So, for my birthday Christmas,  raidagu commissioned the (to me) hidden talents of PoweredByGif to do up a picture of me bumping into Kaedan in a more tasteful sense, keheh. I think it came out phenomenally, and the colours and lighting and backlit vista of it all I think look kind of mesmerising. I love the sheepish way I came out, too. But I digress!

When writing the accompaniment for this one, I realise I forgot to check with  raidagu first! So, whoops. I wound up writing it as an... 'early meeting' in the interpersonal timeline between Kaedan and myself. Kaedan comes from a longstanding RP he and I have, so it's sort of in a fairly straightforward fantasy setting, wherein my species happens to be something of a distrusted and malevolent one and I usually am struggling to persuade people that I haven't got a violent bone in my body. As such, I'm something of an object of curiosity to Kaedan, and - well, anyway.

 raidagu mentioned that it might have been intended as a depiction of what Kaedan's personal chambers might have looked like, which is great because now I have this as a rough basis for my imaginings, haha. Though given the Qi'Dal are meant to live underground mostly, you might understand my presumption during the writing part~

Either way. I think it came out pretty captivatingly, and am pretty delighted with the whole thing. Well worth the wait in my opinion!

Art © PoweredByGif
Kaedan ©
Salrith and writing © myself!


* * * * *


Salrith stalked cautiously through the corridor, claws sinking soundlessly into the carpeted floor as her upper two arms fidgeted with her red shawl. Carpet! It was like rugs, except it stretched across the entirety of the floor. The azure-bellied creature had never stood in a building so opulent and wealthy. Salrith’s species was not one that was particularly welcomed in – well, anywhere. Yet here, today, nobody objected to the insectoid’s presence in the resplendent inn.

On another hand, nobody was quite around to object, though. Salrith had already surmised that most of the inn staff had moved away from this wing of the establishment out of unease, but the end result was still that no one griped or gave distrustful scowls in her direction.

As Salrith stepped past an ornate and pristinely glazed vase depicting some mysterious landscape or other, the insectoid’s chelicerae twitched in thought while her tail swayed slowly to and fro in pleasant appreciation. The day’s ease was, of course, sponsored by a very affluent figure. Even if the people in these parts hadn’t heard of him by name, the wealth of Kaedan of the Qi’Dal had a potency all by itself. Apart from his charming and regal demeanour, he carried a positively royal purse with him that opened just as many doors as his diplomatic status did – perhaps even more, in truth. Money was universal, after all, even in places where renown failed.

The Qi’Dal were somewhat known for their hypnotic interactions with other races, earning them a slightly unsavoury reputation – only slightly, however. Unlike Salrith’s kind which were known for hostility, Kaedan’s hive were always working towards a sort of ‘group prosperity’ – they had a well-structured caste system, facilitated by pheromones, which ensured everyone worked harmoniously in their allocated roles. Perhaps more importantly for their reputation, though, they knew when not to cross lines. Maybe it was because of that near-inviolable social structure; no Qi’Dal went against the royal will of generally peaceable interactions. That alone gave most of the insect creatures enough social grace to usually be hesitantly welcomed citizens, and those of the royal caste like Kaedan or his lesser attendants were often welcomed as respected diplomats.

Kaedan’s ability to book a suite in this remarkable building was almost a given.

The thing that made Salrith most pleased, though, was the opportunity to meet with him again – in his personal chambers, no less. For some reason, Kaedan had taken an interest in Salrith.

Ever since the azure-bellied insectoid had met the firefly-like Qi’Dal prince, she had been sheepishly smitten. If Salrith had possessed antennae, she would have thought he were influencing her with some pheromonal concoction, like he might a member of his own kind. Instead, though, the chitinous creature had been charmed in the much more traditional way – with sweet, honeyed words, sensual touches, an affable sense of humour, and just enough secret promises to leave her fighting not to wag her thick tail out of reflex.

When Salrith reached the door that led to the grand suite of the hotel, the four-armed creature hesitated. She was only half the size of the door, after all – Kaedan stood much taller than her. Salrith tried not to let it intimidate her, though, and lifted one grasper to knock on the polished wood.

The sound was quiet in the hallway, with the plush flooring absorbing most of the sound. Salrith’s heart fluttered as the momentary silence that followed lingered in the air. Perhaps he wasn’t there? Or what if he hadn’t really invited Salrith, and it was a misunderstanding? Nonsense thoughts of irrational fears danced around the periphery of Salrith’s mind.

“Enter,” came the smooth voice of the firefly prince within, dispelling them for the moment. Salrith swallowed, then reached up to the doorhandle.

Swinging the door open, Salrith beheld a warmly lit suite with lavish teak dressers and wardrobes lining the walls. An armoire stood to the side with one door ever so slightly ajar, some silken clothing stashed within. It was stashed because, laying in the late afternoon sunlight on a round bed that was opulently plush, Kaedan was utterly nude amidst no less than a dozen silk pillows.

Salrith immediately blinked, folding her lower arms together as her breath caught. Although Salrith was sparsely clothed herself, that was because the spiny nature of her body made it a little hard to find things that fit, let alone ones that factored in her four arms. Kaedan, however, had several items that fit him perfectly well – probably owing to his affluence. Salrith imagined he had access to several Qi’Dal tailors. His eschewing of clothing was a statement in and of itself.

“Kaedan!” Salrith squeaked, chelicerae fidgeting. She paused, cleared her throat, then said his name with a touch more grace. Salrith smiled, reaching up to fidget with her red shawl again. It was almost meditative.

“Salrith,” the Qi’Dal answered. He clutched a golden goblet in one chitinous hand, languidly swirling its contents. “You look yet more delightful than I recall. You are well?” he asked, taking a sip, his own mandibles splaying as he opened his mouth. His legs were crossed at just the right angle to keep him modest.

