She whites out, and when her vision clears - 

She isn't in pain. She isn't in... Anything, really. She's oddly disconnected from anything that might be a body. The world looks unreal, washed out and hazy and ill-defined.

There's an athletic woman in front of Tasara - a pretty one, with red hair and eyes and clothes. She's the only thing with a definite form, here. She's smiling. "Welcome to the afterlife," she says, cheerfully, "And congratulations."

"Uh," she says. Or something. It's hard to tell, given how- absent everything is.

"Thank... you? Why are you congratulating me?"

"You've been selected for a very rare opportunity for your next reincarnation," she says, still cheerfully. "One where you'll have far more control over the circumstances than usual."

...Tasara can't blink. That's a little annoying.

"How much control is usual?"

"None," she admits. "There's a lot of people dying at any given time, so we normally automate the process."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"Who is 'we'?"

"The lower ranked staff working for the Bureau of Support for the Ineffable Wills of the Multiverse." She shrugs. "There's always some pet project or another going on, though, or some push to test run different processes."

"And is this a pet project or a test run?"

"A pet project," she says, cheerfully. "Though we might use data from projects like this to refine our automated sorting systems."

Suppose that's maybe a bit better.

"All right. I guess I don't really have a choice in participating."

"No, not really! But you get choices in how you shape your next life at least." She pauses. "Well, some choices. There's a bit of a theme..."

"Ah-huh. A theme."

"We have brochures, even! There's three - though they haven't exactly been updated for this specific run..." She produces three glossy brochures, helpfully labeled 1, 2, and 3. "Ignore the parts about your fiance being male, and the yuri heroine perk - you, the heroine, and the love interest are all female. Also, you have two free perks - you're at normal difficulty, there."

She starts skimming through the options.

"...Making this a game feels like an odd decision."

"Oh, there's a very popular fiction genre about getting reincarnated into games in one of the more influential branches of the Multiverse."

"Fiction is one thing. But an afterlife that actually exists and getting reincarnated is another."

Shrug. "Many of the pet projects are stranger than this."

"Mm."

She taps on one of the flaws, Late Start. "What's the point of this?"

"Some enjoy the extra challenge! Though we have had a few people who didn't want to bother with the storyline and just picked 'Impoverished' or 'Nunnery' and ran with that. Apparently some people think being a magic nun sounds cool? Still, taking it seriously is usually more fun..."

Tasara doesn't especially want to bother with the storyline.

...And she thinks she has the beginnings of a plan to have her own kind of fun with this. Line up these flaws and those perks- Yeah.

"All right. Do we start from the top?"

"Yes, normally."

"First page. Hime cut, brunette, human, faux medieval, medium magic."

There's a sense of things being noted down. "Got it! Any opinion on the time period aesthetic? If not, I'll just pick one that fits with the overall shape of your other choices."

"I do not believe these choices align very well with my experiences. I would like somewhere warm, if that is possible."

She nods. "That's very possible, yes!"

"And sun. Maybe an ocean."

"For my role... I'll take Duke's daughter and- the noble prodigy, for fiance."

She nods! "Those work pretty well together..." Another sense of things being noted down. 

"So far you're at Hime-cut - that gives you Silk Hiding Steel for free, so you'll be very hard to panic or faze, which is pretty handy... Brunette hair, so the character is down to earth, a bit less assertive or proactive... Standard human, and I'm thinking your world likely won't have an elf-equivalent integrated with society then... And faux medieval is very fun, and I'll pick a warm, sunny beach package for you. Duke's daughter is pretty good with that - a lot of the 'warm, sunny beach' packages have very powerful nobles, who can put a lot of weight behind a political marriage... The noble prodigy is a good match for that, too. Lots of very military societies in here..."

"Oh, do you have an opinion on what the baseline human option is? We can do normal humans, of course, but there's nothing stopping you from saying the baseline species is mermaids - we'd do an under the sea theme for that - or catgirls or anything."

Catgirls....

"Yes. Catgirls. Or- a variety of animal ears, if that is possible."

"Naturally! Most of these themes can integrate that..." Note.

