V. An Unwelcome Visitor

[madaboutit]

Honey Want and Terms of Pleasure
Discussion of Her Value
More About Jinx and Advice About Sweeney
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Sweeney had left for the day. It had been a pleasant one; at least, as pleasant as one can be when one's stuck in a cage. He'd made sure that she'd had her bath and was prepared for the rest of the night. He'd see her in the morning, he'd said.

As such, it might come as some surprise to hear footsteps in the hall. It'd been a while, but not so long that he might have realized he'd forgotten something and thought she'd likely still be awake.

It's not the steps that are so out of place; it's the dull strum of a fingertip being dragged along the lattice of the wall, pointing out the blend of bars and gaps. Then, in the darkened hall, there's a glint of red. It's not a proper glow; more like the reflection of a cat's eyes at night.

"Hey there, Honeysuckle," he purrs with that sweet blend of Want and Temptation.

"Are you all settled in?"

Comments

[whatsinfrontofyou]

She's been thinking as much herself while she argues internally. Neither of them have the means to get through the lattice. Part of her imagination is committed to coming up with answers. Maybe he has some magic that could reach her though the grill, something other than his eyes, or a weapon. Poison.

She doesn't really know what she thinks it could be, and the unseriousness of some of her imaginings only serves to make her feel silly for being so paranoid.

When he voices her own thought...

What harm could it be, really?

Telling Sweeney is still an option, if he steps out of line.

Probably.

In the end, she scrunches her nose and hisses, "Fuck it."

She's always been bad at saying no to temptation. If she were better at it, maybe Sweeney wouldn't be in the cage.

Vex is careful as she moves closer, keeping her eyes averted, her footsteps all but silent on the floor as she closes the short distance between them.

[madaboutit]

He waits patiently; there's no need to rush her. Jinx even shifts his gaze away from her as he presses his cheek to the lattice. It's his intent to show her how honest--how...well, not safe, but how trustworthy--he can be. When she come as close as she will, he weaves her an image, laced with the scent of warm cider.

"Where your Red charts a course with discipline, I follow one of pleasure." Which, really, shouldn't be all that surprising.

"I've found that it's easier to bear this place when you have something to look forward to, beyond the training of rights and rituals." He inhales deeply, stealing the opportunity to smell her, under the guise of reflection.

"I'm guessing that while he might provide for your needs, he doesn't see to your Satisfaction." Not never, but not enough, either.

"If you were mine, I'd see you to ecstasy at least once, each time we were together in private."

No trick, only Truth.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

She believes him. Her body believes him, prickling and tingling with anticipation, all wrapped up in the smell of cinnamon and ginger. Can she be blamed if her breath hitches just a little, even if the promise of that Satisfaction is one she can't reach.

One she's not sure she wants

The memory of Sweeney's fingers guiding her to climax comes back to her, but it's not really untrue, is it?

The memory of his kisses, light and chaste, on her forehead and her hips, her chest, also come back to her, and it feels like a betrayal leaning in so close to Jinx like this.

"I'm not yours, though," she says softly. "I agreed to wear his collar."

[madaboutit]

"It's true, alas." He sighs softly. "More's the pity."

Deal signed and all that; it certainly makes it harder to poach her, but not Impossible. Those seeds have yet to be sown though, as he needs to see if the soil is fertile before he does.

"But you asked what I would do if I'd been the one at the front of the line, and now you know." There's a sense of an unspoken question of 'are you satisfied that you got the answer you were looking for?'. A beat passes as Jinx's thoughts turn.

"Now that you do, would you like me to leave?" If she has nothing left she wants of him. She's clearly stated that she's Finch's, which implies at least some level of commitment to that.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"I didn't say that."

Which is a way to say no without actually saying no. She wonders if he'll be less forgiving of non committal answers than Sweeney is, absently, or if it's true of all fae.

"But I'm not sure what's left to do if you stay."

[madaboutit]

How can she say that, when the obvious had be placed as a cornerstone of this whole visit?

"Is there nothing else you will speak with me about? I had rather hoped we'd share some friendly conversation. Get to know each other better."

Jinx cocks his head.

"It must be lonely in there, so little company to indulge in." A beat passes as he licks his lip.

"I would very much like to be that with you. Something to make your world just a bit bigger. If you'll have me."

See how harmless he is? He's respecting all of the Rules.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex shifts, sitting with her back to the wall and her legs hugged to her chest. She probably ought to move away, but there are a lot of things she probably ought to do, and having someone to talk to...

It's tempting in a different way. It seems so much safer than his seductive implications of pleasure and ecstasy, but in a way, she thinks she longs for it more.

"I don't have much to say, honestly. My world is very small right now, and I think you already know what it looks like. What else would you want to know about me?"

