Helantri Deru is...well, a calm oasis in ways, but a fortress beneath its beauty. The mansion holds influences from Earth's China, but a good many other sensibilities are merged into that as well. It appears open, well-lit, and airy...but can be sealed to virtual inpenetrability at a moment's notice. The grounds around it are graced by beautiful gardens, practically a horticultural museum or botanical masterwork. There are what appear to be training areas scattered throughout, but they fit into the landscape as though they belong. They do. The protective and cloaking fields around the entire area are exceedingly similar to those around Saea's Gardens.

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That evening, Orrin is in incredibly, incredibly good mood, and has spontaneously decided that Mara should have a nice dinner to celebrate her proper recovery. Thus, large portions of food--normal amounts multiplied by his wife, actually--are being prepared for all of the various people who live in and around Helantri Deru. They add up. Felina's beaming, too...and both the kids are wondering what's up.

By then Makyon has gotten back, of course, and has tried to help in the kitchen where he can. He's quite receptive to the feeling in the air, though, and is as jovial as he ever is.

Yue is there as well, sitting on a stool with his long legs crossed and kicking, and generally looking much better than he had earlier. He's dressed in an allover pink Sunday School sort of dress, with a wide, knee-length skirt, heels, and a foofy bow tied into his hair.

"I can't help but feel like a pedophile when I look at her dressed like that. It's disconcerting," Makyon confides to Orrin. "Except she's taller than everyone here but me."

The dumen grins at him. "Would it make you feel better if I pointed out that that's actually a man who, for all practical purposes, is infinite number of times your age?" It's a lot like the internet, all in all.

Makyon glances again at Yue. Arches his eyebrow.

"Alright, Orrin. You shouldn't drink so much this early in the day."

Yue blows them both a suggestive kiss.

Orrin grins at Yue, favors her with a coy, girlish wave she had actually taught him, just for fun, and lifts a large pot from the stove to pass to Makyon. "Needs to be poured into the strainer in the sink, mind the metal parts, they're hot."

Makyon takes the pot, hiding his discomfiture at Yue's gesture and his amusement at Orrin's reaction in the same convenient turn. He hasn't inherited all of Kaies's culinary talents, but enough that he is quite useful in the kitchen.

Yue hops off the stool and clasps his hands at his waist, swishing over to them. He really, really loves this game.

"Hey boys. Might an angel lend a hand?" He peeks over their shoulders.

"Oh, I think we've got it more or less covered. A man's place is in the kitchen, after all." Orrin grins, and winks. "Hmm..." he looks around a bit. "Ah! would you mind getting together some drinks of some sort, Yue? Something tropical would be good, and you actually have taste with that kind of thing."

"Certainly, handsome." The angel considers this for a bit before abruptly vanishing. He knows a vast orchard on an uninhabited moon not far from there that has fruits these folks have probably never heard of before. Before he goes, though, he kisses each of them on the cheek... not for flirty reasons this time, but because he feels amazingly content.



Makyon just stares into the sink.

Orrin grins at Yue. "Cheer up. You were just kissed by a beautiful lady. So was I! Thankfully, I don't think my wife will kill me, though." He grins at Felina, who's chatting off to the side with Dewei. She smiles back, and looks back to her son.

Ting wanders up at this point. "Who's getting kissed by beautiful ladies, now?" She smiles and tilts her head in a way she knows makes her longer bangs fall over her eyes.

The revenant brightens a little bit when Ting speaks. "Hopefully me, when I convince you to kiss me, Ting." He turns Kaies's beautiful smile upon her.

Ting grins back at him. "That depends on how well you convince through the evening! Also, how much alcohol Yue's putting in the drinks. The amount of alcohol is usually directly proportional to the quantity of kisses." She wiggles her nose, just because she can and it amuses her.

Makyon is just about to respond when and red blur tackles him out of his boots. Mara grins down at him.

"Hiya cutie. No kissy for you because my man is here. But!" And she hugs him. "Oh, screw it." And kisses him anyway." Hi!"

Makyon just lays his head back. Yeah. Good day.

Ting laughs. "Two kisses in one minute! Methinks he's setting a good precedent tonight!" Ting grins. "Hi, auntie!" And crouches, wiggles for show, and tries to tackle Mara in turn.

Mara leaps up from Makyon's chest to intercept Ting, tumbling and rolling with her to her infinite amusement.

Her boy toy enters in the strangest method at Helantri Deru... through the door. He watches Mara amusedly, acknowledging the others with a simple gesture of one hand. He looks tired, all things considered.

Felina has an amused little smirk across her lips when she sets the dinner table back down. It had been in the tackle-path. "I've had to repair this thing enough times, thank you. I'm glad you two decided to join us, though." She grins at Mara, and smilse briefly at Moorn as well. She knows that it's important...he's always coming into a socially precarious situation when he sets foot on her estate, and he knows it.

Ting blinks at the suddenly lower ceiling. "Hey, who wipes their hands on the bottom of the table? Gross!"

Moorn glances up. Makes a face, but doesn't say anything.

Mara grins at Ting. "Shush you. We're supposed to be playing!" Her left hand cools immensely quite suddenly, and she quite unceremoniously sticks it down the back of Ting's pants.

Ting's eyes are suddenly shaped like run-of-the-mill saucers. "Geep!" She springs straight up with motivated, unnatural speed, and slams her head (shielded in the nick of time) into the table. One sharp crack later, Felina winces.

She sighs. Slams the side of her fist onto it with only moderate force, and it splits along the new crack, falling in two pieces to the floor. She laughs softly. "Well, can't say I didn't try."

Mara cringes too. "Oh Tingy I'm sorry I'm really sorry. Fel your table! Dangit. I'm sorry!!"

"Oh, that's no big deal. Replaced it three months ago, I think this is some kind of longevity record." Felina grins reassuringly at Mara. "I'll manifest another one before dinner time. And remind you that i'm the one who blew up the last one, so no problem."

"And! While you're busy being sorry..." Ting pounces Mara again, pins her with her knees, and sets to tickling. "This is for cold hands on bums!" She inserts her best "evil laugh" here.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeomigodomigodomigoomigooooooooood!

Felina pieces together a new table somewhat removed from the tickle fest, almost humming to herself. Yep. It's good to have her family all together.

Ting grins impishly at her aunt, and pauses a moment. "Time to breathe?"

Mara looks up at Ting, red-faced and breathless. "Foul play! I demand a penalty shot. Or milk. Oh! Nevermind. I brought whiskey."

"Yay whiskey!"

Ting grins, kisses her aunt's forehead, and lets her up.

