She had a dream, once she’d finally fallen into a restless sleep. Words, whispered. Soothing voice that was familiar, but that she couldn’t place. She couldn’t really hear the words, either. But when silence came again, she felt a little better. Her sleep after that deepened, grew peaceful.

The next morning, she got up, showered, dressed in what she’d usually wear, a simple dress. When she’d finished her morning routine, she went down stairs. But breakfast was nothing more than a glass of milk. After that, she went out to the garden, and she sat on her favourite bench.

So many thoughts troubled her, and she didn’t know what to do about them all. But prime among them all was that Brandon hadn’t called. Hadn’t texted, though he so rarely did that with her. (He always said he preferred she hear his voice. And she did always feel better after she did.) It was unusual for him not to call for two days in a row. Even if only to check on her, to speak to her for a few moments. And it concerned her that he’d skipped two days now.

But there was a part of her that was glad he hadn’t called. How could she ever explain to him what was happening with her. His daughter. It was bad enough that she was having thoughts like that about someone else. But his own daughter. That made it so much worse.

She needed him. He needed to come home. He needed to help her figure out what was wrong with her. Somehow, she knew he could help her with it. He always seemed to help her.

She had no concern or care for fey court. She could never be part of it anyway. She wasn’t fey. But she did wonder why her mother wanted that. No tie to court meant, to Boudica’s thinking, no troublesome fey poking around. But it wasn’t her business. Nothing for fullblooded fey was her business. Besides, she was just too exhausted to want to think about it too much.

(It slipped by her entirely that the explanation was really no explanation at all.)

“Alright, Mother.”

She nodded slowly. It seemed strange to her, setting one of the monsters to mind a Watcher. But that was merely an artifact left from before. She didn’t mind it. She didn’t, in truth, care.

“I’m looking forward to doing something that furthers your plans, Master.”

She went from elation to heartbreak within a moment. She couldn’t bear being away from Brandy so long. How could she ever bear it? Why, this meant she probably wouldn’t see the siren again until tomorrow night because of the lunch she had to attend with one of the Elders. (And how that would have made her nervous, once. Now, her only concern was how long it would keep her from Brandy.)

“Please, Brandy. I… I can leave early in the morning. I can… Something. Surely we can figure something out. I need you. Please…:

She would have answered as honestly as she was capable. She couldn’t imagine purposely lying to Brooke. But her Master drew her eyes, and she submitted to that willingly, even knowing what it would do. It felt so good to be held so completely in the vampire’s will. So very good. So she sank into it, and her answer came without anything to stand in the way of what lay in the depths of her mind, thoughts she might have still hidden from herself, and therefore inadvertently from her Master as well.

“She’s frustrating. I don’t have the interest in her she so clearly has in me. I took her only because you wanted me to. But I want to make her mine. Because you want it. And because I...feel a thrill when I think of it. I think it’s because you want me to do it, that thrill. But I feel it. And I… She’s a weak thing. It seems to me that she’s no good for anything but obeying. She needs to understand that.”

Her eyes darted to the little bottle. Her medicine. Yes. Oh, yes, she needed that. It made her feel better. It made things right again.

“Yes. I… Maybe. I...don’t know.”

Because as much as she knew she needed it, it wasn’t what she was trying to grasp for. It was close. And the medicine could lead her to what she needed. But...she still couldn’t grasp it. (She simply wasn’t allowed to, obedient to the conditioning of a man now dead.)

Tears came. Of frustration. Of confusion. Of fear. Of need. All of it mixed together until she couldn’t tell one from another.

Meh.

The snow was crisp and bright about them, burningly so. The pounding in his head made it hard to think, to talk. He glanced back now and then, sighed, began to ask something more than once, then let it trail away.

Even in her high necked woolens and with her hair plainly bound, she was still beautiful. So beautiful. Even with a hint of pipesmoke and ale about her, she was still...

Oh, better not to dwell on that. He wished she would smile, as she had when she was playing her harp, though. As lovely as she was now, she had been truly beautiful when she smiled. But to ask a woman to smile was a dangerous game, with no trule winning, he remembered some distant cousin telling him once. He'd laughed, but there had been a fluttering nervousness behind it. He'd known something, sure enough.

"I," he managed at last. "hope I might come along again some day." He managed a pleasant smile for her, painted clear enough with his uncertainty. He honestly could not remember if he'd made a fool of himself or not, the night before.

"Certainly, if your uncle will allow it. We shall need to find a way to get Liana out sometime, too. I have been thinking on masks...your uncle says she is too potent for them to work, but...it is a problem for later." She shook her head, her glossy braid slipping over her shoulder. He noticed she did not hold round his waist today, or lean against him.

He hoped, so hoped, he had not made an ass of himself.

"It is no good for any of you," she added, "to be kept so isolated. I think...with him, it is different. But for you, and Liana, and the children when they grow older...they will need the world, and you do. We will puzzle it out."

She fell quiet again, her gaze going out to the dazzling snow.

"But you do not?" he asked, turning to look upon her again.

She continued staring out into the dark branch laced dazzle.

He turned his eyes away, focusing on the fading path. "I am sorry if I was unpleasant."

She made a sound of confusion, blinking a few times. "Ah. I was watching the path. I have lived with snow longer than without, but it still muddles me sometimes. Turn there."

He nodded, and remained silent for the rest of the way. The children were certainly happy to see them back, all but Honey, who hung back until her mother was hefted down . She went to Falamh silently, slipped her arms around her, and pressed her cheek to her, sighing and smiling warmly. All the world felt right then, a spreading warm tingle that seemed to come from the two of them. She kissed the top of the girl's head, then offered a faint smile to Liana and Jacob as they stepped out to meet them. Usually solemn Donatien ducked past his father to throw his thin arms around her as well, and then the children piled on, before following Piotr and the horse and demanding to know what they'd been brought.

She walked up to the couple a bit sheepishly. "He said he'd permission," she told them uncomfortably. "I kept an eye on him the while. He just listened while I played at the tavern, and I did not want him riding home at night."

Jacob looked uncomfortable, but nodded once. Liana considered her with pursed lips. "It is great inconvenience, you do not tell the children goodbye before leaving, Talimah," she said coldly. "They are upset, especially Honey."

Fala looked at the ground. "I am sure. I am sorry. I needed air. I..." She took a breath, looked to be sure the children were distracted, then motioned to the house. "I will put tea on. We can...we can talk, yes?"

Liana looked to Jacob, then nodded.

As Falamh began to gather tea things, Jacob looked to Liana, then sheepishly said, "Perhaps it is better in the distillery. It is clean enough. The children..."

"Ah. Yes. Better, that." Falamh nodded once, setting things on the counter and following the two down. The look Liana shot her was pure venom, enough that she winced at it. It was silly, in a way, to creep about her own house as though she could be in the wrong, but Liana was a prisoner for her own safety.

She would give her this. Especially after finding even Piotr could tell what Liana was thinking.

Falamh sat at the small table set aside for such things--at times, Jacob was so wrapped up in his work that it was easier to get him to eat to offer food down here--and waited in silence as he prepared the tea. This was his domain, they all allowed it, and to be fair, he made better tea. It was a rose blend, one that Liana favored, with just a hint of spice behind it. The sweetness almost overwhelmed the faint astringent hints in the cool laboratory atmosphere.

Almost.

Falamh took off her cloak with care, folding it and setting it upon a stool. Jacob's familiar pounced upon it, then sniffed it in escacies of fascination, drinking in hints of woodsmoke, pipe smoke, vodka, the boy's own smell, her own. There were a few twitches of her plumy tail, flexes of her owl-like, tabby patterened wings, perks of her ears.

Falamh rose her eyes to Liana, then made a study of the tabletop. The erstwhile Queen took her tea and sipped it daintily, savoring it, relaxing a moment before looking sternly upon the smaller woman. Jacob sat on a stool between them, silent and a little pale.

"It is clear enough, you were unthinking. To leave without telling your daughter. To take Piotr with you. He smell of alcohol, and bad alcohol," she added unhappily.

"I think," Fala said with a weak smile, "he is trying to take pennance in his hangover. I offered to help. But that was his own choice, and he was safe enough. I even made certain he was lain on his side, and had water ready. Such men do." Her wings perked a moment, rolled with her shrug.

Jacob looked a touch relieved, but Liana frowned at this, her golden eyes sharp as a hawk's. "All this talk of security, and you let him get drunk in a tavern while you...while you played? At what?"

"The harp. It is my usual choice. I can play the lute a little, but not so well. And I know a pennywhistle, but it is hardly so pleasant. And now you know. When I leave so, I go to play music at a tavern where they know me."

