Bolt Action Serenade

I tapped my chin for a few long moments before shrugging “Nope.”

Jaina blinked at me. “Nope?”

“Nope. I’m not thinking about that right now.” I said with a small nod.

“I… what do you mean you’re not thinking about it? This could be a huge deal!” she stared at me wide eyed.

“Could be, or it could just mean I feel like Esme is more who I am and the System recognizes my choice. Could mean a hundred different fucking things and I can’t figure out any reason to think it’s more one than any other so I’m just gonna sit on that till I learn more.” I pulled her into my lap and pulled her close to kiss me.

She sighed against my lips and accepted the attentions for a moment before pulling away. “Alright, that makes sense I guess even if I hate it.” She slumped and pouted at me.

“You seem very comfortable. This naturalist lifestyle agreeing with you?” I chuckled, running my fingers along her back.

She blushed “I mean, it’s only been two days so I can’t say that this is something I’m completely compatible with.” She looked away and shrugged.

I tilted my head “Hey, I was just teasing, you’ve really been that comfortable?”

She looked into my eyes, a shy smile on her face. “It’s been, like I said only for two days but… nice? Honestly I think it’s mostly the girls. They’ve been bending over backwards to make sure I’m okay. I think I might have snapped from fretting over you otherwise.”

[I can certainly see the appeal to the freedom of it all. Even beyond the fact that I would get to gaze upon some lovely bodies regularly, fewer societal pressures is a relief many could do with.]

Jaina nodded with a small smile “That’s true, the nudity was a little rough at first but aside from some light teasing it was like ‘hey, we’re all the same in our exposure so you aren’t an outsider even if you feel like you’re supposed to be’. It made me feel welcome.”

I grunted “Sounds nice.” the words were more bitter than in intended.

She stroked my cheek “You don’t sound happy about that. Are you upset that I-”

“No, it’s nothing you did. I just thought about trying to join you all but…” I motioned towards my crotch.

She paused. “You know, I think… considering the fact you’d be revealing a secret to them while also joining in their customs, they might actually think more highly of you?” She blushed “Not that I’m an expert in their culture or anything. It’s just that they’ve been really open with me and respectful when I told them I couldn’t answer some questions because they were your secrets to hold. Also…” she chewed on her lip.

I stroked her cheek “Something wrong?”

She took a breath “I think Dekarru knows the Fae story is a lie. When I told her she had a look. The kind of look my mother would give when I got caught doing something wrong and tried to lie my way out of it. But she hasn’t said anything. I don’t know what she expects from us on that note but it makes me want to tell her about it all. Just, everything in full. I am super weak to disapproving mom glare, okay?”

“So, you want me to be naked with our new friends because you feel like a kid caught sneaking snacks before dinner?”

“No!… Maybe!” She huffed at me. “I’ve been super emotional the past two days alright? It’s been weighing on me a lot and making me less logical. But I think I like it. I don’t feel trapped by things I need to do or someone is being let down. Hell, even having Dekarru treating you has made me feel more at ease because a far better healer than me has that covered and she told me you were safe and recovering.”

I stroked her hair gently “I’m glad. I like you being able to relax.” I said then pulled her head up to kiss her deeply, tasting her tongue against my own for a few long moments. “But, I’m still going to ask for a verdict from my own trusted seer. Carmilla?”

[Oh! Just before… well, the bad things happened. I told you Briggavel feels fun? It isn’t just her. Everyone nearby, they all feel the same sort of fun.]

“Can you explain that in more detail? What does fun mean?”

[I’ve been thinking about that. How to explain it to you and what about them is causing the feeling. I think I have an explanation. Our dear General has what you call a mask, yes?]

“Yeah, she puts a different personality on top of her own, like a mask over her face. An important part of her job to be fair.”

[Everyone does that to some extent. Helanna happens to do it more severely and is more talented at it, but it is not a unique behavior to her or others like her. It’s one of the reasons I knew she was safe. The person under that mask is someone who cares deeply and has so much love just bubbling there under the surface waiting to be let out.]

Jaina scooted a bit to the side to better see Carmilla’s words. “Wait, what about me. Do I have a mask too? I don’t think I pretend to be something I’m not.”

[Your mask is the doting professional, Jaina dear. Not that you don’t honestly care for those you treat, but you paint a stronger though less personal smile over your soft and caring one. You hide yourself behind what you think doctors try to be. It’s why your friendly behavior with patients is so strained, you’re trying to present the same professional kindness your see in other nurses and doctors. But they do it because their smiles are false. You care too much to be like them Jaina. You put a fake smile over a real one and suffer as a result. Your heart is an ocean and you were trained surrounded by puddles.]

Jaina looked like she was about to cry. “Carmilla, thank you. I love you so much.”

[As I love you. But you are also an enormous slut and it took almost zero prodding for you to throw yourself of Esme.]

Jaina just laughed “Fuck you too! She’s stupidly sexy and you spent all that time she was in a coma talking her up to me! So that was your fault.”

[And how many of our new, naturalist friends do you want to drag to be already?]

She turned red and bit her lip to smother a smile. “Anyway! You were talking about how they feel fun!”

[They do. They have masks as well. But where most people wear a full mask of wood or steel that covers their face and at best mimics some of their features, these women wear masks of nearly transparent fabric. They hide so little that who they are can be discovered with little to no effort. It is wonderfully refreshing.]

I smiled “That’s good to know. But, under the fun, do they feel safe?”

[The three I’ve encountered do, the shaman and dwarf especially. The one with the axe seems wary, I think she is protective of the others and is simply unsure of you.]

“Which is fair. Are there others?”

