PART II - I NEED YOU TO STAB ME

"Oh this feels so good," Callie moaned as she cooked in the hot bath.

Next to her, Lena nodded vigorously in agreement. "Are you enjoying the holiday so far, Callie?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah. It's been fun. Making masks yesterday was a blast, although today was a little weird."

"How so?"

"Hard to explain. I know it's normal to you, but the idea of just going up and asking someone to be with you for just a day, or two like this year? It's super-awkward to me, even if everyone is doing it. Plus asking the guys felt a little off, given I'm not really into them. I'll get used to it in time."

"Well, that's part of the reason, or at least as I learned as a child. Get people out of their comfort zones. Plus, it teaches the boys the importance of graciousness, which is good for anyone to learn."

"I suppose. The masks and stuff just seemed like pointless theatrics, though. Everyone knows each other even if you can't see their face."

"What's the term you use, Callie? 'Just roll with it'? So, just roll with it." Lena splashed a little water towards the Gnome. "Your holiday about a fat human in red breaking into your home via the chimney to steal all your cookies seems quite odd to me, so I don't want to hear it." She looked around quickly, before whispering, "Damn, forgot we're in public. Do you think anyone heard?"

"Not over the sounds of the showers, but maybe we change the topic, all the same? Did you end up finding someone?"

Lena shook her head and frowned. "The one person I asked seriously had already told me he wasn't really interested, and the other available recruits are all so … young. I just didn't feel it, and the idea of any of the staff seemed odd. I'm okay being alone this year, I suppose."

"Aww. Well, you can hang with Pixyl and me, when we're not busy, at least."

"Thanks. Jesca offered the same. Tazrok, too, and I know both of them aren't participating. I've got my friends, that's what matters." Lena smiled, her face seeming eager to change the subject, though. "Speaking of Pixyl, she sure seemed to have a good time."

"I know!" Callie grinned. "It was like she was a completely different person. Maugra filled me in a little bit about what happened. Apparently they got Pixyl to start talking about her time in the pits, and that got everyone supporting her. Maugra said it was a good thing."

"Where is Pixyl, by the way?"

"I'm not sure," Callie said. "It's strange. She got called away by the Commandant, along with Tazrok. Vanis and Lhawni, too. It sounded important, but I don't know what the issue is and Xera wouldn't say anything to me. They just said Pixyl and the others would join us at dinner and be able to clean up and change wherever they are currently."

"That is strange," Lena said.

"Okay, I think I'm fully boiled," Callie groaned, clapping the water lightly with her hands. She rose out of the steaming hot water, her skin noticeably pinker from the heat, and walked up the steps to grab a towel.

Lena stood and did the same, but stopped. "You're still wearing that? That's cute."

"What? This? Well, she made it for me, so yeah, I'm going to wear it." Still on Callie's wrist was the bracelet Pixyl had crafted for her, with the pretty blue stone glinting in the light.

"It will rust, you know. Probably best to keep it dry."

"Oh. I didn't think of that. I suppose you're right." Callie removed the bracelet, then used the towel to vigorously wipe it down, before waving it in the air a bit. She was used to stainless steel and the like, which wouldn't rust or tarnish if wet. "Still, I love it!"

"Fizzlebek or one of his people might be able to enchant it with something to make it repel water. That assumes they have the time, materials and are willing. Otherwise, keep it dry. Eventually you can hire an Enchanter to do it. Maybe someone could take the stone out and dip it in silver as an alternative, and then reseat it. You'd have to polish it from time to time, though."

Quickly, both toweled off and put their robes on. As they left the showers, Callie caught sight of a pair of Brownies leaving Ogre House. They both stopped, staring back wide-eyed, as if caught being guilty of something. Then they looked at each other, squealed and ran off at high speed. "I wonder what that was about," Callie said, grinning at the antics.

The first thing Callie noticed upon entering was a short, long and wide basket sitting on her bed. Next to it was a small pile of fresh, perfectly folded clothing, and the same clothes were also on Lena's and Xin's bunks. The other three beds didn't have a pile..