Felina puts the new table in place, the old one simply vanishing to gods know where. "There we go." She looks to Moorn. "Would you like some tea or somesuch? We have a couple of kinds ready."

"No."

Mara glares at him. "What do we say?"

"... no, thank you."

"And?" Mara puts her hands on her hips.

"... no, thank you, you are lovely for asking."

Felina smirks at that. She...almost pops trying not to make comments on the 'calling her lovely" bit. She just grins, and looks to Mara. "Hey, when you have a moment, Mara, could I talk to you alone?"

"Yup how bout now c'mon let's go!" Mara hops up and down, so amused with herself for being able to do so.

Moorn just smiles a contented kind of evil villain smile, for the moment.

Felina smiles, and follows after Mara...rehearsing things in her head, and ultimately coming up short.

Mara appears in her own little room elsewhere in the house, which is just... really shiny and colorful.

"So sweety, whatcha wanna talkabout with that serious face?"

"Well...it's not serious, really, don't worry." Felina smiles reassuringly. "It's just...hm. Well, Orrin and I kind of want to announce something later, and I wanted you to know before everyone else. It's...hm..."

"Ooh! I know!" Mara bounces, smiling brightly. "You're both getting breast implants!"

"Oh, you're about a quarter right." Felina has to laugh, though it's kind of sheepish/distractedly. "Well...I'll just say it. Mara, you're going to be an auntie again."

"Well I'm always an auntie honey just because I'm asleep doesn't mean I stop and what are you trying to confuse me because hey wait just a second does that mean that holy furry asses it does omigod Fel yay!"

Felina laughs. It's such a Mara reaction. She grins at her nether double, eyes warm, and laughs. "Exactly that, yes. I've known...since before all this started, but I wanted to wait until we could tell you, too. Even Orrin only found out earlier today, which is why he's strutting around like the cat who caught the canary. And I'm so glad to finally be able to tell you!"

Mara beams so brightly that her eyes kitty-flash. "That's so cool! And... no more world saving for you for at least a year!" She puts her finger up and wiggles it. "Babies are so smelly, but wonderful! Like athletes. Eee... baby baby whee! Felina. This is such a wonderful thing, I could just lose it!"

Felina laughs softly. "It is! No twins for me, though, I hope. God, I hope. One set's enough." She titters.

Mara's expression turns suddenly quite serious. "Mommy Felina gets a hug." And she does, but carefully, no pouncing involved. "Triple mommy! I wonder what Ting and Ding are gonna think?"

Felina smiles, and hugs Mara tightly. "Thanks, Mara. Right...I forgot my 'get out of pouncings free!' card." She grins. "And...we'll know soon enough! Do you know if Ai's coming tonight?"

Mara's ears wilt. "Nope. She wouldn't let anyone even near her palace. Gabriel tried to go talk to her and nearly got blown to hashish. And I tried to talk to her in her mind, but she's got some kind of shield up or something. She must've been pissed and rightly so!" Mara nods vigorously. "He had no right telling her she couldn't marry Dewei. And Mara's gonna tan his hide for it! In a bad way!"

"Dewei should go talk to her," Felina observes. "Take her some dinner, maybe, once we're done?"

"I think so. I want to talk to her, though. Poor thing... but! She loves Dewei enough to risk her father's wrath. Fuckin' I wouldn't do that. I play with him, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make him mad. Unless he's tied up. Then it's funny."

Felina wrinkles her nose, but snickers...then nods. "Yeah...aren't they just a darling little couple? It just boggles my mind to think that Dewei found a wonderful girl to love so young, but...there they are. He does love her, you know." She smiles. "He isn't sure of things himself, right now, but I am. He loves Ai with all his darling little heart."

"It is sweet! But but but... hon. Has Dewei ever had a girl before? It might be, you know, the other thing." Her eyebrow goes up. "You know."

Felina grins. "That too. But I'm quite positive there's much more too it than that, even if my poor little son is a virgin." She laughs softly. "No...Dewei would do anything for Ai. Hell, you told me how he fought when Moorn prodded him into doing so on pain of not being allowed to see Ai."

"True. Your baby was a bad, bad man." Mara nods. "It'd be so wonderful, though. Grandparents who used to bitch slap each other!"

Back in the front room, Yue reappears with a basket full of exotic, multicolored fruits. He smiles to Orrin, but freezes at the sight of the man at the table. 

Moorn gazes placidly at him.

"What are you staring about?" he camly demands of Yue, who is shivering so badly that the basket falls off his arm.

Makyon blinks. "Yue? Hello?"

"Oh, dear..." Felina sighs. "Hey, Yue just showed up, and I didn't know Moorn would be coming...which I fine, but I didn't warn him...anyway, yeah. Yue's still petrified of him...should go defuse this now..."

Ting wanders tentatively up to Yue, touching his arm and looking up at him, concerned.

Mara nods. "Ooh... right... let's go." And she heads that way.

Yue squeaks a little when Ting touches him, and tries his best to squeeze himself into the corner of the room, hands over his head to cover his eyes. His mind is babbling, something that irritates the sorcerer to no end.

"Would you relax? I am not going to harm you again. You came between me and my prey last time, and I reacted." He shrugs with perfect apathy. "Imagine if I came between you and a whorish outfit. Would you not react the same way?"

At this point, Felina is back in the room, and picks up the fallwn basket. "Mm...Yue flirts, but she's good at staying well away from the 'trashy' line. Yue, the fruit looks great. What is this?"

The angel doesn't move, or respond. Just shivers.

Mara walks over to her man and takes his shoulder, whispering something in his ear. Moorn's expression, for just a split second, is contrite. He stands, and Mara leads him out of the room by the hand and hair.

Felina picks up a stray fruit, and sets it back in the basket. "I'm sorry...I didn't think to warn you, because I didn't know he'd be here. I always extend the invitation, but he doesn't usually take it."

"He's gone...?" Yue looks up. His mascara is running down his cheeks, his eyes ringed in red again.

"Heaven," Makyon mutters. "that bad...?"

"Mara took him off somewhere." Felina nods, setting a hand on Yue's shoulder.

"Yue once tried to protect Felina from him, back when they were fighting," Orrin notes too quietly for Yue to hear, to Makyon. "He very literally smashed her face in."

Makyon's expression sings a spot of heartbreak at that. "I... wow. I had no idea."

The angel loosens a little bit. Slowly, methodically, he begins picking up the fallen fruit and putting it back in the basket, cursing himself for being so weak, such a coward.

Felina helps, remaining quiet.

Yue can't help himself. When he sees her picking up fruit he breaks, his tears coming without end. Apologies and curses mingle freely with his sharp sobs.

Makyon doesn't hesitate. He lowers himself to his knees and help Felina gather the fruit, without a word.

