| Logs |
2012 March 05
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
And You Will Keep Me Safe
Suraksha has been traveling successfully with Corbett's Cross-Continental Caravan for a few years now. However, the grizzled leader discovers Sura can still surprise him! Currently he stands with his arms folded, listening to a chagrined Joe -- who was promoted to advance scout once it was discovered how good he was at talking to folks and finding out information for the caravan in each new town they come to.
Poor Joe apologizes unhappily to Corbett for not being able to persuade the elders of the next municipality -- a growing young town that's starting to put on airs -- that the caravan is indeed civilized enough to travel through their township. The town fathers had specifically noted with pride that they'd had a Hetaera come through just last year! -and this caravan is clearly not classy enough to have such... at which point Sura ducks under Corbett's arm to get close enough to enter the conversation. She grins and asks Joe, "So, did the town fathers say if there was a Hetaera with the caravan, then we could definitely come in?" Joe nods, and Sura cheerfully replies, "Well, then -- we can definitely go, then!"
That causes both men to stare blankly at the young woman for a few heartbeats -- and then Corbett shakes his head, rumbling, "Know yer ballsy, Sura, but pretendin' t' be a Hetaera ain't a good idea! Those ladies git years a' trainin', after all."
Sura laughs! "It's actually a decade of training, and I wouldn't be pretending!"
Corbett stares in silent incredulity down at the cheerful young woman -- the same way he had when she'd cheerfully informed him she'd just 'befriended' the daughter of the Warlord of the Great Plains. Finally, Corbett's bushy brows draw together and he starts to rumble, "Just how old..." -- and then he stops himself, shaking his head sharply once, "Ne'er mind. I'm sure you'll tell me anything important from now on, though. Right?"
Suraksha loses her usual sunny grin for a moment as she thoughtfully considers that statement. Finally she looks back up at Corbett and says a bit sheepishly, "Um... yes, if I know you think it's important? I didn't think this was. I wanted to join the caravan to adventure, not to be a Hetaera, you know?" Poor Corbett knows she doesn't mean to be difficult or trying, but sometimes she just doesn't quite 'get' it! In some ways, she's still a kid at heart.
A short while later, Sulochana is seated in gloriously elegant Hetaera mode on the box seat of the first wagon, up at the front of the caravan and positioned next to the grimly protective Corbett, as the caravan wends its leisurely way into town. She's amused at having to gently remind the excited town fathers that it is the Hetaera who chooses her partners -- not the men! The elders reacted to that announcement with a mix of self-righteous irritation, chagrin, and -- for those more in the know -- some quiet amusement to see the beautiful young woman is indeed a Hetaera!
Once that town was behind the caravan, Corbett and Joan talked quietly together that night... and then, later, Corbett sought Sura out, to inform her that they've decided she needs to know how to throw a blade, and he's going to teach her as they travel. Sura is quite touched by that! She knows the basic theory of blade throwing already, since she's observed her family's warriors... but with all the other intensive training she's had to date, she's never had time to really learn how to accurately throw and aim.
At least initially, both Corbett and Joan start treating Suraksha more as an adult as well... until they realize she's actually deliberately presenting as a kid! In retrospect they can see how wise that is -- it's frequently safer and easier in towns to be seen that way, considering how beautiful she is. Consequently, after that revelatory moment, the two caravan leads simply treat her as she is currently presenting.
Joe, of course, gets rather flustered and shy around Sura for a bit. He's got a little puppy-love crush on her, after all. Sura's aware of it, naturally, due to her training -- which is why she always treats him like a beloved older brother. To her at this age, sex isn't the culmination of love... trust and closeness and allowing caresses is -- like brushing hair or giving or receiving cuddles or foot / back / hand massages. Even years into the future, there will be only a handful of people out of the hundred or so in the caravan who can touch her at any time without concern: Sabrina, Joe, Alg, Fantine, and Buddy, of course; Ohkwa and Sna'tha... maybe Del, maybe one or two more -- because even way back then, when someone gets inappropriately lascivious at Sura, they don't last long with the caravan.
