be grateful for her ability to see the wise course when presented with it, however."
Suraksha chuckles and nods as she follows him. "May we impose on you for a place to rest the night, sir? We shall need to return to the caravan on the morrow." She adds softly, "I am sorry we had no way to reassure you all more swiftly. I know it must have been frantic here today."
Elliott is already ushering Suraksha toward Bringer's study, "I have the feeling my benefactor will in fact insist upon you staying tonight. Will you need assistance returning to your caravan?"
Suraksha smiles and shakes her head, "I suspect the Amazons will simply take off in the morning, while someone at the caravan will bring Diana's pony tonight, before dawn, to wait at the edge of Mr. Bradley's territory for him. I..." she hesitates, then smiles ruefully, "well, I confess I'm hoping he'll be willing to take me to the edge of his territory tomorrow morning, so I don't have to ride the intervening miles." She laughs as she adds cheerfully, "My foster daughters are quite... gung-ho when it comes to riding -- far more than I myself am!"
Sulochana also quietly persuades Elliott to take her to Bradley before Diana is presented to him. As she amusedly notes -- while taking off her mud-splashed boots and parka for one of the footmen, who bears them away trying very hard not to look as if he's carrying something icky -- Diana will need significant cleaning up, and effort put into her not falling asleep. Instead of making Bradley wonder what's up, or coming up in a storm of worry at finding his daughter's letter, why not just take Sulochana to him to explain? Elliott agrees that's a capital idea, with visible relief, and escorts her to the basement. 'Chana blinks a bit, since she'd not realized she'd be taken to Bringer's daytime safe-place, but simply smiles and follows. It's not like she'd ever betray him, after all -- he's become a friend as well as a client.
The downstairs safe-room is spacious and well-appointed. There's a daybed against one wall and a desk so Bringer can work the day away if needful. There are no windows, but there is a second door that looks almost like a wooden vault at the end opposite the entrance. All in all, it looks comfortable. Suraksha is quietly relieved, somehow, as she looks around with interest. This is the type of room a child could enter, and not be frightened of what her father is. Then the Hetaera smiles at that thought: of course it is. She knows Bringer loves his daughter too much to accidentally scare her so.
Bringer is sitting on the daybed, looking sleepily tousled. He's wearing pyjama pants and is bare-chested. When the door opens he rumbles without glancing up, "What's all the to-do upstairs? Sounds like a herd of mustangs loose in the h-" He comes to an abrupt stop halfway through a stretch when he turns his head and sees Suraksha. He blinks owlishly and says, "Sulochana? Is something wrong?"
Sulochana is grinning in spite of herself, "You look adorable, you know?" She laughs and moves to sit on the chair next to the bed, adding reassuringly, "No, nothing's wrong now." She smiles at Elliott, adding, "May we have a moment, please?"
Bringer smiles in return and starts to rise, sliding his feet into slippers by the daybed. "I shall remember you like your men groggy." He settles back down when she sits, nodding at Elliott's unspoken question. The factor steps out, leaving the door open a discreet two inches.
Sulochana laughs again, starting to reach out and then catching herself. Her cheeks flush a bit as she grins at herself, adding, "Well, no... it's more how cute your hair looks, all tousled up like that!" Bringer chuckles as she flushes and stops herself from straightening his hair. She's still smiling as she thinks a moment, then adds quietly, "May we go someplace, er... discreet and alone, Bringer? I think we've got a few minutes still. Diana did something... courageous and reckless, and while she's here and fine, I'd like to give you the details in peace, so you can decide how you want to handle it, yes?"
At mention of his daughter, the manitou's brows draw together and he stands abruptly, "Is she safe?" He looks like he's ready to head for the door.
Sulochana looks surprised, "Of course! Surely you don't think I'd willingly allow harm to come to her?" She grins as she adds, "They're cleaning the mud off as we speak, in fact." Her grin gets more wry as she looks down at her own somewhat mud-spattered condition, and she adds, "Sorry about arriving like this." She looks up again and finds herself casually admiring the strong lines of Bringer's chest. She giggles softly as she yanks her eyes up to his face. A little focus here, please!
