| Logs |
2011 March 01
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Taps Logs |
Catching More With Honey
Eacharn's eyes are showing white all the way around the iris, "It was a startling noise." He hesitates just a moment and then asks, "Are you harmed, My Lady?"
Sulochana blinks, realizing Eacharn is really spooked right now. Her Hetaera training prompts her to try to sooth him, and she steps to his side, running a gentle hand down his arm, "No, I'm fine, dear. How are you feeling? Everything all right?" She takes a few deep breaths to diffuse the adrenaline rush from seconds ago.
Eacharn is well and truly startled, but having her be so soothing actually stings his pride a little and he reverts to true stallion form, shrugging away a little, "No. Everything is not all right. You're being silly to not ride in the hunt tomorrow. It's not like you'll fall off if you're riding me."
Sulochana gives Eacharn a startled look -- then her face goes expressionless and her voice is deceptively quiet as she says, "I am being silly? Would you care to explain that further, please?"
Eacharn has behaved himself very well so far, but the shot of adrenaline and the sting to his pride has him. He tosses his head to get his bangs out of his eyes and says, "I simply mean that it isn't as if you'd be in any danger!"
Sulochana tilts her head slowly, almost disbelievingly as she stares up at Eacharn for a few heartbeats... and then she steps forward into his personal space. One hand lashes forward to close on his shirt, and her eyes flash scarlet again for an instant as she hisses quietly at him, "Did it ever occur to you, dear, that it might be social or financial reasons rather than cowardice which prompted me to decline to attend the hunt?" She manages to make the word 'dear' sound almost insulting, and she's nearly vibrating with anger as she continues, "Further, perhaps you have forgotten I am not your property?!"
Roy, who had been looking for his cherie and heard the squall of the puma, comes around the building at that moment and sees the aggressive body language of both people. His protective instincts are nudged and he comes over, voice soft and cool; Suraksha knows it's his truly dangerous voice. He always gets particularly calm when he's the most angry, "Everythin' alright here, cherie?"
Sulochana's shoulders tighten slightly at the unexpected voice behind her, but then she relaxes at hearing her beloved. She takes a deep breath, then smiles tightly over her shoulder, "Roy, dear, I hate to be a bother, but could I ask you for a moment alone with Eacharn?" For an instant the Baton Rouge king can see the furious tiger in her, as her smile becomes more an unwitting baring of teeth. She adds, "This is... this is a 'throwing champagne' moment for me."
Roy, having been on the receiving end of that, narrows his eyes. The negotiations could still be hurt, but he won't have his cherie insulted. Still, she can take care of herself. With some reluctance he says, "If you insist, cherie." He turns on his heel and stalks off. He stalks very well for a human.
Sulochana murmurs, "Thank you," as she watches Roy depart. She sighs internally, hoping he also isn't angry with her -- but then her head whips back around to Eacharn, moving so swiftly her braid swings out behind her. Eyes bright with fury, she shakes the handful of shirt in her fist and snarls quietly up at the much larger man, "You! You do not own me, Eacharn -- you do not get to tell me what to do! In fact, perhaps you should explain to me why I would want to have anything further to do with you?!"
Eacharn's nostrils flare. His blood is hot by now and he finds he is -- perhaps unwisely -- suddenly quite aroused by Sulochana's fierceness and fire. His voice is flat with his struggle to not show any of that, "I never said I owned you -- and what other reasons might you have for not riding?"
The Hetaera growls, "No, you just acted like it. Or do you go around insulting anyone who doesn't agree with you? Somehow I doubt it, considering you're supposedly continuing the policies put into place by your predecessor!" She shoves her fist away from him, snapping fiercely, "Further, you seem to believe I must explain myself repeatedly to you, instead of simply listening to what I said previously! What is that if not arrogance?" She steps back, her eyes icy as she hisses at him, "Do not come near me again, Eacharn -- at least until you can behave yourself like a gentleman!" She whirls swiftly enough that her short skirts flare out, baring a bit of thigh for that instant -- then she too is stalking furiously away.
Eacharn stands, trying to catch his breath and compose himself as she stalks away. She stalks even better than Roy, and Eacharn appreciates it more. He's starting to relax a little when the puma growls, making him jump and move to go in the same direction as the Hetaera. He is quickly realizing he has stuck his hoof quite deeply into his mouth.
Sulochana rounds the corner of the building, glancing around worriedly for Roy -- she owes him a serious apology! She's praying internally he's not angry with her. Behind her Alg gives a snorting huff at Eacharn, then bounds relaxedly after Sulochana. He glances back at the pooka, his multiple fangs bared in a slightly smug looking grin as he deliberately rubs against her like a cat. He still gets to touch her; he's no dummy!
