IceAndWave/CandlesKissesAndViolence

Candles, Kisses and Violence

In which fire is played with, arguments are had, and old illusions are shattered...

The 5th Day of Descending Wood, Realm Year 763

Cassia is walking back to the cabin when Venia finds her, a bottle of chilled wine in one hand. "I found the wine."

"Ah, good. I almost expected there wouldn't be any..."

"The captain had a couple of bottles."

Venia smiles. "Up for a bath now? I got Sian to make sure things are private enough for us."

Cassia's eyes sparkle softly "Oh, yes please."

Venia nods, and takes her hand. They head off to the room where the bath is set up, and begin the process of drawing a nice warm bath. Venia spends some time setting up candles and lighting them, a fairly nice scent wafting through the room and making it seem far less confined.

Cassia smiles drawing in a breath, watching the candles flicker "Such a nice scent..."

"I tend to like it, yes." She shrugs, her dress sliding off in one smooth motion. "And they float, too."

Cassia watches Venia's dress slide off her with anticipation in her eyes, starting to get out of her own clothing, wishing it was so easy to get out of.. "...They float?"

Venia nods as she slips into the bath, taking a couple of the ones with wider bases and setting them in the water, where they do indeed float, light reflecting in ripples off the surface of the water.

Cassia slips out of the last of her clothes, moving over to the bath, carefully stepping over the candles, briefly letting them carress her skin before she slips into the bath with barely a ripple.

Venia applauds lightly, looking along Cassia's body. "You did well out there today. I was quite impressed."

Cassia blushes softly "Thank you..." She smiles, "...watching you was like something out of a dream."

"Dream about me often?"

Cassia nods slowly

"Hopefully good ones." Venia slides carefully over to Cassia, resting back against her and, as before, linking her arms behind her neck.

Cassia nods again "Wonderful ones." Even when you get confused with Asura. She asks softly "Is it safe..?"

"Mhm."

Cassia turns her head to kiss Venia

Venia is, as before, a good kisser, but keeps things light for now. "We are going to have to think of an excuse for this, you know."

"...An excuse?" Cassia looks down Venia's body and the way the candlelight plays over it

"You don't think Sian will be even a little suspicious?"

Cassia pulls her eyes away from the view of the candle light "Oh... yes."

Venia chuckles at that. "So unless you want a very... tense... Sian around, we need to think of an excuse." She takes up the washcloth and starts on her arms and face.

Cassia luxuriates under the warm cloth "That wouldn't be good..." she starts to think

Venia turns, pressing herself to cassia and reaching around to work on her back. "Mhm."

Cassia wraps her arms round Venia, kissing her softly "Why else would we be bathing together though...?"

Venia shifts a bit in Cassia's embrace. "That's your question to answer." She smiles just a little bit, returning to the washing.

Venia turns a bit, nibbling at her earlobe. as she finishes her back, slipping her hands and the cloth under cassia to work on her thighs. "Unless you just want to tell him, to see his face..."

Cassia mmms at the nibbling "He already knows about the party... anyway... I'm sure..."

"True... let's just see how things go."

Cassia nods and parts her legs a little as Venia washes "...Yes..."

"So, since you didn't go for Asura, what did you do at all those parties, hrm?"

"I just watched, from the edges. Trying to work out what was going on, who was with who. I stopped showing myself at parties after Gosul..."

"Ah, yes... Gosul."

Venia continues on a bit in silence, though she intensifies her efforts. Finally, she withdraws, looking at the very warmed up Cassia. "Ever see anything you especially liked?"

"...What?" she asks suprised and a little breathless.

"I am asking if you ever saw anything at the parties, or behind closed doors, that especially intrigued you." She smiles again, moving in to tease Cassia while she thinks

"I..." she swallows and looks guilty, though very distracted "I always wondered... about candles..." she seems to be half expecting a scornful look on Venia's face.

Venia smiles a bit. "Why do you think I brought some?"

"...You knew?" suprise reaching through the pleasant distraction.

"You're Fire, Cassia. It is only natural."

Cassia nods "...It looked so... so exciting. She..."

Venia slips back and hands her the washcloth. "Here. The distraction helps sometimes."

Cassia writhes so frustratedly as Venia hands her the washcloth, but bites her lip, starting to work over Venia's arms.

Venia leans in and frees the lip, working her tongue into Cassia's mouth before withdrawing. "She? You can't leave me waiting like that."

Cassia tries to keep the kiss for as long as she can, before she nods "She was so beautiful... long black hair... it shimmered in the candlelight..." Cassia starts to wash venia again, as she concentrates on the memories "She was blindfolded... with her hands tied behind her back... and... she shivered with each drop that hit her..."

"Who was she?"

"Her name was Rasha. She was visiting Asura."

