Fascination (Jatasha & Carnhain)

[TaeaDawn]

Some things had long ago ceased to amaze Jatasha, but this morning she realized that some of those were all a matter of experience. For example, she had long ago lost her fascination with the feel of skin on her fingertips. This morning however, she was lying on the ground beside her new lover and she just kept running a finger up and down his arm, just for the sensation of it.

 

How long had it been since she had taken a lover by choice and not necessity? Part of her recognized that she had been offering herself as payment for her rescue but he had rejected that. Somewhere along the line there had been comforting though and her choice to lay with him had been just that. Her choice to offer comfort, not a service. It seemed to make all the difference in the world to her. SO she lay beside him, watching him and waiting for him to wake and see what he had to say after their first night together.

 

She leaned in lightly, kissing his parted lips, just for rememberance of the night before. There was no telling how Carnhain would wake and if he would consider last night a mistake or not. If he did though, she had good memories to keep in her heart. If he didn't, perhaps they could make more good memories in time. She hoped so. From what he had spoken of last night, he had far too many bad ones to relive.

 

Today wold reveal many things, she hoped. Their travel should end today if she remembered correctly. The Band of the Red Hand was in the day's ride and she would see if she could carve a place for herself there. If not she would go her own way. Looking at the sleeping form before her, she hoped for at least a few more days.

 

[Guest Estel]

To most of the world, dreaming was a wonderful thing to fall asleep to. The rest of the world dreamed of lovers, family, friends, happy childhoods and bright futures. Sure, every once in a while they had worrisome dreams or, Light forbid, an actual nightmare but for the most part, they looked forward to that wonderful time during which they could pleasantly dream the night away.

 

Dreams had always been Carnhain’s enemy. He supposed that he might have had good dreams when he was very little and still with his “real” family but for as long as he could remember, every dream he fell asleep to had been a nightmare. After all, he had never felt, known or understood love, nor had he a family and only now did he have a limited amount of friends. His past was dark, full of death and slavery while his future appeared full of much the same. It was a very rare event that he had a good dream and even then it was always preceded or followed by another nightmare.

 

For the first time in possibly his entire life, he had spent the entire night, or rather the time he actually spent sleeping, dreaming peaceful, “nice” dreams.

 

He awoke to sunshine in his eyes, cool morning air on his bare skin and something warm on his lips. It didn’t jolt him awake and so he spent a few minutes pondering what had happened while trying to force his eyes open. Eventually, when he was finally to the point where he was blinking in the bright morning light, memories and comprehension dawned on him.

 

Once he was finally able to see, Jatasha filled his vision. He slowly turned his head and saw her, lying beside him, unashamed of her nudity. Her naked form was pressed up against his and she ran her fingers up and down his arm.

 

A thousand things went through his head at once.

 

Fear and embarrassment threatened to turn his face red. Light, he was completely naked! She could see every part of him; every scar, every imperfection. A bigger part of him felt naked as well, as if she could see his very soul and the hundreds of scars and imperfections there. It felt as if every part of him was laid bare before her for her judgement and he nearly trembled for the fear that he wouldn’t be found “good enough”.

 

He was angry too; with himself. The young man cursed himself for having used her, for having given in to a part of himself that should never have been let out. Blood and ashes, they had only met yesterday and here was having sex with her! He felt dirty and fought down the urge to run and hide himself from the crime he had committed.

 

And yet, at the same time and part of him, the same part that had quelled his nightmares for at least this short time, felt relieved. Carnhain would not have been able to put it to words even had he been raised a scholar rather than a slave boy. He had simply taken comfort in the human companionship. It was foreign for him to feel warmth or comfort but the feeling of another’s arms around him... again, he could not find the words.

 

And even with all this in his head, the same strange desire that had gripped him last night tried to fight its way to the surface as her skin burned against his.

 

Everything was contradicting itself within him and he was utterly confused as to what to do now. Jatasha looked at him expectantly and looking into her eyes, he knew he would not have the strength to hurt her even if part of him regretted last night. What if she regretted it though? What if she thought he took advantage of her? Light burn him, what if he’d been bad? Was she laughing at him? Did she hate him? Blood and ashes, what was going on? What in the Pit of Doom was he supposed to do?