"What are your other choices so far?"

"Hero's Daughter for the heroine. An Animal companion, a cat." She's always wanted a cat. "And the Servitude ending."

"Solid choices... The Hero's daughter foils the Duke's Daughter very well, as the only surviving member of a new noble house... And you can take a second minion, if you want."

"Oh... Classmates, I suppose."

Serious nodding. "Another good choice... They won't support you as thoroughly as the Animal Companion or take your orders, but they're pretty good as background support..." Note. "You pretty much just have perks and flaws left. Remember you get Silk Hiding Steel and two other perks of your choice free - you'll need to take flaws to balance any perks past those. Have you made your choices about those, yet?"

"Yes." That was the first thing she did.

"Start with Magic-User and Magical Prodigy. Then Lady of Battle, Scientific Revolution, and five copies of Marvelous Talent. Spycraft, military command, operation of militarily-relevant modes of transportantion, dance, and..." she trails off.

"Sex," she decides.

"Hm... I need to check if that operation one is a legal skill..." Note note note. "...Wow, it apparently is. That'll combine nicely with Scientific Revolution if you start building planes - you'll be an expert while everyone else is still surprised about flying craft."

"You'll need seven flaws to balance these out, though - that's quite a big load. What are you thinking for those?"

"Equal Enemy and There's Two of Them, with the Royal Princess and Poor Princess options respectively."

Hum. "That'll be an interesting one to balance... We'll need either some kind of conflict between the princesses and their parents, or a good model of foreign kingdoms, to explain why one of the heroine's allies is a beloved princess and the other one is all but disowned..."

"What about the other five?"

"Not a Fan and Save the World." And then the good ones, the keys to the build. "And Anything You Can Do and Late Start."

"Hmmm... That will create quite the challenge... Even without Late Start, the deck would be stacked against you - you won't have meta knowledge, and the heroine will be better than you at everything, even your Marvelous Skills. Add in dealing with a world threat... You'll drop in at the moment your punishment scene - the servitude - is triggering, and while you will have an opportunity to escape, it'll be very difficult."

If she could smile, she would.

"Oh, I don't intend to escape."

"...Well, live your joy, I suppose."

"You still need at least one more flaw to balance your perk choices, though."

"Unprepared."

Nod. "Do you want the version where you remember your old life, but not this conversation, or the version where you wake up in your new life without any memories?"

"No memories at all. I've had a hundred and twenty years of war. I'm done."

Note note. "Yeah, fair. Are you certain you still won't want to escape even without your memories, though?"

"I am setting up the woman I intend to serve to be worthy of me."

"Hmmm..." Note. "I went ahead and put in a special request for compatibility there; we do usually perform some personality filtering for named characters anyways."

"Thank you."

"I would also like to take an additional perk and flaw: Goddess of Beauty and Dark Secret."

Note! "Added." Pause, then: "Hm, anything else?"

"I believe that is all."

"Okay!" She sounds chipper. "Have fun in your new life!"

"Thank you. That is the plan."

And Tasara's vision goes white - 

And she forgets. 

And then, in what she'll think of as her first memory - 

She's on her knees, clothes as sparse and plain as possible while maintaining some pretense at modesty. There's a heavy metal collar biting against her neck, and the first thing she hears is the final click of the locks.

The first thing she sees is a woman, even more beautiful than she is, with a cold triumph written across her face. 

Oh. She sucks in a sharp breath.

(She's beautiful.)

"You're mine now," she says, voice low and threatening, as her fingers caress the collar. "This and the spell carved into your flesh will ensure you don't escape me."

Shiver.

(She doesn't know what's going on but- This is so hot.)

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"Ma'am." Her tongue curls around the word, pleased and smug. "That's a new one from you, Hypatia."

...Confusion. She does not recognize that name.

She trails one hand up from the collar to grab the girl's hair, tugging her head back and examining her expression. "Is something about this confusing to you, Hypatia? I would've thought we explained what's in store for you at plenty of length last night." Tiny smirk.

There's no deception visible, only a little pain.

"Ah- I- I- don't remember."

