#vusiks

Trax was starting to fell much healthier. She hadn't realized just how sick she had been. Apparently she had been running for weeks and was in such a delirious state she didn't realize it. She had lost a lot of body mass too so Vusiks had been feeding her extra. Vusiks was actually her primary caregiver. They said they wanted her to get used to them as their new master. It was working to and she was enjoying learning about her new leader. One things that fascinated her was that Vusiks had a lover named Sluzzell. Sluzzell was a wizard (a major taboo in normal illithid society but prefectly fine in Cultantum culture) and acted as Vusiks's retainer. Illithids in her old colony never had bondmates so this was new and interesting.

Sluzzell was coming in with another meal for her, setting the tray of brains and cerebral mushrooms across her lap.

"There you go Trax. Hopefully you'll start keeping some fat on your body now." Sluzzell said cheerfully.

"Thank you Sluzzell... may I talk to you?" Trax said pulling the brain into her mouth with her three remaining tentacles.

Sluzzell looked puzzled and sat on the edge if the bed, "Yes of course."

"How did you become bondmates with Master Vusiks?" Trax said sipping some water.

Sluzzell gave her an amused look, "We have been friends since we obtained ceremorphosis. He and I gained hosts around the same time. After that he started to support my training in magic."

Trax nodded, listening intently. Sluzzell chuckled and gave her a knowing look.

"You are interested in Vusiks aren't you Trax?" Sluzzell said.

Trax was caught off guard by the question. She fumbled for a moment and nearly choked on her mushrooms. Sluzzell laughed as Trax coughed.

"I'll take that as a yes." Sluzzell said smugly.

"I- well to be honest yes. I remember love. My host had a few husbands she rather liked and many children. Drow don't show love the way most species do, but my host had a tender spot for her family. I don't know if I love Vusiks the same way though." Trax said

"I think you do know." Sluzzell said warmly.

Trax was blushing even harder now. She covered her face with her hands. Sluzzell laughed and pat her leg.

"There there, its cute! You should tell him how you feel." Sluzzell said.

"Aren't you mad I'm interested in your partner?" Trax said.

"Most in our colony are polyamorous. Relationships rarely are just two." Sluzzell said.

Trax nodded and her tentacles curled slightly, "Do you think I have a chance?"

Sluzzell nodded, taking her plate. "More than a chance. I'm sure of it."

Sluzzell left the room and waiting outside was Vusiks, looking very pleased as they stroked their tentacles.

"My master, it is rude to eavesdrop." Sluzzell teased.

"Sluzzell make plans to move Trax to my bedroom for the rest of her recovery." Vusiks said.

Sluzzell laughed, "Already claiming her huh?"

Vusiks grabbed Sluzzell's tentacles in their own, pressing their foreheads together. A kiss in their language. "Of course. I always get what I want."

Sluzzell shuttered slightly with a blush and leaned against Vusiks, "I'll have her moved soon."

Trax always knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of her colony found out. Trax didn't consider herself an adversary but her extremely complete memory of her drow host said otherwise. She ran through the underdark as thralls shot arrows at her and her former colony set out psionic blasts. Luckily Trax was agile and quick. Soon she had outrun them but not without being seriously injured. Her clothes felt heavy and wet with blood as she continued limping on. She dragged herself along for when felt like days. She didn't stop for fear of them catching her. Finally her injuries and exhaustion proved too much and she fell. As her eyesight faded she saw figures approaching her.

When she opened her eyes she was no longer in the underdark. She was in a massive bed with down pillows and silk sheets. The room was beautiful as well. The style was illithid in nature but different, warped. The curtains of the room were drawn tightly as to not let any light in but she could tell there was sunlight outside. She really wasn't underdark. Then she knowticed her wounds were bandaged. She was distressed to see a tentacle had been amputated but she wasn't surprised, she had been on death's door.

The door to the bedroom slowly opened and Trax's eyes went wide. An ulitharid quietly entered the room. Their skin was a deep purple but their eyes were striking. Bright blue instead of the normal milky white. She could tell they were very young but that didn't make their presents any less imposing. They glided over and gently set their black staff down against the wall.

