Murderer #6

https://bazelini.deviantart.com/art/Katia-and-Rajirra-3-541100248

She awoke slowly. In fact, she wasn’t sure she ever awoke at all. Everything was blurry and there was a noise in her ears that sounded like rushing water. She was vaguely aware of a shape that occasionally came into view, then disappeared. And she smelled something terrible. If she could move, she didn’t have enough conscious thought to try.

Someone was holding her up once or twice. Or something. Water was poured into her mouth, but she couldn’t quite figure out how to swallow it right. Then she went away again for a while.

The second time she woke up, the noise in her ears was still there. She saw a face, but it faded in and out of view. She tried to talk, but nothing seemed to come. She pissed herself. More than once. She felt like she should be ashamed of that, but she didn’t really care. And then she went away again.

Suddenly she awoke with a start. She was in water. Very cold water! She thrashed but she was held tight by something. But her head wasn’t underwater, so eventually she stopped fighting it and let the water flow past her. Something was jostling her, and she turned to see what it was. A hand was stroking her under the water. At first she thought it was nice, feeling a warm hand against her skin and fur. But slowly she realized it wasn’t soothing. It was harsh. It was scrubbing her. It began to annoy her.

“Stop that,” she said. She heard something behind the sound of the water in her ears, but she couldn’t make it out. She repeated herself. “Stop that!”

She tried to turn her head, and this time it worked. Her eyes saw a face, a human face. Bearded and grizzled. She felt like she should know this person. It was talking, but it wasn’t talking right.

She shook her head. Something was wrong with her head. She tried to concentrate on the voice.

Then suddenly she knew who it was.

“Honest John?” she said, switching to the Common tongue. She had to fight the fuzziness in her head to comprehend the language.

“Welcome back Ra’Jirra,” he said.

She looked around, trying to understand where she was. She sat in a stream, and she was soaked. But the water wasn’t as cold as she’d first thought. And this brigand was bathing her.

“You’re… giving me a bath?”

“That’s right, kitten. You were getting pretty ripe in there.”

“Kitten. Don’t…”

“I’ll call you whatever I damn well please. That goddamned Skooma cost me a good chunk of what I got from you. Not to mention the time and effort I’ve had to put into saving your mangy ass!”

“I… Wait. You called me…”

“Ra’Jirra. That’s your name, isn’t it?”

She nodded and tried to sit up on her own. Suddenly a wave of nausea came over her and she heaved up nothing but bile.

“Here,” he said, offering her a small jug. “Drink this. It’s just water.”

She took a short pull and rinsed her mouth out, then spat the vile taste into the stream. Then she took another drink and swallowed it. Immediately another wave came over her and she brought up what she had swallowed, so again she rinsed her mouth out.

“I,” she said once she’d recovered. “I don’t think I can hold anything right now.”

“Probably not. Come on, let’s get you dried off. You’re clothes are still drying off too. They were pretty bad,” he explained. “Can you stand?”

She tried. It didn’t work.

“Well hell, I carried you this far,” he said, and picked her up bodily. She felt his muscles bunch and she managed to wrap an arm around his neck and shoulders at least. Thick.

“You’re… pretty strong for an old guy,” she said.

He didn’t answer but set her down on an outcropping where the sun was shining warmly.

“Sorry Doll, I haven’t got a towel. You’ll have to dry off the old-fashioned way.

She lay back and closed her eyes. No skull was there. It was nice, even if she felt weak as a… kitten.

Finally she opened her eyes and turned to where he sat with his back to her, sharpening a knife with a stone. Her knife she realized.

"Why?” she said.

He turned and looked at her. “Damned if I know. I guess I’m just a milk drinker at heart. Had a cat once. It died.”

“I’m not a cat,” she said, but without the offended tone she’d used before.

“No. Never wanted to fuck my cat.”

She thought about that for a minute. She owed this man her life, she was sure. “You… want to fuck me?”

He laughed. “No thanks, Doll. To be honest, the damn thing doesn’t work anymore anyway. But no. I kinda like you. I guess I miss being a father a little.”

She knew better than to ask him about his past. “I bet you were a fine father.”

“Lousy. But she turned out alright anyway.”

“You know, you can like someone and want to fuck them too,” she said, rolling over on her stomach and closing her eyes again.

“Enough of that. Let’s change the subject, shall we?”

“Sure. How long was I… gone for?”

“Oh, a couple of days.”

She didn’t open her eyes. It wasn’t a surprise. It felt like a couple of days. At least. “Sorry, Honest John.”

“Eh… not like anyone’s waiting for me anywhere. You needed the help.”

“I did. What else did I say?”

“It was all in Ta’agra. I don’t know it much. Sorry, I don’t know your life story now.”

“Would you like to?”

He looked at her again, and stroked her back. The fur was drying but she was still pretty wet. She probably should have been offended, the touch resembled too much the petting of an animal. But it felt good and she had no pride left in her.

“I don’t think so. I can’t tell you mine. Best we just leave it at this,” he continued stroking her back and she let him.

They stayed there the whole afternoon while she dried off, an old highwayman and a foolish khajiit that by all rights should be dead. But it was the first peaceful moments she had had since the night she murdered Katia Managan. She didn’t want it to end.

But finally he helped her to her feet which, though wobbly, finally had started responding. He half-carried her to where her clothes lay. They didn’t smell bad anymore, but they were stained. Vomit and shit and piss, she had no doubt. But they were what she had, and she put them back on.

“I don’t suppose…” she began.

“Sorry Doll, no. I saved your life. We both know that. But it’ll have to be enough. We all have mouths to feed in our own way. Mine’s a rotten one, I know. But it’s what I do.”

