Completed [Wildlands] Dangerous Party (Edreina, Razkar)

[Radiant]

30 Chimes after the 5th of Bell, 14th of Fall 513 A.V

Today, at Syna's imminent first light, she shall get her revenge. Peering over from the bush, a small figure wearing a light-brown cloak, was stalking a particular tent in the caravan. The tent where her target stayed.

A rustle in the wind... a flap of fabric opening, there! Her golden slitted eyes spotted the Myrian, she was right, he was always up first in the early morning. The ever vigilant warrior and an intriguing persona, but it was not he who she was interested that day, no. It was the other person inside the tent, the redheaded Svefra woman, Edreina. She saw the Myrian did some light exercise before walking away from the tent, most likely to do his regular morning training. Now was her chance...

Moving quickly, the Dhani silently ran from her cover and stopped in front of the tent, then she whisked the fabric ever so slightly, allowing her slight frame to enter the tent. She found her prey... the Svefra was still sleeping peacefully, Karin loomed over her, leaned in... further, further, until...

*Peck*

She kissed Edri on her cheek, she then leaned in close to her ear, whispering "Good mooorning~" Something was definitely different with the Dhani. Her demeanor and attitude no longer hold that calm and wise presence, but it was playful and mischievous instead. It was only to Edreina she would act like that though, ever since the kiss two days ago, something fluttered inside the hypnotist. She couldn't believe it herself at first, but she found out she got a crush on the redhead. The attitude she exhibited was reserved for the people she trusted, Edri had seen her past after all and even knew her real name.

Extending a pale right hand from underneath her cloak, Karin lovingly rubbed the Svefra's left cheek, while gently shaking Edri's shoulder with her left hand, waking her up.

When the Svefra woke up, Karin would cutely sat in front of her while smiling like a little girl, bearing a toothy grin "Good morning~♪"

She knew doing this would run the risk of angering that Myrian, but... she could always hide behind Edri and stuck out her tongue at him.

[Edreina]

The Svefra smiled as she woke, stretching from fingertips to toes. The touch was gentle, and her sleepy mind found there to be nothing odd about her waking. Once she blinked the bleariness from her blue eyes, however, Edreina was startled. Making a sharp sound of surprise, she moved backwards towards the edge of the tent, pulling her cloak up and around herself reflexively. Her eyes were wide and surprised, breath quick in the half-tick it took for her mind to catch up with the situation. "Sari..." The words were more for her own mental benefit, putting two pieces together. The greeting followed shortly after, however, and was punctuated with a smile, "Morning."

Stretching down to reach her toes, Edreina groaned and then yawned as she sat up again, rolling her shoulders back. Looking around, she noticed the oddity of Razkar not being around when she woke along with the fact that the Dhani was here. Was she still asleep? "What brings you by? Need somethin'?" Most would have ended on the first question, but being the woman of the Anchorage that she was, Edreina tended to be aware of the needs of others as frequently as she could manage. When everyone worked and lived together, such a behavior became second nature.

Frowning slightly, she smacked her lips and retrieved the waterskin at the edge of her bedroll. Her mouth was refreshed and her throat parched for the moment, so Edreina turned and began rifling about in her bag for her comb. After finally finding it, making a pleased "Ah-ha!" sound through her nose, the Svefra set about combing the tangles from her mane as the Dhani spoke. Her blue eyes were calm, thoughtful even, as she examined the Dhani, wondering if this was her true personality, if she had been so nearly-stoic the first time they had met because of the Yukmen. Yes, that would certainly affect most people.

In any case, Edreina liked this new persona, and did not have to work at the small smile that lit her face. Once her hair had been brushed out, Edreina began the laborious task of wrangling her hair into three sections and then into a single braid that would - hopefully but rarely - last her the entire day. Once this was done, Edreina would wriggle herself into a pair of relatively clean pair of riding pants. After that, she would rise and prepare to start preparing to take down the tent and prepare Jorven for the day ahead, unless Sari had decided to present an alternate plan.

