The Artist

[BadForm]

I draw.

I guess it's because I'm kind of shy that I put my energy into drawing instead of going out and doing things. I don't really have many friends - a few, such as Tommy who sometimes sells my work to galleries for me. I've certainly never had a girlfriend.

Never had one.
Always wanted one.
It wasn't that I was ugly - I was almost six foot tall and liked to keep myself fit and toned. My black hair was short and smooth, my skin lightly bronzed with the sun through the big window of my house.

I guess thats why what I mostly draw is fantasies. Women in sexually enticing poses. The buxom amazon with a giant sword held pointing down between her legs. The river maiden washing herself, the water cascading discretely over her breasts.

Last night I fell asleep working on a new piece. A beautiful maiden, slumped with her head on her knees. A torn shift covered her body but hung down off her shoulder. A manacle with a broken chain captured her ankle. She wept. Perhaps, on some level, she represented me. On the other hand, that was the kind of nonsensical pop-psych you heard on Oprah.

I dreamed that a beautiful voice, more music than words, spoke to me. It said I had been alone too long but would never have the courage to ask a girl out. It said, what you draw will be real.

I woke and shook the sleep from my eyes. Yeah, right. I must have eaten some kind of bad cheese or something to have a dream like that.

I turned back to my picture of the captive and finished shading in her flesh.

Suddenly, from upstairs, I heard a woman sob. Confused, I stood and headed for the hallway.

"Hello?" I said, as I mounted the steps. "Is someone there?"

When I reached the upper landing I blinked in surprise. The woman I had just drawn was sitting by my bedroom door, weeping against her knees.

 

[StagedFright]

Lady Tara

Tara was the daughter of one of the most powerful land owners in all of the kingdom. In addition to being regal, refined and possesed of a large dowry, Tara was also said to be the most beautiful girl anyone could remember seeing. By the time she was 15 several bards in the local village had composed songs about her stunning beauty. She was tall, almost 5'10 and had long blonde hair that ran all the way down her back. It was so silky and luxurious that more than one of the songs about her said it was a gift from the gods. Her body was incredibly voluptuous as disproportionately large(Some would say enormous) breasts sat incredibly high and firm on her chest, that tapered down to a narrow waist before flaring out to wide, womanly hips. Long, tapered legs completed the picture and, before long, Tara had received more marriage proposals than the Princess herself.

For some reason, all of Tara's suitors seemed to be of little interest to her. Be they rich or not so rich, handsome or fearsome, young or old, Tara did not seem to have even the slightest interest in marrying one of these men for love.

As she entered her 19th year, Tara's father grew impatient and arranged for her to be married to Baron Karaz of the faraway desert province. Karaz was old, fat and of bad hygiene but to Tara's father his vast wealth and lands made him the man to choose. Soon Tara was forced against her will to leave her homeland. Upon arriving at the Baron's castle, Karaz learned how spirited she could be. Tara refused to marry him because she could not bring herself to swear to the goddess that she loved him. She didn't. She tried but he aroused no passion in her.

Furious, the Baron ordered her locked up in a tower and shackled. With no one but a servant girl to attend to her personal needs, Tara stubbornly and desperately stayed imprisoned for months. Tara was stunned to discover that, for the first time, she felt a passion of a sort when the servant girl would attend to her in her bath. Tara loved the girl's soft skin and the occasional brush of skin against skin made Tara feel lust for the first time.

However, despite her feelings, Tara was miserable and prayed every night for release. One night, Tara's 20th birthday in fact, the gods seemed to answer her prayers. She awoke in the middle of the night to find the chain on her ankle broken and the guard outside the tower vanished. Tara fled into the night.

For days she wandered. She had no idea where to go and didn't know the language, let alone the people. Finally, Tara knelt beside an oak tree and began to weep. She missed her home and pitied her inability to find love. She must have cried for a while but then, before she knew what was happening, Tara found herself indoors, in completely different surroundings.

Tara heard a female voice speak a language she understood

"Hello, is someone there" the voice said. Tara was shocked when she saw the woman step into the light. The woman was tall, taller than her even, and beautiful but was dressed differently than anyone Tara had seen before. Tara spoke with tears in her eyes.

"Oh please, don't send me back to the Baron. I couldn't bear it."

 

[BadForm]

The Artist (Angelica)

OOC: SF - since you have not changed the references you make to the Artist to refer to a male, since you have such an excellent writing style, and since I don't think I've played a lesbian character before, I hope you don't mind that I decided to go right ahead with your initial assumption that the artist was female. Should be interesting.

IC: I was lost for what to say. This looked exactly like the woman I had just drawn, but as a living person. She was speaking English, or, I corrected myself, I was understanding her speech as such. Either way it seemed another impossibility added to her existence in the first place.