“I—” Salrith began, suddenly without words. The azure-bellied arthropod nodded, instead. He was nude on his bed. But he wasn’t acting flirtatiously – perhaps this was just how royal Qi’Dal relaxed? Then, “Yes. Thank you for inviting me. You look… naked,” she said. Kaedan chuckled, adjusting one pillow with one of his lower arms.

“I do enjoy comfort in privacy, of course. We have only met in public, no? In my homeland, we do not bother with such wrappings, unless it is for a purpose.”

That was surprising. Salrith was used to being sparse with clothing, but still did have it at least – people tended to get uncomfortable when faced with a sapient being without any coverings. Salrith had enough grumbles with her undeniably obvious assets in modest company. Yet to hear that the Qi’Dal didn’t bother much at all?

“A purpose?” Salrith asked, finding that the gathering conversation made it easier to find words. Kaedan sipped at his goblet, nodding. The motion made his flowing antennae wobble.

“Mmh. All things in our hive are done with purpose. Well… most,” he smiled from behind the cup. “It is humid and warm, and clothing serves little purpose. Our bodies are vibrant enough that the only adornments we need are functional, hmm? That is quite so of yourself, too, is it not? With those pretty stripes upon your chitin.” His eyebrows lifted and dropped, his five eyes gazing at the smaller creature. Salrith fidgeted even harder with her shawl.

“Oh, well, I mean… I mostly struggle to find clothing that fits my figure,” she muttered. “Spikes, and all. Most creatures are missing some limbs, too, compared to us. I suppose you must have special tailors, or something.”

Kaedan chortled softly, folding his lower arms over his stomach.

“This is true. Excellent weavers. Excellence in general, hmm? My personal chambers are far more spacious and resplendent than even this room.” He smiled coyly, gesturing with one arm around the room as his softly-glowing abdomen shifted on the bed. Salrith’s eyes drifted to it, before tugging away respectfully.

“Well,” she said with a slightly hesitant smile. “Maybe without the pretty sunset glow, right? Since the Qi’Dal live in caves?”

Kaedan’s five eyes widened, and he laughed.

“Caves! My dear Salrith, we have above-ground structures as well, hmm? And my chambers have walls where glowflies nest, as well as a bounty of soulbloom fungus that give it very much an – as you say – ‘pretty sunset glow’. Caves.” His mandibles twitched in amusement, and he reached up to sweep his feathery antennae back. “To reduce our masterworked city to such a paltry word. You shall accompany me back to them when I return, and I shall give you a proper tour. You will be my consort.”

The way he spoke brokered no argument, and Salrith fidgeted with an odd sense of shyness. Being so simply told what she would do was surprisingly flirtatious in a way Salrith wasn’t prepared for. It felt pleasant.

“I mean…” she mumbled, looking to the side, tugging on her shawl again. Salrith imagined ‘consort’ was how a Qi’Dal noble like Kaedan referred to his guests – it felt a little embarrassing to admit to knowing so little about how their culture actually worked, so Salrith didn’t. Kaedan smiled, sensing no disagreement.

“Good. Now come. Won’t you discard your wrappings, Salrith, and join me in a drink?” He lifted his cup, then looked up to the head of the bed where a golden jug lay beside a platter of fruits. Salrith swallowed, then nodded slowly. “There is no need to fret. I would not do anything a pretty thing like you would not like,” he chittered softly.

“Hah,” Salrith said, breaking into a faint smile. “That’s little reassurance, mister Kaedan. I think I would like most things you might do.”

“Oh?” Kaedan asked, taking another sip. “Is that so?”

The way he smiled with his eyes seemed to exult in Salrith’s admission. The four-armed arthropod flustered a little. There was no way that Salrith’s amor was news to the firefly-like Qi’Dal! But the way he spoke played as though it were, and that Salrith had just admitted something embarrassing. Was it a game? Probably, Salrith reasoned. Kaedan seemed to enjoy making Salrith squirm a little.

“I—” Salrith began again. “…You already knew that,” she accused, lower arms crossing. Kaedan laughed lightly, waving one arm.

“So I did,” he admitted. Then he gestured downwards with a single claw, motioning for Salrith to continue. “You are in a Qi’Dal’s chambers, now, and while of a different peoples, you are quite close. Let us pretend you are one of my Qi’Dal today, hmm?” Salrith fidgeted for a few moments, swallowing audibly. Kaedan’s smooth talk and disarming smile seemed somehow meant to make Salrith feel comfortable – but the prospect he presented was certainly nervous! The smaller creature nodded silently, only to take hold of her shawl. She lifted, then shrugged it off, letting the fabric fall to the ground. It caught on her tail on the way down, falling to one side. “So messy,” Kaedan said. Salrith immediately jolted, stooping to pick it back up. The motion made Kaedan laugh again, his voice rather mellifluous.

“Sorry,” Salrith said. She tossed it onto one of the dressers. Kaedan nodded approvingly. Then he extended one arm, beckoning her closer.

“Come,” he said. “Let us talk for a while, hmm? You are the most reasonable of your kind I have met. I should very much like to explore you further, Salrith.”

Salrith fidgeted by the end of the bed, trying not to sway her tail too much. Kaedan’s antennae wobbled again, and he reached out for a second golden goblet. He picked it up, holding it towards Salrith. The smaller arthropod could see a thick, curiously pinkish fluid inside it. Probably some Qi’Dal drink, she reasoned – it would be rude not to at least try it. She accepted it and took a little sip, finding it tangy, that it made her feel a little flush and pleasant. Then, gingerly, Salrith approached.