Penance [Arberus x Selini x Temara]

[Temara]

Surprisingly, Celeste hadn't given Rayner much trouble. Actually, the fact she'd not given him a word of complaint at all was troubling. She laid resting in the overly large bed, simply staring out the window blankly, only passingly aware of her surroundings and retreating as soon as they'd leave her alone long enough to do so.

Of course, when they came back, came the large hard fight to get her to stay with them. They'd brought Sera, they'd brought Dani. She'd nursed Sera but with distraction as if not really there in the moment. It was as if Rayner was losing her all over again and he got to watch it all in painfully slow motion. Her wounds were treated, cracked ribs bound, cuts sewn, etc, but it was as if a small piece of her just wouldn't come back to reality.

Dani had tried cheering her up by sitting with her and watching HoH fights, but even that hadn't changed the ginger woman's expression, although passing by the fight she'd gotten recently injured in had caused a pained expression to cross them before she'd simply closed her eyes and had refused to open them until the disk was being removed. Trying not to cry at the sight of her mother, Dani had left the room and hugged Rayner tightly as he stood guard at the door, needing some physical form of action to feel like something was being accomplished.

"It's like watching you all over again when I wasn't sure you'd wake up..." she sniffled, getting snot all over his shirt. Even Sera seemed rather put out, although she couldn't speak and Rayner's presence only kept her passably calm. Soothing the girl, he was left with all but comatose wife and had Maria come to take the children back to their caretaker for the time being.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

Curses. They were all inherently bad, but not all of them were exclusively bad. Like the one deigned to the young mage currently making her slow, deliberate way up the grand Spire of Heaven this very moment, for example. It had only been three days, yet her cursed blood had already turned a body covered in first and second degree burns to one of extremely tender off-tones; pinkish red "scar" tissue contrasting quite distinctly with her normal lustrous bronze skin, though still hidden beneath a generous mass of bandages. Added to the simple, soft black robe she wore and she may have even been able to pass as fashionable... if perhaps a bit lacking in footwear. It was also fairly amazing that she had managed to keep a full head of hair after the experience; the thick, raven black lochs now waving freely and gracefully over her shoulders and down her back.

Selini wasn't even quite sure what she was doing. Everything had just gone so wrong so fast, and she couldn't get a single moment of it out of her mind. It sat and stirred and festered until finally her feet simply began walking on their own volition. Her mouth, too, as she had already inquired at multiple locations as to the whereabouts of her 'target'. All fingers eventually pointed to one place... so here she was.

Her arrival was more climactic than even she had imagined. All that weight during her endless walk seemed to lift up at once, only to slam straight back into her chest like a truck when she laid eyes upon her destination. Yet still her feet moved. All the way up to the door.

...except it wasn't until a full hour later that she finally knocked.

 

[Arberus]

RE: Penance

"I'll wake her."

And yet, he hadn't been able to so far, not more than a little, and to patch her up. Her old friend- or whatever the woman was- had gotten her more stable, but even the visit had not roused her much more than Danni, or his occasional bursts of angry demand or best efforts had managed. She was stuck inside her own head. He could tell that much. It was obvious; he hadn't stopped her soon enough, not for her. Had she really been so fragile, and he'd refused to see? Why had he ever brought her here and let her do this? I should have known better. This was my burden, my mistakes to fix. She's never deserved this. But his guilt didn't leave him lethargic or deadened like it once might have- once had. Rayner felt dead on his feet in some ways, but his muscles still responded, still managed a confident, if somewhat sad smile, as he kissed Danni on the forehead before he sent his adopted daughter home, even though inside he felt more than anything else; angry. Why should this woman, these girls be punished? The "gods" about Gaia might have been false, but he knew they had power, and had taken notice of these few in particular. And yet, why did they never seem to raise a hand? What about "God"? He felt like he had less reason than ever to believe there was one watching.

Danni deserved her mother back.

If it came to it, he would go inside her head with her to bring her back to the girl. No more fear, or doubt. No more arrogant sense of "purity" in his method. He'd seen into his Other's mind. He'd seen what the blood he shared could do, where it came from. If he found a way, he could do it.

And he could deal with the consequences.


He'd made sure she ate again, and washed her face and neck with a cold wash cloth again, massaging and trying to stir her for what reaction he could manage, but even after all that it never brought that spark back. And so, he stared at an array of books, sprawled out across a table he'd converted into a study in the past few nights. Papers, notes, old tomes. He knew none of them had what he was looking for, but they might have had answers- told him where he could find it. He damned himself for his weak mind. If he'd been as sharp as her, been as quick a study, he could have probably read them cover to cover in the time it had taken him to skip about composing paltry research. Rayner resisted the urge to sweep them all across the floor.

Kael, you fuck. If you can hear me, come get me. I'll rip the answers out of you.

Goosebumps spread across his skin, a twinge of fear. But he was far gone enough to mean it. The cold dread spread through his veins, but if there was a time he could forget all his fear to rage he believed it was now. But... perhaps if he did it right he could call-

There came a knock at the door.

