Yuri and Malza’s Pre-Intimacy Moments

With Thelsia’s help, Malza was able recover the actual message from her order, they basically stated that while she was still technically on security detail for Inoshana that she could loosen things up a bit due to the fact that several capable individuals were there for the protection of Yuri and Inoshana herself; the note

also mentioned she should at least experience one night with Yuri to get any potential sexual temptations out of her system. It was at that moment Malza remembered the captain of the branch of the order she was part of and his second in command were in an open intimate relationship whenever circumstances enabled such behavior; Malza herself was considered the most repressed of the order due to her unwillingness to engage in romantic and/or sexual activities, on and off duty.

Although she did have to admit that being around an Alpharian like Yuri did stir up desires in her that she tried to keep in check. Also, that letter from her family basically saying she had a duty to breed was annoying; she had six older sisters that were already doing that, and four younger ones as well. But she wanted such interactions to be what she wanted. But that was the thing: she didn’t quite know what she wanted.

It all started with Thelsia and Althana both asking her flat out what it was she wanted for and from herself, not whatever duty demanded of her or what others higher in the structure asked of her, just her on a personal level. Malza was in her room, her armor and attire scattered all about the chamber, sitting naked on the bed just thinking about those questions and asking them to herself repeatedly without coming across an answer, just something blank. She couldn’t understand why such seemingly basic questions were the hardest questions she had encountered this whole time.

If you had asked her that question a decade ago, when she was still a kid of 13, the answers would have been as easy as they were vague: get out from under her family’s palms and coin purses. She was built different than the rest of her family, and it wasn’t just the golden coat she sported. Her golden coat had made her feel trapped; the full name they gave her was an old Caprae name, ancient basically, that declared her a lucky charm that would bring great fortune. She wasn’t even seen as an individual in her own full name, but the shortened version she went by just meant she had a golden coat by the more modern variation of the language.

In her eagerness to run from one controlling force, she had willingly run into another one and basically demanded they train her. She could finally see that now. She wanted two things: freedom to act on her own wishes, which hadn’t happened yet, and the power to protect what was important to her; at least joining a paladin order gave her the second one. Now she finally had an opportunity to do the first thing.

Something was echoing in her mind; she had asked all the other women here why they were so dedicated to Yuri. The answers she got were mostly about his personality being agreeable with them and a few other personal aspects, but then she got blindsided when they got to the part about sexual interactions. Apparently, Alpharians subconsciously pick up on the sexual desires of their partners and do their best to stimulate those desires; that includes the secret ones even you aren’t aware of. Thelsia had even mentioned he had been practicing the ability, seeing what he could pick up about each woman he ended up in close proximity to.

Malza suddenly realized that she had been in close proximity quite a few times the past few days. She wasn’t sure what that meant, but at the very least she was aware that he probably knew something intimate about her that she was only vaguely aware of herself. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

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Inoshana and Alma were in the room with Yuri, a room adjacent to Yuri’s personal room, designed for private conversations that can’t be interrupted or overheard; they had both noticed Malza’s resolve not to interact intimately with Yuri was nearing its breaking point. So, here they were with Yuri to discuss the matter; he didn’t seem all too surprised by their proclamation regarding the caprae woman. Given all his experiences so far, they quickly realized he saw this as an eventuality or inevitability.

“You mentioned exploring and testing your Alpharian abilities in subtle ways,” said Alma, “what have you learned about Malza?”

“Other than the fact she is extremely repressed,” said Yuri, “yes, and I’m not sharing such intimate information with the two of you.”

“We’ll find out eventually,” said Inoshana, “especially after you get intimate with her.”

Yuri gave an exasperated sigh before saying, “Okay, but what I tell you here does not leave this room before I have that night with Malza that is in the foreseeable future. Are we clear?”

“As a crystal bell,” said both women in unison, which prompted the two to look at each other in bewilderment for a moment; this was the first time they seemed to be so in sync.

“Malza has a unique sort of sexual fetish,” started Yuri, which is a term from where I come from.”

“Oh, this will be good,” said Inoshana with amusement.

Yuri took another deep breath before saying, “Malza is what my world calls an ‘Exhibitionist’; that means she draws excitement, even that of the sexual variety, from being observed or just the mere thought of being watched, or possibly heard if she thinks people are actually listening in on her specifically. The inverse of this is called ‘Vouyer,’ which derives the same sorts of excitement from the act of watching and observing. But as I said, Malza seems to be giving off some energy telling me she’s an exhibitionist.”

“Well, if I had known that sooner, I would have teased her a few different ways,” said Inoshana. “Although, that second one you mentioned does sound suspiciously like some paladins I’m aware of.”

“Then is there a special term for what I am?” Inquired Alma.

“Yes,” said Yuri, “you, Alma, are what is known as a ‘Masochist’; you basically derive pleasure from humiliation and pain.”

“Well, that explains a few things I noticed about myself I didn’t really think about due to position. Although, to be perfectly honest with you, I’m pretty sure it’s a trait shared with most of my pride.”

“Somehow I’m not surprised,” said Inoshana. “Does the library have more on these terms and their meanings?”

“I think so; those materials should be in the ‘Mature Literature’ section, but last I checked Thelsia and Usagi have been taking over that section for quite a few hours for the past few days. I’m sure they’ll be just as interested as you to explore all this.” He then muttered to himself in his head about how they were so engrossed in that series that involved rating women of different species that they hadn’t noticed him until he literally touched them on his last visit to the library. “Just remember, before I get intimate with Malza, you aren’t allowed to speak of anything relating to her you heard from me.”

“Don’t worry,” said Inoshana, “I don’t plan on saying anything about it until after her private time with you.”

“Same here,” said Alma, “although I’ll probably try learning more about that thing you said about me.”