An Unusual Partnership

[LordLuck]

(closed for DormantEvil. This thread is meant for us both to explore our character's relationships way prior to their coming interactions in Decadents & Dropouts. I hope we both enjoy this exercise. )

It had been years since he had walked the Underworld.

Yet, every night, when he looked into the night sky, Ma'ant'Zek'Ur could remember of the starless darkness that is the largest of the cavern rooftoops, who sometimes gleamed with the glittery reflection of gems and precious rocks, emulating the ghostly stars that he could see now.

The spell was still at work. He could watch the sky quietly for the time being, for his appearance was cleverly disguised by his own artificial magics. Ma'ant was an illusionist. More that just because he was quite able as an spellcaster since the first day he had tried to manipulate it's arcane energies by instinct, but because it was a needed defense to survive in the wilds of the Underworld. To be elusive was only the first of required skills in order to endure the englobing, lightless night beyond the colonies.

It was also because he was an aberration.

Or so did the mages and wizards of mankind used to describe Ma'ant's own kind. Why? Did they not think that the Illithids found the humans as aberrant as well? No. Because... it was a way too long story that he decided not to explore as he relaxed, concealed by his spells. But he then decided to go downstairs once more, in order to attend to his bussiness once again.

His illusions were clever. Ma'ant disguised himself as a tall, thin but broad-shouldered man, his brown beard well-timmed and his eyes sharp. Posing as a wealthy merchantman, Ma'ant had been able to live among the humans in this large settlement for years now, calling himself Kasmir, like some foreign investor who came to estabilish a wealthy web of commerce.

Garbed in rich, velvety clothes, he sensed as another client had entered his Emporium, declared by the eyes of one of his entourage - the void-minded servants that attented to himself. Walking through a curtained door, Ma'ant, or better, Kasmir the Merchant strode forth into his luxury goods shop. A wide room, where many drapped, fine curtains of silk covered every wall, where displays showed fine jewels as his absent-minded, drooling thralls stood at... attention? Not the best word to describe their actions.

Someone had ringer the doorbell.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

The streets had grown cold as the winter chills descended off the mountain slopes to the north. The entire country would soon become slowly covered in blankets of thick snow, at least in this region. For now it was simply uncomfortable. The drow had shown skills among the street children, her speed and strength gave her added bonus' when picking the pockets of the wealthy. And her innocent, if not rather exotic face gave her the added bonus of playing to the sins of those who had filthy minds. Standing beside her friends, she looked to be only sixteen years of age. And mentally she was still but a child herself, even if she had been a child going on thirty years now. Stunted mentally by lack of training and discipline, her childish wants and needs ruled her.

Stealing, causing fights, playing tricks and other associated activities filled her days. And although she was but a child, she knew what men wanted. And that many enjoyed the youth that called the streets home. They used the fact that she was a dark elf, and of similar years walking the earth to cover their dark fantasies. And they paid well for said comforts.

Relic knew little of moving around, and had called this town home for many years. It was her first home, and she knew it well. Over the many years merchants had proven a great source of income. Many looked for the children to peddle their goods, but Relic preferred not to deal with them. So when she pushed the door open to one of the newer merchant shops she let her little eyes widen in awe. So many shiny and expensive objects lined the walls. It was a feast of gluttony.

Her fingertips grazed the tops of metal urns, and the glazes of fragile vases. She looked closely at the thin weave rugs, and smelled the spice jars. She was in a heaven, compared to the street outside.

Wearing a purple shirt that was far too big for her, she let her long silver hair hang over her shoulders. It covered her not yet fully pointed ears, and if she kept her mouth closed she could pass for a very pale child. An animal skin was pulled over her shoulders, and she wore hide boots over her mostly uncovered legs. The skirt she wore that showed off her lower thighs was tattered enough to no longer pass as knee length. Approaching one of the counters, she waited for service, thinking about how much she could steal if this shop was left unattended for mere moments.

"Excuse me? Are you in need o' someone to publicize this 'ere shop?" she asked one of the men nearby.

 

[LordLuck]

Kasmir the Merchant suddenly appeared from behind a drapped, silken curtain of gold-enamelled fabric, one of the fine luxury good at sale.