She had to have some help getting her clothes buttoned up, but considering what he must have had to do to get her cleaned up, she wasn’t embarrassed.

“I understand. But I don’t think I can walk on my own yet.”

“Nope. Another day I expect,” he agreed. “Got a little lean-to built on the other side of that hill. I had to move it. You’d messed the old site up pretty good.”

She managed to walk a few steps on her own by the time they got near the camp and he started a fire to make some soup. She tasted it and, though pungent with onion and garlic, it wasn’t bad really. Some bits of meat were in it, but she couldn’t swallow those. So she made do with the broth.

That night she slept with the old man. True to his word, he didn’t try anything, though she felt she owed him some physical comfort. But he made it clear he wasn’t interested in that. They lay looking up at the stars and not speaking, and she found his hand and held it for a long time while they said nothing. Then she went to sleep against his back.

She woke up late, trembling. She was hungry. So very, very hungry. She tried some of the broth, and even managed some of the meat, but it didn’t satisfy. She drank some water, but the hunger she felt was of a different sort.

Then she realized what it was she needed. She looked at the old man, but he was sleeping deeply. She crept up to him and stealthily slid a hand into one of his deep pockets. She found something there. A vial. The same. It was almost empty, but not quite. She slid it out of his pocket and opened it. The scent was both vile and enticing at the same time.

“Just a drop, mind you,” he said.

She jumped, but didn’t lose the vial.

“Sorry, Honest John,”

“Keep it,” he said, never turning back to her. “You’ll need it more than me. But it won’t last long. There’s only a day or two’s worth left, and you’re going to want more. It’s going to get tough for you after that. Your ass-coins won’t buy much.”

Suddenly she remembered. It struck her as funny. She’d probably shat them out.

“Where are they?”

“In your backpack. Sorry, I threw away the sheep’s bladder. I just put them back in your pouch. I don’t advise shoving them back up there without a bladder though.”

She tipped the vial slowly as she held out her tongue. A single drop fell down her throat and was gone, but instantly she felt better. She put the stopper back on and put it into her backpack.

Then she curled up behind Honest John and held him. The Skooma made her horny, but even through the buzz, she felt she owed this man more respect than to try and force him. Instead she let it wash over her and she felt… ecstasy. It was like a continuous orgasm, but more than just in her crotch. She wanted to share it with someone, but the old man wouldn’t get it. He wasn’t… high like her.

It felt most like a full-body orgasm that didn’t stop. The stars were spinning, but not wobbly like before. It was more like she could sense their movement, and her perception had become so sharp that she could see them turning ever-so-slightly against the night sky. Finally she went back to sleep, and slept the most peaceful night of her life.

In the morning, however, she was hungry again, and not for food.

Murderer #5

“That’s much better. Asshole eh? Yeah, good choice really. You could get raped and, unless they’re really kinky, you’d still have it. Plus they’d have to get stinky. How much?”

“Twenty,” she said.

“Hmph,” he said. “Twenty. Lady, I’ve seen boys half your size stuff at least 50 up there. But thanks. You’re a smart lady. Keep it.”

The sigh of relief was quite sincere. She would be essentially completely broke without that, and she’d been broke before. The word didn’t convey the feeling nearly well enough, but it was appropriate. When you’re truly broke, you are broken. And it’s hard as hell to climb back out of broken.

“Now, he said, and he reached for her back. Let’s get this off of you. Don’t worry, I really am honest. I’m not going to bother you.”

In a moment he had the bondage free and she unwrapped herself, then put the shirt back on.

“Well, Honest John,” she said, trying to recover some dignity, “if you’ve seen enough…”

“Not enough for my preference, but it’s all you got. I know the feeling. Not exactly packing a serpent myself, but it gets the job done. So, where you headed? Need some company?”

“WHAT? You rob me and now you expect me to continue with you?”

“Never know. It’s a wild world out here. I might get killed by something. Then you can get all your loot back. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to report me to the Imperial Legion, are you? You’re on the run.”

“Maybe,” she admitted.

“Yup, what I thought. Come on, I can at least keep the worse robbers from hitting you up again. And they’re more likely to take more than your stuff. Might like little kitty titties too. You’re better off with me, I’m telling you…”

She stood up and brushed off the dirt. “I’ll do fine. I just won’t leave the road again!”

“Think that’ll help?” he said, as he handed her the much-lighter backpack.

She shrugged.

“It won’t. Not unless you stick by a Legionnaire, or a caravan. And there aren’t any caravans today, and… well… Legionnaires ask questions.”

She considered her options.

“Good,” the highwayman said. “You’re thinking. I knew you were a smart cat.”

“Don’t call me a cat,” she said, growling.

“Fine. What do I call you?”

“Don’t. But okay. Thanks, I guess.”

“Then I’ll call you… Doll. For your doll you like so much.”

“Honest John, I’ve been awake all night. I’m sleepy as hell.”

“Oh! Say no more. Curl up right here. I’ll keep an eye out for you. Not like I’m in a hurry. I’ve made enough today.”

“Off of me!”

The big man shrugged. “Sorry lass, you were easy. Easy is a highwayman’s best friend. Weeks go by without finding an Easy. But I’ve got relatives over near Anvil that could use a bit of this coin. You go to sleep, then we’ll head that way.”

Odd as it seemed, it was the best option she had. She curled up at the base of the tree and slept.

Five minutes later, she awoke screaming. Honest John had his hands over her mouth as soon as she’d started.

“Hush cat! Want the whole Imperial Legion on us? What the fuck is wrong with you?” he said as quietly as his anger would allow.

She nodded and he removed his hands.

