Open ...And We Danced (Vanari)

[Elysana Demeni]

The room was tight and intimate, with none of the gaudy decorations common at the House. Ely found it oddly charming, though she itched all over from the rough wool sheets. Elysana awoke slowly to see Vanari looking at her from the other side of the bed. Playfully, she leaned over and gave the Vantha a little kiss on the nose. “Morning, friend. How did you sleep?” Vanari grinned at her, but did not reply. Instead, she got up and began to get dressed. Ely looked around the room, and realized she didn’t have anything to wear other than her party dress, which would look distinctly silly. She approached Vanari and wrapped her arms around the woman. “I’m feeling a bit peckish right now. Any chance of acquiring us some breakfast? Also, clothes. I wouldn’t really want to be going around town in my late-night finery, would I? Do you have something I could borrow?”

[Vanari]

Oh gods... Vanari woke to a blinding, hot light searing her face. She blinked, turning to seek shelter in the pillow and relieve the burning in her eyes. After a few ticks, she pushed herself up with a groan, head throbbing with unrelenting intensity.

What the petch happened last night?

There was that whole fiasco with the thieves at the ball, and smashing a vase over one of their heads, and taking Ely back with her in a carriage...The Vantha looked down at her almost completely nude self, then to the sleeping courtesan, then to all the empty wine bottles lying forlornly on the wooden floorboards. She counted at last six, and there wasn't a cup in sight.

Ahhh...

Just as she was wondering how it was possible that the enigmatic city of Ravok kept luring her back into such nutty situations, Ely awoke and gave her an unexpected kiss on the nose. She felt the heat rise all the way to her forehead, and was immediately reminded of the previous night's passions.

Flustered as always, and throat parched from what seemed like an entire night of fruity alcoholism, Vanari didn't answer when asked how she slept. She grinned sheepishly instead, still trying to orient herself and backtrack through yesterday's events. A moment or two later, she gave up. It was futile, what with the throbbing in her head and it not quite mattering anymore. Today was a new day, an opportunity for new memories.

With a surge of will, the rather hungover vagabond managed to haul herself off the itchy bed and stuff numbed limbs through all the wrong holes in her clothes. She had to take them off and begin anew as Ely asked if they could acquire some breakfast, and if she could borrow some of Vanari's clothes.

"Of course, my stomach is screaming with hunger anyway. Hmm, I think I might have some spare clothes..."

She felt her cheeks grow hotter upon realizing how deplorable her living situation must seem to someone as used to finery and luxury as Ely, but knew the courtesan was kind enough not to make mention of it. Digging around her things, Vanari pulled out the velvet dress she had purchased not long ago. She had meant to use it to blend in, but found it increasingly difficult to move around in, being about as unused to dresses as an Akalak was to one soul.

Smoothing out the folds of the fabric, the Vantha stood up and handed the dress to her friend. It was simple and elegant, its color a muted sort of earthy olive. She hoped Ely would like it; it would compliment her eyes. "Sorry this is all I have...um, I'll get us some breakfast while you change."

Vanari did an awkward sort of wave and made her way out, shutting the door gently behind her. She was still struggling to make sense of her relationship with the courtesan. Five years ago, the sheltered, obedient Skyglow would have fainted at the very idea of sleeping with a woman, much less a...

There were so many words to describe what Ely was, and all but one left a sour taste in her mouth. Frowning, she walked down the stairs and caught the innkeeper just in time, ordering as much bacon and bread and cheese and milk as she dared.

A few chimes later, she was walking back up the stairs, her aching head stewing with bothersome thoughts. It wasn't as though she ever felt, for the lack of a better word, any kind of wrongness about what they did. And yet, there was a distinct, underlying uneasiness whenever she thought about it. Was it because Ely was a girl, or because she was a courtesan? Or both? Or neither?

Vanari heaved a sigh as her foot hit the top most step. There really didn't seem a straightforward answer to these questions; it looked like she would just have to wait for time to tell. But, oh, how she hated waiting.

Knocking once, she opened the door, propping it ajar with her elbow as she heaved the tray of food into the room. It was overladen with meats and breads and a handful of other aromatic things, and it was all the Vantha could do not to set it on the floor and begin attacking it like a starved wolf.

Instead, she placed it on a rickety old desk, and turn to look at her now fully dressed companion. On Vanari, the sleeves came up to her elbows and the hem down to her knees, since she preferred wearing her leggings underneath, so it was a rather good fit on the petite courtesan. "You look lovely, Ely! I, er, didn't know what you liked, so I just got a bit of everything. I hope that's okay."

