[User]
A clambering of clicking boots sounded across the marble floors, drawing closer to the meeting room. Pairs of Elvish Guards stiffened up at their positions as the Demon Prince, Fabian Stamm, escorted by his entourage, made his way down the sun lit corridor. His group consisted of a few ashened-skinned servants, multiple dark armored soldiers, as well as Fabian's personal political advisor, Tren. The thin, narrower, demon followed his more stocky, muscular lord closely behind. "It seems we are perfectly on schedule." He said.

Fabian's mind wandered as his thoughts moved to what would be discussed at this meeting. Apparently, the Elvish King wanted to have both parties in attendance to negotiate. Advisors and messengers from the King were very careful to clarify that these messages weren't interpreted as terms for surrender, but rather a bargaining of sorts. While Fabian was confident he and his people would be coming out on top of this conflict, he still couldn't hide his curiosity at the King's mystery deal. The prince smiled devilishly, the large oak doors of the meeting room coming into view. "Let's see what this old fool has to offer."

The prince's group approached his door, his servants pressing forward to open the way for his lordship. Within, a large ancient-looking table was setup, accompanied by chairs and a series of refreshments. Fabian stepped forward, taking a seat in an official looking chair, his servants and Tren taking their place behind the prince. Glancing around, Fabian guessed that the King, and possibly his only daughter, would be in attendance. They hadn't quite made it to their own meeting yet. Fabian sighed softly, glancing at his nails as he waited for his adversaries to arrive. "This better have been worth the trouble." He commented.

[Assistant]
The rebellious princess was less than pleased that her father had dragged her along to the meeting with the demon prince. She was dressed in a formal dress that kept her body well hidden, a clothing choice she personally hated, but her father was forcing her to look presentable. As if she was a princess anyone wanted.

They managed to make it late, and Vania followed her father silently, knowing better than to speak. Hell, she didn't know why he was making her come, let alone why they were there. This demon wasn't exactly an ally, more like an enemy and she wasn't interested in playing nice for someone who was willing to slaughter her people. She was much different than her father, in many ways. When they were escorted inside, Vania realized she'd never actually seen the demon prince before. He was actually surprisingly handsome, for a demon anyway. She almost immediately went to the table and grabbed a glass of wine, thinking there was no way she'd get through this thing sober.

It may be her home, but it wasn't... like she wanted to be here. Vania had other things to do, but her father had insisted, so she sat and drank her glass of wine, never taking her eyes off the prince, looking at him like he was a meal or something. Desire was more what was in her eyes, but she didn't think much of it.

"You've not been willing to consider much of a truce." The king said, making eye contact with the demon prince. "That leaves me with only one option. You can have my daughter, if it ends the war." The man said, not looking at Vania, who was just staring at her father in shock at the moment.

[User]
Fabian sat comfortably into his seat, leaning to the side. It wasn't until the doors opposite himself opened that his attention refocused, watching as The Elven King and Princess arrived and settled into their seats. The King himself was just as Fabian had remembered. Ancient-looking, formal, and painfully boring to look at. It was his daughter that was a complete surprise. While her elven garbs didn't help to show her off, he could tell she was hiding some voluptuous features beneath. It caught the Princess off guard, somewhat. He had heard very few reports or even descriptions of the King's firstborn. And even better, she seemed to be watching Fabian very intently.

The Prince smirked, flashing his sharp fangs at her as she took a sip of her wine. He checked her out for a time before having to shift his attention back to the Elven King as discussions began. "Truces are broken or simply not kept in good faith. They only work to delay the inevitable." Fabian said, brashly. "There aren't amounts of land or wealth that can sway me, so please, explain what you plan to give me." The Prince picked up his provided goblet, sipping his own crimson wine.

"That leaves me with only one option. You can have my daughter, if it ends the war." Fabian stopped mid-swig. He glanced to the King in confusion before glancing over to the Princess. He set his goblet back down, swallowing the alcohol, and slowly considering the politics behind this kind of decision. Fabian could feel the eyes of Tren staring into the back of his head. He knew the advisor like a childhood friend and knew what the demon was thinking. _It would be foolish not to consider this deal._ Fabian licked his lips at the Princess before turning back to the King. "You daughter is... appealing. But accepting this deal on such short notice would be unwise... I wish to get to know the Princess before making my decision, if that is allowed, your grace? Perhaps an afternoon chat, dinner, or even a night to ourselves?" A sly smile formed on the prince's face. Time to see how much he could bend this desperate ruler.

[Assistant]
Vania was in a state of shock, listening to her father. She knew he was... awful, most of the time, but the complete disdain it took to offer her as some sort of payment to a demon? This was a whole new level. Although she was drinking, Vania made a point to stare at the prince at his mention that truces only delayed the inevitable. It was an interesting viewpoint, but she supposed she understood the logic involved. After all, it wasn't like wars could really be stopped. Something small could reignite the flames with relative ease.

She rolled her eyes at the very idea, before going back to drinking her wine. In true Vania fashion, she was less than enthused at the idea. But then again, she wasn't exactly the princess she should be. She raised an eyebrow at the way he licked his lips at the prospect of having her, which just made her more confused. This was ridiculous on so many levels.

"Not a bargaining chip." Vania pointed out sharply, her focus entirely on her father. "Besides, he isn't wrong. It's not like a little truce is going to end this, just delay it." Vania tried, and failed, to reason with her father. It was always like this with him, so this was truly no surprise.

"Of course, take as much time as you'd like with her, before you decide." Her father said boldly, ignoring Vania. She rolled her eyes and went to refill her wine. She downed the entire glass before attempting to leave the room, no longer interested in whatever this was. "And where do you think you're going?" The king said, narrowing his eyes at her. "Well, if my life is just going to be decided for me, then why did I need to be here?" Vania said coldly, pushing her way past him and going out into the gardens. "She's... not what you'd expect in a princess. But she will obey." The king attempted to explain.

[User]
Fabian watched as the Princess stormed out of the meeting area. The Prince understood, as the position she had now been pushed into was not by her own choice. However, he could feel the resentment and coldness between the two. She didn't like her father and this wasn't isolated to their meeting. Fabian would have to see if he could use that info to his own benefit.

"That is quite alright. I will be sure to talk with her and ease her concerns." Fabian rose from his seat, and bowed lazily towards the King. "I thank you for hosting us. I will enjoy the time I have with the Princess and will make my decision in a few days, at the latest." The Prince couldn't help but grin. "Please excuse us." With that, Fabian walked off in pursuit, gesturing for Tren to follow. The two walked parallel to each other, passing by decorative halls and nervous housemaids.

"So... do you suppose Princess... Vania was it? Think she will be resistant to this proposal?" He asked as they walked. Tren raised an eyebrow to his lord. "I believe she will understand, but best not to frighten her. I'd advise to be persuasive and delicate in this matter." Fabian nearly chuckled at the thought of being delicate. "Fine... I'll warm her up to this idea. I have a feeling she will come to enjoy my presence." Not long after the end to their short chat, the Prince arrived into the lush gardens of the castle.

[Assistant]
Vania let her long purple hair down as soon as she took a seat in the gardens, doing her best not to think too much about what was likely inevitable. In truth, it wasn't necessarily the worst thing that could happen, considering Vania didn't much care for spending her days locked in this castle just because her father didn't think her style was appropriate for a princess. Not that she cared. After all, she was who she wanted to be. Her title wouldn't change that fact.

From her hiding spot, Vania saw the prince as soon as he entered the gardens, making her roll her eyes. "At least it's obvious where you stand on this." Vania said sharply, seeming like a disembodied voice since she wasn't in plain sight. "But then again, it says a lot about you as a person, to even consider something as ridiculous as taking your payment in the form of a person." Her hiding spot wasn't really hidden, so there was no reason to assume he wouldn't see her in no time. "Give me one good reason to even pretend to tolerate you." Vania said once he came into view.

[User]
Entering into the manicured gardens, Fabian gestured for Tren to stick near the entrance for the time being. The Prince then began to walk amongst the greenery. Flowers, vines, and wide arrays of hedges occupying the confines of the Palace's central thoroughfare. He stepped quietly, looking through the plants for the Princess, in more a casual manner. Fabian himself had no opinion of plants, nor of maintained courtyards. They didn't serve much purpose in his eyes other than to take up space, yet he couldn't deny the wonderful quietness that came with the place. The Prince continued to walk deeper into garden before hearing the Princess's voice, referring to him specifically. He slowed his pace, glancing around.

