[Matori] The Princess In The Mirror [Saj | Leu]

[MissMisnomer]

Capturing the tiny invader, Leukos crushed it between his finger nails with a visible shudder as he resumed the grooming. “Fleas are only found on beasts. No, this girl-” he worked an especially stubborn knot, frowning. “-was lucky enough to only have some other little critter hitching a ride on her scalp. If this was lice, we'd be royally ********. No way could I get them all in this mess, we would have had to cut it off.”

He made a silent prayer of thanks to the gods, pausing to make the appropriate hand gesture. The last thing he needed to worry about was lice. He had too much, and too thick of hair to attempt tackling an outbreak. He'd dip his scalp in lye if he had to, anything to kill them before it got too bad. Disgusting creatures.

He shivered once more, for no lack of warmth in the room, simply imagining the horror.

But, that was not something they needed to worry about, thank their lucky stars. He was more than surprised that he'd only found one creature in her hair so far, all things considered. “You must keep your bedding to yourself Naz, and do you not go near other people very often? I find it more than highly unlikely that no one has lice where you live, and I am honestly impressed that you don't have them as well.”

Having made himself quite familiar with the tub and all the activity in the room, Kyro climbed onto Leukos’ back, scaled across his head and arms, and onto Naz's, sticking his snout into her face as he blinked upside down at her. And with a lively chirp, he hopped into the water, making a respectable splash as he went.

Leukos hadn't really had time to dissuade the beast, caught off guard as he found himself with an unexpected sloshing of semi-dirty water onto his face. He physically recoiled, sputtering. “Sweet merciful- KYRO!! Scared me half to death, you daft little beast…”

The reptile in question emerged, suds on his frilled skull and an almost smug look in his eyes, swimming over to latch onto Naz's semi submerged knee. He clicked and chirped happily, sloshing his vibrant tail in the water.

Ridiculous creature.  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Nazumi shot Sajah a look. “I don’ got fleas.”

While she couldn’t read his signs, she gathered by context the moment Leukos explained in response that Sajah had made some comment to that effect, and puffed. ‘Cut it all off’ also earned a disfavorable look—but fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the route they were taking, so Naz settled instead, reaching under water to fiddle between her toes. Privately, she had decided the heat felt good there especially, and perhaps all over.

“I got my corner, yeah. I don’t like sleepin’ with no one else. They’re all…” Gross? Strangers? While Naz was familiar with a number of the more regular faces that sometimes came into ‘their’ space, she couldn’t say she liked any of her mother’s friends. All of them made her uncomfortable in various ways, whether because they frequently smelled of alcohol or other odors, moved about irregularly, or were simply unpredictable, it gave her an itch under the skin that warned to steer clear—and so she did, to the greatest extent she could. It was better not to be seen by those who would just as soon yank her about and laugh and blow smoke in her face as they might shout or throw things.

“…I don’t like none of em anyhow, so I try to stick away.”

Kyro, though, was a happy distraction from her thought train, and she watched, first with surprised interest — and then grand amusement as he leapt, squealing for her own part as he splashed into the water. “Kyro, Kyro!” By the time he re-emerged, complete with a pseudo-crown of suds, she had managed to tone her mirth down to giggles, but reached just the same, stroking fingers at his head and cooing.

Snorting softly with his own private good humor, Sajah reached and took up the waste basket, disappearing temporarily to get that seen to and out of the house — ‘just in case.’ When he returned, he washed his hands again, checking the state of the food — though he wasn’t honestly sure how long Leukos wanted any of it on to cook, it seemed relevant to confirm at least that nothing looked on the verge of burning or turning to complete mush in the pot. So far, so good.

And, while his tongue couldn’t appreciate it, his stomach still managed to give an eager rumble in quiet reminder that he hadn’t eaten since lunch and surely it was almost time.  

[MissMisnomer]

Getting up to grab a dry face cloth, Leukos scrubbed the water off his cheeks and shirt as best he could, muttering under his breath. But when he looked up to see the little girl and reptile cavorting about together in the tub, he found a smile replacing his frown. This was how children should always look. Clean, and happy, and worry free. Even if they could only grant her this short reprieve for one night, he was glad they had the chance. And that Saj had taken it.

But speaking of.

He rubbed Naz's now de-tangled head, making her look up at him. “You need to make sure you scrub all over with the soap and rough stone. All over. Your feet, your back, everywhere. Even your…private...lady parts. Okay? I just need to get Saj finished up on dinner prep, and then I'll be back.”

Once it seemed she understood her directions, he walked out of the room to join Sajahka in the kitchen area. The food was actually smelling pretty good. What a marvelous concept. He wrapped an arm around Saj's waist, kissing his temple.

