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A Slack RP with Fluffesu

"Your tea, Lord Zakeel."

During her few weeks within the estate, Seziah had come to learn several things about her new young charge. He was two years her junior, far less level-headed than her older brother, permitted nearly any vice with none of the responsibility (since he was not the eldest and would not be assuming head of the family), and he was completely and utterly helpless.

She stood at the side of his bed, a tray of afternoon refreshments in her hands, and her gaze on the ground. "Wonderful." Zakeel sat up, beaming at her as if she was the most interesting thing in the world. She didn't see it. He set the book he'd been reading aside and beckoned for her to join him, gently taking her wrist between his fingers so as not to disrupt her cargo and guiding her to sit before him.

There was a certain type of conflicted that settled over Seziah every time she was within the young lord's chambers. On the one hand, he had very nice things- the type Tytus assured her she would not ever be able to afford. Silken sheets with the most intricately patterned duvet she'd ever perched on, thick, draping curtains adorning the sides of his bed that seemed to have been stitched with gold, rugs woven from fabric Seziah had never even heard of that was softer on her bare feet than anything else she'd ever walked over. She enjoyed being permitted to touch his nice things.

However, the discomfort came when his fingers found their way onto her person. Zakeel wasn't rough, or even overly invasive. They were small, gentle touches to her hair, to her bared shoulders, to her cheek, or to her arms. And though she kept her gaze dutifully downward, she knew his was anywhere but, roaming from the great tresses over her mane, down her very slight curves and landing... southward.

But he did nothing beyond assure her that she was the most exotically beautiful 'lady' he'd ever seen and express open curiosity toward what could have driven her from Yael, when she ought to have been the most coveted thing the land had to offer. Seziah did not mind compliments, and she didn't think she enjoyed his company, but it still felt... awkward. She was unaccustomed (and usually unreceptive) to even the most gentle of and unassuming of contact.

And she knew there was nothing 'unassuming' about this.

At the earliest possibility, she excused herself as politely as possible, desperate not to offend him but also so uncertain. She knew it was 'normal' to find a mate and live happily ever after, as Keyla and Diavel had, but her experience with men was subpar and uncomfortable to think about, and she did not want a repeat of that, and oh, what was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to know how to proceed.

It was one of those seemingly impossibly difficult situations. The kind where she felt trapped and suddenly found herself wanting to go places she didn't usually go. Seziah stepped outside and inhaled a deep breath of warm desert air.

Fluffesu

The sun was in just the right place,, Seziah thought. So that when she stepped outside and turned her gaze up toward the sky, morning light shined down in just the right way so that when she faced it, the whole world was only white. Clean, pristine, perfect white. She exhaled slowly. Perhaps if she read less about histories and more about romance, she would have a better idea of how to proceed. Men- boys seemed so complicated, though, and she didn't want to offend her little lord...

"Hm?" At the sound of boots approaching, Seziah's now-dulled pale irises swiveled to face them. "Oh, Tytus." If Zakeel made her uncomfortable, then surely Tytus was the most opposite of that any man could be. Which likely still didn't say much, coming from her, since all people still made her so uncertain.

But it was easier to relax around him, and even if Tytus was a man, a source of concern and uncertainty, it wasn't the same type that Zakeel's touches inspired. It was very complicated to try and rationalize, Seziah thought as her gaze found him, but then feelings often were. She shook her head slowly. "It is morning," she agreed. "But I think there have been better ones... Not that it is a bad morning, mind you, but I have come from Master Zakeel's personal chambers, and I always feel oddly hesitant during my time with him." She frowned slightly.

"It is difficult to explain. I do not think him cruel or hasty, though I suppose I am uncertain if I would know exactly what 'hasty' was, but I still feel very unprepared when dealing with him. It is like... It is like a tangle in my intestines, and I- Oh, it is useless trying to make sense of it." She shook her head.

Fluff

"I... do not know how I feel about him," she admitted quietly. Should she try to explain again? Perhaps if she tried to follow a more linear train of thought, though that was something of an impossibility too, wasn't it? Thoughts were never linear. "My feelings toward him are different than the feelings I have toward you," Seziah tried to reason. "I have never been the most adept at explaining how I feel. It is one of the reasons my parents thought me incapable of being cared for by 'normal' people. But I will try, because I think it is important."

