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Sameera was in higher spirits. The journey up the Nile to Thebes from her home of Cairo was one she did not make too often, but it was a journey she had grown used to. As a noblewoman, she was generally treated with respect, regardless of what her family might've been suffering through, then.
That was one of Sameera's problems. She was unaware to what extent the Hei Haikaddad was struggling, and unable to infer what she could do to help, as a woman and therefore less clever than her father had been or her uncle was. She hadn't even recognized that there was a problem until it was far too late, and though she was young, she was prone to beating herself up over not noticing smaller details.
It wasn't for her to worry about at the moment, unless of course her mother or uncle brought it up with her, and besides, there was more cheerful things to think about than wonder if she would still have a place to live, in the luxury that she had grown accustomed to since she was a little girl. There wasn't much she could do about it, anyways, other than pray and hope that things would turn out alright.
With her head focused on things she could control, she thought of her friend, Nenet. It was a little while since they had seen each other, and she was delighted for the opportunity to talk with, or as the case may be, spend time with someone she trusted deeply, as well as get the opportunity for a little time away from the stresses of home.
Dressed in a simpler kalasiris, one that suited traveling much better than one of the network items that the Haikaddad twins might share. She did prefer the kalasiris much more, anyways, especially when she was sitting for any length of time longer than a few minutes. The servants that helped her travel had made the journey much more bearable, supplying her with the heavenly snack that others referred to as dates. Despite having grown up eating them, she was always fond of a good date, and favored them more than any other food.
She felt slightly empty without the companionship of her hour-older sister, for they usually made appearances together, but without Safiya there to bring her attitude that life was a party, the day would possibly end up in the more reserved fashions that Sameera preferred.
Sameera was familiar with the Sheifa family enough that she recalled the way to the house even with the one servant her mother had begged her to take along with her directing her to the area. Still, she considered herself a polite young lady and didn't want to enter the house without being welcomed in.
She fidgeted with her kalasiris, recalling the books she had read in the days prior, stories she was certain that Nenet would love to hear, even if she was only recommending the title. Sameera would be thrilled to tell the stories to Nenet out loud, if the older girl asked. She considered sharing some of her poetry as well, but was more shy when it came to that topic.
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Sept 23, 2020 15:14:14 GMT
Posted In See You Again on Sept 23, 2020 15:14:14 GMT
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Sameera was in higher spirits. The journey up the Nile to Thebes from her home of Cairo was one she did not make too often, but it was a journey she had grown used to. As a noblewoman, she was generally treated with respect, regardless of what her family might've been suffering through, then.
That was one of Sameera's problems. She was unaware to what extent the Hei Haikaddad was struggling, and unable to infer what she could do to help, as a woman and therefore less clever than her father had been or her uncle was. She hadn't even recognized that there was a problem until it was far too late, and though she was young, she was prone to beating herself up over not noticing smaller details.
It wasn't for her to worry about at the moment, unless of course her mother or uncle brought it up with her, and besides, there was more cheerful things to think about than wonder if she would still have a place to live, in the luxury that she had grown accustomed to since she was a little girl. There wasn't much she could do about it, anyways, other than pray and hope that things would turn out alright.
With her head focused on things she could control, she thought of her friend, Nenet. It was a little while since they had seen each other, and she was delighted for the opportunity to talk with, or as the case may be, spend time with someone she trusted deeply, as well as get the opportunity for a little time away from the stresses of home.
Dressed in a simpler kalasiris, one that suited traveling much better than one of the network items that the Haikaddad twins might share. She did prefer the kalasiris much more, anyways, especially when she was sitting for any length of time longer than a few minutes. The servants that helped her travel had made the journey much more bearable, supplying her with the heavenly snack that others referred to as dates. Despite having grown up eating them, she was always fond of a good date, and favored them more than any other food.
She felt slightly empty without the companionship of her hour-older sister, for they usually made appearances together, but without Safiya there to bring her attitude that life was a party, the day would possibly end up in the more reserved fashions that Sameera preferred.
Sameera was familiar with the Sheifa family enough that she recalled the way to the house even with the one servant her mother had begged her to take along with her directing her to the area. Still, she considered herself a polite young lady and didn't want to enter the house without being welcomed in.
She fidgeted with her kalasiris, recalling the books she had read in the days prior, stories she was certain that Nenet would love to hear, even if she was only recommending the title. Sameera would be thrilled to tell the stories to Nenet out loud, if the older girl asked. She considered sharing some of her poetry as well, but was more shy when it came to that topic.
Sameera was in higher spirits. The journey up the Nile to Thebes from her home of Cairo was one she did not make too often, but it was a journey she had grown used to. As a noblewoman, she was generally treated with respect, regardless of what her family might've been suffering through, then.
That was one of Sameera's problems. She was unaware to what extent the Hei Haikaddad was struggling, and unable to infer what she could do to help, as a woman and therefore less clever than her father had been or her uncle was. She hadn't even recognized that there was a problem until it was far too late, and though she was young, she was prone to beating herself up over not noticing smaller details.
It wasn't for her to worry about at the moment, unless of course her mother or uncle brought it up with her, and besides, there was more cheerful things to think about than wonder if she would still have a place to live, in the luxury that she had grown accustomed to since she was a little girl. There wasn't much she could do about it, anyways, other than pray and hope that things would turn out alright.
With her head focused on things she could control, she thought of her friend, Nenet. It was a little while since they had seen each other, and she was delighted for the opportunity to talk with, or as the case may be, spend time with someone she trusted deeply, as well as get the opportunity for a little time away from the stresses of home.
Dressed in a simpler kalasiris, one that suited traveling much better than one of the network items that the Haikaddad twins might share. She did prefer the kalasiris much more, anyways, especially when she was sitting for any length of time longer than a few minutes. The servants that helped her travel had made the journey much more bearable, supplying her with the heavenly snack that others referred to as dates. Despite having grown up eating them, she was always fond of a good date, and favored them more than any other food.
She felt slightly empty without the companionship of her hour-older sister, for they usually made appearances together, but without Safiya there to bring her attitude that life was a party, the day would possibly end up in the more reserved fashions that Sameera preferred.
Sameera was familiar with the Sheifa family enough that she recalled the way to the house even with the one servant her mother had begged her to take along with her directing her to the area. Still, she considered herself a polite young lady and didn't want to enter the house without being welcomed in.
She fidgeted with her kalasiris, recalling the books she had read in the days prior, stories she was certain that Nenet would love to hear, even if she was only recommending the title. Sameera would be thrilled to tell the stories to Nenet out loud, if the older girl asked. She considered sharing some of her poetry as well, but was more shy when it came to that topic.
