IceAndWave/CompanyComesCalling

Company Comes Calling

In which a message is delivered, curiosity is satisfied, and new acquaintances made...

The 2nd Day of Descending Wood, Realm Year 763

Cassia arrives at the inn Venia is staying at, and asks to be shown up to her room. She's wearing her more usual clothing of comfortable fitting shirt and pants, supplemented be furs, her hair held up by a bone clip. She knocks on Venia's door.

"Who is it?" Venia calls.

"Cassia," she says softly.

"Oh. Come on in."

Cassia pushes the door open, looking into the room before she steps inside.

Venia is stretched out in a light robe on the covers of the bed, flipping through a book.

"Please, have a seat. There's still warm tea in the pitcher."

Cassia closes the door quietly behind her, then walks over to the the pitcher, pouring herself some tea "Do you want some?" she offers before she sits

"No, but thank you for offering." Venia looks up and down Cassia, smiling. "It seems someone else also shares my issue with the cold."

Cassia nods, sets the pitcher down, and perches on the seat. She tilts her head "I don't mind it so much... but why freeze when you can wear some furs?"

"Hmmm... I mind it. It makes me so stiff, and I don't like that..."

"I can imagine..."

Venia chuckles.

"So, what brings you here, hrm? Message from Asura? She doesn't appreciate my interfering with her student?"

Cassia looks briefly a little uncomfortable, but then shakes her head. "She has a request actually, for the um, alliance."

Venia nods. "Why don't you sit over here on the bed? Get comfortable. Less worry about voices carrying."

Cassia nods and slips over to the bed, curling her feet under her and sipping her tea briefly.

Venia nods. "So, what sort of request?" Her voice is lower pitched, an effect that accidentally sends shivers down Cassia's spine.

Cassia's breath catches briefly, before she continues, "She would like us to go to a town called Broken Back, somewhere down the coast. The Realm seems to have taken a lot of interest in what is a small fishing town, I think."

"Hrm... that does seem odd." Venia sits up and settles against Cassia's back, sipping a bit of tea from Cassia's cup and kissing her on the cheek in thanks. "How are we getting there?"

"Coaster." she says with a little distaste. Much less thrilled about sailing after the trip back to Tideholme.

"Hrm... that is unfortunate." Venia slips her hands inside Cassia's furs for the warmth. "Something tells me that more happened between the party and now, though."

Cassia shivers slightly as the cold hand intrudes, though she doesn't pull away "...She knew."

"Not surprising, given enough time... But it's not like she didn't get some fun of her own with Sian."

"She did?" Cassia sounds genuinely suprised.

Venia's hands warm up soon enough, tracing tiny patterns across cassia's side and stomach. "Oh, yes."

Cassia shivers pleasantly at the patterns "Oh. But..."

"But?"

Cassia starts to speak then hangs her head alittle "...I really must have had too much to drink, if I didn't notice that."

"He hid it well. She didn't."

"...I was watching her." she says softly.

"Of course, that's probably how she found out about us. We know each other so well, and she remarked on remembering how I tasted." She shrugs, nibbling at Cassia's earlobe. "Years of experience. Don't feel bad. I assume she warned you away from me?"

Cassia makes a pleasant noise at the nibble then nods a little "She said you were dangerous. Which I knew... from what you said."

"Of course... that's half the fun." She slips the furs down off of Cassia, settling into a slow massage of her shoulders. She swaps sides, starting on the other earlobe after a bit. "But that's not why you're this tense, now is it."

"Mmm..." she enjoys the massage for a little bit before she answers "I... didn't tell her about us... she was upset."

Venia nods, tracing the kisses down her neck. "I can see that. Smooth it over with her?"

Cassia shivers pleasantly at the kisses but then nods.

"So, did she ask for details?" The hands begin to slowly work their way down Cassia's back.

"No..not at all.."

"Now that's new. She rather used to enjoy watching, or hearing stories... You'd tell her if she asked?"