“Hey babe,” he purred, poking at the meat on the stove with a knife, checking the color of the juices that leaked out. “This looks done. Can you throw this into the pot and let it simmer for a few ticks, and then fish the big bone out of there? And we have some bread wrapped up from two days ago, I bet dunking it in the stew would help soften it up? Could you cut it into slices for me?”

He moved to a cabinet, getting out three bowls and wooden spoons. Plus a large platter for the bread, and the fresh bottle of juice Saj had purchased today. Three wooden cups finished the set, which he placed on the table, ready to go.

Which left them with only one more task. He walked back into the bathroom, calling over his shoulder, “Let me know when you're ready, okay Saj?” And then his attention was back on the little girl, giving her a quick once over from afar. “How are you doing over here?”

She looked just about done. There really was a little girl under all that grime~ He reached over the tub, getting a few bottles off of the shelves. And hunkered down next to her, lining the colored glass containers along the rim.

“Which do you want to smell like? This one-” he opened a square green bottle, wafting the herbal smell around her nose. “-is Tanna tree oils, with a bit of Hashin root extract. And this one-” he set that aside, opening the stopper for a squat blue one. “-smells like a field of blooming Shiki flowers. Now, this one right here, is a little more bold…” He opened a tall red bottle, grinning as the sharp scent was released. “It's Juboa nut oils, with a collection of spices from Oba. And, last but not least…” He moved to the last bottle, a warm yellow one shaped like a drop of water. “This one right here smells like honey and Lavender.”

He smiled, hovering his hands over the selection. “So, which one would the lady like to sample tonight~?”  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Naz blinked upwards at the instruction, and then hummed and nodded. Between she and Kyro, they could manage this. Besides, it felt good to be clean, and already, it felt like a deeper and different clean than she’d managed to get to in her mother’s bucket. But that probably wasn’t surprising. Usually even the bucket was dingy and uncomfortable to begin with and the entire process felt like an irritated rush to make her ‘presentable.’ Why she had to be up to anyone’s standard was still a mystery, and why it always felt like it was her fault for being present and unsatisfactory in her mother’s eyes was similarly baffling.

But not important questions, for the present moment.

Suffice to say, this was nicer, and she was happier to simply ignore the rest and focus on that, running the soap and rough stone everywhere she could reach with it and scrubbing diligently. Perhaps she’d have an entirely new layer of skin by the end.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, when Leukos first re-appeared, arm looping about him, Sajah grunted and leaned back a half inch instinctively into the embrace. “Mhmm…” Cook, fetch bone, simmer, slice bread. The details registered at least, though Sajah’s predominant focus in that moment happened to be more dedicated to how pleasant it was just to have the chance at such an experience in these instances: where the kitchen air was warm with the smell of food, and Leukos’ body was near, tucked close, calm, and around him. Easy. Comfortable, and wonderful in its simplicity. It wouldn’t be so bad, a tiny portion of his mind suggested ever-fleetingly, to have a home and a child, and a steady routine-

He quickly silenced the thought, though. For now, what they actually had — most all of that already, in any case — was more than enough. The ‘child’ was a surprise and only temporary—and he could handle that much, regardless of however ill-prepared and ill-suited he felt for anything more than that. So, when Leukos did withdraw, his eyes trailed idly before he got to work, prodding and flipping the meat once more before dropping it in with the rest of the stew and moving to fetch bread and slice while it simmered.

Naz, who had thought her process was done and surely on the verge of hopping out to dry and dress, paused and blinked instead at the new revelation of options. “Oooohh…” Her nose wriggled. “This is why you smell pretty all the time,” she observed aloud, sniffing the magic and mingling scents and attempting to parcel out which was most familiar. In the end, though, she reached for the yellow teardrop bottle. “That one.” It smelled soft, like a lady, and Leu had called her a lady. So, though she would probably never get the chance again to wear new clothes and smell pretty, she felt it was probably most right under the circumstances.

After finishing with the bread and setting it out on the table to be dipped with the stew once served, Sajah stood about, waiting and testing the meat until it seemed sufficiently cooked alongside the vegetables to remove from the direct heat. He retreated to the bathroom, and rapped lightly at the door as Naz was mid-oil experimentation.

«Dinner is ready when the fair ladies of the house are…» He eyed Naz, pulling at the suds in her hair with amusement and attempting to string it into curious shapes. «You may never convince her out of the bath now that you’ve introduced her. She seems to have adapted.»  