Roy didn't go very far; he's just out of earshot, alone and pacing near one of the cages in unconscious imitation of the leopard inside. Sulochana absently ruffles her fingers through Alg's spiky head fur as she glances around -- then she sighs in relief as she spots him, heading swiftly his way. As she approaches she says a bit hesitantly, "Roy? Sweetheart? I, um... I owe you an apology, lover." Her expression is worried as she holds out her hands to him.
Roy is somewhat startled, but reaches out to take her hands. His eyes and mouth are still a little tight with anger; not at her, but at the visiting king, "Naw, cherie. I shouldn'ta tried to butt in."
The Hetaera sighs in relief again, stepping forward to wrap her arms tightly around Roy and lean her head against his chest. She relaxes a little as she murmurs, "You were being a gentleman, sweetheart. I should have handled it better. I do apologize for reacting so poorly. Forgive me, please?"
Roy wraps his arms around her, most of the anger melting out of him at her presence. "Is it serious, cherie? Do I need ta tell 'im ta fuck off?" He sounds worried about the possibility.
Sulochana sighs again, relaxing even more with her lover wrapped so comfortingly around her, and smiles tiredly. "No, I don't think so. He just tried to push me again, and I told him no. I'll be surprised if he tries to take it out on you or the negotiations; frankly, he seems a better man than that to me." She rubs her cheek gently against Roy's chest, murmuring, "Feel so nice, sweetheart. Thanks for not being mad at me." Just out of eyeshot, Eacharn hesitates. He wants to apologize, but he doesn't want to interrupt His Lady with Roy. Jealousy bubbles up again. She's so easy and happy with the other king.
Suraksha sighs again, straightening and smiling ruefully up at Roy, "Well. Give me a kiss, please, lover? Then we should probably go find him and..." She's interrupted by a loud and carrying trumpet! That's followed by a delighted squeal from Mary, "Lookit me, lookit me!" 'Chana starts at the noise, then giggles as she turns to look within the warm circle of Roy's arms. Shading her eyes, she murmurs mischievously, "Careful, lover, or it'll be your daughter that runs away to join the circus!"
Roy was just bending in for a kiss, only to laugh when there's the familiar sound of the elephant and his daughter's squeal. He smiles and rests his arms comfortably around 'Chana as she leans back against him. "Think I might hafta protest at that, jest a bit..." The way the pair of them move and lean together says loudly to anyone watching that they are very much in love.
Sulochana giggles, leaning her head back comfortably against Roy's chest. She waves and calls, "Hello there! You look quite dashing, Mary!" Gajara is cheerfully swaying back and forth as she walks, raising her front feet high on each step, and with her trunk curved upwards in a big S-curve. Seated astride her neck is Oksana, the Sokoloff daughter who was chosen by Gajara to be her mahout. Standing behind Ksyusha, with one hand bracing on the young woman's shoulder, is an excitedly waving Mary. Eacharn feels an ache in his chest, watching them. They are family. All of them. Even the elephant seems to be enclosed in the circle of affection. Perhaps His Lady is right; maybe he does need a son.
When Gajara stops next to Roy and Sulochana, Mary squeals, "Catch me, Daddy!" and crouches, waiting for him to come up next to the elephant's side. Roy laughs and moves over, raising his arms up. He catches Mary with an exaggerated, "Oof!" and laughs again as he swings her around to set her down. Gajara drapes her trunk companionably about the Hetaera's shoulders when Roy moves, and 'Chana affectionately rubs her cheek lightly against the trunk before she smiles up at the elephant and mahout, "How're you both doing? Having a nice day in town?" Gajara thinks, [Very pleasant!] and Ksyusha laughs and nods, patting Gajara's broad head, "We found someone who can repair her ankle bells!" She looks around, then curiously adds, "Who's that?" as she points at Eacharn.
Roy glances up and sees the other king watching them, but only just barely; Eacharn is standing half-hidden behind the shrubberies. The St. Louis king hesitates and there's a moment where his wild nature flitters across his posture and expression, before he steps forward, "I apologize. I did not mean to intrude. I was... regaining my composure. I startled one of the large cats and then it startled me rather more forcefully."
From within the gray, warm coil of trunk, Sulochana looks over at Eacharn with a thoughtful expression... then smiles faintly. "Ksyusha, Gajara, you know his majesty King Eacharn from traveling downriver with him, yes?"
Gajara lifts her trunk and makes a small rumbling sound in greeting. Oksana blinks, then grins and waves shyly from on top of the elephant, "We're sorry -- we didn't recognize you!" Mary is nearly warbling with excitement, her voice high and fast as she tries to talk her father into letting her ride Gajara to the hunt. Roy is quite calmly telling Mary no, but doing it just a little bit differently each time. Still, it's always 'no.' "Darlin', she's too big fer the course."
