2.5% Cu

I am still playing with kink_bingo's paired kinks mini-challenge! This is for the bondage (other) & possession/marking square. It seems perfectly suited for Eternal Poison. (The shock is that I'm not going with Raki or Retica.) I've been wanting to write Archaya/Reyna for awhile. This seems like a good excuse. ^_^ And apparently Camellia has a crush on Reyna, because she shoved herself in the middle of things. My love for Camellia as a sentient Demon Caldron, let me show you it! Maybe I'm the one with the crush.

~2,700 words. Spoilers for Ashley's tale and warning for a heck of a lot of my personal headcanon. (The game is so thin...I must fill things in!) Reyna prefers to keep her gender and biological sex to hirself. Archaya respects that, but she does pay attention to the signs of Reyna's (and Camellia's) pleasure, so paranoid me says not worksafe, but it's really one of those personal calls.

Additional content notes include dubcon (Reyna approaches Archaya of hir own free will, but sie is left with few options, so this essentially falls under a "fuck or die" scenario, or more accurately a "become my property or die" scenario) and possession/marking through tattoos. Which means some bonus needle and painplay from the point of view of the tattooer. The bondage (other) takes the form of a ritualized overkill, and there's some service/submission that comes into play as part of the ritual.


Besek holds many secrets. Archaya knows a number of them. Not all -- she would have to be Izel herself, and even then, Besek might keep one or two from her -- but enough to know Reyna will seek refuge with her or with Count Duphaston, though Archaya is confident Reyna will choose her over the Count. The only uncertainty is when. It depends on Ashley, on when she hires Velnor and Vivian, if she hires them together or separately.

She hires them together. A wise strategy, though not the best for Reyna. They recognize their target despite Reyna's careful disguise, but they cannot act on the battlefield, and Reyna is clever enough to evade them when they return to town and smart enough to immediately seek refuge.

"I need protection," Reyna says when Archaya cracks the door to the Traviata House.

"No matter the cost?"

Reyna gives her a ghost of a smile. "Most likely. What is the cost?"

Archaya considers. Reyna's life is forfeit. Vivian and Velnor are tasked with bringing their target back for execution. There is no appeal, no chance of leniency. It's a waste. Reyna is many things -- a skilled bard, a skilled archer, a skilled impersonator, a skilled spy -- but most interesting is this: though human, Reyna could have entered Besek without the protection of a Librum.

"Please," Reyna implores. There are footfalls on the cobblestones outside. No doubt Vivian predicted where Reyna would flee.

Archaya opens the door and steps aside. "It is best to discuss such things inside. I will offer you safe haven for the night, at least."

"Thank you," Reyna says, slipping past her.

Archaya closes and bolts the door quickly. No need to give Reyna's pursuers any indication she is sympathetic to their cause. If they knock, she will ignore it, but she doubts they will. Vivian is tenacious. However, she knows when to retreat and regroup, and Velnor knows to follow his sister's lead.

Some of Reyna's tension drains when bolt latches in place. "I am grateful."

It is Archaya's turn to give a ghost of a smile. "I haven't revealed the cost of my aid. Perhaps you should save gratitude for later."

"You've given me a night. Doesn't that deserve gratitude?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. It is only one night."

"It's one more night than I'd get at the inn."

"Which begs the question: why come to me instead of the Count?"

Reyna shudders. "You..."

Archaya waits. Reyna swallows and says, "Even if you ask for something...difficult, I do not believe...well, even if it is cruel, you are not the Count."

"I am Archaya," she says.

"Archaya of Traviata House and the Demon Caldron. They still speak of you in the Stag Domain." Reyna laughs, low and brittle. "They still speak of you everywhere."

She snorts. "I've not yet been everywhere."

"Nevertheless."

Archaya smiles. "Nevertheless." She watches the quick swipe of Reyna's tongue over chapped lips. "You think me kinder than the Count?"

Reyna meets her eyes. "I think you're different from the Count. If you're cruel, it comes from a place I can't understand. I accept that. I prefer that."

