by CallieO on Wed May 12, 2021 3:46 am
New CVC
March 1, 2019
Callie and Gray (also called Athena)
Feat. Caroline
It's a little after seven o'clock at night, and Callie Volopa is sitting on the couch near the lit fireplace at Callista's Vulpine Cuisine, reading a book by the light of the fire and nearby lanterns. The five-tailed, red-furred vixen is dressed in a purple blouse with black and white trim; a black, knee-length skirt; and underclothes, leaving her feet comfortably bare. Behind her, sitting on top of the couch and facing outward, is her red tabby cat familiar, Caroline, who's positioned like that so that she can see anyone who comes by, and share that information through her psychic link with the fox. The restaurant is illumined by all the lanterns which serve as the centerpiece of each dining table, and there are more on the bar, between every third stool. Outside, the snow is blowing hard, and Callie would be very surprised if anyone came out in this mess. But Callie has two Elemental Servants out in downtown Nanthalion, in the form of four-armed, two-legged humanoids, with shovels in each of their hands. One is on Main Street, and one is on Meridian. Both of them are clearing snow off the roads.
Gray had found herself out in the snow and the weather, trudging through the streets. Taking the sojourn as a means of thought and inspiration, her form huddled in her cloak. It had been the elementals that had drawn her attention, but with the remembrance of Callie's magic, and the recognition of the streets, Gray found her steps truding towards the restaurant without so much as a concious thought. Soon, Gray stood out front of the restaurant, cloaked in the thick travelling cloak, begining to pad up to the door. She kicks her wet boots near the entrance to remove most of the snow, shaking open her cloak before stepping into the restaurant. The same familiar clothing hugged her body, but today, the tunic hang against her breasts, apparently going unbound as Gray pulls off her cloak to hang it by the door. Gaze shifting over the inside of the tavern as her hands moved to her arms, rubbing them softly to warm herself from the chill.
Through her bond with Caroline, Callie sees Gray stopping in front of the 15-foot-tall, glass-paned double doors that serve as the front entrance to CVC. As Gray prepares herself to enter, Callie has plenty of time to set her book down on the coffee table, rise to her feet, and make her way towards the doors. When Gray enters, Callie waves at her. "Vizhra and good evening, Gray!" she exclaims. [Vulpani: "Greetings"]. "Welcome to Callista's Vulpine Cuisine, and thank you for braving the weather to be here. I hope you enjoy my hospitality today!" The furnishings, paintings, painted bar counter, and warm atmosphere lend a very different feeling to CVC than The Lonely Inn has. This is clearly a classy place.
Gray smiles warmly seeing Callie, offering a slight tilt of her head at the Vulpani word used to greet her, but she nods. "Greetings, Callie, or is Callista?" Gray offers with a soft voice but warm tone. Pausing to glance around for a moment before looking back to Callie, another slight smile coming to her lips. "Though once again I feel like I am exploiting said hospitality, but at least I bring some coin with me." Gray shares, hands easing from her arms as the warmth of the room begins to soak into her.
"You can call me Callie," the vixen says. "Callista is my full name-- Callista Kayami Volopa-- and it's the name I went by when I started the restaurant, but I'm more casual now. Come, sit. Can I get you something to drink? As far as hot beverages, I have coffee, mulled cider, and hot water for tea all ready, and I can make hot chocolate too, if you give me a few minutes."
Gray pauses gently, eyes moving to cast around the restaurant for a moment. "Are you busy?" Gray asks gently, before looking back to Callie, nodding with the instruction moving to approach the bar for a moment, easing into a seat as those eyes track Callie. "I think... The cider, please." Gray answers with a small nod.
Callie nods, and grabs two mugs shaped like the face of a nonsapient red fox, vulpes vulpes. Into these mugs, she pours some mulled cider, and then she provides Gray with a bottle of room-temperature rum, should she wish to spike her drink. Callie chooses to leave hers as is, and she takes a gentle sip. "No, not busy at all," the vixen insists.
Gray tilts her head gently at the mug, brow rising softly as she looks up to Callie. "You mentioned the original colour of your fur once... Can I ask what it was?" Gray querries softly, smiling at the fox, before she moves to take a soft sip. A moment's consideration given, before she reaches for the bottle of rum, and with a faint smile of abashment, guiltily spikes the sweet drink, before closing the bottle and setting it back.
If Callie notices that Gray feels slightly embarassed by her decision to put some booze in her cider, the vixen has the forbearance not to mention it aloud. Some people prefer spiked mulled cider, others like it the way it comes, and there's no right or wrong answer to that question. Callie gestures to herself. "What you're looking at, right here, is the original color of my fur. I have a Color Change enchantment on my earring." Callie turns her head to the left so that Gray can see the earring in her right ear, which is that of a red-furred, five-tailed fox. She turns back to face her. "And I can change the color back at will." Callie touches her earring with thumb and forefinger, and speaks a word of Ancient Vulpani. The vixen's fur of crimson red and creamy white changes to arctic blue and frosty white. "This is what I woke up to the morning I became a water mage," she says.
Gray blinks softly, offering an abashed smile with her mistake, moving to take a sip of her now spiked cider. A low hum of pleasure as the warmth spreads through her chest. Her eyes shift over Callie, as she pondered softly. "I do like the red the most, but I think the blue and white are also beautiful." Gray shares gently, pausing as she blinks gently. "I mean, if it's not rude of me to comment about the colour of your fur."
Callie shakes her head. "You can ask me anything you want," the vixen replies, and she repeats the process with her earring to re-activate her Color Change spell. If Gray's paying particularly close attention, she might notice that the word of Ancient Vulpani Callie uses this time is different than the first one. "I agree, the blue and white are beautiful. I didn't think so at first, which is why, after becoming a water mage, I was so quick to get this earring. But I *do* think that red is definitely more my color."
Gray considers Callie's original statement softly, a moment of thoughtfulness before she nods in agreement with the colour. "Honestly, I believe you would look good in nearly any colour." Gray states softly, blinking slightly at her own statement, before with a softly abashed smile she queries. "Is it a bad time to ask you about some things I have been... Struggling with?" Gray ventures, a self-concious glance around her, before her gaze returns to the vulpine. "If it's ah... Intruding, I can try another time."
"It's not a bad time at all," Callie says. "Hm, but let's get some food started. I'm going to have a bowl of min'taba quiche for my dinner. Would you like the same?" Callie pulls out a menu, opens it up, and shows Gray the listing for the sausage and quiche entree. The vixen's five tails sway lightly behind her in a friendly manner.
Gray looks to the menu with Callie's stated choice, reading the listing for a moment, before her eyes shift to Callie's tails with the moment. A humoured smile coming to Gray's lips before her eyes rise to meet Callie's. "Sounds lovely." Gray answers, nodding her confirmation.
"Okay," Callie replies. She turns to face away from Gray and towards the cooking appliances for a moment, and she speaks a word of Ancient Vulpani while wiggling her fingers just so. Another Elemental Servant appears, this one in the restaurant, bringing the total number of Callie's active minions to three, with the other two still outside, shoveling snow. This particular minion, however, looks a lot like Callie, except that it has but one tail, and is made out of translucent-blue hard water surrounded by a thick membrane. It's this creature that begins cooking the meal. Callie, meanwhile, sits down across from Gray at the bar counter, and says, "What would you like to talk about?"
Gray tilts her head gently, eyes following the Callie-Elemental for a few moments before looking back to Callie. A slight flush coming to Callie's cheeks for a moment before she shrugs gently. "I am guessing you have picked up on my... Awkwardness, and you've mentioned and... Shown, the- uh... Pursuit of pleasure..." Gray begins, flushing gently as her eyes fall to the cup in her left hand, her right rising to scratch gently at the side of her neck as she flushes between embarassment and abashment.
Callie would have to be daft indeed not to notice Gray's embarassment now. Indeed, Callie herself sometimes rubs the side of her neck when she gets embarassed, or when she's about to say something that she knows won't be taken well by her listeners. "I've noticed, yes," the fox comments. "I was raised in a fairly free and open city, even by vulpine standards; not everyone has the same opportunities, I know."
Gray nods softly to Callie, gaze falling back to her cup self-conciously. "My uh... Education so far hasn't been... Pleasant. I, ah... Know how to do... Things that men enjoy, I was in no uncertain terms taught them- But I have found myself... Wanting to do them, and with- ah... Women." Gray flushes deeper here, her uncertainty growing as her gaze flicks up to Callie in a furtive glance. "But you don't seem to think that such pursuits are wrong, and I feel... Feel like I can trust your opinion."
Callie nods. "I do *indeed* do those things with both men *and* women. I consider myself to be pretty much pansexual, though there are a couple of species who don't interest me sexually. Centaurs, for one. But no... vulpine culture doesn't condemn bisexuality, and promiscuity is considered a virtue. It's all part of the 'pursuit of pleasure' command of the First Tenet."
Gray hums softly, gaze rising to Callie, bashful and uncertain but she moves to offer a gentle nod of her head. "I guess I still feel... Conflicted... This place is so different from my father's house." Gray states softly, a bashful but warm smile comes to Gray's lips as she nods gently to Callie. Before with a gentle flush Gray's eyes fall back to the cup as she querries softly. "Um... Could I brush your tails sometime? I am kinda... Fascinated by them."
Callie smiles gently. "You can brush them right *now*, if you'd like," she says. "I've got a brush inside my coffee table drawer. I brush my tails every day to keep them looking their best, but it *is* so much nicer when someone else does it for me." The vixen looks quite pleased that Gray has asked to do this for her.
Gray smiles up to Callie, that bashfulness lingering but her demeanour turning warmer, more casual as she nods. "I thought it was going to be weird." Gray confesses with a warm note of humour. "But uh, thanks for putting up with me, and that... Especially when you've only just met me." Gray comments with easing embarassment.