Eacharn smiles and gives a small bow to the mahout, "I was not lurking about, then. People look different when they lurk." Oksana giggles and blushes, tongue-tied at being bowed to by royalty.
Sulochana chuckles, patting Gajara's broad face as she says, "Shall we continue strolling, then? I believe there's a cute new little swamp cougar cub which I'm to be introduced to, yes, Mary?" That distracts the child, and for an instant she's torn -- but then the excitement of the new cub grabs her and she goes bouncing off, dragging her father along with her as she calls to everyone else to follow her! Sulochana laughs quietly as she does so. There's a moment of silence as the elephant stands, slowly flapping her ears and communing with her mahout... then Oksana grins, "Okay!" and Gajara starts padding silently along after them.
Eacharn hesitates, but then falls into step beside Sulochana as the king and his daughter lead the way. The water-horse lowers his voice and says, "I apologize. I acted more like a jackass than a pony."
Sulochana glances warily up at Eacharn, then nods once silently. She continues walking for a bit before she finally says softly, "Why..." She struggles for words for a moment, then says carefully, "Why are you so insistent I ride, Eacharn? This drag-hunt is for you, after all. If you're a horse, you can't admit you were there." She pauses, then adds dryly, "Plus, are you sure you really want me to ride you while Roy's around?"
Eacharn realizes he especially wants her to ride when Roy's around -- it's when he feels he is doing the best he can for his Lady. He hesitates, then says, "I will beg off -- claim an old injury. Please, Lady, to have you ride me again..." He flushes, realizing he was about to wax a bit too eager for public. Sulochana gives Eacharn another long, thoughtful look, tucking a hand into the crook of his arm and deliberately slowing her walk so the big elephant pads lightly around her after the small, excited girl. For a moment the trunk brushes over 'Chana's bare shoulders and arms, giving Gajara and Oksana enough time to be sure their Auntie Sura is all right -- but at 'Chana's reassurance they silently wish her well and move ahead.
The Hetaera waits until they're past before she murmurs quietly to the St. Louis king, "Eacharn, have you really considered this carefully, dear? You're offering to be present but silent when I turn up for the hunt with my lover, Roy, sharing his scent after a night together... to have a very unskilled rider possibly catch you painfully hard, maybe repeatedly, in the mouth with the bit if I get left behind at a jump -- because I've had so little training in riding, let alone jumping... to have to stand steady and dependable even if I want to give Roy a kiss and a hug while mounted... and then, on top of all that, to have to pretend you'd not been there at all when others chatter excitedly about the hunt, or maybe even my horse, at the dinner which invariably follows such events?" She tilts her head consideringly at him, her voice gentle, "Are you sure about this?"
Eacharn looks down at her and says, "My Lady, there is no greater joy for me than to be ridden by you." It's a grandiose statement, and the truth of it shines through every inch of him.
'Chana is still considering possibilities; she adds dryly, "Plus you'll have to stay in that shape for, oh... well, at least from tonight, yes? I know hunters have to be specially groomed and braided up... oh!" She shakes her head amusedly, "Also I don't have any riding clo..." She blinks startledly up at Eacharn as his words finally register, and her walk trails off to a stop as she puzzledly studies his face. Then, slowly, she reaches a hand up to his face, gently cupping his cheek. Her eyes are bright with pity as she says softly, "I don't... oh. Eacharn, I'm so sorry; I didn't understand." Her tilted, golden-eyed gaze traces the lines of hidden pain in his face, reading them as she murmurs, "So lonely... you're not made to be alone, are you..."
Eacharn can't help but relax under her touch, nuzzling her hand much the way a horse or a cat might nuzzle a beloved human. His eyes are pleading and sad, "No. Really, my kind are not."
Sulochana sighs softly after a searching moment, turning and tucking her hand into his arm again so they can continue walking. She can almost hear Sna'tha's acerbic amusement in her head, 'Picked up another stray, Jyotsana?' -- but she doesn't really mind or care; she doesn't have the heart to abandon those truly in need if she can help. "All right, Eacharn, I will try. We're going to have to get a lot done very fast, though, if I'm to do this early tomorrow morning with you. Are you willing to work closely with Roy on this, dear?"
Eacharn decides honesty is the best policy, "I will not like it, but I will do so. Because I want this very badly, Lady Edana."
