"If she's what gets you wet then I can oblige," the spirit-formed woman says with a smirk and her shape blurs. When it sharpens again it's the red-skinned form of donomsail that looks back at Polli. It's not her eyes, though, that gaze at the sylph with hunger, but Fina's. "I'll do all the things you would never ask of her, and I'll do them without hesitation. All I want is for you to give in to your innermost desires."
Polli's eyes burn. Between the change and the heady air, she seems ready to lean into the other woman, to melt fully, "I... I... like... cuddling best." the utter boring truth saves her. Love over lust. The succubus made a mistake there. "Where is she?"
Val smirks at Polli’s guileless answer. “You went to some trouble to let us know you knew where the real article was…”
Fina hesitates for just an instant at Polli's answer and frowns, but the mirthless smile returns a moment later. "Oh, I think we can do better than a little cuddling. I think you would get off on inflicting a little pain. You should know that you wouldn't have to hold back. You could call me all those filthy names while you whip me."
A second voice speaks up and Val turns with a start to find Mina standing next to her. She's in her natural form, unclothed, but with her wings folded against her back.
"Come now, Sister Dear, this isn't even a challenge any more. It's obvious that this woman would do anything for her precious хосттун. You could bend over and have her lick your arse while you ..."
"Hey! You should know better than to kink shame!" Fina interrupts whatever vile suggestion her twin was about to make.
Mina waves a hand dismissively. "The point being; What's the point? She's yours to do with as you wish. You've already planted the seeds of desire that she'll never be rid of." The woman looks to Polli. "Isn't that right? We're in your dreams, aren't we, Miss Bog?"
"You, on the other hand," Mina continues turning to Val, "Are a little tougher to crack. I would say that being tied to my granddaughter would be enough, but it seems that even there, you've slipped through my fingers." She wiggles the slender digits demonstrably. "And to clarify things; I sent the message, not my sister. And yes, I know where the red-skinned хосттун is being taken. The question is ..." Her smile widens. "What are you willing to give for the information?"
"yes" Polli answers about the dreams without breaking her gaze away from Fina's.
Val studies Mina as well when she arrives , muttering, “suddenly I feel overdressed…”
After the succubus’ question, she asks, “You sent the message, completely apart from your sister? You two having a tiff?”
Suddenly the conversation catches up with Polli, "Wait... Pain?" Polli's nose scrunches a bit, breaking more of the spell "I've splinted bones, popped dislocated sockets back in place, lanced BOILS! How in the ever-loving planes of existence is Pain Sexy?" the doctor in her recoils further in her plain jane sexual fantasies. Might be that so many of those episodes ended with bowels being released and the poor doctor being covered in it. Nope, not her cup of tea.
"Oh, you precious little thing," Fina coos, leaning in close to Polli again. "So much anger. So much rage. Deep down inside where everything burns you want to release it. You know you do. Release it on my flesh in an crescendo of ecstactic fury and leave us both quivering. Your precious pet will never know."
~~~~
Mina shakes her head in response to Val's question. "No. My sister and I just have different goals. They're not conflicting, but we take different long-term views and go about achieving them in different ways. She likes to indulge at every opportunity and doesn't consider much larger events. I, on the other hand, would prefer that the хосттун-lovers wouldn't gain as much power in the region as they might if their plans for your companion are carried through to completion."
She chuckles.
"I don't care enough to take altruistic steps to prevent it, but if a bargain with you benefits me and puts a barb in their plans ..." She shrugs and then leans in close. Mina's feminine musk and the scent of burning coal mingle in Val's nostrils. "So what might you offer? Sand is falling."
