Teresa of the Faint Smile, Adventures of a Stringy Bosmer Options

[D.Foxy]

You know, reading this brings back memories...many think that getting into a threesome with two women is supposed to be ball-clenching sword -tthrobbing erotic...and yet, IF, IF the women in question are creatures of not just flesh but the aetheral fire of spirit as well, it is frequently anything but - for the sexuality of a true homosexual is not (contrary to the wet dreams of puberescent males) easily switchable from AC to DC. Frequently it's not switchable at all.

[haute ecole rider]

Rosa, you had me until the very last screen shot. Then you totally lost me.

I know you wanted to emphasize the androgyny of Valerius, but even with the beard, this guy is still waaayyyy too emo for me! When I picture someone lean, well proportioned, muscular, and yet smouldering, that's not what I imagine. So excuse me for hanging on to my own mental picture.

But I have to say that I totally dug the first two screenshots!

FYI: Yes, Dale Dye is a RL (retired) Marine. He now works in the film field not as an actor, but as a trainer of actors. He teaches guys who never held a gun how to move, how to scout, how to recon, and how to signal. That is part of the appeal of movies like Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers (among others) for me. Part of his pay for training these guys is that he gets a bit of screen time as the soldier's soldier. I can spot his touch in a heartbeat, even before that handsome white-topped face shows up on the screen.

If I see actors move and act in a certain way in the field (training or combat), I know he's going to show up. He's a huge part of what makes such movies so real for me.

[mALX]

I've gotta go with my own image:






Oops, he doesn't have a beard. Oh well.



*

This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 13 2010, 07:58 PM

[Acadian]

Smoldering is right! Your writing smoothly delivered just the precise dose of spice here.

It seems so natural for Nerussa to not be the slightest bit off-kilter - even gracious - in the reception of her surprise visitor. And just as natural for Teresa's skin to live up to Vols' nickname for her. I am quite curious as to how Teresa will respond here - I'll let you know if my suspicions are correct.

What a wonderful job you have done with Weye! I love the stables! Oh, those chestnut draft horses with white accents are so very wonderful. Buffy had the opportunity to ride one of the gentle giants not too long ago:
Screenshot

This post has been edited by Acadian: Nov 13 2010, 08:07 PM

[Destri Melarg]

Bless you, Acadian, for not subjecting us to more pretty-boy pictures! Androgyny, androgyny everywhere!!

Where the farm animals reminded Teresa of lumbering Nord giants, this black was a sleek and powerful Redguard.

Aren’t we all?

I loved Teresa’s dawning realization of the situation that she has blundered into. Maybe next time Nerussa will pack a ton of bricks that she can throw from the window to bridge Teresa’s gap on the uptake.

[Linara]

Bless you, Acadian, for not subjecting us to more pretty-boy pictures! Androgyny, androgyny everywhere!!

I'll second that. Nice screenies in the chapter Rosa. Usually I think of Red in 'The Goddess of Fried Okra', but there are many more...Well that situation sounds a little awkward. As always though, I love those small village descriptions, my favorite places. Very nice.

[SubRosa]

D.Foxy: Truer words have not been spoken. As much as Girl On Girl Is Hot, straight males just never clue in to the fact that lesbians do not have any use for them. Probably because mainstream media is filled with Bait and Switch Lesbians.

Rest assured though, Teresa is not a club lesbian, as she will soon find proved. Nerussa on the other hand, is not bound by categories.

Funny thing is, I have been in a threesome with two other women. But neither of them were really lesbians (just fauxs). Just as in your case, it is not something I have any desire to do again.

Still, one thing very common among homosexuals is that they often have at least one heterosexual experience, if not years of it. Again, myself included here. My mother always told me that you have to try it before know you don't like it after all...

haute ecole rider & mALX: Those guys just look too soft. I wanted someone who was raised in the lap of luxury, but has scars from actual action. That is why I went with Hephaestion.

Still, if its going to be a battle of the pretty boys, I have to throw out Da Masta (at least without getting into anime).


Acadian: I suspect you suspect correctly.

And thank you for the links. It is funny how one of the Zina's puts the stable right at Weye! Talk about synergy.


Destri Melarg: You had me rolling with the ton of bricks! Indeed, perhaps Nerussa should pack them!

I knew you would like the Redguard line. H.e.r. said the same to me as well. I fought to keep it in my many edits just because of that.


