Swimming with the humans and extensive scarification

[sithen.livejournal.com]

V.busy week!

Firstly, took nice nice human Tara to see workshop. Was disconcerted when pendulum blade not admired for its nice sharp texture - Tara too busy looking at bloodstains on floor. Also busy looking at me holding pendulum out of way. Honestly, chivalry dead - next time I just let it hit her. Is getting so can't even open death trap for girl without being called misogynist.

(Mental note. Last week Cathal called me misogynist for asking him why he was wearing silk dress with frilly lace.)

Show Tara nice workroom with gleaming edges (sharp sharp sharp - v.romantic), and introduce to pet golem. Golem utter cuddleslut, must adjust 'watchbird' mechanism - at least did not mount anyone's legs like last week, which is good as diamond-edged claws can be prickly. Tara rather likes golem - also note that she stays nice and quiet like Iltyr, seems to be happy underground...maybe has Iltyr blood? Might explain few things. Wonder if application of more would help? Have plenty after all.

Chat about nice pictures full of nice chains and prison cells. Tara looking mildly uncomfortable - hmm, has sometimes cried when look like this. To stop human leaking, I announce we will go swimming. Then follows v.peculiar talk. Humans swim wearing clothes...what, they want to drown? Have humans seen what Iltyr boots look like? Could use as ballast on sea going vessels. Point out that it takes at least ten minutes to unlace Doc Nancers boots which is long time when having no oxygen, convince Tara to go look at pool, beautiful example of Iltyr architecture, etc. Take it upon myself nobly to not mention other things that live in water, as do not want to cause alarm.

Tara likes nice pool - geothermally heated - goes for swim. Contrary to what said before, takes off clothes - suspect translation error, must study Common better. Wash self, Tara behaves oddly - not sure why, suspect barbaric nudity taboo. Then note distinct lack of scars, tattoos, etc on human skin - very odd, most improper. Now understand why do not want to take clothes off, as is completely naked! Aieee! Despite this, bravely watch completely naked human girl swim. Watching, watching...watching...

Like gentleman, do not mention that have acute Iltyr vision and can see perfectly well into dim water. Go me!

Later, go see Cathal. Get demonstration of how bloody...er... damn...how fast Cathal can move when feels that lack of proprietary involved. One moment am getting lecture on how am going through teenage rebellion with refusing to get piercings, next minute have one. Good grief! Adults so not in touch with Iltyr teens of today - piercings outmoded. Also, ear hurts like a bastard. I mean, a lot. Must stop hanging out in blasted Worker caste pubs... I mean...oh dear. May require more elven princeling deportment schooling soon. Still aching from last lot.

Feel vaguely hurt what with new earing and all, as having metal pushed violently into body should be consensual act involving dusky Iltyr maidens and mint lather soap with -

Er, feel vaguely hurt. Collect Tara as form of self defence so she can talk with Cath about dress (Editor's note: See Tara's Diary). Cathal gets out knotted rope to measure her, rather glad human does not understand cultural threat implicit. Said nasty things about human shapes too, just to be catty - silly, really, as Cathal currently resembles preying mantis with high blood pressure and can hardly talk. Pot, kettle, black.

Then, yay, Cathal gives me birthday present!

Draws pretty pretty interlocking cog design on arm and cuts along dotted line. Cut cut cut. Mmm...sharp. Tara looking...sort of pale and sickly. Kept talking to her, reassure like nervous dog - read in book that calm words do more than discussing extensive permanent body modification for purposes of art. Well...tried to talk. Kind of went vague. Mmm...endorphins. In my happy warm place. Everything is nice and pink.

Er...red, really. Blood going everywhere, but careful not to get on clothes. Blood is hell to get out of silk. Tara gone from white to green. Sharp, pretty, cut cut...

Was feeling drowsy and nice, when woke up and found Tara unconscious on Cathal's bed, with brother yelling at her "Not on my bed human!". Healer girl gets up, sobs something about cultural differences, dominance relationships, power and post-feminist identity, and flees. People keep doing this to me - v.confusing. Next day, Essence goes funny over exact same thing. Must ask Court Bard Kelindel to start explaining Iltyr more accurately, as severe misunderstanding of ancient practices seems to be abounding. Besides, few people more female than my brother when it comes to post-feminist identity.

Am mocked by Warrior Iltyr in tavern. Honestly, what is with the lower classes these days? Warrior tells Marquessa Essence that Mechanista are accident-prone, which is so untrue. Will write disparaging letter to editor when hand is out of bandages. Would rather like to sock him one, but am non-violent. Begining to see attraction of being in Warrior caste.

Yesterday, go to chat with Cath. He is wearing purple brocade dress. Has hair in two braids, like pigtails. Now begining to see attraction of moving back to Brath Shadis, Shadoen or no Shadoen.

Really quite confused now. Brothers not supposed to do this. Feel it would be fine if Cath told me has chosen cross dressing lifestyle, but changing genders without explanation is becoming difficult to cope with. Wonder if will happen to me randomly as well. Poss. form of lycanthropy - mental note, write Calair Icebrook, who is expert (NB. In Lycanthropy, not changing genders, although now I think about it...), ask opinion. Wonder how I would look in chainmail bikini. Must ask Tara her opinion.

Later, Kelindel, resident insane Arcanist and patent holder of the 'Sithen why did you dismantle that?!' look of Doom, nances up stairs...don't really remember much about that. Everytime I try and think about it, big blank in memory. Mind obviously messed with, like time at home after setting main tower on fire for experimental purposes. So unfair. However, do manage to score backrub by looking winsome and cute. Go me! Of course, always look winsome and cute.

Mmm...backrub. See benefit in having Arcanists, aside from magical healing abilities.

Feel it best not to tell other Iltyr about naked swimming-with-humans incident. Unfortunately, Cathal finds out somehow, er, really must control automatic urge to tell truth to family members. Have tried before, but suspect had geas placed on self after incident with the goldfish, the PVC tape and the toaster oven. It's not like anyone got hurt.

Rather like Kelindel. Good sort. Friendly. Wonder how would look in PVC ta-...

Seriously squick self sometimes. She is so much the older woman. I think. Er...could possibly be man...not...sure...argh! Would consult anatomy book, however since are all gorgeous immortal nancing elf-types and quite impossible to tell. Miracle any of us ever have children successfully at all.

Informed brother upon leaving to go get food that will look into dresses for myself, just to see look on face. Most amused. Baiting siblings hysterically funny. Also, privately feel would look decent in floor length 'inquisitor robes' style leather costume, but am, admittedly, somewhat on the skinny side. Bonus - leather less flammable than brocade, also looks sexier when prancing about in underground cities, on ice, near mirrors, in Silken Pleasures etc.

People disturbed this week: ...Can't...remember...damn Arcanists! Ear still hurts. Also, Cathal talking about more piercings...rather scary, really. Might go hide with Tara and Essence for a while.