Of Iaheru and Onuphrious’s children, Nenet was the least likely to entertain visitors. She liked her own company far more than that of her siblings and was generally too unwilling to speak to people outside of her family to make new friends. But childhood boldness had seen to it, at least, that she’d retained at least two friends - Sameera and Safiya Haikaddad, the former of whom was coming here shortly. Nenet had done little to prepare for her friend’s arrival except to shove a few piles of clothing around to make room for the two of them.
Her room was an absolute mess of creativity. Half finished paintings stood on no less than four easels, waiting for Nenet to decide to come back to them. She was practicing various techniques with each and sometimes felt more like doing one than another on any given day. The finished ones were piled into a far corner of her room, obscured by the shadow of an absolutely gaudy idol of Bastet that sat on a table, also hosting a tablet where gifts were set before the idol and incense to be burned.
Beyond these things were various piles of shed clothing and sandals that the servants practically had to steal from the room whenever Nenet did venture out. On her vanity were jars of cosmetics, some open, some not, some dry in their pots and would have to be reconstituted by the maids for use or else thrown out and more bought. Nenet had not the slightest clue how much money she wasted like this, nor how much grief she put the household staff through. No servant would be bold enough to tell her and it wasn’t as if her sisters or brothers championed the cause of servants.
What truly took up most of the space in Nenet’s room were books. Beside the door, stretching from one wall to another, was an absolutely massive bookshelf that rose from floor to ceiling. Its shelves were so crammed that books lay in scattered piles in front of others. More were around her room. Some lay beneath her pillows, half forgotten inside her rumpled sheets. A healthy pile sat out on the balcony where cushions lay under the shade of a cloth awning.
Meanwhile, Nenet herself was not dressed up, nor did she have on makeup of any kind. Her eyes were smaller without the customary kohl she wore. She’d describe her own visage as weak were she in front of a mirror. Barefoot and in a breezy kalasiris of soft gray, she lay on the balcony, deeply engrossed in the latest of an absolutely trashy series that her mother would not be pleased to learn she was reading, when the servant came to announce that Sameera was downstairs.
Snapping her book shut, she rose with an odd, though ungainly grace and padded into the hallway. At the top of the stairs, she smiled and silently waved down to her friend. “Hel-l-l-lo,” she stammered, blushing a very little and made a flapping gesture for Sameera to follow her back to her room. To the servant, she ordered a tray of fruit juice and date balls to be brought up. “Th-thi-sss w-w-w-w-ay,” she said to Sameera, taking her along the shadowed inner corridor of the top floor towards the very last room on the corner.
With her friend here, she saw her room with new eyes and bit her lower lip. Maybe she should have let the servants clean...Her white cat, Isis, ambivalent to the mess, lay curled up on a pile of discarded clothes, sleeping.
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Of Iaheru and Onuphrious’s children, Nenet was the least likely to entertain visitors. She liked her own company far more than that of her siblings and was generally too unwilling to speak to people outside of her family to make new friends. But childhood boldness had seen to it, at least, that she’d retained at least two friends - Sameera and Safiya Haikaddad, the former of whom was coming here shortly. Nenet had done little to prepare for her friend’s arrival except to shove a few piles of clothing around to make room for the two of them.
Her room was an absolute mess of creativity. Half finished paintings stood on no less than four easels, waiting for Nenet to decide to come back to them. She was practicing various techniques with each and sometimes felt more like doing one than another on any given day. The finished ones were piled into a far corner of her room, obscured by the shadow of an absolutely gaudy idol of Bastet that sat on a table, also hosting a tablet where gifts were set before the idol and incense to be burned.
Beyond these things were various piles of shed clothing and sandals that the servants practically had to steal from the room whenever Nenet did venture out. On her vanity were jars of cosmetics, some open, some not, some dry in their pots and would have to be reconstituted by the maids for use or else thrown out and more bought. Nenet had not the slightest clue how much money she wasted like this, nor how much grief she put the household staff through. No servant would be bold enough to tell her and it wasn’t as if her sisters or brothers championed the cause of servants.
What truly took up most of the space in Nenet’s room were books. Beside the door, stretching from one wall to another, was an absolutely massive bookshelf that rose from floor to ceiling. Its shelves were so crammed that books lay in scattered piles in front of others. More were around her room. Some lay beneath her pillows, half forgotten inside her rumpled sheets. A healthy pile sat out on the balcony where cushions lay under the shade of a cloth awning.
Meanwhile, Nenet herself was not dressed up, nor did she have on makeup of any kind. Her eyes were smaller without the customary kohl she wore. She’d describe her own visage as weak were she in front of a mirror. Barefoot and in a breezy kalasiris of soft gray, she lay on the balcony, deeply engrossed in the latest of an absolutely trashy series that her mother would not be pleased to learn she was reading, when the servant came to announce that Sameera was downstairs.
Snapping her book shut, she rose with an odd, though ungainly grace and padded into the hallway. At the top of the stairs, she smiled and silently waved down to her friend. “Hel-l-l-lo,” she stammered, blushing a very little and made a flapping gesture for Sameera to follow her back to her room. To the servant, she ordered a tray of fruit juice and date balls to be brought up. “Th-thi-sss w-w-w-w-ay,” she said to Sameera, taking her along the shadowed inner corridor of the top floor towards the very last room on the corner.
With her friend here, she saw her room with new eyes and bit her lower lip. Maybe she should have let the servants clean...Her white cat, Isis, ambivalent to the mess, lay curled up on a pile of discarded clothes, sleeping.
Of Iaheru and Onuphrious’s children, Nenet was the least likely to entertain visitors. She liked her own company far more than that of her siblings and was generally too unwilling to speak to people outside of her family to make new friends. But childhood boldness had seen to it, at least, that she’d retained at least two friends - Sameera and Safiya Haikaddad, the former of whom was coming here shortly. Nenet had done little to prepare for her friend’s arrival except to shove a few piles of clothing around to make room for the two of them.
Her room was an absolute mess of creativity. Half finished paintings stood on no less than four easels, waiting for Nenet to decide to come back to them. She was practicing various techniques with each and sometimes felt more like doing one than another on any given day. The finished ones were piled into a far corner of her room, obscured by the shadow of an absolutely gaudy idol of Bastet that sat on a table, also hosting a tablet where gifts were set before the idol and incense to be burned.
Beyond these things were various piles of shed clothing and sandals that the servants practically had to steal from the room whenever Nenet did venture out. On her vanity were jars of cosmetics, some open, some not, some dry in their pots and would have to be reconstituted by the maids for use or else thrown out and more bought. Nenet had not the slightest clue how much money she wasted like this, nor how much grief she put the household staff through. No servant would be bold enough to tell her and it wasn’t as if her sisters or brothers championed the cause of servants.
