(ESO FanFic: Templar of Shezarr – Part 6)

The Lynx and the Tiger – Closed RP (Rusia Cassiana / Sabine Aldwyr & Ishira Rose)
Locations: Hawke Manor

Rusia hesitated as she considered the message orb she’d just recorded. She wasn’t sure if she was really ready to try to make new, close connections again. Whether as friends… or anything else. But the memory of nearly dying just a short time ago urged her to try. She couldn’t just stay holed up in Hawke Manor forever, with only the company of a snarky Orcish steward. She’d made good strides toward rejoining life again by joining The Gray Legion and signing up with the Mistveil Company. But this was… more personal.

The contract to hunt down cultists with the Mistveil Company mercs had involved a lot of chaos and frantic combat. But in the midst of it, she couldn’t help but notice one of the company members in particular. Ishira. At least, Rusia thinks she heard the name right. Beautiful, powerful, vibrant, irreverent, brash, and… intriguing. Very much not at all like herself. Rusia was a wallflower, shy and awkward in social situations. Only in combat did she truly emerge from her cocoon and blossom into a fierce and ferocious warrior woman.

Ishira. She’d shared a few glances and a few words with the gorgeous mercenary. Enough to think perhaps she might have found someone she could find common ground with. Possibly form a friendship. Maybe… beyond that Rusia wasn’t ready to think about quite yet.

“Well, if you don’t send this message, you’ll never know will you?” Rusia muttered to herself. She finalized the spell on the orb, closed her eyes against her inner anxiety, and let it go to seek out Ishira, wherever she might be.

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A message orb popped into existence next to Ishira, glowing brightly in her face until she captured it and told it to play.

“Um, hi, hello. This is Rusia, uh, from the other night at the hunt for the cultists. The Mistveil Company contract. Oh, I’m sorry I’m terrible at this. Um, I just wondered if you were free, if you might wish to join me for a drink. Anywhere you might like. The Rosy Lion perhaps. Or here at my house, or yours. Wherever. Um, or not if you don’t want to. That’s fine too. Just send the message orb back if you would, either way. And, it was lovely to meet you. Uh, thanks.”

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A soft chime and swirl of light announced Rusia’s arrival in the courtyard of Hawke Manor. The bright light of the full moon poured down on the polished stone under her feet.“Well,” she said out loud to no one in particular. “That was… awkward.” Not Ishira, she had been delightful. But Rusia was quite sure she’d been about as boring and bumbling as she possibly could have been. “Ah hell,” Russia muttered as she strode up the steps to the house. “I’m just really bad at this people stuff.”

At least Ishira had been more than gracious, and certainly had enough personality to fill a room all by herself, no matter how lame her conversation partner might be. She had seemed genuinely disappointed when Rusia had to leave, so that was something at least. Rusia had wanted to stay and try to get to know the fetching merc better, but she’d been due at the Mistveil Company headquarters about another possible contract. 

After she’d left Ishira at the tavern, however, she’d been overcome with a feeling of lightheadedness and nausea. Maybe it was the wine she’d drank far too rapidly, or just the stress of trying to interact on such a personal level. Regardless, she was in no shape to be taking off after some bandit or cultist or whatever at the moment. She needed a quiet bath and a good night’s rest. She’d think about sultry mercs and fresh bounties tomorrow.

Pulling open the front door of Hawke Manor, Rusia instantly sensed something was a bit odd in the house, but she chalked it up to her steward, Lagrobt, probably playing with odd little magics in the kitchen again. She had no idea what weirdness he did when he took over the kitchen from their regular chef and housekeeper. Frankly, she didn’t care because no one could concoct the astonishingly delicious breads and pastries Lagrobt could when he was in a baking mood. She dearly hoped maybe he was whipping up some of his delectable fruit tarts. She’d have to check after her bath now that her stomach was starting to settle down and play nice again.

