Book 2, Chapter 4 - Sandwiches, Conversation, And The Agonies Of Social Interaction (Patreon)

There is very little in life more dangerous than a conversation and a nice meal with someone whose opinion matters to others.

-An old saying amongst nobility

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Raika flexes her facial features, using conscious manipulation to pretend to smile rather than trusting her natural acting talents (or lack thereof). “Good to see you as well, Honored Kaena,” she says warmly. “I”m feeling much improved from my maladies. If it’s alright, though, I doubt I’ve become particularly good company just yet, and would hate to impose upon you.”

Kaena tosses their head back, laughing a bit louder and more freely than Raika can manage. “Oh, still a terrible liar,” they murmur, coming up right alongside Raika with a soft smile. “You’re still much too polite when you’re lying. I prefer you as you were back in the baths, darling.”

Raika’s grin, were it to be left to automatic control, might have become a bit brittle at that. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, sibling of the Division,” she replies. “I apologize again for any comments I made at the time that might have insulted you.”

Kaena waves a hand. “Don’t worry about it, darling,” they tell her. “The description was a surprise, but it’s no secret what I am, not truly. Apology fully accepted and forgiven. Now, may I offer you my arm?”

Raika blinks. She controls the shiver that her body tries to perform at the thought of touch, and wills her flesh to raise its arm in a comfortable, courtly position (or as close as she can figure).

Kaena smiles, but simply waves their hand. “No need for all of that,” she gracefully says. “A simple no would have sufficed. Far from me to intrude where I’m not wanted, you gorgeous thing.” 

They start walking, and after a moment’s hesitation, Raika follows along. “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what I did wrong, there?” she asks, fishing for a bit of information. She’d thought she’d gotten the movement just right.

“Oh, I’d hardly be what I am if I hadn’t learned to tell when someone is performing just to be polite, dear,” Kaena replies. “It’s a nascent talent, almost. Besides, despite my at-times exhausting demeanor, I can assure you I have no intention of allowing you discomfort in my presence if we can at all afford it. We are, after all, to be closely-mingled partners soon, hmm? I’d hate for there to be any unwanted friction between us.”

Raika moves her facial features into a light frown. “I don’t know what you mean,” she says. “Partners soon? How so?”

“Ah, you haven’t heard!” Kaena replies, smiling back at her while they enter the main lounging area, where Raika first arrived through their portal ever so long ago. “It only makes sense, really. I at least am far too exceptional to disrupt a transition as you’ve experienced, and am far too classy to cause distress to one in such a difficult position. I suppose the others must have followed my impeccable guidance. We’re to embark on a new journey soon, my dear. This backwater has been fine enough, as has been their lovely attempt at guest accommodations, but I’m eager to be off, and it would seem that orders from on high finally have us moving towards something with a bit more purpose than casual cultivation and a glaring lack of politicking and orgies.”

Kaena laughs at their joke, but Raika notices the scent shift, ever so slightly. A bit more of that tainted mercury peaking through Kaena’s surface scent of peaches and cream, hinting at what lies beneath. Kaena still exudes a constant aura of that sickly sweet sensation constantly, though it tends to stick fairly close to them rather than dissolving into the air like Raika originally assumed, and as she’s refined her senses she’s noticed eddies and ripples in it. 

It… doesn’t feel malicious. Even the scent of silvered toxin has sort of faded into the background of Raika’s interpretation of Kaena, becoming just another part of the whole rather than a threat, and with how quickly they stopped asking for touch when she hesitated speaks to a lot. It’s… almost alright. Almost.

She remembers some of her earlier meetings with Kaena, how the lithe figure was free and casual with physical touch, seeming to actively seek it out at times. And yet… they’d asked her, before anything, if it was alright for her to be touched.

The orgy-comment feels like an extension of that. Feeling out limits, trying to ascertain her comfort levels. It could be malicious or manipulative, as so much of Kaena seems tailor-made to seem, but at what point does manipulation become malicious in the first place? And for all that she’s guiding Raika around, she also hasn’t left the wing of the palace she’s been staying in, either. The attempt to make Raika comfortable seems genuine, as best as she can tell. 

Considering that Raika is actively manipulating every muscle in her body all at once, constantly, it would be a bit ridiculous to call all manipulation bad. Paranoia isn’t her ally here, only active analysis can be. Awareness of danger is crucial– she doesn’t plan to stop watching Kaena like a hawk, or forgetting exactly what they are to her senses, but to reject them outright isn’t just counter to her goal of getting more insight and information, it feels… unnecessarily harsh.