Felina, meanwhile, sets down teh piece she'd just picked up to wrap her arms tightly around one of her oldest, dearest friends. "Yue...it's okay, all right? It was a terrible thing, and a terrible time...there's no shame in thinking of it as such...shhh...you're okay, you've done nothing wrong..." her voice stays soft, and she actually rocks with him the slightest bit, just murmuring whatever reassurances come to mind, for however long he needs.

The angel stays there, feeling worse somehow for the attention. He's beecome such a drama queen, and even though he knows that he cannot stop himself from weeping.

Makyon sets the full fruit basket on the new table, and looks to Ting. He's moved, but has no idea how to express it. Looks to Orrin, his expression screaming "Do something."

The dumen's actually already starting towards them. He kneels to pick up two more fruits, one in either hand, and examines one. "Yue, these are very unusual. I've never seen them before. Feel up to helping me figure out just how these go from being pretty to being alcoholic?"

Yue lifts his eyes from Felina's shoulder. Gazes at the basket, and the concerned people all around him.

"The same way I do..." he sniffles, "... adding alcohol." He tries to smile, but can't quite do it.

Meanwhile, Makyon edges closer and sets a tentative hand on the angel's shoulder. He stays a bit away from them, but wants to offer his help without actually doing it.

"Yes, but do you really trust that putz with anything but rum on the rocks?" Felina notes, smiling softly. Her expression softens and fades a bit. "It really is okay, Yue. You're seeking your closure. Actively. You don't have it yet, no, but...moment by moment. This wasn't your moment."

Yue does not respond. Just pulls back onto his heels and stands up, dabbing at his eyes. "It was yours. And I am ruining it. Excuse me." He spins and strides for the door, which fills with the void of the maze as he heads to it.

"Hey...we'll have dinner for you if you want it in a little bit," Felina calls after him, nodding. She doesn't expect a response, and the rest of the fruit head back to their proper place when she picks up the basket.

The door vanishes behind him. Makyon stands back up, looking rather like he's just been hit by a bus. Obediently, he heads back to the stove area.

Mara comes back in a moment later. "Sorry everyone. I sent him home, but... too little, too late. I'll take care of the alcohol, Orrin. Fel... you okay hon?"

"I'm fine," Felina nods. She shakes her head. "My lack of foresight caused this, so...well, time to pick up the pieces, I guess, and try to salvage things a bit." She smiles sheepishly. It had been such a wonderful atmosphere before. "It's not like anything cataclysmic happened today, anyway."

"It will be fine again. Yue will be smiling by the time he gets back. And Gabriel gave me permission to do whatever I could to make Yue feel better." Mara nods, significantly so. "He gets a kiss now. Fel, if you could open me a door sweety, that'd be nice."

Felina ponders this for a few moments...but then, Ansendul knows Mara well enough, too, enough to trust her. Also, if it's not okay, the door will probably just not open...but since it's for Yue, she doubts that. "Sure thing." She pulls out her key, heads over to the door, closes it and then turns its lock and pushes it open again, to reveal the roiling vortex to the maze. "Here you go." She smiles gratefully at her double.

"We'll be back quick like." Mara smiles right back and heads that way, ready to help. And tickle. And probably pounce.

The vortex vanishes behind her, of course.

Makyon turns back to the others, his handsome smile at full power again. "So. Who wants to sneak from the dessert tray?" He holds up a tray of berry pies of various flavors. "Orrin won't mind, will you? Well. Not unless he wants smacked around a little."

One of Orrin's hands finds his forehead, flabbergasted. "I daresay I'm being threatened! At least it's for a good cause. Or at least I hope so." He laughs softly, trying to shake off the subdued air. Sets his hands on Felina's shoulders gently from behind, to a sheepish smile. She covers one of them with her own.

"So...uh...charades?" Ting offers. She doesn't know what charades means.

"I don't think I have that," Makyon checks the tray. "Just pie."

Felina grins a little, but doesn't comment.


"Pie works! Ting tracks down very small piece and munches it quietly...she's not hungry and it doesn't sound good. It's just because Makyon's offering and going to get rebuffed otherwise.

"Has anyone seen Dewei, by the way?" The revenant sets the tray back down. "I thought I saw him earlier, but not for a while."

"I was talking to him just a few minutes ago," Felina notes. "I believe he stepped out for a moment."

"She means he had to pee," Ting clarifies. She's all about class.

"Aha! Ting, you make a fine translator between decorum and bluntness." Makyon glances at the fruit on the table, noting how decidedly blue and pink it is. He's about to comment on it when Mara reappears, a sizable white lipstick-kiss mark on her cheek.

"Hi! Yue's feeling better. He's just changing clothes and he didn't want any extra attention but he kissed my cheek cause I asked for it and looky!" She preens.

Felina's expression does brighten considerably at that, and she grins. "Lovely, Mara. It's not your shade, but that just makes it that much easier to show off. Any idea when he'll be back?"

"He said to start without him, because he thought he might be making the boys uncomfortable looking like a schoolgirl." Mara grins. "Albeit the tallest goddamn schoolgirl in history. He's gonna change into something less suggestive. Now... guess what Mara's got?" She holds up a vial, beaming. "Mara's got alkiehol!"

Felina smiles, and nods.

Ting tilts her head. "That had better be some darned good stuff for that lil vial!"

"It's a fermenting agent, actually. Auntie mara pours a little of this into fruityness, and then!" And she falls over backwards. "Like that!"

"No passing out until you've eaten!" Orrin nudges Makyon for a bit of help, and all the food is headed for the new table. "Here are you, folks...dig in. Preferably with silverware, though."

Mara takes it upon herself to fix up the drinks. "Pink," as she explains, "makes you smack your lips. Blue makes you fall on your butt!" And she passes one of each to everyone as Makyon and Orrin serve the food.

Yue returns a moment later. He's still wearing a big bow in his hair, but this time it is a dark bloody red, and he is dressed in a much more modest white dress that looks, all things considered, like a veil-and-lace free wedding dress.

"See, this is the nice thing about clairvoyant friends," Felina notes as she pokes at her own foot, sitting on a stool beside her husband. "Everything you would have served yourself is on that plate there." She gestures to it with her head, and grins at Yue.

Yue walks around the table, his white lipstick cleaned away now. Without bothering to ask for permission her kisses Felina's hair, and then heads over to his seat with a middling kind of smil on his face.

Mara beams. "That's pretty hot, you know."

"Gods yes!" Orrin agrees.

Felina laughs, and elbows him. "Well, so...four of us know the news. Three don't." She looks at Mara. "Think we should tell them, or let them stew over that statement?

