He was accomplished in a lot of things.
It turned out that choosing a present for his sister was not one of them.
Mikhail ran his hand through his hair with a sigh, eyes skimming over the array of jewelry laid out in front of him. Pendants, rings, bracelets- they all glinted prettily, but none of them seemed quite right.
"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head at the shopkeeper. The poor man had shown him three different selections already and he hadn't found anything suitable in any of them. "I just don't think..." He waved his hand airily and gave a sheepish sort of shrug.
The shopkeeper sort of bit back a sigh, then quickly forced a smile. "I understand, sir. You just wait right here, I'll be back with some more options." He bustled off into what Mikhail assumed was some sort of back storeroom.
The young nobleman sighed and shook his head, taking a step back to look around the small store. He didn't have anything better to do while he waited for the shopkeeper, so he wandered to the back wall, which had a few antiques and things like hand crafted jewelry boxes.
Perhaps something like this... Reina liked things with "character"- maybe one of these little baubles would appeal to her more than the latest in high fashion. His fingers skimmed lightly over an gold choker set with rubies and garnets. No, too showy. Maybe one of the jewelry boxes.
For some reason, he found his eyes drawn to a simple little wooden box, carved with roses and hand painted. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands, and smiled. Yes, this seemed like something Reina would like. He returned to the counter just as the shopkeeper returned with another armful of jewels. "Now, these here, sir-"
"Forgive me," Mikhail cut across him, "but actually I believe I've found what I'm looking for." He held up the box.
The man was reluctant to let such an obviously affluent customer go with only a simple jewelry box, but after a few moments of trying to convince him to buy some things to fill it he simple excepted Mikhail's payment and waved him out the door with a polite smile.
Mikhail started off down the street, strolling nonchalantly back in the direction of home. He moved to tuck the box away in his jacket- then suddenly paused. Was something...rattling around in there? He paused, holding the box close to his face and flicking the catch with his thumb so the lid popped open.
He blinked. "Oh..." A silver ring set with a dark sapphire winked back at him. He frowned, reaching in to pick up the small piece of jewelry. He had noticed anything in the box before. Strange. He turned it over in his fingers, examining it closely.
He really should bring it back to the jeweler. He knew he should, and he had every intention of doing so- but for some reason he found himself staring at the stone, watching the light glint off of it. In a minute. He'd take it back in a minute.
Manikarnika bit back a snarl.
How dare he send her away!
When he let her back out she would give him such a piece of her mind! She knew that telling him how to force her back into the ring was a bad idea but... She'd thought it was love. Trust, even! Now look at her, trapped in the ring because he wanted some floozy between the sheets. She'd been willing! She'd told him that and when --
Manikarnika's eyes narrowed on the person who'd been holding the ring - now holding her hand - and she opened her mouth, angry on her features. Eyes so bright a blue they practically glowed.
Except it wasn't him.
A quick glance around, eyes darting every which way. The clothing she was wearing was clearly inappropriate, a little bodice, most of her skin exposed. A simple pair of fancy panties and a strange sheer skirt over her butt. Another glance up and she stared, alarmed. Snatching her hand away she glanced at her new master, folding her arms over her chest and shifting her weight, bare toes told against the ground.
She didn't even really want to know what was on the ground before hand.
"Who are you and where am I," She demanded, staring up at him, jewel on her chest and forehead sparkling in the light. The ring was gone, the jewel in it looking suspiciously like the one between her breasts and in it's place, was Manikarnika. Confused and angry looking.
Mikhail helped at a strange sensation from the ring- something that wasn't quite cold or hot but at the same time somehow both- and tried to drop it. But before he could, he found himself holding the hand of a strange woman.
A very strange woman.
Who was practically naked.
He just gaped at her for a long moment, utterly speechless. When he could manage word, what came out was a stuttered, "Wh-who-? What the hell?!"
He took a step back from her, eyes wide. The light glinting of the stones in her skin made him blink, a little dazzled, and he shook his head. They looked so much like the sapphire in the ring...
She must have been spelled into it, somehow. He'd never heard of such magic- but then, he was hardly an authority on the subject. "Ah- forgive me." He cleared his throat, snapping his mouth shut and brushing down the front of his clothes in a nervous sort of gesture. Years of being coached in decorum kicking in. "You...rather startled me, madam." He offered a polite, charming smile. "My name is Mikhail Bartok. You are in a land called Serendipity, if that means anything to you."
A few sashays away from him, hands on her hips and she glanced at him over her shoulder. Manikarnika looked a little more awkward than sexy, but she was mostly naked except for the bare essentials so hopefully that made up for it. A long look at her new Master and she sighed. Not as tall as her last one. Not as broad. Not nearly as muscular.
Oh well. Couldn't win them all.
"Manikarnika," she ran her hand up her side, "Mistress of the jewel." She bowed, "I am your Djinn and I am here to grand you three wishes." A smirk, "Until you use them up, I am yours."
Djinn. Wishes. His?
Mikhail blinked again, shaking his head in a disbelieving sort of way. Well then. This was certainly an unexpected twist to his day. He looked at her just as she looked at him, considering, sizing her up. There really wasn't much left to the imagination...
It was then he remembered they were standing in the middle of the street. Luckily it seemed no one had noticed the woman appear out of thin air, but people were definitely starting to notice her now. Notice and stare.
Clearing his throat, he took a step toward her, sort of shifting a bit in an attempt to block her from view. Perhaps a silly reflex, but he couldn't help it. "Well then, Miss Manica- Marni- I'm sorry, how do you pronounce your name again?" Without waiting for an answer, he took another step closer and automatically offered his arm with a small smile.
"Please allow me to escort you to my home." This was not something he really wanted to be dealing with out in the open like this- if he could ever actually work out how he was going to deal with it. What was he supposed to do with a djinn anyway? And what exactly was a djinn, now that he thought of it. The word was only vaguely familiar.
This would be so much easier to address in the comfort of his own home, away from prying eyes.
Letting herself be moved along she gave him a curious look. Usually people had more questions, then again, she did just appear out of a ring, perhaps he was a smart boy. "Ma-ni-kar-ni-ka," She said slowly, giving him the side-eye. A brief look around at the dresses some of the ladies wore and how cute and protective the new Master was.
Manikarnika was more than capable of giving herself clothing, but with how uncomfortable he was by her being so naked, she decided she'd stay that way. A smirk and she let herself be moved along, though her arm was curled around his and she leaned against him, pressing her breasts to his arm.
The male Masters were always so easy to manipulate. Flash them some boob and they were putty in your hands. It was a pity though, that after so many masters she still hadn't figured out how to set herself free. "So, questions? Comments? Concerns?" Her voice was quiet and she curled her free hand over his, threading their fingers together, "You're taking this oddly well."
He made a sound that in a less dignified person may have been called a snort. "I'm really not," he assured her, glancing at her sidelong in turn. "I just happen to be very good at hiding my reactions in startling circumstances. Trade secret."
It was really only thanks to use of dealing with the more "delicate" sex that he was able to ignore how close she was pressing against him. Mostly. His eyes did flicker down though, but he caught himself quickly and paused, frowning a bit at her state of undress.
"Here. Forgive me again, Miss Manikarnika, my manners have been lax." He shrugged out of his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders. "You must be cold." That, and it was easier to think straight with her a little more covered up.
That done, he set off again, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow with the grace of long practice. "We shall have to find some shoes for you as well," he murmured, glancing down at her feet.
Manikarnika frowned, looking at him when he gave her a coat and then down at her feet. Giving Mikhail a strange look. What was this? What was he doing? A roll over her eyes and suddenly there were dainty blue slippers on her feet.