"Hm?" She tugs the girl's face from side to side, examining her more, then, quietly: "Ma'at, bearer of truth and keeper of justice, I beseech you to weigh the heart of the one before me, and reveal if she is true or false." There's something heavy in the air, like the world is holding its breath - the girl's heart hurts for a long moment - and the girl's captor says, solemnly: "What do you remember? Speak truthfully; Ma'at listens."

"I-" Blush. "Remember thinking you were the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"And how recently was that?"

"When you were- locking this collar on."

"Do you remember anything before that?"

"...No."

"Interesting." She relaxes her grip on the girl's hair, some. "Ma'at has judged you true of voice; your heart is as light as one newly born." She bows her head a bit, and the heavy feeling vanishes. Then: "Ma'at no longer listens, in this moment."

"So... You're not Hypatia, or at least not the one I knew."

"It seems not."

"Who- do you want me to be instead?"

"Well... Given I just locked a collar around your neck that's meant to ensure a slave's loyalty..." She strokes the girl's hair. "I want a slave with Hypatia's talent and beauty, but utterly loyal to my goals - even without the need for force."

"I think I could be that. I mean- I want to be that. Ma'am. If you'll allow me."

"I will. And I'll teach you how to serve me."

She bites her lip and grins.

Mmmm. "You're using this face much better than your predecessor did... You have so many lovely expressions."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"And my fiance will have some things she desires from you... But you're mine, first and foremost."

"Yours," she agrees.

This is one very pleased woman. "Then your name will hereafter be Berenike, slave of Seshen."

Berenike. She likes it.

"Thank you, Mistress Seshen."

From her expression, she really likes 'Mistress Seshen.' "You're welcome, slave."

"Now stand, Berenike."

She does so, with fluid grace.

"Now kiss me, my Berenike."

She leans in and does so.

For someone who was more or less born five minutes ago, she has a very good grasp of technique. She has a very good grasp of technique even compared to people who have been practicing for a while, in fact.

Seshen currently considers herself a very lucky woman. 

She has an even better grasp of kissing techniques than Berenike does, though, and is pretty determined to kiss her slave until her knees go weak. 

An entirely achievable goal.

Berenike bends into her mistress.

Who catches her and kisses her harder. "Good girl," she murmurs. 

Eeee she's a good girl!

And a cute girl. 

"Mmm, my fiance will start worrying soon," she murmurs. "I'll let her know how lucky I've gotten with you, and then you can prove exactly how good you are."

"Yes, mistress. Do I... belong to her, too?"

"No. You're mine, and she and I are equals - we won't be sharing our property. I expect you to obey any of her orders that don't contradict mine, however."

She nods. "Yes, mistress."

Kiss!

And she turns and leads Berenike out of the small arena they'd been in, up several limestone steps to a wooden door. The room they're in is pretty, now that Seshen isn't entirely filling Berenike's line of sight - tall fluted columns around a shallow depression at the center of the room, with plaster mosaics along the outer walls and on the ceiling.

Seshen opens the door and calls out, "Sweetheart, the ritual was very successful."

"That is good news, flower." She comes over for a kiss. "How is your pet taking to her new life?"

Kiss! "Surprisingly," she says. "The collar erased Hypatia's memories." She turns and calls to her slave - "Berenike, come introduce yourself to my fiance, Eleni Stormrider."

She comes forward and kneels by Seshen's side. "Mistress Eleni. My name is Berenike, slave of Seshen."

"Oh, isn't she just so sweet now? I'm glad we started on breaking Hypatia last night rather, than waiting... Though this has its own appeal."

"I prefer this way," she says, with a small laugh. "I'll make up the loss of your fun to you, though." Kiss!

"So thoughtful, my beautiful flower." She pets Seshen between the ears, the way Eleni knows she likes it.

Pleased rumble, as her sleek tail lazily curls around her legs and her rounded ears relax. "I'm the most thoughtful person you've ever met, it's true."

"Humble, too." Eleni's dark-furred ears twitch in amusement.

"I don't go around calling myself a goddess even though I'd deserve it, which makes me exceptionally humble."

"Very true, flower." Kiss.