Before she could look at the basket, Callie caught the scent of something and picked up the shirt from the pile. The lines of the folds were crisp and perfect, it having obviously been pressed, in addition to just being cleaned. Callie breathed in and caught a light smell of something vaguely perfumey as Lena picked up her own and inhaled deeply. Her face burst into a goofy, wide grin, as if some happy memory had just come to her. The smell wasn't strong, but just a little bit of fragrance to provide a fresh feeling,

"Rity flowers," Lena said, as if giving the only explanation needed. She breathed deeply again. The smell would no doubt help disguise any body odor that might emerge from sweating during the dinner or, more-likely, at the dance.

Then Callie climbed up on the bed and turned to the basket. "What do you think this is," she said generically. The basket was long, almost two-thirds as long as Callie was tall, about half as wide, and about ten to fifteen centimeters high. There was a pair of little clasps holding the basket closed, and she unbuttoned them. "Oh wow!" Callie gasped as she opened it.

Concerned, Lena set down her shirt and came over. "What is it?" Then she saw what Callie was staring gape-mouthed at. "Wow! That is … Is that what you wanted?"

"It's perfect!"

"But black? For a party?"

"It … is … perfect!" Callie said, a little more forcefully and with a bit of a glare.

Inside the basket was the little black dress that she'd asked for earlier in the week. It laid flat against a white cloth lining the inside, making the blackness stand out even more. Sitting in the center of the dress was a short loop of thin black cloth with intricately detailed white flowers, also made of cloth, stitched to it, and Callie noticed there were clasps at either end, making it into a choker necklace. In the center of the loop of the necklace was a little ball of black netting. Finally, sitting at the foot of the basket was a pair of black, soft-leather shoes.

When she had been fitted by the Brownies earlier in the week, Callie had casually suggested a pair of comfortable, black, mary jane style shoes to go with the dress. She'd even sketched out a design. Callie hadn't really asked for anything fancy. No high heels for example, as that probably wasn't a good idea with nothing being paved in the camp. Instead, just something simple like the dress and comfortable that would also be complementary. Zyxengrisc had firmly said, 'No shoes!' and grumpily quashed that idea, though. Seeing these now was a surprise given the master tailor's firm refusal.

"It's perfect!" Callie repeated, bouncing a little in giddiness. She quickly pulled the dress out and held it up to her body, turning to Lena. "What do you think?"

"It's … very black," Lena replied. Then she reconsidered. "That said, with your pink hair and the white flowers, it does make for a striking statement.'

"I know!" Callie turned to set the dress back in the basket and noticed a pair of lacy underwear, although they were in black, not red like the Major's had been. She picked up the panties and twirled them on her finger to show Lena. "Well … this looks fun."

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In turn, Lena snort-giggled as she shook out her shirt.

Turning to check out one of the shoes, Callie caught sight of something else. It was a tiny bag, a little bit bigger than her hand, and she picked it up. Whatever was inside made it lumpy, and she quickly untied the string holding it closed. Emptying the contents into her hand she found a pair of earrings made of a silvery metal, each dangling a small blue stone of the same type that was on the bracelet that Pixyl had made for her.

"OMG!" Callie squealed again, saying the letters individually. She set the bag down, her attention fixated on the earrings, then spun and held them up on either side of her head, showing them off to Lena. "They match the bracelet, too!"

Lena couldn't help but grin at Callie's bouncing excitement, and she felt almost big-sisterly. It was certainly going to be a strange ensemble, especially in black. Then again, people were used to Callie being a bit eclectic and strange, so it somehow seemed fitting. No matter what, she was going to be turning heads, and not just Pixyl's. As Callie's giddy excitement became infectious, Lena couldn't help but feel a little jealous she hadn't thought to also ask for something nice to wear. She wasn't much of the type to wear dresses, but certainly something more stylish than neatly-pressed daily clothes would have been nice.

"Oh," Callie said, her voice suddenly going a bit downcast. "Damn."

"What's wrong?"