It was important, she realized almost as soon as he words left her mouth. If she wanted to be happy in Oba, she needed to better understand what would make her feel as such and recognize the people who could bring that out in her. She nodded to herself, and while her words started slow and soft, as she progressed they began to rush together in a haze. "Master Zakeel is not unpleasant to be around. I do enjoy being within his quarters and living among the finery he can offer, but when he touches me, I still feel uncomfortable. I have never especially enjoyed being in contact with others, but my mentor tried very hard to make me understand social norms- Though nor do I think it is 'normal' for young men to put their fingers all along young ladies' hair and face. But it is- It is very different with you. Even though you like the outside, and I do not, whatever space we share is not a defining quality. You are gentle and soft, and though you can also be unnecessarily pushy at times, it is not peculiar or uncomfortable when our hands meet."

She paused, and her gaze flicked up to find his, and was it strange that it almost felt like looking for an answer? "Does this make any sense?" If she sounded exasperated, it was only because of how troublesome emotions could be.

"I do not have very many experiences dealing with boys," Seziah continued. "The ones I do have were unpleasant, and it is my wish that they are not repeated here. I have... never been on a date, and I am uncertain if I would know how to properly behave on one."

Fluff

At least he seemed to understand some of what she was trying to convey. Seziah had no hope of reading, let alone interpreting his expressions, but she hoped that they were at least somewhat on the same page. It was confusing, and he also claimed that it may not be the most normal practice for Zakeel's hands to roam so freely over her... But he was their young lord, she surely didn't have any business topping him, normal or not. Sez shook her head and tried to dismiss it from her thoughts. She still needed to do whatever needed to be done to ensure her continued place here. It would get easier. It would definitely get easier.

Perhaps more quickly than she'd hoped, with Tytus' continued guidance.

Seziah nodded. If she only continued to explain, to the best of her abilities, the inner turmoil caused by the situation at hand, she was hopeful that Zakeel would understand. It had seemed to work on Tytus, and they could not possibly have too different mindsets? She would be careful- and carefully tell the noble lord of her hesitance. Perhaps he too would feel helpful enough to guide her through it.

Though she did expect Tytus would fare better in that regard. Already, she preferred his methods, and even his tone to what she might expect of her master. "I would be agreeable, so long as you do not anticipate trouble from my absence. I am certain there are things that would require my attention within the manor, but... I believe 'date practice' would be more helpful for the future than a clean wash basin." She gave an affirmative dip of her head. "I will go with you. Let us have a date, Tytus."

Fluff

"Stay here-?" Seziah's expression flit between mild confusion and faint annoyance. "Is it customary to agree to a date and then leave the other party to-?" She tried to reason with him, but Tytus was gone all but before the words could fully leave her mouth. In the most exasperated gesture she had ever performed, Seziah put her hands on her hips and huffed up at the sky.

It could've been customary, she thought with a shake of her head. Or perhaps there was usually more planning involved or maybe more initial indication that they should progress together-? But that thought went as quickly as her words had gone to the wind. No, sometimes it seemed as if planning was a luxury, and maybe in this regard, spontaneity was the preferred method. Seziah didn't generally enjoy surprises, but perhaps that was because 'surprises' were often so negative. This would not be negative. Dates were good things. Though it did feel like Tytus took his time returning to her.

When he did, she blinked her pale orbs owlishly at the creature he'd brought with him. Seziah couldn't say where they were going or what precisely his intentions were...

But maybe it didn't matter. She trusted his judgement.

"Then, you do have some sort of plan with which to guide your actions?" She questioned as she hesitantly took his hand and allowed herself to be helped up into the cart. Seziah peered warily at the pile of blankets and a basket at her side and wondered what exactly the day had in store for her. It had certainly taken a turn from what she'd expected. But as she settled herself and crumpled her hair into a ponytail behind her so as not to be dreadfully tangled by the wind, Sez stared at the animal ahead of her and felt something like an excited hope forming.