Giggle kiss. "Berenike wants to show off how good of a slave she is, speaking of excellence," she murmurs. 

"Is that so? Well, I certainly would like to see her prove herself."

"Our quarters here would be best, I think..."

"Then let's not waste time."

"Of course not." Then, to her slave: "Come along, Berenike." She starts walking, then, out into the broad courtyard between the main cluster of buildings on the estate. It's a beautiful area, full of flowers in full bloom and expertly carved statues, a large arcade sheltering furniture and murals. Seshen leads them across it and into a light, airy room with two chaises. She directs Berenike to stand in the room's center for now, and glances at her fiance. "How do we want to test her, sweetheart?"

She stands obediently, white-tipped tail wagging just a little bit.

"I think that first we should make sure she is still eager to please when under duress. Find her limits and see if we can't push past them."

"Ever the sadist," she teases. "But... Her heart's new. I think we should make her welcome to the world nice and pleasant - so long as she pleases us."

"I won't object to that plan. And she does belong to you, flower, after all."

"She does." Delightedly smug Seshen.

"Am I to participate, or just watch?"

"I'll want to step up the difficulty over time - so if you don't mind, love, I'll have her focus on me first before trying both of us."

"If you like, flower."

"I do." Kiss. "I'll be sure the show is interesting, sweetheart."

Smirk. "It always is, with you."

She laughs. Then, to Berenike: "Now come here, slave."

She does so.

"Strip, pretty girl."

"Yes mistress." Wag wag wag.

This doesn't take long, of course, as she's only wearing two pieces of clothing, a short waistwrap and a ragged open-back shirt.

There's quite a lot of presentation one could squeeze even into a short process, though. Seshen watches hungrily. 

"Is my body to your liking, mistress?" she asks coyly as the fabric flutters to the ground.

"It is, my Berenike," she purrs.

"How would you have me employ it?"

She has quite a few commands, starting with Berenike on her knees, worshipping her owner...

Her owner is very much worth worshipping. Berenike will start from the feet and move up, assuming she's allowed.

Of course; part of the point here is seeing how well she performs when given room to creatively interpret her orders. 

Right now she feels like being thorough, so that starts with kissing and caressing her mistress's bare feet.

She works her hands slowly up, underneath Seshen's sheer linen skirt until she gets to the knees. Then Berenike withdraws her hands and starts over on the outside of the fabric, pressing kisses up the side of her thigh all the way to her hips.

Of course, Seshen has two legs, so at that point she'll need to start the process over on the other leg.

She murmurs words of praise throughout, for the loveliest slave in the world. 

"May I undress you, mistress?" she asks. "To fully appreciate your glory."

"You may, slave."

Berenike reverently unties the sash holding Seshen's lower robe up, carefully folding it and setting it aside.

And gets to work on worshipping the glorious canvas so unveiled.

That's most of her, given that her only coverings are now her shawl, the ornate necklace it's attached to, and a thin piece of fabric passing between her legs and tying at her hips.

She settles back on one of the chaises to better luxuriate in Berenike's worship, eyes half lidded with pleasure. 

That makes it much easier for Berenike to attend to her while staying on her knees.

Though she will need to slither up more into Seshen's lap to give her breasts the attention they deserve.

She very magnanimously permits this, petting Berenike's hair as she works. 

And when she's done with that... kisses? She's so conveniently placed here...

Berenike has been a very good girl and deserves a reward, too.

(Kisses.)

Mmm she may not know much but she knows that she likes kisses.

Good, because Seshen likes kissing her. 

The greater joy, of course, is pleasing her mistress.

Which is what makes her the most perfect slave.

Speaking of pleasing her mistress... Berenike drags a finger down Seshen's side to hook under the tie of her underwear.

"Go ahead, slave."

"Thank you, mistress."

She slides down to unwrap Seshen and continue worshipping her intimately.

She keeps petting Berenike's hair, purring and moaning.

She wants to get her mistress to make all the lovely noises.

She can make some excellent headway on that, and even get her Mistress shaking and jerking her hips, breath coming in short little gasps that don't interrupt the deep rumble in her chest.

