Spirits of the Earth

[Tags to @Draconian ]

Oh he'd never thought he'd be this hungry. And begging in the streets didn't seem to work. For some reason people ran from him, as if he had some horrid creature on his head, or stunk with cadaver-like severity. All he wanted was something warm, meaty, and filling.  Was it too much to ask!? For once, Maako was afraid. He had no idea what was going to happen and the unknown of it all was swiftly becoming overwhelming.

So he did as any frightened creature would do.  He hid in the shadows until those creatures known as humans slowly dissipated from the streets.  Little by little they drifted off until the last dregs wandered their way into the warmth of taverns and their homes. 

"Find a cat!  No one will miss one," his hand griped.

"NO!" Maako hissed, glaring at the blinking eye in his left palm.  "NO cats!  They leave behind hairballs.  You think people run from me now? You should see them when they see me spitting up fur!"

Maako kept his hand to his chest to prevent it from speaking further and he tried to quiet the grumblings of his stomach.  Eyes darted toward a passerby, and he sniffed.  Gods, the woman smelled like salami!  Quickly, he scittered from the darkness, crawling quietly and making his way behind her.  She soon turned a corner and disappeared behind a tavern.

Maako rushed to follow, only to be distracted by another scent.  More salami, and it wasn't just residue either.  It was food!  And he quickly clamored up the window to go and investigate.

The place was deserted, as far as he was aware, and he waited until the silence assured him of exactly that.

He moved toward the smell, following his nose to a T. When he found it's source, he slowly opened the door, his eyes widening at the sight before him.  Salamis and beef cuts and bread and cheese and more food than he could believe.  He was practically salivating right there.  He didn't hesitate, finding his nails digging into a portion of a pig's thigh, and sinking his teeth into it.

Sera was on a prep day.

Getting all the ingredients ready for the next day.

Also her lunch.

A pleased little hum and she fixed the vase of bright yellow flowers - she didn't know what they were, but she decided since they were yellow they were all her favourite - and she stretched her arms high above her head, gave the table one last wipe down and made her way downstairs. It was usually a quiet establishment, on the outskirts of town, far enough away for someone to either come here on purpose or stop here as a last resort.

Most people didn't happen upon her little tavern by accident.

A quick check to make sure her clothing was in the right place and she skipped down the stairs , skirts swishing and when she hit the last step there was a sound that made her freeze.

Someone was here.

A moment to suck in her breath and she took gentle, quiet steps, carefully picking up a barstool on her way towards the noise. Sera wasn't an intimidating woman. Short. Wearing some awful floral print dress to her wrists and chin. A little waist, but obviously a thicker lady, she seemed more keen to give hugs than bash an intruder with a chair.

One careful step into the kitchen and squeezed the chair legs and stared.

That strange man was eating all her food and she couldn't move a muscle.

It was a split second.

The chair crashed to the ground and Sera stared, frozen into her spot.

"Are you going to eat me?" She whimpered, staring at him, frozen and still holding an invisible chair, fingers trembling.

Maako had been enjoying himself, maybe a little too much before he heard a clattering on the ground.  He paused, distracted by the deliciousness swirling around his mouth. He swallowed very quietly and turned around to look at his assailant.

There was that fear again and he jumped around climbing into the pantry cabinet, closing the door on himself. "I'm not here!" he said.  "There's nobody here...  Try again after...um...BEEEEEEEP!"

Sera slapped her hands over her mouth and just stared.

That thing...

What was that?

A... Sera swallowed carefully and took a step closer.

"I... I'm sorry," Tears were in her eyes from fear, and there was a little wet warble in her voice. "I didn't mean to f-frighten you..." Was he really the one that was scared? A heavy careful breath and she took a few more steps closer, "Are you hungry? I... I could make you something to eat? Or... I... My name is Sera."

Maako didn't like being afraid.  He hated feeling like he was cornered and didn't want to lash out at anyone that would attack him.  Not for fear of being hurt - sure he would avoid it if at all possible - but for fear of hurting them.  He realized he was a lot stronger than the others, than the soft flesh of little humans.

He gave a grunt and tried not to make any more noise, even while idly taking a sausage bit and tearing it with his teeth.  "I'm Maako," he found himself saying.  His left hand shot over his mouth.  Be quiet stupid!

"I won't hurt you...I was just...really hungries!  And you have salami!"

Hungries.

He was really hungries.

Sera chewed on her lower lip, wiping at her eyes and swallowing carefully, not wanting to scare him.

Scare him? The big monster. How laughable.

"Maako," Sera said softly, "It's nice to meet you," Except it wasn't. She was terrified, but that's how you grew as a person right? You did things you were afraid of. And you helped people that were also afraid and staying in your pantry.

"I have lots of food, This is a tavern." She swallowed, "I... I'll feed you, but... But you have to do some work for me... Like Sweep." Sera inched closer to the pantry, one hand reaching out to catch the handle and hold it, trying to keep the trembling to a minimum.

"Does that sound fair, Maako?"

Oh no! She was going to open the door!  She was going to see him and scream and run like the rest of them did.  So he did the only logical thing he could think of and bolted first, heading for the door and ramming it open.  When he did, he stumbled over the dropped chair, rolling like a ball into the furniture.

A table fell on him and he groaned, completely dizzy in that moment, turning over and reaching up with his lower right to brace his head, rubbing at the corner of his temple.  "owwwww," he groaned, feeling as though blood was pouring from his skull.

"Oh, I didn't eat any tomatoes though..."

Sera gave a sharp yelp when Maako tumbled. Not because he was scary - she lied to herself - but because it was startling. Still, Sera rushed forward and dropped do her knees beside his head. A gentle pale hand witha few strange lavender veins reached out and gently cupped his cheek.

"Let me look at your head, Maako, wouldn't want any tomatoes on the floor," she pried his hand away from his head and gently drifted a few fingers around the bump. She supposed if she were to die today, at least she'd serve a purpose. Being a meal. "Maako, how about you sit and I'll make you a meal. You... you frighten me but... I want to help."

She looked over her shoulder to the doors, "you cant leave the kitchen though, understand?"

He'd hadn't been hurt before. Not like this. And the throbbing against his temple made him groan and moan in agony even as her touch startled him. Maako didn't know pain could feel like this. Oftimes it was accompanied with some sense of pleasure, a small suffering that was soothed over with comfort, a kiss, an embrace by his master. He was not unfamiliar with causing displeasure. This time the comforting hand was foreign and made him flinch.

Maako managed to look up at her.  "You're...not afraid of me?" he had to ask since he was so sure his face would soon be met with some sort of unpleasant object.  He sniffed, instinctively still trying to slink away.  He curled in on himself, sitting and wrapping his lower arms around his knees.

"I broke your flat eating surface. I am sorry I am so large," he said, feeling at the blood coming from his head.

"I'm terrified," she answered plainly, looking at his strange chest. Then his strange arms. Along with his strange face. Sera tried to smile thoigh, the only evidence of her fear the slight tremble in her hand. Her hand hovered away from his wound for a moment before she got up.

A quick shuffle around and she gathered up a towel.

The main reason she'd chosen to stay in this God Forsaken country was for the reason of hating magical creatures. And here one was. About to cry like a little boy curled up on her floor. Sera smoothed a hand over the top of his head and knelt down beside him

"Maako, we have to stop the bleeding okay? Ill get over the broken table, but I dont want bloodstains on my floor."

For her to answer with such honesty made Maako actually look at her face.  Oh, she was all pasty and not at all blue like him.  Weird.  But he wouldn't complain.  She wasn't smacking him, or shoving him out the door. He climbed up to his feet, stooping a little so he didn't seem so looming and held his head.

"No blood stains, okay," he nodded, wincing at the motion but complaining no further.

Sera swallowed carefully, looking up-up-up at him.

Blinking she held he towel out again, hands trembling.

"You ... You cover your wound and sit down again," she waved a hand at the floor, "Do you like sandwiches? I'm going to assume you enjoy salami, so... I can make you a sandwich and then later after stew is read you can have a bowl of that."

Whatever she was on, she was handling this rather well.  Maako didn't want to go out on a limb here but she was probably the nicest person he'd run into so far in this strange and curious wasteland. The creatures here were not at all like back home, some for better or worse. And he missed his furs, his bed, and his master. But he couldn't go home, not yet.

"Thank you," he found himself saying although he hadn't used that phrase...probably ever in his entire existence.  He sat criss-cross on the floor, keeping his arms tucked in against him and holding onto the towel against his skull

"I like anything that is delicious," he answered softly...  He watched her go, looking at the meat on her bones.  No, that probably wasn't a good idea. This far north, people were scarier.  And it seemed scared of everything else.  "Why are you being so nice to me?  Are you going to cook me?"

Anything that is delicious.

"I'll make you a sandwich," Sera said softly, smiling at the strange blue creature. It was a compelling feeling, to help. Despite all odds, she wanted to simply help. As in on cue with her thoughts, one of the many stray animals she took in meandered through the kitchen. A fluffy grey cat with green eyes. A big fluffy cat. It waved in between her legs while she chopped up things for Maako.

She'd make one for herself, too.

"Hello Soldier," Sera said softly, rubbing the cat with the side of her foot before the His Fluffy Highness wandered over to Maako and sat down on the broken splinters of the table and the goods that had been on it to stare at him curiously.

It didn't take long to prep the sandwich and eventually, Sera wandered over and held it out to him. "Where are you from?" She asked, head tilted, "Was in the mountains, maybe? Was there a blonde lady?"

Oh shit, cats.  As soon as Maako heard the meow he paused and froze completely.  He stared at the animal, still hungry but remembering the nasty flavor fur left in his mouth.

He groaned a little and watched the cat, forgetting the sandwich even as a stray arm reached up to pry it from Sera's hand.

He reached out gently poked the side of the cat's ear.  The cat reached a paw out and met his finger paw to appendage.

Soldier sat pretty after poking the strange man.

Sera, still unanswered went quiet and watched. Maybe no blonde lady then. That was a relief. Still, if it had been a blonde lady... Would Maako be her brother? Perhaps a cousin. She stared in mild horror when one of his other arms reached over for the sandwich - which she almost forgot to let go of.

Swallowing carefully, Sera picked up the fluffy grey cat who noodled in her arms and gave a yeowl of distaste at being moved. He wriggled from Sera's arms before he meandered back and sat in front of Maako, reaching with a paw and putting it on the nearest least pointy bit he could reach.

"Soldier, I don't think Maako likes you," She said gently like the cat could understand. Though she paused and sat down beside the cat, directly in front of the strange blue man.

"Do you like cats? I can take Soldier away and put him somewhere else if he makes you uncomfortable." she tilted her head and tried to smile, "I just want to help you, you know, so I can move the cat."

The cat frankly terrified Maako, but he wasn't going to show it.  Not to the fleshy woman in front of him.  She was very fleshy.  He wasn't sure what to make of that, except she was the first really kind face he'd seen since his arrival in his devil's-forsaken world.

The cat however could burn in heavenly light for all he cared.

Still...the little paws made him tingly inside beside the hunger.  Maako took a small piece of salami from the sandwich and flopped it toward Soldier.  Who promptly ate it up.  And meowed.  Then GOT FUCKING CLOSER!

Maako shrank back but kept his two lower hands out to keep the kitty away, and he munched on his food with his upper hands.  At her question, Maako shook his head.  He smiled with no teeth, and tried desperately to hide the cringe when Soldier purred loudly and began rubbing his sides against Maako's open palms.

"Cat is okay," he said.  He munched on the sandwich quietly.  "No blonde lady.  I don't know what that means."  Better late than never.

No blonde lady.

Sera grinned widely and moved closer to Maako.

She wanted to cup his cheeks and kiss him and Sera, having poor impulse control, sashayed over to the blue strange creature of a man and did exactly that. She took his head, tipped it back and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"It doesn't matter what it means, but if you don't remember a blonde lady then everything is wonderful!" Except for what he was. Sera chewed on her lip and backed up a few steps, Soldier swirling between her feet to which she dodged tripping over him carefully. "Unless... You don't know what blonde means?" She whispered, giving Maako a worried look, "Yellow hair? Orange eyes?" She rubbed at her wrists, looking at the blue creature worried before she swallowed carefully.

"Are you still hungry? When was the last time you ate?"

The kiss threw him off guard, and Maako froze, completely expecting her to rip his head off.  What more could he learn to expect in a place like this?  But instead the soft feel of her lips made him give out a soft yip.  He kept the sandwich close to him, feeling his whole body tingle again with a soft heat.  But he ignored it, or tried anyway.

Hrm...blonde lady.  Yellow eyes?  "Yellow hair?  Yellow eyes?  Hrmmm, no.  I no see such things together. Yellow eyes maybe from Home. But Home is...no more."

He didn't know how to answer the last question.  He didn't know how long it was since he last had eaten.  It must have been many moons since he was so hungry he considered eating a cat again.  But cats were badly digested most of the time.  The sandwich was nice.  "More. Please. It's very good," he said instead and licked his fingers clean.

Home is no more.

Sera just watched him and licked her lips, smoothing her hands over her dress before she reached her hands out to him. "C'mon then, I'll show you how to make a sandwich and then you can make one whenever you want," She said softly, moving back towards the counter where the loaf of bread was and all the fixings. And a knife.

Would he kill her? Chop off her limps? Eat those?

She ignored the little voice in her head and instead smiled at him, "And then, we'll find somewhere for you to sleep." She nodded, "And then, after you feel better, we can... Maybe find you a way home?" Her voice was soft and curious but she smiled all the same time, trying her best to be comforting to the strange blue man.

With Maako's hunger largely sated, she didn't have to worry about being eaten. It was too bad she didn't know that. And he had no way to tell her since he felt he could eat for days to satisfy the void that had been forming in all the time he had been neglected food.

He'd never had to fend for himself before.  And the concept of doing so was balking to his imagination. Maako felt more tired, more worn than he'd ever felt. His hands were blistered and even his hand was growing bitter from all the travel they'd gone through. The people here were soft and yet somehow incredibly vicious. They tore so easily but possessed gumption enough to put terror in him.

