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Continued from 'Distractions'
TRIGGER WARNING: They do the do with a FTB of course; more of Zaany being a coercive jerkface
Bustling, yes, but the port town was only the entry to Aram. The path best taken - quickest, safest - was the ferry, and Zaany would not wait long to be traveling once more. There would be no sleeping chambers on this boat, as Aram would be made by nightfall.
It was a few hours before the elf bothered to search out what they knew was there. Whispers and soft intakes of breath lead them right to the rat's hiding place, leaning suddenly over a stack of crates and grinning like an excited cat at the tiny man they'd found.
"This is the best you could do?"
Andrei had nearly been napping, wrapped up in his thick too-warm hooded cloak. He knew better than to be caught asleep- but he was still caught. He stiffened, harshly breathing in. His eyes darted around nervously.
"I do not know what you are talking about." His face was too flushed to be sunburn. "I paid the fare."
It was a narrow fit, when they walked around the wall of goods; Zaany wondered at how the man had managed to push it aside, or if the ferry were run by imbeciles. Still, the elf had not wasted time in cornering the human as he sputtered his defense. Even knelt to be on level with the human.
"And yet I have not seen you on deck. And here you are, hidden away like a run away boy."
Lengthy fingers were on Andrei's cheek, petting the heat of it. "I'm so glad we share the same vessel again, how I missed you before. You did not even come to visit me."
Andrei glanced nervously around. Despite the terror the elf had given him before, the tall being was hardly where his fears lie at the moment. "Do not speak so loud." He mumbled in response. If he had to humor the elf for however long the ferry ride was, he'd do it.
"If my company pleases you, perhaps I might clear up any misunderstanding if my voice is too loud."
The fingers looked soft, their nails well manicured - and yet, claws could be felt dragging along Andrei's cheek, his neck. "Who have you been speaking to? You don't sound quite as uneducated. I feel sad that it wasn't me."
Andrei was thoroughly trapped by the elf in his little corner of the cargo hold.
"I have not been speaking to anybody." He said defensively. He knew he had better cooperate. "I learned from my teacher. My teacher is back north. Back where I came from. She taught me. I am just having to remember."
His head hurt. His head had been hurting since he'd gotten on the first boat. Languages weren't his strong suit, and forcing himself to take it all in was taxing him to his limit. "I had hoped to sleep on this boat."
"I can help you sleep. And what better way than in my arms, wrapped in my silk robes?" Andrei's answers had only made the elf smirk more than smile, and their painted lips soon pressed against his, softly, seeking response.
He froze in surprise, he hadn't really been expecting that. Still, he offered no word of protest and relaxed into the gesture with a calm acceptance. He was hardly in the mood, but it was better than the alternative of hiding in shame and seasickness- or of being thrown off to fend for himself.
He tentatively held on to the taller being's robes and made a mental note not to displace his walking stick this time.
The kiss lasted a moment, and Zaany pulled just barely away with a smirk. "Would it excite you if I tell you I won't even bite you this time?" Their breath was a hot sting of cinnamon in the cramped quarters.
"It would excite me... if I felt like I could believe you."
"So, do you fear discovery would have you burned or murdered in some way?" What a cheerful topic; the elf seemed amused and keen on his answer.
"I..." he wasn't sure how to reply. "I am afraid that I will be sent off the boat. In the river." His speech was stiff again.
"I cannot swim."
Zaany's fingers ran through their lover's hair, twisted it around a hidden claw. "You would find your sneaking aboard a worse offense. That is not to say you should be brazen in your choice of pleasure, of course."
The strand of hair was lightly tugged. "Do you know so little of the land you enter?" They let out a quick and sharp laugh. "Did you notice anything unsual about the workers?"
"I was too busy hiding from them." His shortness with the being made him more eloquent.
"I know enough, but there are not many books that exist that address.... this."
"They are women. Mostly. Do you know what happens in a society where women are the rule?" An arm wrapped around Andrei to meet the other hand, and began braiding the loose strands of hair it'd been twisting. Tiny, tight braids. "Women are gentle."
"I see." He said quietly. "Still. If I am found with or without you, I am likely in trouble."