Bringer laughs a bit as he notices her having problems focusing, finally relaxing. "Let me get dressed and we'll go for a walk. I know you would never allow her to come to harm a-purpose, but children have a powerful aura of chaos."
Sulochana grins and looks away as Bringer notices where her thoughts were going, taking the moment to run her fingers through her wind-tousled hair to tidy it up a bit. Her voice is wry, "Ain't that the truth!" She adds, "If we could stop by your mud-room before we leave, I can grab my boots and parka too, please?"
Bringer is obviously holding off on a lot of talking as he strips off his pyjamas and pulls on his simple workingman's clothes. Once they've recovered her coat and boots, he flits through shadows with her to a familiar stretch of forest near where the caravan parked their first night out of town. Sulochana happily gives Bringer a hug once they're settled in the forest. She loops her arm through his, if he'll let her, while they walk and she talks and answers questions. He doesn't let 'Chana put her arm through his; instead he wraps an arm around her as they walk. She is happy to lean against the manitou a bit as they walk. Not only is he warm on a cold spring night, but she finds she really enjoys his company.
Sulochana tells the whole story, since she knows he'll want to know, and the girl is his daughter, of course: of Diana's arrival, the conversation that followed, the letter left just for Diana's Papa -- 'Chana asks curiously if Bringer saw it but hadn't read it yet? -of how Zachariah unwittingly inspired the runaway, and of Zach's arrival. She goes on to tell of the caravaneers and Dominic and she persuading the girl that caravanning might be just the thing for her someday... but maybe not today? -and then of the wild ride back down the mountainside to get Diana back in time so her Papa didn't worry. Bringer first swears extensively and then laughs until there are tears running down his face. "Oh, I'll have to punish her, of course. But what daring! Like her mother." He chuckles again before he adds, "Are you sure it's a good idea to take the boy on?"
Sulochana grins up at him, her eyes sparkling as he laughs, and wishes she could have known Bringer's wife -- she must have been an amazing woman. The Hetaera chuckles at the question, "Oh, probably not. But from things you've said, this is possibly the first life decision young Zach has made entirely for himself, you know? I'm willing to encourage that. As long as he follows the caravan rules, he's welcome to stay..." her grin gets a touch wicked, "regardless of how mad he may think us all!" She adds hopefully, "I do have a favor to ask of you, if I may... may Poly, Pippa, and I get some dinner and spend the night at your place, please, before we head back?" She explains the plan to return the pony as well.
Bringer's face is serious, but his eyes are dancing as he says, "I don't know if I can handle such lovely company."
Sulochana laughs and shakes her head, "More muddy than lovely just now, I fear!" She wrinkles her nose with unwitting cuteness as she looks down at herself, "This is going to need such a clean-up later!" She grins cheerfully at Bringer again, opening her mouth to say something -- then she pauses, listening. "Do you... hear something? Coming this way, I think?"
The manitou had come to a stop a fraction of a second earlier, nostrils flaring. His voice is a low hiss, "Torches. And stomping." He pulls the Hetaera against himself, "Whoever it is, they have no idea how to move in the forest." He mutters something obviously disparaging.
'Chana giggles softly at his comment, whispering a teasing, "Naturist elitist!" before she too is looking around. Curiously she adds, "Could someone be lost out here?" She leans comfortably against the manitou, with a small, happy sigh. She'd never say so aloud, of course -- but she's a bit glad Diana necessitated returning here!
As they're wondering who it is, the first of the stompers appears along the trail. He's wearing the somber garb of Aurelius' sect and bearing a torch. 'Chana straightens and hastily pulls up the hood of her parka, shading her face. She's small enough to pass as a child in the large, bulky coat. She whispers to Bringer, "Does this... look as ominous to you as it does to me, Bringer?"
