Cassies Palace 9

[20:11]	<[GM]Mary>	Last time, on Maid and Order!
[20:13]	<[GM]Mary>	It happened like five minutes ago, so I'll just quip it:
[20:14]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:18] * [Gtz]Cassie thinks to Valea: /Valea. Stay here. We need to talk. About you./
[20:14]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:20] * [Dune]Valea stops fidgeting for a moment, and then resumes even more so. She nods as she returns a message. /U-mm...alright.../ Being nervous, she nearly materializes several souls by accident, but manages to largely suppress the reaction.
[20:14]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:22] * [Gtz]Cassie /That too./
[20:14]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:24] * [Dune]Valea 's heart skips a beat and her eyes widen their gaze upon Cassandra in utter shock. (She...knows? How?)
[20:15]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:26] <[Tesla]Enrica> Um... should I still be here?
[20:15]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:27] * [Dune]Valea 's eyes remain locked on Cassie, and as such this is noticeable to any observer. Gradually, however, they slowly fall to her own feet...
[20:15]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:27] <[Gtz]Cassie> Well, if I don't want you to hear it, you won't, so it doesn't really matter. Stay if you wish. In fact, it may concern you to a more mild degree.
[20:15]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:28] * [Tesla]Enrica nods, not moving from her spot.
[20:15]	<[GM]Mary>	[23:29] <[Gtz]Cassie> Okay. What I wanted to talk to you about, is...
[20:16]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	...your memory. Or lack thereof, rather.
[20:19]	* [Dune]Valea	remains just as still as she was before, but relaxes the slightest amount.
[20:19]	<[Dune]Valea>	my...memory?
[20:22]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	At first, I thought you were just being metaphorical about the "I don't remember anything before my slave life" comment, buuuut, then I took a little peak into your head... It's a little emptier than most. Your memory mass is more identical to that of a small child, except with common knowledge of adolescence in place. You certainly don't sound like you're five years old, anyway.
[20:24]	* [Dune]Valea	remains silent for a moment.
[20:24]	* [Tesla]Enrica	looks pensive, but doesn't respond.
[20:25]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sits up straight, showing more than a passing interest in her dilemma.
[20:26]	* [Dune]Valea	is still very nervous, but manages a little speech.
[20:27]	<[Dune]Valea>	w-well, i didn't lie...
[20:27]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Yes, I can see that quite clearly.
[20:28]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	My apologies for not noticing sooner. My mind's been places in the past few days...
[20:28]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	...few weeks, few months, few years...
[20:29]	* [Gtz]Cassie	trails off before returning her attention to Valea.
[20:33]	* [Dune]Valea	remains still and silent, but her mood shifts more to melancholy than (as much) fear while she drops her gaze to her feet.
[20:34]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Anyway. My question is, do you wish to recover this lost space? I may be able to do something about it, but only at the risk of your own mental health and integrity. You may not want to know what your life was like five years ago. I may not be able to help you in the first place. But seeing as the mind is my area of expertise, I'm inclined to help you in anyway I can provide. You just have...
[20:34]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	...to tell me what you want done.
[20:36]	* [Gtz]Cassie	crosses her legs and folds her hands in her lap. She doesn't seem shy on the subject in the least.
[20:38]	* [Tesla]Enrica	's eyes down and to the side in order to not look at Valea. It'd probably just pressure her.
[20:41]	* [Dune]Valea	's mind is cast askew in a varying sea of emotion and reaction. (W-what is she going to ask me abou-eh? she can help me recover my memory? B-but...what if...)
[20:42]	* [Dune]Valea	fidgets in place, her previous petrification thawing slowly.
[20:42]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sighs.
[20:44]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	If it's too much right now, we can talk about it later, after you've had time to think about it. I'll tell you again, I may not be able to do anything about it. If you got punched in the head and the tissue was literally destroyed, that would be a case in point.