"An indecent hobby for a mother," Liana said coldly. Falamh laughed.

"Honey was passed lap to lap as a babe, while I played. I learned doctoring later. But nothing happened. The innkeep knows me and watched him, too."

"Which one?" Jacob asked, earning a less than kind look from his wife.

"Maura and Thom's. Maura fed him that terrible cider, I fear, and he hadn't the sense to tell her no. But that was it, really. I think she mostly meant to keep the lads from troubling him."

"She is a terrible gossip," Jacob said uncomfortably.

"I spoke with her in the morning. I suppose he mentioned you'd a brother and sister who sang in a church?" She shrugged. "And that you've grandchildren. But your mask is so very old. I doubt she thought much on that. There were no names, and she tried to ask me more. I know better. I did not deny you'd a brother who had sang in a church? Brothers and churches are common enough."

"He remembered that?" Jacob looked a bit uncomfortable.

"I do remember that one, when there were presentations of music. When Alina was still with us. They played so well. Oh, my sweet friend. To see her again, even once..." The longing was clear in Liana's voice. She then shook her head. "Never mind it. Perhaps that is no grand danger, but still, you take him to a tavern. He is but a boy."

"I am fair sure he is what, twenty? Among your people, as I understand it, he would have been wed and with at least two children. But I watched him as a boy," she reassured. "Save not scolding Maura for letting him drink. I am, however, truly sorry to have made you all worry."

"You mentioned cider," Jacob said with a frown. "But Kisa says in his scent in your cloak, she smells a strong potato-based distillation. Vodka, I presume? Or something of the sort."

"He asked for some of my drink," Falamh admitted. "And her nose is fine to notice that. I poured libations," she then added at Liana's sharp look, which then turned to irritated confusion. "A mourning matter an old traveler taught me. I...There are days, I remember my dead. I remember them, then I sing. And I do not like company. I did not want to tell him. And now you know my secrets." She sighed.

"Like why your cloak is smelling strongly of him?" Liana asked with a lofted eyebrow. "If you meant to...to amuse yourself with him, why is this one taken from the home? He is unmarried." She frowned, but it was a controlled thing, her hands clasped before her.

Falamh sighed. "I did not even wish him along. He is very young, Liana. He also insisted on taking me out to walk in the snow because he thought I had drunk too much and was shivering, so I put my cloak over him. I fell asleep at his bedside after assuring he would not sick on himself at the end of the night. He is a boy. A man by human standards, but a boy in the mind, yes? But this was the end of it."

"So you prefer maturity, I see." Liana's dainty hands curled tighter on the tabletop.

"I prefer my Ilmryn," she replied. "And I am sorry for my manner before I left. I thought I saw something behind you. I do not think I did, in the end."

Jacob had said nothing for this exchange, looking a touch perplexed. Liana gave a small huff and nudged him, then said something in the odd fluttering, thick tones of Havali.

His dark eyes widened, sparked with violet. Then he went a bit red. "I do not think, my dear heart, she would ever seduce our Piotr. And I doubt he has it in him. Why would you worry of such things?"

He then winced, only as a man kicked under the table can. Her golden glare was like a thunderclap. Danger walked here.

"Ow. Dear heart. I mean it. She is a good woman, and too kind to take advantage. She knows his...his malady as we do."

"Better him than a married man," Liana said darkly.

Falamh looked to Jacob, a plea in her eyes. If he saw it, he missed it. "Liana, I hardly know what you mean. I..." He winced again. She looked evenly at Falamh.

"This is not your matter, love. I think I see how it stands. Why do you not go see to f ...

... inishing settling Israfel? Speak with her alone, is better, I think."

"I think," Falamh spoke then, "it is better he is here."

"I know what you can do, Talimah. There are other matters I do not. I would prefer we are...cleaning the air, between you and I. To know that Piotr is well." Liana stood, smoothing her skirts. "You are not needful, Jaques. Go help the boy, and see to the children." It was not a request. He looked between the women, and either ignored or missed the plea in Falamh's eyes. Instead, he took Liana's hand, kissed it, and went to the stairs.

"Oh no. I am not to be shouted at over this. Jacobus, you will stay here," Falamh told him sternly. "I think I see the way of it. Do you honestly not?"

The man hesitated, looking wary. "I...do not think Liana would be untoward, to have stern words, if there have been matters passing with Piotr I was unaware of," he spoke uncertainly.

Falamh rolled her eyes, then shifted to the uncomfortable, stilted-to-her-ears Elven she had picked up in her travels that these seemed to know, more sour than the tones of her people. One of the languages she knew Jacob could speak, but Liana could not.

"Come now. Do you not see how your wife has looked upon us, every time it passes we must go to hunt? I have been respectful of your desire to shelter her, but Piotr thinks it, too."

"Thinks what?" Jacob asked, blinking. Falamh sighed.

"She believes...ah, the wording is difficult in politeness, my knowledge of this dialect is more for literature, for song...ah. That you lie with me, when gone we are."

Jacob stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and half masking her face.

"Very rude, it is," Liana protested as she looked between the two, "to speak so I cannot understand."

Falamh fluttered a hand dismissively. "Jacob. You must tell her. Or permit me tell her."

"What has this to do with Piotr?" he asked in the common tongue, bewildered. Falamh hid her face in her hands, taking a slow, deep breath.

"By the light, this man is a fool. Because she thinks me greedy, perhaps? She means to send you away because she means to get to the heart of it. And as little frowns as I see upon you, perhaps she believes I coerce. Tell her. Or permit me. I promised you I would not. I need you to release me from my promise. Better she knows of the hunts, than she thinks you disloyal husband and I cruel friend." She looked up over her fingers, upon Liana's increasing agitation, upon Jacob's unease.

"Talimah, I...is that the way of it?" he asked in the common tongue.

"That is the way of it," she replied samely, standing. "If you will not answer either way, I will go. You two may speak. I believe it is better so."

"No. I would have of you..." Liana began, glaring at Falamh. Jacob rounded the table, coming between Falamh and the stairs. He took up her hands, then looked at Liana.

"She speaks that you believe us betraying your trust, my Sun. What say you?" he asked Liana. Falamh tensed at that tight grip upon her fingers, but did not dare to fight in this tight space. She would NOT hurt him. She mustn't. But why would he...

"You disappear at strange hours. You tell me nothing. You return all cheer, and she...am I to take comfort that it is no betrayal under the same roof, in the same bed?" Liana spoke angrily. "Or even know you of it? I am not ignorant of her power, and..."

"Tell her, please," Falamh spoke tightly.

"I..." Jacob swallowed. She could feel his hands shaking as they held hers. He then looked resolute, abruptly dropping Falamh's hands and catching her about the shoulders. "Talimah," he said then, meeting her eyes with a quiet desperation of his own. "how can you ask me that?"

"What are you doing? Let go of me. Please," Falamh breathed, her eyes widening with panic. "Just tell her the truth. Or permit me tell her. Please."

There was regret and apology mingled in his eyes, dark and purpled like bruises. They ducked away, and she felt him tense as he drew breath, then pressed into her and kissed her, a fierce, possessive, pointed sort of thing.

Her wings flared behind her in shock. A small bookshelf collapsed, its contents sliding upon the floor with a series of thuds and a worrying crash. She stumbled back against the wall, tears in her eyes as he trailed a hand through her dark hair.

Abruptly, he was pulled away. She heard a snarl as her legs sunk under her, and Liana screaming, and a flurry of footsteps from upstairs. "Liana? Uncle Jaques? HONEY! What are you doing?" The last came as Piotr stopped on the last stair, eyes wide as great pale wolf with brown, black, and silver markings and fierce lilac eyes stood over Jacob, snarling, a great clawed foot on his chest and jaw at his throat. Falamh began sobbing, and with a great shudder and a play of shadows, Honey became again the sweet-faced girl with rich brown curls and small, pale-banded wings. But she set a dainty foot on Jacob's chest again, nontheless.

"Your stupid uncle was assaulting my Amma!" Honey told him coldly. "Why were you just staring?" she then asked Liana, eyes narrowed dangerously. She put pressure enough to elicit an almost comical squack from Jacob. "You coward. I heard. Why would you do that to my Amma? She HELPS you, and you do this?"

"Assaulting?" Piotr's hand curled into a fist, and he stepped forward.

Falamh drew a shuddering breath, sweeping a sleeve across her lips, then held her hand up. "H...Honey. You know where Jaques and I go. Tell them," she said thickly. "You stupid, cowardly man," she added. "Why would you want Liana to think such a thing?"

