Herrtikuk - Mouse/ Graham.

[darkpigeon]

 
 Graham, he hated the wind by now as the ongoing storm that had been howling for days now. The wind was sending the raindrops like little bullets through the air, hitting him fiercely on the bare skin that came from under his thick cloak.  He looked up at the tall old wall that surrounded and protected the city of Herrtikuk for century's now. The scars of old battles, and small raiding bands that came to attack the city for its riches were clearly visible on its rocks. Years ago he would be amongst those raiders, years ago he would not be walking her on his own to visit this old city to trade goods. 

Everything had changed when he had saved the life of a human child without even fully realizing that he was. The poor boy had ventured out, trying to prove to his bully's that he was as brave and strong like all of them! He had ventured out into the forest, and found himself in front of the hungry mouth of a large old hungry bear. While Graham was hunting that same animal, showing his tribe that despite his love for books he was as big and tough like the rest of them. He had killed that beast alright, and was very surprised to see that he had found a small scared and wounded boy. Instead of killing it for being human and weak, or leaving it to die for the very same reasons he had helped the kid. Comforting the small boy who was called Vincent. They had walked back all the way to Herrtikuk while singing and telling funny story's. 

It was from that day on that Graham, and Graham alone was allowed inside the city's walls. Because of it his tribe did not attack the city anymore, finding that trading was a far better and less time consuming than to try to get through the city walls. It has been seven or so years ago, and Graham would come down the mountain at least a few times a years to trade his own supplies and that of the tribe. He was still a strange sight, and not everyone was fully used of having a orc inside the city walls, but they all treated him with a respect, even if it was mixed with a little fear. 

The guards knew it was Graham that came walking down the path before they could even fully see who or what it was. He had a distinctive way of walking, he was taller than any orc that they ever seen but rather slim and less muscular. His long dreads sweeped around in the wind. A Graham neared the gates he showed them a rather pleasant smile, he did not need to prove that he was himself and not some other Orc. The guards, both human nodded politely towards the tall orc and let him pass them into the city. Nobody wanted to be outside today, and by the look of it Graham was having enough of it himself as well. 

It took him another ten minutes before he finally arrived at his destination. "Pussycat mansion' the biggest and only brothel in the city of Herrtikuk. As soon as he stood before the door it opened and a young man walked outside and smiled from ear to ear. The human bounched up and down and gave the orc a tight hug around its waist."Graham! I did not expect to see you here today. Man I am glad to see you!" Vincent cried out, and looked up at the large grin from Graham. He was as happy to see Vincent as that Vincent was to see him. The young man stepped aside and let the orc inside the large old building. It was very richly decorated and showed that the brothel was doing rather well. Graham patted Vincent on his shoulder, and watched the man gesturing a few maids to help the large orc out of his large furry cloak. Graham chuckled as the weight of it was to heavy for just one girl to carry and watched the girls struggle to keep the soaking wet material from the ground. 

[illy]

The three maids hoisted the cloak up from the floor as well as they could, leaving a trail behind them on the granite floor. One used her elbow to open a door to the cloakroom and the girls squeezed themselves through the door, squabbling who was supposed to go first and who was to go cleanup the floor after them. As soon as the door fell back into the door opening, they all turned silent and their faces started to grin widely. They all had the same idea. Without a further word they dropped the cloak on the floor and kicked a nearby bucket into the direction of the half-elf girl Mouse that was laying on a burlap rag under a table on the floor.

The red headed girl awoke by the noise the maids made. She kept as quiet as a mouse frightened that they would notice her. The girls did not like her, teasing her whenever they saw an opportunity.
“Mouse go clean. Clean cloak, clean floor. Now,” one of the maids demanded. She turned to her colleagues and made a face, “We better go cleanup ourselves, we can’t show ourselves like this, now can we?” And with an enthusiastic chatter they left the room.
With a little sigh Mouse got up on her feet, she rubbed her shoulder where the bucket impacted just moments before. Quietly she dragged the cloak over to the big table further down the room and with all her strength she pulled it up and draped the fur over it to give it a chance to dry. She picked up the bucket and left the room to fill the bucket with water, picking up a bar of soap and a floorcloth on the way. The floor in the hallway was a mess, puddles and footsteps of muddy rain all over and the orc and Youngmaster Vincent did not make it an easier job as they kept walking through the filth. Mouse quietly lowered herself on her knees to clean it all up, not daring to ask the giant orc and the Masters son to step aside.