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, Rusia stripped off her jacket and tossed it on a bench in the stairwell, followed by her shirt and dagger belt. Lagrobt would yell at her later, but she was tired and her bedroom was on the other side of the floor. Stripping off her boots, she kicked them under the bench and walked toward the bathing room, starting to unlace her pants as she turned past the screen in the hall shielding her specially made, magically heated, giant tub.

“Well hello there lovely, I wasn’t aware my bath came with an attendant, but please do come in. My back could desperately use a pair of extra hands to scrub.”

Rusia stopped in shock at the entrance to the bathing room, her hands still tangled in the ties of her pants. Sprawled inside her tub was a stunning, dusky-skinned woman with long, ebony hair spilling across her voluptuous and very naked breasts. The Redguard beauty stared back at her with an amused expression, her full lips just barely parted in a roguish smile. As she opened her mouth to ask the woman who the hell she was and what she was doing in her bath, the amber-eyed stranger dropped her eyes to Rusia’s also very naked chest.

With a squeak, Rusia threw up her hands to cover her breasts and nearly fell over her own feet backing out into the hallway. “LAGROBT GRO-NOLOB!” She yelled down the stairs. “WHO THE HELL IS IN MY BATHING TUB?” Rushing back over to the bench where she’d dropped her shirt and jacket, Rusia hastily threw them both back on. She heard a soft, silky chuckle follow her down the hallway from the woman currently enjoying the steaming hot water she should be relaxing in. Furious and embarrassed, Rusia shoved her feet back into her boots and stomped down the stairs.

She met her steward Lagrobt, an orc one might even classify as rather ‘dashing’, halfway across the main foyer as he was striding from the kitchen toward the stairs. Rusia stopped about two inches from his burly chest, hands clenched into fists on her hips, and glared up at his somewhat contrite looking face.

“Would you care to explain why there is a strange woman in my tub right now who just suggested that I might want to SCRUB HER BACK?” Rusia pointed an accusing finger at Lagrobt’s prominent but well-shaped nose. “Did we NOT have that discussion about how overnight guests were to be agreed upon BEFORE their arrival?

Even though Lagrobt could easily have broken his employer with a strong hug, or knifed her in the back before she even knew he had drawn a dagger, the orc looked down at her with a sheepish expression of apology. “I’m sorry dear, it was an emergency, and I didn’t want to interrupt your date darling.”

Rusia took a step back, took a deep breath, and tried to lower her voice from strident to just merely indignant. “It was NOT a date.” She pulled out a chair from the gaming table next to her and abruptly sat down. “We were just getting drinks. As fellow mercenaries getting to know each other a bit. That’s all.” Still glaring at Lagrobt, she gestured for him to take seat across from her. “Besides, that’s beside the point. Now will you please explain to me exactly what is going on?”

“Ah, yes, okay dear. Not a date, of course,” Lagrobt said as he gently lowered himself into the delicately carved chair across the table, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly. “I deeply apologize for the surprise guest love. She’s an… old friend who found herself in an unfortunate situation and needed a place to, shall we say, get herself together?”

Lagrobt reached across and patted Rusia’s hand gently where it rested on the table “You’ve always said Hawke Manor was a place for those who needed respite, for whatever reason. I am sorry I did not let you know in advance, but time was short, and I thought you would not turn away someone in need of assistance.”

Sighing deeply, Rusia took Lagrobt’s giant, manicured hand between both of hers and squeezed gently. “It’s okay. You’re right. I’m sorry. I was just startled and it’s been a long day. Our home, emphasis on OUR, is always open to anyone in search of sanctuary. That is how the Band of the Hawke raised me after my parents…” Rusia paused, swallowing and sitting back in chair. “Well, you know. They took me in and gave me everything I needed when I had nothing. That’s a debt I can never repay to them. So I strive to pay it forward in whatever way I can.”

“That is a most admirable and beautiful sentiment,” a beguiling voice murmured from behind Rusia. “Perhaps a bit naive in this harsh and uncaring world, but still, most laudable.”