Before he can answer, several others appear; Aurelius himself is amongst them. The mayor's voice is furious, "Where is my nephew?" He's glaring at Bringer, ignoring 'Chana for the moment. Sulochana blinks, staying quiet as she looks around worriedly. There's far too many of them for her to simply 'command' one to take them all and depart... and her own conscience will not allow her to shift to tiger form, since that would necessitate killing them all to protect herself and Bringer. She's... not quite sure what to do here... the men with Aurelius fan out around them, and moonlight glints off the crossbows that are suddenly pointed at the pair of them.
Bringer's eyes flash in the night, "How would I know, Aurelius? I haven't seen him since you sent him to my house to harangue me!" This is true, though he does have a rough idea where the young man is. The mayor snarls, "I heard someone say his name just now!"
Sulochana draws in her breath sharply as she notices the crossbows. She takes another breath, then decides now's a good time to give up on being secret -- she does not want Bringer harmed for her! She pushes her hood back and says soothingly, "That would be me. There is no cause for alarm, Mayor, I assure you. Zachariah simply chose to leave home for a bit, I think. I'm sure he'll return soon. But as you can see, Mr. Bradley has nothing to do with Zach's departure."
"I see nothing of the kind! I see a man skulking in the woods with a girl young enough to be his daughter on the day my nephew disappears!" Aurelius is pulling himself up into pulpit-pounding posture. Bringer has also pulled up to his full height, which is much taller than even the tallest of the mayor's men.
Sulochana glances between the two men, extremely worried -- she doesn't like the way they're starting to face off. She tries to lighten the mood, smiling, "Oh, please, we're all adults here, and so is Zachariah, yes? I'd think you'd be proud of him for taking charge of his life like this!"
The mayor snarls, "He is a foolish boy! God should be in charge of his life!" He jerks his head toward the two, "Take them!"
Sulochana frowns, starting to slide into a combat ready crouch, "Ah, I don't think that'd be wise, mayor..." She's glancing around, trying to place where everyone is. Can she keep them off Bringer's back? She suspects he's able to defend himself just fine -- it's the crossbows that are scaring her.
Before the men can move, Bringer roars, "You are the fools! You have forgotten what it is to respect and fear the night!" There is in his voice a hint of a wolf's howl and the strange yipping call of a coyote. Loons seem to cackle madly through the forest and there is a sense of chill wind, even though no breeze stirs. Around them the men scatter, some of them screaming as they flee. One even drops his torch on the trail before them.
Sulochana stares in shock as she slowly straightens, looking around her bemusedly. "You... that was..." She starts to get a relieved grin on her face as she turns towards Bringer, "You did that?" A heartbeat later she blinks at another thought, "Bringer... oh. Of course... Bringer of Night and Passion..." She considers absently for a moment before she raises her golden-eyed gaze to his still-angry stare, and murmurs softly, "Any passion?"
Bringer stalks over and snatches up the torch, using his foot to scuff out the smoldering leaves around it, then to put it out as well, "It was me -- and it was unfortunate. I had not wished to tip my hand so." He looks down at her and nods tersely to her question.
Sulochana stares silently at the manitou for a long moment -- then she inhales sharply and takes a step backwards, the slender fingers of one hand coming up to cover her lips, "Like... like love? Or liking?"
Bringer nods again, "Even those." The manitou's voice is sharp as he abruptly adds, "Wait!" He whips a hand out to grab her as she steps away, worry flashing across his face. At the sudden sharp movement 'Chana hisses in fright, lunging out as far away from Bringer's hold on her wrist as she can. When she hits the end of her arm, she does a quick twist-and-turn of her wrist to break free, just as Sna'thaid taught her to. Bringer, having dealt with small and frightened females before, tightens his hold, "Please, lovely! You must stay close!"
Sulochana cannot slip his grasp. It does not register at first, though -- after all, that maneuver has always worked, even when sparring with Ohkwa. The small woman has already whirled to flee -- she gives a startled squeak as she again hits the end of her arm. For the first time she starts to feel a hint of panic. She has never been caught like this before; never not been able to wriggle free. She whirls back and gasps, "Release me! At once!" Her eyes are huge with shock and anger in the moonlight as she tries to peel Bringer's fingers loose, and she's fighting down the urge to scream and claw and bite at him -- she is not prey! She does the wrist 'twist and pull' again -- it has to work! Why isn't she free yet?!
