A Grim Success

[Trax]

"It'll have to be later.  Cali will want to know the details as to what happened.  And we really should get back to rebel HQ soon too."

[OOC:  I'm good to move on.  And that has nothing to do with the fact that I'm pretty much done for the day.  Might be able to get a few posts in tonight though.]

[GM Craig]

By now you're familiar with the drill. The shuttle lands in the middle of nowhere, and a septic truck arrives. You load inside, and pass through several checkpoints before unloading back at Cali's estate.  When the hatch is opened, you are greeted by a smiling female Kothe.

She bows, but Trax and Mariah both notice she does not spread her arms wide.

"Welcome once again to Cali's home. I am Wera. If you would please come with me, I will see you to a bath and some refreshment."

She rises, and her smile seems warm and genuine.

[Trax]

Trax gave a slight bow to Wera.  When she turned to lead them inside he looked at Mariah, and shrugged.

[OOC:  What's the significance of not spreading her arms?  I'm sure Trax remembers, but I don't.  And what was the name of the girl Trax was dealing with before?]

[Keshani]

OOC: Uh..yeah. i think i need a refresher too. sorry craig....i should know and i think i know, but i don't wanna make any assumptions that may get me into trouble :-P

[GM Craig]

[For Trax, all he knows is that when he's been greeted before, they've always bowed low and spread their arms wide.]

[Keshani]

And Mariah??

[Keshani]

More garbage trucks. Mariah wrinkled her nose. She was rather sick of garbage trucks. She could definitely say THAT with a great deal of certainty....

She bowed to the Kothe woman who greeted them but, still feeling a bit irritable, didn't say anything, instead merely trailing behind Trax and the woman as they headed back inside.

[GM Craig]

You are escorted through the corridors which, as always, are empty. You are shown to a simple room, with an adjoining bath. There are half a dozen young men and women in the room waiting for you, and they start helping Trax with his armour. A pir of them also stand by to help Mariah, though they seem conscious she may not want the help.

Wera stands by and quietly says, "Once you have shed your clothing, had a bath and some refreshment, my cousin Khaliss has asked if he might have a word with you."

[Trax]

Trax bows slightly to Wera.  "I am eager to have a word with Khaliss as well.  I will try not to take too long."

[OOC: Trax will accept the 'help'.  A bath and massage sounds good about now ]

[Keshani]

Umm....just to be clear...is this ONE room and ONE bath for BOTH of them? as in they would be naked in the SAME bath???

[Keshani]

She and Trax were lead into a room with an adjoining bath. This routine was well-known to Mariah by now - it had been the same on each of her previous visits to Cali's house. But.....

As Trax began to be helped out of his armor, the teenage girl's face immediately turned beat red and she quickly turned around so that she didn't have to see.

"Umm. I'll wait." she mumbled.

[Trax]

Trax looked over at Mariah when she spoke.  From her point of view he guessed, this may be a bit uncomfortable.  Not that it bothered him any.  Trax was about to be, well...Trax, but something very small and really deep down convinced him to be otherwise.  He politely interrupted his 'help',

"May we continue this where there is more privacy?"

[GM Craig]

As Trax starts to ask the question, Mariah is escoprted gently from the room into an adjoining chamber. Trax is quickly helped out of his clothing and armour, and shown to the next room where a large tub sits on top of a heating fire. One of the three young ladies attending to him bows and says, "It would be out honour to bathe you, if you will have us."

Meanwhile, Mariah is in the next room where she is left to herself. A smaller tub of water stands ready for her.

As the last servant prepares to leave, she says, "If you need anything, just call. We will be close by."

[Keshani]

She nodded, studying the smooth glassy surface of the tub for a few seconds before removing her clothing to sink into the warm inviting water.

But, despite the slightly hypnotic effect of the ripples in the water gently floating along - back and forth, back and forth, despite the warmth of the water seeping into every muscle in her body, she couldn't quite relax. Her mind wouldn't let her. Too much was going on. Too much that she didn't like. Too much that was her fault, and too much that was out of her control. She didn't like it. She wanted to be away from here.

She then thought of Hiram. She wondered how mad he was at her by this point, if he'd even consent to speak with her. She thought of his warm, comforting embrace and had to shake her head to push the thoughts away. She didn't want to think about that right now, it would just make her feel worse.

Washing herself quickly, Mariah stood, dried herself off and got dressed in the clothes provided for her. Then she sat quietly until she was called, trying her best not to think about anything at all....

[Trax]

"By all means." Trax replied with a short bow.  Trax climbed into the tub and settled in.  He could get used to this lifestyle.