| Logs |
2010 November 15
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
A Father for Your Child
Roy sleeps well, but he always does on the water, even if the barge is so big as to almost negate the rocking of the current. When he wakes up, it takes him a moment to remember where he is -- and then he grins to himself and sets about waking his companion with kisses and caresses and little whispers in her ears. Dawn light is rosy through the windows, and the muffled sounds of early-morning people doing early-morning things is drifting in, making it feel cosy and warm inside.
Suraksha wakes slowly, yawning and stretching like a contented cat. She blinks drowsily at Roy, her tousled hair falling half over her face, and smiles as she purrs, "Mmm, still here? Good." She snuggles against him, rubbing her head lightly on his chest, and is going limp with pleasure at his touch... until someone tromps up the stairs and bangs on her door. She sighs and rolls her eyes in amusement, muttering, "No rest for the wicked," then raises her voice to call, "Who?"
Buddy's basso voice rumbles, "Breakfast. Y'ain't fallin' over this time, girl! Also, folks waitin' on ya."
Roy snorts and reaches for his jeans. Once upon a time he was a country boy keeping country hours. Besides: "Aw, hell -- I should get back to the Proud Mary and make sure everythin's squared away there. I cain't just run away an' join the circus."
Suraksha laughs at that, sitting up and pushing her hair back with both hands. Her voice is teasing as she refers to the old story, "No? Not even for love of the sword-swallower's beautiful daughter?" She grins and pulls on a light tunic, gathering up some utensils, "Bath and breakfast, I think. Want to eat before you go? Knowing Buddy, there'll be plenty."
The king laughs at her comment and says, "I'm already havin' to become a cattle farmer for love of a woman." Roy lets himself be seduced into staying by the smell of biscuits and gravy... and by the sight of Suraksha wriggling into her clothes, "Well... OK. But I gotta go after that."
Suraksha giggles up at Roy, her eyes bright with happiness behind the shadow of her dark, tousled hair, and cheerfully shares with him. As she's eating, curled up against him, she curiously asks, "How're you getting to the Proud Mary? Got a boat? Coming back tonight?" That last question is in a hopeful voice.
Roy chuckles and says around a mouthful of biscuit, "Figgered I'd walk down the gangplank on this boat and back up the one on the Mary." He pauses, "The gangplank is still down, innit?"
Suraksha gives Roy a puzzled look, "Uhh... not while we're floating downriver, no?" She smiles, "We embarked with the dawn, like your folks planned. Did you not hear the chains being unwound from the docks, and the crew shouting to each other?" She grins as she adds, "No worries, though. We can figure a way to get you over there if you really need to."
Roy blinks and laughs, "Damn... I haven't slept through cast-off in years. You must have worn me out." He rubs his hands over his unshaven cheeks, "Hell with it. I can get them to throw a rope and shimmy over. Worst case, I pull a Nazarene on 'em."
Suraksha blinks, "Naza-" She falls silent, musing... then brightens, "Oh! Walk on water, got it. Won't that rather ruin your secret, though?" She adds, "Let Chanti jump over with a rope. We'll get you there," she grins mischievously, "eventually!"
Roy says, "Yeah, it would. Which is why it's the worst-case scenario." He grins and dabs a bit of jam on her nose, "I can swim, cherie. Rather well, actually." He licks the jam off her nose.
Suraksha laughs and wrinkles her nose cutely at him, "Tease. Jacko and Sna'tha won't like it," then cheerfully adds, "Tigers like swimming!"
Roy grins and says, "I did know that, cherie. Maybe I'll just ride you across like a man out of a myth. Hell, if they let me sleep in, Alan must have things in hand. Looks like me and my Jacko will be here for the party."
Suraksha beams at that, her eyes nearly glowing, "Yay! I want you to teach me the zydeco dance then!" She adds relaxedly, "Today's just catch-up -- we won't wear you out, promise." She pauses, considering that... then giggles, "Much!"
Roy snorts and says, "Cherie, can I be blunt?" Suraksha looks inquiring -- and swallows a bit of anxiety. He's been great so far. Being blunt isn't necessarily an euphemism for him meaning he's backing off already, after all. The king leans in and murmurs, "If I don't get to make love to you sometime before this party, I might just end up ravishin' ya on the dance floor."
Suraksha laughs aloud at that, her eyes bright in sudden relief! She teases with fluttering eyelashes, "Why, sir! The things you say to a lady -- my heart is all a-pitter-pat!" She grins as she adds in more normal tones, "Let me check in with my folks, make sure everyone's good. You likely want to clean up and check with Jacko too, right? Once we're sure everyone's fine, we can meet back here, 'kay?"
Roy adds, "You and your godmomma made sure I di'n't have a chance to have my way with you last night. But your plan sounds good. Back here once we've checked in." He reaches for his shirt, shrugging into it.
Suraksha blinks at Roy, then laughs. Her voice is almost indignantly amused, "Hold on there! All we did was make sure the caravan got what it needed -- hardly my fault it needs my attention and your strong back!" She grins wickedly, adding, "Nor's it my fault you've been living the soft life as a king, and got all worn out last night too!" She giggles, then adds curiously, "You're not really taking up cattle ranching in the swamps because of me, are you?" She brushes her hair and swiftly plaits it as she watches Roy, grinning.
Roy snorts at her question and says, "Well, comes down to it, I'm taking up cattle ranching in the swamps because Geraldine pisses me off and I don't trust her after I basically told her... and forgive me, cherie, this ain't how I feel... that she was lower'n a whore in my estimation."