“I would at least shock her a little bit,” Val remarks to Polli, “she did offer…”
Turning back to Mina, she steps closer and takes a long, slow sniff of her hair before commenting, “you smell like burning coal…have you been f*cking a lowly iron-smelter? I bet all that shoveling in the heat would build a lot of stamina…”
“It does seem as though our goals are aligned at the moment, though,” she finally concedes, “and, I don’t suppose that my stopping said diabolists from gaining power would be sufficient payment, would it… what if we were to promise to take a few of them alive for you? You and your sister could have some fun with them; and reducing them to mindlessly lustful, demon-worshiping husks should really piss-off their devilish masters.”
"She's immune" the wizard remarks offhand. Succubi study has become an obsession. Closing her bright blue eyes, Polli feels the heat of Fina so close to her. "Would you lower your resistances? To make it Real?" Polli's voice is husky as her hands twitch in the pattern of disintegration.
"It'll be as real as you want it to be," Fina says, leaning in close to whisper in Polli's ear and giving a small nibble in the process. "Go ahead, you know you want to. I can smell your need. You're so close."
~~~~~
"You can picture it in your mind, can't you?" Mina replies to Val's question with a purr. "His dirty, but strong hands clutching at my flesh? Taking me however he wants?" She laughs. "I'm sure we'll take a few of the survivors as playthings when you're finished, but that's not going to get you what you want. What you want will cost you something ... personal." She looks Val up and down again. "It has to come from you and it has to be something you value. Acts carry more weight then things. So what are you willing to do for me? Come on, Captain Valeria; You know what kind of woman I am. You have to take the first step."
“How about an action and something that comes from me?” Val asks.
“Lay down on your back and tell us where they took Donomsail and I’ll piss on your face.”
Mina laughs again and her shape shifts. A moment later and the succubus is looking Val over from behind Meiying's smile. Her nakedness is now hidden behind the pale dress that the small woman usually wears. She's matched every detail of the quiet tiefling down to the slight crinkle at the edge of her eyes.
"How about you give me a kiss instead?" she asks in the woman's voice. "Just one. But you have to kiss me like you would kiss her; With all the passion you would express for her. Curl my toes." She steps closer and traces a pale finger up Valeria's arm. "No strings attached. No enchantments. Just a kiss."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Polli closes her eyes "it is about sacrifice... giving up something, losing something because of the Want." she whispers but loud enough for Val to hear. "I gave up my sanity, my self-respect, my happiness, but I will not sacrifice my love." the brillant blue orbs that spent so many desperate hours trying to memorize every detail of Dony's lavender skin, opened to look defiantly at Fina. "I will give you everything, do any degrading act you wish. Hurt you, hurt others, it doesn't matter. But know, no matter how undeserving I am for her, I will do all of it because I love her."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Val places her hands on Mina's hips and steps in close enough that their bodies graze against each other as they breathe. She looks deeply into the familiar amber eyes and says softly, "Just a kiss? You truly don't understand that what you're asking is impossible, do you? I literally could not kiss you like I kiss her even if I were fully under your spell, even if it was my deepest desire. You see, I've given myself fully to her, I belong to her--the way you'd like me to belong to you--that part I have no doubt you understand. And if I let myself believe that you were really her, I might just be able to kiss you like I belong to you. Here's what you don't understand--what your seared abyssal heart likely lacks the capacity to understand--she has given herself fully to me as well and she is mine. A kiss, a real kiss, like the way I kiss her, can only exist between two beings who have both fully surrendered to each other. Look at your sister: she can take all the kisses she wants from Polli but none of them will mean anything because Polli is no more than a toy to her."
"Every time I kiss Meiying it's overflowing with meaning. I couldn't possibly kiss you like I kiss her because you couldn't possibly surrender control and give yourself to me the way that she has. Why don't you just lay down and get pissed on. I've never done that to anyone before, you could be my first, that's worth something, right?"
Fina rolls her eyes and makes a gagging motion with her finger. "Oh Gods save me," she says, stepping back and shaking her head. "You're right, dear sister, there's no more fun to be had with her. No challenge." She looks look back at Polli and her form shifts into what the sylph assumes is her natural one. "Love or no, even if you manage to rescue your pet, she'll never do everything for you that I will. So when the urge gets too strong, just light my candle." The succubus blows a kiss and then vanishes in a cloud of musk.
