[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ltqPexO.png[/img][/center] [h3][center][color=green]Katherine Lindall-Fiore[/color][/center][/h3] [hr] [hr] [hider=The Long and Short of it] The young boy continued to sob and cry for a few minutes longer after Katherine made it clear that she intended to continue onwards. Wiping his eyes against her she looked up to Katherine with his big, innocent eyes. [b]”My name is… It’s Ligma…”[/b] He said very quietly. [color=green]”Yes, well. Ligma then. I don’t know what happened to you, and to be frank I don’t think it’s much my business, though I won’t deny curiosity.”[/color] Katherine added, patting the boy’s head. She didn’t feel like she was being too rude or anything. She didn’t go out of her way to irritate and piss people off because of some inferiority complex the Aasimar would never understand. [color=green]”Can you stand on your own?”[/color] She asked, wondering if he had enough strength to power his legs. She avoided adding irritation to her voice, and made a more concerned sounding tone. [b]”Bleh… You’re no fun.”[/b] Suddenly all at once, instead of standing the boy pulled on Katherine, trying to pull her skirt down to the ground. That’s when another young lad who looked exactly like this boy appeared, running at full speed with his hand outstretched. [b]”KANCHO!”[/b] The twin smacked Katherine’s bottom hard, hard enough to leave an imprint. The other boy quickly got up and ran with his twin, laughing giddily like the little shit they were into the dark tunnels. For someone who had been impaled on the wall he seemed pretty spry. [b]”Ligma Balls lady! Ah ha ha ha!”[/b] their laughter soon died down deeper into the tunnels. Katherine grabbed her skirt in time to secure herself, [color=green]”Eep!”[/color] Katherine exclaimed as they ran off. [color=green]”I’m going to ZAP you little shits!”[/color] Her belongs were intact. That much was good. She’d keep her guard up more down here. That said, she really needed to learn magic so she could keep good on her word. Sadly enough, she didn’t seem to have good aptitude to follow in her adoptive father’s footprints. Otherwise, the only thing that really would have been a possibility in her mind was trying to make a deal with a devil, but she didn’t really want more of that type of stigma around her. Taking into consideration that the two munchkins ran off to the left, Katherine took the right side path. She really had no idea where she was going. Before she left though, she grabbed two of the stakes that were there. Little bit of blood never hurt anyone. More importantly, she needed something disposable just in case though she’d have to ditch them probably before reaching anywhere with people, most probably. The people down here might not even care. Fortunately Katherine did not run into the twins down the right path, but she arguably ran into something worse; multiple winding crossroads. There were no real directions to go and the dirt floor were oddly clean if footprints aside from her own. There was no signs, smells, or sounds that would help her find her way around these tunnels. She’d need to rely on her survival instincts for this one. Or just keep wandering around and hope for the best. Katherine was having some luck. She was able to track her way through a portion and found some doors. They were locked though. Presumably homes? People underground needed to live somewhere as well. Against her better judgement likely, she stashed the stakes she found and knocked on one of the doors. There was no response. Katherine would find many of the doors were unresponsive of her knocking. But there was one door where, if she knocked, the door would actually open slightly; it seemed that it wasn’t as tight as it should have been. The room inside smelled oddly… Clean. Not like the usual dirt and musk that permeates the tunnel. Katherine perked an eyebrow. How odd. Gingerly, she peeked the door open and peered inside. She was unsure about what she’d encounter, though she hoped it would be friendly. [color=green]”Hello? Pardon. Is anyone home?”[/color] She asked with a slight worry in the back of her throat. The first thing Katherine would notice was that this room had lights. Not just fire light either; it appeared that this room was illuminated by white crystals that were hung from the ceiling. The second thing she’d notice was a rather large woman with a large cleaver butchering a large slab of meat. The thing had to be at least two feet thick of flesh and bones, and with a single chop she cleaved a precise slice from top to bottom. She wore an odd, multicolored dress with detached blue sleeves. Her hair was white and stringy while her eyes were a piercing red. There was a red silk ribbon tied to her cleaver. She didn’t seem to notice Katherine as she continued to chop the meat. It was hard to say what kind of meat this was, if it was just from one creature at all. It appeared to be a stack of many layers of bones meats and ribs. Katherine spoke up a bit more this time, [color=green]”Hello, pretty miss? I don’t mean to bother you. Well, sort of I suppose, but I don’t mean to waste your time.”