Merchant & Monster Girls

"Aren't you worried it's going to freeze solid or something?" cautioned Devin, watching Azalea take out her art supplies.

"As long as it's on my body, I think it'll be ok. Look how lively it is, wanting to be such a willing model!" the fairy raved.

Devin didn't respond to his fairy's exaggerated claims about the family's new "addition." The strange semi-liquid creature lying inert on her knee was known as an Oozari or schlicum, as Azalea preferred.

Azalea lifted the schlicum. "Now, then, I want you to pose very cutely. Perfect! Just like that! Now, don't move." Azalea turned to a new page in her book and started sketching.

"Do you think it actually understands you?"

"Most probably not, Life-mate, but I'm hoping it can feel the cadence and vibrations of my voice."

"Hmm. Maybe it's working. It seems to know who's who -- well, between the two of us, anyway."

Devin patted the gooey lump with his finger. Unperturbed but still cautious, it formed and extended a tendril to inspect what touched it. Coming to the conclusion Devin wasn't a threat, it promptly retracted the tendril, ignored him, and curled more into Azalea's hand.

"Maybe the more likely answer is because you feed it."

"Certainly does wonders for my memory when you 'feed' me!" Azalea looked up at Devin, licked her lips, then giggled. "It's one insatiable little creature."

"Like someone else I know," Devin confided and winked at her.

"Nothing wrong with having a healthy appetite." She lifted the schlicum close to her face. "Even though I fed you an hour ago, I bet you're still not full, huh? You need to give my poor pussy a rest."

"Given your recovery time, I'm finding that hard to believe," jested Devin.

"Sssh. I'm trying to establish discipline. Don't want it becoming too spoiled, do we? It might be best to give it a well-rounded diet. How about it, Life-mate? You want to feed it?"

"You mean..."

"Mhm." She sucked on her finger.

"It's a bit cold right now, don't you think?"

"I suppose. We shoulda brought another blanket."

"Remind me when we get to town," Devin suggested.

"I will."

Azalea, losing interest in drawing, put her stuff away.

"Tired of drawing already?"

"For now, but what do you think so far?"

Devin had to squint to see the tiny lines. "It's a lovely family portrait -- all of us, plus Jeni, Zinni, and the schlicum -- a memory worth keeping."

Azalea grinned. "I agree."

"Can't wait till my milk comes in. I wonder if this'll help my body speed up my milk production." Azalea lifted one of the flaps covering her breasts and placed the schlicum on her nipple, waiting until she felt the gentle tug before letting go. "Maybe it would help Reina too."

"Whether it will or won't will remain a mystery... forever," the Whitehorn said flatly.

"You'll come around."

"You seem quite sure of that."

"It's only a matter of time before you succumb to the adorable antics of its jiggly bounciness!"

Reina snorted.

Devin redirected his mates. "Have you noticed any change?"

"No, Life-mate, but it's only been less than a day. Reina probably hasn't either," Azalea answered.

"My chest and udders felt a little tender when you activated my crest, but nothing since then."

Devin let his thoughts wander as he watched the schlicum nurse. "Have you thought about giving it a proper name?"

"Yes, many, but I've discarded most of them."

"What have you narrowed it down to?"

"Splotch, Jiggles, Dewdrop, Dewy, Droplet, Slimeria, Mucella, Viscoria, Aquaia, Oozelle."

"Hmm, the first five sound too much like descriptors. The others have promise."

"Any that stand out more than the others?" queued Azalea.

"I kinda like Oozelle and Slimeria. How about you, Reina?"

"Going by just the name, Mucella and Viscoria."

"Did you prefer one over the others, Azalea?"

"Not particularly. I think I'll wait a little and see if it develops more of a personality. Maybe I'll nickname it Oozi for now." Azalea pushed her breasts together and brought her other nipple close so it'd suck both. "What do you think? Do you like being called Oozi? Or one of the others?"

No response.

"What are you going to do now?" Devin asked.

"Well, since Oozi is distracted, and we have time on our hands... now might be a good time to begin my stretching regimen with the dilators you lovingly gave me!" She jumped down onto the floorboards and unlatched her jewelry box closet situated under the seat.

"What size are you starting with?"

"Hmm, not sure." She flew back up to Devin's blanketed lap. "I think I can get away with trying a number four. It looks to be my upper comfort limit, but since I won't be needing to move for a while, I think I can manage it."

Azalea removed her coat. "I probably don't need to ask, Life-mate, but do you want to watch me put it in?"