"Well, you're pleasant to talk to, and I make it a point to never turn down tail-brushings from nice people," Callie says. "Besides, the quiche will take about another ten minutes to cook. We've plenty of time." Callie rises to her bare feet and moves over towards the coffee table, grabbing her brush out of its drawer. While she's doing that, Gray would suddenly feel a furred form brushing against her left foot, and a soft 'meow?'
Gray followed Callie with her eyes, attention pausing only when her gaze falls down to the brush at her feet, assuming it to be a feline of some kind, she reaches down before really looking. Fingers moving to tease about the familliar's ear and begining to scritch gently at and around it's base. "Awww, who's a pretty kitty." Gray states softly to the familiar.
Caroline adjusts her head a little bit to aid Gray in scratching behind her ear, and the little cat begins to avidly purr, her tail standing almost straight up except for a light curl at the tip. Callie smiles, and feels the cat's contentment through their psychic link. "That's Caroline, my familiar," Callie says as she returns with the brush. She takes the barstool to Gray's left, and hands the woman the brush. "She likes to make friends."
Gray smiles down at the cat, attention easing back to Callie with her statement and approach. Gray offers a simple nod of acknowledgement, before she smiles bashfully to Callie. "Would it be rude to make a joke about it being your turn to get petted?" Gray asks softly, moving to take the brush. Gray offers the cat a bashful smile as her gaze turns to Callie's tail, moving to gently take the left one. Gripping the base gently, moving to work the brush into slow, smooth strokes, brushing about a foot each time, slowly working around Callie's tail to ensure every inch in that first foot is covered.
Callie chuckles softly. "Well, whether it's rude or not, you just *did* make the joke, and you can't take it back." She laughs softly. "My preferred tail-order is left, right, upper, lower, center, by the way. That's the order in which they were granted to me. Well, I was *born* with my left tail, actually."
Gray smiles warmly with Callie's laugh. "Ah, I probably shouldd've asked about the order, but atleast I'm right so far." Gray smiles warmly, the brush working steadily higher, gently tilting Callie's tail this way and that from the base. An eye shifting to Callie's expression as with a gentle curiousness, Gray begins to gently squeeze, alternating her fingers and rolling her palm to gently knead at the base of Callie's tail. All while brushing the fur higher up Callie's tail.
Callie grins at that, but Gray can't see it, because the fox has her back turned to her. She reaches out with her right hand to grab another few sips of that mulled cider. "Vulpines are born with anywhere from zero to two tails. The vast majority of us get but one. My best friend, Syl`Zhalti-- who's a very talented artist who painted the very bar we're sitting at-- was born with no tails, and didn't get her first until several years after she became an adult. Zero-tailed vulpines face discrimination and mockery in our society, I'm sorry to say. The first time I saw Syl, she was getting beaten up by a much bigger, older child, on account of being a zero-tail. I stood up to him and basically saved Syl's life; she was in a bad way. Afterwards, the boy's mother went up to my mother and complained about how I'd treated her son, but when she saw the extent of Syl's injuries, she was far more contrite."
Gray blinks softly with Callie's statement, letting both hands slowly work up Callie's tail. Once gently rubbing and kneading as the other brushes the furr. Gray's eyes drifting between her work and Callie's back. Gray offers a tender hum at the end of the tale, nodding gently even if Callie couldn't see it. "I can feel for her... But yes, I hope that were I in that situation I would do the same." Gray shares softly. "I am glad that your friend got her tail, or tails in the end. Such stigma can be rather unsettling at times." Gray states gently, letting the brush ease from the tip of Callie's tail, the kneading hand following shortly. Before Gray's attention moves to Callie's right tail, keeping with the mentioned order.
"Yeah. I left Verlosi'ka and eventually made my way here about 12 years ago," Callie says. "I didn't know how long I'd be, but I just felt some wanderlust. So I didn't really tell anyone that I was leaving, or where I was going, because for all I knew, it'd be temporary. So, a few years later, Syl got her first tail after sketching an extraordinary rendering of me. She decided to go looking for me, and found me behind the bar of The Lonely Inn. Mmm, that feels good," Callie adds.
Gray shifts her right hand, moving it before the brush now. Her fingers press into Callie's fur, rubbing with her finger-tips at the center of Callie's tail, scritching at it gently as those fingers draw up the tail, pausing now and then to grip softly as she trails the brush through Callie's fur. Alternating the motions slowly as she steadily works over Callie's second tail. "I have always been envious of artists, to work like that with one's hands and to produce something beautiful. I imagine that render of you must have been very beautiful."
"It was exquisite," Callie says. "After spending some time up here, making a bit of money, Syl got enough to buy herself a house in town. She invited me in to see it, and I used my Elemental Craft spell to fashion a pair of sleeping bags for us, because it was completely bare of furnishings. Syl fell asleep almost immediately, and The Lady appeared to me-- granting Syl her second tail." Callie beams brightly. "It was quite the sight, witnessing one's own goddess manifesting on the earth. I was frightened at first, though, because I feared that The Lady was coming to take Syl away."
Gray tilts her head softly as she listens, moving to the next tail, begining to scratch and knead her way up it, brushing with the other hand. Choosing the 'upper' tail next. Eyes falling to her work then back up. "I can imagine... Any god manifesting would be scary, even the good ones." Gray observes softly, blinking with the final statement. "Can I ask why you thought your Lady would take her?" Gray queries.
Callie closes her eyes, her bare toes curling in pleasure as Gray starts to work on her upper tail. "Well, I love The Lady, and She's even taken over my body once in the past, but I feared what Her manifestation might mean. I guess my faith faltered. I was just... so used to seeing Syl get hurt, or at least, disappointed. I couldn't believe it would be good news, is all." Callie chuckles softly. "Although, once I punched that guy, the bullies in Verlosi'ka understood that Syl`Zhalti was off-limits. No one wanted a piece of me growing up. Vulpines are fiercely loyal to our friends, and vicious towards our enemies."
Gray continues quietly, though smiling, eyes shifting up to Callie's back with those final words. "Well, I hope to continue thusly, and emulate your fine example." Gray states softly, working on Callie's tail and perhaps brushing a little bit more then necessary, fingers working a little longer on Callie's tail before they finally move to the 'lower' tail. "Are your tails as sensitive as one another, or do you get different sensations from them?" Gray offers the curiousity.
"They're all just a little bit different," Callie says. "I've been a five-tailed vulpine for several years and what I'm about to say has long since been moot, but-- there's something called a ganyo'pal, a 'tail adjustment period', that we get when a new tail is granted by The Lady. Part of it is, we have to readjust our center of gravity. Just about everyone falls the first time they try to walk with the sudden extra weight. But the more fun part of it is, our tails are extra-sensitive for a few weeks. Of course, our lovers *quite* enjoy taking advantage of that." The vixen laughs, and wiggles all of her tails except for the bottom one, which is the one being brushed right now.
Gray offers a warm hum of humour as Callie wriggles her tails, pausing to gently brush her 'kneading' hand into the writhing limbs, stroking the wiggling tails. "Do you like playing with them... During ah, being taken advantage of?" Gray attempts to query the topic, only to stumble over her own awkwardness, a tender laugh slipping form her lips at her own fumbling. Hand returning to Callie's tail, finally moving to take the center one. But Gray moves to pause, easing her hand down to the base, moving to spread her fingers between Callie's tails, begining to drag in finger-tip in towards the center and out again.
"You mean, 'while being made love to'?" Callie asks. "Sounds better than 'being taken advantage of.' That implies that I'm a not-altogether-willing participant. Anyway, the answer is a definite yes. Tail-brushing and caressing is great foreplay for a vulpine. Especially when someone touches the tailbases, which are an erogenous zone. But it's not the *entirety* of foreplay, of course." Callie smiles. "In any event, we vulpines have tremendous sexual stamina, and most of us are well-educated in the ways of sex. At the age of 18, I was put into a sex ed class, complete with a thick textbook covering the likes and dislikes of every sapient species. We even had sex in school. And I graduated at the top of that class."
Gray blinks gently, fingers pausing gently, head tilting softly. "So... This is a rather forward touch?" Gray querries gently, rubbing those fingers around the bases of Callie's tailing, shifting the brush to begin to brush the center all the while. Gray's cheeks meanwhile flush at the mention of the sexual education class. "I ah... Cannot begin to imagine that... I suppose it is another subject to ask you about sometime..."
"It's not *too* terribly forward, no," Callie says. "Anyway, as I said, I like you, so you can brush my tails whenever you like. As for sex ed..." Callie chuckles softly. "We were actually assigned partners for our first time. I was assigned a very nice man named Hikasha Romaine. Rather than have our first time in front of the class, though, we went out into the woods and had our own little private time to ourselves. We thought we were being so subversive, but I found out later that that's rather common. Hikasha later realized he was gay, and got married to a soldier, while he himself owns Hikasha's Knickknack Shack back home in Verlosi'ka."
Gray blushes faintly with the offer of brushings whenever. "I'll take you up on that..." Gray comments softly, blinking gently as the story turned to the class. She holds a warm smile, begining to brush Callie's center tail now, the last. Hand still moving to stroke, tease, scritch and rub at the bases of Callie's tails, and the small of Callie's back above and around them. "I can't say I can really imagine a whole class of Vulpani rutting at once... Okay, maybe I can..." Gray comments, flushing gently. "But I think I would've done as you did, seeked some manner of privacy."
Callie nods. "Turns out more than half the class did the same thing. It's not really against the rules, but it's frowned upon. And actually, Vulpani is just the name of the language. We're known in both Common and Vulpani as being 'vulpines'. So, yeah, it wasn't just me and Hikasha, though. By the end of the class, I'd made love to most of it. The lessons are pretty extensive and thorough. One thing that I discovered about myself is that I don't like to be tied up."
