Now...
Her breaths are short ragged, with barely restrained emotion carrying on each exhalation she makes. Meeko's half opened eyes look around her as the low hum of the others starts to rise, indicating the ritual had begun.
Atop the raised plinth in the centre of the secluded chamber, the nekojin stands tall with her legs spread apart, manacles fixed on short chains to keep them that way. She slowly glances up at the chains hanging from the ceiling, metal lightly clinking as she sways back and forth, her wrists held securely in place above her head. Moving, let alone freedom, was not an option for her.
As the rhythmic humming rises her gaze falls forward, knowing full well the identity of the robed and hooded figure slowly approaching her position. His hands are held out in front of him, the sleeves of his robes partially obscuring the items he holds - an old chalice of burnished copper, and an ornate dagger - but both glow in the light of the candles mounted on the walls around them all Soon he mounts the platform, coming face to face with her... His sacrifice for the evening.
A bead of sweat rolls down the side of her face, her body flushed with heat as she struggles to rein in the arousal forced upon her. Beneath the white cloth pulled across the lower half of her face she feels her lip quivering in anticipation.
It was only a matter of time now, before it would be over...
* * *
Seven hours earlier...
Caliao Prismalért leans back against the plush velvet couch she had been resting on for the past hour, and reaches into her reticule to produce a small notebook. She opens it to the nearest blank page and, after another moment to locate her ornate fountain pen, begins to write:
Journal Entry: Flel'ih, Day 21,
I swear to gods high and low, since I became Guildmistress I have never seen a woman as unlucky as Meeko Talukino. And I once crossed paths with a wizard who had been hexed by a vengeful fortuity demon. He tried to seduce me and turned himself into a pool of blancmange.
Youthful eagerness is a quality I admire in my guildsmen. But Meeko is also impulsive, petulant and, perhaps, a little too easily aroused for someone taking the risks that she is. She is also notoriously bad with her finances, meaning she is only looking at the reward rather than the job itself... Not the first to do this, but her streak of misfortune means she will run afoul of trouble she truly cannot handle sooner rather than later.
I must curtail these impulsive actions as soon as possible, if Meeko hopes to remain in the guild. I had been rattling my brain on ways to do this, and were it not for a recent request from an old acquaintance I would be at a loss. Gods willing, if this pans out the way I believe it will help--
"Guildmistress?" A huffy voice interrupts from across the waiting room. "The young... lady is ready for your inspection."
Caliao looks up from her journal slowly, her bright emerald eyes falling upon the full figured seamstress standing across from her. She is a torijin, their species well known for their stuffy attitudes as much as their skill as master clothiers. The older woman has a beautiful plumage of blue and green feathers atop her head, and her elegant avian form is highlighted perfectly in the cut and design of her dress.
"Good good." The busty nekojin closes her journal with a loud clap, inspecting the torijin's form carefully as she packs her items away and gets to her feet. "Let us have a look at our young Miss Talukino, shall we?"
The well-to-do boutique, located not too far from her own guild, is extravagant even by her own expensive appetites but her needs for her troublesome mage meant that they all must endure such luxuries today. The lavish decor of the room is an easy tell that this establishment caters only to a certain clientele, with detailing made of the finest tupello redwood, and doorways flanked by curtains made of the most exquisite silk imaginable.
Her heels thud sharply under the fabric of her form fitting, ruby coloured dress as she follows her to the fitting rooms, finding herself in the spacious chamber with a three paned mirror takes up the far wall, framed in ornately fashioned gold, and adjacent to that sits another doorway with the silk divider pulled across to conceal its occupant. A younger, slender torijin stands outside the changing booth, Caliao noticing how flustered she is, the clear blush appearing around her grey beak and accentuated by her white and pink plumage.
"Come along then, Miss. Talukino," Caliao claps her hands and calls out, only imagining how inappropriate Meeko has acted. "Let us see what these fine ladies have done with you."
After a long pause a voice behind the curtain shouts, "Nyah, I... I really don't want to."
"That was not a request, girl." Caliao retorts, her voice having a little more edge to it now. "Get out here and let me have a look at you."
"... Fine." Meeko says, and pulls the curtain back to reveal herself. The nekojin stands awkwardly in the doorway, modelling the maid outfit that the seamstresses had sewn her into. The black fabric of the dress is sleek and shiny, hugging her torso down to her hips before the skirt flares out and comes to a stop a couple of inches below the base of her ass. An ornamental apron of many white frills adorns her front, more white used for her knee high socks and elbow length gloves, and a frilled headdress of black and white crowns the top of her head fashionably.
