Princess Rescue Inc (45 page)

They
traded tips on hygiene and makeup, and even watched a movie on Sue's laptop.
Sue explained about makeup and how it can be dangerous to their skin with long
term exposure. “Charlie here found dangerous levels of mercury and lead in your
makeup. The talc you use is okay but it's blocking your skin. It's great as a
sun block I guess but it's also cutting into your vitamin D production. That's
not good for your body over long periods of time.”

“Is
that why you gaijin wear no makeup?” a lady in waiting asked.

Sue
snorted. “Oh we wear makeup, just not gobs of it. Isn't it a pain in the summer
heat?” she asked. It wasn't quite summer yet but they had had a few hot humid
days. That had been a prelude to the coming summer, one the Terrans weren't
happy about.

The
Queen sighed and fanned herself. She had little makeup on. “It's a problem.
Sweat can make it run if we are in excessive heat for long periods.”

“Or
dancing for a long time,” Zara replied maliciously.

“This
is starting to sound like a Mary Kay or a makeup party,” Charlie laughed,
holding a glass of wine.

“A
little,” Doc said. Together the two chemists brought out their makeup kits and
showed the natives how they put on their own war paint. “It's understated but
it's there. I mean we can go all out if we're going to a party but I'm not the
type.”

“Well,
I am, I like yellow,” Wanda said, holding up yellow eye liner. It sparkled,
making the native girls awe and coo in appreciation. Of course they had to try
it.

“Raccoon
eyes,” Wanda said with a grin to Charlie. Charlie snorted. “Don't take this the
wrong way but you look a lot like a famous singer on Earth Princess Deidra,”
she said turning to the older princess. Deidra blinked at her.

“A
pop singer. Famous for her singing and somewhat for her acting,” Sue explained.
“Singers on Earth are celebrities.”

“Minstrels?”
a lady asked. “I dated one once. Terrible kisser,” she said. The girls giggled
at that.

Charlie
snorted and tapped at the laptop. It took a moment to pull up a video of
Britney. She pressed play. The women crowded around to watch. Deidra stared at
the image. “And you think she looks like me?”

“This
was when she was your age actually. You have the same facial structure and
hair, somewhat with the body. You also move with grace,” Wanda said. “I wonder
why that's on the net?” she asked. She'd expected maybe a picture. She checked
the link address and then snorted. “Figures, Newban. He's always been a hound
dog,” she said shaking her head.

“Newban?”

“Marine.
Marines are known for being hard headed, woman chasers, and brawlers. He's one
of our survival experts. Nice guy once you get past the macho crap and get him
to settle down alone. With the other guy's around he's impossible,” Sue said
shaking her head.

“I'll
remember that,” Zara replied dryly. Deidra and her mother stared at her. She
giggled, hand covering her mouth.

“What
of you, have you found any of the gaijin tempting?” a lady asked, turning to
Deidra.

“Yes
daughter, do tell,” the Queen asked sweetly.

Deidra
finally admitted to her mother’s probing that she was not adverse to a
relationship with Ryans. Her constant exposure to him had worn down some of the
rough edges in their relationship. He was standoffish with her though,
something that amused her. Charlie shook her head, clearly amused about the
discussion. “You're going to have a hell of a time getting through his defenses
now girl. Frontal assault is out of the question.”

Sue
giggled and then nodded. She knew she'd had a bit too much wine but needed to
unwind. She also knew she and the others were going to catch hell if this ever
got back to Ryans. “She's right, you've bitten his head off so often he ducks
and covers when you come around.” Deidra froze.

The
Queen nodded. “I noticed this. Whenever anyone who brings it up he suddenly has
something else, anything else, important to do,” she said. “Only when you are
unexpected and he is busy does he stay. And not for overlong,” she said
frowning.

Zara
hesitantly said she talked with him sometimes but not for long. She said he was
busy all the time, working on the defenses, building the army, and making new
things. “He hardly sleeps!” she said shaking her head. “Or eats for that
matter. I heard the servants complain when he left a third meal in his quarters
untouched.”