So, she shifts her flesh into a smile, following the lines of one that she can feel vaguely tickling the back of her nerves. It’s a small thing, barely a tilt of her lip on the unscarred side, but it’s more than enough for Kaena to notice, and the whirl of their Qi around her to speed up a fraction and brighten with the scent of peaches.

I mean, it had been a pretty good joke. More crass than Kaena’s usual fare, but that’s probably on purpose, considering how well they’ve been reading her so far.

“Do you happen to know where we’ll be journeying to?” Raika asks.

“Oh, I hardly give out the marching orders, gorgeous,” Kaena giggles. “Me, I’m here to look pretty, make people feel good, and indulge in all the goodies I can get my lovely hands on. Invaluable skills in all paths of life, but hardly fit for the bureaucracy of leadership, you understand. Now come along– there are refreshments in the main hall, and  I have simply fallen in love with these little bacon-wrapped figs they have here. One taste and you’ll see my tastes proven right and supreme.”

Raika smiles more naturally at that. She doesn’t think Kaena sees, but the movement happens, slight as it is, without conscious input.

Kaena walks forward, and Raika follows, breathing a little more evenly, controlling herself a little more cleanly. A few turns later, through hallways that she’s fairly certain are familiar but not entirely recognizable, and they arrive at a much larger room, one open and wide with a large, sweeping table on one side of it, laden with foodstuffs.

The sun shines through the room’s open wall, illuminating the space. Where there once was a portal through which messages were received and people were moved about, there is now a half-built archway, partially disassembled. Behind it, the carved and well-decorated infrastructure of the Palace leads to a towering ceiling, full of soft furniture, complex artworks, and further signs of opulence. Through the open wall, the city stretches out.

Light blue and cerulean purple glow in the afternoon sun writhing overhead, highlighted against the blooming green of trees and soft snow that surround the vast city. The wilds of the world encroach on its perimeters, pushing against the roads and highways that snake out across the landscape, held at bay by constant efforts and dotted with frozen farm-fields in tightly-packed clusters, providing the bare minimum for a city of this scale. 

It is a living place, soft and serene from this high up, full of little people moving about and stories dancing through streets like veins. 

It’s a gorgeous day. 

Raika hates it with everything she has left.

And then a plate is held out to her, laden high with bacon-wrapped figs, hunks of pork belly, a surprising array of lettuce, kimchi-like cabbage, cucumbers, radish, slices of crispy fried chicken and thin, sauce-laden cuts of beef.

“Everything a growing young woman needs to grow big and strong,” Kaena says with a coquettish smile and a wink.

Despite herself, Raika can’t help but smile back, taking control of it this time to stop it from growing too far. Kaena’s a dangerous one, they are. They’ll be difficult to deal with, given a moment of distraction with which to act upon her. The kindness is a tactic Raika was expecting; its effectiveness is not. She doesn’t know if Taurus put them up to this, but… while she hopes not, she keeps it in the back of her mind.

She takes the plate, bowing her head politely as she does. Before she can even take her first bite, though, the quiet is interrupted by the rattling of a disorganized silverware cabinet walking about.

Taran looks like shit, even more so than before. Their body looks sallow and malnourished, their movements listless and artificial-looking, like a poorly animated puppet. They stagger over to the table, grab themselves what looks like the largest piece of bread Raika has ever seen, and begins stuffing it full of chilis, spices, spicy sauces and pieces of rare meat.

Kaena titters at the display, and Taran turns to look at the two of them before rolling… less his eyes and more his whole head.

“Careful,” he rasps. “You gotta give em a flick to the head every now and then, or pretty soon they’ll be trying to get you to eat off them instead of a plate. I should know.”

“That was one time, and you should be grateful!” Kaena huffs. “I’ll have you know there’s places that can cost a life’s savings for such treatment. Besides, did it cheer you up or not?”

Again, the roll of the head. “I didn’t say it wasn’t a good time,” they rasp. “Just nice to give the newbie some forewarning.”

He looks at Raika, avoiding direct eye contact but making sure to focus on her face, his own eyes somewhat clouded and… inky? The look turns to a stare as he seems to sort of zone out. Then he blinks, and raises an eyebrow. He raises an eyebrow, looking between her and Kaena. She shrugs very, very lightly. He looks at her, more closely, and raises his brow again, before shifting his gaze slightly to the city behind them. She does nothing.