“Don’t call me cat,” she said again.

“Nightmare?” he asked, to which she nodded. Her head was still bleary.

“I had those before. Here,” he said, rummaging through another pocket. He produced a small vial. “Drink a drop of this.”

She held it up, uncertain. “What is it?” she asked while sniffing at it.

“Skooma. Don’t touch the stuff myself anymore. But I keep some around. Comes in handy if you break a leg or something out here.”

Skooma. Of course. She should have guessed. But she was so tired.

“Aren’t you supposed to smoke it or something?” she asked.

“That’s the best way. But this is a good alternative when you need a quick hit.”

Ra’Jirra shuddered, remembering the thing that awaited her in her dream. “Fuck it,” she said, and downed the vial.

“HOLY SHIT! God dammit lady, you just killed yourself! Oh fuck. You just drink a drop or two! What kind of idiot…” said Honest John, standing up with horror on his face.

She felt funny. The world started spinning and her ears stopped working.

“Killed myself,” she thought as the colors in her eyes began to spin. “Figures. All that work, for nothing. I should have turned myself in. Sorry S’thengir. Sorry Katia. Sorry Mom. I fucked up.”

Her last thought was that at least the skull hadn’t followed her into wherever she was going. And then her consciousness disappeared for a while.

Murderer #4

‘When she awoke a short time later, she was back in S’thengir’s private room. The window was glowing blue. Dawn.

“You alright?” said a voice from behind her head. She looked up and saw S’thengir standing over her. She was laying on his floor-bed, clothed in similar fashion to what he wore. She noticed the restriction around her chest then. And she noticed her hair was gone from the floor.

“What happened?”

“Hell if I know. You looked at the mirror and started screaming, then fainted I guess…”

“You dressed me?”

“Obviously. It’s getting light out. The tavern doesn’t open for a couple more hours yet. But I need you to tie me up before you leave.”

Ra’Jirra thought about that for a minute. “You want an alibi.”

“Damn right I do.”

She smiled as she sat up, “I could take your money too, if you’d like!”

S’thengir took her hand and helped her up. “Thank you, no. I’ve hidden it away though. You did rob me, I’m just not giving you the money.”

“Well, a girl can try! I need to spend a few minutes the restroom… the public restroom. Then I’ll be ready to go.”

The bartender ushered her out into the common room.

“Did you have a good time strapping up my boobs and dressing me?” she asked as she crossed to the restroom.

“Delightful. In other circumstances…”

“Yes,” she agreed as she closed the door. “Other circumstances.” She pulled something out of her backpack along with her gold.

In a few minutes, she had emerged again. The bartender was sitting on a chair, lengths of rope already cut. She began to tie him up.

“You into bondage, S’thengir?”

He looked at her. “Fuck you Ra’Jirra. Tie them tight. And when you’re out there, don’t talk till you’re out of the city.”

Finally, she was ready. She was about to leave when she realized something. She went back to where she’d left S’Thengir.

“Say… do you have any weapons I could take with me? Besides that mace I mean. I don’t think I could use it very well. A spear would be awesome!”

He shook his head, not able to talk with the rag tied into his mouth. But then he signaled to behind the bar. She followed his gaze and found the knife. It wasn’t much, but with at least a foot long blade, it was better than nothing.

“Thanks,” she said, buckling the knife and it’s sheath to her belt. His belt… Well, it was her’s now. Then she headed to the side door. She saw her clothes in a corner. She considered taking it with her. Even if she couldn’t wear it anymore, it would still bring a nice price at the right shop. But no. Her life as Ra’Jirra was over, along with the beautiful high-necked outfit. It might compensate S’thengir for his trouble. She opened the door, trying to walk like a male.

She almost made it with no problems at all, but the guard at the gate recognized S’thengir.

“Tavern closed today?” he called as she passed through. She shrugged noncommittally, but he said nothing more and then she was out of Kvatch.

The road was lightly traveled at this time of morning, and the few that she did pass paid her no mind. The sun was coming up, and by its heat, it was going to be a warm day.

It was mid-morning when she arrived at the crossroad. From here she could head west towards Anvil and the coast, or travel east towards Skingrad. She hadn’t really thought this through much, she realized. She knew only that she had to leave Kvatch. But the thought of the sea beckoned her and she turned to the right towards Anvil. If things went wrong, she might be able to hop a ship out of Cyrodiil completely. She thought of Elsweyr briefly. But no, that was not her home. She had to make her own home. Somewhere.

The sun continued to beat on her and the chest wrappings were beginning to make their presence known. She looked around and saw a small copse of trees nearby that she headed towards. The shade was cooling, and she suddenly realized just how sleepy she was.

“Well,” she thought to herself as she sat down behind a large tree, facing away from the road, “There’s no need to look like a male anymore. Now I’m just another random khajiit. Off with this damned thing!”

She stripped off her vest and undershirt and began scrabbling at the bandage. He’d done a good job, it wasn’t going to be easy!

“Could you use some help there, lass?” came a voice. gruff and far far too masculine for her comfort.

She looked quickly towards the voice. A single, but very large man stood not 5 feet away from her. She scrabbled for her knife and had it out in a flash, but he turned and patted the scabbard that held a sword. Given the scars on his grizzled face and the use the sword had obviously seen, it was pointless.

“Sorry lass,” he said with a bit of a foreign accent she couldn’t quite place. “This isn’t your lucky day. If you’re any good at throwing that thing, now would be a good time to try. Otherwise, you’d best just put it away.”

She looked at the knife, then back at the highwayman. Her eyes started to water again. “Please…” she managed to squeak.

He walked over to her and sat down beside her.