"You're right; you don't need to ask."

Azalea smirked. "Good. I like it when you watch me do naughty things, though this is more practical than naughty. I can fix that. Hang on, Oozi."

She rolled onto her back. "Can you put your hand right there, Life-mate?" She scooted over and lifted her hips up, resting her lower back against the side of Devin's hand, placing herself so she was looking up at her lower body. "There, now we can see each other."

Bringing the dilator to her mouth, she looked into his eyes and slowly, in an exaggerated show, coated it in her saliva and lapped up and down the shaft until she activated the ravishwood's unique properties. It was still a far cry from the real thing, but as she nibbled and slurped, kissed and sucked, it softened under her tongue. The outer layer became pliable yet kept its rigid center. Little by little, she fed a bit more into her mouth until she was practically deepthroating it.

Her motions were slow, occasionally stopping altogether to just hold it in her throat and enjoy the sensation of the experience until she needed air. Pulling it out, she remarked, "Just knowing that this is what it'd feel like to go down on you makes me love you all the more! I should really write a letter to the creator of these. Every detail is perfectly captured for me to enjoy."

Devin laughed at that. "Our business was thanks enough. He probably doesn't want to be reminded of having to make those."

"Is that so? Pity. Regardless, he should be proud of such skill." Azalea patted her pussy with the dilator and rubbed it across her folds. "Alright, down to business. Would you like to push it in, Life-mate?"

"I'm not sure I could grip it."

"How bout this?" Spreading her pussy wide with one hand, she held the dilator vertically above her entrance with the other. "There. Now you just need to push."

Reaching down, he pressed, watching Azalea's reaction for any discomfort. She exhaled as her little canal was stretched to more than she was used to.

"Hold on a second, Life-mate." She took several deep breaths. "Alright, continue."

"All the way?"

"Yes, please -- balls deep. That's the only acceptable way to take my life-mate."

Devin resumed, slowly pushing more in until her body had gobbled up the entire length. It had completely disappeared inside.

She rubbed the slight outline protruding from her tummy. "All stuffed!"

"Feel good? Doesn't hurt?"

"As long as I don't make any sudden movements, contentedly so -- a precursor to the real thing!"

With a look of concern, Devin challenged, "You'll be able to get it back out, won't you?"

"Sure, see?" She clenched her muscles and pushed the end out.

"See? Easy. Ok, Oozi, ready to feed again?" She plucked her slimy friend up and set it between her legs. "Go on, you little bottomless pit. Now you can eat heartily and not be tempted to try and go inside."

"Does it try to do that?"

"Ya. Sneakily, too! It can wiggle very quickly when it wants to."

"You don't think it'd feel good?"

"More like I'm worried it will, and I wouldn't want it to come out. Or it crawls so far in that I couldn't get it out. Not sure I'm ready to look permanently pregnant yet.

"Hey! Nooo, you little wiggler, you definitely won't be going in that hole either. See, Life-mate? Very sneaky. Could you get my bag, please? I forgot to put my plug in this morning."

After Devin handed the satchel to her, She dug out her friendship plug, prodded the slime forward and away from her anus, and popped it in.

With its curiosity thwarted, Oozi promptly crawled toward the warmth radiating from Azalea's ever-damp vulva. With something tastier than her (for now) milk-less breasts, it spread its body over as much of the fairy's genitals as possible, heartily living up to its moniker: making wet slicking sounds as it slurped her juices.

"Everything is taken care of now. Can you let me down, Life-mate, please?"

Devin moved his hand back down to his lap.

"Thank you. And now to caaaaarefully sit back up." She righted herself, feeling the pressure shift. "Ooh, that puts some pressure on my bladder.

"Hey, Oozi, you want to try something a little different? I don't know if you'll enjoy this, but we'll find out in a moment. Sorry if this ends up making a mess, Life-mate."

Devin didn't respond but kept watching. Azalea held Oozi close to her body as she relaxed her bladder. The schlicum immediately latched onto both of Azalea's thighs and pushed against her, forming a seal. It adjusted its shape to act more like a bag than a sponge.

"It's doing a wonderful job of not allowing a mess," Devin observed.

"Thankfully, but I'm pretty full. I wonder if it can drink all of me."

Azalea stroked the top of Oozi and heaved a sigh of relief, watching in fascination as the schlicum absorbed her pee. It used the urine to grow in size and weight but retained its overall form, but a little more droopy than it had been before.

