Nestled within the labyrinthine recesses of the cave, Machiavelli's den lay concealed behind a crude curtain door—a makeshift barrier fashioned from a stick jammed into the opening and adorned with a pelt that draped like a weary sentinel over the threshold. Beyond this unassuming entrance, the small crevice unfolded, bathed in the icy radiance emitted by bioluminescent mushrooms that adorned the rough-hewn walls like scattered constellations.
Initially appearing barren, the chamber held only two notable furnishings. One, a massive rock, nearly the size of a coyote, occupying a niche along the den's wall. Bathed in the soft glow of the fungi, the imposing object seemed to act as almost a nightlight, absorbing and reflecting the cool glow that suffused the chamber.
In the back corner of the room lay the other, an austere bed fashioned from the tawny pelt of a cougar. It was here that Machiavelli slept, his form twitching restlessly, half-spoken words cringing from his lips in garbled tones.
YOINK
there was a new guy. a few weeks ago inji may have been frightened by this, but now she felt as if a weight was off of her shoulders; her season had come to pass, and khusobek was the only man she had lied with.
as she had come to learn and hope for, she, also, may be carrying his children.
this did not stop her, though; not until her body demanded it. she swept the halls as usual, tidying dens and straightening up workspaces, drying pelts and carrying water and meat to and fro. it was good, she thought, it'd be good for her. maybe if she keeps herself fit through her pregnancy, her children will be healthier and she will come out of it the same as she had been before.
on her typical route, she notices an odd fixture draped in front of one of the barracks, the newly occupied one. her brow furrows curiously. this was a fancy one, wasn't he? she pokes her head in and shakes away the stray hairs that cling to her shoulders.
room service,
when she gets a closer look, inji realizes that he must be asleep, and her voice quiets. sir, um-- i'm here to-- for the... stuff.
>:D
He had heard the approach and awoken, heard the shifting of his door and the words spoken softly from a feminine tongue, and willed himself up. Willed himself to open his eyes and see who was intruding upon his space. But his body was not his own, and so there he sat.
For one moment.
Two.
And then, after what felt like an eternity, his eyes flicked open, and he was able to lift his paw to push the rabbit skin, which doubled as a pouch, off of his face to sit up and get a look at the woman.
Thin and pretty, around his age, smelling strongly of the palace and a man, one Machiavelli had caught stale whiffs of around the Cenote but could not put a face or name to.
A disapproving look spread across his pale features. I'm here for to for the stuff?
he repeated incredulously. I understand wanting to snoop, but when you inevitably get caught, have an excuse ready to go at the very least.
He shifted to prop himself up more comfortably onto an elbow. Would you like to try again?
the words rolling from the strange silver tongue coupled with the opulent decor immediately give inji the impression that this man is not one to fool around with. was he a brother of pharaoh, or some other royalty? why had she not seen or heard of him before?
startled, the maiden's ears fall to an embarrassed airplane. warmth prickles at the tips and pools down to her cheeks. i apologize, i, um,
she stumbles over herself quite literally as she pads a few steps closer. i'm a fellahin. it's my duty to-- clean, and straighten up the rooms. assuming you didn't already know that.
given his accent, perhaps he didn't; maybe he was not from here at all. he did not exactly look the part. a beautiful creature, yes, but far from familiar to her. could you-- would you mind standing up? so i can-- shake out your bedfurs?
Better,
Machiavelli responded, leisurely stretching his willowy legs before sitting up to meet the woman at eye level.
These furs have already received their due attention. As a fellow maid, you'll discover that I maintain both myself and my abode to the same impeccable standards as the rest of the establishment.
He retorted with an emphasizing flick of his tail. Clean as a hound's tooth, wouldn't you agree?
As is evident, there's no work for you here. So, unless you require my assistance for some task you have yet to disclose, I was quite relishing my nap.
inji nearly let a laugh escape her at the mention of his own status. not royalty, nowhere near it; he, too, was fellahin, and as the initial shock wears off, she recollects herself. she thought briefly of talisman, the boy with the powder-blue eyes who had come to the cenote seeking one thing, and left with another. this fellow certainly was not what inji had ever had in mind when she pictured a new servant among the quarters.
putting her misgivings aside, she brightens up with a curved grin. great, so you can help me! we've got barracks to sweep,
she moves now to nudge her nose against his shoulder in a playful gesture, if he would allow. it's pretty rude to deny the pregnant lady when she requests assistance, anyway.
Machiavelli observed the woman with a raised brow—an expression that shifted into a blend of disapproval and confusion when she prodded him with her nose.
Sweeping barracks? He had already completed his assignments for the day. Why should he concern himself with her own tasks and pregnancy? If she needed assistance, she ought to seek it from the one responsible for her condition.
However, he refrained from voicing these thoughts—as indifferent as he felt towards her; she was correct, it was rude, and manners were of the utmost importance.