~~~~~
"Sorry, Love, but it's a kiss or nothing," Mina says to Val and leans in as if to press the issue. When the woman draws back away from her, Mina scowls. While Meiying's scowls are something that Val finds strangely attractive, unsurprisingly, this one doesn't have the same effect.
"It's your choice," Mina says crossing her arms. "But if you want to get to your friend in time, then my price is my price. The negotiation phase of this conversation is over."
Polli is stock still, fighting beyond fighting not to beg her to stay. The need is almost too great. But Dony before need. Catching most of what Mina says, she turns toward the captain wanting to scream at her hesitation but settles for a "Val..."
f*ck… we could trap her, she’d tell us in exchange for her life, but the way Polli crumbled I’m not sure I can put her in that position…
“I give you my word that if you tell us truthfully where she is, in terms that allow us to find her quickly, I will give you a kiss,” Val answers very seriously after a quick glance at Polli, “the kind of kiss I’ve shared with many satisfied bedfellows.”
Polli nods at the glance.
Mina narrows her eyes at Val's offering. "Very well," she says after a moment. "They've taken her to to a small islet called 'Dead Rock'. It's about an hour north of the city; A solitary rock in the sea with literally nothing on it excepting seagull shit. They're planning on completing the ritual when the moon reaches its zenith tonight." Her eyes grow distant and she seems to be listening to something else. A slight smirk appears on her lips. "Although there are arguments being made to complete it at sunset. That would be a shame because you'll never make it by then."
Her eyes refocus on Valeria. "So, my sweet ... now's the time for your portion of our agreement and don't even think about playing me."
"I've never lied in any of our deals before," Val answers flatly, "but we need to verify your information first. You can come with us and kill or capture some of the devil worshipers if you like and, if you were truthful, I'll pay you as soon as the fighting is done. Or I'll meet you tomorrow to pay you, or kill you if you lied to me. Which do you prefer?"
"That wasn't our agreement," the faux-Meiying replies with a voice growing harsher. The smell of burning coal grows stronger. "I am no хосттун to hide behind exact words or loopholes. You will pay me now or my sister and I will fall upon your ship and crew like a plague with neither cure nor surcease. The longer you banter and deny me what is my due, the more chance your precious pet will never see another sunrise."
Val's eyes narrow. "If you lied to me, or if you go anywhere near her while I'm gone, I won't kill you, and I won't banish you," she calmly explains as she looks into the eyes pretending to be Meiying's, "I'll bind you in cold-iron chains and drop you in a bath of holy water diluted just enough that it can't burn away your flesh fast enough to kill you but it never stops trying, and you can lay there helpless for a few centuries until the chains rust away and you become someone else's problem." Then her head jerks forward and she plants a hard kiss on the succubus' lips, a kiss full of hatred and disdain, a kiss that's almost combative in its resistance to Mina's desires and response.
"There, the most passionate kiss I can muster for you. Now go so we can handle what needs to be done."
"Oh, I love it when you talk dirty," Mina says with a smirk, but Val can see in the eyes that she knows so well that her threat has rattled the woman.
In spite of the anger behind the kiss, the succubus presses back against Val's lips as if the hatred and disdain add additional spice to the contact. As Mina's lips slide across Val's, the slayer gets the familiar sensation of a slender tail sliding up under her skirt. Before it can take any liberties, however, Val pushes back away from the disguised demoness.
"Can't blame me for trying," Mina says unrepentantly with a shrug of her shoulders. Holding one hand up, she wiggles her fingers at the two woman. "Taa," she says before vanishing, leaving nothing but the scent of musk, lavender, and burning coal behind.
"we will kill them later." whether the wizard is assuring herself or Val about that fact is unknown. "Ready?" she steps next to the captain and waits for a nod before teleporting them back to the ship.