Gray blinks softly, brow rising with that statement, offering a quiet hum of acknowledgement. "I... Cannot say that I blame you?" Gray ventures with faint, perhaps tentative humour. Brushing along Callie's tail, working the tips of fingers around the very base, rubbing around the bottom of each tail. Letting the brush rise and fall, and rise, as Gray nears the end of Callie's final tail. "Did you have a ah... Favorite, in your class?"
"Gosh, I'd have to give it some thought," Callie says. But then it comes to her very quickly. "Clarice. Clarice Punta. But lemme give you some background information, 'cuz there's a pretty funny story behind that. Clarice was one of my best friends growing up, and I was always very attracted to her. Well, one day during sex ed class-- this was after I'd had sex with Hikasha but before they'd announced the next set of partners-- Clarice and I got into an argument with each other. Can't remember what it was about."
Gray offers a faint huff of humour with Callie's prompt answer after stating it might be a while. Gray's head tilts softly, watching Callie idly. "Sooo, you have that argument, and the next thing is, they tell you to have sex with one another?" Gray querries, tone too humoured to show any form of abashment or scandal. But there was a faint flush to her cheeks, which she moves to hide by looking down at Callie's tail. A hint of curiousity coming as she lifts it gently, brushing the tip softly against her features, a quick sniff to note the scent of Callie's fur.
Right now, Callie's fur smells primarily of flour and cooking oil, but it's not an altogether unpleasant smell. It's the scent of hard work in the kitchen. "Actually, I was in my room later that day doing my homework, and I get a knock on the door. It's Clarice, wanting to apologize. We make up, start talking, and..." Callie makes a gesture with her hands.
Gray hums softly, nodding gently. "I can... See how that happened." Gray states softly, letting those tails trail across her lap, once she finished. A hand moving to rise gently, teasing behind Callie's ear to scritch at it softly. Much the way that Gray had down with the cat. All the while the knight watches and listens.
Callie murrs as she feels Gray starting to scritch her ear, and beneath their feet, Caroline begins grooming herself, by licking at her paw and then rubbing it behind her ear. "So, a little later I hear the door opening, I turn, and there's my mother looking at me kinda askance. And that's when I realized there's no nonchalant way to remove your head from another girl's crotch."
Gray smiles warmly with Callie's murr, fingers working along the base of Callie's ear. The other hand moving to reach around Callie, set that brush in Callie's lap. Other hand moving to rise and begin to scratch at the other. Gray moving to gently lean into Callie's back. Covered breasts pressing into Callie's back. A tender gasp comes with the mentioning of the door opening, and a moment before Gray manages a gentle hint of laughter at Callie's statement. "I... I imagine that to be quite hard, yes." Gray agrees with a faint blush.
Callie grins. "So, Mom closes the door without saying a word. Clarice and I look at each other and just start laughing; we get our clothes back on without finishing. This is on one of the days in which my entire nuclear family is home for dinner, see. Oftentimes we're with den-parents instead of our regular parents. More of them; easier to give everyone individualized attention. We head out, trying to be all cool and collected-- and Mom has just finished setting an extra place at the table for Clarice, for dinner."
Gray shake my head softly, hands slowly teasing down from Callie's ear. A tender hum of thoughtfulness as Gray moves to gently rest her hands on Callie's sides. "Would you like some more brushing or scratching?" Gray querries gently. Before with a tender hum of agreement she shares. "That must have been awkward."
"Nah, dinner's ready," Callie says, as the Elemental Servant puts the sausage, potato, cheddar cheese, onion, and egg quiche into two bowls, and gives each of them a bottle of sweet tea to go with it. "Min'taba quiche and Callie's 'Darn Good' sweet tea, sha la zosho ki kuna palza," Callie says. "That means, 'from my heart to your stomach.' A traditional vulpine meal blessing."
Gray smile warmly, before with a gently bashful smile moves to step back from Callie. Attention turning to the food, a slight rumble of her stomach sharing both her desire to eat it, and perhaps how long it had been since she had good food. "Cooked with love and magic." Gray comments softly, eyes slipping to Callie. "Thank you, Callie." Gray states as she moves to take a seat once again.
Callie remains at the seat next to Gray, and she takes her first bite of min'taba. The bottles of sweet tea actually have an image of Callie on them, quaffing a bottle and looking quite happy. Above her image, in both Common and the flowing language of Vulpani, are the words 'Callie's "Darn Good" Sweet Tea'. Beneath her image, in both languages, are the words, 'Your taste buds deserve nothing less!' "Yes, love and magic, literally, in the case of the latter," Callie says.
Gray would begin to eat, the first bite the slowest as she began to hum gently with pleasure, letting the food linger in her mouth as she savours the taste. Eyes turn to Callie with unbridled affection and thanks, as she returns to steadily eating. Pausing only after a few bites to take the tea, considering it a moment before taking a long sip. A long sigh of pleasure slipping from Gray's lips as she relaxes in her chair. "I do believe I am enjoying this." Gray confesses quietly.
"Oh, good," Callie says with a beaming smile. "My cooking is something that I take great pride in. I've had many jobs-- head of the Sorcerous Sanctuary, soldier, General Store clerk, bartender, detective-- but this is the one that's brought me the most joy in my life." Callie takes another bite. "So, what's *your* story, Gray?"
Gray blinks softly with the various jobs. Quickly staring at Callie, with a gentle raise of a brow that mixtures disbelief, humour and awe into a single expression. Then that question and Gray falters slightly, attention returning to her plate though it seems to sour her appetite a bit. "Nothing grand, or really interesting." Gray states gently, moving to set down her fork before looking to Callie fully. Tentative for a moment, hesitating, as her eyes look to Callie's, appraising for just a moment before she bows her head in acquiescence. Though her gaze falls back to her plate. "My father was a knight, my mother the daughter of a rich merchant. My father chose her because her dowry could pay for a new road. I... Had, an elder brother, but he passed when I was young."
"I'm sorry about your brother," Callie says, bowing her head respectfully. "You're a knight now yourself? Following in your father's footsteps?" She takes a long sip of her sweet tea, and asks, "Did he train you?"
Gray nods softly, though there seems to be a lack of pleasure with that statement. "when he lost his brother, and his heir, he well... turned to me. My life changed suddenly then." Gray observes gently, pausing to roll her jaw in a tender mulling of her feelings. "I was mostly ignored by him as a girl, but once my brother passed... He started having me dress like a boy, train with swords, even chose the toys I was allowed to play with." Gray comments softly, rolling her shoulders idly. "And then... He ordered the serfs on his land to refer to me as Gray, and as his male heir." Gray comments with a sense of bitter humour, looking to Callie. "I... Didn't tell you my name was Athena, did I?"
Callie sighs softly, knowing from experience the discrimination women suffer sometimes in the military. "No, you didn't tell me that. Would you prefer I call you Athena?" Callie gives Gray a gentle smile, willing to do whatever she needs to to make the other woman feel comfortable. She's away from her father now; she can go by whatever name she wants, is Callie's opinion.
Gray hums softly, a tender note of consideration before she smiles warmly to Callie. "I would like it if -you- called me Athena, yes." Gray smiles, a hand rising to scratch gently at her neck, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. "Maybe not in public though?" Gray adds gently, glancing down at her food. "And... Where was I?" She querries softly. "Oh right... Yeah... After that, I met my father's liege... Entered his service as a squire, then a page..." Gray trails off softly, a slight tension coming to her jaw. Eyes steeling themselves.
Callie nods at Gray's suggestion. "Athena, but only in private," she murmurs. Okay. She can do that. When she sees Gray starting to tighten up, the vixen figures it's the same old story; the liege took advantage of her after discovering she was female. "If he hurt you, you don't have to talk about it," she encourages her.
Gray shrugs softly, calming with that statement as Gray's grey eyes turn to Callie's a mixture of relief and gratitude. "I ... Imagine you know the rest already... He kept my secret atleast, let the courts pretend I was my father's son. After a few years I was released from my vow, and now... Here I am." The last comes with a hint of relief as Gray looks around the restaurant, before looking back to Callie. "And I would like to believe making friends."
Callie smiles gently. "Well, you certainly *have* made at least *one* friend, Athena," she says. She reaches out and gives the human a light hug. Meanwhile, the Elemental Servant comes out from behind the bar and locks both the 15-foot-tall double doors, and the fae door, which stands two feet high and four feet off the ground. In fact, if Gray looked around the restaurant, she'd see that it's designed with accessibility in mind for all races. The stools and chairs are all reinforced, but each of them also has a series of rungs on them for species like dwarves and halflings. There's even fae-sized furniture atop the bar counter, towards the middle. There's also a shot glass full of sugar cubes on the bar near the fae furniture, but now that the shop is closed for the evening, the minion dumps it back into the sugar bag.
Gray grasps Callie warmly, the followig squeeze perhaps a little tight for just a moment. Gray's body pressed warmly against Callie's as Gray's chin moves to rest on Callie's shoulder. A low hum of pleasure with the embrace and that statement. Gray's eyes tearing up gently. Only for the sound of those doors locking causing Gray's head to rise. Moving to lean back to bring her gaze to look into Callie's eyes, blinking back the hint of tears. "Are you... Locking the doors for a reason?" Gray manages gently, lips taking a warm, affectionate smile.
Callie gives Gray a gentle, reassuring smile. "It's closing time, is all," she says. "I need to do a little bit of paperwork. You're free to leave, but you could stay here for the night, if you'd like to. I've got a customer bedroom, in accordance with the laws of my hometown of Verlosi'ka. Every business is required to have at least one bedroom. If you'd like to hang out until I'm done with the ledger, there's a couch there, and a bookcase."
Gray smiles with the offer, head tilting gently. "Or... If it's not too much distraction, I do have a brush and you do have some lovely tails that could use some more pampering?" Gray offers gently, a bashful note coming to her lips. "I am quite taken with them, and I do know the order now."
