Thread: Fit For A Royal (PsionicCuttlefish & Frogger)

Unfortunately, it seemed to Rook that his little lick of affection might not have had the effect he intended, with how Evelyn quickly pressed a hand over her mouth and seemed almost more tense. She eventually responded that she was okay...but Rook couldn't figure out why she was saying that. She clearly was not fine...so why was she telling him that? It was his job to tend to his Mistress' every need... Once Evelyn was fully dressed again and she took his leash to lead him out of the room, he followed at her side on hands and knees again, but with a somewhat troubled feeling nagging at him. Upon reaching the dinner table, Rook did as a proper Pet should, and sat on the floor to the side and behind Evelyn's chair like a Pet with his feet and rear on the ground, knees pulled up almost to his shoulders, and hands down on the floor between his legs. It was a well-practiced pose for him, easy to do despite how uncomfortable it might have looked to others--which was of course the point. There was very little conversation at the dinner, even with the number of people present. At one point, the Queen told his Mistress that she needed to call for food for him. Behind Evelyn's chair, rook tilted his head...how could Mistress not know that? But Mistress Evelyn then did just that and called another servant to serve him a meal too...and very unusually, Evelyn simply said to just serve him the same thing everyone else was eating. Rook perked up in surprise, being allowed to eat Mistress-food? She was so generous! When the servant brought his food, it was of course in a pet feeding-bowl, but the contents smelled delicious. Rook didn't know what he had done to deserve such good food, but he was going to savor it. The servant set the bowl down on the floor in front of him, and once Evelyn also gave him permission Being able to eat before Mistress was finished first, too? So generous! Rook even felt she might be spoiling him, but he wasn't going to question it. he went from sitting back to all-fours hands-and-knees, and leaned his wolfy face to the bowl to eat from it without using hands, just like he should. He ate slowly, enjoying the wonderful gift, but not too slowly. And despite how it looked, he managed to eat and lick the bowl clean without getting a speck of food on his face--this was simply how he had always eaten, and he was adept at doing it without making a mess. Once he was done, he returned to his sitting position with a happy open-mouthed smile and brief canine-panting. Thank you, Mistress Evelyn! He said in an earnest voice, as he must always thank Mistress for every gift, and he really did appreciate this one. Mistress Evelyn had not been what he expected, she had been so overly kind and had lavished him with so much he didn't deserve already. He was determined more than ever to earn such generosity from his Mistress. Once Evelyn bade her family good night and took his leash, he eagerly followed at her side again back to her room. He readily helped her undress and put her nightgown on her once she had picked it out, a very pretty purple one. It made a very nice contrast to her golden hair, which she began undoing ribbons from as she spoke to him of how exhausted she was. He perked up again, while it seemed likely she would not 'use' him tonight if she was tired, he couldn't wait to be her warm snuggle-toy for her to relax in! She then mentioned washing her face and brushing her hair, and Rook perked up even more, and spoke up this time. Ooh! Pet can brush Mistress Evelyn's hair, yes! Pet is very good at brushing, can do it for Mistress Evelyn. Will you allow Pet to brush? He offered quickly, looking at Evelyn with a very excited expression. Once he did obtain permission and Evelyn finished washing her face, he had her sit in a reclined chair that ended with a neck-rest, just like she would if any other servant were to brush or comb her hair without doing it quickly while standing. Rook got every brush and comb he could find ready, gingerly gathered up Evelyn's curly golden locks in a hand to slide it all out behind her where he could access it, and got to work. He started with the largest brush, lightly pressed it at her scalp, and... very slowly...drew it back along the entire length of a section of her curly hair with the most gentle of tugs, using his free hand to gently press on the curls as the brush moved, to keep the tiny pressure as consistent as possible over the random thickening and thinning clusters of curls. He brought the brush back to her scalp...and repeated the long, slow stroke of the brush, moving it one inch at a time, so gently working it over her swirled tresses. Every time the brush encountered a tangle, he did not pull on it, but rather, softly worked the brush against the spot, coaxing the tangle to part gently. After a number of passes with the largest brush, enough for loose hair to stop gathering on it, he moved to a smaller, finer one, then to an even finer brush, then to a large comb, then to a fine-tooth comb. With each one, Evelyn felt the repeated scalp-caresses and gentle smoothing of her hair. It was very different from any time Evelyn had ever had her hair brushed by a servant. For them, it was a job, a task that needed to be done expeditiously. But very early on, it had to be clear that Rook was... taking his time with it. As if, instead of being a job for him, it was something he wanted to do, something he enjoyed , and prolonged as much as possible. So slow. So steady. So relaxing . Almost hypnotic...like a lullaby. In fact, if Evelyn even started drifting off, well, it would be far from the first time a woman had ended up dozing under the trained brushing and combing of Rook! After more than half an hour, Rook set the final comb aside, cleaned the brushes of gathered hair, and gingerly prodded the princess' shoulder. All done, Mistress Evelyn... He whispered in a quiet and soothing voice. If Evelyn reached back to feel her hair...it quite possibly would feel the smoothest and silkiest she had ever known, every errant and loose hair gone, every tangle undone...she could press her fingers deep into the curly bush and run her fingers through the entire length without a single catch.