“That's
not what I heard,” Deidra said. “He's sleeping with the scullery wench,” she
said acidly. She'd heard the rumors swirling around the castle. Male
fornication was usually a topic she ignored, but now she was keen to hear any
rumors. They had borne fruit and she had of course felt disgust that he'd
proven to be just a man.

“Honey,
even your father has from time to time,” her mother said, making both girls
goggle at her. She waved off their surprise. “The wine must be affecting me.
Loosening my tongue more than it should,” the Queen said and then to their
surprise she giggled. “Sometimes it’s a good thing girls, it can take his edge
off if you’re not in the mood...and it quiets him down.”

Zara
shook her head. “He's not sleeping around, honest. I was there when she tried,
he just ignored it. Boy was she pissed!” Deidra looked confused.

“He’s
not really into you girls,” Wanda said slowly. “No offense. It's partly focus
on his work, and I know it's well, the makeup, dresses, and the politics,” she
said. The natives looked a little restless. “And yes, the age...” she shrugged
as Diedra frowned. “We also have a standing order not to well, fraternize with
you folks. He's leading by example I guess.”

“All
work and no play makes jack a dull boy,” Sue murmured. Charlie giggled, and
then translated the metaphor for the natives. “Still it's not good he's working
himself so hard,” Sue finally said with a scowl.

“So
says you. Isn't that a case of a kettle and a dark color Doc?” Charlie teased.
Sue hit her with a pillow, making her guffaw and laugh as she ducked away.

“So
what do I do if I want to see if he's the one?” Deidra asked, shoulders
hunched.

“Well,
first you need to get through his defenses.” Charlie said.

“Sneak
attack right,” one of the inebriated girls giggled.

“Ah
the fine art of seduction,” the Queen murmured wickedly. “Men only
think
they have sneaky down,” she grinned a feral grin.

“He's
so intent on getting us home and not giving up, he's missing the best thing he
may ever have. Even if you weren't all that inviting to begin with,” Sue said.
“No offense princess,” she said looking at Deidra. Charlie nodded. Deidra
sighed.

“Will
I be able to get through his defenses like that? To my people I am...” She
hugged herself as her face grew stony. “Damaged,” she admitted darkly. Zara
shivered. She was in the same position. The gaijin didn't know how badly they
needed Ryans now.

“Won't
be a problem for him,” Charlie said and then shook her head. “Hmm... no come to
think of it, it might be. If he thinks you’re coming on to him cause you feel
indebted to him, or cause you're being forced, it'll shut him down fast. The
man's got an honor streak, I'll give him that, stubborn too. He'll be so
worried about you being hurt that he'll be turned off too,” she said. She took
another sip of wine.

“Sneaky
like she said,” Zara said nodding.

“Oh
hell no, the guys from our world know now who's really sneaky... Which will
make your job even harder,” Sue said then sighed. “He's so smart he's dumb.”

“He's
rich, very rich. He's probably had women come on to him and might be wary of
that too,” Charlie said.

Sue
frowned. “Talk to him. Flirt a little. Go there when it's cold ,wearing
something skimpy and revealing. Don't expect much. Hell, don't push him too
hard at all. Shiver a little, remember the jacket?” Deidra nodded and then
brightened. Yes, Ryans was protective. Getting his protective instincts going
might be the crack in his armor she needed.

“He's
protective, all men are... or at least good men.” Charlie nodded. “Not the bad
ones, the bastards that raped you,” she grumbled darkly. The Queen's eyes
flash. She gave her daughters a look. Zara flushed.

“Something
lingering there? I know you haven't talked much. I haven't had the time to set
up a counseling session. I know you both probably need it.” Sue said giving
each princess a look. Deidra flushed. “It wasn't your fault you know. You
couldn't have stopped it. Or prevented it. If you had you would have likely
ended up with your throat slit like your brother,” she said. The girls pale at
this. Zara looked to her mother, eyes shiny with unshed tears. Sue plowed on in
drunken honesty.