Exactly that.

Such a very good girl. 

Who deserves a reward, now that she's made her Mistress so happy. 

If her mistress so decrees.

She does. 

"Come sit in my lap, good girl."

Berenike climbs back up.

And Seshen acquaints herself very thoroughly with her slave's body - and acquaints Berenike with some of the wonderful sensations her Mistress can give her. 

(She thinks she might love this girl.)

She brings Berenike into a pleasant, floaty haze, and then sends her own lazy smile over to her fiance. "Did you like the show, sweetheart?" she asks as she pets her slave.

"Very much, lovely. The two of you seem to have some chemistry."

"Her first words to me were 'Yes, ma'am,'" she says, kissing the top of Berenike's head. "She's delightful, and loyal, and skilled, and she's going to be so useful to my ambitions..." She leans her cheek against her slave's hair, smiling. "I see how you feel about Glaphyra, now."

"You deserve one of your own."

"We should introduce them soon."

"Mmm, that sounds like fun..."

She laughs, softly. "I want to - get used to Berenike a little before going too deep into your kind of fun." Hair pet. "I'm a strange person like that, you know."

"If I didn't like a little strange, I would have settled for bending Hypatia into shape myself, flower." Eleni comes over to give Seshen a kiss on the top of the head. "You being a strange person like that is a good thing."

Heeeee.

"Hopefully the Pharoah will see things your way," she teases.

"We'll convince her. One way or another."

"She still has divine right." Amused nudge. "So no planning rebellions, sweetheart."

"Contingencies only."

Soft kiss.

Kiss.

"Berenike's going to be useful to that, too..."

"If she retained Hypatia's skills..."

"That'd make her the most useful." Hair pets. "Though even just someone with Hypatia's face, but exceptionally loyal to me, will be useful."

"We'll have to test her further, I suppose."

"With a wide and diverse array of measures."

"Do let me know what help you need with that, flower."

"I'll be sure to put your expertise to good use, sweetheart." Kiss!

Hungry kiss.

She laughs and tugs Eleni onto the chaise with her and Berenike.

She wraps herself around her fiancee, entwining their tails.

Kiss! And a nudge to Berenike to see to Eleni, as well.

She rouses herself from her pleasantly hazy state enough to wriggle over.

The girl certainly makes for an enjoyable handful.

Especially when Seshen is joining her efforts to pleasure Eleni.

Very fine teamwork.

Teamwork is an important skill for a future pharoah.

Understanding the capabilities of all her resources, and deploying them for... greatest effect.

Wielding her servants as extensions of herself.

As is only proper and just.

And guiding all those under her to greater personal heights.

Her mistress is truly generous.

"I take good care of my things."

"I can tell," she sighs contentedly.

"You make it very easy."

She snuggles her mistress happily.

Kiss!

Kiss!!

Mmmmm.

Eventually they should probably do things that aren't kissing... But kissing Berenike is very fun.

She endeavors to make it so.

After a while of this, Eleni gives Seshen one final kiss and detangles herself.

"I should go make sure everything is still running smoothly... I can have some food sent in for you later, if you would like."

"I would. Thank you, sweetheart."

"Until later, flower."

And she departs.

And she snuggles Berenike, content.

Then, once they've both had a bit to enjoy their pleased haze, she brushes some hair out of Berenike's face and says: "I'd wanted to talk about some stuff with you, pretty girl."

"What sort of stuff?"

"My ambitions, and what you will be doing to help me."

"Also... I want to get to know you. Not only as my tool - and I want to take good care of you. Some of that's going to take time to figure out, but..." Light shrug. "It's good to start thinking about it."

"That makes sense."

Smile.

"One thing for taking care of you, which will probably come up again soon..." She scratches behind one of Berenike's ears. "How do you feel about being tortured?"

She bites her lip. "Tortured? I'm not sure..."

Scritch. "I can be gentle until you are."

"My fiance is very sadistic - but you're my slave, not hers, and she has her own outlets." More scritch.

"I... wouldn't be able to decide without trying. And if trying would make you happy, then- I want to."

