(Four)
Gambit was having quite the adventure. This bizarre surreal trip into Neverland had begun the moment he had accepted Trishnar's invitation to stay here at his huge mansion. Babette had taken him to a massive bedroom fit for a king and gotten him settled in. He was stunned when he saw the size of this room, it was way more than he needed and filled with expensive furnishings. The bed was a monster four poster that could sleep ten of the orphan kids back home at Father Duncan's and was draped with heavy curtains and mosquito netting as was the norm for this part of the country. He had a separate bathroom with a shower and recessed bathtub and a closet full of expensive toiletries, most of them imported from Europe. Everywhere around him were luxuries even beyond what existed in his father's house. He was a little overwhelmed by it all.
Babette found his wonder amusing and tossed him down on the enormous bed, ravishing him again right then and there. Later, there was a soft knock on the door. Babette answered for him and told him a servant was here, bearing him gifts. Trishnar had noticed Remy had brought no luggage with him, just a small bag of personal items from his hotel. He had picked up a few things since leaving his father's house so abruptly, but had no spare clothes. Here now was a magnificent set of Dognan uniforms, all in the cavalry style and made of very good cloth. Somehow Trishnar had guessed his size and dug these up for him. They had been altered to fit his human legs while he was up here with Babette and came with an invitation for dinner.
Babette dressed him and stood him in front of a large dressing mirror. "Magnificent, you are."
He couldn't deny the fit of these clothes. They were finely made and must have cost a small fortune. He laughed when she nibbled on his ear. " 'Ey, chere. Dis boy ain't 'ad a chance to catch 'is breath!"
"In this house, you won't get one. Meet the rest of the girls tonight, you will. Perhaps Aiden as well. Won't have a moment's peace once they've seen you. Glad I am that had you already, me. Probably won't get another chance, I will, once they've done with you."
Remy just smiled at her, his adoration plain. "You de firs' Siskan I been wit. Dere ain't gonna be another gonna take the place of you."
"Not even your own, him?"
Gambit paused, uncertain. Even now he wasn't sure what he felt for Kimble. He knew he loved Kimble deeply in spite of the fact they hadn't known each other long, something bewildering, but he wasn't sure just how deep that love ran. It hadn't been put to the test. He loved Kimble, but didn't know if that love was enough to make him cross a line that he had never crossed before, he didn't know just how intimate he could bring himself to be with a Siskan so clearly male. Unable to say all that, he said, "He's broken, chere. Right now, 'e hate me. 'E wish for death."
Babette stroked his hair back, feeling his pain. "Stay here, learn from us, you. When go home you do, make him feel better, you will. I'm sure of it, me. Your love for him is stronger than you realize. Now, enough sadness. Come and eat. Have fun and laugh."
She took his hand and led him down the stairs to a large dining room. A long table had been set and Trishnar was already there, seated at the head with two of his officers. Waiting on them was a small group of four women, all of them drop dead gorgeous - Siskans.
It was a funny thing, just how he knew this. When he had first met Babette, there was a spark between them, an attraction he couldn't explain, just like he had for Kimble. He could argue with himself that it was stress, that it was his never ending need for intimacy and for someone to constantly show him he was desired and needed. But now? He had an idea it was something more. He identified them as Siskan at once, it was like a scent that flowed around them, that drew him in and made him want to get to know them as well as he had known Babette. It bordered on greed and he did his best to curb the sudden desire to meet and greet these girls with uninhibited enthusiasm, but that just wouldn't do. As interested as he was, he never lost his stride and was cool and collected as Babette escorted him into the room and found him his seat.
Babette brought him to a seat next to her Master, nodding at Trishnar just slightly and then melting away. The table was richly dressed , the silver expensive and gleaming. The food was exotic, Dognan no doubt, but smelled inviting and wonderful. There was roasted meat and steaming vegetables, an expensive wine that Remy did recognize that was worth more than most of the teachers' salary back at the Mansion. When Trishnar said he was a king, apparently he wasn't kidding.
Remy hardly had a moment to take all of that in, his thief's eyes ever watchful and calculating, the other Siskans had gathered around him with great interest, forcing Trishnar to introduce them.