Callie chuckles softly. "Hee, if you do that while I'm trying to do the ledger, I'll never get it done," she says. "My tails are sensitive enough that I just sorta forget myself when they're being brushed. But my paperwork shouldn't take *too* awfully long, and then you can go right back to pampering mah tails."
Gray seems pleased with Callie's laugh, a sincere smile coming to the woman's lips as she offers a soft nod. "Alright, I will wait patiently." She answers Callie gently, looking like a kid being told to wait for candy for just a moment. "I think I will explore the room and bookcase you mentioned."
Callie grins, and takes hold of Gray's hand for a moment, squeezing it gently. Then she goes behind the bar counter and retrieves the ledger before heading upstairs. The first door she'd come to is for her bedroom/office, and she opens it, sitting at her desk and breaking out the abacus. In the meantime, Callie's Elemental Servant starts in with washing dishes.
Gray squeezes Callie's hands softly, watching the fox slip away. A slightly wistful look coming to the knight's eyes for a moment before she begins to look about herself, pausing to pull off her boots. She lets her pale feet pad along the floor as she moved to explore the restaurant. Pausing as her curiousity moved to pull her gently towards that servant. Eyes resting on the watery-form of a single tailed Callie. But whatever thought that lingered in Gray's mind was abandoned as she would turn and proceed to seek out that room. Moving to sprawl across the bed on her back. "I wonder what would have happened if I stroked the... What did she call them? ... But the water Callie's tail." She shares the question with the room.
Callie hears Gray's question upstairs through the ears of the Elemental Servant, and chuckles. Speaking through the voice of the minion for the first time, Callie says, "The water Callie's cleanin' up, Athena! Shoo! Read a book or somethin'; I'll be right with you." There are several books on the shelf, including a few novels, and the triestan religious canon, but by far the thickest one is entitled "The Verlosi Tribe Guide to Multi-Species Sex Education, 23rd Edition".
Gray blinks with Callie's answer, cheeks flushing with abashment. "I guess that answer's that question." Athena answers with quiet humour. And with that very suggestion, she moved to check out the books and... Naturally found the thickest once. A flush coming to her cheeks, as she glanced out of the bedroom for a moment. Furtively moving to draw it gently. "Just a peek..." she whispers to herself, sitting on the foot of the bed, opening the book gently. "For... For... Ah... Legitamate reasons I will come up with later..." she explains absently, begining to flick through the pages as her cheeks coloured more and more.
The elemental servant watches as Gray takes hold of a book and goes into the customer bedroom, sitting down to read it, but it doesn't observe which book Athena had chosen. It's got its own duties, and so does Callie. As Gray flips through the sex book, she'd see full-color illustrations of every species, male and female, and information about their erogenous zones, and comfortable sexual positions. There's even some things in there about their religion and literature. This is not a book that's *just* about intercourse. It's about understanding one's partner on a deeper, emotional and cultural level.
Gray would shift between the pages, checking to see if it covered Vulpines as well. Easing onto the bed, she let the book rest open as she laid upon her stomach. Cheeks flushed, finger teasing across the page as she would at the illustrations, half marveling at the art, half staring bashfully. "Wow... I'm half envious of just being vulpine..." Gray murmurs to herself, smirking softly. "My father would've hated me saying that."
Indeed, the book covers vulpines as well. It mentions the tail-adjustment period that Callie had told Gray about; how a vulpine with a new tail needs time to get used to having it, and until then, it's extra-sensitive. It talks about the proper way to brush a vulpine's fur, and where on their tails to touch. It mentions that their feet are usually erogenous zones, as opposed to other races, whose feet are often ticklish. It also brings up the place behind their ears. And it covers vash'ri [full-furred] and nal'ri [little-furred] vulpines alike. Nal'ri vulpines have fur only on their ears and tails.
Gray hums with gentle interest as she reads, half caught between simply studying, and fantasizing. As she garners that information, she pauses gently. Cheeks flushed, she moves to stand and for the moment carry the book back to the shelf, replacing it gently. And moving to pad softly back to the bedroom to wait. Not wanting to be caught reading it, but also left curious and wondering. Feet, ears, tails... the specific techniques for the tails playing through Gray's mind as she lays, staring up at the ceiling almost dreamily.
Callie comes back down from the bedroom after completing her ledger for the day and locking it up in her desk. The Elemental Servant had completed its task and disappeared while Gray had come out to the living room to put the book away "Athena?" Callie says. "Athena, still about?" Callie walks down the stairs, not seeing her new friend on the couch, where she'd expected to find her.
Gray eases onto her feet, cheeks faintly flushed as she's pulled from her day dreaming. She follows her name, smiling to Callie. "Of course." She smiles warmly to Callie, a hand rising to gently brush a few loose strands of hair from her face, back over her ear. "Ah, where do you want me?" Gray offers gently.
Callie sees Athena come out of the customer bedroom, and she scratches her chin, pretending not to notice Athena's desire for the fox. "You just came out of the bedroom... are you tired, hon?" she asks. Callie sits down on the couch, and her keen eyes see that the sex book has been moved. It's in the same slot, but it's a little crooked.
Gray moves to walk over to Callie, pausing gently. Head tilting softly as she looks down at Callie. "I am... Being foolish again, I think." Gray shares, but despite her statement she moves to sit beside Callie. Cheeks offering another faint flush of embarassment as Gray glances away from Callie. "How many blushing women have you had fawn over you, like this?" Gray queries with gentle embarassment before looking back to Callie. Eyes warm with a mixture of affection and desire, the knight's breath slightly quickened. A hand moving to softly rest on Callie's side.
Callie smiles gently, and runs a hand along Gray's arm, the one that's touching her. "Oh, quite a few, Athena," the fox says. "But it feels nice, every time." Callie leans her face in a little bit, offering her lips for a kiss, but only comes halfway or so. She wants to give Gray the chance to opt out if she should change her mind.
Gray blinks gently with Callie's lean, already moving to meet her. Lips held only a breath from Callie's lips. Gray's other hand moving to rise to gently stroke Callie's cheek. "I would... choose you to be my... First chosen..." Gray offers gently, eyes lidded as they look to Callie's with desire before Gray finally moved to close that extra breath. Gray's lips moving to press against Callie's grinding gently against them before they press into a firmer kiss. A tender hum of pleasure rising from Gray's chest.
Callie murmurs softly as she feels Athena's lips kissing hers, the vixen leaning a little further forward and placing one hand against the back of the human's neck, while the other one presses its fingers into the small of her back. Callie's five tails sway slowly behind her in an expression of desire. Now that Gray has told her she's a virgin (vulpines believe that virginity can't be stolen; it can only be given away), Callie is a little hesitant, but hadn't Gray just said she'd choose her?
Gray brushes her thumb gently back and forth across Callie's cheek in a tender, affectionate caress. Letting lips press and grind gently for a few seconds before moving to draw back softly. Cheeks flushed with growing desire and quiet uncertainty, those eyes looking into Callei's taking a softly questioning note with Callie's hesitancy. "Would you prefer to have your tails brush?" Gray ventures gently, that bashfulness returning as her eyes drop from Callie's own, moving to find a spot on Callie's shoulder. All the while, the hand that had been on callie's hips, begins to migrate to those mentioned limbs. Begining with Callie's left most tail, palm seperating it gently, as Gray's fingers moved to spread around the base of the tail. Each pressing just firm enough to be pleasant as they move to gently grind up and down the base of Callie's tail. Stroking a few inches of it with ever pass.
Callie gives Gray a gentle smile and enjoys the resumption of the brushie brushie, but this time the fox leans in again and kisses her, a little more passionately, once the human has spent adequate time on her left tail. The hand on Athena's back moves up to about the middle of it, and Callie splays her fingers on it.
Gray lets her eyes close, that nervousness and uncertainty fading with the press of Callie's lips. A small groan of pleasure muffled against Callie's mouth as the knight presses her lips back against Callie's own. Parting them gently to grind them along Callie's lips. The hand pressing and spread across her back bringing her body to press more warmly against Callie's own. Twisting gently to bring her chest pressing against Callie's own, if even partially. The tender rise and fall of Gray's covered breasts offering whatever friction they could against Callie's chest. All the while those fingers brushing at the base of Callie's left tail, moves to part with a hint of hesitancy, only to wade through the writhing furrs to grasp at Callie's right tail, repeating the motions steadily.
As Athena starts to brush her right tail again, Callie slowly lowers the two of them down onto the couch, so that Callie is lying atop the human. Callie undoes the two buttons on her own blouse, and breaks the kiss just long enough to remove it over her head and place it on the floor, revealing the purple lacy bra beneath it. She smiles down at Athena, and kisses her again, pressing her body tightly against that of the knight.
Gray was putty beneath Callie's hands, laying with Callie's press. Eyes shining with pleasure. The only objection coming when the kiss broke, a small little whine that left the knightess blushing at her own greediness. One hand stroking Callie's tail, the other moving to tease between Gray and Callie. Fingers grasping into the right cup of that bra. Softly squeezing Callie's breast, the fingers drifting gently. Ever squeeze slightly different, alternating with the press of Gray's hand, a roll of her palm. The hand grasping Callie's tail parts gently, coming to slap gently down on Callie's bum, before offering a gentle squeeze. Gray's cheeks flushing with abashment at her forwardness, eyes offering pleased humour up at the incredible vixen.
Callie lets out a soft gasp into the kiss when Athena smacks her backside, enjoying it quite a bit. She murmurs into the rubbing of her breast, and when the kiss is broken, Callie turns her head over towards the mantle, where The Lady's statuette stands between two large candlesticks. Silently, she gives thanks to The Lady for the gifts of life, love, family, friends, and tails, and thanks Her for bringing Athena into her life. Then she slowly begins to loosen Gray's tunic before removing it. No bra. "Ooooh," Callie says with a grin, and she leans in, beginning to lick and suck at Gray's right breast.
