The streets were crowded, people bumped against her, shoved her out of the way - out of the light. So she shrank into the dark, clutching her violin to her chest as she moved through the back alleys. Shadows reached for her, voices hissed... she hooted quietly to herself. She couldn't shift, not here... too many magic-haters. She clicked her teeth, her pace quickening.
She was a creature of the night, an owl, a hunter... but right now, she didn't feel it. A man leered, smiling and showing his 3 teeth. His eyes though... his eyes frightened her. Desperate, manic, crazed.... "Hey.... hey little girl... I like your teeth...." She whimpered and moved to run from him, another man creeping from the shadows, his eyes also crazed. "'n 'er 'air... shooo loveleh... shush a nish cuhlor...." he could barely talk! She skittered around him, her eyes wide and terrified.
"C'meeerrreee little girl..." she wailed and spun, running from them as quickly as she could. Down the alley, past more people whispering, begging, hissing suggestions and dark promises. She wanted to sink into the darkness, certainly, but not like this! Never like this! She was sobbing, having managed to wrench herself away from claws, hands, fangs. She was scared, the man whispering promises of perverse pleasure. She wasn't watching where she was going.
She ran into him, gasping in shock, pain and fear as she landed on a foreign body, her violin clattering to the side. She struggled to get up quickly - but not quickly enough it seemed - a man grabbing her by her hair and yanking her upright hard and fast. She yelped in pain, her hands scrabbling at the first.
"S-seona sorry! Seona sorry! No see... no see where go! S-scared, running, run into man, S-seona sorry! No kill, no kill! S-she make up for it - sh-she play music! Good music! Pretty!" Her voice was garbled, her speech slurred, but the young owl shifter fought as hard as she could to make herself understood, the result of it and the cruel pulling of her hair rose in the base of her skull, the agony already causing tears to well.
"Please forgive... Seona good girl, nice owl..."
Underhanded Innocence
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana Remathia, the dreaded don of the fashion world, had some inappropriate hobbies for an aristocrat. Though he enjoyed high-brow activities like operas and art showings, those were more about maintaining connections than actual entertainment. When he wanted to wind down after a long week, nothing did the trick like drinking himself under the table while watching something get its throat torn out.
Word on the street was that The Bitch's Bite was just the place for that. And after his first night there, he definitely wasn't disappointed.
He strolled out of the building, accompanied by two tattooed, muscular men. Compared to his companions, Eltana stuck out like a sore thumb: His clothing consisted of a dark violet robe with long, drooping sleeves, and high-heeled black boots. He was holding a silk fan in front of his face in one hand, and a large mug of beer in the other.
“No, really! The poor bastard pissed himself when they led that mutt by his table,” Eltana said with a giggle, lowering his fan to take another chug of beer. “Never saw a fat guy like that run so fast. I was hoping the dog would break free and chase his ass out into the streets.”
“Think that happened once, actually,” one of the thugs said as he scratched his beard thoughtfully. “And I don't think you're allowed to take the mugs outside, Eltana. The bartender had some guy's fingers broke for doing that once.”
Eltana rolled his eyes and dropped the mug on the ground, spilling beer all over the street. “Whatever. I'll give them bishani for a new one the next time I stop in. It's not like I can't afford it, especially after winning that bet.”
The other thug laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “That was some damn good luck for your first time. Took me about a year before I saw any bishani from this place.”
Before Eltana could respond, he saw a blonde girl turn the corner and run straight into one of his companions. At first, he was worried that he was having another drunken hallucination, but his doubts faded when his friend lifted her up by the hair and glared at her. Eltana had been hanging around thugs like these two ever since he was a boy; they were always good for a fun time, but he learned fairly quickly that they were quick to anger over the smallest offenses. He knew his friend would probably just toss the brat aside - maybe after a good smack - and be on his way, but since he was in a jovial mood, he wanted to have a bit of fun with the girl first. Toying with frightened prey was always good for a laugh or two.
Composing himself, the young lord smiled at the girl and pressed his fan against her forehead. "My dear child, whatever are you doing around here? You should know that these parts aren't for little darlings like yourself. And now you've gone and landed yourself in some serious trouble. Now, what shall your punishment be? Oh, I know! We'll take you into the dog-fighting ring and feed you to one of the mutts! I bet they could swallow you whole. How does that sound?"
Word on the street was that The Bitch's Bite was just the place for that. And after his first night there, he definitely wasn't disappointed.
He strolled out of the building, accompanied by two tattooed, muscular men. Compared to his companions, Eltana stuck out like a sore thumb: His clothing consisted of a dark violet robe with long, drooping sleeves, and high-heeled black boots. He was holding a silk fan in front of his face in one hand, and a large mug of beer in the other.
“No, really! The poor bastard pissed himself when they led that mutt by his table,” Eltana said with a giggle, lowering his fan to take another chug of beer. “Never saw a fat guy like that run so fast. I was hoping the dog would break free and chase his ass out into the streets.”
“Think that happened once, actually,” one of the thugs said as he scratched his beard thoughtfully. “And I don't think you're allowed to take the mugs outside, Eltana. The bartender had some guy's fingers broke for doing that once.”
Eltana rolled his eyes and dropped the mug on the ground, spilling beer all over the street. “Whatever. I'll give them bishani for a new one the next time I stop in. It's not like I can't afford it, especially after winning that bet.”
The other thug laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “That was some damn good luck for your first time. Took me about a year before I saw any bishani from this place.”
Before Eltana could respond, he saw a blonde girl turn the corner and run straight into one of his companions. At first, he was worried that he was having another drunken hallucination, but his doubts faded when his friend lifted her up by the hair and glared at her. Eltana had been hanging around thugs like these two ever since he was a boy; they were always good for a fun time, but he learned fairly quickly that they were quick to anger over the smallest offenses. He knew his friend would probably just toss the brat aside - maybe after a good smack - and be on his way, but since he was in a jovial mood, he wanted to have a bit of fun with the girl first. Toying with frightened prey was always good for a laugh or two.