"Honey Yaminaya. No. I am sorry you saw," Jacob spoke in a strained voice, then gasped as the girl put pressure on his chest. She, too, was strong for her size. Even when merely a girl, and no magicked beast. "You mustn't."

Liana was clearly in the grip of slow burning fury by this point, her golden eyes kindled, her whole body tensed. "I rather think it proper you speak your piece, child. And how long have you known?"

"A long time," Honey replied, not releasing her pressure on Jacob's chest. No one was moving to stop her. "Years and years. When Amma was late from gathering herbs, and I slipped away and took Rizzen to find her."

Liana took a deep breath. "And what did you see?" she spoke at last.

"Amma was hurt. Her dress was all shredded, and there were a few broken spines around, so I know one of her fits took her. There were dead men with swords, dead dogs, a dead hawk. The big, hunting kind. There was a dead woman, too, I think it was. A bit burnt to be sure. So it wasn't just her, doing the killing. He was counting the bodies, piling them together. Amma was telling him she would need a day, this time." The girl was fairly calm about all this, as though dead bodies and an injured mother in shredded garb were normal things. "They panicked when they saw me. Jake told me I should hide, until they were certain they had them all."

One of her small wings gave a flick. She frowned a little. "I know when Amma's hurt and someone says hide, you hide. I took to a tree, took to squirrel. Watched them a while. But he seemed satisfied they were all accounted for. Amma told him to build a fire, called me down. Asked me to fetch her a dress, and be sure none of you left the stead, and asked Jake what to tell you. He said to say they were going to town to fetch something for potions, if I remember. I told him it was a lie. Amma told me they would be there, she just had to purify the bodies and sing the ashes, and wanted to clean up and finish healing before she came home. She was...she was calmer, than she usually is after a fit."

Both Piotr and Liana stared at them. Jacob took a deep breath. "I am...I am sorry, Talimah. I would rather she thought us...." He closed his eyes. "I am so sorry. You may tell her."

As though it made a difference now.

"Dead...injured...?" Liana blinked at them a few times. Piotr hurried to Falamh's side, then, and reached to help her up.

"Oh, Talimah. He brought you to harm? But fits and recovered from what?"

"Miss Kiara calls it the dragon in her shadow," Honey said simply. "She changes, too. Just not as easily as I do. Not as...safely, I guess. She always has." The girl shrugged. "Jakey knows. She didn't want you to. It is just what we are."

"What I am," Falamh interrupted. "Never you, sweet girl. Never you. You are something better." She kept her hands tucked, ignoring Piotr. "My kind are made for fighting. We heal quickly. I have been helping your husband keep you and your family safe, Liana. He and I have our own arrays of sensors and traps set to let us know if certain sorts approach the stead. We have had to go on hunts more often since we lost part of the forest; often, my trees can stop the overambitious who simply sense you. But the ones with real power..." She shook her head, her eyes shadowed, her body drawn in on itself. "He did not want you to know that when we go, we go to kill. It is unsafe to do less, with many. Lesser powers than what took Kiara's husband, but still. They are not innocent, or small things."

Liana's golden eyes widened. It had taken her some time to get used to Honey occasionally slipping to cat, or mirroring one of the dogs, or laughingly dashing up a tree as a squirrel to amuse the children. They had learned of that together, she and Fala both, and they had both been startled at first. Falamh had wept, and gone white faced, at first. But she had come to smile on it, and there had been a vague mention her father had some such gift, but less freely done. Yet now they were saying it was the mother? And that they...they what? That tiny little woman, smaller than herself, went off to hunt folk who came to harm them?

"It has been fair often of late," Jacob admitted in shame, his head bowed.

"But why are you so damned HAPPY when you return, if that is what you are doing? Why is she..." Piotr began. "Talimah!" he then protested. "Why do you let him make you do such things? I have seen you cry over pulling a potato beetle off your plants too hard. You weep over T ...

... REES. It cannot be easier with men! And if you are hurt always, you are needing time to recover..."

"He makes me do nothing," Falamh spoke softly. "I make him take me. I swore myself to your family, Piotr, but I swore it only if he would weild me as I was meant. It is not good for him, after what...what was done him. To do as we must do. I hardly know what you were thinking. But that was the only time he has ever..." Her color rose, and she bowed her head again. "ever done that."

"Weild...Jaques. What is this. What is she saying?" Liana asked, eyes wide.

Jacob shook his head. "Talimah, you do not make me. I ask you. I...Her taint. The Unnamable. It rises when I do what I must, and I ask you, Talimah, because Liana must not see me so." He was sitting up, now, holding his legs, his chin on his knees like a boy. Eyes shadowed. "Honey. Better would it be, she thought what she thought. Never mind adult matters."

"My mother is not a cheap whore, Jakey. And Liana, she worries about you. We have been trying to figure out how to mask you, oh, for ages, so you could leave this stupid, boring place a while." The girl sighed, then walked over to touch Liana's shoulder. The beautious golden woman winced, as though struck. Honey's fingers curled there, light and gentle. "Surely, you don't think it worse that Amma and Jakey leave to keep us safe than if she were sneaking off to do, ah, grown up things with him? I mean the kind I'm not supposed to know about, not killing people." The girl gave a nervous little laugh. "Even though my friends in the woods do both pretty openly. You would not believe how little respect blackbirds have for each other. Amma is strong. She protects you. Just like I protect the children. Though Liran is watching them now, and says they won't save you any cookies if you adults don't grow up." With the last, there was a sweet little smile.

"Who taught you that word?" Falamh asked.

Honey laughed. "Amma, we lived above a tavern when I was learning to walk. You think I never heard it? But you are NOT. I remember people trying things. I wish I didn't." The laughter faded. "You should NEVER do that to Amma, Jakey. I love you, but I will kill you if you ever do it again without her asking."

The last was said very seriously to the man on the floor, her gentle hand tightening fractionally on Liana's shoulder.

"Too many people have hurt my Amma. She usually hurt them back, but she likes you. All of you."

"Honey Yaminaya Coinean. NEVER threaten anyone under my roof," Falamh scolded, swiping at her eyes and sitting up straighter. "You may slap him, but you certainly mightn't kill him. I would slap, had you not been ready to tear his throat out." She sighed. "Liana, if you wish to be angry, you may be as angry as you like. He made me promise to never tell you. He was afraid you would be frightened of him. Of me. And he loves us both well."

Liana frowned at that.

"Liana, I cared for him when the shadows still wreathed him and he wept for the unnamed one. His arms are for you, and for the love of LIGHT, keep it that way. It is not enough to say he is my friend. I have bonded myself to your family. But it is complicated. Nothing like your...no. I am wrong. It is like the vows your eldest boy took. What is called. The knight, yes? Save not so pure, and not so bright. I doubt your son wished to make love with his commander," she added with a wry, broken, half-laugh. "I certainly have no such designs on your husband."

Jacob hid his face against his knees and took a deep breath. Piotr looked confused by the whole. Uncertain if he should be angry, relieved, or frightened, as he looked at that dainty woman and his shaken uncle.

"You should be more honest, Jaques. You do not even talk on the Unnamed anymore, after we do what we must do. We do not hunt for sport, or fun. We do not hunt for meat, even. We hunt only to keep the stead safe. I would have been happy to leave it to the old Wolf, but before he died, he was so tired. We did not speak on it to him." Falamh sighed. "Donatien and Liran do not know, either," she then added. "I think," she ammended, for Liran was truly fey, and it seemed as though she considered Donatien her right hand, her other half, though of two wombs and two fathers they were born.

Honey rolled her eyes. "They know, Amma. Lira knows eeeverything. Why do you think I was here, instead of bothering Piotr? Why do you thnk Piotr came this way soon enough to hear the fuss?" She then offered Liana her hand. "Let these fools sort themselves out, Miss Liana. Amma brought you books, and ribbons, and embroidery flosses, and sweets. Would she do that, if she were trying to steal your silly human husband? And Petey is BORED. I mean, he likes Amma, but she lives in her head." The girl rolled her eyes, as a rather bewildered Liana took her hand.

This was too much to think on, too much to process. This was easier, going with the girl. Piotr blinked a few times. "I do WHAT?" he protested. "I said no such thing."

"She would never have you," Honey called over her shoulder. "You're too squishy. Come. Bring your stupid uncle and you can help me peel vegetables for the stew, squishy boy. Or you and Jakey can go make yourselves useful and NOT ASSAULT MY MOTHER. Goodness, Jakey. That was probably the second stupidest thing I have EVER seen in my LIFE. Kissing Amma instead of telling that you kill the bad guys. Amma is SCARED of that, stupid."

