Casper examined his hair in the mirror of his room with mild disappointment. Bringing his fingers to try and pull any additional length from his head

“I am sorry it isn’t to your taste.” Nephinae offers in condolence,

“It’s just so short, I don’t think I've ever had my hair this short before.”

“It does suit you though.”

“Medium length suits me better.” He notes, rubbing his fingers along his cleanly shaven face. “And so did the stubble.”

“We all must make sacrifices.” Nephinae nods sagely. “The nameless girl had to remove most of her hair as well after all.”

At the mention of the nameless girl, he suddenly remembered that he could in fact rapidly grow his hair. Apparently it was adjacent to the marks healing properties. The prospect of growing it out again excited him so much, he almost did it, forgetting that the rapid hair growth would likely raise alot of questions from Nephinae.

Instead, Casper sighed and nodded his understanding.

“Are you hungry?” He asks, switching the subject.

“I will eat whatever you permit.”

“Oh come on, Nephinae please, we went over this. You are my servant in name only, lets not regress now. Talk to me like we are at least acquaintances.” Casper commands.

“Of course, forgive me. Old habits…”

“You are forgiven, but don’t expect me to let up on you either.”

“I understand, as for if I am hungry. Yes, I would love to eat.”

Casper nods with satisfaction at her shift. He wanted to get Nephinae out of the mindset of being a slave. Obviously that level of training and indoctrination wouldn’t hammer out in a couple of conversations. That deeply ingrained and “beat into” disposition would take years to crack at best. But still, he would try.

“Let's leave a note for the others in their rooms then to meet us over by the Black Berry Tap Room. it smelled incredible from the road, the food and the drink both.

“Understood.”

“Do you want to dress in something more comfortable?” Casper offers.

“No thank you, This outfit you purchased for me is very comfortable, and I enjoy it greatly, if it isn’t too much trouble I would like to continue to wear it.” Nephinae responds kindly.

“Of course, I’m really glad you like it.”

Casper uses the parchment, quill and ink on the writing desk within his room to create notes for the other two rooms informing them of where he and Nephinae were going, and to come by whenever they were finished with their initial round of shopping.

The tap room that had caught Casper's attention was nice inside, as it was outside. The three story tiered establishment was half fused into the central spire of the city, half extended outward in a large overhanging balcony that offered an uninterrupted view of the coast.

Inside, polished wooden walls and floors reflected the brilliant yellow light of the fireplace and surrounding hanging lanterns. The sweet herbal scent of honey tobacco wafted through the air, mixing with the rich smells of bourbon and smoking meats.

It was a relatively popular place too by the looks of it. Nearly every table was full with mostly men dressed similarly to Casper, all mid and a few high nobles. Several women made the rounds as well, mostly servers though some were accompanying their male counterparts.

A well endowed woman greeted him and Nephinae kindly at the door, all curls and soft skin.

“Welcome! Would you like to sit inside, or outside this evening?” she asked.

“It’s a nice night, let's set outside.” he responds with a warm smile.

“Wonderful! Just you two?”

“No, we have several others coming. A skinny boy with yellowish hair accompanied by a large woman and a small half elf, as well as another young man with short brain hair accompanied by a half-fiend.”

The woman guiding them gave pause then, her face contorting into an uncomfortable smile.

“Ah… well there are no half-breeds allowed in this establishment you see, I’m sorry. You of course are welcome to stay but-” the woman starts, and quickly stops as Casper places a hefty sum of coins into her hands.

“I'm sure it won't be a problem. They are all very well behaved.”

The woman felt the heft of the coins, considered their value quickly, and then placed them into her own coin purse without any further protest.

“Of course of course.” she smiles, continuing to walk them to the balcony level.

Outside on the balcony it was much quieter. Facing opposite the main gates, looking outwards towards the sea, the ocean caught the reflection of the purple and orange sunset. Even this far away from the crimson harbor, it was still the crimson coast, just the tail end of it. It wasn’t nearly as deep red as Crimson Harbor itself, but it still carried traces of the bloody light as night fell.

Sitting down at the table, a small strip of parchment was then handed to Casper to read the items on their menu.

Taking it, he looked up and noted that Nephinae was not given one.