"Such a good girl." Soft kiss. "I'd like to try, sometime."

Kiss. "Okay."

Much kiss!

"I adore you," she says, quietly. "You're just - perfect."

"That's the only way I can be worthy of you."

She laughs. "You make me want to be worthy of you."

"That makes it a self-reinforcing loop, then."

"The best kind of perfection."

"Yeah." Kiss.

Loving kiss.

Mmm. (Many tail wags.)

Giggle.

"Mmm, I want to figure out your other skills, too..." she murmurs. 

"So do I. Serving you more would be- very good."

Mmmm kiss. "Some of it can be tested easily... How well you fight, some of what you know... Some testing will be a bit more involved, but I can set it up over the next few days."

"I am entirely at your disposal."

"Good."

"Hm... First: stretch for me - get your muscles warmed up - and then show me how well you dance."

"Yes mistress." This unfortunately means she will have to stand up and stop touching Seshen. Alas.

Berenike steps into the open area and begins warming up. She runs through the stretches on instinct- her body knows the movements well, and is impressively flexible.

Her first dance steps are a little hesitant, but she quickly discovers she has the same natural gift here, with her sultry steps and gyrating hips.

She stands and retrieves a lute from the side of the room while Berenike stretches, and plays a cheerful melody for her to dance to. 

She picks up the tempo and melody and her movements become more energetic.

She challenges her with a faster tune.

Berenike can keep up.

Wonderful. 

Dancing for Seshen is just another way to worship her, really.

Explains why so many temple rituals involve dancing. 

A very good point.

Seshen is happy to receive Berenike's offerings. 

She has the endurance to make them abundant.

"A valuable trait."

"One of many, I hope."

"Its value exists in reference to your very many other excellent traits."

Big smile!

She tugs Berenike in for a kiss.

Kissing her mistress is still so good.

And it's very hot when she pulls on Berenike's collar.

Mmmm.

"I'd like to commission you a collar just for you," she murmurs. Then, with a smirk: "Perhaps one that will tighten when tugged on the right way..."

"That sounds like fun, mistress."

"I'm glad you agree."

"You're very persuasive."

"One of my best skills."

"Useful for politics."

"It is. And for my position in the military."

Berenike bites her lip.

"What.. is your position?"

"I'm a General," she says. "At the highest rank under the Pharoah herself - I don't command the entire army, but I'm responsible for a fairly significant portion of our campaigns."

"That's impressive."

Heee. "I'm pretty awesome, yes."

Giggle.

Kiss!

Kiss!

"How can I aid your work, mistress?"

"As a spy," she murmurs, "Or a bodyguard," kiss, "Or an exceptionally trustworthy lieutenant... As a political symbol..." Another kiss. "Whatever you are good at, I will put you to that use."

"I will make myself into whatever you require."

Kiss. 

Very kiss.

"I want to discover all my skills with you," she says.

"Mmm, then let's get working - we can investigate fighting next, just hand to hand, if you aren't too tired."

"I think I'm fresh enough, mistress."

"Perfect." They can make sure a nice wide circle in the middle of the room is clear of furniture and discarded clothing, then...

Berenike's got the same instinct for fighting as for dance.

Fun.

Seshen, of course, is better than her - but Berenike challenges her, and has her laughing, and gets her nice and bruised before she finally manages to pin Berenike to the floor.

She grins, panting.

"You got me, mistress."

"I did, lovely girl." Kiss!

She pokes one of Seshen's bruises. "Though I got you too..."

Pleased shiver. "You're very good."

"Not quite as good as you."

"Appropriately so," she murmurs.

She wiggles happily underneath her mistress.

That deserves another intense kiss.

That leads to more wiggles.

She thinks she'd like to add a bloody lip to Berenike's other injuries...

!!!

Mmmm.

(Nibble.)

Wiggle!!

"This a good pain, then?"

"Yes, mistress."

Another nibble. "Your bruises, as well?" She tightens her grip over one, demonstratively.

Hiss!

"Yes," she moans.

And if she moves her teeth to Berenike's neck and bites? (Only a little hard.)

