Little Messes

Aside from a cup of water that had been knocked over and a tray of untouched food, there was a slave shackle-bound down there in the wine cellar. The same one that Asia had purchased right off of a ship that had docked in Jad's harbor.

Before leaving with the cup and tray, I did offer morsels to him with my own fingertips.. all of which he refused. Only to claim that the lady Slaver's sole intent for having left him food and water in the first place, was merely to taunt him. Should he eat and drink, he was sure he would be whipped for it.

"You will be whipped anyway," I told him rather matter of factly, for I know my Master, and I know Asia as well. "Is it not better to be sated and then whipped.. than to be whipped while still hungry and thirsty?"

Skewer.. that was his name, I believe.. merely challenged me with his eyes, still refusing what had been given him. Yet I shall not twist his arm, nor force upon him the most basic and fundamental needs. Instead I gathered the empty cup and the untouched tray of food.. and I left him to enjoy his own company down there in the darkness of my Master's wine cellar.

Everything

We were caught. I knew the sound of Bijou's gasp even before Marius' terse words that the theatre's rehearsal hall was not the proper place for indiscretions such as those. I never knew if either of them had seen that it was Papillion on her knees between me and the wall, either. But when Marius and Bijou went back outside, Papillion grasped her skirts in her hands and fled the opposite direction.. leaving me to pull my trousers back up and face the music.

Later.. after the second audition of Papillion and Argiope for the respective roles of Viola and Will.. Bijou met us by the door and dropped a handful of shiny coins into my hand. She said she would have loved to have joined us for lunch.. but she must beg off this time around.

I saw her in a whole new light that day. A whole new light. And maybe I have been wrong about her. For she seems genuninely pleased that Papillion and I have taken such a shine to one another.

Hand in hand, Papillion and I hurried across the street to the little bistro owned by Minerva. When she brought us menus, I found it hard to make up my mind. But Papillion is good at making decisions.

"I'll have everything," she smiled up at Minerva.

And I, likewise, folded my menu and agreed. "We'll both have everything!"

Within several ehn.. Minerva carried out several trays to our small table, and loaded it down with everything! I have never seen so much food in all my life!

A Drink Of Me

Papillion was there waiting in the dark at the theatre right when I arrived. We went inside together and when I laid my instrument case to one of the benches, I found myself suddenly in her arms, falling prey to whatever her hands had decided to do. They tugged my pants loose at my waist, and they touched me inside.

Papillion sunk to her knees there on the platform stage with her back to the wall. She meant to steal a piece of me when no one was looking. And I cannot say no to her.

I can only look down upon her when she does this and watch.. with rapt fascination, I watch. Until I can watch no more, and I am forced to close my eyes and cling to her hair with my fingers.. resisting with all my heart and soul not to pull too tightly.

Just one drink and she sets me aflame.

Room For Two

"Meet us there, Damos."

I do not know whether there was room for one more in the palanquin that was brought around to the house early that morning. But it was clear that Bijou meant to spend that time alone with Marius en route to the theatre.

I left a bit ahead of them while it was still dark out, and had my own time to think on things as well.

I think.. maybe Marius was right all along about not wanting any women in the house or under foot.

Head On Collision

The game of Hide & Seek lasted for well over an ahn before I was alas captured by naked Nymphs and lured out from my hiding. Papillion discovered too, that I am overly ticklish and I'm not sure this is a good thing. For I hate being tickled.

We might have laid in one another's arms all night too, right out in the vineyards. I wanted to. But Papillion insisted we go inside the house once it started to sprinkle. It seems she is as fond of getting rained on, as I am of getting tickled.

Once again we raced. Though this time I let her win as we ran for shelter indoors. Yet it was I who caught up and surpassed her, taking the lead as we ran up the stairs. In my haste, I had not seen someone at the top of the landing on the second floor and I ran right into the Physician! And once he stopped turning blue for lack of air, he looked a little angry.