Linara: The Goddess of Fried Okra looks pretty neat. I wish I had more time for reading these days.


Next: Teresa has walked in on Nerussa with another lover. Next, she tries a new dish.


Chapter 23.2 – The Rider

"See, I told you he would like you." Nerussa giggled, and Teresa had to stop the innkeeper's hand from once more plunging down the front of her leather pants.

"I can't," Teresa nearly stammered, keenly aware of the Colovian staring at both of them. "I just came to say goodbye."

Now Nerussa did stop, and took a moment to pull her robe across her chest and tie it shut once more. She sighed. "Teresa, I was always completely honest with you about my life. I never led you on."

"I don't mean that… I mean… I'm not leaving like that." Teresa glanced at the Colovian before looking back into Nerussa's golden eyes. "I'm heading south, to Bravil. I'll probably be gone for the rest of the year, maybe longer."

"Oh," the high elf breathed, taking a moment to draw the errant locks of hair from her delicate features. "Looking for more of your ruins are you? I wish you wouldn't do that. You know how dangerous they are."

"I have to," Teresa insisted.

"Look, I'll give you the money," Nerussa continued. "Just keep making potions, and you can pay me back a little at a time. I don't care if it takes fifty years, or a hundred, we both have the time."

Teresa did smile then. Nerussa genuinely cared for her, of that the wood elf could be certain. She had never heard the former courtesan talk of loaning money to anyone in all the time she had known her, let alone thousands of drakes.

"It's not just about the money," Teresa said, biting her lip. "This is just something I have to do. I can't explain it. I just have to."

"Then at least stay here today, you can always go tomorrow." Nerussa laid her hands gently upon the wood elf's armored hips, then glanced up at the man on the stair. "Valerius doesn't mind the extra company, do you my lord?"

"I would be honored." The Colovian bowed deeply, and when he rose once more his eyes were glittering with light. "As a true gentleman, I am always at the service of a lady, or two…"

Teresa felt herself flushing once again, yet not from passion. She hurried to re-clasp her greaves and reached down for her belt and arrows. "I can't do that," she murmured, intensely aware of how both of them were staring at her, not to mention what they were offering. "That is just not - me."

The Colovian shrugged, but it was Nerussa who caught her attention as the high elf's arms drew her close. Teresa felt the taller woman's frame enfold her, and closed her eyes in delight. They spent long moments in one another's arms, and when they parted it was only so Nerussa could plant a soft, warm kiss upon her lips.

"Write to me, and let me know you are well," Nerussa breathed as their lips drew away. "Just address your letters to the Inn. In addition to being keeper of the ale, I am also the postmaster here in Weye."

"I will," Teresa sighed. She stepped away, all of her gear once more solidly attached to her leather-bound frame. Then she looked into Nerussa's eyes, and the next thing she knew, she was furiously kissing the other woman. Bravil could wait, she told herself, at least for a while longer.

* * *

That afternoon Teresa found herself hiking south along the shore of Lake Rumare. The placid waves of the lake gently lapped beyond her left shoulder, while rolling farmland stretched away to her right. Just as the land between the Imperial City and Sideways had been crammed with tilled fields and pastures, so to was the entire stretch of countryside south of Weye.

It was strange, the wood elf found herself ruminating, for to the north it was all wilderness, with only a few rare settlements and lone homesteads. She wondered what made people decide to settle in the south, but not the north? Perhaps the soil was better down here?

She had not remained with Nerussa for as long as she had expected, even after she decided to stay after all. Or that is after her body decided to stay, for Teresa knew well enough that her brain had little to do with the matter. At least the tryst had made one thing perfectly clear, Teresa ruminated, men were definitely not on the menu.

She continued long into the night, enjoying the sparkling of the starlight upon the lake. Nerussa likes me, she found herself thinking. Yet the high elf definitely did not love her. The more Teresa thought about it, the more she found that did not bother her at all. Life was good, and if Nerussa had taught her anything, it was to appreciate all the joys within it, in whatever measure they came.

The forester came upon the ruin of Fanacasecul as the sun rose the next day. Half of the remaining spires of the Ayleid city rose from the waves of the lake, embraced by the white petals of sacred lotus and bright purple water hyacinth. Teresa was struck by the haunting beauty of the scene, and sat for nearly an hour along the shore, just staring with wonder as the sun broke over the ruin.