Her back stiffening at the implied accusation she was ‘niave, Rusia stood quickly, tugging her jacked down to cover her still unlaced pants. She turned to see the stranger exiting the staircase and saunter slowly over to them, her ample hips swinging in an almost hypnotic rhythm. She was wrapped in nothing but one of Rusia’s large, fluffy towels, with another snugged around her head to restrain her wet hair. Lagrobt also stood, his eyes shining with a strange gleam, and beckoned the stranger over to his side.

“Ah my love, I am glad to see you looking yourself again. Please let me introduce you to my employer, and my dear friend, the Lady Rusia Cassiana, formerly of Bruma.” The woman curtsied ever so slightly toward Rusia, her damp skin gleaming like burnished gold from the light of the chandelier above them. “And my dear Rusia, this would be the renowned Bard Sabine Aldwyr. Desert Rose of the Alik’r, daughter to the great poet Weltin of Sentinel and warrior chieften Ariana At-Fara.”

Rusia blanched, giving Lagrobt a scathing look. “A Bard, you say?” Sighing again, Rusia looked to the woman again, bowing modestly toward her. “Welcome to Hawke Manor. My pardon for the, uh, intrusion earlier. I was unaware of your arrival. I am pleased to offer a safe haven to any friend of Lagrobt, of course. He is as family to me. Our home is yours for as long as you like. Is there anything you have immediate need of?”

The Bard smiled charmingly, taking Rusia’s forearm in her delicate hands and caressing it gently. “Thank you ever so much dear Lady for your generous hospitality.” Her eyes glowing a deep, rich umber, Sabine released her arm and tugged forlornly at the towel wrapped around her torso, flashing a copious amount of cleavage. “I must admit, I have arrived in quite a dreadful state. You see, I was taken captive by this horrid orc bandit and forced to abandon everything when I fled at the first opportunity.”

Her white teeth gleaming between dark, crimson lips, the bard grinned at Rusia boldly as her eyes traveled over her body from boots to collar. “I would be so very grateful if you might have something, anything, I might borrow to wear until I can get out tomorrow to retrieve some belongings I have hidden away. Other than that, if you might just be willing to offer up a spare bed or couch for a night or two while I get my affairs in order, that would be incredibly kind.”

Sabine was several inches shorter than Rusia, and quite a bit curvier, but she had a closet full of gowns she never wore. One of them could likely be tweaked to fit the bard, especially in Lagrobt’s hands. He was a master of magical tailoring, among his nearly endless plethora of skills. She wasn’t particularly thrilled at having a bard in the house, as the whole subject of music right now was particularly painful at the moment, but she couldn’t turn her away. It was just not in Rusia’s nature.

“Very well,” Rusia attempted to smile back at the bard, fully aware it likely came across far more likely as a pained grimace. “Lagrobt, if you could show Sabine to the spare room and help her with finding something appropriate in the storage wardrobe there? Also, if you could kindly reset the bathing room for a fresh bath for me, I would appreciate it.”

“Bard Sabine,” Rusia said, bowing again to the tawny desert lynx wrapped in towels. “Please do call me Rusia, or Ru, not Lady. That was my mother… and I am no lady. You have free range of the manor and the grounds, I just ask you to respect the sanctity of my private bedroom please. I sense Lagrobt has already set the house wards to recognize you, so you should be able to teleport in and out with no issues. Just let Lagrobt or our housekeeper Malva know if you should require anything. She is usually here around dawn and leaves at sunset.”

Nodding toward Lagrobt, Rusia turned toward the kitchen. “I am going to grab a bite to eat while you get the bard settled in, and then I will have my much delayed bath. I would much appreciate it if you might join me in the morning for a private breakfast, Lagrobt.” She turned her head back to the orc and raised one eyebrow in his direction. “We still have a few things to discuss.”

With that, Rusia stepped away from the two and headed across the room into the kitchen. She heard them whispering gently behind her as they moved toward the stairs. Shaking her head softly, Rusia followed her nose to a platter cooling on the counter near the stove. Her steward was far too aware that sometimes the right treat could be a far better apology than words. Filling her hands with two still warm fruit tarts, Rusia took a seat at the rough-hewn table along one wall of the kitchen.