I appologized profusely for not having seen him, as I followed him down the stairs to the atrium where Papillion was still hiding and putting her clothes back on.

"Where are you going?" I thought for sure my Master must be dead, for why else would a Physician leave so suddenly? That was when the man assured me my Master was quite alive and well.

"Well, what should I do? Please don't leave!" The Physician turned back at me as if.. as if people should just know automatically what to do.

"How about getting him something to eat. I'm sure he's built up an appetite," he finally replied as he left. And were it not for Papillion, I might have broken down on the spot. But the lady came to my rescue and together, we went upstairs to see Marius.

Hide & Seek

It was in the afterglow Papillion and I laid in one another's arms, that a set of footfalls tiptoed down the second floor hallway. The doors to both mine and Papillion's room had been left open.. and I saw that it was Kari peering into my own, unaware that I was there. For she was suddenly startled when she turned about and saw us naked.. save for Papillion's undergarment that she swears must never be removed.

I think for a moment that Kari perhaps blushed, or tried to escape without much notice.. though I am not entirely sure why that was.

I asked her to come in to the room and Papillion seemed eager as well to meet with her. Within a few ehn there was more than enough laughter to ease any troubled heart.. and that was when I decided we should play a game. Not just any game either.. but Hide & Seek.

"Good! Then you are It, Damos! Come, Kari," Papillion had already tugged her by the hand. "Let us hide while he counts to ten!"

"Oh no!" I countered before they'd even got past the door of her room. "I will hide.. for I am the great Satyr Pan. And you.. the beautiful Nymphs who try to seek and lure me out from hiding."

Halfway down the stairwell I stopped and peered back at them. I could not help but grin when I reminded them, "Pan will only be lured by the most beautiful and naked Nymphs." And then I ran. As fast as I could to the vineyards to hide myself beneath the light of three full and pregnant moons.

For despite the sadness in my master's house, a Satyr and the Nymphs must find occasion to celebrate all that matters the most in life. And that is living!

Pandora Papillion's Box

Much later that same evening, when I had once again gathered my own wits about me, Papillion asked me if I would help her carry her crates up the stairs to her own room.. which was the whitewashed guest room directly across the hall from my own room.

I was eager to see inside them. For a person's treasured belongings do shed secrets, and I was ever curious to know her. We had kissed all throughout the day, and now beneath the cloak of nightfall.. I longed for more.

There were several wrapped packages inside the trunk whose lid she pried first. Though she threw the parcels aside at first.. and removed several colorful undergarments of the softest silk.

"A lady wears these, Damos. And she never takes them off. Not even to bathe."

I of course, took her word for it as I reached down impulsively into her trunk and withdrew one set. I could not help myself either when I held the soft fabric to my cheek as Papillion changed from the one she wore, into a fresh undergarment.. all without showing any hint of herself beneath.

The one she removed however, she offered to me. Asking me whether I would like to keep it. It was just as soft as the first one. But still warm from where it had touched her skin. Too.. it smelled just like her.

I am not sure how it happened, for I do not recall any lingering game of flirtation.. other than that we were alone and in needful want of one another. And this time.. I did not have to ask her whether she wanted to kiss me. Papillion had made it crystal clear before I layed myself upon her undisturbed bed and surrendered myself to the lady's desire for me.

Stay with me forever, Papillion.
You promised.

A Second Opinion

By day's end, Papillion asked me whether I knew the way to Marius' home. For she said she had been invited to stay there for a length of time, under his care and tutelage. Of course I knew the way! And I could not have been more pleased with the kindness Lady Luck had shown me.

"I will take you there myself, Papillion. Because it is also where I live."

Though once we had arrived home at Batavian House, a certain dark cloud fell upon me that I was helpless to escape. That of my master's hairpin demise, for still in so many days I had not heard one word from the physician who had barricaded the entrance to Marius' private rooms via locked doors, barring any from entrance or contact until he deemed it necessary.