Val places a hand gently on Polli’s shoulder and looks into her nervous blue eyes before answering, “I know we will… as long as Meiying doesn’t kill me first...” When the wizard begins preparing to teleport, she signals her to wait a moment then calls for Azira.
“Azira, while your senses are sharpened I need you to learn all that you can about an islet an hour north of here called ‘Dead Rock’, please.”
Azira comes running at the captain’s call. She smiles for just moment at having been entrusted with this task, but then she quickly returns to the stoic expression she’s been maintaining most of the time she’s in her natural form. “Yes ma’am,” she answers before quickly weaving the spell for gathering information .
There's not much information to gather, but in a short time, Azira presents what she's found to Valeria.
Dead Rock is a relatively featureless up-thrust of basalt near the city. A couple of miles north of Port Peril, it juts up from the sea amidst a scattering of smaller natural formations. It's not large by any means; The most generous estimates put it at about a thousand square feet of scrub and lichen covered stone. The lone feature that sets it apart is its relative flat top that rises about sixty feet above the surrounding water. The top can be reached by a rough-hewn, man-made trail and has been used by various worship groups for various purposes.
Information having been gathered, the three of you return to the Siren through Polli's magic. Upon returning to the ship, you find that Meiying has been keeping Mona occupied by the simple application of food. According to the white-haired woman, the small girl put away more provisions than three of the ship's normal crew and then promptly fell asleep.
"I put her down in our bed," Meiying says, looking away nervously. "I ... I hope that's ok."
"Orders, Captain?" Surina asks. "Most of the crew have returned from leave, so we're ready to raise sail on the morning."
"I think we have enough to teleport us there. If not, the spell will fizzle out and pose no danger to us. Gather who you think should go..." she forces herself to stop "... if you think that is the best course of action, Cap-tain." though her tone implies she might go on her own if the answer is no.
Val smiles weakly at Meiying and assures her, "of course it's ok, my thoughtful, caring 宝物..."
Her normally stoic face cracks and she silently looks with great sadness at the white haired woman.
A single tear rolls down her right cheek as she answers, "Me, you, and Azira, madam first mate; everyone else stays with the Siren to keep her safe. Surina, you have the bridge until I return, sail north for dead rock in case we need to fly to you, but if you draw near before we return, stay out of range until you hear otherwise from us. And, have one of the riggers leave a pillow and blanket in the crow's nest, please."
"Do you think there will be actual devils there?" Azira asks as she moves close enough to Polli to be teleported. "I know a spell that will make weapons extra effective against demons and devils but its a more complicated spell and I don't want to use a bunch of them if they won't be needed..."
Deciding that now is not the time to be stingy with her magic, Azira casts resist energy on herself and Val to protect them from any fire they might encouner , and then blesses their swords to be extra deadly against evil outsiders.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
“You look lovely. I knew that gold would be your colour.” The soft voice made Tessa turn sharply from admiring herself in the full-length mirror, hand reaching Wayfinder which is not present on her hip.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Melodie said gently. “May I come in? I promise that I come in peace.”
The mother of the bride was dressed in a tastefully understated peach dress and delicate rope-worked sandals with a weave of white and gold flowers in her hair in deference to the wedding’s colour scheme.
“Zhi is with Harmony right now,” She said with a smile. “Since I’m not that mother of the bride I thought I’d come and see whether you’d like some company? I know we’ve not always been the closest but if you want I’d be delighted to stand with you today at the ceremony.”
Tessa nodded, feeling her throat close with unexpected and unwanted emotion. Not having her parents here had been a dull ache for days but this concern, from a rather unexpected quarter, suddenly brings it flooding out and she feels tears leaking at the corner of her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually… I can…” She couldn’t get more than a couple of broken sentences out before warm arms pulled her into an embrace and she let the tears fall freely for a few minutes while her soon-to-be mother-in-law rubbed her back gently and murmured gentle words into her ear.