The snow was crisp and bright about them, burningly so. The pounding in his head made it hard to think, to talk. He glanced back now and then, sighed, began to ask something more than once, then let it trail away.

Even in her high necked woolens and with her hair plainly bound, she was still beautiful. So beautiful. Even with a hint of pipesmoke and ale about her, she was still...

Oh, better not to dwell on that. He wished she would smile, as she had when she was playing her harp, though. As lovely as she was now, she had been truly beautiful when she smiled. But to ask a woman to smile was a dangerous game, with no trule winning, he remembered some distant cousin telling him once. He'd laughed, but there had been a fluttering nervousness behind it. He'd known something, sure enough.

"I," he managed at last. "hope I might come along again some day." He managed a pleasant smile for her, painted clear enough with his uncertainty. He honestly could not remember if he'd made a fool of himself or not, the night before.

"Certainly, if your uncle will allow it. We shall need to find a way to get Liana out sometime, too. I have been thinking on masks...your uncle says she is too potent for them to work, but...it is a problem for later." She shook her head, her glossy braid slipping over her shoulder. He noticed she did not hold round his waist today, or lean against him.

He hoped, so hoped, he had not made an ass of himself.

"It is no good for any of you," she added, "to be kept so isolated. I think...with him, it is different. But for you, and Liana, and the children when they grow older...they will need the world, and you do. We will puzzle it out."

She fell quiet again, her gaze going out to the dazzling snow.

"But you do not?" he asked, turning to look upon her again.

She continued staring out into the dark branch laced dazzle.

He turned his eyes away, focusing on the fading path. "I am sorry if I was unpleasant."

She made a sound of confusion, blinking a few times. "Ah. I was watching the path. I have lived with snow longer than without, but it still muddles me sometimes. Turn there."

He nodded, and remained silent for the rest of the way. The children were certainly happy to see them back, all but Honey, who hung back until her mother was hefted down . She went to Falamh silently, slipped her arms around her, and pressed her cheek to her, sighing and smiling warmly. All the world felt right then, a spreading warm tingle that seemed to come from the two of them. She kissed the top of the girl's head, then offered a faint smile to Liana and Jacob as they stepped out to meet them. Usually solemn Donatien ducked past his father to throw his thin arms around her as well, and then the children piled on, before following Piotr and the horse and demanding to know what they'd been brought.

She walked up to the couple a bit sheepishly. "He said he'd permission," she told them uncomfortably. "I kept an eye on him the while. He just listened while I played at the tavern, and I did not want him riding home at night."

Jacob looked uncomfortable, but nodded once. Liana considered her with pursed lips. "It is great inconvenience, you do not tell the children goodbye before leaving, Talimah," she said coldly. "They are upset, especially Honey."

Fala looked at the ground. "I am sure. I am sorry. I needed air. I..." She took a breath, looked to be sure the children were distracted, then motioned to the house. "I will put tea on. We can...we can talk, yes?"

Liana looked to Jacob, then nodded.

As Falamh began to gather tea things, Jacob looked to Liana, then sheepishly said, "Perhaps it is better in the distillery. It is clean enough. The children..."

"Ah. Yes. Better, that." Falamh nodded once, setting things on the counter and following the two down. The look Liana shot her was pure venom, enough that she winced at it. It was silly, in a way, to creep about her own house as though she could be in the wrong, but Liana was a prisoner for her own safety.

She would give her this. Especially after finding even Piotr could tell what Liana was thinking.

Falamh sat at the small table set aside for such things--at times, Jacob was so wrapped up in his work that it was easier to get him to eat to offer food down here--and waited in silence as he prepared the tea. This was his domain, they all allowed it, and to be fair, he made better tea. It was a rose blend, one that Liana favored, with just a hint of spice behind it. The sweetness almost overwhelmed the faint astringent hints in the cool laboratory atmosphere.

Almost.

Falamh took off her cloak with care, folding it and setting it upon a stool. Jacob's familiar pounced upon it, then sniffed it in escacies of fascination, drinking in hints of woodsmoke, pipe smoke, vodka, the boy's own smell, her own. There were a few twitches of her plumy tail, flexes of her owl-like, tabby patterened wings, perks of her ears.

Falamh rose her eyes to Liana, then made a study of the tabletop. The erstwhile Queen took her tea and sipped it daintily, savoring it, relaxing a moment before looking sternly upon the smaller woman. Jacob sat on a stool between them, silent and a little pale.

"It is clear enough, you were unthinking. To leave without telling your daughter. To take Piotr with you. He smell of alcohol, and bad alcohol," she added unhappily.

"I think," Fala said with a weak smile, "he is trying to take pennance in his hangover. I offered to help. But that was his own choice, and he was safe enough. I even made certain he was lain on his side, and had water ready. Such men do." Her wings perked a moment, rolled with her shrug.

Jacob looked a touch relieved, but Liana frowned at this, her golden eyes sharp as a hawk's. "All this talk of security, and you let him get drunk in a tavern while you...while you played? At what?"

"The harp. It is my usual choice. I can play the lute a little, but not so well. And I know a pennywhistle, but it is hardly so pleasant. And now you know. When I leave so, I go to play music at a tavern where they know me."

"An indecent hobby for a mother," Liana said coldly. Falamh laughed.

"Honey was passed lap to lap as a babe, while I played. I learned doctoring later. But nothing happened. The innkeep knows me and watched him, too."

"Which one?" Jacob asked, earning a less than kind look from his wife.

"Maura and Thom's. Maura fed him that terrible cider, I fear, and he hadn't the sense to tell her no. But that was it, really. I think she mostly meant to keep the lads from troubling him."

"She is a terrible gossip," Jacob said uncomfortably.

"I spoke with her in the morning. I suppose he mentioned you'd a brother and sister who sang in a church?" She shrugged. "And that you've grandchildren. But your mask is so very old. I doubt she thought much on that. There were no names, and she tried to ask me more. I know better. I did not deny you'd a brother who had sang in a church? Brothers and churches are common enough."

"He remembered that?" Jacob looked a bit uncomfortable.

"I do remember that one, when there were presentations of music. When Alina was still with us. They played so well. Oh, my sweet friend. To see her again, even once..." The longing was clear in Liana's voice. She then shook her head. "Never mind it. Perhaps that is no grand danger, but still, you take him to a tavern. He is but a boy."

"I am fair sure he is what, twenty? Among your people, as I understand it, he would have been wed and with at least two children. But I watched him as a boy," she reassured. "Save not scolding Maura for letting him drink. I am, however, truly sorry to have made you all worry."

"You mentioned cider," Jacob said with a frown. "But Kisa says in his scent in your cloak, she smells a strong potato-based distillation. Vodka, I presume? Or something of the sort."

"He asked for some of my drink," Falamh admitted. "And her nose is fine to notice that. I poured libations," she then added at Liana's sharp look, which then turned to irritated confusion. "A mourning matter an old traveler taught me. I...There are days, I remember my dead. I remember them, then I sing. And I do not like company. I did not want to tell him. And now you know my secrets." She sighed.

"Like why your cloak is smelling strongly of him?" Liana asked with a lofted eyebrow. "If you meant to...to amuse yourself with him, why is this one taken from the home? He is unmarried." She frowned, but it was a controlled thing, her hands clasped before her.

Falamh sighed. "I did not even wish him along. He is very young, Liana. He also insisted on taking me out to walk in the snow because he thought I had drunk too much and was shivering, so I put my cloak over him. I fell asleep at his bedside after assuring he would not sick on himself at the end of the night. He is a boy. A man by human standards, but a boy in the mind, yes? But this was the end of it."

"So you prefer maturity, I see." Liana's dainty hands curled tighter on the tabletop.

"I prefer my Ilmryn," she replied. "And I am sorry for my manner before I left. I thought I saw something behind you. I do not think I did, in the end."

Jacob had said nothing for this exchange, looking a touch perplexed. Liana gave a small huff and nudged him, then said something in the odd fluttering, thick tones of Havali.

His dark eyes widened, sparked with violet. Then he went a bit red. "I do not think, my dear heart, she would ever seduce our Piotr. And I doubt he has it in him. Why would you worry of such things?"

He then winced, only as a man kicked under the table can. Her golden glare was like a thunderclap. Danger walked here.

"Ow. Dear heart. I mean it. She is a good woman, and too kind to take advantage. She knows his...his malady as we do."

"Better him than a married man," Liana said darkly.

Falamh looked to Jacob, a plea in her eyes. If he saw it, he missed it. "Liana, I hardly know what you mean. I..." He winced again. She looked evenly at Falamh.