[20:46]	<[Tesla]Enrica>	...And there's also the chance that some memories are ones most people wouldn't like having.
[20:46]	* [Dune]Valea	fidgets a little less now, and just looks worried.
[20:46]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Indeed.
[20:46]	* [Tesla]Enrica	shrugs.
[20:48]	* [Dune]Valea	finally speaks up, though still a little lightly.
[20:48]	<[Dune]Valea>	well...
[20:48]	<[Dune]Valea>	it'd surely be better than life as a slave, right?
[20:48]	* [Dune]Valea	makes a halfhearted smile.
[20:49]	<[Tesla]Enrica>	That isn't... quite what I was getting at, but yes, I think you're right.
[20:49]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Maybe.
[20:51]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	But tell me. Do you want to do this? If you say no, I'll forget all about and never bring it up ever again. If you accept, then we'll make the necessary preparations and attempt remediation.
[20:55]	* [Dune]Valea	goes silent again for a moment, apparently in deep thought and consideration. (...What do i even have? This tiny amount of time, unfree...)
[20:55]	* [Gtz]Cassie	waits patiently.
[20:57]	* [Dune]Valea	closes her eyes and sighs.
[20:58]	<[Dune]Valea>	I...
[20:59]	* [Dune]Valea	takes in a shuddering breath and releases it, then opening her eyes.
[21:00]	<[Dune]Valea>	I don't know, fully.
[21:00]	* [Dune]Valea	raises her dropped head slightly to look at Cassandra.
[21:00]	<[Dune]Valea>	...but at the same time, i want to know.
[21:02]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Hmmm...
[21:04]	* [Dune]Valea	raises her head a little more, both unsure and sure of her decision at the same time.
[21:04]	* [Gtz]Cassie	scoots over to the far side of the little couch.
[21:04]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Come here.
[21:05]	* [Dune]Valea	opens her eyes fully in surprise for a moment, and slowly moves over to and sits on the couch in what is almost a nervous daze.
[21:07]	* [Gtz]Cassie	uncrosses her legs and turns her body towards Valea.
[21:07]	* [Tesla]Enrica	walks over to the side, a little inconspicuously.
[21:08]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Lay back. Relax.
[21:09]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Throw your legs over the arm if you must.
[21:10]	* [Dune]Valea	carefully scoots a little closer to Cassandra, and lays back, throwing her legs over the arm of the couch as suggested.
[21:15]	* [Dune]Valea	lightly sets her head down in Cassandra's lap, blushing just a tiny bit as she does so. She then looks up to Cassandra for a moment, and then closes her eyes.
[21:16]	* [Gtz]Cassie	after a deep breath and some small adjustments to comfort both of them, she speaks quietly:
[21:16]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Have you ever practiced meditation?
[21:16]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	This will be a little like that.
[21:17]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	It'll be more like... you're dreaming these things. Do you dream often, Valea?
[21:19]	* [Dune]Valea	thinks for a moment of how the many souls that flock to her... try to show her things sometimes. How they give shadows of shadows to a dream of their lives...
[21:20]	* [Dune]Valea	also blushes just a tiny bit more as Cassandra adjusts herself a bit, just before speaking. (this... is pretty close to her...)
[21:20]	<[Dune]Valea>	umm... kinda...
[21:21]	* [Gtz]Cassie	. o ( Embarrassed, huh? Let's see what you think about this... )
[21:23]	* [Gtz]Cassie	places her hands on both sides of Valea's head, and begins a rhythmic massage of her temples, jawbone, neck, and shoulders. The process is slow, but pleasant.
[21:26]	* [Dune]Valea	's heart beats just a bit faster as she blushes and tries to keep souls from manifesting around her, though she does relax slightly... (This is just a little like... no. She freed me now, i never have to undergo that ever again...)
[21:29]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	I can tell a lot about people when I'm close enough to touch them... there's many things I can perceive that the persons in question don't even know about themselves...