What truly took up most of the space in Nenet’s room were books. Beside the door, stretching from one wall to another, was an absolutely massive bookshelf that rose from floor to ceiling. Its shelves were so crammed that books lay in scattered piles in front of others. More were around her room. Some lay beneath her pillows, half forgotten inside her rumpled sheets. A healthy pile sat out on the balcony where cushions lay under the shade of a cloth awning.
Meanwhile, Nenet herself was not dressed up, nor did she have on makeup of any kind. Her eyes were smaller without the customary kohl she wore. She’d describe her own visage as weak were she in front of a mirror. Barefoot and in a breezy kalasiris of soft gray, she lay on the balcony, deeply engrossed in the latest of an absolutely trashy series that her mother would not be pleased to learn she was reading, when the servant came to announce that Sameera was downstairs.
Snapping her book shut, she rose with an odd, though ungainly grace and padded into the hallway. At the top of the stairs, she smiled and silently waved down to her friend. “Hel-l-l-lo,” she stammered, blushing a very little and made a flapping gesture for Sameera to follow her back to her room. To the servant, she ordered a tray of fruit juice and date balls to be brought up. “Th-thi-sss w-w-w-w-ay,” she said to Sameera, taking her along the shadowed inner corridor of the top floor towards the very last room on the corner.
With her friend here, she saw her room with new eyes and bit her lower lip. Maybe she should have let the servants clean...Her white cat, Isis, ambivalent to the mess, lay curled up on a pile of discarded clothes, sleeping.
Sameera grinned in delight upon seeing her friend's face and hearing her stammered hello. She went up the stairs with a bit more pep than she'd had for the rest of the trip, waving a hand when the servant she had brought along attempted to trail behind her. She didn't see the need to have someone intruding on her much-needed time with her friend. Perhaps this particular servant knew one of the H'Sheifa servants, and they could speak together while Sameera enjoyed the company of her favourite H'Sheifa.
She followed along with Nenet, eyeing the room. Her first immediate thought was to admire the bookshelf. She squealed in delight, something she did not do very often. "Nenet!" she declared, "You have such a lovely collection of books!" Sameera examined the shelf. It was no secret that the both of them enjoyed a good book, so she shouldn't be too surprised, but she was too busy admiring them to care. Her late father's library had shelves, but not like this.
Looking along the titles collected on the shelves, Sameera pulled one off, gently inspecting it. "Have you read this one yet? I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses...so fanciful." Sameera chuckled lightly, coming considerably more alive than she was normally.
She didn't think about it too much, but she did often switch up her mannerisms depending on who she was speaking to. Ordinarily, she filled the role of a quiet observer, helping, maybe offering some advice, but with Nenet she felt as if she should be the one to fill the silence, moreso because her friend seemed quiet usually, though Sameera was never one to turn down some silent companionship.
Sameera's eyes traced the room, her brain trickling descriptive words that she would most likely later scribble down into ink at some point. Perhaps one of the stories she was working on could take inspiration from Nenet's room, though she was hesitant to mention it when it was just the vaguest ideas in her head.
Her eyes slipped onto her friend's cat among the discarded clothes, an animal she absolutely adored. How could she not? Small and sleeping were simple qualities that often equaled, well, cute! Besides that, though, she wondered if Nenet's servants had been in recently, as she finally noticed it seemed a bit messy.
Sameera frowned for a split second, then brought the smile back to her face. It wasn't as horrible as one of those alleys she'd wandered into after making a wrong turn, after all. Even she had some mess about her room. She tried to keep the conversation lighter, though. It would be terribly rude to say anything major, she thought, as she was Nenet's guest, and besides that she wasn't any royal. She could hardly beg for spotless rooms, and she never intended to.
"This is...Isis, yes?" Sameera observed the cat. Having no cat of her own made her somewhat wary of the creature, as she heard that they could have fickle temperaments, but the white cat seemed so very adorable that it was hard to imagine that she could possibly want to hurt anything. She turned her head inquisitively to Nenet.
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Sameera grinned in delight upon seeing her friend's face and hearing her stammered hello. She went up the stairs with a bit more pep than she'd had for the rest of the trip, waving a hand when the servant she had brought along attempted to trail behind her. She didn't see the need to have someone intruding on her much-needed time with her friend. Perhaps this particular servant knew one of the H'Sheifa servants, and they could speak together while Sameera enjoyed the company of her favourite H'Sheifa.
She followed along with Nenet, eyeing the room. Her first immediate thought was to admire the bookshelf. She squealed in delight, something she did not do very often. "Nenet!" she declared, "You have such a lovely collection of books!" Sameera examined the shelf. It was no secret that the both of them enjoyed a good book, so she shouldn't be too surprised, but she was too busy admiring them to care. Her late father's library had shelves, but not like this.
Looking along the titles collected on the shelves, Sameera pulled one off, gently inspecting it. "Have you read this one yet? I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses...so fanciful." Sameera chuckled lightly, coming considerably more alive than she was normally.
She didn't think about it too much, but she did often switch up her mannerisms depending on who she was speaking to. Ordinarily, she filled the role of a quiet observer, helping, maybe offering some advice, but with Nenet she felt as if she should be the one to fill the silence, moreso because her friend seemed quiet usually, though Sameera was never one to turn down some silent companionship.
Sameera's eyes traced the room, her brain trickling descriptive words that she would most likely later scribble down into ink at some point. Perhaps one of the stories she was working on could take inspiration from Nenet's room, though she was hesitant to mention it when it was just the vaguest ideas in her head.
Her eyes slipped onto her friend's cat among the discarded clothes, an animal she absolutely adored. How could she not? Small and sleeping were simple qualities that often equaled, well, cute! Besides that, though, she wondered if Nenet's servants had been in recently, as she finally noticed it seemed a bit messy.
Sameera frowned for a split second, then brought the smile back to her face. It wasn't as horrible as one of those alleys she'd wandered into after making a wrong turn, after all. Even she had some mess about her room. She tried to keep the conversation lighter, though. It would be terribly rude to say anything major, she thought, as she was Nenet's guest, and besides that she wasn't any royal. She could hardly beg for spotless rooms, and she never intended to.
"This is...Isis, yes?" Sameera observed the cat. Having no cat of her own made her somewhat wary of the creature, as she heard that they could have fickle temperaments, but the white cat seemed so very adorable that it was hard to imagine that she could possibly want to hurt anything. She turned her head inquisitively to Nenet.