As with Belda, for a moment she found herself seeing the graceful walls and spires as they once were, thousands of years before. Elves as pale as she was roamed the streets, along with humans, Khajiit, and Argonians. The latter wore iron collars however, and never lifted their gazes to meet their master's stares.

Then just as quickly as it came, the vision was gone. Teresa rose with the sound of flapping raven's wings, and made her way into the ruin. Yet nothing greeted her but dust and mudcrabs. The site had long since been picked clean by treasure-hunters, she imagined. With settlements all around it was no wonder.

Continuing on her way, Teresa came upon a castle in the afternoon. Unlike Castle Magia, this one still flew the Imperial Dragon banner, and was bustling with soldiers. Well, perhaps not bustling, Teresa thought to herself as the road drew her past its gates. The soldiers actually seemed very sparse, and were greatly outnumbered by the people in the farming village next door.

Castle Virtue, Teresa saw the sign at its gate read. Stopping to take out her map, she drew in a small symbol of a tower along with its name. Going back to where she remembered Fanacasecul, she added that as well. There, she thought to herself as she folded the map and placed it back in her pack, now she was a proper explorer.

Teresa stopped for the night at the castle, and continued on the next day with the lake always at her left shoulder. In time the water moved from being to her east, to being to her north instead. As the day wore on she passed over a stone bridge that spanned a river flowing down to the lake from the hills in the south. She continued to pass numerous farming and fishing villages along the way, and like those on the Blue Road outside of Cheydinhal, all bore strong walls and ditches.

She was struck by how different they were to Weye. The little Breton fishing village bore no defenses at all. Yet it was just outside the Imperial City, Teresa thought to herself, only a short ride away for the Imperial Legion. The many villages and towns between Sideways and the capital had been the same. They had no need for defenses when most of the Fifth Legion was camped on their doorsteps.

Yet these settlements south of the lake would not have defenses unless they felt a need for them, Teresa mused. She strung her bow and continued on, paying extra attention to the deep forests that rose upon the higher ground in the south.

Yet her journey was uneventful for the rest of the day, and as twilight close in she crossed another stone bridge that spanned a river emptying into Lake Rumare. At the edge of the lake beyond it Teresa found the busy port town of Pell's Gate. It reminded her of Sideways and Urasek, not in the least because of the ferries she saw tied up to its docks for the night. A hot bath, warm meal of soup in bread, and several glasses of tangy shein made the night go by pleasantly. Then the next morning she was on her way once more.

[Linara]

Well Teresa seems to have escaped that situation relatively unscathed...The fact that she realizes that Nerussa does not love her means the faint smiler is growing up ever faster! And of course rumination on why the north is so sparsely settled. A good solid piece of writing.

Yes, the Goddess of Fried Okra is good, although surprisingly dense. There are some definite similarities between Brashear's characters and yours.

Elves as pale as she was roamed the streets, along with humans, Khajiit, and Argonians. The latter wore iron collars however, and never lifted their gazes to meet their master's stares.

This reminds me of a scene in Avempartha, by Micheal Sullivan, although it was in reverse.

[haute ecole rider]

A great way to extricate oneself from an awkward situation!

And more world-building! Cool! I loved how you recreated familiar landmarks into something more than a pile of stones there and a couple of thatched roofs here.

And all hail Da Masta! Yes, the hottest and the manliest of the pretty boys! Most of the others (including Hephaestion, sorry - big round eyes just don't do it for me) are just, well, pretty.

On the other hand, for Destri's sake, I do enjoy a good bit of beefcake.

[mALX]

A great way to extricate oneself from an awkward situation!

And more world-building! Cool! I loved how you recreated familiar landmarks into something more than a pile of stones there and a couple of thatched roofs here.

And all hail Da Masta! Yes, the hottest and the manliest of the pretty boys! Most of the others (including Hephaestion, sorry - big round eyes just don't do it for me) are just, well, pretty.

On the other hand, for Destri's sake, I do enjoy a good bit of beefcake.

Got to agree with you on the round-eyed look.

Beefcake? Try this on for size:





Rick Mora - it don't get no better!

This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 16 2010, 01:00 AM

[SubRosa]

That's not beefcake, This is beefcake!

[mALX]

That's not beefcake, This is beefcake!

Eric Cartman !!!!

[haute ecole rider]

@mALX: Nah, too cute.

The ultimate beefcake movie.