"Now, make your wishes?" She fluttered her eyes up at him. He was too nice. Or something. It made her uncomfortable. Why wasn't he just thinking about the things she could give him? This was unusual. A frown town at their feet and she looked up at him again, frowning slightly.
His eyebrows arched slightly. Ah. Well, if she could do that it probably meant she could conjure warmer clothes for herself as well. Which meant she was dressed in such a way on purpose. Intriguing.
"Don't be so hasty," he said with a small smile, focusing on her face again. "It's not everyday a man is offered three wishes. This merits some thought."
They had reached the gate to his family's estate. He reached out and laid his palm on the wrought iron, murmuring a simple charm, and the gates swung inward. Both his parents and his sister had magic, though Reina was the most devoted to studying her gift, so it made sense to them to use a personalized spell to unlock the gate.
"Here, let's get you some place comfortable and give you something to eat and drink, then we can talk," Mikhail said with another of his charming smiles, leading her up the broad, prettily decorated path to the front door. "Or perhaps djinn do not need to consume food and drink? You must forgive my ignorance, I'm afraid I don't know very much about your kind."
Thought.
Manikarnika groaned audibly, glaring off to the side before she followed, looking at the gate and letting herself be guided along. "I am yours, Master," She nodded, "You can take all the time to think that you need." Though, using his wishes sooner than later would be good for her. Manikarnika didn't think this one would be the one to set her free, which didn't bother her. It wasn't the first time.
"I am bound to you until you make your wishes," She nodded at him, still holding onto his arm, resting her cheek against his bicep, "So, Until then. I am your humble servant." And she smooshed her breasts to his arm with a gleeful smile.
Mikhail didn't blush easily, but this djinn was more forward than the simpering noble girls he was used to dealing with and he felt a bit of heat rising to his cheeks. "Ahem. Well there's- there's really no need for all that..." He glanced quickly away from where he very much wanted to look and rapped on the door.
A portly man answered with an automatic, "Sir Bartok, welcome-" The servant's eyes fell on the strange woman clinging to his young master's arm and widened. "Ah, who is-?"
"I'm afraid it's a bit complicated," Mikhail spoke over him with a quick smile as he slipped past him and pulled Manikarnika into the house. "Is Reina in the library?" His sister may actually be able to help with this.
The steward nodded, mute, and Mikhail thanked him quickly before moving off down one hall, gently guiding the djinn along with him. "Wonderful, now they're be rumors that I'm importing slave girls or some such nonsense," he muttered to himself as they hurried along.
A bright pleased grin and Manikarnika looked at her Masters cheeks, pleased by the blush. This may not be the be-all-end-all of Masters and she might not get what she wanted out of him, but she'd sure have fun while it lasted. Hopefully he made simple wishes that would be difficult to go wrong. Manikarnika recalled a time someone had wished to fly, so their arms became big cumbersome wings. A smirk, that poor Master had starved, unable to feed themselves or do much of anything else.
Reina. Sister. She tucked the information away and held Mikhails arm tighter and she grinned, "but Master, I'm not yours forever," Which was mostly true, unless he didn't make his wishes. The effort to not sneer was great and she giggled and rubbed her cheek to his arm. When she could toss this facade away it would be glorious.
Manikarnika followed, curling her fingers around his again before heaving a sigh, "You know. If you made your wishes all of this would be a strange dream and you'd have... Well... Whatever you wished for."
Mikhail glanced at her, arching an eyebrow at her giggling and pressing closer. His reflex was to think it was an act- that's what he'd assume if she was any other girl trying to get close to him. But this djinn was an enigma. What was her motivation? What did she want?
Perhaps she really did simply exist to grant wishes- though he doubted that, it would be far too simple.
"But you see, therein lies the problem," he said with a crooked smile. "I already have anything I could wish for- or I could procure it easily. I'm really not sure what I could even ask you to do for me."
He pushed the library door open and guided her in, calling, "Reina? Where are you?"
"Misha?" A voice floated back to them from the shelves tot he right and he winced at the pet name, turning in that direction in time to see his sister poke her head out of a nook. "That you? Oh." Her eyes widened a bit. "And who is this?" she asked, stepping forward to look Manikarnika curiously.
Having no survival instinct - when you could magic anything and everything, why bother trying to keep yourself safe? - Manikarnika looked at the Reina woman and removed 'Misha's coat, slipping out of it and magicing away the slippers. A few steps towards the other woman and she gave her a once over before returning to her Master's side.
A bow and she tilted her head, "I am Manikarnika and I am your brothers Djini," A tilt of her head and a smirk, "For the time being." She tapped at her lip, shifting slightly.
"I could make your hair green. You could wish for more wealth. There's no such thing as someone who doesn't wish for something." At least, that's what she'd believed. What fresh torture existence was this where no one wished for things?
Reina's sky blue eyes widened as she took in the woman anew, watching her vanish away her foot ware with a murmured, "Fascinating."
Mikhail rolled his eyes. "I really don't think green is my color," he said with an arched eyebrow. "And I suppose I could wish for wealth- but seeing as it's something this family already has vast amounts of, it seems like it would be a waste."
He looked to his sister. "I was wondering if you might know more about djinn than I do? Perhaps one of those journals you're forever reading."
She tilted her head, considering it. "I suppose I could look... But why would you need me to? If you have questions, can't you just ask?" She gestured to Manikarnika.
He gave a slightly forced, pointed smile and said, "I didn't want to be rude." His eyes flicked to the shelves, urging her to go and find a book that may be useful.
Evidently she took the hint, because she gave him an arch look, nodded to them both and said, "I'll be back in a moment then," before disappearing back among her books.
Mikhail looked to the djinn, folding his arms and giving her a considering sort of once over. "Is there anything I can't wish for?" he asked.
Couldn't wish for?
Hm.
"Well, I prefer you not be extremely specific," Manikarnika flashed a devilish grin and she folded her arms over her chest, pushing her breasts up before she shifted her weight and continued, " Though for what you can't wish for I suppose we'll find out together."
Was there something she couldn't do? Everything had a backfire in some form or another. Wishing someone dead could lead to... Various awful things. Another shift of her weight and she looked Misha up and down, pursing her lips and taking a few steps forward, placing a hand on his chest before she walked around him, sizing him up.
"I would suggest against wishing for something like 'everything I touch turns to pudding,' because you'll never have sex again unless you really enjoy pudding. Understand?" The mental image of him covered in pudding was a nice one though.
Mikhail held very still at her hand on his chest, following her with his eyes as she moved around him. He felt very much like some sort of curious artifact she was thinking of purchasing.
He chuckled softly at her recommendation, nodding. "I see. That would be quite unfortunate for a multitude of reasons," he noted, tilting his head slightly at her.
Hmm... "You seem to have plenty of ideas about what not to wish for," he noted. "Is there anything you would wish for?" Perhaps if she could give him three simple ideas he could just make the wishes and put this whole thing behind him.
What would she wish for?
Manikarnika looked around, frowning slightly. "A new teapot?" She tapped at her lips, smiling, "a new teapot full of tea that never runs out, never gets colds and pours the kind of tea I want." An example. A far kinder thing than what she'd usually do. She missed tea.
He chuckled slightly. He couldn't help himself. "You like tea then?" he asked curiously, stepping a little closer to her. That seemed so...normal. Mundane. And somehow a little charming.
"But I thought you said not to get too specific with wishes- that seems pretty specific to me," he pointed out with an arched eyebrow, gently teasing.