Composing himself, the young lord smiled at the girl and pressed his fan against her forehead. "My dear child, whatever are you doing around here? You should know that these parts aren't for little darlings like yourself. And now you've gone and landed yourself in some serious trouble. Now, what shall your punishment be? Oh, I know! We'll take you into the dog-fighting ring and feed you to one of the mutts! I bet they could swallow you whole. How does that sound?"
Re: Underhanded Innocence
DOGS!? Seona went to shake her head, only to yelp at the pain. "N-n-n-n-n-o! N-n-n-n-n-o d-d-d-d-d-og-g-g-s..." she was sobbing now. "L-l-l-l-l-ost... S-s-s-s-eona l-l-l-l-l-oooosssst." She shook badly and would have emptied her bladder had she not done so earlier, she was terrified of dogs, moreso than was strictly logical or necessary, but even still. The thought of the dogs eating her whole- she looked into the man's cruel and mirthful eyes, tears streaming openly down her face.
"L-l-l-l-et Se-seon-na go... P-p-p-p-please... Kn-know sh-she's wo-wo-worthless. S-s-s-stupid. J-j-j-just wa-want t-t-to p-play mu-usic. Sl-sleep in t-t-t-trrees... D-d-d-d-dogs n-n-n-no eat st-street k-kids. D-dirty. Icky." She was almost biting her tongue off from her stuttering, but she wanted to live - possibly remember. "P-p-p-please p-pretty man. Let S-seon-na go." She couldn't stop crying.
"L-l-l-l-et Se-seon-na go... P-p-p-p-please... Kn-know sh-she's wo-wo-worthless. S-s-s-stupid. J-j-j-just wa-want t-t-to p-play mu-usic. Sl-sleep in t-t-t-trrees... D-d-d-d-dogs n-n-n-no eat st-street k-kids. D-dirty. Icky." She was almost biting her tongue off from her stuttering, but she wanted to live - possibly remember. "P-p-p-please p-pretty man. Let S-seon-na go." She couldn't stop crying.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
How could someone be this pathetic? One little joke about feeding her to the mutts, and here she was sobbing like he was about to torture her to death. He shuddered to think about the noise she would make if he actually tried that.
"Quite an excitable little dear, aren't you?" Eltana teased her with another giggle, then glanced at his companion. "Set her down. As amusing as I find her hysterics, she's hard enough to understand as is, and the tears aren't helping."
Nodding, the thief lowered her to the ground, but still gripped her hair to keep her from running. Eltana looked down at the child and examined her closely. As she said, she was a filthy street rat. He suspected that the little brat hadn't had a decent bath in ages. Her clothes were absolutely repulsive, as well. But she did possess a natural, innocent beauty, even if it was hard to see behind all the dirt. Personally, he never understood the look's appeal, but a lot of men went for that. With a bit of luck - and a lot of soap and water - she could be useful.
"Now, now - I won't feed you to the dogs as long as you behave. Besides, feeding such an adorable little piegon to a big doggy would be quite a waste, wouldn't it?" Eltana hid his grin behind his fan. "Consider yourself very lucky that I find you interesting. Tell me, sweetheart: Exactly what is wrong with your speech? Did you fly into a window when you were a hatchling?"
"Quite an excitable little dear, aren't you?" Eltana teased her with another giggle, then glanced at his companion. "Set her down. As amusing as I find her hysterics, she's hard enough to understand as is, and the tears aren't helping."
Nodding, the thief lowered her to the ground, but still gripped her hair to keep her from running. Eltana looked down at the child and examined her closely. As she said, she was a filthy street rat. He suspected that the little brat hadn't had a decent bath in ages. Her clothes were absolutely repulsive, as well. But she did possess a natural, innocent beauty, even if it was hard to see behind all the dirt. Personally, he never understood the look's appeal, but a lot of men went for that. With a bit of luck - and a lot of soap and water - she could be useful.
"Now, now - I won't feed you to the dogs as long as you behave. Besides, feeding such an adorable little piegon to a big doggy would be quite a waste, wouldn't it?" Eltana hid his grin behind his fan. "Consider yourself very lucky that I find you interesting. Tell me, sweetheart: Exactly what is wrong with your speech? Did you fly into a window when you were a hatchling?"
Re: Underhanded Innocence
The man set her down and Seona quickly scrubbed at her eyes, trying to calm down. She looked up into the man's eyes, most of his face hidden by a fan. Pidgeon? "S-Seona is an owl. N-not a pidgeon." She corrected hesitantly. "Could show, if no hate magic?" She froze when he asked a question about her speech, her eyes immediately casting downwards. "Seona no remember. No memories. Blank slate." She explained shuffling her feet.
"Person say Seona hit head - scar?" She pointed at the back of her head. "But Seona no remember." He thought she was interesting? He was pretty interesting himself. A man that acted and looked like a woman. A very pretty woman. "You are very..." she clicks her teeth, hesitating. "Pretty? Handsome? Seona no know proper word. Sorry." She was half hooting whenever she extended the o's, her s's slurred until she sounded as though she was beginning to shush him.
"B-b-but... S-Seona no mean that as bad thing. Pretty man interesting too! Seona thanks pretty man for thinking dirty street brat is interesting. S-Seona help? Seona good helper! Play pretty music! n-n-nimble fingers!" She stuttered now, unable to remember the words properly. Her head bowed again in shame as she muttered, "stupid Seona...". She could never get the words out, even to save her own worthless hide...
"Person say Seona hit head - scar?" She pointed at the back of her head. "But Seona no remember." He thought she was interesting? He was pretty interesting himself. A man that acted and looked like a woman. A very pretty woman. "You are very..." she clicks her teeth, hesitating. "Pretty? Handsome? Seona no know proper word. Sorry." She was half hooting whenever she extended the o's, her s's slurred until she sounded as though she was beginning to shush him.
"B-b-but... S-Seona no mean that as bad thing. Pretty man interesting too! Seona thanks pretty man for thinking dirty street brat is interesting. S-Seona help? Seona good helper! Play pretty music! n-n-nimble fingers!" She stuttered now, unable to remember the words properly. Her head bowed again in shame as she muttered, "stupid Seona...". She could never get the words out, even to save her own worthless hide...
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana's smile widened when she mentioned her amnesia. This was going to be even easier than he thought.