“Can my elf please be given a menu as well?” Casper asked, a faint edge to his voice.

“Bur sir… she is…”

“What she is, is hungry. She would take a menu.” he offered the woman the most polite smile he could muster then, which must not have been very convincing, as the worry in her voice only rose.

“Of course. My apologies.” she offers, producing a menu for Nephinae.

“When the others arrive, their slaves will also require menus, thank you.” Casper added.

“I… understand.”

“Good. Now, how about some drinks?”

Casper finished off his 2nd cup of honey mead with a satisfied exhale, chasing the liquid down with a small bite of the fresh bread appetizer Nephinae had ordered. Nephinae worked on her first glass of wine, as they two waited for the others to arrive.

“Casper, you permit me to speak my mind to you, correct?” Nephinae asks, half hiding behind her glass of wine.

“Yes, please. Honestly Nephinae I'd be hurt if you didn’t.” Casper adds, signaling for another cup of mead.

“Then please allow me to ask you this. During the game we played with Rathiel and his companions. The questions I asked you, you didn’t wish to answer. I do not know when I will get the chance to ask you again, but why did you really not wish to answer what I asked?” Nephinae finishes her question with a quiet voice. Even with permission, the act of asking such a deeply personal question without the pretense of needing to disguise it still had the girl worried.

This was progress though. She had asked a direct question about Casper, and that wasn’t something he wanted to discourage. So, choking down his own displeasure at the thought of being honest, he decided if he was going to make any progress with this women, he needed to give her something.

At the very least, the others weren’t around to hear it yet.

Casper waited until his cup was filled, and took a long sip to buy himself time to think about how he wanted to explain any of it to her.

Eventually, he set the cup down, steadied his breathing, and looked the full elf in her perfect eyes.

“There are a couple of reasons… when you asked me that question, a very painful memory surfaced in my mind and I couldn’t for the life of me force it out. I should clarify, that it wasn’t your fault. It was something i had been holding onto for some time, I was drinking, distracted, and it just so happened to be what surfaced then. I… know that you all seem to think of me as some hero savior type. But trust me, I'm really not. The memory… it isn’t something I'm comfortable sharing specifically.”

“May I ask why?”

Casper sucked in some air then, and let it out through clenched teeth. “Because I don’t want you, or anyone else to think of me any differently.”

“That’s only half the truth, isn’t it.” Nephinae offers.

“Yea, you got me. It’s only half the truth. I just… ever since I left my village, I've been really fucking lonely. Its one thing to be around people and another thing to be with people. Being around you all, with you all, even though I've been aloof and standoffish at times, even though I've been isolated and hard to get to open up, being here with everyone is the closest thing I've felt to belonging ever since my life turned to shit. I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want a mistake I made, a horrible mistake mind you, to take that away. And I know what you are thinking, I know you think I'm selfish for keeping this thing I've done a secret, but you can trust me when I tell you that the stuff I talked to you about in the cave is still true. I won't…” Casper trails off.

“I won't hurt anyone…” he says, not at all convincing, not even to himself.

“Your mistake… you hurt someone?”

“I did…”

“Someone you were close to?”

“Yes…”

“Someone you cared for?”

“Yes…”

“Do you swear to me that you won't make that mistake again?”

Casper continues to look Nephinae in the eyes, searching her expression for the true emotions hidden behind that mask of hers.

“I promise.” he says,

“You don’t sound like you promise.” Nephinae challenges.

Casper takes in a deep breath, and steadies himself once more. His mind sifting through the memory, the feeling of the mark, the urge that rises up within him.

He was working with the nameless girl, trying to be better, trying to become more stable.

He was trying.

Stealing his resolve, he conjured up the confidence he needed, and spoke with conviction.

“I promise.”

“Then that is all I need.” Nephinae smiles softly, returning to her wine.

“Nephinae.” Casper calls her name, taking another sip of his own mug.

“Yes master?”

“Thank you.” Casper offers sincerely.

“Of course.” her smile widens, though still barely noticeable given the ever persistent mask of neutral professionalism and she takes another sip of her wine.

“Sorry we are late” Alex’s voice sounds from the exit to the balcony space. “Though it actually looks like we are earlier than the others.” She notes the absence of Annabelle, Elisayra and the nameless girl.