"And where do I stand? In your eyes, I'm simply the enemy. An obstacle that serves to perturb you at every turn. And yet you have these preconceived notions of who you think I am, because you haven't been presented all the information." Fabian drew closer to her voice that echoed along the hedges and silent plants. He smiled. "Elves live a long time. They can remember. Demons... can't. At least, not to the same extent that your kind can. In all honesty, I couldn't even tell you why we started this conflict in the first place." The Prince rounded a corner, grazing his hand along the flowers. "The only context I have to kill Elves is because my father commanded it of me. Along with his father. His father's father... An endless, bloody cycle." Finally, Fabian came upon the Elven Princess, sitting on a stone bench surrounded on three sides by tall hedges and vines. He smiled endearingly at her, outstretching his arms towards her, as if expecting a hug from a long lost friend.

"Pardon my language if this offends you, Princess." He stepped closer. "I'd love nothing more than to leave this land behind, sit back on my own throne, and have a demon whore suck my cock dry every day until I withered to dust." He stood in front of her, his hands dropping to his sides. "But, if there is a chance that your Father's plea deal can become the unity that gives both of our kingdoms peace... well, I'd like to see it through." The Prince walk closer before sitting down next to her, his hand gesturing for her response. "And what say you?"

[Assistant]
Of every part of the castle, this was her favorite. It was a garden her mother had made, and her father tended to avoid it because it reminded him of her. It was her one place of respite. Vania actually laughed at his words, thinking them over. "In all other forms, technically, yes, you are the enemy. I don't really see it that way." Vania explained softly. "I just think you're right." Vania pointed out softly. "If this little war is so inevitable, and even a small spark can ignite it again, then why would I waste my time pretending this union would even work?" Vania explained. She didn't know, nor care, what the war was over, but she saw no point being a bargaining chip for an inevitable war. It was a waste of her time.

At his rather crude words, Vania narrowed her eyes. "It figures. Your kind only cares about yourselves, your own pleasure, as it were." Vania pointed out. "I'm not interested in being your little elf whore." Vania said sharply. It wasn't that he wasn't handsome, she just didn't believe much in being degraded, and she wasn't going to become something that was nothing more than a cock sleeve.

"This isn't what I want." Vania finally admitted. "I figured he would eventually pull something to this effect, but I'm not a common whore. I wanted love, or at least for that to be an option, not some marriage of force where I have to obey you because you have power over me."

[User]
Fabian could see that her logic was rather sound. Coming into this encounter, most women he had interacted with knew who he was, what standing he had, and what power he held at his fingertips. Seeing the Elven Princess, their titles being of equal standing, the Prince realized that intimidation and brashness weren't going to serve him much good. It was time to change tactics.

"Fair enough." Fabian nodded absently to himself. "In that case... maybe we got off on the wrong footing." He turned to look at her, his dark-golden eyes watching her. The Prince took her hand gently, kissing her wrist in a more formal, courtly matter. "I am Fabian Stamm the 2nd, Crown Prince of the Stepplind Territories." He bowed his head. "I've asked for two days of your time. If you want to be treated as my equal, I will give you that opportunity." He raised his head back up and released her hand. "If love is something that you desire, two days it's plenty to see if we mesh well together. At the end of those two days, if you don't feel the same way, I will leave with no strings attached." The Prince smiled his devilishly-fanged smile at her. "How's that for deal?"

[Assistant]
Vania couldn't help but stare as he changed completely. It was admittedly rather odd. "Trust a demon?" Vania said, thinking about it out loud. It sounded insane, escaping her lips. "Wait, opportunity?" Vania said curiously. "We hold the same title. If you expect someone to bow down to your every demands, choose someone who isn't a princess." Vania pointed out coldly. "In case you hadn't noticed, I barely listen to the king, so you'll find it hard to bend me to your wills." Vania reminded him.

"Fine. I will give you a chance." Vania said, not thinking it was going to be anything really. She possessed a strong will, and changing her mind on her first impressions would not be easy for him. "If this works out, and I find out you're still obsessed with your demon whores, you're going to find that I can be quite murderous myself." Vania pointed out.

[User]
Fabian chuckled. She was feisty and he strangely enjoyed her witty comebacks. The Prince lightly brushed a bit of her hair to the side. "I'll take it. I'll try not to disappoint you~" His nostrils picked up a bit of her scent, being as close as they were. She seemed to smell of lavender and perhaps old tomes? Not exactly the scent of a noble lady, but she wasn't your average noble. He would have the inquire about this later. "I have a feeling that I won't have needs for whores any longer." Fabian smirked.

The Prince stood up, taking a breath. "Alright, enough of my flirts. If it isn't an inconvenience to you Princess, I wouldn't mind a tour of the castle. Perhaps we could even learn each others interests?" Fabian extended a hand out for her. "Surely you have interests that you've managed to sneak past your Father."

[Assistant]
Honestly, Vania didn't know if this was going to work out, but she didn't exactly have anything to lose if she tried. Besides, the demon prince could be charming. Not to mention, she didn't really want to stay around this castle all her life, and her father was intent of throwing her at this man. It was cowardly and stupid, but she had no say in the matter. "And yet, you'd have to step up your game to interest me." Vania said teasingly.

"I suppose I could." Vania said softly, slowly getting up. As he mentioned she probably had interests she snuck past her father, Vania laughed. "That would require him to care." She pointed out. "Had it not been for your little meeting, I doubt we would have talked at all this year." Vania admitted. "Though, it wasn't so much talking as demanding I come along."

[User] "Sounds like he's been a very responsible father." Fabian said sarcastically. He walked a bit, glancing at the flowers before plucking an orchid. He sniffed the flower absentmindedly before looking back at the Princess. "That brings up an interested question..." Fabian twirled the flower between his fingers before stepping up close to the Elven Princess. Both stood at similar heights to each other with Fabian being slightly taller. "Say your father wasn't a problem anymore and you had the freedom to do as you pleased. What would you do?" He slid the flower in above her left ear. "Continue to live the life of luxury that you've been provided or live a completely opposite life?"

[Assistant]
Vania raised an eyebrow at his words. Sarcasm wasn't complex, and she actually laughed. Her father was complex, and mostly, disliked her for reminding him of her mother, not that she could blame him for that. It left her to live her life freely, without the shackles of being a princess. His question left her raising an eyebrow, though she couldn't tell what he had going through his mind, other than to place a flower above her ear.

"I've never considered it." Vania lied. She knew better than to necessarily tell this stranger too much. After all, on paper, he was an enemy. "I mean, I'd love to end this war and focus on my people more, I suppose." She explained, not delving too deeply into her beliefs for the sake of their situation. "I'd be... a different type of ruler." Vania explained softly.

[User]
The last part of what she said caught Fabian's attention, giving her a look of pure curiosity. "Different huh... I like different." He smiled, backing a step away from her. "This has been very educational. Tell you want, before you give me the Grand Tour of your luxury prison, let's stop by my room. I need to change into something more comfortable." Fabian himself was wearing a variation of armor that would be used while in battle, worn over a simple shirt and trousers. It was implemented as a precaution that this whole deal with the Elven Kingdom turned out to be a trick to assassinate him. Then again, no Elven Guards entertained the idea of him having any weapons on him, not even a simple butter knife. Not much use in armor if you don't have a weapon to defend yourself.

The Prince stretched, savoring the thought of shedding this armor. "Oh and if your father decides to 'press his ideals' upon you, I will have another chat with him." Fabian pointed at her. "I'd like you to dress as you want, say what you want, and most importantly be who you want to be. If anything, just to grind that old man's gears some more." Fabian grinned. "And if it isn't too much of an ask, I'd love for you to wear something nice and.. revealing for dinner."

[Assistant]
Vania raised an eyebrow as she heard his words. "Educational, is it?" Vania said teasingly. "I'm not exactly giving you much of anything." Vania explained softly. "I may not be thrilled with my life, or my father, but I'm not giving you anything to use as leverage against my kingdom, my people." Vania pointed out. She wasn't dumb by any means, and she knew anything she said could be used against her kingdom, so comparatively, she was actually fairly quiet, even as she led him towards his room.

"Okay." Vania said softly, stopping at his door and turning to look at him. "Little prince, you think what, you're some savior?" Vania challenged. "The way I see it, you're the one pressing my father's ideals on me." Vania said sharply.