His head raised from the table and he stared for a moment. No one was supposed to be coming now. As if willing the door and it's visitor to remove themselves from his world, he stared in blank impatience for a moment. Stubbornly, the door remained.

Rayner rose, and paced across the room, opening the door-

And froze.

His first urge, as it too often was these days, was violence. Paranoid instinct told him there was one reason above all others a foe sought out an unbeaten enemy. His teeth went tight, the tension in his jaw and neck visible as he coldly looked at Selini, restraining himself for the moment as he looked her in the eyes and... something was wrong. No, she'd acted strangely the whole time. Regretful, until she'd simply let the beast free; and he knew that process, that look. She was no real danger to Celeste unless she started to revert to that, and if he saw her begin... he'd end her on the spot. No. No need to start a conflict, he assured himself, letting little bits of the tension sink away. His eyes softened slightly despite himself, even though his hands tightened into fists- this time there were no gloves covering them, exposing the scarred skin, as if a branding iron had been taken to every inch of the flesh on them until it was one thick mess of discolored, rough callous and reminders. He hadn't bothered to put any shoes on either, but otherwise he was fully dressed at least.

"...."

There was some sort of words he was supposed to offer in greeting, but instead he just raised a questioning eyebrow.

And waited.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

The guilt was burning her alive, only no one could see the flames licking at her very soul.

Celeste hadn't stopped glowing since the round in the train, although it wasn't as lethal as what she'd put Selini through. Her angelic blood was coursing through her body and her human side had no hope. Religious background aside, when a part of you feels you have failed whatever it is you believe most strongly in, your thoughts turn inward as you try to make that convergence mesh once again, even if it means dropping some things you believed or acquiring new beliefs. But for Celeste it was much more personal. Her locus of control was strong enough to get her through everything she'd gotten through in her life. There had been no doubt in her mind when she'd told Alban she could do as the Council had demanded.

Yet...what had she done?

She'd gone on a rampage and had nearly destroyed someone whom she'd decided to take under her wing. Because that was indeed what she'd done with Selini. She could tell that the girl didn't really want to be there, that she didn't want to fight her and still Celeste had pushed her. She'd also forced Rayner to watch her turn into that monster. She couldn't even bring herself to look him in the eyes as he cared for her so tenderly. Of course, it was hard to even summon the strength to interact with him at all. Her children, her sweet, innocent children. They didn't deserve any of this.

And that had spiraled back upon her, wondering if she even did deserve to live. She wouldn't go back to the Council, she'd rather die. Much like Selini's will to not fail her master, Celeste couldn't go back there and prove that she'd failed everything they'd demanded of her. Not with so much on the line. She would literally rather die.

So she'd laid there, distant and detached, silently willing her own death so that she'd no longer be a burden on anyone.

"You're being silly, you know?" A faint voice seeped inside of Celeste's head and although no outward sign was there, it was familiar enough to awaken the ginger haired woman slightly.

"Mère?"

"Oui. Ma petite chou chou" Celeste could feel the gentle touch of her mother stroking her brow much like she had when Celeste was a child and sick. "Vous avez besoin d'obtenir mieux. Vous avez besoin de se lever. Vous avez des gens qui comptent sur vous. Les gens qui vous aiment. C'est un nouveau jour, mon petit amour. Le temps pour recommencer. " * It was a phrase her mother had used often. Each day was a new beginning and while the past could not be erased, the future was unwritten and there was nothing wrong with it as it stood and you could make it better or worse; it was your choice and actions that did so.

"Mama..." Celeste finally whispered aloud, but it would serve no purpose, she knew the woman was there only in her own head. And soon enough was replaced by the demoness who had rested for so long until Celeste had freed her to torment her anew.

"Ah, no. Silly girl...You remember me, don't you?" The pink tinted hand seemed to pull Celeste's chin up in her hand much like Celeste had done to Selini. "A shard of myself has been inside you for many years now, I do believe...I've witnessed everything that's happened to you, everything you've done. Everything that you want to do...that handsome husband of yours? I've been there when you've made love to him. I could probably take you over right now...and he'd never know the difference..."

Celeste managed a weak protest but sighed, her mind still struggling; perhaps it would be better. Amp would be able to protect him; she was more than strong enough. "You're pathetic, girl..." Amp shook her head, the pale pink ribbons of hair passing into Celeste view with a twinge of pain that exploded behind her eyes. "You've gotten weak. I chose you because you were strong, you were a perfect avatar for me. No matter what life had thrown at you, you survive and not even thrived. You flourished. And now look at you...you're going to let a group of men decide your fate...pathetic..." and then the welcoming darkness beckoned once again...

...only the sound of metallic footsteps echoing in her mind.

* You need to get better. You need to get up. You have people counting on you. People who love you. It's a new day, my little love. Time to begin again.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

Selini found the wait to be much more uncomfortable after knocking than the long period before, if such a thing was even possible. She had even taken to nervous fidgeting, an act nearly unheard of for one such as her. The wait also seemed much longer, regardless of how the passage of time actually worked. Long enough that she was getting ready to walk away and try her search again when she finally heard movement from within. The door opened abruptly before she could muster any second thoughts, and from within a man emerged. He was vaguely familiar, if only in that she knew distinctly who he was and why he was here, but as far as introductions or knowing how he would react to seeing her again, she was quite at a loss.