She couldn't wait any longer. Her hand shot out before her mind could protest, and she stuffed a slice of greasy bacon into her mouth, moaning with culinary ecstasy.

[Elysana Demeni]

As Vanari left the room, Ely began to get dressed. The dress Vanari had given her was nice enough, and fit surprisingly well considering their height difference. As she studied the room, Ely couldn’t help but think about the way Vanari looked at her. While it was clear that the Vantha tried her best to hide those looks, Ely recognized the signs all too well. Her profession marked her, even here in Ravok, which generally accepted such things. Ely sighed. Despite the intimate nature of their interactions, Ely had begun to think of Vanari as more than just another client, maybe even as a friend. How could she have been so foolish? She was a whore, and no one is friends with their whore. Maybe it wasn’t like that. Vanari had saved her from the robber. She wished she had some alternative to living in the House. Sure, it was nice, but often it was stifling, and not all the clients were as lovely as Vanari. Unfortunately, until she learned about the fate of her father, it was the only safe place for her. Maybe she should start doing something with her free time to better herself, like writing poetry. The intoxicating smell of bacon and fresh-baked bread interrupted Ely’s brooding. Her eyes lit up as Vanari pushed the door open carrying a great tray of food. She set it down on the table and began eating. Ely moved to join her, taking a hunk of bread and some sausage. The food was much heartier than what she was used to, so she only ate lightly. During her time on the ship, her father had always expected her to follow the manners of proper society. Vanari, on the other hand, wolfed her food down like a starved dockhand. Taking a sip of milk, Ely turned to Vanari and put on a sunny face. “I don’t have to be at the House until evening. What shall we do today?”

[Vanari]

Vanari took one look at Ely's overly joyful expression and got the distinct, uneasy feeling that not all was as well and good as it appeared. Was it because of the way she was eating? The Vantha stopped her frenzied feasting for a moment, taking the time to feel ashamed. She toned things down to a more civilized manner, but it still didn't seem to be the right reason. So, what then?

"Um, well," she said, trying not to open her mouth too much for fear of losing one or two pieces of sausage from her stuffed cheeks. She chewed vigorously, then washed it all down with a swig of cool milk. "I'm still pretty new to this city. Is there anything you'd like to see, or a place you think we should visit?"

As she watched Ely consider her question, the bothersome feeling wormed its way back into her stomach. Was it something she had done or said? Or had the milk just been a bit spoiled? The courtesan certainly seemed recovered enough from last night's ordeal. Happy even, in her borrowed dress and humble surroundings. So, it had to be something else then.

Vanari scratched the side of her head. For a rare moment in her life, she was drawing blanks. Well, it wouldn't hurt to say something nice anyway, especially after all they had been through.

"Anywhere or anything you want, Ely! We deserve a breather after yesterday, and in these clothes no one would kn--"

She choked, realizing almost too late what she had been about to say. Shame--true shame--filled every corner of her being at once. It hadn't occurred to her until just then that Ely must be so used to people judging her for her occupation that she had merely assumed Vanari would, too. And here she was, a giant oaf of a vagrant, only seconds away from proving the courtesan's fears correct.

"Would know us from those two dazzling victims at the ball last night," Vanari amended quickly. "And though I normally could give a rat's ass what people think, it'd probably be safer not to be easily identified by that rascal of a thief's brethren. Imagine what the would do if they found us!"

She cringed, regretting listening to her own words. "Um, on second thought, maybe we should pick somewhere safer, with walls and guards and stuff. Wudya say?"

[Elysana Demeni]

Elysana watched Vanari closely, taking a few more bites of food. The look of contrition that passed over the woman’s face made Ely wince. Maybe she had been too hard on her. It wasn’t easy to be constantly new to everything. Setting down her plate, she got to her feet and took Vanari’s hand. “The gardens of very nice this time of year. The leaves are beautiful this time of year.” Slowly, they made their way downstairs. Even arm in arm, their presence did not disturb the jaded guests of this establishment. The day was bright and warm as they made their way through the bustling city towards the public gardens. Over the din of merchants and innkeepers promoting themselves, Ely caught the strains of rude comments random men on the street. She tugged at Vanari’s arm to keep walking, hoping she would ignore the meaningless jibes. As they neared the gardens, the houses along the street became larger and less dirty. The guards at the entrance nodded to Ely and Vanari as they entered. From there, they followed a tree lined path, replete with small statues bearing a wide variety of flowers. For the next hour, they wandered around the gardens, admiring the plants and watching the people. As the midday sun beat down upon them, they came to the pond in the middle of the gardens. People in various stages of undress lounged around the water, some bathing, others just catching a little sun on the grass. Ely was already lifting her skirt when she turned to Vanari. “Want to go swimming?”