Sameera grinned in delight upon seeing her friend's face and hearing her stammered hello. She went up the stairs with a bit more pep than she'd had for the rest of the trip, waving a hand when the servant she had brought along attempted to trail behind her. She didn't see the need to have someone intruding on her much-needed time with her friend. Perhaps this particular servant knew one of the H'Sheifa servants, and they could speak together while Sameera enjoyed the company of her favourite H'Sheifa.
She followed along with Nenet, eyeing the room. Her first immediate thought was to admire the bookshelf. She squealed in delight, something she did not do very often. "Nenet!" she declared, "You have such a lovely collection of books!" Sameera examined the shelf. It was no secret that the both of them enjoyed a good book, so she shouldn't be too surprised, but she was too busy admiring them to care. Her late father's library had shelves, but not like this.
Looking along the titles collected on the shelves, Sameera pulled one off, gently inspecting it. "Have you read this one yet? I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses...so fanciful." Sameera chuckled lightly, coming considerably more alive than she was normally.
She didn't think about it too much, but she did often switch up her mannerisms depending on who she was speaking to. Ordinarily, she filled the role of a quiet observer, helping, maybe offering some advice, but with Nenet she felt as if she should be the one to fill the silence, moreso because her friend seemed quiet usually, though Sameera was never one to turn down some silent companionship.
Sameera's eyes traced the room, her brain trickling descriptive words that she would most likely later scribble down into ink at some point. Perhaps one of the stories she was working on could take inspiration from Nenet's room, though she was hesitant to mention it when it was just the vaguest ideas in her head.
Her eyes slipped onto her friend's cat among the discarded clothes, an animal she absolutely adored. How could she not? Small and sleeping were simple qualities that often equaled, well, cute! Besides that, though, she wondered if Nenet's servants had been in recently, as she finally noticed it seemed a bit messy.
Sameera frowned for a split second, then brought the smile back to her face. It wasn't as horrible as one of those alleys she'd wandered into after making a wrong turn, after all. Even she had some mess about her room. She tried to keep the conversation lighter, though. It would be terribly rude to say anything major, she thought, as she was Nenet's guest, and besides that she wasn't any royal. She could hardly beg for spotless rooms, and she never intended to.
"This is...Isis, yes?" Sameera observed the cat. Having no cat of her own made her somewhat wary of the creature, as she heard that they could have fickle temperaments, but the white cat seemed so very adorable that it was hard to imagine that she could possibly want to hurt anything. She turned her head inquisitively to Nenet.
Nenet’s eyes zoomed back to Sameera as the other squealed. Was that...delight? She followed Sameera’s line of sight and found that her friend was looking at the bookshelf. Not the mess. Turning her body, one arm across her body, her hand rubbing the opposite arm, the unsteady smile strengthened as Sameera spoke. “Nenet! You have such a lovely collection of books!” At least someone appreciated reading. Nef, Nia, and Hena couldn’t be depended upon to even be literate, much less enjoy a good novel.
“Th-th-than-nks,” she stammered, rubbing her arm harder, but preening in the praise anyway. Her eyes rested on Sameera’s back as the other took to lovingly wandering the shelf. Nenet followed her like a little cloud, drifting along and coming to a gentle stop whenever Sameera did.
“Have you read this one yet? I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses...so fanciful.” Nenet tilted her head, peering around Sameera’s shoulder to see which book she was talking about, but she had to back up quickly because she was now in the way as Sameera pulled the book out in order to show her. Squinting, Nenet bit her lower lip, thinking. Yes...yes she had read it and she nodded her affirmative but she couldn’t remember precisely what it was about. Gently, she extricated the book from Sameera’s grasp and flipped it open to the middle, quickly scanning the words.
Ooooh, yes, yes she had definitely read this one. She’d liked the descriptions, too, but she’d found the story a bit bland, if she was totally honest. Looking up to Sameera, she opened her mouth to stammer out as much but Sameera was looking elsewhere. Nenet closed the book with a soft snap. It was no great loss to her not to have to stutter through an entire speech. After all, if they’d both read it, then they had the same memories of it. Why talk when they could just agree on that? ...except she would have liked to. If they were exchanging letters, Nenet would likely have waxed long on her opinions of the book, outlining several things she’d liked and things she didn’t. But this was in person and it was difficult for her to convey what she actually wanted to say in times like these.
“This is...Isis, yes?” Sameera asked, giving Isis a somewhat dubious look, Nenet thought. Well that wouldn’t do at all, would it?
“Mmmmhmmm,” Nenet hummed out, not at all afraid to make sounds to indicate words. Definitely easier. She shifted aside a pile of kalasiris in order to get to Isis. The cat purred at her approach, evidently not quite as asleep as she’d have had the two girls believe. One emerald eye peeped out but then both opened as Nenet scooped up the fluffy furball in her arms. Isis’s plumy tail flicked a little and she purred through it all but it was less a contented purr and more of one that was an attempt to reassure herself. And possibly Nenet.
“H-h-h-h-her-r-re,” Nenet grinned and dumped Isis straight into Sameera’s arms. Isis purred and shifted against this new human, looking up in feline curiosity but poised to jump away at the same time. She was prevented from doing that by Nenet, who kept her body purposefully close. Her hand glided along Isis’s spine and the cat arched and lifted her hind end in response, relaxing a fraction.
“Sh-sh-sh-she’s-s sw-sw-sweet-t-t,” Nenet promised her friend. “J-j-j-j-jus-s-st-t-t-t p-p-p-pet-t-t h-her a llllllit-t-t-t-tle?” Most animals were sacred to Egyptians in at least one form or another. Cats, while being the sacred animal of Bastet, were also prized for keeping mice at bay, thus preventing diseases, adding to their mystical allure. Isis was by far not the only cat in the Sheifa household, but she was definitely the one Nenet spent the most time with. She’d plucked her out of a litter of kittens and kept her mostly in this room. As such, Nenet had become Isis’s primary person and because Nenet was so quiet and so unlikely to move for long periods of time, she was, of course, an ideal napping place. The two suited one another.
Nenet beamed at her pet, her doe eyes brilliant and proud as she glanced up at Sameera to make sure her friend was also properly in love with this animal. “I h-h-hav-ve oth-th-ther-r b-b-b-books-s,” she said after a moment, gesturing out onto the covered balcony. It was shaded from the sun by a wide strip of blue fabric that bathed the whole spot in a cool, calming color. Cushions sat there, along with a potted palm, and a respectable pile of trashy novels.
Nenet put a finger to her lips and winked. “S-s-s-secr-r-ret-t b-b-b-books-s,” she added and waved Sameera after her to come see. There they would find such titles as Heat of the Nile, and A Lord For His Lady, and Desert Nights, among others. Activities that Nenet was sure Nia got up to while Nenet merely read about them.