Not that she needed a full background check to recognize the anger in his eyes or the tension running through every muscle. He looked at her with a cold, penetrating glare, and she looked meekly away, preparing herself for the oncoming blows without so much as a flinch. This was a dance she knew quite well. Everyone was filled with such strong senses of vengeance, or even just anger, and even her master frequently took out that anger on her. It was something she had simply come to expect, and part of the reason she had come here.

She waited... but the blows never came. He just stood there, staring at her. When she finally raised her head to look back in his eyes, his gaze had softened slightly and his look was more questioning than anything else. A look that she gave him right back. Not a word was spoken, yet their expressions had already conveyed volumes. He was asking her why she was here, and she had come back with a guilt-filled 'You know exactly why, so why haven't you hit me yet?'

They probably would have stood there and gazed at each other forever, but unfortunately he wasn't the one she had come to gaze pathetically at, and that was enough incentive to get her finally speaking up.

"I... -ah." if only she had thought about what to say at any point... "H-how is she?"

 

[Arberus]

RE: Penance

What an odd woman. She really did seem guilty and upset, to an excess. Had she planned to make her way through a fighting tournament on manners? She seemed almost shy and meek. Made one wonder, where that monster came from in her. Did she repress it or control it so well? Was she that frightened of it that she tried to deny it entirely? Even he had never quite been that bad.

It seemed more like two different people.

The red eyes blinked.

"Not well," he put bluntly, "physically, fine. But..."

Hard to tell with the robe and all, but she rather seemed to be fine as well. No sign of favoring a leg, or other wounds. Very much healed.

"Maybe you can help."

Rayner shuffled a foot back- the scarred man vacating enough of the door to give Selini room to enter. He wasn't sure what her intent was, but she was apparently concerned, and with the way she was being for all he knew she'd cow right into it just because he said so even if she'd never meant more than a "hello, goodbye". It would have struck him as odd and awkward under other conditions, and normally with his temper so set on edge he would have been annoyed by someone being so meek, when everything in him wanted to futilely lash out at something. And as much as he could muster up some feelings of wrath for harming his wife, or for her association in what was going on now, he'd rather get some use out of her.

He could hold the violence for if she actually earned it.

Rayner would close the door behind Selini, letting her into the private room the Foundation had supplied him with in the Spire for his previous years success. There had been some bits of fanfare and recognition of his life or success as a competitor- he'd scoured it of them, though Celeste had managed to save most somewhere, and so instead it seemed like a high luxury bachelor pad, if with a simple, rustic aesthetic as if to deny the fact that it was worth fortunes. Most of it looked only lightly lived in, but for the kitchen needing a little cleaning, as he'd apparently felt the need to cook at times even when he could always order anything, and the table scattered with books. Ignoring all of it, however, the man absently rubbed at the simple wedding band now visible that he'd removed his gloves, far too distracted to even notice he hadn't put them back on for a guest, and led Selini to the room where Celeste was.


If nothing else, he could start to dig into just what kind of torture Cel was subjecting herself to once he showed her that she'd left no lasting harm on the woman and removed one mark from what was doubtlessly a laundry list.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

Celeste laid upon the bed, her long strawberry blond hair streaming out behind her like some maiden from a fairytale. Dark brown eyelashes fluttered in her sleep atop eyes that practically sparkled when awake. Dressed in a simple button down shirt of Rayner so he could easily get access to dress her wounds, she slumbered deeply, small frowns crossing her lips occasionally. Her skin still glowed but was not hot, and at least her cheeks and lips had some natural color to them, but still she seemed otherworldly, not quite a part of this world at all.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

So she had thought right. That brought a hard lump to her throat. Her memory of the time was hazy at best, but she remembered the woman snapping, even harder than Selini herself had done. After all, Bloodhaze was a spell, but what happened to her 'partner' did not look to be nearly so simple. Normally she could just dance, have fun with physical pain, and go home no worse for wear... but this time it had been different. She knew she had seriously hurt her opponent, and as Rayner had pointed out, not all of the injuries were physical. She had also never felt so drawn to someone before (aside from her master), that such thoughts would bring her this much guilt.

Her eyes brightened a little when he suggested she could help, and as he stepped back she did not hesitate to enter. There wasn't even a hint of concern for her own safety, despite how potentially dangerous it was to enter the house of a man who had every right to hate her. She didn't even pay much attention to the decor as they walked to the back room. She did, however, pay close attention to him, noting every little twitch and fidget that showed just how much he cared for the woman.

When they entered the room she was struck with an even deeper fear. This one far more instinctual and originating rather clearly from the supernatural glow that even now cast long shadows around the room. She remembered that glow even less than the rest of the fight, but enough to associate it with a great deal of pain. Pushing that aside, she made her slow but steady way to the bedside. Her dull auburn/red eyes sparkled in the light as she gazed sadly down at the sleeping angel. One hand came up to her lips in a gesture filled with nervous uncertainty and she briefly looked at Rayner as if to say 'May I?' She had to admit Celeste looked amazingly beautiful as she was, completely solidifying that compelling attachment she had felt not long ago. When her gaze drifted back down, she found her other hand slowly rising towards the woman's own hand. It was only a pained mix of more emotions than she could interpret that her longing reach quickly stopped mere inches above a gentle touch... and there she waited. Not on her life would she disturb the rest of this woman. Yes, that was the conclusion she could safely rely on.

