Blue

Is the colour of his eyes. So beautiful, so vibrant. She keep the little precious stone still in memory of his care and kindness of the little daggers and chain of mithril that gave her first taste of her potentials. She will not forget nor sell of this gem but hold it close to her body.

Fear

She no longer fear the goblin or the rat, the kobold or the bugbear. She no longer tremble when boat rocks and wish to hang head over side when making travel to islands.

She still hate and shriek at times of the spider. Courage, she learn from her sensei is to make the trying. Courage, is not the being able but finding strength in self to make the attempt.

But to attempt of the valley spider just now is not courage but foolishness. This she know and heed her master's warning.

So she watch and observe his speed and grace to one day make the cut of its belly in a deadly kill. She will prove herself, she will please him and so doing, please herself.

Foolish

She now know where to obtain powerful herb and blessing of temple to remove harmful seeding of twisted demonfiend. Foolish is the mouse to have let herself be caught and hurt by masked snake in cave when so weak.

Still she tremble if she see such mask but now she make good to hide and slide away. Foolish is the mouse to ever be caught, will never be caught again.

Quiet as a mouse, stealthy as a cat.

Lockpick

This gift from one tailed, served willingly for desire of knowledge, bent to admire amongst a master's belt of tools. She make practice to boat lock as commanded but never again seen to show of her advance.

With hairpin she unlock an old collar of timid slave girl at wish of friend elf. Her fingers nimble, small, prise open weak mechanism. Hairpin is but humble tool compared to gift, now sewn carefully to folds of cloak, waiting.

Slave

Gifted for protection from master to slave, a slave of her own, of metal and unfeeling. Small parts, unspeaking but making its guard well of her while fishing to Kortuga river. Sweet slave, good slave, obedient, will never be beaten.

Arte

With clean hands and feet is to worship. Beautiful is the male body, deserving of the arte. Trained of the human and the elf, she offer her skill when her fear and her fish and her foolish so hinder.

Is thanking one sir for idea, that even the meekest mouse has a talente to make business and even the most distasteful orc rub can be endured as she wish for her masters' form.

Poem

Has she knowing of love? A poem, sweetly written and warmly whispered, describing state of emotion in abstract and of a bard's perspective. An exchange of artes most appreciated for its offer and timing, now written to scroll and held with her other most precious things.

Old man

She mind not the old man. Greying of hair, skin wrinkled at eyes, three time age at least, four maybe. His body easily massage to life again under her clever hands with heavy response as needs pent up. For who would fuck an old man of such nature unless he paid whore a fortune or had collared her to slave?

His gift poor in worth but she not mind that one time. He remind her of old master she adored. She careful now who she call old and who she call master or to face switch to leg as discipline.

Theatre

Behind scenes, to two great prestigious winged ones and Houses, she dare to make requests and source promise of funding for talentes of artists of magnificence, with terms. Rest is left to proper artiste skills and organisation, she just humble assistant to messy artist bossman, not public performer.

Desire to promote theatre in own way lead to tour idea Tall Tales Tour of Theatre so she make insight meeting with former director and acquired interesting tidbit for tales.

Dancer

Training spent hiding, blending, merging her colours and sound to those of her surrounds. Her focus on sand and beach and colour of rocks, grasses and bark of trees for many moons at expense of her business and other duties. She leave note to explain and take up her signs for a while.

Most difficult she find to towns where many have the sight, dragon and elven ears acute. But she learn, even the rustle of stiff silks can hide behind clank of plate and arrogance of egos. Special fight move, wait, run, hide, attack behind before spell can be cast. Yes! She saw the meaning and apply her attempt.

Next lesson, atune her senses to the dark, her nights to spend hidden in room of dark, listen and absorb and she will become one with plane of shadow.

Lesson

Never make to deceive a master of misdirection.
Sometime best response to a bluff is to call it.
Never make to fool if truth serves well or better.
Narrowly, she avoid a beating on learning this lesson.

Brother

She find brother of Kara-Tur and make amusing exchange of letter where offer of notice not yet not taken for girl so she make to joke to dress brother in spare kimono and train in artes. She wonder if untouched and what mizuage brother would make, maybe the old director would pay and show interest in brother, become his danna. These letters made her laugh.