"This is not your matter, love. I think I see how it stands. Why do you not go see to f ...

... inishing settling Israfel? Speak with her alone, is better, I think."

"I think," Falamh spoke then, "it is better he is here."

"I know what you can do, Talimah. There are other matters I do not. I would prefer we are...cleaning the air, between you and I. To know that Piotr is well." Liana stood, smoothing her skirts. "You are not needful, Jaques. Go help the boy, and see to the children." It was not a request. He looked between the women, and either ignored or missed the plea in Falamh's eyes. Instead, he took Liana's hand, kissed it, and went to the stairs.

"Oh no. I am not to be shouted at over this. Jacobus, you will stay here," Falamh told him sternly. "I think I see the way of it. Do you honestly not?"

The man hesitated, looking wary. "I...do not think Liana would be untoward, to have stern words, if there have been matters passing with Piotr I was unaware of," he spoke uncertainly.

Falamh rolled her eyes, then shifted to the uncomfortable, stilted-to-her-ears Elven she had picked up in her travels that these seemed to know, more sour than the tones of her people. One of the languages she knew Jacob could speak, but Liana could not.

"Come now. Do you not see how your wife has looked upon us, every time it passes we must go to hunt? I have been respectful of your desire to shelter her, but Piotr thinks it, too."

"Thinks what?" Jacob asked, blinking. Falamh sighed.

"She believes...ah, the wording is difficult in politeness, my knowledge of this dialect is more for literature, for song...ah. That you lie with me, when gone we are."

Jacob stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and half masking her face.

"Very rude, it is," Liana protested as she looked between the two, "to speak so I cannot understand."

Falamh fluttered a hand dismissively. "Jacob. You must tell her. Or permit me tell her."

"What has this to do with Piotr?" he asked in the common tongue, bewildered. Falamh hid her face in her hands, taking a slow, deep breath.

"By the light, this man is a fool. Because she thinks me greedy, perhaps? She means to send you away because she means to get to the heart of it. And as little frowns as I see upon you, perhaps she believes I coerce. Tell her. Or permit me. I promised you I would not. I need you to release me from my promise. Better she knows of the hunts, than she thinks you disloyal husband and I cruel friend." She looked up over her fingers, upon Liana's increasing agitation, upon Jacob's unease.

"Talimah, I...is that the way of it?" he asked in the common tongue.

"That is the way of it," she replied samely, standing. "If you will not answer either way, I will go. You two may speak. I believe it is better so."

"No. I would have of you..." Liana began, glaring at Falamh. Jacob rounded the table, coming between Falamh and the stairs. He took up her hands, then looked at Liana.

"She speaks that you believe us betraying your trust, my Sun. What say you?" he asked Liana. Falamh tensed at that tight grip upon her fingers, but did not dare to fight in this tight space. She would NOT hurt him. She mustn't. But why would he...

"You disappear at strange hours. You tell me nothing. You return all cheer, and she...am I to take comfort that it is no betrayal under the same roof, in the same bed?" Liana spoke angrily. "Or even know you of it? I am not ignorant of her power, and..."

"Tell her, please," Falamh spoke tightly.

"I..." Jacob swallowed. She could feel his hands shaking as they held hers. He then looked resolute, abruptly dropping Falamh's hands and catching her about the shoulders. "Talimah," he said then, meeting her eyes with a quiet desperation of his own. "how can you ask me that?"

"What are you doing? Let go of me. Please," Falamh breathed, her eyes widening with panic. "Just tell her the truth. Or permit me tell her. Please."

There was regret and apology mingled in his eyes, dark and purpled like bruises. They ducked away, and she felt him tense as he drew breath, then pressed into her and kissed her, a fierce, possessive, pointed sort of thing.

Her wings flared behind her in shock. A small bookshelf collapsed, its contents sliding upon the floor with a series of thuds and a worrying crash. She stumbled back against the wall, tears in her eyes as he trailed a hand through her dark hair.

Abruptly, he was pulled away. She heard a snarl as her legs sunk under her, and Liana screaming, and a flurry of footsteps from upstairs. "Liana? Uncle Jaques? HONEY! What are you doing?" The last came as Piotr stopped on the last stair, eyes wide as great pale wolf with brown, black, and silver markings and fierce lilac eyes stood over Jacob, snarling, a great clawed foot on his chest and jaw at his throat. Falamh began sobbing, and with a great shudder and a play of shadows, Honey became again the sweet-faced girl with rich brown curls and small, pale-banded wings. But she set a dainty foot on Jacob's chest again, nontheless.

"Your stupid uncle was assaulting my Amma!" Honey told him coldly. "Why were you just staring?" she then asked Liana, eyes narrowed dangerously. She put pressure enough to elicit an almost comical squack from Jacob. "You coward. I heard. Why would you do that to my Amma? She HELPS you, and you do this?"

"Assaulting?" Piotr's hand curled into a fist, and he stepped forward.

Falamh drew a shuddering breath, sweeping a sleeve across her lips, then held her hand up. "H...Honey. You know where Jaques and I go. Tell them," she said thickly. "You stupid, cowardly man," she added. "Why would you want Liana to think such a thing?"

"Honey Yaminaya. No. I am sorry you saw," Jacob spoke in a strained voice, then gasped as the girl put pressure on his chest. She, too, was strong for her size. Even when merely a girl, and no magicked beast. "You mustn't."

Liana was clearly in the grip of slow burning fury by this point, her golden eyes kindled, her whole body tensed. "I rather think it proper you speak your piece, child. And how long have you known?"

"A long time," Honey replied, not releasing her pressure on Jacob's chest. No one was moving to stop her. "Years and years. When Amma was late from gathering herbs, and I slipped away and took Rizzen to find her."

Liana took a deep breath. "And what did you see?" she spoke at last.

"Amma was hurt. Her dress was all shredded, and there were a few broken spines around, so I know one of her fits took her. There were dead men with swords, dead dogs, a dead hawk. The big, hunting kind. There was a dead woman, too, I think it was. A bit burnt to be sure. So it wasn't just her, doing the killing. He was counting the bodies, piling them together. Amma was telling him she would need a day, this time." The girl was fairly calm about all this, as though dead bodies and an injured mother in shredded garb were normal things. "They panicked when they saw me. Jake told me I should hide, until they were certain they had them all."

One of her small wings gave a flick. She frowned a little. "I know when Amma's hurt and someone says hide, you hide. I took to a tree, took to squirrel. Watched them a while. But he seemed satisfied they were all accounted for. Amma told him to build a fire, called me down. Asked me to fetch her a dress, and be sure none of you left the stead, and asked Jake what to tell you. He said to say they were going to town to fetch something for potions, if I remember. I told him it was a lie. Amma told me they would be there, she just had to purify the bodies and sing the ashes, and wanted to clean up and finish healing before she came home. She was...she was calmer, than she usually is after a fit."

Both Piotr and Liana stared at them. Jacob took a deep breath. "I am...I am sorry, Talimah. I would rather she thought us...." He closed his eyes. "I am so sorry. You may tell her."

As though it made a difference now.

"Dead...injured...?" Liana blinked at them a few times. Piotr hurried to Falamh's side, then, and reached to help her up.

"Oh, Talimah. He brought you to harm? But fits and recovered from what?"

"Miss Kiara calls it the dragon in her shadow," Honey said simply. "She changes, too. Just not as easily as I do. Not as...safely, I guess. She always has." The girl shrugged. "Jakey knows. She didn't want you to. It is just what we are."

"What I am," Falamh interrupted. "Never you, sweet girl. Never you. You are something better." She kept her hands tucked, ignoring Piotr. "My kind are made for fighting. We heal quickly. I have been helping your husband keep you and your family safe, Liana. He and I have our own arrays of sensors and traps set to let us know if certain sorts approach the stead. We have had to go on hunts more often since we lost part of the forest; often, my trees can stop the overambitious who simply sense you. But the ones with real power..." She shook her head, her eyes shadowed, her body drawn in on itself. "He did not want you to know that when we go, we go to kill. It is unsafe to do less, with many. Lesser powers than what took Kiara's husband, but still. They are not innocent, or small things."

Liana's golden eyes widened. It had taken her some time to get used to Honey occasionally slipping to cat, or mirroring one of the dogs, or laughingly dashing up a tree as a squirrel to amuse the children. They had learned of that together, she and Fala both, and they had both been startled at first. Falamh had wept, and gone white faced, at first. But she had come to smile on it, and there had been a vague mention her father had some such gift, but less freely done. Yet now they were saying it was the mother? And that they...they what? That tiny little woman, smaller than herself, went off to hunt folk who came to harm them?

