Dancing in Puddles.

[Lesh y Cheayn]

First Cycle of the First Month of Spring, Era XIV

Her arrival was given mixed impressions of the creature by th towns people, some staring, others ignoring, some wondering what those scales would feel like rubbing against their skin. The green eyed Mer did much to ignore them, her slouched posture and flapping of her gills showing her true need to soak in some water. She desperately hunted for a fountain, a tap, anything to cool the burning in her scales. This was an idiotic idea now she thought of it, traveling inland was unnatural for a Mer and should not be attempted. Yet, she had made it with little fuss. Deliberately standing in a dirty puddle, she let the mucky water cool her feet.Yet is was not enough as she slapped wetly through the streets, this under city of Vortex.

Purchasing a bucket, she filled it with mucky green water and found herself a quiet corner slipping off her sandals to soak her feet in the slimy water. She rubbed her scales with the refreshing liquid finding some comfort in the coolness. Thankfully, this wasn't salt water, so the urge to transform her tail wasn't great. Instead she murmured to herself, eyes closed as her toes wiggled gently in the bucket. She must have been a sight. It was still chilled from the winter, and with each light breeze, the chill bit to her bone. Looking at her woolen dress, the fabric torn and patchy, Lesh sighed. She would have to buy a new dress, and possibly new shoes, spying the growing thinning in the sole. Red gold fin tendrils fell forward as hair would as she leaned over her knees to splash the murky water on her face. With a wince she recoiled from the taste that had gotten into her mouth wiping her face furiously with a sleeve. Perhaps she could purchase a bath at an inn, and soak in the cold water for some time. A small smile crept onto her face as she leaned back again with her eyes closed.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"It is not often we find your kind in this place." He was tall and his face was unseen hiding behind a cloak and a brim of deepest blue, perhaps it reminded her of the sea, the great azure home that nourished her race for aeons. hundreds of finely embroidered eyes stared at her from this great ocean, and two gently looked at the rare sight in this city of the damned.

"My biology is poor, but do your kind not require water to survive after a certain period? Vortex has no water besides a rumoured lake far below the city, and perhaps some patches in the park." There were others, two others great silken veils drawn over their faces so only their eyes were visible, they each held a glaive with a wicked blade atop a stick of darkest wood, they were clearly elven, their bodies lithe under their cloaks and their eyes wondreous colours that cried for an artist to capture them.

He had known of her arrival, the guards were still very much on his side, information like water trickled down to this place through the cracks and any rare creature that passed through the gates gained the attention of this colector of sorts, a raconteur with a pedigree, a artiste with a taste for the macabre and the unusual. "What is your purpose here child of the sea, perhaps I can help you?"

[Lesh y Cheayn]

Piercing green eyes barely turned to look upon the voice, this creature long ago lost her cares and lost her great sense of fear. She did however spy the two men with each a weapon and tensed a little. Turning then she gave a small grin, pulling a fine cigar from a pocket in her dress and hunting for a match. It was an odd habit she had picked up, one that provided a warmth in her throat. It also helped to mask the raw power in her voice, distorting it. Yet, she still spoke in whispers, a rich husky voice that would draw any man.
"I am on an exploration. My kind should not be limited to the coasts, they should be able to explore as they please. I however did not realize I chose a city with no water save for tainted green sludge." She gestured to the bucket her feet were still in, the red gold scales gleaming despite the lack of transparency and reflective properties of the water.

She stood now, having been unable to find a match, pulled the unlit cigar from her lips and gave a beautiful smile, stepping from her bucket to stand closer. She held nothing save for the cigar, but maintained a respective distance from his multicolored guards. "Perhaps you can." The alluring undertones of her voice filtering toward this man, drawing him in just that little bit. "[b]I am a simple explorer for this time, wanting to see a city which is believed to be off limits for me. So, I traveled her, swimming to Paxia, then the Nexus Prime deciding it was then best to swin to the Isles and walk inland from there. But, I was foolish and did not bring enough water.[b]"

Throughout her speech, the young Mer had wrapped her melodious vocal talents about this man and his guards, installing a sense of calm. More importantly, she played this mans curiosity and wrapped about him a small feeling of lust. Lesh was small spells only, larger ones had to high a chance to go wrong. With a small smile she stepped forward. "Yet, I find it odd that you knew where to find me, and that indeed you did. Such things are odd to me, tell me, you hold some power here I take it?"