Gambit knew Babette of course, but he now met Marielle, a beautiful blonde and Anise, a lovely creature black as coal, a magnificent Negress, and the most exotic. Krista and Frashnay were both striking redheads who seemed to be more infatuated with each other than with him, but came to fawn over him just the same. They were all scantily clad, half naked and impossible to resist. Their Marks were proudly displayed and all were red or brown as Babette's was.
The girls seemed just as interested in Gambit as he was in them. It seemed the standard Siskan hello here was a deep passionate kiss with plenty of tongue and they were not the least bit shy about it, even in the company of their Master. These girls wanted to taste him and taste him they did. He was kissed and fondled without shame, something he struggled with at first, but then just accepted as the way things were. Really, who could complain about being groped by such fantastic and beautiful creatures?
The two Dognan officers seated at the table with Trishnar - Buckley and Granidad as they would later be introduced - laughed heartily at the poor thief as he was swamped. It seemed Trishnar had so few human guests, it was always a bit of a joke when they were assaulted so pleasantly like this. They were happy they had been here to see it and they laughed loudly, pouring more wine and teasing him with good natured amusement.
"Easy, girls," Trishnar said finally, chuckling softly. "I'm sure this tender morsel will stay long enough for you all to have a taste. Let him eat now."
They obeyed quickly, but not with the fear as Kimble had from an order from Sabretooth, they laughed and withdrew to begin serving the table, giving Gambit some air. Remy sat back in his chair, a bit blown away and laughing himself at the absurdity of all this. He was surrounded by Siskans, creatures he knew almost nothing about. Their shines were bright all around him now, they had each brushed him gently with their power as they greeted him. He had been "read" and found to be more than acceptable. Each had given him a mental invitation for play, one he doubted he would be allowed to refuse during his stay here.
The girls went back to attending the table, serving drinks and placing food on their plates. At first it was awkward for Remy to be waited on hand and foot like this, but he did his best to go with the flow. The food was exotic and tasty, Dognan fare far greater than the prepackaged meals he and his teammates had eaten on board the Lucky Dragon.
Remy was introduced to the two officers at the table, but was soon left behind as the conversation took a different tack and centered on politics. It felt so strange to sit here with these men. They were very different from the rough Dognan raiders that had so rudely kidnapped him and his companions nearly a year ago. These men were playful and joking, very regal. They had no wings, but gave off an air of honor, of fierce loyalty to the man sitting at the head of this magnificent table. It was hard to equate these officers with their rough counterparts back on Cerise, the ones who had built the pens and were laying odds on the survivors. It seemed that the behavior of Dognan men was just as varied as humans. We have our saints and our Hitlers and so it was with these creatures as well.
The language here at supper was Dognan and Remy understood none of it, but he didn't mind. His primary focus was on the fine food and the girls. He watched them flit about, serving these strange men with skill and an inborn desire to please. They did this with a real wanting, as if there was no greater pleasure. This wasn't a job or a chore, it was fun to them, and they made a great show of laughing and playing about as they went about it. The Siskans were an excellent team of wait staff, they seemed to anticipate their every want and need and were rewarded with small touches, bringing smiles to their faces. These girls were dressed like whores and subservient, but completely happy in their roles. They were wanted and appreciated.
When the food was eaten, the Dognan conversation lagged a bit and before long, the officers then excused themselves. As they rose, the girls gathered around them, begging flirtatiously to be chosen. Remy picked up fast that to be invited to this table entailed more than food, Trishnar was doling out his Siskans like party favors. Gambit wasn't given much time to be upset about something so uncivilized, for it was clear the girls were eager for it, happy to be serve anyone their Master had invited. Now was a delightful turnabout and Remy couldn't help but laugh at the officers as it was their turn to be ganged up on by the Siskan beauties as they were fondled and blatantly seduced. The officers took Remy's humor in stride and they made a game of it, teasing the girls and making quite a show of making their selections.
One thing Remy picked up on quickly during all of this was that these girls spoke normal Siskan. Even in her own language, Babette's broken speech patterns carried over. That wasn't so with any of the four others he was watching now and he wasn't sure if that meant anything or not. There was much laughter and teasing and finally Frashnay and Marielle were picked, making the other two pout and whimper.
Trishnar quirked an eyebrow at Remy and offered in Siskan, "There's two left."