He fell silent for a while, peering at her from behind his fan. Out of nowhere, this nervous little thing had rounded the corner and run into his companion. Her memories were gone, and judging from her behavior, she seemed like she could be easily manipulated. It was as though fate itself had tossed her into his lap. Passing up a gift like this would be simply unacceptable.
“Leave us,” he told his companions. “I'll meet with you both next week to discuss the terms of our arrangement. Let your boss know that the wraith will deal with the boy's insubordination. You won't have to worry about him snitching by the time we're finished.”
The thug grasping Soena's hair nodded, then released her and left with his friend. “I'm so sorry that you had to go through that, darling,” he said sweetly. “My friends have a bit of a temper, as you can see. And don't worry yourself about those dogs; I was merely teasing. From what I hear, their owner takes excellent care of them, so they wouldn't be interested in an owl.”
Frightening her further would be amusing, but it wouldn't help his goals. There was no doubt in his mind that this child would be a worthwhile investment. Making this adorable little thing a model would endear her to Marn's people and give his fashion house a stronger foothold in the city. Although he wasn't exactly interested in pursuing fashion business in Marn, avoiding it altogether would be suspicious. Besides, a little extra bishani wouldn't hurt.
“Where are my manners? I haven't properly introduced myself! I am Eltana Remathia, the founder and head of the Remathia fasion house in Belleza. And if you're interested, my dear, I have a proposition for you.”
He fell silent for a while, peering at her from behind his fan. Out of nowhere, this nervous little thing had rounded the corner and run into his companion. Her memories were gone, and judging from her behavior, she seemed like she could be easily manipulated. It was as though fate itself had tossed her into his lap. Passing up a gift like this would be simply unacceptable.
“Leave us,” he told his companions. “I'll meet with you both next week to discuss the terms of our arrangement. Let your boss know that the wraith will deal with the boy's insubordination. You won't have to worry about him snitching by the time we're finished.”
The thug grasping Soena's hair nodded, then released her and left with his friend. “I'm so sorry that you had to go through that, darling,” he said sweetly. “My friends have a bit of a temper, as you can see. And don't worry yourself about those dogs; I was merely teasing. From what I hear, their owner takes excellent care of them, so they wouldn't be interested in an owl.”
Frightening her further would be amusing, but it wouldn't help his goals. There was no doubt in his mind that this child would be a worthwhile investment. Making this adorable little thing a model would endear her to Marn's people and give his fashion house a stronger foothold in the city. Although he wasn't exactly interested in pursuing fashion business in Marn, avoiding it altogether would be suspicious. Besides, a little extra bishani wouldn't hurt.
“Where are my manners? I haven't properly introduced myself! I am Eltana Remathia, the founder and head of the Remathia fasion house in Belleza. And if you're interested, my dear, I have a proposition for you.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
She blinked, confused as he so easily dismissed her captors. She watched them leave before turning her eyes back to the man. She wasn't afraid of him, the owl within her simply stared at him curiously, so she followed suit. Beautiful, striking... sad. Her eyes met his own as she listened to him. Sad, so sad. The alcohol made him fake-happy, she could see that. But so sad... the black hair cast shadows of grace down his face. He looked so pale, so sad, so alone. She wanted to touch him, comfort him. His question knocked her from her reverie though.
"Prop...prop..." She sighs and closes her eyes before nodding. "Seona is interested. Please tell Seona, Elt.. Elt..." She struggled with his name, gritting her teeth. Stupid, so stupid! Try harder! "Elt-tan-na." Good... for now. "Seona wants to help Eltana." Muuuuuch better. "Seona doesn't want Eltana to be sad anymore." She could see it behind his smiles and his fan, though she never thought to not mention it.
"Fake smiles no work. Seona sees Eltana." It reminded her of her own sadness, of her loneliness. She could fix his, but even she knew that would be pushing a limit. The way he held himself... she couldn't hug him either, not yet. He was too new, too strange. She didn't wish to upset this lovely, friendly, sad man.
"Prop...prop..." She sighs and closes her eyes before nodding. "Seona is interested. Please tell Seona, Elt.. Elt..." She struggled with his name, gritting her teeth. Stupid, so stupid! Try harder! "Elt-tan-na." Good... for now. "Seona wants to help Eltana." Muuuuuch better. "Seona doesn't want Eltana to be sad anymore." She could see it behind his smiles and his fan, though she never thought to not mention it.
"Fake smiles no work. Seona sees Eltana." It reminded her of her own sadness, of her loneliness. She could fix his, but even she knew that would be pushing a limit. The way he held himself... she couldn't hug him either, not yet. He was too new, too strange. She didn't wish to upset this lovely, friendly, sad man.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana raised a brow at her response. He had expected Seona to fall to her knees and thank him for giving such a dirty child his consideration; or perhaps to doubt his intentions and flee from him in fear. Instead, she said she wanted to help him with his sadness. What sadness? He owned the largest fashion house in Belleza and had a wraith at his command. There was nothing for him to be sad about.
Unless, of course, the child was referring to his depression. He didn't consider it sadness so much as frustration with the pathetic world he lived in. Though he enjoyed his life, sometimes he struggled to pull himself out of bed and deal with people he knew would inevitably disappoint him. He often isolated himself when these feelings weighed down on him, but his brother Mazalan had a talent for pulling him out of it.
When life challenged Eltana, he merely reminded it of its place.
Still, how could she know about that? He guarded his feelings carefully, aside from his occasional anger episodes. Perhaps the alcohol had betrayed him, or maybe she could see through him with magic. It certainly wasn't a fault on his end. Regardless, her reasons were inconsequential. As long as she remained useful, she could think whatever she wanted.
“Whatever you say, child,” he answered simply, his tone far less playful than before. “My proposition is simple: My business does not have as much hold in Marn as I'd like, so I need models that can appeal to its people. You may be able to help me with this problem.”
The lord took a few steps forward, then stopped and looked back at Seona, once again waving his fan. “I suspect that talk of demographics and sales will be lost on you, so I'll keep this simple. By dressing you up in my products and parading your image around Marn and Shim, I hope to persuade Marn's young women to purchase my clothing. In exchange for your services, I will be more than happy to reasonably compensate you in any way you desire. Does this interest you?”
