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Trigger warning: Sexual innuendo and slight vulgarity, alcohol
A day of radio silence, of avoidance. But, after so long with a husband like her own, fear would keep Masha away for only so long. Soon enough, the rodent saw it in a much...different light.
Fighting back and away a smirk almost nervous in nature, her fuzzy knuckles rapped on the inn suite door; she was, after all, expected, having sent the man a note asking to meet in private.
A day of radio silence, of avoidance. But, after so long with a husband like her own, fear would keep Masha away for only so long. Soon enough, the rodent saw it in a much...different light.
Fighting back and away a smirk almost nervous in nature, her fuzzy knuckles rapped on the inn suite door; she was, after all, expected, having sent the man a note asking to meet in private.
The door creaked open. The black eyed figure gazed dully back at her. God, did he look sick. "Hello. Please come in."
He sounded sick, as if his throat were raw. He seemed to be able to keep himself busy, though, it would be apparent that he'd been awake and reading, keeping himself occupied with odds and ends in a neat pile on the floor. "It is nice to see you again. Do you care for a drink?"
He sounded sick, as if his throat were raw. He seemed to be able to keep himself busy, though, it would be apparent that he'd been awake and reading, keeping himself occupied with odds and ends in a neat pile on the floor. "It is nice to see you again. Do you care for a drink?"
No matter how much she steeled and prepared for this, seeing the man caused a twinge of fear to cross her face; but it was quickly pushed away, face rearranged into the polite almost-smile she gave to clients she liked.
"A drink? Absolutely, thank you." Masha nodded to Andrei as she brushed past him into the room, carefully picking past the 'neat' mess of books and such to take her place on the couch near the door. Idly, the rodent brushed a stray crease from her skirt.
"Are you truly doing well? I wouldn't want to keep you from rest...."
"A drink? Absolutely, thank you." Masha nodded to Andrei as she brushed past him into the room, carefully picking past the 'neat' mess of books and such to take her place on the couch near the door. Idly, the rodent brushed a stray crease from her skirt.
"Are you truly doing well? I wouldn't want to keep you from rest...."
He fetched a pitcher of wine. He hadn't touched it, himself, nor did he bother pouring himself a glass. Well, at least it wasn't cheap wine.
"I am very well, yes. Very well. I don't really even feel tired anymore. Ever." He handed her the cup.
"I do feel myself lonely though. It's work I'm well suited to, but it does tend to keep me a bit cooped up. How have you been? How are your children?"
He sat cross legged on a stool, nearly perching, staring at the rodent like an owl. "We have a lot of catching up."
"I am very well, yes. Very well. I don't really even feel tired anymore. Ever." He handed her the cup.
"I do feel myself lonely though. It's work I'm well suited to, but it does tend to keep me a bit cooped up. How have you been? How are your children?"
He sat cross legged on a stool, nearly perching, staring at the rodent like an owl. "We have a lot of catching up."
More wine for her. And, goodness knew, she'd need it. Holding the class in one small hand, she immediately took a deep sip, barely bothering to taste it at first.
"Oh, that is too bad." Another sip; the stare was more than disconcerting. "I am well, work is steady. The children are beginning new studies for the ... season, if you can call it that in this forsaken place." She lingered a moment, then quickly moved on. "We do, yes, but I was thinking of your offer the other day. Of taking you up on it. If you still feel such generosity?"
"Oh, that is too bad." Another sip; the stare was more than disconcerting. "I am well, work is steady. The children are beginning new studies for the ... season, if you can call it that in this forsaken place." She lingered a moment, then quickly moved on. "We do, yes, but I was thinking of your offer the other day. Of taking you up on it. If you still feel such generosity?"
He noticeably perked up. His eyes were shining. "Yes. Of course. I do not retract my offers. Generosity does not die so quickly in a god's heart."
He chuckled darkly, but quickly composed himself. "I am a bit surprised though. You seemed rather... disinterested in it, when we last spoke of it. I wondered if I had insulted you." He tilted his head. "Or perhaps you just needed time to think. Well. I hope I will not disappoint. No, you deserve whatever miracle you wish for. You were the one that made them happen, after all."