"Home? I don't want to think of it," he said a bit forlornly, following Sera to where the sandwich making station was.

"But I would like to learn to make these samdiches.  Sand..witches.  Are they made of real witches?" he asked, a bit confused.

Sara gave him a soulful look, eyes wide and lower lip poking out in a kind of pout.

A tilt of her head and she gave a little nod, deciding it was perhaps best if she didn't mention his home anymore. It seemed odd that such a strange creature wouldn't want to go home, but she supposed it must have been a terrible place to not want to go back at all.

Sara looked over at Maako, blinking at him when he followed her and chewing on her lips when he hovered behind her to watch her cut the loaf of bread into a few slices and began to make another sandwich. "Well, just... Watch and if you have any questions feel free to ask," She smiled over her shoulder, "Though this isn't too difficult."

Sara made another set of sandwiches, keeping one for herself this time and handing Maako another one because why not. Her tavern did well. Her regulars were gentle and she took a bite of the roastbeef sandwich and gave a moan of delight before smiling up at Maako again.

"I... Am going to assume you have no where to live?" She asked quietly in between mouthfuls, tilting her head, "I have rooms for rent, and unfortunately those are full up, but..." She scrunched her nose in thought, lips pursed, "We could make you a bed in my room, put a partition up to give you privacy." She smiled, another tilt of her head, "When was the last time you had a bath?"

He did watch, he was very astute in his ability to study, though he didn't always want to. Master didn't like him knowing things, didn't like him to be more than his precious pet. Maako liked learning, more than he would ever show probably. While this world was terrifying and strange, it was simultaneously fascinating and he looked at everything with wonder.

He watched her hands deftly and let his own hand move to hover over the backs of hers and mimicked her movement as she made the sandwich. "Why not use just the whole of the meat? It is the best part. do you not like a lot of meat?' he asked with a nudge, looking over her shoulder at the pieces of bread.  And practically salivating.

He backed away and held his own sandwich in hand.  He grinned and took a small bite.  It wouldn't do to be be rude and scarf the whole thing down in one gulp.  That was a tough lesson to learn.  Bed?  She wanted to bed him?  He gave her a weird look, scanning her figure from toe to brow.  He supposed she was kind enough to feed him, and he'd seen scarier things and people.

"Bath?  No...I've not had a bath since being here," he said.

"Well!" Sara began, putting the sandwich down and clapping her hands together and holding them together trying to look... Pleasant.  Then the sandwich was back up and she took another bite. It was easy to forget to eat while she was busy in the kitchen and she looked at Maako before she bit her lip, eyeing him up and down like a useful tool.

"Once you've finished your sandwich, I'll take you to my room and set you up with a bath, the water won't be very warm but there's soap and we'll get you..." She tilted her head, "Washed up." Clearing her throat, Sara tried to smile again and polished off her sandwich, licking her fingers and giving a pleased hum.

Maako allowed himself to be inspected. And for one thing he was a little bit adverse to having a bath. The feel of water on him was not a pleasant one when it was often thrown or scalding.  So he was pretty sure the same situation applied here.  He had no other reason to believe otherwise.

He ate the sandwich slowly but sumptuously and grinned at her.  "When you say wash..you mean with bubbles and....erm, that strange brush with a sponge on it, yes?"

Sara wasn't sure how to feel when it... Smiled... At her. A little lurch of her heart. Her feet and brain telling her to run because this thing was going to eat her. Still, he'd been... Only hungry so far - and seemingly lonely and... nice. Sara cleared her throat and took a step to him, reaching out a hand and wiggling her fingers to get his attention - and his hand.

"Maybe not bubbles," she said giving him a gentle smile, reaching up to fix the button at her neck to keep her flesh hidden. Sure he was a big scary looking guy, but that didn't mean anything. Secrets were that for a reason. "But there will be a cloth, and soap, and you'll feel better after you're clean," She smiled and wiggled her fingers again, "And then you can sleep, and we can talk more in the morning while I get ready for the day."

Or get the guards and this weird man can rot in a cell forever. She supposed she'd see how the night went. It's a good thing she'd never been afraid of monsters under her bed, because there was quite the monster in front of her.

Sara's only true wish was that he didn't consume her during the night in a fit of the snackies.

Maako wasn't about to ruin the only real good fortune he'd found since coming here. Whatever plan his master had in sending him here, he didn't think of it now. It would squander the fact that he could enjoy these delicious nummies and have the first chance to experience an actual bath!  Oh, if it wasn't anything like the baths at home that was enough for him. Just a chance to be clean was intriguing enough.

"At home, baths are scalding and leave the skin red. If a servant fails in their task, they are often given baths until their skin is all pimply and bubbled with heat. This bath sounds much more pleasant," Maako said softly although the mouth on his hand stuck out his tongue and gave a hiss.  He shushed it quietly and put it against his belly as they moved toward the tub.  He stayed back and let her do her magic.

"You are very clothed for baths. Do many humans take them that way?" he asked out of curiosity, noticing the button at her neck.

Sera's mouth dropped open and she gave a mournful worried look to Maako. That sounded like torture. Then his hand hissed and she jumped away from him, giving the hand a look, giving Maako a look and then blinking at him widely, worried that said hand would try to eat her or something.

Did it eat?

Did she just accidentally gain many more mouths to feed?

Where was it's stomach?

"I'm not bathing," She said, looking at him owlishly, "Well, I am but... Uh... Maybe tomorrow." She was going to say 'after you'. Just use the same water but... She had no idea how dirty he was or what strange, strange things she'd find in the water after he was done with it. "You get naked for bathing, so that the soap and water can wash your skin." She mimed bathing and went to collect the supplies, "You... Do know how to bathe, right? I don't have to help you?"

The process was fairly simple and when Maako found himself in water through some black magic, he found he didn't mind it much at all. The extra areas that couldn't be wet like his hand and stomach were careful about staying shut Maako was grateful for the silence this opportunity gave him. Sometimes his companion was more sour than necessary.

He had just dropped whatever had been covering him and he had plunged into the waters using the soap until all the sudes covered him from head to toe.  And then he just looked like a sudsy four-armed  cloud.

Sera would never unsee that.

Just...

One second he was hesitant about getting into the bathtub and the next he was completely naked and ... Well. In the bathtub. Still. The streak of the naked body before she even had the option to leave the room had her turn several shades of colour and she blinked and looked at him.

Sera bit her lip and blinked down at him before she got over herself, still blushing, she moved to behind him and held out her hands beside his head. "May I wash your hair?" Her voice was soft, not really sure how to approach this. How did she get herself into this mess. "And do they eat, too?" She pointed to his hand and his stomach.

Wash his hair!?  She wanted to wash his hair!

At the question, Maako immediately turned meek.  His blushed hotly and looked up at strands that fell in his face.  Oh, it was nasty and mucky and he made a soft whine at it's state. His blush came not because it was dirty, and it could certainly use a cleaning, but because hair was an intimate thing.  And nobody ever offered to wash his hair before.

They were still pretty much strangers after all.

"You...want to?  I-I...would be honored.  You bothered to take me in, after all."

Sera couldn't see his face, but his posture changed and she was worried for a few moments that maybe she had insulted him deeply. Then, he spoke and Sera smiled, a little curious as to why he would be honored. Must be a culture thing. Gather soap in her hands, she carefully moved to Maako's head and went about washing his hair. Gently, of course. Though thourough.

"Just let me know if I hurt you, okay?" Her voice was soft and her hands moved over his head, cupping water to wash out the soap, careful of his eyes and finally, she moved down his neck and rubbed her hands along that, going over his shoulders and basically, giving him a massage. "You're... Very large," She finally stated, "Do... Do you happen to know what you are?"

Oh, this was an interesting washing. Maako wasn't about to ruin it by complaining, however. The last thing he wanted to do was insult his hostess.  She'd done so much to him already, even her cat wanted to be friends!  The sandwiches were yummy, and this water was so much more than he expected.  Finally a friendly soul and he feared that he'd dash it all away if he simply said the wrong thing.

"What I am?  I am...Maako," he said with a shrug. "People...where I am from would consider your kind strange. But there are more of you here than I.  I think somewhere I heard people say 'demon' but it is very complicated. I am a maako.  That is what I've always been called.  I've seen others like me, but only I am called by what I am."

"So... Maako is... Your title?" She tilted her head, taking a cloth and running it over his back. Being helpful, Sera told herself, also a somewhat automatic response. Naked back, water, cloth... Wash the back. Sera tossed her hair over her shoulder and frowned down at her dress, it was wet but... That would be fine. She imagined Maako would be the last person to judge her for her... Abnormality.

Perhaps one day if he set himself on fire in the middle of the night.

"Either way," Sera continued, wringing the cloth out and laying it over his shoulder before standing off to his side and smiling, "As long as you don't eat me with that hand of yours I think you and I could be friends."

"Maako is what I am.  I had no title back home. I was owned but treated well, for the most part. I did not complain, much," Maako said, smushing his face into a handful of bubbles until it made a fancy beard and mustache.  He blew out a flurry of fluff and gave a shiver when her hands finished massaging his back.  He enjoyed the contact but only made a whine when it stopped.

He turned to look up at her.  "I won't eat you.  My hand is my friend, he will not eat you either. You have been very kind. Nibbling on hosts is frowned upon where I am from.  You are my friend, right?" he asked and reached into the water with two hands, holding thumb to thumb and index to index and made a large bubble that he carefully blew out at her.

Owned?

Sera smiled at his childlike innocence, blinking at him for a moment and putting a hand back on him, smoothing it up and down his back when he whined. Was he, perhaps, part dog? Swallowing carefully, she listened to him talk, watching him make a bubble when her hands were on her lap.

Instead of popping it, she simply closed her eyes and waited.

A quiet snapping sound and she opened her eyes, only to instantly close them from soap. "Aaah," the backs of her hands went to her eyes and she stood up quickly, bent over, head down, tears filling her eyes from the stinging, "Yes, we're friends," She whined out, making hissing and pained noises from the burning. "Ooooh, I got soap in my eyes," Sera cried, then she pulled her hands away, those were soapy too. Her arm went to her face and she gave Maako a weary red eyed look before she tucked her face into the crook of her arm to try to wipe the soap away. "Oh, that was a bad idea, don't put soap in your eyes!" She demanded,  just in case he wanted to try.

He seemed curious.

Maako could tell when he did something wrong. And the sounds of someone screaming generally was a good sign of it, especially if they had been rather nice to him since the beginning. 

At her whines, Maako jumped from the water, heat flooding his face to attend to her pain and even as she wiped it from her face​, he sat perched on the tub's edge, and wrapped his lower arms around her waist to keep her still.

His upper arms were wet but rinsed and carefully rubbed the soap from her eyes, cupping her face in the aftermath. "I'm sorry! Are you all right?"

Sera's eyes were still watering and the feeling of someone's hands on her face was unfamiliar.

Someone touching her at all sent little shiver's over her skin, gooseflesh climbed on her skin and she was very aware of her sleeves. A flush stained her cheeks and Sera let out a little breath, staring at Maako. Eyes still red and she wiped at the tears with the cuff of her sleeve. "It's okay," She said softly, trying to smile. A little lean away but... Oh dear.

Another flush and she looked up quickly.

Right. People bathed naked.

"Thank you, Maako," She said simply, unsure of how to thank him or what he was used to. A quick awkward kiss was placed to his cheek and she leaned back at smiled, eyes still red and squinty, a little watery. "You saved my eyes."

A kiss. She kissed him.

And it was Maako's turn to grow flush. Not because of embarrassment, but simply because a kiss was affection he did not earn. Slowly he let her go and retracted his hands back around his body. He gave a thin-lipped smile, feeling himself flush even more.

"You're welcome, Sera," he murmured and slipped back into the tub to finish his bathing.  "Will you...will you wash my hair?"

A small smile and she watched him turn shy.

"Of course," she said softly, rubbing at her eyes again to get rid of the last of the sting. The wet fabric of her clothing was making her skin itchy and she knew she'd have to get him settled soon.

Sera moved quickly, getting a small basin to get water and then pour over his head before she went about washing his hair. She was thourough, fingers massaging his scalp and the top of his back. "Close your eyes," she instructed before she poured water over his head again to wash away the soap, and she went back to his clean hair, running her fingers through it to make sure what was there didnt get tangled.

"Do you mind my touch?" She asked simply, curious.

Truth be told, he didn't want that bath to end. Mainly because it was the first time since coming to this world that someone bothered to treat him with care. And cleaned his hair - but that was an explanation for another time.

"Okay," he murmured, closing his eyes as he did as she instructed. He leaned his head back and just enjoyed the feel of her hands along his scalp. His flesh goosebumped and he sighed, tingles crawling all up and down his spine. "I haven't been treated like this since Master.  When he was happy,that was."

He leaned into her touch and errupted into a noise that resembled a purr.  And hell, it was a purr.

"Oh...yes. You're very good with your hands," he said and smiled again, making sure to keep his teeth inside his lips.

The noise had her start and Sera stared for a moment, eyes wide. Alarmed and a little scared.

His compliment made her blush and she swallowed carefully.

"Is this..." She didn't stop, her hands still moving over his head simply because he liked it, "Is this erotic for you?" She whispered, hands pausing for a moment before she just placed them on his head, fingers tangled in his hair.

Sera leaned over to look at him, pressing over his shoulder because he was so large, "Should I... Not touch your hair?"

Huh!?

Maako glanced at her, amidst the attention she was giving him. "N-no," he murmured. "Honestly, I haven't considered that. But...it does feel very good. I'm not complaining." He reached up to pat her arm, wetting her sleeve further.

"I suppose it could feel erotic. If you want it to," he murmured, glancing at her from over his shoulder. "I wouldn't begrudge you if you were curious."

A quick blink and she felt her heart skip a beat.

Curious?