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"Your race have always posessed an arrogance that amuses me, as you say the Mer may travel inland and often they arrange a place of accomodation before they arrive, clearly you did not plan this endevour very well my little lady mer." He grinned and his teeth shone in the unearthly light.

"I knew where to find you because I have eyes in more places than on my robe, and some may say I have power, though only because others allow me to have it around here." He grinned and lowered his hood revealing a full tattoo of a skull sourounded by multi-coloured whisps of smoke. "The amusing fact of this conversation is that you need me, I happen to be one of the few people in this damned city to own a body of water large enough to sate your needs." He smiled and rubbed the top of his cane, "Normally I am a soft negotiator but I feel you will gain a similar service from no-one more reasonable than I." He smiled again his smile growing slightly each time, "As payment for my hospitality you will stay with me for a week as my guest in this city, I wish to know more of your people, do we have an agreement?" Of course when one was a guest of Dimitri they were essentially under a curfew, however did the mer have any other choice?

[Lesh y Cheayn]

The Mer simply chuckled to his offense, long gone was the time when she would react accordingly, she had little cares left.
"Perhaps it would have, but such is less of an adventure." Replacing her shoes, the Mer left her bucket where it was, it would find a home soon enough, and brushed down her worn dress.

Tilting her head to one side, she looked up at him and his tattoos. Why landdwellers felt the need for such marks was beyond her, paint should be on paper. She resisted the urge to touch it yet, landdwellers were not fond of contact of such kinds so early in the meeting.
"How could I refuse such an offer? But you have not picked the best Mer to tell you such stories. I was raised by a human woman, my family joining our First Queen after a storm." Lesh had long ago gotten over her loss, feeling little to no pain when she mentioned them.

"Still, I could tell you enough of our culture as it is, I have recently returned from the great Aquapolis city." With a small curtsy, the Mer introduced herself. "I am Lesh y Cheayn."

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"Delighted I am sure, you may call me Nihilus perhaps I will reveal my full name in good time." He looked at her and smiled, "Now understand I have met few mer's in my time, when you are in my company I wish you to be in your aquatic form I understand you all have, I beleive that will be more exotic. And I am a traveller of new delights, a deviner of distant lands and an interloper of the mystical new." He smiled gently and stepped towards her, "I wish to carry you down to my estate, will you allow this? We can talk as we go." He held out his hands allowing her to get into them, then they could start the descent.

[Lesh y Cheayn]

His name was hard on her tongue and she tried her best to say it in her mind, not wishing to form it out loud as of yet. Taking his hand, her own was cold in his, the slight scaling of her palm not unpleasant at all. His words took her by surprise as she turned her head to look at him with a questioning look. Green eyes flicked to her long willowy legs and the darkening scales as the droplets of green water coursed through them. A small sneer crept on her face as she looked about the city and at the people.
"Such things are not done by the Mer in such an open overground space."

Suddenly she felt a little apprehensive about this offer, her fingers slipping from his palm slowly as she made to step back. There was something odd in this man before her, something that she felt a little fear from. But her eyes flicked to the two men, knowing she would not get very far at all, her legs were stiff from the water and walking would be a struggle as it was. With an inward Mer curse, she took his hands, noting her dress at least reach her mid calf. "I will not have my tail on show for the general public sir, please provide me with something." It was a fair request, and she was on guard, ready to unleash a fury in her voice should it be permitted.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri smiled, "I need not guards for a moment do I, I hope you are trustworthy, gently he raised a hand and motioned for them to leave but one handed over his cloak before he went." He held it before him and smiled, "Guards are useful tools, I feel naked without them in this city, but I would not want to threaten you my delightful visitor." he gently leant down and wrapped the cloak about her legs smiling gently and running his hands gently up her sides. If lesh thought the humans were generally not the most hysical of races she was in for a suprise with Dimitri.