He chuckled darkly, but quickly composed himself. "I am a bit surprised though. You seemed rather... disinterested in it, when we last spoke of it. I wondered if I had insulted you." He tilted his head. "Or perhaps you just needed time to think. Well. I hope I will not disappoint. No, you deserve whatever miracle you wish for. You were the one that made them happen, after all."
"You frightened me, is all. It is not every day that...well, this happens." There was that 'smile' again.
"I have thought. You have given me such good health, I do not wish to squander it simply working it away for years and years once more. If I had the wealth to care for my family, my children, my animals, and not need to spend my time hunched over a desk every day...Well, I would be blessed." Her words sounded almost humble, but her eyes were hard, watching him, staring back brazenly into the face of a predator as its match, or perhaps its kin.
"I have thought. You have given me such good health, I do not wish to squander it simply working it away for years and years once more. If I had the wealth to care for my family, my children, my animals, and not need to spend my time hunched over a desk every day...Well, I would be blessed." Her words sounded almost humble, but her eyes were hard, watching him, staring back brazenly into the face of a predator as its match, or perhaps its kin.
A wry smile curled on the ghoul's face. "Wealth, is it? Gold, glittering gems, beyond your wildest imagination?" His head tilted again, the other direction, bird like. "Done."
He nodded curtly, and got off the stool. "Wealth is easy. There is just a little work required... yes, I know, work is what we wish to avoid, but we can't always get something for nothing, not even from a god." He pulled out paper and began to write quickly. "These are businesses you'd do well to invest in. There are also maps in that stack of papers- give me one please, I can show you were there are stockpiles of gold that lay long forgotten."
He was scribbling quickly. "Wealth is easy. Wealth is something any god can give you. Give this miracle a bit of time, not more than two weeks, you will no longer have to work. Another two weeks, your children will no longer have to work. Just follow these instructions here, dear, all you seek and more can be found in the shade of the vulture's wings."
He handed the stack of papers to her. "I do hope I am welcome in the lavish mansions that are sure to ensue. I would enjoy the opportunity to help you break in a bed."
He nodded curtly, and got off the stool. "Wealth is easy. There is just a little work required... yes, I know, work is what we wish to avoid, but we can't always get something for nothing, not even from a god." He pulled out paper and began to write quickly. "These are businesses you'd do well to invest in. There are also maps in that stack of papers- give me one please, I can show you were there are stockpiles of gold that lay long forgotten."
He was scribbling quickly. "Wealth is easy. Wealth is something any god can give you. Give this miracle a bit of time, not more than two weeks, you will no longer have to work. Another two weeks, your children will no longer have to work. Just follow these instructions here, dear, all you seek and more can be found in the shade of the vulture's wings."
He handed the stack of papers to her. "I do hope I am welcome in the lavish mansions that are sure to ensue. I would enjoy the opportunity to help you break in a bed."
With dramatic and opportunistic timing that had been mutually agreed-upon by the pair of nearby lurkers, and a brief and curt nod, the man left the tenant of the suite in their room.
He silently crossed, padded to the corner of the room. But there was nothing that shirked about his carriage - these were slow, purposeful, stalking strides. Leonine, somehow. The eyeshine glint of meagre light off his glasses was a happy accident, though the man would undoubtedly have been thrilled at the effect.
Nevertheless, the eyes beneath them were locked on the strange man with a laserlike focus, and in spite of a controlled, practised intensity, there was absolutely nothing to be gleaned from the stare.
He silently crossed, padded to the corner of the room. But there was nothing that shirked about his carriage - these were slow, purposeful, stalking strides. Leonine, somehow. The eyeshine glint of meagre light off his glasses was a happy accident, though the man would undoubtedly have been thrilled at the effect.
Nevertheless, the eyes beneath them were locked on the strange man with a laserlike focus, and in spite of a controlled, practised intensity, there was absolutely nothing to be gleaned from the stare.