“Please, take a seat.” Casper offers, motioning for the chairs around the table he and Nephinae occupied.

Alex was dressed well, looking more like a young noble male than she did before.

Dressed in straight cut white pants that bunched at her knee high boots, as well as a white loose fitting tunic with puffy sleeves, a high collar tight to her neck and her hair combed to look even more boyish, she looked right at home in this noble setting.

Laihal at her side, looked devilishly seductive.

The half fiend wore a small top that sat barely covering her large chest, resting off the shoulders and instead gathered around her arms just below the shoulder. The top itself was low cut, revealing a thin strip of tanned and tattooed skin around the navel. Her bottoms were even more distracting. It was a dress, or rather two thin pieces of fabric tied around the high waist, that freely draped down her front and back separately, threatening to reveal everything with a strong gust of wind or a wide step of the leg. It looked as though Alex had gone a little overboard too, helping Laihal complete the half fiends look with a tight belt collar around her neck, and a tighter belt garter on her left thigh.

Casper found himself clearing his throat a little, trying his best to tear his eyes from the succubus before anyone at the table noticed.

Luckily for him, none of them did, as they were all too busy also being entirely distracted by her apparel.

The spell was broken when Laihal sat down next to Alex, who had taken up her position across from Casper, to the left of Nephinae.

“No offense Casper, but I miss your longer hair.” Alex says in the way of an opening.

“I know, I miss it already too, but most men don’t have longer hair and I need to blend in.” Casper sighs, running his hands through the length, or lack thereof.

“Laihal’s outfit is…” Casper starts, not wanting to get distracted by it again, but finding that incredibly hard to do, especially as she crossed her legs over one another, accentuating her incredible legs to reveal a small string of undergarment hugging high on her hips, and leaning forward, causing her chest to nearly spill from the small top.

“It’s attractive isn’t it?” Alex asks, admiring the half-fiend's look. “She is my concubine after all, I need to make sure I show off what a catch I have.” she smirks.

Ah so that was it, Casper thought. She was still playing into the role she was given. They were still in public after all, so it was probably for the best, but still. Watching Alex so blatantly undress Laihal with her eyes seemed perhaps a little too natural for the woman, pretending or otherwise.

“Of course, of course. Well she looks incredible.” Casper compliments the woman with a sly smile.

If Alex was going to be playing this seriously into this little roleplay of theirs, Casper thought it would be fun to tease her about it.

“Maybe I should ask for her tonight?” Casper teased, raising his eyebrow to Alex.

Alex’s face flashed with the faintest hint of sudden embarrassment, perhaps realizing just then the silent battle she had started. Casper had to give her credit, she seemed damn committed. she returned the smile with a raise of her hand to signal the server over. “Hmmm, maybe, you’d have to convince me. If you try her once I'm not sure I'd be able to get you off of her.””

“Is that so?”

“Quite, have you ever been with a succubus? They are otherworldly. It's like fae food. They say once you eat it everything else tastes like ash.” she challenged.

“That good?”

“Most assuredly.” Alex smirks. “So, like I said, you'd have to convince me.”

Alex really was enjoying this roleplay. It was a side of her he had never seen. Given how comfortable she was in this role it shined a new light on what Nephinae had shared about their early years together.

Casper had only known Alex as a road weary woman in disguise. This? This was still a male disguise but it was a male disguise as a noble. It came so naturally to her, it made Casper worry a little.

She was a damn good liar when she needed to be…

“I’ll see if I can come up with something.” Casper chuckled.

Alex’s and Laihal’s glasses were filled with an expensive vintage, and the two new arrivals got to drinking.

Casper watched with passing curiosity, as Nephinae had to make an active effort not to serve Alex as they continued to drink and snack so close to each other.

Once, Casper watched as on reflex alone, Nephinae wiped a stray bit of food from Alex’s mouth, only to profusely apologize after realizing the mistake.

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“I have to ask, why the collar?” Casper eventually asked, finding himself distracted momentarily by the thick leather band around the half-fiend's throat.

“It's simple really.” Alex says casually, dabbing at her own face to remove a few stray breadcrumbs. “To show proof that she is domesticated, and mine. A slave collar is fine and all, but this is more… attractive I think.” She offers, her false confidence waning just for a moment as a band of red worked its way across her face.