Yin & Yang

Fall she into trap of ever-increasing gift and favour as was asked? Maybe. Yet kindnesses so made and she is happy to serve when her priority duties allow. This is the way of things and, in time, she pay-back all favours and make her own gift to new losts. In answer, after deeper thought, she serves herself also. The value of each reward and gift is not always measurable in gold but how they add to her own fortunes in other ways that she may know her worth.

Two elegant gifts of the finest, charged with the elements and magical balance of opposing energies with potentials for more power that bear such prestigious engraving of great House to be. The mark of the Storm.

Generous are the gift-givers that place such twins in her hands to dance with that she make to fullfil demonstration of her dance in return.

Kimono

Colour of the sea and sometime of her Sensei eyes when warming and of subject of first conversations. Material is of rich stiff silk and deeper coloured patterned obi-sash. Of highest delight to wear for the thought of gift and reward of the company whilst making selection. First to ask with interest and knowledge of heritage. First Kimono owned. She wear it with pride and in honour of such firsts.

Trust

Bossman honours her by placing trust to caretake of theatre during upcoming absence of importance. Her hands small to hold responsibility but she do her best. She will tend to wardrobes, make checking of locks, safety of fire in basement, papers and post, make instruction to cleaners and free his mind of worry while he have greater worries of heart.

Making proposal for harem-party for old director who kidnap elf artiste of magnificence and hold to ransom, may not be to his idea of 'trust' in absence. But she know bossman enjoy life and laughter, she not think he mind too much. Maybe more upset to know he will miss some fun. To tell or not to tell?

Deal

Is obvious fact that a dragon can snuffle small mouse in one easy mouthful. With damp of palms and tremble of knee hidden inside kimono, she make her offer, this time for self.

With picture in head of noble dragonlord in small pose to provide counter to fear far worse than spider, she make her approach. Soon to realise her small fortune too tiny to make impact. She offer more, uncertain of interest. Finally a deal made the striking, yet no sign of perception of gap in business opportunity appreciated. Such is to be deeper thought and planned.

While deal struck, made and settled, is not certain more of mouse is not to give her, what is term? 'gram of whisker'? or 'ounce of tail'? beyond deal payment for precious enchanted cloak. One thing is of certain, her bow of forehead to floor was the lowest she ever has made, even to old lord and master, for gentling of her fear.

Ceremony

She not intend to take overly advantage of great offer of kind nature of one who offered her wealth of his world for the asking. The fact that offer was made show to her her worth and is the true gift. Baby step and with delicate precision she wend way of this dance. With the limited implement, she massage the leaf, make the quarter turn, bow of head, offer and sharing touch of lips and enjoyment. Choice she had, she chose the green over the black and the more fragrant, choosing the one of her home.

Confession she gave and he know all, who she is, what she wish to be in this and received compliment of how far she come. With expertise she serve him this of her arte, one part of ceremony limited to a lost learning to renew but assured of no insult for the lack of knowledge. The remainder for his delight, she serve him with greatest pleasure and skill for the thought of future appreciation.

And so she make her first ceremony of the tea and call another master of its ceremony.

Sad

Sad is she, for a parting but not a goodbye no, he sadder still for many days for its reason. Left in trust for a worthy cause, she wish good fortunes in the finding. Tears not to be shed for what must be and if sooner to go, maybe sooner to return, maybe bearing better news.

This good man, one of the better beings who walk the Kingdom, who deserve his happiness. She wish it for him for he is more than a boss. He is true friend, a master of laughter and wit, when he not so sad.

Pain

The harsh word or more so the ignoring can cause more pain than most fierce whip, crop or studded glove coated in fresh ground pepper laid into the slave bottom by the master. The implement of obvious torture is nothing to the internal wounding that can be done without raising hand or use of tool at all.

If they truly wish to make hurt they have merely to make rejection of the slave's simple gift and symbolic gesture of affection.

But she know this pain from time before and will hide it again.

Badger

She must not to let go, but to worry her prey, to hold on like the badger creature she never has seen but now knows. Little sharp teeth, strong jaw that persist and never let go. She received spank for her error. But he is older, much older, so 'old' she thinks and says. Must only to think, not to say, or spank brings mouse to squeak again.