"I don't know." She says quickly then thinks, "...Would you mind if I did?"

"I imagine it would depend on the questions. You can learn a lot about someone by the way they make love."

"...You can?"

Venia slips her hands inside Cassia's shirt, again tracing those small patterns. "Oh, yes. All sorts of things."

"Ooh! ..like what?"

"If you know the signs, a very accurate reading of their health... and their mental health. Things they hide from others, that they try to deal with or act out in the heat of passion."

"...Oh." Cassia seems curious and interested, though distracted by the hands.

Venia settles one of the hands in the waistband of Cassia's pants, tracing a similar tiny pattern across her hips, turning Cassia a bit sideways for a proper kiss, laying her back on the bed as she does. "You can do more with the appropriate charms, but it is considered a bit uncouth."

Cassia lies back on the bed, looking up at Venia "...Using your charms is uncouth?"

"It depends on the case. Certainly, if you aren't found out... But it makes for a useful stricture. No-one wants to think every casual encounter is just a method to be read for the other side's benefit." Venia lies down beside Cassia, closing the book and sliding it under a pillow. "Now, doesn't this feel better?"

Cassia nods "Much better."

Venia smiles at her. "Good. So while we're here, any other questions?"

"Do want me to...?" she hesitates just briefly, then traces a finger down Venia's side.

"If you like. But remember, you are going to have to walk out of here." She grins teasingly at Cassia.

"I could walk after the party..." she says, tracing her fingers back up Venia's side.

Venia shivers, just a tiny bit. "True. Still, I feel almost bad. From tea to questioning you to this, and only a small bit of information for you... surely there's something you'd like?"

Cassia copies the patterns Venia traced on her as she thinks "What's it like, in the Dynasty I mean...? It seems so... strange... how all the rules work."

Venia chuckles. "That's going to take more time than we have tonight, but I can help with that."

"I know it will take a long time but... I want to learn. I thought I understood... and then at the party..."

Venia nods, drawing her into another kiss. "More than a long time, Cassia. Forever. The rules, styles, and fashions change just a little every day."

Cassia pulls back from the kiss after a while, "Then can you teach me how to understand the rules?" she asks, her fingers roaming again.

Venia nods, shivering just slightly. "Yes." Her own hands roam a little farther on Cassia's body. "There are always basic keys to understanding any set of rules, any society. Find those, and the rest is easy."

Venia looks out the window, and offers a quick peck before sitting up, slipping easily out of the nightgown and going to her closet, picking two dresses and holding them against her naked form. "So, which looks better?"

Cassia looks up and down her with slightly hungry eyes, "The one in green seems like it would be a little warmer, but..."

"But?"

Cassia blushes very softly, "The other one would look... better on you."

Venia nods, putting the green back in the closet. "Help me with it?"

Cassia folds herself off the bed, leaving the furs on there. She takes the dress from her, holding it for her.

Venia works her way into it, telling Cassia how to handle the complex manner of getting it to stay up, strapless and backless. She steps back when it's done, and twirls a bit for her. "How do I look? Good enough for a social dinner?"

Cassia looks her up and down, then nods "With who?" she asks curious.

"General Emberheart and his wife. Continuing my whirlwind tour. I'd ask you to come, but people seem to think that I'm actually against Asura, and I wouldn't want them to just sit and stare confusedly at us all dinner."

Venia smiles at Cassia, offering one last good kiss before going to apply the faint bit of lipstick.

Cassia takes as much advantages of the kiss as Venia will let her, wanting to draw it out. Then she looks faintly embarrased "I should let you get out, then."

"Mhm... it is a shame. I would have made an excuse if I'd known you were coming."

Venia helps Cassia into her furs, accepting help with her own long coat. "But there is always tomorrow, yes?"

Cassia smiles and nods, a little eagerly, "Tomorrow, yes."

"I will see you then. Perhaps we'll find a way to make that boat ride less objectionable." She offers a truly brilliant smile, before they head out the door.