Hm. I normally wouldn't approve of such flauntations from my guildsmen...
Calicao keeps her face static as she admires how form fitting the black dress is, the bust of its bodice tailored to rigidly but perfectly accentuating Meeko's chest.
But I could get used to this look...
"Nyah, I feel like a floozy in this thing." The nekojin bemoans, shuffling forward on the shiny black heels she wears. Her grey furred ears are folded down from her miserable attitude, laying flat against her indigo hair which has been styled into a more elegant bob cut.
"Do not be rude, Miss Talukino." Caliao speaks softly but firmly, offering a nod of appreciation to the torijin before continuing. "This is a high society affair, and your attire should match the occasion. Now, to review: Lord Einzelwulf's son,currently on sabbatical from his studies, will be hosting a small
soiree
for the sons of other affluent lords, as is required of his station. And the lord himself has requested the presence of a young maiden to play hostess for them."
"Maiden?" Meeko looks up at this, a snort of derision following it "I think I have the wrong outfit for that, Guildmistress."
"I take it to mean that they are looking for a respectable young lady, " Caliao continues without missing a beat, "one who will ensure they are kept entertained and supplied with drinks when required. As such, I expect you to act with the utmost--"
"Nyeh, my butt is literally hanging out of this thing!" Meeko raises her voice as she gestures down to the skirt, twisting herself around and pushing her rear out. "What sort of 'professional' am I supposed to be in this, nyah? This is ridiculous!"
Caliao lets out a soft growl and narrows her eyes, Meeko's outburst and behaviour further flustering the two seamstresses. The younger of the two in particular blushes more as Meeko waves her barely covered rear in her direction, her tail waving and lifting the hem up farther than what is decent.
"Miss Talukino, that is
enough
!" Caliao's voice is raised, but not shouting, and the final word has an edge to it that stuns the room into stillness. After a moment she lets out a gentle sigh, looking at the elder seamstress. "May we please have the room, my dear? I must speak with my guildsman."
Caliao watches as the torijin bow before departing, the elder seamstress abruptly shooing her subordinate out of the room for her reactions. Caliao waits until she hears the doors close, takes a measured breath and starts to advance on Meeko.
"Nyeh heh! I think the cute one likes me!" Meeko says, apparently just to herself. "A shame she has to be such a gruuaa-- Aah-ah-ah,
Ow
!"
"Gods'
balls
, girl, you are such a pain!" The Guildmistress draws herself up to her full height to assert her dominance, her fingers already pinched around Meeko's ear as she pulls her over. "Do I need to remind you why you are here? Of how much embarrassment you have caused the guild? I give you this chance to prove to me that you can follow simple instructions for an assignment and remain in this guild. And
this
is how you act?"
"S-s-sorry, Guildmistress!" Meeko winces and whines, Caliao unsure if her reaction is from her stern demeanour or the vice-like grip on her ear.
"Take this seriously, girl." Caliao snaps on, pulling the younger nekojin closer. "You have but three tasks for this evening, and I expect you to fulfil them fully: Do as your hosts require of you; play the role you have been hired for to the letter; and be professional at all times. Can you do that?"
Meeko nods nervously, Caliao's message having gotten across as she releases her ear. As the silence hangs between them, the Guildmistress looks over her subordinate, and a small wave of pity comes over her as Meeko rubs her tender lobe with a sour look on her face.
Gods' balls, why must I flit so much between mistress and mother hen... Despite her many faults, she is at least trying. And it is too late to back out of this agreement now...
"Come now girl, smarten yourself up." Caliao speaks softer now, the beginnings of a smile emerging on her glossy lips. She reaches up to help smooth her indigo hair, Meeko understandably flinching from the touch. "We do not want those stuffy pigeons out there to see you in such a state. Just... Remember my instructions, finish the job successfully. We will then talk about your future in the guild, understood?"
"Nyah, of-- I m-mean, yes, Guildmistress!" Meeko nods again, the older woman's softer tones seeming to put some confidence back into the young mage.
"Good good!" Caliao's smile increases, patting her shoulder before moving over to the entrance. As she opens the double doors she catches the two torijin in mid-conversation, both ladies jumping at her appearance. The Guildmistress cannot help but narrow her eyes at them, the judgemental looks they share between them saying all she needs to know.
Oh, so not up to your normal standards, ladies?
Caliao cannot help but narrow her eyes, having felt their condescension since she and Meeko entered their establishment. Although Meeko may not be an ideal patron, she is something far more important to Caliao and will not stand for their snobbery.