The small woman sits on a rock outcropping, still and silent, just watching and waiting. She knows there's someone odd with the little herd of horses that mill uncertainly at the end of the little arroyo, not wanting to walk past her for water. She also knows there's no way she can outrun them -- and if she traps them, then the bipedal form she can barely make out amongst them will rightfully see her as a captor and an enemy. She's sure she's seen something odd there, though, and sniffed it out too, so she's begged some time off for the day to figure out this little curiosity, as the caravan pauses for repairs.
Suraksha takes her seat in the wee hours before dawn, and simply sits. The hours pass slow and calm and hot, and the horses graze, mill, but never quite head off. The woman continues to sit, peaceful and non-threatening, as the sun wheels slowly through the sky... until finally -- cautiously but determinedly curious in the falling dusk... the Sileni who calls herself Del came clopping warily up to Suraksha.
The caravan is trailing slowly but steadily along, heading through the rocky badlands of the southwest of the continent. Nobody lives out here, and it's really hot, so aside from the normal alertness for bandits, folks are pretty relaxed. Suraksha's sitting next to Corbett, who is driving the second wagon; Del's up front with the biggest cargo wagon. The lithe young woman is discussing fair financial splits and how the caravaneers might be able to help her with her occasional job as a Hetaera; it's a real bonus for the caravan, and Corbett is happy to assist with that.
Consequently, everyone is startled when a large boulder crashes unexpectedly down into the arroyo some short distance ahead, and a booming voice demands the toll before they cross the upcoming stone bridge!
Corbett goes forward a bit, Suraksha hanging back curiously next to Del and the big cold-bloods. The conversation does not go well; the speaker demands an outrageous price: a woman, or a wagon-load of goods. Corbett refuses indignantly -- they've never had to pay before, and they're certainly not going to bow to such blackmail now! Suraksha settles her hat so it shields her face and steps forward to stand next to Corbett, asking permission to speak a bit. He growls at her but allows her to do so, and she steps forward a bit more to negotiate with the invisible person, calling, "What would you do with a woman?"
There's a moment of silence -- then a jumble of eager, excited voices, such that distinct words aren't audible. That's followed with some snarling and a smack and an, "Ow!" and Suraksha laughs quietly to herself -- she knows what kind of men she's dealing with now.
Suraksha calls out again, "I'm willing to negotiate with you -- being that I'm a woman myself... but I want to see who I'm negotiating with, please!" The reply is a jumble of nervous refusals from several voices, so the young woman gently reminds them, "Boys, there has to be some trust for there to be successful negotiations! Here, I'll show you who you're dealing with, and then you boys can show me the same, all right?" Only silence rings out from above her on the cliffside, so Suraksha lifts off her hat and shakes out her hair, looking up towards the rim of the arroyo and smiling, "Well?"
There's a moment longer of silence -- then some snarling and scuffling, and then, with a squeal of protest, someone or something appears to be shoved over the edge! It manages to slow its fall against the stony cliff side, looking a bit spidery as it does so, and it huddles on the ground, pressed up to the arroyo wall once it has landed. Suraksha is shocked -- she didn't expect them to hurt one of their own! She runs forward with an exclamation to check the victim, which causes Corbett to swear and reach for his crossbow, shouting a warning at her, "Dammit, girl! Don't get too far away!" Del puts a hand on his arm, though, whispering that he should trust Sura -- she's doing fine so far, after all.
When Sura reaches the dark little figure she finds what looks a bit like a goblin (although she's never yet seen one) but with no fur, and with darker and much harder skin. It's covering its face with one arm, its short legs drawn up tight to the round little body, huddled into a tight ball and keening softly. She checks it over as best she can, and is relieved to see no open wounds, then tries to gently draw the arm away from the hidden face. It won't let her, shaking its head vehemently and keening, "No, no, no...!" She sweet-talks it into letting her see, despite its stammered fears that she'll think it is ugly and run away, and she takes its hand reassuringly -- at the same time absently noting internally that it has the hardest, most calloused hands she's ever felt!