However, the petite figure just besides him was not was he had expected. Actually, Kasmir was not expecting anyone to walk in his estabilishment besides people searching for information, or the latest fashion on the courts of the Sultans from the distant, shivering sands of the Shining South.

She was indeed beaultiful for such a petite being, her pubescent looks intriguing. It had been quite some time since Ma'ant had seen the last of the Dark Elves. Or better. Kasmir had never seen such exotic look before. He was sure someone would most surely find use for her in some forgotten, filthy brotherl back at the Western Coast. His own fine garbs did so much contrast to her poor rags. She was a vision to inspire pity to Kasmir the Merchant.

But not to Ma'ant'Zek'Ur. The mind flayer concealed under the intrinsec weave of spells was just starting to read Relic's mind, reading of her constant hardships in order to survive in the savage world outside. And worse. He could read of her almost intinctive desire to take his merchandise. That did not amuse Ma'ant, nor Kasmir.

"How can I help you, my little friend?", he approached her, both hands at his back, his thick accent almost gurgling under his true, disguised features. With a wave of his hands, his warped thralls merely stood back, facing away from the pair. "How can good Kasmir be of use to you, Miss...?"

 

[DormantEvil]

As the silk curtain was pushed aside and a man walked through it, Relic looked up from her idle gazing at the wares he kept in reach of the countertop. For now she kept her hands right where they were, away from trinkets and rarities. Sometimes too much temptation was just asking for trouble around her. The man was tall, in comparison to her, and she straightened up to appear bigger than she was. He spoke well, and nicely to her, but she knew as a human man there was more going on behind those eyes than just kindness and compassion. He was also a merchant, being arrogant or nasty to customers wasn't good business practice.

"I'm just looking for a few coins, sir, in exchange for work of course."

Looking away from him as the men in their company turned away, Relic frowned outwardly and stepped back from the counter a few feet. As if wary of the sudden lack of 'viewers'. Turning her gaze back towards the door she waited a second before stepping forwards again. As if tossing up whether staying was better than going back outside, and appearing to believe it was.

"What can I do for a few coins, sir?"

Deep down part of her hoped that he would be like the other men in town, and want pleasures from her. But on the other hand, she never minded hard work to get by. Especially since very few gave her a fair chance, and none would let her attend school due to her non-human-ness.

 

[LordLuck]

As he telephatically skimmed over Relic's thoughts, Ma'ant had the chance to learn something about this girl. The way that she usually 'extracted' her income from the purses of the groogly, sleepy men that shared a bedroll or even a tavern's shadowy corner table with her. Poor child, Kasmir would think. But to the almost otherworldy Ma'ant, it spoke of a fascinating side of the human 'goodly' society that no adventurer ever spoke of.

He knew already that she was hesitant to ask this of him. Or was she feeling uncorfortable to enter his shop, where she saw and sensed many things that she could never hope to own? There was a reason for that. Innate caution? Perhaps.

"I can think of something...", he smirked, as if he indeed intended to do what the little lady before him most surely guessed he would... and perhaps, why not? Maybe later on... "I can offer you a clean bed, warm food, and a few golden coins, my young friend, if you'd do some chores for me. Washing my clothes, watching over the store for some moments... keeping my bed warm during the nights."

However, there was something amiss with this child. She reminded Ma'ant the Illithid of a race he hadn't seen in many, many years. Was she?... How could her...

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

It appeared as though this man was quite forward with his dealings, and Relic couldn't help but appreciate his 'honesty'. But this could also be a trick. Several men in the past had been working with the authorities, trying to catch out non-humans especially, and humans doing 'less than holy work'. Such as selling their bodies, or the other less refined forms of business. But for now there was nothing to do but accept his deal. At least he had teeth, and seemed to bathe. That was a step up, and Relic found herself beaming as she thought of a bath...even if it was with him.

"You got ya'self a deal sir!" Throwing her hand out across the counter, she smiled up at him. Usually most men disliked the immediate show of acception, wondering just why she accepted so quickly. But Relic never passed up a coin. Well, very rarely she might. But there were usually really good reasons for it. Like when one man asked her to steal a kidney from a mother of a friend, for a measly three gold coins. That was at least a ten gold coin job in her mind...maybe fifteen if the woman hadn't of kicked her friend out every night when she whored her house out.

"Keep the warm bed and food up, and the occasional coin 'ere and there and I'll 'serve' ya as long as ya like."