[darkpigeon]

Vincent laughed and patted Graham firmly on his shoulder as he stood on his toes. The young human looked rather small compared with the towering Orc that stood beside him. He remembered how he used to be lifted by those broad arms and swung all over the place like a rag-doll.. those good old days! Ever since he had met Graham that faintfull day he saw the man as the large protective brother he did not have himself. "Dear lord! You grow taller every year" the man said loudly as he looked up at Graham while still wearing his ridiculous grin. The orc rolled his eyes and patted Vincent on the top of his head "You just small human, you can not help but be so tiny" he said with a devilish grin "Graham here for few days, have trading tomorrow" He left out his desire to find more books for his small collection. People of all races and ages tended to be rather surprised and demeaning for his choice to read. Especially because he was the only orc that was reading, and the owner of the worlds first and only Orc Library. Everyone knew, he knew that everyone knew but still he was rather reluctant to start the conversation about them. Though when someone would start it for him he would be chatting away a mile a minute.

"We should wash you up and get you some chicken, honey and rosemary with a bit if thyme.. and all the ale that you can drink. Graham smiled at the idea of getting himself cleaned and dry'd, some fresh clothes and his mothers cooking truly were his idea of a human-made paradise. He followed Vincent, the young human was chatting away about the new plans they had for the brothel when the passed the smallest member of the staff. The fragile half-elf Mouse stood there with her bucket and soap. Vincent fully ignored the girl, he did not bother himself with her right now as his best friend in the world was there to visit. Graham on the other hand made sure not to get his big boots through the puddles that were made by his cloak. He looked down for a second at the small creature as he passed her and laughed as he heard Vincent tell a joke about some old man that had been chased out of the brothel by his wife "She was screaming bloody murder! Mace in her hand as that old bastard kept running! As naked as the day he was born!"

After showing Graham which room was to be his Vincent left. He smiled and has a small spring in his step as he made his way through the hallway towards the kitchen, making sure that his best friend was to have all the chickens and beer he wanted. Having the orc in his brothel somehow brought more costumers, and knowing that he was to earn a shit load of coin again his day could not be ruined by anything. He had left Graham with his best girls, knowing that they would be treating him the best ways they knew how.

[illy]

Mouse let go of a relieved breath as the two left the mail hall. She cleaned the last puddle she could not wipe up before Youngmaster Vincent and the big Orc left, finishing off with the trail of dirty steps made by the human smaller feet. She perked a brow as there didn't seem to be any footsteps down the corridor made by Mister Graham.
She did not look up when they passed her by, it is not good to look up at anyone. They do not appreciate that she learned at a very young age, so better not provoke them. Especially Mister Graham, he is just huge! Imagine what he could do to her with just his little finger. A shiver runs down her spine and she puts some extra effort in making the corridors floor as clean as she can.

When done she gets up, peers around to check if no one is around and then she stretches out fully before picking up the bucked with muddy water. She lowers her shoulders and curves her back into their normal position, making her look much smaller than she actually is. With the bucket she walks to the courtyard at the back of the mansion to empty the bucket and she kneels to rinse it out with water from the big pond. Just moments before done she suddenly feels a set of hands in her back, giving her a big shove into the pond. With a little squeel she tumbles over, into the water, flailing her arms around as she was cought by surprise. She wasn't paying enough attention to her surroundings, again. That is the second time today the maids delivered her a trick. And the day was not yet over. She muttered silently as she was blaming herself for what just happened.
The maids laughed loudly, pointing at the half-elf in soaked rags. "Look at her, never knew mice could swim," one of them snickered. "Perhaps we need to give her a new name then, lemme see..." The girls started to ponder over that one of them tapping her nose with her indexfinger. Mouse peered up from over the pond and as quiet as she could went to fetch the bucket that drifted off on the pond, hoping they would forget about her being there.
"Yes, I got one, Beaver!" Two of the maids frowned and the one that came up with the name shrugged, "Or not. Pff, if you have anything better."
"We'd better go back, see if we can serve dinner soon. I hope we get to take it over to Graham today and not one of them other girls. He looks so rugged and wild and strong... Lets run, before we are too late." And the three hurried back in, locking the door from the inside.