"Don't send me back to the Baron," she repeated.

"The Baron?" I said, barely aware that I was even speaking.

Who was the Baron? Who was this woman? I suddenly realized that when I drew, all I ever imagined was a picture of beauty - never a background to go with it. What had come alive, if that was what had happened, was more than I had drawn. It was a real person, with a past life, a homeland, everything.

"I'm sorry... I don't...."

I shook my head and tried to clear my confusion. Understanding what had happened seemed impossible, and right then I had a reality to face. There was a frightened young woman in my house. She was dirty. Her only clothing, some kind of shift, was ragged and torn. She didn't seem hurt, but she did need help and reassurance.

"No, sweetie," I said, "I won't send you back, it's ok. And I guarantee that the Baron won't find you here."

That, at least, was definite. If what I drew was coming to life, all I had to do was not draw the Baron. I approached her and held out an arm to help her stand. She took it reluctantly, and as she stood I realized I had nothing in my closet that would fit her. While I was sleek and toned, she was filled out to perfection. I didn't know what to do about that but I did know she needed cleaning up.

"You poor thing, you look half-starved. Are you hurt? Look, why don't you take a shower and I'll make you a sandwich or something."

My mouth was running as I tried to work out the best way to help a woman whose existence I was still adjusting to.

 

[StagedFright]

Tara was still helplessly confused. This woman spoke her language and seemed kind but she dressed so strangely. She understood what she was saying.

"You poor thing, you look half-starved. Are you hurt? Look, why don't you take a shower and I'll make you a sandwich or something." The woman said. Tara didn't know why but for some reason she felt as though she could trust the woman. Tara was hungry and, as such, when the woman asked about her she blushed.

"I hate to be a bother but, yes I am very hungry." Tara was embarrassed but she didn't know what a shower or a sandwhich was. She hoped one of them was food. It wasn't until she began to calm down and her fears of capture receded that she began to acknowledge how terribly she felt after the days and nights of running.

"I'm so sorry to exploit your kindness but could I possibly find somewhere to clean up? I must look like a frightful mess"

 

[BadForm]

Angelica

OOC: WOOHOO! A post from the wonderful you

IC:

That stopped me. I replayed the conversation we had just had in my mind trying to work out why she had asked for somewhere to clean up when I'd just suggested a shower. It took me several seconds to remember that a shower was a modern appliance from my world - wherever she "was from" it wasn't here. I coughed with embarrassment.

"I'm... er... sorry. Look, this is strange, and I don't know how to explain it to you. Wherever you're from - this is a different world. You're... er... you're going to find lots of things are different."

She looked afraid and confused, although I could have been projecting my own feelings onto her.

"See... see how differently we're dressed?" I said.

As proof of such a staggering concept it lacked a certain something. I had to think of something else to show her, and given she needed to clean up, the bathroom seemed best.

"Come with me. Please?"

She followed as I walked two doors down the hallway and led her into a room I was sure she had seen nothing like before. The toilet would probably baffle her, the sink I had no idea about, but the shower was what she needed.

"This," I said, indicating the shower and bathtub, "is what we call a shower. It's like... like a waterfall you can control. Ummm..."

She had a doubting look on her face and I decided to show her. I reached for the fawcet and turned it slightly. At once water began to trickle out of the shower nozzle.

"The more you turn this knob," I indicated the power control, "the faster the water will flow. And turning this other one to the left or right controls temperature. See, left and its hotter, right and its colder."

She had her mouth open now and I decided to let her take her shower. No doubt she would have an interesting time playing with the different water pressures and temperatures. I needed some space to adjust and making a few sandwiches would give me that space. I was about to leave her when I remembered something else.

"Oh, look I don't mean to be rude - but do they have soap on your world?"

She didn't respond but mouthed the word and frowned.

"It's like a soft stone you can wash yourself with...."

I grabbed a bar of soap from the sink and held it under the gently trickling water, then rubbed it between my hands to show how it lathered up.

"This really helps get rid of dirt faster than just water alone. But whatever you do, keep it out of your eyes and mouth. It tastes nasty and it stings like hell in your eyes."

I reached the door, glancing back once more. The manacle around her ankle was a problem. The only thing I could think to do was call a locksmith - but what would he or she make of it? If I was lucky they'd think it was something kinky. If I was unlucky, they'd call the cops assuming she was an escaped convict.

"Oh yeah," I said finally. "Can you draw the shower curtain before you turn the water up? Otherwise the whole bathroom will be soaked."

They MUST have curtains mustn't they? My head hurt just from trying to work out how to explain any more and I went downstairs to make food.

 

[StagedFright]

Tara stared with open-mouthed amazement as Angelica demonstrated the shower and then the soap. She was astonished at all of the strange contrivances they had here. Wherever here was, that is.

