'So this is always the routine for you?' Dianna asked Taira as they passed through the isles at the supermarket. The young girl, now naturally dressed in some of the provided myriad stock of shirts and pants that Ruviera kept for them all in the event that they needed to go out of the house, nodded eagerly to her, her light blonde hair bouncing about in place on her shoulders and back as she did so. Her cute, almost child-like features made her look unbelievably young, although she was in truth a year older than Carla, putting her in her early twenties, although that isn't saying much given that all the women in Ruviera's house at the moment were in their late teens or early-twenties.
'Yep. We take turns, although some of us have specific jobs only we do. This week's my turn to shop. Mistress pays for it all and she writes us a list of everything we need - she's so smart. She's thought of everything we'll need for the next two weeks, but I'm allowed to get anything else I think we might need along the way.'
'And have you?' Dianna asked. Taira shook her head.
'Nope, like I said, Mistress has thought of everything. She's so smart.' Taira skipped off, her appropriately youthful t-shirt and plait button-up billowing as she put a foot up and skated along the floor for a few metres. Despite having many pairs of shoes, Taira had gone barefoot, and Dianna had to admit that the look suited her. She looked like a youthful country girl, hair out and soft skin bare to the sun and air, short shorts and t-shirt thrown on as if she'd just needed something to hide her kit while she was out for the day - which, in truth, wasn't that far off the real deal. Dianna, for her part, was wearing a long shirt and oversized jumper over the top, the shirt underneath tucked into a pair of fairly casual cargo pants, emblazoned with the soft colours of military-esque camouflage. She had opted for shoes, and ended up wearing some of Emily's. The double socks she'd had to wear were tight, but she didn't mind. She had lived on a farm for many years in her young days, and she had grown accustomed to wearing thick or uncomfortable clothes that had been necessary for the job. Although she was unlikely to step into any deep ditches here, she still felt safe that, if she did, her toes wouldn't freeze.
Rushing to catch up, Dianna walked alongside Taira, her tall, elegant form and flowing red hair a stark contrast to the short, freckled Taira. Dianna looked like her age - in fact, she looked a little older. Her natural maturity and grace gave her the sensation of commanding respect. Taira, for her part, was more likely to be told off for skating on the trollies and to find her mother than to demand respect. Diana had the sleeves on her jumper down, and her hands in her pockets. She hadn't felt comfortable coming to such a busy, confined place, but Taira had had no such misgivings and had dragged her in by the hand, completely carefree of the power Dianna had over her at the contact. Dianna, still fearful at the shopping centre, had let her bring her in, but had planted her hands firmly in her pockets once they were inside.
Taira, ever the optimistic had been happy to let her accompany her while she shopped, content to have her company and conversation alongside her, apart from occasionally asking for her to reach something up high. Now, as she watched the youthful woman collect groceries, she marvelled at the maturity and confidence the girl showed. She carried a gentle love for life and a no-bullshit respect for others that belied her age - she had shown that earlier when she had taken Dianna's hand and brought her inside with her. Taira knew her power yet had still touched her, confident or perhaps fearless of what Dianna could do while the contact remained. Perhaps it had been naivety, but Dianna didn't think it was. Taira knew, somewhere inside, that Dianna wasn't going to do anything to her, and had had the faith in her to believe in that.
'Do you remember anything from before?' Dianna asked as they moved down the aisle together. Taira turned to her, a questioning look on her face. 'You know, before...
Her.'
She elaborated, unhelpfully. Taira turned back to the shelf and grabbed a tin, then put it back and grabbed the right one. 'Not really,' she said conversationally, unaffected by the abrupt question. Nothing more was forthcoming, so Dianna went on.
'Nothing at all? Your childhood, your parents and your school?' she prompted.
'Well, yes, of course,' Taira said. 'I remember all of those... Except the parents.' She put the item she had picked up in the basket and pushed off, skating again. Dianna sped up to catch up, worried she had caused offense.
'Hey, I'm sorry if-' She began, but Taira spoke again.
'No, no, it's fine - I used to be sad, but then Mistress made me happy again. It's fine, I never knew them, and I don't need to. I have Mistress now.'
In a corner of her mind, Dianna wished Taira would stop bringing every topic back to 'Mistress.' Then, she checked the statement - like it or not, it was how Taira had been programmed from the very roots up, and it was what she had signed on to be a part of. There was no point getting annoyed at it now. She might as well get used to the constant, awe-like praise Ruviera's subjects paid her at all times.
'I'm sorry if it's a tough subject, I didn't mean to just ask something like that.'
'But you did, and it's okay! Like I said, I don't remember them, and I don't need to. I'm happy. I had a good upbringing, and it's even better now that I'm Mistress's.' Taira said. They turned the corner and continued on a while, then Dianna asked another question.
'So, how did you come to meet Ruviera?'
'She found me. I was nineteen and had just finished high school. The public system in my city only pays for tuition until you're eighteen, and I had been running tight for a year. I had got a job, which was tough, and it hurt my schoolwork, but it paid enough for me to stay. Then I turned nineteen and they fired me. Someone from school said they could hire someone 16 who'd cost half what I did, that was probably why. My last school payment came by and I was already behind, and I got cut off.
'I was walking home with my letter of dismissal in one hand and my bag dragging behind in the other. There was a storm coming over and I was going to get soaked. I had planned to go to the shops and start asking around, but the storm would hit long before I got there and I didn't feel up to asking for work freezing and drenched, so I turned home. It was that time for me and it made me even worse, and I just couldn't be there if it came. I was six blocks away when She pulled up and asked me if I wanted help. She didn't offer me anything, or try to con me, she just said she'd drive me home if I wanted.'
'If the state was paying for your school and work just paid enough for your fees, where was your home?' Dianna asked softly. 'Wouldn't it be at the school? You know, as a boarder?'
Taira smiled. 'Yep. I was a boarding girl. But that ended when I was dismissed. I was walking to the homeless shelter.'
Dianna was silent as Taira continued, surprisingly casual as she told her story. 'Mistress offered me a ride, nothing more. I figured much else couldn't go wrong, so I accepted. She drove me there, then stopped out the front. She let me open the door, get out, put my bag on. Then she asked if I wanted a new life, a real one. A life of pleasure, and happiness, and work for the rest of my life, work that would make sure I never had to pay for anything again. I thought for about ten seconds, then, I threw my only belongings down on the curb and got back in. I left part of myself behind me that day, and I gained so much more in Mistress thanks to it. She's incredible.'
Dianna was silent for a few minutes, processing the story. They shopped on, came to the checkout and left. As they strode out of the centre, Dianna quietly whispered a thank you to Taira, who shrugged It off casually.