Just then, the group is joined by the arrivals of Annabelle, Elisayra, and the nameless girl. Their approach having gone unnoticed as the alcohol's effects were already starting to settle in with the earlier arrivals.

“You know who else would look good in a collar?” Laihal spoke in her usual husky tone, her eyes following Elisayra as she sat down. “I think she would look adorable in one.” The half-fiend brought up a single elegant finger, and pointed at Elisayra's throat, smirking as she watched it bob from the half elves gulp.

“Really? You think so?” Alex asks, refusing to drop the act.

“I know so darling.” Laihal purrs.

Casper was sure the teasing continued after that, but he couldn’t hear any of it, not for the distraction that was Annabelle in her new clothing.

It was as if the rest of the world had fallen away, leaving her and only her. Casper watched in disbelief as she took her seat, one away from him, while the nameless girl had chosen to sit next to Casper.

It was as if he could see through the nameless girl, his focus locked entirely on the long strip of visible skin from ankle to hip. The intricate leather of… something she wore underneath her open top.

The entire outfit, the leather, the metal rings that held it in place, it followed the contours of her body in the most mind numbingly intoxicating way imaginable. So much so that it took the nameless girl shaking him physically, for him to realize the server had returned to finally take their orders for food.

“I’ll… I'll have whatever the house special is.” Casper says quickly, realizing then that his infatuation with the woman hadn’t gone unnoticed by a specific half fiend, who didn’t bother to hide her sly, seductive smile she sent his way, making an extra effort to press her own chest together for his viewing pleasure.

The other’s all put in their orders, the drinks were refilled as Annabelle, Elisayra and the nameless girl were pressured into “catching up” with the rest of them.

It was nice, Casper thought as he threw back another cup of the sweet honey mead. It was nice to just sit and be. No pressure to get anywhere, no obligation to save food or conserve supplies. No worries about letting loose, and drinking and having a good time.

He had, before the others arrived, extended his senses as far as the mark would let him before threatening to create issues, and he confirmed for himself that there were no threats in the area. Even if there were, and he did by some miracle manage to miss something, Rathiel and his party was in the city, and even just at this table he was surrounded by very capable fighters.

It wasn’t as though they didn’t drink around Rathiel, but being with new people meant certain walls had to be up, walls that they didn’t need to have here among themselves, walls that would only further come down when it came time to return to the room.

Honestly, Casper was excited for that, excited for the chance to really get to know these people more, get to interact with them, and this was really, despite all their time together, the start of a more genuine connection. Something beyond the superficial, beyond the statistical advantage of numbers or resources.

Then, the food came, and it managed to make walls fall down faster than the alcohol did.

Smoked and roasted meats with seasonings Casper hadn’t even heard of before. Fresh vegetables and breads he couldn’t repeat the names of. Nephinae was a good cook, but this blew her out of the water.

“You look absolutely adorable by the way.” Alex said to Elisayra.

“Thank you! You look very… cute? Handsome?” Elisayra tried, which got a laugh from most everyone at the table.

“We all look very appropriate.” the nameless girl offers.

“Hmmm, I don’t think appropriate is the correct word.” Casper corrects.

A few more laughs come up as the attention then turns to Annabelle and Laihal.

“We had to leave the store, and I didn’t have the time to take this off.” Annabelle defends herself slightly as the attention turns to her.

“Oh nonsense darling! Please, you look absolutely stunning.” Laihal compliments the woman, leaning forward and resting her chest on the table. “I think with that harness on you have me beat.”

“Pssshhh, even without it on she has you beat!” Elisayra defends.

“Is that right? Maybe we should compare?” Laihal presses the challenge.

“Not here, surely?” Nephinae whispers, holding a hand to her mouth.

“Obviously not, by back at the inn?” Laihal purrs.

“Not interested.” Annabelle gives a snappy reply.

“Awe, such a spoilsport. I'm sure Casper would love to see us side by side.”

“I'm sure he would.” Annabelle confirms with a half cocked smile in his direction. “But that doesn’t mean I'm going to give it to him, not if it means being shoulder to shoulder with you.” she taunts, pointing her knife at the fiend.

