Journey to the West: Kyrademon's Jade Regent PBP

Game Master Kyrademon

Lio returns his kiss gently. She is really enjoying kissing. She smiles at the meaning of his name. It fits him well. But her expression grows a little darker when he asks her the meaning of hers. Clearly she had not thought this through, or she might not have asked him. Revealing bits about her past are hard for her. "It does not mean anything. My father picked it, because it sounded Elven enough. Meanings give power. No meaning means less power in the name, so harder to manipulate the named."

Hrithik looks thoughtful. He stays silent, continuing to kiss her body slowly and tenderly, trailing hos love across her for a long time. Finally, having built to a point where he would have to commit to significant amorous escalation or speech, Hrithik alternates his kisses with words, and says, "Manipulation and control are not, in and of themselves, necessarily bad. Your stylus, for example, is crafted to be easily manipulated and controlled, but that very design allows you to scribe runes perfectly. What matters isn't the fact of manipulation nor control, but rather who and what will be doing the manipulating and controlling, and whether you have any recourse to manipulate and control them in turn."

Hrithik looks deep into Liothonae's eyes, smiling tenderly. "Liothonae, you should know this: your face, your eyes, your hair, your scent, your voice, your skin, your every essence ... these things manipulate and control me. If you ever find an honorific that you would accept, I would appreciate the opportunity to return the favor even slightly. Until then, this unworthy effort will have to suffice."

Hrithik begins massaging and manipulating some of Liothonae's more pleasure-sensitive areas.

"I would like that."

Hrithik beams happily. "We should make it a regular event. Every other few nights, read together, work together, learn together."

Hrithik looks contentedly at Liothonae. "What could I ask and learn of you, when the time comes? Your Druid order? Your learning of runes? Your association with Huntress Shalelu? Your rediscovery of your granddaughter and great-granddaughter?"

"If I told you real details of my Druid order, I'd have to kill you, or ...convert you." She says lightly. Yet, she is not joking. Rather she seems to be stating a fact, one that she doesn't like.

"Runes? Well, you can thank my father, I suppose. It's what he did. It just came naturally to me, when I was a bit older. She shrugs, like it's a natural talent, rather than a learned one.

"Shalelu? I have known her for a year. Found her tracks when I first came to Sandpoint; came upon her camp, we've been friends ever since. She's not like other people. She understands the quiet and the forest, and the passage of time. But then she's an elf." Lio smiles. " The only elf I know." Her smiles is a bit wistful around the edges. Like she's missed out on this whole part of herself, because she has never truly been amongst her own kind.

"My granddaughter does not know who I am. My great-granddaughter knows only because she is ancestor ridden. I did not come to Sandpoint because of them. I had no idea they even existed until after I arrived." This seems like a subject she is still coming to terms with. She doesn't look a day over 23. How can she have a great granddaughter?

She voices all of these generalities. Subjects that Hrithik may want to elaborate upon when they have more time.

"And you? So far from home, with no family ever spoken of. Nothing to tell me who you are, where you are from, or what you seek?"

"There could be more?" She asks, incredulous and amazed at the same time. Never having been in a relationship, never having even entertained the implications, not really prepared for such a question that she did not know to consider.

Hrithik nods. "Many possible paths through the Forest of Pleasure. Alone, paired for life two by two, sometimes three by three as well as four by four."

Seeing her amazement, Hrithik grins. "No rush to decide. Paths cross each other and meet up. Can consent to what you want as comfort grows."

"I have never been in a position of manipulation or control, unless you count inanimate objects, such as pens. I do not know that I wish to manipulate you, to control you... I simply wish to be with you. And for you, to be with me, if you desire it."

Hrithik crinkles his nose at Liothonae. "If you wish to manipulate or control any part of me, I consent to your efforts to do so."

"If you choose an appropriate, honorific, i will take it under consideration." She eventually offers, in her soft lilting voice.

"Picklemaster?"

"If I told you real details of my Druid order, I'd have to kill you, or ...convert you." She says lightly. Yet, she is not joking. Rather she seems to be stating a fact, one that she doesn't like.