The dwarfed older woman was just sitting back down on the couch, a small stack of papers in her lap, when the door clicked open from a so-far silent room; even her own sharp ears had not picked up a sound. Masha's eyes shot up, almost startled...and froze at the sight of her husband. At the same time, there was no surprise in the fact he was in this suite...simply that he was in this suite at the same time as her.
Her gaze did not break off of the overly tall man even as she answered, sternly and stiffly, "I do not feel that that would be quite appropriate, my generous friend."
Her mind was racing. When was it not, when he was around?
Her gaze did not break off of the overly tall man even as she answered, sternly and stiffly, "I do not feel that that would be quite appropriate, my generous friend."
Her mind was racing. When was it not, when he was around?
The ghoul on the stool was suddenly rather pointedly ignoring the woman, focusing with a predatory gaze on the newcomer. He didn't look angry... or even really all that surprised. Part of him, perhaps, knew- but all the same, he did a poor job of masking the disappointment.
"How nice of you to join us, Arron." The name dripped like venom and echoed with several equally hateful voices hissing in tandem. "Yes, nice of you to finally join us. I hope you will be pleased with the blessings bestowed upon you and yours."
He grinned wide, yellow teeth sneered back at the tall man from dark purple gums.
"How nice of you to join us, Arron." The name dripped like venom and echoed with several equally hateful voices hissing in tandem. "Yes, nice of you to finally join us. I hope you will be pleased with the blessings bestowed upon you and yours."
He grinned wide, yellow teeth sneered back at the tall man from dark purple gums.
And out sauntered the elf, dressed loosely and quickly; their hair was askew. Tthe rather beastly wizard slid uncharacteristically into a seat nearby their door, their claws reached into their companion's thick black mane and began to casually braid it.
Just as quiet as their counterpart, they shared also an intensity. But it was more a perverse interest in the proceedings, some satisfaction or other, than anything the tall man lacked. They, too, focused on Andrei, the slightest smirk on their painted, albeit smudged, lips.
Just as quiet as their counterpart, they shared also an intensity. But it was more a perverse interest in the proceedings, some satisfaction or other, than anything the tall man lacked. They, too, focused on Andrei, the slightest smirk on their painted, albeit smudged, lips.
“I am sorry, I must have missed the part about the...blessings. And yes, I do believe those sorts of tests are more my expertise.”
The elf followed shortly, but he continued without skipping a beat, remaining just as guarded as ever.
“But as long as encroaching seems to be in fashion, I suppose I could invite you in, for that bed. Bottom, of course. Lownoise can watch. If they like. Or perhaps we could have all four. Beds can be such stiff things, do you not know? Especially if there are to be many of them.”
The delivery was cheerily flippant, accompanied by an entirely inappropriate leer that didn’t reach his eyes, though they flicked about, eager to see if he garnered a reaction from any of the assembled.
Then he rose - but not without some reluctance to part from the hair-pets - and the bizarre affability dripped down to a trickle. Advanced on the other man, stiffness masked in a predatory stride. Crouched nearer, dropping down to be level with Andrei's eyes.
“But I digress, sir. You know my name, but I do not think we have been properly introduced.” Another brief, sidelong glance at the rodent
“Forgive me if I am rather understandably doubtful of a strange man - or, men,” he’d added, and it was in this brief acknowledgement of the stranger’s voices that the cracks in the veneer began to show. “...who make such lavish claims. Speak to me of these blessings, yes?”
The elf followed shortly, but he continued without skipping a beat, remaining just as guarded as ever.
“But as long as encroaching seems to be in fashion, I suppose I could invite you in, for that bed. Bottom, of course. Lownoise can watch. If they like. Or perhaps we could have all four. Beds can be such stiff things, do you not know? Especially if there are to be many of them.”
The delivery was cheerily flippant, accompanied by an entirely inappropriate leer that didn’t reach his eyes, though they flicked about, eager to see if he garnered a reaction from any of the assembled.
Then he rose - but not without some reluctance to part from the hair-pets - and the bizarre affability dripped down to a trickle. Advanced on the other man, stiffness masked in a predatory stride. Crouched nearer, dropping down to be level with Andrei's eyes.