“Settle now.” the nameless girl demands to Annabelle, and watches her as the larger woman sets the knife down and rests her back against the chair.

“I feel like this conversation is perhaps a bit… much.” Casper tries to deflect.

“Is it? We three are men, men enjoy the female body, we have several incredible females here, I'm sure it’s all rather in line.” Alex teases.

The nameless girl nods her head sagely, prompting a groan from Casper.

“I am as much an appreciator of the female form as anyone else, but maybe my conservative upbringing has made me a little reluctant to be talking about it so loudly in public.” he tries.

“Oh fiiiiine.” Alex groans, winking in his direction as she takes another bite of her food. “What else would you have us talk about then, if not how infatuated we are with tits.” she continues to joke with a mouthful.

“Anything I guess, I was a little distracted when the conversation came up about what everyone would do with the money, but I'd honestly love to hear what you all had in mind.” Casper offers, his eyes still focused on Alex.

“Mmm! It is quite the sum isn’t it.” she thinks, making a show of it by tapping her finger to her chin in the approximation of some haughty noble. “Well, as a noble, of course I already have nearly everything I desire.” she starts, “but, I suppose i wouldn’t complain about opening up my own personal business, not for profits of course, just for fun.”

“What kind of business would you open?” Elisayra asks, her mind already racing with ideas.

“Hmmm, a brothel.” she cracks a smile.

“Somehow it’s back to tits” Casper sighs as the others laugh. “Is that what you would seriously do, Alex?” he tries again, this time hoping for a real answer.

“Oh fine… if not a brothel, then I think I would enjoy opening up say, an investment sort of business. I could help prop up and pay for portions of other businesses and take a percentage of the profits. That way I help the local community, make a little money, and get to have a direct relationship with the people of my lands.”

“Ever the noblew- nobleman.” Casper corrects quickly.

“What about you Nephinae? What would you do if you had all the money for yourself?” Casper asks.

The full elf doesn’t even think for a moment, as if it was already at the tip of her tongue. “I would purchase my family from whoever holds them and give them to you.”

Casper finds himself taken aback for a brief second, shocked by the sincere honesty in the woman's tone, and the seriousness of the statement.

“That doesn’t have to be a far off dream, couldn’t we do that now?” Casper asks, his eyes shifting to Alex.

“It is much harder than just buying them outright. We would need to learn where they had gone, which would cost money. We need to travel there, which would cost money. We would need to buy them, though they would be far more expensive now that they are trained and in the service of other families around the kingdom.” Nephinae explains.

“Right, maybe not as easy but still, it's not impossible. I think we can work on doing that, can’t we?” Casper finds himself asking the others.

Alex considers it, and nods her head. “Certainly doable. Yes.”

Casper smiles to Nephinae. “Let's work on that then. We have the money, we have the time, now at least.”

“You would really do this for me?” Nephinae asks softly.

“Of course! Absolutely I would.” Casper confirms.

Nephinae smiles at that, and returns to her food.

“Well, I doubt whatever you come up with Engee will be nearly as heart wrenching, but what about you?” Casper looks to the nameless girl.

A few small laughs arise at the fake name, but the nameless girl shrugs them off.

“Let's see. I would love to travel the world. Despite my history I am rather fond of boats. There is much I haven’t seen and much to be seen. I would purchase a large sailing vessel, one of incredible luxury. Hire the best crew money could buy and explore.”

A few nods go around the table at that, though notably Laihal recoils at the mention of a boat or the ocean.

“Not a fan?” Casper asks, targeting the half fiend.

“Of the ocean? Gods no. the water, the salt, the rocking, gods the constant rocking. I would sooner spend eternity in the hells than a single day on a boat.” she scoffs.

“Well, sailing the world is out of the question for you then.” Engee offers.

“Undoubtedly.”

“What would you do then?” Casper asks.

“I’m not a material woman.” Laihal offers coolly. “My needs I can acquire with my own two hands, and my wants cannot be bought.” She winks.

“There are male prostitutes.* Alex offers.

“I don’t recall specifying I needed a male.” Laihal sasses back.

“You dirty dirty girl.” Alex brings a hand to her mouth to exaggerate her shock.