 

[Arberus]

RE: Penance

After a moment as if thinking... Rayner nodded.

Shortly after he started toward the bedside as well however, even before he realized she seemed afraid to stir the woman. It might have been better he wake her, rather than someone she'd been in combat with last she'd seen them, even if he thought her presence could ultimately do some good. Rayner crossed to the side of the bed and leaned down, laying a hand on Ceslete's cheek, somewhere between lovingly and possessively, and leaned in, leaving a little kiss on her ear.

"Wake up, love. There's something you should see."

He waited a moment, and frowned when she didn't stir.

"Cel. You have a guest."

No telling if that would have been more motivation or not. Her natural tendency was well-drilled manners, but that wasn't to say she was perfectly capable of being rude when she was in no mood whatsoever; it could get a reaction out of her, or not. He was bothered that she seemed to be sleeping rather deeply, despite that it might even have been a good thing. Bad memories. Too many memories entirely.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

She murmered softly in her sleep, but did not stir further. This time there was no heat radiating off of Celeste, but still she glowed softly. As Selini stood over her, it seemed as if Celeste was stirred ever so slightly by her mere presence. She frowned, as if something was wrong, but her eyes did not open immediately. Inside her own mind, the discussion with Amp had begun again, yet another painful discussion with a darker side of herself that she'd wanted to ignore, to pretend it didn't exist.

"Your pet is here..." And the Celeste inside the darkness looked at the woman glowing a fiery pink beside her.

"Pet?"

"Yes, the woman you subdued upon the train..."

"Selini..." Celeste whispered the word, and even out in the room itself, the name slipped from Celeste's lips just barely audible enough for the girl to hear.

"Whatever...perhaps she's come to finish off the job and kill you while you sleep here like some dreaming idiot." Amp smiled maliciously for just a moment. "Then I could take her over and use her..."

Celeste stiffened at the words coming from the 'monster's lips. "You will not touch her. Nor my daughters as you have already threatened. The Council placed an enchantment on the bracelet. You can't use it to escape."

"Oh, there are plenty of other ways to use one with that much inclination to be submissive."

"You will not touch her..."

And outside, Celeste was stirring just slightly restlessly, but more than she had in the previous three days. A soft moan of pain followed Selini's name as a tender spot was hit while moving. Without thought she turned and reached for Selini, grabbing a hold of her wrist and thankfully not burning her further as she gripped and then pulled the hand and arm into a grasp and curled up around it, as if Selini's arm was a pillow she was cuddling. And yet not once did her eyes open.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

She had only just begun to politely recede, though only after observing Rayner's tender affection with a great deal of curiosity. She had never truly witnessed the full concept of 'love' before. Idle affection, sure. Lust, most definitely... but to see the way he tenderly touched her; the pained, longing gaze in his eyes that showed a care for her that may have even superseded himself; to hear the subtle torment in his voice that begged her to get up and remain by his side forever... and to be this close... it was fascinating. Without even realizing, her cheeks had already turned a shade darker as she imagined what it might be like in Celeste's position.

"Selini..."

She hadn't moved but a few more inches when she was frozen solid at the sound of her name. "Ah~!?" Her heart dove straight into her throat as she quickly found herself caught and pulled directly into the light. She brought a knee up and a hand down to the bed so as not to fall on the woman, and held her breath, not sure what to expect. Yet no pain followed. No scalding heat. It was soft and warm, a comforting, almost possessive embrace that sent shivers down her spine and brought her cheeks to a deep red. She even found herself growing quite dizzy...

Oh wait, air.

When she finally started breathing again, it came in short, quick gasps. She couldn't take her eyes off her 'captor', and thoughts of the man had all but disappeared. Sliding herself fully onto the bed, she was bringing her free hand up to brush a bit of stray hair from her face when suddenly she found it moving down to Celeste's face instead. She watched in awe as her hand gently stroked the woman's brow, smoothing that strawberry hair to the side. Before she even realized what was happening their faces were getting closer, as if the weight of the world was pushing her down, until they were practically touching. What happened next, as inevitable as it was, made her already blushing form virtually ablaze; new waves of metaphorical fire washing over her entire body.

As their lips touched.

 

[Arberus]

RE: Penance

He hadn't expected a reaction quite like this. To wake her, maybe. An idle turning or unease, some minor reaction in her sleep, sure. But nothing this pointed; very specific. Very accurate to what was going on. Direct, possessive, affectionate. She'd just met the woman on the train, and already she'd somehow triggered an episode and then...

There was no mistaking the matter- Rayner was very happy to see that spark of warmth and life stirring into his wife's spirit again, even in sleep.

But he was bitter, perhaps a bit hurt. Searing little angry embers of envy and misunderstanding.

