Six days after the incident at River Rose, Mara-Kuru is putzing around the households of Felina Deyono on her daily rounds of cheering everyone up. It had been a pretty awful time for most involved, with the exception of a few bright points, and the redhead has had her work cut out for her.

Oddly enough, Yue had been fairly easy to cheer up. Mara had brought him a box, instructing him not to open it until after she left. After he'd gotten over his heart-failure over the spring snakes (living ones!) that had leapt out of the box, he'd smiled to find a gift of black, green, and red clothes she had hunted down for him. Mostly black, of course, but a nice selection of casual and flirty wear, with some lacey and silk things in there for good measure.


Ai and Dewei had needed no help at all, though Mara could swear that Dewei looked a little bit tired most of the time.

And now Mara is on her way to talk to Felina, with some news that ought to make her chuckle. "Fel!?" She calls in the direction of the training area by the house. "Where are ya, hot stuff? Mara wants to talk!"

"I'm in the library, Mara," Felina calls back. That's the fun thing about she and her nether double. They're connected on such a level that when they want to talk to each other, telepathy doesn't have to be conscious for them to hear.

"'kay!" Mara hops and prances and trots her way to the room in question, swinging the basket on her arm. 

"Hi! I broughtcha something," she announces, slamming the basket onto the table and whipping off its cover to reveal fresh rice balls and sashimi. "BAM!"

Felina laughs. "Ahh...that's sweet, Mara, thanks! I always appreciate a gift of food, you know." She grins. "How are you today?"

"I am great! I'm so awesome I almost transcended into being you." She snags a ball for herself and munches it happily. "Buh, I hod a huneh mah nig." She swallows. "But I had a funny morning. Gabriel woke up really suddenly last night! And I said, 'What's wrong? Are the ropes too tight?' and he said. 'No. I just had a dream about that angel, and for some reason my ass hurts.' Well you know he didn't say it that way but I'm paraphrasing isn't that weird?"

Felina had just bitten into a piece of sashimi. Almost spits it out at Mara's story, catches herself in the nick of time, ends up going the other way and literally inhaling it. Thus, she's torn between coughing, choking, and laughing whenever she catches her breath. "Oh...good lord!" she finally chokes, just before cracking up again.

Mara, pleased as punch and calm, walks around table and pats Felina on the back. "Yeah, I thought so too."

There are literally tears in the younger double's eyes, but she grins up at Mara after a moment, grateful for the pat. "Well, thank you. You just made my whole...month."

It occurs to Mara that she might be offended at the continuing dislike Felina has for her fellow. At the same time, it occurs to her that it's still very deserved. Neither thought registers at all, on her face, or in her mind, and she's just smiling her Mara smile.

"That's what Mara-kuru is for, baby honey cutie. Bringing smiles to the masses, and then kicking their asses! Whoo!" She beams, taking her seat across from her double. "I still have a couple of stops to make on my happy trail. Yue was apparently very pleased with the gift you thought of. I stuck some nighties and things in there with it, thought he'd approve and he does! I have some comic, er... graphic novels for Yoru, Makyon's idea. Him I dunno. He's been really really really really really really really funny-acting lately, since that thing with Yue and his angel friend. I dunno if he's sad or bored or worried or just feeling emo, but it's hard to get a word of that guy. And then! I have to find Orrin. I-got-him-a-se-cret!"

"That's quite the list," Felina observes, smiling warmly at Mara. God she loves her. "I have noticed about Makyon...Ting's been acting strangely, too. I'm not sure that it's related at all, but one guess says that Ting's mood is causing Makyon's."

"See, Makyon ought to take a lesson from Ai. Ai liked Dewei and wasn't shy about letting him know. Now they make funny noises at night and are all goo-goo eyed." Mara has another rice ball. "But we can't really get involved. Tingy is plenty adult. Needs to handle things for herself, and let's be honest, Makyon's not the best choice of a guy for Ting cause he's so old even though he doesn't act it and plus he's a zombie I wonder if he even works like a regular guy oh well he's also kinda insensitive and not very much fun unless you want to fight or have something to look at." Munch, munch. "Like a brick shithouse."

Felina smirks a little. "Makyon's a nice enough guy...I won't comment on the above. Anyway...Yue came clean to me...I think Ting's problem stems from the fact that she met a really nice young man at the club the other night. Before she knew what was going to happen, Yue more or less fixed her up with his angel 'friend's' son. Apparently they kind of hit it off...although it looks like that's likely moot."

Mara cringes. "Fuck. I was wondering how long it would take Ting to find somebody more accessible than used-to-Kaies. Moot, though, we can handle. Want I should grill Yue and find out where mister-nice lives?" She's bouncing in her seat, eyes flashing. She likes Makyon, but seeing Ting happy would be a little higher on her priority list than the feelings of a guy who is afraid to express them. It's cruel, she knows, but true.

Felina grins at her double. "What happened to letting her handle it herself?" She's just poking...she thinks Mara is a darling aunt, and Mara knows it.

"ooooh! Fel, you mean kitty!"  Mara sticks out her tongue, waggles it at Felina. "It wouldn't be cheating if she found an address in her pocket or something."

Felina laughs. "Yeah, yeah. Well...we'll see what happens. It's a complex situation...but then, we specialize in those around here. Have fun, Eros." She smiles, and picks up a rice ball. "In other news, I had to adjust my belt a little this morning. I don't think more than a month and a half or so in. Serinians were not meant to have dumen babies."

"Biiiig babies?" Mara puts her finger to her chin. "Orrin and Gabriel aren't particularly big guys. Oh. All that weight goes straight to their butts. I know you haven't looked, cause you like your food, but Gabriel has a nice big butt. And Orrin does too, you do know that." Mara beams.