She's braced when she finally sees the dark little face, and she sighs softly in relief -- both that there's no damage from the fall, and that while it is not at all lovely to human eyes... it's not something which even she would find alarming. A broad, hooked nose in an overlarge head for such a round little body, complete with pendulous lips protruding from a scraggly beard, ears that stick out like handles, a craggy bone structure, and big dark eyes, currently squinched up against the sunlight. The short bowed legs are such that standing, the entity wouldn't be much taller than her, and the long arms and broad hands wouldn't quite brush the ground. It wears only a kilted animal fur, and all its dark skin is as hard and horny as the calloused hands. Suraksha gives a small laugh in relief, brushing back the few wisps of hair on top of the head, and smiles, asking, "Are you a dwarf? Or maybe a kobold?"
The little creature admits that it is indeed a dwarf -- and it seems astonished that she's not run in fear from it! The negotiations go much more smoothly after that, especially when three more of the entities (all peering interestedly over the edge of the arroyo) realize everything is fine and come skidding down themselves to talk with her too -- which also alarms Corbett.
Suraksha calls reassurance to him, then negotiates for one night spent with all four little men, since she has to return to her caravan. She also warns them she is extremely fragile in comparison to them! She will need a special place to be with them that night. She describes her needs: a thickly padded bed or pile of furs instead of the rocky floor, a small source of light and warmth, fresh water and maybe a bit of food during the night... by then all four dwarves are nodding eagerly, their eyes nearly shining with delighted surprise that she's dealing with them at all: sure! No problem! Anything she wants!
Through careful questioning and surreptitious examination of the four entities, Sura also figures out she'll need to bring some of those items along with her, although she's pleased to discover they have hot springs under the rocky mountains as well. She asks them to go tidy up and prepare for her, and agrees to meet with them again once she's collected her things together. She also gets their promise that the caravan can continue through the pass and over the stone bridge the next day. The dwarves point out the narrow, switchbacked trail up to where they'll await her at dusk -- then they all go scampering excitedly off to prepare for her arrival.
Suraksha returns to the caravan, well pleased -- which reassures Corbett somewhat. He doesn't want her to do it, but as she points out, this arroyo is a bottleneck; if the dwarves deny them access they'll have to turn back and travel around, which will add possibly hundreds of miles to their route. Further, as she amusedly notes, "They're just men, Corbett. Admittedly men of a slightly different shape and mindset, but men nonetheless. Why shouldn't what is possibly their first time with a woman be pleasant? I can perform that kindness for them, and in the process help the caravan as well!"
Corbett reluctantly agrees, although he gets a bit of a tongue-lashing from some of the women when they discover what the hold-up is. Suraksha has to intervene, laughing and teasing to diffuse the anger, as she explains she truly is fine with this; she is not "sacrificing" herself at all! Many of the people in the caravan look dubious -- there are even one or two new folks who look repulsed -- but those that trust Suraksha simply give her hugs and ask how they can help.
Over the years it becomes a bit of a tradition: Sulochana dressing herself up nicely, putting on a few pieces of gold or silver jewelry, then riding the horse or camel that Corbett -- and in later years, Ohkwari -- leads up the narrow path with her. At the top of the path is a high spot, and Sulochana always steps up there, one hand on her hip and with the breeze lightly fluttering her dress where she's silhouetted dramatically by the setting sun, to wait.
At some point soon thereafter her patience is invariably rewarded by the low, haunting sound of a horn being blown, and she and the man with her head to the spot nearby where a makeshift elevator is being winched up to them, hand over hand by the dwarves within the mountain. Invariably there are gifts on the elevator: a bag of gold or silver nuggets, sometimes copper or recently refined brass, occasionally purified tungsten, or perhaps some fine quartzes mined from the mountain -- Sulochana has never asked for them, but the dwarves love giving her pretty things that make her eyes sparkle! 'Chana helps her companion lift the bags off the little elevator and load them on the horse, then gives him a tight hug before she steps with her personal bag onto the small wooden surface, ringing the little bell that hangs there -- and then, slowly but steadily, she is lowered to the opening halfway up the cliff wall which leads into the mountain.