"And yes, that is too much of an ask. I could wear what I damn well please, but then you'll start getting ideas." Vania pointed out sharply. "The way I see it, I'm just... unwillingly trading one power-obsessed man for a demon prince who thinks he's better than my entire country."

[User]
Fabian was shown his room by Princess Vania to which she started to quip and challenge his statements. The Prince simply smiled. "I am an instigator of your Father's ideals, yes. To give away his daughter to save his kingdom and his old sorry hide. I am merely accepting of your Father's offer, but make of that what you will."

He chuckled at her refusal of a change of wardrobe. "I had to try." The Prince reached out, turning the doorknob of his room. Walking inside, the room itself was pleasantly decorative. Carved-stone embroidery stretched across the ceiling and corners of the room, furnished with a large bed, a movable divider for changing clothes, a wardrobe, and a vanity, presumable for female guests to inspect makeup. The room also had an open balcony, overlooking the castle and the land beyond. Fabian was already untying the strings and joints halfway to the divider.

"You know what I like about you Princess?" The Demon Prince took off the shoulder pads, the armor clinking together as he tossed them onto the bed. "You aren't afraid of me. Countless times I arrive in other kingdoms, mostly the kingdoms of men and perhaps dwarves on occasion, and their future diplomats seem to not have the courage to speak to me." Fabian moved behind the divider, starting to undress. "I appreciate someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind to me." Tren soon showed up, seemingly from out of thin air, walking into the room with a fresh assortment of clothes for his lord. "People who are afraid are boring to me. And you, my lady, seem to be far from boring."

[Assistant]
It didn't surprise Vania that Fabian was admitting to agreeing to her father's bullshit, she already knew he wouldn't be wasting his time trying to get to know her if he wasn't at least considering her father's stupid offer. She rolled her eyes. "Of course you are. I'm a sexy, exotic beauty to you." Vania insisted as if she wasn't aware of what he thought of her.

Instead of letting her leave once he got to his room, the prince just kept on talking, while he hid behind the divider and changed. His advisor appeared out of nowhere, handing the man new clothes, making her laugh in amusement. She knew some royals were that dependent on servants, but Vania wasn't like that. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms as he explained that he liked her because she wasn't scared of him, then recounted that other kingdoms tended to be scared of him.

"You're not going to charm me by pretending I'm different." Vania pointed out softly. "Like I said, we have the same damn title. I don't really care about you or your underhanded bullshit, But I'm also not going to bow down and be some sexual servant to you either." Vania pointed out, deciding to leave while he was distracted with changing.

She headed to her own room, changing into a tight black dress that showed off more of her body, before heading into town to mingle and enjoy the anonymity of the fact that her father pretended he didn't have a daughter, so the townspeople were unaware of who she was, and she could just be a normal elf woman here.

[User] Fabian started to dress in the clean clothes, a silk robe. Light and comfortable. enough to walk around in, but sleek and fashionable enough to meet and talk with others. The Prince peaked his head out, not seeing the Princess in the doorway. "She left, didn't she?" Tren confirmed this as he glanced towards the door as well; the Prince sighed with a look of regret on his face.


[User]
Catalina raised an eyebrow at his suggestion that Damien had the body of a twenty-five-year-old. "I was just messing with you" she teased. "You know, you don't look any older compared to when I last saw you a few years ago. Maybe you even look a little bit younger". It would be easy to assume she was still teasing him, but she was being honest. He did look good, perhaps even more now than before since she supposed he was thriving by only having work for himself and not deal with the family.

They reached the stables and she was ushered inside by him, she did notice the touch on her lower back, just at the top of her behind, it was enough for her to take notice, but she quickly forgot about it once they entered the stables. While most stalls were empty, there were a few horses. She smiled and moved over to one of them, reaching her hand up to pet it.

His suggestion made her turn her head to look at him, though she kept on petting the horse. "I think that would give dad a heart attack" she suggested with a chuckle before becoming more serious. "What difference would there be in me working for the family company or work with you? Since you know, both businesses are illegal?" she suggested. While he had told her his business wasn't as horrible as her father's, she wasn't quite sure if it was enough of a difference.

[Assistant]
Damien chuckled when she admitted she'd been kidding about his age, and then proceeded to suggest he looked younger. Much of the stress of being part of a major criminal enterprise was gone, and since leaving that part behind he'd certain felt younger and healthier. He still stressed a little, from time to time but the way he used to. He was more able to look after himself, physically and mentally and that had done a world of difference in his life. He decided to just leave that conversation there for now...

All the horses that could easily be reached were very friendly, a few less friendly types were kept separately, where they couldn't hurt anyone and only the stable keeper had access to those as he tried to calm there demeanor. Some horses had been brought here for rehabilitation, just like some teenagers from the city were often brought in to do as well. Damien stood back and he watched her with a smile on his face as she moved to interact with one of the horses... again, his eyes strayed, and he checked her out from behind. _What a body..._ he thought to himself.

When she turned to look back at him following his offer, she was close to catching his straying eyes, but at the turn of the conversation he smiled as he looked at her eyes for the moment. He chuckled and he nodded when she mentioned her father's reaction... "Parts of my enterprise are legit, and you could work in that group. Protecting people, the environment, helping to represent those whose voice need to be heard but don't have the means... working with youth groups" he suggested, just to name a few...

"Your father might even see it as a good thing, after a while... it would take you out of the danger zone, or certainly it would lessen the danger" he admitted.

[User]
Catalina smiled to herself as she continued to pet the horse, this was certainly not something she'd imagined doing when she woke up that morning. Being out in the countryside with Damien of all people. This was certainly not a place she'd imagined him in before she started to catch up with him again. But it was a pleasant surprise. While she still knew he did criminal things, her view of him had improved tremendously during the last few weeks as she now knew he at least didn't do too many horrible things.

As she continued to pet the horse, she felt a strange sensation, obviously Damien was looking at her since she stood in front of him, but there was something else. However, once she turned back, she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

"Even if I'd work for the part of your enterprise that is legit, what will happen if one day, the criminal part of it is brought to light? Won't it all go down, along with all those associated with it?" she suggested with a raised eyebrow. She let go of the horse and turned around completely to face him. "You seem to be quite successful. Shouldn't you be able to go all legit? Keep in the light?" she then suggested.

[Assistant]
Damien continued to smile and steal glances at her feminine form. When she offered her theory on what happens when it finally crashes around him, he chuckled and he shrugged. "You're a lawyer, you know as well as I do things don't really work like that" he admitted. He had a good record with covering his own ass over the years, and even if someone did turn against him it would likely take decades before any charges could be brought against him... the American legal system, after all was designed to protect people like him.

He watched as she turned fully to face him, and he grinned as the horse moved to nudge at her shoulder as if begging for more scratches. He chuckled at her suggestion of him going full legit. "Wouldn't matter... I could go full legit, but it wouldn't erase the past. I run the business like a corporation; one company runs the legit business while the other the less legit. I try to keep them as separate entities as much as I can" he admitted as he took a drink from his beer.

"Even the less legal business is important now... take the sex trade side of the business. Yes, it's illegal, but all the girls who work for me came to me looking for work... not one was coerced or forced into it... the girls are very well taken care of; not only are they paid very well, but they have a very good benefit package aside from the pay" he explained. "If they all quit tomorrow, I'd shut the business down. But they need this, it's a good paying, safe environment to do the thing they chose to do" he added as he pushed off the stall wall and he started to walk towards the rear entrance to the stable.

[User]
While Catalina tried to have faith in the justice system, she knew deep inside that Damien was right. It would be a quite big 'if' for him or her father to ever be brought down. But if it did ever go down, then everyone on it would go down with the ship, that she was sure of. Her reputation would be ruined if she was associated in such a scenario.

As he talked about the sex trade in his business, she frowned slightly while reaching up with her hand to pet the horse again, while still facing Damien. "So all these girls, even if they had another job offer that would pay well enough would still keep on working for you?" she asked, sounding quite distrusting of it. One thing that did get her going was topics such as this, sex trade, injustice and all that. She turned to follow him as he walked out of the stables. "I have plenty of reasons as to why I really loathe that you're even in the sex trade business, but it being illegal is at the top of my mind" she told him as they walked back up to the house.

Catalina finished her second beer in a big sip just before they headed inside and to the kitchen. "Well, enough about that, for now" she suggested. "What should we make for dinner then? You got anything in the fridge or freezer?" she wondered as she looked around his kitchen.