"Ah... She was with Asura?"

Cassia nods

"Funny... She used to prefer they watch."

Cassia trembles pleasantly at that. Then takes a small breath, starting to wash Venia again.

Venia leans over to open the bottle of wine, nodding as it is still cold. "Did you ever talk to her about it?"

"Never about things like that." she runs the wash cloth up and over Venia's chest.

Venia shivers pleasantly. "Hrm... I guess I can see why. She is a bit intense."

Cassia nods, leaning in to kiss where the cloth just was

Venia sighs, arching her back just a bit at the sensation. "Going to make it hard to finish if you keep doing that..." She doesn't sound as if she minds, though. "Wouldn't want to have someone walk in on us, now would we?"

Cassia shakes her head, going back to washing, lifting Venia's leg to run the cloth along its length "Please... we have to finish... this time..." she looks into Venia's eyes for some confirmation that this will be the case.

Venia smiles, closing her eyes and relaxing under the touch of the cloth. "As long as we don't wreck again, I promise."

"Thank you" Cassia softly whispers, kissing the leg occasionally before she sets it down, drawing the other one up .

Venia doesn't really react, not quite used to dealing with this sort of inexperience. "I want you to remember this, though... you may find some other fire or wood with the same inclinations."

"I will." She breathes out, slowly washing up the leg she has.

Venia drapes her other leg around Cassia's neck. "So, ever go on an actual date?"

Cassia nods, still working the cloth "A few."

"Ah, good. Any favorites there?"

Cassia considers "There are some but no-one who is anything like you or As... Asura."

"She is something special, isn't she?"

Cassia nods silently

Venia carefully turns, settling into Cassia's lap. "Believe me when I say you are no less special." She leans in, a long drawn out proper Cynis kiss before she withdraws, shocking Cassia with a light pour of wax along her chest.

Cassia is left more than a little breathless after the kiss, arching her back with a gasp as the wax streaks along it. She stares at Venia.

Venia peels the wax away, pouring the chilled wine along the reddened skin and licking it off. "Sorry. Should have waited?"

Cassia shivers as the wine flows over her skin, followed by Venia's lips, she looks briefly uncertain, then shakes her head.

Venia nods, repeating the process slowly, switching candles, more wax and warmer each time, the contrast very striking. She looks up at Cassia with a smile. "Like you expected?"

Cassia is breathing hard when she finishes "...Yes... No... Dragons I feel like I'm on fire..."

Venia smiles. "That is the point. Though maybe I should go, let you cool down..."

Cassia looks at you pleadingly "Please... no... don't... don't leave me like this..."

Venia nods, stroking her face with a suprisingly cool hand. "I won't. But I think now you should try..." She offers Cassia one of the cooler burning candles.

Cassia shivers as Venia strokes her, relief entering her eyes as she takes the candle. She holds it up, then makes a small trail fall over Venia's breast. She tries to watch both the falling wax and Venia's face.

Venia's eyes close, and she sucks in air, exhaling slowly. "Ahhh... been a long time..."

Cassia sets the candle down, carefully peeling the wax off, pouring some of the wine, lapping it off her skin, looking at Venia, fire in her eyes, for approval as she picks up the candle again.

Venia nods at Cassia, beginning to bite down ever so softly on her lower lip.

Cassia pours the wax from lower this time, again watching for a reaction, before again cleaning the wax off. Then she picks one of the warmer candles and leaves another trail.

Venia shivers, back drawing a bit tighter, a faint blush as she lets out a soft, weak moan.

Cassia continues to experiment with the wax and wine, feeling a small thrill at the reaction she's getting, slowly picking hotter candles.

Venia tangles her hands in Cassia's hair, breath getting quicker at each experiment. She finally disengages, stretching out in the bath and looking smokily at Cassia while she pants. "You are a quick study..."

"I just remembered what it felt like as you did... to... me."

"Good memory."

Cassia nods softly, sliding over to lie on Venia

Venia slips her hands up to Cassia's head, drawing her down for another long kiss, getting a little more needy as the now thoroughly sensitive skin rubs. "I hope you don't mind this..."

"...mind?"

Venia shrugs, a little self-conscious. "I like having you around for more than the sex..."

"Though I guess now is a wierd time to say you remind me of a younger version of myself." She grins. "I'm not that vain."

"I don't mind the sex... not at all... I don't even mind the teasing..." she twists a little to rub herself on Venia. She grins a little at the last words, "I want to learn... not all of it but..."

Venia shudders most pleasantly. "Enough?"

Cassia nods.

"Sure. Ask anything you like... just be sure to know when some questions are appropriate."

Cassia nods and kisses her neck "Perhaps you could just show me?"