Downing one fruit tart like a hungry wolf, Rusia slowed down to nibble the second in order to truly appreciate it’s delicate but powerful berry flavor. What a day. What a night. Her mind wandered back to her meeting with Ishira. She and Sabine were both captivating women, but something about the bard had instantly pushed any thoughts of her attractiveness out of Rusia’s mind. While Sabine had seemed warm, inviting, and agreeable on the surface, there was a lingering coldness in her eyes and calculated movements that sent warning signals up her spine.

Ishira, on the other hand, was less of a seductive lynx and more of a sensuous wild tiger. She glowed with life and vitality, a woman who didn’t slink in the shadows, but went after life and love full force out in the open. Or at least, that was Rusia’s impression of her so far. That was something she admired and respected. In fact, she found it irresistibly compelling. She wasn’t sure what that meant yet. But she very much hoped she would hear from Ishira again soon, if she hadn’t been totally put off by their first meeting at the bar.

Stuffing the last of the second tart in her mouth, Rusia cleaned the crumbs off the table and threw then into the fire under the cooking pot. It must be well after midnight at this point and she was damn well finally going to get that bath. Everything else she just needed to put out of her mind until morning.

And maybe, just maybe, she might find a message orb from a certain ravishing merc waiting for her when she woke up…

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Ishira woke up and stretched. Feeling well rested after her most recent contract her thoughts lingered around Rusia she was pleasant beautiful and even her shyness was something that Ishira found adorable. There was something compelling alluring about her that made Ishira thirst to know more about her. She decided to record a message and see how things would progress.

” Good morning Rusia its Ishira i hope you slept well…i was wondering if yiu wanted to meet again…..i…..i really enjoyed our time and didnt want it cut short so soon respond back if you do…ill be waiting” she said and smiled as she sent the orb to it’s destination .

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“Well Lagrobt,” Rusia said around a mouth of sweet, buttery scone covered in thick cream and tangy fruit jam, “I would appreciate it if you could ask your guest not to play or sing in the house while she is staying with us. I’m just… not up to having music in the manor right now. She is welcome to come up here to the watchtower to play if she likes, or by the pond if she’d be more comfortable.”

Frowning slightly at his friend and employer, Lagrobt steepled his hands and rested his formidable but well-shaped chin on his fingers. “Perhaps this might be an opportunity for you to rediscover your joy in music my dearest. Sabine could help you to get back into playing. I’m sure she would be more than willing.”

Rusia pushed her breakfast plate away and gazed over her steward’s shoulder down into the morning mist cloaking Reaper’s March. “No. I’m not ready for that. Just… just ask her if you would.” Lagrobt nodded as he stood and started collecting their breakfast plates and leftovers. “Oh and um, I think I’ve decided to put out a contract on my mother.”

Lagrobt stilled, looking down at her with concern. “Are you sure about this Ru? Do you really think she truly is still alive and actually sent a daedra to try to kill you?”

Rusia rose and stepped over to the wide, open side of the watchtower, staring off into the distance. “Didn’t just try Lagrobt. A few seconds more, if Sindri from The Grey Legion hadn’t found me, and I would have been quite dead.”

She paused, still shaken by how close she’d come to the end of everything. “Yes. I need to find her. If she really is out there. I won’t make it a death contract. Just an information contract. If I can’t find her, and you know my skills are more in bashing my way through things than sneaking around trying to find those who don’t want to be found, then I need someone more skilled to do so. I want to know where she is… and then I will figure out where to go from there.”

“Very well love, just be careful. You’ve been doing so well lately,” Lagrobt said gently. “You were in a pretty bad state when I found you face down on the floor of that bar last year. To be frank, honey, until that assassination attempt, you were still pretty much a total mess. It’s wonderful to see you out and about without a sword always strapped to you side. Joining a new company, getting involved in charity work, and now even going on… NOT dates.” The orc grinned at her, showing his perfectly aligned and scrupulously polished ivory teeth and tusks. “I very much like this new Ru.”