Gray hums a warm note of pleasure with Callie's enjoyment, a hint of relief lingering for a moment before Athena's brow rises with Callie's distraction. Eyes following to the image of Callie's goddess, turning a little solemn for just a moment. Then Callie's attention returned and the knightess smiled warmly up at the foxy one. As those hands began to work at her tunic, Gray flushes gently, hands gently little from Callie's body to allow it to be pulled off her. Reflective her hands move to cover her breasts for just a momment. The motion however paused with Callie's excitement, Athena's hands instead finding themselves grasping at Callie's shoulders as Callie began to lick and suckle at her breast. Soft cries of pleasure slipping from Athena's lips, body quivering gently with Callie's attentions. Hands grasping at Callie's shoulders, pausing as they brush against the straps of Callie's bra. Fingers moving, exploring that garment, begining to pull it off. A gentle fumbling at first, before she figures it out, opening it.
Callie is spurred on by those sounds of delight coming from her new friend as the fox gives the human's breast such tender attention, and she moves to Gray's left breast after a couple of minutes, adjusting herself a little bit to help the knight remove her bra. Callie's breasts are covered with white fur, whereas most of the rest of her body is red-furred. Callie pulls away a little bit to give Gray a good view of them, but she moves a hand down to resume the stroking of the small of her back.
Gray arches gently, pressing her breast gently into Callie's mouth as she writhes under Callie's experienced lips. And then, Callie was shifting, and Gray relaxed gently, though her chest rose and fell in soft, needy, pants of breath. Gray's eyes fell from Callie's gaze to those breasts, desire flaring as Gray moved to ease up gently. Hands reaching for Callie's breast, but as one is pulled back to Callie's tail, Athena offers a tender smile of abashment. Still, her left hand grasps Callie's right breast, cupping it in her palm, lifting it gently, pressing it back into Callie's chest. Fingers offering a tender squeeze before that palm began to roll. Gray's other hand moves to Callie's upper tail, grasping gently at the base, kneading it between her fingers as she began to slowly ease her hand up and down Callie's tail once more. Stroking, kneading, rubbing.
Callie giggles softly as Gray starts touching her upper tail again, and her other hand is now against the vixen's right breast. Callie places one of her own hands on the small of Gray's back, near where her tails *would* be, if she had any. "So," Callie murrs, "just what *were* you reading while you waited for me?" There's a twinkle in Callie's eyes; she could take a wild guess.
Gray flushes gently with the question, that blush as good as answer as any as Gray's eyes turn just a little guilty. The knightess does not move to answer verbally however, instead moving to press her lips against Callie's for another kiss, hand abandoning Callie's breast. Grasping at Callie's rear, pulling her close. The sitting knight pulls Callie to straddle her, and with that she moves to ease her right hand back into Callie's tails, taking the lower to begin rubbing at it's base. The other, reaching for Callie's heel, fingers teasing down onto the sole of Callie's foot to begin rubbing experimentally.
Callie adjusts to the new position quite easily, sitting down atop Gray to see what she'll do next. When one hand goes to the vixen's foot, she's surprised by it, but then she smiles when Gray touches her in just the right way. Oh. She'd read *that* book. "Good to see that you... made good use of your time," the fox says with a light chuckle. "Of course, *my* class on the subject lasted for several months."
Gray smiled bashfully up at Callie, lips moving to fall gently to Callie's neck, soft kisses growing gently firmer, a gentle nip following. The gentle bite experimental as she listened for Callie's response. Hand rising from Callie's foot, to offer Callie's ass another smack. Hands alternating, as the smacking hand took Callie's lower tail, begining to rub it lovingly. The other moving to fall to Callie's untouched foot, stroking, rubbing. Gray's lips finally moving to draw back, cheeks flushed with desire, a hint of nervousness lingering in the knight's gaze. A slightly timid, but definitely sincere request of: "Teach me?"
Callie lets out a soft gasp at the kissing and nipping of her neck, and a little murmur of pain, but the pleasure is far more intense than that. Callie smiles broadly. "I will teach you," the fox says. "Yes, indeed, I will. Dig your fingers into the arch of my foot, like this." She gives a demonstration with her own forefinger and middle finger, only against the small of Athena's back. "Nice, little circles. But first... I think I'm still a little overdressed, don't you?"
Gray watches Callie's gesture, fingers already moving to do exactly as instructed. Fore and middle fingers pushing into the arch of Callie's feet, grinding in small little circles. But as that correction comes, Gray flushes as she nods in gently agreement to Callie. Hands pausing, moving to Callie's hips, teasing over the waistband of Callie's skirt, looking for any ties that needed to be loosen. Moving to begin to pull it gently from Callie's body. Gray leans back gently, letting her eyes fix on her work, on every inch that she was about to be revealing. Anticipation shines in the knightess' eyes, lower lip slipping between her teeth as she helps Callie disrobe.
Beneath her black, knee-length skirt, Callie is wearing a pair of red lace panties. But before the skirt (or the panties) can be removed, Callie's tails must be freed from the tail-hole. Callie shows Athena how to do that quickly and efficiently, and without hurting the fox. "The funny thing is," Callie says, "every time a vulpine earns a new tail, she has to get all her pants re-tailored." She chuckles softly, and when the skirt is removed, Callie's five tails curl slightly towards her body in a demure expression. Tufts of white fur can just slightly be seen beneath the fox's panties.
Gray follows Callie's instruction, looking a little abashed at her own ignorant intentions, but as the skirt is removed, Gray's eyes fall down to Callies panties. Perhaps a hint of envy for just a moment, before a warm smile of appreciation is turned up to Callie. Left hand grasping at Callie's ass, giving it a firm squeeze before it moves to slip down towards Callie's foot. Those two fingers pushing into the arch of Callie's foot, grinding in those small circles. Gray's right hand moving to tease gently between Callie's thighs. Two fingers pressing against those panties, push against Callie's sex as they begin to rub steadily back and forth. "I think I atleast know this part..." Gray confesses bashfully.
Callie is on top of the world now that she's being touched on both her foot and her sex at once, and the fox murmurs, "Use your thumb, too. Mmmm, rub it against my clit." Callie takes hold of the hand that's on her own sex, and presses Gray's thumb against the desired location. "Mmmm, like that." Callie undoes Gray's trousers and pulls them down, partly with her hand, and then she uses her untouched foot for the rest of it.
Gray offers another hint of bashfulness, despite after her statement further direction is required. Hips shifting to offer Callie and assistance in removing those pants, bearing the simple and plain cloth that hugged Gray's hips, the only noticable thing about the rather plain underwear was the spreading dampness from Athena's growing arousal. Gray's thumb works on that clit, rolling the ball of the thumb in small tight circles over it, pausing every few rotations to rub the thumb from side to side, or up and down, to keep the motion from getting repetitive. All the while those fingers against Callie's sex begin to rub firmer, slightly faster, before with a few more seconds to grow bold, Gray moves to pull aside the crotch of Callie's panties. Letting thumb touch upon bared clit, fingers pressing into Callie's folds, giving the Vulpine just a few moments to object as the two fingers aim to sink into Callie's depths.
When Callie feels her sex fully exposed to Athena's touch, she lets out a gentle moan, and when she's penetrated, Callie murmurs, "Mmmm, goddess... oh, Lady... bless us as we make love in Your sight." In her mind, Callie's imagining The Lady, Mother of All Vulpines, looking down from the Celestial Realm with Her husband, Trejani, and perhaps getting aroused by the sight of one of Their Mushani Villa enjoying herself as she'd been instructed to do in The Sacred Teachings. Callie wraps her left and right tails around Athena's waist, and murrs to her, "Lemme... take off your panties, hon."
Gray smiles warmly to Callie, the hand teasing up from Callie's foot, pressing against Callie's back as Gray begins to rise, moving to lay Callie down gently. Gray working up onto her knees, ready to shift her legs so the panties could be discarded. All the while her fingers remained within Callie, and now they began to move softly. The two digits begining to steadily withdraw, before pressing back into Callie's puss, working in long, smooth, strokes as Gray's thumb rubs at Callie's clit. Leaning in, bringing ready lips to press down onto Callie's breast. Kissing, nipping gently, as they explored through Callie's fur, seeking Callie's to offer a tender suckle.
As Callie removes Gray's panties, her fingers splay out and toes curl in pleasure at how the younger woman is caressing her and pushing her fingers in and out of her sex. And then she gazes upon the human's nude body, leaning in slightly to take in the scent of Athena's body. She could see, from the moistening of her panties, that she was already quite excited. Then Callie gasps as her breast is kissed and sucked at again. "Mmmmm... Athena," she murrs. "I wanna... show you something."
Gray was, perhaps to some surprise, hairless. Armpits, legs, groin and even her sex shaven smooth in some regime of hygiene. Gray's body carries hints of arousal, and a faint note of sweat that leaves her scent musky but somewhat pleasant. Those pleasant lips and plunging fingers pause softly with Callie's statement. Athena's attention rising to rest on Callie's lips, teasing up to Callie's eyes as the knight once more offered a bashful smile. Left hand rising up Callie's body, taking Callie's left breast, begining to roll and rub at it gently, as those fingers continue to softly press in and out of Callie. But in the least, the vulpine had her attention.
Callie is enjoying Gray's shyness, finding it quite sweet. She wonders how long it'll take to free her of her inhibitions. Callie places both her hands together, side-by-side, in open fists. Then she speaks a word of Ancient Vulpani, activating her Elemental Craft spell. She pulls apart her hands slowly, forming a tube that's about eight inches long, and made of pink, translucent hard water surrounded by a thick membrane. It's very smooth, like glass. "Can you guess what this is?" Callie asks.