Unless, of course, the child was referring to his depression. He didn't consider it sadness so much as frustration with the pathetic world he lived in. Though he enjoyed his life, sometimes he struggled to pull himself out of bed and deal with people he knew would inevitably disappoint him. He often isolated himself when these feelings weighed down on him, but his brother Mazalan had a talent for pulling him out of it.
When life challenged Eltana, he merely reminded it of its place.
Still, how could she know about that? He guarded his feelings carefully, aside from his occasional anger episodes. Perhaps the alcohol had betrayed him, or maybe she could see through him with magic. It certainly wasn't a fault on his end. Regardless, her reasons were inconsequential. As long as she remained useful, she could think whatever she wanted.
“Whatever you say, child,” he answered simply, his tone far less playful than before. “My proposition is simple: My business does not have as much hold in Marn as I'd like, so I need models that can appeal to its people. You may be able to help me with this problem.”
The lord took a few steps forward, then stopped and looked back at Seona, once again waving his fan. “I suspect that talk of demographics and sales will be lost on you, so I'll keep this simple. By dressing you up in my products and parading your image around Marn and Shim, I hope to persuade Marn's young women to purchase my clothing. In exchange for your services, I will be more than happy to reasonably compensate you in any way you desire. Does this interest you?”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
She tilted her head. Her question seemed to upset him. Perhaps he was another person who hated being read... Seona lowered her eyes, saddened. She just wanted to do her best for what now seems to be her new master. She looked back up at his question, her eyes lighting at the idea of serving him. "Seona can do this, if Eltana wishes her to." Why she was so eager to serve him was beyond her.
She followed him easily through the streets, her eyes glued to his form. She would not lose him. She clutched her violin, having grabbed it up as she scrambled after him. Maybe he would like music? She wanted to make him happy! Why though? She hesitated a moment before following him, her mind now in high gear, trying to think as to why she wanted to follow and obey him. He'd threatened her with dogs, sounded and looked female though he was male, had a lovely if not odd fashion sense... he seemed cruel, entertained by the worst of things- why then? Why would she want to serve such a person? He glanced at her and she saw his eyes.
Ah his eyes... that was why? That made no sense! They were dark, cold, listless and sad. Not eyes Seona would like to follow normally. So why now? Deeper... it was deeper...
She followed him easily through the streets, her eyes glued to his form. She would not lose him. She clutched her violin, having grabbed it up as she scrambled after him. Maybe he would like music? She wanted to make him happy! Why though? She hesitated a moment before following him, her mind now in high gear, trying to think as to why she wanted to follow and obey him. He'd threatened her with dogs, sounded and looked female though he was male, had a lovely if not odd fashion sense... he seemed cruel, entertained by the worst of things- why then? Why would she want to serve such a person? He glanced at her and she saw his eyes.
Ah his eyes... that was why? That made no sense! They were dark, cold, listless and sad. Not eyes Seona would like to follow normally. So why now? Deeper... it was deeper...
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Unquestioning obedience normally pleased him, but something about this child's lack of hesitation seemed suspicious. Granted, most street urchins would kill for a job like this, but she was too eager to serve a complete stranger. While he suspected she was just that naïve, the years had taught him never to rule out the possibility of treachery.
Not that it mattered – a visit to the wraith would easily solve that problem.
Eltana remained silent as he walked down the street, casually waving his fan. Somehow, he doubted he would ever get used to Marn: It lacked the Belleza's fine architecture and pleasant armomas, and its peasants didn't even greet him as he passed by. True, the forced pleasantries had always bothered him, but they were preferable to being ignored. He'd be taking the carriage a lot more here than he did in Belleza, that was for certain.
His eyes drifted up to night sky. Pitch black, as always. One of the few things he missed about his old village was playing out under the stars with his brothers. Whenever they'd camp out during the summer, they'd always go down to the river and catch fireflies. He cherished those memories, but the past was the past. He needed to look to the future.
“You will be staying with me until we can arrange more appropriate accomodations,” he told her. “We will go over the rules once we arrive. Before you go to bed, you will clean yourself thoroughly, and we will decide on your new wardrobe. Your training will begin tomorrow morning.”
Stopping, he looked back at her and frowned, his eyes settling on her violin. “Also, you will not be playing that inside my home. I require silence to work effectively; and if your disturb me, your violin will be taken away. Am I clear?”
Not that it mattered – a visit to the wraith would easily solve that problem.
Eltana remained silent as he walked down the street, casually waving his fan. Somehow, he doubted he would ever get used to Marn: It lacked the Belleza's fine architecture and pleasant armomas, and its peasants didn't even greet him as he passed by. True, the forced pleasantries had always bothered him, but they were preferable to being ignored. He'd be taking the carriage a lot more here than he did in Belleza, that was for certain.
His eyes drifted up to night sky. Pitch black, as always. One of the few things he missed about his old village was playing out under the stars with his brothers. Whenever they'd camp out during the summer, they'd always go down to the river and catch fireflies. He cherished those memories, but the past was the past. He needed to look to the future.
“You will be staying with me until we can arrange more appropriate accomodations,” he told her. “We will go over the rules once we arrive. Before you go to bed, you will clean yourself thoroughly, and we will decide on your new wardrobe. Your training will begin tomorrow morning.”
Stopping, he looked back at her and frowned, his eyes settling on her violin. “Also, you will not be playing that inside my home. I require silence to work effectively; and if your disturb me, your violin will be taken away. Am I clear?”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
She was fine with following his orders. She was fine with cleaning herself up, and with the idea of training. The fact he suggested her violin would disturb him did not settle well with her. She played at night to soothe children and people - and often it worked. 'Often' was the word that stopped her from protesting. Maybe he didn't like violin music - some people found the sound irritating. Still, her temper flared momentarily only to be snuffed out by her simple logic - what pleases one, displeases another.