Turning fully back to her steward as he magically whisked the dishes back to the kitchen, Rusia let herself chuckle softly at the orc’s enthusiasm. “Yes, well, we’ll see if there will be any more NOT dates in the future, I don’t know how…”

A soft chime interrupted her as a glowing message orb popped into view between her and Lagrobt. The orc laughed lightly as he opened the hatch door to the watchtower stairs. “I believe that is my cue to leave and find out what our new guest is up to this morning and how long she intends to be crashing in our spare room.” Rusia shooed him down the stairs as she reached for the blinking orb to play it.

She listened to Ishira’s lovely voice as it emerged from the message orb, inviting her to meet up again. Rusia was honestly a little shocked that she hadn’t completely blown any hope of seeing the enthralling merc again. “I wonder…” she speculated out loud, “if I could get Lagrobt to take his bard friend out for the afternoon. Perhaps Ishira might be willing to come over for a picnic by the waterfall.”

Rusia nodded to herself and strode toward the hatch after her steward. She pulled open the door and yelled down the stairs as she started taking thing two at a time. “Wait for me Lagrobt!”

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Sitting on an intricately embroidered pillow under the Khajiit vacation tent by the pond, Rusia fidgeted nervously. She surveyed the plates of snacks and bottle of chilled Nereid Wine, hoping Ishira would like them. Adjusting the cushions beside her yet again, she checked once more to be sure the house wards were set to open for visitors to be able to teleport in. Rusia had received a chime back that her message orb had been received and read. She just hoped that meant Ishira would accept her invitation to join her for an early dinner.

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Ishira was thrilled that she accepted smiling at the orb she showered and dressed a bit light a beautiful silk red bottom with a slit down the middle and and a matching top both pieces fitted her curves well. She immediately squeezed the teleport rune and was there her sun kissed skin truly radiant in the afternoon sun.

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Rusia felt the house wards ping against her skin lightly as her visitor arrived. She stood quickly, tugging down the fancy waistcoat she’d let Lagrbot dress her in, after she had absolutely rejected the vibrant green dress he’d attempted to get her to wear first. She would wear a gown if the situation absolutely required it, but when she wasn’t clad in armor, she’d much prefer to just go about in her leathers.

She spotted Ishira arriving in the courtyard and whistled briefly to capture her attention. The bewitching merc, dressed head to toe in form-hugging red silk, waved in acknowledgement and began walking toward her down the path to the pond. Rusia thought Ishira’s beauty more than rivalled the newly planted flowers she’d magicked along the trail in anticipation of her guest.

As Ishira arrived at the lounging tent, Rusia held out a hand to guide her up the step to the platform. Smiling, the merc placed her warm, lovely hand into hers, squeezing it gently as Rusia guided her to the cushions gathered around the light meal she’d laid out. Trying not to blush or stammer, Rusia exchanged greetings with her guest, complimenting her on her alluring outfit and thanking her for coming.

Releasing Rusia’s hand slowly with a soft caress, Ishira settled onto a large blue cushion, her outfit contrasting perfectly to the material like she had planned it to stand out. She leaned against another pillow, her long legs stretching out to the side as if she was preparing to be painted by some great master.

Sitting down cross-legged on a cushion next to Ishira, Rusia pulled the wine from it’s cold-ensorcelled container and offered Ishira a glass. “Yes, please. Chilled wine on such a wonderfully warm day would be delightful,” the merc purred, pickup up a goblet and holding out to be filled. “By the way, may I say I think it has just been terribly adorable how we have been sending messages back and forth. Although I’m glad we finally get the chance to actually be face to face again.”

“Ah, yes,” Rusia cleared her throat gently as she poured her own glass of wine. “I must admit I’m much more comfortable conversing by magical means long distance than I am in person.” She looked down at her cup, trying to explain without sounding ridiculous. “People just make me nervous. I’m… always afraid I’m going to say or do the wrong thing. Drive them away, or end up the butt of someone’s jokes. I guess I have a bit of abandonment issue, you could say.”