Venia proceeds to do so, leaving them both rather flushed with happiness, but tired.

Venia strokes Cassia's hair slowly, trying to muster up the urge to climb out of the bath.

Cassia nestles up to her after it's over, sighing pleasantly as she's stroked

"Worth the wait?"

Cassia nods weakly "Does waiting always make it this good?"

"Depends on the wait... usually."

Cassia nods "...usually?"

"Sometimes it's better."

"...Dragons."

Venia tweaks Cassia's nipple suddenly, slipping out from under her and stepping out, wrapping herself in the towel.

Cassia gasps at the tweak, spinning in the bath, then reluctantly stepping out of the bath herself, wrapping herself in her own towel.

"I do hope you don't talk in your sleep, or Sian may have a few choice comments waiting for us..."

"I've never slept with anyone. So I have no idea."

Venia blinks. "Come again?"

"I've never had anyone asleep next to me..to tell me if I spoke or no..."

"Ah. Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough."

Venia rearranges Cassia's towel to help cover the redder than normal tracks where the wax was.

Cassia smiles as she does, then bends to pick up the small pile of her clothing

On deck, Venia stalks up silently behind Sian, resting her chin softly on his shoulder and pressing up to him to get out of the rain.

Sian turns his head to look at her, eyebrow lifted. "Yes?"

"I'm trying to get used to the cold before I take watch."

"I'll take it. No big deal."

Venia shakes her head. "You missed them before. You swam, you need more rest. And it'll keep me out of the closed up room..."

Sian shrugs a little. "I'm fine. But if you want to stay out here with me, I'm not stopping you."

"Mhm."

Venia stays next to him, shifting him a bit when the wind changes. "I... I'm sorry about that first night, Sian."

"Hrm?" He takes her hands absently, holding them around his waist without really noticing.

"It wasn't right of me to ask you to stay, or to dump all my emotions on you."

"It's fine. Besides, I slept well." He smiles a bit.

Venia flushes a tiny bit, remembering just what that sleeping well entailed. "Well, I just wanted to clear the slate. You won't have to worry about that anymore."

"Ah." He offers no other comment.

Venia chuckles, nipping at his earlobe. "Mean. Quiet is usually my job."

"Heh. Sorry." He squeezes her hands. "It's perfectly okay if you feel the need to talk, though. I know this place can be hard."

"Mhm... Weather so bloody horrible..."

"Maybe you just need to get an umbrella."

"Doesn't help. Comes in at all angles."

"Perhaps a really big umbrella, then."

"So I can get blown away?" She shakes her head.

"Well, you're going to need something to keep the water out, aren't you? I'll see if I can get you a jacket like this." He picks at his own to indicate it, then resumes holding her hands.

"Mhm... Thanks, Sian." She closes her eyes for a bit, suddenly pulling away and smacking him in the shoulder painfully. "Damn you, what are you doing to me?!"

Sian oofs, staggering a step before turning and frowning at her, decidedly unimpressed. "Eh?"

"You're doing something, and I want it stopped! I don't do this sort of thing... I don't have to remind myself to watch my words, I don't beg people to stay with me, I don't sit and relax just for nearness to someone! And I certainly don't get all freaked out about it if I do!" She advances on him, coat falling open to reveal... well, Venia.

Sian recovers from his stagger a bit better, drawing himself up to his full height and frowning down at her. "Venia, I have no idea what you're talking about. I thought you might have liked a friend... apparently I was wrong." He practically radiates disapproval, not moved in the least by her nudity.

"I... Dammit, something has to be going on! You're not... I would have sworn you were..."

"No, I'm not." He frowns a bit more, then turns back to watch the ocean, leaning on the rail.

Venia notices her coat being open by the rain, tugging it closed tightly and coloring. "Dragons, I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me. It's just... I came here, and then I've been acting like a simpering child around you, or some bloody sort of puppy..."

"Mmm."

Venia briefly considers hitting him again, and it likely is palpable.

Sian takes no notice, just watching the waves lap against the barge.

"And... I've got to apologize already." She hangs her head.

"None needed."

"I wasn't trying anything just then." Her voice is fairly small, hard to hear over the wind. "I just... I thought you might be doing it with Essence, and it made me so angry..."

Sian sighs a little, and turns back to her, relenting somewhat in his annoyance. "I don't cheat like that, Venia. Why would I?"

"I don't know! That's the problem. I don't know you. And yet..." She shrugs, not sure how to say it.

"And yet?" He turns around fully, leaning back against the railing.

"I am not the sort of person who admits their loneliness and almost pleads for someone I don't know to stay with me, or plays cute little games in the morning with someone I only met once before... and I certainly don't get so worked up about nothing, but it's happening, and I don't know why."