How can you top so much hotness in one movie? Yul Brynner alone makes baldness and silk pajamas so damn sexy!

Sorry, Rosa! Just couldn't leave it alone! See what you started by putting in a screen shot of a hot gay man??

[mALX]

@mALX: Nah, too cute.
How can you top so much hotness in one movie? Yul Brynner alone makes baldness and silk pajamas so damn sexy!

This one has to be from "The King and I" or "Anna and the King." Good shot of Yul - did you see him in West World? Awesome !!!! (scary!)

[treydog]

Will comment on the most recent update when I have read it- may make some of my remarks here look foolish. No wait, I usually manage that without any help.

And who are you? Teresa wondered as she stared at the black. He was not from around here, of that she was certain.

You know, this highlights a point that has often bothered me about Westerns. The people lived around horses day in and day out- they would know who rode which horse the same way we know who drives which car. And yet, the “good guys” hardly ever seem to take the fundamental step of noticing if there are any strange horses along the street- or who might be riding them. /rant off

And now all thoughts of horses are driven from my mind. I wonder how Teresa will react to this… invitation. As always the writing is excellent, even though the situation caught me almost as much by surprise at it has a certain stringy BosArimer.

[Cardboard Box]

Unfortunately there are a lot of dysmorphia sufferers who think this is... urgh... actually I prefer meatloaf myself.

[Destri Melarg]

On the other hand, for Destri's sake, I do enjoy a good bit of beefcake.

That is for my benefit?! I can certainly appreciate the sentiment, hautee. . . but like ‘Rosa says:

‘Sausage is definitely not on the menu!’

Now if we are going to have a discussion of eyeball-scorching, knock-you-on-your-a$$ HOTNESS, make mine the 'oh so smoking' Lena Olin!


*drool* Provocative? Sure, but since mALX feels compelled to subject us to images of girlie-man pubic hair, I thought something was needed to balance things out!

Now . . . onto this latest chapter:

She continued long into the night, enjoying the sparkling of the starlight upon the lake. Nerussa likes me, she found herself thinking. Yet the high elf definitely did not love her. The more Teresa thought about it, the more she found that did not bother her at all. Life was good, and if Nerussa had taught her anything, it was to appreciate all the joys within it, in whatever measure they came.

I am of the opinion that this chapter marks a seismic shift in Teresa and Nerussa’s relationship. What started as fondness and grew into infatuation has transformed into genuine caring and mutual respect. Teresa never once judges Nerussa or begrudges her need for other partners. And she doesn’t seek to change her into an idealized version of her own desire.

Linara said it best, Teresa is growing up.

[mALX]

That is for my benefit?! I can certainly appreciate the sentiment, hautee. . . but like ‘Rosa says:
‘Sausage is definitely not on the menu!’

Haute was just talking about it not being a girly-man

Sure, but since mALX feels compelled to subject us to images of girlie-man pubic hair, I thought something was needed to balance things out!

GAAAAAH! I didn't see that till you said something !!!! (and then had to get my magnifying glass out and look) - sorry everyone, I'll remove it !!!!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 16 2010, 01:01 AM

[Acadian]

"I will," Teresa sighed. She stepped away, all of her gear once more solidly attached to her leather-bound frame. Then she looked into Nerussa's eyes, and the next thing she knew, she was furiously kissing the other woman. Bravil could wait, she told herself, at least for a while longer.

And how very much the prerogative of a young woman to change her mind in the blink of an eye for any or no reason at all that may flit into her heart, head or loins.

You did a perfect job at leading me through Teresa's encounter. One cannot help but like Nerussa, for her open manner.

A good job also at contrasting the differences between Teresa and Nerussa. Both fine women, simply quite different from each other.

And finally, a lovely tour southward from Weye to Pells Gate.

[treydog]

You handled the encounter with a dignity and aplomb worthy of Nerussa herself. I am glad Teresa’s confirmation of who she is happened in a safe and pleasant fashion. It is also good that, despite her libido’s brief betrayal, she is determined on her course. Although her quest for the “truth” of the Arimer will likely be a dangerous road, it is one she must travel.

Life was good, and if Nerussa had taught her anything, it was to appreciate all the joys within it, in whatever measure they came.

The vision of Fanacasecul and the annotations on the map were moments that sang to me. They reveal Teresa’s nature, both mystical and mundane. This is another contemplative, character-building chapter.