He gives her a slower nod, ending the conversation there and falling onto a bunch of pillows he immediately dribbles sauce onto, basking in as much sun as he can reach.

Kaena rolls their eyes. “Brutes, the both of you,” they huff. “Not a proper word between you. Taran, you ready?”

The gun-clad corpse shrugs. “As I can be,” they rasp. “Got some of the boys up and running. Figured I’d do better by boosting up Hao Kai rather than spread it out.”

Kaena whips around to face fully, gasping so loud it’s practically a yell, and then squeals. “You woke up Hao Kai and you didn’t tell me?” they ask breathlessly, their Qi swirling in what seems like genuine excitement. “I'm heartbroken! Crushed! Wounded and harmed, torn asunder amidst the winds of your cruelty! Please tell me he’s around? Oh, I've missed him so...”

Taran rolls their eyes, ever the picture of exhaustion. “You know if I let them out here they’re not going to stop wandering around complaining for hours, right? I’d rather save the energy for when we actually need it.”

“Taran, you insufferable twit, if Hao Kai wants to join me in the joy of mocking your terrible manners, he have every right, and if you're trying to keep us apart because you're as much as a child as you seem, I will find wherever you’re sleeping and stuff your belts full of cold meats, and you’ll have to drag them out all slimy and gross every time you wake up!” Kaena threatens.

Taran takes a deep, deep, deep breath. He sighs out, like the whistling of tuneless wind through barren trees. Then he does it again, just for effect.

“Fine,” he rasps, “but I’m taking a bite of my damned sandwich first.”

And they do just that, even as their gaze somehow goes even more vacant and their body far more still. Raika goes to take a step forward, but Kaena extends a hand to block her path, putting a finger to their lips and giving Raika a “trust me” wink as they do. 

And then he shivers a bit and inhales a nice, relieved breath- and starts hacking and coughing violently.

“Blasted little bastard!” Taran rasps, in a voice that is not their own. “Heavens and lords above, what is this? And why is it in my mouth? Gods, it’s burning so much!”

With another squeal, Kaena leaps full-force at the prone figure and lands hard, eliciting an “oof” from the prone bondage-clad figure, who blinks down at her even as they struggle not to swallow the burning, half-chewed meal they’ve been cursed with.

“Kaena!” Taran rasps in a voice that sounds so utterly different that she’s having trouble articulating how it could belong to the same face. It’s a masterful performance if it’s an act. “I’m ever so happy to see you, but please, I beg, be a dear and fetch me some water, I’m not sure I can move and every moment this thing is in any part of my digestive tract is an agony I’d rather do without.”

Kaena cackles, straddling the prone figure beneath them. “You’ll live another moment, you old ghost!” they crow. “Come on and give me a hug, it’s been months!” 

With a chuckle, the pale figure obliges, setting the sandwich daintily away from the pillows and hugging the svelte figure atop them. “It’s good to see you too, my dear. I’m to assume by my consciousness we’re off to- oh, my!” they interrupt themselves, catching sight of Raika. “My apologies, honored one, I’m afraid this senior brother is trapped in a rather poor showing!”

The pale, belt-clad and rattling figure stands, just as unnaturally tall but somehow completely alien from before. Where once there were stiff movements and awkward shifts of posture, the gait of a ruined doll, now the body moves like an artful performance, setting Kaena aside and rising from the pillows to bow extravagantly at the waist and sweeping a hand back as if presenting themselves. “Honored one, this senior’s name is Hao Kai, esteemed servant to the young master Taran and compatriot in arms to this most delightful specimen,” they say, briefly gesturing at Kaena, who took the opportunity to match his energy by striking a pose of their own. “I apologize, but I’m afraid I haven’t had the opportunity to familiarize myself with your personage. May you be a new addition to our entourage?”

Raika pauses, unsure how to respond. She opens her mouth, closes it. Awkwardly shifts the plate of food she’s holding.

“...I am, yes.”

“Ah,” Hao Kai says, still smiling, their demeanor eager and excited. “A recent addition, then. I trust your introductory period hasn’t been too-”

Kaena makes a very small “tsk” sound, and Hao Kai pauses.