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Oct 21, 2020 13:34:54 GMT
Posted In See You Again on Oct 21, 2020 13:34:54 GMT
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Nenet’s eyes zoomed back to Sameera as the other squealed. Was that...delight? She followed Sameera’s line of sight and found that her friend was looking at the bookshelf. Not the mess. Turning her body, one arm across her body, her hand rubbing the opposite arm, the unsteady smile strengthened as Sameera spoke. “Nenet! You have such a lovely collection of books!” At least someone appreciated reading. Nef, Nia, and Hena couldn’t be depended upon to even be literate, much less enjoy a good novel.
“Th-th-than-nks,” she stammered, rubbing her arm harder, but preening in the praise anyway. Her eyes rested on Sameera’s back as the other took to lovingly wandering the shelf. Nenet followed her like a little cloud, drifting along and coming to a gentle stop whenever Sameera did.
“Have you read this one yet? I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses...so fanciful.” Nenet tilted her head, peering around Sameera’s shoulder to see which book she was talking about, but she had to back up quickly because she was now in the way as Sameera pulled the book out in order to show her. Squinting, Nenet bit her lower lip, thinking. Yes...yes she had read it and she nodded her affirmative but she couldn’t remember precisely what it was about. Gently, she extricated the book from Sameera’s grasp and flipped it open to the middle, quickly scanning the words.
Ooooh, yes, yes she had definitely read this one. She’d liked the descriptions, too, but she’d found the story a bit bland, if she was totally honest. Looking up to Sameera, she opened her mouth to stammer out as much but Sameera was looking elsewhere. Nenet closed the book with a soft snap. It was no great loss to her not to have to stutter through an entire speech. After all, if they’d both read it, then they had the same memories of it. Why talk when they could just agree on that? ...except she would have liked to. If they were exchanging letters, Nenet would likely have waxed long on her opinions of the book, outlining several things she’d liked and things she didn’t. But this was in person and it was difficult for her to convey what she actually wanted to say in times like these.
“This is...Isis, yes?” Sameera asked, giving Isis a somewhat dubious look, Nenet thought. Well that wouldn’t do at all, would it?
“Mmmmhmmm,” Nenet hummed out, not at all afraid to make sounds to indicate words. Definitely easier. She shifted aside a pile of kalasiris in order to get to Isis. The cat purred at her approach, evidently not quite as asleep as she’d have had the two girls believe. One emerald eye peeped out but then both opened as Nenet scooped up the fluffy furball in her arms. Isis’s plumy tail flicked a little and she purred through it all but it was less a contented purr and more of one that was an attempt to reassure herself. And possibly Nenet.
“H-h-h-h-her-r-re,” Nenet grinned and dumped Isis straight into Sameera’s arms. Isis purred and shifted against this new human, looking up in feline curiosity but poised to jump away at the same time. She was prevented from doing that by Nenet, who kept her body purposefully close. Her hand glided along Isis’s spine and the cat arched and lifted her hind end in response, relaxing a fraction.
“Sh-sh-sh-she’s-s sw-sw-sweet-t-t,” Nenet promised her friend. “J-j-j-j-jus-s-st-t-t-t p-p-p-pet-t-t h-her a llllllit-t-t-t-tle?” Most animals were sacred to Egyptians in at least one form or another. Cats, while being the sacred animal of Bastet, were also prized for keeping mice at bay, thus preventing diseases, adding to their mystical allure. Isis was by far not the only cat in the Sheifa household, but she was definitely the one Nenet spent the most time with. She’d plucked her out of a litter of kittens and kept her mostly in this room. As such, Nenet had become Isis’s primary person and because Nenet was so quiet and so unlikely to move for long periods of time, she was, of course, an ideal napping place. The two suited one another.
Nenet beamed at her pet, her doe eyes brilliant and proud as she glanced up at Sameera to make sure her friend was also properly in love with this animal. “I h-h-hav-ve oth-th-ther-r b-b-b-books-s,” she said after a moment, gesturing out onto the covered balcony. It was shaded from the sun by a wide strip of blue fabric that bathed the whole spot in a cool, calming color. Cushions sat there, along with a potted palm, and a respectable pile of trashy novels.
Nenet put a finger to her lips and winked. “S-s-s-secr-r-ret-t b-b-b-books-s,” she added and waved Sameera after her to come see. There they would find such titles as Heat of the Nile, and A Lord For His Lady, and Desert Nights, among others. Activities that Nenet was sure Nia got up to while Nenet merely read about them.
Nenet’s eyes zoomed back to Sameera as the other squealed. Was that...delight? She followed Sameera’s line of sight and found that her friend was looking at the bookshelf. Not the mess. Turning her body, one arm across her body, her hand rubbing the opposite arm, the unsteady smile strengthened as Sameera spoke. “Nenet! You have such a lovely collection of books!” At least someone appreciated reading. Nef, Nia, and Hena couldn’t be depended upon to even be literate, much less enjoy a good novel.
“Th-th-than-nks,” she stammered, rubbing her arm harder, but preening in the praise anyway. Her eyes rested on Sameera’s back as the other took to lovingly wandering the shelf. Nenet followed her like a little cloud, drifting along and coming to a gentle stop whenever Sameera did.
“Have you read this one yet? I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses...so fanciful.” Nenet tilted her head, peering around Sameera’s shoulder to see which book she was talking about, but she had to back up quickly because she was now in the way as Sameera pulled the book out in order to show her. Squinting, Nenet bit her lower lip, thinking. Yes...yes she had read it and she nodded her affirmative but she couldn’t remember precisely what it was about. Gently, she extricated the book from Sameera’s grasp and flipped it open to the middle, quickly scanning the words.
Ooooh, yes, yes she had definitely read this one. She’d liked the descriptions, too, but she’d found the story a bit bland, if she was totally honest. Looking up to Sameera, she opened her mouth to stammer out as much but Sameera was looking elsewhere. Nenet closed the book with a soft snap. It was no great loss to her not to have to stutter through an entire speech. After all, if they’d both read it, then they had the same memories of it. Why talk when they could just agree on that? ...except she would have liked to. If they were exchanging letters, Nenet would likely have waxed long on her opinions of the book, outlining several things she’d liked and things she didn’t. But this was in person and it was difficult for her to convey what she actually wanted to say in times like these.
“This is...Isis, yes?” Sameera asked, giving Isis a somewhat dubious look, Nenet thought. Well that wouldn’t do at all, would it?