Mouse tossed the bucket upon dry land and hoisted herself out of the water. She's completely soaked, her wild bunch of hair drooping down the side of her face, her green eyes dulled, almost lifeless. With her arm she wipes some dripping water from her forehead and she makes way to the door to get back inside finding that it is locked. She leans her back against the door in silence trying to decide if she'd knock on the door or spend the night outside again.

[darkpigeon]

He still did not know if he hated it, or loved all the attention that these girls gave him. Their hands were everywhere! His hot bath was ready and was sented to what they hoped he would not find to offensive. The girls giggled and chatted away with Graham as were being very helpful to get him undressed. He kept pushing their hands away and walked around the room with the girls following him around. He secretly found it all to be funny, these girls truly were not afraid of him and he liked the sensation of not being seen as some kind of wild beast or monster.

Something like this did not happen with the orc lady's for Graham, they found him to odd and too much like a human or elf with his reading and thinking. No, if he wanted some real female attention than this was the place for him to be. Such a shame though that none of them were orcs since he did not take a liking to other races as much as he should. That being said, he was the only one were a human could have a pleasant conversation with as long as they treated him with respect. Something that he had to learn himself as well after he was able to enter a human settlement.

They helped him wash his hair and body, they groomed his long goatee into perfection. His hair though, the long dreads they left alone, as they knew perfectly well that he did not like anyone touching his hair. As they helped him back into his clothes he could already smell the chicken that was being cooked. He would be joining the family soon, talking with Vincent and his parents about all that had happened when he was back with his tribe.

Only a half hour later he was called for, Vincent smiled as he saw Graham smelling like roses and smiling again as he was now all warm and toasty from his hot bath. "Looking good old man" Vincent said, and quickly dashed away as Graham wanted to grab him. They both chuckled and walked towards the dining room that was for the family members only.

[illy]

She turns herself around, lifting her arm and making a fist of her hand in the meanwhile but she pauses just a fraction before her skinny knuckles hit the thick wooden door. She shakes her head. "This can only go bad. Again," she whispers to herself. Then with a lowered head she lifts her fist again and lets it land onto the strong door three times, quickly, before stepping aside. The pond water that dripped from her skin and bones body mixed up with the ongoing rain. The relentless wind made her shiver allover while waiting for someone to answer the door.

No one answered.

After a few minutes Mouse pressed her ear against the door, listening if she could hear someone close. It takes a little while but then she hears footsteps down the main hallway, smaller and bigger sounding steps. She quickly raises her fist again this time banging on the door, for the cold was getting to her badly.

[darkpigeon]

They walked through the main hall and could hear some of the girls giggle as Graham walked passed their rooms. It was a rather quiet night, the weather was keeping everyone inside their houses but Vincent expected some customers later that evening. It was still rather early in the evening, and as they passed one of the doors that lead to the small courtyard they could hear some knocking on the door. Vincent rolled his eyes, that damn door was falling inside its lock for a while now and some of the maids had to be locked out again. It was frustrating him slightly as he walked to the door and opened it and saw the soaking wet Mouse standing there.

"The hell girl!" he said, looking at her dirty soaking wet dress "I told you to clean the mud not to drag more in! Get your ass inside" He hissed at her and stepped aside so she could enter. He looked up at Graham, he was raising his eyebrow at the soaking wet girl, why the hell did she stand in the rain for that long. Vincent closed the door behind her and walked passed her, making sure he was not to touch Mouse as he walked back to Graham. He saw the orc looking at the servant girl. She had been working for the family as long as he could remember, even his father could not remember a day without her being present inside the brothel. "I know I am in the business of.. wet girls. But this is not how I was imagining it myself" Vincent said with a light chuckle. Graham shook his head, he did not believe the rather bad joke that Vincent just told him.