Sera flushed brightly, eyes wide. Slowly, she moved her hands from his hair and smiled at him, though blushing still. "I... I don't know how touching your hair would be erotic," She said simply before she pat his shoulder, "But... I'm... Okay. Thank you." A look at her wet sleeves and she sighed, frowning at how itchy she was everywhere else.

Taking a few steps away, she found a towel and put it down on a dry spot.

"I need to sleep and you're squeaky clean so you get out when you want to," Sera smiled, pat his shoulder and wandered off to her room, the door slightly ajar just in case Maako needed something. Then, proceeded to peel off her itchy wet clothes. Frowning at them, before, naked, she started to dig through her closet for something easy to wear to let her wings breath. Naked, Sera was a plump woman with ample breasts, a little tummy and rounded hips, the strange lavender fines that glinted in the light were an anomaly and, even more so, were the fleshy useless wings that grew from her back. They didn't appear unlike an unfurled flower, curled up.

A few minutes should be fine. Stretching her arms high above her head, her nightgown on her bed, she flexed her shoulders, letting her wings dry out from being dragged under clothing all day. A weak little movement and she sat on the bed and sighed, head down, finger combing her hair. What a day. What a strange creature she'd let into her life.

With the offer politely declined, Maako watched her walk away before he dunked his head down into the water, letting the bubbles surface before he emerged once again, loving the feel of being clean. He stood up, and made sure to drip the water into the tub before he grabbed the towel and dried himself off, paying careful attention to get all the nooks and crannies that had accumulated dirt over the months he'd been here. 

Maako carefully moved over to the door, and he spied her somewhat, glancing back at the unusual flesh of her body.  His eyes widened and he didn't make a noise. He just stared at her for a time until her cat passed between his feet and wandered, tail up, into her room, meowing loudly.

Maako sputtered, slipping and falling through the door onto his belly.  He only caught his fall momentarily, bottom arms holding him on fours along with his knees, and his upper arms gripping the door.  He flushed deeply.  "I'm sorry," he hissed and backed up.  "I wasn't staring! I-I mean, I was...but...I'm sorry, I'll um....  sorry!"

Sera stood up quickly, wings giving a strange jolt like they'd flutter if they could.

"Maako!" She cried but... Froze.

Hands at her sides, shoulders back. Swallowing carefully. He was odd. He'd understand right?

"It's... Okay," She said. Sera wanted him to feel welcome here and... "I... I'm odd too, see?" She moved her hands to indicate her body, flushed with... Shame? Embarrassment? "But no one can know, so... I keep it a secret." Sera tried to smile before she reached and grabbed her nightgown, then she paused.

Staring at it.

It was an old nightgown. Slits along he back for her strange useless wings.

"Could I get your help?" An olive branch, a quiet little request before she pulled the night gown on that only silhouetted her body against the candle light behind her. "I need to dry out my wings could you... Help me get them through the... Slits in the dress?" And she took a few careful steps, pulled her hair over her shoulders and presented her back, "They're not that delicate so... It's okay to touch them."

She froze then he froze, and he was quiet, staring between them.

Then he just quietly approached.  Yes she was odd, and sweet.  And she hadn't rebuked him. He meant her no harm, and her state only interested him.  He wanted to trace all his fingers along the pale little lavender lines that encircled her skin. 

"Okay," he said gently. "I can do that."  Hands reached upward to delicately grasp her wings and pried them through the slots of her night gown.  Two hands held the fabric and the other two pulled the wing through.  First one then the other.  "Is that much better?" he said.

"Your wings are much prettier than mine.  They just get stuck in the skin."  He lifted his upper arms and exposed the skin flaps used to glide and he wiggled his arms. "They don't have those lavender lines."

A little shudder and Sera closed her eyes, head down. Had anyone ever touched her wings before? They gave little twitches as they dried, the longer she stood there and she looked over her shoulder after Maako helped with the fleshy things. A quick swallow and... Nothing.

No insults. No disgust.

Eyes wide, Sera chewed on her lip and looked at Maako and his strange wings.

A hand reached forward and she pressed her fingers to his lower arm, letting her fingers trail down it. Bare arms, snowpale skin. The lavender lines stood out on her arms, pale vines making intricate designs while she moved her hand over his arm. "You don't... Think It's gross?" she said softly, looking up at him, concerned. Why did she care?  Still, having her wings out felt wonderful and slowly she could feel them...

A little twitch and she looked over her shoulder, not curled up and damp anymore she moved one. Akin to fairy wings but thicker and more useless. Sera smiled at Maako, looking a little shy, "Thank you, Maako, um..." She looked around, frowning, "Do you want to sleep on the bed? I could get a blanket and sleep on the floor."

If anyone could appreciate unique and beautiful things it would be Maako. In his world, she would be prized for her originality. There being no other like her, she'd be highly valued. Back home there were many Maakos, but only had had been the one disobedient enough to displease master.  That was why he was here after all, wasn't it?

He slid the skin of his gliders back underneath his arms, and he abruptly shook his head. "No...  You are very beautiful.  Only ugliness manifests from inside," he said.   "Just different.  I like different."

Maako smiled again, careful not to show his teeth and he looked to the bed. "No!  No. You do not have to give up your bed, my friend. I can sleep on the floor.  I am used to it.  This is your home."

Sera looked away and smiled. It was a compliment. Ill placed and a lie but... A compliment. A soft shake of her head and she took two of Maako's hands and tugged him along, bringing him to the other side of the bed.

"I won't be having my guest sleep on the floor," she said sternly, a hand on her hip. "You sleep on that side and I'll sleep on the other."was she just trying to prove how accepting she was? Sera blinked at him after a moment before turning away.

All but pushing him onto the one side of the bed, Sera pulled down the sheets of the other and climbed in, sitting up still. "There, see? We both fit. No one has to sleep on the floor." She smiled and looked at the candle. "Want me to blow it out?"

Her touch sent a gentle tremble up his arms and he made a noise when she led him to the other side of the bed. They were going to share?  But he thought that wasn't what she was after.  He did offer after all, but he wasn't going to press that particular subject.

She had a point, and he saw no reason to fight her on it.  So instead he sat down on the bed and carefully curled up into a small ball against the soft bedding. She was right, they both fit just fine.

Then she spoke and his eyes shot wide. "Blow it out?" he said, glancing over his shoulder and he only then looked at the candle.  "Oh!  Yes, the candle. Please."

Sera frowned at him for a moment.

"Why are you making yourself so small?" She asked softly, shifting her shoulders and moving her strange little wings so she didnt sit on them. Sera reached and placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. "You dont have to take as little room as possible. Its okay," she tried to assure him.

Then she leaned over and blew out the candle, engulfing the room with darkness.

She'd keep the tavern closed tomorrow. Take a day. Get to know her guest.

Sera curled up on her side, facing Maako before she reached over and put a hand on him. "Do you like being touched?" She asked curiosly, giving him petting like motions with her finger tips.

It wasn't lack of assurance that made him be more than a little ball on the bed. Maako simply slept more comfortable that way. He, however, wasn't going to rebuff her coaxing as he turned over onto his other side and scooted closer to her. "Sera..." he said gently, looking at her with soft eyes.

"I'm okay," he nodded to her. "I'm not used to being permitted in a bed without the expectation to give. Sleeping after does not always follow. You do not have to do anything that does not bring you comfort, my friend. I like you as you are already."

It was his turn to reach across and gently graze his hand across her cheek.  "You have done so much for me already."

Sera blinked at Maako as her eyes adjusted to the faint moonlight that came in from the window. A frown and she pouted at Maako, eyebrows drawn up.

"You were trying to eat my cat," she said softly, catching his hand and holding it, "I had to help." Still his words nagged at her and while she fought off a yawn she threaded her fingers through his. Sera found she liked the contact too. "Give what?" She asked softly, not understanding.

"What could you possibly give me in a bed?" The words were laced with confusion and curiosity. People went to bed to sleep, not give each other thingd.

"I was not trying to eat your cat. They're very soft. And cats give me hair balls." Maako gave a stretch of his limbs and scooted in closer to her.

"To give... Hmmm. Of the body," he said plainly.  "I could give you my body if you wished. Copulation I think it's called by humans.". His fingers curled around hers a little tighter and his thumb rolled over hera, feeling the pulse there.

Sera's eyes went wide and she stared, her heart picked up and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears.

No doubt her face was several shades of red, it felt like it. No doubt she could set kindling on fire with how flushed she was because Maako was talking about sex. And while she was curious about it on a very base level.

"Oh, Maako," even though she blushed she was full of sympathy. While she'd been used and abused for many years it had never been like that. -"I... I don't do that." She pay his hand, not tearing it away.

"Besides," she flushed and closed her eyes, tucking her head into the pillow , "you're intimidatingly large, I doubt that would even work, so dont you worry about a thing. Just rest and be comfortable."

What else could he mean by sharing a bed with another? The fact that she was rather astonished by it was kind of endearing really.  And Maako hid the amused gleam in his eyes by smiling sweetly. He would respect her wishes and her boundaries. Even if he knew secretly that he would curl up close beside her in the night.

"That's okay, Sera," he murmured. He chuckled at her last statement and scooted in a little closer to her, reaching up with another arm to gently push her hair away from her face.  That hand settled on the pillow beneath his head, puffing it up beside them.

"I'm not worried, my friend. And size isn't always a problem. I am good at making myself seem smaller than I am."  He nodded and dug his head into the pillow. "I will try and sleep now.  Thank you, again, for everything."

Sleeping beside a giant blue man with more mouths than sense should have been alarming. However, Sera was comfortable. He'd seen her wings. Seen her body. Where most - if not all - would recoil at the sight of her Maako had looked... Curious. Sera fell asleep smiling.

However, she woke up, shifted.

Sometime during the night she had moved closer to Maako.

A rare occurance of her wings being allowed to remain out gave her some semblance of control over them and those were curled like her arms were.  Sera wasn't quite sure how she managed, but she was curled up, arms pillowing Maako's head to her chest and one leg thrown over his torso.

Did she pretend to be asleep?

Sera wasn't sure, the light of draw peeked in through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room and she... remained. Not sure how to leave the embrace. Selfishly, she didn't want to because it may be awkward for her guest to wake up with herself wrapped around him. The other part was how nice it was to be pressed so close to someone. Even if they were more strange than her.

As far as Maako was concerned, her nature alone was all that really mattered. Her outward state certainly made her interesting to look at and he wanted to reach out and touch her strangeness. Yet it was her words and her actions that made him fall asleep so soundly that night. 

Normally it would have been the afterglow of pleasure.  And it's very absence was just odd.

Maako had laid curled up beside her, and felt the weight of limbs on him, and his eyes flicked open when he remembered where he was. He didn't spook as he thought he would.  He hadn't been so comfortable in a long time.

He watched her quietly, a smile playing on his lips. "Are you awake?" he whispered softly.  His free arms reached across to coil around her middle and pull her into an embrace.

Don't squirm.

Sera almost opened her eyes when the arm coiled around her. Hated the shiver that drew up her spine, the way the weight of the arm made her as aware of Maako's body as her own. Still, she didn't open her eyes, thought.

It felt deceitful.

So, Sera made a little noise and snuggled closer. Not quite wanting to lose the contact just yet, not when she could get away with it. His strange horns and spikes poked at her chest but she moved closer anyway, shifting slightly to get more comfortable and less poked.

Sera hadn't meant to fall back asleep after shifting closer, practically forcing him to use her bosom as a pillow but the contact was warm and Sera was tired. So, with a soft content sigh, she was dreaming again, though the arm around her played into these ones.

It might have been deceitful but it sure was comfortable and Maako buried his face into her bosom, loving the warmth found there.  He knew his horns would be a little uncomfortable, but a tilt of his head made them less intrusive.

Eyes flicked up to her and he gently pursed his lips, pressing them against the soft flesh of her right breast.  He was curious and his arm squeezed around her, testing another kiss through the cloth of her nightgown.  He didn't squirm. Or make more of a nuisance of himself.

His lower right hand gently squeezed around her side,just underneath her breast, twisting his wrist and cupping it. A thumb to roll over her nipple, squeezing it a little.

The little touches intruded on her dreams.

Sera sighed, lips parted and a flush on her cheeks. Of course it was perfectly normal to have a lushy lovely tree hold her in its arms and kiss at her breast. Eagerly her body responded towards the tingling touch, eager and needy for more. 

Though, when the tree grew a hand and held her breast she frowned and... Sera's eyes snapped open and she looked at the wall for a moment. What? Right. Maako. Swallowing carefully she shifted her legs so they were pressed together and felt nothing but shame because, still awake, she liked the touches.

Flushed, her skin turning a pretty shade of pink, Sera looked at the little lavender designs on her arms. They'd deepend in colour as surely as her blush turned her red. "Maako?" She breathed, not moving away. Sera told herself it was so she didnt scare him, but she pressed into the hand at her breast anyway. "Um... I... I'm not a meal, you..." a slight frown, "You can't eat from those."  Surely thats what he was trying to do right? Eat her?

Trying to eat her? The very idea was silly to him. but considering how many teeth he had it was entirely understand able.  He carefully pulled his face up from her chest, readjusting his head so that he was laying beside hers.

"Sorry," he whispered. "I thought you might like the touches. I was curious. I wasn't trying to eat you." Her face was deliciously flushed, and the colors against the paleness of her skin was adorable.


But he didn't want to make her more uncomfortable than necessary, so he retracted his hand from her breast and instead shifted it around to her back to hug her gently to him.

"Good morning I guess," he murmured. "Again. I'm sorry. Do you object to such touches?"

Did she object?

Sera, flushed still, just blinked at the strange creature across from her. What was she supposed to do? Curious about what? Sera shivered at the hug, eyes closing briefly, still sleepy. Not to mention the strange heat Maako stirred in her belly from his curious touches.

"I..." she started, "don't object," she said softly, bright red. Still, curious about what? Impulsively she moved a hand to press against her breast, trying to make the tingle go away.  Though, it did little and Sera moved her hand away to gentle touch Maako's horns.