Fluff

What a long journey... Between the tromping of the xaraan's claws, the creak of wagon wheels, and the gritty sound of dirt beneath them, it was difficult to have much conversation. Any time Tytus slowed, Seziah would give an appreciative sound of acknowledgement to his direction, but there was otherwise little else to say. She watched with careful attention as much as she could about where they were headed, just on the off chance she would need to return alone... The circumstances that would surround such an event were unknown to her, but it was never bad to at least have an idea of where she was or how she might return home.

It became quickly obvious that such a thing was a feat she would likely not be able to manage. As time ticked away, it became more and more apparent that wherever they were going, she would not be able to return home without assistance. It was a longer journey than she'd expected to have, but as the city and its crowds were left well behind them, Seziah decided that maybe it wasn't such a bad thing.

She peered around his xaraan at every opportunity, and when the smell of the ocean greeted her before even sight or sound, Seziah found herself nearly craning over the edge of the cart, waiting for it to come into view.

After Xiu came to a halt and Tytus dismounted to aid her from the cart, she couldn't help but smile at him. "Can I admit something? I told you I did not like the outdoors. They are messy and too open such that the sheer number of potential occurrences is too great to reason with. I have never liked them. However... Though I cannot place a reason to it- It is beyond my understanding, I ave always enjoyed the beach. Can you even believe? You would think that surely this is the messiest of anywhere outside could offer. So much sand, so much wind, things flying about... But... Look at it. You can stand on the sand and see out and out and out, as if the world had no end, and the ocean greets you the same as it would greet anyone. Everyone is 'normal' to the ocean. It is beautiful."

Fluff

It had been too long since she'd set foot on a beach for enjoyment purposes. She'd of course been on one during her departure from Yael, as well as on her arrival into Oba, but that had been merely travel. Instead, she found herself thinking on her time as a young girl, a very young girl, before she'd been sent to the Institute...

But that had been a long time ago and didn't seem relevant to their practice now.

She allowed herself to be guided down toward the sand, but before getting too near, such that it would become a hindrance to her attire, she removed her boots, her sashes, and the top layer of her dress, leaving her in only the thin, ruffled cream fabric of her underdress. It was not the most modest of beginnings, but to her knowledge, people on the beach rarely were. It wouldn't be strange. Content with the change, she plodded carefully across the sand, sinking her toes in as far as they could go with each step.

"Then how long is our 'date' supposed to last? Through a meal and into 'later?' Can you tell me what exactly it is that makes it a date? We have shared food already. I have been to your special spot. I have shared food with Zakeel and been alone with him in his chambers, but no one mentioned any of those instances being dates... It seems peculiar to specify that because we are here, specifically, that it would be classified differently." The intricacies of dates and feelings were certainly numerous, but she trusted Tytus would understand the details better than she.

Seziah smoothed a patch of blanket for herself, then dipped into a sit, knees folded beneath her, at Tytus' side.

Fluff

A lot of things about 'dates' seemed to depend upon one thing or another. In fact, just from what Tytus said, nothing about them sounded set in stone at all. To be classified as a 'date' or otherwise must have been entirely up to the people participating in them. Seziah didn't think her prior experiences with Tytus were considered dates, but they had not felt very much different than what they were doing now. And each of her experiences with him were drastically different than the sensation of discomfort she felt with Zakeel...

"I do not think I want anything more physical with Zakeel," she admitted. "Though he has not hurt me and has only been very honest and forthright with his intentions, I am uncertain that I find myself as... agreeable as he might wish. I had considered that perhaps it was just me and my strangeness. I should 'get over' my discomfort and try to be happy that I could be wanted, regardless of whether or not the more intimate aspects were immediately appealing, but..."

She smoothed her hand over the blanket, reaching up to slip her fingers with delicate deliberateness into Ty's own.

She sighed. Because it seemed as if there was nothing so 'strange' about her, in the moment. It was true that contact had almost always been a point of contention between her and whoever touched her, and it did make her uncomfortable, but the strange sense of strain wasn't present when she and Tytus touched. It was different and perhaps unusual in its newness, but not... wholly unwelcome. "I do not feel the same sense of comfort toward him that I feel with you. He has done nothing wrong, and neither have you, but it remains that the sensations are... different. I cannot explain." With a muted exhale, she eased back, not purposefully near to him, but neither away.

"Is there more that you would like to do with me?"