Journals of a Dark Elf Dancer: Chapter 5

Story by Dalarin on SoFurry

, , , , , , , ,


Aaand, here's chapter 5. This chapter is not based off of any particular journal entry, it is something to help fill in some of the gaps and answer questions. As a result, this is a fairly dialogue heavy chapter. So to soften the blow, let's start off with some sex! ^_^

Critiques are welcome, as I am not entirely comfortable with dialogue.

This story does contain explicit adult content, so if you are not legal age to view that, please don't do so! N'Tanya is the property of her player, and anyone else that is in my stores that may resemble other furries I know is completely cooincidental (or so I tell them.) ^^


N'Tanya encouraged, enticed, and dragged out repeated forms of sexual performance from my body well into the long night. Every time I protested that I could not go any longer she merely smiled in a predatory fashion before she declared, "I don't think you are done quite yet." She would then use her hand, her mouth, any part of her body to restore my flagging body. Each time I felt that energy pass between us just before I regained enough strength and continued our sexual athletics.

The room had no windows to the exterior world, so I could not judge the passage of time, but N'Tanya did not leave me until I fucked her on practically every usable surface in the room. She even insisted I take her up against the pole on the stage. Her hands wrapped above her head and her thighs clenched around mine as she bounced up and down on my cock. Even though by then my muscles protested every movement and my legs were practically rubber, she managed to ride me to another in an innumerable series of orgasms.

I suspected that by the time she left with instructions to "recuperate your strength" that dawn had likely come and gone. Almost immediately after she left I collapsed and managed to fall asleep on one of the couches, though as the last thoughts left me I realized she still hadn't explained anything of consequence about this place, or her interest in me beyond, apparently, prolonged, athletic sex.

Consciousness returned slowly; exhaustion still clung to me and and caused aching muscles and emphasized my foggy head. My brain reset itself slowly as the grogginess passed and the excesses of the previous night worked their way into the forefront of my brain. The rest had not cleared the aches and pains as I stood back up and reassessed my situation.

I was still in the same 'performance' room from the previous evening, and though the air cleared somewhat, it was still heady with the lingering scent of sex. I stretched slowly and turned towards the door, which opened as though waiting for just such a signal. The same dragon woman that had been my guide the previous night slipped through. She was still dressed in the diaphanous silk clothing that did almost nothing to obscure her feminine form. At the realization I was still nude, a blush crept into my ears and I tried vainly to cover myself with my hands.

"Excuse me, but I am not sure you are supposed to be here, or at least...perhaps you could give me a moment to get my clothes together." I suggested gruffly, while looking around for at least the pants that had vanished sometime during the night.

"Oh no, N'Tanya asked me to wait for you, and give you a proper awakening." She smiled impishly and stepped forward to where I still vainly tried to cover myself. Her hands brushed down over my arms to my hands, where she gently pulled them apart from where they covered me. "She thought my skills might be useful to help you recover."

Her hands left mine and brushed between my thighs, her delicate fingers cupped my manhood and stroked lightly over my length. With a grunt, I stepped away, while that blush crept up further into my ears.

"Really, I am all right, I don't think you need to go out of your way to help me," I managed to reply with at least a modicum of courtesy, all while still looking around for something among the discarded clothes that would be useful to cover myself.

"It is no bother; I enjoy employing my skills, especially with someone like you." She practically purred as she approached me again. "Here, let me show you," she continued as she knelt down in front of me and again took my length in her hands.

I started to protest again, but that died on my lips as her gentle hands caressed my cock. Her touch was delicate, almost feather light as she explored me with her fingertips and knelt in close as though examining a piece of art. Her soft breath wafted across my length, and in spite of the exertions of the night before I felt the blood fill me so I grew hard in her hands.

She looked up into my face even while she continued to stroke me, and I could not help but compare the differences between her expressions and those of N'Tanya's the night before. Her expression was warm, open, and in her eyes was pleasure and compassion compared to the teasing and lust in N'Tanya's eyes. Her touch also conveyed a warmth that was contrasting to the blazing fire I had experienced with the dancer, though I was no less aroused by the difference.

"Ahem...ummm, I don't think I'm going to stop you now, but could you at least tell me your name?" I asked, even as I reached out and caressed one side of her jaw.

She leaned her head to the side into my touch and then smiled up to me in such a way that reminded me of the warmth of the dawn I likely missed.