Taking a deep breath, Rusia looked up into Ishira’s eyes and smiled softly. “For the right people, though, it’s worth battling my anxiety though. But enough about me. I know almost nothing at all about you. Please, tell me about yourself, if you would. I didn’t get a chance to hear much about where you are from and how you ended up here and with the Mistveil Company. From your skills in combat, I would say you could go anywhere you want and probably have your pick of positions.” Grabbing a small, crustless half sandwich from the platter in front of her, Rusia leaned toward the enchanting warrior woman. “Tell me more about the mysterious Ishira.”

“Well im from Abahs landing so the heat is something i am quite used too i was always the warrior even when i was young my father would always practice with me eventually my mother fell ill and my father wouldn’t pay for the medical bills himself so i took on Merc contracts…my father didn’t approve but understood the situation eventually. Stumbled upon Mistvel when it was still ran by kadir = she smiled softly her beautiful eyes meeting hers.

Rusia blushed furiously as Ishira grasped her free hand, caressing and kissing it gently. She relaxed into it for a moment, her heartbeat skipping at the delicious sensation. Then the anxiety monster in her belly roared into life and slowly pulled her hand away from Ishira’s tantalzing grasp. The merc’s mouth twitched sideways in what seemed like a cross between amusement and something else Rusia couldn’t quite pin down. She quickly covered her movement by picking up her goblet and taking a swift sip of wine and munching on her sandwich.

“Sounds like you have had quite the adventurous life,” Rusia said between mouthfuls; trying desperately not to talk with her mouth full. “I haven’t had a chance to do much work with the Mistveil Company yet, but if you are any representation of the mercs under their banner then I think I will be well pleased to be associated with them.”

Swallowing a final bite of sandwich, Rusia washed it down with a hearty gulp of chilled wine. She wasn’t used to having to draw people out in conversation. It was probably good for her, but she always found it difficult. She paused to offer Ishira a small bowl of fresh berries, which she accepted graciously. That proved to be rather distracting, however, when the enticing merc started slowly, delicately nibbling on the bright, red fruits while staring at her in what Rusia could only call a rather provocative look.

“Oh, uh. Sorry, what was I saying?” Rusia realized her wine goblet was empty when she went to take another gulp, but decided it was probably best not to refill it. “Ah, yes, you said your mother was ill and that is why you got into mercenary work? I assume that was some time ago. I hope that she is doing better now?”

She nods taking a small bite of the berries her eyes brightened from the sweet succulent taste.

“She is now but i found that i liked Merc work….im not tied down toany one faction its easier for me to move around” she said softly.

Ishira smiled that radiant smile her eyes meeting Rusia’s it was like a dance between them to see which would buckle under the pressure that would ignite the flames of passion.

“I also enjoy reading on my downtime….and im glad you decided to join….such beauty”

Rusia ducked her head, trying not to blush from the compliment, or from the intensity of Ishira’s gaze. She quickly seized on Ishira’s words, glad there was something else the two had in common besides mercenary work.

“I love to read. I’m trying to build a library here at the manor, but I find I have little time to collect books. Any time I can though, I will pick up a tome or a scroll to add. I find the histories of Tamriel and the stories of its many peoples fascinating.” Rusia paused to refill Ishira’s cup when the lovely merc held it out for more wine. “Although I admit I do love a roaring adventure story or… something a bit more romantic now and then.”

Rusia tried to smile at Ishira, hoping it didn’t come across more as a wacky grimace. “It’s funny though, you like being a merc because you like the freedom. Becoming one for me was more about finding a way to root myself to something. Well, with my old company at least. They were more like a second family. Very tight knit and always up in each other’s business,” Rusia chuckled softly with a slight edge of sadness. “I don’t know enough about the Mistveil mercs yet. I’ve only been out with a group of them once so far. They seem far more of a diverse and independent group of folks, like yourself.”

Her bowl empty of fruit, Ishira reached across Rusia’s leg to set it down on the blanket she’d laid out for their picnic. Her arm brushed gently across Rusia’s knee as she drew it back, sending a warm shiver up her spine. “Anyway, um, I would be happy to show you the library sometime, although again, it’s a bit bare still. You are always welcome to borrow anything you like.”