"Papillion, I want to see him so badly. And I cannot.. unless I can find another physician who will come and give a second opinion."

This seemed to instill a smile upon her face. And for one brief moment.. mischief alit her pretty blue eyes. She turned then, giving me cue to try and stop her.. as loudly as possible.. before she gave me a head start up the stairs.

I took no care in ascending the stairwell with caution, as I raced to the top and threw my back to my master's locked door.

"No! I beg you to withdraw this madness, Lady! The man is quite ill.. near to death, even!"

"Move aside," she replied, projecting her voice so that it would carry to the ends of the house. And with that she knocked upon Marius' chamber door.. demanding entrance of the other physician.

When he opened the door at last, he sure did make a point to scowl at me, for daring to bring another of his caste. Even though this is exactly what he had told me to do. I do not understand people sometimes. And though I meant the man no harm.. it was good to lay eyes once again upon Marius while Papillion talked with the physician in medical terms.

It was not until a few moments later when he had left my master in her capable hands, that she peeled down his covering to expose the bloodied bandages that sealed his wound. And for that brief moment, I grew heartsick and faint. And overwhelmed by the sight of the blood. In all this, Marius had still failed to rouse, or even blink beneath his closed eyelids.

But I could withstand no more. I ran from his room.. and from the house entirely. Only to throw myself to the ground outside and beg the mercy of every god and Priest King who might be listening. Mercy for Marius.

I do not think I can live without him.

Cronus, Philo & Argiope

"Maybe this year the great Cronus will get a real part. And not die in the opening scene!"

"Damos, is that you?"

"Hey! Get your hands off my woman!"

No sooner had Papillion tumbled right through the overhead window, the door of the great theatre was tugged right open from the inside. I had meant to represent my master in a most professional way.. but I could not keep my eyes off the woman. Nor she, me. Within moments we had embraced and kissed one another.. sinking to the theatre's dusty floor in an uncontrollable urge to succumb to passion's fruit, when a trio of Actors had shown up to collect their scripts and cajole one another as well as me, once they realized they'd stumbled upon a tryst in the making.

Papillion and I rose to our feet rather swiftly as we smoothed away the unrequited beginnings of our love, and I did introduce her to the Actors. Cronus the Ugly seemed particularly enamored of her.. to the point he'd threatened to wollup me good if I touched his woman again.

All throughout the day until sunset, I stole from her as many kisses as time would allow between the constant interruptions. More than fifty Actors had come and gone, as well as a good handful of Musicians. And though I maintained a cool front.. every single one of them wondered where Marius was. In all his many decades directing the most prestigious of theatre troupes, he has never missed a single day.

Through the Theatre Window

"Papillion? Do you want to kiss me?"

It seemed as natural to ask her this as it is for the sun to rise in the morning. There is a feeling I get deep down, like a spark of flint just moments before the expectant flare of candle's flame. I no more meant to fan the fires of passion than I meant to see up her dress when she tumbled into the darkened theatre from the window high above. For I must be serious and about my master's business in his stead.

I left the house early, before sunrise and while it was still dark out. It was the day in which the theatre's back stage entrance must open, for every Actor and Musician would be showing up in the ahns between sunrise and sunset to gather the season's script and musical ensemble. Asia had suggested it be put off until Marius awakes from his comatose slumber.. but knowing my master's penchant for punctuality, I did not think that such a good idea. It is widely said among those of the Entertainers: The show must go on.

Over the winter months it seemed the lock and bolt had rusted tight, for it would not budge no matter how hard I tugged upon the great sliding door behind the theatre's rectory. When suddenly in the darkness I was startled by a sound that had crept right up behind me. And for a split second, I had expected to see Sven standing there.. I don't know why.

But it was a woman. A young woman.. a girl really. I blinked at her while I caught my breath and once more regained my nerve with a smile that I am sure had spread across my face.

"I am here to see the legendary Marius. Are you.. him?"