“Mmmmhmmm,” Nenet hummed out, not at all afraid to make sounds to indicate words. Definitely easier. She shifted aside a pile of kalasiris in order to get to Isis. The cat purred at her approach, evidently not quite as asleep as she’d have had the two girls believe. One emerald eye peeped out but then both opened as Nenet scooped up the fluffy furball in her arms. Isis’s plumy tail flicked a little and she purred through it all but it was less a contented purr and more of one that was an attempt to reassure herself. And possibly Nenet.
“H-h-h-h-her-r-re,” Nenet grinned and dumped Isis straight into Sameera’s arms. Isis purred and shifted against this new human, looking up in feline curiosity but poised to jump away at the same time. She was prevented from doing that by Nenet, who kept her body purposefully close. Her hand glided along Isis’s spine and the cat arched and lifted her hind end in response, relaxing a fraction.
“Sh-sh-sh-she’s-s sw-sw-sweet-t-t,” Nenet promised her friend. “J-j-j-j-jus-s-st-t-t-t p-p-p-pet-t-t h-her a llllllit-t-t-t-tle?” Most animals were sacred to Egyptians in at least one form or another. Cats, while being the sacred animal of Bastet, were also prized for keeping mice at bay, thus preventing diseases, adding to their mystical allure. Isis was by far not the only cat in the Sheifa household, but she was definitely the one Nenet spent the most time with. She’d plucked her out of a litter of kittens and kept her mostly in this room. As such, Nenet had become Isis’s primary person and because Nenet was so quiet and so unlikely to move for long periods of time, she was, of course, an ideal napping place. The two suited one another.
Nenet beamed at her pet, her doe eyes brilliant and proud as she glanced up at Sameera to make sure her friend was also properly in love with this animal. “I h-h-hav-ve oth-th-ther-r b-b-b-books-s,” she said after a moment, gesturing out onto the covered balcony. It was shaded from the sun by a wide strip of blue fabric that bathed the whole spot in a cool, calming color. Cushions sat there, along with a potted palm, and a respectable pile of trashy novels.
Nenet put a finger to her lips and winked. “S-s-s-secr-r-ret-t b-b-b-books-s,” she added and waved Sameera after her to come see. There they would find such titles as Heat of the Nile, and A Lord For His Lady, and Desert Nights, among others. Activities that Nenet was sure Nia got up to while Nenet merely read about them.
Sameera was still pondering what exactly one was supposed to do with a cat when Nenet woke it up and it began to purr. She had enough of an idea of cats to recognize the sound, though she didn't know the variations it could produce.
Sameera's mind went blank the second the cat entered her arms, and she blurted out a quiet, "Hello." to the cat. She wasn't used to holding living creatures, she thought somewhat irrationally as she glanced into the cat's emerald eyes. They were certainly a nice hue, Sameera thought, glancing nervously at Nenet. The closeness of her friend was comforting, as Sameera feared that she might be holding the cat wrong, or that it might decide to use the naturally sharp claws or teeth that it had.
She was also slightly worried that any number of failures on her part would be offensive to the cat, who was a prized animal, certainly, but she took Nenet's advice, nodding her head as she patted the cat gently. Sometimes it took her a little time to figure out what Nenet was saying, but she got the general idea pretty quickly.
Isis' fur was very soft, Sameera thought, and her face showed a small amount of surprise. She had expected the cat to feel a lot more solid than she did, and she continued to pet the cat gently, almost as if she were afraid that petting Isis with heavier hands might lead the cat to disappear.
"Very sweet," Sameera said after a while, repeating Nenet's earlier sentiments. She could see the appeal in having such a creature around all the time, not to mention the benefits of having a free mouse-catcher around. She was still unsteady with the animal, though, and was perhaps a bit more firm holding her than she should be. She didn't want to drop Nenet's feline best friend. She just hoped she wouldn't be holding any of the other cats in the household, if there were any. One cat was probably enough.
Sameera raised an eyebrow, following Nenet's gesture to the balcony by peaking over that way to see the 'secret books.' "Secret?" she said, trying to catch a glimpse of the titles.
She set the cat down, or tried to. Perhaps it was more in the cat's nature to try to jump down from Sameera's arms, but she was worried that it might be a bit fragile for that. It seemed so delicate, almost like a glass of something, and she wanted to treat it properly.
Now she walked over to follow Nenet the balcony, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend jokingly, "Let's see these, 'secret books,' then." She got a peak at the covers and her cheeks felt hot. Those kinds of secret books, then. She giggled just a little, uncharacteristically. She was usually a little too embarrassed to purchase books like those, mostly due to her lack of experience with the subject.
She would think she could get up to that sort of thing if she had opportunities, but her mother's Bedoan traditions of virginity were the model for her life even as an Egyptian young lady, and she was never really seen as a great beauty like some of the Sheifa girls or the Isazaris. Still, the opportunity to read about such things was tempting, to say the least.
She picked up a book and wiggled her eyebrows, feeling much more like herself than when she was sitting with her mother and quietly reading a book about some war or another, perhaps with some poetry tossed in. That wasn't to say that she despised the war stories or poetry, but often she felt as though she was missing out on parts of life.
Sameera didn't have high expectations for her life. She'd get married, have some kids, and continue to live as she always had, slipping in poetry with attending the events of Court and celebrating in the decadent festivals of Egypt. She had seen books like Nenet's secret books before, but never had the courage to purchase one, both from fear of judgement and fear of a change to a life she had almost always taken for granted. If she started reading these, would she find herself imagining scenarios like that? Wishing for opportunities in a place where there might not be any?
"Are they...any good?" Sameera asked, flipping through the pages to examine just a little bit of the writing. She found the description of something the protagonist was wearing was interesting, but not in the same way that the description of the earlier book had been. Clearly different writers, then, but she giggled to think about writing something like that herself.
She turned her eyes to Nenet, looking at the older girl. Though they were only a few years apart, Sameera trusted the opinions of Nenet as if she were an older sister.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Sameera was still pondering what exactly one was supposed to do with a cat when Nenet woke it up and it began to purr. She had enough of an idea of cats to recognize the sound, though she didn't know the variations it could produce.
Sameera's mind went blank the second the cat entered her arms, and she blurted out a quiet, "Hello." to the cat. She wasn't used to holding living creatures, she thought somewhat irrationally as she glanced into the cat's emerald eyes. They were certainly a nice hue, Sameera thought, glancing nervously at Nenet. The closeness of her friend was comforting, as Sameera feared that she might be holding the cat wrong, or that it might decide to use the naturally sharp claws or teeth that it had.
She was also slightly worried that any number of failures on her part would be offensive to the cat, who was a prized animal, certainly, but she took Nenet's advice, nodding her head as she patted the cat gently. Sometimes it took her a little time to figure out what Nenet was saying, but she got the general idea pretty quickly.
