IceAndWave/DressesDancesAndDebauchery4b

Dresses, Dances and Debauchery - Part 4b

What happened between Sian and Venia...

Sian smiles back, and takes Venia's arm. "Of course. Goodnight, ladies." He waves to Asura and Cassia as he wanders out.

Sian is rather more gentlemanly with Venia, stepping out into the cold with her and offering his jacket.

Venia takes it, offering him her own coat, feigning tipsyness.

Sian drapes it over his other arm. "Which inn are you staying at?"

Venia tells him the name of it, leaning against him. "So, why was Asura worth it more than me?"

Sian leads her towards the inn, slowly, so as to ease her apparent wobblyness. "She wasn't drunk. Or if she was, she does a very good impression of being sober."

Venia sighs. "And who says chivalry is dead..."

"Mmm." He offers no further comment on the matter, unless questioned.

"By that, am I to take that you've not yet secured a wife in all this time?"

"A wife, no."

"Aha. So you're comfortable having someone on the side from your girlfriend."

"Not particularly, actually." His tone has gotten a little colder.

"No girlfriend? Shocking."

"I have a lover."

"Ah. And where does that fit on the scale?"

"Scale?"

"Of how important a relationship is to you."

Sian shrugs lightly. "She's very important."

"And yet you don't consider her at least a girlfriend?"

"I don't know what she is. She just... is."

"mmm... I'll have to meet her sometime. See who could land the great Sian." She laughs a bit.

Sian doesn't, not surprisingly. "Here's your inn."

Venia stops, shaking off the fake tipsyness. "Something wrong, Sian? You seem less interested in banter than I remember."

"This is a touchy subject for me, Venia." He looks at her evenly.

Venia nods. "Sorry... come inside? Not trying anything... just think talking might be nice."

"I have things that I should do." He makes no attempt to cover up this lie. "I prefer to keep my problems to myself, in any case."

Venia nods. "I apologize... it's just easier when you have the facade."

Sian shrugs. "No apologies needed, you've done nothing wrong."

"Then why won't you come inside? My only other company has been the innkeeper's boy peeking at me in the bath."

Sian closes his eyes for a moment. "Fine. I'll come in for a bit."

Venia nods, and leads him to her room, calling for some tea

Sian is silent the whole way.

Venia slips out of the jacket, offering it to him, and slips into the bed. "What did you think of the party, truthfully?"

"The food and drink was nice. The offer was reasonable." He shrugs, pulling up a chair and sitting in it, not far from the bed.

"Not much else to say, really."

Venia nods. "You trust her?"

"No. This is only the third time I've met her."

"Mmmm... What about me?"

"Second time meeting you, so also no."

"Any way I can help with that? Asura offered sex, but I think I won't."

"Not really. If you're honest, I'll trust you. If not, I won't. That's generally how it works."

Venia nods. "Well... I'll try. It doesn't come naturally any more."

Venia nods at the knock. "Mind getting the tea?"

Sian does so, offering the servant a silver coin as tip.

Venia waits for him to pour the tea, sipping it gratefully.

"And since when, may I ask? Last we met, you seemed prone to being manipulative, but not untruthful." He sips his own tea.

Venia shrugs.

"Long practice in the Realm. Being who I'm not seems to have been my specialty."

"Mmm." He takes another small sip, then sets his tea to the side to cool a bit.

"And you?" Venia asks.

"What about me?"

"HOw've you spent the time in between?"

"Doing the same thing I did. Making deals, keeping peace. Rescuing damsels in distress." He smiles somewhat bitterly.

"Mhm. I take it the last is the trouble."

"Yes."

"I'll try not to be in distress."

"Mhmm." He sits back in the chair, closing his eyes again.

Venia smiles a bit at him. "So, did Asura tell you anything about what's between us?"

"No, but I can guess."

"Oh? Guess away."

"From what I could tell... you hate each other. A lot. Might hide it, but you do. It runs deep, for whatever reason..." He frowns at her as he considers. "Lovers, probably. You two certainly knew where to touch the other for maximum effect."

"Hrm... You are good."

Sian lifts his eyebrows in recognition of this. "I didn't get where I am by being useless."

"From school days, by the way. Hence the outfit." She twists, displaying it and herself a bit.

"I was wondering about that, yes." He looks it over. "Why the hatred, then? You two obviously take pleasure in touching each other. Sounds like a recipe for romance to me."

"That's part of why..." she sighs, "She is my opposite in almost every way. Or at least was."

"Ah. That makes sense."

Venia smiles. "Yes. We argued over everything. But the sex was great, before we started trying to kill each other afterwards."

"I can see how that would affect relations, yes." He takes up his tea again, sipping the now-cool drink.

Venia chuckles. "So, what's she like? Can I ask that?"

Sian is silent for a bit, then he sighs. "She's very... lively. Never seems to run out of energy."

"Mmm... seems about right for you."

Sian gives her a questioning look at this. "How so?"

"The right contrast to you. Testing you just enough to make it interesting."

"Ah. Fair enough, I suppose."

Venia nods, looking into her empty cup. "I hate this place so much, Sian... I don't know anyone, I'm alone, and I can feel the cold in my bones." She stretches over to pour more tea, hoping it's still warm. "I guess I just wanted some company for now. Sorry we didn't have anything to talk about." She essays a weak smile at him.

Sian moves over quietly, sitting beside on the bed and putting an arm around her. "Don't worry about it. This place isn't that bad when you get used to it."