Suraksha blinks a bit confusedly at Roy, but then smiles and shakes her head ruefully, "Um... so you implied she too was a whore? Have you considered just not telling women that at all, dear? I suspect far fewer of them would be furious with you if you did, you know?" She laughs, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek and dart out the wagon door before he can reply. Roy can hear her voice calling back, "See you in a bit, Rattler!" followed by a cheerful greeting to the happily snorting goblin scampering along after her as she starts swiftly heading around the various wagons.
Roy snorts and mutters, "I'm almost used to the taste of foot..." He has a quick wash-up, not even thinking of the very earthy euphemism for this sort of cleaning, and then heads out to find his captain of the guard.
Suraksha expects to not take very long in checking up on everyone. However, due to a variety of circumstances, she's kept busy far longer than she realized: Natalya has to be checked in on and her family reassured that there will be no dumping of the injured; little Mary must be visited and made friends with; Sna'tha and her second, Fantine, have the financial records for the Chicago visit ready for review; Ohkwari wishes to discuss some of the loads on the wagons; and Del has already put her hoof down and insisted they must dock every three or four days to clean out the hold! Captain Al certainly doesn't mind, but apparently the flag messages being sent back by the captain of the Proud Mary are increasingly irate.
Once the routine inspection and care of the caravan is completed, of course, there's prepping for the party itself! Buddy is quietly proud of the fresh strawberries and oranges he managed to finagle in Chicago, as well as the side of beef. He has to do a bit of creative work with one of the barge's crew in order to set up a place where he can build a fire large enough to start cooking the beef, but after that people are cheerfully pressed into service to keep the meat turning and the fire carefully tended... and the delicious scent of cooking meat and Buddy's other preparations start wafting over the barge.
Those not helping Buddy or engaged in routine maintenance work on the caravan are excitedly at work for the party as well: making sure there's a place for the musicians to sit and a place for dancing, setting up a trestle table for the food, stringing gaily colored ribbons and lights between the wagons for decoration... for the caravan's end-of-gig parties only imagination and available resources limit the happy participants.
Roy finds Jacko on deck with Sabrina, who seems to have him utterly charmed; the guard captain seems to be enjoying himself. Besides, as he informs Roy, there's not a whole lot of places the king can slip off to when they're on a boat and on the water -- not without being really, really conspicuous. Suraksha laughs at Jacko's comment as she's trotting past at one point. She pauses and pats the guard-captain's arm, murmuring with mock solemnity, "He is a troublesome handful, is he not?" before she giggles and heads on her way!
After Roy has checked in with Jacko, there is some semaphoring back and forth between the two boats, verifying the king is fine and in good health... and he'll return to the Mary at some point in the next day or so; there's no rush. That, of course, aggravates the Proud Mary's captain even more: his beautiful riverboat is being spurned... for a stinking cattle barge?! Roy goes about the day blissfully ignoring the captain's irritation. He knows the man's pride in his paddle riverboat, and Roy will be appropriately flattering when he does return to the Mary. But he's just not ready to let Suraksha out of his sight. He catches up with her when she's saying hello to a very undernourished little girl.
Suraksha is crouched in front of the little girl, smiling at her and talking gently. "Really, just Mary? My mother gave me lots of names... but tell you what. You can just call me Sura, okay?"
Mary nods and sniffles, one arm looped around Ohkwari's leg. This is where she's been -- either with Ohkwa, Dom, or Chanti -- since she came on-board. Sabrina coaxed her away only long enough to get her washed and fed and changed. Roy blinks in surprise, watching the little girl, then grins at her over Sura's head. Alg has vanished, off playing with the dogs in the hold, and there are a few of the younger children standing nearby and watching with interest. Sura grins up at Ohkwa, then continues talking to the little girl, "Dom tells me you need a family, sweetie. Would you like to be part of our family here?"
Mary looks over at the other kids -- kids who are smiling at her. At her! She smiles back shyly and says, "Maybe? Do I have to say now?"
Suraksha chuckles, reaching out to gently brush back the wispy pale hair, "No, Mary. You can decide when you feel ready to, all right?" She glances over her shoulder as she notices Mary looking that way, and smiles at sight of Roy. The caravan leader knows from previous updating that the tiny, undernourished child has been attaching herself like a limpet to three men... hmm. Roy is charming. Maybe they can free up the caravan men if Mary decides Roy is also a safe person? Sura grins at Roy, beckoning him closer as she adds to the little girl, "Mary, this is Rattler, a good friend of mine -- and Ohkwa's. Rattler, say hello to Mary?"
Roy crouches down so he's more on the girl's level and grins at her, saying, "Nice to meetcha, Mary." He offers her his hand just like he would to an adult, and the little girl looks at him a little nervously but offers her hand in return. Roy winks at her and kisses her hand. It's a very sweet kiss, with all of the charm and none of the lechery he turns on adult women. Mary giggles a little bit and says, "You're funny."
Suraksha grins and sits down on the edge of the barge, letting her bare feet hang over the side as she pats the deck next to her, "Rattler, come sit here a bit with me and Mary, all right?" To the little girl she adds cheerfully, "How're you feeling, Mary? Hungry, comfortable, something else?" She smiles at Ohkwa, adding, "We'll be right here, Ohkwa, all right? We won't go anywhere, so you'll know exactly where to find us." It's the best way she can think of to indirectly reassure Mary.