They leave the room together, but Cassia and Venia part ways before leaving the building itself. Tideholme while colder than the Realm, is definitely warming up with the approach of summer, almost to the point where Venia finds it tolerable. Almost.

Venia already misses the warmth of the room, but duty calls.

Finding directions towards where Gereth Emberheart, general of Tideholme's army is easy. Finding the general himself proves somewhat more difficult, since it appears that he has been called out to deal with a problem that requires his special talents (ie: Dragon-blooded Charms). His wife, a mortal woman in her early-forties named Seleya greets Venia warmly, nonetheless. "I'm sorry about this, Lady Venia. My husband's duties can be irksome at times."

"I do have another guest waiting within, though, should you still wish to join us for dinner. A recent arrival from the Blessed Isle, much like yourself in fact."

Venia nods. "That sounds wonderful, Seleya. Better than trekking back out into the cold."

Seleya lets Venia in and a servant takes her cloak, the interior of the house surprisingly warm, with fires burning in every room - as evinced by the large chimney stacks above the house. As Seleya leads Venia into the dining chamber she smiles, "Gereth likes it hot. I think it's an effect of his Exaltation."

"That wouldn't surprise me in the least. A pleasant change, though."

Within the dining room is a tall figure wearing blue robes and with dark skin. He turns at the entry, his purple eyes glancing over Venia appreciatively and for perhaps a second too long before he smiles and bows, "Lady Cynis Belar Venia, I presume?"

"Presumptive, but correct. I fear you have the advantage of me here."

"I am simply known as Milo. I am a scholar, and interested in many things, but at present I am most intrigued by Marama's Fell." He pulls the hood of his robe back to reveal a bald pate and a friendly face.

"Well, then, Milo it is. I'm afraid my own interests lie in more traditional directions."

Seleya, the discrete hostess, has disappeared, most likely to oversee final preparations for dinner. "Oh?" Milo nods, taking a seat away from the roaring fireplace.

"Yes. Flowers, dance, all the usual societal causes." She smiles wryly, sitting down somewhat near to the fireplace herself.

"My parents despaired of me, I'm afraid. I never really took to the social life. The Heptagram was really the only place for me to go."

"I've always wondered what the Heptagram was like. You must have wonderful stories."

"I have many stories. Most of them dull and about mixing alchemical potions and the like. Spending hours over a smoking pot trying to decide if it has turned just the right shade of crimson isn't that much fun." He smiles wider, "Not that there weren't compensations, but it was a long time before anything interesting happened."

"As opposed to, say, training for the Thousand Scales?"

"Touche," his purple eyes glitter and he once again allows his gaze to wander over Venia's figure, "At least the Thousand Scales gives you a purpose and a place."

"I would imagine that for the skilled, one defines both of those for themselves."

"I can see that you are as quick-witted as you are beautiful." Milo nods and smiles.

"That would not be hard, given my generally dull appearance."

"Normally I would hate to call a Lady a liar, but in this case I simply feel that I must."

"Generally, dear Milo. On days like today, I can manage passable." She smiles.

Seleya opens the doors and walks in, "We shall shortly be eating, so if you would care to join me we can begin." She gestures politely to the table, still set for four.

Venia does indeed join her. No reason to be a boor and ignore the General's wife.

Milo holds Seleya's chair for her, eliciting a small smile from the woman, and starts to do the same for Venia only to see that she has already seated. He grins and sits himself, just as the servants arrive with the food. It smells divine.

Venia compliments the chef via Seleya, managing to make it seem mostly Seleya's responsibility that the food is so good.

Seleya smiles at Venia and turns to her guests, "So, what do you think of my home?" Whether she means the house or Tideholme is unclear.

"I think it will require more time before I am truly acclimated, but thus far I have had a most enjoyable time."

"It is an interesting place, lady Seleya," Milo nods, "With a history bound intimately with the Fell to the north. I am delighted that my studies have led me here."