Callie held up one of the earrings, showing Lena the back of it. "It has posts, and my ears aren't pierced." Her shoulders drooped. "I have no way to wear them." Then she looked down and held one up to each breast. "I could pin them to my dress right here, I guess." She gyrated her body a bit, causing the twin dangling earrings to spin in unison. She and Lena both laughed a couple times at the silly sight, but the disappointment was still evident.

"They must have thought your ears were already pierced," Lena said, her voice sympathetic. "I'm sorry."

Callie groaned and lightly tossed the earrings back into the basket in frustration, and then more-carefully picked them up one at a time to plop them back into the little leather bag. "Damn. They are really nice, too. Oh well. Everything else is still great, and if you want to, you're welcome to wear them instead."

After taking her boots off, Callie was just about to try the shoes on when the sound of someone outside on the porch caught her attention. Worried it was Vanis with Pixyl, she quickly tossed the one shoe she was holding back into the basket and slammed it closed, turned to the door and tried to put on her best innocent look. Thankfully, it was Xin that opened the door, and she stomped in with a very frustrated sigh, heaving her boots harshly against the wall above her bed.

"Xin? Are you alright? What's wrong?" Lena asked.

The Lizardkin looked up, surprise on her face for a moment, as if she just realized she wasn't alone. Quickly she composed herself and stood straighter. "It is nothing."

"Xinnnnnn?" Callie said, dragging the Shaman's name out with a tone her mother would have used. "What's wrong?"

With a sigh, the Shaman plopped down on the edge of her bed. "It is a … Lizardkin problem."

Lena climbed on to her own bed, sitting down cross-legged to face Xin, and Callie sat down the same way. "What's going on?" Lena asked. She was worried, actually. Xin wasn't one to show much emotion, so this was a bit out of character.

Xin looked at her two cabinmates. Finally she sighed. "It's Nola. She is … aggravating."

"What?" Lena said with a light laugh. "Aggravating?"

"We are the only two Lizardkin here," Xin began to explain, "so it made sense to be paired for Midsummer. I am beginning to regret that."

"But you were all excited," Callie said. "You even had that mating shawl made for her. You said it was important to get right for … for her first time."

"Yes, it is important," Xin said. Then she sighed. "But she wants … she wants to hold hands. And take a long walk in the moonlight tonight." Xin seemed to growl. "She wants to … snuggle." She looked imploringly from Callie to Lena. "I do not … snuggle."

Lena's barely-constrained giggle ended with a sudden snort, and she held up a hand. "I'm so sorry."

"So she is very aggravating," Xin snapped, ignoring Lena's snickers, "that is all. I wish I had worn red instead. At least I could enjoy the holiday, then."

"Holding hands is nice," Callie said. "Moonlit walks are nice. And what's wrong with a good snuggle. Honestly, it sounds like she's just excited. I mean, if you're her first, is that really a bad …."

Xin's harsh glare interrupted the question even before Callie's words finished coming out. "She is from the city, where many Lizardkin take on romantic lifemates like most other Beastkin. I do not wish to have a romantic lifemate, or any kind of anything romantic. That comes with obligations and …" She scowled, spitting out the next word. "Aggravation!"

Callie was trying really hard not to giggle like Lena, while, across the room, Lena was utterly failing at keeping her face neutral, barely holding in continuing giggles of her own. It was rude, they both knew it, because Xin was actually legitimately frustrated. But Xin's general bluntness she'd always had, now combined with the uncharacteristic emotion, just served to make the whole problem a little comical.

Finally, Lena coughed to recompose herself and managed to speak up. "Perhaps you just … indulge her? She's young, and it's not like it's long term, Xin. It's just Midsummer. Plus, we are going off to war, so you'll probably never see her again."

"But must I … snuggle?"

"Yes," Callie said flatly, eliciting another glare. "Xin, I don't know about you, but first times are important to a lot of people. It's a memory you build up and then keep forever, and probably something she's thought about since she was old enough to understand it. My first time was … disappointing, and it's stayed with me."

"What happened? Something bad?" Lena asked big-sisterly.