[Radiant]

This time, Karin didn't even try to hide her amusement at the Svefra's first reaction upon waking up. She grinned, showing one of her upper canine teeth that was a bit longer than the other. She slightly tilted her head to the side, like a newlywed staring at her lover. If one looked closely, a slight blush was creeping on the Dhani's cheeks, part of her mind wanted to embrace the Svefra again and stayed like that for bells... but doing that in the Myrian's tent would not be a good choice. Still, Razkar's expression upon finding the sight of his lover embracing a small female Dhani would be priceless.

"Ehm..." Karin clasped her hands together and twiddled her fingers, not sure on how to exactly answer the Svefra's question. Even upon waking up, Edri was thinking of Karin's needs instead of herself, this was one of the reasons she was attracted to the Svefra. Unlike most humans, she didn't look upon her with caution even when knowing she was one of the snake-people. "I'm here to sssee you~ Ehehe~" Karin talked faster than the last time they met, not bothering to hide her lisp anymore.

"Eh..." Karin unwittingly touched her own lips when the Svefra drank from the waterskin, oh how she longed to brush their lips together again.

"Ehehe~" She crept up behind Edreina as she began brushing her hair, she suddenly - but gently - wrapped her arms around Edri's neck and snatched the comb away from her. "Let me do it inssstead..." She then sat behind her and began combing Edreina's fiery mane.

"Hm hm hm~ ♪" Humming a song, the Dhani continued her grooming, occasionally examining a strand of red hair. "You know, Edreina, you hair isss beautiful..." She whispered as she finished. Being one with long ebony hair herself and also a dancer, Karin was not unfamiliar with the matters of grooming one's hair.

If Edri requested it, Karin would also help braid her hair, separating them into three sections before began the long process. "Edreina, you can keep calling me 'Sari', I like that... it hasss been a long time sssince anyone ever call me that." Not that she wanted everyone to call her by her real name, just select few people.

"After we're done with your hair... I wonder, do you want to go with me? I found a pretty place in the foressst~" Maybe they could have some delightful private moments together. Leaning in close to her ear, Sari whispered again "And I can ssshow you more about magic... you ssseemed interesssted..." This was going good, she hoped for no intervention, especially in the form of a bronze-skinned warrior.

[Edreina]

Perhaps it was the mention of magic, or perhaps it was the small Dhani's lips being close to her ear. In any case, a gentle shiver danced up the redhead's spine. Her first instinct was to agree and to traipse off into the woods without a second thought. However, Razkar had been attempting to beat some land-sense into her (She refused to call it "common sense" because her own sense seemed, to her, to be perfectly applicable anywhere other than on land.) And so the Svefra hesitated, lower lip between her teeth. "Learning your art would be fun," she smiled honestly, head cocked to the side, "but I will be leaving a note for Razkar so that he does not worry." Oh, he would worry if he saw the note, but Edreina hoped they would be back before that happened.

"But worry not. I will be quick." With that, she set about shoo'ing the Dhani from the tent, tidying it up before tying the flaps open in order to air out the canvas. Once that was done and her blue cloak rested about her pale shoulders, Edreina turned to the Dhani once again. "Shall we walk or ride? Walking would let us leave sooner, but if you wish to save your energy for teaching, I can call Jorven."

Either way, Edreina would find a sheaf of parchment from her own journal and her charcoal stick. Upon the parchment she wrote:

Gone to the forest with Sari. Will return before noon.

It had already been decided that they would not be moving the caravan today as much of the mercenary force was still recuperating, so Edreina felt comfortable exploring the clumped copses of trees that adorned the valley they had camped in.

If the Dhani decided that riding Jorven would be prudent, the Svefra would call the silver gelding with a high whistle and set about cleaning him quickly. His fur would be brushed out, hooves picked, and cheek scratched adoringly. How long ago had it been that Edreina was terrified of horses? After that, his tack would be applied and fastened in short order. A grunt and the squeaking of leather would announce Edreina's mounting, and a slim, freckled hand would offer the Dhani the chance to do the same.