Roy sprawls on the deck beside Suraksha, and Mary comes to sit between the two of them. The king leans back on his elbows and Mary mimics him, looking over at Suraksha, "They gave me food. I'm sort of nervous. I've never been on a boat."
Suraksha nods approvingly, "Good, I'm glad they fed you -- they're supposed to take good care of you." She smiles, carefully making her personal aura radiate 'friendly trustworthiness' as she says, "If you tell me what's making you nervous, maybe I can fix it for you?" She adds with relaxed assurance, "I'm the person who fixes things for this whole caravan, after all!" She dimples at Mary as she says, "Ask Rattler or Ohkwari -- they both know that's what I do."
Mary ducks her head, or tries to. It's hard in this position, "Well.. there's... uhm... a lot of water." Roy grins and says, "Yeah. There is. You 'fraid of water, Mary?" Suraksha listens silently, pleased to see Roy interested. He's the most experienced Tap she knows out here.
Mary looks nervous, even though she's been told she's not going to be in trouble for what she did accidentally at the performance. She wriggles and says, "I... I like water, but it... does strange things... sometimes."
Roy arches a brow and says, "Oh? Water can be a little unpredictable, but it's also pretty wonderful." Suraksha continues to listen silently. She thinks it's nice of Roy to reassure the girl, but once he's done she wants to ask the child about being an Earth Tap.
Mary wriggles and says, "Yeah, but... uhm..." She looks very worried, and doesn't seem to know how to explain what's going on in her mind, "It likes me too much."
Suraksha blinks at that! She considers a moment, then curiously asks, "What does it do when it likes you, Mary?"
Mary says, "It tries to help me. But it causes bad things." There are tears standing in her eyes.
Suraksha gets a funny look on her face at a sudden -- and quite startling -- thought: could Mary actually be a Water Tap? She abruptly remembers Dominic's warning that bad things happened when Mary was upset, and she reaches out to put a gentle hand on Mary's knee, "It's all right, sweetheart. We'll do our best to help you so the water doesn't need to, all right? Don't worry." She glances over at Roy, trying to figure out how to clue him in and maybe get his assistance in helping Mary... without giving away his secret. She finally settles on a simple, "We think Mary may be a Tap, Rattler. Isn't that wonderful news?" She's trying to gently change the girl's mind on this matter, so Mary views it as a blessing rather than as a curse.
Roy's eyes widen as he looks over the top of the child to Suraksha, then down at the little girl, "Water tries to help you, huh? But it's kinda clumsy?" Mary nods, shiny-eyed and starting to pull in on herself. The king's face closes down a little bit, but he reaches out to stroke the girl's hair, "I know how you feel. But I actually like water, and it likes me. We just had to learn to talk to one another."
Suraksha smiles reassuringly, "Mary, sweetie, it's all right -- truly." She adds with artful diffidence, "Rattler gives really good hugs too, if you want one." It occurs to the small woman that the absolute best teacher she can think of for Mary, if she's truly a Water Tap... is Roy! If Sura can help build a connection between them, perhaps he can be persuaded to take the child on as a fosterling and sort-of apprentice Tap. Sura wonders a bit sadly what terrible and/or frightening things happened to poor Roy as a child before he learned how to "talk" to water -- as well as what's happened to little Mary. It's not an experience Sura has had to suffer through, so she doesn't really have any basis of experience to work from there, in order to empathize or commiserate.
Mary peers at Roy nervously, but when he smiles at her she smiles back, and when he opens his arms out she lets herself be hugged by the man. She buries her face into his chest and says, "I didn't mean to hurt those people..." and she's sobbing again. Roy, bad as he is with adult women crying, is utterly undone at small girls sobbing.
Suraksha laughs silently at Roy's expression, sliding over to cuddle up against him as well. She leans her head against Roy's shoulder and gently strokes Mary's hair, crooning soft, reassuring nothings to the distraught child. Roy scowls at Sura, but is careful to keep his arms around the little sobbing waif who is now in his lap. Suraksha lifts her head enough to gently kiss Roy's chin, smiling as she lays her head back on his shoulder. Eventually the child stills and quiets. The king says gruffly, "'Course you di'n't mean t'hurt nobody, sugar. 'Course not. I can tell yer a good girl."
Sura waits until the sobbing abates a bit to gently add, "Punkin, Rattler's right -- and you didn't hurt them, you know... it was the water, not you. You would have stopped it if you could, after all. See, that's the secret: if you listen to Rattler here, he can teach you how to talk to the water, so you can tell it you're all right, and it doesn't need to do anything to help you." She smiles, adding, "Sound good?"
Mary blinks red eyes up at Roy and whispers, "You can? I've never met anyone else who could... uhm... really?"
Roy grins down at her and whispers, "Cain't tell anybody, but yeah." He looks very exaggeratedly around to make sure no one's watching, then reaches his hand over the side of the barge and concentrates, creating a little waterspout that dances along beside them for a moment before disappearing. Mary's eyes get very wide and she says, "You did that?"
Suraksha beams rather proudly at Roy before whispering to Mary, "He's just full of wonderful surprises, sweetie!"
Mary nods and says, in the voice of someone who is really, really hoping for something and knows that hoping probably isn't going to do her any good, "And... and you'll... you'll show me how?"
Roy smiles down at her, doing a good job of hiding the panic, "'Course I will, sugar. But we gotta keep very quiet 'bout it, 'kay?"
Suraksha hugs Roy happily, wrapping her arms as far as she can about both him and the little girl. Her voice is quietly delighted, "Thank you so much, Rattler!" She gives him an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek, then beams at Mary, "See? Rattler makes things all better too. Isn't he wonderful?" While she's aware she's rather finagled the poor man into this position, she's also quite sincere -- he's just risen considerably in her estimation!
