Thread: The Space Between The Stars (A Corsair/Mim Adventure)

Yusra hated that her automatic reaction was a gesture of comfort. Pain seared through her back at nearly the same time that John clenched his hands around hers, but her only reaction was a single, slight wince around the eyes. She refused to show pain or discomfort. When his hands tightened she tightened her grip back without being aggressive, watching the contrast as her dark thumbs ran in small circles over the backs of his thin, pale hands. Gradually, as though her own gesture had been controlled rather than instinctual, she stilled her fingers and gave his hands one last squeeze, nodding very slightly. Unlike her intended, who seemed intent on her, the princess allowed her gaze to flick around the courtyard and land for more than a bare moment on Sir Philip. Look at your brother-in-law. Mother knew best, after all. Which reminded her... She took a moment to glance downward, a little surprised at herself that she hadn't made it more of a priority before. Of course, everyone knew it was how you used what God gave you, but size was also a factor. It was difficult to gauge, given the circumstances, just how much of a factor it would be but she was able to make out that he wasn't circumcised. And thank the ancestors for that she had heard rumor of ritual genital mutilation some star systems practiced on their babies. Others, in their own empire, held down their girls who had just hit puberty and mutilated them, a practice they were working to stamp out. The practice and aesthetic was abhorrent to Pleidans, regardless of the age at which it was done, and she had worried that perhaps on top of everything else that would be yet another issue to deal with. Instead she allowed her gaze to linger for very slightly longer than was appropriate before her eyes flicked back up to John's face where she could barely see the traditional design in white paint, meeting his gaze. Yusra quirked an eyebrow and one corner of her mouth turned up slightly in a teasing, suggestive smirk. She still didn't like him, and she hadn't forgiven him for earlier, but shared pain had a way of drawing people together and humor and flirtation would ease the ordeal. The two sat their for over an hour, knives slicing into their backs. It wasn't so much the slicing which bothered Yusra as it was the thorns being poked into the fresh wounds. Her muscles ached, too, from her insistence at sitting rod-straight the entire time to demonstrate that she lacked both fear and pain through the ordeal. She did, however, allow a modicum of relief to seep into her eyes as Sir Philip and the Queen Consort began stacking wood around their feet. That meant it was almost over. Finally the blood was wiped from their backs and a soothing, healing ointment applied with a single feather. It dripped unctuously down their backs as they rose, feet tingling with pins and needles, and stepped out of the pit. Bomani and the other man who had accompanied John approached their respective rulers, handing them torches, and on Yusra's silent signal they bent together and lit the pile of wood. May the ancestors bless your union, Gatimu cried above the cheers of the revelers, and grant you strong, healthy children. May they guide your hands in your marriage, in your lives, and in your rule. He grinned. Let's eat! Yusra wrapped her dress carefully around herself with her mother's help, tying it behind her neck now rather than at her shoulder to avoid any of the cloth touching her back. She began to walk away with Belakane, but the older woman nudged her toward Prince John. They had, after all, just gone through quite an ordeal together in a ceremony which was partly meant to strengthen the bond between them. Well now, that wasn't too terrible was it? Yusra teased, smiling stiffly. The worst is passed, mostly. And we've seen each other naked now, too, so at least that's out of the way. I don't think the wedding night will be too awkward.