Manikarnika grinned widely, patting at his coat and picking imaginary lint off his shoulder. "If you just wish for a teapot it could keep everything cold. Perhaps be made of marble and too heavy to lift," a grin and she went on her tiptoes to give her Master a quick kiss on the lips. "It's entirely your choice which you want, I prefer the non-specific wishes - they're more fun." Manikarnika grinned and moved away, again, imagining him covered in pudding.
"That's just what I would wish for," a lick of her lips and a pause, "I suppose I like tea, too."
He was getting use to her closeness, her little touches. But the kiss threw him for a loop. For a long moment Mikhail simply stared at her with rather wide eyes.
Eventually, he cleared his throat and folded his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at her a bit. "What do you want?" he asked bluntly. "No one acts the way you do without...some sort of motive. What's yours?"
He supposed it was possible that was just the way she was- but he doubted it. He'd lived too long among nobility and courtiers to really believe that.
"I don't want to be trapped in a ring anymore," she stared simply, hands folded in front of her. Manikarnika moved to sit on a table, on leg bent over the other. "You can't help me with that so... I'm just enjoying my time out here. With you, Misha. I am yours after all, you know." She pointed to the jewel on her chest and then back at him, "once you make your wishes I'll become a ring again, you'll lose me and I'll wake up in fifty years to a new master. Simple as that."
His eyes widened a bit. "Oh." For some reason he hand't connected those particular dots- that she was trapped in the ring.
That seemed...horrible.
He frowned. "Is there no way to- to stop the cycle?" he asked, moving toward her and leaning against the table beside her.
Manikarnika grinned, though it was a forced false one "if there is I don't know it. So," she clapped her hands together, "know what you're going to wish for, yes?"
Mikhail continued to frown. "Is that...better for you?" he asked slowly, looking her up and down. "If I just make my wishes and lock you away?" He paused, then ventured, "Or...would you rather stay out here? I could...delay the wishes a bit."
He really had meant what he said earlier, about not needing wishes to get what he wanted. It wouldn't exactly be a hardship to forgo wishing immediately.
"Maybe Reina will find something in one of her books that might help you," he added quietly, tilting his head a bit as he looked at her.
Frowning slightly she just stared at him, giving him an up down look before resting her hands on her hips and kicking her legs as they hung off the table. Confused. Manikarnika looked at Mikhail, puffed out her cheeks because she was not pleased.
"Are you... Are you being honest?" Usually people made their wishes and carried on with their ill gotten riches. She'd never met a Master before that wanted for nothing. "I... " Looking around, this was a nice place. "Would I bet your guest or your slave?"
"A guest," Mikhail replied quickly. He frowned a bit and added, "Though we'd have to come up with some excuse for you to be here- I'm sure there are plenty of people who would have rather nefarious intentions toward a djinn. Perhaps you could be Reina's lady in waiting..."
He tilted his head at her. "Is that something you would like? Or would you rather I just get the wishing over with?" The thought made him a little sad. He didn't like the idea of banishing her back to that ring.
Manikarnika stared at him.
"I don't understand," She said simply, tilting her head down. "You're... Asking me what I want?" It was a strange concept. She wanted him to make his wishes so she could go. She also wanted to... Be free. A strange craving. A gnawing in her belly while she stared at him and gave her head a little shake, still confused.
"I... Want you to... Make your wishes when you find the perfect ones," She said simply, a tilt of her head, finding herself enchanted by the Misha boy. "And if your sister finds something in her books then that's all right, too."
Mikhail offered her a kind smile. "Then why don't we get you settled, while you're here at least," he said quietly.
Rein reappeared from the shelves, four books in her arms. "Alright, these look the most promising, I'll have to go through them." She glanced back and forth between them and her brow furrowed a bit. "Did I miss something?"
Manikarnika licked her teeth behind her lips and tilted her head, frowning still. Again. What in the world. A brief look to the woman and her books, wishing briefly for a moment that she could read - either she had never learned or she couldn't remember how.
"You didn't miss anything," She smiled, running a hand down her bare thigh, "in fact, we haven't even started if you wanted to join us."
Reina wrinkled her nose and Mikahil choked. "Um, ew," the young lady said mildly. "That's my brother." She pushed herself between the two and slid the books onto the table. "And if you and the cad are going to be occupied, you could at least go to his room to do it. Or anywhere but here really."
"Reina!" Mikhail protested, frowning at her. "Cad? Really?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Do you deny it?"
He huffed and folded his arms, looking away from her. "You don't have to say it."
Manikarnika leaned against Mikhail, giving his sister a look, "That hasn't stopped people before," she picked more imaginary lint off of his shoulder and shifted her seat, looking between the pair. Frowning at the word that made him pout, "What's a cad?"
"Oh, ick." Reina screwed up her face and gave the djinn a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry." Then she giggled at her question and Mikhail felt his face heating.
"It's, ah..." he hedged.
His sister cut across him with, "A philanderer. Playboy. Womanizer. Take your pick."
He glowered at the two women. "Yes, thank you, let's just keep taking about this, shall we?" he grumbled, huffing and crossing his arms.
A tilt of her head, trying to process the word.
Manikarnika smiled, "If you like sex so much, why not wish for a harem?" It sounded like a good idea to her. Sure his sister may end up in it if he wasn't specific but... Whatever. No skin off her back. He wanted to keep talking about it so she smiled at him, eyes wide, curious now about his stance on harems.
Reina tossed back her head and laughed while Mikhail spluttered, face going very red. "Oh, I like you," the young lady said, grinning at Manikarnika. "You sure you can't stick around for a while?"
"I'm starting to think that may not be the best idea," Mikhail grumbled, still blushing but at least able to form words again. "And I don't need a wish to...enjoy myself," he added, arching an eyebrow at them both.
Reina wrinkled her nose again. "And with that, I'll be leaving. I really don't want to discuss your sex life, brother dear."
"You started it," he retorted as she gathered up the books and made for the door. "Come find us if you read anything useful."
"Yes, yes." She waved him off and slipped out of the library. Left alone with the skin, Mikhail suddenly felt a little awkward, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Of course you don't need to wish to enjoy yourself," She supplied, smiling and looking at him with bright eyes, "You'd wish to have ladies available to enjoy yourself whenever you want. Like pets, except a little more high maintenance." A fluttering of her eyelashes and she shifted on her seat at the table and crossed one leg over the other, leaning back and propping herself up on her arms. Arching her back just a little.
"Misha," Manikarnika started, switching the legs and shifting to arch her back again, giving him a long look. "You know how to make me leave," She smiled at him, a little resigned, "If you want to."
He frowned. "I'm not sure what masters you're used to," he said slowly, "but I find the idea of women forced into such a situation repugnant. Besides," and he smirked a bit, "there's no fun in it if there's no challenge. No thrill of the chase."
He sighed, leaning back against the table and looking her up and down almost clinically. For some reason, he didn't mind so much that she seemed to have adopted his family's pet name for him. "I don't want to force you away either," he told her quietly. "I'll admit I'm not entirely sure what to do with you, but I don't want to trap you back in that ring just for my own convenience."
A tap of her lips and she shifted her seat, looking thoughtful, a brief downwards glance at herself, "I believe the last place I was... hmm.. Desert?" A shrug, because obviously it didn't matter anymore and she looked at little Misha, smiling all the same. "That's very kind of you, I think," sliding off the table she looked towards her newest Master in a long line and pulled her long braid of hair over her shoulder to smooth the fabric covering it.
"Thrill of the chase? You sound like a hunter," She fixed her 'clothing' and began to wander around, trailing her fingers over anything she could touch. It was like she was starved of sensation and her fingers over the pages of a book had her pause and stare for a moment, silent. Though, she hissed and snapped her hand away from it, the book falling to a low table with a loud clunk, and frowned down at her finger. "The books cut people now?" She snarled down at it, frowning, "Well I don't like you either," A frown and she glared to Misha, "You should control your word-pets!"