She loved easy business.

Grumbling her stomach started to pick up on her thinking about food and her smile faded for just a split second, sharp pain shooting through her insides. God she could go for a nice thick juicy steak, cooked until it was just medium rare. Relic licked her lips just thinking about it, imagining the red juice as it dribbled down her chin, licking it all up with her sharp red tongue. Another grumble woke her from her day dreaming and she turned her attention back to the merchant.

"I'm Relic."

 

[LordLuck]

"I'm Kasmir the Southerner."

He did not have to skim through the small woman's mind in order to hear her stomach angrily grumble. Kasmir smiled down at her, and took her dirty hand. In a social act he already understood as unconvenient to the situation, he lowered his head to lay a kiss at the back of Relic's hand. Of course that Ma'ant understood that convention was something only belonging to the higher classes, but it serviced two ends - to both show how foreign he was, and to flatter this child. He had to win her, if he did not wanted merchandise to dissapear.

"There's just a few things you should abide when staying with me, Miss Relic.", he said, walking around the counter all the while to stand just beside the dark elf. "Do not talk to the other attendants. I'll explain later. Do not leave the shop without telling me first. And if you need something, please, ask me before trying to solve it yourself. As long as you service me, you are always with me, understood?"

He petted her sweaty, oiled haid with a kind hand, caressing her as he spoke, his features both kind and welcoming as he stared down into her eyes. She was tall for the age most humans thought she had, but she was so thin. He had to put some meat in those muscles if he wished her to undertook some of the tasks he had already bore in his mind.

"Now, you seem as hungry as a besieged city's commoner. Come with me, let's find you something chewy to eat. I'm thinking on a...", he grinned as he had just read through her evident desires, "...cooked beef. Perhaps a thick chop, and some spiced flour to make it more edible. Come with me."

At the same time he turned around, motioning for Relic to follow him into behind the curtain from he had just appeared, Ma'ant had sent a telephatical order to the void-minded thrall on the kitchen, who already had begun to prepare a meal to Relic. The whistle was to cover up his second mental order to the other attendants, one to guard the shop, the other to close the door as soon as they've left. It was dark, and few clients would come after him at this time.

Besides, he now had company to entertain.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

There were very few things in life that Relic found enticing, and one of them was the way foreigners behaved. Their customs seemed otherworldly in comparison to the rather impolite and hostile human land she had lived in all her life. And to show her appreciation for the kiss he placed on her hand, she bowed slightly. Something that seemed more to hide the small blush that had flushed to her cheeks than out of known symbolism. She had been expecting a simple hand shake.

She watched as he walked around to her, nodding her understanding as he spoke of what not to do. For now she could accept that.

"I'll never want to leave if you have food and a bed, sir."

Following him in behind the curtain, she heard the quite click of the door getting locked, but didn't turn to see why. Instead the thought of the cooked beef and spiced flour had taken her attention. She walked only a few feet behind Kasmir's robes, watching as they swayed from side to side around his ankles.

She looked down at her hand, the back of it was now a little cleaner in one spot where he had kissed her. And it was warmer than it had been. Rubbing her hands on her shirt, she subconsciously tried to clean away the dirt. Slightly ashamed at the state of her hands, especially since he had kissed her there.

 

[LordLuck]

Kasmir only smiled back at Relic as she followed him inside his personal area. There was a large room, complete with more drapped curtains and a thick, geometrical-pattern rug, but Kasmir led her on, behind another set of multi-coloured tapestries into a sizeable kitchen, where his thralls had their meals.

"Here, sit.", he told Relic, laying both hands at her thin shoulders and forcing her down kindly into a long, wooden bench."It shall be ready soon."

It galled Ma'ant when he saw her blushing. And even more when he noticed, rather than read her trying to clean her dirty hands into her even as stained shirt. He would have to take care of that as well, sooner rather than later, if he was to spend time with the young elf.

Walking around the table to sit just before Relic, Kasmir smiled kindly towards her again. "And after your hunger is sated, dear, we should get you cleaned. I'm personally taking the duty of washing your down, my little friend.", he smiled again. Ma'ant could already feel that there was something so different with this drow as there was with him. A 'normal' illithid would have already warped a mind blast through her mind, and would be now feasting over her brain matter, but somehow, ever since he had first seen Relic stading aloss in his shop, Ma'ant never felt the slightest wish to devour her brains. She fascinated him.

