Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-25828117-20191023222228/@comment-5583506-20191024155630

Three days had passed since her father had left her at this peculiar place. She felt embarrassed just being here. There seemed to be no discretion. In some of the rooms she made the beds and scrubbed the floor the women weren't even dressed, and if they were, they made sure to wear as little as possible. It made her wonder if they were too hot or something. And everyday people came to visit.

Mostly men, but some women as well. The majority of them were Khajiit, but from time to time she could see other races there. Elven sailors, traders from Black Marsh and Cyrodiil, Nord mercenaries. Ja'zira, the proprietor, called them "clients", but she failed to see why. Didn't the title of a client usually imply that they were hiring services or buying something? So far she had yet to see any of it, which made her think that there was something shady going on. But why wouldn't her father intervene if that was the case?

She cried during the nights. She wanted to go home, but knew that this strange place was to be her home from now on. Her father would come visit eventually. He had promised. She didn't care if he hated her. She just wanted to see a familiar face. Maybe Kiro would show up? The thought of that made her feel somewhat fuzzy, but did he even know that she was here?

The only woman in this place that did not seem to be unresponsive to her was Malah. She was young, beautiful and perky, a couple of years older than herself. She had pitch black fur with eyes like piercing ice crystals. She comforted her whenever she was crying, telling her to cheer up. She also offered her some fruits whenever she was hungry, all discreetly under the eyes of Ja'zira. That woman did definitely not enjoy it when her workers were slacking.

On the fourth day Ja'zira gave Kashya a room of her own, telling her that the girl it had belonged to earlier had been called away permanently. A disease apparently. They had to treat her elsewhere. Kashya knew that they were lying though. From time to time she had seen the girl there, coughing and gagging. And other times she was not even there at all, which made her seriously question what kind of establishment they were running here. She was no fool, after all.

Ja'zira showed her around her chambers. Though Kashya didn't mind a room of her own, it didn't make her any less sad over the fact that she was still among complete strangers. And her father hadn't showed up yet. She always kept an ear open to hear about whenever his wedding to Tsavirra would be held. But knowing her father as a man who was patient with the things he wanted in life, it could be very well be held the next year, she thought.

The room wasn't particularly big, but it was rather intricate in its design. Red tapestries, a soft bed with a nightstand, a bureau, lamps burning with whale oil, incense, a little side room for washing and cleaning. A beautifully detailed screening stood at the far end of the room where one could change without the stares of prying eyes. It was just too much for a girl of her size. Maybe this place wouldn't be such a bad place to stay after all? Despite the lack of company?

This particular night was more quiet than the rest had been. The moanings and the groanings from the other rooms had stopped. Some door was opening somewhere only to be shut seconds later. She could hear the indistinctive voices of a man and a woman speaking to each other. The man let out a guttural laughter followed by the woman's giggle.

Kashya rolled with her eyes. It sounded too much like her father with Tsavirra whenever they thought that they were alone and out of her hearing.

She sat on the side of the bed, running a thumb over the side of her hand. "Kiro", she murmured quietly to herself, as if she expected him to appear out of the darkness.

There was suddenly a knock on her door and her ears clipped with excitement. Had her wish come true?

She jumped down from the bed and eagerly rushed from the bed and to the door, opening it. She couldn't begin to tell the disappointment she felt when she realized that it was not Kiro. It was a Khajiit man with striped fur. She estimated him to be at least ten years older then herself, but then again she wasn't really that good at counting. She seemed to recall him from somewhere. Maybe it was one of her father's new recruits?

"Uhm ..." he began awkwardly staring her down. "Is Mizah inside?"

Kashya blinked. "N-no? It's just this one here. She is not here ... now."

He scratched the side of his neck awkwardly. "Oh. This one sees. Who are you then?"

"This one is Kashya", she said with a curtsy. "She lives here now."

"This one sees", the man repeated, letting the door slide open as he just stomped inside without an invitation.

That's rude!

"You might do just as well then", he said, as he started to remove the clogs on his feet. "Khajiit takes it that you are new?"

Kashya blinked again. "Y-yes? This one is new here. She just moved in here." She didn't want to be rude to ask him why he just invaded her chambers like this, but it seemed to be the custom at this place and so she didn't question it, reckoning it would get her into trouble.

He sat down on her bed with an exhausted groan, rolling his neck from side to side with a crackling sound of strained sinews and muscles. "Shit", he moaned. "This one has been overworking, and he just wants to relax for the evening." He looked over at her. "Think you can help this one with that?"

Kashya was not quite sure how she would help, but approached him cautiously. "How would this one help?"

He scoffed. "Wow, you really are new", he said, eyeing her from top to toe. "So short", he said with a tone implying his confusion. "But nothing that you wouldn't be able to handle, this one reckons. You look tough."

Kashya couldn't help but giggle with embarrassment. "She is!" She displayed her the non-existent muscles on her thin arms. "This one is really strong."

The man snickered. "That's some serious strength you've got there." He motioned for her to approach and take a seat next to him.

As she didn't feel any particular sense of threat coming from him, she reluctantly obeyed and jumped up onto the bedspread, but kept a respectable distance.

"You do know how this works, right?" he asked her curiously. "You seem a little ... distant. Maybe I am your first?"

Kashya couldn't help but let out a short, nervous laughter. She had no idea what he meant. He might as well have spoken a completely different language.