“Oh now lass, I’m not so bad. I can help you get that thing off. Don’t worry, I’m not a rapist. Not into cats regardless. But I think we may need to have a look at that backpack of yours…”

“Please mister, I’ve had a hell of a day. A really, REALLY bad day,” she cried.

“I’m sure. And now you’re traveling alone. Sorry lass. But that’s a mistake you should have known. But look at the bright side. Believe you, me, there’s a lot more than old Honest John you could run into out here. Some’d as soon kill you as ask, you know? Do you mind?” he said, indicating her backpack.

She knew what was in it, of course. She’d be lucky to keep anything. But she nodded. She really didn’t have any choice.

He dumped it out unceremoniously on the ground and rummaged through the small pile. Some things he stuck in his pockets, others he left behind. He didn’t leave behind her gold purse. When he was satisfied, he put the leftovers back in and sat back beside her against the tree, pouring out the coins from the purse into his hand.

“Oh!” he said, then turned to her. “Nice! How long have you been saving this up?”

“A year,” she choked out.

“A year. Well, there’s always next year, eh miss?”

Through tear-streaked eyes, she implored him, “The little doll. Could you please?”

“Mmm?” he said. Then he rummaged through his deep pocket and drew out an odd animal figure. “This thing?”

She nodded hopefully.

“Was going to give it to me niece honestly. But sure. I’m not a cruel man. It’s just a cruel world, see?”

She nodded as he put back into the backpack. Then he turned back to her.

“Cunt or Asshole?” he asked.

She stared at him, uncomprehendingly.

“Which? Cunt or Asshole?” he asked again, enunciating more clearly.

“W… what do you mean? Are you going to rape me?” she squeaked, eyes wide with fear again now.

“Fuck no! Name’s Honest John for a reason, lady. Much as you’d like it, naa. But when you’ve been doing this as long as I have, see, you learn some things. And one thing you learn real quick is that smart ladies always stuff some coin up their cunt or their asshole. You look like a smart lady. Wrapping those boobs up, you were pretending to be a guy. Another smart idea if you’re traveling on your own. So which is it?”

“Pardon?! I don’t have any…”

Suddenly his demeanor took on a truly menacing look for the first time.

“I’ll have to have a look-see then, missy. Sorry, but I don’t believe you. I’ve been honest with you, haven’t I? I even put your little doll back. I’m going to ask you one more time, and if you don’t tell me the truth, we’re gonna have a little tussle, you and me, and you might get hurt. I haven’t hurt you yet, have I? No. Do you WANT to get hurt lady? Do you LIKE to get hurt?”

She shook her head, trembling now.

“Then which is it? Cunt or Asshole?” he said very quietly.

“Asshole,” she said.

Murderer #2

She
peered through the keyhole. She saw his back within, breathing deeply.
So peaceful, he seemed. And she was about to screw up his life too.
Well, there was no help for it – short of turning herself in that is.
She thought about that for a moment before knocking. Beheading probably.
Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. She certainly deserved it. Justice in
Cyrodiil was harsh and swift, and there was no leniency for a crime like
hers. But was it murder?

“Idiot, you locked the young fool in
with that… thing,” Rajirra thought. “She burned her own gloves with the
fucking fire spell. Did you really think she had a chance against it?
She’s probably a charred corpse by now.”

An image of a body,
charred and black leapt into her mind. It’s eyes burned from their
sockets, the teeth ever-smiling now. Smiling at her. Grinning. It’s
fangs long and sharp. It turned it’s black and bone-colored skull
towards her. “MURDERER”

She screamed, then covered her mouth. A
sound came from within. She’d woken him. She shook her head out of her
nightmare and returned to reality, then knocked at the door.

She
heard words spoken in Ta’agra within. To anyone else in town they would
be unintelligible. She however, understood them quite well.

“Fucking
goddamn shit! At this time of night? I’ll fucking bash whoever is there
with my fucking mace and fuck their dead body and eat their head. Who
the fuck is awake at this fucking time?!”

“Who is it? Who is out there?” she heard the bartender switch to the Common language.

“It’s… Ra’Jirra,” she replied in Ta’agra as assurance that it was her.

She heard keys rattle and the bolt thrown back. The door opened just enough to see the bartender’s face beyond.

“Ra’Jirra? Do you know what time it is? What the hell do you want?”

“Please… S’thengir isn’t it? I… I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”

“Hold
on a minute,” he grumbled and shut the door again. She heard something
heavy thump onto the floor inside before the door opened.

“What?”
S’thengir said impatiently, standing within the doorway. Had she not
been so distressed, the sight of the khajiit dressed in silly
blue-striped pajamas would have at least elicited a chuckle.

“Can I come in?” she asked. This was the moment of truth. He had to let her in!

“What for?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

She began to unlace her bodice.

“Wait!
Stop!” he said, and she stopped. He leaned out and looked around,
making sure no one else was around. Then he looked back at her, his eyes
still full of suspicion.

“Why?”

She shrugged. “We can’t help ourselves sometimes, S’thengir. Surely you know that. You’re a khajiit.”

He grumbled, but opened the door wide and stood aside. “Come in. Of course I do. But I control myself.”

She entered and looked around the little room as he closed and locked the door behind him.

“I’ve…
done so myself, pretty well. But tonight. I just couldn’t,” she said,
finishing the unlacing and removing the vest. She started unbuttoning
the blouse underneath.

S’thengir sat back on the rough ‘bed’ he’d
made on the floor and watched her, a touch of a smile reaching the
corners of his mouth. It was a smile few had ever seen on the gruff face
before.