“There we go.” Melodie said when the tears finally stop. “That’s better isn’t it? Now, dry your eyes my dear and let me fix your make-up.”
Tessa pulled back and winced seeing the black smears across Melodie’s dress but a simple wave of the hand sends them fading into oblivion.
“I keep forgetting how easy it is to remove stains when you can do that.” Tessa said, offering Melodie a slightly shaky smile as she retook her seat at the vanity. “Harmony always insisted on fresh water for washing whenever she could. Even when we were running short – never took it from the crew though, she was always thinking about them first. And me.”
The smile softened into something more genuine as Melodie went to work, light touches removing the smeared eyeliner and reapplying it in smooth strokes. “Did you know she turned down a seat on the Pirate Council so that she could support me instead? I was so proud of her then. I don’t think I’ve ever loved her more than at that moment.” She waited until Melodie removed the small brush before turning to face the older woman’s mis-matched eyes. “Thank you for letting me marry your daughter.”
“Thank Harmony, not me.” Melodie replied, her own eyes shining with suppressed tears. “She loves you far too much to let a little thing like someone’s disapproval stop her, even her mother’s. And I’ve always been a fan of yours Tessa. You do a wonderful job of challenging Harmony, and my wife, and I think it does them both good.” The tears well up a little more and one tracks a silvery line across pale skin as she grasped Tessa’s hand and squeezed. “I was proud of her too, so very proud. And I never thanked you properly, for giving up the Shackles for her. I know you could easily be the one seated on the Hurricane Throne now, rather than Fairwind, and I’m very glad you brought our daughter home. Thank you Tessa.”
She pulled back quickly, leaving a gentle kiss on the bride’s cheek. ”Now no more tears or you’re going to ruin the make-up I just fixed.”
The sound of a silvery bell in the courtyard below drew both women’s attention to the open window. ”Well, I’d best be going.” Melodie said. ”You look beautiful, Tessa. My daughter is very lucky to be marrying you.”
“Wait,” Tessa called, just as the door was about to close. “I would. Like it I mean. If you’d stand with me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How do I look?" Harmony asked, catching her mom's eye in the long mirror. Despite the nearly two hours of preparations the bride clearly wanted reassurance as the ceremony approached.
The small woman's eyes never left her daughter's. "I don't think you could look any more beautiful," she said in a voice tight with emotion. She reached up to tuck a stray tendril of hair behind Harmony’s ear and started to speak again before her voice caught in her throat. Looking away she cleared her throat. A deep breath follows. When she looked back, her ever-present half-smile had returned. "You know ... it's not too late to change your mind," she said and her smile widens. "I'm sure Tessa would survive."
"Don't you ever say that again." Harmony replied, her eyes flashing with genuine anger. The pure rage in her voice washed over her mother like the breath of a dragon. If she had even a drop more of her grandmother's blood then something much worse might have happened but fortunately for Zhi ‘all’ she had to face was her thoroughly irate daughter. "I love you kaa-chan, but if you say one more thing like that then you can leave right now and go back to Taldor! I love Tessa and I am marrying her. End. Of. If you don’t want to see her again then you won’t, and you’ll never see me again either!"
Her face crumpled a little, the rage overtaken by sorrow. "I was hoping my mom and my wife might actually get along on my wedding day."
"I'm sorry, Little One," Zhi said, reaching out and touching Harmony's arm with genuine remorse in her voice. "I was just trying to make a stupid joke because if I ..." She paused, swallowed, and looked away, her eyes beginning to shimmer. "I'm afraid that if I try to say anything more meaningful than that, I'll ..." The sentence trailed away behind the lump in her throat. Looking back at Harmony the tears finally escaped. ”I'm losing my baby," she said finally, choking up completely. Heedless of the damage to her own dress, she leant in to wrap her arms around Harmony. Even with the highest heels she could comfortably wear, Zhi was still inches shorter than her oldest child and the kanzashi in her styled hair waved threatingly under Harmony’s nose.