"What are you curious about?" She said softly, closing her eyes for a moment, "me?" She looked at her arm, the lavender trails. "Or... breasts? Because... I didn't mind the touches." She stated again, "it's... a new sensation," she admitted, smiling slightly.

Curious about her, about her reactions. Her responses made him careful about how he went about his interactions with her. And he was mindful of what he was doing now more so than he had been before. And didn't wish to do anything that might tarnish himself in the eyes of his newfound friend.

"You. And all the things that are a part of you," Maako admitted softly, voice quiet. "I don't want to scare or hurt your feelings.  I know I can be very frightening. I don't mean to be."  He leaned upward and tilted his head to gently kiss at her neck, retracting his head and leaning down into the pillow again.

"New can be good? Kindness is new to me."  He gently stroked her back, fingers dragging along her spine. "Did you sleep well? Did you dream about things?"

It was an unnatural feeling.

Sera's heart thumped in her throat and she sucked in a breath when Maako kissed at her neck. A moment of closed eyes and... He didn't bite her. Sera swallowed, opening her eyes after a moment. Still, he kept speaking, his fingers made her shiver and she wondered. Was he doing this because he was curious or because she let him sleep on the bed? It shamed her how her body was reacting to Maako being so close.

Not because of what he was physically, but because of what he seemed to have been. Sera rose a hand to gentle press it to his cheek. "I slept wonderfully, I was very warm and I only had a dream after..." She shifted slightly, blushing again and looking away, "You're not frightening," She whispered, "Not really." Sera leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead, a chaste quick one meant to sooth.

Another sigh and she looked at the window, pouting that the sun was coming up again.

Definitely just going to keep the tavern closed today. Family emergency, she'd say.

"Maako?" Sera whispered, leaning back slightly, "Do you want to touch me because you want to or because you think you need to?"

The chaste kiss certainly soothed something, and Maako purred into her touch. It brought him a great deal of comfort to be cared for and touched in such a way.  Maako only knew to respond to affection when he earned it. A part of him knew it was because he was conditioned that way, but another part seemed to acknowledge that he liked touching her as well.

He enjoyed the way he body seemed to flare in body heat when he gripped her a certain way.  She was wonderfully warm in a way previously unknown to him.

"I...." he blinked at her question. Truthfully the answer was both. "I want to.  I like the way you feel against me.  And because...I want you to like it too.  I like the way your breath hitches and pulse accelerates when I kissed your neck.  I enjoy bringing comfort and pleasure.  I know...too it's because I was taught to be this way, but really I do enjoy it."

It was confusing.

Sweet, but confusing.

Sera traced around a few of the strange horns on Maako's head, poking the one on his cheek and jaw before she shifted slightly to pull her dark hair up and over her head so it fanned behind her on the pillow. His comment on her heartbeat when he'd kissed her sent another flush of heat up her neck and she looked away for a moment.

Again, she pressed a kiss to his forehead, eyes closing briefly.

The dawn mixed with having not even gotten out of bed yet made her yawn again and Sera shifted slightly to stretch her arms and legs, arching backwards and making a little sleepy moan. Tired. Sera curled in towards Maako, tucking a knee between his and curling an arm around his torso before she nuzzled her cheek to his forehead. "What am I going to do with you?" She whispered, voice soft.

it wouldn't do well to turn him out.

"Don't ever do anything you won't enjoy doing if it involves... Someone else," She said, leaning back and looking at him, "Okay? You're... Here. With me. And you don't have to do anything you don't want to." A firm nod and she smiled and nodded, "You make me plenty comfortable," Another blush and she cleared her throat, "And... I didn't mind you.... Your touches or your kisses." They were... Interesting? Made her body warm? Woke up a strange curiosity she'd never been allowed to explore before?

Was it right though? Did Maako understand? Did she? Sera sighed and closed her eyes, frowning at the nightgown that was buttoned to her chin. Now it felt too tight, a few deft movements of her hand it was undone to her collar bone, high enough still to be chaste but open enough to take deep breaths. "I'll teach you how to live, Maako, like I taught myself," She said, in a sleepy sigh, resting her hand on his cheek.

She was ridiculously adorable.  He didn't know any other way to describe it.

Maako's purr grew louder and he flushed with heat at the embarrassment it brought him. The kisses soothed his flared flesh, and his purr quieted like an engine in idle.  "Okay, Sera. I understand.  I do enjoy the touching, but not all the time.  Just in moments like this," he said softly and rolled a little so that she could lay against him more, use him like a cushion.

His arms played gently up and down the skin of her spine and somewhat at the base of her wings.

"So what are you going to do today?  To teach me how to live? I am willing to learn anything you wish," he said.  "Again. because I want to.  I like you Sera. You're kind and beautiful."  His purr softened, vibrating through her. He tilted his head and looked at her with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Why did you have to teach yourself to live? What happened to you before?" he asked, his other hand gently playing at the cloth of her collar, brushing her hair back.

The purr made her grin. How hadn't she noticed that before? A tilt of her head and she for comfortable against him, eyes falling closed again. The hands at her back and wings sent shivers up her spine and she flushed and wriggled against Maako.

Eyes wide while she looked at him.

Kind and beautiful. And needy and used those around her for her own gain. "Maako," she whispered, hand moving to unbutton the neckline further. Sera froze at the question and instead of answering it she pressed against him, pressing her lips to his.

Her arm curled around his neck and she worked at the buttons of her nightgown to bare her breasts. It was easier and nicer than answering where she was before. Sera deepend the kiss, eyes closed before she guided one of his hands to the bared flesh. Maybe Maako would forget, or at the very least she could distract him for a while so he didn't think about it.

A distraction that was working for the most part. Maako clearly had not been expecting what she did next, and when it happened, for that time, he did lose his train of thought. There they were exposed for him to see, for him to feel, were her breasts.

They were round and supple and warm, and his upper hand grasped her left breast when it was exposed, rolling his thumb over the hardened nub and squeezing it gently.  She kissed him and he raised his head off the pillow to kiss back, pressing his lips in a gradually roughened against hers.

Maako purred into her touch, his arms wrapping around her and he felt his blood begin to heat, the soft flesh of his member gradually hardening from where her body pressed against him.  Not completely yet, but he gave a needy whine, and he turned his head away from her face to kiss at her neck.

"Clever girl," he whispered.  It was a suitable distraction. And he would let the matter drop for now.

It was a soft pulse of pleasure when Maako had her breast, drew his thumb over the peak. Sera flushed into the kiss, shifted her thighs and moved her shoulder to offer Maako more room to touch her.

Sera frowned at nothing, shifting her hips slightly to feel whatever that was.  Should she be concerned? Did whatever that was hurt? Sera's eyes fluttered closed when he kissed at her neck, heart pattering unevenly. What was she supposed to do?

A brief moment before she took a breath, "are you okay?" She asked, concern on her face, moving to sit up. Carefully tucking a hand between her thighs because she didn't really enjoy the sudden... heat there. Bunching the nightgown onto her lap she frowned at Maako.

"Did I hurt you?" She glanced at his groin and then back at him, having pulled the blankets away. "I didnt mean to hurt you," and she moved to button back up her nightgown, distraction having worked.

No. You couldn't just take it away. Not like that! Maako almost be panicked when she pulled away to check the heat of her body and to cover herself up again. He laid back, watching her trying to keep the alarm out of his eyes.

"No you didn't hurt me," he panted lightly. Already his pulse was throbbing in his ears and he looked at her neck, wanting to run his tongue against the skin there, make that pulse quiver. 

So he did, pushing himself up onto his lower elbows, leaving his upper hands to reach forward and coax her back over him.  "It's a good kind of ache," he whispered.  "Your thighs are shiny. Do you have an ache to?"

Maako reached toward her inner thigh and ran a thumb along the skin, bringing it up to examine in the daylight.  Something was wet down there. Did she pee? 

A turn off his head and he licked at the skin of her neck.  And his other hand plucked away the buttons of that nightgown.  He didn't have anywhere to go, and she didn't seem to want to answer his questions. Why not explore it a little more?

Again, as he plucked at the buttons her breasts were freed. The heat that climbed though her when his tongue met her pulse. A shiver and she let him move her closer. A hand snaked up his back, threaded through his hair.

"I... guess so?" She said to having an ache, "nothing hurts..." Sera said softly bunching her nightgown by her thighs and shifting, flushed and antsy. "This isn't a good idea," Sera whispered, looking at the window. The lavender under her skin practically sparkled in the sunlight the window let in.

Her pulse was so heavy it was moving her neck and though she protested she drew closer. "I didn't know touching could feel so nice," she admitted softly, moving to lay down again, arms at her sides, though she turned slightly, "why do you want this?"

Her heartbeat reverberated into his sensitive ears like the continuous beat of a wardrum. Maako held his breath to listen to it. Gods, why did she have to be so ...so...delicious? In a way that was so much more than a meal. Even if he did eat her, he only wanted to do so in a way that would have her squirming underneath him, fingers digging into the bedding because that would be the only logical thing to do.

Maako let her pull away from him, and he let out a soft, needy whine.  His purr slowed to a low, gentle rumble and he turned his body into hers, and his hand reached out to push her dark hair away from her face. Her eyes had a rainbow glint to them in the sunlight, like opal when struck just right. "I just want to make you feel good. To share...and...because you make my blood hot inside me. I want to be hot inside you," he murmured and tilted his head in toward her face, kissing her softly along her cheeks, her chin, and licking her lips.

"Have you never done this? Is such an act really so foreign to you?" he murmured.  He gently plucked at her bottom lip, pulling it down before tilting his head to give a deeper kiss, moaning softly against her.

When she took in the dirty four-armed blue man, fed him and gave him a bath, the last thing Sera had expected was... This. Pulse throbbing, face flushed, breasts out and on display. Sera wasn't even focussed on the fact that her legs were bare because she wasn't sure how to deal with what she was seeing.

Was it making her feel bad? Well, no. Did she not want hands on her? No, Sera found she quite enjoyed it. Sure her face was several shades of red, but she looked at Maako while he spoke.

"Hot inside where?" She panted, violet eyes wide. Inside. Inside? Sera's lips parted but then Maako was asking more questions and she melted into the kisses. Sera pulled away, looking a little dazed, she'd clutched her nightgown against her belly, more legs displayed. "I've never... Done anything with anyone," she breathed, looking confused.

And then betrayed, because he had pushed his tongue in her mouth which surely meant he was tasting her.  "Maako, you said you weren't going to eat me," she whimpered, holding the balled up bottom half of her night gown tighter.

He purred a little as he deepened the kiss, parting his lips a little, plucking at hers and giving tasting her. "It's a kiss," he whispered, his hand push the cloth of her nightgown further away from her shoulder.  His fingers dug into the skin and ran down the lavender veins that ran along it.

"It's...Hmm, a hungered kiss. But there's no actual eating involved," he murmured.  Maako kept kissing her, biting and plucking at her lips.  His lower hands pushed her nightgown up to grip at her legs.  He coaxed her thigh up on his and reached down to where he felt the wetness from before.

He purred at her heat, and reaching underleg, his fingers be pressed against her folds.  "Inside you meaning..A part of my body goes inside your body," he breathed.  She was so flushed it made his member ache with want.  He gave a soft whine. "Just relax. I want to try something."

Maako pulled away from her, crawling away from the bed and maneuvering so that he was beside her legs. Placing a hand gently on her knee, he looked up at her with languid eyes. "Just a taste. If it's too much, I can stop.  No biting, I promise."

Oh good.

No actual eating involved. Sera frowned, mind trailing away. If there was no actual eating did that mean there was pretend eating? What was that even? With the little sleeves of her nightgown resting at her elbows, briefly her arms rose to cover her breasts. So many new sensations from touch and she pressed the kisses back hesitantly.

Sera let him move her, feeling ... Shame? Eagerness? An odd mix of both. Unfamiliar everything. Was she doing this simply because it was offered? Because it felt nice? The feeling of his fingers between her legs made her breath hitch and she jerked away slightly.

"O-okay," her voice was soft and hesitant, watching him, tempted to cover herself with her hand. Sera's breath picked up and she watched him move, looking at his odd coloured hand on her knee. Naked except for the nightgown around her middle, Sera pulled the blankets to curl her arms around them, covering her chest. The cloth felt oddly abrasive against her sensitive skin.

"What are you tasting?" She finally asked, knees parting, "what would be too much?" Her voice was a quiet tremble and she moved to prop herself up on her elbows, watching him curiously. A little frown and she flopped back down, staring at the ceiling. "Maako," she voiced softly, shifting, "do what you want. Besides eating me. You can't eat me."

Maako was biting his lip as he watched her and he waited with baited breath. Hia curiosity drew him closer, her scent overwhelming the further he crawled toward her legs.  He positioned himself just so, so that his belly was against the bed and his face was against her inner thigh.

Lips left kisses along the lavender lines, his teeth dragging here and there until he reached that wetness and he leaned forward to give an experimental flick of his tongue to her clit, watching her response. 

"No eating," he whispered and kissed her inner right thigh, leaving a red mark. "I promise." And that was all that was said before be leaned into the act and lapped curiously at her folds and clit.  Her scent was drawing and his upper arms were hooked underneath her legs, gripping at her thighs.

What.

Sera sat up, staring down at Maako, flushed and a little noise squeaked out of her. A little tremble. The jolt if pleasure was a punch to the gut and she curled forward. Still. Despite the pleasure, the second taste was another unfamiliar surge of pleasure.

"I..." Sera wriggled away, slipping her legs from Maako's hands and she pulled the nightgown down and up and covered herself. Her core throbbed with want and she did. Sort of. Sera wanted to keep doing that but...

"I'm sorry but I have to go bake bread, excuse me!" She was up and on her feet, steps loud on the ground while she fixed her top. Sera's hair was loose, the nightgown was crinkled in odd places. Flushed. Panting. She could feel the wetness between her legs and it was uncomfortable.

It was wrong of her to let herself do that with Maako.

Deep breaths.