Bringer has to struggle a bit, but he gets her other arm, grunting as he does so, "Stop! Stand still or the fear will get to you! Please, lovely!" He's trying to pull her close to his body, and Sulochana's sudden, enraged scream is more a wildcat's than a human woman's as she struggles wildly. She's not listening any more -- she's operating under instinct, fighting for her life and freedom! With a hiss she ducks her head and brings up her restrained wrist, baring her teeth in an odd, sideways dart of her head, to slash her slightly pointy canines across the manitou's wrist. The bite is unexpected and Bradley curses, letting go out of instinct and clapping his hand over his wrist. Suraksha instantly goes straight backwards, half staggering at the sudden release and half leaping away. She lands in a low three-point stance with her hair a tangled mane half over her face. Her bright, feral eyes flash scarlet through the dark strands, and her teeth are still bared in a snarl.
From all around in the night are unknown noises that are almost voices. Bringer stands in the half-light of the path, a looming figure. The half-panicked woman is sure there are things out there -- maybe people? -but she knows they intend to hurt her, cage her! Her heart pounds and she can feel the need to flee singing in her blood. The looming, bleeding figure is talking in a low voice about fear. Suraksha jolts upright with a gasp, throwing up her arms defensively as she stares around her with white-rimmed eyes. She wants to flee, to run, to shift into tiger-form and tear whatever it is out there into tiny bloody pieces that can't hurt her -- but there's something inside her that won't let her; that's screaming at her to stop, this is wrong, something isn't right!
Bringer's voice is gentle. "You're in the fear's field, lovely. It radiates out... step close and it will ease." He's holding his hands up to show he means no harm, walking carefully closer. Suraksha stares wide-eyed and with her teeth bared at the tall man approaching her, unwittingly leaning back a little as he gets closer. She is managing to hold her ground, but just barely! He doesn't make any sudden moves or loud sounds, though, and at some point right before she breaks and runs she's abruptly out of the fear field.
Suraksha shudders in shock as she suddenly registers it's really Bringer, not some horrible monster -- then she gasps in lungfulls of air for a moment, chest heaving, before she turns and walks directly into him. She clutches convulsively at his coat with both hands, burying her face against his chest as she trembles violently and struggles with sobs. Bringer wraps his arms tightly around her, shushing gently and stroking her hair, "Shh, shhh, lovely... it's okay. You're safe. There's nothing scarier than me out here."
It takes Suraksha a little bit to cry out her terror and pull herself together again. When she can speak without shrieking or panicking, and her shaking is mostly abated, she sniffles and wipes her eyes, mumbling against his chest, "Can't believe I bit you... 'm so sorry, Bringer." She pulls a hankie, not quite able to meet his eyes as she adds quietly, "Let me see, please?" Unless he refuses her, she'll carefully wipe his wrist clean and neatly tie her hankie around it to stop the bleeding and apply pressure.
Bringer smiles down softly at the top of her head, "I've had worse. But thank you. It's good you are whatever you are or I'd probably still be chasing you." That causes the Hetaera to hiccup teary laughter as she wraps her hankie around the manitou's wrist. She rubs her eyes with the back of one hand when she's done with the bandaging... then she sighs a bit gustily, turning to look out into the forest so she doesn't quite yet have to face Bringer. She keeps her back close to him, though, brushing slightly against him so she knows where he is, and wraps her arms tightly around her middle, as if she's trying to hold herself together while she thinks hard and long. When she moves to put her back to him, the manitou wraps his arms tentatively around her, murmuring, "You're shivering. Are you still feeling it?"
Suraksha jumps and gives a startled squeak at the unexpected touch -- then hastily looks away as she mumbles, "S-sorry... just... surprised me."
Bringer sighs and pushes his hands deep into his pockets, "It's okay. You aren't ready yet."
