Sweetwater
I was expecting Seryn and Isobel to return that evening, but it was well into the next day when they appeared.
"We spent the night in Blackwood, visiting one of Isobel's Undaunted friends. He hadn't been able to come to the party, so Izzie felt she should make up for what he'd missed," Seryn informed me.
"He met us at the enclave in Grahtwood, and we did a daily delve together to warm up. Then we all headed for Leyawiin for our evening meal, at a restaurant in town I hadn't tried before. Izzie and I dropped in to Snugpod on the way to change, while he went ahead to get a good table. I had a new dress, with a neckline below my navel, that I wanted to try out, and Izzie wore her Cyrodiil town gown, because she knew Old Nick liked that."
"Old Nick being your Undaunted friend?" I asked Isobel.
"That's right," she replied. "I've known him for ages, almost as long as I've known Bud. He's a Nord, but he's spent a loy of time in Elsweyr, and he's obviously fond of their food."
"Quite a bit heavier than you," Seryn clarified. "but he's tall, so it doesn't look too bad."
I asked Seryn about that dress. It was clearly one I hadn't seen her wearing, as I would definitely have remembered that neckline.
She went over to the outfit station and put it on.
"How do you not fall out of that?" I asked, hoping she would.
"Good posture is essential," she replied. "and the material is a bit stiff, and not given to flapping in the breeze. Besides, the split up the back means there's no tension from round there. I wouldn't try running in it, or I'm sure there would be accidents. Fortunately, the restaurant was close to the wayshrine, so I could walk slowly and carefully to get there."
"I don't think she breathed until we arrived, and then she held it in place when she did," Isobel added.
Seryn had to laugh at that, and no, that didn't make her fall out. She resumed her account.
"Nick lead us to the table he'd chosen, in a corner near the kitchen, where the aromas of the cooking food would tempt our appetites. He said that the food was spicy, but more flavour than heat. Some of the Khajiiti dishes were made as a joke on the other races, who didn't know how hot they were supposed to be. We wouldn't have that problem, as he and Izzie were regular customers."
"Have you tried Elsweyr cuisine?" Isobel asked me.
"Not all parts of the province make the same dishes, so I might find something new. Was it Pellitine- or Anequina-style food?" I responded.
"I suspect it's a blend of multiple styles, targeting the Leyawiin tastes," Seryn observed. "I've visted Rimmen and Senchal, and the food in the restaurants there were all Colovian, Morrowind, and Skyrim styles, with added spice to suit the locals. Not quite how the original dishes should taste, but close enough.
"Before she sat down, Isobel loosened her dress. She said she knew she'd have to do that at some point, so it might as well be now. I'd been struggling to keep my breasts covered, and she was just letting one loose!
"Then the waitress walked over, topless, and I stopped worrying. Nobody was going to object if the customers played by the same rules. And of course that was why Old Nick liked this place. Though the food was really good, too. Our waitress suggested that the proprietor was challenging the chef to make usre the food got our attention."
"I should definitely check out that place," I laughed.
"The wine there's good, too," Seryn remarked. "The West Weald may make the best Reds, but Blackwood does some great White and Rose wines. So we drank quite a bit, and I probably did fall out at some point of the evening, because I recall tucking myself back in, just before we left for Nick's estate up the road.
"He has a big place on the ridge between Blackwood and Elsweyr, called Sweetwater Cascades. It's sunny and warm there, although the water's fed from the aqueduct coming down from the mountains, so it's colder than Izzie likes for bathing."
"And it doesn't have a beach," Isobel added. "All the water's in architectural pools, which overflow into each other, until the last cascade feeds the river below in Elsweyr. Not only too cool, but not really deep enough for a swim."
"A beach may be essential for a littoral ecdysiast, but I liked the fountains, too," added Seryn. "Maybe we should see if we can fit one in here somewhere. They cool the air, and the sound of the water is relaxing."
I could see Isobel wondering what she'd just been called.
"The buildings were nice, especially on the inside, with all that wood panelling," Seryn continued. "although that was just on the first two floors of the main building. The basement didn't have any, and nor did the other building on the other side of the pool. What did he call that one?"
"Just the workshop, I think," Isobel answered. "He had all his crafting benches over there, anyway."
"Sounds like a big place," I remarked.
"With a nice big bed, large enough for three," Seryn confirmed. "Or maybe more, there were just the three of us this time. And there were probably other beds in the other rooms, but we didn't need those."
"And the important question, did you enjoy yourselves?" I asked.
"Definitely," Isobel affirmed.
"I agree with Isobel, but it would have been even better with a lot more people, and maybe a Daedric Princess or two. Nothing's ever going to match that party!"
She paused for a few moments. "Have I spoiled myself for normal fun?"
Then a few more moments and she added. "Nope. I've just set a high goal to aspire to. Last night was nothing to complain about, and I'd certainly do it again."
Then she turned to me. "How did it go with Luciana and Varuni after we left?"
"The only real issue was Varuni's insistence that it was all about Luciana, but she still wanted to participate, and do anything she could to help. It was obvious that she was getting every bit as aroused as her friend, but was reluctant to let me do anything about it. She didn't want to distract me from my job.
"Fortunately, Luciana is used to giving orders, and told Varuni what she should be doing. We worked it out."
Seryn looked over at Isobel and remarked "Some people are just natural team members, and I suppose some aren't."