From there, they would ride at a slow walk from the camp's circled wagons in the direction of the Dhani's choosing. If she had, however, suggested they walk, the entire process of preparing Jorven would be skipped and instead Edreina would motion for the Dhani to lead her into the forest

[Radiant]

"Ehehe... ssso, what are we waiting for?" The Svefra agreed, it was expected, how her eyes shone when she asked Sari to show her history basically cemented the fact that the redhead was open to magic, unlike the general populace who viewed it as a dangerous thing that must be avoided. Sari frowned a bit though when the woman mentioned about the Myrian, oh no, nobody was going to disturb their time together.

"Okay~" Nodding happily, Sari exited the tent and stood by its entrance, her golden slits never leaving the Svefra, she needed to know on where she would write the note. A small smirk grew upon her lips, so it was on a parchment. The Dhani formed a plan inside her mind.

"Yesss, I think we can ride your horssse." Sari actually didn't want to ride one, being an acrobat, she was fond of using her body instead, but to make her plans succeed... it was necessary. As Edreina called her steed and proceeded to clean him, Sari stealthily went back to the tent. Now... where is it? Locating the parchment, Sari rolled it up and placed it inside her cloak. She then swiftly went back, face innocent.

"Ssso, are you done yet?" She did it again, creeping up behind the Svefra and suddenly whispering right next to her ear. Jorven snorted in disapproval at the new arrival, who was this strange two-legs talking to his master? He didn't know but his instincts told him that the tiny two-legs was not to be trusted, but still, if master wanted her to come with them, he would allow it.

As Edreina rode the horse and offered her hand to Karin, the Dhani blushed and sheepishly looked down before slowly taking the offer with her pale right hand. She could jump up and mount Jorven on her own, but she wanted to be treated like a princess. Who was the prince? Edreina of course. "Sssehehehe~" Hissing like a spoiled girl, Sari hugged Edri from behind as they rode together, placing her cheek on the Svefra's back.

"Go there..." She pointed to a direction at the right side of the Kabrin Road. Sari would continue leading both Jorven and Edreina until they reached the destination, which would be a pretty little meadow in the middle of the forest, filled by beautiful colorful flower beds.

[Edreina]

The beauty of the place stunned Edreina, in all honesty. Jorven continued to walk, but it was of his own volition instead of the Svefra's instruction. Thousands of delicate little bonnets in every color topped the heads of the wispy stalks rising up from the earth. They swayed gently to the melody of the breeze, to the tune of the birds above. So delicate, so beautiful...

And they died beneath Jorven's clomping hooves. A few feet into the clearing, the Svefra pulled the horse to a stop, shrugging gently; it was not her fault that these flowers were so delicate compared to the seaweed in which Edreina had grown up. Glancing over her shoulder, she motioned for Sari to dismount first before swinging from the saddle herself, albeit rather unsteadily. She could have sworn that Jorven rolled his large blue eyes at her. Once free of the two women, he stood patiently while Edreina removed the saddle and pad, dropping them in the flowers gracelessly, before pulling the bit from his mouth and leaving the reins looped over his neck.

From there, the gelding was free to do as he pleased... which included standing in the same place, snuffling the flowers below thoughtfully before eating some. From there, the redhead turned to the Dhani and grinned, remarking that this was a lovely place, and asking how she had found it. Once that was done, the Svefra turned a bit timid. Magic, the word sashayed through her mind before perching on the edge of her tongue. How did they start this anyway? Chewing on her cheek, Edreina sank down into the flowers, looking over to one of the small cups curiously. Forgetting magic for a tick, a single pale finger rose to stroke a petal, marveling at how a plant could feel so soft and delicate. Trees, bushes, shrubs, grass, flowers... This world away from the water was so diverse and strange... But it did not have coral, so it was but a handful compared to the bounty of Laviku's realm.

Smiling again, this time up at the Dhani, Edreina motioned for her to sit before her. "Now... How do we go about this? Oh! And what is the difference between an illusion and hypnotism?" The question was tacked on with a start from the redhead, head cocking to the side as she wondered if the two different Common words truly meant different things, or if this was yet another nuance of this tongue escaping her. Her features were gentler than they had been before the attack of the Yukmen and less nervous than they had been in the tent with Razkar. Out here, she looked nearly free, luxuriating in the rays of Syna as she shone down upon them with gleeful wonder.

