A Tour

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

"My first," I said walking around the room, reliving it a little but not enough to completely forget about Mala's presence.

"It was a peer, female, and she dared me that I couldn't make her say her signale. I think she was a little confused about rather or not she prefered Mandrake or Valerian. Anyhow, hung her from the ceiling and used a mix of whips, staves, and there is even a chain stashed in here. After I grew hot to the point I couldn't stand it, I had her, than started over again. She had great stamina, but in the end I won."

I looked over at Mala with a coy smile and said, "strangly enough I did it by tickling her with the shirt I had worn. She could take pain but she couldn't handle that. At that point though I was angry and willing to try anything. Somehow I managed to hold it back just enough to not cause her any true physical damage, though it was difficult."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I laughed at both his smile and his description of how he actually broke the woman.

"Have you ever gone that far? Cause actual damage beyond what was expected?" I asked him as I continued to explore. I made my way to the shackles bolted to the wall and, stretching up, I could just reach them.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I couldn't help but to be a little aroused when Mala raised her hands toward the shackles, however I pushed it back. I wasn't expecting anything in that area to go between us.

"I have a couple of times, but mainly when I was a younger adept. I didn't have as much emotional control then as I do now. I discovered that I inherited my parent's temper. They both where hot blooded, how they managed to deal with each other I can not imagine."

I walked over to a corner where I knew a slightly hidden drawer contained a set of flachette's. I occasionally inspected them since they are at times forgotten. Not all of the adepts knew they where here either. I opened the drawer, they gleamed, and showed they had not been neglected. I took one out and examined the blade, using my finger to make sure it was razor sharp.

Looking back at Mala I said, "I have been given the pleasure of really being able to punish someone in a few non-contract situations. I still made them give me a signale, but I didn't hold back if their skin tore, unless they spoke that word."

I put the delicate blade back down and looked back at Mala, "there is something satisfying in watching someone's flesh tear."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"Yes, there is," I said with a grin, leaving the shackles to go see what he was looking at. I purred appreciatively as I saw the fletchettes. "Oh aren't those pretty?"

Delicately, I picked one up, holding it to the light before twirling it between my fingers with practiced ease. "Do you get to use these often?"

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

"Sadly, no, or not as often as I would like. Most of our customers are not quite that bold. Do you use fletchettes?"

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"Yes," I answered, balancing the blade on the tip of my index finger to test its creation, it was perfectly balanced. I spun the blade, making it twirl on the end of my finger. "Though not lately. Something I may have to remedy soon."

Twisting my wrist, I flipped the blade into my palm and held it out to Idaeus to replace in its box.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I took the blade from Mala and returned it to his box, then returned the box to its proper location.

"Yes, finding a truly good partner can be hard at times, even with Valerian around. Many of their adepts have limits that should be trained out of them."

I took a brief look around the room. I walked to the hanging cuffs in the center and gave them a brief touch, almost in a ceramonial manner. It was something I did anytime I was in this room for any reason. I then looked at Mala and said, "I have one more room that you might find interesting."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

Not so much trained out of them, as beaten out of them, I thought.

I watched Idaeus as he touched the cuffs on the wall, appreciating his respect for the items of our pleasure.

"Lead away," I said, smiling and holding out my hand for him to take.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I walked over to Mala and took her hand, her fingers warm and strong.

I lead her out of the room and down the hall, to the last pleasure room on the left. I had convinced the Dowayne to let me redesign the room. Partially as a bribe so that I would give the house a few more years of service, but also to give the return patrons something new.

When we reached the room I opened the door. One side of the room featured three stockades. They where made of heavy wood and had a forboding look about them. They where on a slightly raised floor to help give the feel that maybe your on parade for a crowd. The back opposite corner featured a bed, but it was low and with dark sheets to keep it out of site. The bed was hardly used anyhow. The room featured the usual closests and toy collection. It was kept someone stark and held a very unfriendly look.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I made a soft sound of appreciation, squeezing Idaeus's hand slightly before releasing it so I could explore the room.

"Fascinating," I said, running my hands over the stockades.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I let go of Mala's hand and proudly watched as she admired the room. The stockades had been my ideal. I came across a picture in a book I had been rummaging through and managed to talk the Dowayne into accepting them.

"I was the first to try these out," I told Mala, "I had an assignation with a pair of identicle twin girls. It was handy having them both right next to each other and unable to move." I followed her as she looked at the stockades, but I stayed by them as she explored the room. I had a very good memory for my work and I stood inbetween the two that held the twins, one hand on each. "That was a fun night, to say the least."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"I can imagine," I said, chuckling.

The room was interesting, but the stockades drew me back. "I want one of these," I said, studying the design. "In my bedroom. I shall have to commission one."

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

"Just make sure you get strong wood," I told her. "We have had a few patrons who thought they could break out of these. Unfortuantly for them, they are well made."

Walking around the rooms had slowly been making my blood hot. I decided that a visit to Valerian would probably be in order.

"Is there anything else you would like to see?" I asked Mala.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"Not unless you have a patron handy that wouldn't mind me watching," I replied, chuckling low.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I couldn't help but to smile mischevously, "sadly I have no patron on hand, though I doubt there is one that can take on the both of us. Even if you just watched I think those blue eyes would burn holes into them. Though if I find someone who I think would enjoy that play I will definietly let you know."