He pulled his robe around himself tightly. "I have always taken whatever lover I wanted. I have not often been a thief."
"With me, and I keep my word, with the kindness of my heart. The fare really isn't much." They had promised to smooth things over for him, had they not?
Zaany tugged Andrei's hair loose of its tie, and began sectioning it off.
"That is kind of you." He didn't fight having his hair played with. He needed to wash it when he got to the city anyway.
"I hope it is not far. I hate boats."
"A few more hours." The sections of hair were soon being braided together. It was nor as elaborate as the elf would have liked, as Andrei's hair was not wet, and was certainly a mess, but it was satisfactory. A tiny piece of silk from within the elf's still-open robes was retrieved, tied to hold the braid.
"You should keep your hair like this. Better yet, bathe and return to me, I will make it even more pleasing to the eyes. It is fashionable in Aram, for men to wear their hair like this."
"I am sure it is very fitting. I will need to find new clothes, after I find work."
He nodded. Work should at least come easily. A physician was always necessary.
"Perhaps something like what I wear...in whatever you can afford. I can even show you how to wrap the fabrics." The message was very clear; Zaany wasn't being helpful, Zaany was assuring Andrei that he would not be allowed to escape their presence in his life.
"You should get some sleep, it will be very exciting later." Implied: in my arms. They finally wrapped their robe into a modest position once more.
"Mmm. Sleep. Yes." And he did so quickly. If he woke up in the river perhaps it would be better for him anyway.
He was no longer afraid. He was too tired.
Andrei's backside would be sore by the time the elf woke him. They pulled him to his feet, chuckling, immediately stuffing those tiny stones in the pockets and hood of the man's robe, and one in his hand. That same blanketing feel of an earlier-cast spell wrapped snug around Andrei. A hidden claw hooked into his robe.
"Are you ready, my exotic little toy?"
"Stop using that word. And I am not a toy." He grumbled. Sore and caught, he held onto his pride none the less.
"Are we there?"
Zaany simply nodded and snickered, brows raised; in all reality, they could hear nothing that the man said. That enormous flute was so suddenly in the elf's hand as they walked, that nail hooked into the robe trailing Andrei behind them. The small vessel was starting to rouse, as they saw the docks, still yet to land.
It seemed the elf had moved them just in time; as the pair, one hidden from sight and sound, moved through the corridor and to the deck, sailors - many of them siena-skinned women - were rushing around to prepare to dock, others pushing past them into the corridors and hold to bring its contents ready for unloading.
Zaany rested on a railing, out of the way, holding Andrei close to their side. "A short while, still. Where will you be staying?" They had apparently, at some point, deftly taken one of the stones, extended the zone of silence to their other side.
"I do not know. I had planned to be a vagrant until work was found." He sighed. It wouldn't have been the first time, and at least the weather here was warm.
"I need to find work quickly."
"You could, of course, find me very accomodating, if you see to my needs."
The ferry-boat slowed as it came to the dock, and crews topside and on the deck worked to secure it in place. The two of them stood on the side opposite the work, and Zaany simply waited patiently. They had good reason to be patient.
"Needs?" He quirked an eyebrow. "I assume you mean that I should be food. Or sex." He shook his head slowly.
"I am done being fodder. I left that behind me. I no longer see my life so disposable."
"Snacks, rather than a meal. I'm sure it would be very worth your time. I'm sure you have noticed I know more than simple bard spellwork; an apprenticeship while you supply me small meals seems a fair trade."
They were being blatant, yet held back enough to attempt to not appear in any form desperate.
"Apprenticeship? What do you propose I learn? I have a trade already."
But not a place to live.
"Don't think me stupid. That staff has magic. Or did you merely rob someone of it, thief? You've an interest in magic, and I can expand your knowledge."
Despite their words, their tone never changed; casual conversation, though perhaps their lips moved little.
"I did not steal it!" He raised his voice more than he meant to. He looked embarrassed.
"I did not steal it. I earned it. I earned everything I have. Just... not the boat rides." He mumbled. "Is your kind of magic useful to me? I am a physician, not a bard."