"Of course you're not kaa-chan." Harmony replied, bending a little to embrace her mom properly. "I'm not going anywhere, not really. I went to the far side of the world and you were still there whenever I needed a hug." Her voice cracked in turn on the last words and tears rolled freely into her mom's black hair. "I'm never going to leave you, to stop loving you. I promise." The room practically vibrated with the force Harmony put on the last words, her magic giving them both weight and power. "I could no more stop loving you than I could stop loving Tessa."
She pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Can you help? Crying's probably ruined my make-up."
"Oh, but I am losing you in a way that maybe you'll understand some day," Zhi replied softly, taking a half step back and revealing a sad smile. "Your mother and I have always been the most important women in your life. But after today, Tessa officially takes that place and we have to step back. It's hard to accept. Someone else will be more important to you than I ... than we were." She shrugs. "It's good. It's right. And it's the way things are meant to be. But that doesn't mean that it's not painful." The woman manages a chuckle. "In a way it's like childbirth."
She muttered soft magical words and magic removed the evidence of the emotional exchange from both Harmony and her own countenance.
"Most important things in life are accompanied by pain of some sort or another, I think. It's what helps us differentiate between the everyday from the things that really matter. Now shall we get you out there before we both fall apart again?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The soft breeze ruffled the garlands and ribboned flowers that adorned the arch-way and chairs of the dozen or so guests. Neither bride wanted a large ceremony and with the taldan love of pomp such a thing would have been impossible anywhere within its bounds. So instead, the Captains of the Siren were swearing their vows on a beach before the Arcadian ocean and the waters that they both loved.
The chiming bell had summoned the guests, a elderly and dignified couple accompanied by a young man whose black hair and mismatched eyes proclaimed him as Harmony’s younger brother, Louis. Two women speaking softly together beneath the arch, one in the yellow and black robes of Calistria, and the other in the blue and grey of Gozreh’s formal wear. On the other side of the aisle sat five mismatched people, a dapper man with a thin moustache and an easy smile held hands with a tall woman whose long braids and mahogany skin proclaimed her southern ancestry. Next to them slouched a woman in a fine dress, although it was mostly covered by a robe embroidered with arcane sigils that glinted in the afternoon sun. Every so often she and the gozran would catch each other’s eye and a smile broke through the woman’s seemingly perpetual scowl, making her suddenly pretty in her own right.
Behind them a whispering couple, one slender and one endowed with fine curves, also held hands as they waited for the main event. Tessa arrived first, stepping firmly down the short path from the edge of the garden to the beach beyond, with Melodie on her arm. The pirate captain shared smiles all round with her former crew and more, slightly less confidently, with her almost family on the other side. Louis opened his jacket and flashed the silver flask stashed within with a wink that brought the joy fully back to Tessa’s face and her grin as she embraced Donomsail and Zileska in turn was as genuine as it could be.
Someone was communicating because Tessa had just finished settling her golden skirts to her liking when the second bride appeared at the edge of the beach. Harmony and Zhi proceeded at the same stately pace that Tessa and Melodie had done but this time there were no smiles for the watching guests – both brides had eyes purely for each other. As they reached the end of the aisle Zhi split smoothly off to one side as Melodie joined her, the two mothers taking their seats with hands tightly clasped.
”You look beautiful.” Harmony said, her smile radiant as she took Tessa’s outreached hand and admired the redhead’s golden dress, the long skirt flowing down to surround Tessa’s feet in a pool of liquid silk. The ever-rebellious pirate had opted against a veil, but the thin silver circlet resting over her forehead held a tiny amethyst to match her fiancée’s eye.
”And you look perfect.” Tessa breathed in response, inhaling the scent of the flower crown Harmony wore. The small gold and red blossoms matched the delicate embroidery on the hem of Harmony’s simple white sheath dress as the two of brides gazed into each other’s eyes and lost the world for a few perfect moments.