Unable to help himself, Mikhail started laughing. "That's- ahaha- that's called a paper cut, Manikarnika," he chuckled, moving toward her and reaching out for her hand. "Here, let me see." Still laughing softly, he pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and pressed it to her finger.
"Have you never handle a book before?" he asked curiously, tilting his head at her. "You see, the pages are thin enough that if you slide your skin across it fast enough it will cut you." He glanced at the book and shook his head, smiling crookedly. "It didn't do it to you."
Frowning deeply, she frowned at her hand, tears welling in her eyes because it hurt and she couldn't remember the last time she felt physical pain. Sure, emotional pain was in bundles but the physical stuff? Only she could do it to herself and by holding the book and getting a cut she was the one at fault. Her free hand pressed to her face and she let him press the handkerchief to her finger.
A huff of breath and she glared at him and his stupid word-pet.
"Sure it did. Why would I want to hurt myself," A sneer and she stared off to the side, "You can call me Mani. Or Nika. My name can be a bit of a mouthful."
His lips twitched up on one side. "I will then, thank you." With a soft chuckle he added, "You have my permission to continue calling me Misha. though I have a feeling you would have done it anyway."
He removed the handkerchief from her finger, cast a quick glance at the spot of blood, and tucked it away. "Better?" he asked, still holding her hand, thumb absently rubbing circles on her skin. She seemed so...human, standing there pouting about a paper cut.
"Are all djinn like you?" he asked curiously. "I've heard stories about creatures made of fire, or with three heads, or something else outlandish."
"Misha is a cute name," She decided to tell him, giving him a smile and watched curiously as he rubbed at her finger with his thumb. It felt nice. It still stung, but the idea that someone was trying to comfort her. That was nice. Mani blinked up at him, eyes wide and she frowned slightly at his question.
"I... Don't know," A tilt of her head, "I've never met another djinn." An interesting idea, now that she thought of it, "I was told I was a djinn. Perhaps... Perhaps there are others. And they have three heads and are made of fire." A purse of her lips and she moved closer to him, pressing her side against his and curling her arm around his back, "I've heard human-Djinn children are magical without the draw back of being bound to an object."
A tease, of course, because Manikarnik knew no such thing. At least not really.
"Have you now?" Mikhail arched an eyebrow at her but didn't try to push her away. "You know, if you really wanted to find out if that was true I'd have to wait at least nine months to make those wishes," he pointed out lightly, trying to call her bluff.
His sister hadn't been lying; he was a bit of a cad. He liked women, he liked flirting, and he particularly liked what came after flirting. But this woman was a puzzle to him. He was testing, probing, trying to figure her out.
"Nine months?" Manikarnika stared at him, leaning away slightly, confused before she puffed out her cheeks. "Why nine months? What takes nine months?" Another frown and she gave him a look like he was crazy.
He blinked at her. "You're...joking right?"
She didn't seem to be joking. Oh gods.
"Er, perhaps that's a conversation you should be having with someone else. Anyone else. Preferably someone female," he said quickly, feeling his cheeks heat. Shaking his head, he added, "I was only teasing, anyway."
Well, he had wanted to know more about her. This was certainly one piece of the puzzle. He tilted his head, frowning at her a bit in confusion. "You...don't know much about humans then, I guess? Outside of granting their wishes."
"You can't just... Tell me to ask someone else!" Her arms folded across her chest and she frowned at him. Now she wanted to know. What took nine months? That was a long time. His question threw her off and she blinked at him, frowning still, lower lip poking out in a pout.
"I... Probably knew. Once. But it's not important anymore so why bother remembering it." At least that was her reasoning. Manikarnika stared off to the side briefly, recalling that she couldn't remember anything before her first master. Was that even her first Master? Chewing on her lip gently she gave Misha a nudge with her elbow, "What takes nine months?"
Mikhail groaned a bit. "Gods help me," he muttered, running a hand down his face. Giving the djinn a shrewd look, he decided to just be blunt. "You obviously know what sex is," he said, "and you seem to understand that it is required for procreation." At least he assumed so from her earlier implication.
"How exactly do you think children come into the world then, hm?" he continued, tilting his head at her. "They don't just pop up fully formed. They take time to grow, in here." He patted his stomach, then frowned. "Well- no. Not here. I'm male. In their mothers, I mean. That's what takes nine months," he explained, hoping that would be the end of it.
The horror on Manikarnika's face was probably comical, the way her eyes widened and how she pressed her hands to her stomach, blinking widely and staring at him and looking at his stomach. Her hands reached out to press against his stomach and she shook her head, "That sounds awful," she stated.
"Growing inside? Those poor things! How do they breath?!" Her hands still pressed to his stomach and she looked down at her own again, poking and prodding at her belly. What a strange idea. Quickly enough she calmed though, or at least a few things clicked before she moved her hand to her face, looked contemplative and rubbed at her chin. "That makes sense. I recall seeing very large women, looking like they'd swallowed furniture," She pointed to their belly's and tilted her head, "Those were children? Children grow in there?"
A quick shudder, "I have no interest in being a prison for little children, thank you."
Chuckling a bit, Mikhail shook his head at her expression. "I'm afraid I don't know the specifics, but I can assure you that it's not a prison. Babies aren't even really aware of what's happening." He frowned a bit. "I certainly don't remember anything about it." A shudder. "Thank gods. That would be...uncomfortable."
Putting that rather disturbing thought from his mind, he ran a hand through his hair with a sigh and gave her a quick look. "Well, we're hardly getting anything productive done in here," he muttered. Gesturing toward the door, he offered, "Would you like to see the rest of the house?" Maybe it would stop her from asking more awkward questions.
A sly smile. Mani decided she liked Misha. Adjusting her top and bottoms she shifted her stance and looked around. "This is the word-pet room?" A tilt of her head and she gave it a new curious look, "what else is there?" Another little smile and she moved closer to him, curling an arm around his and holding his hand."show me your home, Misha, I've never met anyone who wanted nothing."
He gave her a small, slightly puzzled smile but didn't move his hand away. "We call this a library," he said with a quiet chuckle. "That room when we first came in is called the foyer. Come on." He led her through the doors and back out into the hall.
"That way leads to the kitchens," he told her, gesturing down toward the end of the hall. "If you're hungry, we could take a look in there?" He arched an eyebrow. Did she even eat human food?
Hungry.
Manikarnika blinked at him for a few moments, tilting her head and frowning. Was she hungry? Had she ever been out of the ring long enough to be hungry? Mani looked up at Misha and gave a simple shrug, she didn't know. "You have a nice house. Did you make it yourself?"
Deciding the shrug meant she wasn't starving, Mikhail steered her toward the stairs. "No," he laughed softly, "this manor has been in our family for generations. And I highly doubt my great-grandfather built the place with his own two hands."
They'd always been an influential family- it wouldn't have cost his ancestor much to have the house built for him. "The bedrooms and studies are up here," he told her as he began leading her up the stairs. "There's also a smaller library, but I'm assuming you've had enough of books for a while," he added with a small smile.
Hm.
"So... Your family comes from riches. Which means you gain riches." An odd concept. Mani tried to figure it out, so if his great-grandfather had been rich and he was now rich... A gentle frown. Most people wanted riches. Or a harem. To change something about themselves unattainable by conventional means. So... What did that mean for her? A brief glance to Misha, her sapphire eyes hooded while she pondered.