The Hetaera nods, giving another small, relieved sigh, "Oh, good; thank you. Let's see..." She starts ticking things off on her fingers, "I'll need to borrow some riding clothes from someone. You don't have any small women or children with you, so it'll have to be from someone Roy knows. Also, you'll need to get to the caravan early tonight so I can bring you here to be properly groomed, and so Roy's people can find some suitable tack for you -- we don't have anything like this at the caravan, I'm afraid."
She hesitates, then adds with equal honesty, "I truly don't know how to ride a hunter, sweetie, and I don't want to hurt your mouth with the bit. Is there some way we could maybe do a little practicing -- just a few jumps, maybe -- before we bring you here tonight?" She frowns worriedly, absently twirling the end of her braid around the slender fingers of her free hand, "And... is there anything else you can think of that I've forgotten, that I'll need to do in order to do right by you for this?" Eacharn is starting to look positively eager as plans are made. She's agreed to ride him again! Plus, she wants to practice! He quite quickly agrees to some jumping today.
When they catch up with the rest of the company, Roy is holding a fierce little cub for Mary to carefully pet. Sulochana stays well back until Mary has finished petting; only then will she come forward, and then only if Roy invites her to. She has no desire to see anyone clawed accidentally due to her being careless. Once Mary has moved away, Roy moves so Sulochana can see the cub as he starts telling the story of how it was acquired. It appears that Roy's concern some time ago for a certain swamp smuggler has paid off in small ways through the years. This cub is one of them. Sulochana sits on the grass and listens, a softly affectionate smile on her face as she watches her beloved telling stories. She loves the way his accent thickens, and how Mary listens wide-eyed and breathless as he enacts the story for her.
Roy brings the cub over. The little creature's paws and ears are too big for its body, hinting at the size it will attain when it's full-grown, "This'n's momma got caught inna trap meant fer sumpin else. Lafayette brought 'im to me 'cause th' old man's gotta soft heart." The cub is mewling and making kittenish growls as Roy brings it close enough for 'Chana to inspect.
Sulochana blinks, then grins at Roy, "Lafayette? He's still doing well? Aww, that was nice of him!" She smiles down at the cub, cautiously holding out a hand for it to sniff. She turns the back of her hand to the cub so it doesn't seem like she's grabbing at it, and purrs soft reassurance to it. Eacharn watches his Lady with the cub and slowly realizes some of what he has taken for fire-like movement and temper are really very feline. That gets lost, however, in watching the fierce little cub as it makes squeaky noises and laps at her fingers. Sulochana giggles delightedly, gently scritching under the tufted chin as the cub sucks on her fingers, wrapping its big paws around one of her hands. "Aww, Roy, he's adorable! Do you have any milk to feed him?"
Roy laughs and says, "Little guy's just been fed not too long ago..." Still, he's looking around for someone he can send to get some milk for the cub, "I think he kinda likes ya, cherie."
'Chana grins happily at Roy, her eyes shining, "I know! Isn't it strange?" She beams down at the little motherless cub, running the fingers of her free hand through his soft fur to straighten and groom it, crooning quietly to him as he slurps and licks at her, "That's my thumb, sweetie -- you're not going to get milk from me that way!"
Roy's eyes twinkle as she makes the comment about milk, but he prudently decides not to say anything ribald with Mary right there. He spots one of the zookeepers and calls the woman over. In just a few moments 'Chana has a large bottle with a sturdy nipple on it for the cub. Roy explains, "We gotta feed 'im by hand 'till he gets big enough fer real food."
The Hetaera delightedly thanks the zookeeper, and soon the cub is slurping busily away, filling his small tummy with warm milk. Sulochana croons with quiet pleasure to the little baby until he's drinking steadily; after that she looks up, still glowing with happiness as she talks softly to the two men. "Roy, sweetie, Eacharn talked me into riding with the hunt tomorrow. I agreed, though, only if we can find suitable clothing and tack for me, all right? I can bring Tybalt over tonight for grooming-" Mary bounces excitedly at that, clapping her hands and enthusiastically promising to help with the braiding, and 'Chana laughs and thanks her before adding to the two men, "-so would the two of you be willing to work together to find some clothes and tack for me, please?"
Roy looks happily surprised at that, "Waall now, I'm sure we can find somethin' suitable..." He glances over at Eacharn, considering the man again. 'Chana seems to have forgiven him, so maybe Roy can as well.
Eacharn clears his throat and says, "I'm afraid I won't be riding in the hunt, but I'm more than happy to help get the lady kitted out properly. I know she'll have a wonderful time." He's already glowing a little inside, thinking about how thrilling the ride will be. With that settled, the two kings take their reluctant leave of the ladies to get back to the negotiating table. Roy sincerely hopes the visiting monarch's preoccupation will be less now.
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