First Steps into the World [Tabarnac + Lucette]

[Lucette]

Lucette’s hand snapped away as if she had been hit. Clearly frightened, she exclaimed, “I… I didn’t know! “I’m sorry Jey! Jolan!” The Kelvic looked beautifully wild as the length of her body tensed, preparing itself to be struck. As the gull squawked and flapped its wings she took one step back, but no further. The girl’s previous training made her sadly ready to accept the man’s wrath. Her auburn eyes filled with tears. In her own way, Lucette was bound also by Jey’s wishes. Justus had entrusted her to the man, and she now thought of him as her keeper, if even only for a short time. Her voice soft, she looked up warily, and tried to make up for her transgressions. “I’m so very, very sorry Jolan,” the Kelvic said in a light, hypnotic rumble. Her body shifted as she spoke, rolling with unplanned seductiveness as a hand moved to brush a loose strand of hair away from her face, “I will not harm you…” And she could not now, she saw that… Jolan was Jey’s friend. And also, she was fearful of making her companion angry enough to bring out the need to hurt her. Once again, so very slowly, her hand reached out, but this time to lightly touch Jey’s arm in apology.

[Tabarnac]

Jey smiled sadly at her reaction, but didn't know how to mend things. Out in the light of day, he tried to keep the effects of Nikali's chain from constantly working. Inside the Temple, the work was holy and he could relax into his borrowed desires, but out here he needed discipline. He would not hit Lucette, but of course she had no way of knowing that, and she probably feared his pain-curse now that she knew what it was. Jolan flopped around in his hands, shifting in a flash of light to a skinny, red-headed youth with a noticeable lack of clothing. Not for this did the gull-boy hide behind Jey, but because he sensed the predator in Lucette even if she didn't pounce upon him and eat him. Brown eyes peered at the slave girl from behind the young death-priest, curious and cautious. "Jolan?" he asked, the repetition of his name some nervous tic or something he retained from his other form. "Jolan?" "S'awright, Jolan," he said, his voice oddly soothing. "She ain't gonna hurt'cha. An' it's awright, Miss Lucette. No harm done. He's jes' young an' curious is all."

[Lucette]

Lucette peered at Jolan with equal curiosity and interest. Some part deep within the Kelvic registered the newcomer as prey, even though he was now a redheaded youth instead of a seagull. She would not try to eat him, but still he intrigued her, though it was difficult to see him as he hid behind Jey. Catching a glimpse of Jolan’s nakedness, it went unnoticed, as she peered around the other man. Nakedness was only natural for one of her kind, and especially so for someone with Lucette’s training. Unsure how to process the growing predatory instinct within her belly, Lucette’s reactions to Jolan confused her. She had more freedoms now in Denval, and in this new liberation something wild grew. This confused her. The Kelvic had not met many of her kind before, but this was the first time she had wanted to consume one of them. The human heart ached over it. Leaning towards Jolan, Lucette’s face lost the look of predator to become more appealing, more inviting as spoke calmly to the shy Kelvic, “I was startled… please, I am truly sorry. Do not be afraid.” Offering an apologetic smile, the girl stepped closer. The movement took her once again into Jey personal space. Her eyes implored the taller man, “Please Jey – let us all go eat…” It was the only way she knew to soothe the relentless hunger Jolan had reawakened with his presence. “It would help me…” She didn’t know if he would understand… but the compulsion to eat was becoming stronger, and more incessant.

[Tabarnac]

For just a moment, Jolan's instincts betrayed him and he half reached out with a pale hand as if to touch her exotic, feline face. But he drew back when she spoke, hiding behind Jey like a small girl in her mother's skirts. Jey tried to remain anchored within his own needs, though he could feel Jolan's need for safety warring with his natural curiosity, and he could feel Lucette's need to hunt something down, kill it, and eat it, and between the two of them pulling at his divine chain, he felt a little off kilter. "D'ya want... We c'n walk outta town, along da Road... an' ya c'n shift an' go huntin' if ya'd prefer dat. Ah c'n wait fa ya an' bring ya home once ya belly's full." He knew she wouldn't want to wend her way back to the Temple on her own, but he was no Kelvic billy goat to go prancing up the rocks with a cheetah to hunt. "Ah know ya better suited fa plains, but... y'agile 'nough fa da rocks." "Jolan," added the gull-boy, curiosity and a hint of hunger gleaming in his eyes. He would surely snatch a bite or two of her dinner if he thought he could get away with it, little scamp.