He was her husband. HE was the one who should be able to get reactions out of her when no one else could. HE was the center of her world. Only their children were ever supposed to supersede him in her world. It was not an established rule, but his brain readily declared that it was the structure of things now that it was called to question. In less dire situations, there would have been no peace until this was addressed in some form. But at the moment, not even his pride and the more possessive parts of his love could be allowed to supersede Celeste's well being. It was like swallowing bile.

He stood upward, but did not step backward, standing and watching in a bit of confusion as it progressed briefly ahead, brow raising and halting as he watched.

I suppose by this point... I should have expected that.

He couldn't decide if the women's affections were adding salt to the wound, or being received by his mind more like a peace offering for the insult.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

Lips pressed against lips, Celeste's eyes fluttered slowly, green eyes slowly opening to peer at the dull red eyes even as her vision tried to focus from their sleep induced lack. "Rayn--"But as she took in the rest of the face as her vision came back, she saw that it wasn't her husband, but the girl she'd just been dreaming about. Her body ached in places it shouldn't have and she had a very attractive woman in her arms. It was strange, she remembered most of the fight until the last bit...and as such had no real anger in her at the girl. Instead her hand lifted from between the women and wrapped around Selini's waist, pulling her more firmly against her.

"Now this is a pleasant way to wake up....", she smiled as her fingers moved over the material of the robe Selini wore. "Keeping your promise, are we?" Though her brain puzzled as to why the girl as here and Rayner wasn't in obvious sight. "But first, I'd like to know where my husband is, little miss..."

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

Lips parted and eyes opened, much to her surprise (even if she really shouldn't have been surprised). Celeste's first response wasn't quite so much of a surprise. Who else would one expect to receive a kiss from during a recovery. Her second response was what really threw her off. After what had happened, she had come expecting shock. A beating... or several. What she found instead was an embrace that brought her even closer to the woman than ever before.

"I..." flustered, the lump returned to her throat and a tear came unbidden from her eye. Finally she had things to say, but couldn't seem to say them. Feeling like a child for perhaps the first time in her life, she instead deferred to the second topic. Especially since it was a good excuse to look away and towards said husband who was standing barely a few steps off. Besides she had an itching feeling that he might have a few choice words for what she had just done, and as sad as it was she was eager to hear condescending words of any sort about now. Everything was going a bit too well.

 

[Arberus]

RE: Penance

"Ahhem-"

Rayner cleared his throat in response to the question, even as Selini glanced back up to him as if begging for a bit of help to get her away. Of course, she'd come in here, managed to wake his wife up in a fantastic mood when she'd been all dead to the world, given him a little teaser/reminder of Tellus' first visit, and then gone and become more shy than she'd been to begin with. Nope, she could stay right there and get herself out of it if she really needed to so badly. Otherwise, he'd at least get to watch Celeste molest her for a bit and any hard feelings aside he could call it a good day.

"If I'd known you were just waiting for me to bring us a new plaything, Cel..."

He teased, not really with his heart into emphasizing the suggestive tone enough to drive any points or make anyone really uncomfortable. Or comfortable, as may have been Celeste's case judging by the little playful tilt to her waking words.

For a moment, he felt cold and hard hearted enough to stand and watch, slighted once, and again by how nonchalantly she came to. It was much better than a long suffering process, but... it was like he'd been subjected to all that anguish for no reason. And cheated. Oh, it wouldn't go unanswered. But for now, just to look at her and try to tell himself to keep away... Rayner put a knee on the bed, gave in and climbed across to wrap an arm tight around Celeste and squeeze, laying a kiss on her neck and holding put a moment before he went anywhere. He only really cared to hug his wife just now, but if Selini happened to be tangled up in such a way that she became a casualty of the affection, then so be it. So far having one Celeste's friends hang out in his bed with them had only ever turned out well.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

Celeste twisted her head as Rayner coughed, and frowned at him. "What are you talking about, Rayner?" glancing at the window behind him though, she saw that she wasn't sure what day of the week it was, and she ALWAYS knew that. "The fight?!?! Mon dieu! What happened?" Letting them both know that she at least didn't remember the last part of the fight. And while she kept Selini right where she was, tracing her fingers up and down the girl's spine as she spoke to Rayner, almost as if the girl was the after thought now.

But as Rayner crawled into the bed, she slid her hand down Selini's backside and gave her a firm but not overly harsh tap on the ass before curling her arm backwards and wrapping it around Rayner's neck and letting him kiss her neck. "I just feel like I woke up from this weird...dream or something." She paused, reflecting and trying to remember. "I remember being upset that I couldn't keep everyone safe..."Slowly, her hand lowered and wrapped around Selini again, hugging the girl close. "I'm not sure I can keep doing HoH, Rayner..." a painful admission to be sure. Not that she even knew how they'd done in the first place... And finally, her attention was back on Selini. "Don't look so downtrodden, my sweet...what's on your mind?" Obviously, Selini was going to be a bit overwhelmed with how...non violent Celeste and Rayner were given their penchant for fighting in things like HoH. "Which reminds me...I seem to be in worse shape then you...I think that means you get to tend me, no? How about a glass of water to start?" She teased lightly, and if Selini did indeed get up to get the water, Celeste would trail her nails along the girls back just roughly enough to feel some teasing but unfulfillable pressure.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