There was color in here cheeks here, glitter in her blue eyes and a natural curve and softness to her smile; it was so unlike the persona she had to don around the other mercenaries. "Thank you, by the way, for taking the time to teach me..."

[Radiant]

Ehehehe... Smirking happily, the Dhani jumped down elegantly from Jorven, she felt the horse didn't like her much but she scoffed it. She didn't like him either, he was a disturbance to her time with Edreina. She wanted for them to be alone, with no one else, but alas, she would do with a horse watching... or not. Her trickster mind geared into place and another mischievous plan formed in her mind.

She watched as the Svefra dismounted as well, it was rather impressive on how a daughter of the sea managed to steer a horse, albeit rather clumsily. Sari examined the lovely meadow, she then took off her cloak and shook her head, cascading down her back-length black hair. Sari took one moment to check the stolen parchment, it was still there, she would have to find a way to dispose of it. The Dhani felt bad for doing this, but she really really didn't want for Razkar to ruin the moment.

"Hehe~ ♪" Unknown to Edri, Sari stealthily took out the parchment and folded it into the shape of a flower, then she worked her illusion, turning it into a dark purple orchid complete with the smell and texture. Giving the final touch to her illusion, Sari walked to the horse and offered Jorven the 'flower'.

The steed snorted in curiosity, was this snake-like two-legs feeding him? His blue eyes narrowed a bit before he haughtily took the offering, chewing and swallowing the 'flower'. Good, tiny two-legs, she finally knew her place. Jorven neighed, signalling that the Dhani was now okay for him as long as she respected him. Sari just gave the horse a small smile before patting its mane, he did a good job, very good job indeed.

Accepting Edri's invitation, Sari skipped to the Svefra and adorably sat down, not before her, but right next to her left. Their shoulders brushing together, Sari looked down, procuring a single beautiful blue flower, removed most of its stalk, and fitting it on Edreina's left ear. The flower acted as a hair decoration, contrasting nicely with Edri's fiery hair.

"Ehehehe~" Sari scooted closer to Edri, forming words inside her mind to answer the inquiry. "Well, Edreina~ Hypnotisssm isss a persssonal magic. While Illusionism is the power granted by the Trickster God, Ionu." That was the most basic and important difference. "You can think it of like thisss, hypnotisssm isss a suggestion, you can refuse it if you realize it, but... illusion isss like an order that you can not refussse..." Sari's tone was every so playful even when she explained the dangerous power of the Trickster.

"Thank you, by the way, for taking the time to teach me..."

Sari's ears perked up at the statement, she truly appreciated it, but she couldn't help but feel that Edri was only interested in the lesson. That wouldn't do, she wanted more. "You're welcome, Edri, ehehe~" Sari's right hand then lightly grasped Edreina's left. she flowed her djed and her voice flowed smoothly from her lips.

"You can trussst me..."

Even as they talked, Sari subtly worked her illusion. Slowly, but surely, mists began appearing from around them, obscuring everything but the particular spot they occupied, creating a little quaint heaven for both of them.

"I'll teach you everything... ssso... just trussst me..."

With her seductive voice, Sari then shifted her position so she was now sitting on Edreina's lap, her lithe legs wrapping around the Svefra's waist. "Edreina..." She held Edri's shoulders with both of her hand, and closed her eyes, her breath brushing against the redhead's neck.

"I... love you..."

"Do you love me too?"

She then leaned in, further and further. If nothing stopped her, Sari would kiss the Svefra on her lips, the kiss would be gentle at first but would gradually deepen and deepen, like a passionate lover.

This was her method of teaching, by the end of the day, Sari was sure Edri would at least grasp the basics of hypnotism.

[Edreina]

Hypnotism is a suggestion, Illusionism is a command... Got it. The Svefra nodded faintly to herself, noting the subtle difference. Well... Probably more than subtle if you are on the receiving end...