“Hell,
I bet most of our guys have nightmares too,” Charlie said. “It wouldn't
surprise me at all if Ryans does,” she said. Zara gave her a disbelieving look.
“Well, they do. But it’s a dual edged thing. Some may be upset that they
weren't in time to prevent it, or upset their dark side liked the idea.” She
grimaced. “He's from our world. Women have made men much more sensitive. They
aren't all dumb jocks, no sirree, Ma’am. Sorry,” she said and hiccupped. “We're
pretty advanced when it comes to sexual mores; we've played all sorts of
games.”

The
Queen snorted in amusement. “I take it damsel in distress and rescuing are
common?” she asked with a slight smile.

“Okay,
I take it we're not as advanced on the role playing front as we believed,”
Charlie said giggling. Sue giggled as well for a moment, blushing as she
remembered some of her own games.

She
studied Deidra’s face as she sobered. Deidra looked away. She was trying to be
stoic but Sue could see right through it. “That's part of it isn't it?” Deidra
looked away biting her lip. “In some small way your body enjoyed it so you feel
betrayed,” Sue said softly. Deidra nodded then sobbed into her mother’s
embrace.

Her
mother rocked her. Zara hugged her side. “It's natural honey. All part of human
nature,” Sue said. “It's a survival instinct built into us.”

Deidra
was surprised by her mother's ready embrace. Her eyes pricked with tears. Her
mother hadn't hugged her in many years, not like this.

“It's
your body and sub consciousness defending you. We call it Stockholm syndrome,”
Charlie said.

“Did
you ever play that way? I know they say good girls don't but we have a habit of
doing what others don't expect,” Sue asked when the girls quieted down.

“What
do you mean?” Deidra asked looking up. She used the side of her hand to dash
her tears. Her mother handed her a hanky. She smiled her thanks and used it to
wipe at her runny makeup.

Sue
snorted. “What do you think I mean? D.I.D., Damsel In Distress like your mother
said.” She got up and hammed up. She pressed her hand to her brow, “Oh Romeo
save me,” she hammed. Charlie giggled a little, so did a few of the ladies,
albeit uncertainly. Sue straightened and smiled. “Its role play for us. Save
the damsel win the girl, or vice versa. Your mother just mentioned it a moment
ago.”

Zara
goggles again. “You mean...”

Charlie
laughed. “Oh hell yeah, guys get into all sorts of games, and being the bottom
can be fun. After all we all know who
really
calls the shots right
girls?” She looked around and caught a few lurking grins. “Might as well make
it official. Why I remember tying my last boyfriend to the bed... boy did we
have a good time! I didn't let him up all weekend...” She smiled wickedly. “I
think he walked bow legged for a couple of days afterward,” she snickered as
the other girls laughed. “The boys ribbed him for a while but he loved it.”

Sue
pummeled her with a pillow. “Braggart.”

When
they calmed down Sue caught one of each of the girls' hands in her own. They
looked at her, uncertain and vulnerable. “Just remember, you’re a survivor.
That's the important thing. You survived, and you'll go on and grow stronger
for this. That's the important thing. Don't be ashamed of it. If you do, if you
let others judge you on this it will haunt you for the rest of your life in the
worst ways possible,” she sighed. “Besides, the bastards are dead, you're still
here and the best revenge is living long enough to spit on the bastards' graves
and live a good life. Okay, lectures over, I'm too drunk for more philosophy
crap now.” She shook her head as she released their hands.

“Invade
his space. Be nice. Get a back rub or give one, show concern for his welfare.
Give him a shoulder rub... if he lets you. I tried; he wouldn't let me for some
reason.” Charlie frowned and then shrugged. He could be gay but she was fairly
certain he wasn't. “Get frisky with him, rough house. Wrestle. Tickle him. Go
for a walk, or eat dinner with him sometime. His defenses will be down if he's
exhausted but he'll be a bit snippy and quick tempered. Be patient with him and
try not to take anything personally. Let nature take its course and don't be
dismayed by setbacks. But be nice and go slow!” Charlie cautioned.

“What
about playing hard to get? Shy?” the Queen asked. They both shrugged. “It is
hard to get a guy's attention if you’re running away. Especially in this time,
under these conditions, and with their past behavior between them,” Sue said
shrugging. “Since he's avoiding the entire idea, it won't wash.”