Nobody's Servant, Act 1

Departure [vore]

"Wake up."

"Mmh..."

"Merion, wake up."

My body feels heavy, my head most of all. I'm beginning to remember why I was only ever a social drinker.

My eyelids slowly lift, letting in the total darkness beyond. Right, I'm still in a stomach, now drained of most of its contents, but what is—

Eyes.

Through borrowed vision like a thought forcing itself to happen, I register the blurry view through Yhana's gently pried-open eye, though she's sound asleep.

I lurch upright, drawing a sharp gasp heavy with the stale scent of tarkossha extract, initially startled, and even a little more so by the firm touch of matted fur against Yhana's face, but noting its artificial quality a heartbeat later, I piece together what's going on.

"...Suraokh? How did you—"

"I do have my ways," he reminds me.

"Yeah, of course you do..." I say, wiping condensation away from my useless eyes. "So are you actually here or can everyone else cast in here except me or what?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I... there was a..." I guess I remembered after all. "Nevermind that. And nevermind the how; what are you in Jori's apartment for?"

"I will not be able to see you off. I came to say goodbye now, instead," he explains.

"...Oh." Well now I feel bad for my snippy welcome. "That's actually really nice of you. But... you're not coming with me?"

"Much to do here, Merion. I follow the old plan."

"Am I going to see you again?"

"Do you really want to?"

I'm a little caught off guard by that. I pause to collect my thoughts, but it seems my hesitation is, unfortunately, an answer enough.

He continues, "Whatever comes, try your hardest."

"I will." I swallow hard, trying to overcome a dryness in my mouth I chalk up to the early hour. "Thank you, Suraokh."

"Samsara will be here soon. Travel safe, strange thing," he says, placing an oddly timid hand on Yhana's collarbones, and I feel it on mine in kind. "Farewell."

>>>>>>>>>

I grunt as my back hits the curved wall; soft as it is, it barely compensates from the speed of Yhana's lurching body.

"I'm up, I'm up!" she exclaims, voice still croaky and tired as mine.

I assume, anyway, I guess I haven't really talked outside of Suraokh's check-in, and the realness of those is still up for debate. I'm not even sure how much time has passed.

Distantly, I hear Jori from a room over, "You can just knock, Samsara, I would have let you in. Tea, while you're here?"

"I would not have fit. And I'm fine, thank you," Samsara declines. Through Yhana's bleary eyes I see her, cross-legged in what space will even contain her, a sanctifier next to her, presumably to have gapwalked her in.

"I'll take some tea," Yhana calls. "Oh shit, right..."

I feel a bottle materialize in her hand, then taste the harsh flavor of more extract, just a small sip to keep me safe even as she rectifies our collective hangover. It fizzes around me on entry; I'll be lost in these bubbles for a little while, especially as she hydrates.