"If you wish to earn money more quickly, or to deal with clients more easily, especially the troublesome kind."
His outburst was ignored; punishing the man wouldn't do well for such a negotiation.
"It is an attractive offer." He said quietly.
"How long would you expect me to stay? Would I be free to come and go?"
"As long as you want. Personally, I'd prefer you stay for as long as I remain in the city, the duration of which is open ended. I will not bind you to me; I'm not giving you a true apprenticeship, as that would mean I would need to provide for you, beyond a simple home. Come and go as you please."
It was simple, and implications obvious, now: they needed a regular meal, and that was really it.
"We can discuss a feeding schedule later. Just keep in mind, smaller meals mean I must take more often." Or find a secondary source.
"I understand." He nodded. Well, there was housing taken care of.
"Where are you staying?... what are you exactly?"
"An inn, for now. If I need to stay long, I will purchase a property, as needed. Is that acceptable to you?" They considered his question; no, they wouldn't give him a good answer, of course. Simply: "A very hungry dog, that is all."
Finally, the elf moved; the gangway had long been lowered, but only now did they lead Andrei away. Briefly stopping to chat with a sailor, their words were rapid. For the less fluent, all that could be caught were mentions of luggage and an inn. Coin was exchanged, and the elf moved on, dragging Andrei down the docks, now actively holding him close and out of the bustle.
It was only once they were on the brick of the city's road and walkways that Zaany released him. The silence of the stones had yet to be removed, but it was immediately obvious that people now saw him.
"There is an inn well within the city, near the bazaar and colleges, that will be suitable. My belongings will be delivered in the morning...and I might be convinced to share a robe with you, after you bathe."
Andrei stared quietly at his surroundings. It was a larger city than he imagined. There would be ample opportunity for work.
"An inn is good. Perhaps food too." He sighed. He'd hardly had a chance to eat on board the boats.
The city was indeed large; verging on massive, even. The streets were paved with brick, trampled by hundreds of feet, sometimes even thousands, every day. The population was diverse, though Andrei still stuck out like a sore thumb with his light skin. His elf companion fared only slightly better; they did not look to belong, either, as the few elves they passed by were dark skinned.
The flow of the crowds drew them directly to the bazaar; huge, loud, crowded, and often with the illusion of being indoors, with the fabrics overhanging the walkways and stalls. The bombardment for wares and goods was endless...but the elf seemed to hear nothing of it, as if they had tunnel vision for their destination.
Andrei walked close to them in silence. The stalls in the streets were distracting, especially the ones full of food. His pockets had never felt more empty. He sighed wistfully. He truly was at the mercy of this being- unless he wanted to swallow his pride and be a beggar after all. But beggars don't make good doctors.
His staff clicked along the pavement. He'd been told of the different races and classes that mixed in this city but was surprised at the diversity. There was someone with a tail running one of the noisier stalls. He tried not to stare, acutely aware that he was the outlier here. "It is not far?"
"No. And I will send you with coin for food when we arrive."
Zaany paused, just briefly; something about their posture stiffened...and a smirk came across their face. And they continued.
"I don't care how long you take. Just be back by morning."
And they slipped from the main bizaar district, onto a side street. The paving here changed from brick to flagstones. Proper shops lined the streets, here, and it was obviously a place where stalls would not be tolerated.
A short while longer, and Zaany led him into a building. The outside had been just as fine as the rest of the street. Inside, it kept its promise. Bright rugs lined the floors with their elaborate designs, and fine fabrics covered the walls.
Again, Zaany did the talking, exchanged coin; the building was three levels tall, and, when they were shown to their rooms, it seemed the elf had rented half of the top floor. Half amounted to three rooms, two bedrooms and one a sitting room.
The elf did not tolerate the company of the innkeeper for long, though, and the somewhat tall, dark skinned, middle aged woman left them be - after all, they were tired from their travels.
Zaany leaned the flute against a wall, entered the larger of the bedrooms, leaving the door open, without a word. This room, atop having a large bed with curtains surrounding it, a chest, a wardrobe, and a desk, also had a massive window, and a balcony.