As Angelica left, Tara removed her torn and ragged shift, stepped into the bath while drawing the curtain and cautiously reached her hand out to play with the knobs that controlled this, shower, she had called it. Tara jumped back as the cold water rushed out and sprayed her. As she fought off the stream, her hand reached out for the knob that the woman had said would make the water warmer. She twisted it all the way and before long she was being burned by the hot water. Another half turn and the water was now warm and felt magnificent. Tara reached for the "soap" her, who was this woman who had shown her this unbelievable devices? She seemed friendly but Tara had no idea where she was. She began to lather the soap and rub it all over her body, execpt the eyes and mouth as her host had advised her.

Tara had never felt anything quite like the hot rain cascading around her body and was delighting in the innovation of it all. She would have stayed in the shower for hours if she hadn't looked down and remembered the manacle. She had to have it removed. Maybe this woman could help her with it and, perhaps, return to her home.

Tara reached out, figured how to turn the shower off and stepped back into the bathroom. The mirror on the wall was now foggy and hazy so Tara couldn't see her reflection. Nevertheless she felt cleaner than she ever had. Her wet body was creating pools on the floor. Tara hated the idea of making a mess in her rescuers house and so she began to look for something dry to towel off with. All she found was a small towel that she ran along her body. The towel was fluffy and soft and Tara loved the sensation of it around her skin. Now dry Tara realized that, short of the filthy shift she had nothing to cover herself in. She wouldn't put it back on, it was filthy and reminded her of her imprisonment.

Modesty will have to wait, she thought as she walked out of the Bathroom, holding the towel tight to her chest it was just long enough to cover her nipples and stretch down to her thighs. She had tried wrapping it around herself but it would leave either her bosom or her womanhood uncovered. As Tara left the bathroom she walked around quietly, hoping to find one of the servants of the house and asking her for clothes. Tara found no one in any of the rooms she looked into and didn't want to offend Angelica by taking something out of one of the cabinets. Each room she looked in was filled with things Tara didn't understand. Hearing noises from downstairs Tara crept down, clutching the wet towel to her naked body and walked into what appeared to be a kitchen. She saw the woman from upstairs fixing some form of food.

"I don't believe it. A woman with this fantastical house and she is fixing her own food?" Tara thought as she looked around the kitchen which was the most confusing room of them all. There were countless devices Tara could only begin to guess what purpose they served. Tara found her gaze drawn to the woman. She was tall and beautful but strange. Tara had never seen a woman with hair cut so short or who was in such shape. She felt flustered as she stared before remembering that she was nearly naked. Slowly she spoke up.

"Excuse me kind miss, but I'll need to borrow some garments. Forgive my lack of modesty but any sort of dress will do."

 

[BadForm]

Angelica

What did she eat? Was she a vegetarian? Did she eat meat? Hell, for all I knew she might eat rocks or something - though her teeth looked natural enough. It was dawning on me that for a creator I knew precious little about my creation. In the end, I split the difference and made some tunafish and some green salad sandwiches. Hopefully one of them would satisfy.

I was cutting the last of sandwiches into triangles when I heard her speak.
"Excuse me kind miss, but I'll need to borrow some garments. Forgive my lack of modesty but any sort of dress will do."

"Oh my god!" I gasped, realizing she had her bare ass towards the open window.

She looked upset, as though she thought I was angry and I rushed to reassure her, as well as escort her away from the Bay windows. Thankfully, my house was set back, but even so there was too much of a risk of her being seen.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't mean to call out like that. It's just we have some laws here about public decency... I know it sounds ridiculous, but if people can see you and you're naked, you could be arrested.... Yes, even if you are in your own house - all depends on the judge. I'm sorry, this is all so much for you to take it. I'm not angry with you, I promise - i just want to make sure you don't get caught out in a place that has to be as strange to you as this."

I dashed momentarily back to the kitchen to pick up the plates of sandwiches and led her upstairs.

"Come on, lets go up to my room. We can eat up there."

I glanced back at her as we entered the bedroom and frowned a little. There was no way anything I had was going to fit her, at least not in any way that was comfortable and didn't make her look like a cheap hooker trying to sell herself. Her breast size must be over 40, while mine was 34. I was tall and thin, she was shorter and... well... filled out. I put the plates on the bed and nodded to the dresser and closet.

"All the clothes I have are in there... I don't know if there's anything loose enough to fit you, but if there is you can have it. Oh, if you want some privacy you can change in the bathroom or guest room."

 

[StagedFright]

"All the clothes I have are in there... I don't know if there's anything loose enough to fit you, but if there is you can have it. Oh, if you want some privacy you can change in the bathroom or guest room."