Lost, but at least it was a better feeling than emotional turmoil. The next few moments helped to put a great many things into perspective. He still didn't react quite like she had expected. Clearly upset, but amazingly well with holding his temper. Though she couldn't help but assume it would be different if he ever caught her alone. In fact, between the way the two reacted, she was starting to think that he was the one she should have come here for instead. Not that it would have ended much differently considering Celeste had yet to release her since even before she woke. Yes, 'plaything' seemed to describe it well, for it wasn't but a moment before all thoughts of her presence seemed to fade into the background, leaving her to be stroked, prodded, and (in Rayner's case) crushed like some wayward pet. Which, if she were to be completely honest, she much preferred. The slaves that lived longest and safest were the ones that had learned to become mere background scenery in their master's eyes... !? There she was again thinking of this woman as her master. How did she keep doing that?

Another tight hug brought her attention back to the present, noting only now how close her position at Celeste's side was bringing her to the woman's chest. A thought that also reminded her that her hand had been there the whole time. The blush that she had only just defeated returned rather quickly. Before she had time to... compare... however, she found herself being addressed once more.

"How about a glass of water to start?"

"Y-yes, mistress Veli! Right away." Any level of tease, humor, or play to the request was quite lost on the girl, and she scrambled up immediately to fulfill it. She did linger for a moment at the touch of nails upon her back (or at least the hint thereof considering her attire was suspiciously similar to a bathrobe), but managed to disappear through the doorway in short order. For having paid no attention to the layout on the way in, she managed to find the kitchen, a cup, and chilled bottled water in arguably record time. All while maintaining such grace and methodical attention that, aside from the missing bottle and cup, there wasn't a trace of evidence that she had ever been there.

It wasn't until she was ritually presenting the glass (in both hands) to Celeste that she finally answered the first, and probably most pressing question the pair had, "During our match I called upon the dark rites of my curse for the sake of victory and caused you serious harm. I am not worthy of your forgiveness, but I have come to make amends as best I can. Until such a time as you deem suitable, or until my master calls me back to his side, I am yours to do with as you please."
Finally with the opportunity to do things properly, it seemed she had regained her confidence. All the while she had made perfectly sure to kneel at a level lower than her superiors, keep her head up to be clearly heard, and cast her eyes down in deference and submission. Once she had spoken her piece she closed her eyes and bowed her head so that there could be no mistake. If they hadn't figured out her nature by now (especially since the heavy iron shackles had yet to leave her wrists and ankles since they first met her), well... there was simply no helping them.

 

[Arberus]

RE: Penance

"Yeah, the fight," Rayner said, "It ended. Nobody won. Since then you've been either out cold or in some sorta trance the whole time."

He raised an eyebrow at her complete lack of recognition of what happened. Did she not even remember the times he HAD managed to stir her, the children's visit, and so forth? It seemed that way, and things only went from strange to stranger in that regard he supposed. What was he supposed to make of all of this now? At least now, attention beginning to turn back his way as she adjusted, warming up and showing him some affection and concern, it was hard to be quite so angry. Not that it was impossible to be certain, but... relief and that warmth just made it hard to fuss with it right now. He'd have other opportunities. He let Selini up as the girl seemed outright strangely excited by Celeste's request, as if she'd gotten here and now realized she wanted nothing more than to leave the room right away... in her strange, polite way.

He waited until she left the room to answer the rest.

"I'm not sure what you were so worked up about, but at this point, I think you have to keep doing it. This time you actually went over the edge- and that's where it starts. 's the part where hiding from it stops being an option. Once you've looked it in the eyes, it's a part of you. But at the same time... now you know what you're up against."

And now she could fight back.

He'd hoped she'd already been through this before, so she wouldn't have had to do it again. But now... best to look forward instead of back. If her mind worked even a smidgen like his own, it had been a downward spiral to that, and now they'd be at the part where Celeste had the opportunity to take control of herself and whatever "demons" she had hidden away inside of her... or lose everything over to them.

He didn't have any doubt which way it'd go if she set her feet down and fought.

It'd never get easy. But he had no doubts.

Of course, after that, Rayner was surprised to see the other woman return... and with the cup in hand, not in a regretful or frightened way, but almost reverent to the damn thing. Or maybe to him and Celeste. And spoke. Also reverent and formal, practically swearing herself over to them and-

Huh.