[Lucette]

Lucette’s face was crestfallen and almost horrified. “But Jey…” she stammered. “I don’t, I don’t know how to hunt!” If the Kelvic was left to her own devises, she knew she would starve out in the wilderness alone. “Roland would not allow for it. He fed me meats to eat. He said it wasn’t fitting for a lady to…” Her eyes shifted slowly to Jolan, to watch his quick movements, “to hunt.” The steaks Roland fed her had soothed the feline need for flesh at the time. And his control over her made sure the Kelvic stayed in line. But what Lucette did not understand, was that the man worried she might wander, or run away, or be taken by less honorable people than himself. Now that Roland was gone the instinctual need to stalk, and to devour were stronger without his heavy handed presence. Those needs though were second to the hunger she felt in this moment. The hunger was like a beating, living thing within her, pounding out its own deadly wishes. Eat! She did not want to hurt anyone, especially Jolan. But she could not keep her lovely eyes from the other Kelvic. “Can you not feed me? Can you not buy me food? And drink? At the Stranger’s Welcome?” Lucette almost pleaded. It could not be far from where they were. “You said they had food there…”

[Tabarnac]

"Aw, don' worry," he assured her. "Dere's plenty t'eat at da Stranger's Welcome." But he made a mental note to talk Justus into sending her to hunt with Perras or someone who could do a bit of mountaineering with her, help her get in touch with that part of herself that she denied. Even Jolan reached out, eyes wide with equal parts compassion and caution, to touch her arm. "Good food. Oleg nice. Jolan." With a flash of light, the boy disappeared and a gull winged its way to a safe height, circling above them before flying down toward the quays where the inn with its tavern was the first thing most travelers saw when they came to the little settlement. Jey took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow, leading her down that way. He offered a "Brace yaself" and a reassuring smile before leading her in, but luckily there weren't many patrons just then. The warm wood paneling was lit by what light came through the windows and the odd lamp. The smell of cooking food and alcohol were immediately apparent, as well as the smell of humanity. Many came here still sweaty from a long day's work, and that was a difficult smell to get out. After a while, the blustering proprietor appeared, his scent possibly familiar to Lucette. Oleg had certainly seen her and her master when she had arrived in town. "Well, look what the cat dragged in... You look like death, boy!" But he brought over a bottle of clear degtine and three glasses to the booth where Jey had brought her. He poured one for himself and one for Jey, raising an eyebrow in question to the beautiful woman, the mouth of his bottle hovering over her glass in preparation for pouring libations. "Who's your girlfriend?" "Master Oleg, dis Lucette. New at da Temple. Lucette, dis Master Oleg. Dis his place. He's people what knows people, an' if he don't got da dirt, ain't nobody in town does." He grinned, but even his grins were melancholic or death's head grins. "She's hungry."

[Lucette]