"It has been fair often of late," Jacob admitted in shame, his head bowed.

"But why are you so damned HAPPY when you return, if that is what you are doing? Why is she..." Piotr began. "Talimah!" he then protested. "Why do you let him make you do such things? I have seen you cry over pulling a potato beetle off your plants too hard. You weep over T ...

... REES. It cannot be easier with men! And if you are hurt always, you are needing time to recover..."

"He makes me do nothing," Falamh spoke softly. "I make him take me. I swore myself to your family, Piotr, but I swore it only if he would weild me as I was meant. It is not good for him, after what...what was done him. To do as we must do. I hardly know what you were thinking. But that was the only time he has ever..." Her color rose, and she bowed her head again. "ever done that."

"Weild...Jaques. What is this. What is she saying?" Liana asked, eyes wide.

Jacob shook his head. "Talimah, you do not make me. I ask you. I...Her taint. The Unnamable. It rises when I do what I must, and I ask you, Talimah, because Liana must not see me so." He was sitting up, now, holding his legs, his chin on his knees like a boy. Eyes shadowed. "Honey. Better would it be, she thought what she thought. Never mind adult matters."

"My mother is not a cheap whore, Jakey. And Liana, she worries about you. We have been trying to figure out how to mask you, oh, for ages, so you could leave this stupid, boring place a while." The girl sighed, then walked over to touch Liana's shoulder. The beautious golden woman winced, as though struck. Honey's fingers curled there, light and gentle. "Surely, you don't think it worse that Amma and Jakey leave to keep us safe than if she were sneaking off to do, ah, grown up things with him? I mean the kind I'm not supposed to know about, not killing people." The girl gave a nervous little laugh. "Even though my friends in the woods do both pretty openly. You would not believe how little respect blackbirds have for each other. Amma is strong. She protects you. Just like I protect the children. Though Liran is watching them now, and says they won't save you any cookies if you adults don't grow up." With the last, there was a sweet little smile.

"Who taught you that word?" Falamh asked.

Honey laughed. "Amma, we lived above a tavern when I was learning to walk. You think I never heard it? But you are NOT. I remember people trying things. I wish I didn't." The laughter faded. "You should NEVER do that to Amma, Jakey. I love you, but I will kill you if you ever do it again without her asking."

The last was said very seriously to the man on the floor, her gentle hand tightening fractionally on Liana's shoulder.

"Too many people have hurt my Amma. She usually hurt them back, but she likes you. All of you."

"Honey Yaminaya Coinean. NEVER threaten anyone under my roof," Falamh scolded, swiping at her eyes and sitting up straighter. "You may slap him, but you certainly mightn't kill him. I would slap, had you not been ready to tear his throat out." She sighed. "Liana, if you wish to be angry, you may be as angry as you like. He made me promise to never tell you. He was afraid you would be frightened of him. Of me. And he loves us both well."

Liana frowned at that.

"Liana, I cared for him when the shadows still wreathed him and he wept for the unnamed one. His arms are for you, and for the love of LIGHT, keep it that way. It is not enough to say he is my friend. I have bonded myself to your family. But it is complicated. Nothing like your...no. I am wrong. It is like the vows your eldest boy took. What is called. The knight, yes? Save not so pure, and not so bright. I doubt your son wished to make love with his commander," she added with a wry, broken, half-laugh. "I certainly have no such designs on your husband."

Jacob hid his face against his knees and took a deep breath. Piotr looked confused by the whole. Uncertain if he should be angry, relieved, or frightened, as he looked at that dainty woman and his shaken uncle.

"You should be more honest, Jaques. You do not even talk on the Unnamed anymore, after we do what we must do. We do not hunt for sport, or fun. We do not hunt for meat, even. We hunt only to keep the stead safe. I would have been happy to leave it to the old Wolf, but before he died, he was so tired. We did not speak on it to him." Falamh sighed. "Donatien and Liran do not know, either," she then added. "I think," she ammended, for Liran was truly fey, and it seemed as though she considered Donatien her right hand, her other half, though of two wombs and two fathers they were born.

Honey rolled her eyes. "They know, Amma. Lira knows eeeverything. Why do you think I was here, instead of bothering Piotr? Why do you thnk Piotr came this way soon enough to hear the fuss?" She then offered Liana her hand. "Let these fools sort themselves out, Miss Liana. Amma brought you books, and ribbons, and embroidery flosses, and sweets. Would she do that, if she were trying to steal your silly human husband? And Petey is BORED. I mean, he likes Amma, but she lives in her head." The girl rolled her eyes, as a rather bewildered Liana took her hand.

This was too much to think on, too much to process. This was easier, going with the girl. Piotr blinked a few times. "I do WHAT?" he protested. "I said no such thing."

"She would never have you," Honey called over her shoulder. "You're too squishy. Come. Bring your stupid uncle and you can help me peel vegetables for the stew, squishy boy. Or you and Jakey can go make yourselves useful and NOT ASSAULT MY MOTHER. Goodness, Jakey. That was probably the second stupidest thing I have EVER seen in my LIFE. Kissing Amma instead of telling that you kill the bad guys. Amma is SCARED of that, stupid."

LIA. <3

She watched Gwendydd go from a thing that submitted to the pleasure because she couldn’t keep from feeling it to a thing that submitted because there was simply nothing left for her in that moment but to submit. She was such a beautiful creature to begin with. But like this, meek and subdued, that look of utter submission and surrender in her eyes before they fluttered shut, she was breathtaking. And Juliana let herself believe that she could have this. That it was right to have this.

But only if she got moving now.

There was everything she needed to make the potion. But it would take a lot of work, and a lot of magic. It was, perhaps, her good luck that she had a gift for working with plants. And that, almost as a part of that, she was so familiar with the creation of potions. And even with all that to help, it took her hours to accomplish it. She was just finishing, infusing the last of her magic it required into what she’d created, when Gwendydd started to stir, signaling her recovery.

By the time her eyes opened, Juliana was there, sitting on the bed beside her bound form. Before Gwendydd had a chance to react, she used the rod she had gripped in one hand to touch the fey on the inner thigh, and then to draw the rod up until she was teasing at her. And she was ready. The moment the fey’s lips parted even slightly, she would have the bottle at her mouth, forcing her to drink the contents of the potion that she’d given so much of herself into making.

After that, she could only watch carefully, to wait to see if it worked, and what exactly it would do to the fey. There had been detailed instructions. But there had been not a word about what it was actually supposed to do.

Accidental double on something that long is SHAME. SHAAAAAAAAME.

And now I slither away to suck up the pain and try to do some cleaning. Hsssss.

Blaaaah. Much tired very bad at cleaning. *lol*
It is always at the worst times they decide to inspect our apartment.

She wasn’t quite all the way asleep. But she wasn’t really awake, either. And somewhere in that state, she felt the touch of Oifa’s magic. She felt it as a soothing thing, smoothing away some of the weariness, easing some of the physical stress her condition put on her. It helped. She knew it couldn’t be eliminated by Oifa’s magic. It wasn’t an illness, but a natural biological process. It was a part of what she was, and so couldn’t be simply healed away.

But what Oifa did helped, and she could at least enjoy that slight relief for a time.

It also had the oddest effect, though this was one Lizbet wasn’t really aware of. She responded to the touch of Oifa’s magic, the bond between them letting her drift in that state where she wasn’t quite awake and wasn’t quite asleep. And in it, she dreamed, after a fashion. She dreamed of talking with Oifa, of being able to say the things she was too afraid or too cautious or too mindful of protecting Oifa to say otherwise.

“Oh, Oifa.” She sighed softly. “I’m so afraid. I’ll have to go soon. But I don’t want to. I don’t want to leave the Lord. And I especially don’t want to leave you. I need you. Both of you. But I… I have to bear a child. I have to.”

After a little while, she closed the book. There was nothing more to learn from it. She had everything memorized, simply from rereading it all so much. But she still didn’t stir herself to get up. It was just too comfortable sitting with Annabel like this.

The problem with it was that, while she felt comfortable to the point of laziness, she felt restless, too. She wanted to be working. But she had nothing she needed to try the new things she’d learned. Some, she thought, could surely be acquired in New Orleans. But much of it must come from Aljana. So, despite wanting especially to make a certain few of the potions, she would just have to wait.

“What is there left that I should attend to, Annabel? I think I’ve been lazy long enough now.”

Cass words.

Heh. Colin did a major word dump on me a few days ago. I'm still trying to get through it all.

How're you?

