Gemwright

We get seafood this time, a spread of several fish I've never heard of before. I enjoy it more than I thought I would. The waitress is uncertain about us 'buying' a plate for takeout, but when I mention I'll be leaving two silver as the payment for our meal, she shuts up and happily brings it out.

Hana is there to greet us at camp, and devour the meal we brought with gusto, after loudly thanking us. Everyone gets a hug, and Vai'yun recounts the day since Hana left us.

Hana, "Wow, he gives you a nice meal, and a commission? He sure changed his tune quick."

Me, "Yeah, I'm not sure what his goal is, either. A nice gem? Business connection? Something deeper?" I shrug. "I told him we'd only be in port briefly, and he asked me to stay longer."

Hana, "I'm okay with staying here any length of time. If we leave tomorrow, that's fine. If we stay a few weeks, that's okay with me. As long as the town isn't mobilizing against us. If they decide they

do

hate us though, we can just find another port to take us to Friegheim."

Speaking of... "Right, how is that coming along? I haven't seen Wed in a while."

Hana, "Tet! Come here please!" The man gets off of his chair, and trots over.

Tet, "Lady Hanamaya?"

Hana, "How's the search for a boat going?"

He nods. "There are a few candidates, but all of them are insisting on an inspection for any cart they transport. We're trying to dig up blackmail on the officers to get a cart in without an inspection. Last I heard, there's been no real progress on that front."

Huh. "I wonder if Sasson could write something up for me if I cozy up to him."

Tet, "Sasson? Sasson Salmoon?"

Me, "Yeah, he and I encountered each other yesterday, and he commissioned a cut. It sounded like he knew about the cubes Wed sold, but I told him I didn't make them, and that I use some secret magic alchemical process to manipulate gems on a small scale. It sounds like he's willing to pay through the nose if I can make him a cube.

Tet looks unsure. "With your permission, I need to report this to Wed right away."

Hana, "I'll mind the camp. The Crew can stay in town until tomorrow morning."

Tet gives us that salute Fre seemed to like, and runs off.

Me, "Alright. Hana, how are you feeling? You haven't been feeling your best recently, right?"

Hana smiles back at me. "I'm alright. I just want to lay off the Telepathy for a while. It's been giving me a headache because I've used it too much. I'll be alright."

That's a relief. I give her a hug. "Don't overdo it. Rest as much as you need. We've got things covered."

She squeezes me back. "I took a big nap yesterday and today. I'm already feeling like myself again!"

After we separate, Vai'yun says, "I'd like to call for a girl talk please. No husbands allowed." The girls all nod. Vai'yun looks back at me, "O' favored, would you please finish the hot water, and make our showers warm? I would really appreciate it."

I smile. "Alright, sure thing. Enjoy your conversation, ladies." They smile at me, then walk off to Ringara's house.

Yeah, I do need to finish that. I'd kind of been hoping to save it for the road, but whatever.

I walk over to Sentral's and pick up my spare spheres...

- - -

(side story)

I walk into my house with Vai'yun and Hana. Ah, right, it's a girl's night. Yun and Maya. I hope Grey can get the hot water thing finished tonight, I'd love a hot shower. "By the way, where are the Re couple?"

Maya answers, "Someone from the Crew got them rooms in the hotel. They'll be staying in town.

Yun laughs. "I wonder if they will follow tradition, or if they will follow 'tradition.'" I decide not to ask what she means.

Maya looks at Yun. "No telepathy today, please. If I bully Grey when he overworks himself, I have to do the same for myself. I should be up for small amounts tomorrow, though."

I had been connected to Yun, but I close it. I don't want my friend to feel left out.

Me, "So, Yun, I'm so excited, when will you be trying for a baby?"

Yun's face brightens. "The nurse gave me a medicine, and told me it will neutralize the effect of Euko tea. I will be trying again next week."

There's cheers and clapping. All of us are excited for the couple. A thought goes out to my own future; it is likely that one day, I too will have his child.. I feel warm, knowing I'll probably be getting this sort of reaction from Grey's women, too.

Yun's face straightens again. "I might be able to conceive as soon as a few days, but I have a special day in mind." She tells us about her plan. "You two can lay with him in my stead until then. But for two days, I want him to go without."

I smile. "That sounds good. Hana and I will supervise him and make sure he waits properly." Grey has always been willing to go along with what we suggest. I think he'll like this.

Maya grins as well. "He's going to be thrilled with this."