Gray blinks gently, eyes turning to Callie's hands as she witnesses the magical art, head tilting gently with the revealed item. Cheeks flushing crimson with the question as she looks to Callie. "I... Know what it is meant to emulate... And it's purpose." Gray answers gently, hints of embarassment lingering even as her index finger and thumb move to gently clasp Callie's nipple for a tender pinch and a gentle tug.
Callie grins. "I have a certain way of using this thing that's unique," she says. "May I show you?" She closes her eyes and kisses Athena gently when she feels the woman tracing her fingers against her nipple again. Callie's free hand now touches the human's breast, using the flats of her fingernails.
Gray nods her consent, not wishing to spend the time to voice words as her lips meet Callie's eagerly. Brushing, grinding against Callie's own as without instruction to the contrary, Athena's fingers not only continue, but begin to escalate with Athena's growing desire. A slightly firm pinch, another tender tug of Callie's nipple coming with the slightly firmer, faster pace of those fingers thrusting into Callie's sex. Thumb stroking at Callie's clit. The press of those fingernails against Athena's breast drawing a tender huff of pleasure against Callie's lips.
"Ahhhhh, yesssss... feels so good, Athena," Callie murmurs. She takes a lick of that hard-water dildo, and then slowly slips it into the human's body, swirling, twisting, and thrusting it. As she does so, the dildo changes form, growing slightly in length to fill up Athena's full vagina, and beginning to get pockmarked in places, matching the woman's interior topography. It becomes personalized, in other words, for Athena's maximum pleasure and no one else's. Then Callie pulls it out, and shows Athena the final result. After a moment, she slips it into her own mouth and gives it a good once-over with her tongue, pulling it out and letting a bit of her saliva stay on it.
Gray falters softly with the tilt of that toy. As it presses against her, she pauses, as it begins to spread and stretch and push inside of her. Lewd moans ease from Athena's lips, eyes turning pleasured as they close gently. And a moment later, those eyes open softly in shock with the feel of that dildo moving inside of her, grinding, swirling, changing. Athena quivers and shakes as Callie fucks her with that toy, fingers begining to move slightly hesitantly at first before they begin to steady themselves and return to their previous rhythm, the fingers in Callie's puss even pumping faster. Athena is left panting when the toy is drawn out, displayed and as Callie slips it into her lips the knight whimpers gently. Leaning in to begin to kiss and nip softly along Callie's jaw.
As Athena fucks Callie with her fingers and Callie returns the favor with the dildo, it takes all of Callie's effort not to just let herself go right here. But she wants something even better. After pulling it out and licking it, eliciting an excited whimper from Athena, Callie smiles as she's kissed along the jaw and cheek and says, "Now I can do *this*." Callie speaks that same word of Ancient Vulpani, and extends the dildo into a double-ended dildo, the pink side for Athena, and the blue side for herself. The blue side is *already* pockmarked and ridged, but in a pattern that's demonstrably different from the pink side. This is clearly the side meant for Callie.
Gray stills gently, even her fingers pausing as she bears witness to that word, and the new... invention. Athena looks up to Callie for guidance, that moment of questioning matched with the gentle draw of Gray's fingers from Callie's push. The two digits brought and then slipped into Gray's mouth as she begins to suckle gently. Eyes lidding with the taste, moaning with quiet satisfaction.
"Oh, goddess," Callie gasps as she sees Athena sucking on the fingers that were, until recently, inside the fox's dripping snatch. "Mmmmm, yes, Athena. I think I'm ready to take you. Ask me to." Callie slips the blue side of the dildo onto herself, but waits, keeping the pink side primed, but not inside Athena just yet.
Gray looks to Callie, cheeks turning Crimson as she moves to lay back on the couch. Legs spreading, baring that swollen, tight, sex. Little clit standing at attention as one of Gray's hands slides up her stomach to grasp gently at her breast. She cups and bounces it softly for Callie's pleasure, the other hand stroking at her clit for just half a moment, drawing a muffled moan of pleasure before those fingers tease down to her sex, spreading her folds for Callie. Gray's cheeks, despite her forward actions, flare with colour, Gray's eyes holding more then a little embarassment even with the lewd whine that followed. "Please... Callie, please take me... Fuck me... Teach me."
"Mmmmm... okay," Callie murrs, and she begins to slowly push the pink side of the dildo inside Athena's sex, letting out a soft murmur of pleasure as she feels the blue side pushing back against it. As the dildo enters Athena's body, Callie stares into the human's gray eyes with her own lush green ones, smiling sweetly at her, as the words "Mmmm, shuka triesta" emerge from Callie's lips.
Gray pants softly, eyes staring up at Callie, back into Callie's own. Those pale orbs hold a faint nervousness that mixes with affection and desire. As that pink length presses, and begins to spread the woman's folds however, the nervousness vanishes, and pleasure fills that steely gaze. Athena's eyes lid, her head tilting back softly as those pale lips spread in a tender cry of pleasure. Sex stretching gently around that toy as it eases into her slick sex. That velvet glove gripping tight at that toy every inch, adding delightful little pumps of friction.
Callie lets out a soft gasp as she feels the dildo going further and further into her own body, and into Gray's as well, pulling them closer together. Finally, they're joined as tightly as they can be, and the vixen begins to move with Athena, lying down on that couch. Callie places one hand at the back of Athena's neck, and the other at the woman's shoulder.
Gray whimpers gently when that toy fills her completely. Eyes looking up to Callie, offering a soft desperation and need for more, mixed with a wave of pleasure. The woman's chest rising and falling quickly, breasts swaying softly as she tries to handle the onslaught of pleasure and sensation. Callie's position, the hands upon her... Athena's hands rise, one grasping softly at Callie's hip, the other teasing to the fox's breast, cupping it gently. Fingers offering a tender squeeze. "Callie... You are... So beautiful, and I need you so badly." Athena shares gently, voice soft and intimate.
"Mmmm, I need... need you too," Callie returns, as she slowly moves her body against Athena's in their tender lovemaking. She gasps softly at the light touching of her breast, and says, "Ahhh... squeeze the nipple a little bit." Callie continues to ride on Athena, and then she kisses her with firm tenderness, slipping her tongue in between Athena's lips and beginning to explore the woman's mouth with it.
Gray meets Callie's kiss with tender whimpers and muffled moans. Lips pressing, grinding back against the vixen's. The knightess let her eyes drift closed, letting the sensations overwhelm her as the elementalist's lovemaking left the knightess quivering wantonly. Gray's fingers press into Callie's fur, grasping at Callie's nipple as they gently squeeze. A moment later a tender tug and a faint little twist are offered. Meanwhile upon the fox's back, the knight's other hand teases down to grasp at Callie's ass, a firm squeeze giving way to a tender rake of those fingers through Callie's fur as they aim to tease back up to Callie's tails.
Callie's fingers tighten up a little bit on Gray's neck and shoulder as she feels her nipple played with, as she'd requested. When she feels Athena's hand down on her bum, the vixen brushes it with her center tail, breaking the kiss and smiling at her encouragingly. Callie's left arm moves to cradle the human's neck and hold her tightly as Callie kisses her on the forehead.
Gray offers tender cries of pleasure as her lips are vacated. A tender song of bliss easing from the knightess' lips as her sex squeezes and grasps at that toy. Athena opens her steely eyes to stare into Callie's emeralds the cradle of her head. Offering a quivering whimper of pleasure as her hips begin to rock back against Callie. Meeting and accentuating each and every thrust of Callie's body against her. Urging that toy to move as much, if not more in Callie. The knightess' busy hands following the direction of that tail, teasing into the writhing limbs, grasping at Callie's left tail first. Gray's fingers tease around the base, pressing firmly as they knead and rub. Slowly grasping at the tail, as those fingers begin to tease up and down, to tease and stimulating every sensitive inch. Meanwhile Callie's breast is not left unattended, those fingers offer tender teases, pausing gently to allow Gray's hand to grasp and squeeze at Callie's breast, before they return to teasing at the nipple. Offering the alternating pleasures.
Callie lets out a long gasp at the feeling of her tailbase and breast both being tenderly stroked at the same time. "Mmmmm, Athena," Callie murmurs. "Lady bless our meeting." In her mind, she's imagining The Lady and Her husband, Trejani, looking down on them from the Celestial Realm with love, enjoying the sight of one of their Mushani Villa seeking out pleasure, as she was meant to do. That's the First Tenet, after all. She feels herself slowly building towards orgasmic bliss, but she wants to get Athena there as well, so she lifts herself up quite a ways, so that her body is near-perpendicular to the human's. This gives Callie plenty of space to use both of her hands to tweak and stroke at Athena's breasts.
Gray writhes gently in pleasure. Hips rolling, bucking back into each of Callie's strokes. Head rising to steal kisses from Callie's lips, only to ease back down. Every few strokes a tender arch comes to the knightess' back. But even with the writhing, fidgeting, her hands remain busy on Callie's body. Both switching targets. Gray's right hand abandoing Callie's tail to grasp at her so far unattended breast. Teasing at tit and nipple alike. Other hand falling to begin to caress each of Callie's tails in the order she had gotten them. All the while the knightess quickly and steadily fell into Callie's pleasures. Sex squeezing, gripping at Callie's toy. Every stroke eliciting lewd noises from the dripping knight. The teasing of her breasts only causing the knightess to whimper softly. "Callie... I am not... I have not... Oh Gods this is so good..." She fumbles gently. "I am... I am going to..."
It's not lost on Callie that even in the throes of passion, Athena is rubbing her hand against Callie's tails in the proper order, and that excites and delights the fox. Continuing to massage and pinch at Athena's breasts, Callie murrs, "I... I know. Mmmmm, me too. Ahhhh... come for me, Athena," she groans. "I want you to come for me." Callie groans, her toes and five tails curling tightly as she feels her own climax rapidly approaching...