There were seats and a small table on the balcony, and this is where the elf went to sit. If the apprentice wanted fed, he would follow.
Andrei didn't feel like he had much of a choice. He understood the innkeeper but declined to speak to her. He was tired. He'd taken in more of the language in his brief time on the boat and outside the city than he had under his tutors. The mental effort was rewarded with a headache.
He sat ungracefully near the elf. "What is it you do, to afford this?" He said, gesturing to the spacious rooms.
"Many things. My main business is in enchantment. Traveling as a bard - which, of course, I am - is just more simple, less of a target...in some lands, less suspicious." They reached into their robes, pulled out more coin - small coin, this time, but did not yet hand it over.
"You will come to me every week and feed me. The sex is, of course, optional. Frankly, it is more up to you, on that; I only care for a regular meal. As for my teaching you anything, you, again, will approach me once every week, opposite of when you come to be of use. It will be least wearing."
They looked over at the pale man. "If you, of course, enjoy gambling with your life, you could submit yourself to me only once every month." There was a smirk, and the coin was set on the table between them. "I do believe you could simply get the innkeeper to feed you, but I would prefer you eat from the market. I do not need it to be noticed that I do not eat."
"And I can trust that weekly feedings won't leave me dead. I also take it you do not wish for me to mention being 'bitten' to anyone." He nodded. "I can eat from the market. I plan to spend most of my time there, anyway. I need to find work, still. And I need to explore. Find new clothes."
The rest was implied. The less time he spent in close quarters with the stranger, the better. "The feedings should be done at night, if this is agreeable, I will sleep after, that way."
"Yes, you should keep our doings to yourself." The demon only nodded at the proposed timing. What did they care? They didn't.
"I'm expecting company tonight." So make yourself scarce.
"I will stay out of the way." He got up. "I am going to find food. Does Aram have public bath houses nearby? I fear I smell of the river." He wrinkled his nose.
"Do you wish for me to return with anything from the market?"
"That, you will need to ask around for. But I can't imagine it wouldn't." The elf shook their head, waved him gone.
TRIGGER WARNING: They do the do with a FTB of course; more of Zaany being a coercive jerkface
Bustling, yes, but the port town was only the entry to Aram. The path best taken - quickest, safest - was the ferry, and Zaany would not wait long to be traveling once more. There would be no sleeping chambers on this boat, as Aram would be made by nightfall.
It was a few hours before the elf bothered to search out what they knew was there. Whispers and soft intakes of breath lead them right to the rat's hiding place, leaning suddenly over a stack of crates and grinning like an excited cat at the tiny man they'd found.
"This is the best you could do?"
Andrei had nearly been napping, wrapped up in his thick too-warm hooded cloak. He knew better than to be caught asleep- but he was still caught. He stiffened, harshly breathing in. His eyes darted around nervously.
"I do not know what you are talking about." His face was too flushed to be sunburn. "I paid the fare."
It was a narrow fit, when they walked around the wall of goods; Zaany wondered at how the man had managed to push it aside, or if the ferry were run by imbeciles. Still, the elf had not wasted time in cornering the human as he sputtered his defense. Even knelt to be on level with the human.
"And yet I have not seen you on deck. And here you are, hidden away like a run away boy."
Lengthy fingers were on Andrei's cheek, petting the heat of it. "I'm so glad we share the same vessel again, how I missed you before. You did not even come to visit me."
Andrei glanced nervously around. Despite the terror the elf had given him before, the tall being was hardly where his fears lie at the moment. "Do not speak so loud." He mumbled in response. If he had to humor the elf for however long the ferry ride was, he'd do it.
"If my company pleases you, perhaps I might clear up any misunderstanding if my voice is too loud."
The fingers looked soft, their nails well manicured - and yet, claws could be felt dragging along Andrei's cheek, his neck. "Who have you been speaking to? You don't sound quite as uneducated. I feel sad that it wasn't me."
Andrei was thoroughly trapped by the elf in his little corner of the cargo hold.
"I have not been speaking to anybody." He said defensively. He knew he had better cooperate. "I learned from my teacher. My teacher is back north. Back where I came from. She taught me. I am just having to remember."