"Seona will play outside." She agreed. He never said she couldn't play where she loved to the most - on the rooftops. Sound carried so beautifully from that high. Not too loud, not too quiet and the notes seemed so crystal clear. Still, she'd wanted to play for him. Ah well, little steps... She followed him once more to his home, her eyes growing huge and childlike as they entered his home. She was used to seeing places like this from the outside, even playing on their roofs. But still-! Everything was so... elegant! It was a small home, certainly, she'd thought he'd have larger as he was dressed so richly - but the interior well made up for it.
Furnished to the height of fashion and walls lined tastefully in art, Seona couldn't stop the small gasp of admiration. Realizing this might irritate her new master, as he would think her foolish and classless, she bowed her head and apologized softly, though she repeatedly sneaked awed glances at every chance she had. It was so wonderous!
It became apparent that Eltana wanted her clean, and now. He led her to the washroom and gestured at the strange device he called a 'bath' and described how to run it. The very brief and unhelpful instructions given, the feminine male strode out and closed the door behind him, leaving the terrified girl alone. If she broke something, she was dead. If she didn't clean up proper, he'd kick her out on the street. But... "Seona no know how to run this thing..." she whispered to herself. Well... she'd have to learn.
Stripping until she was naked, Seona folded her clothes neatly and set them on the ground , her violin set neatly on top. She moved to the tub and sat on the edge as she worked with the strange handles. Eventually she worked out which handles were hot, cold, and how the combination of the two worked, and soon worked to fill the tub slightly. She wasn't stupid - she knew she'd take awhile to clean properly, and multiple changes of water. So, taking a bar of soap in hand, she got to work.
The first 'tub' got the worst of the grime off - and she had to clean the tub before she tried to wash herself again. She rinsed the tub after the second, her eyes drooping from exhaustion. It had been a long and tiring day - but she needed to be clean! So she sang quietly to herself. It was a quiet yet cheerful tune, and basically wordless. The third wash was starting her hair and getting what was left off her body. She'd rinsed her hair out from soap twice before soaping it up once some nice-smelling hair-soap she'd spotted. She knew it was meant for hair - she'd seen it on the markets and a nice shopkeeper had explained it to her.
Soap still in her hair, she emptied and rinsed the tub before filling it one more final time. Sitting in the tub, tilting her head under the tap so the clean water rinsed her hair, Seona sighed in contentment. She felt so light, so silken, so... clean. Fingers scrubbed out any determined remaining grit and dirt. She worked to comb out her hair with her fingers, the water and soft oils of the soap helping until she had them out. She rinsed off the soap, any somehow remaining dirt, and stepped from the tub, finding a towel and drying off.
She wanted to brush her hair - but thought that using Eltana's personal care items would upset him, so she settled for combing her hair with her fingers after it had tangled from being dried. Being knot and mat-free the girls hair cascaded to almost her thighs. She looked to her clothes and frowned. Her master would not want her wearing dirty clothes once she was clean... so, being sure her feet were dry, she wrapped the towel around her and walked down the hall, exploring and looking for him.
When she found him she hooted gently to catch his attention, her small hand holding up the short cloth to her chest. It kept her modesty, barely. "Master Eltana? Is Seona clean enough?"
"Seona will play outside." She agreed. He never said she couldn't play where she loved to the most - on the rooftops. Sound carried so beautifully from that high. Not too loud, not too quiet and the notes seemed so crystal clear. Still, she'd wanted to play for him. Ah well, little steps... She followed him once more to his home, her eyes growing huge and childlike as they entered his home. She was used to seeing places like this from the outside, even playing on their roofs. But still-! Everything was so... elegant! It was a small home, certainly, she'd thought he'd have larger as he was dressed so richly - but the interior well made up for it.
Furnished to the height of fashion and walls lined tastefully in art, Seona couldn't stop the small gasp of admiration. Realizing this might irritate her new master, as he would think her foolish and classless, she bowed her head and apologized softly, though she repeatedly sneaked awed glances at every chance she had. It was so wonderous!
It became apparent that Eltana wanted her clean, and now. He led her to the washroom and gestured at the strange device he called a 'bath' and described how to run it. The very brief and unhelpful instructions given, the feminine male strode out and closed the door behind him, leaving the terrified girl alone. If she broke something, she was dead. If she didn't clean up proper, he'd kick her out on the street. But... "Seona no know how to run this thing..." she whispered to herself. Well... she'd have to learn.
Stripping until she was naked, Seona folded her clothes neatly and set them on the ground , her violin set neatly on top. She moved to the tub and sat on the edge as she worked with the strange handles. Eventually she worked out which handles were hot, cold, and how the combination of the two worked, and soon worked to fill the tub slightly. She wasn't stupid - she knew she'd take awhile to clean properly, and multiple changes of water. So, taking a bar of soap in hand, she got to work.
The first 'tub' got the worst of the grime off - and she had to clean the tub before she tried to wash herself again. She rinsed the tub after the second, her eyes drooping from exhaustion. It had been a long and tiring day - but she needed to be clean! So she sang quietly to herself. It was a quiet yet cheerful tune, and basically wordless. The third wash was starting her hair and getting what was left off her body. She'd rinsed her hair out from soap twice before soaping it up once some nice-smelling hair-soap she'd spotted. She knew it was meant for hair - she'd seen it on the markets and a nice shopkeeper had explained it to her.
Soap still in her hair, she emptied and rinsed the tub before filling it one more final time. Sitting in the tub, tilting her head under the tap so the clean water rinsed her hair, Seona sighed in contentment. She felt so light, so silken, so... clean. Fingers scrubbed out any determined remaining grit and dirt. She worked to comb out her hair with her fingers, the water and soft oils of the soap helping until she had them out. She rinsed off the soap, any somehow remaining dirt, and stepped from the tub, finding a towel and drying off.
She wanted to brush her hair - but thought that using Eltana's personal care items would upset him, so she settled for combing her hair with her fingers after it had tangled from being dried. Being knot and mat-free the girls hair cascaded to almost her thighs. She looked to her clothes and frowned. Her master would not want her wearing dirty clothes once she was clean... so, being sure her feet were dry, she wrapped the towel around her and walked down the hall, exploring and looking for him.