They both ignored the girl from there on. As soon as the door closed behind them to the diningroom Mouse could hear the happy voices of the entire family. They all seemed very happy to see the orc again. The girls that had pushed her inside the pond were laughing, they knew that as soon as master Vincent was to talk to her alone she would be in big trouble.

Graham sat down, again a little present lying ready for him to unwrap. He knew what was inside of it and he eagerly started to unpack it. An other book! He smiled from ear to ear as he carefully traces the golden letters on its back. "Good book, Graham does not have this one" He said happily as he looked at the faces of the only human she truly called friends.

[illy]

As soon as Mouse heard the footsteps getting closer to the daar she took a step back to be out of the way for when the door would open. Her eyes widened in shock to see Youngmaster Vincent opening the door himself. She dropped her head quickly and stepped inside the building trying to be as humble as she could. The words "I'm so sorry," left her lips barely audible as she passes Vincent and a little shock rushes through her muscles as she hears the door getting closed behind her. She remains standing there looking like a sorry excuse for a person just waiting for Vincent to leave again. She did not realise there was someone else standing closeby until she heard Vincent speak words that were clearly not adressed to her.

Curiously she raises her head a little so that she could see who else was standing there, finding Graham standing a bit down the hallway. Her strange eyes seemed a little less dull at this moment as if the curiousity sparked a little life back into her. A storm of thoughts rushed through her head. "Did he actually look at her? He musn't think that I work here for that now does he? He can have all the girls he wanted to, the Master said he could have his pick whenever he was around. They are all so pretty, why look at stupd ugly me?"

Her chattering teeth dragged her back into the reality she lives in, the slaves life.

[darkpigeon]

Two whole chickens, 6 apples, 5 pints of ale, and a whole bread later Graham was finally content. He smiled broadly as he leaned back in his chair. "Wonderful cooking, very good chicken" he said to the older woman. She smiled and nodded in agreement, she knew that she was a damn good cook and that the orc sitting in front of her liked her chicken. She remembered the first time that she had cooked it for him, she was afraid if that wild beast sitting in her kitchen. But it had somehow saved her son, and over the years she had learned to appreciate his presents. "Guess ya be heading for bed now? Get yaself a early start with the tradin'" The woman said as she gestured one of the maids to pour him yet another pint. Graham nodded and held his hand over his glass, he had more than enough and nothing was worse than getting out of your bed to take a wiss. "Need good sleep, much walking in bad weather make even Graham tired. Good cooking help making him sleepy to" He said friendly. He had to learn himself how to act around humans years ago and sometimes felt like he still did not fully understand how they worked.

He picked up his new book and kept it save against his chest. The small family rose as well and looked at the droopy eyed orc that seemed to be needing some sleep. "Goodnight, tomorrow we talk much" he said and nodded as he felt that he had said enough for the day. "Come come, Ill walk you to your room" The old man said and quickly made his way around the table. "Vincent need to attend to the girls. He has been awaiting your return for quite some time" the old man said with a faint smile. His son Vincent rolled his eyes and nodded, he always got exited when the moon was to be full. Every other full moon Graham would be coming down and trade anything and everything.

Alex and Graham walked out of the room and watched the hussle and bussle of the Brothel unfold before them. Despite the weather it was rather busy. "Men get cold, look for girls to be warm" Graham said as he watched two girls push a young good looking man into one of the rooms. "Take your pick Graham, they are yours if you wish so" Alex said, he always did and always Grahams answer would be "Maybe other time". He never touched the girls or wished to lay with them. Alex did not know if he had to respect the orc for it or not, but it did showed how important honor was for this orc. It always made him wonder if Graham was the only one, or that every single orc secretly was a very honorable creature.

As Graham entered his room he could see that someone had been cleaning up. He gently placed the book down and smiled at it, he knew that he would be reading it before he would truly fall asleep. He took of his heavy boots and looked at his freshly washed feet who smelled like some kind of flower instead of its own musky self. As he wanted to pick up his book and start reading he could hear movement inside his room. He frowned and only than noticed that the person who ever was in charge of cleaning up the room had not left yet. He knew that he was early, it had to be around eight in the evening. He stood up, and as he turned around he could see that the girl who had stood outside earlier was standing there..