"Mm- more, please-"

Much harder bite, enough to draw blood.

Pained cry!

And wiggles of delight.

She starts dragging her nails down Berenike's side, digging extra into her bruises. 

Mmmph.

Wonderful, lovely, perfect girl -

Seshen starts kissing Berenike's wounds.

She squirms in pain/delight, making little noises for each kiss.

The best noises. Seshen wants more.

And what Mistress Seshen wants, her slave must provide.

A deep understanding of her duty as a slave is another of Berenike's very excellent qualities.

She's pleased to please.

Mmmm, good.

Seshen starts escalating, of course - bites and scratches harder, gives Berenike new bruises - and as Berenike rises to each challenge, she murmurs, "I want to take a knife to your lovely skin..."

She inhales sharply. "If it pleases you, mistress. Go slowly, please..."

"I will, beautiful girl. I promise."

Kiss. "I want it, mistress."

"Then stay right here." Firm kiss, and then she stands and sashays over to the pile of her clothes, kneeling and sorting through them for her knives.

Berenike's not going anywhere. Except to tilt her head a little so as not to miss a moment of Seshen's movements.

Permissible, under the circumstances.

She straddles Berenike's hips, eyes raking hungrily over her form. "The question," she murmurs, "Is where to cut first... There's so many lovely options..." She taps her knife teasingly over several points, working up from Berenike's hips to her shoulders without cutting just yet.

She may get an idea of where Berenike thinks they should start from the varying intensity in her shiver reaction to the taps of the knife.

Well, that seems as good a signal as any. 

She starts cutting - nice and slowly and carefully, right where Berenike gets the most shivery about the idea. 

She stays very still, hissing out a breath.

"You're so beautiful like this."

"Nn. You look dangerous."

"That's because I am, lovely girl."

"I like it."

"Good." Bitey kiss.

Berenike is so on board with making herself bleed.

Convenient, because she'll be doing a lot of it here...

As Seshen wishes.

Meanwhile, Eleni sees to her own slave.

Who kneels when Eleni enters the room. "What may I do for you, my Mistress?"

"Sit with me, pretty thing."

She rises again and comes over to her Mistress, sitting pressed against her. "Did Hypatia's chaining go well, Mistress?"

Pet pet.

"Almost too well, in fact. My flower's loyalty spell seems to have given her an entirely new personality. She remembers nothing of her life before today."

"You believe her?"

"Seshen tested her. Berenike, as she is now called, is telling the truth."

"And Hypatia would never condescend to the display I witnessed."

She makes a curious noise. 

Eleni can describe the scene in great detail for her.

"Oh."

"I would love to help further testing, Mistress."

She laughs. "I thought so. Once Seshen has finished her initial inspections, we'll see about having you two introduced."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Good things only for my good girl."

Squirm!

She fists her hand in Glaphyra's hair and pulls her up for a kiss.

Mmmmm!!!

Very kiss! 

"Do you think I need to to check if you are still my good girl?"

"I think double checking never hurts, Mistress. It's good to be thorough."

"Go and fetch your cuffs then, pet."

"Yes ma'am!" 

She hurries to obey, her tail wagging excitedly. 

Eleni begins sketching her ritual circle.

Glaphyra is the fastest runner in all of the Two Kingdoms; she's kneeling by Eleni, holding her cuffs, before Eleni can get very far. 

"Clothes off," she says as she continues working. "But don't drop those, now."

"Of course, mistress."

She starts stripping, a bit carefully. 

She finishes before Glaphyra's completely undressed, and watches her remove the last few articles carefully.

She makes it a show, movements slow and graceful.

"A good start, pretty." Eleni plucks the cuffs out of Glaphyra's hands, then wrenches her arms behind her back to bind them there.

Excited whine!

Eleni shoves Glaphyra to her knees. "Great Set of the desert," she says, "I invoke here your storm to rage and test my supplicant's devotion." As the circle begins to crackle with lightning, she bends down to buckle Glaphyra's wrists to her ankles and whisper in her ear. "Crawl across, slave. Move quickly enough and you'll live to run again."

Scared whine!

