Chapter Text
"Is this some kind of weird virgin sacrifice scenario? Cuz firstly, afraid i don't quiiiite fit the bill on that. Secondly that's super not cool, guys, but also surprisingly patient, with how long you all waited to feast upon my supposedly virgin flesh. I'm almost regretful to have to disappoint you."
Skjor rolled his eyes, though was not surprised by her lack of fear or surprise, or her offhanded commentary. "No, new blood, it's no sacrifice, and we're certainly not going to be eating you." She scoffed.
"What, so I'm not good enough to eat? I'm not delicious enough for you?" She frowned, apparently offended, "Or is the the not-so-virgin thing? Because if so, fuck you guys, I totally could have been a virgin, and you had no reason to think otherwise."
"What he means is that if we were going to eat you, we would have done it long ago." Vilkas chimed in with a smirk, "Probably back when you were being such a damn nuisance trying to get in with us."
"Screw all of you, I am damn delicious, and you should all wish you should be so lucky as to eat me." She sniffed, huffily, then turned to Aela, in her beastform, "Aela, you think I would be delicious to eat, right? Here, go on, you can have a free sample." The girl held up her arm to the changed huntress, smiling invitingly. The wolf blinked, stared at the offered arm, slower to comprehend in her beast form, then gave a wolfish grin, pulled the hand close, and did not bite, did not chomp, but gently teethed the appendage, not even leaving teethmarks.
The girls stare took on a strangely glazed look for a moment, staring at the wolf as she did so. She continued to stare, lost or uncomprehending for several moments, before she gulped very audibly and turned away. She blinked and shook her head, as if to clear some thought, before diving facefirst into her usual nonchalance.
"See?" She pointed at the hand as proof, glaring at the others, "I'm completely edible and delicious, you guys just like me too much." She seemed to be avoiding looking at the werewolf, who looked somehow amused despite having a face that made expression significantly less conveyable.
"Just because Aela has a strange taste for you doesn't mean any of the rest of us would consume that acidic mage-blood." Skjor grumbled, trying very hard to remain unamused, visibly.
"Well, if you're not gonna eat me, what is this? Some kind of weird test of faith, or courage?" She asked. I'll remind you I've already seen Farkas, you guys lost the chance at the shock value."
"It's not a test." Farkas chimed simply.
"Intervention, perhaps? Guys, I like my mead, I don't NEED it though. OH OH OH, or maybe secret companions beastial orgy in your secret kinky dungeon?" She smirked, and leaned forwards conspiratorially. "Oh, how EVER did you guess I would be soooooo on board?"
"New blood. Shut your mouth or I will shut it for you." Skjor growled, and the girl sighed, but finally closed her mouth.
"Surprisingly," Skjor began, though his tone implied unfortunately, "It has come to our attention that you may be a... cut above most of the other companions..." The words sounded as if he were having to force each one out painfully. Vilkas took pity on them.
"The elite of the companions have been werewolves for hundreds of years." Vilkas continued, failing to mention his private doubts about the virtues of that statement, "In order to reach your greatest potential, we are offering the chance to consume the beast blood, and become one of the inner circle."
"Aela has volunteered to be your forbear." Skjor turned to the wolf, who offered an arm above the stone basin, "If you drink her blood, you will take the spirit of the wolf into yourself." He took a dagger and sliced into the wrist so that it dripped into the basin.
"And become a werewolf?" The mage raised an eyebrow, "You sure my disgusting acidic mage-blood will let me become a werewolf?" Skjor looked to Vilkas, who answered.
"As Kodlak has said, there have been mages in the companions before, and at least a few of them had to have been after Hircine's gift. I've never heard of it not taking, at least not because of mage-blood."
"So I'm possibly a guinea pig?" She smirked, and turned to wink at the werewolf, "And not only that, rather than Aela eating me, I'm going to get to drink her? It's not the orgy I had hoped for, but I suppose it's the best I'm going to be getting for now."
"Then drink, sister." Farkas nodded to the pool of dark liquid in the basin. The mage nodded, dipped a finger in, and recoiled.
"Oh gods, it's warm." She shivered.
"Of course it is, it's fresh." Skjor shot back.
"Is this sanitary? There is no way this is sanitary."
"It doesn't matter, werewolves are immune to disease."
"Yeah but... It's still kind of gross though...
"You were the one who was just lobbying for an orgy with three men and a wolf.
"That's different," She whined, "See, that was gross and hot. This is just kinda gross." She sighed, took a breath to brace herself, and drank deeply.