"Convert to Druidism, or convert to actually being a Druid?"

"And you? So far from home, with no family ever spoken of. Nothing to tell me who you are, where you are from, or what you seek?"

Hrithik nods. "My birth family and I were separated when I was two. If I understand new details of the memory surge correctly, I was sent away from Vudra, toward Jalmeray, ahead of them. After arriving, I was enslaved and relocated to Geb, then sent from there to Katapesh. Then Osirion. Then Absalom. Then Cheliax."

"I am a devil of Cheliax, raised among halflings, raised alongside other foreign children. I am from, and of, Cheliax. Mistress was Mother, Father father."

Hrithik shakes his head. "And I seek to get as far away from there, in every sense, as swiftly as I can."

"You're teasing me? If anyone should get that honorific, it should be you. I don't even know how to cook, let alone make a pickle."

Hrithik tickles Liothonae. "Picklemaster Ranbhir, at your service. If you ever need a firm, salty rod, you know whom to call."

a little while later
Her voice is soft, she takes his hand, looks into his eyes. "I know the facts of your life, Hrithik. You are more than facts."

Lio considers his words, but doesn't answer right away. "Forest of pleasure? I would like to see where this path leads."

Hrithik nods, then smiles. "A forest of people and relationships. An urban path. If only we had a Druid expert at the urban jungle."

"Well, we're not much for religion. So it's not conversion in that sense... You'd have to become a Druid. There's a bit of ritual and some magic involved, and then you'd have to swear to uphold the balance, shield nature from the depravities of mankind, and that sort of thing."

Hrithik nods slowly. "Sounds like an awful lot of effort to acquire one more language. It would be good to know more of what you do."

Her voice is soft, she takes his hand, looks into his eyes. "I know the facts of your life, Hrithik. You are more than facts."

"I am ... detached from most of the other children. The halflings relocated to Korvosa, and operate a few ships sized to their scale. I still correspond."

Hrithik's expression grows sad. "Father had to flee after the estate sale. Without Mistress warding him from Mother Church, an Asmodean Priest established herself and displaced him. I do not know where he went after that."

"I am ... the one who cannot forget. Every success, every failure, every life, every death."

She listens to what he says about his life and about whom he thinks he is. She keeps his hand in hers. "Do not judge your life by what has gone before. There is much more in front of you." She offers.

"Picklemaster Ranbhir, at your service. If you ever need a firm, salty rod, you know whom to call."

She laughs, hugs him tightly to her, still laughing. Then she kisses him, very boldly.

Hrithik prepares for potent pickle passion!

Hrithik receives the kiss joyfully, and returns it fondly, smiling all the while. When the kiss ends, his laughter matches hers. It is, unlike almost all of his laughter, neither clipped, nor cold, nor judging. It flows like a languid river of joy. He begins exploring her body again, more calmly, more thoroughly, more tenderly than before. He seems to have made a decision on his goal, but is not in as much of a rush to get there.

"I'm hardly as knowledgeable or as understanding of the ways of people as you. I can't even say good morning without making Myri upset, or Alaric grouchy, or Hrunndalf ignore me. The latter is actually ok in my book, being ignored feels safe. It's not being ignored that scares me. I Guess I've still got a ways to go..." She thinks outloud.

Hrithik shakes his head. "Miss Bayden is easily upset, Mr. Graff is incredibly grouchy, and Mr. Jarlsson is largely oblivious to anyone not long experienced with the Caravan. If you need to say "Good Morning" to someone who will treat you like a decent person, say it to me. I will be glad of it."

"But you were complementing me, and I was, being difficult. Just now."[/b] Smiles a little.

Hrithik smiles at her. "I like that you are difficult, Liothonae. I understand why. The opportunity to please one who has known so little pleasure is rare, and precious."

"It's goes beyond learning another language." She says, softly, with a small mysterious smile.

Hrithik nods. "Yes, if the lady druid we met is to be believed, it also involves lots of sex with ten-foot-tall men while shapeshifting between various muscular animal forms."

Hrithik calmly adds, "Not that there is anything wrong with that."