[/color] She didn’t entirely enter either. She didn’t want to bother the woman too much. If she invited her in though, that might be another thing altogether. After her second real attempt, the woman seemed to pay her attention. Well, look at her. [color=green]”I don’t mean to invade your cozy little place here, but do you mind if I ask you a question?”[/color] She asked. Internally she felt a bit skittish about it, but she made sure not to show it. She looked tough, which was its own sort of attractive. [b]”Well howdy dere lil lady. Tis strange ta see someone as sunny as ye down in deez parts. How can I help ya?”[/b] This woman, possibly a tiefling considering her appearance and size, said in a very strong rural accent. She put the meat cleaver down to pick up a clean white cloth, wiping her hands of blood and fat. She tend reached underneath her table and handed Katherine a single stick of roasted skewered meat; apparently she has some sort of charcoal grill underneath the white clothes table. Smelled like boar meat. Katherine took the gesture as a small invitation to enter. This woman was slightly on the scary side earlier, but that was just Katherine’s worries about being assaulted earlier. And the meat cleaver. Mostly the meat cleaver. But she seemed nice, for now. Not wanting to be rude, she accepted the skewer. Boar? Not bad. Smells good to her. [color=green]”So long as it’s not made of people, I think it smells great.”[/color] She teased a bit, taking a bite of it and it was pretty good. She couldn’t help but smile after eating it. [color=green]”Pretty and can cook, hehe.”[/color] Katherine commented without thinking. Oh, yes, she did have a question. [color=green]”I may not be quite so ‘sunny’ as you think, though.”[/color] She giggled after wiggling her little devil’s tail toward the woman. [color=green]”That aside, I’m helping someone out and I was sent down to get some supplies from Lucilla. I was hoping you could point me in the right direction…[/color] She was about to say the woman’s name, but she had forgotten… [color=green]”But where are my manners? My name is Katherine Lindall, could I ask yours?”[/color] [b]”Oh sweet pea, I don’t feed people da good meat.”[/b] The giant woman said playfully about the comment about the meat being people. After Katherine introduced herself the woman smiled politely. [b]”Most folks round deez parts call me Nemuno. Just a lil old lady livin in a hole.”[/b] She let out a small smirk as she picked up her cleaver and started to slice the meat on the table. [b]”Lucilia hmm? I suppose you’re looking for Underhaven then. Well I can say this much, you’re going the wrong way. Underhaven is opposite of where you came, if you came here through the Drunken Dragon. I suppose you’d either have to double back or take the ratway.”[/b] [color=green]”Ugh, of course I take the wrong way. I don’t really want to run into those two thuggish children again.”[/color] She muttered to herself before looking towards Nemuno. [color=green]”Well, happy mistakes I suppose. If I didn’t take the wrong way, I’d never have gotten to meet you so I’ll take it.”[/color] She added, being slightly flirty. She might have a thing for nice older women too. [color=green]”Hmm, double back or take the ratway? What’s the ratway?”[/color] She asked, curiosity brimming her voice. [b]”Da ratway is whut we throw out da trash an such in. Leads it out to some dark messy hole fer da trash ya pile up and eventually get eaten by da oozes. Just bout everyone can reach the ratway easy, an o’course Underhaven has a back foot right to it.”[/b] When Katherine mentioned children this got a smile out of Nemuno. She handed Katherine another skewer; this one had chicken and mushroom. [b]”Ya must have gotten pranked by dem sunshine twins. Don’t let it get to ya. Dey naughty, but dey’re gunna grow up soon and be real smart boys. In fact dey da ones who made da Ratway. Helps dat dey were small enough ya crawl through da tunnels. Just in case ya see them again, just have dis wif ya.”[/b] Nemuno walked around the table, taking a ribbon off of her skirt and tying it into Katherine’s hair. It was light and fragrant, like spices. [b]”If the boys see dat, dey’ll know dat if anything happens to ya, dey won’t get dere supper. Dat ought ta keep dem behavin.”[/b] As Nemuno was tying the ribbon into Katherine’s hair she could both feel and smell the older woman’s presence. Her huge muscular body radiated a soothing warmth akin to a hearthfire in the coldest of winters, and she smelled like a homecooked meal with a cool and refreshing drink. With a hint of cinnamon spice. Katherine blushed very lightly. Less from the proximity to Nemuno, and more from having a bow tied in her hair. It wasn’t something she ever really considered doing herself, but she let the older woman do it. She couldn’t really help but vocally note, [color=green]”You smell really nice, Nemuno.”