When the Dhani placed her hand in Edreina's, the Svefra found herself idly comparing their hands. Bone structure was similar, light, thin and maneuverable; both were pale though Edreina's skin took on a more honeyed tone and was adorned with freckles; the Dhani sported well-shaped, regular length nails while the Svefra's were uneven and notched in a few places. Entirely off subject, the redhead started to ask the Dhani how to also keep her own nails so nice looking when she started to speak, intoning that she could be trusted.

Even though Edreina had already said that she trusted the Dhani, the feeling was somehow cemented in her mind, even brought to the forefront as their surroundings ceased to matter. Everything became ephemeral, dreamlike, even. The woman's breath slowed ever so slightly and her body relaxed as she realized that she not only trusted the Dhani but felt safe with her. She would be taught, she could trust Sari. The words were like a spectre in her thoughts, haunting everything and influencing everything from that point onward.

At the sound of her name, Edreina cocked her head to the side, smiling down at the Dhani now in her lap. Whatever was going on, it did not bother the Svefra too deeply. She was surprised, yes, but she trusted Sari... and so this must be right. Her next words, and the feeling that ensued, however, split the Svefra.

On one side, she desperately wanted to say that she loved Sari back, it was like a pulling at the back of her lips that she could not utter. But... why did she want to say that? She knew in her heart that she loved Razkar; she had not known Sari enough to use such a strong word with her. And yet, it tugged at her mind until finally she realized she was being hypnotized.

At first, the Svefra felt a touch of indignation color her cheeks, only to be nulled by the latent feeling of trust in the smaller woman. It took her a tick, but finally she realized that, in her own odd way, the Dhani was simply teaching her what she had originally requested. Now, she felt the difference between hypnotism and her own emotions. It was indeed subtle, like the gentle lapping of a new tide upon her mind's shore, the stirring sensation of an unfamiliar breeze. It was, as she had said, only a suggestion. The emotions that the Dhani had instilled were pale and without depth compared to her own, but somehow managed to worm their way in anyway. Was it because the Hypnotist was relying upon already existing emotions - trust and affection - and just heightening them so that the Svefra would confuse them for her own?

It made sense, but it did not make the idea any less disturbing. This was why Razkar was against hypnotism, the naive woman realized with the mental equivalent of a palm delivered to the forehead. The wiliest hypnotist could likely warp one's emotions in such a way that hatred for one thing could become for another and so on. It was a chilling aspect of the magic, one that Edreina now respected. If she did truly decide to devote herself to this discipline, she resolved that it would never be used without one's permission except for in dire straights.

Just a tick before their lips would have met, Edreina's slender hand slid into the gap between them, fingertips resting upon the snake-woman's small, petal-like lips; her own were curved into an amused smirk. "I see your point, Sari." Truly, the Svefra thought that the Dhani's methods had only been instructional, driven by a scholarly mindset. "And... I think I understand your methods," the corner of her lips twitched in the barest hint of pride at her own intelligence. It appeared as if Razkar was not the only one in the relationship who seemed to be all but blind to the advances of another.

When she was truly honest with herself, Edreina had considered kissing Sari, perhaps even more, she would realize with a dark gleam in her azure eyes. The concept of being with a woman was not foreign to her, nor was that of bigamy. But, she knew Razkar's feelings about the Dhani and, even if they had not defined how open their relationship was, she had an obligation as his counterpart to respect his wishes. "Now... How do you do it? How do you simply speak something and make someone feel something?"

[Radiant]

"Mmm..." Sari moaned and slightly pouted when Edreina stopped their kiss, the Dhani exhaled in disappointment, maybe she shouldn't have used the word "love". She was too eager, but she achieved her goal, Edreina was getting the hang of what Hypnotism was. Sari took Edreina's fingertips with her right hand and caressed it, her slitted eyes holding desire upon the Svefra.

"I'm glad you underssstand..." Sari answered, still wrapping her body around the redhead, the mist blocking all disturbances. Sari listened to Edreina's questions, she was excited and willing to learn, but... all lessons came with a price. Sari would not demand anything hard or life-threatening or something like that, just... some affection.

