A Stitch in Time

[Zana]

9th Cylus, 721

"Theo, darling," Zana said as she walked in to the room they shared together. "I've discovered something dreadful" she said. Closing the door behind her, she walked over to him and slid her arms around him, pulling herself close. When they'd been in Viden, that had been one of the things which she found most difficult. Zana needed, craved physical contact. She always had, since they'd first met and he'd become her handler, back in the Lap of Luxury in Rharne. Now, they were back to their own names and faces and she was very pleased to be so close to him that she felt his breath on her skin.

In fairness, it drove her wild.

"It transpires," she said, trailing kisses down his jaw in between the words. "That there have been," she moved to his neck, her hand slowly trailing up his chest to bury in his hair, which she tugged - gently. "Some awful things happening." Lifting her head, Zana whispered in Theo's ear. "Truly awful," somehow, she made it sound like a good thing. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Zana lifted herself up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Eye to eye, nose touching nose, she remained still as she spoke to him.

"People have been poisoned, or something," she said. Of course, Zana didn't care in the slightest, but she knew an opportunity when she saw one. "There's a panic building," leaning forward she nipped his earlobe, gently. Then, of course, she kissed it in apology. "And they are concerned. Shania isn't here to help them," she whispered. Zana was never 'out of character' for the role she was playing. She was the dutiful wife but, them being who they were, she was a dutiful wife who was a very active bedroom companion.

Dutifully, of course.

"I went downstairs to ask for us not to be disturbed," she said, oh so regretfully. "I thought you've been looking so stressed lately, and I know that I can be difficult. But I believe in you, Theo, I do." Her eyes gazed at him impishly and she explained. "I was planning on taking the morning to lavish you with attention in all the ways you like the best." She slid her legs, slowly, down his body, till she was standing in front of him. "And I promise you, my darling, I will do just that." Her lips twitched in amusement. She did so enjoy torturing him. "From the top of your head to the tips of your toes, my love. Every," another kiss, "last..." she murmured against him "inch." Zana enjoyed tormenting him, there was no doubt. But, he knew her. It tormented her, too.

"But it will have to be later," she said, regretfully. "Because now, there are people who need helping and, if we're to be part of this community," and by 'part of this community' of course, Zana meant 'if this community is going to provide opportunities for you to make money to keep me in lavish luxury', "well, we need to help out!" So, with a final lingering kiss, and after some reciprocal roaming hands just to remind him of what he was missing, Zana skipped away and pulled a warm sweater over her dress.

"How would you like to proceed, darling?"

What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

If any of the inn's staff was eavesdropping on the other side of the closed door, or from outside in the corridor, he and Zana, particularly Zana, left no doubt that the 'married' couple had an extremely healthy relationship, so far as intimacy was concerned. Or, maybe unhealthy, depending on who was doing the eavesdropping and what their personal views were on the matter.

It was just as well. He and Zana had played at siblings once before, and while they'd pulled it off quite successfully, on a personal level the roles hadn't suited them particularly well. In this case, there was no pretense needed in that regard. In fact the opposite was the preferred impression. Again, just as well. The role of prudish, timid or, Immortal's forbid, frigid wife for any amount of time, might be too large an undertaking, even for someone as accomplished at playacting as Zana was.

There might even come a time, decades from now should they still be together, that being the mere mortal he was, that he'd grow an arthritic knee and a paunch, and struggle to keep up with her. That time was definitely not now. For now, neither of them could hardly complain. And luckily, as it was in this case, they were able to multi-task. Though Zana was doing her best to make it difficult. And she knew it. Theo was up to the challenge.

"Awful things?" he repeated when she tugged at his hair, her long limbs wrapped around him and his own hands roaming. "Pray tell, what, darling?" he asked. He already knew, of course. Neither of them would have been as good as they were, at doing what they'd been doing for arcs now, without paying attention to local events or even rumors. When she explained, his tone was convincingly alarmed and concerned. In spite of the fact that in reality, his thoughts were already turning around how they might best capitalize on this atmosphere of fear among the local populace. There was always something to be gained, if one knew where to look.

"We have to help then, don't we?" he said, his hands roaming more boldly, teasing, tormenting. Tit for tat, as it was. "It sounds like they need someone willing to step up." If this Shania wasn't around to do it? Then all the better. As for this moment, right here and right now, certainly there'd be time and opportunity later. On the other hand, was there really a rush? Theo's eyes shifted color and swirled noticeably when Zana untangled herself from him and pulled on a sweater. But nonetheless she was right.

"We should get out there right away then. If we're to be a part of this community, then we can do nothing else," he said, and pulled on his boots, coat, cloak and gloves. And armed himself sufficiently. Fair enough that, considering what they might be dealing with, traditional weaponry might not the arsenal they'd be needing. But better to be prepared, than not.

[Zana]

9th Cylus, 721

Zana let out a low groan as his hands worked their magic. "Damn you to the Beneath," she whimpered in his ear, but the tone of her voice, the movement of her own hands on him, and the way she pulled herself tight against him all suggested that she wasn't really sincere about damning him. Although. "Later, I'm going to make you pay for that." She meant that entirely. "More than once and for a long time." Pulling herself out of his arms, reluctantly, Zana then moved over to the small table by the door in their room. "Warm gloves, dear heart?" With gentle words and a wicked gaze at him, she threw said gloves at him. "A scarf?" Scrunched up into a ball and pelted at him. "Maybe a warm hat?" The final item of clothing flung at him, she slid her own hands into her gloves, wrapped her thick woollen scarf around her and then pulled on her coat. A fur-trimmed hat completed the ensemble and Zana's ice blue eyes gazed at him, twinkling with mirth and desire.