“But I digress, sir. You know my name, but I do not think we have been properly introduced.” Another brief, sidelong glance at the rodent
“Forgive me if I am rather understandably doubtful of a strange man - or, men,” he’d added, and it was in this brief acknowledgement of the stranger’s voices that the cracks in the veneer began to show. “...who make such lavish claims. Speak to me of these blessings, yes?”
This was going...poorly, yes. Well, perhaps not as poorly as it could. Andrei, after all, could merely have ended up as yet another smear to be cleaned from her husband's clothes, as he might yet.
The monster in the room was blatant, unabashed. But Masha spared only a brief scowl at the being. Their presence in her life had long been quietly accepted, though this was the first time the two had been in the same room together.
Arron, though, had almost Masha's full attention, other than almost shock at the venom Andrei offered him. She let out a breath, sucked it back in, set the papers aside and slipped from the couch to her feet. Forward motion, and the claws of her fingers brushed and snagged on the familiar fabric of her husband's sleeve, a soft but insistent tug.
"There is no reason for us to not sit and talk, Yedinstvennaya i nepovtorimaya."
The monster in the room was blatant, unabashed. But Masha spared only a brief scowl at the being. Their presence in her life had long been quietly accepted, though this was the first time the two had been in the same room together.
Arron, though, had almost Masha's full attention, other than almost shock at the venom Andrei offered him. She let out a breath, sucked it back in, set the papers aside and slipped from the couch to her feet. Forward motion, and the claws of her fingers brushed and snagged on the familiar fabric of her husband's sleeve, a soft but insistent tug.
"There is no reason for us to not sit and talk, Yedinstvennaya i nepovtorimaya."
Andrei's toxic grin only grew and grew as Arron talked. "If you are offering sir, I think I could make more than enough room in my little love nest for three. Or four, if you want to drag the dog into it. Why not?" The fake cheer was nearly lost on the several rasping voices.
"Though really, I must insist on a space at least NEAR the top. Unless of course, that is your request of the gods, I am sure their generosity could be extended that way if you ask nicely enough."
He got up, walked past Masha, towards the man, still ignoring the demon in the room. He would deal with them later, near dinner time. "No, we haven't been properly introduced. But your name precedes you. Yes. You are a known figure, in this realm and the next. If you want to talk blessings, I am sure you will find something to your liking here. I hold the whole world in my talons. Half the fun is sharing it."
If he was afraid or embarrassed, he wasn't showing it. His eyes, blank and black, didn't show much of anything. His smile looked more hungry than cheerful.
"Though really, I must insist on a space at least NEAR the top. Unless of course, that is your request of the gods, I am sure their generosity could be extended that way if you ask nicely enough."
He got up, walked past Masha, towards the man, still ignoring the demon in the room. He would deal with them later, near dinner time. "No, we haven't been properly introduced. But your name precedes you. Yes. You are a known figure, in this realm and the next. If you want to talk blessings, I am sure you will find something to your liking here. I hold the whole world in my talons. Half the fun is sharing it."
If he was afraid or embarrassed, he wasn't showing it. His eyes, blank and black, didn't show much of anything. His smile looked more hungry than cheerful.
Losing Arron's hair, Zaany's claws moved on to their own disheveled hair, pulling their feet up into the emptied space of the chair, tail wrapping comfortably around their legs.
The observer was not at all distressed; amusement seemed to seep out of them, their needle teeth peeking out in a grin. "Woof." Quiet, followed by a chuckle, grin growing. The rodent was entirely ignored. She was insignificant.
The observer was not at all distressed; amusement seemed to seep out of them, their needle teeth peeking out in a grin. "Woof." Quiet, followed by a chuckle, grin growing. The rodent was entirely ignored. She was insignificant.
“Heh. Though then again, it sounds like we are at least at four, already. How many do you have in there? A pulse is ...negotiable, but four might be my limit.”
He tilted his head curiously, a rather canine gesture.
“Has it all been offerings to your realm, then? Food for some primordial being?”
In the face of everything, the man remained calm. Almost too calm in the face of the numerous revelations that had unfolded; his voice was as flat as his stare, even in the midst of flippancy, even between the ensuing grin that never felt entirely genuine.