Callie shook her head. "Nothing bad. It was just disappointing." Then to explain when Lena pressed, she continued, "It was with the neighbor boy. We were the same age, and in the same grade at school and we always hung out growing up and getting into trouble together. When we were eventually old enough it just seemed like the thing we were supposed to do, y'know? No real reason for it, or anything. I kind of wish it had been a better experience, more romantic and the like, rather than something I just checked off a to-do list. But it helped me realize two things: First, that I actually liked girls instead, and second, that who I really wanted to sleep with was his older sister. I eventually did, too, and that was a much happier memory." She looked at Xin. "So you have a chance to make it nice for her."

"My own first was actually a rather happy memory," Lena said, a little laugh in her words as she reminisced. "Like you, it was one of the boys I grew up with. We used to explore caves together and he'd set up a wonderful romantic setting in one of our favorites in advance, with blankets and wine and flowers. He put a lot into it, and it meant a lot to me at the time, and still does. It's quite cold in caves, you know, but I always remember how the body warmth was a nice way to ward it off."

"We are cold blooded, so no body warmth. So must I snug…" Xin began to protest again.

"Yes!" both Callie and Lena echoed simultaneously.

"Xin, she's not stupid," Callie continued. "She knows it's for Midsummer, and that in a few weeks we're all going our separate ways. Suck it up and make it nice for her, or call it all off, but it's only two nights. Make a choice."

Xin seemed to frown, although it was sometimes hard to tell with her scaled face. After a moment, she sighed. "You make a good point Little One, and you as well, Lena Elf. My own first was uneventful, so not an important memory. Still, you both say it is important, so I will work to make it memorable. Even if I must … snuggle. I believe I can gruesomely suffer for two nights."

The Lizardkin stood, noticing the pressed clothing for the first time, and snarled all over again. "Of course, they gave us more awful clothing to wear," she said deadpan. There was a noticeable sarcastic tone in her voice. Purposeful sarcasm wasn't something you really ever heard from Xin, and both Callie and Lena raised eyebrows in curiosity at each other. Callie wondered if they were actually rubbing off on their reptilian friend a bit. "Nola only needs to wear her mating shawl, so she is quite lucky." Xin added.

Callie's eyes perked up. "Oh! Speaking of mating shawl, Xin, check this out!" She stood and turned to the basket, flipping the lid open. Picking up the dress, she turned to face the Lizardkin. "What do you think?"

"It is very … black," Xin said. "This is your mating shawl to entice Pixyl?"

"Exactly!" Callie replied, quickly glancing at Lena to cut off anything she might say in an attempt to clarify Xin's question. She held the dress against her body and turned slightly in each direction to show it off. "Oh, the Brownies made more, too." Next she showed Xin the lacy panties, and then the choker necklace and poof of netting. She wrapped the choker around her neck to demonstrate how it would be worn, and then had to explain it was not a pet collar and was just supposed to be pretty. Then Xin growled in general shoe-hating as Callie held up the pair of new ones.

"Finally, check these out!" Callie giggled, lightly tossing the shoes into the basket as she picked up the bag with the earrings. She reached into the bag and was about to pull them out when something sharp jabbed her hand. "Ouch!" she yelped. Quickly removing it, Callie found a dot of welling blood and hissed. "What the hell?"

"Are you alright?" Lena asked, leaping to worry. She still sometimes had that instinct to semi-mother whenever Callie got into trouble or hurt herself. That would probably never really go away.

Seeing the blood, Xin also reacted, instantly summoning up a totem to have it ready if needed.

"Something sharp poked me," Callie growled, and she poured the bag out onto the bed with her unbleeding hand. "Huh, what's this for?" she said, seeing something new. Then she noticed the posts on the back of the earrings again and understood.

"What is it?" Lena asked.

Callie grinned, eyes going wide at the new object. "How long until dinner?"

"Maybe an hour?" Lena replied. "A little less?"

"Good, we have time. Xin … you can block pain now, right?"

"Yes, I mostly can, Little One. I am still learning, but working to become proficient."

"Excellent." Grinning even wider, she looked at the Shaman and said. "I need you to stab me."

"What?!" both Xin and Lena gasped together. "With a dagger?" Xin added.

"Twice. I need you to stab me twice," Callie said, holding up the needle.

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