Gambit balked a little. It hadn't occurred to him that the invitation to choose would be extended to himself as well. He simply wasn't used to sexual directness like this. Shi'ow-ri was chuckling as he began to look them over, at a loss as whom to choose, / Hmm. A difficult choice. Maybe you could draw straws. /
Dis ain't funny, fille.
/ You're right. It's not funny, it's hilarious. /
He ignored her and deflected his answer to his host by asking a question that had been on his mind. "You said you 'ave six Siskans, Gambit here seen only five."
"You're pretty sharp. Yes, I have another one, but he prefers to be male. I could send for Aiden if you like, nothing would please him more," Trishnar offered, his eyes merry.
Remy flushed, just as he now knew Trishnar had expected him to. "Merci, but non. I t'ink dese 'ere will do just fine."
/ Chicken! / Shi'ow-ri teased. She started to cluck softly.
Paisible, chere! You ain't helpin'!
"Good," Trishnar said, rising. "I'll leave you on your own to chose. I myself will retire now, I invite you to a game of racquetball in the morning. Aiden will play, you could meet him then."
"Merci. Dat'd be nice."
"Well, good morrow then. Enjoy."
Remy thanked him again and Trishnar left, an amused smile on his furry face. Gambit was alone now and facing quite the quandary. He was surrounded by these two lovelies, Babette had disappeared just like a ghost, leaving him on his own. They advanced on him hungrily. Anise came closer still. "You don't have to chose, you could have us both."
/ Now that sounds like fun. Wouldn't want to be impolite, / Shi'ow-ri teased, laughing.
Mercy! Don't you ever shut up? Dis boy's tryin' to t'ink!
/ Oh, is that what it was? It looked a lot more like stalling. /
Gambit smiled at Anise disarmingly. "Uh, well. Mebbe t'ree's a crowd, wouldn't want someone to get left out."
She just laughed at him, winking at her fellow Siskan. "That's not a problem."
"Uhmm..." For once, Remy found himself speechless. They took that as acceptance and led him away from the table, tugging him back up to his room and locking themselves in. He remembered making it to the bed and his clothes hitting the floor. After that it was all a great big blur. He was blasted with their power and washed away. He wasn't taken over as Babette had done, but he was still in thrall to them, eagerly performing any task they desired of him.
This wasn't Remy's first group situation, though he hadn't had much experience with them. He generally avoided such things because it was hard for him to assure pleasure for two women at once, but he quickly saw it didn't matter here. These women were Siskan and had no trouble taking care of one another. There was a brief moment when Krista shifted into the skin of a male, using it with great skill to finish Anise and then blow Remy away with her backwash. He remembered reviving sometime later, but not much else after that, only that the game had continued with him still in there somewhere.
He woke the next morning when his curtains were opened and he was suddenly blasted with light. He groaned and rolled over, burying his face into a pillow. Babette's soft laughter licked at him and then her hands gently rubbed his shoulders. "Time to wake. Trishnar wishes to play, him. Have an hour, you do."
Remy chuckled. He had grown to enjoy Babette very much. She was thoughtful of him and he loved how she always spoke to him in English. The house language here was Siskan, but when they were alone, she spoke to him like this. It was as if he were special to her and it pleased him. "Dis boy ain't gonna make it, chere. 'E all pooped out, dem girls done 'im in."
"Aiden will be there."
"And?"
"And meet him, you should. Broken like your Siskan and repaired, he was."
Gambit shifted, raising an eyebrow at her. "What?"
She came closer. "Broken like your Siskan and repaired, he was. Meet him you should. Perhaps give you some hope, he will. He's very curious about you, him."
Remy rolled over and stretched. "If 'e so curious, how come 'e didn't come to dinner last night?"
"Unavailable, he was. With a client," she said evasively, making Gambit wonder if she was lying. "Go on. Get up."
Remy wasn't in the mood to press her. He got up and stiffly shuffled off to the shower, his body tired and sore from the girls. He thought he might not have the energy to play what was sure to be a rigorous game with his host, but the shower revived him and he felt much better afterwards. He came out and saw that he had been given more clothes, some shorts and tank tops were laid out on the bed. Remy started to protest, his host was being too generous, but Babette shushed him. Her Master was ecstatic he was here and enjoyed giving presents. To refuse would be impolite.