Roy's mind is racing. An untutored, uncontrolled, frightened water Tap. On the river. And he thinks he may have just agreed to adopt this little waif. How in the name of all that's holy did he go from single and carefree to courting with a fosterling? Suraksha grins as she (relatively accurately) reads the panic in Roy's expression. She glances up, spotting Chanticleer, and cheerfully adds, "Look, Mary, there's Chanti! Want to go spend some time with him too?" She adds reassuringly, "Don't worry, Rattler will be either here or on the riverboat over there -- the one with the paddles on the back -- if you want him, all right?"
Mary seems to be immensely cheered and she nods, hopping up with the resilience of a child and scampering over to Chanticleer. Roy looks at Suraksha and says, "Did I just git m'self a daughter?"
Suraksha laughs softly, her eyes shining with pleasure as she curls up against Roy again. She purrs lazily against his chest, "Think so, sweetheart. That was truly kind of you!"
Roy blinks down at the top of her head and says, "Well, fuck me. That was unexpected." He pats her hip, "Kind, nothin'. It was somethin' needed doin'. Somebody's gotta help 'er out. Sombody died?"
Suraksha sighs happily, wriggling a bit more comfortably into Roy's lap as she murmurs, "Thanks for not fighting it though, lovely man -- that would have hurt her feelings terribly, I suspect!" She gives a quiet synopsis of the occurrences during Mary's "discovery," adding, "We thought she was an Earth Tap, and I was thinking of apprenticing her to the one we have in the caravan. If she's an undine, though, she should be with you."
Roy sighs, "If she's a water Tap an' she's uncontrolled and strong enough to cause things that kill people, I don' wanna have 'er causin' the boats t' wreck." He wraps his arms around Suraksha and kisses the top of her head, smirking, "I might have to pass 'er off as my bastard, y'know. 'Cause I ain't leavin' 'er with ya'll."
Suraksha laughs delightedly, hugging Roy with pleasure, "You won't have to, dear -- we want her to have the best life she can, too, after all. You're the right teacher for her, I'm sure." She grins, her eyes twinkling as she innocently asks, "Is there... something you want to... tell me, dear? Like, do you have an awful lot of bastard children running around?"
Roy actually clears his throat, one side of his mouth twitching, "Got no children livin' that I know of, cherie. Ain't entirely impossible, though." The hand that was resting on her hip is stroking now.
Suraksha giggles softly, then murmurs, "Seems about par for the course, from what I've observed. Taps seem to not be very, um... fecund, even if they're quite, ahh... enthusiastic!" She grins, adding, "That's all right. There are children at your palace for her to play with. It'll be a good life for her, I think!" She considers Roy's phrasing thoughtfully as she stretches and settles herself with feline pleasure in his lap. Finally she cautiously asks, "Roy, sweetie... tell me about the lady you loved?"
Roy kisses the hollow of her shoulder as she settles in, liking it very much when she does that. It makes him feel pleasantly male and protective. Plus, lap-full of lovely woman: there is no bad. And then she asks that question. He smiles a little, glad she can't see his eyes, "You mean 'sides you, I guess?" Suraksha turns her head to watch Roy's face as she nods. One hand reaches up to lazily, languidly play with his hair as she listens.
Roy smiles down at her and tries to keep his eyes neutral. It doesn't quite work, "Jacqueline. Her name was Jacqueline." He says it with the French pronunciation, "Grew up with 'er. Her grandpere and my pa ran together. Sang saint, she was lovely. Feisty, too. Dey lived way back inna bayous." His accent is swinging around, thickening. "Her pere, he di'n't like me too awful much. Thought I's a wild chile." He snorts briefly, "Guess I was, at that."
Suraksha smiles with quiet melancholy; she knows she's asking him to remember a painful time, and she's not happy about that. She does feel she needs to know him well, though, if they're to be able to truly work well together -- on more than just a professional level. Her voice is gentle, "Did she love you back?"
Roy chuckles again and raises one of her hands to kiss the fingertips, "'Course, he hunted gators for a livin'. Tanned th' skins. She an' her mere, dey sewed 'em into boots 'n such. 'S a good livin', ya got the balls for it." There's a mix of sweetness and pain in his eyes, "Oui, cherie. She love me like la lune love le soleil. An' I love her like de soil love de rain."
Suraksha sits up a bit, so she can rest her cheek against his; her heart is starting to ache already in pained empathy, even though she doesn't yet know what happened to the girl. Her fingers curl lightly about his, and she murmurs softly, "Go on, sweetheart?"
Roy says, "You sure you wanna hear all dis, cherie? It's a sad story an' it's long gone."
Suraksha is silent for a moment, considering... finally she says slowly, "You're courting me. To me, that means we're honest with each other." She hesitates, then adds carefully, "I... I am a bit nervous about your reaction to my family stories, so... so I was asking about yours to try and know you better -- to figure out if you're going to spook when you hear... um... more." She gives Roy a faintly worried look, twisting easily in his lap to see his face as she softly asks, "Is that too... too manipulative of me?"
Roy kisses her nose and says, "Cherie, mon coeur, mon amour... y' deserve t' know 'bout 'er." He smiles a bit, "I asked 'er t' marry me. Was jus' a boy. Fifteen, mebbe sixteen. She was fourteen, fifteen... she say oui; pere, he say non... but you know how young ones are, yeah?"