[Vanari]

Ely took her hand, and the uneasy feeling in her stomach settled as though it had never happened. Together, they made their way out of the inn and onto the streets towards the gardens, a joyous smile glued to Vanari's face the entire way. She was so caught up in the serenity and sunshine of their walk that she didn't even notice the hushed comments arising in the wake of their carefree trail.

When they reached the gardens at last, the Vantha was surprised to find such tranquility and verdant artistry tucked away from the rest of Ravok. It didn't seem possible at first, what with the constant bustle and clamor of the city, but that only lent even more wonderment to the floral sanctuary. She took great pleasure in their meandering, unhurried paths, making comments now and then but for the most part stayed silent in blissful contentedness.

When they reached a clearing where several other visitors laid languidly about, some half dressed and others chatting amiable, Vanari balked. She stared, wide eyed at the pond and Ely's off handed suggestion.

Swimming. The concept was only just becoming familiar to the Vantha after so many years of traveling. Swimming was lunacy in Taldera; it was a form of suicide, not recreation.

"Y-yes," the Vantha managed with some effort, grappling with the mixture of deeply ingrained reluctance and piqued curiosity. "But, it's just...could you...do you think you could teach me how?"

[Elysana Demeni]

Elysana paused with her dress up around her head. It had never even occurred to her that Vanari wouldn’t be able to swim. Growing up on a boat, everyone she had known knew how to swim, and many of them loved doing it. Hesitantly, she finished undressing and stood before Vanari. “Well, first of all, you shouldn’t swim in your clothes. Get those off, and sit with me by the edge.” Soon, they sat, with their feet dangling in the water. Ely turned to her friend. “So, the first part of learning to swim is learning to float. Watch me.” Ely laid back in the water, her hair streaming out around her. More than a few passersby stopped to look at her naked frame bobbing in the water, but she paid them no mind. “Now you try. I’ll hold you a little to get started.”

[Vanari]

Ah, there she goes again. Going from fully clothed to not.

Vanari colored a little and more or less did as she was told, except she kept her simple shift on, painfully aware of prying eyes. Ely, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease as she sat down by the water, as natural in her naked form as Vanari was in four layers of furs.

Trying her best to shut out any extraneous thoughts, the Vantha sank down beside the courtesan and dipped her feet into the pond. It felt pleasantly cool, but not too cold, as she had initially expected.

Just as she was getting used to the sensation, Ely slid away from her and laid back in the water, floating about as though she were a graceful water lily. Vanari gingerly pushed herself away off the edge and allowed herself to sink into the pond. To her surprise, her feet touched the solid bottom, and she relaxed, knowing at the very least she wouldn't drown. Her last memory of being in the water was rather traumatic, and though it had been one hell of an adventure she'd never forget, the experience of drowning was something she'd gladly forego. Forever.

Vanari followed her friend's lead and lowered her head onto the water. For the briefest of moments, panic gripped her as water covered her ears. She fought for control and forced herself to relax, gradually able to focus less on memories of water rushing up her nose and more on the calming effects of floating.

Once she finally was able to surrender completely to the experience, Vanari found herself feeling the most peaceful she had been since leaving Syliras. It was wondrously enjoyable, and for a while the two companions simply floated side by side, unhampered by worries or fears.

" "

[Elysana Demeni]

For some time, Elysana and Vanari floated in the water. Ely could see the Vantha beginning to get more and more confident with putting her head in the water. Feeling the urge to do mischief, she swan underneath Vanari and tickled the woman’s back. She shrieked and jumped to her feet. Ely rose to face her and gave her a little kiss on the cheek. “You’ve been doing great so far. Want to try putting your face in the water?” Vanari shook her head vehemently. “Well, maybe next time.” Ely looked at the already reddening horizon. “Oh my. It’s getting late. I really need to get back. Thanks so much for everything.” As she got dressed, she turned back again. “I’ll be perfectly safe on my own at this point. See you around some time?”

[Vanari]

It had been unexpectedly fun, even in spite of Ely's rather heart-stopping antics, and Vanari was surprised to look up and find the sun an angry sort of red. She grinned at the thought of Syna growing weary of the day, then shook out her damp hair as the two began returning into dry clothes.

"Certainly," Vanari replied. "I'll come find you sometime soon, if just to make sure those burglars haven't found a target for their revenge."

She grinned, then hugged Ely with earnest affection. They bade their goodbyes, and the Vantha made her way toward Tarsin's, eager to lie in her bed and snooze the rest of the day away.