"You may call me Lilly, if you would like, thank you for asking...and now, please just enjoy yourself, let me do the work for you."

Her head then descended away from my hand and engulfed my length in one slow movement. My eyes closed involuntarily as that warmth surrounded me, so similar, yet so different from the night before. Her head dropped all the way down, the long muzzle helped her take my length without any strain, before she stopped at my groin. I felt her long, agile tongue as she slid it around my cock, it seemed her control made it quite prehensile as it squeezed me and moved without her even moving her head.

Her hands slid down along my thighs as her muzzle descended on me, then when she was fully engaged she drew them back up. She expertly sought out the sensitive parts of the body with her fingertips; she caressed at the back of my furred sac with one hand, while the other reached around and squeezed my rear, pulling me forward so that she could press her muzzle even further down and snake her long tongue against me. The sensation was so intimate and warm; it seemed that warmth spread from wherever she touched me.

It was no less arousing then the raw lust of the night before, and it did not take long that her attentions had me aching, rock hard between her lips. She then slid back and her eyes looked to mine. She made sure I watched as she opened her mouth and showed her long draconic tongue as it slid off me inch by inch. As her tongue receded her hand took its place and squeezed lightly against my saliva slickened shaft.

The very tip of her tongue was the last to go, and she disengaged with a little flick against my tip that captured the drop of pre-cum that had seeped there. A soft giggle escaped her and she gave me a coquettish look that practically melted me right there.

"You're so tasty, especially with N'Tanya's flavor all over you."

I blushed even deeper, and tried to stammer out an answer at that, "Well...you know...we did kinda...umm, well, we did a lot last night."

She winked and stood up against me while she made sure she pressed her body entirely against mine. The soft silk of her outfit rubbed against my fur and even brushed against my exposed length while at the same time she held it and continued her soft caresses.

"Mmmm, I like the taste," she said with a long lick of her lips, "it is so sexy to taste the evidence of people's pleasure. Here....try it." She continued, and then pressed forward into a heated kiss.

She showed off exactly how prehensile her tongue was as she engaged in the kiss; she twisted it against mine, and tangled it so that it stroked against my tongue like it had stroked along my cock just moments ago. The deep kiss shared the musky, salty taste she gathered from my skin. Only after our breath mixed and the only flavor that we shared was hers and mine did she break the kiss.

"See? It's such a sweet elixir on the tongue," she continued with another fleeting, almost shy little smile.

"I think I do...yes," I agreed quite hastily, as I realized that I didn't want to do anything that disappointed or contradicted this delightful creature.

She smiled and leaned up, then kissed me on the nose before she pushed me back onto the couch that I had occupied not too much longer before. She stood next to the couch and looked down at me as she unfastened the belting around the waist of her outfit. The movement set her diaphanous outfit free and revealed that she was not wearing anything beneath. A distinct scent of arousal met my nose, sweeter perhaps then the previous evening, but no less enticing. She placed her hand on my chest and straddled me, while her other hand went to manhood and guided upwards towards her body.

"Now then...just relax and let me treat you," she said with another welcoming smile, before she slowly lowered herself onto my length.

The wet warmth that surrounded me as her sex split around and enclosed my cock was exquisite, but again, quite different from the night before. A soft sigh of pleasure escaped my lips as she took me in, mirrored by a low moan that escaped from her. She sank until her hips met mine and I was fully inside her, trapped by her as she rested on me and squeezed her thighs against mine. Her gaze returned to mine while the smile remained on her lips.

She moved on top of me gently; she rolled her hips so there was a bare minimum of movement between us while I moved back and forth inside her. Both of her hands slid over my chest; she ruffled her fingertips through my fur in long, luxurious movements that were as much massage as caress. They complimented the feeling of her wet sex clinging to mine with each passing movement of her hips.

The sex was like a long, slow morning wake up where the sun crests and warms you until your body decides that it is ready to go on its own. Our movements were synchronized; as her hands slid across my chest, my hands slid along her hips. When her hands gripped my shoulders, I clung to her shapely rear and squeezed against her as my pre-cum mixed with her wetness and the warmth spread through both our bodies. Even our tails tangled as her more prehensile tail laced around my own and captured it, and then caressed its length.