“Do you want to become pregnant?” he asked her. “I’m not prepared to father a litter.”

“No, khajiit. I have potions. I just need you. I am leaving town in the morning. Before I go, I need this.”

“I
see. Yes, I know the need too. But you must have more self-control,
khajiit-woman. We must not be seen as animals here among the other
races.”

“That is why I come at night,” she answered. She stood now
with her blouse open, her breasts not fully revealed, knowing they
would have their natural effect.“

“That was wise,” he said, watching her in the flickering candlelight, his eyes focused somewhat lower than her face.

“Will
you not join me, khajiit-man?” she asked, her hands ready to remove the
blouse and reveal herself to him. “You make me feel… wanton.”

He laughed a short, somehow angry laugh.

“You are wanton, are you not? No, thank you Ra’Jirra. I prefer to watch you undress. It arouses me.”

“I
see,” she said, and let the blouse slip from her shoulders. Then, with
as much grace as she could muster, she lowered her skirt slowly. She
stood naked in front of the bartender, awkward and embarrassed. Her hair
covered her breasts after she had bent to step out of the skirt now,
but he was looking farther down than that now. She felt the familiar
heat rising within her, and it shamed her. She did like this, and she
didn’t want to.

“Turn around,” he said, and she did so, bending to rest her hands on a chair. Behind her she heard him removing his pajamas.“

"Will you not… ”

“Foreplay? Of course. I am no rapist. I do not enjoy an unprepared woman. But, turn back around Ra’Jirra.” he replied.

She turned back to see him fully dressed.

“What?? I don’t understand! I need…”

“You
need nothing. Thank you for the show. Your body is excellent. But now,
put your clothes on and tell me why you wake me this late at night,” he
demanded.

“I… I wanted…”

“Ra’Jirra. Do you know what a
bartender does? It is my trade to know my customers. And you are a
khajiit. I can read you better than these humans, and I read them well.
Your eyes are red. You have been crying. Your hair is brushed, but until
recently it was disheveled. I do attract you, and perhaps sometime we
may mate, but that is not why you have come. Tell me or leave.”

Rajirra turned around and sat on the chair heavily.

“You see much, S’thengir,” she said. “More than with your eyes.”

“And
more than with my cock,” S’thengir smiled. “But you had a disadvantage
in your scheme, whatever it was, Ra’Jirra. You see, I’m already in a
relationship. A serious relationship. Your body, as tempting as it is,
will not move me to compromise my love.”

She smirked. “You were none to quick to stop me undressing, I noticed.”

S’Thengir
stood and walked slowly over to her and bent to put his mouth beside
her ear. She could feel his warm breath inside it.

“She never said I couldn’t look,” he whispered, tickling the sensitive fur inside.

She turned to him, but he backed away.

“Now now, foul temptress. Hands off the merchandise. Wait here a moment. I’ll be right back,” he said, and left the room.

Ra’Jirra
thought desperately. Seduction was out. Still, she had managed to
secure a refuge, at least for a little while. She tried to think of
something else. Something that might convince him to help her escape the
city in the morning. But he returned with two glasses of strong
khajiiti drink and she’d not come up with anything yet.

“Still naked? I guess you didn’t understand me,” he said, handing her one glass.

She shrugged. Being naked didn’t bother her.

“Drink. I call it Eye of the Tiger. My own mix. Try it! I’m rather proud of it,” he said, taking a sip of his own.

It tasted like cold fire on her tongue. She had thought of nothing. She was running out of time.

“It’s good,” she said. “Very good.”

“So,
now. Ra’Jirra. Why are you here? And please tell the truth. My patience
is growing thin, and my vow to my love hangs by a thread. I will kick
you out instantly and call the guards if I sense any lie. And I’m very,
very good at sensing lies.”

She looked at him. She looked at the
drink. She looked back at him, and the expression on her face was no
longer contrived. It was one of sincere desperation. She downed the
drink and felt it begin to do it’s work.

“I killed someone tonight. I need to get out of town.”

S’thengir’s drink hit the floor.

Murderer #1

Another fanfiction starting. I don’t think I’ll get terribly NSFW on this one, as it’s not really about that. It’s about guilt and redemption. But it is adult in nature, so there will be some undoubtedly. No idea how long this will be. Inspired by this from the Prequel Fanart booru by GamGyuls

They say a picture is worth 1000 words. That is worth more. – BD

“Oh Gods!” she thought as she stood at the corner of the store, her eyes wide. She glanced back up towards the window to the upper story. The flashes of light and cacophony told her that her fellow khajiit was not yet dead anyway – though based on the size of that thing it wouldn’t be long. And she had barred the door.

On the one hand, the idea had been a desperate inspiration that probably had saved her life. On the other hand, she was now a murderer.

She ran through the freakish snow to her meager apartment.

Opening the door, she looked around, all the while pulling at her hair.

“Murderer.”

She gathered her most essential belongings as quickly as she could. Her hastily crafted story to the shopkeeper wasn’t going to hold water as soon as they found the body.

“Then again,” she thought as she put everything into her backpack that she could cram into it, “it might take days before the corpse starts to smell. And who’s going to look inside?”

That fighter for one. Besides, when things got quiet again and that ‘Katia’ didn’t come down, the shopkeeper would go up and see her spear lodged in the door. What she’d done would be obvious, and no amount of talk would get her out of this one. No, she didn’t have time. She had to go. Now.

She pulled the backpack onto her shoulders and took one last look at the place she’d called home for the last year. It wasn’t much. A year of her life, and this was what she had to show for it. She wasn’t dressed for going outside the city. She wasn’t prepared for this. She didn’t even have her spear!

Then she sat down and began to cry.

