Tosra & The Auction, day 26
Lazy day.
Its nice to wake up in a comfortable warm room, hearing the autumn and raining hitting the windows, and without a lighted fire in the bedroom. No fire, odour or dry air. The only thing I like about fires besides the heat is that it can sound nice, but I don't long for that sound. One arm under the pillow, the other around Iselin, and I just lie here holding her. Smell the scent of her body. Feel her body with its calm breath. Hear her faint and kind of cute snoring. Just enjoy the moment.
The workers finished the interior window and other work yesterday, so we will be alone. Today will be a lazy day. I'll fix that small leak, and I hope they havn't found any problems I need to deal with. But otherwise not do anything important. Just put on my shorts and a T-shirt, and slack off. It was too long since the last time. Maybe even take two days because I will still do some work today. Maybe play a game on the tablet? I hug Iselin a little more to just feel her body against mine, and I give her a soft kiss on her shoulder. She isn't sleeping deep. Its just so damn nice to lie here and feel a big expensive important project works and is basically finished. This mansion is starting to get comfortable and modern enough.
The door quietly opens and closes, and soon a naked woman body crawls up against my back. I feel a small resigned smile on my face, as I understand that Caecilia is accompanying us. Caecilia has quickly lost her respect for my privacy, and I should probably tell her that and be more strict as Caecilia has started to adopt the same ninja style that Iselin did in the beginning. Specifically when I have received what Caecilia thinks is enough alone time with Iselin and it is just the two of us. I suspect that Iselin has given her tips, because my fiancée seems to have her own agenda. Iselin not only accepts Caecilia, more than the others, but likes her in bed with us, and they seem to have gone to bed with each other at least a few more times since the Tosra meeting. Caecilia doesn't disturb Kari or Ciara, but I always seem to be fair game. As far as I remember, Caecilia hasn't even tried to intrude upon me and Kari.
Caecilia is my courtesan and personal maid, and she seems to see it as her duty to fill some sex quota and make us really enjoy it. My personal sexbunny. But then she really does seems to have a pretty big sex need - which she said - but I didn't really think about it, so for her our sex life might be more of a existential minimum. Her sex drive will probably decrease as she gets older and the teenage hormones calm down.
And now I feel like a dirty old man again.
I should be more angry at Caecilia for taking advantage of my reluctance to say no and like now, disturb my enjoyment of lying here with Iselin, but I just seem to accept it as just being her way. She will probably be near me for the rest of my life. Like Ciara. I cannot really complain about that either, because Caecilia seem to do good work, and I just have to admit she is hell of a nice to have sex with, and a damn good ego boost.
I have started gotten used to her predilection for being seductively or lightly dressed, which feels wrong considering she should mostly be my personal maid, instead of my sexy courtesan, but I now know that Iselin has encouraged it. Jane have hardly helped as she's been sketching on sexy secretary and sexy assistant outfits.
Although I lived in the modern world with bikinis and tight clothing, I am not toughened enough for the way Caecilia exudes sex, and knowing she always seems eager for sex. Literally seeing her bounce with eagerness. Sexbunny seems apt. I've never had someone like that close by before. Jane mostly seems to think its funny, and likes to 'poke' me and give me little verbal jabs.
But I will have my revenge, oh yes! I will be sweet!
I hope I never completely ignore a sexy attractive female body which Caecilia definitely has, but she is hardly alone in this. Caecilia will love it will be in this warm house this winter, as she won't have to wear so much clothes to stay warm, which certainly will appeal to her.
However, I wish Caecilia wouldn't be quite as open and verbal about sex as she is, but she really sees nothing shameful or wrong with sex and naked bodies, if it is voluntary and nice. The gods gave them bodies that can feel like this, so how can it be shameful? She sees nothing wrong with two 11-13 year olds exploring and having sex with each other or with someone slightly older; as long as they are not siblings or parents, but cousins are okay. She is proud that a fourteen-year-old asked her if she could be his woman last year, and that she could make his first time a good experience. She is happy that Iselin and I made Karis first time special - although I doubt she knows how special it was - and Caecilia is completely convinced that I 'cured' Ciaras sexual problems, and that Ciara will only stay 'cured' with me.
Iselin slightly move and I decide to drop those thoughts and distract myself from Caecilias naked body pressing against my back, and focus on my fiancée Iselin who is exceptional and invaluable. My love for her only growing deeper. I'm still an idiot who havn't proposed to her, and I must propose to her in the next few days, and absolutely before the King and Queens visit. Its a relief to know that she appreciates company in bed and threesomes with a woman more than I do. Honestly, her bisexuallity might be a part of why we seem to mesh so well, because in many ways, according to this culture I satisfy my partners more like a woman does, than a muscular, well-equipped man, even if that is a slightly emasculating thought.
But as long as we are happy and satisfied, I will not complain about it, and I hope they are not dissatisfied because I do my best, and Kari and Ciara also seem to be satisfied and happy.