His words went into one ear and out the other while she thought and at the mention of bedroom she remembered that was where sleeping happened. Studies were... Well, she supposed for studying. Looking down at her hands, she flexed her fingers, deciding now was a good time to be honest. "I don't remember the last time I've been... Me for so long," Her voice was soft and she wasn't sure if she liked being... Herself.
Another flex of her fingers and she curled her arm around his, enjoying the contact when she'd been starved of it for so long. "Maybe I won't play tricks on you," She decided. Maybe.
Mikahil frowned a bit in puzzlement, looking down at her. "How do you mean?" he asked, trying to get a better handle on this strange creature. "You haven't been...you?"
Eyebrows rising, he added dryly, "I appreciate your consideration, though I almost dread to ask what sort of tricks you may be referring to."
Manikarnika laughed, "I've been a ring," She smirked, "Did you wear it?" Her voice dipped and again she pressed her breasts to his arm, "Were you inside me?" She grinned widely and looked thoughtful for a moment. She didn't need to explain but she felt, since he was being so nice to her she could tell him a secret.
"When you wish. We could do whatever to it. If you'd have wished for a harem I'd have probably put your sister into it." A bright grin and she looked around where they were going, still in her mostly Not-Clothing clothing and enjoying the feel of not dirt or mud or sand under her feet. It was nice here. Perhaps Misha would never make wishes and she'd get to stay here forever. "We're tricksy like that."
He found himself flushing at her implication even though he knew she was just teasing. Deciding to play along, he replied, "Alas, no, I wasn't. I simply held the ring for a moment." He tilted his head, eyes glinting wickedly, "Would you prefer it had been otherwise?"
Despite his teasing, he found his heart aching for her a little. She wasn't just imprisoned in the ring, she was the ring. That seemed a cold and lonely existence.
Sympathy was replaced quickly with indignant mortification at her mention of his sister in a harem. "Dear gods!" His eyes were wide, lips a thin line. "It's a very good thing I didn't wish for that, then."
Manikarnika was entertained that he blushed. For a self proclaimed womanizing cad, he blushed much too often. "Why yes, what's the use of a ring if it doesn't fit?" She didn't let go of him, but she did get closer. Resting her cheek to his arm she curled an arm around his back and grinned widely "Exactly, be careful what you wish for, hmm?"
"Indeed," he muttered, eyeing her a little warily. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Why did you decided not to play such tricks on me? Maybe." His lips twitched into almost a smile as he mimicked her tone and words.
A little smile and she looked away, biting her lip and finally looking back. Perhaps a little too pleased with herself, "Well. You're nice. You're showing me around your house," Manikarnika tilted her head, looking up at the ceiling before back down to Misha, "So... A little helpful tip. A fair trade."
Nice? He arched an eyebrow. "I'm called a lot of things," he mused. "Nice isn't usually one of them." To him it was just good manners. Although he couldn't deny he was just a little bit pleased by the compliment, and her apparent pleasure at the little tour, something he considered fairly mundane.
"So..." Mikhail tilted his head, lips pursed in though. "If I were to wish for- and I'm not saying I do," he hurried to add, "but hypothetically- if I wished for, say... I don't know, a talking dog. Would you give me a dog that only spoke an obscure language perhaps? Or maybe one with a foul mouth?"
A talking dog?
Manikarnika grinned, looking thoughtful for a moment before she snuggled into his side and pressed her cheek to his arm. "A talking dog? Hmm... Yes. An obscure language,"catching her lower lip between her lips she pondered again, "Perhaps one that just farts a lot. You'd have to be specific, 'I would like a dog that speaks the language I do and can communicate with me fluently. Who is not a transformed friend of mine but in fact, an actual dog'." Manikarnika grinned widely and looked up at him, quite pleased.
Mikhail gave a low whistle, shaking his head at her with a sort of crooked smile on his face. "You djinn would make fantastic lawyers, do you know that?"
He realized he'd been leading her aimlessly around the second floor of the manor and paused. "Oh. I'm sorry, I quite forgot I was supposed to be giving you a proper tour. Is there anything specific you would like to see?" His eyes flicked to the large window that took up most of one wall of the hallway they were in.
"The gardens are quite lovely," he suggested. Then, glancing at her apparel, "It may be a little cold outside for you though."
Manikarnika smiled and nodded, looking very confused. "I agree. What's a lawyer?" A curious tilt of her head and she looked around, also having forgotten that he was showing her around. Cold outside? Mani looked at the window before pressing closer, smirking up at her gracious host, "Well. Perhaps you can warm me up when we get back inside."
"Someone who argues and makes, avoids, or exploits loopholes for a living," Mikhail explained vaguely, guiding her back toward the stairs so he could lead her out into the gardens.
Giving her a curious if calculating sort of look, he asked bluntly, "Do you mean those things you say when you keep implying- well, intimacy, I suppose- or are you just playing around?" Usually he was very good at telling which, but with this women it was a puzzle.
Granted, the question didn't have his usually finesse, but he was getting a little tired of not knowing quite where he stood. It was a position he was unfamiliar with.
Hm.
Mani tapped at her lower lip and looked thoughtful. It was an interesting idea. Suppose if she was ever free she would do something like that. If. Not when. The idea of freedom was a sweet one, but a sweetness that was always just out of reach. To tempt. Never to taste.
A bright grin and she shrugged, "Are you asking because you're interested or because you're not?" A tilt of her head and she fluffed her hair, fluttering her big blue eyes at him.
Mikhail arched an eyebrow at her. "Well, it's always difficult for me to deny a lady," he said wryly, definitely intending the double entendre. "That said... Somehow I find your advances off-putting. As though you're doing it because you feel you should, and for no other reason."
He shrugged as they reached the bottom of the stairs, looking away from her. "I've done my share of not so honorable things, Miss Nika. But forcing someone unwilling has never been and will never be one of them." There was an edge of steel in his tone.
A bright grin, "Off-putting?" That was a new one, one that made her grin widely and she looked at him curiously. The steel was missed -perhaps ignored- and she sobered ever so slightly. Just slightly, "Anyone can be willing when it's wished for," She said quietly before she looked around, looking back at the stairs, pursing her lips.
"Your house is very lovely," another smile, "you could... Wish for roses that never wilt." Manikarnika grinned, "Living ones that never wilt. You'd have the most beautiful gardens ever."
"Perhaps," he mused, choosing to ignore her other comment. "But wouldn't that rather defeat the purpose? Personally I find flowers so lovely because they are temporary."
He led her to the back of the manor, to a set of double doors that led out onto the sprawling gardens. "Here we are."
The gardens were enchanting.
Manikarnika looked around, taken aback at the sight of them. They were indeed lovely and she moved closer to one of the flowers, pressing close to it to catch it's scent. "Misha," she started, looking back at him, "do you tend to these?" He didn't strike her as the type to garden but she was curious all the same. A few stops closer to him, and oh so slowly, her strange little outfit melted into a dress, dusting against the ground and it was as pure coloure as white roses. The empire waist accented her little torso and she pulled her long braid of hair over her shoulder.
"Would you, perhaps, like to be wonderful at something? An instrument? How about a music box you never have to wind up?" Mani felt a bit like a shop keeping, trying to thrust her goods onto the unsuspecting customer and as much as she enjoyed his company, she couldn't bring herself to stop.
Mikhail watched her clothing change with unabashed fascination. "That suits you," he noted kindly, smiling at her. Then, with a chuckle, he murmured, "No, I don't tend them. My sister does, sometimes, and I like to sit out here and watch her at it. It's quite peaceful."