"That's the last little bit, Oozi. Did you like that?"

With nothing left to drink, it relaxed its grip on her thighs, returned to its most commonly preferred droplet shape, and resumed its previous lapping at Azalea's wetness.

"It never seems to get tired," Devin noted.

"Isn't it wonderful?" hummed Azalea. "It even comes with the added benefit of me being able to cum as much as I want without my crest activating."

"Don't you get oversensitive?"

"Strangely, no. Maybe it's something in its body. It's very soothing on the skin. In addition, it somehow knows when I really want it to go fast and hard and when I only want some light 'tongue' play. It does just enough to keep my juices flowing."

Redonning her coat, Azalea settled back against Devin as he snugly pulled the edge of the blanket over her.

"Now I'm thirsty. Can you hand me the water, please, Life-mate?"

"Sure." Devin unscrewed his water flask and poured some into the cap for Azalea to drink.

"Chilly, yet refreshing."

---

Reina was overflowing with energy. The time spent at Muddy Springs had recuperated both body and mind, making her feel like a new Whitehorn. She'd been trotting at a good clip for hours, having finally crossed Piglin Pass and steadily descended the last leg of the Frostwood highway.

Azalea perked up. "Smell that?"

"I do. It's the ocean," remarked Devin.

"It is? Smells salty and bracing. I can't wait to see it! I've heard the ocean has more water than you could ever imagine!

"That is certainly true."

"Why did we come here again, Life-mate?"

"We said it was to fulfill Jeni's request for a coastal delicacy. In reality, it was an excuse to have us come back because she was lonely. Since she'll be traveling with us, though, we are using it as an excuse to buy for the purpose of selling later. Shops don't normally get many shipments of these commodities, so she should be able to sell for a high price to help pay off the loan on the construction of the new wagon and the supplies we ordered."

"What kind of delicacies?"

"Roe and milt, and anything else interesting we might be able to make a profit off of."

"What's milt?"

"Well, Azalea, if roe comes from female mermaids, milt comes from mermen." Devin elucidated.

"So... merman cum? There's a market for that?!? Wait, let me guess, for, um, tinctures?"

"For certain food dishes."

"Really? Sounds like my kind of culinary culture. Can we try some?"

"I'm sure we could find someplace that sells it if you're interested," Devin assured her.

"I am!"

"It may not be quite what you're used to tasting, though."

"Even better! Are we almost there?"

"We are, in fact, here."

Reina had reached the edge of the foothills. Rounding a bend, they burst through the tree line. Below, plastered across a divot in the coastline, was where the Glacial-Lock fjord kissed the Skaldalassa Sea. It was a tentative kiss, though, for where the waters actually merged was chaperoned by the Ikivarren Bay with its doleful partner, Merport.

A dreary pale-blue gloominess hung over the bay, matching the cloudy sky with the white-capped waves. Multi-mast merchant vessels were safely anchored, their work done until spring. Too big to navigate the icy waters, they turned the harbor over to the nimbler single-mast fishing boats.

"I thought it'd be bigger."

"It's fairly sized, considering its location. It's sometimes called the 'City of Song'."

"They must all be dirges," joked Azalea.

Devin laughed. "I admit it's not as impressive as Iceford, but it has its own unique cultural spirit. Merfolk love to sing. You can hear them on nearly every shore and street corner. Sometimes, you'll even see them singing along with harpies."

Reina slowed down, giving them ample time to appreciate the inlet's harsh beauty. "It has a serene melancholy wildness. I fancy it."

"Maybe another time we'll come for the scenery. For now, though, let's hope we can safely get down the rest of the mountain." Devin pressed down on the skid break, creating more drag as Reina slowly and carefully picked her way down the final stretch of the white-ribboned road.

Azalea held onto Devin as they rounded a bend. "Have you ever been to the ocean before, Reina?"

"A few times during my family's migration during the summer, we'd skirt the northernmost point of land and spend the day cooling our hooves and splashing around. Our present location affords a very pleasant view, though."

----

"We finally made it!" cheered Azalea. "I can't wait to find someplace to warm up."

"Don't forget to switch out your dilator," Devin reminded her.

"Oh ya! Thank you for reminding me, Life-mate. Come on, Oozi, back into Life-mate's hand you go while I slip into something more comfortable. Something more comfortable in me? You know what I mean."

Azalea leaped up, peeled the surprised schlicum, bloated from having feasted on her fluids for the last several hours, from between her legs, and deposited the sluggish creature into Devin's hand.