Suraksha smiles a bit anxiously, nodding. She suspects she's going to be facing much the same parental disapproval herself in a few years. She adds gently, "Fourteen's an adult where I come from, though. Is it different here?"
Roy says, "Oh, yeah. Adult enough to marry. Adult enough to love. But a girl where I grow up, she don' marry 'thout her pere say oui. But my Jacqueline, she love me. Couldn' keep us 'part. 'Ventually her papa gotta say yeah, so my baby have a name." He doesn't seem to realize how thick his accent has gotten, and his gaze is distant.
Suraksha sighs softly, "So you did have a child. Oh, Roy... I'm so sorry..." Her eyes are bright, and she is unwittingly cuddling close to Roy, trying to be comforting.
Roy is stroking Suraksha's hair, "Oui. Two. Dey was twins. Boy an' girl. Alene and Guy." He takes several deep breaths, "Beautiful, dey was. Had dey mere's eyes. So blue an' big." He's hugging her more tightly than he realizes. It's been a long time since he talked about his family and his scars still feel raw. Suraksha wraps her arms about Roy, holding him tightly as he talks. If she can, she'll be his ground to center on, to help him through his pain. The man presses his face into her hair and he's silent for a long time, "I really was a wile chile, cherie. Wild an' mean. 'Leastways when I was crossed. An' I wan'ed my Jacqueline an' my babies to have a good life."
Suraksha twists with serpentine grace to twine her arms about Roy's neck, nuzzling against him and inhaling his scent. He smells of all the things she loves about him: strength, confidence, joie du vivre, mischief -- but there's a healthy dose of old pain there as well... a pain that's not yet healed. She whispers softly against his skin, "Those are good reasons -- the best reasons -- to try for a better life, sweet man..."
His voice is starting to crack, "An' you don' make good money easy back in de bayou. If you a hardass, you can get in wit' some men make good money. I got in with de wrong one. An' he ain't de kine kill you when he mad."
Suraksha blinks, going still -- could this be the basis of the incredible feud between Moynahan and Roy? Her whisper is almost inaudible, "Moynahan?"
Roy smiles tightly, "Non. Moynahan, he wun't but a soldier den. He did some a de killin', though. I always s'pect he de one kill my Jacqueline. Couldn't prove nothin'. Dat man was O'Reilly. He dead now." There's icy satisfaction in his voice, "My Lady, she be dangerous when she riled."
Suraksha thinks for a moment, then nods slowly, "The river."
Roy says, "Oui. De river. She help me when I need it."
Suraksha sighs softly, running her palms along the planes of Roy's face and through his hair, leaning his face down towards hers so she can tilt her head up and lightly kiss away tears. Her whisper is soft, "I have no good words for you, Roy; I'm sorry. I can't fix it... all I can do is promise to do my best to never hurt you like that, and to hold you when you do hurt."
Roy hugs her tightly and realizes he's crying; he smiles through the tears at her and scrubs them away with one fist, the other hand steadying her instinctively, "Was a long time ago, cherie." His accent softens, "Guess it's time I picked some of dat back up."
Suraksha doesn't stop Roy from fisting away the tears; she's weeping silently for his pain as well. "Some of what, sweetheart?"
Roy smiles softly and uses a thumb to wipe away her tears, "Bein' a papa. Bein' in love." He smirks at her and kisses her nose, "You a bad influence, cherie. I was doin' jus' fine 'fore you."
Suraksha laughs softly through the tears when he kisses her nose, then turns her head to kiss his fingertips. She's teasing, although the ache can still be heard in her voice, "Alas, my insidious plan is discovered!"
Roy smiles, then says, "So I ain't a saint. I ain't a virgin. But you knew all that, cherie... you gonna have me anyway?"
Suraksha laughs a bit shakily, leaning her forehead against the strong, smooth curve where Roy's neck and shoulder meet -- so she doesn't have to see his face as she murmurs, "Oh, I already knew those things, yes, when I made my decision." She takes a deep breath to steady herself, and her body unwittingly tightens where it rests against his, as she says softly, "I... I do not think you know quite as much about m-me, though." She takes another, then adds, "Y-you should... should know all about me, if you are to make a, um, an informed decision about courting me." She sniffles, rubbing the back of one hand across her face, and giggles nervously, "Look at me, getting all formal!" A bit tightly she adds, "D-do you want to? Know about me, I mean?"
Roy wraps his arms around her and murmurs, "Cherie, you are a beautiful, brave, fierce, sensual, intelligent woman. You sometimes turn into a tiger and you got a travelin' city you gotta take care of. Sometimes you don' eat when you should 'cause yer busy takin' care o' other people. 'S all I need to know. But I'll listen, you wanna talk."
Roy can feel her cheek curve against his skin, where the small smile is turning up her lips. She's silent for a long moment, debating with herself: he has kind of said he doesn't need to know more, right? Maybe she could just... well, continue to hide what she is? The idea is immensely attractive, reassuring as it is to think she could keep Roy close without baring herself so... and that's what ultimately leads her to realize it won't work. He's given her his heart and his pain without reservation. How can she shy away from being any less honest for him? Worse: what happens when her true self surfaces without warning -- just as she had to surface the tiger to save him? She sighs, still tense in his arms as she says quietly, "I... think I better be truthful, sweetheart. 'S the least you deserve." She takes another breath, her face still tucked against him as she adds, "How, um... how old do you think I am, please?"