Moving forward to tuck her hand into his elbow again, he set off slowly down one of the winding little paths through the garden. "I'll admit I rather envy those with musical talent. It's a thought." He glanced down at her and said wryly, smirking a bit, "Are you so anxious to be out of my company, Miss Nika?"
Mani smiled widely, giving an exaggerated swish of her hips. Making the skirt float around her bare feet. "I..." Her opinion. A tilt of her head and she pursed her lips, "no. I find that I like your company. You confuse me. You want..." Mani let her free hand drop to her thigh, landing with an audible smack, "nothing."
"It makes me think I'm failing somehow, but I'm still here. So... It feels... Good." She rubbed at her chest, the blue jewel at her collarbone. A brief look at Misha, another tilt of her head, "why not wish for something you could use? Perhaps a ... No... That's a terrible idea." Another purse of her lips. "You really want nothing?"
He chuckled, shaking his head at her. "I really don't." Looking at her curiously, he asked, "What's a terrible idea? You've piqued my interest now."
"A chair made of clouds." Mani wrinkled her nose, "it would be terribly, terribly damp." Plucking at her skirts she smiled at her gracious host. Her latest Master. "You don't even want to try it out? Make sure I'm not just fleecing you?" A tilt of her head followed by an entertained smile. "How do you know I'm not just a master of illusions?"
Which was partly true. The clothing she magicked onto herself didn't actually exist at all.
"I don't," he mused, looking at her. "Well...if you insist." He debated actually trying it, then sighed and said slowly, "I wish- you know what? I think I'll wish for the teapot idea of yours." He smiled. "A teapot that always pours warm tea. And isn't made of marble."
It was the overwhelming sensation to do that always got her.
Manikarnika realized then, that granting wishes was like a high. Because as soon as the words 'i wish' left his mouth there was a warmth in her belly and she bit her lip and her eyes fluttered closed. When she finally opened her eyes her pupils took up most of her iris and she was flushed.
In her hand was a decorative teapot, pretty vines wove around the stem and it was just beautiful. It was warm to the touch and she handed it over to Misha before she took a few steps away to sit down, breathing shallow. It had never occurred to her how nice it felt to grant wishes. Now that she had though, the little suggestions ceased and she pressed her hands to her legs while she caught her breath.
Two left.
There were just two wishes left now.
A lick of her lips and she gave him a look. Like he was something delicious to eat and she was starving, "Do you want to wish for a cup?"
Quite amazed by how easily that had come to her- Mikhail was no stranger to magic, but this was a whole other level- he was too distracted by the rather beautiful teapot to notice her strange state at first.
Chuckling and placing his first wish on one of the small, pretty benches that dotted the garden, he shook his head and laughed. "No, I believe the pot will do for now-"
Looking up, his eyes widened and he stopped talking, moving to her side with a concerned look. "Nika? Are you alright?" he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder and bending slightly to try to look at her face, rather missing the almost predatory look she gave him. His stomach lurched guiltily. Was granting wishes draining for her?
"Oh yes," She hissed.
Then she did a thing that polite people don't do.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted her lips against his before she pulled away and blinked at him. The haze left her face and she stared at him for a heartbeat before she dropped her hands away, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." She did know. Didn't she? Had she ever thought about any of this before now?
Not really. Everyone before had only cared about what she could give them. It was hard for someone with everything to do that. Manikarnika was a person to Misha. Sort of. "Am I a person to you? Or just a ring that can make all your wishes come true?" An honest question, one she needed to know the answer to.
Stunned by the sudden kiss, Mikhail wasn't really able to respond for a moment. He simply stared at her with wide eyes and a dropped jaw- probably looking oh so intelligent- before he managed to clear his throat and try to school his features back into a polite mask.
Then he frowned. "Of course you're a person," he said, tilting his head at her. The polite mask gave way to another look of concern, though he honestly didn't even notice the change. "You can speak, think, and act for yourself, can't you? So you're a person." He shrugged. It really was that simple to him.
Mani smirked at his jaw dropping.
Was a kiss really that surprising?
A tilt of her head and she rubbed her wrists before putting her hands on her hips.
"Well... Thank you," She puffed out her cheeks and moved closer to him, curling an arm over his shoulders and blinking at him, "Still though, you have two wishes left and a fancy teapot." A smirk, "And you have to take care of me the whole while I'm here, doesn't that sound fun?"
Mikhail swallowed thickly, eyes going a little wider. "Ah... Well, yes. Sure." He cleared his throat and rubbed at the back of hi neck, not quite sure if he should try to pull away from her.
"Well, ah- are you hungry?" he offered suddenly, more for the sake of something to say than anything else. "I suppose if I'm taking care of you I should make sure you don't starve or something.
Mani smiled, drawing her hands over her body to draw attention to all the right places before she shifted her weight. "No. I dont eat, but thank you for the offer." She gave his lips a long look before she leaned against him.
"I think id enjoy watching you though."
Again, Mikhail found himself blushing. It wasn't something he'd thought he did easily, but this girl- djinn- whatever- seemed to bring it out without much effort.
"Well. Right. Ahem. Follow me then." He fixed a smile on his face and offered his arm to her with a half bow.
Nika grinned widely, giving him a slow look before she took his arm, pressing herself against him and resting her head against his shoulder. "You know I'm not a human, right?" She said simply, curious, "I'm not different than what you accidentally called me from. An object. I look human and I'm sure I mimic it well enough. I'm quite impressive."
He frowned. "I'm aware you're not human," he said slowly. "But you are no object. You are a person, and I will treat you as such."
Another smile, she leaned in, "Are you sure?" A tilt of her head, "You're quite odd." A brief look around and she looked down at the ground and finally grumbled at him, "Do you need help coming up with wishes?" She teased, smirking, "I'm sure I can think of a few things to improve your life."
"Really?" He leaned back on his heels, arms folded and one eyebrow raised. "I normally feel my life is quite wonderful, all things considered. What would you suggest?"
Mani wrinkled her nose.
Of course his life was wonderful.
They were the least likely to wish for things haphazardly. The sooner she got these wishes over with the sooner she could go back to... Not being aware. Not existing. She paused, frowned and bit her lip a moment to look thoughtful. "Perhaps... A ... Uh... Pet?" She looked around, "Besides me, of course. The sooner you make all your wishes the sooner I won't be underfoot."
He sighed and stopped walking. "I don't want a pet, Nika." His eyes flickered over her. "And is that really want you want? To- go back to being a ring? Isn't that dull?"
Nika frowned and looked around, reaching her hands up to wiggle her fingers at the sky before she let them fall down at her sides. "It's easier than navigating this weird place," She folded her arms over her chest and the appropriate clothing disappeared into the strange little outfit she wore when they first met.
The Not So Modest outfit.
"So yes. It's all I've ever... Remember knowing, so." She lifted her chin and closed her eyes, "I'd like to go back." She frowned at him, "but... That isn't an option until you have made all your wishes."
"You'd really like to return to that?" He sighed and shook his head, running his hands through his hair. "Very well then."
Mikhail tilted his head at her. "I was intending to but my sister a gift when I found you today. She's...leaving soon, and I wanted to give her something. What do you suggest?"
Nika blinked at him.
"Wait," she waved her hands confused, "You want to use your wish for someone else." She plastered a hand to his forehead to feel his temperature. Then her hands flew to her mouth and she looked at him a little startled, "Is she dying?"
"What? Dying?" He blinked at her, utterly bemused. "No, of course she's not!" He frowned. "Is it so strange that I'd like to use a wish for my sister?"
"Yes," Nika decided.
It was, right?
How many times did people find other magical creatures trapped in rings? Creatures that granted wishes? The magical teapot - Nika smiled - was evidence of her abilities. Still couldn't quite believe she convinced him to wish for that.