[illy]

After she cleaned up herself she went over to Grahams room. The maids told her she had to clean it, they were too busy to bother with it. As if they ever cleaned anything. "He'll be away for at least a few hours, so take your time Mouse," one of the younger maids told her. Mouse went upstairs anxiously, hoping that none of the guests would see her. The Master does not want her to be seen by guests. She is a disgrace for the house, she knew that.
She closed the door behind her and started to remake the bed, clean the bathtub and removed every spec of dirt she could find. Maybe she'd get a compliment this time if she did her best. "Who am I kidding. Compliments.. meh." She looked around seemingly content with her work, and picked up the bucket and cloth from the floor. Then Graham entered the room.

"Oh no... he is here..." flashed through Mouses head. She kept very quiet, her eyes flashing from left to right trying to figure out an escape plan. As soon as Graham reached for his book she stepped aside to get closer to the door, her face pale in shock. Her feet made a little shuffling noise when they touched the wooden floor after stepping off of the carpet and she stared over at the bed wide eyed, all the colour that was left in her face drained from it.
He was there, standing up, seeing her. He saw her! She wished she could disappear on the spot, sink through the floor, vanish into thin air, anything but be there.
She was supposed to look away, but she couldn't. She kept staring back as he looked at her being frozen on the spot.

[darkpigeon]

He looked down at the weak looking halfbreed, she was pale as snow with the greenest eyes he had ever seen. With her messy red curls she looked like one of those pictures of how humans prefered their girls to look like. Well.. without those ears that was. He did not share the humans taste in beauty and as he looked at her he wondered if she was considered such or not.

To him she was just weak, her reaction showed fear and Orcs did not like any weakness within their kind. They did not care about ones looks, gender, or even how smart one was. Wisdom, honor, strength, were the building blocks of a good orc. This girl, this.. halfbreed? He stepped closer to get a better look, inspecting her as he looked at her still wet dress and the bucket in her hand. He figured by the looks of it and the leather collar around her neck that she was a slave. The thought of it, of someone being a slave or even enslavement itself made him frown. Orcs despised such things, yes they were rather cruel and a harsh race but they believed that nobody was to take ones freedom. Their lives yes, freedom not so much. That this girl was letting them do this to herself, not to fight for her own freedom made him feel a bit ... well it did not sit well.

As he stood close to her, looking down from his height to the small frame of Mouse he could see that she was cold. He looked her over, inspecting every inch of her body, her small hands, her tiny waist and those big dramatic green eyes that were looking straight at him in fear. This girl was weak, she had absolutely no strenght and looked more death to the world than alive. "You must be cold, still in wet dress.. not really smart thing to do" he said in the most friendliest way he could. He had learned in all his years between the humans that they reacted rather well to a friendly tone. "Why you stand outside in rain? you cold.. and very wet. Like cat that jumped in lake... even smell like it" he said, trying to crack a joke but failing miserably at it.

[illy]

His gentle words made her blink, she still did not realise she was staring at him. His friendliness surprised her, he was significantly larger than human beings and herself, and an orc. She was just a mere halfbreed, she should not exist in this world, why is he friendly to her? Confusion slowly started to win from the fear in her figure, enough that she dared to open her mouth to softly answer his question. "I.. needed to rinse out the bucket and I was locked outside." Her eyes still locked onto his face, for him looking all over her and actually noticing her being there was a new experience to feeling invisible by the way others treated her so far. "Accidental," she added quickly. Blaming the maids for being locked outside would get her into a lot more trouble than she currently is in.
"And I fell into the pond. By accident, sir." She tried to convince herself by adding a few small nods after speaking.

She did not notice the attempted joke, her thoughts slightly wandered to the maids who might as well have planned this from happening all along. They did say he'd be out for a few hours, she was in here for not even an hour. She clearly remembers hearing the clock in the main hall strike eight bells as she passed it on her way up, and the half hour bell after that while working here. Not a bell after that.