[21:29]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	For example...
[21:29]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Did you know that you're bisexual...?
[21:29]	* [Gtz]Cassie	says that as casually as humanly possible
[21:31]	* [Tesla]Enrica	is surprised at that, but pretends she didn't hear any of it.
[21:32]	* [Dune]Valea	blinks and opens her eyes for a moment before closing them again. She then speaks a little reservedly.
[21:32]	<[Dune]Valea>	umm... what's that?
[21:32]	* [Dune]Valea	genuinely sounds like she doesn't know what the term means, or even what certain fractions of the word may mean.
[21:33]	* [Gtz]Cassie	stifles a laugh.
[21:34]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	I'm sure Enrica could tell you sometime.
[21:35]	* [Dune]Valea	is a little confused now, and ventures a quick curious glance at Enrica.
[21:36]	* [Dune]Valea	then shifts her head back to look at Cassie, questioning.
[21:36]	<[Dune]Valea>	what's funny~?
[21:38]	* [Tesla]Enrica	looks back over at Valea for a second, but doesn't intervene.
[21:38]	* [Dune]Valea	remembers how exactly she's lying down after moving her head however, and responds by blushing a little again and falling silent.
[21:40]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Anyhow, it seems you are uncomfortable. You must give yourself completely in order to do this safely. There's not much I can do about the touching. I need contact. If Enrica's presence bothers you, we could ask her to leave. If she helps alleviate you, then perhaps she could assist. If it's just too much at once for you, we can always do this later. What do you think?
[21:42]	* [Dune]Valea	shakes her head ever so slightly in Cassie's lap, and speaks while still blushing.
[21:44]	<[Dune]Valea>	it's not Enrica...
[21:45]	* [Dune]Valea	's eyes seem distant for a moment, recalling the times when ambient souls somehow managed to comfort her...
[21:46]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sighs.
[21:48]	* [Dune]Valea	redoubles her efforts to relax.
[21:53]	* [Gtz]Cassie	finishes her little massage, leaving her thumbs below the jaw with the fore and middle fingers relaxed at Valea's temples.
[21:56]	* [Gtz]Cassie	speaks in a soothing voice:
[21:56]	* [Dune]Valea	finally relaxes, though a residual blush remains on her cheeks.
[21:58]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Hmm... What's the earliest thing you can recall, Valea...
[21:58]	* [Gtz]Cassie	's head is filled full of Valea's memories after her memory loss, detailing various bits and pieces about her slave life among... other things.
[22:01]	* [Dune]Valea	's heart rises for a moment and a small blush flares for a moment before she responds.
[22:01]	<[Dune]Valea>	u-umm...
[22:01]	* [Dune]Valea	hesitates for a slight moment before responding.
[22:02]	<[Dune]Valea>	shortly after i was...taken, in the transport cart, or at least i think it was shortly after...
[22:07]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Hmm...
[22:07]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Can you remember your first pleasant memory?
[22:08]	* [Dune]Valea	seems to close her eyes tighter for a moment, and then relaxes.
[22:11]	<[Dune]Valea>	...I think...
[22:13]	<[Dune]Valea>	...I don't remember when this happened, but...
[22:16]	<[Dune]Valea>	one time before a... sale... One of the others hugged me and told me i'd be fine...
[22:19]	* [Dune]Valea	's voice becomes a little more melancholy, for a moment.
[22:20]	<[Dune]Valea>	i...think she was sold, though... I don't remember her later...
[22:22]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Hmm... This next one is going to be a little tough...
[22:23]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sends to Enrica: /You might need to leave the room or... give her a hand./
[22:23]	* [Tesla]Enrica	/Hm... Okay./
[22:24]	* [Tesla]Enrica	walks around to the front of the couch and crouches, gently taking Valea's hand and holding it between both of hers.
[22:26]	* [Dune]Valea	shifts just slightly in surprise.