She listens to what he says about his life and about whom he thinks he is. She keeps his hand in hers. "Do not judge your life by what has gone before. There is much more in front of you."

Hrithik seems trapped halfway between a nod and shaking his head. Eventually, he shrugs, "It is hard to express in words, but my life, as it is now, has every piece of it had a purpose. Her purpose. If it weren't for the Amatatsus ... Ameiko allowing freedom to even be an option, Rokuro reaching in and granting worldwaking insight ... I would be entirely owned by that purpose."

Hrithik pauses. He is obviously hesitant, and concerned with the potential reaction to what he might say next.

"I am not a very good being, Liothonae. In every way that matters, from how I perceive things, to how I react to them, to how I remember them, I am simply not. I am a devil. To the core. Born and raised. Maybe a clever devil, maybe a charming one, but a devil nonetheless. And no matter how much life and how much change lies in front of me, that essential fact is as unlikely to change as my need to breathe."

Hrithik shakes his head. "Miss Bayden is easily upset, Mr. Graff is incredibly grouchy, and Mr. Jarlsson is largely oblivious to anyone not long experienced with the Caravan. If you need to say "Good Morning" to someone who will treat you like a decent person, say it to me. I will be glad of it."

A smile.

Hrithik smiles at her. "I like that you are difficult, Liothonae. I understand why. The opportunity to please one who has known so little pleasure is rare, and precious."

Quietly, almost shyly, "I have known more pleasure today than I have in the previous 120 or so, years combined."

Hrithik receives the kiss joyfully, and returns it fondly, smiling all the while. When the kiss ends, his laughter matches hers. It is, unlike almost all of his laughter, neither clipped, nor cold, nor judging. It flows like a languid river of joy. He begins exploring her body again, more calmly, more thoroughly, more tenderly than before. He seems to have made a decision on his goal, but is not in as much of a rush to get there.

She is very willing to be explored by him. He would note, she is almost submissive, though the curiosity of exploring him in turn is allowing her to overcome that to some degree.

Hrithik nods. "Yes, if the lady druid we met is to be believed, it also involves lots of sex with ten-foot-tall men while shapeshifting between various muscular animal forms."

Hrithik calmly adds, "Not that there is anything wrong with that."

It is quite possible Hrithik has not yet seen Liothonae turn this particular shade of red. "I'm, I'm not that kind of Druid." She says quietly, almost embarrassed. She also leaves something unsaid, her expression turns a little pensive until she takes a breath, and releases whatever it is that's on her mind, with the exhalation.

"It is hard to express in words, but my life, as it is now, has every piece of it had a purpose. Her purpose. If it weren't for the Amatatsus ... Ameiko allowing freedom to even be an option, Rokuro reaching in and granting worldwaking insight ... I would be entirely owned by that purpose." Hrithik pauses. He is obviously hesitant, and concerned with the potential reaction to what he might say next.

"I am not a very good being, Liothonae. In every way that matters, from how I perceive things, to how I react to them, to how I remember them, I am simply not. I am a devil. To the core. Born and raised. Maybe a clever devil, maybe a charming one, but a devil nonetheless. And no matter how much life and how much change lies in front of me, that essential fact is as unlikely to change as my need to breathe."

"You were raised to be a devil, not born." She says, softly. "You are not that charming." She teases gently. Then more seriously, she offers, "It is difficult to stand where I stand in the twilight, Hrithik. I think you waver somewhere between the good you seek, and the evil which you were taught. My twilight is one of balance, yours is an unfinished journey. Ameiko, Shalelu, Sandru and Koya have given you the tools to be more than what you were. If you want to use those tools to get to where you want to go, first you must acknowledge that you might never reach your destination." She wonders if she's being too vague, "If you are a devil, then so be it. I do not ask that you be good, or just, or even diabolical. You can be what you are, or aim to be more than you are. It is your choice." She says, finally. It is clear by her expression that she is not judging him. She wants him to be, what he wants to be, and she will help him in that journey, if he so wishes.

Quietly, almost shyly, "I have known more pleasure today than I have in the previous 120 or so, years combined."