She agree to help the Storm-sama and learns the cooking for the House. At first she thought as lowly job not wish to make insult she hesitate. She assured, not considered lowly in this culture and House. But the gold will be useful and she no longer often make the business of massage on streets. Must to get access to supply to start baking in big stock. She practise with her own for now.

From first concubine of noble House to free street masseuse to lowly House cook. To hiding badger. This last one make her grin. She not mouse, she badger!

Master

She begin little journey with big consequence to seek and learn and move position from sensei to master. True master, true mastery. By definition, must she fail in completeness to make this journey and position effortless. So was spoken, so may yet be. One defintion yet making some sense. The dance continue with baby step knowing how it must be and that, some time, the dance will end. She just hope she learn all step well as experte to be knowing of when this to happen.

Butterfly

She wish to be willow not flower but mind not of the term of butterfly. Bossman returns still with crushing of deep worry. She try to help make at ease to take of burden in her own small way and make report of her theatre caretaking. He also returned with finest silks with magical power of the butterfly, fitting for her. She treasure this kindly magic that work for her to bring to life the pattern of the butterfly kimono, such treasure not placed above but of equal measure with the aqua sea green silk, her first.

Shadow

Her shadow she willed, instructed to visualise to take shape from flat on street from sun beam behind her to rise and stand. Not to dance with her. Not yet, simply to stand and haze around her, untouching.

His voice, calm as master with his wealth of knowing, guiding her each baby step to bring to her an arte of the ancients, lost upon a mother's passing, now taught to her daughter by a true sensei.

Upon a laugh of delight, she lose the hold over the form to fade back to the stone street, but her pleasure of the progress and teaching keep her laughing and laughing and laughing.

.

Peculiar

She find not her brother of Kara-Tur peculiar and not understanding why the madames not stay twice to experience his own sensual arte. She made error in offering her gift to help, thinking he untouched, yet his blush sweetly colouring cheek suggestive of such. What is proper and improper? Little puzzle to tease her in quiet moment and contemplation.

Party

Proper tea party, respectable as if in tea house, she served the peoples, friends of her bossman of the black leaf, not matcha but of reasonable quality she keep small supply to sleeve. She knelt to each with cup of tea offered in order of decided respective seniority. This hard to judge not knowing all persons.

First, bossman, gentleman and most respected. Second, the elder horned lady, spoken of as leader of warrior guild, fine madame, friend of bossman and leader in own right. Second and third lady, next as ladies fine and one good friend of bossman, even if one quite small and more rough spoken. Other sir friend and own acquaintance then pirate captain to last. While captain is important person of town, still is only 'pirateer'. Yet he talk of owning geisha house, so maybe order to leave this man last not so wise.

Tone of respectable party brought down by bossman who make illusion tricks with worst that make him like woman of big dimension. This not make her happy. First true tea party of number of fine guest in Festhall and he lower tone and show huge 'boobs'. Bossman then hurt by accident with lassoo acte of captain and rapier of little madame missing target to cut rope, slicing bossman to face. Not bad cut but he cry out like big baby and she not tell if acte or real. She told truth and later wished she had not.

She must learn more discretion, more subtley of truth telling, more respect amongst bossman friends. She grow too bold in her comment and must remember her place. Bossman served her her punishment for this indiscretion. She find this punishment not as bad as seeing him cry like baby or put on illusion trick of woman body. She can respect him again and her affection grow deeper with understanding.

Tomb

Long time she spent wading in underground tomb. One time water so high it reach to chin. She wonder how halfling manage to keep head above level to breath in this place.

Lessons learned -
Be prepared to get very wet or option is to wear nothing but tiny piece like madame with axe who joined this training (not metal though, this chance to rust)
Be prepared to get shot at by fire archer and think to take friend who also can shoot bow.
Blue crystal belong to tomb not to be taken out no matter now pretty.
Is not possible to hide from all creature in tomb - be prepared to get bottom-kicked by undead who see her shadow.
Stay close to sensei and follow his order or get badly 'fucked up'.
Next time take her own healing supply for much needed when get 'fucked up'.
Take a little food for long time may be spent lost in tomb unless have good track sense like master.
Be prepared for next part not yet seen as cocked angel lady kicked party out for wrong answer.

She must be prepared.