"Then why is she going? Perhaps you could... Make her something. Or give make all your wishes and hope she finds the ring I belong to in... Two hundred or so years."
He couldn't quite tell if she was joking with that or not.
"She's getting married," Mikhail replied instead, choosing to ignore her comments. A sigh, and he added with a small frown, "I know she doesn't want to, but there isn't anything I can do for her. I just...wanted to give her something. To- to show her-"
He frowned, cheeks heating as he looked away and cleared his throat. "Never mind. I guess you wouldn't understand."
TO show her...
Nika leaned in, eyes wide, looking quite taken with his story.
Then she realized, reeled back and wiped her mouth off and looked at him a little disgusted, "You can't marry your sister! Think of how weird your children will look!"
"What?!"
He gaped at her. "I'm not- no! No! Oh ech, can you even imagine-"
Nose wrinkled, he grumbled, "Of course I'm not marrying her, how could you even think..."
Nika shook her head, "I'm not very good with imagining things," She crossed her arms over her chest like she'd just realized that everything she ever thought of was... In a literal sense. Nika's face fell slightly and she rubbed her arms before she glance at the man.
"I don't know how your society works," She grumbled, shifting her hip and turning her head. Maybe if she made him angry enough he'd make all his wishes and then she could leave. She did want to leave, right? Nika stared down at the ground, frowning again. Confused. Angry. Everything was weird and unfamiliar and this man was nice and from what she remembered of her last masters they weren't.
It was strange. Nika had never been good with the unfamiliar and this place was incredibly unfamiliar. How did her ring even end up in this country? "Get her a necklace," She said simply, "Perhaps a locket. You can get paintings of your family in it."
He blinked. "That's...a lovely idea, actually," he mused slowly. "Thank you."
Eyeing her rather dejected posture, he murmured, "Should that be my second wish then?"
Nika frowned at him, giving him a look.
Then she shrugged, "If that's what you want," she paused, realizing she didn't want to... Did she? "wait," She reached, grabbing his hand, "Wait. Don't wish for that. Go... Go buy one. Or make it. If you wish for it I'll make her have horrific nightmares or... Or... Fall in love with someone else." Shaking her head, "You don't want to wish for that." Biting her lip she took her hand back.
"I... What's it called when you want to... Do something but you... Don't want to do something." Nika swallowed, looking entirely too confused, "I want to leave but... Making you grumpy is fun."
He chuckled softly, and almost without meaning to he reached out to shuck her under the chin gently, like he might have with Reina.
"That's called doubt, usually," he told her with a small smile. "Or simply confusion. When you find yourself suddenly faced with a choice you'd rather not make."
Nika moved her hand to her chin and gave him a confused look.
Still frowning of course.
"I don't know what to do," She sighed, shaking her head, "You want to treat me like a person but... I don't... I don't know how to be a person." Pressing a hand to her face she just shook her head, "I grant wishes, I look like whatever my Master wishes me to and... Then I leave. Then I'm a ring again until someone else finds me." Nika swallowed carefully, looking terribly confused.
"What else is there? What else can I do besides... Grant you wishes." She rubbed at her chest, "We.." Nika licked her lips and her mostly-naked self shimmered into a nice suitable dress she'd seen someone walk past on the street, right up to the strange tiny feathered hat on her head.
"Let's go find your sister a necklace," Nika paused, "I assume you don't need to wish for money," She said simply, looking at his house.
[Just thinkin', we've been posting here a lot, think we should throw our other threads some love? :3]
Mikhail watched her seem to have some sort of internal struggle, frowning when she spoke. "You don't know...how to be a person," he repeated softly.
For a moment he didn't seem to hear her, brow furrowed in though. Then he started slightly and his eyes refocused on her face with a soft smile. "That's alright." He stepped forward and took her hand gently, placing it in the crook of his arm so he was escorting her like a proper lady. "I'll just have to teach you then."
He chuckled quietly as he made for the main door to the manor. "Now, money is never much of an issue around here," he agreed blithely.
Nika frowned again slightly, not too sure about the idea of learning how to people.
It would just make that last wish hurt more. A little frown as a memory bubbled up, was there a time when she was a person? Contact with him just confused her more. It wasn't vile. It didn't make her skin crawl. Maybe it was a fluke.
Wrinkling her nose slightly she reached her hand up and pressed her palm to his cheek after he finished talking, focusing on the idea of his flesh against hers.
Nothing. No spine chilling tingle. Nothing. Nika pursed her lips and dropped her hand down again, "I'd like that," she said simply, "Being taught. I suppose." Then she frowned, "You shouldn't get too attached though, once you make that last wish I'll be a ring again and you'll lose me."
Mikhail started slightly and looked at her, waving off a steward you was babbling something about calling a chaperone for them as he led her down the front drive of the manor.
"I suppose you're right," he said quietly, then suddenly grinned triumphantly. "But that's a very human reaction, right there. It shouldn't matter to you whether I'm attached or not, but you're concerned for my feelings on the matter."
He assumed. With a small chuckle, he patted her hand and added, "And maybe don't go around touching people's faces. I don't mind, but I don't think other humans would consider it quite normal."
Nika frowned again, giving him a look.
"It doesn't matter to me, but... You're human. You ... You're squishy inside and..." She waved her hand at her face, "Feel things. More of a... Caution than concern." Nika frowned again, "Should I be concerned? What does that feel like?" Most of her talking was mumbling to herself, not really enjoying being confused.
A flash of confusion, "Why don't you mind if other people would mind." She looked at her hand and then his face, placing her palm to her own face. Then she planted her palm on his face again, "Why doesn't this bother you?"
He honestly wasn't sure he could answer her first string of questions, so he tried for the second.
"Well, because I know you," he said with a small shrug. "I understand you're still getting used to...being human. Or at least acting like it. Other people wouldn't know that, and they might...feel that you come on a little strong, let's say."
A thoughtful look.
"Can i kiss them?" Which she mostly knew the answer to, but the little glint in her eye displayed that she was testing boundries and hoped to find ones that got him... frustrated.
He started, frowning and opening his mouth to explain why no she shouldn't- then suddenly remembered how she'd first acted around him, and caught that little glint.
"I think you know very well that you shouldn't do that," he mused, quirking an eyebrow at her.
Nika tried to look innocent, lifting her eyebrows up before she shrugged.
"If you don't tell me I may kiss some... Stranger." She paused, "Not unlike how I kissed you." A grin, "You didn't seem to mind it." She eyed him up and down, continuing their walk. Trying to imagine why she knew what a locket was. Or why portraits would go into it.
That seemed like a strangely specific thing to remember.
Nika looked down at the ground, "Are you getting married, too?"
Mikhail found himself laughing, not at her, just in a sort of surprise. "Well, I didn't exactly mind it" he told her, flashing a smile. "But as my sister pointed out, I'm not exactly a stranger to spontaneous kisses."
His expression sobered a bit and he shook his head. "No, I'm not getting married. Though my parents have certainly been nagging me to."
Nika nodded at him.
That was a truth.
"Because you pay for sex?" She piped up in an inappropriately loud voice, looking at him with big blue eyes, curious more than anything. "Are you sure you don't want a harem? Then you could have a wife and diddle any other lady you want any time you choose."
With a muffled curse Mikhail cover her mouth quickly. "Perhaps lower your voice a bit?" he pleaded.
Dropping his hand, he added rather exasperatedly, "And no, I don't pay. I don't need to. And-" he paused, frowning, then continued, "and I'd like to think when I do marry my wife will be the one one is want to...diddle as you so elegantly put it."