[22:27]	<[Dune]Valea>	Enrica?
[22:29]	<[Tesla]Enrica>	Shhh... Mm-hm.
[22:29]	* [Gtz]Cassie	takes another slow, intentional breath.
[22:29]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Valea, now I want you to tell me... Only in your thoughts, if you must... your worst memory.
[22:31]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Things that give you nightmares.
[22:31]	* [Dune]Valea	goes fully still for a moment, and holds her breath.
[22:32]	* [Gtz]Cassie	pets Valea's hair gently, trying to comfort her.
[22:34]	* [Dune]Valea	blushes a little again and shudders slightly, in response both to Cassie's touch and...that.
[22:35]	* [Dune]Valea	throat tenses a bit as flashes of the memory come to the forefront of her mind.
[22:38]	* [Dune]Valea	(That one ... "Owner"...)
[22:40]	* [Dune]Valea	recalls it clearly now, and only with the support she's receiving does she manage to keep from resorting to the souls' comfort.
[22:41]	* [Dune]Valea	's mind still grinds to a very noticeable halt for a moment though, before she manages to continue...
[22:42]	* [Dune]Valea	is very obviously bothered and nervous, but she manages to go on.
[22:43]	<[Dune]Valea>	O-one "Owner", a long time ago... (I think...)
[22:45]	* [Dune]Valea	's mind grinds to a halt again, and she opens her worried eyes.
[22:48]	* [Gtz]Cassie	/Do you need more time?/
[22:50]	* [Dune]Valea	takes an unsteady breath. /I...can tell it right now./
[22:51]	* [Tesla]Enrica	gives Valea's hand a reassuring squeeze.
[22:52]	* [Dune]Valea	gulps and then closes her eyes once more.
[22:53]	* [Gtz]Cassie	/Let it come, then. Do not feel ashamed, these are things that we all, even I, feel in our hearts and minds. Admitting to yourself is part of the process of recovery./
[22:55]	* [Dune]Valea	takes another deep breath. /A-alright.../ She blushes a bit.
[22:56]	<[Dune]Valea>	I was up on the sale platform one day.
[22:56]	* [Dune]Valea	's voice becomes just a bit stronger as she goes on.
[22:57]	<[Dune]Valea>	I was...scared as usual, but i never had been sold before, and didn't really think i would be today...
[22:58]	<[Dune]Valea>	until i noticed that one man in the crowd, looking at me...
[22:59]	* [Dune]Valea	gulps, but manages somehow to continue without losing her pace.
[23:01]	<[Dune]Valea>	he was the only one who bid on me, and he bid high...i was sold in an instant.
[23:04]	<[Dune]Valea>	he simply took me to his house, and had me clean, or other simple tasks.
[23:05]	<[Dune]Valea>	but he always looked at me funny, and then he started giving me weird outfits to wear...
[23:06]	* [Tesla]Enrica	's expression becomes more serious.
[23:07]	* [Gtz]Cassie	can already guess, but asks to further the remediation:
[23:07]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	What kind of outfits?
[23:08]	* [Dune]Valea	becomes timid and hesitates for a moment, but continues though she outwardly is becoming more nervous and uncomfortable.
[23:12]	<[Dune]Valea>	o-ones that were too small, at the beginning...
[23:12]	* [Dune]Valea	is now trembling ever so slightly.
[23:13]	<[Dune]Valea>	but then they started having r-really short skirts, or-r being so light as if i wasn't wearing anything, or nearly see-through, like curtains...
[23:14]	* [Gtz]Cassie	does her best to comfort Valea, though she seems adverse to touch. Nevertheless, she scopes her head, neck and shoulders for points of relaxation via tried and true method: continue touching the places that alleviate stress, stop touching the places that do not.
[23:16]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Hmm... And how did that make you feel...
[23:16]	<[Dune]Valea>	i-i started getting real scared then, and thought he was up to something, and the s-
[23:16]	* [Dune]Valea	cuts herself off before she gives away her secret of necromancy. (T-though she seemed to know...)