“Oh Gods! Oh Gods! What have I done?! Why did I follow that fool? I didn’t need the money that bad! And she was so obviously incompetent!”

“IDIOT!” she said aloud, pulling her hair again. “IDIOT!”

Desperately her brain tried to wish it’s way out of reality. Just a few hours ago, everything was fine! If only she’d just stayed inside tonight. Gone to bed early maybe. Or just said “No” to that crazy khajiit woman.

“But… they were only supposed to be Imps!” she said aloud, crying to the ceiling. “IMPS for god’s sakes! I can take out a few Imps by myself easily!”

But her mind had gone dark.

“The khajiit will be dead by now”, she thought. "The shopkeeper will have gone upstairs to check. She’ll have seen the spear. Hell, she’d have to remove it to open the door. No, she won’t be missing that little clue. Wait… How long have I been here!? How long would it take for her to find a guard? Not long, not long! Does she know where I live?”

She’d seen the shopkeeper around, of course, though Ra’Jirra had never actually done any odd jobs for her. But she was the only khajiit in town, save that cute bartender. It’s not like they wouldn’t know – they only watch her every move because they all think she’s a thief! Of course they all knew where she lived!!!

She had to get out of here. She opened the door quietly and looked both ways. She thought briefly of going back, to see if it was over yet, but she knew better. Guards were likely headed to her apartment even now.

She shot a look up and down the street again. Nothing yet. She crept down outer stairs to street level and headed for the city gate.

“Wait! If they know, they’ll be waiting for me there! And even if they don’t, nobody leaves the city unarmed at this time of night. There will be questions. DAMMIT!”

She looked around. She couldn’t go back to the apartment. But she couldn’t get out yet either. Somehow she had to wait until morning when the gates were opened.

“But what then?” she realized. “By then they’ll all be looking for me! And it’s not like I blend in here. There’s only 3 khajiits in town. Well, probably only 2 by now.”

The tavern. S’thengir was an asshole though. He wouldn’t help her even if he was a fellow khajiit. He didn’t like anybody. Plus it would be closed by now. She could find a stable and hide out there, but the problem of how to get out in the morning would still be there.

Suddenly she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She backed into a doorway, but whoever it was passed by at the corner.

“Doesn’t matter,” she realized, “I can’t stay here, that’s for sure.”

She made a quick decision. She headed for the tavern. If she could get him to let her in, he’d be an accomplice. She could use that. She could probably coerce him into helping her get out of town in the morning at least. But she’d have to get him to let her in.

The tavern was in front of her now. He’d be sleeping in the little room by the side door.

She stopped tugging on her hair.

“It must be a mess by now,” she thought.

She found a dry spot and started brushing her hair. Then she sighed, deeply and started to cry again. She knew what she had to do to get him to let her in. He might not like her, but he was male.

“GODS DAMMIT!!!” she cried to herself. “I was leaving all that behind! This goddamned high-necked outfit cost me more than I make in a year, just to scream to the world that I’m not one of those! But I am. I’m still a fucking whore. I was doing so good too! No! I don’t WANT to be that again! IDIOT! Why did you have to do that? MURDERER!”

As her mind swirled in darkness and self-pity, she realized slowly that she was wasting time.

“Buck up you whore. Now you’re a whore and a murderer. One more fuck is nothing. But… It wasn’t my fault! I was doing good here!”

She looked at the side door. Inside there lay a man. She hadn’t had a man since… Well, not for a long time. And he’d be spiky to boot. It’s not that she wouldn’t like that. She was built for it. No, it’s that she would like it too much.

That was the worst thing about being a whore. Sometimes you didn’t hate it. And she barely knew the guy. Still, as the only two khajiits in town, their paths had crossed numerous times. And she did kinda like the guy. Well, his looks anyway. Plus, he ran a respectable tavern. You have to give him some credit for that. In a town like this, to be a respectable citizen while being a khajiit was quite an accomplishment. He was, she realized, pretty much her role model here.

“But what’s my story? Why am I knocking on his door at this time of night?”

The answer was obvious. She’d have to play the slut of course. The horny slut who finally couldn’t stand it anymore and had to have khajiit cock. His khajiit cock. It was the only explanation that he’d believe anyway.

She sighed, then slapped herself. Hard.

“Idiot,” she said. “You fucking killed that girl. FUCKING KILLED HER! DEAD! They’ll bury her rotting body soon. Her parents will never know what happened to her. Her friends will wonder whatever happened to old ‘Katia’ after she went to Kvatch. YOU did that. YOU. Now you’re fucking too sweet and pure to go seduce some bartender? Idiot.”

Then she walked towards the door.

Sashimi-Rajirra

I like Sashimi. No, not the food – the Prequel fan that’s obsessed with Rajirra. It would be easy to obsess over a character in secret. Sashimi is open to it, and like Rick2Tails, has to put up with shit for it. I find I like Sashimi’s Rajirra too. But she’s kinda been expanded so much that the original character is kinda lost in there somewhere.

Anyway, Sashimi commissioned Guoh to draw another scene from his fanfiction. Here it is, by Guoh:

It should be no surprise that I colored it. Jeeze, what a start! So I decided to do my best work on this one. I’m at 19+layers in my .psd file and it takes a good 2 minutes to convert it to a .png. Whether all that work is worthwhile is up to you, but I like it and – though as of this writing, Sashimi hasn’t seen the end result yet, he’s seen a couple of preliminaries.

Alright, let’s start with Flat Colors…

Yeah… okay. Nice enough I suppose. BTW this was the main color ref:

So… wood. There’s lots of wood in that picture. So I tried an experiment. This may have been done by plenty before me, but I at least came up with it on my own. I thought – what if I add some Noise, then Motion Blur it in the direction of the wood grain? I think it turned out pretty good actually!

