Dirty Dancing

I have had so much on my mind lately. Mostly about the baby and telling everyone, but other things too. Quieter things. I followed the Ubar from the stream to the first fires once I was sure my face was dry and pink again. Lei was with me, looking rather upset with the world. I wish I had noticed it them, I was missing a little hurricane building up in her small body.

When I arrived I saw quickly who the chained woman was and I was.. not surprised to say the least. These are not my fires though so I keep my mouth shut. I told Mezoo first, chain of command and all that, and then slipped in to sit beside her, along with Cana and Tarra and the others. I pointedly paid no attention to the Ubar and the red head. None.

My shoulders still hung a little heavy, I felt stained by the implications of others but left with little way to immediately plead my innocence. When I saw Fonce rise I followed suit.. mostly because I feel like I owe the man an awful lot, you know? So taking away his dirty dishes is the very, very least I can do. He has slaves to cook and sew for him. He has more friends that he can likely count; he has at least a dozen slaves full of whatever he could ever need. So, I offered to carry his dishes. Plus, I wanted to be distracted.

The way he acted, and I laugh to think of it, was outrageously unreasonable! He refused to give me the dishes. I grinned and so did he. And then.. we danced. if he moved left, so did I, only it took two of my steps to his one.

"Give me the dishes Fonce."

"Why do you want them.. Asria?"

It was the way he always paused before saying my name that tugged at me you know. The next thing I knew the dishes clattered into the basin with the others. I teased him that I would go tomorrow and wash all his damn dishes.. and he threatened to alter all of my clothing.

I hate washing dishes anyway.

The evening ended quickly for me, at least at the fires, and I returned home to find my daughter talking to...

"Rosalita." I spoke her name as I approached. A hand settled on my hip, pulling my dress a little tighter around the small swell of my belly. I wanted her to see it.

"Lei go inside."

"But I was just-"

"Now." The edge of my voice was rare and my daughter, irritably, obeyed.

Rosalita laughed. "Tsk, don’t be upset Asria, a woman in your delicate condition..."

"What are you doing here?" The fire burned low between us, leaving shadows on our faces.

"I came to congratulate you..." She paused, the bitchy smile she wore never faltered. "about Serge."

My lips, thin and dry, parted suddenly as I inhaled.

"Oh don't act so surprised, everyone knows that Serge has asked Fonce to mate you." Rosalita knew this was not what I wanted at all and perhaps I had been complacent about it long enough.

"He would have told me." I stood perfectly still, refusing to back down or let her see how much she was getting to me.

"Not if he sent Serge away to retrieve something, some kind of ... price. When was the last time you saw Serge anyway?" The witch grinned, her lips were too thin when she smiled, and her teeth took up too much space.

A million tiny little needles of thought were throwing themselves at me, demanding all of my attention. I had not seen Serge in over a hand now and had he not implied he was going to ask Fonce for me? Now that they knew I was with child it could be all the more imperative that I was taken care of, that I was someone’s woman.

Rosalita watched this all in my face, where it played out like a moving picture complete with sound. She laughed brightly, girlishly and then closed the space between us; she was light on her feet in her elated mood. She kissed me, right near my mouth. I felt her tongue on my skin. She would have eaten a bite of my heart, I swear she would have. I pulled away, my green eyes glared at her.

"Poor Asria, whatever will you do?"

I did not answer as she left me there with my dying fire and my daughter watching from the platform, soaking it all in. I turned my head to meet her worried eyes.

Poor Asria indeed.. what the hell was I going to do?