The thought of Mala being in the room or even watching her raised my blood more than just being in these rooms. Taking a couple steps toward her I said, "watching you in action would not only be a very interesting night, but a bit of an honor."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I smiled, honestly touched.

"Perhaps I shall have to find a way to arrange that. Somewhere where the rules of your House won't limit our actions," I said, my voice low and full of predatory intentions.

Raising my hand, I softly caressed Idaeus's cheek, lost for a moment in thoughts of what a night like that would be like.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

My cheek tingled where she touched it, my skin following her touch.

"yes," I told her, "a place without house rules would be a must." An image in the back of my mind saw Mala, nakid with a whip, and a nameless face with large frightened eyes staring back at her.

"It would also want to see you in your element, not in my limited one."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

I stepped closer to him, so close our bodies just barely touched.

"I would like to see you in an unlimited environment as well," I told him, my voice still low. I was absolutely burning with sexual hunger. It had been too long since I was with anyone and all the turmoil that had been my life lately had built into a pressure that needed to be released.

The urge to kiss Idaeus was so strong, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to risk possibly losing this friendship that seemed to be between us. It was an odd moment for me, and I wondered what was going through his mind.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I could feel the heat of Mala's body as she stood close to me. It was tempting to just reach out and grab her, take a handfull of that long black hair. If it was anyone else I probably would have, just to have the moment, but I didn't want to drive her away.

Instead I brought a hand up and traced the side of her face. "They say that the Shahrizai are some of the most beautiful people, but I think you give your own blood something to strive for."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

Smiling, I let myself lean into his touch.

"Thank you," I said softly. "You could charm the skin off a snake. I am possibly the most cynical person in the City, and I believe you mean that."

I kissed him, on his cheek again, letting my lips linger slightly before stepping back.

"I think lunch might be in order, or else I will just have to go grab the nearest person, throw them in one of the stockades, and damn the consequences," I told him, smiling.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

A rush of pleasure went through me both at Mala's kiss and her words. It put me in a good, though slightly evil mood, and I laughed out loud at the thought of Mala grabbing a Mandrake adept and throwing them in the stockade.

"I do believe you'd do so to, if left to your own devices, let us quinch some of our appitites with some of the finer foods Mandrake has to offer." I held out my hand for her, feeling a little more comfortable in my showing of affection around her. Even if it was mostly in a friendly manner.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

Grinning, I took his hand, lacing my fingers with his.

"Anyone here you particularly hate?" I asked wickedly. "Maybe we can arrange to have them cross my path and I'll take out my urges on them."

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

"Hmmm, anyone that I hate. I can think of a few who think they are more important than they really are. Most of the adepts here just annoy me though, I don't waste my time with them."

We continued down the hall past the pleasure rooms and around a corner. There was a large hall where the adepts had their meals. While it was dressed up for some occasions, at the moment it was bare and simply here to serve a purpose.

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"Where is everyone?" I asked, thinking it odd we hadn't seen anyone else.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

"Most of the adepts are in class right now," I told her, "it will be another 30 minuets or so before the older ones break for lunch. Don't worry, the kitchen will be very busy right now."

I had continued to walk with her through the dinning hall until we reached a door in the back. "Right through here," I told her. I pushed open the door, and true enough, there was a collection of cooks, both young and old running about preparing the afternoon meal. I walked Mala towards the back of the kitchen where I knew Ms. Cossette would be cooking the pastries. She had not only a sweet tooth but a sweet temprament and she would sneak some of us a treat now and again. We received a few curious looks, but I had been at Mandrake long enough for pretty much everyone to know me.

"Ms. Cossette," I adressed the plump cook when we reached her, "me and my companion here would like to steal some lunch."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

The smells of the kitchen were pleasant and stirred my very minor appetite.

The eyes of the woman Idaeus was speaking to looked past him to me, and widened slightly. I smiled pleasantly, and inclined my head a touch, but kept silent trusting to Idaeus to procure what we needed.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

I smiled on the inside as Cossette beheld Mala. The Shahrizai definitely don't wonder our halls very often.

She looked back at me, then smiled. "Yes, young Idaeus, some lunch for you and your friend would be grand. Was there anything you had in mind?"

I thought for a moment than said, "I am feeling some of that unusual cheese you guys had a few nights ago, some wine, and maybe some dumplings." I then turned to Mala and asked, "did you have anything in mind? They do keep a very well stocked kitchen."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"Chocolate?" I asked, giving in to my sweet tooth.

[Idaeus nó Mandrake]

Cossette nodded to the both of us and scurried off, looking for the items requested. For some reason the cook had always enjoyed spoiling me, though I dare say I couldn't figure out why.

"One advantage of living in one of the 13 houses is they have to keep a full kitchen."

Cossette brought back the items and even had enough mind to put them in a basket. I thinked her for the items and showed Mala out the back door.

"There is a park that isn't part of Mandrake, but isn't that far from here. It stays quite, I use to hide out there as a kid."

[Malabelle Shahrizai]

"What were you hiding from?" I asked, looking around at the scenery as we walked.