Still struggling with her anxiety over both trying to talk to someone she liked, and be at ease with her attraction to the beautiful merc, Rusia tried to relax and shake off her nerves. “You said you like to be able to move around, but do you have somewhere you call home?” Rusia gestured around here to the grounds of Hawke Manor. “I love to travel, and I enjoy the freedom to see the world, but I have a need to have somewhere I feel I can always go back to that I know will always be here. It helps keep me from feeling lost… sometimes. But perhaps you don’t need that?”

=Ishira smiled softly= “Im not selfis h if thats what you meant…ive just….i dont know i want to belong somewhere…unlike my sister i want to be grounded…freedom is nice but i want to share it eith someone” she said the intensity in her eyes great as she looked at Rusia.

“I have a collection if maybe you would like to come over one day…there is something about you…” She said softly caressing her cheek.

Rusia leaned into Ishira’s hand, pressing her cheek against the woman’s warm hand quite without even realizing she was doing it. She looked into Ishira’s piercing eyes, trying to convince herself not to pull away, but to lean in. There was nothing wrong with wanting to be close to someone. Not every person she allowed into her life was going to end up hurting her or leaving her alone. Even if they did, she would survive it. She had always survived it.

Nothing risked, nothing gained, Rusia thought as she tentatively shifted around and raised one hand to gently caress Ishira’s beautiful hair. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward, hoping Ishira would close the distance between them and anticipating the soft press of the merc’s lips on her own.

“Oh my! I do hope I haven’t interrupted anything my dears!” A sultry, almost sickeningly sweet voice invaded Rusia’s ears and immediately sent her scrambling backward away from Ishira. A dusky-skinned, Redguard beauty wearing nothing more than a thick drying cloth over one shoulder strolled around a tree and down the wooden dock by the pond. “I had just thought to come out for a swim on this warm afternoon. No idea you had another guest, my dear hostess!”

The ebony-haired, lusciously curved woman stopped in front of the tented platform where Rusia and Ishira had been moments away from…something. A deceptively innocent look on her face might have fooled many, but Rusia saw through it to the calculated cool underneath. “My pardon, of course. I can leave if you wish… Or perhaps…” the unashamedly naked bard looked over Ishira’s reclining form with languid eyes, “you might care to join me for a dip? The water looks so very refreshing.”

Rusia scrambled to her feet, knocking over her empty wine cup with a foot. “Ah, no, Sabine, ah, we were just about done with our lunch.” She turned to Ishira, her face flushing an embarrassed red, and helped the merc to her feet, squeezing her hand apologetically. “Let me escort you to the gate Ishira. I am sure you have places to be, things to do.”

Ishira eyed thecoffering bard giving her a cool gaze.

“Manners are an important thing it seems that your lacking in that…the only person i would want to take a refreshing dip with is Rusia…” She said coolly her eyes narrowed at the bard before her gaze returned to Rusia her eyes softening as she caressed her cheek.

Looking over her shoulder at Sabine as she walked Ishira down the dock, Rusia leveled a steely gaze at the slightly smirking bard. Sabine shrugged, dropping her towel, and dove into the pond with barely a splash. Oh yes, Rusia was definitely going to have to have a talk with Lagrobt about their new houseguest.

“I’m so sorry Ishira,” Rusia said as they arrived at the gate to the estate. “I, uh, obviously didn’t know she was going to be here. She’s a guest of my steward, and apparently has an issue with boundaries,” Rusia hissed a bit at the end of that obvious statement.

Feeling her walls creeping back up, she avoided looking into Ishira’s eyes as anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed crashed over her again. “Um, I have some things I have to take care of. Promises I’ve made I need to be keeping. But, ah, I will send you a message when I’m free.”

“How About my place….soon when your free yes? I look forward to it my dear” she said smiling to Rusia.

She hugged her goodbye and left, leaving a small rose as a gift for her.

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KEEPING PROMISES