Nika blinked at him, grinning widely. Looking around, eyeing the people that looked back at them. With that reaction she didn't want to lower her voice at all, he was still her keeper and she wasn't going anywhere until he'd made all his wishes.
"Well. Maybe you could wish for her and poof, two wishes down and you're one diddleable wife up." Nika grinned at him widely, quite pleased with her plan.
"Uh huh." He gave her a rather dry look. "And just how could that wish go wrong, hm? I can see about a dozen different possibilities..."
Nika looked thoughtful, "Maybe I could... " She wiggled her fingers, about to say something else before something caught her attention. A little stall with jewelry and Nika walked away from Mikhail like a distracted child. Her fingers hovered over the various rings and necklaces and she stared at them in wonder. All shiny. Gold. Silver. She found her hand resting on a ring, a shiny sapphire in it. It didn't look unlike the ring she owned and she stared at it for a moment, like she was in a trace.
Then a hand slapped hers, "Don't be touchin' 'em if ya can't afford nothing," The angry woman snapped, Nika's hand snapped back and she blinked widely at the woman before looking back at the necklaces, the ring willfully forgotten.
"Look!" Nika called, "Lockets!"
Mikhail frowned. "Yes, lockets." He was giving the woman running the stall a father cold look. "Surely she can examine your goods? How else would she know of she wanted something?"
The woman started before shaking her head.
"Fine but not that ring," She glared at Nika for a moment before she fixed it's place and watched her like a hawk. Nika's fingers traced over the designs before she found one. A simple oval with pretty etchings and she delicately picked it up and held it out to Mikhail, "This one." She stated, "No one in this one. It's simple. Only two sides though." Nika mused, "It feels good." She finally stated, though her eyes wandered to the ring that looked like her.
"Hmm." He room the pendant and examined it. "Yes this is lovely. Good choice, Nika."
His eyes followed her to the ring. Almost hesitantly, lowering his voice slightly, he asked, "Do you want that?"
Did she?
Nika swallowed, looking at him confused. Did she want that? "Yes," She said simply confused handing him the locket. She wanted it sure, but she wasn't about to request it. Or request he get it for her. Licking her lips she tore her gaze away and shook her head.
It was exhausting to be ... Aware.
Nika closed her eyes for a moment before rubbing at her chest.
The little hat dissolved into nothing and she looked around. "Master, when we get back, can I sleep? I don't remember how to, but I think if I tried I'd be okay."
"Of course." W smiled and added softly, "And you don't need to call me master."
He turned to the vendor. "The locker please." A pause. "And how much for the ring?"
"Too much," She snapped back, "Locket is free if you take that thing away from here." She pointed to Nika and held out the necklace.
He drew himself up. "That thing?" His voice went low and dangerous. "Madam, do you know whose companion you speak to? You owe her your respect- and an apology."
"D'you think I care?" She held out the necklace, frowning, "Take it and leave or take nothing." Nika just stared in a daze, frowning at the ring before she took the locket and Mikhails hand and started to tug him away, a far away look in her eyes. The way her fingers threaded through his was telling of how she felt, hands trembling slightly, pale.
Nika licked her lips to make her mouth not feel as dry and she just stared. An empty feeling in her belly. What was that ring?
Mikhail glared and threw a few coins at the woman. "Do well to knew your place," he hissed, before letting Nika pull him away.
"I could have her sales liscence revoked," he grumbled, not quite noticing his companions distress.
Nika frowned at the cloth in her hand, confused. Dazed. Tired like she'd just woken from a nap more tired than before. She shook her head to whatever Master said and looked over her shoulder to the woman, eyeing the ring.
"She feels dangerous," Nika whispered, pressing a hand to her chest, breath shallow. She was dangerous right? Maybe she'd been away from herself too long. "Why is the ceiling so high?" She panted, flushed and panicked, though it wasnt the ceiling, it was the sky.
"Misha," Nika looked around, letting go of his hand before she started to back away from everything, smashing into one rather well off couple in the process.
The fancy dress melted away into the exotic clothing she was actually wearing and she squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm gonna fall off," she panted, "everything is going to fall --" and then.
She fainted. Crumpled down like a bag of potatos, locket still clasped in her hand.
"Nika!" Mikhail managed to catch her before she hit the ground, gathering her up in his arms to hold her against his chest as he straightened up.
A healer. He needed a healer. Maybe she'd been in the sun too long? Or perhaps it was the shock of having a physical body after residing in a ring...
Either way, he couldn't care for her, he knew that. He needed help. "You." He gripped the arm of the man she'd bumped into. "Here." He slipped a few coins into his hand. "Call a healer, send them to the Bartok estate." Without another word, he turned and hurried home, the girl clutched to his chest.
The healer was a gentle looking older man and he arrived at the estate in decent time.
Time enough to get Nika onto a couch, still passed out as she was.
The man balked slightly at her choice of clothing but he didn't judge. Out loud at least.
"Well, your servant needs some food and water," He decided before pressing a hand over her cheek, cold and clammy, frowning slightly, "Some rest." He shrugged, "There's nothing visible to fix." A tilt of his head and he clicked his tongue at Mikhail, "Really though, letting your servant faint. Very neglectful of you."
Mikhail glowered, kneeling next to the couch. "I had no idea she was unwell," he said stiffly, deciding to refrain from mentioning that he had no idea what might be a strain on a djinn's body.
"Well, perhaps, next time she looks unwell you could ask?" The healer smiled kindly and stood up. "Perhaps move her to a bed to sleep and have an easy meal for her when she wakes."
"Yes, thank you." Distractedly he called for a maid to help him move Nika into a guest room and then asked the girl to fetch some tea and a light meal, not quite sure what her stomach would be able to handle when she'd woken up.
The maid worked quickly and the passed out girl was deposited onto a bed.
Nika was passed out.
There was only darkness. Back in the ring? Why did she feel so sad?
It was a good hour before Nika shot up, gasping loudly, looking around. The room was strange. The smells were strange and Nika slunk out of the bed, trembling, eyes wide and stared over it while trying to calm herself down. She eyed the tea on the bedside table and she swallowed thickly, confused, looking around terrified.
"Mom?"
She choked out, but then like a snap everything was gone and familiar.
"Misha?"
She lifted her head up over the bed to peak around, "Are you here?"
Mikhail had begun to doze off by the time Nika woke, settled onto a settee near the bed. He started awake and got to his feet, crossing to look her over worriedly.
"I'm here." He touched her her shoulder gently, tilting her chin so he could look her over. "How do you feel?"
Nika frowned at him, pale, fingers trembling.
"What happened. How did i get here."
"You fainted." He felt her forehead, then leaned away to gather a cup of still lukewarm tea and held it out to her. "Here, try to get this down."
Fainted.
Nika wrinkled her nose.
How very human sounding.
she slunk her way back onto the bed, kneeling on it before she took the tea in her hands and stared at it, frowning. It had been so long since she'd ... Been aware for so long. Nika brought it to her lips and held the tea in her mouth, though once she realized there was flavour her eyes went wide and she forced herself to swallow.
It was bitter and awful and amazing.
Nika looked at her current owner, wide eyed and in awe.
"Does everything taste like this?"
He laughed, then realized she was serious. "Like tea?" He shook his head. "No, Nika. There's so many more flavor a than that, I promise," he told her with a small smile.
"Well thats good," she sipped the tea again curiously, "its awful." Nika gave a little shiver and handed the cup to him, looking tired but a little enthusiastic at this tasting thing.
Mikhail chuckled and took the cup from her. "Have some water then, at least," he murmured, handing her a glass. "Do you think you could eat something?"