Mara grins at Orrin. "Silly men and their silly lesbian fantasies." She blinks. "Like I'm one to talk. Fel, I think you ought to tell 'em. People need to know not to pounce you too hard."

Felina grins. "Point. Looks back to Makyon and the twins, since Dewei's back from 'stepping out.' "Well, first, the main point of celebration this evening is absolutely, Mara's being Mara again. I think we can all agree the resulting chaos, pouncings, attempted drownings, and assorted other enjoyable calamities are wonderful to have secure." She grins at her double.

Ting purrs. "Yup yup! I don't get along with nuns. Or they don't get along with me. Or something." She blinks.

"Both!" Mara blushes under the attention, though. "You're all too sweet. Like candy!" Her ears wiggle happily. "It's fun to pounce people though. Especially soft people. Hee!"

Felina grins at Mara, and then looks back over to the other three after a glance to her husband. "Orrin and I do have another announcement, though. Seven and a half months or so from now...there's going to be a new vampire kitty mutt running around the house."

The dumen beams. Okay, so he's still in shock. But he's still thrilled.

Mara squeals again and is halfway to pouncing Felina when she thinks better of it. Makyon claps his hands, and Mara joins him. Yue has that same pleasant smile on his face, and joins as well.

Felina grins at Mara. She remembers this now. It was one of the few perks of being a tiny little thing pregnant with twins.

Ting, meanwhile, is pondering this fiercely. "Wait...where did you find another half serinian half dumen? I mean, that's kinda hard to find...unless you mean actual vampire I'm sure there's more of them and...wait second...ohmigosh! Yay! Cute!" And, that thought complete, she pounces her mother straight off of her stool.

Orrin's eyes widen. He manages to catch the dinnerware, actually, spiling only the littlest bit, and just snickers.

Mara instantly vanish-pounces for Ting, crying something about 'fragile goods'.

...ending, inevitably, in a three-cat pileup. Felina's a little off to the side, though, planted on the floor, and just laughs. Oh, god. She's going to have another one.

"Brava! Brava!" Yue giggles at the ridiculous sight. He can't help himself in the least.

Mara gets up off Ting. "Gotta be careful! Mommy's a mommy."

"Oh, right!" Ting laughs. "Does this mean I have to just pounce you and Makyon and Yue for the next year? And...yay! I get to be a big sister! I mean...uh..." she grins at Dewei. "Again!"

Dewei laughs, though his eyes are shining. "Again. That's wonderful, mother! Do you know any details yet?"

"Of course, but I'm not telling you," Felina purrs, and grins. Gender and such. Yay yes-no.

Makyon looks up, clear-eyed all of a sudden. "Is it gonna be a lesbian?"

"That's a very real possibility," Felina smiles.

"Priorities!" Ting chirps.

Yue smacks him. "Someone had to do it."

"Yep. He'll make up for it, though. What's an apprentice but a babysitter I can beat around once in awhile?" Felina grins.

Makyon rubs his cheek, but he's still beaming. "Well. Before I get hit again, how about we attack this food?"

"Sounds like a plan," Felina notes. "But I'm sure you'll find a way to say something slap-worthy." She grins at him. She does like her apprentice. And, starts in on the food, the twins talking excitedly between themselves.

"Oh, Mara..." Felina waits a moment until her double isn't chewing to avoid choking. "There something else you should know. One of your brothers is staying on one of our moons. Dorian."

"Fel, honey, you know I don't have a brother named Dorian. Are drinking too fast?" Mara chews contentedly on a ... something. "I would have smacked him by now."

Hoo boy. This she hadn't really wanted to explain. "Well...okay, first, let me say that any threat's been more or less neutralized by a special cloak I made, and he's going against your father's wishes, to the extent he's even asked me to permanently drop his power level, but..." she realizes she's babbling. "Your father created him to end you if you didn't live up to Rei-ono's wishes for you by now." Inward cringe.

Mara chews thoughtfully, swallows, and look at Felina placidly.

"See, this is what happens when I go away for a while. Someone leaves the water running, forgets to put the cow out, or some family member comes by looking to kill me and I'm out of town. It's very inconvenient." Mara takes another bite. "I'm not worried. Are you worried?"

Felina lets out her breath. "No, I'm not." Smiles a bit at Mara. "Apparently it's something in his aura itself that's damaging to you, he doesn't have to consciously make the decision to go after for it to happen, proximity's enough. But I created a cloak that mutes it completely. He or anyone else is unable to remove it from him in your presence." She smirks. "I believe I learned that spell after you enchanted a hair bow that way and tied it on me when I was asleep."

"Hee... but it was so cute! Cute cute cute! If you would just dress yourself up you'd be so much better looking, not that you're bad looking, just take Yue's advice and dress like you're thirteen and you'll be smokin'!"

Felina looks down at her chest and curves. Grins. "Well, I do have the body for it."

"That's the spirit! And you know damn well you could give yourself curves if you wanted to!" Mara nods, thinking of Fel's various disguise forms.

"Oh, Mara," Yue snickers, "Felina and cosmetic enhancement go together like me and testosterone."

Felina grins at Yue. "Just so. Thank you."

"I'm debating who to agree with here," Orrin ponders aloud. Laughs and catches a smacking hand he'd known was coming, and kisses it. "See?" He grins at the company in general. "There's always a hand available if I know how to get it."

Yue and Mara coo in unison. Thanks to Mara's telepathy, they also manage to squeal. "Awwwww cuuuuute!" in stereo as well.

Poor Makyon is trying his best not to cackle.

Felina laughs. Shoves her husband a little, and then leans against him, grinning at Yue and Mara. "Ah, right. Now we've got these two together again so they can generally plot, scheme, and have way too much fun."

"So long as they don't forget me!" Ting chirps.

"I don't think you'd let them anyway," Dewei observes.

"Well, yes. That too," the older twin purrs.

"But you're just being so quiet over there," Mara purrs right back. You need to sit over here with the girls."

Yue beams brightly.

"And we can plot all over the place! Fel's married and a mommy so she only counts a little."

"I'd argue with you, but I have to do the dishes." Felina pauses. Wrinkles her nose. "Okay, that wasn't even funny." Waves a hand for show, and all the unused dishes are clean and back where they belong. "All done, on with the bachlorette thing."

"Okay!" Ting chirps. She appears on Mara's lap, and grins at her. "I'd kiss you like a cute little niece, but Makyon's head would explode."

Mara's ears flicker happily. She throws her arms around Ting and squishes her with more affection than she's shown in quite a number of years. "Maybe so, but we can always grow his head back."

"You probably are now," Yue puts in, to say nothing of himself. He crosses his legs subtly.

