Imprints in Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"Don't-- Oh. Cool. I guess you healed the cut." Ari shakes her head. "He had two friends, the bodyguard and his mate he was meeting. I got the bodyguard, you got the guy, so there's just his mate. You froze the whole tavern, we can't go back, but I don't think anyone else knew who we were or what we were doing. So lay low a few days and you'll be fine."

[Bethany]

Bethany stares at Ari, mouth agape. "I- I what?" I don't recall doing- he stuck a dagger in my face. No, at my throat. Then I kicked him when he reaches for me and then.. My face. He cut my face and the tavern... the tavern... I was back in Golden Green and Marian was screaming. "L-lay low. Right. Right."

[GamesMaster]

"Good. Good."

Ari takes a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. After a moment, she says, "You may pet my fur if you promise to never, ever tell anyone."

[Bethany]

Bethany can't help herself from allowing her eyes to dip down below Ari's waist. "Ummm." Blushing, they snap back upwards. "I lic-ke petting, yes?"

[GamesMaster]

Ari frows. "My fur," she warns. "I don't think this is the right time for games."

[Bethany]

Her blushing intensifying, Bethany nods quickly. "Umm, head? Arms? I don't want to..." Gods, stop over thinking this! Mentally shaking herself, the human reaches over to stroke Ari's forearm.

Wait. 'Not the right time?' As in there might be a right one?

[GamesMaster]

"Good," says Ari gently. "Keep stroking until you can think again." 

After a few moments of this petting, a low rumble begins to emit from Ari's chest. She blushes, not that it's easy to see under the fur.

[Bethany]

Merciful Waters that's hot. I wonder what that would feel like if her mouth were on mine? Or... Licking something somewhere. It does serve to distract Bethany from the events is the tavern pretty quickly. "This is really nice, thank you," she murmurs.

[GamesMaster]

"Petting a cat brings luck and comfort," she agrees. "It is known. It is a rare honor, but... I owed you one. Do you feel better?" There's some actual worry in her expression as she looks at Beth, which is unusual for the normally cool cat.

[Bethany]

"I do, yes," Bethany replies, making no move to stop petting. In fact, she reaches up to gently rub and caress a soft ear. "Owe me for what? And, umm, it's probably pretty clear now, if you hadn't noticed before, that I, uh, that I'm into women. Just say the word if I... well, if I reach even one third Miki."

[GamesMaster]

Ari laughs, with relief as much as humor. "You? I doubt even one-hundredth Miki is possible for you." She shakes her head. "As for the rest... You don't know much about cats, do you?"

[Bethany]

"Just what I've picked up from you and the other Bandanas," Bethany admits. "And a light dusting of first aid type stuff from the church."

[GamesMaster]

"We don't do... that sort of thing... We go into heat twice a year. The rest of the time we can take or leave the whole sex thing. I wouldn't mind having you around during my heat -- I don't aim to get pregnant and you're sweet for a human -- but that's not for a few weeks yet."

[Bethany]

"Oh, that's... Huh. Thank you for explaining that to me,"  she says slowly. Then, "what, uh, what does heat... Involve, exactly?"

[GamesMaster]

"Uh, basically..." She blushes again. "Fucking. A lot of fucking. Generally I'll go someplace and Don will guard, so only people I allow in can come in, because I'll be up for just about anything and I don't want babies right now."