Sera gentle closed the door behind her to give Maako privacy and she pressed a hand to her chest before moving off to the side and leaning against the wall, taking deep breaths. Not appropriate. He was a guest and you didn't do that with guests! Even seemingly eager ones!

Mindlessly, Sera washed her hands and went about gathering the ingredients in her kitchen to start a stew. Having forgotten about the bread.

She...She pulled away?  Why did she pull away?

Just when he was getting into it, she was gone.  And Maako was splayed out against the bed with his hard-on and the taste of her still fresh on his lips. Maako whimpered and stayed on the bed for a while. 

With the door closed, he turned onto his side and gently grasped his manhood, squeezing and letting himself visualize her again, imagining what she felt like and savoring the taste of her on his lips.

Maako moaned slightly, burying his face into the sheets to keep silent, panting as he closed in toward his climax. His hand rolled over the tip and he bit his lip.  He didn't understand. Why did she leave?  Was it not good?

He'd never had anyone leave before, not when things were just getting interesting.  Did he do something wrong?  He came hard in his frustration and sighed into her bedding.  He supposed it wasn't the end of the world. Perhaps he had come on a little too strong.

She had bread to bake after all.

Sera tried to calm herself.

Still though, her chest bumped rapidly. It wasn't until she bent over and her her nightgown gave way to her breasts did she remember she never buttoned it back up. A moment of closed eyes, a deep breath. A hand pressed to her stomach.

Sera's eyes snapped open when she could only see Maako between her legs and feel the swipe of his tongue against her. A gnaw on her lip and she looked at the knife in her hand, the washed carrot ready to be chooped. Gently she placed the things on the counter.

Maako deserved an explanation.

Slowly, she pushed the door open just in time to watch him...

"I..." Sera's mouth opened and she flushed brighter. He'd looked so... Sera looked away quickly and turned her back, no doubt her ears were even red. "I wanted to tell you I was sorry and that I... It wasn't you! I liked what you did but it was a lot really fast and ... um..." a little glance over her shoulder

"You... you plan on cleaning my blankets, right?"

Maako jerked his head up the moment he realized she'd been watching him.  And his purr stilled, his entire body flushing with heat.  Pulling the blanket over his lap, he propped himself up on his lower arms and pulled the pillow into a ball underneath his head.

"No, Sera," he quickly said. "It's okay!"  And there she was again stumbling over her words, which only brought a smile to his face. Maako shifted himself up and threw his legs over the edge of the bed, keeping the blanket over his lap.  "You will tell me what is okay. And what is not okay.  You don't need to explain. I was hoping...that you would change your mind, but I don't want to overwhelm you. Then it's no fun. And if it's not fun, what's the point?"

He smiled just a bit and flushed at the mess he'd made. "I'll clean them. Sorry... I got excited..."  He drew his face into his hands. "Do you have a wash basin for me to scrub it in?"  He stood up, towering over her.  Instinctively his shoulders hunched to make himself smaller and he scurried closer to her.

There was vague hesitation. Touching her elicited positive responses before, but he reminded himself - "Too much too fast".  And only leaned in this time to kiss her cheek before shuffling past her, dragging the blanket with him.

If it was no fun then what was the point?

Sera chewed on her lower lip, biting it raw in her nervousness and wincing at the taste of blood on her tongue. Maako was her guest. Sera looked back over at him and quickly looked away, the sun was casting enough light into the room by now that she could study him better. The night before it had been dark.

"I..." She started, reaching and taking two of his hands, looking up at him and blinking, frowning when she noticed he'd hunched. A moment before she turned to talk to him but... It was coincidence that he'd gone in for a kiss on the cheek, their lips caught and Sera blinked at him for a moment before she licked her lips. "Wait," She said, voice soft, shuffling to the window.

The tavern was smallish. A little yard outside her personal bedroom window. It was two buildings, her own personal home a tiny two roomed area in the back where they were now. A bedroom, a kitchen, a small table. Nothing extravagant. Perhaps the most extravagant thing in her home was her bed and cooking wear.

"Come with me to the light," She insisted, moving him towards the window, which she tugged at the curtains a little and put him in the light better. Sera had calmed a little, though her body still tingled and throbbed, heat was still pooled in her belly and she hadn't buttoned up her nightgown yet. It was with curiosity ( and perhaps just a small amount of desire ) that she studied Maako.

Hesitantly she pulled the blanket away, resting her hands on his hips while she studied his extra arms.

Her finger trailed down the middle of his torso.

Stared at it. Hadn't noticed it before. "How..." She looked at his lips, "How many mouths do you have?"

If any other inspection had made him more self conscious, Maako couldn't think of it. When she pulled him away toward the hallway window, he hissed lightly and drew his face away from the curtains. He could see how the real size difference between them. Although it didn't bother him, he hunched his shoulders a bit more, curling them in to make himself smaller.

He was quiet, and he made a whine when she pulled the blanket away. Didn't she want him to wash it?  Then she was touching him and his whole body shook in a shiver.  Suppressing it really would have been futile.

"Those things," he said and slowly straightened, letting her hand trail down his stomach-teeth. "Hmm...three, I think. But the one on my hand is it's own mouth. One...is to just make meals easier to get.  I don't use it," Maako said, and shivered again as he dropped his hands from his groin and allowed her gaze to fall upon him.

"Is three too many mouths?  I only ever need to use one at a time to eat," he promised, rolling his shoulders back and pulling the teeth on his abdomen tighter, exposing the sculpture of his ribs.

It was clear then that naked bodies weren't inherently sexual to Sera. Her own was a thing to be ashamed of, not because of it's naked bits but because of what she was. The strange markings. The ugly fleshy wings. Little more than scraps of skin that would be agonizing to remove than anything else - though, after being out in the open for a few hours they seemed to have some structure. Unable to fly with them, they looked like fleshy leaves now, bendable, movable but... Useless.

Sera's fingers trailed down the teeth on his chest, blinking at them curiously before she got to the bottom. Oh. He was still naked. That part was obvious sexual because she remembered he wanted inside her. Swallowing carefully she trailed her fingers back up and smoothed her hands over his chest, down his sides, over to his lower set of arms and trailed her hands down those.

"It's own mouth?" She finally asked, grabbing at his wrists and turning the palms up - not really sure which hand had the mouth. "What's that mean?" Sera asked, a confused little smile on her face, a tilt of her head. The blanket could wait... He couldn't go outside and do it anyway and... It wasn't like people didn't do that in the rooms she rented out. Who did they think cleaned the sheets?

"Maako," Sera brought an arm to her mouth to press a kiss to the wrist, "I think you're beautiful in your own odd blue way, okay?"

If only she could see what he saw through his eyes. To him, she was uniquely beautiful, and the lines made him want to trace his fingers along their pathings. Drag nails until their little markings made identical ones along their lavender lines.

Maako stepped in closer and wrapped arms around her, letting her touch him, feeling the hackles rise along his skin and the small tingles that shivered through him. "Oh yes? What else do you think is beautiful?" he asked and grasped her hand from one wrist to place on his chest and shoulder. "You are very different. I like it. You're not like the pale and scary people out there.  I hope you know that you are beautiful. I am sorry if you find that hard to believe."

Maako gently grasped her wrist with his upper right and dragged it down his frame, while his lower arms hooked around the back of her lower waist, casually chaining her to him.

Quietly she listened to Maako. Looking up at him with curious wide eyes. Though, all she could really see was memories of his face between her thighs and his tongue... Sera shivered at the memory, moving in close to Maako to hide how she'd reacted to the memory. Top still unbuttoned, Sera didnt want to embarass either of then further.

"Maako?" Her voice was soft and she snuggled against him, cheek resting on his chest, "you can't go outside to wash it, so I will wash it," not quite what she'd intended to say.  A pause and she curled her arms around him, eyes closed. Listening to his heartbeat, "Were you doing all that because you truely wanted to?" She muttered against him, the movements of her lips probably tickling his chest, "or because you feel like you had to because I let you sleep on the bed?"

Whatever shameful thing he had done, it was quickly forgotten and Maako found himself leaning into her touch. She was far too gentle with him, and every little touch made him shiver. It was something he was completely unused to it. In some ways he didn't feel like he deserved it. Only if you were really good did Master give a stroke of affection, and only then when he was well pleased with himself.

"Oh okay," he replied softly and when she pressed her face into his chest, talking did indeed tingle against his skin. 

"Hmmm, I wanted to of course," he said with a playful grin, titling his head to look at her. "I liked how it made you shudder.  But also because I like you Sera.  You make me tingly inside. You correct me without pain. And I just like you.  That's all."  He smiled sweetly and squeezed her lightly against his frame.

The simple words made her chest feel warm.

Who knew 'i like you' could... Mean so much. Sera squeezed her eyes shut, against the heaviness in her chest and the sudden thickness of her throat. "Maako," She whispered before she rubbed her welling tears against his chest, trying to be sneaky about it. Leaning away, her eyes wet with tears she smiled up at him and... Oh right he was naked.

"We... We should find you some clothes," She whispered, looking at his arms and then stepping back and... Sera stared at him for a moment before lifting her eyes and looking away. Right. Right.  "I..." She only had skirts... Maybe... Sera shuffled over to a trunk, bending over to open it and rifle through the clothing.

"This is a sort of lost and found. People leave things in rooms sometimes and I collect them, wash them and... Either sell them or give them away." She pulled out a pair of pants, held them up and then shuffled over to Maako and held them out to him, "As much as... I... Um... Don't mind you like that, you..." She cleared her throat and looked up  at his shoulders, " You might be cold."

Maako had to suppress a chuckle at her stammering. That's right she was not used to having someone so strange walking around with his junk out. He glanced down at himself and squinted. Yes it was a little cold. Just a tad.  Things were so much warmer back home. Except Sera's bed. That was the warmest he'd felt in a long time.

"These look kind of small," he admitted as he examined the pants she set out for him. Thank the devils he didn't have a tail!  He shrugged and turned around to bend down and pull the pants on, jumping and wriggling into them. They were snug but they managed to fit and he buckled them up at his waist, hands flicking at the attached belt at the hem.  They were short around his ankles.  But he supposed that didn't matter.

His lower left hand reached down to pluck at his groin, fitting himself in better. "Like that right? Or are they supposed to be tighter?" he asked and smirked at her, turning his back to her and poising so the muscles of his ass showed. "Okay, I can work with this.  Shirts!  I like those!  But...they usually only have two arm holes."

"Well... You're..." Sera looked at him for a moment, finding herself watching him dress before she quickly turned away, cheeks flushed, "You're a big guy." It was true. He was huge. In many ways. Swallowing carefully and finally looking back at him after he'd groped himself and... Sera stared at his ass. It was a human enough ass, and then her eyes followed along the muscles of his back. The strange extra limbs.

Before she realized it, she smoothed a pale hand along his spine, fingers tracing along the extra bongs and muscles. Did her back look like this? To a lesser degree of course.

Slowly, she moved closer, pressing her chest to his back, arms curling around his middle. Her cheek was against his back as well and she sighed, eyes falling closed. "You're warm," She whispered, pressing her palms to his chest. "I also don't have any shirts for you."

Maako stilled when he felt hands against him, and another shiver made his muscles tense and abruptly relax underneath that soft hand. He didn't know what to make of this woman. She was kind and sweet, that much was certain. But so much was not. Fickle were her inclinations, at some points she was shocked and pulled away, and at others she was curious and reached out to touch.

But he wasn't going to startle nor reject her.  He leaned into the tingling touches and raised his upper arms so that she could drape them around his chest.  His heart skipped a beat and something stirred in his belly.  Just a reaction to the touch of course.

"I like being warm," he purred, turning his head to try and look at her, but settled in when he couldn't. His hand reached down and pulled one of hers up to kiss the palm of it, and drag lips to her wrist. "Do you have a short dress? I can throw it over my shoulders and rip holes on the sides.  Belt the waist. Nobody will think otherwise."

He chuckled and pulled her tighter against him.  Maako felt that tingle in his belly again and he smiled. "Sera. I'm glad you found me. And I'm glad I didn't eat your cat. Why are you so kind to me?" he whispered the last words, smile fading just a little.

The kiss had her shiver.

Sera's fingers curled into her palm and she sucked in a breath, the tingling sensation shot right to her gut and she bit her lip and turned her face into his back. What would have happened if she hand't... A flush climbed up her neck and she nuzzled against his back before she shifted around, arms still curled around him only her face was pressed to his chest. Off to one side of that strange other mouth.

Biting her lip she leaned away slightly to look up at him.

Interesting looking to be sure.

"Because... You seem like you needed a little bit of kindness," She whispered. Another reason why she didn't let things progress ... Too far. Sera flushed again, turning her face away before she snuggled in for a longer hug. Just a few more minutes. Just... A little bit longer. She closed her eyes again, still hugging before she finally pulled away, head tilting before she gave his chest a pat and went back to the truck.

A long sleeved shirt, old, loose looking. Maybe a tight fit around his chest but...

Sera grabbed it and went to one of her drawers, removing a pair of scissors and removing most of the sides of it. A bright smile and she wandered back to Maako. "Kneel so I can put this on you," She said happily, lifting her arms up, and holding the shirt, looking at him expectantly, "It'll be a little tight, but you'll be able to get all your arms through."

Needed a little bit of kindness.  "Nobody ever thought I needed kindness before," he said, tone almost sad. Feeling her body move around to his front gave Maako something to rest his head on and he found his arms fell around her body easily.  His form seemed to mold so well against hers, head cradled in the perfect part of his sternum and collar bones.

When she pulled away, he gave a little whine but kept himself still, watching her, eyes falling to her rear and his smirk reappeared on his lips. Goodness, she had a lovely shape didn't she?  He was pretty sure he couldn't have been the only one that saw her back there.

His hand almost reached out to touch her when she turned back with the shirt and he quickly retracted it, placing his two lower arms behind his back.  "Okay," he murmured and bent down on his knees and raised his arms while she shuffled the shirt over his form. The increased hole sides allowed the lower half of his body to slip through easily and he shrugged to give the cloth some leeway.