[23:18]	* [Gtz]Cassie	withdraws the urge to say "I do", given that it would certainly stop any progress made with remediation.
[23:18]	* [Dune]Valea	gulps and leaves it at that, somehow managing to continue.
[23:20]	<[Dune]Valea>	s-some even came with various stuff too, like whips... I learned to use one when i pulled things from the top shelf with it...
[23:20]	* [Dune]Valea	laughs lightly and with absolutely no humor or mirth at all. Truly, to call such a laugh would be an injustice.
[23:22]	* [Dune]Valea	trembles noticeably now, even though Cassandra's continued massaging was keeping it at bay.
[23:24]	<[Dune]Valea>	a-and then, one day... i woke up and the closet was locked, and nothing was on the hangar...
[23:24]	* [Gtz]Cassie	takes Valea's free hand and squeezes it softly, still keeping a point of contact on her head with the remaining hand.
[23:25]	* [Dune]Valea	's trembling doesn't grow, but she still has a very slight sound of hysteria to her voice as she continues.
[23:26]	<[Dune]Valea>	h-he always had me leave everything in the closet before i went t-to sleep, so i had nothing, and he still called me down...
[23:29]	<[Dune]Valea>	s-so i went down, in the cold air, with nothing, to make breakfast as i always d-did...
[23:30]	<[Dune]Valea>	that was the most scared i've ever been, him standing there in the kitchen looking at me weird, and then getting closer...
[23:34]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	What happened, then?
[23:34]	* [Dune]Valea	's throat clenches and she comes to a full stop.
[23:34]	* [Tesla]Enrica	looks at Valea, a little saddened.
[23:36]	* [Dune]Valea	has precursory tears in her shut eyes as she manages to force the blockade from her speech aside.
[23:38]	* [Gtz]Cassie	's heart bleeds. She would stop the effort right now, if they weren't so close to the end.
[23:39]	<[Dune]Valea>	t-t-then he tried to touch me, or grab me, or something...
[23:39]	* [Dune]Valea	censors the story again.
[23:40]	<[Dune]Valea>	a few moments later i hit him in the knee with the saucepan on reflex, and he got really scared...
[23:41]	* [Gtz]Cassie	listens closely, but more so to the unspoken word.
[23:43]	<[Dune]Valea>	a-and he gave me the key to the closet upstairs, and told me to get whatever i wanted...
[23:43]	<[Dune]Valea>	and immediately he took me back to the slave market to sell me off again...
[23:45]	<[Dune]Valea>	...t-that's it...
[23:45]	* [Dune]Valea	is shaking a bit and seems on the verge of tears, even though her eyes are closed.
[23:47]	* [Gtz]Cassie	takes a deep breath, then releases Valea.
[23:47]	* [Tesla]Enrica	hesitates, and sends: /Should I let her go?/
[23:48]	* [Gtz]Cassie	/Comfort her./
[23:48]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Alright. That's all for today.
[23:50]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sits Valea up, and gives her a squeeze. A hug, even.
[23:50]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	You did good...
[23:50]	* [Dune]Valea	makes to quickly rise from Cassie's lap and curl up on the other corner of the couch, but is intercepted.
[23:51]	* [Tesla]Enrica	moves over to hug her also.
[23:51]	* [Dune]Valea	hugs back as much as her weak arms will allow, and begins sobbing.
[23:54]	<[Dune]Valea>	i-i was so scared...
[23:56]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	It's all behind you, now.
[23:59]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	I can relate to you, a little bit. In a more... perhaps more disgusting way. Maybe I'll share myself, sometime.
[23:59]	* [Dune]Valea	begins outright crying, but nods in Cassie's shoulder.
[00:00]	* [Gtz]Cassie	rubs Valea's neck and shoulders, letting her have it all out. Let the tears wash the bad things away...ch-huh...