Hrithik grins, "Well, it is my name, so knowing more Pleasure is a good descriptor on two levels."

Hrithik looks very happy, then craftily thoughtful. "If I can manage to make your sentence an accurate statement again on an upcoming day ... I think that would be a goal worth pursuing." After a few moments, he adds, "I can probably only make it a true statement one more time, however. Short of cloning myself or creating an army of simulacra, anyway."

She is very willing to be explored by him. He would note, she is almost submissive, though the curiosity of exploring him in turn is allowing her to overcome that to some degree.

The mutual exploration will, in due course, become a further exercise in knowledge acquisition and cherishing. More tender than the first.

"You were raised to be a devil, not born." [...] "It is difficult to stand where I stand in the twilight, Hrithik. I think you waver somewhere between the good you seek, and the evil which you were taught. My twilight is one of balance, yours is an unfinished journey. Ameiko, Shalelu, Sandru and Koya have given you the tools to be more than what you were. If you want to use those tools to get to where you want to go, first you must acknowledge that you might never reach your destination. [...] If you are a devil, then so be it. I do not ask that you be good, or just, or even diabolical. You can be what you are, or aim to be more than you are. It is your choice."

Hrithik smiles gratefully to Liothonae, but his look is haunted. "Lord Rokuro dredged up a lot of memories. Things I'd forgotten. Things in languages I didn't understand until a few minutes ago. Things even deeper ..."

Hrithik shakes his head. "I think I was born to it, somehow. The price on me was so, so high. Even being a left-handed non-Avistani child with deft hands, literacy at three, and a quick mind ... even all of that couldn't possibly justify the price I commanded at auction, what the traders were willing to spend to ship me to Mistress, what she was willing to spend to acquire me. There's something deeper inside, visible to those with eyes to see it. Something making me perfect for devilcrafting."

Hrithik looks back to Liothonae, sad yet happy. "At least I have the tools and guidance of wise and caring elders. Empress Ameiko. Huntress Shalelu. Master Sandru. Seer Koya. Liothonae."

For a very brief moment, a sheer look of terror enters Liothonae's eyes. She chokes it down, taking a long time to answer. "Owner number seven... Owner number seven is... a woman, who, finds joy in hurting people in every way possible... mentally, physically, emotionally... I do not think, I am ready to explicate. Ask me again, when I am warm, safely in your arms, and you have helped me to thoroughly understand that I am no longer a helpless girl."

Hrithik stops, hurt at having caused hurt. "I don't know that I will want to ask that when you are so content ... perhaps we should arrange consent for the question ahead of time. No time soon. My apologies for the anguish."

Lio is also left handed

"Calling me old?" She says, her tone light. She holds his hand, pulling him towards her, closing the distance between them with a half a step. "Tools and guidance we can do. The rest is your choice." She looks up, into his eyes, her dark blue gaze meeting his.

Until then: Heut ist Mein Tag, in all its Europop Glory

It's not your fault. I do not blame you. ...I would like to tell you, ...when I am ready.

Hrithik nods and favors Liothonae with a small smile. "I look forward to the day, sad though it will be. You survived."

"Calling me old?" She says, her tone light. She holds his hand, pulling him towards her, closing the distance between them with a half a step. "Tools and guidance we can do. The rest is your choice." She looks up, into his eyes, her dark blue gaze meeting his.

Hrithik nods. "I want to choose something worthwhile. I need to choose something that thinks differently, less atavistic, but which works with the fiery passions of who and what I am." He favors her with a smile. "With wise ancient wisdom such as yours, how can I possibly be guided astray?"

He looks into the distance. "Or maybe I just need a radical break. However it happens, I need to be better."

She smiles, blushing brightly. "We should continue to try, though."

Hrithik smiles happily in return. "There are many practices to savor. As many ways to joy as the stars in the sky. Diplomats generally use them cynically, but there is no reason we can't experiment with them with good heart."

He gazes at her with feeling. "I do wish we had more time. You pulled me back from the Abyss, and what we have shared is so small a gift to you in comparison."