An honest reply, one that deserves honesty in return. "Isapolis is not my domain. I am bound by the Count's rules, though he offers me considerable leeway. But not in this. If you seek my protection, it will come at the cost of your freedom."

"How so?"

"You have met Thage and her companion, Ranunculus the Silver Wolf?"

Reyna nods.

"You will become my Ranunculus."

Reyna's brow furrows. "But I'm not a Majin."

"Majin, human, heretic." She waves a dismissive hand. "It makes no difference. A binding is a binding."

"I still don't understand."

"I cannot protect what I do not own."

That Reyna understands. There's a long stretch of silence while Reyna studies her intently. Archaya allows it. She will not take an unwilling servant, and a Mistress should be worthy of what she owns. Camellia taught her that.

"If I agree, would you allow me to keep assisting Ashley?" Reyna finally asks.

She nods. "I have no reason to interfere with her quest." She will survive whether Ashley succeeds or fails, though she would take greater pleasure in Ashley's success. She has never liked Izel.

"Then I only have one more question."

Reyna is waiting for permission, Archaya realizes. "Ask. I will answer."

"How will you bind me?"

"How is anything bound in Besek?"

Overkill. Reyna understands immediately, blanches and swallows but meets Archaya's gaze with a warrior's ferocity. Archaya nods. Her kindness is not human, and perhaps Reyna will not understand it, but Archaya will still extend it, for Camellia's approval if nothing else. To the untrained eye, the Demon Caldron appears dormant, but Archaya can feel the hum of Her interest. A sibling for Iryth?

Reyna stills, eyes cutting briefly to Camellia.

Had Reyna felt Camellia's question, or is that reaction fear of becoming Her next meal? "Camellia will judge if you are fit to serve me," Archaya says, crossing over to stroke one of Camellia's wolf heads. The metal warms beneath her hand, and Camellia fills the wolf's eyes so they glow red. "The binding will not be the same as on the battlefield. There, the Majin fight because they do not wish to be bound. Here, you submit willingly."

"How much of a difference does that make?"

She keeps stroking Camellia's wolf head. "Enough for some, not enough for others. I cannot decide for you."

"I understand." Reyna takes a deep breath, then moves to kneel in front of Archaya. "I submit to your terms, Archaya of Traviata House, Mistress of the Demon Caldron. My body, my mind, my blood, my entire being is yours if you deem me a worthy servant."

Camellia's upper rings flare red. So, Reyna needed no coaching for the opening of this ritual. It is...somewhat surprising. They may still speak of Archaya of Traviata House and the Demon Caldron in the Stag Domain, but it has been centuries since she last revealed herself there. Magic had been carefully guarded then, spells and rituals passed from teacher to student by word and gesture alone. Had that changed, or had Reyna always intended to enter her service? As far as Archaya knows, one of Camellia's children still lives in Peluna, still accepts, or denies, Stag servants on behalf of the Traviata House.

She steps away from Camellia and threads her fingers through Reyna's fine hair. She finds the clasp binding it, releases it. Reyna stiffens beneath her hand.

"How much of this ritual do you know?" Archaya asks, combing out Reyna's hair with her fingers. She intends the action to be soothing, but instead, Reyna grows more and more tense, so Archaya does not work loose the narrow braid.

"Enough to know I will find it...humiliating."

Archaya releases Reyna and steps back, considering. The original Reyna had been a woman. The fugitive Vivian and Velnor seek is a man. The Reyna kneeling before her could be either, could be both, could be neither. One thing is clear: the Reyna kneeling before her wishes to keep that knowledge private. Disrobing, as the ritual requires, will reveal too much for Reyna's comfort.

She cannot change the ritual. Reyna must bare herself before Camellia for judgment. Perhaps Archaya cannot put Reyna at ease, but she can try. The ritual will work even if Reyna has reservations. She and Camellia can force compliance, but doing so will make Camellia grumpy. Reyna is not food, and Camellia only appreciates struggle from Her food.

"There are many things about people that Camellia does not comprehend." Archaya circles around behind Reyna and threads her fingers in Reyna's hair again, smoothing it so it hangs loose and golden down Reyna's back. "And Camellia cannot share what She does not comprehend." It is true enough. Camellia is female because Archaya is female. She shapes Camellia as much as Camellia shapes her.