[/color] It was the better alternative to reaching out and attempting to touch the woman’s body though her eyes did study the woman QUITE a bit as she put the ribbon in. She hadn’t really seen too much muscle on a woman before, though it was definitely appealing. When Nemuno was finished, Katherine gave her a sincere, [color=green]”Thank you.”[/color] The older woman smiled gently as she stepped back behind the table, taking out three more skewers. [b]”Here ya go sunshine, a lil snack ya go. Oh, an take dis wif ya too. Da Ratway can be real stinky.”[/b] Nemuno handed Katherine the kebabs and a large cloth handkerchief. It had the same spice scent to it as the ribbon did. These kebabs were also pork, chicken, and rabbit, with a few more wild roasted mushrooms and yam. [b]”Now ye be careful sweet pea, da Ratway waters are fast an rapid. And dem oozes, while dey stay in dere lil pit, will eat up anything in dere. Mind yer head too, some of deez tunnels are a little short. Fer me at least. Oh an do make sure ye come an visit again. I do love ta have some guest over ya break up da monotony of doing dis lil chop job all on me lonesome.”[/b] Nemuno was really generous. Smells great too. Though, she was kind of interested in something. She looked over the older woman’s arms and asked, [color=green]”Hey, Nemuno? Before I leave… Could I touch your arms? Like the rest of you, they’re alluring and I was kind of curious.”[/color] It was just in her nature to go for it sometimes. When she wasn’t trying to be coy about it of course. There was always a special place for that, but Nemuno has been pretty much straight with her it felt, so she felt she might as well be forward with her here. [b]”Daw. Yer so sweet, I could eat you up!”[/b] Nemuno opened her arms out as if she was going to give Katherine a hug. In fact she did. It was a big, strong hug. So very powerful. [b]”In fact… If yer ain’t in a rush, maybe I could even have a taste. Maybe even a bite!”[/b] Nemuno said as she gave Katherine a tighter squeeze, burying the small petite girl in Nemuno’s massive yet soft body. [b]”How bout it hun? Wanna stay fer a lil snack?”[/b] While she was somewhat unsurprised… Well, she wasn’t unhappy. Somewhat. She got her intended goal, in a greatly unintended way. She felt a bit out of breath, due to being squeezed the way she was. [color=green]”I really hope you’re using euphemisms on account of me liking my flesh.”[/color] She attempted to sound funny, though that didn’t come out as intended. [color=green]”I was only intended to feel your muscles, but you’re giving me such a bonus on that… Hnnnnn…”[/color] The woman grunted as she was in the hug still. [color=green]”I want to take you up on the offer right now but I need to finish this job, and I have a feeling I won’t be walking straight one way or the other.”[/color] At this point, the Aasimar just tried relaxing her body instead of trying to resist however slightly. [color=green]”If you’re propositioning for what I think and hope you are… I’ve yet a place to stay, I wouldn’t mind if you gave me a ‘taste’ at night, so long as my flesh is intact.”[/color] Nemuno smiled as she let go of Katherine and got to her eye level. [b]”Oh deary, ya don’t know how happy dat makes me ya hear ya say dat. Here, one last lil gift from me.”[/b] Nemuno leaned forward and gave Katherine a kiss on the forehead. But when she did so, Katherine would feel a strange sensation over her body. Nemuno looked right into Katherine’s eyes, her piercing Red gaze cutting right into the aasimar’s very soul. [b]”Come and see me tonight and I promise you that you won’t regret a single moment. But don’t forget, and don’t try and run away. I’ll punish you if you don’t.”[/b] These words, unlike most of what Nemuno spoke before, were clear, unaccented, and laced with magic. A compulsion. But in a second the feeling was gone and almost entirely forgotten; Katherine would find herself just outside of Nemuno’s door with the big old woman on the other side waving goodbye. [b]”Oh an when ya do se Lucilia, tell yer dat her next delivery is coming soon, an I’ll see her tomorrow ya talk bout our lil arrangement.”[/b] [color=green]”Oh, umm, understood.”[/color] Katherine agreed, since she was heading over there anyway. [color=green]”Now then… Where should I go.”[/color] Katherine pondered, as she left, feeling as if something odd might have happened. [color=green]"Well, guess I should go back. As quick as that 'Ratway' is, I'd rather not reek of disgusting."[/color] With that, she backtracked to the spot where she met the twins earlier and nearly lost her skirt and coinpouch. [/hider]