When she found him she hooted gently to catch his attention, her small hand holding up the short cloth to her chest. It kept her modesty, barely. "Master Eltana? Is Seona clean enough?"
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Leaving his grand mansion behind had been hard on Eltana, but with a lot of hard work and bishani, he had managed to make a little piece of Belleza for himself in Marn. Not nearly as spacious as he would have liked, but it was a start.
Though it couldn't compare to his mansion, his house was still fit for an aristocrat. The entrance hall, while small, gave the impression of elegance: Its white marble floors were decorated with intricate golden patterns, and expensive artwork adorned its walls. The eastern and western walls each had a large glass door that led to their respective wings. A large chandelier hanged between the entrance and the staircase, bathing the room in golden light. A crimson carpet ran up the center of the staircase to the second floor, and a large painting of the Bellezan cityscape dominated the top of the stairs.
Eltana closed the door behind him, then led the girl through the eastern wing to the guest bathroom. He motioned at the bathtub inside. “Use the handles to control the water temperature, and make sure to drain it once you're finished. Take as long as you need, but I expect this bathroom to be in perfect condition when you're finished.”
Without waiting for a response, he ushered her in and closed the door, then started toward the opposite wing. Quite honestly, he didn't care about her dirtying the bathroom – he had a maid for a reason. But Seona was a street rat, and she needed to learn how to behave like a proper young woman. She had to make public appearances at parties and events if she wanted to succeed as a model, and he wouldn't have her embarrassing him. Starting tomorrow, one of his servants would teach her the basics of fine life – proper posture, dining, and so on. It would be a lot of work, but she needed to learn if she was to be useful.
Eltana stepped into the lounge, where one of the servants – a young man with curly brown hair – was busy polishing the grand piano. The boy turned to greet him, but the lord raised his hand to silence him. “Chocolate-covered cherries. Coffee with milk and sugar. Be ready to run my bath in about an hour. Then go stand somewhere until I need you.”
The youth nodded and started out the door, but Eltana stopped him with a clap of his hands. “Oh! Before I forget – there's a little pet project of mine in the guest bathroom. Check in on her in about fifteen minutes and make sure she hasn't killed herself.”
When his servant left, Eltana lounged on the fainting couch and closed his eyes. He had a lot of work ahead of him: Training the girl to behave properly was one thing, but he could tell fixing that ridiculous speech impediment of hers would be a problem. He'd have to hire a speech therapist to make her at least somewhat coherent before he started bringing her to parties and introducing her to tailors. Then again, it was possible that the stupid public might find her strange speech endearing. The therapist could wait until he talked it over with his subordinates.
Hearing Seona's voice, he opened her eyes and quickly checked the floor for water when he saw her in a towel. Nothing, fortunately – otherwise, he'd have made her turn into an owl so he could pluck her feathers. He rose from the couch with a stretch, then walked to Seona and began circling around her, examining her carefully. “Hmm.. Much better than before. You have a fit build and seem to be an appropriate weight for your height. And I think we'll be able to do something with that hair of yours.”
He stopped in front of her and crossed his arms. “Yes, this is acceptable. Normally I prefer taller, more mature models, but in your case we'll make an exception. Now go upstairs and wait for me in the guest room on the left. I'll be up in a few minutes so we can discuss your wardrobe and lay out tomorrow's agenda.”
Though it couldn't compare to his mansion, his house was still fit for an aristocrat. The entrance hall, while small, gave the impression of elegance: Its white marble floors were decorated with intricate golden patterns, and expensive artwork adorned its walls. The eastern and western walls each had a large glass door that led to their respective wings. A large chandelier hanged between the entrance and the staircase, bathing the room in golden light. A crimson carpet ran up the center of the staircase to the second floor, and a large painting of the Bellezan cityscape dominated the top of the stairs.
Eltana closed the door behind him, then led the girl through the eastern wing to the guest bathroom. He motioned at the bathtub inside. “Use the handles to control the water temperature, and make sure to drain it once you're finished. Take as long as you need, but I expect this bathroom to be in perfect condition when you're finished.”
Without waiting for a response, he ushered her in and closed the door, then started toward the opposite wing. Quite honestly, he didn't care about her dirtying the bathroom – he had a maid for a reason. But Seona was a street rat, and she needed to learn how to behave like a proper young woman. She had to make public appearances at parties and events if she wanted to succeed as a model, and he wouldn't have her embarrassing him. Starting tomorrow, one of his servants would teach her the basics of fine life – proper posture, dining, and so on. It would be a lot of work, but she needed to learn if she was to be useful.
Eltana stepped into the lounge, where one of the servants – a young man with curly brown hair – was busy polishing the grand piano. The boy turned to greet him, but the lord raised his hand to silence him. “Chocolate-covered cherries. Coffee with milk and sugar. Be ready to run my bath in about an hour. Then go stand somewhere until I need you.”
The youth nodded and started out the door, but Eltana stopped him with a clap of his hands. “Oh! Before I forget – there's a little pet project of mine in the guest bathroom. Check in on her in about fifteen minutes and make sure she hasn't killed herself.”
When his servant left, Eltana lounged on the fainting couch and closed his eyes. He had a lot of work ahead of him: Training the girl to behave properly was one thing, but he could tell fixing that ridiculous speech impediment of hers would be a problem. He'd have to hire a speech therapist to make her at least somewhat coherent before he started bringing her to parties and introducing her to tailors. Then again, it was possible that the stupid public might find her strange speech endearing. The therapist could wait until he talked it over with his subordinates.
Hearing Seona's voice, he opened her eyes and quickly checked the floor for water when he saw her in a towel. Nothing, fortunately – otherwise, he'd have made her turn into an owl so he could pluck her feathers. He rose from the couch with a stretch, then walked to Seona and began circling around her, examining her carefully. “Hmm.. Much better than before. You have a fit build and seem to be an appropriate weight for your height. And I think we'll be able to do something with that hair of yours.”