[Assistant]
"Most of these girls are 'uneducated', most don't even have grade 12 education... they make as much money as someone with 2 or even 3-year college program... they're free to quit whenever they want... I'm not a pimp, I'm a businessman" he said as he stood there looking at his lovely niece... "Obviously I make a profit from it, the business has to pay itself after all" he admitted. "They work in a safe, clean environment and I cover all the medical costs" he explained as they started to walk from the stables back towards the house.

"Maybe I should take you there, show you, let you meet some of these girls for yourself..." he chuckled as they walked. He doubted she'd go for it, but maybe asking these girls for herself would help make her understand that just because society said something was illegal, it didn't necessarily mean there was no place for it in that society.

He nodded when she said that was enough unpleasantness and like her finished his second brew as they made their way inside the large gourmet kitchen. It was modern all while maintaining the charm of the old building. "How does pizza sound" he said pulling open what looked like a large oak pantry door to reveal a large upright freezer and a stack of frozen pizzas, suggesting he ate a lot of frozen pizzas. He took one out and he set it on the counter before he moved to preheat the oven then he pulled out a fresh ready-made salad and a couple different bottle of dressing. "There should be a large wooden salad bowl in that cupboard, would you mind?" He asked as he set it aside and he started to open the pizza box.

[User]
"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer" Catalina suggested as Damien said he could take her to see those girls. She wouldn't truly believe him until she spoke with them herself and heard from them that they weren't abused or taken advantage of. It did surprise her that Damien so easily let her see parts of his business and even offered her to work in his company, why did he want her around so much? Was he just nice?

They got to the kitchen and he suggested pizza. "Pizza always sounds great" she commented with a smile. She just stood around until he gave her a task. "Sure, I'll get to it. I can mix the salad" she said. She opened the cupboard and got the bowl before moving over to the counter. It didn't take long to get the salad ready in the bowl and she moved back to the cupboard taking out two plates for them and them finding some cutlery in a drawer.

"There, now we only need to wait for the pizza to cook" she suggested and leaned against the counter while looking over at him. For a moment she was just quiet as she looked him over, until she smiled faintly at him. "I know I've thanked you already, but I'm truly grateful you're helping me out. It's funny, I thought you were the one that couldn't be trusted, now it seems like you might be the only one I can trust..."

[Assistant]
Everything Damien had told her about the business was true, and other than a few racketeering and gambling enterprises the sex-trafficking was the scope of it. The drug side of things he'd put an end to several years back, or rather he'd just made an arrangement with another group to take it over as he no longer wanted any part of it. Except for buying pot, he did enjoy smoking a bit of MJ from time to time.

Not only were the girls very well taken care of, but he was in talks with one of the girls to pay her way through medical school. But those negotiations were still on going. By the time she had the salad ready he'd just slipped the pizza in the oven. He looked at the timer... "Another ten minutes or so" he suggested as he turned, and he saw her looking at him. He leaned back against the counter, and he smiled as he crossed his arms about his chest.

He simply listened as she thanked him, and he only spoke when she was done... "It means a lot to me that you're here" he said. "When your father and I broke up, he got the family" he suggested with a grin. "I had very little, just a few friends and contacts. Your father didn't think I'd make anything out of myself, he just assumed like the rest of the family that I'd come crawling back to him begging for money or for him to take me back in" he admitted with a grin and a chuckle.

"Ah, one more legit business I've started over the past few years, or rather invested in" he suggested as he moved to a wine rack set on the side and he pulled a bottle of red wine out. He set down a bottle of French wine on the counter for her to look at as he grabbed a bottle opened. "I'm part owner of a vineyard in the south of France" he suggested with a grin.

[User]
Catalina was glad Damien had taken the initiative to get them something to eat, she hadn't realized until now how hungry she was, even after those two beers, and how good pizza sounded. She leaned against the counter, feeling like the wait was too brief to sit down and relax somewhere.

She let out a chuckle as he said her father had gotten the family. "That's true..." She wasn't sure which parts of the family knew the truth of this and which didn't, but either way, all despised Damien now, just like she had before. "Well, he was quite wrong then. You've done very well for yourself, better than anyone could imagine" she told him with a small smile before watching him move over to a wine rack.

"Damn. Is there anything you haven't done?" she wondered and took the bottle to look at it. "I guess this is pretty good then? I've never been good at understanding wine labels, all the different grapes, regions, aging... I just know if I like it or not" she chuckled and handed back the bottle to him. She helped out by moving over to the cupboards again, finding two wine glasses in one and placing them on the counter.

The next ten minutes went by quickly and before they knew it, the scent of pizza filled the kitchen. She got a knife to cut it up with once Damien had gotten it out of the oven, and helped cut it into slices. "This will be sooo good. I'm starving" she smiled and placed some pizza on her plate. "Where do you want us to sit?".

[Assistant]
"Yeah, that's right" Damien admitted proudly when she suggested he'd done good. "What does bother me sometime is that most of the family won't speak to me because of lies he said, and they won't listen to anything else... it's like a fucking cult" he said, a hint of anger rising in his voice, but he took a breath and his smile returned. He grabbed the corkscrew, and he smiled as he moved to grab the bottle and he started to work the cork out.

He chuckled when she jokingly asked if there was anything he hadn't done... "Breaking off from the family let me do some thinking, and I realized if I don't dedicate my whole existence to pumping money into it, I can actually afford to take the time and do things for myself... invest in things I enjoy and experience things I want to try... rather than just be told what to do and what to like" he added as he pulled the cork out fully and he started to pour the wine into the stemless wine glasses she had retrieved.

"And I like wine as much as I like beer" he added as he finished the pour and he set the bottle aside. Ten minutes later they had cut up the pizza and added the salad and grabbed their wine glasses when she asked where they were going to eat... "Let's go back outside" he said moving through the garden door back to the deck. It was getting cool so after setting his plate down he moved to turn the gas firepit next to the table on and the heat that radiated was welcoming. "It may not be five-star, but it'll do, I suppose" he offered with a wink as he sat and he took a couple bites.

[User]
Catalina heard the anger in his tone and it took her by surprise. It wasn't often she had seen him angry, though she supposed she understood why this in particular did wind him up. She watched him uncork the wine and nodded slowly. "I can understand that. And if I could casually afford to have a wine yard, I'd do that too".

Once both had their plates full of pizza and salad, along with their full wine glasses, they headed back out. It was cooler now, but she didn't mind. She raised her wine glass and gave his a small clink before eating. "Frozen pizza is never a miss" she smiled. For a while she just ate and had a few sips of while, making that worst pang of hunger go away before she concentrated on talking with him a bit more.

"I've always liked this sort of food better than whatever fancy shit is served at those five-star restaurants, where the portion is so small it would barely feed a toddler" she said and shook her head with a smile. "I always hated when my parents took me out to eat when I was little, always making me put on a dress or something like that..." She had another sip of wine before looking out over the beautiful land, which was growing cooler as the sun started to set. Since she was just in a t-shirt and pants, despite the gas firepit she was a little bit cold, but she didn't mind. "The wine is really good, by the way" she then said and nodded to her glass.

[Assistant]
Other than the toast, they were quiet for some time as they ate their make-do meal, which was pretty good, by all accounts. After a few sips Damien retrieved the bottle and topped their glasses off before setting the bottle between them and setting down to eat a bit more, watching as the sun was beginning to set across the field.

When she spoke again about the food he looked over and he grinned, and he nodded. "Yeah, I rarely cook, so in the city I have a few diners I like to visit... small affairs, the old mom and pop kind of restaurants. I stay away from the big formal places unless it's a business kind of dinner" he admitted. "Out here it's usually frozen stuff like this, or sometimes I'll fire up the grill" he suggested nodding to the well-appointed outdoor kitchen just behind them tucked under the awning roof.

He smiled when she complimented the wine. He took his glass and he lifted... "To good wine" he toasted before he took a large sip. Taking another bite form the pizza he wiped his lips with a napkin... "You must look great in a dress... you have awesome legs" he suggested looking at her with a teasing grin.

[User]
While Catalina in no way was a lightweight, she could feel herself get a bit relaxed, perhaps even pleasantly buzzed after some beers and wine, though she didn't mind. She supposed it would just help her sleep easier that night and it was one way to take the stress of the day away.

