Citan's reflections continue...Genshaku: "Hey, Blossom. Look what I found — a lonely bottle, looking for someone to party with…"
Citan: "Genshaku — that's… that's a bottle of the Roseleaf Golden…. From my uncle's private stock!"
Genshaku: "Well, this is our little private party. But we need some proper glasses — can't drink a vintage like this out of our teacups now, can we?"
Citan: "You're
incorrigible… I'll get some. Let's hope nobody asks me what I need them for—"
Genshaku: "Yes, because you're still a
pathetic liar."
(Citan leaves)Genshaku: "Going to need some napkins too — I think those were in here…. Hmm? What's
this? Now, that's odd, why would he hide a
book in here?
"Ah…. Now I see why..."
Genshaku: "This is so beautiful… "
Genshaku: "Look what I found hidden under your towels… naughty-
naughty Citan, I wouldn't have believed it of you! You've got a
pillow book!"
Citan: "Careful, that's
very old. It belonged to my sister Eriadana."
Genshaku: "The one who raised you? Don't tell me she used
that for your bedtime stories...."
Citan: "No, I discovered it after she died.. I found it hidden away in a false-bottomed drawer. But I remember seeing it on her reading table, and I knew it was one she read often.
The Tale of Falling Light and Unbroken Wave. By 'The Graceful Pen of Sorrows' —"
Genshaku: "Now that's a pen name if I ever heard one. Probably one of the ladies of the court, who never could admit she wrote it without dishonoring her family... Bet you it's on the Immaculate Order's banned list, too. "
Citan: "I'm sure it is, between the, uh, illustrations and the subject matter… Falling Light's one of the Anathema, but he falls in love with a Dragon-blooded warrior, Unbroken Wave — he's a Water Aspect, of course, with a name like that."
Genshaku: "I suppose it has the usual tragic moral ending, too?"
Citan: "Naturally. When his lover is killed, Falling Light's grief leads him to revert to his true demonic nature, and destroys an entire army single-handedly before the Shogun's five Dragon-blooded Champions manage to bring him down. But then they're buried together in the same tomb, which I always thought was a nice romantic touch."
Genshaku: (turning pages) "This is a
much better example of Willow Court Shogunate epic prose style than anything Master Shi-tung ever had us read in class. It's absolutely classical, perfect form in every way."
Genshaku: "And talk about perfect form… these illustrations are quite…"
Citan: "Erotic?"
Genshaku: "....Well-detailed."
Genshaku: "Oooh, now
that's athletic — and they're doing it under water, too, see how their hair is flowing around them in little water-waves? How many of these positions have you tried?"
Citan: "Uh…"
(blushing) "Just one, page 24. My cousin Kelles…"
Genshaku: (
Flipping through the book to check...) "Awwww, that one's
tame… but I guess she
was your cousin. One down, looks like twenty-four to go…. You're already behind. Which one's your favorite?"
Citan: (blushing even more) "Page 47."
Genshaku: "Hmmm…"
(flipping pages) "Oh, that one's
nice… and they've even mostly still got their clothes on. Want to try it?"
Citan: "……Uh, Genshaku, I—"
Genshaku: "Don't go all shy on me. You can be the Dragon-blooded, that's less heretical, right? Besides, your hair's longer than mine…."
Citan: "……"
Genshaku: "Oh, you know you want to, come on — here, have some more wine."
Citan: "Thank you.... I think."
Genshaku: "Now, we'll arrange your hair like so… and you need to loosen your sash… no, more than that… and my hand goes like so…"
Citan: "Has anyone ever told you what a terrible
tease you are, Genshaku…"
Genshaku: "Oh? Am I really…? And what are you going to do about it?"
(Citan can bear it no longer… he reaches up, and pulls Genshaku down into a fierce kiss...)(....Which Genshaku doesn't seem to mind at all, given the way his arms encircle Citan and hold him close. The kiss goes on for several minutes…)Genshaku: "Mmm-mmm…. About time we did that, don't you think, Blossom…?"
Citan: "...Yes.
Definitely…. "
Genshaku: "So… which position do you want to try next?"
CONTINUED... AFTER A DISCRETE INTERVAL ... IN THE NEXT POSTING...