Unlike many orphaned children that he once used to capture, use, feast upon and then discard their mangled bodies, Relic wasn't a human. Nor a surfacer elf. She was a drow, and that tale alone caught his curiosity... and other feelings too elaborate to describe.

A thrall passed by, delivering two short, simple ceramic cups before them, and dissapeared. In a moment, he brought back a bronze plate were laid a deliciously-smelling roasted beef, almost two centimeters thick, dripping in bloody sauce, and a pot, filled with another curious smelling flour. Delicatessen of the South. The thrall disapeared again at Ma'ant's discreet mind command.

"So tell me, Relic... tell me of your life. Tell me how you came to be here. Tell me how a drow ended up in the overworld. Tell me everything you wish.", for the rest I shall tell you myself, Ma'ant laughted quietly to himself.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Sitting down with a rather tense feeling as hands touched her shoulders, Relic could almost imagine what other strength this man might show to her if she was both good, and bad. But for now she knew that it was possible to escape from most men, who thought only of the weaknesses of children, and never of their strengths. Resilience was one of those. Something she had lots of, as he would learn soon enough.

Watching as the mindless servant, not that she knew how accurate that assessment actually was, Relic couldn't help but wish to have servants do her own bidding. Deep down she felt the urge to ask him about them, and why she wasn't allowed to speak with them. For now she followed the rules though.

Before the food was even presented before her, the scent hit her nostrils and she licked her lips expectantly. And as each bowl, cup and plate were placed on the table she felt the need to devour it impolitely. But again, she followed in his suit, and waited.

"A bath would be most welcomed, I 'avent had one for a good month. And even then that was just a soak in the river."

She pondered what else he had planned for her, but decided against predicting them.

She had survived painful experiences before, surely she would survive whatever he threw at her.

His questioning about her past caused her to immediately pause. What could she tell him. There wasn't much she remembered.

"Well, I remember growing up in the mountains, a good man helped me learn how to hunt and survive. But he had to send me away, he was growing older, and couldn't help anymore than he already had. So I found the city. It was my first test in survival for sure, more so than any wild forests in the world I'd suspect. I realized quickly that humans don't look kindly on non-humans. But my behavior was a little excessive. My thirst overwhelmed me as a child, and I was put in irons several times for hurting others. They said I was evil, that my kind could never live alongside anyone. I killed a man out of fear when I was shy of twenty years old. I started out just taking anything, but as years passed the city guards soon spotted the patterns. And I soon realized that people...well, were easy targets for taking a few coins. So I fled and began to pick more deliberately in other towns. Usually the rich, or those who flaunted their coins caught my eye."

Looking down at her plate of steaming food she could feel the saliva pooling in her mouth, and wanted to reach out so badly and take a morsel of beef. But as he watched her, she knew that it may be a test. Then again, she also didn't care if he thought her a weak person...as long as she could eat and sleep inside for once.

"I moved around a lot, and soon learned how friendly and helpful the human children could be. They knew how to make a few coins, and soon I found myself protecting them from the meaner humans. Again the town guards had me in irons, I spent a month in their prison..." Doing whatever they felt was paying them back for my so called crimes

Shifting in her seat she looked over at him and smiled.

"Then when I escaped and moved here I started to watch myself more. Ignoring the voices that told me to steal and do bad things. I started earning coins by hard work...and did as the children did...even if I felt it wasn't enough."

 

[LordLuck]

Ma'ant heard Relic attentiously. Even though he had stranged the fact that she did not attacked the food on sight, he noticed at last that she missed the proper tools for it. Calling his thrall again by a finger gesture, the drooly mand brough a knife and a fork.

"Please, eat. You must be starving. Eat, dear, so we can work on that bath of yours."

She had opened herself with him so easily that Ma'ant even started to feel somewhat ashamed of himself for not undressing his spell-like concealment. Specially when he had heard her talking about how the humans were bad towards any non-humans. He had also been affected by it, even though as now he had to shamefully hid amonst them in order to remain studying their cultures. He served her a cup of a thick, imported juice, before speaking again.

"I... can understand how you feel, Relic. You know, I've been victim of the same prejudice you was, until I've found out to disguise myself and avoid the trouble makers. You see...", he gasped before continuing, his eyes never leaving hers, "... I'm not a human at all."