She watched Rory go. Then she went to the doors and locked them, putting up the ‘out of office’ sign. It wasn’t an unusual enough thing to attract attention from anyone that happened by. She did it regularly. Sometimes because she truly was out of the office. Sometimes because a client was in that would prefer their privacy. In either case, it was a routine thing, and took only a couple of minutes. Then she went on back to the office.

There, Rory was on the couch, and already asleep. Kaia got a throw from the closet. Then, careful not to wake her, she stretched out on the couch next to Rory. Pulling the blanket over them both, she pulled Rory close and simply held her.

She’d had no intention of sleeping herself. But, despite that, she dozed off as well.

I'm decent enough, how're you?

Haha. You'll get to it. I have faith in you.

Dear Min Yi, please give me somewhere to start with you so I can write a response.

I'm okay. Work work work. But my son's visiting this week, so that makes it nice.

Min is lovely. If that helps? Haha.

I'm out of work until the 22nd. Winter break and all.

Glad that you've got some niceties. Though.

Mmm. Thank you. Colin picked her out to go with an idea he had.

Of course, of course.

. . . does this image even work anymore?

Wow, yes. Impressive.

Carelessly flashing a handle. Sorry 'bout that.

No, no it's fine. It is welcome. I have noooooooooooooooo issue with character flashing for any reason.

Particularly if they're pretty?

Well, that certainly helps. But it doesn't matter.

Right, of course. >.>

LOL

BOOBS.

I mean.

/coughs-

She does have those, oh yes.

Yes.

I'm going to flash some very old handles in a second or so. . . I apologize.

. . . and by old, I've no clue who they are anymore?

There might be fuzzies in here.

AND REALLY POINTY BOOBS. Wow. Yup, forgot about that one.

MERMAID. heh.

. . . cringing at my ancient editing skills.

Oh I LOVE that mermaid pic.

. . .

Yeah, I was right, FUZZIES.

KOI mermaid. Makes it that much prettier. Heh.

Fuzzy?

. . .

FUZZY. I remember this one. Slightly.

Words are coming much slower. And I'm sitting here telling myself I should not make a character for something that only complicates things. AND YET MY BRAIN WON'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT.

Hm.

MAKE THE CHARACTER.

I'm a horrible influence.

So ancient they don't even have working pics.

...

There is purpose behind the flashing, I swear.

...

No, no. This has been bugging me for days, slowly getting worse.

Apparently, I really like the name Ariadne.

I hate that.

...

THEN SUDDENLY, BOOBS.

Oh goodness that belly.

THE STAR SPANGLED MAN, WITH A PLAN~~~~.

. . . is this the raunchy version or the tame one?

It's. . . the one without a pic, got it.

On to the next?

OH. Oh god. Yes, that one. Haha.

. . .

The pics, the pics.

I. . . can't remember most of these handles. So.

{MUN; Kelly Min. STORYLINE; .}






...

IS THIS PA KENT?!

Oh, I've been there. If I haven't used something in awhile, I can forget it entirely.

Well, they're imageshack images, so they've poofed quite a while ago.

Which can be behind some of my own flashing. The pic reminds me sometimes. Or sometimes it prods words.

Location. Occupation.

Hm.

Location. Occupation.

Oh geez. Dawid. /fans self-

. . .

*peeks in*

Yeah, so I'm weeding through unknowns. I should probably do this in a PR.

Hey, Colin.

. . . Gage Golightly? OR is it Erica Durance?

It's neither. BECAUSE. No pic!

It honestly doesn't bother me, Kelly. :)

I mean, 99% of the time I spend my day peeking into a completely empty room. So.

Well. Long as you're not bothered by it.

Still. . . I do feel a little bad 'bout it?

...and it's distracting me from my frustration and from doing things I shouldn't oughta.

FISHNETS. Lawdy.

Well. That pic alone probably made Colin happy. So there's that.

Distractions are good.

Hm.

I mean, I'm certainly not complaining. I think there's different pic services involved, some of which don't work here.

MIKAS. <3

I doubt his pic is going to work, though?

No. A bunch of her pics just aren't working.

Yeah, they're old handles, like I said, I'm weeding. Hey Colin.

Although I seem to remember you having issues with some of hers and Mary's pics on the work computer. So I dunno.

Location. Occupation.

. . .

Location. Occupation.

OH. Liana. <3

San Francisco. Occupation.
Wife of Isaac Henson. Mother of Zakai Henson.

. . .

Oh, screw my brain anyway. I gotta stop staring at this log for a little bit.

Hahahaha. Oh man.

. . .

Hey... is that you, Min? I have a hard time telling.

That looked kind of like Garrett Hedlund. . . not quite sure.

I mean, holy shit Bevin though. Yes I backread.

Yup, it's me.

Well how the hell have you been? It's been a while.

. . .

I've been okay, despite the current home situation.

Nearly done, only a handful of handles left. Or so.

...

. . .

...

LAST ONE.

There. All done.

I mean, I agree with Cass, people can flash pics whenever. It's not a thing that bothers anyone that I care to have around here.

Like I said. Dat belleh.

>.>

AND COLIN IS THE BOSS SO THAT'S THAT.

I think that last one is blocked, I think my work blocks imgbox.

It's just Jesse Lee Soffer. From Chicago PD.

I'm waiting for them to catch wise and block my domain. lol

/wriggles over here-

/wriggles over here-

So what brings you back around? Looking to get back into writing?

Maybe? I dunno.

*peeks back from pspland*

Brandon is a sorcerer, at least in my head, by the way. I saw you had a question mark in the tag.

I deleted the puppet. :)

Well, if you do decide to start writing again, and you're looking for someone to write with, you know how to find me.

I'll probably, if anything, lurk and read you and Cass' words.

Okay. Now that I have that out of my system.

Eh.

“I don’t know how. I… I think I hurt her. I didn’t want to. I didn’t mean to. I don’t know how to convince her. It’s so new. I’ve never… I went out with a boy. Once. I had to, for prom. My parents would have been so disappointed in me if I hadn’t had a date for prom. We didn’t kiss.”

She sighed, shifting restlessly.

“I kissed Elizabeth. I think… I love her. I do. I want her to love me. But I’m so lost. I feel like… Like I’m losing myself.” A broken sob came. “Maybe I can just stay here. I’m afraid here. But not as afraid as I am out...there.”

~25 left. I think. *squints*

Of course, that includes Min Yi, so. *sigh*

Sounds about right, but it'll go up again tonight, unless I totally just fail at things.

I mean, it was over 50 at one point.

And not writing is only failure when it's me. It's having a life when it's anyone else. :D

I don't have a life. I have... something that doesn't show up on an MRI, apparently.

I mean, I'm told stuff like that is still having a life.

Clearly, you just need chicken soup.

Or a juice cleanse. Those fix everything wrong with you. 😐

By which I mean a nurse over at the wound care place is trying to sell Mum on some kind of juice cleanse. And I'm just like, 1) they don't 'detoxify' shit, that's what your liver and kidneys and intestines do. And 2) SHE HAS DIABETES AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMING NOTHING BUT JUICE FOR DAYS FFS.

Oh. I remembered what play the other character I was thinking needed made for was. Ugh.

So, I have encountered juice cleanse enthusiasts before, but it being a nurse is new.

Yeah, coming from a nurse that works for a doctor that has a lot of diabetic patients just boggles me. I mean, hey, believe whatever the fuck you want. But they shouldn't be allowed to be trying to sell the patients on it.

Nothing but sweet and sugary juice for days? Yeah, that'll probably put her in high numbers and possibly through a diabetic coma. Good job on the nurse. /sarcasm

Two week juice cleanse. During which time, you only consume the juice they provide and water. Nothing else. At all. Each bottle, of which you're supposed to have four a day, costs ~$7 each. Just under $400 for two weeks of 'food.' That's more than our total food budget for the month.

It's such a scam. But my mother is like "BUT BUT BUT SHE SAYS IT WORKS AND SHE'S A NURSE SO IT MUST BE TRUE."

😐

Fruit/veggie juice. But I looked it up. There's added sugar. On top of the fruit juice in it. So, yeah. It's beyond stupid and into deadly.

Not to mention, just juice is not going to fill her up---- she's going to need to drink more to satisfy. Which is also problematic.

What play was it?

Oh, she could use drinking more water. What she drinks now is mostly decaf iced tea.

The Rebecca fun and complication hour.
Specifically, Rhia.

Oh, the Lord?

Yeah.

I'm gonna have to just carve my way out of that stupid corner.

Her, I could write for, but I need to figure that out before I do.

Need to for her.