While one part of his brain got stuck for a moment on "as you please" he mostly glanced over to Celeste, and raised an eyebrow to accompany a silent question. He knew enough about this kind of thing to fill an ant's head, but he'd seen some of the things in the mansion and the way his wife acted at times. He didn't know if she was supposed to be some kind of legitimate servant or slave type somewhere, or just brainwashed into it, despite her competing in the tournament. It wasn't the kind of thing he'd ever seen in his time, and he didn't really care to delve and try to remember if the Knight ever had- he had little scraps of those memories still stuck in head in places, hidden away, but none of the most distinct ones ever focused on any serving hands, and Rayner was half convinced that trying to think about those things too much would draw unwanted attention his way. So instead he let his expression ask Cel if she was a real deal, right up until his brain went to turning those words over again-

And his eyes turned back to Selini, narrowing not suspiciously, but in concentration, looking her over as if trying to scrutinize if there might have been some kind of monster hidden away under her skin. One far, far too familiar for a person with eyes tinted slightly to red- even if not the proper, unquestionably blood-red tone of his own- to have without him asking questions. "Dark rites" had meant nothing to him on hearing the first time around except more mumbo-jumbo, but when he recalled her taking that knife to herself...

Some things made a bit too much sense.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

Celeste frowned slightly as he spoke; why didn't she remember any of that? Shaking her head to clear some of the cobwebs, she smiled when Selini returned, thinking nothing unusual about Selini's behavior in the least. Putting her arms beneath her to push her upright, she almost fell right back down if it hadn't been for Rayner how helped her sit upright. Swiveling around to look at Selini with her her oh so subservient pose, she couldn't help the smile that came to her face. "The edge hmm..."She paused reflecting even as she reached down, taking the water from Selini and sipping a small sip from it. Despite her injuries, Celeste still moved with a simple sort of negligent elegance that spoke of having been raised to wealth and culture.

Putting the glass to the side, she looked at Selini murmering softly. "The edge..." Leaning down as best she was able without reinjuring herself, she took Selini's chin in her hand and lifted her head upwards to look at her. "Look at me, Selini." Once the girl had done so, Celeste would look at her, as if looking through her, and judging her. "One who seeks victory at any cost would do the same. This is nothing exceptional. You've done the same for your opponent in the preliminarys and in the first round, did you not? Have you offered the same service to them?" She paused, letting the dark haired girl reflect on that. If she said that she had not done the same with them, she'd continue...

"What makes this situation exceptional?" With a light tap on the girl's nose, she reached behind her with a good hand, and motioned Rayner to come closer, as much for his presence as his physical support.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

She could feel the eyes upon her and took comfort in the knowledge that it was only a single set. Perhaps the lady had simply married into common blood, but she still retained that comfortable, familiar air of culture that Selini had grown so accustomed to. An interesting thought, now that she paid attention to it... after being raised among vampires and cultists her entire life she hadn't found anything unusual about discolored eyes, but there was something about this man that she couldn't quite place. His eyes seemed to match her own, shimmering constantly with the energy that she only displayed while her aura was active. A resonance that was almost a reflection of herself, if extremely diluted and impure. Weak.

Then she felt the glass removed. As etiquette demanded she kept her arms raised while her head was downcast. Not being able to see was no excuse to miss a whim should her attendee decide to put the cup back down. Of course, that didn't last long before she felt a delicate hand upon her chin. There was no question in following her command, and the look she returned was one of concern and expectancy, much like a puppy would gaze at its master.

The giggle she stifled at Celeste's question showed in the form of a warm smile (though almost sad in a way). "No, mistress. To both." No hesitation or reflection. As expected, she did not answer more than was asked, but she did try to make it clear that she knew exactly what she was doing here, even if she did not fully understand it.

Not that she hadn't expected the second question to follow, though she did have to take a moment and curiously blink away the tap on the nose. "The first man was a brute. He threatened my life and I responded in kind, yet still did not go as far as I had with you. The second we merely danced until the time ran out. Both were all within my orders and we walked away none the worse. But you? You are exceptional, and not all wounds were flesh and blood."

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

Rayner sidled up, and wrapping his arms around Celeste in such a way as to support her should she need kept watching Selini as if trying to figure her out, what her connection was, how she was so familiar yet not. Draping one arm over Celeste's shoulder, the scarred man kept silent and let the two women talk to see if he could figure things out that they both seemed to understand instinctively.

"Yes, that..." She leaned back down and traced a line lightly along Selini's jaw, observing her for reactions and responses. "As strange as it is...you woke me to that very deep wound that I had never allowed myself to see..." Full admission to Rayner that she'd never gone over the edge like that before. "Part of myself..." The finger that had been tracing along Selini's jaw slide downward, the edge of her nail pressing lightly into the skin. It was not a hesitant motion, but one designed to tease and torment. Selini might have been used to harsher methods, but Celeste found that a lighter touch could be all the deeper of impact, especially around already sensitive skin. "...that I had denied..." the finger slid down Selini's neck, dipping into the v-neck of the bathrobe and curving around until she cradled Selini's bandaged breast in her hand, again testing reactions.

"Are there limitations on this service? Other than if your master calls you back?" She inquired, even as she pinched between two fingers the small nub of flesh that would still have to fight the bandages, vaguely curious and again testing. Rayner was a little wide-eyed as his wife's behavior even though he'd witnessed it on a few other occasions. This whole situation seemed to have perked up her energy and strength, and while he was grateful, it was still very puzzling.