Sulochana looks away again, taking a moment to collect her thoughts before she says very softly, "The emotions... you could have used them any time, right? Any of the emotions, on anyone you were around? Even... even on me?"
He takes a long breath, "Yes. I could have." Looking around to avoid staring down at her, he says, "Ask what you really want to know."
Suraksha is silent for a bit, collecting her thoughts... then she says, "I ju- I just... I'm working it out still, sorry?" She hesitates, then slowly adds, "You could have... but... you didn't, did you? B-because... because I'm still leaving." She takes a deep breath at that thought, straightening a bit with relief, and turns to face Bringer. Her demeanor is calmer now, and she takes a moment to read his chakras before she says again, "You didn't. Did you."
Bringer's eyes are a little sad that she would even begin to think that of him. He slowly shakes his head, "I only shared my own hunger. The passion was yours."
Suraksha is clearly still somewhat overwrought from her terrifying experience of Bringer's emotional manipulation abilities; her face shows the strain as she closes her eyes for a moment, and Bringer can feel the sudden liquid rush of utter relief at his answer... followed by a small giddy happiness that causes her to sway tiredly. She opens her eyes quickly at that, putting out an arm to catch herself... then she smiles tentatively at Bringer, "May I... would it be untoward of me to ask you for a promise that you won't ever? Please?"
Bringer says, "Unless you are trying to harm me or mine, I will not." He smiles crookedly with relief, "I do not see that being a problem."
Suraksha blinks confusedly for a heartbeat, suddenly registering Bringer does not think of her as 'his.' The thought gives her a small internal pang, although she's not entirely sure why... then she blinks again as she realizes: he promised! She gasps in nervous relief, only then realizing she'd been holding her breath, and leans forward to rest her forehead against his chest again. As she hugs him she nearly gabbles, "Oh, thank goodness! Thank you so much, Bringer -- both for that, and for not being offended at me being s-so... f-for having s-such childish reactions!"
Bringer wraps his arms around her again, breathing his own sigh of relief, "Fear is not childish. You could not have helped it. As I said, it's good you aren't entirely human or it would have been worse."
Suraksha sighs in relief again, sagging slightly against Bringer -- it's been a long, hard, and strenuous day. "Let's go-" She catches herself and blinks; since when has Bringer's place felt like home? Hm... no, it's not his place, she realizes -- there are times she feels oddly safe with him. She smiles faintly, inhaling the warm, comfortable scent of male and flannel and leather, and remembering how he said he found protecting her intoxicating. It's really lovely, feeling safe like that... kind of like how she feels with Roy sometimes. More softly she says, "Let's go back, yes?" She glances around at the forest, still leaning against Bringer as she adds, "Poor humans. They'll stop eventually, yes?"
Bringer nuzzles her hair, adrenaline starting to stir his blood toward other passions, "They will. But they are probably just now stopping. It affects them very strongly."
From behind Bringer there's a clunking sound, and a voice tight with some emotion says, "That's convenient... for me." One of the men that was with Aurelius steps around them carefully, his crossbow levelled at them.
Sulochana gives a startled hiss, stepping back reflexively and bumping into Bringer. She recovers herself quickly, though, and her voice is calming, "There's no need for that, especially if you're a partial human. Why would we have any argument?"
The man is obviously tense; he snaps, "That is not my fault. I never thought I'd be thankful for the beast-spirit woman that broke my father's heart and abandoned us."
Suraksha is reflexively checking the man's chakras -- is he truly a half-human? He is indeed, she can see. Though she's not sure what species, she can tell he is the product of an unhappy and forced union: his father abducted his non-human mother, who loved neither him nor the child he begat upon her, and who apparently fled as soon as she could escape. No wonder the poor man has turned to xenophobic religion to 'explain' such 'treachery.' The Hetaera's voice is gentle, almost sorrowful, as she murmurs, "No... that's not how it truly was." Her tilted golden-eyed gaze is steady, "I think you know that, too, yes?"