"That grill looks awesome" she commented before having another pizza bite. The more time she spent, there more she liked Damien's little country getaway. It would make anyone happy to live in such a place, and to think he was able to keep it as a country place. They toasted again and she took a sip of wine as well, just as he talked about her. She smiled a little and looked over at him. "I think I always look great" she told him with a teasing grin. "But, thank you. I honestly would probably not have minded the dresses when I was younger if they weren't forced upon me. I can wear them nowadays, once in a while, if they're in my style".

Soon she had finished her pizza and salad and leaned back with her glass of wine. "That really hit the spot. Thanks for dinner" she told him. Then she looked out over the quiet, peaceful landscape, an idea coming to mind. "The only thing you miss out here is a pool" she suggested. "I always love lounging by a poolside..."

[Assistant]
Damien followed her gaze to the grill, and he grinned, and he nodded. It was a fancy and expensive set up, but grilling was really the only cooking he liked to do, so it had totally been worth it. "It was worth every penny. It's got all the bells and whistles" he added as he looked back at her before taking a mouthful of salad. Damien would admit he wasn't feeling bad either, though in his case it might be high of being so close to his attractive niece, that he'd lusted over since she'd become an adult.

He chuckled when she admitted she looked good, and he nodded in agreement. He was attentive when she spoke further on the subject of dresses. His eyes took her in, and again he was struck by her stunning beauty. "I think you should wear dresses, show off those sexy legs" he suggested as he took a sip of wine. A few minutes later they were both sitting back; the plates were bare of food and the bottle of wine sat empty between them and their glasses were just about so.

The sun was closing in on the horizon then and he smiled when she broke the silence, and she mentioned a pool... he shook his head, "no pool, not here anyway" he admitted as he downed the last of his glass. "I just don't think it fits the whole country life thing" he admitted. "There's a river that runs down the valley, good for swimming" he admitted with a grin as he moved to sit up a bit as the last rays of the sun caressed their faces...

Everything had grown quiet buy then, except the occasional whinnying of the horses, the crickets, and the frogs in the distance. "We should head inside... the mosquitoes with be out in full force soon" he suggested as he grabbed some of the dishes and he carried them inside. He set it all in the sink for now then he locked the doors. "The ensuite in your room has a large shower stall and a big tub... there should be plenty of soaps and shampoos in the cupboard and plenty of fresh towels and washcloths in there as well, if you want to wash up" he explained as he moved up the stairs to show her where everything was located... only once he was certain she had everything well in hand he reminded her he was just in the room next door, so if she needed anything at all, not to hesitate...

[User]
Catalina laughed as he commented about the dresses, not seeming bothered by his comment. "Maybe, maybe not" she commented back. They finished their meal and finished the wine as well. At this point, after the day she had, the food, beer and wine, she didn't really feel like doing much else that evening. Maybe just take it easy and then head to bed to get some rest.

Not too long later, he suggested they head inside and once they carried their dishes back in, he told her about her room and the bathroom. "Thanks. A shower sounds great right now. That and then I'll head to bed" she replied with a smile. Once they were about to part she gave him a nod "Good night then, I'll see you tomorrow". She disappeared into her room, closing the door but not locking it. Why would she after all? It was only the two of them there.

She got a fresh tank top and a pair of underwear from her bag before heading into the bathroom, also closing that door but not locking the door. After all, it was only the two of them and she was also not used to locking the bathroom door since she's always had her own ensuite bathroom. Stripping down she stepped into the large shower stall. She wasn't really dirty or sweaty, but just standing in the water for a while sounded nice. Soon enough, the water in the shower was going and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sound of the water and the sensation of it against her skin. Her body was toned, though not really muscular as she worked out to keep herself in shape and not get shredded. While she didn't have the biggest butt or breasts, both were still decently sized to her body shape, a firm handful or two. A pleased sigh left her lips as she zoned out in the shower, the water just the right temperature.

[Assistant]
Damien could easily hold his liquor, so he was far from being drunk, but he'd drank enough to leave him feeling more courageous than usual. He knew it was a bizarre thing, considering who he was but after he'd left her, he found himself in his own ensuite bath brushing his teeth. He was down to his boxers, as he brushed, and he could see in the mirror he was pitching a significant tent. He was unable to get Catalina out of his mind, so his erection seemed rather perpetual at this point...

Finally, he took the glass holding the straight whiskey he'd poured himself and he downed it all in one go, leaving him feeling warm both inside and out. Damien had always been the kind of guy who got what he wanted, especially once he set his mind to something, and in this case, that something was his niece. Finally, he decided to continue on with his streak of getting what he wanted, so he set the glass down and he pushed his underwear to the ground before he moved across the hallway, and he checked on the guest bedroom's door. Finding it unlocked he moved inside, smiling as he heard the shower running.

With a grin he moved across the bedroom, pausing to run his hand across her fresh underwear... then he moved, his erection bobbing freely in front of him, and he checked to find the bathroom door was also unlocked, so he quietly pressed on. He could see her silhouette through the steamy shower door. She looked incredible as he stepped across the floor to the glass door... taking a deep breath he pulled the door open, and he looked at her as he crossed the low threshold behind her... "Your ass is as incredible as your legs..." he muttered as he closed the door behind him and he stood there as naked as she was, waiting for her reaction.


[User]
Amastacia's sleep was restless, haunted by memories of the cave-in and being trapped within the darkness, of the time on the ship and the rocking waves below decks in the hull, of her time within the mines. There were memories too of her childhood before her mother and grandmother had passed, of her and her grandmother being brought into the castle where her father lived and them both being made his servants, to never call or refer to her father as 'father' in any sense of the word. How he was her king and she was just another slave and her stepmother, the queen treating her harshly because she was a reminder of her husband's affair with a human, how she had no right to the throne, a right belonging to her half-brother, the crown prince and child of the king and queen. Within the egg, the griffin hatchling was undisturbed as well, showing no signs of hatching, but like Fushiko had said it was still alive. However, griffins were not like dragons and wyverns and thus, the griffin could not sense the world around it outside of its egg nor communicate at all. It's faint heartbeat was still there which meant it was still alive.

When she woke, the hut was filled in darkness barring the multiple short candles that cast dim lighting throughout the room. She had not even heard anyone leave the room she was in nor enter it in her fitful sleep and, as she turned her head, could see a window she’d noticed not before, a window which showed darkness outside the hut. Had she slept that long? Had she even slept at all? What if the egg?!

In a panic, Amastacia’s eyes fell to the wall where she had put the egg after Fushiko had wrapped it up, finding it was still there where it had been placed. As she moved, however, she felt that her leg and arm were still in casts but as her gaze fell to her broken arm, she discovered it was in a new cast entirely and not only that, she could feel something around her body. It took her a few moments to get over her panic and then relief of the griffin's egg being with her, to check herself out and see that she was not only covered in gauze but that she was wearing new clothes as well, a robe that looked to be hand woven, best she could figure. Looking around the room she had been brought to, hours ago it seemed judging by the fact that it was now night, it took her eyes a few minutes to pierce the darkness enough to see a figure kneeling in the center of the room, the light of the candles casting a strange glow about the kneeling figure, a figure that revealed itself to be a woman, only with fox ears as well on her. Another kitsune then?

Amastacia tensed at noticing the woman there, just kneeling in the center of the room and though she presented a calm and patient demeanor about her, Amastacia had never seen such a large woman before, not even among her father's kingdom. Granted, elves were tall, female sun elves being between 4'7"-6'1" but this kitsune looked to be huge in stature, almost like a soldier. Despite the stranger's size, they were obviously female, given their large bust. In the dim light she couldn't really tell the color of the woman's ears but Fushiko had said his mother would return when she deemed it prudent. Was this in fact Fushiko's mother then? If so, then was she the reason that Amastacia's wounds were healed and she was in different clothes? Despite the calmness the other exuded and the fact that they were making no threatening or violet moves towards Amastacia, she immediately moved, well as best she could, to get between the egg and this stranger that she didn't know. "Who... who are you?"

[Assistant]
"Hush, Child. Calm. Calm intentions. I am Fushiko's mother, you may call me, Hana. I am the one who healed you. Pardon my intrusion, your clothes were too far torn to save, your wounds needed dressing, and you needed your rest. I placed a sleeping spell over you to ensure you rested through what I had to do. However, apologies are in order, I invaded your privacy, and did not ask willingly. I also could have subjected you to horrid nightmares. I am sorry for that. It was not My intentions." She spoke, bowing slightly in apology as she clasped her hands, lowering her head gently.