Some of the tension loosens in Reyna's shoulders. So it is a small comfort. Archaya sweeps Reyna's hair to the side, traces a line along the back of Reyna's neck. "This ritual requires I give you my mark. It does not dictate where it must be." She presses her palm between Reyna's shoulders. "Your arms have already been claimed by the Stag."

Reyna nods, makes a low, broken noise.

"But you back should be bare."

Another nod.

"Then I will mark you there." She steps back and turns so she is not facing Reyna. "I must prepare my instruments. If you wish privacy to disrobe, this is your opportunity."

She hears Reyna rise and begin to undress. She understands now why Reyna came to her instead of the Count. He would have watched, would have taken pleasure in Reyna's discomfort, and he would have claimed it as his right. And it would be. The Count is also bound by his rules. He cannot protect what he does not own.

"I am ready," Reyna says.

She has her inks -- black, for the Stag, red for Traviata House -- and her needles ready, and Camellia has prepared the room. Her power hums through it, infusing the runes with Her magic, so they glow a dull red, like embers in a dying fire.

Reyna is kneeling in the same place, back to Archaya, arms crossed. Reyna's nakedness is all Camellia requires for judgment, so Archaya does not order Reyna to rise. Reyna's posture might make the overkill more painful, but that is not Archaya's concern. She steps forward and adds her power to Camellia's. The circle surrounding Reyna snaps closed, and the magic reverberates through the room.

Reyna shivers, makes a small "oh!", but is otherwise silent. Archaya takes a moment to observe. Both of Reyna's arms are marked. Archaya can only see the upper bands, the ones just below Reyna's shoulders -- a archer's warrior band on the right arm, and, interestingly, a nobility band on the left arm. She cannot see enough to read the full story of each band, if Reyna had fled before receiving the mark of forfeiture. Archaya only knows what the twins -- and Besek -- have shared with her. Archaya wonders what Reyna would say if she asked. Perhaps after the binding.

"You who have come before us seeking entry as a servant of the Traviata House, state the name you wish Camellia to judge."

Reyna hesitates for a moment, and Archaya notices that the hesitation comes with a note of tension. "Reyna." And with that reply, Reyna's tension loosens. "Just Reyna. I claim nothing else."

Camellia's first mouth snicks open, and the eyes of both of Her wolves glow golden, indicating Her acceptance of Reyna's chosen name. The runes beneath Reyna's knees flare red, and their light washes over Reyna, make the lines of Reyna's lean muscles appear sharper, more pronounced.

"And what do you offer?"

Reyna makes that low, broken noise again. "My body, my mind, my blood, my entire being, I submit everything I am to the Traviata House."

"For Camellia to judge," Archaya says, and Camellia's second mouth snicks open. The collars around Her wolves' neck flare gold.

"For Camellia to judge," Reyna repeats.

Camellia's third mouth snicks open ahead of schedule. Archaya raises her eyebrows, but Camellia offers no explanation though the magic swirling between them. So Archaya will make one. "Camellia honors you," she says, stepping forward to stroke Reyna's shoulders. The muscles are tight, and Reyna leans forward to avoid Archaya's gaze. Archaya kneels and presses her forehead between Reyna's shoulders. "Submit to Her judgment."

Reyna tenses again. "Shouldn't there be more?"

"Yes." Archaya touches one of the glowing runes, feels for Camellia's reasoning. Ah, a mixture of impatience and necessity. Vivian, it seems, has sought the Count's aid. How fortunate, then, that Camellia senses things Archaya cannot. "But time appears to be short, and thus far, Camellia has found you worthy." She runs her hands down to Reyna's elbows, squeezes, then rises and steps back.

"Submit to Camellia's judgment," Archaya says, summoning an overkill cross. It hovers above Reyna, it's weight a heavy wash even over Archaya's skin. Reyna shudders, then stiffens -- everyone's natural instinct is to fight overkill -- and then relaxes.