Seleya shudders at mention of the shadowland, "Please, do not mention that accursed place." Milo looks mortified and offers quick apologies.

The servants arrive when the food has been eaten, conversation dropping off after Milo's unfortunate remark. With the arrival of dessert (a local delicacy, fruit ices) Milo perks up and turns to Venia, "You'll like these, they don't have anything quite like them in the Realm."

"Really? I would think anything that would provke that effect from you should have been imported already..." Venia pokes the ice experimentally.

Milo nods, scooping some up with his spoon, "Seriously. It is delightful, melts on the tongue exquisitely."

Venia tries some, and ahs in pleasure. "But cold... I do hope the hostess has provided somew ay to warm up afterwards..."

Seleya asks, "Not used to the cold, I take it Lady Venia?"

"Not at all, I'm afraid. Even the winters of the Realm gave me some troubles."

The woman looks puzzled, but seems unsure how to ask the obvious question without seeming rude. Milo, ever the social master, steps in, "If you don't like the cold, why come to Tideholme?"

"For the company, Milo. The company."

"I hope that we are up to your, no doubt, high standards."

"Of course. A warm home, warm smile, and cold dessert. Who could ask for more?"

Milo nods and returns to his ice, and Seleya fills the conversational gap, "Do you have any plans for your future here, Lady Venia?"

"At the moment, no truly specific ones, I'm afraid. I'm still taking it all in. You have some advice?"

"Avoid V'Neef Gosul," Milo barely manages to muffle a snigger, which draws a reproachful glance from the general's wife, "He's rich and powerful, it is true, but he is also very unpleasant. He could probably help you with whatever you want to do, but it wouldn't be worth the price he would demand of you."

"A V'neef? In such a strong position? My, things are different out here."

Milo looks up from his dessert, "He's rich, owns half the kingdom and has his fat fingers in every legal pie in Tideholme. Probably most of the illegal ones, too."

"Then how is one to avoid him? It seems as if a clash or an... alliance... is required."

Milo looks at Seleya before continuing, "Find your own way. Gosul likes to own people, if he can, but he's not stupid - regardless of how he might look." Seleya nods in agreement.

"I will certainly keep that in mind. My thanks."

The fruit ice is eaten quickly, in the warm Emberheard household they rarely stay frozen for long. When the plates are empty the servants arrive to clean up and deposit a silver tray holding a frost-covered carafe and a quartet of small glasses. "Ah!" Milo smiles, "Ice-wine. Your hospitality is wonderful, lady Seleya."

Venia nods. "Indeed. More than I would have expected on such short notice."

Seleya nods, "I try to keep a good household. Tideholme is blessed with as many Exalted as it has, and my husband long ago showed me how to manage."

Venia tips her glass to Seleya. "You've done well. This home would not be out of place in the Realm itself."

Seleya smiles and blushes slightly before pouring Milo and Venia a glass of the dangerously alcoholic drink each, and then one for herself. Frost forming around her fingers she lifts her glass, "To my beloved husband, may he soon return safe and well."

Venia follows suit easily enough.

Milo does likewise, shivering as the icy liquid runs down to his stomach. "Did you know that demand for ice-wine is growing on the Blessed Isle? Whenever I visit I try to bring a bottle or two for my friends, since it is so hard to acquire otherwise."

"I can certainly see why. Though no doubt the rarity helps make it so desirable."

"It does. Even here it isn't cheap, making it is difficult and dangerous, or so I'm told."

"Ah, but the risk is most certainly worth the reward."

"It must be, else they wouldn't keep making it."

Venia settles down to stop talking and sip her ice wine, flushing a bit and shivering pleasantly.

The conversation winds down as the chilly liquid is consumed, slowly, and the evening ends with Milo and Venia being escorted to the door by Seleya, who smiles, "Well, it was a pleasure to meet the both of you, although I must apologise for my husband's absence once again.