Laihal shrugs, and hides her sultry laugh behind another mouthful of wine.

“I just can’t escape it tonight, can I?” Casper laughs, shaking his head and turning his attention to Annabelle.

Picking up on the queue, she smiles wide and twirls the knife in her fingers. “Elisayra and I both decided that we would buy a Castle, she would be a princess, and manage all of our subjects, and I would be the master of the guard. I would get my own battalion of knights to keep her highness safe.”

Elisayra nods feverishly from behind the larger woman, her cheeks already bright red from her attempt to match pace with her friend.

“Very nice.” Casper chuckles. “I like that alot.”

“What of you?” Nephinae asks, turning the question back on him.

“Me? I think, after I finish all this, depending on how long all this takes. I would like to start a village, or a town. Just like my father did… build something with the people I trust. A place that’s safe, a place that's far away from the corruption of the kingdom, a place where I can raise my children and garden and live in peace.”

“Children hmm? Whose children would you raise?” Alex teases.

“All of yours, of course.” Casper escalates the joke to the ultimate extreme he could think of.

spitting wine and choking breaths are the background music to Casper’s cackles then.

Satisfied with the reaction, Casper throws back his cup of mead and wipes his mouth, looking out over the flustered faces of everyone but Laihal, who is the only one who laughs along with him.

The plates are soon cleared, drinks emptied, and more conversations are had well into the night.

Perhaps it was Casper's earlier bribe that allowed them all to stay far longer than they normally would have. By the time the server kindly requested they leave for the night, everyone else in the establishment had long since left.

Annabelle carried a passed out Elisayra on her back, and Nephinae had to help support the incredibly drunk Annabelle as they walked back down the stone paths towards their inn.

Laihal saw most of the women to their respective rooms and respective beds, with Nephinae’s assistance the two further ensured that the women were properly cleaned as well in their own rooms.

Casper tried his best not to giggle and chuckle too much as the world around him tilts and spins and his body tingles with the warmth of a heavy buzz.

A knocking sound at his door gets his attention, though it takes about a full half second longer to react to it compared to when he was fully sober.

Turning around, half out of his shoes, he has to narrow his vision to make out the familiar shape of Alex, waiting just outside his room.

“Something wrong?” Casper asks, stopping himself from removing his socks.

“No, nothings wrong. I was just wondering, do you think we could finish our talk now?” She asks, her own words a little slurred, though not much.

“Yea, of course. Here?” Casper asks.

“It’s still a nice night, if you aren’t too drunk, I’d like to walk with you.” Alex asks.

“No no, I'm not. Just feeling good.” Casper clarifies, and puts his socks and shoes back on.

Joining Alex at the door, he shouts back to Nephinae that he will return later, so as not to worry her, and walks with Alex back out of the inn and into the night air of Highspire.

He’s grateful for it. The movement and activity helps burn through the bulk of the lingering drunkenness, allowing his mind to clear and steady itself as the two meander around the arc of the large central spire.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Casper asks eventually, looking over to Alex who still maintains her boyish disguise.

“Hmm, it’s hard to say. Not because I don’t know what I want to tell you, but I just don’t know how to tell you.” Alex says, placing her hands behind her pack and interlocking her fingers.

“Well, I think you should say it in whatever way is easiest. Now that I know the phrasing is a little uncertain, I'll be careful not to misconstrue any of your words.” Casper offers, finding the response perhaps a little unnatural, but logical in his mind.

“I suppose I could do that, though I need your promise that you won't think poorly of me when I say what I would like to say.”

“I promise.” Casper confirms.

Alex waits a little while, until their walk takes them away from the view of the ocean, and instead looks outwards towards the forest and hills they arrived from.

“I know that you are interested in Annabelle…” She starts, her tone dropping low, to avoid it carrying over the quiet city.

Casper remains silent, letting her express everything she needs to before trying to explain anything.

“I can’t blame you either, she is very attractive… gods everyone in our camp is, honestly.” She chuckles softly. “I know we talked about what happened in your tent all those nights ago, and I'm glad to hear I didn’t do something horrible to you, but still, even after you explained that you enjoyed it I can't help but feel like you would have enjoyed something like that more, were it not me. Maybe you would have liked it more, if it were someone else.” Alex explains, turning to Casper.