The warmth that enhanced and soothed our movements seemed to be coming from her, and spread through my body from where we joined. The shifting movements were more languid, but even then my arousal built inside me as her squeezing sex milked me with each roll of her hips. Soon each breath was a soft moan of pleasure, accompanied by a croon from between her lips and a deep inhalation of the air filled with our scents. When my peak finally overtook me and I felt myself empty inside her, I felt her body respond in kind with little fluttery squeezes around me, and a quick panting, choked breath from her throat while she arched back from me.

Lilaeth looked down to me and again I was struck by the warmth in her gaze. She gave me one more squeeze with hands and hips before she slipped off my lap, heedless of the mixed wetness that drooled from between her thighs. As she stepped away from me, I suddenly realized I still felt that warm glow she seemed to emanate permeating through my body. I also noticed a complete absence of all the aches and pains that plagued me from the night before. I sat up and looked over to her in surprise even as she walked towards the door.

"I feel incredible...thank you, but what did you do," I asked her before she could leave.

She turned again and lowered her head, a soft blush colored her features as she looked over my body.

"I told you, N'Tanya asked me to use my talents on you...I hope you liked them," she gave another fleeting, coquettish smile before she continued, "I did enjoy using them with you. Now N'Tanya asked me to tell you that when you are ready, you can get a robe here," she indicated a cabinet next to the entrance of the room, "and someone will be waiting to take you to her when you are ready to talk about the next part of your experience. If you want to leave your clothes here, it will all be laundered before you leave." She then gave a slight bow, and exited the room before I could ask anything further.

Again, I was left in a quiet, dark room that smelled of sex. The feeling of déjà vu did not strike me as unexpected, though the differences in the experiences between the dark elf's athletics and vigorous activities versus the slow and soothing encounter I had just experienced left me wondering about a home where sex seemed as common as drinking water. In any case, I was intrigued enough to pursue things further, as I still had no definitive answers to my questions, including the new questions I had involving the feelings I encountered between the two women. I suspected that N'Tanya would provide me the answers, but I would have to get them on her terms.

I stood and stretched and again I marveled at the complete lack of exhaustion that I felt compared to just a few minutes before Lilly's experiences with me. The cabinet offered several robes of various colors, and I eventually chose a simple blue robe with lighter trim that was made of soft silk.

I opened the door to the room and stepped outside, where I was greeted by a large male white tiger. He was probably a foot taller than I was, and most likely outweighed me by more than 100 lbs, but like Lilly, he wore a bare minimum of clothing that hid nothing of his figure and he had a silver collar around his neck.

"Please, come with me," he said in a friendly enough tone, if you ignored the half growl in his tone. "N'Tanya is waiting for you," he continued and made me wonder if he really did growl every time he spoke. He then turned and walked back into the house, while I followed along behind.

It seemed like he was leading me to the opposite side of the house from the room I had just spent so many hours in and as we passed through a couple of corridors I noticed that the various sounds I suspected from the night before were no longer present. It also became obvious that quite a long time had passed from when I had arrived. When I passed by a large southern-facing window I saw that the sun was well past the noon-apex, and was descending towards the horizon once again.

The tiger led me down a couple more hallways in the opposite wing of the house before he stopped before a simple door in one corner of the hallway. He gestured me to the door, then turned and walked away before I could ask him any questions. It had started to irritate me how everyone here seemed so well trained to avoid questions, as I still had no idea what was really going on. The irritation guided me as I entered the room without bothering to knock or announce myself.

I found myself in a small, comfortable looking study or lounge. Several brown-leather chairs and wood stands positioned throughout the room allowed easy access to a bookshelf here or there. There were also a couple of long coffee tables in easy reach of several of the chairs. On one of those coffee tables was a spread of food of various kinds, fruit, vegetables, as well as several small sandwiches and cheese trays covered the surface. The food distracted me for only a moment though; because across the room, in a chair with her legs curled up beneath her, while reading a book, was N'Tanya. Like me she was dressed in a simple silk robe, though hers was soft purple. She snapped the book closed and put it aside when I entered the room, and a smile crossed her lips that had none of the predatory look I had seen earlier.

"I see you finally recovered enough to make it over here. I hope that you rested well and that Lil was able to help you with any stiffness?"

There was a touch of a tease in the tone of her voice, though her eyes showed more amusement then anything. Her tone also was somewhat...friendlier then she had been in previous meetings.