Ting's thrilled at the affection, but can't help herself and completely cracks up. "Gah! Damned pervy men!"

"You started it," her mother points out, amused.


Makyon glances at Orrin. "Not a word."

Yue glances around the table, at all the friendly faces. Until he sees Dewei, though, when he gets curious. "Dewei, you are awfully quiet. Are you all right?" He wouldn't ask, but it is quite a bit of stimuli for him to just ignore.

"Hm?" Dewei looks up suddenly from where he'd been leaning on his hand. Smiles. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thoughtful, I guess." That's not true. He's been watching Ai's mood absently, and the sudden firestorm with his dad had fully captured his attention. He's not listening closely enough to eavesdrop, exactly, but closely enough to know that Ai's attack hadn't been because she's in danger.

Mara munches her lip for a moment. She squeezes Ting a little bit, thinking about her little extended family with great fondness.

"Dewei. Wanna take a trip with me over to Ai's place? Talk at her? I bet that's what's on your mind."

Dewei smiles at her, something between sheepish and grateful. "I'd like to...should we...ehm...interrupt her assaulting her dad? I'm pretty sure he, for one, wouldn't be glad to see me at the moment."

"If he has a problem he can answer to Mara-Kuru. He's my bitch and no one else's." Mara nods, and then smiles up at Ting. "You smell good. Would you keep these yuppies in there place until the entertainment - me - gets back, sweety?"

"I'll do my best, Aunt," Ting purrs. "I need to get some cold water to douse Yue and Creepy with, anyway. She giggles, kisses Mara's cheek for emphasis, and poofs over to the counter, sitting there with her legs crossed.

Makyon calmly finishes his food, and stands up. Yue gawks at what that reveals.

Nothing! 

"How the hell?" he actually cries. "I will not be able to stand up for a week and you... ugh. You make me ill." He's smiling, of course.

Mara gets up, beaming brightly and a little teary-eyed. She loves her family, she does. "Mkay, Dewei. Let's go!"

Ting giggles, and mock-sniffles. "Awwww...well, at least I was half right! I like 'im anyway." She laughs, and leans waaay over to pat Makyon.

Dewei smiles at his aunt, and nods. "Just a second..." he takes a moment to get together another plate of food, and a spell seals it all and holds it in place better than any lid could dream of. "I doubt she's taken the time to eat, in this mood," he explains. "After you, aunt." He smiles.

Makyon just smiles at Ting, of whom he is so dearly fond.

Mara takes Dewei's arm gently in both her hands. "We'll be back soon, Felina. And I promise this'll be one less cute headache." And the two of them vanish for Niven Ai.

"Oh, by the by," Felina observes, sipping a cup of tea as she so often does... "if anyone in this room," Yue, "is considering asking Mara about those 'put her in something pretty she can't take off' spells, I'll personally cast the same ones on a custom-fitted chastity belt." She smiles.

"Do you hear that?" Yue looks around, ears perked as if listening for something distant. "Why, I do believe Felina's lost points for a low blow. I do wish you would dress more prettily, but comfort is more important for those who don't care about their appearance." He sips his blue drink, looking innocently away. Reverse psychology? Perish the thought.

Ting titters. "She says to the girl who wears a high collar almost every day. Ooo...Yue, your little ponytail got messed up. Shame!" And she hops off the counter and wanders over to fix it unsolicited.

"Oh?" Yue turns a little so Ting has better access to it. He loves having people fuss over his appearance. "How dare I! Oh... Felina." The angel's smile turns meaningful. "I want to talk to you a little about the world tree... is that alright? No worries, so you know, it is but a history lesson."

And she's more than happy to fuss, untying it and combing it out carefully with her claws, humming to herself in her pretty little voice.

Felina smiles. "Absolutely. I know some basics, but you no doubt can fill in...well...most of it."

"Mostly it's about what we can expect when we get there." Yue lets his neck relax so Ting can mess with his hair freely, and quickly trying to put aside her voice before he starts humming too. "Yggdrasil seeds are like... hm. Did you ever buy a packet of mixed herb seeds? No, I doubt you would have, being Tel's daughter. It's like an entire self-contain sociological system that turns out picture perfect. Granted there is still free well, but as far as the governing forces are concerned there are castes to put into place, impending wars to set up, and so forth. People live as they like, reacting to similar major events as transpired on the previous tree." Yue squints. "Eek! Careful Ting, that's attached!"

"If you wiggle again, I can fix that," Ting offers.

"So where would the two who planted this tree fall into the picture?" Felina inquires.

"Obviously, they are welcomed as chief among the deities. If they aren't already, it's possible that they may be made divine in the bargain. I am not sure how the process works though... you can be sure that the Odin of legend was a gardener first of all." Yue looks up to Ting. "Would you care to rub my neck, while you are back there? I strained it a little, ah... cowering."

"Sure you did." Ting sticks out her tongue. "S'okay, I can rub it anyway!" She grins, and does. She's an okay neck rubber. Not a masseuse, but ahhh worthy.

"Hmm..." Felina ponders this. She definitely can't say that she dislikes the idea of her son being divine. Divinities are so much safer than mortals. "I've heard of such things, but with so little data, I just dismissed them as stories or exagerrations."

A small, contented smile comes to Yue's lips. He really does have a sore neck, but... let her believe he's playing for attention. "Humans always said the same thing about angels. Mm. I taught them!"

Makyon sips his fruit drink happily, and just stays where he is.

"And they didn't have to know that you were literally an angel for you to do it, either," Felina observes.

"So Ding would be a god?" Ting titters. "King Ding! It's awesome!"

The genuine angel blushes a little bit, partly from laughing at Ting. "Silly. Yes, though, he would take on divine traits. Ai, I can only assume, wouldn't change. Perhaps become fully divine instead of half, but that is just conjecture." He straightens his neck, groaning pleasantly. "Thank you, Ting, that is ever so much better."

Ting smiles a genuinely sweet little smile, for once. She's about to ask if there's anything else that needs rubbed...but very quickly decides the better of that. "You're welcome!"

Felina titters at the thought process, but keeps the joke to herself.

Makyon glances between them. "I bet I missed something between the telepaths. Lovely. If everyone is finished... that means you too, Silent Orrin, I will take your dishes now."

"Hm?" The dumen looks up. "Ah! Yes, the rest of you do still exist. Thank you, Yue, for rescuing me front the brink. Oh, and the dishes thing. Just distracted, is all..." he looks pointedly at Ting. "God! Another one!"

Ting giggles, and pouncehugs her father. She grins at him, and squeezes him tight. "Ah, you know you love us!" She purrs.

"Well, there is that detail."