Then, she put her arm into his and they stepped out together. A young and beautiful couple, full of vigour and him all brimming over with good will, and her with adoration for him. It was enough, Zana thought, to make someone sick, but it was what was needed here and so she kept the act up. As they got downstairs in the Home & Hearth, Zana saw that there was a small group - mostly elderly people - who were sitting together and they were obviously concerned. Zana despised old people, they annoyed her with their dithering ways and slow movements. That old age made mortals ugly and slow was, in Zana's eyes, the perfect reason why sometimes, the best thing to happen to an individual was to die young. With that thought in her mind, she moved over and knelt next to one of the wrinkled old prunes who had used to be a man but was now nothing more than an inconvenient waste of her time.

"Oh, Mr Spatley, whatever is the matter?" Zana asked, her gaze a study in concern. What annoyed her more than anything, she thought, about old people was when they weren't even interested in sex any more. That was when they were literally no use. Mr Spatley was one such. She squeezed his hand as his watery eyes turned to her and the elderly man spoke. His voice was soft and he sounded gentle but there was a firmness in his tone which suggested that he had strength of character. Zana was spectacularly unconcerned about strength of character in anyone other than herself - and she had just the right amount - and Theo. Even Theo's was only marginally relevant. Truthfully, she wouldn't mind if he had a little less, sometimes.

"It's my grand-daughter," Mr Spatley said. "She's fallen ill, and.. well, they're not sure why. Lots of children, women-folks. But there's nothing connecting them."

Zana leaned forward and spoke with a tone which spoke of how upset she was. How concerned for him. "Mr Spatley, I don't know any medicine, but I know some chemistry, some alchemy too," she looked at him in an almost pleading manner. Maybe, she thought, if she wished really hard, he'd go away. But, in fairness, she also knew that this was a very real opportunity for the two of them. "I can help, I'm sure of it. And my husband, my wonderful Theo? Oh, he'll be able to help. Please let us, Sir, won't you?" If he didn't 'let' her help, Zana thought, she'd persuade him so hard that no matter how old he was, he'd have to have a coffin with sloping top when desire for her caused him to keel over dead.

"Oh, would you? You two?"

Zana glanced up at Theo, adoringly. The rat was enjoying the female attention from the elderly women who evidently still had enough get up and go to appreciate his looks, and this was just exacerbated by the fact that he could look down at her while he did. Oh, payback would come, he knew it."Darling?" Zana said and smiled at Theo's wonderful performance as he agreed. "You see?" she said. "Of course we will, Mr Spatley. I tell you what, you sit here and I'll make sure that you and your friends are taken care of. Warm drinks and food inside you." She'd put it on their tab. Theo was paying. "And then, we'll get on it. Alright?"

Of course, Zana would make sure that they had warm drinks and so on. It would be worth it in the long run and, besides, with a bit of luck, they wouldn't be charged as it was a good deed. As she did that, it left Theo able to talk to Mr Spatley and The Crones. Then, she walked to Theo and put her hands into his. "I'll go to the house," she said. Mr Spatley had given the address. "And see if I can work out what's wrong or if I can do anything to help," alchemy and chemistry? Well. Sort of. But it was a chance to collect information. "While I look at the specifics, why don't you ask around in town?" Intelligence gathering, that kind of thing was right up his street. Plus, people were concerned and that would make them likely to talk. Also, Zana thought, there was a crisis happening and they were helping. Gunvorton was a quite private community and this was an opportunity. An opportunity to be accepted, to step into a role, to be seen in a specific way.

"Shall we do that, dear heart?" They were doing that, and they both knew it. "It's your decision darling, of course." If he argued, he was an idiot. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be all bossy and harpie like," if he didn't reassure her that she was neither of those things, she'd get tetchy. "I'm just so keen to make sure that everyone is safe." She wanted to stay out of the cold.

The Bounty

Details: An individual or individuals leave small hand-made (sewn, knitted, crocheted) toys and decorations all over the place in this area. They seem to be thoughtful gifts, left to brighten the day of whoever finds them, small fabric and yarn trinkets which should bring pleasure from a random act of anonymous kindness. However many of them are found to have nasty side effects - stuffing filled with itching powder, people getting sick after holding them etc. Some recipients fall seriously ill. This person must be stopped!!

What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you

[Doran]

Zana:

Knowledge:
Seduction x 2
Intelligence x 2
Investigation x 2

Loot: -
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: I have to say, Zana is truly delightful! I love the way she interacts with Theo, and her reasons for helping people are great. I have to admit, I smirked at their act when they stepped out together, and Zana’s thoughts about the people around her are very entertaining to read. I bet that she’s relieved that she’ll never have to grow old and slow and ugly!

It's a pity that this thread was abandoned. It would have been interesting to find out how Zana and Theo handle the bounty!

With that being said, when a thread that is abandoned doesn’t meet the criteria for a collaboration’s full rewards, you may only claim knowledge awards as if it were a solo thread. You only made two posts. As I understand it, that means that you can only claim six knowledges. For that reason, I’ve decided to only award you two Seduction knowledges.

Let me know if I’m mistaken, and also let me know if you’d rather have different knowledges, please!

Enjoy your rewards!

P.S.: Theo, if you come back, send me a PM, and I'll review your part of the thread!