The first visit had set the pattern for her future visits: she steps into the tunnel and smiles at sight of all four dwarves nervously and eagerly clustered together, watching her with wide eyes. After she's given each of them a hug -- which causes them to either fall bashfully silent or giggle nervously -- and they've carefully stashed the elevator away, she has them lead her to the cave they've prepared for her. She examines it -- much to their anxious worry -- and proclaims it quite satisfactory -- much to their relief -- with the addition of a few things she's brought along! After she's added some furs and other padding to the simple bedding they'd prepared, and lit a few candles, she declares it quite cozy, in fact!
In later visits the bath in the hot springs becomes an enjoyable part of spending time together, but that first visit requires some sweet-talking from Sulochana to get them all to come clean up. They soon discover the delights of soap bubbles from her, however, as well as shyly helping sponge her off. When she's verified her earlier suspicion that she's the first woman they've ever been with, she makes a small ceremony of it for them. She asks them first if they think she's nice and pretty enough to be their first -- which causes tongue-tied and emphatic nodding! Then, after explaining to them that anticipation is half the fun, she disrobes slowly and teasingly for them. They are, unsurprisingly, speechless! So, to help them relax a bit, she sits with them, letting them tentatively touch and stroke her (to them) strangely pale, soft skin, and answering any questions they have.
Since they have no pre-conceived notions of sex -- past that it's supposed to be wonderful! -- Sulochana teaches them to hold the hands of the one she sits astride, so he won't accidentally hurt her in the throes of passion. Considering how dense and heavy they are, and that she's seen them nearly crush small stones in their hands, she certainly doesn't want to get squished herself! The dwarves that aren't currently having sex with her are encouraged to gently stroke her and their brother, to add to the experience. Between the time spent with each brother, and in order to rest and recover a bit, the Hetaera curls up with the four dwarves, and they all cuddle together as she has a drink and they talk or sing or have a few nibblies together, or listen to her stories.
That first time is gentle and tender and slow. 'Chana doesn't want to alarm them at all, she wants to make sure they understand she needs more time to recover than they -- since she's much less sturdy than they are -- and she wants to be sure they all enjoy themselves. The dwarves have a simply marvelous time, and consequently they try to encourage her to stay with them. She's gently regretful, however, noting she too has promises to keep with her caravan.
The dwarves next try bribing her with pretty things: golden and silver jewelry, gemstones, other marvels from under the mountain. She laughs affectionately and thanks them with hugs for the flattering offers, but gently refuses again; she cannot accept even such marvelous gifts when they come with a price tag she cannot pay. The dwarves are still young enough that they (fortunately) do not attempt threats... and so they sigh and hug her back, anxiously asking if she'll ever return? She promises to stop by every time her caravan passes this way, but warns them that will only happen every other year or so.
That causes some rather dejected looks, until one of them has the marvelous idea: they'll just always ask for women, of the caravans that come through! Sulochana has a mental 'eek!' at that, but simply explains carefully and kindly that women are as varied as humans themselves: some are tall and some are short, just as some will be willing and some not. Forcing an unwilling woman means the dwarf brothers will definitely not enjoy the night spent with her! Consequently, in such a situation they should be ready to accept other toll goods instead -- if there is no willing woman in any particular passing caravan.
The Hetaera also makes sure the dwarves understand she's somewhat unusual due to her training, and gives the dwarves pointers on what to look for in a woman coming to them, if they want to have another equally pleasant experience. The woman should not be crying or dragged to them by others; she should be willing to face and touch them before they head into the mountain together; and they should always, always remember how fragile human women are, in comparison to them! Sulochana emphasized that: nothing will terrify a woman, and ruin the experience, like being hurt or feeling trapped... so the dwarves should remember to always, always put her on top, and to hold the hands of their brother, yes? All four solemnly promised to do so, much to Sulochana's relief.
As the dawn slowly arrives -- at least according to the dwarves; it is unremittingly dark under the mountain -- Sulochana lets them help dress her, so they get a chance to touch and stroke her just a little bit more before she departs. When one of them shyly offers her a pretty little gold bracelet he's made, she's touched at the gift, and gives him a hug and a kiss in thanks.