The man's eyes bulge at Suraksha's words and he goes from tense to furious within the space of a few heartbeats. He steps close to her, shoving the crossbow at her and howling, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HER WICKEDNESS! NOTHING! YOU ARE A BEAST YOURSELF TO LAY WITH THIS MONSTER!" Bringer's breath catches and he tenses to whirl Sulochana around to shield her with his body -- to protect his priestess and lover.
Sulochana's eyes narrow in anger, and as she grabs a firm hold on Bringer's arm she snarls, "Drop your weapon!" She can instantly feel the drag of exhaustion, of course -- especially after a full 48 or so hours of hard exercise and effort -- and she sways, clinging to Bringer and trying to stay upright.
The command in her voice, coupled with the already-raw emotions in the half-human man, combine to make him do just that. Unfortunately, the weapon was already cocked, and it goes off as it hits the ground. The bolt whistles through the air, slicing through the leg of Sulochana's trousers and along the side of her calf, just above her boot. 'Chana screams, half in shock and half from pain as things abruptly go dark -- just as Bringer whips them away through shadow, leaving Aurelius' follower standing with mouth agape.
When Sulochana comes to, she finds she's on Bringer's large bed in his upstairs bedroom. Her boots and pants have been stripped off and the manitou is carefully tending her wound. From the look of it, he's well into the process. She groans softly, one small hand coming up to rub her forehead. "Urrrgh... headache..."
Bringer's voice is a little tense, "I am not surprised. You've had sort of a jolt of adrenaline." His hands are careful as they tend the wound, but his whole body is stiff.
The Hetaera sounds confused, "I... I did? Uhh... oh, you mean with Aurelius' folks?" She pushes her hair out of her face with both hands, then tries groggily to sit up, "We... are you all right too?"
One of Bringer's large hands moves to press her carefully back down onto the bed, "With the fear, and with the one that popped up out of nowhere." He mutters to himself under his breath and finishes tying the bandage around her calf, "It's not serious."
Sulochana blinks, then lies back down with the pressure of Bringer's hand. She nods groggily, "Not if I'm awake, no. Any attack you can walk away from, my godsmama says, is a good 'un..." When his attention goes back to her calf, without thinking about it she starts to sit up again, "How's my leg?"
Bringer puts his hand on her shoulder and is very careful as he presses her back down, "Lie down, lovely. Your leg is going to be fine. It's just a graze. The crossbow went off when he dropped it."
'Chana obediently lies down again, murmuring, "Oh, all right. Uhm... if it's just a graze, though, why're you insisting I stay lying down, please?" She sounds confused again -- then her stomach rumbles and she adds with sudden intensity, "Hungry!"
Bringer sits up, not looking at his hands as he wipes them off on a towel; they are stained with some of her blood, "Because you passed out. You need to rest a while..." He stands and walks over to the sitting area, pulling on the bell pull, "We'll get you some food."
Sulochana is starting to sit up again, "Okay, good. Thank you, Bringer." Her eyes are starting to clear a bit, and she adds ruefully, "I'm sorry I worried you. I d-don't usually pass out doing that -- well... completely, I mean?"
The manitou smiles wryly, "You certainly didn't pass out when you stopped Moses cold." Nina arrives moments later and Bringer has Suraksha tell her what sort of food she needs.
'Chana waits until Nina's departed with the just-barely-not-growled request for two or three rare steaks, then looks hopefully at Bringer, "Oh, I just leaned on Alg. Um... so... do you have a bit, or do you have to go see Diana?"
Bringer shakes his head, "Apparently Diana's adventure was a little too much for her. She is quite asleep. She and I will discuss her future plans in the morning." He's stripping out of his shirt as he speaks. The cuffs are a little pink and definitely wet, probably from the basin of water and what smells like witch hazel near the bed.
The Hetaera laughs softly at that, holding out a hand towards Bringer, "Not surprised, since she's ridden about 100 miles today. So... could I ask a favor, please?" Her voice is hopeful, "Could I trouble you to, um... come cuddle with me for a bit?"