Venia shrugs sadly. "Look, I should go. This is just making it worse... Can we forget it happened?"

"No. Because you'll just go back to being miserable, and I can't actually see anything wrong with all of that. Beyond the being worked up about nothing, that is."

"You don't know me either, Sian. Miserable, is, in general, what I do."

"Maybe you should stop, then." He looks at her evenly.

"Now's not the time. I just got here. I just ran into my old flame, my old enemy. I have no support. I need this to fuel me."

"Your choice. I can't imagine it's much fun, though." He shrugs again, starting to wander up to the front.

Venia just stands there, offering a quiet goodbye before heading down to get something more warm for when she does actually take watch from him.

Sian notes her departure (in something of a huff), before returning to his watch on the beached barge. Several others of the crew are likewise on watch, or performing maintenance duties like cleaning the green ichor of the tentacled once-men that attacked the Jaunty Rose earlier.

The storm refuses to abate, and continues to drench the deck in a mixture of freezing-cold rain and barely-solid hail, both conspiring to make watch duty a miserable and tense affair.

Sian soaks up the water as best he can, but the hail still stings.

A quiet, nervous voice speaks from behind Sian, "Excuse me, Sir, but do you know how long we'll be here?"

"Hrm?" He turns to look at the source of this, squinting a bit through the rain.

It's a sailor, looking cold and miserable, with a piece of tentacle speared on her boathook, "Sorry for disturbing you, I just wondered if you knew?" She looks down, "I'll leave you alone..."

"Oh, no, it's fine. I've got no idea, though, sorry." He shrugs, smiling helplessly.

The sailor shakes her hook over the side of the barge, discarding the piece of dead flesh into the sea, "Oh... I thought you Exalted knew everything."

"Heh. Not quite. Though I hear some of us know a lot."

"Oh..." the girl looks somewhat disappointed at that revelation. She looks over the side of the ship, "I lost a lot of friends today."

"Sorry I couldn't deal with those things quicker." He does indeed look rather sympathetic.

"It's not like it hasn't happened before," she turns, "Sailing is dangerous, but I'm just not used to having so many people I knew... die all at once."

"Mmm." He puts a hand on her shoulder carefully. "Well, you're still alive, so be thankful for that. Too much mourning can keep them from being at peace."

"Thank you," she turns and smiles, putting her own hand on Sian's. "I just hope we can leave soon, I hate this place already."

"It can be pretty miserable, yeah." He looks out at the cold black ocean. "I guess I'm just used to it."

"Oh, I don't mind the ocean, I've been aboard ships since I was eleven. I meant this place," she kicks a broken tooth from the deck onto the island.

"Ah. Well, I've been around forsaken places like this, too... I'm just too stubborn to stay away." He smiles slightly again. "We'll get out okay, trust me."

"Thanks," the sailor leans forward and kisses Sian lightly on the cheek, then walks away quickly as if scared of the consequences.

Sian is eternally irked by this sort of behaviour, so walks after and grabs her wrist lightly. "Look, I'm just as human as you are, okay? I'm not some unknowable god."

"We're taught to fear you, you know. As children we're told the Dragon-blooded are mighty enlightened beings. It's hard to have three of you on the ship now, and all so different."

"I'm not mighty, and I'm certainly not enlightened." He slides the hand down to take hers. "And definitely not someone to be feared."

"Not to be feared?" she laughs nervously, "You can breath underwater, you shatter your enemies into chunks of ice and you say I shouldn't be even slightly afraid?"

"Yes." He pulls the sheath off of his back and shows it to her. "This caused the ice, not me. And breathing underwater is nothing special; fish do it all the time. Are you scared of them too?"

"Have you ever seen a siaka?" the girl chuckles, "I understand what you're saying, it's just... it's difficult to overcome."

"I know. I just really hate it when people grovel and scrape when they realize what I am. Makes intelligent conversation a bit difficult, you know?"

"What did you think, when... when it happened?"

"I was really, really confused. I had no idea what was happening to me... felt all cold, and damp."

"What did your parents do?"

"No idea. Never knew them... they died when I was little."

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"Eh, I'm not. I can't really feel sad for people I never knew, and my adoptive mother took good care of me."

The sailor blinks at that, "Hmm... you may not be the powerful being I was taught about as a child, but you're still strange."

"Thanks." He grins.

She shrugs, "I need to get back on watch. I wouldn't want it to be my fault some of those horrible things got on board." She kisses Sian again, not as fleeting this time, "Thank you for talking with me. I'm Ealene, by the way."

"Sian. Nice to meet you." He just smiles a bit at the kiss. "I'll be around if you want to talk some more."

Ealene smiles back and heads off towards the bow of the ship, to get back to her watch.

Sian resumes his own! Wondering why he's always the one that the women talk to.