Theatre

Theatre was full both to main and to side. One with audience, other with nervous and lively performer. Exciting she found, spirit tense as performer made paint to face, practise line, check outfit, pluck of lute string, waiting, waiting for call of bossman out on stage. Judges three, bossman, sir Philip and sir Nate chosen to make decision of ultimate winner to take grand prize of the five and twenty thousands of gold for best entertainment and talente.

She serve refreshment, keep chat to nervous performer and help to greet guest and performer alike as bossman opened the doors. She drank in the artistes actes, standing to sidestage, helping with curtain and call of artiste to show when and where to go. She loved it all. So exciting. One time she had to scurry behind main stage scenery to make whisper of direction of some performer problem to bossman. Was giggling to run across stage, trying not to be seen as one acte in progress to take little message in whisper, whisper.

No acte poor, far from it. Two exotic dancer with lithe belly movement; three talented male singer one in black singing song of fire ring, one nervous singing of light orb, one dwarf with pleasant flucking and cow songs; one double acte of hijinx with cat with much running and audience interaction. Most varied and wonderous to watch all.

One performer worried for if audience held supply of squishy vegetable like tomato to throw. She lie to say none to keep him happy and relax offering stool in quiet place to wait it out for turn. But in truth she not know if the madames and gentlemen were holding bag of soft fruit or corn of pop for eating while enjoying show.

She watch final judgement and call of winner - double act and cat - most worthy win but all so very good. She watch the line of performer all make bow upon centre stage, watch the enjoyment of audience applause and smile to face, she made her own little bow from behind when bossman called her forth to thank for help.

She so proud of bossman for making great grand re-opening of Theatre Squid. So proud. And no tomato or squishy fruit mess for her to organise clear up after. Also good.

Blend & Bake

She is clever, so very clever! So proud now of herself for so far come. More than harem slave, more than meek mouse, more than masseuse but always with a willow dancer's talente.

With deft hand and clear head she blend essence of energies to make glowing, she take the glowing with the mushroom with meat of turtle to oven, sprinkle of seasoning, tend and turn and she ready the baked fish. Careful stack to side and ready for preserving to stores and sell to market!

She is clever, so very clever and with access now to more to make her talente of the blend and bake.

Blue & Black

Blue and black are colours of skin of new friends, both to blush darker blue and black and is curious to watch changing colour on skins. When burn made during great bake, blue friend cool mark by touching wound to cold skin. She weird but she nice. He have tongue of silver and funny, student actor of theatre bossman, also remember time of first meet in cave many moon ago when she see his skill. Maybe he help now, maybe not. Quietly she hint again but not to make blue cold friend knowing of all. Little, little secret yes.

Both help in great bake but only madame of the blue skin any good to proper cook. Black skin student okay to chop of mushroom. Still many fish go floppy, burn finger or fail to preserve. She not make the quota she know new bossman wish, she not manage the tour of theatre to new friend, she not check on theatre this day, she not make the shadow training for long time with Sensei met by stores. Her small clever fingers work until blue and black to make all done for master three and herself yes yes. She wish to please instead she fail all.

Busy busy little dancer. She wonder if she can make her shadow to work for her.

Masters

As word was said so it is. She chose her third and was chosen in turn receiving treasure of third kimono, this one made in delicate silver white spun silk with gold and silver threads in intricate bird-like patterns to obi-sash. Treasure offered was more, gold and riches to support her wish and dream but with guile she wend way to first receive most precious desire to complete her, to take beautiful kimono of new master.

Each kimono suit its master and she stand like starved slim mouse in front of three big plate of cheese.

First, powerful, old and mature of years and laced with nature's blue vein – this her Master of Knowledge and Shadow.

Second, solid thick of rind and sharp, bite to tongue that teases taste and senses, that entertain and delight – this her Master of Laughter and Arte.

Now third, glorious and creamy with gold crusted skin, smooth and rich with ripeness to tongue that pleases – this her Master of Culture and Ceremony.

In each kimono worn, will she be slave and servant, trusted friend and bow deeply and equally. For each big cheese she is most eager and obedient mouse ready for the feasting.

Drum

The beat of drum she felt, deep timbre of voice she heard, speaking of yin and yang and of families and dreams. To make sharing in return, eager and happy to see her master come out from under cover of sadness that held him back. He make big step of dragon not baby step of mouse. She so proud, so very happy and have great respect for his effort and that she has some doing of it. Her little hand feeling his drum beat strong and sure and increasing bring her to smile with relief and greatest affection.