He left her some time to think about his declaration, before sending another mental order to have water boiled for a hot bath. He could never be sure that she'd remain with him once he showed her who he was. Of course, he did not feared her spreading around that he was an aberration, a creature of deformed feature, for who would trust a lunatic drow child?

Still, he longed for a true relationship unlike the one he had with his puppet-men, whose minds he had devoured and now served him as toys. He had enough. Relic was the first chance he got in a long, long time.

"...But my offer stands, fear not.", he smiled with his human features, "I... am willing to reveal my true self to you, Relic, but... I fear you might be horrified. I'm... different than you. And them."

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Picking up the knife and fork, Relic quickly began to eat. She ignored the juice until half the plate seemed to disappear at alarming intensity. She was never one to waste food, nor let it cool down more than necessary. It was obvious that she had not used utensils much before, as she gripped both like tools, not delicate instruments. When he started to discuss himself, she paused long enough to take a drink.

"Not human? Then what are you? You certainly look it. Not sure why you would want to look human if you were not one though."

Leaning back on the chair she smiled.

"As long as the offer stands, then you cannot be more evil than I, and you cannot be more horrible than humans. And if you are, then at least that is worth the conversation."

Turning back to her meal, she finished the rest of her plate off before soaking up any last liquid with the spiced flour and washed it all down. Her knife and fork were left skewed, as she didn't know what else to do with them. She did however lick both clean.

Now she was rather curious as to what this man hid under his robes. Not sexually curious for once.

 

[LordLuck]

"I'm under a spell, dear, that makes me look human. I act human, so the other humans will never suspect a think about who I am. I'm something more... outsider."

He kept smiling as she ate, allowing her to do it as calmly as her hunger allowed her to be. She was way wiser than her aged surely shown humans. Once, way beyond his years disguising as a man, Ma'ant'Zek'Ur had been with the drow, the vicious underworldly cousins to the elves. And he knew that her true age was probably at least as twice as she looked like to a human. Even though, she was understanding way beyond her years, at that.

He amused himself as she tried to handle the utensils without much success in doing it properly, but that was another lessons he could teach her if she was going to live with him.

"Very well. I think our bath is in order.", he had just received the psychic scream of the thrall that had readied their wooden tub. If they've left now, it would be more than ready. "Come. Let's refresh ourselves, and clean you up, girl. I'll show you myself, up there."

He raised to his full height, and offered Relic a hand meaning to lead her upstairs into his room.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Following him up to his room, Relic held his hand, not having taken it would have seemed a little impolite under the circumstances. And since Kasmir had delivered the meal, and seemed to be about to deliver the bath, Relic was willing to risk following him even further into his territory. It wasn't like it was worse than outside, and if she could avoid the town guard chasing her out of the stables for another night, so be it.

"I understand the use of camouflage, I just don't know how humans treat other adult humans. They certainly don't seem to treat the orphans and street children much better than they treat me. I'm not sure the upgrade is worth the pain of hiding. But there are a lot less human looking species out there, I don't doubt you have more to hide considering."

When they entered his room, Relic looked around. The bath was obvious as a good amount of steam was coming off it. And she even noticed a few bubbles poking up above the edge of the bath. It was enticing, and she soon wandered over to it and dipped one hand in. Enjoying the warmth and softness.

 

[LordLuck]

Ma'ant'Zek'Ur

Kasmir smiled again at Relic's accurate conclusions.

"If I wandered around in my true form, dear, I'm sure I would have been hunted down long ago. Maybe instead of meeting me in person, you'd meet me like a dry skull over a pike."

His room was another sizeable place. A large, canopy bed stood by the far wall, a couple of large windows welded-shut, and another door that led outside to a balcony, this one opened, the night coolness spreading into the room with ease. A dresser stood by the side of the bed, and two tables filled with strange, marvellous objects of thin glass, alembics and the like were displayed jsut beside the door to the balcony. Right at the middle of the room stood the tub, filled with some soap bubbles. A stool stood by the tub, a lot of strange oils and scents laying in wait.

"You may strip, Relic.", he said as he closed the room's door, walking towards the tub, readying in his mind the words of dismissal and disenchanting his own magicks. "And enter the tub at once. I'll strip myself..."