Isis' fur was very soft, Sameera thought, and her face showed a small amount of surprise. She had expected the cat to feel a lot more solid than she did, and she continued to pet the cat gently, almost as if she were afraid that petting Isis with heavier hands might lead the cat to disappear.
"Very sweet," Sameera said after a while, repeating Nenet's earlier sentiments. She could see the appeal in having such a creature around all the time, not to mention the benefits of having a free mouse-catcher around. She was still unsteady with the animal, though, and was perhaps a bit more firm holding her than she should be. She didn't want to drop Nenet's feline best friend. She just hoped she wouldn't be holding any of the other cats in the household, if there were any. One cat was probably enough.
Sameera raised an eyebrow, following Nenet's gesture to the balcony by peaking over that way to see the 'secret books.' "Secret?" she said, trying to catch a glimpse of the titles.
She set the cat down, or tried to. Perhaps it was more in the cat's nature to try to jump down from Sameera's arms, but she was worried that it might be a bit fragile for that. It seemed so delicate, almost like a glass of something, and she wanted to treat it properly.
Now she walked over to follow Nenet the balcony, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend jokingly, "Let's see these, 'secret books,' then." She got a peak at the covers and her cheeks felt hot. Those kinds of secret books, then. She giggled just a little, uncharacteristically. She was usually a little too embarrassed to purchase books like those, mostly due to her lack of experience with the subject.
She would think she could get up to that sort of thing if she had opportunities, but her mother's Bedoan traditions of virginity were the model for her life even as an Egyptian young lady, and she was never really seen as a great beauty like some of the Sheifa girls or the Isazaris. Still, the opportunity to read about such things was tempting, to say the least.
She picked up a book and wiggled her eyebrows, feeling much more like herself than when she was sitting with her mother and quietly reading a book about some war or another, perhaps with some poetry tossed in. That wasn't to say that she despised the war stories or poetry, but often she felt as though she was missing out on parts of life.
Sameera didn't have high expectations for her life. She'd get married, have some kids, and continue to live as she always had, slipping in poetry with attending the events of Court and celebrating in the decadent festivals of Egypt. She had seen books like Nenet's secret books before, but never had the courage to purchase one, both from fear of judgement and fear of a change to a life she had almost always taken for granted. If she started reading these, would she find herself imagining scenarios like that? Wishing for opportunities in a place where there might not be any?
"Are they...any good?" Sameera asked, flipping through the pages to examine just a little bit of the writing. She found the description of something the protagonist was wearing was interesting, but not in the same way that the description of the earlier book had been. Clearly different writers, then, but she giggled to think about writing something like that herself.
She turned her eyes to Nenet, looking at the older girl. Though they were only a few years apart, Sameera trusted the opinions of Nenet as if she were an older sister.
Sameera was still pondering what exactly one was supposed to do with a cat when Nenet woke it up and it began to purr. She had enough of an idea of cats to recognize the sound, though she didn't know the variations it could produce.
Sameera's mind went blank the second the cat entered her arms, and she blurted out a quiet, "Hello." to the cat. She wasn't used to holding living creatures, she thought somewhat irrationally as she glanced into the cat's emerald eyes. They were certainly a nice hue, Sameera thought, glancing nervously at Nenet. The closeness of her friend was comforting, as Sameera feared that she might be holding the cat wrong, or that it might decide to use the naturally sharp claws or teeth that it had.
She was also slightly worried that any number of failures on her part would be offensive to the cat, who was a prized animal, certainly, but she took Nenet's advice, nodding her head as she patted the cat gently. Sometimes it took her a little time to figure out what Nenet was saying, but she got the general idea pretty quickly.
Isis' fur was very soft, Sameera thought, and her face showed a small amount of surprise. She had expected the cat to feel a lot more solid than she did, and she continued to pet the cat gently, almost as if she were afraid that petting Isis with heavier hands might lead the cat to disappear.
"Very sweet," Sameera said after a while, repeating Nenet's earlier sentiments. She could see the appeal in having such a creature around all the time, not to mention the benefits of having a free mouse-catcher around. She was still unsteady with the animal, though, and was perhaps a bit more firm holding her than she should be. She didn't want to drop Nenet's feline best friend. She just hoped she wouldn't be holding any of the other cats in the household, if there were any. One cat was probably enough.
Sameera raised an eyebrow, following Nenet's gesture to the balcony by peaking over that way to see the 'secret books.' "Secret?" she said, trying to catch a glimpse of the titles.
She set the cat down, or tried to. Perhaps it was more in the cat's nature to try to jump down from Sameera's arms, but she was worried that it might be a bit fragile for that. It seemed so delicate, almost like a glass of something, and she wanted to treat it properly.
Now she walked over to follow Nenet the balcony, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend jokingly, "Let's see these, 'secret books,' then." She got a peak at the covers and her cheeks felt hot. Those kinds of secret books, then. She giggled just a little, uncharacteristically. She was usually a little too embarrassed to purchase books like those, mostly due to her lack of experience with the subject.
She would think she could get up to that sort of thing if she had opportunities, but her mother's Bedoan traditions of virginity were the model for her life even as an Egyptian young lady, and she was never really seen as a great beauty like some of the Sheifa girls or the Isazaris. Still, the opportunity to read about such things was tempting, to say the least.
She picked up a book and wiggled her eyebrows, feeling much more like herself than when she was sitting with her mother and quietly reading a book about some war or another, perhaps with some poetry tossed in. That wasn't to say that she despised the war stories or poetry, but often she felt as though she was missing out on parts of life.
Sameera didn't have high expectations for her life. She'd get married, have some kids, and continue to live as she always had, slipping in poetry with attending the events of Court and celebrating in the decadent festivals of Egypt. She had seen books like Nenet's secret books before, but never had the courage to purchase one, both from fear of judgement and fear of a change to a life she had almost always taken for granted. If she started reading these, would she find herself imagining scenarios like that? Wishing for opportunities in a place where there might not be any?
"Are they...any good?" Sameera asked, flipping through the pages to examine just a little bit of the writing. She found the description of something the protagonist was wearing was interesting, but not in the same way that the description of the earlier book had been. Clearly different writers, then, but she giggled to think about writing something like that herself.
She turned her eyes to Nenet, looking at the older girl. Though they were only a few years apart, Sameera trusted the opinions of Nenet as if she were an older sister.