Her fingers fiddle a little on the handle of the bucket as she remains on the spot. No idea if she is expected to walk out or stay.

[darkpigeon]

Graham frowned, he knew when he was being lied to and he did not like it. Truth! he loved it, and he would give it to everyone straight and bluntly without them asking for it. He rolled his eyes at her "Graham orc, maybe you think I not see you tell lie. But Graham knows and Graham is not liking it" he told her rather sternly as he leaned forward to give her a warning look. She did not need much to be send flying against the walls that he could see. So he kept himself from doing anything more than just that.

She was hiding something alright, she did not look like she was as dumb as she was telling him she was. He frankly did not care all that much, if the human wanted to look like a fool than so be it. There was this strange loyalty that slaves had, something that he did not quite understand himself. If anyone would even suggest enslaving him or his kin he would go in a murderous rampage. Humans seemed so very different so.. child like so.. very weak. Such strange creatures.

He looked at he fiddling hands, he did not know if she was done or not and he did not want to keep her from whatever she was doing. He stepped back and lowered his shoulders, he had learned that humans were very susceptible for body language.. especially that of an orc. In all the years he came down here he had learned to be very patient and gentle.. it worked wonders and he did not want to cause any kind of trouble since this was the only place in this world were he could get books. "Graham going to read book, you do work while he read. You do work you have to do." he told her, not really sure if it was his place. He let out a sigh, softly talked to himself that he properly was doing this right, got his book and sat by the fire to get read at least one or two chapters.

[illy]

Mouse followed Grahams every move with her eyes, noticing the smallest changes in his posture. Her breath seemed to stop and she felt her heartbeat in her throat when he leaned in so incredibly close to her.
She gasped for breath as soon as he took a step back, blinking a few times to get some moisture on her cornea again. Her brain worked overtime, "This is the moment, if there would be one moment to make a break for the door it would be now," and her eyes darted towards the door. To her surprise he reacted calmly and not even make any suggestion about throwing her out.
"I...I am done with cleaning, sir. Am I excused, sir?" He treated her differently for nu clear reason. No one is nice to an outkast as herself, this puzzled her so much and that some sort of fascination for the huge orc as well, made her not look away as she is supposed to do when in the vicinity of others.

He did not seem to be planning on respondng to her question, his book sucking up all his attention. Mouse decided to leave the room as quiet as she could, running back to the cloakroom and hide in her little safe place under the table after checking Grahams cloak. It wasn't dry yet, but at least it stopped dripping mud.

[darkpigeon]

He could hear her talk somewhere in the background but as soon as Graham started reading there was so little that could distract him. He did not notice how she left, how time was slowly ticking away, and only when it became darker in the room he noticed that the candles were slowly dying out. He was almost done with his book and as he placed it away on his nightstand he sat down on his bed. For a moment he looked around, no matter how many times he went down to this town he did not get used to it. He did not understand these brothels, he did not understand the weakness of the human slaves or how coin made someone more powerful than true strenght. Humans were strange, and no matter how many books he would read about them he could not get used to them. He laid down, tugging the blankets over his tall body and twist and turned before he finally felt comfortable in his bed that was far to soft and warm. And as he finally got comfortable he fell into a deep peaceful sleep.

The next day Graham was up bright and early, the girls giggled as they pulled the blankets from the large orc and found him sleeping in his full clothing. He had learned to keep them on, those girls were like vultures and would do anything to get him out of his clothes. He wondered if it had become some sort of strange contest to which they would win a prize if they would get the orc to 'do it' with one of them. He could not say that he hated the attention, though he would like it if the girls were less aggressive in their ways of 'seduction' They brought with them breakfast, a large chicken, a whole apple pie, 3 gallons of goat milk, 1 quarter cheese, and some assorted fruits.

As he was eating, or rather being fed by three girls he quickly looked around if that small red headed one was amongst them. He was curious if that weak little thing had not gotten sick from being cold and wet, and found her to be better company than these girls that thought he could not eat all by himself. Sadly though she was not there and as these other girls started putting food in his mouth he found that it was better to entertain them by feeding them as well. At least he was making the best of things and he knew how important it was for him and his clan that he kept every single human in this town happy.