"Once you witness my true self."

Taking both hands over his face, he uttered the words of unmaking. The counter-magick worked quickly. And as suddenly as he had lowered his hands, Kasmir the Southerner was suddenly not himself anymore. Instead of the kind human, stood an alien being wearing the very same exquisitive robes of the merchant. His ruddy, greenish skin like a frog's, his fingers long and thin, pupil-less yellow eyes at a noseless face. However, his most bizarre feature was his mouth. A slightly elongated head, and over where should be his mouth, stood four long, wriggling tentacles, as long as a woman's forearm.

"This is I, Ma'ant'Zek'Ur.", his voice suddenly gurgling like a drowned man's voice. He spread his arms around, trying to assure that Relic stood calm at the sudden display of his true image.

<Or I can talk to you like this, instead. I'm speaking right into your mind, my friend, sending this message psionically so I have not to use my physical mouth to speak. Would you prefer me to speak into your mind, or would you prefer to hear my... voice?>

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Watching his transformation, Relic's initial thought was to back away rather quickly. But as more of him became visible she could see that he had yet to harm her. And there were no sharp teeth or long claws, which were closer to what she must look, than he did. Although, she had no doubt he was strong enough to cause harm if he so wished. For now she breathed in deeply, and examined him. When he spoke she shuddered inwardly, the voice was creepy, and reminded her of the last words several humans had said, with throats cut or lungs pierced.

"I suppose I would prefer you speaking through my mind, as it is kind of different hearing your outward speech. No offense, if none can be taken."

Removing the fur from her shoulders, she let it drop to the ground, and slowly proceeded to undo the ties down the front of her shirt. Most men would watch with sparkling eyes as she pulled the purple shirt up over her small yet perky breasts. And they would begin to fidget as her nimble fingers pushed down her skirt, and her dirty feet kicked off her boots.

It was only when she stood before him naked that the dirt and grime could be seen in full light. Where clothing had covered her was a pale grey, but her arms and hands, legs and feet, neck and face were a darker grey.

Her hair ran down her back and stopped just above her waist, several strands fell forwards over her shoulders and helped to hide her chest somewhat. Overall it was wild and long, and untamed.

 

[LordLuck]

<None taken at all, my friend.>

Ma'ant's message echoed through Relic's mind, his words uttered in the voice of the human facade he wore to disguise himself amongst the men that lived in the Overworld, so far away from the cavern colonies he had first dwelt... where long ago, he had been spawned. The though amused him. Relic was probably birthed in the dark bowels of earth as well.

Taking his time to examine the elven girl's frail, lithe body, the illithid could not help but wonder if she had been clumsy in her stripping, or deliberately seductive. In the drow society - and in most elven ones - she would probably remain cared and watched over for the prizes of her pureness - even if in the most wicked of senses. Relic did not seemed like that. She seemed way wizened beyond her obvious years - and to men, beyond her somewhat childish appearance.

<You are beaultiful.>

He told her in her thoughts, stripping himself with great care, his long silken robes unlacing themselves to show her his truest form - one that none had seen so far beside his eventual mates. And something told him that Relic would become one, given time. He liked her. Not like some sexual driven monster, but rather like someone one could identify themselves.

At fist, the robe felt, showing his broad chest, his purplish skin glittering in it's natural moistures. Falling yet again, it revealed his long arms and legs, a piece of undergarment concealing his groin. And as Relic had revealed herself completely, Ma'ant considered nothing less of stripping himself entirely as well. Taking his undercloth away, he revealed her a long, bulbous phallus, somewhat like his own, facial tentacles.

Approaching the tub, Ma'ant slid himself noiselessly into it, revelling in the warm water, a luxury he somewhat doubted Relic had even enjoied. Taking his time to watch her, analising her more with curiosity than lust, he motioned towards himself with his long arms.

<Come, please, Relic. Let me wash you. Join me, and let's share our intimacy.>

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Thankful that her request for non-verbal speech had not taken offense, Relic watched closely as Ma'ants' eyes moved over her naked body. She felt rather defenseless, not that she wouldn't at least try to defend herself, if he decided to take force with her. But as he started to remove his robes she felt the urge to reach out and touch his chest. To see how it felt, whether it was slimy or smooth. She could already tell he would be slightly moist to touch, like an amphibian, but it was more texture that lured her hand to press against his skin than anything else.