"I'm fine...but I'd really like to get some answers, it seems like that has been the one thing everyone has avoided the most. Are you all trying to drive me crazy by holding back? I feel like I am the bull being yanked around by his goad, led somewhere while being too dumb to know what direction." I did my best to sound threatening, but the proximity of the food did me in, triggering a growl from somewhere other then my muzzle that rather spoiled my bluster.

Her smile widened at the sound and she visibly stifled a laugh as she gestured over to the table. "Please, help yourself, and I will try to explain things a little bit more, now that I have had the chance to mmm, explore things with you a bit."

I sighed a bit and nodded, my last little bit of obstinacy neatly redirected by the simple offering of food. I sat down next to the table and plucked an extra plate, then began filling it with various treats and sundries.

"First let me ask you a few questions that will help you understand what I am going to tell you afterwards," she started out, "Tell me...whenever you have sex with someone, and you cum inside them, do they climax as well?"

I paused at my food scavenging and actually blushed as I considered the question. Though I could not remember every single incident, I could remember many, "Yes....I think so." I responded, though the start to the questions peaked my interest.

"Don't you find that at all unusual that every single time you cum, they cum," she pressed; her tone amused, but indulgent.

"No? Why would I, I thought sex is about shared pleasure, shouldn't it naturally happen at the same time?" I replied, as my curiosity built. I popped a piece of watermelon into my mouth and savored the sweetness and liquid that refreshed my parched throat.

N'Tanya's expression turned positively feline. She seemed rather 'Cheshire' like given the mischevious, almost ear to ear grin that crossed her features. "What if I told you that for most couples when they have sex simultaneous orgasm is actually quite rare. Sometimes the woman can trigger the man, and rarer the man can trigger the woman, but usually even then they are not exactly simultaneous. One has their orgasm, then the other follows immediately, or soon after at least. Sometimes one or the other won't climax at all."

I blinked and paused in my next bite of a lovely honeyed ham while I thought about that, "That's not how it works with me though," I paused, while the light went off in my head. "How am I different then...and does that have something to do with what you have been doing to me?"

Her smile widened, if that were all possible, and she nodded before she continued, "So you can think straight when I let you...those are both very good questions. I will answer them in a little bit, but let me continue. Have you heard of the term Tantra or Tantric sex?"

"Umm, I think so, isn't that what people practice when they try to make their sex last hours and without letting each other climax, it's supposed to be like a sexual discipline?" I had forgotten most of the remainder of the food; the conversation had derailed anything other then my focus as N'Tanya explained things.

"Mmm, partially," she replied, "One of the most common definitions of Tantric Sex is about connecting to a spiritual core of your being through the pleasure and dissolution of self, while working through the medium of sex. When practiced with a partner it is supposed to bring you closer to each other spiritually while also building on your own spiritual center."

"So, ummm, what does that have to do with me?"

She winks, "Well, they didn't quite get it right, there is something about sex that can connect you with something deeper, but it's not necessarily spiritual. It's energy, it's a type of energy that you generate in your body that is heightened by, and promotes sex." She leaned back into her chair as she continued, "Most people aren't aware of it, and don't really do much more with it then get off, or tap into it to have more endurance then they normally would. Since most creatures are somewhat...invested in reproduction, it is something that probably originated in us to promote breeding."

I suspected the skepticism was written on my face as well as in my half-opened muzzle, because she leaned over and took a piece of melon and popped it into my mouth before she continued.

"Some people learn to harness that energy, either consciously or unconsciously. Since it is a form of energy you can use it to do all sorts of things, though those that use it unconsciously generally still use it for sexual purposes." She murred as she looked up and down along my body, "Like making sure their partners cum whenever they do, and I must say...I rather enjoyed that," she continued with a suggestive wink.

I actually blushed at the comment and the way her gaze was completely unrestrained as she looked at me, but then responded, "I don't know...it sounds a little unbelievable, like magic. What kind of things can you do with it, and why did you pick me out at the club?"

"Well," she replied, "Once you understand the energy, you really can do anything you want with it with enough skill and practice, though often a person's mindset really shapes what they do." She tilted her head to the side and smiled slyly, "For example...you feel much better don't you. Well, that's because Lil's talent is using her energy to promote healing and well being." She smiles, "But there are others who can channel it into other physical feats, or do things like using the energy and transforming it into something visible, turning that sexual energy into visible wavelengths, like light."