He stopped in front of her and crossed his arms. “Yes, this is acceptable. Normally I prefer taller, more mature models, but in your case we'll make an exception. Now go upstairs and wait for me in the guest room on the left. I'll be up in a few minutes so we can discuss your wardrobe and lay out tomorrow's agenda.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Seona still thought him to be lovely, unable to stop herself from admiring him as he stretched and holding still as he circled her, even though she wished for nothing more than to turn with him. He felt like a wolf to her. She met his eyes as he spoke, the deep sadness still there, though his eyes were lit with something close to weary acceptance and aggravation. Seona nodded as she was dismissed and turned to walk up the staircase, careful not to touch anything too much. Of course, this was when the serving boy found her and squeaked, turning red a her state of undress.
"I-I-I-I- Sorry miss, I-I'm so sorry, I-" "Seona does not think Master Eltana wants boy to stutter to Seona, Seona thinks boy has things to do for Master Eltana?" The boy nodded after a moment of attempting to decipher her words. "Best do what Master Eltana wants before boy gets into trouble." The boy paled and scampered away, leaving Seona to climb the staircase alone. She turned into the room Eltana had told her of and gasped. It was magnificent, to say the least. Plush furniture, all designed for elegance and comfort filled the room artfully, a large window peering out over the street. There was artwork, certainly, and a rug, but Seona only cared for the window. It meant, if need be, she could open it and fly. She would not run from him - Changers no, Master Eltana was too good to her to do that...
So far, anyways. She closed the drapes quietly before removing the towel, draping it across the rack she found. Nude, she moved through the room in hopes of finding something to cover herself with besides a wet towel. Finding a housecoat, she pulled on the overly large garment and tied it, pulling her hair free once that was done. She sat on the bed, her eyes heavy. She couldn't sleep yet though, Master Eltana wished to speak with her. Something about a 'wardrobe' and 'schedule'... she'd only heard of these words from rich snooty ladies. Of course, Seona thought with an amused hoot, her master was quite a bit like snooty lady. Dressing in pretty colors, flowing materials and raised heeled boots. He really was quite pretty.
Suddenly she wished for her violin, but she'd left it in the bathroom... not that she could play anyways, she had to be outside. So, she sang quietly. It was a gentle, mostly wordless lullaby. Her eyes closed as she continued to sing, mostly to herself so as to keep as quiet as possible, and so did not see her master when he entered.
"I-I-I-I- Sorry miss, I-I'm so sorry, I-" "Seona does not think Master Eltana wants boy to stutter to Seona, Seona thinks boy has things to do for Master Eltana?" The boy nodded after a moment of attempting to decipher her words. "Best do what Master Eltana wants before boy gets into trouble." The boy paled and scampered away, leaving Seona to climb the staircase alone. She turned into the room Eltana had told her of and gasped. It was magnificent, to say the least. Plush furniture, all designed for elegance and comfort filled the room artfully, a large window peering out over the street. There was artwork, certainly, and a rug, but Seona only cared for the window. It meant, if need be, she could open it and fly. She would not run from him - Changers no, Master Eltana was too good to her to do that...
So far, anyways. She closed the drapes quietly before removing the towel, draping it across the rack she found. Nude, she moved through the room in hopes of finding something to cover herself with besides a wet towel. Finding a housecoat, she pulled on the overly large garment and tied it, pulling her hair free once that was done. She sat on the bed, her eyes heavy. She couldn't sleep yet though, Master Eltana wished to speak with her. Something about a 'wardrobe' and 'schedule'... she'd only heard of these words from rich snooty ladies. Of course, Seona thought with an amused hoot, her master was quite a bit like snooty lady. Dressing in pretty colors, flowing materials and raised heeled boots. He really was quite pretty.
Suddenly she wished for her violin, but she'd left it in the bathroom... not that she could play anyways, she had to be outside. So, she sang quietly. It was a gentle, mostly wordless lullaby. Her eyes closed as she continued to sing, mostly to herself so as to keep as quiet as possible, and so did not see her master when he entered.
-
Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana lowered onto the couch again after she left. Transforming the girl into a proper young woman would be a daunting task, but he knew it would be well worth the investment. Judging by his sales, Marn's women didn't seem too interested in emulating the busty, alluring models he was currently employing – probably because of that silly religion of theirs. An innocent girl like Seona would have a much stronger appeal among the more conservative customers. And depending on his success, he might try the same tactics in other cities to broaden his consumer base.
After all, he needed as much bishani as possible for his... more important projects.
His servant soon arrived with the food he'd requested. He took one sip of the coffee, then sighed in frustration and dumped it on the floor. “How many times do I have to remind you to let my coffee cool? Now my taste buds are burned, so I can't even enjoy my cherries. Take them outside and throw them at a peasant child, or whatever – I'm sure they'd enjoy something other than gruel and garbage. Count that as my good deed for the year.”
Standing, he headed toward the hallway, but stopped and smiled to himself once he reached the doorframe. “Oh, and clean up that mess by when I get back.”
On his way back to the main hall, he began to reflect on his plans. Vanyusha would be assaulting a herbalist's store in Shim in a few days to procure herbs for an incredibly rare poison. His underground contacts had a particular liking for poisons, so he knew the herbs would net him quite a bit of bishani. Vanyusha just had to be careful while dealing with the shopkeeper and his family. Whatever tests the wraith wanted to perform didn't concern him as long as he acted secretly. If the townspeople discovered Vanyusha, then Eltana wouldn't be able to steal from them for quite some time. If he wanted strong connections with Marn's underground, then he couldn't afford to lose any business.
A voice broke him from his thoughts as he reached Seona's door: “Have another project, huh?”
Stopping, he looked over at the young man standing against the wall – a tall, handsome figure in his early twenties; he had thick brown hair and wore tattered leather armor. Narain, a bodyguard provided by one of his more influential clients. “I suppose you could say that,” he answered thoughtfully. “Even if I'm not in Marn for the fashion business, I still need to maintain an alibi. Besides, a little extra bishani on the side never hurts.”
Narain laughed. “Don't have to tell me twice – that extra haul from last week bought me a long night with some nice whores. I know you don't like Marn, but the whores have all the right curves if you get my drift. Not that you'd really care, but still.”
Eltana rubbed his temples. “Spare me the details, please. Wait for me in my chambers. We'll talk more once that idiot finishes running the bath.”
