Forever Caged [Complete]

Took off the log-in requirement to post reviews. Sorry about that everyone, forgot I turned it on when I first signed up.


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Chapter 8: Prospect


Lesara was standing outside the open front door, taking in the fresh smell the world took on after a good rain and running a comb through his hair. He turned around and saw Reyvn all nice and clean. "There you are. My you smell delicious. Do you feel better?" The naga was reaching a state of elation. It was the simple things that made him happy, and the simple things were piling up: a plate of warm cookies and cool milk settling in his belly, fresh linen against his skin, the pleasant smell of water and earth, and now the pretty requiem smelling lightly of flowers. Today was a good day to be alive. "Have you looked through your bags yet?"

Reyvn stood still for a few moments, just looking at Lesara. If nothing else, he was certainly more appealing to look at than Koumori. He nodded. "Yes. I've only gone through two sets of clothes, so...I should have enough for another week or so. I'll need to do laundry the day before you leave." He still didn't like the thought of being sent over to Rendell, but he already knew he didn't have a choice in the matter.

"Alright. Well if there is anything you want, feel free to ask." Lesara laughed to himself. "It's not like I'm running low on funds. I know that spending it on frivolous things isn't exactly wise, but my service shop never seems to be without business, so I never worry." He flipped his hair over his shoulder, and scrumpled his face a little as it tangled itself up again. "Would you be so kind as to help me? It won't stop tangling in itself," he pleaded to Reyvn as he held out the comb.

Reyvn gave a small smile, and took the comb from Lesara. "Sure," he said softly. He reached up and started to comb through Lesara's hair, starting from the tips and working his way up. The hair was manageable enough, but he could see why the naga would have trouble with it. It was so fine that every movement made it tangle on itself, but Reyvn was patient and did not get frustrated by it. He pondered asking why Lesara bought him, hesitating for a second. He thought better of it, and finished working all the knots out. "There."

As Reyvn started working with the comb, Lesara felt himself melt. He loved having his hair played with. He was also pleasantly surprised at how patient the boy was. "If it isn't too much trouble, would you mind braiding it? Every time I do it, I end up with a poof ball at the end."

The requiem said nothing, and quickly and evenly separated Lesara's hair before twisting it into a braid. He'd had plenty of experience working with Koumori's hair, as well as his own, so this was an easy task. "Ah, Arna asked me something earlier," he said quietly, still uncertain if it was wise to bring it up.

Lesara was still melting from the hair-touching. His ears perked up as Reyvn spoke. "Hm? What few words did Arna decide to share?"

Reyvn braided Lesara's hair a little slower, so the naga would be less likely to whirl around at him. "He asked if...you bought me to replace him." He bit his bottom lip, expecting some kind of lash from Lesara, physical or metaphysical.

It hit Lesara like a brick. He certainly wasn't expecting that. Then he felt the laughter well up inside him. "What? No, no, no no no. I bet Cherry told him that." He turned to look at Reyvn. "At first I was interested in you as a rare treasure, but when I saw how badly Koumori treated you, I couldn't help but feel bad. I'm not the best owner in the world, but I like to fancy that I'm better than that." Lesara looked far off in the distance.

"You're far too lovely, too intelligent and too curious to be kept locked away like that. Someone as extraordinary as you deserves to stretch himself to his fullest potential. Why, as smart as you are, I'll bet you could work off your slave time in a matter of a few years, then you can be free. But we need to educate you first or the world would eat you alive." He sighed softly. "The world is a beautiful place, but it won't hesitate to prey on the weak. Much like a large cat."

Reyvn grasped at the hair suddenly slipping through his fingers, but let it go before Lesara fully turned. He flushed at the words, glancing momentarily at the floor. These words were probably the nicest things he'd ever heard meant for him, and it made him feel a little...safer. Just a little. And it made him trust Lesara more. Maybe he was stepping too carefully, if the naga had thought Koumori treated him bad. He looked back up at Lesara, eyes widening at hearing some chance of freedom. He understood what he'd have to do to gain it, but... "You would really...let me go?"