[MissMisnomer]

“Good choice, this one's lovely,” Leukos said, setting the bottle aside as he stood to put the others back on the shelf. At Saj's statement however, he crinkled his nose at him, sticking his tongue out. Smelling pleasant wasn't a privilege reserved exclusively for women. In fact, if more men actually took the time to do it themselves, instead of subjecting the world to whatever stale odor they naturally emitted, perhaps they might realize how nice it was. And how much women enjoyed a man that smelled good. But alas, it seemed he was one of the few with this mentality.

At least Sajah seemed to appreciate Leukos’ efforts anyways. Even if he seldom partook in the process himself.

He took the large towel and spread it wide, clicking his tongue. “Alright, play time is over. Dunk your head and swish it around really well, then get up so we can dry you off. Dinner is ready.”

As she got out of the tub, Leukos began scrubbing her off, rubbing at her short green hair to try to get as much water out of there as possible. And then they put Sajah's extra shirt on her, tying off the scarf around her waist to keep everything in place and give her some form. He ran a brush through her hair, still damp but looking a thousand times better. She even had some nice waves that looked like they might take shape once it was dry. A proper hair cut, and she could even be called cute.

Taking up the bottle, he showed her how to get a small amount in her fingers, rubbing it onto her scalp and dabbed on her wrists and neck. But even though the food was ready, and he was starting to feel peckish, he was enjoying the dress up process too much to want it to end too soon. So he added a little braid across her forehead to keep the long bangs out of her face, secured with one of his hair pins, and a little beaded glass necklace, matching bracelet…

And soon enough she looked like a respectable little lady, all clean and perfumed and bedazzled. Leukos practically melted when he looked at her, wishing he could have put her in a real dress and matching shoes. But this was enough already, and he'd have to just take the jewelry off when she left anyways. But for tonight at least, she could be a shiny little gem in their house.

With a bow carrying all the grace of princely charm, he grinned, kissing her hand. “Alright princess, want to see how you look?” He then led her to their bedroom, where Leukos kept the precious and costly full length mirror he had splurged on. These sort of luxuries were not cheap, but something he felt he deserved. And as an added bonus, it would let Naz see her entire self, without having to stand on a chair.

He dared say, she looked positively pretty.  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Nazumi had never been dressed up before.

At some point in her early childhood, before she really remembered much of anything, she knew that it became important to Mama that she be covered somehow, at all times, and from there out it had only become more important. But that was still all it was: covering herself, and trying not to offend anyone. Not—whatever this was.

Sajahka and Leukos might have known it was a ‘cheap’ scarf, and the shirt easily replaceable, but Naz couldn’t remember a time she’d been given anything—let alone something nice, and clean, and new at least in her eyes. The brush in her hair felt good, after all the knots had already been worked through, and the perfume made her smell like Leukos sometimes did.

Pretty.

But, he didn’t stop there, and Naz felt like she thought a fairy would feel, dreaming—watching her hair be braided up and pinned back, and then she got a necklace and bracelet, which felt like they had a special weight to them where they clasped her neck and wrist. Her heart felt smaller and quicker in her chest when Leukos bowed and caught her fingers, and her cheeks flushed quite in spite of themselves.

What was that feeling?

He guided her along, and she glanced backwards hastily, catching sight — just for a moment — of Sajahka following along a step behind. Catching her look, he grinned, and winked.

Naz shot her gaze to the floor with a huff, scurrying after Leukos, into his room, only to face-

Naz stared, and blinked, glancing first from Leukos’ partial reflection, back to the man himself, and then—to the little girl in the mirror. It wasn’t either of them, she knew as Sajah’s reflection came into view behind, so it had to be her. Her pulse felt quick again, and then, before she could catch it, a sting prickled in the corners of her eyes. But she couldn’t-

So, she darted for Leu before it could properly form, stuffing her face against his stomach and burying a small sound there. It was better than crying. She was a big girl, and big girls didn’t cry, she just-

-found her fingers clinging at Leu’s back just the same.

To his side, Sajah stared—and then felt a peculiar heat climbing his own cheeks at the sight. He lifted his eyes to Leu, and smiled after the lightest tap of an elbow.

«You would make a good father, too, you know.» He notched his head then, and moved for the kitchen, leaving those two for their ‘moment’ and leading the way for when both could be coerced into dinner.

He wasn’t sure quite what word to pin on the feeling left in his chest in that moment, but for all that it would be difficult to send Naz back to her prior circumstances, there was no deny: these moments, at least, were good ones, and he was glad to have the time they got.  

[MissMisnomer]

Leukos watched with quiet excitement to see how Naz would react to seeing herself. Maybe she’d squeal, or flash that big grin of hers.