That causes a small explosion of gift-offerings! -- which causes Sulochana to laugh and tell them she isn't that greedy, truly! Just one pretty thing from each of them will be fine, yes? That way she'll have something nice with which to remember each of them. There's much scowling and hemming and hawing as they each struggle to pick the prettiest thing they've each made, but they eventually manage to do so. Sulochana is touched again at how sweet they are, giving them each a kiss and a hug before she heads with them back to where the elevator is stashed.
On that first trip it is as one of them is pulling out the little wooden elevator, making sure it's level and steady for Sulochana, that the other three brothers huddle and whisper urgently together. Two of them then scamper hastily off, while the third quietly murmurs to the last brother, who nods and slows what he's doing. Sulochana curiously asks, "What up, boys?" The dwarves excitedly tell her that they have a wonderful surprise for her! She can't leave until she's picked her surprise, all right? It won't take but a moment!
'Chana is internally a bit perplexed and worried, but she smiles and agrees to do so. She can see the sun has risen already, though, and she knows Corbett will be waiting anxiously for her... so she warns the dwarves that they do please need to hurry, all right? The two dwarves still standing there with her are almost bouncing in place with excitement at the idea of the present! They carefully and gently take her hands, begging her to be patient just a little bit longer, please?
Fortunately, before she can get really worried, 'Chana sees the other two dwarves returning at a jogtrot, both heavily laden! She blinks, her eyes widening as the dwarves open several sacks of varying sizes: what would she like? One is full of gold, one of gemstones, one of silver, several others of items she doesn't recognize... slightly dazzled, Sulochana asks, "May I have just a small bag with a little of each in it?"
The dwarves happily agree; apparently both generosity and not being greedy is important to them! After another hug and kiss for each dwarf, two of them start sorting out the bags as per her wishes, while the other two help her onto the elevator, to winch it carefully up.
At the top of the cliff, Corbett's relief at seeing Sulochana safely returned is palpable! He gives her a tight hug, grumbling, "Don't go scarin' me like that agin, girlie!"
The Hetaera smiles and returns the hug -- she understands his worry! Before he sweeps her off and away to the caravan again, though, she asks, "Can we wait just a moment, please? I think the dwarves had something they wanted to send with me?"
Corbett is worried but still willing to trust in 'Chana's good sense... and moments later the little elevator comes squeaking slowly up again. There's a medium-sized knapsack lying in the middle of it -- and a small bag lying on top of that. Sulochana exclaims happily, getting Corbett's assistance in carrying both bags to load on the patient horse. After that she calls a quiet thanks down the cliff side, and the elevator starts sliding downwards again.
Walking down the mountain with Corbett a few moments later, Sulochana explains what's in the medium sized bag -- and exclaims delightedly upon examining the contents of the smaller bag: gold nuggets! Corbett is silent and astonished at sight of the haul. By the time they return to the caravan he's been quiet long enough that Sulochana asks a little anxiously, "Are you... upset with me, Corbett?"
The burly man gently squeezes Sura's shoulder, rumbling gravely in reply, "Y' did good, hon -- real good. I'm awful proud a' ya."
Fantine had been late that night -- her mistress was starting to suspect, and it had taken a while to creep out of the house. The small woman had at first despaired when she came near the edge of the clearing and saw her bokor bleeding out on the ground under the huge old silk cotton tree, with the crowd of angry and shouting, torch-bearing men chopping it down. The bokor was a rapist, a kidnapper, and a very bad man, she knew... but he was also her only support in this strange half-life she'd been forced into. She'd watched, hidden in the shadows, as the other women who were loogaroos with her came shrieking and howling back, held off by the circle of garlic as the cruel men laughed and tore up their skins. That had caused her to stuff her fists into her mouth to keep herself from sobbing aloud in empathic fear and terror. She did not like the other two women -- they were jealous of the bokor's favoring of his newest little conquest -- but again, she would not wish the deaths they now faced upon them.