<So can you hear me if I just think what I want to say?> Relic thought, keeping it as clear dialogue as much as possible, even if her mind was starting to examine his skin.

Following him as he moved to enter the bath, Relic watched as he disappeared below the water. She could already tell he enjoyed the fluid medium, and knew she also would. Unless it was interrupted by some bad experience. So far, although his appearance was foreign and shocking, she composed herself.

She would not be like all the human children and adults, she would not judge him on looks alone. And so far his graciousness outweighed his appearance. But he was still handsome somehow, perhaps in the way he held himself. There was also slight wonder and amusement since he had removed his undergarments. But that was normal for Relic.

Slipping into the water as well, she could all but stifle a moan as the warmth enveloped her. She sat with her back to the wood, and stretched her legs out under the water and kicked them back and forth softly. Immediately the water clouded, but she didn't care. It was the most comfortable and enjoyable she had felt in years.

To be honest she had stolen someones warm bath once upon a time, only to be shooed out the window after a few minutes. It had been enough time to dream though.

 

[LordLuck]

<Indeed. I am amphibian.... in a sense. And you may touch me, Relic... if you allow me to touch you.>

He admired this young drow girl. She was so unlike anyone that had ever crossed his path. Anyone at all, except, perhaps for one certain Yuan-Ti... but she belonged to the past now. Far awy into the past, really. Her body was so frail, yet her mind so naturally stout that it appealed for him. Just her presence was somewhat sooting - and that had somehow startled the mighty aberrant.

<Come closer, Relic.>

He emerged quietly, the water parting around himself, until his torso stood outside the warm water, his long tentacles wriggling around in a wave-like motion, slowly, as if motioning for Relic to come closer to his own form, it's movement seductive as a snake's dancing.

<Come closer, and lie against my chest. Let me feel you as you feel me. Sit over my lap with your back towards me...>

Into Relic's mind, his thoughts echoed induced like a somewhat reverberating Kasmir's voice, his wish to feel attractive to Relic taking him to give her this treat. It was natural to feel attracted to her. After all, he had, ages ago, consorted with drow matrons deep into the bowels of earth, delving in both physical and mental delights with them. But Relic was different. She was... special.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Slowly moving over through the water, Relic wondered exactly what it would feel like to be touched by his tentacles. And although she could no longer see below the water surface, her mind couldn't help but wonder what she would feel sitting in his lap. This was her first bath with another person where they required closeness. Once she had bathed with another woman, but as a bath maid, nothing more. Parting the water as she turned to face away from him, she slowly lent back onto his chest. Sitting down, she tried not to think too much about what she was feeling. Not out of disgust, but out of her mind wandering beyond the current situation.

She didn't fantasize about tentacles, but what person wouldn't begin to wonder of their abilities.

Taking a deep breath, she relaxed back against him. Her hands running up and down her arms, washing the skin and keeping them warm. Her legs lay on the bottom of the bath, or floated slightly under the surface. Occasionally she would splash them up and down slowly.

"Do you bathe with many people?" she asked out loud, thinking about the sorts of beautiful women that may enjoy Kasmir's company in such a way. Perhaps not in his true form, but as the merchant.

Of course, there would be women out there that would enjoy his true form greatly. Tentacles were hard to come by, especially on someone that was consciously able to please a person with them.

<And, how are you able to read my mind?>

 

[LordLuck]

Ma'ant'Zek'Ur

As Relic reclined against his chest, relaxing over his lap, Ma'ant took a deep breath of his own, insipiring through is mouth as he had somewhat tensed. He was not sure that the young drow would just so comply to his request.

<I... do not. Not many that know Ma'ant share this with me. Most that do only know Kasmir, in truth.>

The illithid took his right arm to close into Relic's belly, pulling her kindly in order to keep her laying against his own tummy, caressing her kindly with his long fingers. Taking his left, Ma'ant lead it towards the drow's chest, caressing her bust with great care, cupping at her small, perky, juvenile breasts.

<Mine is a race of natural psionics. My kind has a... different perception of the world and other races. Only the strongest of mind and the most disciplined can shield and conceal their thoughts against our perceptions.>

Ma'ant lowered his tentacles to lay the by Relic's shoulders, using two of them to rub and massage at her skin, the other two waving and sliding around her hair in order to wash, and rub her dirt away, purring in satisfaction. Gurgling in delight...