Bringer smiles and stays where he's at, despite the beckoning hand and the lovely half-nude woman in his bed, "If I come to cuddle you, lovely, I fear I will end up making love to you. There is something intoxicating about you when you're vulnerable, and you are very vulnerable just now."
Sulochana unwittingly gives a small, frustrated growl, then tries again, "Well, that's, um... actually what I'm hoping for, please?"
Bringer laughs at the little growl and says, "Lovely, you just asked for food. People will be returning soon..." Despite his words, he's moving across the room -- he's doing the next best thing to stalking, actually. By now, he's wearing only his trousers, his braces hanging down around his thighs. He's even barefoot.
'Chana's eyes brighten with anticipation, and she purrs, "Both are nice!" She smiles, reflexively licking her lips as she admires the big, half-dressed man. Despite how exhausted she is, her increasing sensuality is an unconscious attempt to bring out Bringer's desire for her, so she can recover with the ensuing sexual energy. She blinks as she realizes: Bringer has no idea why she wants all the food and sex. She makes a mental note to inform him later, if he asks... but not right this minute! She has other things she wants right now.
Bringer pauses halfway across the room, eyes gleaming. The trousers are loose, but not quite loose enough to hide the fact he is responding physically to her hunger, "Mmm... both are nice, yes." The manitou's hungers are flickering in the air of the room, just brushing Sulochana's skin and whispering into her awareness, "But if I come over there, you won't have a chance to eat the steaks -- and Cook's feelings will be hurt." He's obviously teasing her.
Sulochana's frustrated growl is half laughing, "Get over here, you -- you tease!"
Bringer laughs, eyes twinkling as he takes another couple of steps, starting to undo the line of buttons on the fly of his trousers, "And if I don't?"
Sulochana laughs again, then takes a deep breath and sharpens her focus enough to swing her legs over the side of the bed. She gasps at the expected twinge, then grins in fierce triumph, her eyes flashing, "I'll come get you, then!" She has to sit still for a moment despite her announcement, to allow the wave of dizziness to pass.
Bringer's skin is pale, as it would be on someone who never sees the full sun, but the undertones are a little copperish. The dusting of hair that disappears into the fly of his trousers is still dark along his flat stomach. Bringer lets his gaze linger appreciatively on the length of her legs, "That might not be so bad." Despite his teasing he comes over to the side of the bed. It would be easy to loom, but he's careful not to as he leans over her, using a bent forefinger to tip her chin up as he asks softly, "You are OK?"
Sulochana blinks a bit dizzily up at Bringer, still smiling even though she's feeling slightly bleary, "Umm... y-yeah?" For her bravery the manitou leans down and kisses her, exploring her lips with the tip of his tongue. Sulochana sighs in relief, wrapping her arms about his neck to brace herself as she returns the kiss with intense hunger. Without meaning to she growls quietly again, the fingernails of one hand dragging slowly and lightly along his shoulder. One kiss turns into two, turns into three, turns into one very long kiss involving caressing hands and soft sighs... and then there's a knock on the door. Bringer growls; 'Chana groans and sighs -- then laughs softly, flopping back on the bed. She growls, "Feeeeed me!" then giggles.
There are only two steaks, but they are large. Bringer sits back and watches the delicate-seeming Hetaera tear tidily through the meat like a very small and mannerly Tasmanian devil. Halfway through the second steak she pauses and asks, with obvious reluctance, if Bringer wants any. When he assures her he does not, she continues to devour them. Sulochana sighs with relief once she's finished, setting aside the utensils and beaming at Bringer, "Yum! Thank you so much, lovely man." Her eyes twinkle as she flirtatiously adds, "Soooo... got a moment for me now?" She doesn't get all the way through that last sentence before Bringer is kissing her again, this time with quite obvious intent. With the food gone and no interruptions expected until daybreak, he lets his focus narrow down to his delectable priestess and the hungers she stirs. 'Chana gladly soaks up all the energy her lover will share with her, and returns it as she can.
