Nocturnal and her bargain weren't foremost in Atria's mind as Karliah began calling upon the daedra, though she was curious about the mysterious patroness that supposedly influenced luck and thievery. Becoming a Nightingale - well she hadn't even known they were real before, and it seemed like little more than an honor. She wondered if there was more to it things that Karliah wasn't saying. The woman was understandably cagey when it come to information, though she'd been nothing but helpful to Atria.
"Ah, Karliah, they are willing, but not trusting, these two. Those in your profession must trust each other to band together. Mercer's betrayal has done much to splinter the group, and they will look to the three of you in the coming days. Trust cannot be built with one act alone, but rather a series of actions. You all must be willing to take the first step now." Nocturnal sounded more like a sage protector than a daedric Lord, but Atria nodded, unsure of what words to offer as confirmation.
While she did trust Karliah wholeheartedly, Brynjolf was another story. Her feelings towards him were complicated, and she couldn't pretend she didn't feel a sense of unease whenever she went into the Ragged Flagon. Amongst the members in the Cistern, she felt more at home, and was friendly with all of them, but the upper echelon, Brynjolf, Vex and Delvin, still intimidated her, especially in the vacuum of power since Mercer was unmasked. Vekel called her Bryn's protege, but she didn't feel like it, she felt as if she were still, constantly proving herself. They'd barely spoken since she'd finished the Goldenglow job, he'd simply passed her on to Mercer, who'd tried to kill her.
A tiny niggling inside of her reminded Atria of why she followed him in the first place. Of the well defined body that was not too far from where she stood, in indentical armor, the hands that looked both deft and strong, and the hidden shoulder-length ginger hair she wanted to run her hands through. Entirely inappropriate thoughts about someone whom barely even spoke to her most days.
All of these thoughts swirled within her as Nocturnal explained further. "You must create a bond together. It can be pleasurable, can it not, creating these ties? I do not wish you harm, not while Mercer still needs to be caught. But the three of you must join under my gaze, so I know it has been transacted, and take the steps towards trusting each other."
Karliah stepped off her circle, walking towards the center stone. "My lady, am I correct in understanding that you wish us to copulate?" Her voice was a little stilted as she formally posed the question, but otherwise she betrayed no other outward sign of distress. Comprehension bloomed within Atria as she began to understand Karliah's words from earlier. A price to be paid, anything the goddess demanded.
"Yes." Was all the answer she provided to them. Karliah looked over her shoulders, first at Bryn and then at Atria, who merely shrugged at her. This wasn't the first time that the Dragonborn had been involved in sex with more than one person, though she hadn't thought it would ever be required of her. Despite the massive potential to become awkward, it wasn't a truly unwelcome situation. She'd done worse for daedric lords - luring people to their deaths, fighting spirits; sex with her fellow Nightingales was like a vacation comparatively.
Atria walked to Karliah's side, and joined her on the center platform where the shrouded form of Nocturnal hung above them. Bryn was aghast, and took off his mask so he could display it. "Lady Nocturnal, you actually want us to? All three of us? Right now?"
"Yes, to all of those questions. Prove your loyalty to me and to each other, or be denied and damned."
A Price to Pay 2/?
"Ah, Karliah, they are willing, but not trusting, these two. Those in your profession must trust each other to band together. Mercer's betrayal has done much to splinter the group, and they will look to the three of you in the coming days. Trust cannot be built with one act alone, but rather a series of actions. You all must be willing to take the first step now." Nocturnal sounded more like a sage protector than a daedric Lord, but Atria nodded, unsure of what words to offer as confirmation.
While she did trust Karliah wholeheartedly, Brynjolf was another story. Her feelings towards him were complicated, and she couldn't pretend she didn't feel a sense of unease whenever she went into the Ragged Flagon. Amongst the members in the Cistern, she felt more at home, and was friendly with all of them, but the upper echelon, Brynjolf, Vex and Delvin, still intimidated her, especially in the vacuum of power since Mercer was unmasked. Vekel called her Bryn's protege, but she didn't feel like it, she felt as if she were still, constantly proving herself. They'd barely spoken since she'd finished the Goldenglow job, he'd simply passed her on to Mercer, who'd tried to kill her.
A tiny niggling inside of her reminded Atria of why she followed him in the first place. Of the well defined body that was not too far from where she stood, in indentical armor, the hands that looked both deft and strong, and the hidden shoulder-length ginger hair she wanted to run her hands through. Entirely inappropriate thoughts about someone whom barely even spoke to her most days.
All of these thoughts swirled within her as Nocturnal explained further. "You must create a bond together. It can be pleasurable, can it not, creating these ties? I do not wish you harm, not while Mercer still needs to be caught. But the three of you must join under my gaze, so I know it has been transacted, and take the steps towards trusting each other."
Karliah stepped off her circle, walking towards the center stone. "My lady, am I correct in understanding that you wish us to copulate?" Her voice was a little stilted as she formally posed the question, but otherwise she betrayed no other outward sign of distress. Comprehension bloomed within Atria as she began to understand Karliah's words from earlier. A price to be paid, anything the goddess demanded.
"Yes." Was all the answer she provided to them. Karliah looked over her shoulders, first at Bryn and then at Atria, who merely shrugged at her. This wasn't the first time that the Dragonborn had been involved in sex with more than one person, though she hadn't thought it would ever be required of her. Despite the massive potential to become awkward, it wasn't a truly unwelcome situation. She'd done worse for daedric lords - luring people to their deaths, fighting spirits; sex with her fellow Nightingales was like a vacation comparatively.
Atria walked to Karliah's side, and joined her on the center platform where the shrouded form of Nocturnal hung above them. Bryn was aghast, and took off his mask so he could display it. "Lady Nocturnal, you actually want us to? All three of us? Right now?"
"Yes, to all of those questions. Prove your loyalty to me and to each other, or be denied and damned."