Leaping down, she found a smaller-sized dilator. Then she freed her stuffed hole with a suctioning squelch that left her gaping momentarily as her insides grew accustomed to the sudden vacancy. She slipped the new one in with ease and flitted back to Devin's hand.

"Hmm, where do we keep Oozi?"

"I might have a jar or a bottle we can keep it in," Devin suggested.

"Mmmm, let's go with that idea only as a last resort. Perhaps, if I were to wrap 'em around me... come here, Oozi." After sliding the schlicum underneath her coat, she pulled her arms in. "Come on, flatten out. Reach around there and around here, and put that part there and hug me like this."

Sliding her arms into her sleeves once more, Azalea unbuttoned her coat and flung it open. "Not bad, close to a perfect fit!"

Azalea had rearranged Oozi's semi-liquid body into a stretchy outfit that wrapped around both breasts, hugged her around the midsection, and wound down between her legs.

"I worry it's squeezing you too tight," Devin observed.

"It's snug, like a warm hug, and it's a perfect co-dependent relationship; Oozi gets to eat and suck on my boobs, and I stay dry -- sorta. I don't drip on the floor, at least."

"Living clothes."

"Almost. It covers all the important parts." Azalea turned around. "Not enough to cover my back, though, so it's anchored onto my plug -- rather firmly, too! I'm having to grip it pretty hard."

"Reminds me of someone who's into rope-play."

"What's that?"

"Um, it's a type of sexual play where an individual has rope tied, most times in geometric shapes, around their body."

"Does that feel good?"

"I've never done it, but the activity turns some people on."

"Interesting," Azalea replied in awe.

"Are you going to still be able to fly?" Reina checked.

"I think so." Azalea buzzed her wings. "Yep, all good to go."

"I just noticed the grooves in the back of your coat."

"Uh-huh! Granny Gertrude is a master of design!"

"She sure is!"

Azalea made a flying leap to Reina's antlers and leaned forward. An action that always reminded Devin of a lookout in a ship's crow's nest.

"I see the entrance! No line this time, and no checkpoint, either, Life-mate? We can just go in?"

"It's not required, at least not for land traffic. Down there on the water, though..."

On their left, the fjord was forcefully split apart, funneled into many separate water-gates dividing the flow of boat traffic into chutes.

Devin explained, "They collect tolls to help with generating revenue for the city's upkeep."

Azalea bent over backward as they passed under a tall, welcoming archway resembling leaping merfolk and other aquatic demi-humans she couldn't identify. "This place is completely different from Iceford! For starters, there's no giant wall around it."

"The coast doesn't have enough snow to cause avalanches, and there's really no strategic importance if they were invaded by sea -- not that they'd get that far with underwater demi-humans guarding the bay.

"It's much quieter and feels more open." Azalea threw a snowball into the canal Reina was being careful not to slip into. "And there's so much water everywhere."

Devin dodged a low-hanging icicle. "When you serve a demi-human population whose major impediment is not possessing legs, you need to be a little creative in how you construct your road system."

Merport was heavily timbered, like most of the architecture of the region. Yet, instead of reinforcing roofing for heavy snow, the excess lumber was put toward its fleet of ships and the innumerable ramps and bridges that spanned a collective network of canals across the city.

Built over an artificial estuary, the city of Iceford had actually borrowed from Merport's engineered creativity. Merport was built atop a foundation of granite columns, so the normal progression of city planning could be what one would expect to find in any populated hub.

The similarities end in its road system. Only half of Merport had cobbled roads. More accurately, half the streets were rounded slabs from the fjord bed cemented together. The other half were deep channels dug to allow the free flow of water from the main tributaries to flow into smaller runnels and, from there, further on to locks.

Used to raise delivery ships and barges to anabranches, the outflow would divert back into the main watercourse. There, they could service the needs of all businesses owned and visited. Not only by the 'shoreborn' - those born on land -- but also fin and flipper traffic could traverse the town freely.

"Can we go see the ocean before we do anything else?" begged Azalea.

"I, too, would be delighted to see it," voted Reina. " I'm not particularly hungry or tired yet."

"Then I see no reason why not. I think if you go down that street, it'll take us to the waterfront."

The maze of bridges and ramps somehow directed them to the wharves, where old human men with salt, spray-weathered faces laughed amongst themselves in a gruff manner as they repaired nets and torn oilcloth sails.