"Fushiko told me the trials you came through to be here. That and your egg, it is perhaps a reckless endeavor, but valiant. I hope you succeed. But now... when you feel well enough to speak, I must ask you some questions. I am old fashioned when it comes to strangers and my son..."

[User]
As if sensing or perhaps, seeing was the better word, Amastacia's tense body and fear, the kitsune told her to calm down and have calm intentions before introducing herself as Fushiko's mother and that she was the one who had healed Amastacia. She spoke of her name being Hana and that was what Amastacia could call the kitsune kneeling before her in the center of the room amidst the candlelight. Hana apologized for the intrusion, saying that her clothes were too far gone to be saved and her wounds needed dressing as well as rest. She spoke of placing a sleeping spell over her to ensure she was rested through what had to be done. There were apologies for invading Amastacia's privacy and how she could have subjected Amastacia to horrid nightmares, the thought causing Amastacia to shudder.

Amastacia was surprised that she had been put to sleep for her wounds to heal and that she hadn't even woken when the female fox entered the room though maybe kitsune were just silent or, more likely, Amastacia had just been trapped in her mind and too tired to respond to any outside external forces and sounds. Hana bowed and lowered her head slight with clasped hands which was startling for Amastacia. She was used to doing so for her father and the queen, even her half-brother as well as seeing other servants do the same... even the townsfolk throughout the kingdom would end up bowing when the royal family passed by... or the aristocrats. Hana then spoke of Fushiko telling her about the trials she had came through to be here in this village of kitsune, and that mentioned her egg, saying it was a reckless endeavor but valiant all the same. This caused a frown to appear on Amatascia's face, which changed to confusion as she was told that Hana hoped that Amastacia succeeded with the egg. There was mention of Amastacia, when she was well enough to speak, to answer some questions as Hana was old fashioned when it came to strangers and her son.

It took Amastacia a bit to finally get the courage to speak and when she did, the first thing she could think of was to thank the kitsune. Mother and even her grandmother had taught and raised her to be polite to people, even people who did not deserve it. "Hana... thank you for... healing me," she said, reaching behind her to feel the egg which was warm, possibly from Amastacia's body heat and the blanket it was wrapped within as well as the blanket the blanketed egg was resting on. This simple action seemed to reassure Amastacia that the egg at least was alright and safe as Fushiko had promised it to be. "What... questions?"

[Assistant]
"Pretty in-depth questions. Where have you come from? From where you hail from more specifically. I'll be honest, we don't see many Elvish folk around here..." Hana spoke softly, trying not to sound prejudice while saying that. And it wasn't. It was just the truth, the Kitsune Village manly saw many of the same people.

Watching Hana, she definitely seemed to carry herself in a confident yet warm person. She was caring but strong. Able to defend herself but could probably talk a person down from escalation first. Anastacia was just the newest person to lay across this bed, she needed help, and Hana was gonna give it. But, she was also a stranger. Where Fushiko was just happy to help, Hana needed to protect her household.

[User]
As she questioned what type of questions would be asked, Amastacia got her answer. In depth questions apparently, these questions immediately being fired off one after the other, questions she wasn't really pleased to answer but were overall innocent. Hana wanted to know where she came from, correcting this to question where she hailed from specifically and how the village didn't see many elvish folk around. Her voice was soft as she spoke, though in Amastacia's mind, Hana seemed perfectly capable of defending herself if need be. Amastacia's fingers traced across the egg, reassuring it or reassuring herself she didn't know, but she would take a few moments to come up with an answer.

"Far away... weeks maybe across the sea... maybe months," she said. "From the sun elf kingdom... Morkothas Kingdom. I don't know where the heading was... only that it wasn't here. Storm... caught... crashed upon this land... beach five years ago," she said.

[Assistant]
Nodding solemnly, Hana gave a soft sigh as she seemed to hold sympathy for the girl. "My apologies. I don't mean my questions to be malevolent, just cautious. I haven't been to Morkothas myself, talked to a few who did. The queen there... she isn't well liked is she?" Hana commented idly, unaware the connection between Anastacia and the new queen.

"God's upon, I haven't asked your name. What is your name dearie?" She said, interrupting her own train of thought as it became clear that she had been rude in not asking her name.

[User] Amastacia watched as Hana nodded and apologized, saying she didn't mean for her questions to be malevolent and how she'd never been to Morkothas herself but talked to a few that had. She mentioned the queen, how she wasn't well liked. "That would be correct," said Amastacia. The woman, as if realizing that she had been rude and perhaps she had, spoke of not asking Amastacia's name and then asked what it was. "My name is Amastacia," she said.

[Assistant]
"Amastacia, a beautiful name for sure. Well, as far as I can tell, you mean us no harm, nor are you in any condition to do us harm. Until you are well enough to move on your own, I suggest not moving without Fushiko or my help. Don't want you laid up longer than you need to be." She told her with a smile that spoke to warmth and too caring.

Hana could tell Amastacia was not used to this level of hospitality and care. It was foreign to her like Morkothas was foreign to Hana. "Get some rest. Natural rest." She chuckled softly as she slowly stood up, careful not to hit her head against the roof of the cabin.

[User]
Hana spoke of being able to tell that Amastacia meant no harm and that her name was beautiful. She was advised not to move without Fushiko's or her own help until she was well enough to move on her own, saying that there was no need or want to have Amastacia laid up longer than she needed to be. She nodded, even as Hana chuckled and slowly stood up, telling her to get some natural rest and Amastacia watched her go, confused by the seemingly caring concern for a complete stranger. It was only when the kitsune left that she turned her attention fully to the egg, pulling it from its blanket to examine it. The griffin within the egg did not react at all to Amastacia holding the egg and after a spell she set the egg back down in its blanket before slowly settling back on the bed and falling asleep.

She did not wake until a few days later, therefore not taking any nourishment at all during the time she'd been asleep, the past few years hard on her body and mind as well as the memories and childhood she'd had after her mother's death. Those could be mended however... it was the time in the mines that did not mend so easily but it was clear during the time she was taken care of and asleep that she'd had some ribs broken, no doubt from the cave in crushing her. Yet, it was within the throes of a memory... a nightmare... that caused the half-elf guest of the Kukan tribe, at least one of the Kukan villages anyway, to end up waking within the night unexpectedly, sweat covering her skin from not only the nightmare but from a slight fever. The Lord and Chancellor had been made aware of this, the Chancellor learning from his son and wife who had in turn told the lord of the village. The Lord and Chancellor had discussed the matter before it was decided that the half-elf would be allowed to remain at least until it healed so long as trouble was not brought to the village.

Amastacia lay there on the bed, trying to catch her breath as she stared at the ceiling of the hut she still found herself in, trying to gather her bearings and get her breath under control, eyes glazed over and occasionally coughing, unaware of where she was in her panic, still caught within the throes of her memories. There didn't appear to be anyone around her, and it took her some time to realize she was, for the time being, safe and that she was in the hut... not in the ship... not in the mines... not struggling to get free and trapped within the darkness.

[Assistant]
After Hana left, She passed her judgment onto Fushiko, telling him she saw no harm in Amastacia staying with them for however long she needed, yet warned that she had a darker past than just the mines. It wasn't a concern of danger, just a caution for what she had gone through. After Anastacia fell into a multi day sleep, Fushiko and Hana spent shifts, on and off, trying to stay by her, just in case she woke up in severe need.

Well, the day she finally woke up, it had been Fushiko's shift to watch her, and of course, he had stepped away when she did wake. He merely had to use the restroom, so as he returned, he found Anastacia awake, yet severely needy from her days of being asleep. "Hey. You're awake, you feeling alright? Probably hungry." He told her as he knelt down beside her bedding, watching her shiny expression, noting how sweaty she was.


[User]
A part of Aubrey wanted to cry, to mourn with him while they held each other close. However, for now, she buried the feelings deep---wriggling in his arms and rolling until they were facing each other. It was hard to see his expression in the darkness, but she could tell from his voice that he was hurting as much as she was too. She nodded her head, understanding what he meant. "I missed you too... but it's nice to feel really close to you."

She pressed a kiss against his jaw, her breasts smooshing up against Jaxon's chest as she tried to comfy against him. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his torso like a clingy koala, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier with each passing minute until she fell asleep in his arms.

It wasn't until 6:00 AM (roughly an hour before Lia's family was supposed to arrive) that the alarm clock began to buzz, it's incessant beeping piercing through the safe haven they'd made for one another. It was then that Aubrey's eyes fluttered open, realizing that she and Jaxon were still wrapped into an intimate embrace.