Waving his bodyguard off, he entered Seona's room and frowned when he heard her singing. “Do not sing when I'm in the room,” he told her as he walked over to the wardrobe and opened it, revealing a large collection of fancy dresses. He turned back to Seona and motioned to her new clothing. “This all belongs to you. Choose one you'd like; I expect you to wear it to breakfast in the morning. Rest well, because tomorrow you'll start training to behave like a proper young woman.”
After all, he needed as much bishani as possible for his... more important projects.
His servant soon arrived with the food he'd requested. He took one sip of the coffee, then sighed in frustration and dumped it on the floor. “How many times do I have to remind you to let my coffee cool? Now my taste buds are burned, so I can't even enjoy my cherries. Take them outside and throw them at a peasant child, or whatever – I'm sure they'd enjoy something other than gruel and garbage. Count that as my good deed for the year.”
Standing, he headed toward the hallway, but stopped and smiled to himself once he reached the doorframe. “Oh, and clean up that mess by when I get back.”
On his way back to the main hall, he began to reflect on his plans. Vanyusha would be assaulting a herbalist's store in Shim in a few days to procure herbs for an incredibly rare poison. His underground contacts had a particular liking for poisons, so he knew the herbs would net him quite a bit of bishani. Vanyusha just had to be careful while dealing with the shopkeeper and his family. Whatever tests the wraith wanted to perform didn't concern him as long as he acted secretly. If the townspeople discovered Vanyusha, then Eltana wouldn't be able to steal from them for quite some time. If he wanted strong connections with Marn's underground, then he couldn't afford to lose any business.
A voice broke him from his thoughts as he reached Seona's door: “Have another project, huh?”
Stopping, he looked over at the young man standing against the wall – a tall, handsome figure in his early twenties; he had thick brown hair and wore tattered leather armor. Narain, a bodyguard provided by one of his more influential clients. “I suppose you could say that,” he answered thoughtfully. “Even if I'm not in Marn for the fashion business, I still need to maintain an alibi. Besides, a little extra bishani on the side never hurts.”
Narain laughed. “Don't have to tell me twice – that extra haul from last week bought me a long night with some nice whores. I know you don't like Marn, but the whores have all the right curves if you get my drift. Not that you'd really care, but still.”
Eltana rubbed his temples. “Spare me the details, please. Wait for me in my chambers. We'll talk more once that idiot finishes running the bath.”
Waving his bodyguard off, he entered Seona's room and frowned when he heard her singing. “Do not sing when I'm in the room,” he told her as he walked over to the wardrobe and opened it, revealing a large collection of fancy dresses. He turned back to Seona and motioned to her new clothing. “This all belongs to you. Choose one you'd like; I expect you to wear it to breakfast in the morning. Rest well, because tomorrow you'll start training to behave like a proper young woman.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
She was moreso humming when she heard her masters footsteps approach the door, and had been about to stop should that sound upset him when a new voice entered the fray. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop. She knew her master was allowed secrets. She knew- fuck it, she wanted to know! So she hummed quietly even as she tilted her head to listen to the conversation.
“Have another project, huh?” “I suppose you could say that,” he answered thoughtfully. “Even if I'm not in Marn for the fashion business, I still need to maintain an alibi. Besides, a little extra bishani on the side never hurts.” Seona's song faltered. He wasn't actually- well... she HAD met him in a shady part of town, so it did make sense... even still this was a hard thing to swallow. Her elegant master was what she called an under lord. A lord of the underground, if you would.
“Don't have to tell me twice – that extra haul from last week bought me a long night with some nice whores. I know you don't like Marn, but the whores have all the right curves if you get my drift. Not that you'd really care, but still.” He wouldn't care for curvy whores? Men always cared for- a memory flashed before her eyes, two men kissing. Oh. Well that was... disappointing? She wasn't sure what to think. In the end she shrugged it off, not much she could do either way.
Eltana said something as he moved to enter, so she quickly returned to singing to cover up the fact she'd been listening in on the pair. This displeased him it seemed. Bowing her head submissively and apologizing quietly, Seona did as he bade her to. Carefully she pushed garments aside, treating each as though it were made of the most precious materials - and some were. One though... one caught her eye. Certainly they all did, all were breath-taking, but this one... She pulled it from the wardrobe and held it to herself curiously, and to show her master.
It was an elegant dress, the material a deep and rich blue and of soft quality, a black corset would serve to hold the material close and enhance her small figure, light blue threading accenting curves and seams to make it all seem magical. Seona looked up to her master, unaware the blue enhanced her eyes, and tilted her head, her drying curls swaying with the movement. "Is this acceptable, Master Eltana?"
“Have another project, huh?” “I suppose you could say that,” he answered thoughtfully. “Even if I'm not in Marn for the fashion business, I still need to maintain an alibi. Besides, a little extra bishani on the side never hurts.” Seona's song faltered. He wasn't actually- well... she HAD met him in a shady part of town, so it did make sense... even still this was a hard thing to swallow. Her elegant master was what she called an under lord. A lord of the underground, if you would.
“Don't have to tell me twice – that extra haul from last week bought me a long night with some nice whores. I know you don't like Marn, but the whores have all the right curves if you get my drift. Not that you'd really care, but still.” He wouldn't care for curvy whores? Men always cared for- a memory flashed before her eyes, two men kissing. Oh. Well that was... disappointing? She wasn't sure what to think. In the end she shrugged it off, not much she could do either way.
Eltana said something as he moved to enter, so she quickly returned to singing to cover up the fact she'd been listening in on the pair. This displeased him it seemed. Bowing her head submissively and apologizing quietly, Seona did as he bade her to. Carefully she pushed garments aside, treating each as though it were made of the most precious materials - and some were. One though... one caught her eye. Certainly they all did, all were breath-taking, but this one... She pulled it from the wardrobe and held it to herself curiously, and to show her master.
It was an elegant dress, the material a deep and rich blue and of soft quality, a black corset would serve to hold the material close and enhance her small figure, light blue threading accenting curves and seams to make it all seem magical. Seona looked up to her master, unaware the blue enhanced her eyes, and tilted her head, her drying curls swaying with the movement. "Is this acceptable, Master Eltana?"