But he didn’t allow much room for answer, as he abruptly broke the stare, whirled on a dime to perch near the rodent, hollow penetrating stare and wide smile, looking for all the world like a lanky mongrel, himself.
“You are quite right, Mashenka. I do believe I have interrupted some sort of bargain. If that is what you are calling it these days.” The grin this time was rather nasty. “Come. Sit. Like gentlemen. And lady.” He barked commands as if they were gathered in his own suite. “We continue.”
He tilted his head curiously, a rather canine gesture.
“Has it all been offerings to your realm, then? Food for some primordial being?”
In the face of everything, the man remained calm. Almost too calm in the face of the numerous revelations that had unfolded; his voice was as flat as his stare, even in the midst of flippancy, even between the ensuing grin that never felt entirely genuine.
But he didn’t allow much room for answer, as he abruptly broke the stare, whirled on a dime to perch near the rodent, hollow penetrating stare and wide smile, looking for all the world like a lanky mongrel, himself.
“You are quite right, Mashenka. I do believe I have interrupted some sort of bargain. If that is what you are calling it these days.” The grin this time was rather nasty. “Come. Sit. Like gentlemen. And lady.” He barked commands as if they were gathered in his own suite. “We continue.”
This was not quite a strong point. Not at all what she'd been prepared for. But she could use it. He was cooperating.
The all-too-recently renewed woman re-took her seat beside the too-tall man, quite suddenly brushing off and ignoring his behaviour, his jabs. Composure regained, she took one of her husband's hands, pulled it into her lap between her own, as if this was entirely normal, not the tense rented room that smelled too strongly of blood and spices. Well, it wasn't as if the scents were abnormal to her.
"Husband," large blue eyes peered up, "we were hardly in the middle of anything. I do believe I already have what I have come for." The stack of papers were between their hands and her skirted lap. "Unless you truly wish to further explore who gets to be in what position. I assure you, though, that none of you," her glance between them all was as serious as her voice sounded, "will be on top. So, please, feel free to squabble amongst yourselves."
The all-too-recently renewed woman re-took her seat beside the too-tall man, quite suddenly brushing off and ignoring his behaviour, his jabs. Composure regained, she took one of her husband's hands, pulled it into her lap between her own, as if this was entirely normal, not the tense rented room that smelled too strongly of blood and spices. Well, it wasn't as if the scents were abnormal to her.
"Husband," large blue eyes peered up, "we were hardly in the middle of anything. I do believe I already have what I have come for." The stack of papers were between their hands and her skirted lap. "Unless you truly wish to further explore who gets to be in what position. I assure you, though, that none of you," her glance between them all was as serious as her voice sounded, "will be on top. So, please, feel free to squabble amongst yourselves."
"If you insist, Arron." The voices quieted down to a single one once more. He reached out his hand, a wooden staff that had been leaning against the wall came to it with a swift fluid movement.
"I would very much like to talk offerings. Yes. Offerings are good. But I do get the feeling that you aren't entirely pleased with me. I do not understand why." With his blank stare and rasping flat voice, it would be hard to tell if that statement were sarcasm.
"Here I am, bestowing the blessings of health and wealth, upon you and yours, while your wife-" He motioned to the woman. "Seems to be under the impression that this would make you unhappy. Please, do tell, what burdens you? What makes you unhappy?"
"I would very much like to talk offerings. Yes. Offerings are good. But I do get the feeling that you aren't entirely pleased with me. I do not understand why." With his blank stare and rasping flat voice, it would be hard to tell if that statement were sarcasm.
"Here I am, bestowing the blessings of health and wealth, upon you and yours, while your wife-" He motioned to the woman. "Seems to be under the impression that this would make you unhappy. Please, do tell, what burdens you? What makes you unhappy?"
So far mostly silent, the elf finally spoke up, eyes locked on the staff in Andrei's hand.
"Priest," their voice hissed out, with just the barest hint of music in it, "we do not so openly wield weapons in this place."
"Priest," their voice hissed out, with just the barest hint of music in it, "we do not so openly wield weapons in this place."
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