And that tingly feeling came back to him and he looked up at her chest.  He smiled, it was gentle and his hands carefully snaked around her to lay his head against her chest this time, pressing his face affectionately against the warmth and loving the sensation of her heart rate.

That was until he began to rub his face between them rapidly, rolling his head side to side, and blowing out air roughly against her chest.

Sera figured one more hug couldn't hurt, right?

How wrong was she.

His face was too close to her breasts and she was about to push him away when - "What are you doing?!" Her voice was shrill and she rose up on her tiptoes to get away - it did little other than pull her nightgown down and she blushed bright red and pressed her hands against his shoulders. Goosebumps rose up on her flesh and she was mortified and she looked around the room like someone could have seen this.

Sera was bright red and she blinked widely. "I don't mind the hug but... Don't ever do that again!" Still, despite her pushing, she didn't go anywhere and Maako's face was still pressed against her chest and Sera just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Who did that. "Why would you do that!"

He...didn't know what came over him, and Maako stayed there knelt before her when he stopped and gasped in a deep breath. He looked up at her from where he was and gently let her go, feeling himself burning with shame. "I....I don't know!" he said, voice low, panicking a little.

He flicked eyes up at her, and saw her nightgown was askew and he carefully reached up to put the buttons back into their place. He could have melted right out of his skin with how hot he was and he crawled away to close the trunk lid.  The clothes would do for now. 

"I'm sorry," he said, pausing at the door, hand braced to the jam and he hesitated before stepping out. "I'll....um...make sandwiches, yes.  Um...sorry."  And quickly disappeared down the hallway.

Sera was frowning.

Her lips were pulled deeply on either side and she watched him button up her nightgown. The palm of her hand rubbed at her chest and she just ... Stared after him. Had she ever been so red in her life? Sera's mouth opened and closed but no words came out before she took a deep breath, frowned and shook her head.

Alright.

Maybe there had been a disconnect somewhere.

With Maako out of the room, Sera decided that now would be a good time to get dressed for the day. Much like the dress the day before, this one was buttoned to her chin, clasped tight around her wrists and while it was a snug dress, not an inch of skin was showing except for her hands and her face.

There.

Sera looked at herself in the mirror, quickly pinning her hair back into a loose bun before she exited the room and made her way into the kitchen. Hesitant. A flush was on her cheek when she remembered the morning. What she almost let happen. Clearing her throat, she waited at the entrance of the kitchen, hovering in the hall. "Maako?" Her voice was soft, "Are you okay?"

He hadn't known what he was thinking. He just knew that doing it would be bound to backfire. So then why had he done that? Ruined a perfectly good sweet moment that made him purr and tingle all over. And it was all his fault. Maako wouldn't be able to get over his own shame, except by distracting himself with some productivity.

He didn't like being completely useless, and as he made sandwiches the way Sera showed him, when she finally did emerge into the kitchen, there was a whole pile of them on the counter, at least twenty of them worth.  He stopped and looked at her from over his shoulder, then the mustard-painted bread, meat, and cheese.

And something in him calmed down. Why was she concerned for him? He was the one that had embarrassed her, insulted her by the frictioned rubbing of his face between her breasts.  Yet her question still hung in the air.

"I'm....I'm making sandwiches," he said, would you like one?" he said and reached with his upper left hand, which was painted with mustard, and handed it across to her. "Would you like one?" he said, and smiled at her, genuine and contrite for what he'd done.  "I'm okay. What I should really ask though is....are you okay?"

Sera stared in mild horror at all the sandwiches.

Well. Good thing she had a cool box. Deep breaths. She closed her eyes for a moment and smoothed her dress down the front - it was impeccable, not a wrinkle anywhere. Not a fold out of place. Sera's hair was pinned back in a tight knot at the base of her neck and she walked into the kitchen, looking at the offered sandwich.

A sympathetic look was on her face and she reached forward and took the sandwich.

At least he'd used the left overs, a glance at one of the others told her he'd used some of the raw meat which... She hadn't explained it to him and he probably didn't know better - he had been trying to eat her cat. Sera held the sandwich before she walked beside him, placing her own sandwich on the corner of the counter before she freed his hands, grabbed a washcloth and cleaned the mustard from one.

Once his hands were free and clean, she placed hers in two of his and looked up at him.

"I am fine. A little..." Sera flushed again, looking away, "Embarrassed but... You don't know any better," She gave his hands a squeeze and looked to the pile of sandwiches. She guided him to a small table against the wall beside a window, nudging the curtain slightly to let the sun in. Guiding him to a seat, she forced him to sit down - gently of course - before she went about mechanically cleaning up the mess he'd made, smiling at it slightly. Eager and messy. Like a child.

"You should tell me about where you're from," She said softly, "About... What you did. For your Master." It would explain things to her. From what she'd gathered of that morning... Sera brought over a small pile of sandwiches to Maako, assuming he was hungry, and placed the rest of them in a cool wooden container for later. "And then you can ask me questions."

Maako's eyes watched her wipe away the mustard he'd gotten in his hands. He was grateful for that since while he liked the taste of it, the very scent of mustard seemed to make his eyes water. He made a soft noise, almost akin to a whine as he let her guide him to the table. The sunlight wasn't appreciated but he made no argument. After what he just did, he was lucky she didn't just kick him out.

What seemed to bother him most though, was not quite her reaction, but the very words she spoke, as if that he had no potential to understand that what he did was wrong. It didn't seem as if it was done to patronize him however, and he could appreciate her concern.

It didn't make him any less sorry. And at least her concern wasn't followed by an awful branding to his back.

He sat down and brought his legs up to have his heels hook at the edge of the seat, wrapping his upper arms around his knees and resting his chin against them. "Far away from here," he murmured. "In your odd tongue, the name is hard to say. There's no word for it. It is a warm, tepid place, deep and dark, like a cave, but with soul-lights. I never asked what they were made of."

Maako looked over to her, laying his head further out on his knees. "I was made to please Master. I was my master's favorite. His pet. He cared for me when he wanted me. And when I displeased him I was punished. I suppose your tongue would call that a lover, yes?"

His free hand idly took a sandwich and brought it to his mouth, munching lightly. "Is that what startled you? Did you think I was trying to please you as I had sought to do with my master?"

Sera chewed on her lip while she listened and ate her sandwich quietly. Double checking to make sure it was indeed edible and he hadn't just put some wood before slices of bread. That was a whole two days worth of food there, sitting on the counter, and she'd closed the tavern for the day. Maybe Maako would eat it. At the very least - he learned well, the sandwich wasn't bad and it didn't taste like wood.

Listening carefully, she added her own mental commentary. Though the more he talked the more sad he looked and finally, Sera put her sandwich down and pet his head, avoiding the horns for fear of scratching herself. "That's ..." Sera sighed and moved to stand in front of him, placing her hands on his arms and giving them a gentle squeeze, "Maako. A lover doesn't hurt you, A lover loves you. You do nice things for one another, someone who loves you wouldn't hurt you." She sighed and looked down before she  cupped his cheeks and tilted his head up to place a kiss on his forehead.

"I was... yes. I..." She flushed and took a step away, "I've never been touched before and... You seem to know a lot and..." Sera covered her face in her hands, "I don't know how to... I've never..." A look at him from between her fingers before she ducked her head down, "I'd only be bad at it anyway."

Something in her reassurances gave Maako chills. He didn't know why. Sera was perhaps the nicest person he'd met ever...in all this life. And he found it to be an attractive quality simply due to its absence in his lifetime. Nevermind that he didn't know how old he was, except that her touches made him shiver and her words eased his mind.

Maako wanted to wrap his arms around her and the nubs of his horns against her sides, and burrow his face against her flesh. He took in a deep breath and behaved. What she said actually made a lot of sense, and a part of him still remained sad that he was not at all loved by his master. Not from her estimation it seemed. To think he could have been so disposable.

"I understand," he murmured, setting his own sandwich down while she explained herself. Maako looked her over and he slid forward on his chair, propping his legs down at last. "I didn't think you were bad at all."  He gave a crooked smile, reaching up for her hands and clasping one between his two larger ones. He brought it palm-side up and kissed at the small space just above her wrist.

"You were perfect," he murmured, and only let her go momentarily. "Oh...and I saw you looking at the sandwiches. Did I make them right? I got really nervous."

Sera swallowed her words and just watched.

Was that all Maako craved? Was to be needed? Wanted? Sera shivered at the kiss to her wrist, eyes closing briefly - then she remembered his mouth other places and her cheeks turned bright red and heat flooded her belly. No, not appropriate. Not when Maako was so sad. Not when it was daylight. The compliment to her perfectness got another blush out of her and she looked away and... Right at the pile of sandwiches.

"Well," She started, not pulling her hand away from his - in fact she turned it around to press their palms together, - she looked at them from where she stood. "Usually you don't make them with raw meat - you cook the meat - and... That's an awful lot of sandwiches, Maako." Sera chewed on her lower lip until it was red and she looked back at her guest. "Can you eat all those?" She flushed and looked away.

"I closed the tavern today because... Because of this morning, so... They may hold until tomorrow, but I don't think people will want stale sandwiches," Her voice was small and she sighed slightly before smiling at Maako, "You did well though, they look lovely, maybe... Don't make so many next time though."

Something about her blushing made Maako flush, and his chest heaved a little more as he watched her cheeks grow colored and her hands still in his -which now felt pretty sweaty. He smiled gently and eyed her between her words and her sandwiches. Right the meat was raw.

Nothing wrong with that, except he knew some people couldn't eat raw meat without getting sick. He wasn't one of them. And sometimes liked the tang of blood still present on the meat. "I won't make so many," he murmured. "I didn't know it was supposed to be cooked though. How do you do that? Make it all Not-pink?"

The flush she could detect made hers worse and Sera looked away after a moment and finally, let go of maako's hand. A long look at him and she smiled before she reached forward and put her hand on his head. Despite all the oddness he was a handsome... man?

Perhaps it was her upbringing that made her think that though. Sera impulsively leaned in, tilting Maako's head up and pressing her lips to his. "You can eat those ones," she teased before she pulled away and went to one of the sandwiches with raw meat.

What had once been a potentially perfectly good stew roast was now... a sandwich. Grabbing a pan, she went to the stove and got everything that needed to be on fire on fire. "You cook it," she said simply, dropping the meat in the pan once it hear up, "and then us weak tummied humans can eat it. Sera smiled and put the cooked slice of meat on a cutting board.

"Maako... Do... You have anywhere to go? Or... is it just me." She reassembled the sandwich and handed it to Maako.

"I'll eat them. I'm very hungry. For real food. No cats, i promise. Your friends are very fluffy and I wouldn't want to hurt them," Maako purred softly. His voice dropped as he kept his eyes on Sera. He couldn't help himself, she was just so different.

Maako watched her turn on the stove, saw the fire burning and the smoke coming up from the pan as the meat burned. The smell was awful and delicious at the same time.  He gasped and stood up, moving over to stand beside her.

He watched her work quietly, hand absently taking the sandwich and examined it in hand. It was....hot. Really hot.  Before he could answer her he popped it into his mouth and gave a loud noise that was a mix between a moan and hiss of pain. He spat out the meatwad in his hand and he set it on the table. "Hot," he murmured, chuckling. "I forgot fire was hot."

He smiled at her and took a different bite.  "No...nowhere to go. Can I stay with you?" he asked. "But I can go if you want me to. I don't want to impose. You're my friend. First friend. Good friend."

Sera just... Stared at the meatwad on the table.

Then looked back to Maako.

This was her life now.

She smiled faintly and closed the stove, making sure all the covers were closed so the fire would starve its self and die out. "You forgot?" She teased, tilting her head and looking up at him, watching him eat the sandwich after. The question caught her a little off guard. Stay with her?

"I only have... The one bed," She said simply, like that was an issue. It sort of was an issue. Only if she let it be an issue. Sera swallowed thickly and looked away, blushing. There were a few rooms above the tavern but... That was the tavern. Public. People went there. She couldn't let Maako there, he'd get drawn and quartered. "You can stay," she said simply, giving a little nod.

A long look at his face and Sera simply smiled at him.

"As long as you need to," Her voice was soft, a whispered promise, "I want to be your good friend and if that means I have to let you sleep with me, I'm okay with that." Sera didn't dare let herself think that the morning could be repeated. She'd messed that right up. Did she even want Maako to...? Sera flushed and looked away, dusting her hands off on her dress and taking a deep breath.

"My home is your home, Maako, okay? As long as you can... Stay safe, you can stay here as long as you like." And she just... Smiled at him and then looked away awkwardly.

Her whispered promise sent chills up his spine. Maako purred a little, taking another bite of his sandwich and basically just shoving the rest of it in his mouth. He made quick work of it. Just like he would make quick work of whatever else was edible in that house. Nothing was sacred except the furniture, Sera, and her cats.

"Thank you," he murmured, and wanted to brush his whole body against hers. He restrained himself however and dusted off the counter. "You're too nice Sera. Master would have flayed me for being weak. But you make me feel good....  It's...odd."

But it was clear he didn't object to it, not in the slightest.  "So you have a home here? And your cats? And odd clothes that people leave behind. They stay to sleep here, yes? They give you coins for this? Shinies I heard someone else call it."

Sera watched maako, head tilted when he inhaled his food. At least all he sandwiches would get eaten. Still, she reached forward to take one of his hands in hers and she smiled at him. "I'm... Just trying to help."

Just looking at Maako made her heart break. What had he been? Where? Sera impulsively curled her arms around his chest, resting her cheek to him in a hug. Though she didn't pull away and just stood there like that with him. "This is my home," she whispered, "There's a tavern I run. Its a seperate building. There are rooms above it... Its how I live. Usually its quiet." Sera closed her eyes and cuddled into the wamth.

"Its closed today so I could be here with you," she leaned back and looked up at him, giving him a little smile, "I'm sorry, I thought you might have needed a hug."