His head hurt. His head had been hurting since he'd gotten on the first boat. Languages weren't his strong suit, and forcing himself to take it all in was taxing him to his limit. "I had hoped to sleep on this boat."
"I can help you sleep. And what better way than in my arms, wrapped in my silk robes?" Andrei's answers had only made the elf smirk more than smile, and their painted lips soon pressed against his, softly, seeking response.
He froze in surprise, he hadn't really been expecting that. Still, he offered no word of protest and relaxed into the gesture with a calm acceptance. He was hardly in the mood, but it was better than the alternative of hiding in shame and seasickness- or of being thrown off to fend for himself.
He tentatively held on to the taller being's robes and made a mental note not to displace his walking stick this time.
The kiss lasted a moment, and Zaany pulled just barely away with a smirk. "Would it excite you if I tell you I won't even bite you this time?" Their breath was a hot sting of cinnamon in the cramped quarters.
"It would excite me... if I felt like I could believe you."
--
"So, do you fear discovery would have you burned or murdered in some way?" What a cheerful topic; the elf seemed amused and keen on his answer.
"I..." he wasn't sure how to reply. "I am afraid that I will be sent off the boat. In the river." His speech was stiff again.
"I cannot swim."
Zaany's fingers ran through their lover's hair, twisted it around a hidden claw. "You would find your sneaking aboard a worse offense. That is not to say you should be brazen in your choice of pleasure, of course."
The strand of hair was lightly tugged. "Do you know so little of the land you enter?" They let out a quick and sharp laugh. "Did you notice anything unsual about the workers?"
"I was too busy hiding from them." His shortness with the being made him more eloquent.
"I know enough, but there are not many books that exist that address.... this."
"They are women. Mostly. Do you know what happens in a society where women are the rule?" An arm wrapped around Andrei to meet the other hand, and began braiding the loose strands of hair it'd been twisting. Tiny, tight braids. "Women are gentle."
"I see." He said quietly. "Still. If I am found with or without you, I am likely in trouble."
He pulled his robe around himself tightly. "I have always taken whatever lover I wanted. I have not often been a thief."
"With me, and I keep my word, with the kindness of my heart. The fare really isn't much." They had promised to smooth things over for him, had they not?
Zaany tugged Andrei's hair loose of its tie, and began sectioning it off.
"That is kind of you." He didn't fight having his hair played with. He needed to wash it when he got to the city anyway.
"I hope it is not far. I hate boats."
"A few more hours." The sections of hair were soon being braided together. It was nor as elaborate as the elf would have liked, as Andrei's hair was not wet, and was certainly a mess, but it was satisfactory. A tiny piece of silk from within the elf's still-open robes was retrieved, tied to hold the braid.
"You should keep your hair like this. Better yet, bathe and return to me, I will make it even more pleasing to the eyes. It is fashionable in Aram, for men to wear their hair like this."
"I am sure it is very fitting. I will need to find new clothes, after I find work."
He nodded. Work should at least come easily. A physician was always necessary.
"Perhaps something like what I wear...in whatever you can afford. I can even show you how to wrap the fabrics." The message was very clear; Zaany wasn't being helpful, Zaany was assuring Andrei that he would not be allowed to escape their presence in his life.
"You should get some sleep, it will be very exciting later." Implied: in my arms. They finally wrapped their robe into a modest position once more.
"Mmm. Sleep. Yes." And he did so quickly. If he woke up in the river perhaps it would be better for him anyway.
He was no longer afraid. He was too tired.
--
Andrei's backside would be sore by the time the elf woke him. They pulled him to his feet, chuckling, immediately stuffing those tiny stones in the pockets and hood of the man's robe, and one in his hand. That same blanketing feel of an earlier-cast spell wrapped snug around Andrei. A hidden claw hooked into his robe.
"Are you ready, my exotic little toy?"
"Stop using that word. And I am not a toy." He grumbled. Sore and caught, he held onto his pride none the less.
"Are we there?"
