notsocommon | for Phedre

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for Phedre

It took a few days and some finagling of schedules but Helen finally managed to arrange for an afternoon where Will could watch the baby and she would have plenty of time to get a massage. It had been an excessively long time since she'd had one, aside from Will occasionally rubbing her neck or shoulders, and she thought it might do her some real good so far as tension release.

Phedre was excessively attractive, true, but Helen felt like the offer was made only to help a friend with a skill that she possessed and not so much the way that perhaps some of Helen's more lurid thoughts might run. It made her nervous, but only a bit, and she imagined once she was actually getting a massage some of that might melt away.

She'd decided to meet Phedre up at the compound, unsure of where the best place would be and this being a central location.

"Afternoon, Phedre. Ready to put me to sleep? Or at least relax me enough that I sleep tonight?"

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"Beauty isn't everything, Helen, and there are many things to be attracted to in people. Loyalty, leadership, kindness, intelligence." My brother had all those things and more, but sometimes I knew even that wouldn't be enough. I did not, even then, presume to know Nikola Tesla well, but I knew his type. He may remain fanatically loyal to my brother and yes still seek affection elsewhere. Some just needed to live with no restrictions, even if those restrictions are self-imposed.

"I love my consort with all my heart and soul, but still take patrons a few times a year to satisfy other needs. Joscelin knows this and while I know it causes him some pain, he would rather see me completely satisfied than living a hollow life with him."

"I'm quite a bit different. I do have desires outside of Will, certainly, but I feel that part of making the marriage work is overcoming that and finding what I want with him. There is a cultural difference, though, and while I am what we refer to in my world as bisexual, Will is not. I can't ask him to understand being attracted to both genders. Not that he minds that I am, he certainly doesn't, he doesn't feel the same way."

Still, what Phedre said about her consort was a kind thing, especially since the feeling she'd gotten was that he had not been similar to she and her brother so far as religious beliefs.

"I love him very much. It just doesn't tamp down my desire to be with a woman upon occasion."

"We say that Elua bids us to love as we will and not to deny it. But I can understand, even if I don't necessarily agree." I passed from one foot to the other, knowing that there were myriad religions and beliefs here on the island. I did not wish to tread on any, as strange as they might be to me. "Joscelin and I were parted once, he thought me dead and I wondered much the same. When we were finally reunited... the old disagreements did not seem to matter as much. I sometimes wish I could have been made different, less challenging to his faith, he's already broken so many oaths to be with me, but we've long since learned that we were made as we were and we make that work. I suppose we just go about it differently than you and your Will do."

Still I could not help but to tease a little, "However, should your Will become more accommodating, I would not dissuade you from spending an evening with me on occasion."

"If he were to be all right with it, you wouldn't have to ask me twice. I have always had a weakness for French brunettes. D'Angeline isn't so terribly different in that regard."

Helen whimpered a bit as she worked out a particularly-tight spot. "Though I can't be a domme for you. I prefer submission if I play that way at all. It's...complicated."

"I would not ask you to, I find sex perfectly enjoyable without such games and would never ask a partner to do something she was uncomfortable with. And you need make no apologies for it, we are as we are made." I moved a bit slower, easing loose the knot that had caused Helen pain. As I did so, I thought of Marie and the times we'd shared together. Enjoyable, without a doubt and needed for both our sakes at the time.

"We are. Anyone who gets to count you as a lover must be very lucky indeed. You're beautiful and have one of the quickest minds I've ever encountered. I am very blessed to have such a friend," Helen said, voice soft both from the emotions she felt and the feel of Phedre's very talented hands.

"I wish I could see your home someday. I couldn't imagine a whole country of people like you."

"I wish more could seem my home. Especially now as the weather turns to the summer. We often spent summers at my estate in Montreve, among the hills. Joscelin loves it, the Siovale region is where he was born and where he lived until he was fostered with the Casseline's at the age of ten. We often see his family when we are there." I missed it so, but tried to keep the wistfulness from my voice. I would see it again, I was certain, although I felt the road would be terribly long before I did.

"That sounds beautiful," Helen said dreamily, trying to imagine what Phedre's estate looked like and the peace one must be able to find there. "I have a villa in Italy," she explained, unable to keep from smiling at the thought.

"I don't know what you would call that country in your home. It's to the east of France and a bit south in mine."

"Hm." I thought for a moment before answering. I knew that I had researched this when I arrived, but it took a moment before I made the connection. "Yes, they're part of a confederation, the Caerdicca Unitas. There have marvelous universities, my foster-father, he studied there and I myself has spent some time in one of their cities. They are our allies." In no thanks to Melisande's plans and machinations. I sometimes wonder, how I managed to survive it all, and in doing so, stop so many terrible things from happening. I know that I am touched by the gods, but I wonder if perhaps they would give me respite after I return home. As much as I'd like, I cannot go galavanting around the entire world for much longer.

"I think, if your Italy is anything like the Unitas, your villa must be quite pleasant to visit."

"Oh it's wonderful. I just never get the opportunity to go. My job is so much more stressful back home than it is here on the island and I only take a holiday once every seven years," Helen explained.

"And even then, only for a few days. The work doesn't stop solely because I'm not there and while Will is capable, he can't handle everything."

"Blessed Elua, Helen, you need to take some time for yourself." I knew that she was long-lived in her home lands, but that was no excuse to refuse time for relaxation. Was it any wonder that the woman was tense and in need of relaxation.

"I am tempted to exercise my authority as a student of medicine and assign you relaxation on a regular schedule."

"Something you and Will can probably agree on," Helen said, amused at the prospect. Still, it was worth looking into, especially since the island was inherently less busy than her life back home had been.

"I just have trouble letting go sometimes."

"I can certainly understand, but I would repeat that there is nothing in this place worth losing your health over." After all, I was certain there would come a time when they would all have to work, and most diligently, as some wrong on the island had to be righted. The holiday, Halloween, had taught me that while we lived in a paradise, we were still subject to its whims.

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