<You are gorgeous, Relic.>

It would be so easy. To extract her brain matter. To feast at her body. To intrude her skull and drill through it with his fangs, hidden under his tentacles. But somehow, Ma'ant did not even wanted to do it to Relic. She was... precious to him. A friend.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Laughing, Relic knew that she was far from strong enough to resist his mind reading. Plus there was little she knew anyway, and none apart from where she hid her treasures that were worth hiding. If anything, she wished she shared such an ability. To know exactly where people hid their coins, jewels and other valuables would cut down on a lot of time and foot work.

But again, she tried not to think of such temptations in his presence. By now she knew that he would know of her sneaky fingers, but at least she could avoid him believing her nothing better than a silly little thief child.

As his hands and arms held her, she relaxed back against him. Enjoying the feeling of another against her skin. The bath was making it even easier, and his moist skin was almost normal now, considering they were immersed in water. The tentacles, and having more than two pressures on her was unusual. But, so far they had not hurt or caused harm, and it was actually very enjoyable having them wash her hair and massage her shoulders gently.

Soon she found herself closing her eyes and sinking slightly more, as if falling into a calmness that led to sleep. <So what are you thinking? Since I have to ask, and not just know. About my thoughts in particular.>

 

[LordLuck]

Ma'ant gurgled again, amused. Taking one tentacle away, beside the wooden tub, he took upon it a small tint of rasped soap and oils, bringing it to bear upong her hair, using it to scrub vigorously yet kindly against her hair, coating her in bubbles before taking upon the water with another tentacle and washing her down, repeating his moves on and again into a waving motion so natural that it seemed trained.

<I'm thinking about your beaulty. About how nice it feels to envelop you in my arms. How...>, he spoke into her mind, sliding the hand that held the drow by her tummy down into her womanhood, scrubbing her all the while and pulling herself against him, <And about so precious you are to me.>

It was natural that, against his lap and groin, the constant warmness of Relic's body had sent jolts of arousal against his skin, his own phallus growing hard against her backside. Rubbing it against her soft skin, it was only a matter of moments before Ma'ant's stood fully hard, literally poking against her.

<Relic... would you...>

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

The rubbing had washed the dirt from her hair, and her muscles had relaxed enough to get her almost purring in return. It took her a while to realize that his own body was reacting to her presence, and when it became too 'aroused' to appear to ignore, she moved away from him slightly. As if to wash her legs in the warm water. But she turned around slowly and came back to him, this time facing his chest.

The surface of the water was thick with bubbles of soap now, and her hair smelled nice with the scented oils that had been rubbed into it. She had giggled as the water flowed over her, and enjoyed the firm yet gentle scrubbing of her scalp.

She had begun to enjoy his gentle washing between her legs, knowing that by now it was beyond playing little games as to what he might have been wanting. Many men may have simply commanded, but he had stirred her arousal first, and asked for something in return.

Her legs moved to the sides of his, and soon his hardness pressed against her groin and stomach. She took one of his tentacles in her hands, examining them as her hips rolled slowly, rubbing him gently underneath the water. She wondered how to attempt to play with him. Trying to imagine what uses each of his body parts might have.

<Excuse my lack of experience, but how do you like to be kissed?>

With her other arm she held herself against him, her hand on top of his shoulder.

 

[LordLuck]

He allowed her to analise his tentacles, just coiling it around her hand as if taking hers, using it to pull her closer and closer. Using another to caress at her ear, caressing her as well. If the books were right, as a drow, her long ears should be highly erogenous areas. Another tentacle circled around her should, grabbing at her neck, bringing Relic ever closer towards his face.

<My tentacles are very sensitive... and I don't possess lips. But it don't matter.>

He told her, taking both his arms to envelop at her back, his urge to have his sensitive skin against her soft taking the best of him, his erection rubbing against her belly. Forwarding his head, Ma'ant took his last tentacle to caress at Relic's lips, taking the base from with they protuded to touch at her mouth.

Both arms lowering to grip fiercely against her buttocks, he gurgled in delight at the sensations of having her over him. The scents of her hair, the pheromones washing through his mind like a hurricane.

<Relic... please... get me in...>