"Hello. You're finally awake. You had us worried for a while." They said. Their voice echoed in her mind but felt warm and comforting.

Trax hadn't spoken to an ulitharid in a long time so she chose her words carefully. "Sir, please would you tell me where I am?"

They sat on the edge of the bed and touched her head. She recoiled a bit but they continued, sending a wave of comfort to her telepathically.

"Hmm still a little dry. You had the ashen when we found you. As for where you are, you are in Cultantum." They said.

Trax was shocked again. She had heard of the Cultantum illithids. Strange insane illithids that lived on the surface. The ulitharid chuckled.

"Oh come now don't be so judgmental. Besides this colony is perfect for an adversary like you." They said.

Trax gasped and shrunk. She had hoped they didn't know. They chuckled and pet her head gently.

"Don't fret. We won't hurt you. You are safe here." They said softly.

Trax didn't think it was possible for an ulitharid to be this comforting. She barely knowticed she had leaned into their touch. She quickly corrected herself when she did and they laughed. They looked into her eyes and a smuggness came to their face, like they had just won a prize.

"My name is Vusiks. From today on, I will be your new master." They said.

Trax held her breath a moment and then spoke, "You... you would really take me?"

Vusiks nodded, "We take anyone so long as they are willing to live how we live."

Trax felt a relief wash over her. Vusiks gently brushed her cheek with their thumb.

"Now rest, you are still very ill. I'll be back up in a moment with something for you to eat." Vusiks said getting up.

Vusiks took a deep breath and steadied himself. He knew this meeting was going to go badly. Two goblins almost burn down a church, attack a citizen with a snake and then attack two of his bounty hunters. It was a mess that happened under his watch, his responsibility. He sighed and told his retainers to wait as he floated into Olberic's room.

The great gold dragon was in human form. Or as human as a 9 foot tall man could be called. His silver hair covered his eyes as he loomed over his windowsill, watching the city below.

"Come closer Vusiks, I don't bite." Olberic grasped out.

"Well that is a lie." Vusiks said floating closer, clinging to his black metal staff for comfort.

Olberic rolled a chuckle out of his throat. "True true, of course you know this better than anyone."

Olberic turned to look at Vusiks. The old dragon's movements had slowed with age. "Now... care to explain how two goblins made a fool out of your hunters?"

Vusiks paused as his tentacles anxiously twitched, "I won't lie to you sir, it caught me off guard."

Olberic let out a low rumbled before giving Vusiks a toothy grin, "An ulithaird caught off guard? Tsk tsk how embarrassing."

Vusiks narrowed his eyes as Olberic circled around him, like a beast stalking prey.

"I suppose it is to be expected though. You are still so young Vusiks. So much to learn." Olberic hummed out before coughing into his hand.

Vusiks raised a brow, "How are you feeling your majesty? Not over-exerting yourself I hope."

With that Vusiks felt a rush of wind as the old dragon whipped around to snap at him. "Do not think for a second that my health has made me weak you little welp! Do not think I don't see your game child!"

Vusiks twitched only slightly from Olberic's outburst and steeled himself.

Olberic paused and then chuckled, "Well now, before you would have recoiled much more from that. You're growing up aren't you?"

"With all hope I will continue to sir..." Vusiks said softly.

Olberic paced back to the window and looked put over the city, "You will Vusiks, I have every faith you will grow into a fine leader for the illithids of Cultantum. That's why I'm letting this altercation go."

Vusiks sighed ever so quietly, "Thank you sir."

Olberic peaked over his shoulder at Vusiks for a moment and then back out the window, "I hope as you grow older you will continue to work with me and my daughter. Especially my daughter."

Vusiks paused and thought over Olberic's words, "I... rather enjoy Titania's company sir. I look forward to it."

Olberic nodded, still looking out the window, "Good good... you may go Vusiks. I know my company is unpleasant."

Vusiks bowed deeply, "Have a good day your majesty."

Olberic grinned, "Not even going to lie about the unpleasant part?"

Vusiks started to float to the door, "Sir I would never lie to you."