"I submit," Reyna says, though the words are not necessary. The act is. The cross drops, and Reyna cries out. It is an interesting sound, one that could indicate pain or pleasure. Reyna is bent nearly double, back heaving with quick breaths.

Archaya steps forward again and places her hand between Reyna's shoulders. Camellia's third mouth snicks shut, then Her second, then Her first, and the eyes of Her wolves turn red with Her approval. Reyna is fit to serve the Traviata House.

"Camellia deems you worthy."

Reyna gasps. "It...burns."

The overkill cross had pierced Reyna between the shoulders, its path slicing through Reyna's heart before pinning Reyna to the center of the judgment circle.

"And it will for a moment more," Archaya says, kneeling behind Reyna again. "Can you feel Camellia through it?"

Reyna shudders, then stills. "Yes." The word is barely a whisper.

"Focus on Her. She has deemed you worthy. She will see you through this." Archaya fingers the skin around the overkill cross. Her touch makes Reyna whimper and squirm, and Camellia makes the cross pulse in time with Reyna's heartbeat.

Reyna's ragged breathing evens out. Archaya strokes her shoulders, marveling in the feel of the muscles, iron-strong beneath Reyna's smooth skin.

"Good," Archaya says. "We must hurry."

Reyna nods.

"So you are prepared, my mark is a wolf, and since you are of Stag, my mark will wear its horns."

Reyna forces out a quick laugh. "No wonder you said I'd be your Ranunculus."

Archaya pauses before dipping the first needle in her ink. "It is fitting." She chuckles. "And he is a powerful creature."

She sets to work. Reyna gasps at the first prick, stiffens, then relaxes, and it becomes their dance as Archaya quickly sets the outline of her wolf around the overkill cross, its jaws stretched wide as if swallowing it. Then Reyna melts into the steady rhythm of Archaya's hand, and each press of the needle draws a tiny, pleased sound.

Camellia hums Her approval. The pulse of magic in the room turns wet, becomes infused with Reyna's musk and Camellia's oil, a heady combination that warms Archaya's core and allows her to feel the ghostly press of the needle on her back. It is distracting, but not distracting enough to pull her from the ritual. She focuses on her task. Each dot of ink draws power from the overkill cross and strengthens the bond between the three of them.

Normally, Archaya was savor this part of the ritual, draw it out until her new servant could not bear it any more, but she can feel Camellia's urgency beneath their shared pleasure. Vivian and Velnor come with the Count. Reyna must be fully bound by the time they arrive.

So Archaya hurries as much as she dares, pushing through the power pulsing around them. Reyna's skin is flushed and clammy, and Archaya cannot resist leaning down to lick, then bite at the back of Reyna's neck. The salty tang of Reyna's sweat swirls in the back of her throat. Reyna shudders beneath her, rewards Archaya with a long, golden moan. Camellia adds Her own chime to the mix, and it strums through Archaya, strums through Reyna, mingles and reverberates between them.

Their bond snaps tight. Reyna falls forward. Archaya has the faster reflexes and braces one palm on the ground, wraps the other around Reyna's abdomen, careful to keep her hand firm and steady on Reyna's stomach. She removes it the moment Reyna finds balance.

Camellia's chime deepens into a warning note. Archaya rises, unwraps her skirt, and drapes the cloth over Reyna's shoulder. "We will have visitors in a moment. They will demand to see my mark upon you. As long as you leave it bare, I do not care if you choose to cover yourself."

Reyna reaches for the cloth. "Thank you."

"I must protect what I own. Do not confuse obligation with kindness."

"I am not confused. Sometimes, obligation is kindness. Sometimes, it is simply obligation, Mistress."

Archaya narrows her eyes. "You will be trouble like Iryth." Welcome trouble, but there is no need to confess that yet. Reyna will learn it soon enough.

For now...for now, Archaya will make her claim known. Her mark pulses on Reyna's back, the wolf's eyes and teeth a fiery red. She smirks, and Camellia's amusement ripples through her. The Count will not like Archaya taking yet another servant from him. Perhaps he should be kinder to his prey.