[madaboutit]

"Darling, you're an exotic succulent, born of the Wilds beyond. I want to know everything about you. What you love. What you hate. What it is that you aren't provided here." That said, Jinx knows that's a big ask, so he approaches it from a different direction.

"Perhaps, it might be easier if I can answer some of your questions? Get some lubrication between us."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"You certainly have a way with words, don't you?"

Her tone is dry, but her cheeks flush a little. Vex is far from immune to this kind of charm. It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing to feel so inexperienced and easily flattered. She was never so easily fascinated in her home village, not where she knew everyone and her father was among the most exotic and cultured people to be found.

"Where are you from?"

[madaboutit]

"My kind are from the same island that your Red is. It's a bit of a jaunt from here, but lovely in its own right. Much like them, we, on occasion, interact more directly with humans." Jinx hums for a moment before settling on his thought.

"We're the opposite side of the same Coin." Which is why there's resentment in both directions. His brow lifts in question.

"Are Fae Folk common where you're from?"

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex recognizes the game of questions, even if they haven't officially set out the rules. A question for a question, an answer for an answer, fair trades.

The two of them might be opposite sides of the same coin, but that coin seems to come with a great deal in common, too.

"I suppose that depends what you mean by common," Vex says as she considers. "Not as common as they used to be, they say. Supposedly it used to be normal to run into one of the fair folk in the woods, or they might even invite themselves into town for a festival. Now it's mostly just the Emissary."

[madaboutit]

"Did you ever share their company in person?" Direct interactions, he means.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"I don't think I could claim their company. We... stood near one another at times." Vex leans forward, resting her chin on her knees. "Now that you mention it, I'm not sure we ever talked directly. Certainly no more than a few words."

[madaboutit]

"Were you ever curious to?"

He'd like to know more as to why she wouldn't, if they had been so close.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Of course, I was. But it would have been presumptuous... and my father wouldn't have approved."

A bit of her wonders, in retrospect, if his attempts to minimize her fae blood had been an attempt to prevent this, her coming to the attention of the fae, rather than worrying about the rumors it would stir up among their human neighbors.

"Do you visit humans often? Or would you, if you could?"

[madaboutit]

"'Often' is a relative term, but yes. I do visit humans, and I make Deals with them, same as your Red." He blinks slowly, his focus keen on her.

"What would you have wanted to speak to them about, if it hadn't been considered taboo?"

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Taboo is a strong word. More... frowned on."

Though she might be splitting hairs.

"I'm not sure. Maybe what they've seen outside. I've never been all that far from home before. At least not before coming here. Maybe I'd have asked about His Grace's court."

[madaboutit]

"Well...what would you like to know about it?" Jinx is ready to help, if he can.

"Surely, you haven't already had all of your questions answered yet."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Gods, no," Vex says almost too quickly. Then she shakes her head. "Not that Red hasn't told me some things. He answers... some of my questions."

But not all, and not fully.

She pauses then, considering what she might want to ask.

"What's one of your favorite pleasures of the court?"

[madaboutit]

"The variety," he answers simply.

"One can travel the Veil, sampling the various local color, but when you're at the courts, the highest quality of that color is brought to you, all in one place." Jinx inhales deeply, as if enjoying it by proxy.

"There's truly nothing like it." A beat passes.

"What is something you'd like to experience at Court?"

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"I'm not really sure..." Vex admits slowly. Then more quickly, she corrects herself, "I don't really know how to pick. I know so little about court, and what to expect. I could say that I want to see the hunts or the feats, or... something. And it's true. But it feels like being asked what you want to eat when the only things you've ever tasted are bread and water."

Does she even have the frame of reference to pick?

"And it seems like any answer I could give would be an invitation to be eaten alive."

[madaboutit]

That's fair. Though he does want to address the last bit first.

"Darling, you're far too precious to be eaten." Well, let's not take anything off the menu. Jinx's voice escapes in a warm purr.

"Well, only in the best of ways."

He leans against the wall to whisper wickedly.

"Oh, what I'd give for just a taste of your honey on my tongue."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex blushes at that, her cheeks heating in the dim light. She didn't see that coming, and the suggestion leaves her backfooted briefly. Vex isn't new to flirtation, but that is fairly shameless.

And so full of promise.

"It was my impression that sort of thing wouldn't be allowed. That some things were only for His Grace."

[madaboutit]

"And who told you that?"

As if they both aren't plainly aware.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Who else?" Who else does she even have to speak to? "Though I suppose he also said she's the one who'd be responsible if something untoward were to happen."

A reason she should put the idea aside. She doesn't want Sweeney to get in trouble because she couldn't follow the rules.

She licks her lips then.

"Do you mean it? That you'd pay... something... if you could taste me?"