As for the sky, that’s not a photoshopped real sky. Its a 4-color gradient, but I did nab the colors from a real photo. The scene is supposed to take place somewhere around dusk and I kinda liked the mood. But notice Kazerad’s colors above, in particular the pale under-colors. He shades them with a darker yellow- almost orange. That’s not what I’m used to doing… so let’s give it a shot!

Now I’m skipping over a LOT here.At the default res it’s a bit hard to see, but I’ve shaded the hair to be more like hair, put a lot of furry-edging on, withstrained my natural urge to make everything out of rubber (there’s some ‘sheen going on there, but for me I kept it subtle). Now just some shading of the wood and I’ll call it done. The yellow shade on the dress does look pretty good though!

It may just be my conceit that I think it looks much better at higher resolution. I don’t know why Tumblr refuses to link automatically to the higher resolution images that ARE stored in Tumblr. Bandwidth conservation? Anyway…

And there you have it. Sashimi’s Rajirra. He let me read a bit of his fiction to see what was going on in this scene. Trust me when I tell you that Rajirra is NOT just getting up from pissing in the bucket while reading a scrolled-up newspaper. 🙂 She’s accepting a reward for some heroic deed. The bucket is there for a reason and the scroll is too. Until his fanfiction is public, that’s about all I can say.

Anyway, hope you liked it. I may still have issues, but at least I put real time into this one and tried to do my best. For Sashimi’s Rajirra. (Not sure that I’d do the same for canon Rajirra!)

Rajirra BeachPaintWear

FurNut and I collaborated on a drawing he did yesterday. We got to talking about shading and he drew me a nice nekked Rajirra to use as a model. Also he suggested I try a light source overhead as a change-up to the standard top-left or top-right sources.

This is the result:

To say I really like the end-result would be an understatement. I added the painted-on bikini originally so I could post it to the booru, but then I made up a short little story around it. But before I go there, just let me say this was not me painting a drawing by FurNut. This was much more collaborative than that. Like, I did the background beach but he added the clouds and the island. I did the belly-shading and painted underwear, but he did the tail and arms. I did the little furry highlights and the eyes, but he did tinted the overall picture a bit to blend it in with the background with hints of aqua etc…

I’ve never worked with someone else like that. I do hope to do it again! Hope you like the picture, and perhaps the little fanfic thing below…

Rajirra BeachPaintWear

Khajiiti fashion wasn’t something most people notice around Anvil. Yet among those in-the-know, an underwear revolution is taking place. For them, gone are the baggy, ill-fitting loincloths of yesteryear. Painted underwear has taken over, replacing the needle and thread with the paintbrush and a steady (and flexible) hand. Indeed, only those with very intimate mates or who can hire professionals can finish the look properly. No one knows quite how it had started, but once the cats had been given a taste of it’s tail-freeing freedom, it has spread like wildfire as fashion trends often do.

But it took a leap of courage, daring and innovation before the trend spread to beachwear. The look is widely credited to Rajirra, of “Rajirra’s SportsPaint” fame, here seen in a most scandalous little two-piece work she’d applied just this morning. We caught up with Raj her famous “Paint-Only” beach resort for Khajiits.

“So, Rajirra, you’ve become quite wealthy – even famous – for your line of paint underwear, this resort, and now your new line of beach-paint-wear. To what do you credit the tremendous growth of this fashion trend?”

“Is crazy, no? Thank you Mr. Johan, yes I’ve done well. But I don’t forget where I come from, and am happy to give to less-fortunate Khajiit through my not-for-profit Raj Foundation. But yes, the PaintWear business is booming, it is no doubt. And why should it not? If you have tail, you will know the issues we face with clothing. This solves not all, but certainly one of those problems. PaintWear gives freedom of movement like no other. And is sexy too, no?”

“Oh yes, very sexy. But there are critics…”

“Oh poo. Jealous women only and not-steady-hands. My salons, opening throughout Cyrodiil, have talented application specialists that provide services needed.”

“And the issue of hygene?”

“Hygene? We are Khajiits you see?! We shame other races in this way. Perhaps Argonians may reach our level of cleanliness. Perhaps. For other races, PaintWear may not be a wise choice, but for the Khajiit it is perfect solution.”

“And what about your menfolk?”

“Raj Paints is leading promoter of men’s PaintWear. But naturally there come issues not to be worried in women. Men do not stay the same. Change size, you see. Is difficult.”

“Indeed. But now Rajirra, let’s switch subjects. There are disputes about the origin of the PaintWear phenomenon.”

“Rajirra invent PaintWear. No other. I paint myself first.”

“There are those, even here in Anvil, that point to another Khajiit as having…”

“Lies and more lies. You speak of that writer, do you not? Pfah. It may be that some beggar Khajiit splashed some paint upon herself at some time. But even the lizard admits her wayward Khajiit friend only did so until she could purchase so-called REAL underwear. This is not innovation… This is not invention! Perhaps this interview shall conclude now, eh? ARMANDO!”

“Sorry Raj, I just brought it up so you could explain to our readers…”

“Ah, yes. No, is okay Armando. Sorry, I am sensitive to this. Continue.”

“Now, about your new line of beachwear…”

“Oh, like this I wear! Yes, is new application of paintwear concept for the beach! Is natural evolution. PaintWear underwear is great, but is not visible, see? No one but lover sees. But with only some minor changes, PaintWear becomes BeachWear! This is latest design I make. Templates for sale at Raj Salon near you! You like?”