I snorted in disbelief, "It still sounds pretty much like magic to me, and that also doesn't answer why you picked me out."

"Magic is just a term for those that don't understand. People can manipulate energy, using tools or even using their own bodies. You've seen people who can channel intense electricity through their bodies unharmed, when other people would be killed, right?" At my nod she continued, "This is just another type of that." She then licked her lips, and reached over and plucked a grape from my plate and popped it in her mouth. "As for why I picked you...well, when you become sensitive enough to manipulate energy, you also become sensitive to other people's use of it. When you were in the audience, I could feel it boiling up as you watched me perform."

I continued pressing forward, as I felt some core of anger and frustration build again inside at her supposed answers, "Then why not approach me immediately, why all the games?"

"I wanted to see if you were a conscious or unconscious user," she replied, "and when I could see that you weren't I wanted to see how deep your reserves ran. So I stoked the fires a bit, nothing shows off a person's energy like a little sexual frustration."

I grasped on something at the end of that sentence and went for the accusation, "But I did have sex, after you started teasing me...actually, I kept seeking it out and it just never was very fulfilling."

"Mmm, that's because once you have encountered that energy, it takes some...training to find satisfaction in most people's 'normal' levels again." She shifted back in her seat, and as she did she parted her legs, which exposed that she was not wearing anything beneath the loose robe. Her fingertips slid up the inside of her thighs, and as they did I felt that pull that drew me in before, for a moment my mind clouded again as lust built. "I don't have what you would call...normal levels," she drawled before she lifted her hand and plucked another piece of melon off my plate, before popping it in her mouth.

The easy betrayal of my body added to my frustration; just that little gesture had provoked a reaction, one that I could not hide beneath the rather loose robe. I took and added that frustration to the other emotions that gathered, a solid core of something other than lust that I could lean on. "Why that club in particular, it looks like you have plenty of money here, why work as a stripper for a bunch of horny, lonely or desperate furs. I am sure you could have furs lining up for you to pick and choose as you will...not to mention you seem to have servants that might be better if they have more than the 'normal' energy levels as well."

I did my best as I accused her to distract myself from her partial nudity, as I figured anger was the best method to counter lust. She looked to me and continued to smile, though her smile turned somewhat smug as she looked down at the tent that poked up in my robe.

"I said it took some training to get satisfaction from those with more normal levels, not that you can't get satisfaction," she shifted towards me on her seat so the robe she wore fell open, and blatantly exposed herself as she continued, "I enjoy the feeling of all that open admiration and lust. It can be quite intoxicating when all that sexual energy is directed towards you." She smirked as she looked at me, "As for why I don't 'use' my servants, or have furs lining up outside my door? The first is simple...they aren't my servants. They are my students and companions, we enjoy each other quite often, but they do not serve unless they wish to do so. As to the second...this is my home. I prefer to keep those I bring here to discreet individuals." She flashed another Cheshire-like smile in my direction, then brushed her fingertips across the dip between her breasts in a way that drew my eyes to them immediately, "I suspect you can be....discreet, can't you?"

It was my turn to lick my lips at the sight of that dark flesh in front of me. Even though I knew what she intended it did little to suppress my lust at the image. I swallowed I could regain some semblance of coherent thought before I continued to ask my questions, "That doesn't explain why you were at that club, why work there and how did I happen to go back every time you were on stage?"

"Mmmm, I don't work at that club...I own that club," she responded, "though that was the first time I danced there. I...felt an urge," she continued, "Everyone that staffs the place is a friend or student, current or former, and they are free to dance or work there in any capacity they like. I also provide quite a comfortable living for a few women with no particular talent of my interest besides their stage presence. I do so enjoy seeing a lovely dancer work," she concluded almost wistfully. Her eyes closed as she imagined something, and then sighed before she returned her gaze to mine.

"As for the second part of the question...I don't know why you happened to be there whenever I danced. Some lucky coincidence perhaps or maybe something in your sub-conscious was able to feel me whenever I was close." She gave a thoughtful noise, and stood up, closing her robe as she went. As disappointed as I was at the loss of the view, the removal of the visual distraction did wonders for my ability to suppress my libidinous reactions. She walked over to one of the book shelves and pulled a couple of books, "As I said before," she continued, "others have some stronger direction their manipulation of their energy takes, maybe you are just more sensitive to others." She placed a couple of books on the table next to her seat, then turned and looked back to me. "It is something of a thought anyway, and something I can look into...that is if I haven't yet made you want to run screaming from my sight, anyway."