 

“I... ummm... I... Last... err... umm... I... Good morning?” His face burned in embarrassment. He contemplated saying “thank you” or even kissing her but discarded both. Light, what if she hated him now?

[TaeaDawn]

“I... ummm... I... Last... err... umm... I... Good morning?”

 

Jatasha watched with interest as he opened his eyes. She was apparently the last thing he expected to see and she could tell immediately when he remembered the night before. His face began turning interesting shades of color that made her smile lightly. She still wasn't sure how he felt about last night, but he hadn't kicked her away like most men would to a woman of her station.

 

At his words, she ran her hand up to his face and leaned in, kissing him lightly. "Good morning." She said, careful to keep her voice cheerful. "I be thinking we slept in a bit today." She said with a soft sigh. "I did think about waking you, but it seemed unfair to be about the day when it was so nice right here."

 

[Guest Estel]

The soft touch of her lips on his set his body afire. He stood on the edge of a cliff and his mind was divided; half begged him to jump and give in to his desire while the other warned him of the consequences and bid him back away from its intoxicating edge. Her words were cheerful, dispelling any notions that she might hate him for the night before. However, the question still remained as to where they stood.

 

He checked the position of the sun from where he still lay. Perhaps they had slept in to her standards but this was the general time he woke up if he was not training- two hours yet until noon. Looking back over at her, he smiled, murmuring something to the extent of “We should probably get dressed.” as his face turned a brilliant shade of pink when he rediscovered his nudity.

 

Retaining as much modesty as possible, he pulled on his breeches from where they lay on the ground and recovered his shirt a few paces away. With the amount he was blushing as memories returned to him, it would be a wonder if his skin ever returned to its regular complexion.

 

Only a few minutes had passed and now that they were ready to go, Carnhain glanced over at Black Fire, remembering Rowul’s lessons. “Here, you can ride Fire. I’ll give you a leg up if you need.”

[TaeaDawn]

Jatasha was slightly amused by the way he muttered to himself and got up, trying quickly to locate clothing that had managed to become rather scattered as they had made their way from fire to bedroll. There was an innocence in him that was completely at odds with a man of the sword, but she thought it was perhaps that quality that had landed her in bed with him last night.

 

She could hardly remember the last time she had taken a lover of her own chosing. She had always used her body for coin or repayment of something else, but last night had quickly changed from repayment to comfort for her and somewhere along the line she had stopped being whore and had become a lover. An odd choice and one that she hoped Carnhain might one day forgive her for.

 

As she got up, she collected her clothes slowly, waiting until she had found each item before begininng to dress just as slowly. She didn't know what the future would bring for her, but she would at least enjoy his eyes on her one more time. Each time she looked back at him she would smile slightly and the blush on his face made her smlie wider, though not out of ridicule or scorn. He was a surprising man and she had not known many in her life. Perhaps other women did, women who had different lives and different stations in the world. Jatasha was a whore though and while she was glad for the night with Carnhain she couldn't help but be apprehensive about what he would think of her if her profession came calling and he discovered it.

 

Still, when he offered her a lift up, she took it gratefully and as she settled into the saddle she leaned over and touched his shoulder lightly. "Thank you." She hoped he understood. Not thank you for the lift, or even the rescue, though both had been welcome. Thank you for wanting me. Thank you for spending the night with me. Thank you for not turning your nose up at the stray little Illianer you had found yourself entangled with.

 

Jatasha Danica

[Guest Estel]

"Thank you."

 

Two words and yet they sent Carnhain’s mind into a confused spiral of unanswered questions, each leading to the next until he was so full of question he was half-afraid he might question his own name… Then again, with his background… Damnit, why were women so confusing?

 

Unless he was reading far too much into her words, she was hinting at something deeper than just the offer to let her ride. But what did she mean? What was she hinting at? Was she even hinting at anything? Light, but it’d be nice if people were straightforward- women especially.

 

“You’re welcome.” came the automatic response quietly as he took Black Fire’s reigns and began to lead the animal, and her with it, towards the Citadel.

 

ooc: gah, DM ate the post and I only found out like a week ago. Will put up open thread on Citadel in a few mins.