Roy smiles a little bit and says, "Oh... old as your tongue, little older'n yer teeth, I'd guess. I ain't no good with ages. Taps, we age a little differn't."
Suraksha laughs softly, closing her eyes. "True..." She sighs, then says quietly, "I... I'm actually over 50."
Roy blinks a little and shifts so he can look down at her face, "No wonder you got that delicious mind."
Suraksha is having a bit of trouble meeting Roy's eyes, but at that she blinks and gives him a confused look, "Pardon?"
Roy smiles and tucks a strand of escaping hair behind her ear, "Cherie, I ain't gone deny it was your body first captured my attention. It's a lovely, lithe li'l thing... gets my blood stirrin' somethin' powerful. But it's your mind, sugar, that doomed me."
Suraksha blinks again -- then hastily ducks her head as a bright blush rises up her cheeks. Roy can hear the smile in her voice as she murmurs, "You're not, um... I mean, you're being very distracting here, while I'm trying to be all honest and shit..."
Roy laughs and takes a deep breath, tipping her chin up so he can kiss her, "I do wanna hear it if you wanna tell it, mon amour. But I don't gotta hear it this second." One hand is resting firmly on the small of her back, keeping her safely in his lap and out of the river. Suraksha returns the kiss with pleasure, hiding her internal confusion. What does she do now? What does he mean? Is he saying he really doesn't want to know?
The kiss breaks and Roy grins at her, eyes twinkling. She recognizes that mischief -- but as he opens his mouth to say something there's the sound of someone clearing their throat, and then Jacko's voice, "Sna'thaid sent me for you. You still got some negotiations to finalize."
Roy rolls his eyes and says, "Dammit. She's got enough eyes, cain't she see I'm busy?" There's more amusement than actual complaint in his tone.
Jacko says, deadpan, "I'm sure she can. I suspect that's why she sent me over here now."
Suraksha laughs a bit shakily, leaning back only enough to smile up at Jacko. "Sorry, sorry... I didn't mean to be distracted -- er, distracting, I mean!"
Roy looks wryly at his captain and then says to Suraksha, "Your godmomma is a fuckin' sadist, cherie."
Sura starts to scramble to her feet, then gives a startled squeak as she realizes she's sitting on Roy's lap and leaned half out over the river itself! Glancing over her shoulder, she murmurs distractedly, "Uhm, yeah, she used to train both us and the family's warriors... you mind swinging around a little, please? Don't really want a bath just now!" She grins ruefully at Roy.
Roy's brows go up, "That's so? Family's warriors... yeah, I definitely need to hear that story later." He doesn't swing around. Instead he leans back, giving her a chance to unwrap her legs. The easiest way off his lap is going to be straight over top of him.
Suraksha sighs in relief and slithers gracefully off Roy, murmuring, "Thanks!" as she (of necessity) gives her lover rather a lovely sensual view, then rises unselfconsciously to her feet. Roy is not shy about enjoying the view quite fully, and there's at least one hand on her until she's fully on her feet. She giggles at that, then smiles at Jacko as she straightens up a bit and flips her braid back over one shoulder, "Tell godsmama, please, that I haven't forgotten my job, and also he's... impressing me so far." She grins back at Roy, offering him a hand up; she knows her words will let her godsmother know Roy is courting her successfully -- and properly -- so far.
Roy hops up himself during that and grins at her. Suraksha laughs softly, her eyes shining with happiness as she looks up at him. She steps forward and gives him a quick hug, then sighs and steps back, "Gotta get back to work! We'll play tonight at the party, 'kay?" She giggles, then scampers back off to her rounds. Roy turns and watches her zip off, tipping his head as he smiles at realizing she's got her shirt tucked in again. Suraksha doesn't get far, of course, before she's cheerfully accosted by kids and dogs and people with problems who want or need her help and attention. She doesn't seem to mind at all, though -- she laughs and gives gleeful hugs, a shoulder to lean on, calm advice, or a strong back, as needed.
Roy lets himself be led away by Jacko, his face falling into quiet, thoughtful lines as he goes. Years ago he'd made the sort of rash, hot-headed promise young men make in tragic situations -- he was never going to put himself in a situation to be hurt like he was when his family was killed -- and here he's gone and not only fallen in love with a woman who puts her life on the line by her very line of work, but he's adopted a child. A girl-child at that. A girl-child Tap. He's not entirely sure exactly when he apparently decided he needed more than wine, women, and song to be happy.
The conversation with Sna'thaid goes perhaps a bit more smoothly than it might have if he'd had all his wits about him. The sidhe assassin is able to lay down more rules than he might have countenanced otherwise. Roy finds himself with a regimen of exercises and a list of supplies that are not going to be inexpensive by any means. Sna'thaid assures him if he gets even a dozen of his men trained correctly, however, neither he nor little Mary are going to have to fear for their lives.
Once Roy mentions the child will be coming home with them, Sna'thaid immediately adds a schedule of training for her as well, and the pair of them end up discussing how the mental discipline of martial arts will help the frightened girl learn to control her Tapping abilities. It also sparks Roy's thoughts, making him wonder if he can increase his own not-inconsiderable abilities by discipline, which makes him smirk. The smirk turns out to be a Bad Idea and Roy finds himself learning first-hand about some of the calisthenics they'll be going through. He manages to escape in time to get cleaned up for the party.
