The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

Marian flushes slightly, but rises to the challenge. "And yet, men are so often dull -- so often overconfident, sure of their place, eager to own you in a way women are not. Men want to conquer, to plunder, and I am no-one's plunder. I prefer to take than be taken."

It's a bluff and she knows it, but it feels right for her Path, right for the person she wants to be.

[Tanna]

"That depends on the place really- in Alessia, it is women that rule and take and control," Tanna counters. "And there is much to be said for both sides of things. Or I should say... all sides of things. I do so very enjoy luring one of those pompous but pretty fools to my bed, then showing them who shall be the one to... submit," she purrs, the last word a promise of pleasure. "After all, bedroom games are just that and do not need to mean anymore more than the pleasure they bring." And yet mortals never hold to that... 

[Marian Hawke]

"I disagree," she says openly. "You don't stop being yourself when you enter the bedroom, and you don't forget it when you leave. What you do in the bedroom often shapes what you do out of it. Submitting to someone in bed can be the first step to submitting to them in life."

[Tanna]

Well, well, well... aren't we a surprise? "For those of weak will, perhaps," Tanna says airily. "I have never had any issue with remember who the ultimate master of my life is, even after submitting to someone for some fun. After all- am I not the one the chose to submit? No lover has ever made me do so without my permission. Those who have tried..." Her sly smile turns cold and savage for just a second or two. "Well. I do not resort to base violence often but I will defend myself however I see fit."

[Marian Hawke]

"I do not permit weakness," says Marian. "I don't allow anything that might create a weakness in me, open a line of attack. It is wonderful to be tied up, helpless, but it means allowing someone access to my body when I am vulnerable."

I should probably stop submitting to Isabela...

[Tanna]

"So you would flee from your weaknesses? Is that not a weakness in and of itself?" Tanna asks pointedly. 

[Marian Hawke]

Marian hesitates, wiping at her face once more. Isn't it? It means I am open to temptation, because I am denying myself something I want... wouldn't it be better to figure out how to, as Bela puts it, top from the bottom? 

"I suppose you're right," she says slowly, turning the idea over in her mind. 

[Tanna]

Tanna clucks softly with her tongue, reaching out to stop Marian and pull her to face her. "Here," she says almost tenderly as she lifts a neatly embroidered handkerchief to clean Marian's face. "Weaknesses never fade away- you have to slay them. And if you can't do that, then you have to make them a strength. If you need food, learn to find and prepare it yourself. It's fine to buy it normally- time is limited after all- but know how to get it yourself if you need to. If you fear fire, make yourself immune to its power and bath in it. Learn to harness its kiss and bite, learn to put it out, learn to call it forth."

[Marian Hawke]

"And if I fear love," she whispers, looking into Tanna's eyes. "If I shy from submission, if I worry about losing myself in pleasure.."

[Tanna]

Lowering the handkerchief, Tanna studies Marian for a long moment as if considering the offer. In truth, she's making the merikos elf chaff, making her doubt herself, her worth. Building anticipation- and buying time to tuck away the fabric with some of the mortal's willingly given blood on it. Not that I won't be getting far more fluids very soon from Mary, but this was shed in my defence, in anger against another mortal. That adds a little something extra. "How far did you get with those books?" she murmurs without breaking eye contact. In fact, she seems to be moving slowly closer.

[Marian Hawke]

"I finished them," she says, in a husky tone. This is it. This is my Path: the Path to Perfection lies in facing one's fears and conquering them, crushing them, using them as tools to hone myself and destroy my enemies. I will find the thing that scares me most and do it, over and over, until it holds no fear. That's the thing I've been looking for all this time.

"As well as the other volume I picked up after you left," she adds. "DeGrant's Merciless Pleasures."

[Tanna]

"Really?" Tanna asks, a bit of surprise in her eyes for a second. "My my... such a devoted student... And is my little Seeker ready for her first quiz?" There's challenge in her voice, a hint that how Marian responds will dictate a great deal about how this unfolds. "I will not go easy on you, Mary. I know my value and I will not waste my time with someone unwilling to match my efforts."

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm not afraid of you," she says, meeting her eyes. "I only fear myself. I'll hold my own."

[Tanna]

"Then for your first quiz, your first challenge to overcoming submission and shame... kneel. Right here and now, kneel and beg me to fuck you," Tanna says, pushing hard.

[Marian Hawke]

She stares at her, thoughts whirling in her head. Right here? In public? In front of strangers, Dwarves, some of which might be crucial to my mission? To beg in front of everyone... it would destroy any public image I have of being strong, being smart. And yet-- Do what scares you. It scares me to lose face like that, to let people think I'm weak. So I have to do it, over and over, to prove to myself I'm still strong, I'm still myself.

She nods, then, one single, sharp nod. I am strong enough to recover from this, she tells herself, and she drops to her knees, heedless of the shock of pain from moving so suddenly. "My lady, I am unworthy -- please, I wish to feel pleasure. Please, fuck me. Allow me to taste your nectar."