[Assistant]
Between the warmth of Aubrey and her nude form, the exhaustion of physical intimacy, and the slumber induced droning of the thunder storm rolling outside the window, made it all the easier to fall asleep. Jaxon woke up with the alarm, remembering very little from the night before, or rather his dreams. Everything had turned off with his final eyelid shut, and moments later he was awake at 6 A.M.

Jaxon was gripping her hip and butt cheek still, having found a safe haven for his hands. He gave a soft groan as he felt her soft body below his finer tips. "Mm... Aubrey?"

[User]
A part of her wanted to close her eyes and simply disappear into his arms, but they had to pack Lia's things. And the voice of reason in her head told her that they had to talk about this too---that they had to address the recent development between them. "We need to finish packing Lia's things," she mumbled gently into his chest. "We should get up, Jaxon... and we should probably talk about what happened last night."

They were both sad and grieving, and even though she'd found comfort in his arms, a part of her knew this probably wasn't healthy.

[Assistant]
"Mm you're probably right. Her parents will be here soon..." He acknowledged only the packing part, though he also had to realize that they to talk about the sex. As easily as it could have been the equivalent of a night drunken sex, he knew that they hadn't been drunk. They were quite lucid in fact. They had made a decision, a few decisions each, starting with him.

"Aubrey, It's hard... being without her. Without Lia... last night, I just felt the urge to lay down beside you... to be close to you... hoped you felt a little similar... at least enough to reciprocate my... arousal I suppose."

[User]
Aubrey understood him---ever since Lia died, everything had been painful and overwhelming in the worst of ways. "I know," she whispered. "We've all been friends for forever, and it's weird... painful that she's no longer here with us." Just saying it out loud hurt because it made everything more real. "It still feels like a bad dream... and it was nice, really nice to just lie beside you." It was the closest she'd felt to him in a long time too, but they needed to talk about it after they packed and handed off Lia's belongings.

"We should finish packing first though." It would be painful, but it had to be done. Shyly, Aubrey fumbled beneath the covers for her discarded underwear and shorts---slipping into them---before she slowly got out of bed and made her way to the living room to pack the remainder of their friend's belongings.

[Assistant]
"Yeah... one Long bad dream." He repeated before he smiled softly as she admitted how nice it was to just lie beside him.

They held onto one another for a moment before she instigated that they finish up packing. Jaxon agreed silently, following out of bed before he pulled up his boxers and sleep pants before he wandered out to tjr living room to help. It was a hard job, putting away all the memories they had spent so many Yeats making. But they had to, for Lia, and for others who knew her, like they did.

[User]
The atmosphere was somber as they packed up Lia's belongings---as if a heavy rain cloud had enveloped them in darkness. It was far from an easy task, and by the time they'd finished, Aubrey was quiet as she eyed the cardboard boxes scattered across the floor. Years of friendship and memories, reduced to seven measly boxes. The last reminder of Lia. "It feels so much emptier now," she mumbled. And once Lia's family came to pick up her things, it would be just her and Jaxon in a house full of bad memories... at least until they moved later in the week. The thought was almost enough to drive her mad.

"You should take something to remember her by," Aubrey suggested. She'd already done the same (Lia's family had told them to keep whatever mementos they'd wanted to) and she'd chosen a seashell Lia had painted during their last trip to the beach. It had been an impromptu trip really---Lia had woken them up in the dead of night with a prompt 'you're getting in my car, losers---no questions asked.' She'd always been the wildcard, and they always followed her off into the unknown with no questions asked. There would be none of that now.

[Assistant]
As Jaxon helped board up the boxes, he sat in the center of the boxes, neutral and steeled as he held back in the tidal waves of emotions. He held it all in, even as he dry folded the last box close. Slowly standing up, he could almost feel the same level of nausea, the absolute searing pain of nearly breaking down Lias door, just to find her still and motionless. The door handle still hadn't been replaced and the splintered track was still on the floor below the door itself.

As Aubrey told him to take something, he mindlessly pulled out a silver chain from his pocket, with three gold tags at its peak. The tags read "L", "A", and "J", for all three of them. Jaxon had it made for Lia, right after they had their first major upset in the trio. Lia had worried that two girls would make an unequal split in the group and leave Jaxon out. Yet he invited that the only disconnect they had were the stereotypes society had taught her, in that girls and guys couldn't be close friends without problems. So he made her the necklace to show that they would always be a trio.

The chain felt like fire in his hand. He hated he had to reclaim it. Hated it. Hated that he had to have it, that she couldn't be there wearing it again. He didn't hate Lia, never. But he hated that this was their lives now. The trio would never ride hand in hand. Only heart in heart. Jaxon slowly cried, the tears slipping out of his eyes like criminals fleeing a prison.

[User]
Aubrey's eyes flitted to the trinket Jaxon had decided to keep---a lump growing in her throat the moment she noticed the tiny letters representing their names. They'd grown up on the same street, had known each other since the summers of elementary school, and now... well, it had all come to a bitter end.

Slowly, she closed the distance between her and Jaxon. They'd both seen each other break in the span of a week, and though nothing she said would ever make things better, they had to be there for each other. She placed a soft hand on his shoulder, rubbed her palm softly against his back.

"I know," she whispered, her own voice shaking with emotion. "It hurts, really bad." If anyone could understand how he felt, it was her. And so, she stood there with her hand on his shoulder, as her own tears threatened to fall. They spent a moment in silence together until the doorbell rang and Lia's older sister called out to them.

It was a somber exchange, and they shared hugs with Rhea before promptly packing Lia's things into the back of the pickup truck. Barely 20 minutes, that was all the time it took to do away with what remained of their friend's life, and just like that the two of them were alone again... a house of full of bad memories.

[Assistant]
Jaxon could barely feel the hand on his shoulder, hear the words she spoke, or even see much out of his own eyes. His brain was flooding with all the chemicals that should be associated with sadness, instead, He felt like inside his head, he was atop a mountain fighting off every emotion he could, not wanting to yield.

After the doorbell broke his comatose state, he activated alongside Aubrey and began to arduous process of giving away their memories on brown boxes. Jaxon yielded to a hug from Rhea, and for a moment, he swore he heard Lia inside bis head, speaking. He couldn't hear the words, but as Rhea let go, Jaxon was feeling... vulnerable. Like he had been struck a fatal blow.

He remained standing, barely, as Rhea left, leaving the 2/3 trio in the emotional wake that was the exit of their missing third. Jaxon moved first, slowly turning and making his way to the bathroom, striping his clothes off until he stood at the door, turning to Aubrey, who he nearly silently beckoned into the room, the ceiling air fan already humming to fill the dead air.

[User] Jaxon made his way to the bathroom, dazedly dragging his feet like a zombie... and her heart broke for him, for the both of them. He stared at her with his empty-looking eyes, and she watched as he peeled off his clothes in a manner that was almost robotic. Did he want her to join him? "We can fill the tub with hot water and soak in it," she suggested quietly. "A good bubble bath to feel better."

[Assistant]
Jaxon didn't say anything he just waved her into the bathroom, shut the door behind her, and then turned to see her. He then lowered, pressed his lips against hers, and just slowly melted into her body, wrapping her arms around his neck as he became her lover once again. He kissed her slowly, like he was trying to breath through their affection, like his emotions were glass cuts and her lips could provide him any amount of relief.

He pulled off her panting slightly, burning all his air up just to feel her mouth against his own. He was silently crying, clearly trying to fight the oppression of his depression. He forced himself to break away, turn on the bathtub, and pour way too much bubble solution into the tub, which he loved doing intentionally or unintentionally.

[User]
Jaxon was falling apart before Aubrey very eyes, and as much as she wanted to pick up the pieces, she couldn't because she was splintering at the edges too---one step away from falling apart. And when he pressed his lips into hers, she swore she could have felt the anguish rising up within him like a tide. It was overwhelming, and she pressed her hands into his chest gently as she kissed him back---a weak attempt pushing him away. She didn't have it in her too, and he pulled away before she could even try.

"Jaxon... do you maybe, I dunno, wanna talk about it?" There were tears in her own eyes too, and she kept them glued to the floor as the bath filled with warm water and soap. They had to talk about what had happened, about what exactly they were doing, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to either. "Or we can just share the silence." What else could they really do? Slowly, gently, Aubrey peeled off her own clothing one by one---until she was naked in front of him. It was weird, being too sad to feel embarrassed.