The scheming concludes with that.

Yun's smile loses some of its strength. "The next topic is less happy. I require advice."

I take a deep breath to reorient myself. I believe I know what she will say next.

Yun, "Twice today, I have been accosted by men. Vai'grey dealt with the situation, and nothing bad happened, but..." She puts a hand to her breast, "I do not want to cause trouble. How can I be less noticeable?"

I debate if I should offer suggestions, or assure her she's the victim here, not the problem.

Maya, "That's a tough one. You're rather tall, and your bust is very alluring to men. I don't think there's much we can do about your height... But perhaps we can wrap your boobs? Make them appear smaller. We can only do so much, and I can't imagine it's comfortable, but you would not draw quite as much attention."

Yun, "Do you have any cloth that would be suitable?"

She thinks about it. "Let me check. Hold on!" Hana jumps off the bed we're on, and runs off.

For my part, I stand up and give Yun a hug. "No matter what, it's not your fault, Yun. The way those men acted was unacceptable."

She hugs me back. "Thank you, Gara."

Maya returns before long, "No good. We can still stop by the town though and pick up something for you. We can have an entire girl's night out, too! If we stay in the craftsmen's quarter, Yun shouldn't be bothered too much, especially since that noble knows she's off limits."

I think some of the vendors and such will be closed by now, but a few will probably be open. "Let's do it!"

I tie a bag to my waist and put Rawk Hawk in it, as well as some money. Ah, yes, one of my goals... I put some extra money in, and the note from earlier.

Yun contacts Grey to let him know where we're going. Grey promises to keep telepathy active with Rawk. We'll be able to reach him in a second if anybody messes with us.

The walk to the Gate is short. Still, it's frequent. Maybe we should move closer? That noble knows where we are now. I don't think it would hurt anything at this point. "Should we move closer to the gate?" I ask.

Yun, "I had been wondering about that. It seems strange to be this far away."

Maya, "Let's ask tomorrow! Grey will do it if we ask! There's no reason not to, right?"

Me, "Men are so foolish. They need us to tell them the obvious."

Yun, "I see it is the same everywhere. Where would they be without women? Surely standing on their heads and accomplishing nothing." We smile, then burst out laughing.

After we get through the gate, Maya says, "I think that store has what we need." Down a side street is a storefront, and it looks to be open still. A middle aged woman tends the store, more colorfully dressed than most, as you'd expect from a cloth store.

Luckily, we're the only customers just now. Maya, "Hello! We're here for some soft cloth, to wrap our friend in. She wishes to appear 'smaller'."

The owner raises her eyebrows. "I can certainly see why. Let's see what I've got, shall we?"

Yun is handed various textures to get an idea of what she wants the most, and eventually settles on 'chiffon'. It's hardly soft, but if it's what Yun prefers, I won't gainsay it.

The owner gives her a bit of an odd look too, but confirms our order. We take her into a changing room to put it on.

She takes off her shirt, and her female energy washes over me again.. She will make a spectacular mother, I'm sure of it. Hana and I wrap her up, pressing her breasts in somewhat.

Once her top is back on... It's still obvious she's quite well endowed, but it no longer appears as though she has the largest chest I've ever seen.

She nods. "This is good. Thank you for helping me with this. Perhaps I will draw fewer problems." We leave the store. "Was there anything else?"

I nod. "I happen to have an invite to a massage parlor run by feokorn. You can get a massage while wrapped up in a fluffy tail. Would you two be interested in such a thing?"

Yun looks at me curiously. Maya asks, "What's a feokorn?"

I tell them about it, though I've only seen one twice in my life. Maya is interested, but Yun is excited. "I'd like to try that!"

I smile. "Come, let us away."

Yun, "Now my turn for a question. What is a massage?"

Me, "I've never tried one myself, but you can have someone rub you hard and it's relaxing. It's a city kind of luxury."

We arrive at the place, not far outside of the rich district. It's off the main street, and the building doesn't look too visually striking, but there is.. Yup, the third feokorn I've ever seen is standing outside smoking something. When he notices us approaching him, he quirks an eyebrow, then puts out his pipe.

He bows slightly. "Not many women come here. Not human women, anyway. Are you sure you're in the right place?"

I produce the invitation. "Our man got this invite earlier today. We're only here for a massage. I also wish to arrange what I'm sure are your more usual services, for him, tomorrow."

