Tir an Fiain

Simon and Ariel stepped out of the longhouse together to a much busier glade than they had grown accustomed to. Sarah had both dwarves entertained in her workspace, the three sharing a bottle with exaggerated stealth. The bandit women stood whispering to each other over a fire with pots hanging above it. Nyali quickly stopped whispering when she spotted the pair emerging, her eye going a little wide while Lara seemed not to notice. Garth meanwhile was exploring around a cottage he had claimed the night before.

A slightly sadistic part of him made Sly step quietly behind Lara as she continued to speak in hushed tones to her frozen friend.

"... not like he's burly like any a the orcs were but you should'a seen it. The guy's fit! I don' know what was goin' on but then that real pretty guy started gettin' all.... kissy...an' he's a boy! I hope you don' have no trouble with him after..." Her next words froze in her throat as her shadow, cast long in the morning sun was eclipsed by a distinctive antlered shape. Her shoulders slumped and her head hung low as she turned around muttering under her breath. "Ah, shit. I've done it again."

"Is this a common occurrence Lara? Perhaps we should keep the gossip indoors then?" Sly said having way too much fun watching the poor girl squirm.

The half-orc waif's green tinged skin darkened several shades and she shifted uncomfortably, which Sly had to admit was fucking cute. She wasn't pretty like Nyali or even Ari but her expressive face had a definite charm. Unfortunately both women were far more frightened than he had intended.

"I was just bit... confused m'lord. I didn't mean no offense. I won't breathe another word, I only told Nyali cuz' she might..."

"Have nothing to worry about from me." Ariel interrupted, smoothly breaking the tirade with his gentle tone.

"And you don't have to worry. I'm not upset. I'm in a particularly good mood this morning" He said with a wink while he pulled Ari close. The women both looked shocked, though Nyali was obviously more intrigued than scandalized. It only too a second longer than he'd have liked to realize what was going on when Ariel buried his face into Sly's chest. The sound of breaking ceramic was a good clue. Looking around the glade every eye except Sarah's were on their little group, she was far more interested in the short snacks in front of her than her father's love life. Garth and Lara looked dumbfounded. Nyali's mind was working on overdrive behind a mostly cool facade. The dwarf siblings seemed to be happy to watch from the sidelines.

"You just hinted at us being criminals here Sly, they have an Inquisition." Ariel whispered into Sly's chest.

"Fuck that!" Sly exclaimed to everyone there. "We will have none of that here! My realm has no such taboos, if you find my joy to be objectionable you are welcome to leave." He settled from an indignant shout to a determined rumble in that magic laced tone that he found himself using when he wanted to demand attention. "I'll say what I have said to demons and angels. If all are willing, do as you please. And I will do as I please, with whomever I choose, here in my home. This is Tir an Fiain, we have one law! If it harms none, do as you will."

Nyali's mind seemed to finally settle into gear at Simon's one law. A wide grin spread across her face as she swept Lara into a sensuous kiss. The orc-girl's eyes going wide before closing as she returned it in kind.

Garth was fairly hesitant but stepped up to speak. "I don't really care who ya bugger, the land seems good. My family and I'll stay if you'll have us. None'a us want anything to do with the Inquisition right about now anyway." He said that last bit with a rather pointed look, reminding Sly politely that he was at fault for that part. He could work with that.

***

Sarah didn't have much of a life to speak of. She was a five day old full grown woman who hadn't talked to anyone but her father and his boy-toy until last night. Then dear old Dad shows up with a bunch of strangers and dumps them on her without even making introductions. He was a kind man when he paid attention but he didn't always notice her, or Ariel for that matter. Perhaps she could forgive him, he had been hurt after all and of course he'd rush of to his angel lover then. Fortunately she was the daughter of a sidhe and his realm, she could manage a few country bumpkins. The boy, Tomas, who was pining over his injured lover was a bit of a hassle until her new favorite people had gotten him a bit drunk and and he nodded off. Garth, Korydwen and their little spawn had been easy to handle. Show them the handsome one and the rest of the wounded, point out the cottages and they managed. The self-sufficient type, she found she liked that.

The bandits were a bit more interesting at first but here too they were already wrapped up in her father, at least the plain one cooks better than the pixies. They did as she bid without much fuss anyway, though it did nettle her a bit that this was because Father said so and not her own skills.

The twins Conor and Leah were, as mentioned, her new favorite people. Conor was gruff and manly in a way Father was not and his sister was as good a verbal sparring partner as she could have asked for. To top it all off they had whisky and that was a pleasing new discovery if a tad harsh. The trio had spent the long night drinking and joking in a pleasantly natural way. It was almost as if she had known these two for years though that idea brought a round of drunken hilarity when she told them how old she actually was. When the sun came up she had set her mind, Conor and Leah were staying... And Conor was going to be hers, perhaps his sister too. Oh, and the handsome one once she found out his name. Sleeping bumpkin could keep Tomas.

By the time her father blundered his way through his morning speech she had both of them a bit worked up as she laid her groundwork. By the end one of her hopes was dashed while others were buoyed. Leah was captivated by the scene, Father, half-naked, shouting about fucking whoever he likes apparently worked for the short... sexy... girl. Damn it, she would need to meet some pretty girls before Father got his hooks into them. She sighed a bit as Conor grinned at her once he processed the situation. Looks like she wasn't getting twins on her first spin, just one beefy short-stack. She could live with that.

"So, that invitation was for real, was it?" Conor asked her, moving into her personal space further than he had until then. He reached out and took her slender fingers into his thick calloused hands setting her belly buzzing.

Sarah didn't squeak, that would be beneath her. "It was. Perhaps we should make your new accommodations feel a bit more... Lived in, if you are going to stay?" She asked with more hesitation than she would show, only biting her lip a bit in acknowledgement of her nerves, knowing full well the effect it would have.

"The mad fae wasn't bullshitting?" Conor asked a little frightened despite himself. "He is your father..."

"I don't think he would dare try any hypocrisy with me. We harm none so we may do as we please." She countered wanting to keep the conversation on her terms.

"Just go shag already you two!" A frustrated Leah blurted out, reminding her brother and new friend that she, in fact, existed and was still. Standing. Right. There.

***

Sly felt a spike of protective suspicion when he heard the insinuation directed at his daughter. He turned his gaze onto the dwarf lad as his daughter led him away. He was fairly certain no one noticed him slip into 'combat mode' for a moment as he assessed the boy, then dug just a bit deeper.

~Huh, never-mind, she can handle him. That poor sod doesn't know what he's getting himself into.~ Sly thought, chuckling to himself, before shrugging and moving on with his day.

~Maybe I should have Ari check on him later, just in case?~