Babette had also brought him a light breakfast of sliced fruit and toast. He found himself ravenous, everything just seemed to smell and taste better here. He did his best not to overeat, he didn't want to ruin his exercise. When Remy had finished, she escorted him down to the gym.
The gym was enormous and well made. There was an Olympic size swimming pool and both a racquetball court and a tennis court. Several exercise machines and weight benches were placed in front of large television screens. Some of Trishnar's officers were using them, working out and joking with one another while the news of this world was being played out before them. Remy also passed a King sized (pun intended) locker room with a sauna and massage room. This was even more impressive than the gym he was using back home.
Trishnar was there waiting for him on the racquetball court and was dressed for play. Trishnar was a large man, his body thick with fur covered muscle, a true winged lion. While he might look regal and intimidating, there was a pleasant vibration of humble amusement that he seemed to have always, he was an easy man for Gambit to like.
Remy looked around, they were alone. "It's just us?"
"Aiden is late. Unusual for him."
"Babette say he was wit a client last night. Mebbe 'e have so much fun 'e don't want to leave," Remy joked, fooling around. He had slept better than he had in days and was feeling quite chipper.
Trishnar chuckled wryly. "That's funny. He was with me."
"Oh?" Remy said, unfazed. "P'etetre, you wore 'im out den."
"Not an easy task with a Siskan, you know. They are quite resilient," his host replied with a playful grin. "It takes a Herculean effort, but I can manage. We Dognan are known for our stamina and virility. More so than humans...or so I hear."
Remy laughed and was about to respond to the arrogant tease when they were rudely interrupted.
"Lamask! Lamask jafil utesk a lay!"
Remy turned to see who had spoken. A young man was jogging towards them with a wide beaming smile on his face, Aiden he presumed. The new arrival was shorter than Remy expected, he was small like Wolverine, but nowhere near as built up. He was lean and cut, dressed in a pair of tight spandex shorts and carrying a racquet in one hand. He was graceful and strong, moving with liquid grace as he lightly trotted over. His hair was corn silk blonde, a bit thin and wispy, shoulder length with long bangs that fell over his eyes as if he was trying to hide. He wore no shirt and his Mark was proudly displayed. It wasn't as bright as Kimble's, he bore a sky blue woman across the long black blade, unadorned but sensuously placed. It was pale like he was and yet still very pretty. He was the only one with that color, the rest of the girls were either red or brown. In this house, Remy was to learn, Aiden was unique.
Aiden first greeted his Master by rubbing his cheek to his Master's, then arching back to let Trishnar stroke his neck with a long sweet swipe of his cat like tongue. The movement was one of long practice and erotic enough to make Remy shiver just a little. He understood that Trishnar would not be able to kiss as a human did, his snout and fangs pretty much cemented that, but it didn't mean he couldn't express the same affection without the same measure of sensuality. Aiden stepped back from it, a bit flushed, but when he turned to Remy to offer the same sort of greeting, the Cajun retreated nervously. It hadn't occurred to him that Aiden would expect the usual deep throated kiss as the girls had, but the Dognan kiss he just witnessed had made him reassess the situation. Remy wasn't about to let a man kiss him like that, certainly not a stranger. Kissing Kimble was different, he reasoned. Kimble was his friend and someone who needed comfort. Remy had no clue who this new Siskan was.
Aiden looked at him oddly, a bit put out, Remy had kissed all the other Siskans after all. His smile faltered and some of the spark went out of his eyes. Not wanting to be completely rude, Remy offered his hand instead, but Aiden snorted at it irritably like it was a bad joke and moved out onto the court, clearly offended.
/ That was smooth, / Shi'ow-ri chirped. She had been quiet so far today, his little commentator from the peanut gallery.
Not my fault Gambit's a little shy.
/ You'd better get unshy if you plan on ever getting to know him. Don't think you made a very good first impression. /
Gambit don't need no kiss fo' dat, chere. I'll try talkin' to 'im.
"Don't mind Aiden, he's just a little testy," Trishnar said, a smile teasing his whiskers. He had noted Remy's discomfort and then his perplexed frown. It didn't stop him from chiding gently, "We Dognan are not so rigid in our sexual practices and we have so few human guests. He'll be fine once he gets to know you better."