What he got instead, was a stomach full of muffled tears.

And somehow, that was worse and better all at the same time. He was glad to see she liked it so much. But he couldn’t ignore the reason for it; she probably never got the chance to dress up nicely. It was not her fault, and he couldn’t blame the circumstances she had been born into, much the same as thousands and thousands of people just like her. But he still found himself cursing her mother and father, wherever they may be, for eliciting this kind of reaction to clean clothes and grooming. They should be doing this for her, every day if she wanted it. Children are pure, and precious, and so full of love to give.

How could anyone not want to give them that chance?

He looped his arms around the little girl, stroking her hair and back as he cooed quietly, rocking slightly. And Sajah’s words had him feeling all kinds of new emotions, tongue sitting dumbly in his tight throat. He nodded, pursed his lips, and looked back down at the little creature tucked close to him. [i[Precious girl. He didn’t know where the feeling came from, but he knew he wanted to protect her. And help her smile any way that he could.

Leukos pulled back just far enough to kneel down, keeping his hands in contact with the little girl, drawing them forward to hold her hands instead. He brushed his thumbs over her knuckles, smiling. “Come, you’re too pretty for any tears.” He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, adjusted her necklace just so. “You’re such a strong, brave girl. Can you be brave for another night? I promise, whenever you visit, you don’t need to cry. Unless they are happy tears, and you want to share them with us…” He stood again, keeping hold of her hand. “Ready for dinner? I’ve got a big bowl with your name on it.”  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Naz hadn’t meant and didn’t want to cry in front of either of them. She was a big girl, and these were all good things she was getting — no matter how temporary — and she should show appreciation for that, not fuss just because it couldn’t last. Still, it took all the time given to compose herself before Leukos was pulling back to kneel before her. By that point at least, she did feel capable of raising her gaze to meet his. He said she was brave, so she must be, and she managed a nod.

Whenever you visit…

She peeked towards the kitchen, and then back to Leukos. “I can come some other time, too?” She had watched on the way over, so she had some idea where they were, but she wasn’t positive she could retrace the steps immediately on her own. Sajah might bring her again, though—or, so the statement seemed to imply.

At the mention of dinner, though, her face visibly lit. It had been on the horizon before of course, but to be reminded and given the promise of a large bowl was more than enough to have Naz nodding with new enthusiasm and pulling Leu along towards the kitchen.

Leukos might have been a new cook in the grand scheme of things, not often tasked with that particular chore in the past and eager to test the waters in that area, but at least for a beginner, he had among the easiest-to-please audience imaginable. Sajahka, of course, thought everything Leukos made ‘tasted’ wonderful, and Nazumi was so excited to have anything to fill her gut that one could hardly see the food being shoveled in before it was gone. She, too, earnestly sang its praises, though it would be difficult to know how much if any of it she had actually tasted, either.

Regardless, it made for a very happy table, if lacking in fine dining experience, and by the end, everyone had a satisfied gut. There was the briefest consideration of whether Naz ought to be brought home now—but that was decided against. Post-meal, Naz insisted she wasn’t tired, but after Sajah and Leukos finished up the tiding and clean up of the kitchen, there was soft snoring emitting from their bedroom.

Sajah snorted softly, and glanced to Leu. «We have an added bed ornament…»  

[MissMisnomer]

Leukos grinned, taking a peek into their room. “She matches the duvet perfectly~” Kyro was curled up sleeping in her arms, long tail tucked up under his nose contently. The two made quite the sight together.

He tucked the washcloth onto its hook on the wall, untying the pile of braids he’d wrangled up to keep his hair out of his face while cleaning. “Let’s not wake her up. She’s had quite the day, and we don’t need the bed just yet. Besides…” He walked over to the settee in their seating area, relaxing back into it with a sigh. “You said you had something you wanted to talk to me about earlier?”

It had been pushed to the back of his mind with all the excitement tonight, but now that things had settled down again, he found himself curious about what it could be.  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

“Mm.” Sajahka grunted with agreement at the question. He did need to speak with Leu about it—and he was right in telling him so, because without it, he may just have gone another night putting it off. Now that it was on the table, however, he turned his attention away from the sleeping child, and to Leu.

«These past weeks, when I had opportunity to while I was out, I had been putting some time into following our mutual friend, Lord C—k Head. I remember you saying that men of a certain ilk spread their dealings and attitude to all aspects of their life…and I was suspicious, so I thought it might be pertinent to see how he spends his time. At first it turned up little, but fairly recently, he headed down to the docks to meet with a man regarding a shipment…»

He debated before admitting. «I do not know how involved exactly he is, or what of it may be wrong, but it did sound as though he provided substantial financial support to a particular trading group which was not so…transparent about their cargo. When I had the chance, I went down the docks to inspect their ship, and they seemed to be presenting it as a traditional cargo carrier. But below deck, underneath the regular storage area, they had a space of the hull filled with animals. I couldn’t see properly as it was dark and unlit, but there must have been dozens of janarim, and it smelled…fowl.»