He rose with a stretch, shaking out his coat of burnt marshmallow hues and returning her smile, Then, please, lead the way.
ignoring the rather disgruntled visage he now wore upon his person, inji eagerly gestures for him to follow her out the doorway — past the strange ornaments, which she now realizes have a distinct smell to them — and into the halls.
i have to finish up with the guest rooms and the mazoi barracks, and then move on to the prayer hall,
she idly explains, head tilted upward to scan his features. wow, you have really pretty eyes. has anyone ever told you that? they're so cool looking!
he is far from unappealing, with his neat features and flaxen sheen. if she wasn't a wife-and-mother-to-be, perhaps she would have entertained him; even still, if it was asked of her, she supposed she wouldn't complain.
He had hoped she might offer a simple exchange of names somewhere between bursting into his room and ordering him around, however, introductions were not in the cards, so it would seem.
Machiavelli delicately grasped the rabbit skin between his jaws, placing it with care upon the shining stone before trailing after the woman as she exited the chamber.
Shall we divide the rooms and tackle the corridor together?
He proposed, punctuating the question with a soft yawn and blinking the leftover sleep from his eyes.
Her next words drew the man's attention quite readily as he flashed her a pretty smile. Oh?
the peacock inquired, giving a flamboyant toss of his head to catch the light on his dove fur, See anything else that captures your fancy?
If I am to be recruited into further labor,
he quipped, adopting a playful tone as he walked with a renewed spring in his step, I suppose being compensated with compliments from lovely women might render the task more palatable.
Mature Content Warning
This thread has been marked as mature. By reading and/or participating in this thread, you acknowledge that you are of age or have permission from your parents to do so. The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: suggestion, rather blatant actually OOPS THIS ONE GOT A LIL RAUNCHY
inji's opinion had quickly transformed from one of fear to one of intrigue. she felt as if she was toying with him now, even as he flirts back with a slithering tongue and wicked hubris. and, all things considered, she was a simple, hormonal woman, and here in front of her was fresh meat! there was no reason to fear him in the way she did rashepses, and so she begins to ask herself — why not?
it wasn't as if khusobek would mind. he knew well what she was.
yet again her tone shifts, pitching up into something lilted and flowery. i can see many things,
her gaze darts quickly to his willowy limbs, and more particularly what lies between them. on second thought, i can also think of another way to make this more enjoyable for you.
inji, little harlot even still; she stops abruptly to smooth him up against a sandstone wall with a press of a dainty foreleg. she watches his face, his eyes, the way his nostrils flare and how she has to tilt her head upward to see him proper. she mirrors his grin with a mischievous one of her own.
y'know, they say pregnancy can make sex better.
Machi's composure faltered momentarily, his shock palpable through the faint gasp that escaped him as the woman pressed him against the wall, her eyes aglow with a familiar hunger that set the man's ears askew.
A quick dart of his tongue over his lips, and Machiavelli's gaze flickered down the hallway, wary of prying eyes. My dear,
He cooed, While I certainly understand the thrill of a tawdry affair, I'm not sure the father of your children would feel the same way,
With a graceful maneuver, he slipped out from under her arm, an ersatz smirk playing across his muzzle, and unfortunately, my shoulders have become rather attached to my head, I do hope you understand,
he purred with a beseeching pout.
If, however, you sought my company in a more official capacity,
A nervous flicker danced behind opal eyes as he stole a glance down the corridor once again, I would be foolish to deny someone as captivating as yourself.
Leaning down, Machiavelli whispered softly into the woman's ear, Perhaps you could discuss it with him, and the two of you could come to visit me sometime, hmm?
inji was stunned. quite frankly, never before had she been denied — in all her days, she'd been sought after by damn near every man that traipsed through the cenote, and of all the ones to deny her company, it was her coworker! the one she had no obligation to!
thoroughly bamboozled, inji breaks away her dazed stare with a long, echoing nervous laugh. oh, i mean, he's, um--
not gay? he knows what i am, if that's your concern. but, uh, i get it.
good heavens, now this was just weird. stuttering still, the stilt-legged girl pads around to the other side of the slim figure, cutting past him to delve further into the hallway. i guess we should get back to work then, huh? i think your original plan sounds-- good.
secretly, her mind races with horrible thoughts that had never before truly come to her. she was lucky in the sense that she had never truly been self-conscious of her looks — her world had never revolved around them much in general — but she now begins to wonder if she ought to. panic squeezes her throat. had khusobek been right? was she wasting her youth? was this really what she wanted? was she — had pregnancy stolen her beauty?
or, perhaps, he truly was only concerned about her husband-to-be. as she returns to her sweeping, her head turns over her shoulder to look at him once more. by the way, um, my name is jendayi. inji, for short. in case-- ah.
the tip of her tongue taps against the roof of her mouth. well, you know what i mean.
she leaves him with the same shy, tiny smile she had greeted him with.