Matcha

She serve her Master of Culture and Ceremony of the green tea, her delight to find his buying of the matcha and the chasen whisk to stir in pot, blend and make frothy thin tea most great. She had to think hard and make her best recall of method, with deft wrist move and skill to blend all fine green powder, careful pouring, wipe and serve with finest bow. She receive nod of approval for her effort so finely made. She showed her appreciation to her master for his thought and kindness in her afterservice and was very happy to do so.

Little girl hide and peep from side of room to see her mother serve old master. She watch, she watch it all. New to harem, mother made her best to impress this first time, recently bought and brought back from Kozakura she served our Lord Master of the thin matcha in ceremony. She watch and observe each tiny move of her mother with her pretty play of smile, showing of skin to neck with droop of kimono just right as she bow and to wrist as she fold back sleeve to stir fine green powder in pot, wipe with fine cloth then serve. Her little almond eyes of grey and blue, so different to her mothers take it all in, learn and enjoy with eager delight until kimono is sliding, sliding to pool at floor and she make gasp of surprise and worry for her mother. She discovered! Moi-Ra! Is cry of mother fearful of anger of noble Lord Master for intrusion of ceremony. Lord Master bark his order and she squeak and scurry away to await his punishment after he deals with naked mother first. She so sorry, so sorry, so sorry. She only wish to know of tea ceremony. She wait, fearful to corner of harem chamber but punishment when come not too harsh, old Lord Master kindly to her for her badness to watch. But she never again get to see ceremony of the matcha.

-

Music
She hear its music already and wish to make dance. Student she will be again for little while until arte is mastered. In return, she is also sensei herself sharing of the geisha arte that she already know - artiste to artiste, geisha to master. Special instrument might be bought or crafted. She let to her master's discretion and skill.

She not full geisha, she only try to be, try to discard the forced flower become the graceful willow. Is only little lie, but who will know?

Mirror
How he not know the dark male in the glass was he? Was he making joke or this for real? Sharp cheek bone, dark skin, eye of crimson like ruby, not shot of blood as if drunk. No, he not drunk, but was he playing game of Moira?

She look at him, as he look at her in bright light around the actors changing room mirror. Lights bright so that actor can see how much facepaint to place, lights so bright to mimic those of main stage so face never appear too pale if not enough paint applied. This male never to have pale face with skin so dark, opposite to she who wish for palest white, the mark of elegant geisha.

Ex-slave to slave she make friendly with this student actor, understanding even for difference of sex and race, much of his thinking. She tilt the mirror for him to see him as she see him and, joke or no joke, get used to his reflection and see his own value.

Service

She offered another small fortune for to open her own massage house but her dream even bigger now and she not take gold of friend -yet- for still only sprouting seed of idea. She know she can call on support, or could until she spoke of her service now only to masters three with apology for how it is to be, hoping she not lose friendship for it.

She no longer have to do street massage for coin and though she would help to make an old man's aching bones soothed by her skill of finger and foot, she will not fuck for food, gift or gold now. She reserve her sensual arte for her masters and her wish is only to serve her masters of this arte, for her masters hold her adoration and give her most appreciation and miss her, touch her to her little soul. For those, she bow lowest and will do anything.

She see notice for party of Seven Deadly Sin by Guild of Courtesan and Theatre of Squid. She in danger to go as greed and gluttony. She greedy for her three big cheeses and her tiny belly may grow in glut in the feasting.

Family

She have none left. Or none that is known. And have told of her dream for her family plans to one only. Offer to meet her bossman's own did she have initial happiness. But not to be. She too busy to make special occasion trip to master's gathering and again she will miss him but she know drill of care taking of theatre. Busy busy little mouse in her new family of Storm House, family of Theatre house, few to know and see but families growing yes yes.

Ferocious

She turns into badger by simple naming of belt and little boots by illustrious Red Robes with his noble beautiful lady upon favours of golden master.

A badger bites hard, teeth showing never to let go. But much slip away from her teeth evenso. The shadows dance and tease and evade her, the dragons fly and play elsewhere, the laughter fades sometimes and she wants to cry. Second she is, always will be and she knows it.

Hm hm. Ferocious little badger at night turns back reluctantly to tiny dormouse. Dance little dormouse, awaken and dance. She pokes it but it lies still again, afraid.

