Offered protection

“I like your dress!” Offered Laura, stroking the silky hem where it sat… quite considerably higher up Chloe's shaved-smooth legs than her own.

“Thanks! I was so nervous buying it…” The girl replied, with a strangely sheepish look. “I had to hide it from my dad all month… but couldn't help trying it on again every few days!”

She looked around at the passing crowds of strangers in their barely-disguised fetish gear. “I suppose it's really not such a big deal, around here… You just like what you like.”

Her eyes lit up, as if reabsorbing where she was and what was going on all over again. “Have you ever seen or done anything like this before?! All these people, getting to live out their secret fantasies… It’s amazing!”

Even ever-the-cynic Laura couldn’t help but catch a little of the contagious wonder seeping out of this small bundle of sunshine. She let herself look around again with fresh eyes, less jaded by a life spent avoiding crowds and social theatrics. There really was a freeing sense of ‘be whoever you want to be, wear whatever you want to wear’ permeating the air. Most of those around her had clearly put a lot of care and attention into their costumes… however little of their bodies were, in fact, covered. The hippyish, philosophical, art-school section of her soul, sang out a little behind the bars of imprisoning practicality that she had hidden it behind for years upon years. She wanted to be able to throw herself into a hobby or fantasy with as much gusto as these folks seemed to, but the crushing weight of self-awareness and petty judgement was hard to let go of.

Through the crowd she was watching a new character appeared, darker skinned and older than almost any other attendee Laura had seen so far. She wore no clothing at all, allowing a full view of her really quite impressive bosom and wirily athletic body. A curtain of dreadlocked hair draped down past even her buttocks, decorated by a thousand tiny trinkets: gold bangles which glinted in the firelight, small skulls of every species imaginable and carved wooden figures in a variety of erotic poses. It was clear she was a known entity, heads bobbed in deference as she passed and slightly nervous smiles were offered by everyone she deigned to speak to. Behind her struggled two equally naked, but much younger women lugging what looked to be a genuine and heavy cast-iron cauldron. Laura watched as all three went methodically from one group to the next, offering something from this container.

Finally, it was her and Chloe's turn. The intimidating stranger approached the smaller girl first, bringing up a ladle of slightly steaming liquid from the cauldron.

“Umm… I-I don’t think I need it…” Squeaked the pigtailed cutie-pie, clearly nervous to even refuse something. The naked witch looked her up and down with a raised eyebrow and keen eye, then broke into a cunning smile.

“So ye don't…” She chuckled, with an accent thick as honey. “But yer friend certainly will.”

The ladle was proffered toward Laura, not a drop of its contents spilling in the movement.

“What is it?” Asked the newcomer in her long white dress, not often in the habit of gulping down unknown liquids offered by naked, middle-aged ladies covered in occult symbols.

“Protek-shun.” Was all the answer offered, with a glint in the woman’s eye that hinted both the accent and air of mystery might be more theatrics than anything else.

Laura was about to refuse as well, when she caught Chloe furiously nodding out the corner of her eye. Sighing, she supposed that the organisers wouldn't let anything dangerous be handed out so obviously to all and sundry. She brought her lips to the spoon and took a sip, struggling to turn it into a gulp as the ladle-wielder tipped the rest into her mouth as well. The stuff was warm and almost fizzy, as if it had been fermented for a period. Its taste was strongly sweet and herbal, like sarsaparilla or cough medicine, though she couldn't work out what the herbs might be. An intensely bitter aftertaste sent shivers down her spine, but by the time it was done the witch had moved on… looking for other victims to offer it to.

Leaving Laura to chat with Chloe, far into the night. Both had become fast friends, blissfully ignorant of all the barely-dressed figures drinking and dancing and doing other things to each other all around them.