She crawls forward, launching herself fast across the circle - keeps moving even as her muscles try to seize and spasm - doesn't spend her breath scream, puts all of it into keeping going - 

She's badly burned by the time she crashes out of the circle, eyes wide and tear-filled, breath coming in pained gasps, muscles twitching, skin burnt in tiny patches belying the true extent of the damage.

Eleni has smiles and effusive praise for her slave when she makes it out, and invocations to Sekhmet for healing.

Whimper! And desperate nuzzle.

Pet pet pet.

"Such a good girl you are. Strong and fast and so very, very brave." Kisses!

Teary kisses!!!

"You cry so beautifully." Pet pet. "I love you, sweet thing."

"Love you," she murmurs, wiggling. 

"My very good girl." Eleni pulls her onto the bed with her.

She drapes herself over her Mistress, kissing her. 

She laughs, and rolls them over.

It was a grueling trial Glaphyra just completed. Eleni had best thoroughly inspect her for any lingering hurts, unclipping her cuffs and reattaching them to spread her out on the bed.

Her Mistress is wonderfully considerate.

She's certainly considering every inch of Glaphyra. It's all very wonderful.

She can't exactly wiggle much like this, but she can certainly shiver and shake and moan. 

All very attractive things for her pet to be doing.

Mmmm that gets her doing more shaking and moaning.

Excellent.

!!!

"Good girl."

"Thank you, Mistress," she murmurs.

Seshen, meanwhile, has finished the current round of tests for her slave's pain tolerance. She's prayed successfully for Berenike to be healed, sent for food, and pulled her into snuggles. 

"There's a significant amount of information you'll need to best serve me," she comments lightly. 

Mmm snuggles. Good.

"Political things?"

"Mostly, yes - and the state of the wars, though war is just another front for political conflict."

She nods.

"We can go over the war in detail later, though - that'll be easiest with the maps, and I can use it to test your senses for war as well..."

"Okay. Where are we starting, then?"

"Politics," she says. "Who's who, where the lines of loyalty are drawn, who wants what."

"How is the government organized?"

"The Pharoah rules the Two Kingdoms with absolute power, advised by her ministers, with an army of functionaries and priests and scribes and soldiers to carry out her will and serve as her eyes and ears. She rules by the grace of the gods, and Ma'at, Goddess of Truth and Righteousness, is her main guide and defender. The Pharoah earns Ma'at's approval by ceaselessly living and promoting the laws of Ma'at, and the Pharaoh's loyalty is to the gods and people of the Two Kingdoms."

"Or, that's how it should be organized."

"'Should' implying... it's not currently."

"We'd have fewer problems if it was."

"Oh."

"The current Pharoah rules by the approval of Ma'at - but the rest of her dynasty hadn't respected the gods and traditions of the Two Kingdoms as they should, and their leadership was a joke - they trapped us under the boots of the Roman Empire, and they were Pharoah in name only."

"You should have been born earlier."

She laughs. "Perhaps. But perhaps now is the best time to restore the Two Kingdoms to their rightful place - the current dynasty is Greek, the Ptolemaics, and the dynasty they replaced was foreign as well. It has been a very long time since the Two Kingdoms were ruled by a native daughter, and seeds cannot be planted in destroyed ground."

"But the Pharoah has learned the language of the people she rules - the first in her line - and she has turned to the worship of the gods of this land, and adopted our customs, and the gods have favored her, reversing this land's decline - and now the world sees in a very dramatic way the power of our gods, that we resist Rome where no others can, and we have a chance to restore native rule without revolution."

"That's good!"

"It is, though it can be made better."

"I like that goal."

Kiss! "It's one worthy of me."

Kiss.

"Is 'native rule' going to be you?"

"That's my hope."

"Most of the Pharoah's children are in political marriages to foreign kings, or else have sided with Rome - the only one who is neither isn't exactly suited to leadership. I'm working to convince the Pharoah of the wisdom of marrying me to her daughter as a political tie, and making me the Pharoah after her. It would be a new dynasty, but her blood would still flow through it, as it would be my children by her daughter who would inherit the throne."