[I feel two others, they both also feel safe thus far. I’ll get a better sense of them in person but don’t expect that to change. I will say though, I think perhaps our lovely Healer might have the right idea about being open with them. If nothing else I’ll enjoy the show.]

Jaina laughed and I could feel Carmilla’s amusement within me as well.

It took a few minutes to strip and then have Jaina help strap my leg on. Then an additional problem revealed itself as I tried to stand and realized I was very weak from hunger. I managed to wobble down the stairs in a very embarrassing display of drunk toddler-like lack of balance.

But I made it down the spiral steps safely and into the large lower room of the massive vardo. It was a common area at least three times the size of the bedroom I awoke in, though only lengthwise, and organically separated into sections based apparently on general use. On one side there were slim cabinets along almost the entire length, only leaving breaks for a couple of open windows letting the morning sun in. There was a section in the rear that looked like a rectangular pit of cushions. I imagined it was a wonderful place to lounge with a few others. There was a sort of compact kitchen near the middle complete with a small stove that had a pipe going out of the wall behind it and a wash basin with a sealed lid. In the front, which I could tell because of the open door leading to the driver’s seat, was a long table against one wall and a bunch of stools. Most of which had a naked woman in them.

They all turned to see me struggle down the steps, and just kept staring as I hobbled over towards them with Jaina’s help. The eyes looking me over made me feel extremely self conscious. Though, there was the upside in that the nerves kept me from getting a boner at the sight of so many nice tits.

“Gods damn girl, that Fae gave ya a fekkin’ cock too?” Briggavel was the one to break the silence.

I glanced at Dekarru at the mention of the Fae cover story and Jaina was right, that was a disappointed mother look if I ever saw one… which actually I’m not sure I had. I guess the priests at the Dawnlight orphanage probably had those looks to spare.

“Something like that.” I responded as Jaina helped me into a stool before sitting down next to me. “I hope uh… this is okay?”

The shaman nodded “We appreciate you setting aside your discomfort and joining us in our ways.”

One of the other’s I hadn’t met yet, a middle aged looking orc woman with some extra soft curves and short black hair smirked “Can’t have been easy for you considering, well, the extra there. Unless you’re a shameless exhibitionist. Which is also fine by us just so you know, simply that it would have made things easier for you.” She laughed. “I’m Weren, the cook for these useless idiots.”

“Nice to meet you.” I said with what I hoped was a friendly smile, still trying to not stare at their bodies and so far succeeding.

Briggavel offered a grin and I swear tilted her body to give me a better view of her absurdly massive breasts as she spoke “Briggavel Agranbek. Pathfinder, driver, and owner of this lovely beast of a home we find ourselves in. Glad you stopped dyin’ on us.”

“That makes two of us.” I smiled.

The axe wielder, currently sans as axe offered me a sideways look, still a bit wary but there was clearly some approval in her gaze. Not sure why but I’d take any victory. “Redagga the Wall. I’m the one that makes sure no one hurts any of us.”

“They’re in good hands from what I can tell then.” she snorted and quirked the corner of her mouth up, her eyes flicking between my legs for an instant.

Another of the girls, who looked… orc-like? She waved with a very long arm and I realized suddenly that she was not sitting on a stool but on the floor, despite her head being about even with everyone else. The other orc girls all had skin with shades of dark green, slightly pointed ears, small tusks in their lower jaw, and eyes with cat like slits. This one had blueish-green skin with darker brownish-green splotches, much larger tusks than the others, longer pointed ears, and large eyes with wide and flat goat-like pupils. Her head was a mop of curly locks a lot like mine, but deep green.

I must have been staring because she blushed and lowered her hand, looking down with a shy and dejected face. “oh gods, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I have amnesia, I don’t remember ever seeing someone like you before is all. I’m not judging you or anything, I mean, who am I to judge anyone’s appearance, right?” I laughed nervously.

She looked back up and gave a small, frail smile “I think you’re pretty though.” she said almost too quietly to hear.

“The feeling is mutual then.” I reached a bit awkwardly past Redagga to offer my hand to the tall woman. “I’m Esme Dreamsinger.”

She offered the hand and was surprised when I pulled it close and kissed it softly. She blushed a lovely shade of violet and stammered “L-Luvetra.”

“A pleasure to meet you Luvetra.” I gave her an honest smile and she lit up and quickly smothered a giggle as she took her hand back.

Briggavel laughed “Oh they’re gonna fuck by the end of the week, bet my stash on it.”

Luvetra reached over and thwacked the dwarf on the head. “Have some class!”

Dekarru laughed and slapped her knee “Ahh, I love you girls. Well most of us have been introduced, but what about your not so little friend?” she asked with a grin. Most of the ladies present immediately glanced down at my dick. Thankfully Carmilla made herself known before any assumptions could be voiced.

[About that. I want to try something. Jaina, miss Dekarru, might you be prepared to assist if this doesn’t work?]

The ones that hadn’t seen Carmilla’s words yet stared with eyes wide. Jaina nodded and the Shaman grunted with a nod of her own, a brow raised curiously.

I was also curious what she was doing, then a memory tingled in the back of my mind “Carmilla, what level are you now?”

But instead of words, she answered by flowing out of the runes in my arm and freaking out everyone, myself included. Jaina and Dekarru both started to move to heal me, considering an enormous amount of blood was suddenly gushing from my arm like a fountain.

But they stopped as the unnaturally dark blood flowed into a shape and rapidly turned into a person. Deep tanned skin with a slight red tint, dark black hair that reflected red in the morning light from the open window a few feet away, eyes blood red and wide. Her body was elegant, soft curves with just a bit of muscle definition, a small and cute round rear, and perky handful breasts with vibrant red nipples. She turned towards me and smiled brightly.

“Hello Esme my love, I am Carmilla and I am so happy to finally meet you.”