Gray quivers gently, a wave of shifts and twists running through her body. The knightess' body tenses, head tilting back as her lips spread into a long cry of pleasure. A name riding her voice as the song of pleasure rings with "Caaaaaallieeeee!" As her back arches, she twists gently, hands grasping suddenly at Callie's body. Gripping softly at the base of one of Callie's tails, the other hand grasping at Callie's breast. Athena's long, fine, legs squeezing at Callie's sides, lower-legs pulling at Callie's rear as they seek to pull Callie close and press that toy as deep into her writhing body as it can reach. And then those thighs begin to quiver, the rolling and bucking of Athena's hips falter. Gray's body rises softly as those shakes intensify for just a moment, before her tight sex squeezes around that toy and her cry rises into a tender squeal before a small gush of quim wets that toy, splashing against Callie's mons, sex and thighs.
"Ahhhhhh, yessssss... ATHENA!" Callie exclaims, moments after Gray screams the fox's own name, as if the act of Athena coming spurs Callie on to her own orgasm. And it seems to have done just that. Sometimes hearing one's own name exalted in climactic bliss is all it takes to push one over the top. Callie's not much of a gusher, but some of her juices *do* come pouring out and land on the middle of the double-ended dildo. Callie leans down again so that her body is tightly against the knight's, and she kisses her with unabashed passion.
Gray relaxes suddenly, body going somewhat lax beneath Callie. Hands unfurling, one resting amongst Callie's tails, the other falling to the side, resting on the couch. Gray's legs loosen, parting and trailing down till Gray's ankles rest on the back of Callie's, legs bowed out to Callie's sides. Lidded, unfocused eyes stare up at Callie with bliss and affection, tears showing in the gray pools. Those eyes close with the press of the fox's lips, before they open again with slightly renewed focus. The Knight presses up against those lips, kissing Callie back, slightly subdued at first but quickly warmly. A warm hum of pleasure muffled into Callie's mouth.
Callie's kiss gradually becomes slower, more sweet than passionate, as the two women come off their orgasm together. After a moment, Callie reaches down and undoes the dildo from both of them, tossing it onto the coffee table, but it takes a light bounce off the table and ends up on the floor in front of it when Callie's not looking. Eventually, Callie breaks the kiss, and just holds Athena there in her arms.
Gray stills gently as the kiss turns slower and gentler. The tears in Athena's eyes begining to gently trail down her cheeks and fall to the couch beneath her. Leaving her cheeks glistening softly. The knight begins to curl into Callie, arms teasing from Callie's tail and moving to wrap around Callie's back. Athena hugging close, and when the kiss breaks Athena moves to nuzzle gently into Callie's neck and shoulder. Those quiet tears wetting Callie's fur, but not a single sob sounds from the woman.
For a few moments as Athena touches her face to Callie's neck and shoulder, Callie mistakes the tears for sweat, and doesn't comment. Then, as they keep coming, Callie identifies them for what they are. Rather than ask a ridiculous question, like if she's all right, the fox merely remembers the background information Athena had shared with her. This might be the first time she's made love, certainly not including the times she'd been taken advantage of. It's okay for her to cry. Callie moves a hand up to the top of the woman's head, and strokes her lovely brown hair.
Gray lingered perhaps selfishly for dozens of seconds, perhaps even stretching into a minute or two, before finally she begins to draw back softly. Eyes swollen from her tears, cheeks still wet, the signs of tears belied by the affection and joy evident in the knight's eyes as she looks to stare into Callie's emeralds. Those calloused hands that had been pleasuring and exploring Callie's body begin to draw Callie closer. The tearful knight moving to kiss Callie softly, but passionately. The embrace of lips holding sincere affection and pleasure.
Callie permits Athena to hold onto her for as long as she wants; the fox has completed all her mandatory tasks for the day, and they have the rest of the night to themselves. When she's kissed again, Callie allows the younger woman to set the pace, letting out a gentle moan into Athena's mouth. Callie moves a hand down to the small of her back, where Gray's tailbases would be if she had any, and presses two fingers into that sensitive bundle of nerves.
Gray moans softly into Callie's mouth with that touch, letting the kiss linger for a few moments later before consoled, Athena draws back gently. The knightess let her eyes close as she lays gently back on the couch, careful not to crush Callie's hand. Eyes opening to look up at the vixen upon her. "Callie..." Athena begins softly. "T-Thank you. That was... Lovely." Athena states with a gentle flush of abashment at the ineloquent wording.
Callie smiles sweetly and says, "You're welcome. And thanks for letting me in." Callie reaches for her red lace panties and purple lacy bra, beginning to get the former back onto her body. "So, I'm thinking some strawberry shortcake for dessert. Does that sound good to you, hon?"
Gray watches Cally dress softly, slowly moving to sit up. Hands moving to tease around Callie's hips, hugging the vixen gently. "That sounds great. But... Are you... Satisfied?" Athena querries gently, cheeks flushing softly as she offers that question. Body slowly moving to rise to stand with, beside, Callie.
That's an awfully strange thing to ask, Callie thinks. And she can't help but wonder if that's the kind of question that Athena used to ask that question of her father's liege, asking permission to put her clothes back on and depart. Callie doesn't want her relationship with Athena to be nearly that one-sided, so she simply replies, "You were great, hon. Truly, you were. I'm, ah, feeling really great, right now."
Gray smiles softly to Callie, leaning in to place a soft kiss on Callie's cheek. "So... Thinking you might have me back for a few more lessons then?" Gray querries, that flush deepening as Gray offers the proposition. Attention shifting gently over to the bookcase. "I mean... There are a few more things to practice, no?" She offers softly.
"There are many things we can learn from each other," Callie says, "and not just sex, either." Callie finishes putting her bra and panties on, and starts to work on her black knee-length skirt. It takes a little while for Callie to get all five of her tails through the tail-hole; she has to do them one at a time. "Did you see the novels I have up on the bookshelf? The ones by Milana Serafin? They're not only a fine example of contemporary vulpine literature, but they'll actually teach you how to read Vulpani. The left side of each page is in Common, and the right side, Vulpani. Additionally, it's a nice way to find out about our culture. Serafin is my favorite vulpine author who's still alive."
Gray tilts her head gently with Callie's answer nodding softly. The knightess hesitating for a moment before finally moving to collect her own clothing, drawing on the simple underwear, the trousers and tunic following in a rather efficient and matter-of-fact way. The knight soon running her fingers through her hair, begining to work it into a braid as she looks back to Callie. "Ah, I was going to ask more about the Vulpani culture actually... And I noticed a couple times throughout..." Athena's attention drifts over to that 'statuette' the image of The Lady that Callie had been looking towards.
Callie glances towards the mantle where The Lady's statuette is located, between those two candlesticks. "Yes, that's an image of The Lady, Mother of All Vulpines. Do you know how She brought the vulpine race into being? It's a rather different creation story than the other ones I've heard. And fraught with difficulty. She didn't just snap her fingers and create four million vulpines."
Gray shakes her head softly, moving to stand gently at Callie's side. A hand moving to Callie's back, just above her tail, trailing up and down Callie's spine in a simple, comforting touch. "I am completely ignorant of other cultures." Gray shares with faint abashment and apology in her voice. "And I will guess it is not as simple as childbirth."
"Oh, that's all right," Callie says. "I enjoy telling of my culture to other people. In fact, it's one of the things I've dedicated my life to doing." Callie gestures towards the bar counter, and sits down on a stool at about its midpoint, near the fae furniture. She creates an Elemental Servant, which starts working on assembling two strawberry shortcakes. "From the birth of the universe, The Lady existed as a ball of golden light, and had personality to match-- as someone who enjoys life and freedom. When the gods got together and started creating the world of Belariath, The Lady saw what they were doing, and wanted to get on the creation Herself. She was determined to create a race of people in Her image. But She didn't have a corporeal form yet, so She had to make one for Herself first."
Gray blinks softly, looking gently from the candle to Callie. The knightess smiles casually, following Callie to the bar. Moving to slip onto the stool next to Callie. The woman listens to every word of the vixen's story with curiousity and interest. Brow rising at the mention of 'the ball of light.' A soft interjection seems to come to mind, but she waylays it in favour of letting Callie continue.
"The Lady spent years roaming the length and breadth of the land, looking for inspiration for Her new form," Callie says. "Eventually, She found it in the fox, which is clever, cunning, fast, fun-loving, and cute. She used the form of the fox as a template for Her own form, only She would have ten tails and stand on two legs. And every now and then, She grants vulpines new tails as a sign of Her favor."
Gray listens attentively to the lesson, head tilting softly at the mention of the fox. But a gentle smile of recognition comes from it as Gray's gaze teases back to Callie's tail before looking back to Callie herself. Gray's lower lip slipping between her teeth with some thought, but the knightess simply looks for Callie to signal the end or to continue.
Callie says, "But before She brought to life the rest of the vulpine race, She wanted a husband, to bring the race to being in the traditional fashion of mortals. She created a full-grown husband for herself named Qileya, which means, 'the same'. Unfortunately, the marriage didn't work out well. They agreed on everything, and there was no give-and-take in the relationship. She *did* love him, but the relationship wasn't fulfilling. Eventually, with a heavy heart, The Lady sent Qileya out into the world to serve as an ambassador of the forthcoming vulpine race, without lying with him to conceive a child." Callie pauses now, to invite comment.
Gray nods softly to Callie, head tilting gently as Gray listens. The concept of 'growing' a husband brought Gray's smile to turn humoured, and then thoughtful, likely entertaining the notion. Then the statement of sending him as an ambassador drew the comment of. "I hope he only agreed with her all the time if he was their ambassador... And will the next grown be one that disagrees with her constantly?"