Despite the passion he obviously feels, the manitou is careful not to loom over or pin her, and he keeps the touch of his hunger back, not letting it wrap so tightly around her as it has in the past. Bringer wants her to know the eagerness she feels is her own. Consequently, to her, there is something even more compelling about the way he carefully constrains himself as he helps her recover. Sulochana responds with hungry delight -- the fact that her lover is so thoughtful, being so gentle with her, is effectively an aphrodisiac for her. She's tired, but trying her best to keep up with his enthusiastic energy.
Bringer's caresses and kisses are focused on her pleasure for most of the night, letting his own desire build and simmer. It is obvious to him the lovemaking is helping rejuvenate her in some way. There is no mistaking his desire, however, either from the hunger of his kiss or the hardness of his pressing against her skin from time to time as he makes love to her with hands and mouth. When he can no longer restrain himself he leans back against the bed and coaxes her into his lap, her back against his belly. It is a happy accident this particular position allows him access to her body with his hands, and lets her silken hair spill over his arms and chest as she rolls her hips. The wriggle of her bottom against his hips is another intoxicating feeling, and he's trembling with all the wonderful sensations.
Sulochana is panting softly and eagerly, her joyous passion and hunger as obvious to the manitou as the fact that she occasionally has to pause in her delicious wriggliness to take a few deep breaths, so she doesn't get dizzy and pass out again. That is when the idea occurs to him: if sex and food revive her, as they do him, would his blood help as well?
They are both starting to rise toward climax and Bringer's thoughts are starting to get a little unfocused, so he tries to act quickly. She's hurting and he has plenty of blood to spare. Plus, there's already a slash across his wrist. One of his arms is around her waist, bracing her carefully as her breathing starts to speak of approaching climax. The other he raises to his mouth, using his teeth to first work loose the bandage and then to reopen the wound so the blood flows again. It is his life essence, and he wants her to have it. His own breathing is a little ragged as he whispers against her ear, "Drink, lovely..." and raises his wrist to her mouth.
The Hetaera is half-lost in desire herself as well, her head lowered and clinging with both hands to Bringer's bracing arm as she sways with increasing excitement against him. At his whisper she raises her head in puzzlement, panting and shaking her hair back out of her face so she can see. Bringer's control slips away as she clings to him and they rise emotionally together, the wonderfully powerful and vulnerable female complement to his passion held against him and filled with his hardness as they soar upward in ecstasy. He roars with pleasure as he floods her with his release, at the same time he brings his wrist to her mouth. Her mouth is open as she gasps for air and cries out as well, joining him at the apex. His blood flows over her lips and into her mouth as his seed pours into her. She is filled simultaneously with blood and semen, his immense life essence doubled and offered freely, with deep affection.
They are both at the far edge of trust as they touch the essence of joy together -- and a tiny spark kindles: a tenuous link between them as they feed one another on pleasure and passion. Sulochana is laughing joyously, her head tossed back and her silky dark hair a soft tangle of pleasure over Bringer's arms and chest as she leans against him. She's feeling high as a kite, not quite trembling with how much energy is flooding through her, clinging to Bringer and pouring back as much ecstasy as she can to him. Bringer slumps back against the headboard of the bed, arms wrapped around his female principle, laughing with her and gasping at the unexpected rush of energy. Suraksha recovers herself eventually, sprawled with blissful limpness across her lover. The occasional contented giggle still escapes her as she absently strokes Bringer's skin, lazily licking her lips clean. She sighs happily, leaning her head back on Bringer's shoulder as she purrs, "That was..." she sighs again, smiling dreamily, "mmmmm...."
Bringer's arms are carefully loose around her, though he's willing to be steady and strong for her, "Mmmm. It certainly was, lovely..." He shivers and kisses her shoulder, "Thank you."
'Chana laughs breathlessly, turning her head to nuzzle against him. Her voice is soft and warm, "Dear man... I will miss you." She smiles, adding with pleasure, "I will look forward to returning to you too. Thank you for being patient with me while I worked through my fears."
Bringer turns the nuzzle into a kiss and smiles softly, "It is my pleasure and honor, sweet soul."
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