He takes the invite, reads both sides, smirks briefly, then motions us inside.

The first room is a small lobby. "So, you want a massage, with tail? Extra options are a table bath, scented oils... You'll get the massage of your life. Understand?"

I agree, and pay for the three of us. Yun and Maya go through the door. "See you soon, Gara!" I've still got to set up tomorrow's appointment.

Feokorn, "As for 'tomorrow'. What are you looking to arrange?"

I give a brief description of Grey, and tell the man what I'd like. He gestures to a list of rules.. Common sense stuff, no hitting, no threatening... none of which is stuff Grey would ever do, so I agree. He grins, and takes my deposit. That's all for business. He opens the door to the next room. "Have fun."

The second room opens up more upscale than the exterior suggests. Several feokorn women of various ages and various levels of undress lounge seductively on mostly-pink sofas across the room. A feokorn woman several inches shorter than me stands up. She's well dressed, a thin dress of blue covering only some of her light green fur and body. Her makeup is impeccable and nearly invisible. No hair is out of place. She's put a lot of effort into her appearance.

Me, "I am Ringara. Pleased to meet you."

She courtesies demurely, then takes my hand. The texture is curious, almost like a particularly calloused hand, but not quite. "My name is Kirshen. I'll be taking care of you tonight."

Her demeanor, her appearance, her voice.. I feel nothing but female energy from her. I allow myself to be led away. "I'm in your care."

I'm led to a room with stone flooring, and a curious, thin bed. A large, square block of stone juts out from the back wall; it's hollow, and filled with steaming water. "Would you please take your clothes, and put them into this basket? Then lie on the bed." Ah, this must be the table bath. This is a bit uncomfortable, but I'm already here, so... I get naked, and lie down.

Kirshen steps up to the table, and I hear the sound of water.. Before a pleasant, warm sensation squishes against my back, and spreads out. She's.. rubbing me with some sort of towel, and it's pleasantly warm... But it'd be nice if it were warmer... "Do you mind if I warm up that water? I prefer it hotter."

Kirshen, "Pardon me?"

I reach a hand out to the water, and with my elemental's ability, connect my finger to the water in the air, and then to the water in the rocks, warming it. I move some of the water to my finger... perfect. I move my hand back to my side.

After a moment, she resumes washing my back, and, almost scalding. I revel in the heat. She does a through job cleaning me. She instructs me to lay on my back, and she pours more warmth on my chest and stomach and legs.

I feel like.. my blood is flowing a little better, after that. Perhaps looser, perhaps more limber... So this is why rich people get massages.

Soon, she puts away the towel, and helps me stand up. She dries me off with a large white towel, before wrapping me in another. I'm taken by hand to another room with wooden walls. It has a similar bed, padded, but with a hole where the head will go. "My lady, if you would lay down, please." I do so, and feel a little awkward until she places a cloth over me, covering me from neck to toes. Through the hole, I can see the ground below me. A moment passes, and I see a hand. I smell... mint? It's overwhelming.

So.. high class. So 'rich person'. My arms and legs loosen without my really meaning to.

After a few seconds, Kirshen moves her hand, and folds the cloth down to my waist. I hear a wet sound, and her hands press against my shoulder blades, and begin rubbing.

This is all so luxurious...

She presses hard enough it hurts sometimes, but there's a pleasant heat I feel as knots I didn't know were there unravel.

Kirshen, "My my, you're a bundle of tension. I don't know what kind of life you live out there, but when you're here, let it all go."

The smell of a field of flowers fills the room, and I melt in her rough, oiled hands.

The cloth gets moved around a few times as she mushes various parts of me, back, legs, arms...

I picture my lover, Grey, making me feel like this. I envision Vai'yun, my tallest friend, crushing me with her strong hands.

And then, "My lady, if you would, flip over and sit up."

With only a little trepidation in my heart, I flip on my back. She can see my breasts, but.. she's a woman, so it's okay, right? While I worry myself over nothing, she lays her tail on the table, and presses me back into laying down. Wait, "I'll be squashing your tail, though?"

She smiles at me. "You are light enough it won't even be uncomfortable."

I'm pressed against it, and.. It's

so

soft, like velvet and silk and cashmere all at once, and then she wraps it around my stomach, and then bends it to my chest and face...

My body shyness blows away in the face of this supreme comfort. I could fall asleep in this.

Kirshen, "I take it you like it?"

Me, "It's the softest thing ever..."