“Well, however it came to be, I am glad to meet you,” he continues, as if no interruption occurred. “I can imagine you haven’t had much opportunity to familiarize yourself, so I shall introduce myself more properly! I, Hao Kai, honored cultivator, butler, assistant, and mentor to a dozen young masters in my time, former vassal of the Land of Porcelain Flowers, greet you, most esteemed-”

“Raika,” she provides.

“Raika! And while I’m afraid our interactions may be limited, I can assure you I have every intention of them being a singular delight each time.” He comes back up from the partial bow he’s maintained throughout his speech. “Though,” he says, looking down at himself, “I hope to be in a more presentable state on the next such occasion. I’m afraid the young master’s sense of fashion has deteriorated rather terribly since I was last present. I can assure you, milady, so long as this body draws breath and this mind has will to act, I shall be doing my best to ensure he holds himself to a higher standard.”

“Young master Taran. Who… is the main body?”she asks.

“Ah, yes, one and the same, milady,” Hao Kai says, nodding. “A complicated story, one I’m afraid I’m unqualified to explain. But if you’ll excuse me, I must ask, Kaena, has the young master been eating only such… unnatural concoctions as that deplorable thing, or am I merely the target of a rather vicious attempt at humor?”

Kaena hums, tapping a finger on their chin. “Well, perhaps you’d be best providing them a bit of proper nourishment while you’re here, just to be sure.”

“An excellent idea,” Hao Kai laughs, matching their smile. “If you’ll excuse me, Honored Kaena, Honored Raika, I see a bounty of nutritious goods that you already seem to have begun partaking in, and above all else, I am sure my master must have called me here to provide proper guidance on dietary manners!” He winks at Kaena, before giving a small bow to Raika and walking, very seriously and with only the slightest twinkle in his eyes, now so utterly at odds with the rest of his face and mannerisms, towards the tables of food on the far side of the lounge space.

Raika turns to Kaena. Despite herself, she raises an eyebrow.

Kaena shrugs. “Not my story to tell,” she says simply. “But I always take an opportunity to delight in good conversation when I hear Hao Kai’s awake.”

Raika can’t help herself. She scoffs a little laugh.

It’s…

She blames Kaena for it. The would-be courtesan is good at this. She imagines that if she’d emerged earlier, Kaena might have an entirely different, more delicate approach to the whole affair. She’s still not sure if she’s doing this on orders, or boredom, or something else, but it’s… it’s far too easy to feel comfortable here, at this moment.

She wills her flesh to shift. To turn her head and face the city.

To look down towards one specific alleyway, the view of it partially blocked by the shape of buildings around it.

She sniffs the air, tracking Kaena’s Qi. None of it feels invasive. If anything it feels tentative, quiet, shifting and moving only when they’re actively engaged with Taran(now Hao Kai?) or Raika. It doesn’t feel like it’s some kind of technique. It seems they’re just that good at making people feel at ease.

Raika takes a bite of her food, and makes sure she keeps in mind how dangerous that is.

A while later, as Hao Kai (in the body of Taran?) and Kaena speak excitedly, adding to the ambiance and pointedly giving her some space to just be, Maen shows back up. She, too, gives Raika room, letting her sit alone near the end of the lounge area, against the beginning of the balcony, but sitting close enough to her that her presence can be felt. Not long after that, Raika starts to sense the space changing, the feeling similar to what she’s begun to sense when her mirrors were replaced or when she notices little changes around the baths, and she notices a fresh batch of food on the tables, tea and cakes and other soft, sweet things.

It’s nice. She tries, very hard, to remind herself that it shouldn’t be. She uses her will to move her Qi about as she eats, continuing her training and bringing back the pain she so deserves. She eats sparingly, and tries not to taste it. She looks down at the view, where JiaJia was last alive. Where she was taken.

She hurts. And it feels wrong, to be here, to exist as she does.

But in spite of it all, it’s still nice.

And then Yun Ka walks into the room, and all thoughts of softness and sadness and comfort leave Raika’s mind as the woman with the eyes and authority of those who have ruined her and broken her world comes into focus.

“Greetings. I assumed, now that everyone is simultaneously present, that this would be a good time.” Yun Ka says, their voice tired but eyes bright. 

Raika stares at her. Her eyes track the robe of white and gold and black, the mechanical apparatuses hanging on her petite frame, the block of jade at her hip. 

She sniffs, quiet, trying to find a smell to match Yun Ka’s against the other’s.

Nothing. Nothing at all.

“I’m happy to announce we have a new field test,” Yun Ka says, “and will be deploying within the next three days.”