"If you'd earned it, yes. You're welcome to stay as long as you like though, I won't just kick you out." Lesara was trying to make himself stand straight again, but he really wanted another nap. He yawned and stretched, then turned to Reyvn. "I'm not sure about Rendell, but I'm sure you can talk to him about it. Also, if he gives you any trouble, let me know." He made a whipping motion with his tail. "I'll show him what for!" He placed his hands on his hips and gave an over exaggerated laugh. He stretched again, and slithered back into the house. He took the end of the braid that Reyvn had been working on, and began to finish it. "We'll be heading out in a while, so be prepared."

Reyvn gave Lesara a funny look at his odd show. Lesara would hurt Rendell if he was harmed, huh? This made him feel better, and he liked the serpent all the more for it. "I'm ready whenever you are," he spoke softly. He shut the front door, then started to follow Lesara. He paused, reached forward and slowly took Lesara's hair from him, and finished it off neatly in such a way that it wouldn't come undone. "How's that?"

Lesara smiled and nodded in approval. So the boy was finally getting a little braver, yes. That was a good sign. What he really wanted right now though was to curl up with the boy and take a nap. Reyvn was nice and warm and he could feel his own chilly flesh as he crossed his arms. "Would one go too far as to assume a cuddle would be alright?"

Reyvn blinked up at Lesara. "A what?"

Lesara's ears drooped in shock. "Surely you know what that is?"

"I might, but if I do I haven't heard the word for it before." His cheeks were tinged red, still embarrassed at his illiteracy.

Lesara chuckled. "My my, no one has shown you any love. Well here, I'll show you." He led Reyvn to the living room and bid he sit down on a wide, cushy blue velvet sofa. He sat next to Reyvn, wrapped his arms around him and then laid down. "This is a cuddle," he explained. "I'm sorry if I'm a bit chilled. Being cold-blooded makes keeping warmth difficult."

Reyvn's cheeks got redder, but he didn't move. Lesara's coolness felt good against him, and he slowly wrapped his free arm around the naga's waist. "I like it," he whispered.

Lesara's heart was about to break. "I'm glad you do." He nuzzled the boy's sweet smelling hair, fighting sleep. He was just so warm now, and Reyvn was just so sweet. He could feel his own weak will trying to break, but it was jammed up on tiredness. "I'll be ready to go in a little bit... just gotta rest my eyes some." Lesara's eyelids began to flutter.

Reyvn watched Lesara's eyes, smiling inwardly to himself. He nuzzled against his chest, enjoying the scent and softness of his skin. He'd never felt so nice in all his life...He wanted to hold onto it for as long as possible, and silently wished Lesara would remain asleep for a time.

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After a few hours, Lesara began to stir. He looked around for a minute, and was mildly startled to find Reyvn asleep in his arms. "Wha-? Oh... Oh my I must have fallen asleep," he said to himself. He tried to get up gently so as not to wake Reyvn, but his clumsy tail got in the way. "What time is it..? Where is the sun?"

Reyvn stirred, and tried to roll away from the unpleasant movement. In doing so he rolled off the sofa, and thudded onto the floor. "Ah!" he squawked, then curled up and held the arm he landed on. "Oww..." He pushed himself up, still rubbing his arm, and looked at Lesara's floppy tail. He glanced out the window, seeing it was very dark. He looked back up at Lesara, and decided it was safer to move away, so he got up and found somewhere to stand where he wouldn't be in range of naga tail whipping about.

It was wise of Reyvn to have moved. Lesara's tail coiled in on itself, then whipped all about as he began stretching himself out. "Mmmmm-hmm! Oh that was a good nap," He looked to Reyvn, who was still rubbing his arm. "What are you doing all the way over there?"

The requiem watched, mildly entertained. He put his hand down. "Oh, I...Um, I fell off the couch, and, decided I shouldn't be in your way when you woke up."