"Getting used to it seems to involve being impossibly inured to the cold. I didn't even like Realm winters..." She snuggles into his side for the warmth.

Sian is more than happy to provide it, pulling up some pillows from her other side and settling them around her for extra heat. "That offer of borrowing my jacket still stands, from all those years ago. My clothing is probably a great deal warmer than this." He tugs lightly at the uniform.

It slides to expose a good deal of her, which she doesn't bother taking note of. "Probably. But it's what I have to wear. Official dresses, a few alchemists smocks, and that thick coat. I got it enspelled, but I can't wear it all the time." She sniffles.

"If you've got anything else you want enchanted, I have a friend or two here who could do it. I'll pay."

Venia smiles, kissing his cheek. "Thanks, but no... I think it's half in mind. This feels better than it has any right to, warm or not."

Sian tries to reassure her with a smile of his own. "I'll stay, if you like. My room is rather empty, to tell the truth."

Venia looks down, ashamed of wanting him to.

Sian doesn't embarass her further with words, simply tugging apart her outfit gently and undressing her, slipping her down under the blankets.

Venia can't help but react at certain bits of the undressing, flushing as she does. "Sorry."

"It's fine." His tone is mild, as he does the same with his own clothing and joins her.

Venia kisses his cheek again, snuggling up against him again. "Thank you... for everything."

"No problem." He wraps one arm around her shoulders, and the other around her waist, one hand resting lightly on her buttock.

Venia closes her eyes, trying not to wriggle too much against him or push too much back into his hand.

Sian is comfortingly warm to lie against. "Sleep well."

Venia nods, finally giving up and assuming a more risque position which is quite comfortable for her, at least. Probably feels good for him too.

He mmms slightly. "I suppose warming up that way works too..."

Venia blushes. "Sorry... should I move?"

"Do you want to?" His tone is gentle.

"Not especially... I guess Cassia had more of an effect on me than I thought."

"She is rather attractive, yes." He kisses her lightly on the forehead.

"And so deliciously shy.... I never would have guessed from who her mentor is."

"Well, as you said, you two are a great deal alike... she probably finds her 'deliciously shy' as well."

Venia colors a bit, nipping at his chest. "Don't make fun of me when we're all pressed together like this... I feel guilty enough already."

Sian squeezes her butt in response. "Not making fun at all. Merely observing."

Venia sighs a little into his neck. "Any other observations I should be aware of?"

"Beyond that this is comfortable? Not really."

"Hmph. I bet you say that to all the girls you've got the butts of."

Sian squeezes again. "Is that a complaint I hear?"

"No... just an observation."

"Good." He tilts his head down, nuzzling her neck slowly.

Venia sighs again. "Are you trying to seduce me, Sian?"

"Me? Never..." He continues nuzzling, with the occasional light kiss added in for effect.

Venia chuckles at that. "Then this is an odd way of getting me at ease."

"You're warm, aren't you? Less lonely? And with someone you know."

"Mmmm... true. Everything I could ask for."

"Exactly. So hush, and just enjoy it." The nuzzling is indeed good.

Venia does, closing her eyes happily.

Sian continues to do so for a long time, hopefully working her towards complete relaxation.

Venia is limp and half asleep before long, so he slows it down then, resting her head on the pillow and pulling the blankets up over them both, ready for sleep.

Venia awakens early the next morning, nibbling on Sian's ear until he awakens.

Sian makes a small 'mrm' noise, opening an eye to look at her. "Morning?"

"Yes. Get breakfast?"

"Any requests?"

"Warm."

"That I can do." He sits up, sliding his feet out of the bed and reaching down to grab his pants, tugging them on. "Be right back." And out he goes.

Venia waits, flipping the covers over her head.

He returns after a few minutes, carrying a tray full of the requested food. "Here."

Venia slips out from under the covers to sit at the small table with him, apparently unconcerned for now at her nudity. She goes right for the coffee and pancakes.

Sian considers opening a window to let in some fresh air, but the memory of her words the night before prevent him from doing so. He just has a few slices of toast, settling back to watch her.

Venia eats daintily, but quickly, settling back with a sigh. "And nothing to do today but make the rounds..."

"Mhmm. I've got a few people to visit... you be okay on your own?"

"Yeah. Of course."

"Wasn't of course last night." He lifts an eyebrow.

"It's nice knowing someone will be back for you..." She blushes a bit, slipping back under the covers when she notices how prominent certain bits are.

Sian grins at that. "See? The cold can be good at times."

"Only when it leads to blessed heat afterwards." Venia moans a slight bit, letting him guess what she's doing under the covers.

Sian lifts an eyebrow (and unconsciously, other parts) at that. "Subtle today, aren't we?"

"I am practicing being Asura."

"Fair enough." He wanders over, sitting on the edge of the bed with a slight grin.

Venia shifts a bit unable to help a slight peek out from under the covers.

Sian leans down and gives her the lightest of kisses. "I think I will leave you to it, as it seems I am no longer needed."

Venia sighs a bit. "Tsk. But go ahead... see you tonight?" She looks up hopefully at him.

"If you'd like. Any place in particular?"

"Surprise me."

"Okay, then." He kisses her lightly on the forehead, coincidentally placing his hand atop her own through the covers, before leaning back and smiling a bit. "See you later."

Venia settles back under the covers to contemplae getting dressed.

Sian dresses, and exits, waving slightly as he does.