Zaany simply nodded and snickered, brows raised; in all reality, they could hear nothing that the man said. That enormous flute was so suddenly in the elf's hand as they walked, that nail hooked into the robe trailing Andrei behind them. The small vessel was starting to rouse, as they saw the docks, still yet to land.
It seemed the elf had moved them just in time; as the pair, one hidden from sight and sound, moved through the corridor and to the deck, sailors - many of them siena-skinned women - were rushing around to prepare to dock, others pushing past them into the corridors and hold to bring its contents ready for unloading.
Zaany rested on a railing, out of the way, holding Andrei close to their side. "A short while, still. Where will you be staying?" They had apparently, at some point, deftly taken one of the stones, extended the zone of silence to their other side.
"I do not know. I had planned to be a vagrant until work was found." He sighed. It wouldn't have been the first time, and at least the weather here was warm.
"I need to find work quickly."
"You could, of course, find me very accomodating, if you see to my needs."
The ferry-boat slowed as it came to the dock, and crews topside and on the deck worked to secure it in place. The two of them stood on the side opposite the work, and Zaany simply waited patiently. They had good reason to be patient.
"Needs?" He quirked an eyebrow. "I assume you mean that I should be food. Or sex." He shook his head slowly.
"I am done being fodder. I left that behind me. I no longer see my life so disposable."
"Snacks, rather than a meal. I'm sure it would be very worth your time. I'm sure you have noticed I know more than simple bard spellwork; an apprenticeship while you supply me small meals seems a fair trade."
They were being blatant, yet held back enough to attempt to not appear in any form desperate.
"Apprenticeship? What do you propose I learn? I have a trade already."
But not a place to live.
"Don't think me stupid. That staff has magic. Or did you merely rob someone of it, thief? You've an interest in magic, and I can expand your knowledge."
Despite their words, their tone never changed; casual conversation, though perhaps their lips moved little.
"I did not steal it!" He raised his voice more than he meant to. He looked embarrassed.
"I did not steal it. I earned it. I earned everything I have. Just... not the boat rides." He mumbled. "Is your kind of magic useful to me? I am a physician, not a bard."
"If you wish to earn money more quickly, or to deal with clients more easily, especially the troublesome kind."
His outburst was ignored; punishing the man wouldn't do well for such a negotiation.
"It is an attractive offer." He said quietly.
"How long would you expect me to stay? Would I be free to come and go?"
"As long as you want. Personally, I'd prefer you stay for as long as I remain in the city, the duration of which is open ended. I will not bind you to me; I'm not giving you a true apprenticeship, as that would mean I would need to provide for you, beyond a simple home. Come and go as you please."
It was simple, and implications obvious, now: they needed a regular meal, and that was really it.
"We can discuss a feeding schedule later. Just keep in mind, smaller meals mean I must take more often." Or find a secondary source.
"I understand." He nodded. Well, there was housing taken care of.
"Where are you staying?... what are you exactly?"
"An inn, for now. If I need to stay long, I will purchase a property, as needed. Is that acceptable to you?" They considered his question; no, they wouldn't give him a good answer, of course. Simply: "A very hungry dog, that is all."
Finally, the elf moved; the gangway had long been lowered, but only now did they lead Andrei away. Briefly stopping to chat with a sailor, their words were rapid. For the less fluent, all that could be caught were mentions of luggage and an inn. Coin was exchanged, and the elf moved on, dragging Andrei down the docks, now actively holding him close and out of the bustle.
It was only once they were on the brick of the city's road and walkways that Zaany released him. The silence of the stones had yet to be removed, but it was immediately obvious that people now saw him.
"There is an inn well within the city, near the bazaar and colleges, that will be suitable. My belongings will be delivered in the morning...and I might be convinced to share a robe with you, after you bathe."
Andrei stared quietly at his surroundings. It was a larger city than he imagined. There would be ample opportunity for work.
"An inn is good. Perhaps food too." He sighed. He'd hardly had a chance to eat on board the boats.
The city was indeed large; verging on massive, even. The streets were paved with brick, trampled by hundreds of feet, sometimes even thousands, every day. The population was diverse, though Andrei still stuck out like a sore thumb with his light skin. His elf companion fared only slightly better; they did not look to belong, either, as the few elves they passed by were dark skinned.