”Ah don’t wish to spoil the moment.” Donomsail said, causing a ripple of laughter as the brides both started. ”Boot I think we’d best begin before they skip to the kissin’ part!” More laughter as Tessa and Harmony released each other, turning to face the two clerics with only their clasped hands and the blush of their cheeks connecting them.
”Gozreh be a restless lord.” Donomsail began, her voice rising to match the gust of wind that swirled along the beach. ”Like the storm he moves on and on, never in one place long. But without him we’d have no rain to bless the crops, no wind to fill our sails and no sun to warm our skin. Both Cap’n Tessa and Cap’n Harmony have sailed Gozreh’s waves, fought with his storms and matched his fury with their heart’s strength, and through it all they’ve been strongest together.”
She nodded to Harmony’s side of the aisle. ”I know some of ye don’t know all I’m talkin’ of but let me say that all of us on the Siren faced hard times, and it was Tessa’s confidence and Harmony’s wisdom that led us through. Tessa’s fire and Harmony’s mind. Most of us,” She indicated the pirates, current or former, with a wave of her hand, ”Might not be here today without them. We had hard times, and worse. But we weathered them all and we were strongest as a crew when we were all together, when these two, our Captains, were together. On behalf of Gozreh, Lord of Sea and Storms I bless you both. Stay strong together and ye’ will conquer any storm.”
The tiefling stepped back with murmured thanks from both brides and the second cleric stepped forward.
”Time flies doesn’t it?” Zileska said lightly, looking across the small group. ”It feels so little time ago that I stood before a pair of blushing brides, young women who were making their own way in the world for the first time and shaping the fate of an empire as they did so. And now here they both are sitting in the front row as their own daughter joins the partner of her heart.” The half-elf shot a fond look to Zhi and Melodie, both of whom were openly crying now, before turning back to Harmony.
”I held you in my arms when you entered the world Harmony and I wished you all the happiness in the world.” The cleric said, her voice intimate but still pitched for the audience to hear. ”I don’t know where twenty four years have gone, but watching you and your brother grow up has been a great joy in my life. Thank you both for allowing me to be here today.” Her warm smile embraced both brides before she stepped back and adopted a more formal tone.
”Friends and companions, what a beautiful days for a wedding.” Someone in the front row let out a sound that combined a sob and a laugh and Zileska smiled before continuing.
”Two beautiful women stand before me, who have been fortunate to find their desire and see their desire returned to them. Harmony and Tessa have known each other all their lives but I know it has only been in the past few years that their love has truly blossomed, although I think some of us knew it before they did. After all, there aren’t many reasons to travel across half the world and become a pirate apart from true love…”
Marisan let out a loud whistle as Pierce laughed and Zileska had to gesture for quiet once more.
”Both of the women before me are passionate, brave, strong and loving. It is a great joy for all of us gathered here to see them intertwine their passions, protect each other and to give each other the greatest parts of themselves and the best moments of their lives.”
It seems that Zileska was reusing some material because Zhi was unashamedly crying into her wife’s shoulder and Melodie had tears streaming down her cheeks, in strange contrast to the beaming smile on her face.
“Contessa Steele,” Zileksa continued, ”Do you see next to you all the beauty and happiness that you want to pursue in years to come, as partner and protector? Will you cherish her, defend her, honor her and love her from this day and for all the days to come?”
Tessa, brash, bold and confident Tessa, actually had to pause for a moment before she could speak, but when she did her voice was the clear and commanding tone of a true pirate queen.
”My honor, my love and my life shine within her eyes. Harmony Mai d’Valois I am yours, now and always.”
”Harmony Mai d’Valois, my goddaughter,” Zileska continued, turning to the bard. ”Do you see next to you all the beauty and happiness that you want to pursue in years to come, as partner and protector? Will you cherish her, defend her, honor her and love her from this day and for all the days to come?”