"Oh, good!" Ting jumps back up and...has no idea what to do. She's getting ansy.

Yue gets up at this point, shaking his head to test Ting's ponytail. Nicely put together, as it turns out. "Ting.  What's on your mind, dear? You seem caged."

"You guys are great, but just sitting here." She laughs. "I'm bored. I need to beat someone up! See, in a nightclub, this is the part that I pick the biggest guy in the bar and tell him that the next biggest guy called his mother a nasty name."

"Well then. Want to fight?" The angel glances down at her. "Go ahead and insult my mother, if you like."

Makyon snickers. "You fight, too?"

Yue winks at him. But, his attention is on Ting. "It might be fun."

Ting's ears twitch up. "Sure!" She wiggles. "Just tell me where and by what rules!"

"Outside, and no killing me." His eyes narrow. "Or low blows."

Makyon is seriously wondering whether Orrin was joking or not.

"Weapons are up to you, I suppose. Care to wager on it?"

Ting laughs a pretty laugh. Oh, such fun! "What are you willing to wager?"

The angel thinks about that for a moment, pacing about in little circles. "Well... I really haven't anything to wager. Why do you not select my wager, and me yours? For example, if I were fighting Felina I might demand that if I won, she would dress as a lady for a week."

"Now that's a fight I would put everything into winning," the matriarch observes, smirking.

Ting grins. "Hmmm..." she ponders. "Can I wager a kiss?"

"Certainly. And if I win... hm." Yue glances at Makyon. Closes his eyes, and sends a thought in Ting's direction. Ting comes clean to the pretty man by the sink.

Ting turns pink. What do you mean? Full telepath, no problem.

Felina plays dumb.

Oh come on, pretty. Like your panties weren't bunching when I kissed him the other day? Or... maybe I could have him for a wager? Yue knows he's pushing warning buttons. But he likes the idea of Ting having a nice, big, hulking pretty boy while Dewei has a goddess and Felina has a baby. It fits nicely to him.

Spot's face is truly red by now. She shakes her head, and regains her cocky grins. "Fine, fine. If you win, truth. I get to kick your shapely ass, though."

"And I yours, kitten." The angel holds out his hand, gesturing towards outside and smirking a pretty smirk. "Just so you know, I fight like a girl."

"That's good." Ting grins brightly. "'Cause you wouldn't stand a chance otherwise."

Makyon nods. "She has a point. Do you two reasonable, rational adults think we ought to watch this? In case of need for medical attention?" Or wardrobe malfunctions?

"You can only hope." Ting laughs.

"I'll play spectator gladly," Felina notes, nodding.

"I'm in! Can you fight in the mud?" the dumen inquires. "Ow!" This, of course, when he's elbowed in the ribs. Felina snickers.


Ting giggles. "So. What kind of field would you like to fight on, Yue? We've got a little of everything, and I don't know how you fight."

"Open grass is fine. I'll wear my informal dress." The angel glances at Orrin. "She is your daughter, and I have man parts. You, sir, are weird." Though he knows Orrin just said that for Makyon's benefit.

"My daughter is my half-cat daughter, and you have man parts. I'm weird, and I fit right in," the dumen observes, grinning.

"Hee." Ting bounces. "We have a big open field that should work, then. "It's clover, not grass. Springier! Weapons?"

"If you like." Yue would not want to fight Ting with that sprinkler, though, as he has lost the taste for bashing things. "I think I would prefer it if neither of us risked scarring these beautiful faces."

"Hee. That's okay, then." Ting wiggles, looks outside. "So. Now then?" Ansy to the umpteenth degree.

"No." Yue turns his head a bit, gazing up and to his right for a bout five seconds. "All right. Now." And he swishes out that way, wondering how he could be foolish enough to think he could hold his own against Felina's bloodline.

Ting titters, and trots after him most happily. She's not really thinking about outcomes of the fight at all. It occurs to her that she should have bet something better, though. She was more asking than actually making a bet...but, eh. Yue's probably a good kisser.

And this comprises more or less her entire train of thought all the way to the field, interspersed with pretty flowers or shiny bugs.

"Does everyone fight here for fun?" Makyon enquires of Felina as they march along, his eyes carefully averted from the ladies. He has a strange feeling that things got out of hand back there, with the innuendos and such, and would very much like to get back to decorum.

"Most Ting, you saw who instigated," Felina observes. She smiles at her apprentice. She understands, she does. She's the prude of the bunch, after all. "But Yue and I have always enjoyed a good spar, and we had actually planned on doing so sometime in the near future. He has some new maneuvers he wants to show me, apparently, and you know how I feel about an interesting fight."

The revenant can certainly attest to that.

"All right, precious." Yue takes a moment to bind his hair into a tight bun at the back of his head. Nothing quite like having gorgeous hairs pulled out. "Felina, is there anything you would suggest? Rules? Or just go?"

"Go for it. You can decide how to pick the winner once you two have had some fun," Felina observes, laughing.

Ting smiles. She's just kind of swaying back and forth in the field, humming to herself...scarily Mara-esque.

"All right then. Makyon, dear, would you start us off?"

Kaies Mark 3 lifts his hands. "On three, two, one... not in the face!"

Ting's smile just broadens to a grin, and she keeps swaying. Honestly, she's just so unsure of Yue's power and abilities right now--she's never really seen him fight--that she's leary of making the first move and embarassing herself or hurting him.

She stole my strategy, the little nymph. Yue is much unlike the rest of this crew in that, when it comes to fighting, he rarely smiles anymore. His sense of empathy is already hitting him for what harm he might do to Ting.

Still, he has a show to put on for Felina. An incantation, spoken so rapidly that Yue's words are nearly gibberish, opens a rectangular door not quite halfway down the field. Still impassable, the door allows enough of the millenium maze's presence for him to perform his temporal manipulation tricks for Felina's viewing benefit.

The first of which is fairly basic. Instead of speeding himself up Yue begins to mouth a spell that should slow the passage of motion for everyone else within a limited range of the door. Hopefully, just Ting.

It works perfectly.

Felina props the back of a hand near her mouth, watching intently and thoughtfully.

Ting's left with slowly widening eyes. Her reaction to Yue's suddenly speeding up is quick, though...at least, it is from where she's standing.

After a couple of moments, two more Tings--impact illusions, not true dopplegangers--appear on the field. All three begin to gather an attack spell in their hands, trying to buy the real one time to finish.

The angel's honed senses scour for the real Ting, but he's pleasantly surprised at her adeptitude. He cannot tell which is which. He decides, then, to do all he can in the face of the situation. He rushes for the one on the left, a shield surrounding the front of his body for purposes more offensive than otherwise.