Satisfied with this answer, Lesara went to him and threw his arms over Reyvn's shoulders. "Well it's snack time now, and you're mine all mine!" Lesara cackled and nibbled along the boy's neck. "Mmmm, delicious! Well, it's a little late to go to the market now... Unless you have some illegitimate tastes?" Lesara wiggled his tail tip in front of Reyvn's nose.

Reyvn stilled, his face turning bright red. He let out a small gasp as Lesara's mouth trailed down his neck. "I...what? N-no, I don't think so..." His eyes almost crossed as he tried to follow the blue tail tip almost touching his nose.

Lesara's tail tip tapped the boy's nose. "I'll bet you do, you just don't know it yet. That place, it'll sell anything to anyone if you have the money. At least at night. During the day, it's pretty up front." He nuzzled Reyvn's ear. There was a faint clatter, and Lesara turned one ear in that direction. "Cherry? I can hear yooouuu. Make yourself useful and cook up something meaty," he emphasized the last word with a tongue flick on Reyvn's ear.

Reyvn's whole head flinched backwards at the tail-tap. His face just got redder with the more Lesara teased him. He didn't know what he could do, but he didn't really want to push him away. So he just sort of stood there and took it. He meeped softly at the last ear flick, and finally took a step back. "Are...you ok?"

Lesara nodded, and there was some faint whispering in the background. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Cheeerryyyy, I can hear every word you saaayyy. Take that back right now or it's back to the brothel with you." He turned back to Reyvn. "I'm just playing with you, dear boy. Now, what do you want to eat? It's well past dinner and you still need more in your stomach than cookies."

Even Reyvn's sharp hearing could hear some of what Cherry was saying. "I'm not replacing anyone," he said meekly. He looked up into Lesara's light blue eyes, and thought for a moment. "Well...stew sounds good."

"Stew it is! Cherry, make it nice and chunky. And say you're sorry to Arna for scaring him, you vile witch!" he joked. He turned back to Reyvn and quieted down. "You're welcome to do as you please until dinner is ready. The lightning bugs in the garden are pretty to watch." Lesara slithered off to the window and looked out at his garden admirably. "I love this time of year. Everything's alive and blooming."

"Lightning bugs?" And suddenly the decision to scurry back to the library or go outside and enjoy the gardens smacked Reyvn in the face. He wanted to go back to his precious books, but he also wanted to be outside of the house while he could. His cheeks almost puffed up in a pout, really unsure of what he wanted to do. Well...those books would still be there when he woke up tomorrow. Oh, but so would the gardens. But maybe he wouldn't always be let outside at night. He sighed, then made up his mind. "Do you mind if I go out front?"

Lesara pressed his head against the cool glass and smiled, enjoying the chill on his face. "Go ahead. Mind the back though, there's some plants there that are of a questionable nature." He then pressed his whole front against the glass and giggled at the image passerby might see if they were close enough. He was sure he looked like one of those children who smooshed their face against the glass to make a funny expression.

Reyvn would have giggled with glee had he been six years old. But he wasn't a child, so instead he grinned inwardly to himself and strode out the front door. He certainly didn't need to be told twice. He relaxed, and breathed in the cool night air. It was still and calm, and the humidity was still lingering in the air, which had made the sweet scent of the flowers that much thicker and heavier. He enjoyed it thoroughly, and closed his eyes and just let himself get lost in the sensations. He thought he heard music from some distance away, and strained his ears to listen to it. It was so faint, he briefly wondered if he imagined it, but he heard it again and decided it wasn't just his imagination.

He looked around, and noticed a small reflective, rippling surface near the right corner of the garden. He carefully walked over to it, and knelt down next to it. Little flying lights flickered above it, casting their reflections in the water. These must have been the lightning bugs Lesara mentioned. He held his hand out over the small pond, and one of the little bugs landed on his finger. It blinked on and off several times for Reyvn, as if greeting him. A small smile spread across his face, the violet tips of wings glowing and flickering their response. The little bug flickered again, then flew off.