The deck of the barge has by now taken on a distinctly festive appearance, with colorful bits of ribbons, rags, and banners flying gaily in the wind. The wagons are rinsed down and tidied up, long strings of large paper globes for lighting are strung between the wagons, and brightly colored carpets and fluffy cushions are strewn about in the center area left clear for gatherings. The long trestle table is covered with wonderful smelling food being brought in by eagerly hustling assistants, and Buddy himself proudly shaves off delicious, smoky-sweet slices of the half-side of beef he and his assistants have been cooking and basting all day.
Musicians are starting to gather on the little dais provided by the tiny back porch of someone's wagon, murmuring to each other and quietly tuning their instruments, and people are dressed in their comfortable best -- no sparkling and scanty costumes here, but rather the more homespun beauty of brightly colored skirts and pants, embroidered shawls and decorative bandannas. The glitter comes from a brave array of simple jewelry: broad jingly belts of tiny mirrors, chainmail, cowrie shells, and flashing decorations; pendant earrings that sway alluringly and flicker golden in the growing and firelit twilight; wide engraved bracelets of shining metals, sparkling glass, and other semi-precious minerals. These people are wearing their finery to celebrate, but it is the finery that honestly pleases them -- not something calculated to impress and titillate an audience.
The big dogs are safely tucked away down in the hold, but the children dart and shriek with excited delight in and out of the adults and the wagons. Mary is amongst them, and Sabrina has made sure she has a bright and pretty shawl to wear as well, so she fits in more with the others. Jacko too is looking almost piratical in a scarlet bandanna and a sash about his waist, and he seems once again utterly charmed by Sabrina, who is in a pretty, frilly blouse and skirt with her arm looped through his, her white teeth flashing as she laughs at one of his very dry jokes. There's enough movement and drifting back and forth of people in the uncertain light, in fact, that it's hard to tell who and what everyone is... or that not everyone is currently present.
The barge's crew has been told they are welcome, but Captain Al seems to have a fine sense of propriety -- he gladly accepted the bottles of beer Dominic brought for the crew, and assured the sturdy young man that the crew was unfortunately busy... so the caravaneers should party as hard as they wished! Dominic's report of that caused a small, discreet cheer -- that means the glamours can be dropped!
Roy has gotten enough of an idea what the caravaneers are going to be like to have a good idea of what to wear. The king quietly sent some requests over to the Proud Mary, and clothes were brought for him. When he steps into the feasting area he is wearing a pair of baggy silk trousers tucked into knee-high black boots. The trousers themselves are a deep and vibrant blue. His loose shirt is simple in cut, made of creamy-colored raw silk. The skirt of it comes down to mid-thigh and the sleeves are very full through the length but cinched tight at the wrists. The shirt is also cinched at his narrow waist with a broad sash of a deep, vibrant blue. The neck is meant to be laced closed, but is currently open and showing a rather nice glimpse of his chest.
The king's dark hair is pulled back into a silver ring at the base of his skull and there are several chunky silver and amber rings on his fingers. His eyes are dancing as they rove over the scene and he grins broadly, flashing a lot of white teeth. This is very much like the hurricane parties of his youth: people celebrating survival and each other. Roy strides through the party, grinning and greeting people, winking at some of the folks who blink and give him the sidelong glances of people appreciating someone looking quite nice.
When he finds Jacko and Sabrina, Roy asks if they've seen Sura, and is pointed toward her wagon. Sabrina says, "Get that child out here. She's probably still working." Roy nods and hums to himself, not realizing just how much he's strutting as he makes his way toward Suraksha's wagon. The music is already getting into his hips and shoulders. As Roy steps up onto the tiny porch and opens the door, he hears Suraksha say, "We sold all 24 bolts of the silk? Excellent work, Fantine. How much did we sell them for, please?"
Within the immaculate wagon is a scene so weirdly prosaic-seeming as to not make immediate sense. Sura is seated at the tiny desk, the caravan logbook open in front of her. She's dressed for partying, and looks quite wonderful in a snug and low-cut top that beautifully shows off her lovely breasts and bares her shoulders and midriff. Her braided and bangled hair is pulled up and back from her face by several colorful scarves, and her jewel-toned skirts mostly cover her loose harem pants and small, be-ringed feet. Her anklets and her wide belly-dancing belt jingle softly as she shifts, as do the many bracelets glittering on her small wrist as she writes with a quill pen in the logbook.
Sura's bare left arm, however, is extended. A small figure that's a bit hard to see clearly is holding her arm with both hands, bent over and obscuring her wrist, and the bracelets are pushed up towards the elbow. Laid out neatly over the cushions of the bed is something else hard to make out -- it looks vaguely like a person, except it appears to be only their skin. The limp, flattened skin has brilliantly fiery golden hair with almost metallic blue ends -- like a girl Roy has seen slipping shyly around the wagons in the last day or so. As Roy looks in, the entity hunched over Sura's wrist lifts its head and murmurs through a bloody mouth, "Twentytwo silver each, Lady."
Both women turn to look startledly at the door -- then Sura's face lights up, "Rattler!" Her eyebrows raise as she slowly takes in his entire 'look,' and she murmurs appreciatively, "Rrrowr!" The entity at Sura's side ducks behind her arm, then hastily rubs the back of her mouth with one hand before neatly licking clean the slightly blood-welling wrist with a long pink tongue.
Roy blinks, brain not quite taking in all that he's seeing. His first instinct is to go after anything feeding on his lady-love, but Suraksha sure doesn't seem to mind it. She doesn't mind it enough that she's even given him that lovely once-over when she sees him. He shakes his head and says, "I ain't sure what the fuck is goin' on here... I don't need ta smack nobody's head, right?"
