Late Night Scout - The Castle Under the Swamp

She moved her feet up to help him to unbuckle her shoes easier, the warmth of the bathroom making her even more drowsy. "Addison has us all shower together, I can't remember the last time I had a bath.." She smiled, pleasantly amused as she looked over the furnishings of the bathroom. "It's really pretty in here.."

"Do you like it?" he smiled, looking around the bathroom. "I stole it from the elves."

He chuckled richly, putting her shoes down on the tiles. Then he rolls down her socks and begins to unbutton her blouse. He is gentle and slow, watching her closely to see how she reacts. These were interesting girls he had stumbled upon.

"I will have your clothes cleaned and pressed for you while I wash the day off you."

"Elves?" Her interest piqued, she opened her eyes to glance up at him. Head rested against his chest, bright eyes stared up at him curiously. "Like from the North Pole? Addison says Santa and his Elves aren't real."

She was calm as he began to open her blouse, her body even shifting some to allow the King easier access to the buttons.

The King in Yellow slips the blouse down past her shoulders and before gently unzipping her skirt. A few gently shimmies and she is free of the cumbersome fabric.

"Oh, they are very real, Claire. But they are often not very nice. Closer to the elves of Grimm's lore then Santa's shop, I'm afraid."

He shrugs like it was of no consequence before attempting to free her of the last visages of small clothes.

The King had no issues removing any of her clothing, until she was no more than a slender, nude figure curled back up against him. "They sound scary.. how did you get their bathroom away from them?"

The King in Yellow chuckles, "I was a great warrior once."

He lifts her easily and slides her into the water. Gentle, persistent fingers lather shampoo and soap and caress her scalp, flesh and banish all tension and swamp muck from her slender frame. He liked this girl, it occurs to him. Was it strange coincidence that a new nocturnal figure had entered the region and sent him such a perfect gift? Odd...

"But that doesn't matter. They serve me now, after a fashion. Some, anyway. Those with oaths."

"How do you stop being a great warrior?" She asked curiously, "Did you retire?"

Each touch, each caress over her petite frame she moved ever so slightly with in the most pleasant way. "Are they the blue guys?"

The King in Yellow chuckles as she moves in such a pleasing way.

"Partly, yes. A very small elf burns in the breast of each," he presses a hand over her heart. "Here. The rest... is complicated."

He shrugs, rinsing some of the shampoo from her hair before resuming the thinly veiled excuse to touch her.

"I didn't retire so much as decided I preferred the company of books. I don't leave my lands often."

"Sorry if we disturbed you.." Her words were mumbled again, his touches and the warmth of the bath water making her body feel heavier, her eyes closed once more. "I like books too.. Addison only lets us read the ones she thinks will benefit us when we're older.. she says it's too much for our minds to take."

The King in Yellow smiles, rinsing her again.

"Pretty young women calling on me is never a burden. Of that be certain..." he chuckles quietly, languishing comforts on her before petting her and letting the water leech the tension from her.

"You can read the books I have here, if you like. I have trained doctors and scientists and dancers and warriors and pretty dolls and all manner of worksmen."

Her entire little body was completely lax in the water, just barely keeping her head above the water. Each touch drew a soft sound from her rose-colored lips, appreciating the ways his flesh felt against hers.

The King in Yellow pulls her out of the water effortlessly, wrapped in a thick cottony towel. With as much tenderness as he can muster, he dries her as he walks out of the bathroom and down the hall into one of the dozens of guests rooms that typically lie dormant. The lights flicker purple as they walk in and he gently lays her onto the silken sheets of the warm bed. The sodden towel is discarded and The King in Yellow slides in beside her, laying a gentle kiss on her lips, admiring the way her slender frame nestled against his.

"Clear your mind, Claire," he whispers into her ear. Gently, he pulls memories from her mind. Memories of her life with Addison. Where this HQ is. How happy she is there. The behavior of Addison above all else. "You needn't resist me."

The memories came easily, Addison always near the top of her mind.

Her life with Addison had begun nearly 3 years ago in Seattle in an orphanage called 'Little Lambs.' Addison had shown up, and several days later the neglectful Mrs. Phelps had died from a heart attack on the front lawn. "We don't need to stay here." Addison had convinced them, "You'll be happier with me. Do you trust me?" And they did.

None of them could remember much of what happened after that, up until they wound up in Disneyland almost two weeks later. California had been their first cookie stunt, after Addison had made a very aggressive arguement about why she and her friends should be allowed into the scouts.

After that, they travelled to Chicago.. and now they were here.

The HQ was near the domain's borders, a well furnished house, it appeared.. with branches outside the windows. Claire was certain of exactly how to get there, as if it had been hammered into her mind.

Life with Addison was not terrible - it was certainly better than the orphanage had been. But Claire was constantly feeling outdone and neglected. The girl was starved for attention.

Addison used to give her lots of attention. While brushing Claire's hair, Addison would tell her that with her pretty eyes and her smooth skin, one day she could be as pretty as she was. She would dress Claire up in expensive, custom dresses, and they would have tea parties.

But then Claire 'grew up.' Addison told her that as she aged, her nose was crooked and her bangs just wouldn't lay right. It wasn't her fault, she'd understand, but now Marilyn would be attending her tea parties for two, getting her hair brushed, and wearing the lovely dresses.

The King in Yellow hmms quietly at the memories, kissing gently along her temple. A rare find this one, prime for plucking. Her and her friend both, likely. By now Rachel was likely asleep in one of the other guest rooms. Mrs. Pots didn't look like much, but she was a fierce play companion when she had something to prove.

"Your obedience pleases me, Claire," he whispers tenderly to her before settling a gentle kiss upon her lips proper. "Sleep now. I... will return before you know."

He smiles, taking another moment to stroke her hair before sliding out from between the sheets and stepping towards the edge of the room.

"Good night, Claire. You will love it here... I promise."

[Please find the new thread here :] )