"Worry not I will not hurt you, I merely have the vice of curiosity, I am a collector of sorts but do not worry I need you not as a slave I merely with to spend time with you and as I say see how your race is in this environ. But as you shall be my guest I hope you will be co-operative with a few of my wishes." As he waited for her to adjust the cloak and transform he softly kept his hands upon her to comfort her. He would restrain her later if need be, but for a moment she was his guest and he hoped she would do as he wished.

[Lesh y Cheayn]

Green eyes watched the hand as it moved over her gills, a small thrill of passion filling her being. Only one man had touched her in such a way, and he was gone from her life. Such hardship was love she chose to ignore it, and focus on living until she felt that she would not be hurt in such a way again. Still, with her legs covered she began her slow transformation. The scales darkened and spread over her thighs, locking together and forming thickly, the muscles adapting within. This same change ran the length of her limbs, locking her feet together into a point. From her calf began to form a frilling fin, one which would be half the length of her legs alone. It was indeed beautiful, the flash of blue on each half as two molded with the other half ad folded under the weight of the cloak.

Now she was truly exhausted and dehydrated. As soon as she was picked up, her head lay heavily on the chest of her barer, arms limply resting in her lap. She closed her eyes and her gills flapped slowly as she drew in labored breaths. She did not hear his words or wishes at present, but could only focus on the growing pain which felt as though her scales were peeling back. Her long fin could be glimpsed under the cloak as it flapped as they walked. She would offer no fight should Dimitri choose to remove the cloak to marvel upon the colours of her scales and the amazement on the one limb that had been two. She turned her head into the chest of her carrier, trying to focus on any words spoken to her.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

She was totally in his power till she reached water. Dimitri marvelled at how well his unintentionalplan had gone, clearly the transformation was highly exerting to the Mer, now he had her where he wanted...no...needed her, he could prepare her for her stay and then give her water and by that time she would be in his control, if only for a little bit." He smiled serenly as he came into his arms and he held her up running his fingers along her gills lovingly and keeping the cloak wrapped firmly about her tail, she was his to see no-one elses.

He said little, soon one of the Dark elves was back with the necessary torch, Dimitri after all was not capable of finding his own way down into the deeps. He also needed a guide for his eyes were still locked upon her, he whispered to her gently, "I love you." It was one of those phrases that contained half true and half lie, he loves the nevelty and idea of her, he loved how he posessed her and she relied on him for this moment. He had no real love for her now, she was something to be studied and used for the moment.

They made slow progress down, there were many levels after all, when they reached the top of the third plane and had some privacy the guard walked on slightly and Dimitrilay his new toy down for a moment, he wanted to enjoy her and could not wait till he reached his Collegium, he would allow himself a few moments here on the hard stone floor. His fingers ran over her gills and his mouth pushed against hers, he wanted to taste her for a moment, his toher hand ran over her scaled tail and unlike most humans it genuinely excited him, this to Dimitri, this peverse sexual ritual was paradise.

[Lesh y Cheayn]

Should Lesh try to escape she would fail miserably. This place was a maze that not even her captor knew. It was all to clear the mess she was now in and she could do little until she reached the water. Once rejuvenated and at the bottom of a deep tank, she could surface and blow his head from his shoulders. Yet, he was kind enough, he had not hurt her, nor did she sense any malicious intent from him. So she stayed still and silent for now, eyes half open to look at the darkening journey.

His words were lost on her, love was not expressed with crude words, but gestures and actions past. Although the Common translation boiled down to 'love' it was more than a word in Mer tongue. She did little to respond, flinching as the cold floor met her body. She was too weak to react and roll away, instead she lay like an injured lamb, her gills flapping and chest rising as she gasped for air. Her eyes did lock upon this man as his fingers once again sent that thrill through her. She did nothing to resist him, in fact she welcome him, meeting his kiss with a untamed ferocity of her own. Her eyes were a flame as he stroked her tail. She reached to his ear and spoke softly.
"To make love to a Mer underwater is said to be a thrill few experience."