[00:01]	* [Tesla]Enrica	also holds on, though she keeps quiet.
[00:05]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Easy now, sweetheart. Just let it out. Cry all day and night, if you must.
[00:05]	* [Dune]Valea	loses control and breaks down in their arms under a torrent of tears.
[00:09]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sends to Enrica: /Thanks for helping me with this. I think I understand her well enough now to begin reclaiming her memory. We'll start that some other time, though./
[00:10]	* [Dune]Valea	continues crying in their arms, only stopping after what seems to her at least an hour.
[00:11]	* [Tesla]Enrica	nods, but continues to focus on Valea.
[00:12]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Do you feel better now?
[00:12]	* [Dune]Valea	's tears eventually cease, and she calms down.
[00:12]	<[Dune]Valea>	...yeah.
[00:12]	* [Dune]Valea	nods, and squeezes Cassie for a moment.
[00:14]	* [Dune]Valea	blushes slightly again, as she thinks of something to say...
[00:14]	<[Dune]Valea>	um, Cassie?
[00:14]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Yes?
[00:15]	<[Dune]Valea>	thank you...
[00:16]	* [Gtz]Cassie	smiles, gives Valea a short peck above her eyebrow, and holds her by the shoulders at half an arm's length.
[00:17]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	You're welcome. I'm sorry I had to ask you those things, but before you begin learning about yourself, it is best if you know your limits.
[00:18]	* [Dune]Valea	widens her eyes in surprise at Cassie's peck and blushes just noticeably.
[00:18]	* [Dune]Valea	nods though.
[00:18]	<[Dune]Valea>	y-yeah...
[00:18]	* [Gtz]Cassie	reminds herself to be careful about those things.
[00:20]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Okay then. That's all for today. If you have no reservations, we'll begin the actual reclamation tomorrow. Relax a little, if you feel tired.
[00:21]	* [Dune]Valea	looks tired as she answers.
[00:21]	<[Dune]Valea>	alright, thank you...
[00:21]	* [Dune]Valea	seems to think for a moment, then.
[00:22]	* [Dune]Valea	decides to be bold herself, for just a moment.
[00:23]	<[Dune]Valea>	...and Cassie?
[00:23]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	Hmm?
[00:25]	* [Dune]Valea	smiles, slightly.
[00:26]	<[Dune]Valea>	you have a sweet and good side too, you know?
[00:27]	<[Dune]Valea>	otherwise, you wouldn't have done that for me... or offered to.
[00:28]	* [Gtz]Cassie	sighs.
[00:28]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	That sweetness will be the death of me.
[00:28]	* [Dune]Valea	frowns slightly, now.
[00:28]	* [Dune]Valea	tries sending Cassie her concern.
[00:29]	* [Gtz]Cassie	lays back in the sofa.
[00:29]	* [Tesla]Enrica	relaxes but doesn't let go, turning her attention to Cassandra.
[00:30]	* [Dune]Valea	turns a bit and squeezes Enrica, returning a hug, but also doesn't lose her attention to Cassie.
[00:31]	<[Tesla]Enrica>	I wouldn't think so, Cassandra. Not that I have much moral authority now...
[00:31]	<[Gtz]Cassie>	It's already starting to rot my teeth out... Don't look at me like that. Either make with something to say or amscray.
[00:32]	* [Gtz]Cassie	speaks with thinly veiled humor.
[00:33]	* [Dune]Valea	ends the embrace with Enrica, and rises to sit fully on the couch.
[00:33]	<[Dune]Valea>	sorry, cassie...
[00:34]	* [Gtz]Cassie	smirks.
[00:35]	* [Gtz]Cassie	yet frowns bitterly, on the inside. Oh, Cassie, how quick they are to trust and love you...
[00:39]	* [Dune]Valea	also frowns a little inside, guessing how Cassie must be seeing things, secretly...