She'd crouched under a sheltering bush, her arms over her head and her teeth clenched so her sobbing didn't give her away, as the men drank and partied until sunrise safe within the garlic's circle, cheering as the two other loogaroos screamed and wisped away like smoke at the first touch of sunlight. She'd crept out an hour or so after sunrise, when she was sure the men were gone, to stare hopelessly at the dead man, the torn and salted skins, and the fallen tree. What was to become of her? She knew she needed the bokor and the tree to slip out of her skin, and she needed to slip out of her skin to eat... and to survive.
Time passed in a grieving blur for the young woman. She remained hidden, sneaking after the men who came to chop up the tree for planks, and at the lumberyard she watched and waited to see where the planks were stacked. Each day she stayed hidden as best she could; each night, for only minutes at a time, she'd shed her skin and take a quick sip from the lumberyard's horses stabled nearby. Each time it was an agony of terror for her: would the night watchman find her skin? Would the horses panic and betray her? Would this be the night that her fading abilities finally gave out -- and she wouldn't be able to slip her skin anymore? She tried comforting herself with the fact that now she was alone, she didn't have to gather enough blood for the bokor, or for whichever of the other two loogaroos felt like bullying her that night and taking her share of blood as well... but despite that she still felt very, very scared and alone.
She'd been hidden when the men came for the planks; apparently one of them was some kind of Tap who could season the wood enough that it was immediately ready for use. She couldn't hear the men's words, although she could hear them talking, and she was in an agony of terror -- would they take all the wood during the night, so she couldn't both follow it and eat that night? Fortunately her worries were unfounded, and she crept after the wagon loaded with the remains of her tree. Over the next few days she watched bemusedly as the planks were formed into what she eventually realized was a sort of gypsy wagon, then driven away by a gruff, frightening man and a small, excited woman. Fantine followed along at a distance -- what choice did she have? She was terrified of everything by this point: would she be discovered, would she die of starvation, would these new people put a stake through her or something?!
Fortunately things weren't nearly as bad as she'd feared. In the turmoil and noisy uproar of a caravan in town, the small woman discovered she could crawl up under one of the really big wagons to hide in the undercarriage during the day. During the night, when it was very late and everyone was asleep, she'd drop to the ground, slip with terrified noiselessness to 'her' wagon, then crawl under it to shed her skin. After that she'd grab her mouthfuls of blood from the horses, trying hard to pick a different one each night -- although some of them were pretty scary too, when they stamped and squealed at her -- then duck between wagons, hiding from the night guards as she headed back to regain her skin before crawling back up under the huge cargo wagon. It wasn't much of a life, but at least she was still alive and still able to slip her skin -- and that's what mattered, right? That's what she told herself, at least, when she struggled with tears during the long, lonely stretches of the night.
Unfortunately for Fantine, she didn't count on a tiger as a night guard -- so they'd been less than a week on the trail when she was discovered. The small woman had returned to her skin and was struggling back into it well before dawn -- she was too terrified to push any limits on her timing, after all. She finally sighed in relief, brushing back her unusually colored hair, and rolled over onto her stomach to wriggle out from under the wagon -- then froze in absolute, utter terror: she was nearly nose to nose with a -- with a huge monster!!
For her part, Suraksha was fascinated. She didn't know what a loogaroo was, and this was much more interesting than a ghost -- which was what she'd originally thought might be haunting her new wagon. She was resting her big head on her crossed forepaws, watching the strange little creature with intent interest. When she realized she'd been spotted, though, she lifted her head and growled a cheerful, "Hi! Wha' ahr you?"
Fantine gave a horrified squeak as the dreadful beast roared at her -- doubtless it was planning on eating her alive! -and yanked violently back and away. She'd forgotten she was under a wagon, though, and cracked her head hard against the undercarriage -- hard enough that she saw stars for a moment. When she managed to pull herself together again, she darted a fearful glance at the dreadful monster -- but it was gone! She blinked, looking around warily... no monster. Could she have imagined it? She gnawed her lower lip uncertainly, then decided she had enough time to slip her skin again and check around the wagon. She certainly didn't want any horrible beasts eating her, and maybe... maybe if she warned the others in the caravan of the danger... maybe they wouldn't hate her? She didn't think about that too much; it'd been her experience that was a fruitless hope once one was amongst the ranks of monsters, after all.