The flow of the crowds drew them directly to the bazaar; huge, loud, crowded, and often with the illusion of being indoors, with the fabrics overhanging the walkways and stalls. The bombardment for wares and goods was endless...but the elf seemed to hear nothing of it, as if they had tunnel vision for their destination.
Andrei walked close to them in silence. The stalls in the streets were distracting, especially the ones full of food. His pockets had never felt more empty. He sighed wistfully. He truly was at the mercy of this being- unless he wanted to swallow his pride and be a beggar after all. But beggars don't make good doctors.
His staff clicked along the pavement. He'd been told of the different races and classes that mixed in this city but was surprised at the diversity. There was someone with a tail running one of the noisier stalls. He tried not to stare, acutely aware that he was the outlier here. "It is not far?"
"No. And I will send you with coin for food when we arrive."
Zaany paused, just briefly; something about their posture stiffened...and a smirk came across their face. And they continued.
"I don't care how long you take. Just be back by morning."
And they slipped from the main bizaar district, onto a side street. The paving here changed from brick to flagstones. Proper shops lined the streets, here, and it was obviously a place where stalls would not be tolerated.
A short while longer, and Zaany led him into a building. The outside had been just as fine as the rest of the street. Inside, it kept its promise. Bright rugs lined the floors with their elaborate designs, and fine fabrics covered the walls.
Again, Zaany did the talking, exchanged coin; the building was three levels tall, and, when they were shown to their rooms, it seemed the elf had rented half of the top floor. Half amounted to three rooms, two bedrooms and one a sitting room.
The elf did not tolerate the company of the innkeeper for long, though, and the somewhat tall, dark skinned, middle aged woman left them be - after all, they were tired from their travels.
Zaany leaned the flute against a wall, entered the larger of the bedrooms, leaving the door open, without a word. This room, atop having a large bed with curtains surrounding it, a chest, a wardrobe, and a desk, also had a massive window, and a balcony.
There were seats and a small table on the balcony, and this is where the elf went to sit. If the apprentice wanted fed, he would follow.
Andrei didn't feel like he had much of a choice. He understood the innkeeper but declined to speak to her. He was tired. He'd taken in more of the language in his brief time on the boat and outside the city than he had under his tutors. The mental effort was rewarded with a headache.
He sat ungracefully near the elf. "What is it you do, to afford this?" He said, gesturing to the spacious rooms.
"Many things. My main business is in enchantment. Traveling as a bard - which, of course, I am - is just more simple, less of a target...in some lands, less suspicious." They reached into their robes, pulled out more coin - small coin, this time, but did not yet hand it over.
"You will come to me every week and feed me. The sex is, of course, optional. Frankly, it is more up to you, on that; I only care for a regular meal. As for my teaching you anything, you, again, will approach me once every week, opposite of when you come to be of use. It will be least wearing."
They looked over at the pale man. "If you, of course, enjoy gambling with your life, you could submit yourself to me only once every month." There was a smirk, and the coin was set on the table between them. "I do believe you could simply get the innkeeper to feed you, but I would prefer you eat from the market. I do not need it to be noticed that I do not eat."
"And I can trust that weekly feedings won't leave me dead. I also take it you do not wish for me to mention being 'bitten' to anyone." He nodded. "I can eat from the market. I plan to spend most of my time there, anyway. I need to find work, still. And I need to explore. Find new clothes."
The rest was implied. The less time he spent in close quarters with the stranger, the better. "The feedings should be done at night, if this is agreeable, I will sleep after, that way."
"Yes, you should keep our doings to yourself." The demon only nodded at the proposed timing. What did they care? They didn't.
"I'm expecting company tonight." So make yourself scarce.
"I will stay out of the way." He got up. "I am going to find food. Does Aram have public bath houses nearby? I fear I smell of the river." He wrinkled his nose.
"Do you wish for me to return with anything from the market?"
"That, you will need to ask around for. But I can't imagine it wouldn't." The elf shook their head, waved him gone.
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