Suraksha's eyes widen in startlement as she reflexively shifts to partially block the other entity from sight. That one's bright, frightened eyes are almost all that show of her as she slides down to hide behind Sura, her gaze fearful. "No! Certainly not! Why on earth-" Sura checks herself, glancing down at her wrist, then at the other woman. She's silent for a second, the corners of her lips twitching up into a smile -- then she grins, turning back to Roy, "Uh, should have seen that one coming, I guess. Roy, this is Fantine. Fantine, King Roy of Baton Rouge." Her voice gets gentle as she adds, "Come on out, dear. He won't hurt you, I promise."
Roy smirks, "Yeah. Mighta been good to be warned you got blood-drinkers 'round..." Things start to click together in his head and he peers at the skin on the bed and then at the figure that's hiding behind Suraksha. The skin is abruptly twitched out of sight behind Sura, the strange young woman clutching it protectively to herself as she slowly stands, eyes still very wide and staring warily at Roy. In liquid tones she asks a question in a language Suraksha doesn't know, "[Are you Christian]?" which causes Sura to look curiously between the two. To the entity, Christians are the scary, crazy people who keep trying to kill her -- and know how to do it.
Suraksha raises a faintly amused eyebrow at the French -- she thinks it's French? -but doesn't worry about it; she'll ask for a translation later. She casually pulls over a waiting bandage, wrapping her wrist and tying it off with quick efficiency, then letting her jingling bracelets fall back into place. After that she neatly puts away the book and writing tools. Roy's brows go up at Fantine's question -- that tells him just who she is. He shakes his head, speaking back to her carefully. His French is heavily accented, but not like an English speaker -- more because the French he learned to speak was Creole. "[No, child. My grandmother was a mambo]."
Fantine, meanwhile, seems to relax a bit at Roy's reply, her shadowy form solidifying a bit as she calms. Currently she looks rather like a woman made of layers, all of which can occasionally be seen: her normal form laced through with streamers of muscle, veins, and shadow, all writhing slowly in and out of each other. She tenses up at the end of Roy's sentence, though, subtly shifting so she's put Sura more between them both. Her voice is tight as she snaps back at him, although her brilliant eyes -- like azure sparks glowing in her shadowy form -- are fearful. "[You cannot take me, you know! Even if you seduce my lady bokor -- she is fierce! She will not let you have me]!" Sura looks up sharply at the tension in Fantine's voice, her gaze flicking between the two again.
Roy smiles and arches his brows, saying, "Girl, I ain't got no use for a loogaroo. Yer safe. 'Sides, I ain't no houngan."
Suraksha glances puzzledly from Roy to Fantine, then smiles as she rises, "Fantine, dear, he's not after you." She grins happily, her golden eyes brilliant in the lamplight as she looks back at Roy, and her voice teasing, "If he's after anyone here, it's me." She just glows at Roy for a moment, clearly enjoying the view -- then she looks back at Fantine and smiles, "Trust me, dear. You know my record for reading people."
The slight, shadowy figure seems to shiver for a moment... then she nods, whispering softly to Sura, "I -- forgive me, I... panicked. I -- I'll get dressed." She turns away, pulling the skin on -- which is rather disturbing to watch. Sura doesn't; instead she steps over to Roy and gives him a hug, "Mmm, hello! You smell delicious, you know?"
Roy wraps his arms around Sura and nuzzles into her hair, breathing in her scent as well, "Glad you think so, cherie. 'S bay rum." It is, yes, but mostly it's just the natural scent of a healthy male with amorous thoughts. He does his best not to watch Fantine, either, "I was sent t' drag you out to th' party." Hands stroke the bare skin of her back beneath the snug little top.
Suraksha laughs softly -- a low purr of lazy pleasure -- and murmurs, "You're coming back here after the party with me, yes?"
Roy grins and purrs back into her ear, "Only the fact I promised to come to the party's keeping me from takin' you right outta this delicious thing and stayin' here all night."
Roy can feel Sura's happy shiver, where her body presses against his, and the fingers of one hand slide down his thigh, then back up under the edge of his shirt -- to lightly squeeze his muscled rump. She giggles, whispering, "You're right! This long-shirt thing is fun!"
He laughs and pats her behind in response, then says, "Yeah... definitely time to go out there." Roy finds himself thankful he wore the shirt with the long tails on it as he disentangles himself.
Suraksha grins delightedly up at Roy, but lets him go when he steps back. She turns her head to say, "Fantine, come on out when you're ready, all right? I'm going to go drag this handsome man out to dance some!" The loogaroo, now in her skin and with a blanket pulled obscuringly around her, blinks and then grins shyly, nodding. Her quick, slightly admiring sideways glance at Roy causes her to blush and hastily turn away. Sura laughs softly -- but not unkindly -- as she turns back to Roy, looping her arm through his, "C'mon, pretty man! Want to show you off!" She cheerfully adds, "You know, you owe me two things still? A lovely big apology -- and zydeco dancing lessons!" She pats his arm as she teasingly confides to him, "Might be you could persuade me to combine those two though, mmm?"
Roy grins at the blush and says, "Don't think you get t' hide inna shadows either, girlie." He lays his hands over Sura's and escorts her out, strutting his way out to the party, confident the loveliest woman there is on his arm.
There's a small, half-startled and half-pleased gasp behind them as they leave, and Sura laughs quietly again once they're down the steps and into the crowd. She smiles up at Roy, her voice soft, "Thank you, sweetheart. I was clumsy there -- I forgot the time, and I'd meant to introduce you both properly later."
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