All of the Tings raise their hands. He does physically crash against the one he chose, but then it disintigrates. The Spot on the right flings a fire elemental attack towards the angel.

Yue rolls to a knee, blinking. In the time it takes him to get to his feet he considers the other two Tings, and which directions the inevitable attack might take. Unable to decide, he pushes strongly from the earth with legs meant for leaping into flight. His unfortunate shoes, however, are burned up in the effort, and his feet blistered enough to draw a yelp from his lips.

Predictably, one of the armchair referees of the groups sees to it that his feet are healed by the time he hits the ground, leaving the two Tings--it's a distraction tactic only now, since there's a very good chance that while their footwork has wrapped them up and crossed them again, he now knows which is which--running with all her enhanced speed towards him and just trying to keep up with whatever time trick this is, one arm guarding.

The edge in speed does belong to the angel, not to mention experience. Ting's raw ability is so much greater, though, that Yue has little hope in himself here at all. Even so, his feet barely touch the ground before he is airborne again, whirling about with one leg stretched out to kick around Ting's guard.

He hits a half-formed defense that puts her half a step farther back than she'd wanted to be. Ting's head is whirling, although she's having a grand time. He's moving incredibly fast from where she's standing, and speed is usually the more or less petite mutt's strongest physical point.

Still, she hasn't quite reached the decision to change her strategy yet, and tries to catch hold of Yue's kicking ankle and get a throwing grip on him that way.

She has no intention to complete a throw and send him flying, though, just follow it through all the way to the ground, maybe more than once. He's too fast, she needs control.

Ai appears next to Felina right about the time Yue crashes into the ground. He has the presence of mind to lock his other foot around Ting's arm, though, hoping that the motion will throw her off balance enough to give him room.

The goddess watches with mute interest. "Let me guess. Dispute over whose makeup is gaudy?"

It works darned well, and Ting can't keep the total grip she'd wanted. Still, she has him righ here, and a deliciously "pouncing kitten" leap tries to flatten him and keep him there with a hold.

"Yes. Yue maintains that the black spot is just too much," Felina notes, amused. She smiles at Ai. "Well, you look a hair beyond cheerful." Glances to Dewei when he appears a moment later. "To say nothing of my glowing son over there. Did you reach a resolution with your father, then?"

"Dewei must have been quite charming to get my father to agree, but somehow, he did." Ai's smile glows to life when the younger Ono appears. "I also heard your good news. Congratulations, Mom."

Yue's knees come up, part enough that he can scissor Ting and keep her from controlling his motion if she gets too close.

Makyon sips his drink. Fan-bloody-tastic.

It works, to Ting's immense surprise. She's really having trouble contending with Yue's speed. She relies on the pounce's forward motion, though, and tries to somersault him over so that she can get her back to the floor. Usually undesireable, but not when your legs are flexible enough to sneak around his from the outside and contain most of your strength. She wants to kick him off of her with both feet.

Felina's smile brightens and softens, though an eyebrow simultaneously raises. "Thank you, Ai...and, you did this, Dewei? I'm impressed." She tilts her head. "So, now that this upset is history, what's next for you two? On with the world tree planting?"

Dewei smiles, and nods. "I believe so, yes."

"Absolutely," Ai agrees. "A whole universe to call our own. Father will be so proud."

Yue rolls with her, but has time to guess what she might be up to. His legs lock around her, holding onto her so that if she kicks him it will not throw him. Meanwhile, his hands are grasping for her wrists to restrain them.

I hope Orrin and Makyon aren't watching this too closely.

Orrin is, but for all his talk, it's darned platonic. No creepy daughter-admiring here.

Ting eeps, but it's too good a physical maneuver. She just doesn't have the heart to manifest a "blast him from here to timbuktu" energy attack over herself. She just blinks, and looks up at Yue, quite pinned. "Uuuuhh...hi!"

Felina smiles, and does have to nod. What Moorn had said some time ago, about Dewei being well suited to being a ruler, is running through her mind right now. "Yeah. I'm quite sure he will be, Ai. Goddess, emperess..whatever titles he can have affixed to you, he would." She smiles.

Dewei beams. Yep. He wants Ai to have all that, too.

Ai hides her blush poorly, at this point. "I think 'darling' will do nicely."

Yue knows she could take him out of the picture if she wanted to. "Hi. So you aren't using your full ability... I take it you want to tell the big lummox everything?" He's prepared to move, sensing that Ting could blast him at any time. "Though I cannot say I dislike this move."

Ting wrinkles her nose. "Oh, yeah. Forgot that." She snickers, and a large quantity of ice-cold water suddenly crashes onto Yue's back. Ting enhances her strength to throw him off and away despite the flow.

Yue stiffens and squeals at the cold on his ever-bare back. He uses twists his hips, though, holding on tightly when Ting tries to throw to turn them both and end up on bottom again, putting Ting in the path of the icy downpour.

She's shielded against it, though, or she'd have gotten it in the face. She's pretty impressed that Yue can circumvent his own body's reactions that well. Muscles tense completely uncontrollably for a moment or two on contact with cold water, it happens to everyone. "You look chilly!" She observes. Giggles as though this is actually clever, and a fairly low-grade electrical surge finds the water.

To Yue it sounds as though Ting is talking underwater. Her voice is drawn out, muffled, but still cute, and he's cold. The sudden jolt doesn't help matters either, and he releases his hold suddenly enough that he hopes to roll away more or less safely.

She'd have been able to, had he not been going so fast. Or her going so slow. Hmm. Still, this is just the diversion the active littler kitty's been craving, and she leaps after Yue again, changing direction quickly--or what should usually be quickly, she's really not catching onto this very fast--by springing sideways off a force shield platform.

Still, it gives a slower look at her landings. Felina's pleased to see them. No worries about broken bones at damning moments, here. Ting's feet plant perfectly every time.

This time she is backed by significantly enhanced strength, though, and is looking to physically overpower.

Yue's strength is nothing to laugh at, though, and he catches Ting enough to contest her movements at least a little. If he had his wings, now would be the time to feather-slap her spots off. But he doesn't.

Ting actually, literally growls, ears back--although someone very familiar with either kittens or Mara-kuru will recognize it as a play-growl. She drops the pressure suddenly and twists, keeping hold of one of Yue's arms, ducking down just a little, and slamming the small of her back up towards his gut, hoping to throw him solidly into the ground in front of her.

And over he goes. He's starting to hurt pretty badly all over - reasonably sure that his arm is broken from straining against her strength - but still, is able to bend himself enough to reach out with his ankles to try and lock her neck.