Like a shipment of new slaves.

Sajah frowned, and glanced to the man before him. It was not good news, he knew, but maybe Leukos would know more what to do with it than he. «I do not know the shipping laws here…but it did sound as though he was concerned to be caught too closely associated…»  

[MissMisnomer]

Of all the countless topics that Sajahka might have wanted to talk to him about, what he actually disclosed was somehow off the spectrum entirely of what Leukos might have expected. In fact, it came so far out of left field, that he was left shocked the moment Sajah used their colloquial name for the lord Tazkah belonged to. And any mirth that might have been left over from their evening was soured the farther Sajah went into it.

Leukos frowned as Saj finished, crossing his arms and glowering at nothing in particular. “That snake keeps finding new reasons for me to hate him. It would almost be funny, if it weren't so infuriating.”

“The way he treats animals…it's disgusting. To be associated with a business like that, possibly funding it…I'd like to say this shocks me, but somehow it seems to fit his character. It doesn't matter how many beasts were down there, they were clearly kept in conditions that were both abusive and unsanitary.”

Leukos bristled, fighting the urge to spit out right. He almost wished Saj had never told him to begin with. But maybe…they could use this?

“What he's doing sounds wrong, but is it illegal…?” He tapped at his arm, thinking. He was by no means a lawyer or a member of the legal system, but he knew a few of the laws of this country. Something he might have heard in passing…about ships or cargo…

“And you didn't hear him say anything exactly? Anything incriminating…or any other, specific details?”

Leukos felt like he knew something…but just didn't remember yet. Transportation laws…trade…what was it?  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Sajah considered as Leukos asked, and let his mind run back over the scenario. Specific details? «He said to the man he was speaking initially that they did not understand how much ‘more’ he had to risk than any of them combined, and that if they continued to involve him so personally he might terminate his support…» Sajah considered, flipping back through the conversation mentally. «He said that he wanted something…a log from the ship, and everything else they might pass by customs…»

And the man with him had said something about that, to the effect that it had stuck out as a poor idea.

Oh, there had been more, Sajah remembered abruptly.

«The man said that they had lost several—three—on their way over, and that some others may be too sick to sell.» He could only assume in retrospect that this meant some of their janarim had died on the way over, though he hadn’t known initially what they’d been referring to—now, it was an especially grim prospect. How could that be a paying business model? «He wanted all of their records that pertained to this transaction. As much wasn’t said directly, since I am sure it has been some time…but this may have been the traders he attained Lady Teeth from.»

It was both stressing, but easy to picture that Tazkah’s beginnings with civilization were there, in a dark and dank ship somewhere, smelling of refuse. He didn’t actually know the state she had come to their facility in, though Sajah hoped or assumed that Lord C—k Head would have at least managed to spray her down and introduce her undiseased as his ‘prize’ specimen before demanding tutelage for her.  

[MissMisnomer]

Leukos watched, and felt bile form at the back of his throat. That a*****e. Acting like the loss of life was just some inconvenient, unfavorable business transaction. Like it was just something he'd have to waste ink on later on some bloody profits ledger. These were wild creatures that would never be able to run free again, dying in the dark, angry and confused and afraid, instead of naturally back in their homes. This was not the way to treat them. And all because a few spoiled nobles could not be bothered to simply wait[i/] for them to age naturally in captivity.

“That <********>,” he snarled, smacking a fist on his knee. “That cowardly piece of s**t.”

Gods, he wanted this man to pay for what he was doing. He wanted him to look back on every second and regret it. He wanted every coin he'd ever earned from back-door transactions to burn like hot lead in his hands. If there was any justice in the world, he would meet his undoing.

Think. There had to be some way of getting him.

Customs…ship’s log…traders…

“OH ******** ,” Leukos nearly shouted, a malicious grin on his face as he turned Saj's way. “He is aw! Not only is falsifying business documents a punishable crime, but more importantly, there's a rule involving trade to and from Matori: it's required that per every square foot of usable space in a cargo hold, there is a limit to how many live animals may occupy it. They need a certain amount of room per body, depending on the size of the boat. They have this so that disease is harder to spread for sanitation control, but also for humanitarian reasons. Even the government agrees that it's wrong to treat living cargo like s**t!”