“It’s quite… revealing. Perhaps a bit too revealing?”

(laughs) “Oh yes, too revealing. Only the most daring, like I, would wear my work to the beach. Is too much for you, I can see. Is only for beautiful people. Perhaps, someday, you could be beautiful people though. And now I have party to go to. Armando, can you show man out?”

“Just one more question, if I might, Rajirra. Your PaintBeachWear… wouldn’t it… I mean… in water, wouldn’t it wash off?”

“WATER? Pfft. Silly man. Armando… thank you Armando. Khajiit do not go in water at the beach silly man. Would get paint wet.”

Rajirra Hungers!

bluedraggy:

My favorite of this set by far. How can I help it with that expression? Anyway, another Satasha comission by DrawPanther. Then colored by me.

ORIGINAL:

And then after adding flat colors…

A bit of major shading and a background thrown in…

Highlighting doesn’t do quite a much here since the eye-lights were really already in the original (though I added some more anyway!)

That’s it. BTW, at some point I obviously accidentally pulled the shade layer down a few pixels – note the outline at the top of her head. However, I liked the result so I left it.

But one more change. Both Sashimi and the artist had teeth in mind behind Rajirra’s fangs instead of a tongue. I dunno, I kinda like the tongue but…

Oh! I posted this on the wrong blog too! Well, no problem there. A quick Reblog from the other site and PRESTO! Good as new.

Sorry – posted this on the wrong blog the other day. But this does give me a chance to correct the teeth/tongue thing. (I dunno, I still like the blood red tongue myself, but if the artist had teefers in mind, and the commissioner had teefers in mind, then teefers it shall be!)

Rajirra for Sashimi #3

Another color job. Drawn by DrawPanther, colored by your friendly neighborhood Draggy.

So, we’ll dive right in. Here’s the original from DrawPanther:

Pretty damned good. Sometimes I’m REALLY not convinced me coloring these things is an improvement. But we’ve always got the original I guess regardless so it’s not like I’m RUINING them.

So, first come flats, then shade, then highlights in my method. Flats:

I’d watch that cartoon! Shading time though, and also I threw in an admittedly bad background.

And finally, with highlighting. And I think this is the first one I’ve ever “signed”.

DrawPanther suggested it, so… Color by Bluedraggy.

Now, I did like this one but I gotta be honest, it’s the NEXT one I really really love! You’ll see why when I get it done in a few more days.

Rajirra and Sashimi’s Fanfiction

If you think you’ve seen this before, you have. I made a stupid and awful mistake on my last posting and deleted it to remove all evidence. (I’d painted over DrawPanther’s signature inadvertently.) He’s been the nicest guy about it which made me even more ashamed to have done that. But now it’s fixed so I’m posting it again.

So Sashimi is working on a fanfiction – a backstory for Rajirra I believe. I also understand it will go NSFW places. But he wants to get some illustrations for it (which I highly agree with! Stories with illustrations are so much easier to read IMHO.) So he was going to get some commissions. I suggested I could color the for free and save him some $ so he can get more too.

The first one came in, drawn by DrawPanther:

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/drawpanther/

And this is it:

Little did I know he was going to commission such GOOD stuff! I didn’t know DrawPanther, but after I saw this I immediately looked at his gallery. He’s so much better at coloring than I am that I was awfully intimidated, but still I was going to give it my best shot. And the first thing to do is always start on flat colors. So here’s that…

I knew the colors for Rajirra from Prequel of course. The other guy (don’t even have his name yet) I didn’t though so I picked some nice relatively neutral colors for him. Next I did the flat colors of everything else of course. I made a mistake here though, I shaded the ground on the same layer. I later regretted that but I made it work anyway. Also I tried a sky and river, but I didn’t like em.

Now the fun stuff starts. Shading. I took a cue from a suggestion at the Prequel fanart booru and added a fullly shaded layer and then REMOVED the shading to add the brighter side to the right. Also from reading some tutorials they suggested a more purplish shade layer than just straight grey: Revised the river again, though it’s still not good. And colored the rocks.

Really that’s more like a highlighting layer. THIS is a shade layer, where not only did I add the darker areas to the left, but also some particularly dark layers where little light would shine:

Next was my very favorite parts. Eyes. I love doing eyes. They’re so friggin EASY but they make the whole picture suddenly pop. Also I added sun-dappling to mimic light through the leaves above. This is really where I regretted having the ground shade in a single layer as I had to paint the dapples differently on the ground than on the characters. It worked but not quite the same.

I thought I was done and this is about where I left it. Then someone suggested I should just remove the lines on the sky and do it without them. Plus I realized that the river NEEDS reflections, and they’re so easy to do! So I got what I thought (wrongly) would be my FINAL final version:

Now the river looks like a river (though probably a bit TOO placid). The leaves help a lot – don;’t know why I hadn’t colored them before. And the sky is MUCH better. (it should be – it’s actually a PICTURE of a sky with just a bit of smudging). Is that cheating? I don’t really care! So that was my FINAL FINAL version, right? WRONG… DrawPanther saw it, complemented me, but pointed out that I effectively erased his signature. AAAAAAA!

So THATS my real final final final version, WITH DrawPanther’s sig. (I inverted it to white – worked better over the river that way.) And that’s it. It was funny, DrawPanther was like SHOCKED that I don’t use a tablet. (Mouse only). It’s really not such a big deal when coloring as it is in drawing.

So that’s it. The first of a few for Sashimi. Some will be NSFW so those I’ll have to put on my NSFW blog. (never done those before! Should be… interesting. I’ll have to look up tutorials on how to color body parts I’ve not done before!)