That wasn't exactly a put down, but Remy was a little stung. He considered himself fairly liberal in his sexual ideals and hardly shy, certainly not compared to many of the folks back at the Mansion. It made him feel out of place to have some one suggest he was uptight - it was usually the other way around. He grumbled softly to himself and went back to the game.
Trishnar's words did prove true. This game was really a game for pairs and Remy allowed them to begin first, he wanted to see them interact and learn what he could from them. There was much to see. Aiden partnered up with his Master and as they began to play, Aiden relaxed. He laughed at his Master's jokes and was soon smiling again. He said very little and when he did, it was never in a language Remy understood, but that was okay, sometimes it seemed as though Trishnar didn't get half of what was said himself. Trishnar followed his Siskan by his gestures and tone of voice.
Aiden was bright and quick, agile and talented on his feet. He was not very tall, just a few inches over five feet, but he was quick and nimble. Aiden was aggressive and sensual as he worked out with his Master, not afraid to get a little rough. Remy would laugh, figuring he was making up for his lack of stature with breathtaking grace and speed.
Aiden always seemed to have a half smile on his lips, a sort of tease, but it grew broader still when Trishnar gestured for Remy to take his own place on the court, to have a chance to square off with Aiden himself. Gambit was ready, having watched them for a few minutes now. Aiden's game was flawless, he would be hard to beat, but Remy's purpose here was not to win.
Good thing, because it wasn't about to happen.
Aiden was a skilled player and Remy immediately had a hard time keeping up with him even though Aiden had already been playing awhile with Trishnar before they started. Aiden held nothing back, playing aggressively, but would wait patiently, smiling quietly while Gambit called for time and gasped and heaved for breath. Remy would laugh and make jokes about quitting smoking while Aiden snickered softly without speaking a word.
Trishnar stepped back and allowed them to play for a long while, giving the thief all the time he needed to observe the Siskan in their company. He knew his Siskan well while Remy did not. There was a lot for Remy to see and understand.
Aiden was quiet, Aiden was shy. He did not seem to possess the bubbly personalities of the girls. He certainly made no overtures of love or flirted with Gambit at all, not once he had seen the look of fear on Remy's face at being kissed. He kept his distance. He seemed moody and even a little sad, but when he laughed, his whole face lit up, making him glow a little with happiness. His shine was bright, the brightest of all the Siskans here. It had shimmered along with him when he had first jogged over and Remy could see it still even though he'd had no physical contact with him. Always Aiden's eyes held laughter, an arrogance of benevolent nature. They were Kimble's eyes from when he was still in the system, from when he had been safe and secure enough to be himself.
Aiden was quick, nimble. His body moved with a liquid cat like grace that made Remy think of Kimble in the same way. He was beautiful to Remy in a way he didn't quite understand, it was unlike him to think of a man in those terms, but it was true. Every motion was a dance, every stroke of the racquet controlled and powerful. His eyes often strayed to Remy's face, that small teasing smile constantly in place, but he said nothing to him directly. Even when they finally changed partners again, his game was flawless and he kept pace with his powerful Master, snickering only when he had been bested.
They played for a long while and when the last game was done, Aiden paused to let Trishnar kiss him again and gave his Master another brush with his cheek. He next walked off, giving Remy his back without speaking a word.
Remy quirked an eyebrow at Trishnar when his host gave him an amused chuckle. "What?"
"He's quite taken with you."
"Really? Don' seem dat way to me."
"That's because you don't know him. If he disliked you, he would have made a point of touching you, seeing as how you it disturbs you that he's in the skin of a man."
"It don't disturb me he's a man," Remy said defensively, almost wincing as soon as the words left his mouth. He couldn't help but wonder if that had sounded as weak to Trishnar as it had to himself.
"Really?" Trishnar teased, flicking his whiskers. "Then why didn't you kiss him?"
"Guys don't kiss guys. Not like dat."
"Humans, your race is so young. So naive. And yet you wonder why your Siskan is broken," Trishnar said disapprovingly. "Shower and rest. Have dinner with me again. Six o' clock."
"Oui. Gambit will be dere," Remy said lamely, feeling like a kid that has been dismissed.
"You came here for an education. Get one. Have Babette show you around," Trishnar said a little more kindly. He bowed and left for the locker room.