Apologizing? Why on this plane was she apologizing? Even in his lack of understanding, Maako instinctively wrapped lower arms around her, and laid his chin out on top of her head. She was small and he liked how easily she fit underneath his chin. The warmth her body radiated the fact that his fingers could practically sink into the surface of her flesh without piercing it brought a sense of comfort.

There was something endearing to her softness, and he could pillow himself around her like a cat might do to their owner, and he couldn't help his involuntary purring.

"No, I like your hugs. And...thank you. Truly," he chuckled and smiled at her. He seemed to be more careful about showing teeth than usual. They could be scary, that much was completely understandable. "I did need a hug....  Can I get hugs anytime I need them?"

An odd question for him to pose, but he was curious. Being close to her alone was rather intoxicating. "Sera...why does no one else live with you?"

Sera felt odd about Maako. Sometimes he was very clearly a man. Physically he was very much a man. His desires and his knowledge belonged to an adult man. Sera let him curl around her and she even closed her eyes and snuggled in against him for a moment or two.

Then he'd ask a question and she'd feel guilty for letting things get so carried away that morning. "Of course you can," Sera replied to his question about hugs, "provided I'm not in the middle of something." But finally, she pulled away and tilted her head up at Maako.

"Who would live with me?" Her voice was soft and she sighed, "I have no one. The cats aren't even really mine. They're strays. Somerimes i dont see them for days at a time," Sera sjghed and finally turned away, wrapping her arms around her middle, "sometimes they leave and never come back,"

Sera didnt start to explain what she was expecting Maako to do - which was just that. One day, he was going to leave and not come back.

How could this beautiful creature be left alone? Maako's heart went out to her. And aside from being physically drawn to her, to know she lived here alone gave him a sense of sadness. Up until now he'd never had any reason to be on his own.

Not until now, being discarded so easily.

"I will  stay with you," he murmured.  "If you will have me ". His voice was a deep, soft timbre and he shifted closer to her and shifted around her so that he was beside her. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.  "I won't impose. I promise. And if I do, you can kick me out." He gave a soft smile and tilted his head further around to kiss her lips.

Sera's heart skipped a beat when he said he'd stay with her.

A glance to him, violet eyes wide and she gave him a little smile. A soft chuckle when he kissed her cheek and she turned to look at him, though his claim that she could kick her out just had her open her mouth to get ready to tell him she'd never do that. Then, his lips were on hers and Sera closed her eyes. A moment to let the kiss soak in and she leaned back ever so slightly, cheeks flushed, "Maako, It's very unlikely I'd kick you out," Her voice was soft and impulsively she curled her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

Sera had never really realized how much she craved contact or physical attention. Something as simple as a hug was still mostly new. The kisses alone sent her nerve endings flaring and she pressed closer to him, her worry about sandwiches going bad and bread turning stale far away thoughts now that something much more interesting and much more warm was so close.

It was a shame she swapped out her nightgown for this dress that draped over her whole body. Maako felt her pulse racing and no doubt something so congealing around her would make her body heat so stifling.

He said nothing, and felt his own breath hitch as he leaned into that kiss, parting his lips and coaxing her tongue inside. He tasted her and let taste him although he was mindful of his teeth. They really were only sharp when he needed them to be. "Sera," he murmured her name. It rolled of his tongue so naturally. 

A soft moan, and his lower arms wound their way at her back and squeezed her body close to his, hands gripping her ass, as he kept the kiss a kindling slow burn.

Her name in his mouth had a strange zing of pleasure in her gut and she gave a sharp little gasp. No one had ever said her name like that before and Sera found that she didn't mind it. It was a bad idea. Anything involving the two of them was a bad idea. Anything beyond just being a simple kind, caring hostess was a bad idea... But Sera couldn't find the will power to stop it and she held Maako's face to her's, shifted slightly so he could press closer to her.

Sera lifted a leg, holding herself up on one foot and her arms curled around Maako's shoulders. Impulsively she pressed closer, cursing for, perhaps the first time, that there was clothing keeping her from the warmth of her new strange friends flesh. Then it clicked. Sera jerked away and regained her balance, "I'm sorry," She whispered against his lips, looking up at him. They were still pressed together tightly and where his hands were were.. Well. Very obvious and she was ashamed to say that she almost liked them there.

"This is... Inappropriate for me to do with you," her voice trembled and she licked her lips, "You're my guest."

This was a language he could understand. And he could respond easily to her touches. That familiarity was easy to fall back into. And it helped that something about Sera made him so comfortable, and he didn't feel the need to be afraid of reprisal, the need to cower because he did something that displeased her. Indeed, if he did, she would scold him and that would be enough.

Because in truth he didn't want to lose the sense of comfort she brought him, that contact and warmth. Where else would he find such a thing again? Maako wanted to bend her  over that kitchen table right then and there, then make her another plate of twenty sandwiches.

The first pile would have to do.

Maako kissed her and gripped at her body with an unearthly want and possessiveness. But somehow when she pulled herself away, he whined...and was glad for it. Because he didn't want to take her unless she wanted him to. For now, he was content to lick the slobber she'd left from his lips.  Maako grinned and blushed, his whole body flush.

"That's okay," Maako murmured. "If you want...we can try again later. I'm your friend, Sera. I promise it won't hurt. But...only if you're really curious."  Maako let her body go, reluctantly so, and gently squeezed her entire form to him one last time, all his arms wrapping around her, as he turned his head in and kissed her cheek.

"Do you need help with anything around here?" he asked curiously.

Sera was aware that Maako was touchy by now. The blunt words however still caught her off guard and it took her a moment to realize what he meant by it not hurting. Sera turned bright red and turned her face away.

"I... I hadn't been concerned with that before," she said, swallowing thickly before turning away, "but I suppose now I'd have to call you a fibber." Maako liked blunt, right? After the hug was done and returned, Sera gave his arms a pat and turned aeound to start to clean, "I appreciate the offer but you know as well as i do that... That..." Sera glanced at his groin before turning away and cleaning up crumbs.

"Wouldn't fit in anything i am in posession of." Or at least it didnt look like it! So, flushed and embarased, she went about cleaning the kitche . Helo? "No help," she bresthed, flushed still, "perhaps wait for me before you make food again though. I can show you how to make proper portions. Maybe we can make a cook out of you," she smiled brightly, turning away and bending to get at a spot on a cupboard.

Maako just smiled at her and winked when she tried to brush it off as something innocent. And for all he knew it was. It certainly was to him, and so he thought nothing more of it as he went about eating another sandwich and taking small bites of it in his hand.  He could easily devour the whole plateful with his stomach alone but she was flustered enough.

"A cook? So...I can play with food all the time?" he said. "Oh...I'd love to learn how to cook!" He quickly scarfed down another sandwich and licked at his lips. His hunger for food was sated for now.  As for...  His eyes gravitated toward her booty and he smirked, tilting his head to get a better look at it when she bent down.

"Do you get a lot of people wanting to eat your food? If it's anything like your sandwiches, I get you run out for days!"

Sera smiled.

Maako wanted to cook.

The smile was still on her face while she cleaned and she just watched him watch her for a few moments. "We'll do that then, when i can open the tavern again. You can help me prepare food in the morning." Finally she put her hands on her hips and Sera eyed Maako up and down.

"You're looking at me like you want to eat me" and she hated how it made her tummy quiver. Sera turned away again, cleaning things and putting them away. "You know that other people would eat it, right? All the food you make - you don't get it - its for customers."

Oh. Now that was just cruel.

How could she dangle that prospect in front of him and abruptly tell him that no he couldn't have all the food he cooked!  Hmm, this was going to be a lot harder than he thought. Although he was no stranger to temptation, resisting, he knew he would find to be much more difficult than anticipated.

He made a noise of displeasure, and frowned. "Hmm, well, okay," he muttered. "I can't make any promises but I'll try not to eat you out of house and home and business. It's important to you."

Maako ignored the comment about eating her, that thought would bring horror he didn't want to think about. "Okay, so how do you work that firebreathing iron thing. What did you call it? A stoooouve?"

Sera made a laugh noise that was sort of choking and sort of surprise.

"Well, you'll... Get food," she started, "Just... Not the food for the paying patrons," maybe he didn't understand that. Sera chewed on her bottom lip and looked away for a moment. Did he get starved? Was the number of mouths he had in direct proportion to his appetite? Because that was a lot of mouths. And one was a very large mouth. Which meant a very large appetite.

Sera looked to the stove and smiled, "Yes. You put fire in the bottom there," she pointed to the closed and latched cover for the stove, " and then it heats up the metal top, and then the smoke goes out the chimney there," She pointed to the various places while she explained, "The heat cooks the food or keeps it warm and then the people that come here get a warm meal."

A smile to Maako and she moved to hover her hand over the top of it. "I need to make a stew, so... It's still warm. So don't touch it unless you want to burn yourself."

For once Maako paid attention to something other than the stove. True, Sera was incredibly distracting, however knowing how to not cook his own hands he felt was just as important at the time. Maako looked down into the belly of the stove when she opened up and felt a shiver rumble through him, whether it was from anxiety or otherwise, he had no idea.

"Okay, fire equals pain. I know this well," Maako murmured with a exuberant nod. "Can I help you make the stew? Is it delicious like sandwiches?"

Sera smiled.

"Its better than sandwiches," she said smiling while she went about the kitchen, gathering the things she needed. Having gathered what she needed from the garden the night before finding Maako. Or something. Taking a knife she went about cutting the vegetables single mindedly. Maako basically forgotten while she prepared the meal.

From an outward view, it might have been cute to see a pair like them making stew in the middle of the kitchen that afternoon, morning long gone. It was probably a sight to see Maako chopping ingredients with one pair of hands while stirring the large pot in the other. And it was nice to know that Maako and Sera could both be so taken with food.

For Maako, it was another source of comfort and sating his appetite was not something he could indulge in very often. Maako purred when he could smell the stew boiling and he sat by the table, curled up on the chair and wiggling excitedly. "Is it...is it finished yet?" he whispered harshly as if the stew was asleep.

Sera just blinked at him while she puttered about cleaning the kitchen. Gathering a bowl and tools, then various ingredients, she went about making dough.

"Why are you whispering?" She whispered back, mixing with her hands. A brief glance to the pot and another look to Maako, "it needs to cook for a few hours. So it's extra delicious."  Sera sighed after a moment while she kneaded the dough.

"Thank you for the help today, i figured after a disaster of a morning you... You wouldn't want to help me or... or stay here."

"I don't want to disturb the ingredients," Maako murmured. "I find speaking quietly makes food taste better. It's had time to rest and when it's rested, and settled, everything just....ohhhhhh." Maako visibly shivered at her question and he smiled at her.

He hadn't realized just how much time had passed over the cooking, the eating, and what happened this morning. Maako watched her work the dough and put a hand on her arm. "Let me try," he whispered still, and coaxed her away. He pressed all four hands into the mass and worked it gently, pushing down with one set of fists and pulling up with the other, and alternating.

"You rest. I will finish here. I've seen bread made before. When it's ready, you place it into the heat part of the stove right? And then it turns into fluffy deliciousness," Maako said quietly. "If you speak too loudly, the bread will fall. It's not good when bread falls."

Sera tried not to smile.

Also tried not to laugh at him.

But it snuck out and she tilted her head, eyebrows up, giving him an odd look. In his own way, Maako was a sweet creature. He looked scary. He sounded a little scary but... When he whispered so to not disturb the bread and make it taste... Better. Sera looked to him when he had his hand on her arm and she blinked wide eyes at him.

Another blink when he shooed her away and she looked at her hands, moving to a basin of water to wash the flour and what dough had stuck there. Wiping her hands off on her skirt she stood back and watched him with curiosity.

What an adorable creature. Sera smiled all the while he spoke and tilted her head, eyebrows up, smiling. Rest? "Rest," She repeated, voice quiet simply because with all his whispering, using her normal voice would be odd. Though, she supposed he had a point - she was usually alone and therefore didn't talk often. "Alright," She said with a little shrug. A quick glance to the window told her it was already late after noon. They'd spend it making dinner.

She could use a nap.

Go to bed early.

Sera flushed after a glance to Maako and looked away quickly.

"I think I'll take a nap," She said brightly, moving closer to Maako before she went onto her tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek, "Thank you for the help," She whispered before she backed away and moved towards the bedroom. Did she want to change? She plucked at her clothing. It would be nice to let her wings out... So, Sera did. She pushed the door mostly closed - what if Maako needed help? - and peeled off her dress before placing it with the nightgown she wore the night before.

Once out of her regular clothing - She seriously doubted Maako would judge her for eating dinner in her nightgown, she left the room and presented her back. "When you're done with the bread, can you help me with my wings again?" Her 'wings'. Sera closed her eyes briefly and rolled her shoulders, finding herself quite ready for a nap indeed.

He could make bread. He didn't know how he knew how to make it, just that he did. Kneading and pulling the dough came naturally to him. There was something in the tactile feel of creating something that he found he enjoyed. Not to mention if she was away, he could sneak a sip of the stew while it was boiling on that stove. Of course, fire was bad, fire hurt, but the smells could be overwhelming.

A deep breath, Maako, he chided himself. Deep breath.  Nostrils flared as he continued to push his hands into the breath and he looked up at her with a playful grin on his lips. He said nothing, and blushed furiously when she kissed him. And his cheek tingled when she disappeared to disappear to her room.

By then, he'd finished kneading and when the bread was ready at last, he carefully slid the dough into the oven.  Into the basin his hands went, scrubbing at the skin there, and he tilted his head to her. And his eyes flicked to the skin of her back, his heart skipping a beat, and he held his breath.

"I can help you," he said, drying his hands and shifted over to her. "Do they get stuck in the dress a lot?" he murmured, as he carefully pulled the dress up from her back, and gently reached for her fleshy wings, pulling them through the slits. "I'm not hurting them am I?"

A soft smile.

