Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I'll hear a full accounting of it if you're willing to give it -- but not tonight."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"That would take hours, days perhaps, so... no, not tonight." Shannon forces a wan smile. "So... what's the verdict? Am I a fallen knight, my princess?

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes," she says, simply. "But we're all fallen in this world. There is none righteous. If you're willing to speak with a paladin friend of mine, I'm willing to overlook your transgressions."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon blinks. "Speak to- ah. You mean to have my soul weighed." Her lips quirk a little. "I have to admit, I... am not sure what that would yield."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Then we'll find out together."

She takes a deep breath, lets it out. "In the meantime... Do you wish to spend the night? I could do with some distraction."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon hesitates, likely long enough to make Cindy worry or even begin to regret the offer. Before she can try to take it back or anything else, Shannon nods. "Yes. Very much so. But... I am... Unsteady. And we do not know each other's limits or rules so.. vanilla only?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Agreed," she says, nodding. "The first day after the worst time of my life ended, it was a comfort to be held, to be touched. I would very much like that again."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"I... yes, being... held sounds wonderful," Shannon confesses. How long has it been since I was with someone for the pleasure of it? For the comfort of it? Even the most skilled of my partners was just.... there was always that part of me balancing costs and holding back. Can... But here... it doesn't matter. If Co betrays me, after all this, after everyone else... it won't matter. Nothing will. 

Mustering all her nerve, she rises to her feet and slides a hand down side of her dress. "Nolla ras tanu." With that phrase and gesture, her dress dissolves into mist. Underneath, Cindy can see that, despite appearances, Shannon was not nude under the magic dress. Close to it, as she is wearing only a thin, skintight body cover that goes from might thigh to her breastbone. Very close to her skin color as well, only the border and the lack of bits or nipples reveals its presence. "Lead the way?" she whispers.

[Marian Hawke]

Everything was wonderful.

That charged feeling Marian had from dancing with Beth held through much of the night -- the more she danced, flirted, drank, the more erotic she felt. After dinner, she and her loves snuck out early, and she threw all that energy, all that horniness, into being the very best submissive she could be. 

Hours went by, Marian easily entering that blissful state in which she could scarcely notice the passing of time, that state in which nothing matters but pain, pleasure, and delicious pain. She'd fallen asleep curled up in Zevran's arms, Bela at his back, blissfully content.

In the morning, as she wakens, she is regretful -- but not of anything she'd done. Instead, all she regrets is having to go back to her ordinary life, her job and her classes. What if I just... don't? some part of her wonders, and if it's louder than usual, it's only because she's so very, very content.

She busies herself, slipping out of bed well before dawn. She makes a yeasted dough, lets it rise, shapes it, bakes it. She fries bacon, makes eggs in the grease, plates them; she cuts the rolls, pours glaze over the top, plates them. She places all three plates on a tray, sets it on the bedside table, and, still naked, seats herself on the floor, watching Zevran sleep. Her bum settles on her feet, her knees bent, her hands folded in her lap. 

He's beautiful, she thinks, and lets herself go back into the place where time doesn't exist. 

As he begins to stir, his eyes opening to focus on her, she smiles, just a little. "Good morning, Master," she says quietly. 

[Tethras Clan]

Parties, of such high class, were not something that Zevran regularly attends. Not entirely his prefered pastime either, though he will admit that Varric (by way of Cindy) does throw a rather good one. Food was superb (though that is common), the music was good (less common), the decorations neither gaudy nor tacky (far, far too uncommon) and the guest list most tolerable. That last being, of course, the most amazing. Seeing Liz, Beth and even Carver all fancied up and (mostly) enjoying themselves had been a treat. 

Who knew Carver could look elegantly handsome?

And seeing Helene again had been nice, though he still regrets not having been able to talk them out of casting away Ciren's blessing. Dancing with Bela, Liz and Beth a time or two had been very pleasurable. Not, perhaps, as pleasurable as sneaking off with Bela to fuck in the garden... and one of the many side libraries... or the afterparty at home... but very enjoyable to be sure. The sunlight flooding the room when his eyes slowly opened the following day was very much expected, given that dawn had not been far off when they finally took their rest. The words the followed his vision returning however...

"...what?" he whispers, body still, voice even. 

[Marian Hawke]

"I made breakfast for you," she says, softly, eyes drinking him in. 

[Tethras Clan]

"What... what did you say?" Zevran rasps, still not moving.

[Marian Hawke]

She blinks, then, shrinking into herself, noticing how Ced-- Zevran seems displeased. "I wished you good morning, Master," she whispers. "Should I not have?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Liz, it's time for sunrise," Zevran snaps, voice sharp and hard, as he uses the safe word for play with Liz. As he does so, he rather ungently jabs Isabela with his elbow.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian -- Liz -- shudders, bowing her head and falling silent. It's hard to pull herself up, so hard -- like fighting her way uphill, through a river of molasses. So instead she goes quiet, at least not making it worse. 

I don't understand, what did I do wrong?