Fantine slipped her skin, darting cautiously out as a small blue ball, circling through the wagons in fearful wariness. She was only a former maid, though -- she didn't spot the huge tiger tucked away under a wagon, watching as she drifted shakily by. Suraksha was fascinated, and not familiar with living in such terror, so it didn't occur to her how it would look... when the little loogaroo returned to find a tiger gently pawing and sniffing her skin!
Fantine absolutely panicked -- she turned into a fiery ball, dashing and darting at the horrible beast trying to kill her! The tiger backed up hastily, "Hey! Ss-dhob tha'a! Ow! No'h hurr'din' you!" and dropped the skin so she could change form and talk better. Fantine didn't hesitate at all, hovering in fierce, desperate panic over her skin... then slowly calming as she saw the monster actually change form! Once in human shape, Suraksha rubbed her cheek where she'd been brushed by the fire, and grinned at the little loogaroo, "You're a fierce one, then! So... change back, please? We can talk, yes?"
Once the threat of danger was passed, once she was safely in her skin and not facing horrible death... Fantine collapsed into tears. Suraksha was startled and confused, but simply gently herded the small woman up the steps and into her wagon, where she got a blanket and a hankie for Fantine, pulled on some clothes, and then settled down next to the sobbing woman. She wrapped her arms about the little loogaroo, rocking her gently and crooning to her, and eventually Fantine was cried out. After a long, numb pause as the exhausted woman simply lay limply in the comfort of another's reassuring arms, the tiger woman managed to persuade the loogaroo to talk. The entire sad little story came pouring out, including what Fantine actually was, and her desperate straits.
Fantine was ready to run for the door as she confessed to her need for blood; she knew people really hated and feared those who stalk the night. To her surprise, though, the other small woman was startlingly pragmatic: what kinds of blood did she need? Any blood? Oh, fantastic! The animals and she should be enough, then, yes? Fantine stared with her mouth hanging open at the small woman, sure she was hallucinating. "D-did... did you just offer t-to... to feed me?!"
Sura nodded cheerfully, "Sure! It's not much, from what you say -- and after all, I sort of stole your tree, right? And you need a bokor too, yes? Er... what exactly is a bokor, please? Can I be that for you also?"
When Fantine explained the bokor had to be of a certain power level in order to share power with the loogaroo, so she can slip her skin, Suraksha laughed and assured her there shouldn't be any problem at all with that. Fantine wondered dizzily if she was dreaming... a bokor who didn't want to rape her and steal blood from her? -one who was willing to actually share blood with her? When Suraksha assured her -- a bit startledly -- that she really didn't want blood or sex or anything like that from Fantine, thanks all the same, the little woman lost it again, dissolving into tears once more. This time, however, they were tears of relief, and she hugged Suraksha tightly as she cried.
Shortly thereafter the two women had come to an agreement, as long as Corbett and Joan agreed it would be all right. Suraksha had been with the caravan for several years now, and had started occasionally picking up Hetaera jobs as well -- which is why she'd decided to invest in a wagon. She needed someplace to store her outfits, where she could go in and out at odd hours without bothering anyone, and change and primp as necessary. She was delighted Fantine had turned up, as she also needed someone to help her with dressing up, driving her wagon, and keeping her outfits in good shape! Fantine was thrilled at the opportunity to be a respectable lady's maid again, but utterly terrified of letting more people know what she was. Suraksha cheerfully assured her everything would be fine, and she grabbed the little loogaroo's hand, dragging her along with enthusiasm -- she knew just the person to introduce Fantine to!
Shortly thereafter Fantine was trying to hide behind the smaller Suraksha, who was cheerfully explaining to the enormous Buddy that he should save the blood on any rare steaks he made for her from now on, please? She introduced the little loogaroo to the huge bull-man as well, and Fantine was sure she was going to faint from sheer terror as Buddy stared down at her -- and then he uttered the fateful words that caused her to practically enshrine him, as well as Suraksha, in her heart: "Blood, huh? All right. If ya need it fresh, let me know and I'll donate some too."
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