She looked down and gave a slight mou of disappointment that I had suppressed my reaction enough that I was no longer tenting my robe, and I couldn't help the small smile of triumph. The whole situation seemed like it had spiraled out of my control, the control I exerted also gave an outlet for all the emotions that I had built into a solid core that resisted her lure.

"Something you can look into? You tell me things I hardly believe. After a night of wild sex with probably one of the hottest women I've ever met, and even more sex with another amazing woman as soon as I wake up. You also tell me that somehow, I have this 'talent' and that it means I will have problems ever having satisfying sex again. I think the only reasons that I haven't run screaming yet are that you have my clothes, and that right now my cock seems to be making the majority of the decisions." I growled deep in my throat as I looked at her, and the frustration of the past several weeks took over again for the moment, "After telling me all that, what do you expect me to do?" I finally asked. The emotions that surged through me were strong enough that my hand shook, and I placed the plate back onto the table so that the food would not end up all over the carpet.

She looked unperturbed by the outburst, shifted over, and stood up in front of her chair. "That is entirely up to you, of course. Your clothes will be waiting for you when you are ready to leave," she gestured towards the door, "Tobias, the tiger that guided you here will be happy to guide you out. I expect that if you took that option you would be back here very quickly. I expect that you would not be able to turn around and forget. Once you know something, it's rather hard to tuck it back away after all." Her expression then changed again into that mischievous feline smile before she stepped over to me. She slipped up against me, pressed close so that through the silk of both our robes I felt her curves press against my body. "You could stay here, I suppose, and just let me explore where your talent lies, while having intense, body and mind involved sexual experiences that leave you unable to move, or unable to want to leave."

She trailed her fingertips down along my chest, across my stomach, and brushed them across my groin again. At that point I was at least somewhat inured to her temptations while riding the strong emotions that diverted me. When I did not respond she smiled, kissed the side of my throat and whispered in my ear, "Though I didn't really expect you to take that option..."

She stepped away, walked over to one of the tables, when there she pulled out a pen, paper, and wrote something on it, "Or you can leave, and here are the next three times I will be at the club." She approached me and placed the folded piece of paper in my hand, then closed my hand around it. "I suspect you don't truly need this to know when I'll be there," she then continued, "and when you arrive for my show, ask the bartender where Kagi is seated, she's always there." She smiled impishly, "I suspect she will be much more helpful in convincing you that all this totally unbelievable information is true."

She turned away, walked over to the table, and plucked a bit of food off the tray before she continued on her way to the exit of the study. When she reached the exit she looked back and gave another slow smile, "So I guess now that you know some of the rules of the game, the next move is yours. I do hope you don't take too long to make up your mind about which decision you will make. It would be so disappointing to me if you let some meaningless indecision prevent you discovering all the rules." With those words, she flashed me another wink, and then stepped out.

This left me in a room filled with food, books, a lot more information and somehow more confusion then the night before. I ran through the whirl of thoughts and experiences from the night before in my head to see if I remembered some sense of the energy she spoke about. I eventually had to clear my head with a growl and a shake, defeated in my ability to analyze my experiences so soon as every time an image of the night crossed my mind, all that happened was my lust returned. As frustrated as I was, I admitted that N'Tanya had me pegged. I clenched my hand around the paper in my palm; as the decision was already made in that moment.

As I opened the door of the study, the white tiger that escorted me wordlessly handed me my clothes. I snorted and didn't even bother to turn away as I redressed myself. Tobias watched impassively, and when I was fully dressed turned and escorted me towards the entrance of the home. As we walked, I couldn't help but ask,

"So if everyone has a talent related to this...thing she talked about...what's yours?"

He turned his head and looked at me, then gave a toothy grin as he answered,

"Body modification on my partners...it doesn't matter how small they are, I can get my entire cock into whatever orifice I want. I especially like tight-asses." He threw me a sideways look as he walked on.

I didn't ask anything else of the white tiger on my way out of the house...and I was never really sure if he was joking or not.