And there's some characters I need to take the time to remake.

I know Skylar and Odette for sure.

Darcy. The Star Wars stuff.

I keep on wanting to do a SL.

DOOOOOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.

Cass. Stop being an influence.

I am an enabler.

I have a firm philosophy.
Any idea is a good idea, as long as it's not my idea.
Hee.

Besides. It's very. . . lame as storylines go.
Chicago. That's it. Just. The Windy City.

You're talking to one person here that has a weird love of Chicago.

. . . Oh boy. Well.

That was a twist I didn't see coming.

Meow.

Someday I'll get to see it. Well, more of it than the bus terminal in the middle of the night.

Lia. <3

I like Chicago. I try to get there every other month or so.

*stows away with Colin*

Lia!

I mean, it'd just be, pretty much normal/crime/etc.

If I did anything with it.

Cass and I have a storyline that is basically "Atlanta, with crime."

This is truth.

Well. . . that's made up my mind then.

I won't possibly wedge in on a similar story.

Crime and an awful woman.

LOL. It's just me and him, like...pretty much everything. You're fine. There's no limit on genre or something similar. You want to write something, go for it. CREATIVITY IS GOOD.

No, I wouldn't feel... right about it.

I mean, there are a lot of crimes.

Forget I said anything.

I'm gonna see if I can make more of these words come. Figure a way out of that corner and such.

Words. Words are good.

Wait. Someone is worried about lame storylines.

>>

<<

I have flippin written out got-damned TEA PARTIES.

THERE IS NO LAME. So long as you like to write it.

Cass and I wrote out a Connect Four game once. I kept track of the board using Xs and Os in a text file

I need to get ketchup. If I'm making corn dogs and fries tonight. . . must have KETCHUP.

I almost typed 'ketchip'.

LIA. LIA. LOOK.

Memories.

Sort of.

Hahaha, I once had a part-demon playing a little fairy dude in a game of boxes.

You know, the one where you take turns connecting the dots?


D'awwwwwwwwwww!!!! Arcana! I remember Arcana.

Heh. <3

She made Fala's favorite cloak. :P
A character of Nau's made her second favorite. ;)

I remember she was very good at sewing, and that there was some mysterious royal past, and she was very sweet and sad.

*lol* I also recall writing a lot of very shy conversation between her and Captan Oblivious 1 (Aka Gwion.)

(What. Capt. oblivious 2 is his big brother, who is worse.)

Yes, she was particularly fond of Gwion. If memory serves correctly.

ALSO. RUBBER DUCKIES. hehe.

*lol* And he was fond of her.

In the, "Dude! You remind me of my weird, but sweet baby sister!" way.

Gwion, you have such a way with words. lol.

It is rather easy to be reminded of a sister when you have twelve of them. :p

Details, details. :P

Oh, screw it.

I'll do it. I'll do the thing.

Don't know when, but I will.

To be fair, I am down to...ah...*counts on fingers*

...

Three? And one brother of eight?

. . .

Did they flee your company?

do it do it do it do it do it do it do it

/digs around to find some money to get said ketchup, at some point-

Hah. Very funny.
One is now a dowager and half mad, one is trying to become the queen of nothing, and one used witchery to mould her dead husband a new body out of a dead lindorm and had her vision taken for managing it.

Ah...so...things happened.

(Alina would kick your ass for saying she's mad.)
[But she is. And I was polite and said half.]
(She would anyway.)
[...true.]

-shocked look upon fair features-
. . . oh.
-as the small lady doesn't know how to respond accordingly-

Ah...yes. But they are alive? And that is better than dead.

I think. I mean, I would not want to be stuck sitting in a rose garden that leads nowhere, pestering the living in dreams.

(Aww, Gwigwi, you think you won't be an animalistic protector spirit. How cute. *cheek pinch*)

Well, blast. Can I be a horse? I do rather like horses.

(*pat pat*)

You'd make quite the handsome stallion. . .

...
Ah...thank you. I think. Though for now, I am still alive. So that is fairly good.

. . . yes, that is good.

She shrugged, swallowing before she answered more properly.

“Carol knows Odette needs to get things done. Knows enough of what needs done. And Odette knows what she has to do. She’ll do it as long as Carol continues to want her to serve. The biggest thing to hold it up would probably be what you need to give Odette to add to the potions she makes. I could go supervise, see what I can do to help. But...no. I don’t think they’ll need me today. Do you have something else for me to do, Mistress?”

*and check, while I'm at it*

I need to find this guy's picture.

I am not gonna lie here. Finding a new one for him has proven The Hell Too Much Work.

DAMN ME AND MY WEIRD ARSE GIRLY MENS.

I AM NOT GIRLY.
(Effeminate.)
NO.
(Slight, not square featured, and can't grow a beard to save your life.)
...
Well, that is perfectly manly in Kanace.

She felt it. Deep down, she felt it. But for her it translated into a desire to be claimed. This was more subtle than so much of what she’d been forced to share in from Darcy. This was insidious. It crept up on her as she lay there holding Darcy. It pulled her into desires slowly. And then into fantasies where Darcy claimed her. Where Darcy finished what she’d started, and showed Sveta her true place. Where Darcy put a collar on her.

Where she knew a sense of peace and contentment she’d never felt before.

Lost in those fantasies, she rubbed lightly against Darcy. She made soft little sounds. Sounds of need. Desire. Longing. Pleasure.

I have a stupid love of the name Gwion.

My affection is clearly shared. :)

She couldn’t answer. And none of it seemed to require one anyway. So she simply hummed her acknowledgment, using that vibration to only further pleasure Primrose. Her world narrowed down to that one thing. Please Primrose. Pleasure Primrose. If she lost herself in it, she didn’t have to think about anything else. And if she didn’t have to think about anything else, she could feel the pleasure she got from knowing she was obeying Primrose. That she was serving Primrose. That she was Primrose’s bitch.

STORYLINE: Windy City.

. . . working on it.

I seem to vaguely remember begging Colin to make a character with that name for me once.

I think this is as close as I ever got to that?

I also mildly regret making the Kanascans sort of medeterranean/middle eastern dark. It makes finding fantasy pictures with knights and wizards and crap SO MUCH HARDER.

Oh. Yes. That one. Close. Interchangeable names in some of the myths.

-this lady is just happy to see that he still exists-

[ Link ]

Well, that is appreciated. Good to see you exist, too, Lady Arcana.
:D

(You are also written into a corner, and I will have to do some thinking to get to write about you again. But I guess that means you're safe. For nooow.)

[ Link ]

SO MANY BEEEARD.

[ Link ]

Hmm. Where my trashy bad art with appropriate brown level at.

This drawing is crap, but only very slightly too light. :p https://www.deviantart.com/raedenfalamh/ art/Gwion-and-Linnea-Colored-153521521

*check*

*check*

[ Link ] even.

STORYLINE: Windy City.

Awh, Linnea. <3

When I say medeteranean color, I guess I really mean, "Olive to golden brown."

I think a LOT of the pics I ended up using were Asian, actually. *lol* Because I got too annoyed.

If you're careful, skin can be darkened somewhat in a lot of graphics programs.

This is true. I no longer have a graphics program. I should suck it up and teach myself the weirdie GIMP update. But I hate it.

And sorry. My grandfather was Mediterranean, Lebanese, so I was basing off of him.

STORYLINE: Windy City.

. . . this picture is very forward, but it's much better than some other images. That were. . . well. . . distracting. So.

The one I've been trying to recover for Gwion was digitally darkened and de-facial haired. It was only somewhat crap looking. *lol*

Nah, you are fair. It is not a good guide, honestly. Most of the groups with olive to golden brown tend to have people in the fair to midtone groups, too!

I just was like, you know what, I keep seeing romani fantasy folk with whole tribes of pale redheads, these are just NPCs (at the time) so why the fuck NOT a European style fantasy culture with ME COLOR PEOPLE.

And purple hair, yo.

But just only kinda if you squint at it purple hair.

:D :D :D

No. This is very forward. :)

STORYLINE: Windy City.

. . .

No arguments there.

But I get the GIMP hate. It's too much like Photoshop for me to understand it.

*lol* Forward is in the eye of the beholder. ;)

[ Link ]

STORYLINE: Windy City.

lol

Right? OLD GIMP, I could use. I liked Old Gimp. Then there was an update and everything turned to suck. For my lazy arse, anyway.

Tucking the boobs away. For now.

I'm sure there's a joke about tucking boobs away.

Oh fun. Have you tried any of these? Any thoughts, if so?

Hahaha. After so many years of nursing children, I have done many a boob tuck in.