"I can teach you more, but you will have to caress me..."

Sari's eyes were pleading and vulnerable, like a lonely girl wishing for affection, for someone to just hug her and tell her everything would be alright. Surrounded by the mist, nothing would disturb them. Sari brought one of her hand to whisk away a strand of red hair from Edri.

"You know you want to... you know I want to... the feeling is mutual, Edreina. No one will notice so..."

She leaned in and nuzzled her forehead with Edri's, their lips just separated by mere inches, it would take but one push from either of them for a kiss to happen.

"Kiss me... and I will show you everything..."

Razkar? Who cares about Razkar? Sari thought of him as an ungrateful warrior. Ever since that death threat, she felt betrayed, him hating her just because of her race. What did she ever do to him? The Dhani wondered what did the Svefra see in the man, she would better off with someone better. Someone who could show her affection and not being racist about it.

[Edreina]

Every lesson comes with a price; Edreina was lucky that this one was so relatively low. They were bartering, something Edreina knew well, trading one service for another. The redhead did not give herself time to think it over, partially because she was caught up in the luring effect of the Hypnotism and partially because she knew that she would back out if given the chance. Gods be praised Razkar was not here to see this.

Altering her demeanor entirely so that her annoyance and confusion were no longer apparent in her features. Her face was instead consumed by half-lidded blue eyes and soft, full lips as she slid one hand down to rest upon the small of the smaller woman's slim back, fingers splaying there ever so gently. Her other hand came up to slide into Sari's hair at the base of her skull, thumb remaining to caress her cheek ever so gently. Motions, these were. Motions Edreina had repeated innumerable times so that they now felt natural despite the roiling feeling in her stomach.

As her thumb made a slow, enticing motion along the little woman's pale cheek, her face tilted forward so that their noses were touching. The tip of the woman's freckled nose skimmed down and along her partner's until the sides of their noses were resting against one another's. Their lips were but a breath apart, breath mingling in an intoxicating way as Edreina felt Sari's quicken instinctively. The redhead shuddered delicately, eyes drifting further shut as the feeling brought back so many memories. Perhaps that was what finally spurred her on.

Cool air whispered between the lips of the two women as Edreina finally leaned in, inhaling right before she pressed her lips to Sari's. A woman's lips were always so soft, so gentle on Edreina's. It was a feeling long-missed... or did she just miss kissing in general? So long had she had Razkar abstained out of necessity, was this just her expressing so basic a need? That closeness shared by she and Razkar was treasured, it almost felt wrong to be sharing it with another. But, the Svefra was not in the mindset to be thinking about right and wrong; thinking about the desire was even far from her mind.

Instead, she found herself at the whims of her own body and the constant trickling of hypnotism in her system. Only a tick after the kiss started, so sweet and pure, reeking of hesitance from the woman, Edreina's hand moved back to grip the smaller woman's hair, pulling her head further back so that her small, soft mouth could be molded more firmly by Edreina's.

She wanted this. She needed this. This was right.

A slim hand made strong from years of manipulating lines and doing various forms of manual labor closed upon Sari's hip, squeezing slightly so that the small woman's body arched and curved to fit against the taller one's. In her lap as she was, Sari's small breasts pressed firmly against Edreina's bound ones, and for a tick Edreina felt a pang of jealousy, wishing she lacked development as Sari and Boobless did. But, it was only a tick. There was a gentle insistence as her lips as the moved over the Dhani's, an ever so sweet indulgence as their feminine forms pressed close while lost to the whims of passion.

She had missed this.

Her own breath was quickening now, teeth coming to tug lightly upon Sari's lower lip before falling back behind her own soft lips once again as Edreina continued the kiss. Deep down, Edreina knew that the Dhani was hypnotizing her, building upon her buried desires until they were at the forefront of her mind. She no longer worried about the training nor the fact that there were merely bartering, trading services in this odd way.

The overwhelmed Svefra had not the mental capacity in that moment to worry about the stick that snapped on the edge of their mist-veiled fantasy.
OOCQueue angry Myrian beau. ;D