Callie laughs softly. "The Rule of Three *is* kind of a well-known trope, isn't it? Yes, She waited a few years, and then tried again with Najaka, meaning 'the opposite'. And yes, he disagreed with her constantly. Worse, he was dangerous. He started talking about the superiority of vulpines over all other races, and The Lady feared he'd get violent. Obviously, She couldn't send *him* out into the world, and She refused to kill him, so She banished him to the heavens, making him a constellation in the night sky. Unfortunately, that didn't prevent him from influencing the world in more subtle ways."
Gray hums thoughtfully. A hand moving to gently rest on the back of Callie's hand, fingers stroking gently as they tease from the base of Callie's fingers up to her wrist and back again. "I do find myself begining to agree with him. It is hard to see how the average human can compare at this point." The knightess comments softly, cheeks flushing as she offers the thought and flirtation.
Callie looks askance at Gray. "Don't joke. True followers of The Lady enjoy being vulpines, yes; we're even *proud* of being vulpines, but we recognize that there's worth and value in *all* races. Najaka is an extremist, a vulpine-supremacist, who believes that all non-vulpines should be enslaved or murdered, and that vulpines should reign as the supreme species on
earth. And he's amassed some followers, called the Run'ya Najaka, who are trying to bring that to pass."
Gray shakes her head gently with Callie's rebuke, a hand moving to rise to stroke softly at Callie's cheek. "I am only saying that you are beautiful, and that I find you amazing." The knightess assures, voice gently and affectionate. "And as you mentioned three, I imagine the third one was atleast a success?"
Callie nods, and gives Gray a light smile, taking the woman's comment in the spirit in which it was given. "The third one was a success, yes. Never let it be said that The Lady doesn't learn from her mistakes. She took many years and spent them in villages and towns throughout the world, befriending people and finding out how their marriages worked, and for that matter, some parenting advice. Finally, when She was ready to make her third attempt, She brought Trejani into the world as a baby, and gave him to a childless catperson married couple to raise as their own. To this day, triestani vulpines consider catpeople to be a sacred race."
Gray` offered a warm smile as Callie accepted her reasoning, hand withdrawing softly so as not to disturb Callie's story further. Gray's head tilting quietly with the mention of catpeople. A tender rise of her brow as she turns thoughtful for a moment, whatever internal question is answered with a tender shake of her head. The knightess' eyes however turn back to Callie and that curiousity lingers, the interest in Callie's words ever present.
Callie continues, "The Lady met Trejani after the latter came of age, and they grew to love each other over time. Eventually, they got married, and The Lady had 14 children in two clutches of seven each-- the Tavya Din, 'Original Children'. Those 14 children spread throughout the world, meeting members of other races, eventually siring and birthing more vulpines."
Gray` nods to Callie, leaning in slightly closer. Letting her curiousity rule her for a moment as she looks into Callie's eyes. Brow rising gently. "And the other?" Gray asks softly.
"The other what?" Callie asks, not understanding Gray's question.
Gray blinks softly, shaking her head softly. "Oh, I misheard you." Gray flushes gently, a hand rising to stroke some hair from her cheek and behind her ear with a flush of abashment. "I had thought you had said half had left." Gray's eyes turn back to Callie. "Is there more to the tale?"
"Nope, that's it," Callie says, with a smile. "For the first several generations, there were no half-blood vulpines; anyone that a vulpine sired or gave birth to was a full vulpine no matter what, so that the race would have enough people to propagate itself. Otherwise, we'd have been gone within one generation, of course."
Gray` nods softly to Callie, moving to rise gently, leaning closer to Callie to place a tender kiss on Callie's lips, should the fox not draw back or otherwise discourage the action. A tender hum of the words: "Thank you."
Callie looks a little surprised but leans into the kiss nevertheless, stroking her hand at the back of Gray's head. When the human breaks the kiss, Callie says, "'Thank you' for the story, you're saying?" The Elemental Servant finishes assembling the strawberry shortcake desserts, and sets them down in front of the two women.
Gray` nods softly to Callie, flushing gently. "And... Tonight... the company, meeting me, the cup of tea... Every second you spend with me?" Gray offers gently, that blush returning as her head bows gently to break her gaze with Callie. That confession drawing her to grow self-concious. "I am... Grateful, that you are helping me." Gray adds gently, looking back up at Callie, eyes a storm with emotion, but the most obvious is sincere affection.
Callie smiles sweetly, and kisses Athena on the forehead. "You're welcome, hon. It's been a real pleasure, finding a new dear friend. Come, let's eat. I hope you'll spend the night here with me. I've got a customer bedroom down here on this floor, or you can join me in my bedroom/office upstairs. Come to think of it... let's go upstairs and eat this on the balcony. I've got something I'd like to show you." Athena might think Callie crazy for this suggestion, as it's bitterly cold outside, and the strawberry shortcake has ice cream in it.
Gray` smiles sweetly with the kiss upon her forehead, the knightess relaxing easily with the affection. Her gaze rises with the mention of staying the night, head tilting gently at the mention of the guest room but her smile widens when invited to sleep with Callie, already nodding. Gray slips to her feet and collects her plate easily. No objections are offered as she seems to hold simple and complete faith in Callie's choice. "I cannot wait to see it."
Callie grins at Athena's trust, and she takes hold of her strawberry shortcake, carrying it upstairs with her. At the top of the stairs, Callie hangs a right, and there are four closed doors on her left before she reaches the sliding glass door at the end of the hallway. The glass door is 15 feet tall, the same height as the one on the first floor. Callie slides it open. At this point, one might expect all the cold winter air to come rushing into the restaurant-- but it doesn't.
Gray` follows easily. Eyes moving to the door, more then a little impressed by the construction of the restaurant. As the door opens and the cold doesn't rush in, Gray merely smiles knowingly, looking to Callie. "More magic?" Gray teases softly, moving to step to Callie's side and look out the door.
Callie nods, and she sets her bowl of shortcake down on a table on the balcony, using flint and tinder to light the candle there. She reaches towards a space just above the railing of the balcony, and encounters some resistance. "Climate Mastery spell," Callie says. "It allows me to transform my primary residence however I like it. I use it to create a block of hard water, surrounded by a thick membrane, around the balcony. The air that *does* come in is heated by the water itself. The ceiling is 15 feet high, like the door." Callie gestures towards the walls. "And you see how the snow is hitting the walls and instantly melting off? Makes for a very pleasant display, if I say so myself."
Gray` hums softly, looking over the balcony, gaze turning to Callie. Gray smiles warmly with the display, nodding her head gently. "That's... quite the talent. I will be honest... After meeting you it leaves me curious about magic... Do you think I could become as talented as you?" Gray queries softly, moving to reach out and rub the barrier gently.
"I think you could," Callie says, "if you're willing to devote a lot of time and energy to it. It doesn't come easily; that's for sure." Callie pulls a seat out at the table for Athena, and takes the seat perpendicular to it, allowing Athena the chair with the best view. "You see the street lanterns that border the park? I've always thought them quite lovely at night."
Gray` moves back to the table, smiling warmly to Callie as Gray eases into the seat. Eyes turning to the view, even as her hands begin to take a spoonful of her cake. A warm smile coming to Callie's lips as she looks over to Callie. "I think so too." Gray smiles warmly. "The world seems to be very beautiful through your eyes."
"I'm a person who appreciates beauty in all things," Callie says. "In people, in places, and in food. I ought to be; my best friend's an artist, for goodness' sake." She chuckles, and takes her first bite of dessert, getting a little bit of strawberry in with the ice cream and shortcake. "It's one of the reasons I have so many houses. I've got one in the deep forest far to the northeast of here, near Unigo Tower; I've also got a beachside villa in Sha`Shir. And I've been giving a good deal of thought to buying a lakeside log cabin in Valencia. I may even buy one in our new province of Dethsiris. As you can tell, I can't really abide boredom. Every now and then, I take a couple days off and share them with a friend at a different location. I've been going to Sha`Shir a lot, lately."
Gray` looks over to Callie, smiling warmly as she moves to take her first bite. A tender moan of pleasure coming with the food as Gray savours it for a few long seconds. The next statement draws Gray to blinking gently. "I guess I should not be surprised that you have many houses. I imagine your restaurant is very popular." Gray observes thoughtfully. Observes the comment about days off, preparing another bite as she offers softly. "If you did want a... Friend, for a few days of travel, I am willing to come along." Gray offered gently, cheeks offering a faint flush as she moves to take that next bite.
Callie nods in agreement with Athena's assessment. "The restaurant *is* quite popular. I run it in order to build a better life for myself and my family. I also do banquets, Date Night Packages, and have even officiated a couple of weddings. And I'd love to have you visit sometime, Athena. Do you enjoy swimming and surfing?" She'd be surprised if Gray knew what surfing is; it's not a popular pasttime in the empire.
Gray` raises a hand to rub gently at her neck. "I am... Not much of a swimmer. Our home is inland, and while I have spent times in rivers and lakes as a child... Growing up and trying to hide your gender you do not swim much." Gray observes gently, looking thoughtfully down at her desert before looking over to Callie. "But if you do not mind adding to the list of things you could teach me... I am happy to practice both swimming, and this 'surfing' you mentioned."
Callie gives Athena a bright smile. "Surfing is an ancient art form that I learned only a few short years ago, the first time I left Nanthalion to go on a pilgrimage to the Eastern Ocean. I visited the city of Lingori'ka, home of the Lingorian vulpine tribe. I surfed at least five days a week while I was there. Basically, you craft a wooden board, swim out a little to sea with it, and get on your board as a wave comes in. You then ride the wave. My ancestral Tayva Din, Verlosi, was the first person known to surf."
"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe."
--Dr. Beverly Crusher
Player of Callie Volopa, Viaa, Auric Lightwing, Brian Perano, Erin Tarcata and Aimee Sarasiné