She entered the tub, soaking in the water as she waited for Jaxon to join her. "I'll wash your back," she whispered. They both needed a bit of self-care.

[Assistant]
Jaxon didn't know what to do, to say even, He just knew what he didn't want to happen. He didn't want it to catch him. The pain, the anguish, the loss. He slowly pulled himself into the bathtub, sitting up against her body as she began to wash him skin softly, rubbing her hands along his body. It had a very particular effect on him, but he didn't let it escape the surface of the water yet.

"I loved her. Just like I love you, Aubrey. You two, were my best friends, my sisters, and maybe even something more. I swore I wouldn't talk about it. Even now, I hate to say the words."

"About a year ago, when we first moved here, or however long... the very first night, I realized something. Something I couldn't ever tell you, either of you. I loved you. Not like a friend loves his neighbor. Or a brother loves their siblings. As a man... who loves two women. I wanted to be with you both, as lovers, as a man to protect you, share your life with, see through every hardship. I knew you both wouldn't... wouldn't take to it. We were friends. Not lovers. Siblings, not partners. It would come down to a split. Lia would leave so that we could be together. Or you would leave so Lia and I... but that's not what I wanted. Not one or the other. Both. I wanted to have you both, and you both to have me."

"Maybe it could have saved Lia, if she knew I would love her like a husband, and that you loved her like a wife... in my dreams at least that's how it works. I can't vouch for you on her or... or her on you. But... that's what I always wanted. Just you two. The world could kick my teeth in, but I would have a home with two beautiful friends who needed me like I needed them. That's what I wanted." Tears danced across the waters surface, making it ripple so gently, it almost looked like it was raining in their little tub compartment.

[User]
It was the closest thing to a confession---and as Jaxon explained how he felt, Aubrey remained quiet, listening as he spoke of just how much the lines had blurred over the years. Perhaps it was inevitable, the three of them remaining in such close proximity to each other over the years... there had been times too, where she and Lia would giggle about fleeting crushes. Every now and then, Jaxon's name would sometimes surface, but the possibility of something more threatened the stability of their little trio, so it was always buried away.

Fleeting childhood crushes and nothing more, but apparently to Jaxon, there had always been more. She slathered his back with soap, before she poured shampoo into her hands and began working the mint-scented product into his hair---until he was bubbly before her. "I don't think that would have worked out, Jaxon." She let out a soft, sad chuckle.

Somewhere down the road, she and Lia had made a decision to keep things with him platonic. It kept their trio stable in a way, but now it felt like things were shifting all over again.

"I wish she would have told us though..." because they would have shouldered the burden with her if they could. "It just... it was so sudden, and I don't know why she never said anything. She could have told us anything, and we would have been there for her." She knew with all her heart that they would have been there. "I guess that makes it hurt even more."

[Assistant]
"Yeah, I know..." He mentioned softly, more or less agreeing full circle on how and why he never made mention of the wishful thinking that their relationships never progressed beyond friendships. At the mention of Lia and her decision not to at anyway clue them into her final struggle, Jaxon grew stiff in his back, clearly angered by the fact. Not at Lia, but the event.

"Maybe it was something... something close to us. Maybe that's why she didn't mention anything, it involved one of us." He almost felt sick to say the words, but with a gentle turn towards Aubrey, he shrugged slightly. "Maybe she knew how I felt... and just couldn't hack the thought of being around emotions like that?" It was cruel to even imagine pulling that weight onto his own shoulders, but it was Jaxons specialty to do so, taking the blame so no others had to. Professional fall guy.

[User]
"You know that's not why she did it, Jaxon." And for a moment, Jaxon would see a spark of anger in Aubrey's eyes---the fact that he was trying to shoulder the blame had made something inside her snap. "She would never... that wouldn't make sense." But perhaps nothing ever would make sense, perhaps they would never really know. Only Lia had the answer, and she'd taken it to the grave alongside her.

"She was always one of the most open and honest people," Aubrey whispered, and the truth was, there was a pang of betrayal there too---the fact that Lia never said anything cut deep in a way she could even begin to describe. "But don't ever blame yourself." She sank a little deeper into the warm water, allowed herself to soak in the bubbles. "She wouldn't want us to blame ourselves."

[Assistant]
"You're right. She wouldn't." He agreed simply, slowly laying back into body, idly feeling her soft chest against his shoulders. He gently took her hands, crossed them over his front, and laid them across his stomach/waistline, sighing out softly as he did.

Any exploration from Aubrey would find a slight arousal in Jaxons lower half, it had been an unfortunate side effect of the kiss, the sight of her body, feeling of her body against his back, and also of the unspoken coping mechanism they had created the night before. Even if the mood didn't suit it, his body was slowly beginning to tie grief to arousal.

Jaxon didn't have words though, all his mouth wanted to say were words of anger, of self damnation, all the things he knew he shouldn't say, so he just held his tongue, laid against her body, told himself he was safe as long as he had Aubrey, and that they needed to help each other if they were to get through this.

[User]
Of course Lia wouldn't. Or at least, that was what she told herself over and over and over again.

A soft exhale spilled past her lips as Jaxon leaned back into her smaller frame. Most nights, it felt like the weight of the world was bearing down relentlessly on them, but just having him close---and in her arms---was comforting. "Shhh, it'll be okay," she whispered, hoping that if she said it enough it would become true. Soft hands began to wander across Jaxon's body, and she held him close for a moment, her breasts pressing into his back as she held him. It seemed she'd yet to notice his arousal, it was hard to when his bigger frame was blocking her view.

"Help me with my back and hair too?" She asked, reaching to the side to grab and pass him her shampoo. Maybe giving Jaxon would at least distract him from where his darkened thoughts were going.

[Assistant]
"Yeah..." He said softly, moving to stand up so they could rotate in the tub. However, as he turned around, Aubrey would be faced with the very stiff appendage, he now had. Jaxon hadn't fully be aware of it, yet it now added a new level of tension to the room.

He slowly sat down, not wanting to be the one to instigate if anything further happened between them. Having already confessed to the fact he had wanted an open level relationship between his friends, he felt it would be a bit odd for him to immediately try and produce a physical intimacy between them once more.

"Sorry... your boobs on my back... I like your boobs." He said softly, hoping it would be enough of a cover story for his arousal, hoping it wouldn't paint a bigger target on him.

[User]
They shifted positions, and Aubrey caught an eyeful of the swollen appendage bobbing between Jaxon's thighs. She felt the heat rush to her face, and as her ears seemed to burn pink, a part of her found it hard to believe that it had been inside her just the night before. She hadn't seen it under the dim lighting, but now, managed to catch an eyeful before Jaxon submerged back into the water---this time she was seated between his legs, and she could feel his erection pressing up against the small of her back.

In a way, despite the air of awkwardness, it felt good to share this moment with him. "It's okay---I know they have a mind of their own sometimes." She leaned back into his chest. Aubrey's movements suggested she felt somewhat shy but that she didn't want to move away from him either. "It was nice, just falling in each other's arms," Aubrey admitted. "It was the best sleep I had since Lia died."

[Assistant]
"I did too... it felt... safe for once." He told her softly, crossing his arms across her chest gently as they held a moment together. He knew he was supposed to wash her, but he wanted to hold her for just a moment.

It took a few more moments of bliss to pass before he slowly slipped off her chest and began to do his job. He began to wash her back, rubbing and massaging her body while her butt pressed into his hard lap. He twitched a few times against her back, a result of it being a particularly strong erection. "Sorry... your butt is very distracting... but it is a very nice butt at that... it's gotten the better of me before."

[User]
Aubrey was glad Jaxon felt safe in her arms. She wanted to be there for him, the same way he was there for her. And as he wrapped his arms around her, she melted into his embrace---took note of his warm body against her own. She let out a surprised squeak when she felt his manhood twitch against her back, but instead of pulling away, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at his response.

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying the view," she teased. Perhaps how casual they were behaving was odd, but Aubrey didn't mind the quiet intimacy that seemed to bloom between them. "You... you can touch me if you want to, Jaxon." She whispered shyly. Granted they were already touching each other, but she hoped he understood what she meant.

[Assistant] Slowly, his hands took her by the butt, hips, and upper thighs, and slowly pulled her up his lap. He felt his cock slip between her butt cheeks, escape through her thighs. As he was nestled into undercarriage, he slowly began to massage her butt, softly groaning happily as he felt her thighs and butt sit down atop his lap.