A Drow's Dilemma Ep. 95: Jailbreak

Even set down, the pale woman clung to Caleldir and looked about herself at the world with something like growing horror. It wasn't as bad when she focused on the people surrounding her. A sister and a brother. She had a sister and a brother. That was enough to distract her from that shock of the sheer size of the world, at least for a little while.

"Greetings, Felynriia," Risa said, not signing, but instead speaking directly to her mind in the language of direct meaning. "Even if your ears cannot hear, your mind can as long as you draw breath, and even longer after that. I think that we can imbue you with some nice psychic powers to speak and hear in the language of the mind until we can figure out a way to restore your hearing." The drow-appearing woman was unabashedly naked right now, but carrying her scanty clothes. "Welcome to my pocket dimension. I hope you enjoy your stay. I am going to set to work on getting a ritual ready to give you enough psychics to read the words of those around you and speak mind-to-mind. Not full-on mind-reading, mind you, but partial enough. That should help a great deal with your condition."

Caleldir furrowed his brow. "That is not a bad idea," he said slowly. "I am not sure that it will work with the Curse, but it is worth a try." He looked towards the others. "Well? Shall we introduce the newest recruit into the Duskhaven clan to the rest of us?"

While they were trying to talk to her, Riia twitched into Caleldir, shut her eyes tightly, and buried her face into his chest. It would have been effective to shut out the world, but there were already people in her mind. Well, one person, that was. That person being fully nude and beautiful but strange and intimidating to someone who, until recently was confined to one small room with four walls and a ceiling that she could see at all times.

-It's too big- she signed against Caleldir's chest.

Tsabdrin frowned slightly. "This is a lot for her to take in."

Selene nodded in agreement. "We can do formal introductions when she's calmed down. For now, I will tell my sire that his youngest daughter has been rescued. Let us know when she's ready to face things." She hesitated and looked at Caleldir with something like longing. But whatever she wanted to do, she decided against.

"I am definitely not needed here," Tsabdrin said. "I'll be with the children." He lifted a hand in farewell and jogged away.

That 'sheer size of the world' was definitely not helped by the fact that R.I.S.A.'s domain (or, at the moment, at least the windows) was open to the 'sky' with stars and moons casting a soft light over the dim building. It was not light enough to be harmful to drow eyes, but much more brilliant than anything that Felynriia would have been used to.

"Risa, please do not overwhelm the poor girl," Caleldir said gently.

Risa pouted a bit but accepted the point. She was still determined to imbue Felynriia with Mental Speech, though. 'Quicker than trying to solve magical deafness' she had concluded in her mind. Caleldir agreed with her. "Selene, before you go, could you establish a quick mental link between Felynriia and me? I am nearly out of spells and do not have that one. It would be nice if she could speak without having to use her hands to do so." He noted Selene's longing expression and sent her a private thought. -I do wish to discuss with you how you want to proceed with the addition of another woman to House Duskhaven. I mean, I am not Consort yet, not officially. If you do not want me having sex with her, then... well... I will try to do something to keep her happy without going that route.- "I will definitely let everyone know when Felynriia is a bit more recovered."

Selene stepped closer to Caleldir - enough to reach out and brush the side of his arm, which she did with a lingering touch. -As acting matron, I can tell you to do what you think is necessary. I don't mind the thought of you coupling with her, I just wish I could be there.- She looked over to her little sister. She seemed so small curled up against him like that, but she was almost exactly the same height as Selene. Which was to say, a bit on the tall side of average for a female drow. -I do not think I should, though. She is overwhelmed enough as it is. Perhaps later, when she is acclimated...- She let that thought trail off, along with her mixed emotions on the topic. This whole thing was surreal.

"Here. I think I can do something that will temporarily link your minds. It's a shallow connection, so you have to actively try to communicate. Emotions and sensations won't be shared."

-A shallow connection is all I need.- Caleldir said. -In fact, I would prefer not to attempt a deeper one. That might overwhelm her. I am merely trying to prevent us from having to communicate only via sign language, which is frustrating to have to do- His emotions on Selene giving him permission to have sex with Felynriia were rather mixed: part of him had been looking for an excuse not to do so, although the rest was resigned. Part of him (the nymphen part, of course) was even looking forward to it. -Later then, when she is acclimated, we will both introduce her to... well... yeah. I love you, Selene. I wish you could be with us as well. At very least I will say that rescuing Felynriia will help greatly in preventing our daughter from having any issues. And we still have not accounted for her fertility magic.-

Selene did not say the words back, but a deep warmth was communicated through their telepathic link. She loved him too, but it was still too intimidating to give the words form and structure. She still needed time, and at that moment time with him was not something that she could enjoy. Instead, she touched her sister's shoulder very lightly until Felynriia turned around to look at her uncertainly. They blinked at each other. It was like looking into a mirror where the colors were all wrong. Selene's eyes softened, and she brushed some of the younger woman's hair away from her face. Then Selene looked back up at Caleldir, and the connection was made with the warm glow of the elegant circlet around Selene's platinum hair. Finally, Selene turned and departed, leaving Riia and Caleldir alone - as alone as they could be in Risa's dimension, anyway.

-Can... you understand me?- Came the question in his head, communicated via impressions of drowsign rather than in voice or text. Felynriia had turned around and was shyly looking somewhere near Caleldir's throat and lower jaw. -My sister said we should be able to communicate now.-

In this form (having long ago gone back to his drow appearance), Caleldir was not really much taller than Selene, barely much more than an inch - and the same for Felynriia - but still, the girl seemed much smaller than him. Mostly because of how uncertain she seemed about everything. Caleldir met Felynriia's eyes. Pink against his current red. -I can understand you,- he replied in the same fashion. -This way we can talk without our hands.- He stepped towards her, opening his arms. -The others will leave us alone for now. I presume you have many questions.-

-Can we go someplace... smaller, first?- Riia asked with uncertainty painted across her features. She tried to focus on Caleldir's eyes, but her severely nearsighted vision kept slipping towards walls and ceilings that she couldn't quite see. She resorted to covering her unnatural eyes with her hands to block out the intimidating enormity of the room. -This is like no pocket dimension I have read about.- She communicated with her face (and expression) still covered. The young woman impressed upon him a picture of a bedroom almost identical in size to the one she was just rescued from. Except this one had a bigger, more luxurious bed and there were bookshelves instead of walls. With that picture, she communicated a feeling that didn't translate well into drowsign: a warmth, a strangely comfortable boredom, and safety.

-Yes, we can go someplace smaller and more comfortable.- Caleldir replied to Felynriia. -Let me set up such a place for you. I will go silent on our connection for a bit, as I have to message someone else. In the meantime...- He took hold of her and pulled her into his chest so that she did not have to look at the vast room.

The pale woman gladly burrowed her face back in Caleldir's clothing. There was someone warm and comforting a beautiful to cling to. That was much better than just covering her face with her hands. It was also one new experience that was calming rather than overwhelming.

-Risa, do you have a good room for Felynriia to stay in for some time?- Caleldir messaged the A.I.

-Of course. I made one about twice the size of the one she was in before. That makes it one of the smaller ones here, with attached toilet, bathtub, sitting, and eating rooms. Lots of books there too. I took the liberty of including some of the more salacious picture-oriented ones because I think she may enjoy looking at them even if she cannot read them. And if you drop the books from her room on the table in this room, I will spirit them away to her new quarters.-

-That may be a lot more room than she wanted-. Caleldir replied to the A.I. -And make sure that the windows are shut when we first get there.-

-I think that a bigger but still contained room with a very good view will be perfect for acclimating her.- Risa sniffed.

-You are probably right. Lead the way. -