The two stop near the edge of the half wall that acts as a barrier to the open air below their section of spire. The view from here is vast. The skies are clear and open with a nearly full moon and stars shining bright, illuminating the two in their talk.

“I’m sure you’ve learned by now that I… have an attraction towards women as well. Which I know is strange, and irregular, and wrong, but please, do not judge me yet..” She asks, her eyes pleading, anticipating some sort of protest of surprise, but instead Casper smiles and continues to remain silent.

Relief washes over Alex then, and she closes her eyes and calms her breathing before she continues.

“I know that you are interested in pursuing her, that you wish to be with her. The way you look at her is unlike how you look at anyone else in the party, including me. Which is fine! I assure it it is fine… but…” her voice trails then, her mouth works the words as she struggles to find the right way to say what she wants to say.

“I want to be frank with you Casper. No more misunderstandings, no more miscommunications, so please allow me to be as straightforward as I can manage. I would like to help you, help you get with Annabelle, and I would like for you to have me as well. Even if it is just as a concubine or a mistress or whatever you’d like to call me. But…”

Alex exhales, and turns her attention away from Casper, looking out over the city.

“The dynamic among all of us is incredibly strange, I know… and as much as I know you find it uncomfortable, the truth of the matter is, I owe you my life, as do most of the others, and before you try and protest this, let me just explain my feelings.”

Casper was in fact about to protest, though the earnestness in her tone gave him pause.

“My attraction to you is confusing. Confusing to me. I have never and I really mean never have been attracted to a male before, for as long as I could remember it has been women whom i fantasize about. That was, until I started traveling with you… I don’t understand it, not at all. Call it a passing curiosity, an idle fantasy, but I would like… perhaps to experiment with you. Try this with you. Perhaps if I can be with you, help you gain Annabelle's affection, I can learn more about myself? Learn what these feelings are.”

Alex returns her attention to Casper then, searching his expression to see if she can decipher anything from it, and finding herself stuck as he doesn’t allow himself to be read.

“I know you are from a small village, and things were likely different there, but here? It is actually rather common for a man to take many wives. Not to say I wish to be your wife of course!” she quickly corrects. “But a man often has many women he is with, concubines, lovers, wives, slaves, it wouldn’t be seen as strange, and you and I would be nothing more than… friends… I am still a friend. But I would be a friend you could sleep with, a friend you are helping learn more about herself. It wouldn’t have to lead anywhere else if you didn’t want…” Alex begins to ramble.

Casper thinks on the woman's words as she trails off, and awaits his response.

Honestly, Casper had no idea how to take this.

Alex wanted to be… experiment with him? Learn about herself by using him? Help him gain Annabelle's affection? This was so far beyond what he could possibly consider normal or acceptable it left reality and entered a dreamlike fantasy.

“How… how would you help me get with Annabelle?” Casper asks.

“I am a woman… I know what women like. Consider that you helping me learn, letting me experiment with you, with my feelings, is you helping me, then me guiding you and aiding you in getting to be with Annabelle is my side of the deal. I doubt she is the kind of woman who would find other women attractive, so there is an unlikely chance she would take me, as say, Laihal would, but still. Though it might help to imagine a world where she does take me as well. The three of us together, all sharing one another, doesn’t that sound enjoyable?”

“You’re drunk.” Casper says coolly.

“I am a little intoxicated, yes. And when alcohol is in my body I get a little bold, a little needy, I know this about myself.” Alex says matter o’ factly, blushing slightly.

“But I'm also more honest. I would never suggest this sober, I would be too nervous. Alcohol has given me the courage to be true to myself and my feelings.”

“I…” Casper brings his hand to mouth and rests it there. Thinking.

A part of him wanted to say yes. The fantasy was too appealing to deny, especially when asked so directly about it. But he wasn’t the kind of man to give in to his fantasies without considering the consequences. His father raised him better than that.

“Alex. I won’t suddenly sleep with you or experiment with you just out of the open like that. Please do not misunderstand, it isn’t for a lack of attraction, I do find you quite attractive, but its far more complicated than that. I have needs, I have wants, but I also have my principles, so instead I’ll provide a counter offer.” he starts.

Alex’s cheeks grow steadily brighter and brighter.