At this point, Ting actually lets him. She gags just a little until she turns it right. "Uh-uh. You need mom to fix you." Tries to nod. Remember she's in a headlock of sorts, and chokes herself. Geck!

"One of us has to win, you know," he manages to say. His arm hurts a great deal, enough to break his concentration and shut the door to the maze.

The temporal condition returns to normal.

"Oh, drat."

Ting grins a little...although, of course, now her head's stuck. "Grawr. I don't suppose you'll just let me go?" She very suddenly enhances her strength just as much as she can and tries to push his legs apart the few inches more she needs.

He resists, of course, a great deal more effectively than with his arms. Eventually Ting succeeds, though, and Yue lets loose to keep from injuring himself further.

Ting jumps back a few paces, though, first off, and rubs her pinched and pulled ears. "Ow!" She snickers. She crouches a little bit, ready to move again, but the position is very ambiguous and hard to read. "Are you sure you want to keep going? We can settle bets no problemo when your arm isn't broken and trying to snap worse! I'm always up for a spar. Seriously. Ask Makyon."

Yue glances at his arm, and then back at Ting. "You may be right, Ting. I suppose I have to concede." It bothers him a little bit, though. He simply doesn't have it anymore.

Makyon nods for Yue's benefit and Ting's amusement when they glance at him. He has no idea what they said, though.

"We'll call it a draw and beat each other some other time," Ting grins, and looks over at her mom. On the cue, their various cuts and breaks and scrapes and bruises begin to knit.

"Hee." And Ting pounces over to Yue with the intention to land just in front and hug him for a good fight. Dewei cringes, half expecting her to get an elbow or something for springing right at him before the fighting mindset can fade.

Yue wouldn't have, at this point, anyway. He is simply out of the mood, though Ting's pounce does shock him into wide-eyes for a moment.

"It was hardly a draw, though. A win is a win." He turns his head, looking over to Makyon, and wondering if he should made more of the opportunity. Ah well.

"Hee. Oh, well, we'll figure it out when you're fixed." She hugs Yue, in a good mood now that she's had a good scrap, and trots over to Dewei and Ai. "Hey! You guys look as bouncy as...me!"

Yue stands in the field a bit longer. He'd sort of been hoping for that kiss. Pity. He turns, at length, and heads back to the others as well.

"Good things happened today, Ting," Ai assures her, "excellent things."

Ting smiles. "Well, yay!" She tilts her head, and looks at Dewei a few moments. Tries to decide if he got laid. Hmm...nah. Takes her a bit to decide that, though. He's so bouncy to not have gotten some!

Dewei's ears color after a moment. "Spot! Whatever you're thinking, stop it."

She laughs brightly. "I said nothing!"

Felina laughs softly, and grins at Yue as he approaches. "That's an awfully useful trick, Yue, being able to channel some of the maze's power elsewhere."

"It can be. Only, I was outgunned from the start. Ting paralyzed me with her beauty, I could do nothing." The angel glances at her. Then back to Felina. "We know where she got it, too."

Ai rolls her eyes a bit. "Charming, and true, dear. So then, I take it this was a fight for amusment?"

"Yep! I was bored. Yue was nice and said she'd spar with me." Ting grins, and purrs. Fun!

"From her father," Felina observes, grinning.

"No, that's where I get my girly side," Ting observes.

Orrin gasps theatrically, and sticks a hip out to plant a hand upon it. "Well, I never!"

"I think you just did, dear." Yue giggles his particularly girlish giggle, amused to no end by Orrin. Amused, and still far too attracted to him. "Must toss your hair, though."

"So, ladies, fellows... Dewei and I are going to plant our Yggdrasil pretty soon. Will you be joining us...?" Ai sidles up to Dewei, thinking that either answer will work just fine for her.

"Ah, yes." The dumen glances back. "Freaking ponytail."

Dewei smiles at Ai, takes her hand, and looks back to the rest of the company.

Felina smiles softly at them. She's still not sure how she feels about the increasingly likely possibility of her family being linked to Moorn's...but, they'll see. "Well..." she looks over to Yue. "Will you need to be present, Yue dear, for helping with the time slip?"

"No, not if Ansendul wants to take care of it himself." Yue's fighting with the bind he has put his hair into. Losing, too. "Though I could if it was wanted."

Felina nods, glances to her husband for his input, and then looks back to Dewei and Ai. "I for one would be curious to see a world tree planted...but it's just simple curiosity, and I could easily satiate it with some historical scrying if I had half a mind to. I think you two should decide. Would you like it to be just you?"

"Well. I am certain that father would not come. He hates horticulture, even though he studied it for decades before he built my palace." Ai glances to each of them: Felina, Orrin, Yue, Ting, Makyon, and Dewei... quite a crew, actually. "I think Dewei ought to decide, since it is his family and friends."

Dewei is more or less put upon, of course, and ponders this quietly for a few moments, acutely aware of everyone's eyes upon him. Still...he smiles after a moment, just a touch sheepishly. "I think, if no one minds, of course, I'd rather we did this alone." He smiles at Ai.

Felina smiles a proud mother's qioet smile. Aww...he is growing up. She nods. "That sounds like a plan, Dewei." She looks over to Yue. "Do we need to alert Ansendul, or will he most likely just see it planted and do his thing?

"I can let him know. I was going to head down for a shower and a nap, after sparring with Ting here, anyway." Yue finally succeeds in defeating his hair, and shakes it free with a prolonged 'ahhhh'. "So much better."


"Aww...I liked you as a fuzzball." Ting giggles.

Yue smirks. "I like you as a fuzzball, too. Spot."

Ting headbangs once, putting her long bangs over her eyes. Her hair still looks more or less okay, though. She grins a fangy grin.

Felina smiles at Yue. "Have a nice rest, then. You earned it, after that scrap."

"Let 'er off easy." Ting grins, and winks. Yeah. Right.

"So are you two going to hop off and do that now, or hang around awhile?" Orrin inquires of Ai and his son.

"I think sooner rather than later," Ai nods, squeezing Dewei's hand. "We have something to take care of after it's planted."

We do? Dewei doesn't voice this, though. "We should go do that, then."

Ting coos. "Ahhh...you guys are just about cute!"

"Well. He is." Ai tugs Dewei's hand. "Let's go get the tree, my love."

Yue is just about to step through a door when he hears that. Smiles a little to himself, and vanishes into it to tell Ansendul.

Dewei, smiles, and nods. Looks back to his family. "I'll be sure to drop in on you guys later, right?"

"You'd better," he twin reassures him.

"Have fun!" Orrin notes.

Dewei smiles, and looks to Ai. "Alright. Lead on."

The goddess vanishes, with him, to Niven Ai without a further word.