For someone who was a Kelvic, it was surprising how the changing of another Kelvic affected her. Lucette’s head attempted to follow each tiny shimmer of light as it dissipated and Jolan transformed into The Bird…! No, she corrected herself, Jolan... But hungry sight followed his avian form as he flew off into the sky. “Brace myself? But why?” The girl asked, as a hundred scents hit her small nose. And above all the others – Meat! Swiftly her head turned towards the kitchens, the other smells were unimportant. Her hand tightened on Jey’s arm, in excitement and need. Lucette smiled easily at Oleg, though her focus was zeroed in on his face as he spoke, taking in every word. Then her eyes descended to rest on his hand as it hovered over her empty glass. Hesitating, she thought of Roland. He would not approve… But the thought came unbidden, Roland had left her! Rebellion born of a terrible hunger grew within the Kelvic, and Lucette said importantly, and more to herself than anyone else, “Roland can not tell me what to do… any longer.” And she was with the sweet and equally sad Jey, and he had said it was okay. She had no doubts he would take care of her until she returned to Justus back at the Temple. She looked again at Oleg with a small yet inviting smile, wondering if he would come see her there… “Please…” Lucette purred, her voice silky and deep. “I would like a taste of the degtine, Master Oleg.” And her head bowed a little in guilty submission. The trainings were always there. But at this moment, the almost feline eyes held a new streak of excitement, for it was the first time she had gone against Roland purposefully. Then she lifted her eyes once more, and said with sweet words that completely missed Jey’s meaning, “Though, please, I am sorry. I do not want any of your dirt… though the meat I would welcome.”

[Tabarnac]

Oleg knew a thing or two about a thing or two, and his shrewd eyes danced between acolyte and Kelvic while he intuited more than was probably healthy, but he was a loyal Denvali citizen and he just smiled, pouring the degtine into the third and final glass. "Your degtine, my lady," he said with gallantry that was almost assuredly false. "Be careful; it burns." "It does," Jey warned, "but it warms da insides an' relaxes da nerves. Makes ever'thin' feel better f'awhile." The two men raised their glasses, and Jey visibly steeled himself if only to warn Lucette of the gravity of that first drink, how it could make an unprepared palate cringe and splutter. Cats, even large ones, had their dignity, after all. Waiting for Lucette to join them, they finally drank, both men old hands at this sort of debauchery. "Lucette'd prob'ly like some meat. Rawer da better if it's fresh..." He glanced to her to gauge her reaction to the liquor as well as the order, getting the feeling she wouldn't be comfortable ordering someone else around, even under the social contract of customer and proprietor, for a while yet.

[Lucette]

“If it makes everything feel better…” Lucette smiled, one soft brow lifting flirtatiously. The slave was unprepared; even for the onslaught of smell as she raised the glass daintily to her lips. The pungent fumes surprised her, but she did not hesitate, for she hoped this drink would make the hunger subside until the meat came. Tipping the glass with the men, the liquid rolled lightly on her pink tongue, to burn her lips, and her throat with an unnamable blaze. Lucette’s breath caught and almost choked her as she struggled to swallow. Spit it out! Her mind yelled, but Roland’s words echoed in her mind…. ‘not lady like’. So the girl forced it down, goosebumps tickling her skin. Her fingers wrapped tight to the glass lest she drop it. And the fire traveled to her belly, to settle heavily, hotly within. Lucette coughed loudly, her dark lashes fluttering. Shifting beneath her, her long legs attempted to resettle on the hard bench. The embarrassed Kelvic blushed a lively rose. At the mention of meat, Lucette nodded weakly, her eyes wide and tearful, at Oleg, not understanding why others drank this degtine. But her lips turned upwards, though her voice was hoarse, “It is… warming…” She agreed, not wishing to speak a lie, or offend either man. But the girl stared at the remaining liquid, as if it might suddenly burn her.

[Tabarnac]

Jey put a consoling hand on her shoulder, knowing she appreciated his touch, needed it from time to time to feel safe, connected to him and, through him, the Temple and Justus. His smile was apologetic. "It's a 'quired taste," he noted, or so he'd heard. He had acquired it rather quickly a time ago, but now it was rare that he drank to distraction, because the spicy rum he favored was not produced here, but down south, far away. Oleg bowed ironically to them and disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, returning with a pewter platter heaped with uncooked meat. The connoisseur of flesh might note the distinct bouquet of goat, but Jey just cocked his head curiously at the food and then at Lucette to see what she would do. The proprietor laid it down in front of her, laid a cloth napkin on her lap, and held out a two-tined fork for her to use. They weren't complete savages, after all.