I feel Caecilias hands start to playfully wander lower and massaging my legs and between the legs. Ignoring her or forcing her out of bed would be tough and difficult, but I can no longer relax. Iselin wakes up as Caecilias hands caress her butt and more, and soon it becomes a nice morning with my fiancée and courtesan, in my warm comfortable house.
----------------------------------------
It was cute to see Iselin and Caecilia playfully help each other get dressed and they fix their hair, a bit like a couple in love, and I too get pulled into the game. Completely true, Iselin has had her own agenda for how she could have Caecilia in her life with me, and is pleased with how well her plan went. She immediately and very pleased confirmed when I asked, and Caecilia doesn't seem the least bit unhappy about the help and guidance she has received to end up living this way. And what better ally is there than a positive future wife?
At breakfast, some react to my choice of my Boba Fett tshirt and shorts - several have seen them before, but not everyone. As soon as Kari sees it, she just questioningly ask "Lazy day?" and I nod. Kari kiss me good morning, licks her lips with a puzzled look and smells me, before she glance at Iselin and Caecilia who came at the same time. After I have washed and returned, I tell them about my plans for the day.
After breakfast, I shut off the main pipe with the small leak and fix that leak as well, and then turn it back on again.
I'm definitely overworked and need another lazy day.
----------------------------------------
After a Doom 2 session just because it is absurd and I can, with the bonus that it annoys Jane, I present my new table top miniatures game. It happen in the guards dayroom, because they have a large suitable table, and it doesn't block the dining room table. A lesson I learned from my old life; keep the game table separate from the dining room table, as games take time.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Talk about requiring a lot of explanation. Especially that this does not try to mimic reality, and things that work in reality will not do in this, and things that work in the game do not work in reality. This is just a more visual and flexible game than chess, or whatever the similar one here is called - hnefatafl - and table top miniatures has a random element via dice. Jane is the only one who understand what I'm trying to introduce, but she has never played such a nerdy game herself, but she recognizes the concept of table top miniatures and similar conflict games.I prefer Swedish term which is 'figurslag' and is hard to translate correctly to English as both and neither 'miniature battle' and 'shape battle'. Norse isn't easier.
Nobody care about my translation woes as I place and build simple terrain, and they're starting to really understand. As I put two forces against each other with eight figures in each, everyone understand it is a type of fighting game. With viking figures. Identical forces, two of each figure. I offer Bodil to play against me, and ignore Iselins pouting face, because Bodil is the one who made the templates for moulding the miniatures. I go through the rules several times, repeat rules while we play, and show how to count plus and minus to modify. We measure distance and move. Dice are rolled and figures are killed, and some flee.
Bodil doesn't like that I not unexpectedly win, but she has a hard time estimating distance and understandably makes simple mistakes. She should be happy there isn't any ballistic weapon where you have to guess the distance and scatter. Yet. My win is expected but still not appreciated. But she wants to play again, and we change the battlefield. Soon there are lively discussions about what is best. Some seem to feel her pain when I retreat and her force follows, and then I activate the archers thats been forgotten, and shoots arrows at shield maidens who have no protection or saved action.
Alith and Hillevi take over the next game and I act as the referee, and help to correct dice calculations. The rules have double number systems, runes and modern, but the D20 only has modern numbers so they will have to practice counting. I simply couldn't fit both systems on the dices small facets. I whisper nasty tips to both, and Hillevi does not like my tips to Alith. I explain how I intend to develop the game, add more soldiers, and other type of soldiers, monsters, missions, terrain etc. They will eventually try playing missions too. Jalida also looks curious and gets stuck when she serves refreshments.
----------------------------------------
The rest of the day is spent so that those who want to try, can, and from time to time I they fetch me to be the referee. Luckily Sid Meier's Pirates (2004) can be paused. Honestly, the game gives me tips about ship rigs, and when Kari discovers what I play and sees the dresses as my ingame character dance with the governors daughters, she no longer cares about table top miniatures. She absolutely gets ideas for decoration and furniture too.
I take a few pictures with my camera; on Karis attempts to play Pirates, and the people playing with the miniatures. Hillevi is a pretty bad loser when the dice doesn't go her way or she makes a mistake, which is often, and she doesn't like it if you consciously tries to kill her shieldmaidens, so I suggest pretending to threaten them so she doesn't dare move them out of cover etc. Bodil have already carved a new figure while she watch the game. A warrior on horseback with a sword and shield. They have too few miniatures right now, so there are only two playing all the time and guard duty isn't completely neglected, but they will cast many more miniatures. It gets a little more interesting when we start to distribute so both sides are different, and one is attacking and the other defending.
Jane finds it very entertaining and leans against the doorway to the guards day room and watch. She pointedly don't want to participate in a nerdy game.
"You have to feel proud of yourself! Corrupting defenceless young elvish maidens to play battle games."