Kirshen, "Most people hug my tail. Feel free to touch it however you like. I'll work around you."

I can hug it! I do so immediately. The tail part is so flat, but the furs are so long, and running my arms and fingers through it feels incredible.

I don't know how long I hug it for before I notice my mood has changed, and so has the massage. Before, she was crushing me with her hands, forcing relaxation into me. But now, she's running her fingers over my skin, my arms, my sides, my stomach, my

legs

, usually with her fingers, sometimes with just the barest touch of her claws... Is.. this part of the massage? I almost moan, just a little, and instead hide my face in the end of her tail. She continues touching me, never anywhere inappropriate, just light strokes, but my body is reacting, my heart beats a little faster, my breath is short..

Her finger traces down my arm, leaving a sensation that feels both cold and hot. What is this feeling? Kirshen is so gentle... just like..

She

would be...

In my mind, a fluffy tailed Hanamaya is running her fingers across my stomach now. She's smiling like she always does, then drags a finger across my navel, and down my legs again. Hana gently scratches the outside of both of my legs coming back, and up my sides, making me gasp. Heat begins gathering in my stomach and nethers.. I hear a gentle laughter from Hana, and the teasing continues; slow, patient, arousing..

Hana's hands go down my legs again, but this time they come back on the inside of my thighs; I can't help but moan, "Ohhhh..."

The hand stops just shy of my sex. "Do you want it?" Hana asks.

I pull my face away from the tail, and begin to nod, "Y-ye-" when I see her face.

She isn't Hanamaya. She's Kirshen.

My rose is standing straight up.

Embarrassment floods me, and I turn to the side, pushing away her tail, but it's under me, too. She gently withdraws it.

I don't know what to say. What's come over me? She's

a woman

!

Kirshen, "Now now, no need to be embarrassed. You don't want it, that's fine. Lay back down and I'll finish up the massage without any of that."

I consider calling an end to it, but in my shaken state of mind, I choose the path of least resistance. I give her a flick,

ow

, and she calms down. Kirshen is holding up the cloth again, so I lay on my back. This time, she puts a folded cloth over my eyes as well, and touches my face with something wet.. I smell lemons.

She digs into my shoulders again. "Forgive me, love. I was told to try. You're the purse holder, it seems, so making you a repeat client would have been a win."

She was just after my money then. My mind clings to this as a way of escaping my whirling emotions. "Haha.. I knew that feokorn male out front was untrustworthy."

Kirshen, "In my line of work I've already learned never to trust a man. In fact.."

She makes small talk to help me calm down. I start to feel better, and even relax as she works my legs.

I sigh. "Do you... often work on women?"

Kirshen, "You wouldn't have been my first, but it's mostly men. I don't really have a preference, but with your unique body, I think it might have been fun." She replenishes the oil on her hands, and works on my other calf. "Nothing wrong with it. I've had a little fun in the past, if you know what I mean. Ultimately, I decided I enjoy men more. Buuut, every once in a while... I prefer a softer partner."

I see..

The massage concludes. My body does in fact feel light. I say some words of thanks, and depart. Vai'yun, er, Yun and Maya are waiting for me on one of the larger sofas in the main area. I notice a few men, human, are being pampered on other sofas, by feokorn women. Ah, yes, that's how it usually goes, I'm sure. A male, and a female. Not two women. In a daze, I nod at Maya and Yun, and they stand up. We leave.

I don't know what to think. Am I right? Wrong? Stubborn? Has this struggle been only in my head the whole time, and the world doesn't care?

Maya jogs up beside me. I remember what just happened, what I fantasized about on that table, and the fear and embarrassment return. I answer what I think the question was, "I'm fine, thanks," but I can't meet her eyes.

Yun takes my hand, and when I look up at her, she nods with a confident smile. I smile back, I think.

We eventually wander home. Vai'yun goes to collect Grey, and Hana begins to walk off too, but I call her name. "Hana... wait."

She looks back at me, grabs my hand, and pulls me to her house. "Rin~ gara~, what ever could it be that you want to talk to me about with an expression like

that

?"

An expression like what? Well, my mind

is

a wreck right now. It's hard to think, and I don't know what I want. Let's just get it over with. She's going to win. There's no point dragging this on.

Hana sits me at the table, and takes a seat across the table. I take a deep breath... "Let's just have sex. I know you want it. I'm confused and rattled today. You win. Do whatever you want to me. I'll try to be a good partner."