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"They used to say that off the coast of Arium the Mer would seduce the sailor and drag him under the waves leaving but a corpse bobbing among the seaweed with a lovelost face his own reward." Dimitri smiled and lifted his prize again not wanting to keep her out here for too long. Gently he made sure the cloak was still firmly wrapped around her tail. "You will have to accept a certain degree of mistrust in our relationship my dear." He spoke the words as he walked quickly behind his dark elven guide, "I never allow new racial guests to have free run of the place, nor do I allow new people to get too close to me while they are empowered with free-will, hence we shall have to come to an arrangement you and I."

He smiled, the sort of smile one can only have when a plan is unfolding exactly how it was wanted, "While you are in my water I will need to attach a few little restraints to you to make sure you do not use your natural affinity with the deep blue yonder to my disadvantage, at least until I have read a book on your race. Also I am afraid I am going to have to keep you slightly dehydrated inside my Collegium when not restrained for the same reason, you are no danger at present but I cannot be sure if you willpresent me some danger in the future." He grinned, "If I am honest with myself it is essential slavery for a few days until I have discerned your nature, but I have enemies and I dont approve of assasins, hence my strict security protocol." He paused for a moment and looked deep into her eyes, "Now you can agree and we will get along...if you excuse the pun...swimmingly or you can refuse my measures and I will give you over to some of my dark elven associates, failing that I am a fan of seafood and while I normally dine on elves I could get my teeth into you for sure." He smiled and his sharpened teeth might pay homange to the reality of his threat, "Do what I ask in my domain and you will come away from this with an ally in me."

[Lesh y Cheayn]

Eyes blinked slowly as she was picked up and carried, a small sick smile on her face, she shook her head, knowing it wasn't true Mer that did that. Leaning heavily on Dimitri Lesh sighed at his mistrusting words.

A flicker of anger passed through those green eyes. This mistrust was stretching to far. She was in no position to do anything about it. Any moisture she gained would aid her talents, bringing down a wrath unlike any. A silent rumbling ran through the Mer as she lay helpless, the light spines on her tail erect with her anger.
"I have little choice in this matter." She croaked, her eyes flicked to that of the tattooed face. Right now, she could summon enough power to blow the head from his shoulders and leave him dead in the street. Still, she could not take out his guards. Bristling again she closed her eyes and a look of sadness passed over her features.

Such it was that her past life was coming to haunt her. "You will not be the first to treat me as some trophy, he met his hand for his ways." The idle threat was masked as a statement as the spines on her tail settled.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri did not respond to her words only seemingly quickened his pace as they moved downwards through levels of errie beauty illuminated by the dark elven torch. Occasionally others would appear and a sense of unease would emerge from the darkness, the lower you got the larger the dangers became. Dimitri by now could travel through the undercity as long as he had a guard and he was fortunate to have them now. Without light he was as helpless as a babe in his supposed kingdom.

A ruined Collegium, old murals and scattered stones she might see as they arrived and down they went again, down into the building the guards falling away and instead two great eyeless corpses fell into step behind him. Torches on the walls provided illumination for now as Dimitri cradles his charge to him, until they reached the very bottom.

It was a small corridor with a number of rooms, the gentle splashing of water could be heard and Dimitri momentarily took her into his watery room to tease her, a deep pool cut out of the rock and filled with fresh water rested serenely but for now that was not for her. He took her into a room opposite, it was some sort of study, Books were strewn about as well as strange devices and symbols drawn into the floor. In the center of the room was a great stone slab that served as a table and small leather ropes on the floor beside it. For now he rested her on the table and restrained her hands to leave her spreadeagled on the table more open to his studies. The undead guards sat by the door each holding a wickedly sharp spear and watched with their cold lifeless eyes.

"I apologise once again for procedure but spies are so hard to deal with and I am quite a caring captor really." He gently stroked her gills remembering how it had stimulated her earlier, he eagerly awaited to see if there would be a reaction.