I can only contentedly smile, and pretend to be insulted and derogatory when I answer: "Table top miniatures. Get it right, woman!" We both grin while I continue; "... and I would hardly call well armed and armoured elvish shieldmaidens 'defenceless'. But of course it makes me a proud nerd, and thats not considering that normally the male to female ratio is the opposite if even that. And the players usually arn't wearing chain mail with axes or swords in their belts, with spears, bows and shields by the wall."
"Oh please - can you honestly say that never happened in our world? I've been to renaissance fairs."
"Sometimes you're more of a nerd than me Jane, because I never went to one. Let me guess; you played daily games on your mobile? Farmville much?"
Jane starts to say something, but she closes her mouth and stay silent, glaring and pouting, so I can't resist the temptation to tease her.
"Gamer Girl, and its cute and precious. And talking about 'corrupting defenceless young elvish maidens' - how does your Kari project go?"
Its obvious that I just said the wrong thing, as Jane gets a smug face, and looks me in the eyes. Yeah, I don't like that look.
"Oh, I guess you don't know. You see, we didn't only visit the seamstress guild last time in Borgarsandr, since they don't do leather work. If you don't see Kari tied to a rack, wrapped in leather, gagging on a ball in her mouth with a butt plug up her bum before New Year - you can have my bum."
Jane is so damn smug and just keeps smiling. Considering Karis wishes so far, there is probably a very high chance Jane gets it right, but still.
"I'll admit you're likely to win that bet, but be careful saying such things. Some day I might believe you're serious, which could be awkward as hell."
Jane just smiles, turns around and whispers in my ear; "Kari thought me something too during our long sea voyage, and I believe you told her something like this; arrange the game in your favour, and try to make sure that every outcome is a victory."
Jane slides her hand down my leg, turns around and walks away. Excessively wiggling her ass, and seductively sliding her hand against the wall. She quickly glances over her shoulder and see that I am looking, and her smile gets more smug before she disappear around the corner. The annoying thing is that I can't be sure that she is just joking and messing with me as usual, because if I consider other things, there is a small chance she actually means it. And I don't doubt that she know I can't be sure. Damn that woman.
----------------------------------------
Staring after Jane, means I see the hidden alcove underneath the stairs, and I remember that I need to show Kari and Gunhild some of the secret basements, so I give them a guided tour. Which is easy since the rest of the household is distracted. Kari is quite pleased that the rooms exist. It makes the mansion feel even more luxurious and exclusive, and both like the security aspects with the pavilion, balcony and escape routes. Kari completely agrees with Iselin that the eastern part with the secret library should be extra secret and that not even the maids should know about it or the secret basement vault, but thinks that one of them should know about the semi-secret room under the mezzanine. Kari suggests Elvira because she is probably better at keeping quiet about it. Jalida apparently has a tendency to brag about the mansion, especially its luxury and amenities, and she might blurt something out.
Kari and Gunhild make me understand that all the maids are extremely proud to work and live here, especially when I let them use and experience the same comforts as ourselves, and their food is so much better than previous in their lives. Gunhild say that the guards eat better then even she and Hillevi ate working for King Aeriksson. But Jalida has a bit of a hard time not bragging about it, and I should be careful what I say or show her.
----------------------------------------
Its time for my first movie night with Iselin. I can hardly say that I have an optimal selection of movies on the tablet for that. Atomic Blonde (2017). Chappie (2015). Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009). The Man From Earth (2007). Johan Falk: Alla råns moder (Mother of all robbery Swedish 2012). The Accountant (2016).
Which is the least bad one to introduce a medieval woman to a movie, even one who has seen some pictures of modern life and heard some music? I considered taking the Swedish Johan Falk because of the speech she might understand a few words from and it takes place 'here', but its a crime movie, so it felt like 'The Man from Earth' is the least bad option. No action or violence, and not so modern in a limited environment. FAQ about time travel is so 'nope', and 'Chappie' is even worse.
I hadn't considered all the dialogue. Its a movie with basically people talking, which was unwise as I have to do a live interpretation. Its not practical, but I sit there on the couch and whisper and we pause a lot. Iselin still enjoy it as she sit huddled against me, in my borrowed Midgård shorts and tshirt with her legs over mine or folded next to her. We have a blanket around us to make it warmer and cozy.
And she notice things. Like desert landscape and the bow. The kitchen. The cars. Iselin also draws some similarities between us; both men who feel outside and apart from everyone else. The big issues with religion are not a problem, and just interesting. And the movie ends well where they drive away together, even though he may live forever and she will die. But they can enjoy the years they have together. We both cry at the end of the movie.
We continue to talk, and look at pictures and play music videos. We jump in the movie and discuss still frames. Only two people who love each other and cuddle while watch a movie on a tablet. I wonder how many thousands of couples do the same thing every night in Midgård. But here? In Alfheimr? Here we are probably unique.