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

Keeping a straight face was easy. If there was a torment to be administered, she had likely already endured it many times over. It was her body's natural reactions that she had a much tougher time concealing. Celeste's sensual touch brought that familiar darkness subtly back to her cheeks as her heart fluttered with each drifting line, beating fasted the closer that touch came to it. She couldn't help but think there were subtle hints in her explanation, but she just wasn't catching on. It could have also been partially because the literal explanation struck just a little too close to home.

Then the hypnotic stroke fell a bit farther than expected, the carelessness of her dress making access particularly easy. Her eyes began to flutter shut and the hint of a whine nearly escaped her, until she remembered her last command and quickly returned eye contact barely a moment before she would have slipped. She clearly didn't realize it was only the beginning...

"Mmnnn-it extends to only the physical. My master would surely kill me if I divulged information in any form, so unless you are commanding my death I must beg you not to ask." The whine escaped, and subsequent efforts to contain herself resulted in the sweetest sing-song voice... between gasps. The bandages had been uncomfortable enough as they were, and now direct stimulation was making things a bit crowded, hard, and tender upstairs. She quickly corrected her expression, but the deep scarlet in her cheeks would not let her hide so easily.

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

There were certain benefits besides studying for her perfect recall of information. She tucked the nugget of information away that this 'master' of hers might be someone in power or powerful, but she'd not use it against the girl. "I really have no interest in any information about your master unless I find out that he's harmed you beyond limits...." At the idea of someone harming the girl, Celeste frowned, pinching the nipple painfully until the pads of her fingers doing so could almost touch through the nipple.

Pushing against Rayner's thigh, she stood up, wobbling slightly but still maintaining an air of grace as she pulled Selini up to a standing position by cupping the underside of her breast. It was strange, this heady feeling, this power over this girl. It was time to see if these were tease or truth. She pushed her hand back, running the palm of her hand over Selini's breast as she pushed first one edge of the robe away, and used her other hand to unknot the tie that held it together. "Tell me, my dear...what would be your response if I told you I wanted you to please my husband as well? After all, you almost took his wife from him..." And with that, she began to walk around Selini, her hand beneath the fabric sliding along that tender skin as she pulled the bathrobe off of one side of the younger girl's body and letting Rayner get a good long look at her as well.

"He's a rough man...he plays rough." Bending over just slightly, she traced her tongue along the side of Selini's neck, where the most serious of the burns had been, the most purposeful of Celeste's touches during the fight, and blew slightly on the moisture beading upon the surface. Rayner could see it, Selini could feel it. "Look at his hands, Selini...Those hands can feel like a thousand sharp little knives caressing your skin if he doesn't take care of them...So tell me, Selini...if I tell you to, would you please him as well?"

 

[Selini]

RE: Penance

She breathed a sigh of relief at the confirmation that they would not ask questions. Whether she found out what he did to her or not was irrelevant, because by then there would be nothing she could do about it. The sigh quickly became a cry of surprised pain that set her nerves on fire and her arousal soaring. Within an instant little specks of crimson red began to sparkle in her eyes, though her expression remained filled with excitement and submission.

The elements just continued to stack from there. So far it had merely been an instinctual reverence. An aura that commanded her just as well as her own. Only now, when she was made to stand and put on display did she finally recognize just how good the woman was at this game. She hadn't even needed to mention the man's 'roughness' (after all, as she had recognized earlier, Selini was well accustomed to the less graceful side of things); the message was clearly received right from the start. She even went so far as to run a very good distraction. As etiquette demanded, Selini remained still and well-postured while half her robe was removed (not that it was revealing anything considering her chest, legs, and hips were wrapped in bandages), so when Celeste licked her it was quite unexpected... even if it shouldn't have been. A sharp shiver went down her spine and vaguely remembered images flashed through her head, leaving her whole body to freeze as cold as the sudden breeze that caressed her, only to heat up all the more thereafter. If Rayner was smart he would probably realize that her hesitation had nothing to do with the colorful words his wife had chosen for him.

"Yes, mistress." she responded breathlessly when she was finally able to speak again, "If that is your command, it shall be done."

 

[Temara]

RE: Penance

Celeste chuckled and moved her lips upward, caressing Selini's ear ever so slightly before the woman pulled away, her hand still touching and pulling the robe off bit by bit, until she was back where she started, standing in between Selini and Rayner and leaving Selini naked but for the wrappings. "Though, I believe that we have a few other things to take care of if you're going to be serving me..." Hopefully making it clear to Rayner to let her to keep running the show and to just enjoy it.

The ginger haired vixen then leaned back, and using Rayner as a brace sat back down on the bed, her legs feeling like they were trembling from the effort. It was a shame she couldn't heal herself like the old saying went. Pushing Rayner back a little, she made a come hither motion at Selini. "Let's see how talented you are first..." The sculpted nail that had so simply told her to come closer, pointed at first her lips, with which Selini would receive another passionate healing kiss even as the woman leaned against her husband, to each button upon his shirt that she wore. Apparently Selini was to open it up. "But use only your lips, and I want your eyes on me the entire time. Simple to start, no?" Underneath the shirt, she wore nothing, but the shirt was buttoned to the bottom. "Once it is open...You can have a little freedom to show me how remorseful you are....please me...and we'll see how it goes from there..."