”I crossed half the world to find Tessa.” Harmony said, her smile radiant. ”And I would do it a thousand times more if only she will be beside me. Contessa Steele I am yours, now and always.”
Donomsail stepped up to stand with Zileska and the pair spoke together. ”Then by the authority vested in us as disciples of Calistria,” from Zileska, ”and Gozreh.” from Donomsail. ”We sanctify this union, and woe come to any who would come between them.”
Tessa didn’t bother to wait for permission before swinging around on Harmony and pulling her wife into her arms for a long and passionate kiss. The whistling from Marisan and Val, the cries of the gulls and the sounds of the waves on the beach all faded into the background as she finally, finally held the love of her life in her arms.
The brides disengaged, green eyes looking down at mismatched purple and grey as their lips hovered with little more than a whisper between them and the words flowed as one, a memory and a promise to bind the two of them together.
”Together we are immortals.”
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
The young dark-haired woman watching the newlyweds partake of the first kiss of matrimony reached up and attempted to subtly wipe at the tears brimming in her eyes. "Don't they look b-b-b-beautiful, Feather?" her younger sister asked with a wide grin, tugging at the older girl's sleeve. "Of course they look beautiful - it's their wedding day. Are they supposed to dress as hideously as possible?" she grumbled back. "Well, no, b-b-but I meant that ... wait, are you crying?" The younger girl's eyes widened. Turning to the white-haired woman on her other side, Mona whispered loudly, "Mama, Feather's crying!"
"I'm not crying, you barnacle," Feather snapped at the same time as their mother shushed her younger sister. "It's a wedding, Little One," Meiying said quietly, reaching up with a delicate kerchief to dab at her own tears. "It's expected that some people will cry at such a happy occasion."
"Yeah, but Mama, Feather never c-c-cries," Mona protested. "I told you, I'm not crying!" the young woman argued even as she finished wiping at her eyes. "I just got some sand in my eyes."
"Leave your sister be, Little One. We need to congratulate the happy couple," Meiying said as she stood and gathered the material of her dress. Her attempt to smooth it down only served to emphasize the swell of her belly. As she did so, her eyes opened wide in surprise. Grabbing Val's hand she pressed it to her stomach. "She kicked!"
~~~~~~
While the Shackles are a harsh environ, that doesn't mean that lives aren't lived and happiness isn't found there. In the case of the ladies of the Siren, love, in fact was the most valuable treasure they unearthed in the midst of blood and battle. While not easily won, it was well worth the effort and pain. Lives bound together even as others carry on the tradition of taking what one desires by the strength of sword or spell.
It's the way of life in the Shackles.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
The woman in a fine blue silk dress, covered mostly arcane sigils that glinted in the afternoon sun, with a seemingly perpetual scowl kneels down next to the precious young Mona. “Did you know that the first time I saw those two I was certain they both were prostitutes?” the young girl’s eyes widened in surprise “Oh yes, and I told the berry that very thing.”
“And that she was fat and probably pregnant.” interrupted the tall woman whose long braids and mahogany skin proclaimed her southern ancestry, with a wide very amused smile.
“And that your berry there punched the heck out of your nose for your observations.” the ‘endowed with fine curves’ member of the whispering couple added as she felt her babies kick. She had not been present at the punching event, but her ability to ferret out all stories and secrets was uncanny as always.
The woman in the fine blue silk dress scowled deeply at the two women. Mona grasped the woman’s hand bringing her attention back and asked “She… p-p-p-p-punched you?” p’s were the worst, but the scowling woman was patient.
“Yes.” the scowl melted as she looked around her, knowing that punch started a friendship like none she had ever had, started a family of the oddest sort but filled with more love than sense allowed, and… her eyes caught that Gozran with such lovely crimson skin… someone like her. “It was the best punch I could ever ask for.”