“I can’t be with someone I feel a barely know, not... without feeling very guilty about it. So, if you wish to be with me then I would ask to get to know you more. I don’t want to be just a man you sleep with to experiment with your feelings, and I don't want to use you to get close to Annabelle. It isn’t fair for either of us. I understand that multiple partners or lovers are not uncommon, and the others are comfortable with this practice. With all of that being said… I am not against courting you. If this is something we wish to try, know that I will try to be with Annabelle as well, and if you manage to gain my affection, and I gain yours, then I will gladly accept. Id be a fool to deny the things I feel, the things I have been feeling. But the power dynamic between us all, the implications... I know you have all expressed interest and this is a barrier I need to overcome, so please be patient with me if it takes a while for my mind to realize that this is all... acceptable...” Casper lingers on the last word.

“So pragmatic… and honorable, it isn’t very sexy you know.” Alex cracks a smile.

Casper chuckles and shakes his head. “I know it's the least romantic way to talk about romance, and the least attractive way to discuss entering a courtship… but I think given how complicated everything is it's better to be direct and clear now, so we can continue to be more romantic later, just on the same page this time as opposed to so many missed small moments.”

“A fair point, it’s not as though my proposition was particularly romantic or sexy either.” Alex admits. “In fact, I had a whole moment of self reflection that day in the woods, when we first met Rathiel where I had convinced myself I would try to win your heart naturally, and then I got to drinking, and it’s been so long since I've been with anyone and I got bold and decided to ask outright, only to find myself right back in the position I would have been any way, of doing it all naturally.” Alex offers a self deprecating smile.

“Not necessarily. It means your mind was in the right place, and this was… a moment of weakness. Nothing more. Knowing you were planning on doing things the natural way in fact makes me a little more comfortable already.” Casper moves in to be next to Alex, as the two look out over the city and the wilderness beyond.

“I'm glad. It does feel better to get it all out there… though it doesn’t quite solve my problem of being particularly pent up right now.” Alex winks and offers a sly smile.

“No, it does not…” Casper agrees, finding his mind wandering slightly.

“What are you thinking?” Alex asks, leaning her elbow on the wall and placing her head in her hands.

“Oh… just something incredibly perverse.”

“In the spirit of being open and honest, I enjoy perverse.” Alex offers.

“Hmmmm…”

“Oh come on! Tell me! You cannot say something like that, knowing damn well i just told you I've been pent up and then not say anything. What did you think about?”

“Oh.. just the conversation we had at dinner.”

“Which one? About impregnating all of us?” Alex teases.

“Haha! No, no. the one about Laihal.”

“Oh… ohhh! Did you wish to use her?”

“Not sure I enjoy the word use. I don’t want to force her to do anything, but I got the impression that she was interested in both you and I.”

“She is. After all she is a half succubus, she has needs all the same as the marked girl I'm sure. She has also been tempting you for a time, and me frankly.”

“I want to do things correctly with you, naturally with you, so I’m not sure I would be comfortable with all three of us, but…”

“Perhaps she could tend to both of our needs, together, but… separate” Alex fills in the blanks, her smile widening and her eyes narrowing to devious slits. “That doesn’t sound very natural at all Casper. Getting ahead of ourselves already?”

Casper taps an anxious finger on the stone wall. “All this talk and all this alcohol has made me a little bold I suppose. There is always time to do things the right way after we clear our heads perhaps?”

“You know how you teased me at dinner?” Alex asks.

“I do, it was fun.” Casper notes with a sagely nod.

“Then let me return the favor. I'm sure your hand can suit you tonight, and Laihal is probably too tired from helping everyone. It was you, oh so honorable who said you wished to do things correctly. I agree to those terms then.” Alex snickers to herself.

“You are just trying to make me work just as hard to be with you, as you are going to work to be with me.” Casper tests, shaking his head.

“Exactly!”

“I was already intending on doing that. Like I said I do in fact find you attractive, all you’ve done now is deny us both a fun end to the night.”

“Damnit!” Alex puffs, which turns into a laugh that Casper joins in.

“To doing things right then.” Casper holds up an imaginary drink.

“To doing things right.” Alex echoes, and clinks her imaginary class against Casper's.