Tara smiled. She had been mortified that her state of undress seeemed to bother her hostess so much and was relieved when she ushered her into the room with the collection of clothes. Looking them over, Tara was forced to agree. Nothing would fit her well as her breasts and hips appeared to be too large to fit into most of the garments. Tara, however, didn't mind dressing immodestly. She had been known in her homeland for occasionally dressing in a manner that shocked many. With Angelica standing right there, Tara dropped the towel and began to look through the chest of drawers. Tara had grown up with many servants and, as such, was used to being nude around them.

She settled on a t-shirt and skirt that both, although stretched tight across her body, at least fit. She put the shirt on, pleased at the way that it didn't cover her flat stomach and slid the skirt on and admired the way that it failed to extend below her knees. She did look like a cheap strumpet but it was the best she could do. Tara, finally, realized how strange this all must seem.

"I'm sorry miss, but I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Lady Tara, Daughter of Sir Garraway. Who are you, If I may ask, and where am I?"

 

[BadForm]

Angelica

Lady Tara? Sir Carraway, was it? Garraway? I snapped out of the thoughts I'd been having at seeing this beautiful woman's body displayed so unabashedly to me. I hadn't even introduced myself. That was plain rude.

"I'm sorry," I said. "My name is Angelica... I'm... well, we don't really have Lords and Ladies in this country, they tend to be in Europe. I'm just me I guess."

The t-shirt and skirt looked stupid on her. Too tight, her breasts and hips pressed against the fabric so hard that they would probably tear soon. It didn't help that the t-shirt bore the slogan "Hottie", something she would not understand. She looked worse than a hooker, except for the lack of makeup. I wondered what they used to paint their faces on her world? Daub? Ochre? She seemed more advanced than that, but it wasn't like I could use history as a guide. This was going to be a long learning process.

"Look, feel free to help yourself to sandwiches. I mean, its not much. I guess if you're a lady you're used to banquets or something, right? I'm afraid I never was much of a cook, but these will keep you going. There's salad... or tunafish..."

As I looked at her a thought struck me. What I had been told was that what I drew would become real. I hadn't been told the next person I drew would become real. I suddenly realized I was being stupid in wondering how I could help her. I could draw what she needed.

I reached for the small pad and pencil I kept beside my bed for the times I was inspired during the night and began to draw. I worked fast, producing nothing more than a linear outline of a longer skirt and t-shirt. What appeared was almost exactly that - a shapeless, colorless, seamless shirt and skirt. So, I thought, as I began to erase the sketch, I had to draw realistically.

The new clothes I had produced disappeared, bit by bit, as I erased the picture. It took me a moment to realize the implication of that and I glanced up at Lady Tara in concern. I would have to protect her picture to stop the same thing happening to her. She had an almost fearful look on her face, perhaps more concerned, or surprised, I couldn't tell. On reflection I wasn't surprised. It was probably as unheard of on her world as on mine for someone to draw something and it magically appear.

"It's... I don't know how I became able to do this," I said. "I guess it's a kind of magic or something. Anyway, I want to make you some more comfortable clothes. I think if you wear them they'll split."

I asked her to help me draw what she liked to wear and copied her suggestions to paper.

 

[StagedFright]

Tara suggested a nice flowing dress that would at least let her look more like a proper lady. She was shocked as she saw it appear instantly on the bed. Tara had heard of many strange magics but this ability to draw anything into existence was mystifying. If her host had good intentions, Tara could indeed be safe. She threw off the constraining garments and changed into her new dress. As she again stood naked she took a quick glance at her host and was surprised to see her host staring at her naked body, a look of shy lust on her face.

My word, Tara thought, I've heard of those bizarre tribes where the women love each other. Could Angelica be one of...those? It would certainly explain her strange appearance and magical gifts. She stepped into the dress as she let visions of her and her host, naked, intertwined run through her head. Tara noticed how flushed and dizzy she felt.

"Goddess, I do feel famished." She grabbed one of the green salad sandwhiches and wolfed it down. It wasn't banquet food but Tara was so hungry she didn't care. "Thank you so much for the food and the dress."

Tara sat down on the bed and began to contemplate the situation she was in. She couldn't return to the Baron, she'd rather die. She couldn't even return home, her Father would either send her to her "husband" or simply marry her off against her will. Tara, for the first time in her privileged life, was uncertain of what to do. She was a noble and, as such, had few skills that could get her by.

She thought about her situation. If only she could stay here, with Angelica, in this wonderland for a while. She could, well, do some of the cleaning and cooking. She hadn't ever cleaned or cooked before but Tara was sure she could fake her way through it and earn her keep. She turned to Angelica

"Beg your pardon, Ma'am but I was wondering if I could be a bit more of an imposition. I'm not sure how I got here, or even where here is for that matter. Unless you know how to get me home, perhaps I could stay here a little while longer? I'll earn my keep, I promise."