He held out a couple of shiny coins. "These are yours", he said.

"F-for me?" Kashya asked curiously.

She had never received money before, except from her father when he needed something from the market, but she was never allowed to spend any for herself. He always made sure of that by counting the remaining gold afterwards. She grimly recalled the incident in which she had purchased a sugarcoated apple from the bazaar for her and Kiro to split. Her father had not been happy.

"Yes, it's for you", the man assured her. "But this one expects a favor in return."

"What kind of favor?" she asked.

He smiled at her, and before she knew it, he had leaned in to place a kiss on her. It felt similar to how Kiro would have done it, but altogether different and strange.

She looked flustered. "Huh?"

What was this even about? Such a strange way to go about things.

He kissed her again, leaning over and slowly, but gently pushing her down towards the bed. She felt a knot in her stomach as her heart rammed against her chestbone. Something inside of her screamed to do something. Do what, exactly? Her mind went all blurry? Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

He looked down at her as he started to remove his clothing, and then proceeded to remove her own. "Don't worry", he assured her. "This one will go slowly."

She lied curled up afterwards, facing away from him. Her entire body was aching and her stomach felt as if it was made out of cold iron. Tears streamed from her eyes and she bawled uncontrollably. She had barely recollection of what had taken place in the last fifteen minutes, but it had been painful. Very painful.

The young man by her side, sat up, running a comforting hand along her shoulder. She did not want to be touched. Not now. Not like this when she was crying. She just wanted to be left alone, but with her voice completely broken and hoarse there was no way for her to tell him so.

He seemed to take the hint nevertheless. He rose up and pulled his breeches back on. She could hear the clinkering of a few more extra coins being left on the nightstand.

"I am sorry", he apologized sincerely.

Though it didn't seem as if he had wanted to hurt her, he certainly had. She felt sick and nauseous. Her nose was running and she could barely see for all the tears in her eyes, blurring her vision. Once he had finished dressing he silently left the room.

She lied there for what felt like a lifetime, staring at a crack in the wall. It hurt between her legs. It hurt everywhere and her head was pounding. She knew what it felt like to be sick, and knew she couldn't lie here lest an accident would happen.

She stumbled up on unsteady, shaking legs, collapsing halfway towards the washing room. The entire chamber was spinning and she had to crawl on all four in order to reach it. She felt something wet and sticky between her legs. With her hand against her loin she became startled at the sight of blood, making her feel even more sick. She had to hurry. There was an unused chamber pot inside.

She desperately clutched to it in front of her and let out all she had eaten during the day. She felt like a mess. Snot, tears, vomit ... blood. Was this the same as Mizah had experienced? As all the other women at this place experienced? They didn't seem too bothered by it, if that was the case, so why was she like this?

Once she had emptied her stomach, she fell to the side, resting her head against the wall. She started sniffing again. She wanted to go home desperately. The blood against her legs had started to dry up and made her fur all hard and icky.

It only took a couple of moments later until Malah came barging into her chambers. "Kashya, this one saw a client enter your chambers and she just thought that ... by S'rendarr", she murmured at the sight.

Kashya had desperately hoped to be left alone. She did not want anyone to see her like this.

Malah draped the girl with a robe and helped her to stand up, even as the legs were failing her. "Oh, you poor sweet thing", she cooed. "Let this one draw you a bath, hmm? Get you all cleaned up and for the better? How does that sound?"

Kashya could do nothing but to nod, as she was uncapable of uttering a single word.

The tub was made out of brass and the water was boiling hot. The pain inside her was still too strong for her to even so much as flinch at the heat.

Malah washed her back and shoulders thoroughly, talking calmly to her. "There, there", she said. "It ... it happens to every girl eventually. The pain is just ... normal. It will go away. This one can testify to that."

Kashya did not respond, but did just stare blankly in front of her, focusing at a spot on the door.

"You do not have to talk about it, if you don't want to", Malah assured her. "It's not a pleasant experience for some, but it can be. It's just natural."

Kashya did not understand was Malah was even talking about. How could any of that which had happened inside that room be considered normal? The world was weird.

"You ..." Malah fumbled with her words. "You will have to get used to it, this one is afraid. Or else Madame Ja'zira will throw you out on the streets, now that you are truly one of us."

Kashya swallowed hard and could feel the pain ache inside her belly again, and between her legs. She tensed up as her whole body became stiff as a board.

Malah noticed. "Sorry", she said. "But ... it will get easier", she assured her. She observed the girl for but a short moment before she started to brush out her hair. "Forgive this one for saying so, but you do not come across to this one as seventeen."

Seventeen?

"This one is not seventeen", Kashya said almost inaudibly.

Malah blinked. "Pardon?"

"This one is only twelve."

Malah stared at her in utter disbelief. "But this one thought that the Madame wouldn't ..." She choked up on her own words as she let out a sudden gasp, dropping the brush into the tub, as she came to realization, clutching her hand to her mouth to cover up her mouth.

"This one wants to gome", Kashya murmured.

Malah trembled slightly, feeling a tear leave her right eye. She embraced the girl from behind, holding her tightly in a comforting hug.

It felt warm and secure. It only took a moment for Kashya to respond to the act by desperately hugging Malah back and uttering a word she would have never uttered before in her entire life.

"Mommy."