Nenet grinned as Sameera waggled her brows, asking to see the ‘secret’ books. Of course, they weren’t strictly a secret. Any of her family could come onto the balcony at any time and see the pile there. Or servants. In fact, now that she stopped to think of it, the servants likely knew all about this stash of books and just didn’t care. ...if they could read, that was. Did poor people read, Nenet wondered? Oh how sad if they didn’t….Sameera leaned down and picked up one of the books. Nenet’s gaze followed her and her own cheeks flooded with heat as she saw the pink bloom across Sameera’s face. Obviously this wasn’t a shared reading material. In that moment, she almost wished that she hadn’t shown her friend these. Then they could go on pretending that everything was normal and nothing was weird.
“Are they...any good?” Sameera finally asked and Nenet found her mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish out of water. How...was she to answer that innocent question? Her mouth snapped absolutely shut though when Sameera looked fully at her, apparently expecting an actual response.
“W-welll,” Nenet stammered, gesturing towards the book as though that would explain everything. How on earth was she to explain that the main protagonist was a plucky nobody who’d stumbled into a great Sirdar who had rippling muscles and a contract with his father to marry the first beautiful woman he saw? And of course the following passages about the torrid affair between the Sidar and this woman who was also being pursued by a rival Sirdar…
“I-i-it-t-t’s-s...uh….y-y-yeah?” Her freckles stood out stark across her face as the blush creeped along her cheeks and over her nose. Maybe that one wasn’t the best one to start out with. Reaching down, she sifted through and handed Sameera a different one. “Th-thi-this-s o-one h-h-has-s p-p-p-pir-r-r-r-rat-t-tes.”
It was a tale of yet another noble girl being swept off her feet by a dashing, yet ruthless pirate who, of course, had a hidden heart of gold, as most of these tales did. This one, too, was complete with rippling muscles and clothes having the unfortunate and consistent malfunction of falling off people’s body at just the most inopportune (or most opportune, depending on how one looked at it) moment.
Nenet tried to explain that while there was a lot more sex in this one, it wasn’t nearly as graphic. That only made her embarrassment worse. Maybe they should have stuck to books with subjects like geography or history. Now Sameera was going to think her very strange and Nenet was a little ashamed of herself...but only a very little. She’d keep reading this trash whether or not her friend approved, though she may not be open about it.
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Nenet grinned as Sameera waggled her brows, asking to see the ‘secret’ books. Of course, they weren’t strictly a secret. Any of her family could come onto the balcony at any time and see the pile there. Or servants. In fact, now that she stopped to think of it, the servants likely knew all about this stash of books and just didn’t care. ...if they could read, that was. Did poor people read, Nenet wondered? Oh how sad if they didn’t….Sameera leaned down and picked up one of the books. Nenet’s gaze followed her and her own cheeks flooded with heat as she saw the pink bloom across Sameera’s face. Obviously this wasn’t a shared reading material. In that moment, she almost wished that she hadn’t shown her friend these. Then they could go on pretending that everything was normal and nothing was weird.
“Are they...any good?” Sameera finally asked and Nenet found her mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish out of water. How...was she to answer that innocent question? Her mouth snapped absolutely shut though when Sameera looked fully at her, apparently expecting an actual response.
“W-welll,” Nenet stammered, gesturing towards the book as though that would explain everything. How on earth was she to explain that the main protagonist was a plucky nobody who’d stumbled into a great Sirdar who had rippling muscles and a contract with his father to marry the first beautiful woman he saw? And of course the following passages about the torrid affair between the Sidar and this woman who was also being pursued by a rival Sirdar…
“I-i-it-t-t’s-s...uh….y-y-yeah?” Her freckles stood out stark across her face as the blush creeped along her cheeks and over her nose. Maybe that one wasn’t the best one to start out with. Reaching down, she sifted through and handed Sameera a different one. “Th-thi-this-s o-one h-h-has-s p-p-p-pir-r-r-r-rat-t-tes.”
It was a tale of yet another noble girl being swept off her feet by a dashing, yet ruthless pirate who, of course, had a hidden heart of gold, as most of these tales did. This one, too, was complete with rippling muscles and clothes having the unfortunate and consistent malfunction of falling off people’s body at just the most inopportune (or most opportune, depending on how one looked at it) moment.
Nenet tried to explain that while there was a lot more sex in this one, it wasn’t nearly as graphic. That only made her embarrassment worse. Maybe they should have stuck to books with subjects like geography or history. Now Sameera was going to think her very strange and Nenet was a little ashamed of herself...but only a very little. She’d keep reading this trash whether or not her friend approved, though she may not be open about it.
Nenet grinned as Sameera waggled her brows, asking to see the ‘secret’ books. Of course, they weren’t strictly a secret. Any of her family could come onto the balcony at any time and see the pile there. Or servants. In fact, now that she stopped to think of it, the servants likely knew all about this stash of books and just didn’t care. ...if they could read, that was. Did poor people read, Nenet wondered? Oh how sad if they didn’t….Sameera leaned down and picked up one of the books. Nenet’s gaze followed her and her own cheeks flooded with heat as she saw the pink bloom across Sameera’s face. Obviously this wasn’t a shared reading material. In that moment, she almost wished that she hadn’t shown her friend these. Then they could go on pretending that everything was normal and nothing was weird.
“Are they...any good?” Sameera finally asked and Nenet found her mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish out of water. How...was she to answer that innocent question? Her mouth snapped absolutely shut though when Sameera looked fully at her, apparently expecting an actual response.
“W-welll,” Nenet stammered, gesturing towards the book as though that would explain everything. How on earth was she to explain that the main protagonist was a plucky nobody who’d stumbled into a great Sirdar who had rippling muscles and a contract with his father to marry the first beautiful woman he saw? And of course the following passages about the torrid affair between the Sidar and this woman who was also being pursued by a rival Sirdar…
“I-i-it-t-t’s-s...uh….y-y-yeah?” Her freckles stood out stark across her face as the blush creeped along her cheeks and over her nose. Maybe that one wasn’t the best one to start out with. Reaching down, she sifted through and handed Sameera a different one. “Th-thi-this-s o-one h-h-has-s p-p-p-pir-r-r-r-rat-t-tes.”
It was a tale of yet another noble girl being swept off her feet by a dashing, yet ruthless pirate who, of course, had a hidden heart of gold, as most of these tales did. This one, too, was complete with rippling muscles and clothes having the unfortunate and consistent malfunction of falling off people’s body at just the most inopportune (or most opportune, depending on how one looked at it) moment.
Nenet tried to explain that while there was a lot more sex in this one, it wasn’t nearly as graphic. That only made her embarrassment worse. Maybe they should have stuck to books with subjects like geography or history. Now Sameera was going to think her very strange and Nenet was a little ashamed of herself...but only a very little. She’d keep reading this trash whether or not her friend approved, though she may not be open about it.