"They used to," she said over her shoulder. Maybe... Maybe keep the tavern closed tomorrow too. Sera realized she just really wanted to rest. Get to know her guest. Teach him a few more things about cooking. A shudder and a shiver when Maako touched her strange appendages and finally the feeling if air against them...

"I usually don't bother because I can't really reach," she admitted before she turned around and pushed her hair over her shoulders. "Don't worry about them, they're always kind of numb." She reached for one of Maako's habds and held it to her chest. " Thank you for your help. You can plate yourself up as soon as bread is done, you dont need to wait for me - i'm kinda tired."

Maako found he liked touching her wings, as strange as they were. Their presence only added to her over all aesthetic and while she was self-conscious of them, he only wanted to touch them. They had an odd feel to them and deserved to be shown more often. He could understand why she hid them, he just wished that she didn't.

He kept on hand on the nearest one while she turned around and grasped his hand. His grip on the wing slipped and he looked at her. Where she placed it. To her chest, her breasts. It was not cold in this kitchen, but he could see the points of her nipples through her nightgown, and he moved in closer to her.

"Would you like me to wash your wings?" he murmured. "I bet they would look really nice if I cleaned in between the folds," he murmured. His free upper arm reached up to cup her cheek, brushing a thumb underneath her eye.

"Well, if you're that tired. I'll let you sleep. I will let you know when the food is ready. You look tired, and I wouldn't want to keep you up more than usual."  Maako chuckled and tilted his head to return that sweet kiss she'd given him on the cheek.

Cleaned in between the...?

Sera flushed brightly with both embarrassment and shame before she turned her head down and ... Were they dirty? Of course they probably... Didn't... Smell like roses but... Sera turned her head away, flushing brightly before she rubbed at her arm and turning from his hand on her cheek. The rest of the words he spoke went over her head because now she was just concerned that... Were they gross? She did her best to clean them, but sometimes...!

"I..." She looked to the basin of water - it was from yesterday, she hadn't done it today - and then one of the clothes and she looked down and away. "Okay... They won't look any nicer," She said softly, "But... I suppose if you want to... Clean them." Between the folds. They had folds? Sera was still bright red and she finally only looked at him when he kissed her cheek.

"I'd... Appreciate the help," She said honestly, taking his hand (One of them at least) and pulling him to the sink and giving him a wet cloth and... Turning around. "Try not to... Make a mess?" She said softly - remembering now that Maako would probably wail with despair if his bread didn't raise. Or something.

Maako could take the hint when she pulled him away to oblige. It was an offer he'd made however, and he was willing to give it a try. He was gentle, taking the washcloth in hand, dipping it down and soaking it adequately. He took one wing with two hands on his left, and used his right to part sections of the wing that needed a rub down.

"I hope I didn't offend you," he whispered, wiping down in smooth swipes. "I think they're lovely."

It was a little embarrassing.

Sera made sure to look away, head ducked down while Maako cleaned her wing. Were they that dirty? Gross? A flush of shame on her cheeks and she made sure to stare at the ground. For the most part, her wings were numb but now, being held so delicately, she could feel everything and swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut.

"I... They're ugly," she said simply, glancing over her shoulder, "You don't have to lie to make me feel better. It's okay. I know they're ugly and weird looking."

"No, no," he reassured her. "About these? I can't lie."  He blushed a little and gently wiped off her wing with a towel to dry off the water. And then got started on the next one. He used three of four arms to spread out the skin and again wiped it down with a little bit of soap and the washcloth. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about."

He leaned down to kiss at the back of her neck, just in the curve of her shoulder. "I wouldn't lie about anything I find beautiful. If you want you can wash my wings, that way we'll be even."  He chuckled and tried the second one, treating the skin tenderly.

Sera tried not to shiver at the kiss.

It was meant to be reassuring. She knew that. For someone who had come from a physical... Previous... Existence, it made sense that Maako would want to reassure her in such a way. Maybe it was the only way he knew how. Sera swallowed thickly and closed her eyes while he continued to wash her wings and she shivered at... Feeling them at all.

Not used to anyone knowing about her wings, let alone being so enchanted by them, Sera closed her eyes and looked over her shoulder at him. "N..No. That's okay. I think ... I'll just... Go let them dry and take a nap," She smoothed her hands over her front, still flushed, still embarrassed.

This was to...What... Reassure Maako? Let him know that she'd accept his help? Let him know she... Appreciated it? Sera sighed and hugged herself around the middle, head down, hair fallen over her shoulders in dark waves. "Thank you for the help, Maako, I... Hope this morning wasn't... Too embarrassing," she said softly, looking away, flushed. She still needed to put fresh sheets on the bed.

When he was finished, Maako set the wash cloth to dry and sniffed the air. The bread wouldn't take long to bake. Probably. It was his first time making it after all. As flustered as she was, he stepped back and let step away from him. He dried his hands and gave her a soft smile.

"Not at all, my friend," he chuckled, and even pushed her side a little to set her off to take that nap. "I will call you when the food is ready. Go!"

Maako would find he had a very natural affinity for cooking. And although he wanted to eat all of it, he curbed his selfishness with a slice of bread here and there and managed to let the stew cook until it tasted just right to him. And when it was ready her little house would be ripe with appetizing smells.

"Sera. Sera! I hope your hungry. I can't possibly eat all this myself," he said. It was a lie, but he wanted her to taste it.

As instructed, Sera set off for her nap.

Her wings were damp and the bed wad without sheets, but a quick trip to the linin closet and that was quickly remedied. One last moment to push open a window and Sera found herself, face down on her bed, wings spread out to dry.

They were an odd mix of wings. Membranes like a fae but the general shape like a bat. Either way, they were misshapen and useless. Ugly. Better off removed. Which was exactly what she dreamed about.

A delicate knife to slice off the flesh over her belly. Peel the skin from her thigh. The underside of her breast. Sera moaned into the pillow, the pain seemingly radiating from her. Tears filled her eyes and terror filled her chest. A sob left her and Sera tossed and turned to get away from the dream knives.

Wifh a start she woke up, on the floor. No doubt she'd let a thump ring out when she'd tossed herself off her bed. Tears wet her face and her face was flushed. It was a dream, just bad memories. Sera didnt hear maako. Didnt smell delicious food. Didnt even remember Maako was there at all.

She only curled herself into a ball on the floor and sobbed tears of bittersweet.

She may have forgotten that Maako was there, but he didn't. And if it wasn't the smells of the kitchen that had awoken her, what else could there possibly have been? The question existed in mind only briefly when he quickly maneuvered to her side. He reached down and scooped her up immediately off the floor.

"Sera," he murmured, as two arms each cradled her and hugged her body to his like she was a little ball, leaving her wings draping off like the length of a dress, and her legs were hooked on his left arms. Maako carried her off down the stairs and to the sofa in the sitting room.  He didn't settle her down, but instead sat down with her and criss-crossed his legs.

It was there he then tucked her in the space between his knees and let his lower arms hook around his knees and laid her head against his chest. His upper arms gently gripped her shoulder and brushed back her hair. "Oh, Sera," he purred softly. "Sera, why are you crying? You don't have to cry. You're safe."

Still beside herself with the memories that had bombarded her, Sera didn't even notice Maako or that he'd moved her. Her face was pressed to his chest while she tried to catch her breath through her sobs and her body trembled like a leaf clinging to it's branch. Slowly, Sera calmed, cheeks wet with tears and eyes red.

Trying to catch her breath still, her hands moved to wipe her eyes and she stopped to look at them. Pulling up her sleeves to look for where she'd been skinned but... Nothing. Just skin. Sera had never scarred. No one would ever known she'd had her skin peeled from her when her mother could manage. It wouldn't do it have it off in chunks. It needed to be one fine sheet.

Sera slowly settled down, cheek pressed to Maako's warm chest. A far away look in her eyes. How many of her Mothers creations were made from bits of her? Sera moved a hand to press between her breasts and she she felt her heart beat against her palm. So many poor innocent souls. Made with her in them.

"What?" She jerked, finally realizing Maako was there and they were somewhere else.

He'd taken her so far away from the bedroom? Sera blinked at him, his question seeping through her head. "I... Had a bad dream," She whispered, looking away. Her hand wiped at her eyes again and instead of getting up and moving away, she curled into the warmth Maako's body offered. "A memory. I don't like to remember but... Sometimes they sneak up on me," She glanced at him before she gathered one of his arms under her arm and hugged it to her chest.

"And then I dream like i'm still there. Still with her and she's..." A glance to Maako, looking from his face to his neck to his chest, "She'd make something interesting with you. I'm gone now though so... It's just bad memories," She whispered, resting against his chest again, "Just bad dreams."

The cage of his limbs formed a cradle with which he cocooned Sera and let her settle there. The couch was comfortable enough and he made no complaints. In this moment he had no concern for himself and instead he let himself just lean right back against her.

"Bad memories that make you sob like that. They must really be terrible. But they are dreams, and dreams can't hurt you," Maako murmured and he gave her a close-lipped smile.  Even if he wanted to kiss her, shower her with them, he held back and simply let his face nuzzle into her hair.

"Sera, I'm sorry you had a bad dream. She sounds very mean. Whoever this person is. But she can't hurt you anymore. Not here. If you will let me, I can be very scary to anyone that wants to hurt you. But only if you will let me, Sera."  He purred softly, and the rumble of it reverberated throughout his chest.

A little nuzzle against whatever she could, her eyes closed. In Maako's arms she felt comforted and safe. Nothing could get her here. Not even monsters. Not even... Sera swallowed and opened her eyes slowly, looking up at her blue friend before she took one of his hands and thread her fingers between them.

Sera shifted in his arms, turning so that she was facing Maako. Looking at him on his lap, she blinked up at him and pressed her hands to his shoulders, thumbs brushing along the flesh. Already comforted she smiled at him. "I would like that," She whispered, shifting for comfort on his lap before she moved a hand to rest on his chest, "Are you rumbling?"

That confirmation was all Maako needed to warm his belly. He grumbled something softly in his chest and he nuzzled her with his chin. "Okay, Sera. My Sera. I'll protect you against anyone or anything that wants to hurt you. I promise," he purred again. Yes, he was rumbling. It was a soft vibration that simply couldn't be helped.

"I am.  Do you want me to stop? I'll try if it's very unpleasant," he said, loving the feel of her hands against his chest.

The clothing was in the way of course, so he shifted around so that her hand to be skin to skin with his chest and feel that rumbling more closely.

Taking a moment, Sera leaned back after he nuzzled her and she just looked at him. Her fingers were pressed to flesh and she just... Looked. Examined. Her hand moved from his chest, pressing her palm to his neck to feel his heartbeat and her hand smoothed to press to his cheek.  Sera took a deep breath before she closed her eyes and leaned forward to press her forehead to his cheek.

A tentative kiss was pressed to his pulse before she curled her arms around his shoulders, tucking her face close to him. Her chest pressed to his to feel the rumbles he made. " No," She said softly, voice muffled by her arms and his neck, "I like it. Do you do that... On purpose? Or does it just happen?"

"I do it when I'm...content," Maako said, loving how she was touching him and his skin twitched and shivered underneath her touch. "I can't really control it. It just happens really. When I'm comfortable, I start to rumble. But I like that it doesn't bother you," he murmured.

He whined at the absence of the kiss she made to his pulse.  "Do that again," he whispered. "I liked when you kissed me there. It felt nice."

There was a faint smile.

Sera looked up at Maako before she smoothed her hands over his shoulders and leaned back. At his request she kissed his pulse again, letting her lips linger there before she pulled back and finally, pressed her lips to his.

The lingering fear of he'd eat her was still very much a thing. Still, her tongue darted out to taste first before she pulled back. A long look at his face before she went in for a cheek kiss. Flushed, she snuggled in against him. One leg on either side of his waist, chest pressed to his.

Sera took a deep breath and was amazed at how comfortable she was. "You make me feel safe," she whispered, lips tingling from her stolen kiss, "not just because you're bug and scary looking." Sera sighed and looked up at him through her lashes. " Maako?" She whisperrd, "you're going to stay, right? With me?"

Maako couldn't resist one chill after another. Sera had an interesting attention to detail that only made him purr and want more of it. He leaned into that touch, the small curiosities made him shiver nigh uncontrollably.

"Of course I'm going to stay," he purred out, whining a little that she'd stopped her kisses. So instead he pursed his own lips and brought them to her forehead, dragging them down along her temple to linger at her cheeks. She had such nice soft cheeks.  Face cheeks.


His two upper hands reached up and brushed at those face cheeks, pushing her hair away.  "I'll stay as long as you want me too. You're nice. And sweet. I've never met anyone so nice and sweet."

A shudder and Sera tried to get closer. Of course it failed, she was already snuggled as close as she could get. Turning her face into his hand, her lips lingered against his palm and she closed her eyes and smiled. A pleased hum before she wiggled backwards off of his lap, catching his hands and tugging on them while she backed up.

"I'm glad you think so," She said, threading their fingers together, "Come cuddle with me," her voice was soft and small, "I don't have any new bread to bake." Any bread baking could be done tomorrow. Or she'll just keep the place closed for a few days. It'd been a while since she'd not had to work. Not wanting to work wasn't a crime, right? Sort of.

"Maako?" She whispered, "You're sweet, too."

It was a wonderful feeling, this sensation. It was odd and Maako couldn't remember if he felt it before. Reason stood that if he couldn't remember it, he likely didn't experience it. His memory was usually pretty damn good in that regard. He only ever known comfort.

But this was something related, yet different. It was affection.

His belly did little somersaults when he was around Sera. He tried to keep his frame small and unassuming when he was walking out and about the tavern. As impossible a feat as that was.  When they were alone, he likes to cradle Sera in the crook of his whole body. Cocooning her with the same tenderness she showed him.

A full week passed since he arrived and Maako had no other place he would rather be. Although Sera had asked him if he couldn't stay, he never thought about going anywhere else.

Imagine that not even very long ago, all he wanted to do was find a way to go home. But perhaps now he found it.

And learning all the ways to bake and enjoy bread was utterly fascinating. Even if it didn't taste like chicken.