Secrets

Much change, some for better, some for not always so better but is life yes.

Of first is her improvements. She reach best she can with her shadow-work and dance. Is enough that she have piece of ancient culture and arte under her obi-sash belt even if not best. Like mother, like daughter, now she is ready and has her sensei mostly in this arte to thank but also masters all three to give her gratitude for support by each in own way.

Also, secret training she have with one friend using special gift. Hush hush, secret remains between the two. Why she wish to learn? Because she can as such may prove to be useful someday. More secret, maybe not so secret, is change in her status. She get promotion! Good cook she has proved to be to now have bigger responsibility which she also speak of as secret, as she like sound of title, and no more her clever little hands must now be handling of fish to oven.

Maybe she have little smug look to her face these days with all her secrets and improvements. She like this position and hope it fits well with her other duties. Either way, all go towards her own wishes.

She will be respected little lady, most graceful geisha of the willow, so long she hide her heart and remember, second place is still a good place to be.

Agent

How can she be agent of secret when spoken of open and wide in public place for all to hear? Hm hm. Geisha are known for discretion, so she just make to smile and make pretty while her badger teeth grind in her mouth at such indiscretion of blurting metal warrior or robed red assistant when she make her business for one master. Better to hide her annoyance than to risk the wrath of robed one. He look powerful.

Be quiet little mouse, be good little mouse, just smile little mouse. Kick them quietly in your head and play trick upon later when not knowing she is there.

She get come-uppance on metal bald warrior. She get offer of big room to house, is waiting to know if fine Lady allow else she to share and fight for own dojo-room and top of bunk. He not stand a chance against this fierce little badger-mouse. She high alchemist and sly and secret agent while he just honored fish cook and dealer. No, he not stand one chance. She grins to play this game to win. But first, she just have to make her opponent be shutting of mouth.

Beast

One day. This was deal made, favour for favour denied to a kin. But favour demanded of little mouse was more than thought but she never can tell or face worse.

She begged but was beaten, made to scar, flesh burned and pierced so sharp and sensitive. Her beautiful skin, so pale, so pretty, made to red of blood. Hurt, much hurt. A master of cruelty, no master to her wish, but master for one day.

She endure but not able to contain all her screamings and make hard work of little mind in her haze of pain to persuade and get two baby concession during her torture to ease her pain and fear.

The beast of shadow, standing ready to devour and consume her to darker shadow at command of its master, obeyed and was sent back and her trembling ceased. An easing for his taking of her body also permitted, to her relief. Her pain was at most when her body betrayed her and then her tears did fall with humiliation.

This was the worst beast. She thank to any and to no god when bindings removed, wounds set to heal, skin soothed to pale without scarring, a geisha's pride fallen.

The one day was over but she must to remain quiet as a mouse or risk to face both beast again and all power of storm and might to darker places may not be enough to stop the shadow from taking her under.

Busy

She find to keep busy keep her not thinking too hard of what passed but also only way for her to make forward steps to dreams wished. Three concerns for her quiet and her hidden pains; offers of hug, of shoulder to make her tears and of ear to listen but more she think to it, how she know proper they too not also in danger from the telling? So no, she keep her mouth shut as was required and make her own precaution to prevent to happen again.

Thing to look forward to with smile:
- new knight promise her orc slave as guard when she nearer her wish for own tea-house
- offer of potentials from unexpected source in support of wish but depend on accepting of patronage partnership
- she still hope for promise of patronage from master and work hard in the hoping
- receiving of key to own room in big house, safe and quiet, quiet at least until angel baby arrive
- is thinking time to acquire new silk kimono with consideration to enter competition of fashion by theatre director
- experte wizard make offer to show her wild and exciting magic experiment; risk slight to her person, or so he say but she think helpful for her own minor study of magic
- baby step in the asking for higher level training of shadow work, is thinking only way to keep beast of shadow at bay

Thing not so making to smile:
- wonder if task to wipe angel baby bottom will fall to her
- the badger grow slow, its bite weaker as the mouse scurries about her busy tasks
- new knight say house will not be having basement dojo now
- in fear of beast she still tremble to walk in shadow instead of to embrace and become one
- becoming willow is hard climb and sometime need must fall back to flower when right deal and potentials seen