Felina grins. "They're not big guys, but they're certainly bigger than us. Glance at me standing beside my kids lately? Thank god dumen are slender, is all I can say."

"Well yeah. I so get to trim your toenails when you get too big to do it." Mara beams again, wiggling a little in the chair. "I want kids. Dammit." She sniffles, then grins. "I can't keep using yours whenever I wanna feel momly. Ai's kinda old to breastfeed, and I'd have better luck trying that on Yue."

"I'm sure she would be thrilled," Felina assures. Is quiet a few moments. Ugh. The thought freaks her, but... "Have you given any thought to having kids, Mara? I mean, now that you have Gabriel back?"

"Um..." Mara's brightness fades a bit into nervousness. "Well, yes. But he was hesitant. He said," here she slips into a flawless mimic of her man's voice," 'I was a horrible father the first time. I don't want your children to suffer that. And Felina would hate the idea. I'd wager it would turn her stomach and make her make that ugh face she makes when something gives her the shivers.' " Mara sighs. "He's become so considerate it makes me ill sometimes."

Felina smirks a little. "Well...Ai turned out okay," she observes.

"Ai turned out okay because she is incredibly strong. Stong personality, I mean, and she's kind of a loner by nature. She didn't have to have anybody. Being a goddess didn't hurt." Mara huffs. "I could convince him to gimme kids, but you know, the things he said are all valid. I saw you ugh when I mentioned it. And what if someone came for him? Or he lost this goodness he's so grudgingly gained?" She shakes her head. "I am on a happy trail! What the fuck?! I am not talking about this. Whatcha doin', anyway?"

Ahhh...nice, volatile subject. She lets it die. "Some reading. Cross-referencing. I looked at all of my notes and records on Minna...they're pretty consistent with some observations last week. I'm pretty sure she's going to go into her final transitional stage very, very soon. I'll probably go stay with her when I sense it start, until it ends...probably a couple of weeks. It will be the most dangerous time of her life, but once it's through, she's all but home free." She smiles a bit. "It's a good feeling, really. Can't let the guard down yet, but...she's almost there."

"hhmmm... Minna Minna. Didja tell Yue yet I bet he'd be happy to know." Mara tilts her head again. And again, the other way. "Nah. He's been too well-adjusted the last few days. Bad idea, but yay for Minna! You know... staying with Minna means staying with Kaies right?"

"Yeah. I'm still deciding what to do about it...there's no way around it, though. Something's kicking me in my non-existant nuts saying that I need to be there. I'll be wearing a human illusion, but Kaies knows it...besides, Minna has to be able to recognize me, I've drilled 'don't trust strangers' into her head with a vengeance. I think that changing my eye color, which he's never seen me change before, may help. Not to fool him, but to reduce impact a bit." Nibbles a rice ball.

"As for Yue...you're absolutely right. I'm going to tell as little about what's going on as I can get away with. If, and only if, Yue wants to see her again in the future, he can approach her himself. If the next few weeks or so go well, she'll be immortal anyway, so there will be plenty of time."

"Eesh... all this cloak and dagger stuff. Is Kaies really still that into you? I mean I couldn't blame him. Unless..." Mara's eyes narrow. "It's the other way? Fel!"

Felina raises her hands in mock defense. "Hey, I love Orrin with all of my heart and would never consider otherwise, you know that. But Kaies and I didn't part when we stopped loving each other or because things weren't wonderful between us. The first time I had to talk to him about Minna was... rough. He remembered everything about his last life as soon as I spoke a single unrelated paragraph, Mara, it was...unheard of. He's married too, and I'm sure we're going to respect that, but...I want to make it as easy as possible on both of us."

"Someone needs a hug." Mara nods. "Wasn't his wife a super-bitch, though? Oh, well, better not discuff that too much because it'll just make it harder. Oh, speaking of him, I was thinking of what we could do with Yoru. Do you remember when you beat the hell out of your alternate time self, and your alternate father came here with the pinky girl and the guy with the pecs?"

"Sure." Felina nods.

"Well. Didn't you tell me that the Mara in that world was dead?" She tilts her head yet again, wiggling her ears cutely. "Yoru knows she doesn't belong here, not really. You can tell in her demeanor. I think she'd be happier as Mara, you know?"

"Hmm..." Felina ponders this. "I wouldn't be safe just turning her loose in the universe without someone to guide her psychological development, but...that Tel-tiono would likely do a better job than I could. And once she's completely stable, then she could be Mara. Or Yoru, or whoever." She blinks. "That Felina's dead, too, so it could work well. The one I 'borrowed' was from a neighboring parallel."

Mara wilts a little. "Good plan. Okay. Let's talk about less dead us." Her eyes light back up again. "Oh! Goddamn, sister! I'm still on my happy trail I have to find Orrin! Where's he at anyway?"

"In the forge. He's been working pretty furiously on Yue's project. He wants to cheer her up in the worst way."

"I bet. He's a good man, he is, which is scary because we both got good Dumen and there aren't really any others." Mara stands up with a flourish of hair and gi-sleeves. "Keep the food! I got more. See you soon mom!" And she heads off for the forge, singing to herself about unicorns, turtles, and smacking butts.

As when Yue had encountered him, the dumen is doing detail work and mechanics, looking absolutely silly in a pair of glasses with high magnification. The forge is cool today...just the mechanics. "Now who on earth would be singing about smacking dumen butts?" He smirks, and looks up. "Hi, Mara!"

"Hiya Orrin! Whatcha cookin'?" She drops down on Felina's customary stool. A moment of ferreting in her bag produces a twisty-cap cup full of a lovely, soft berry liquor that her fiance was kind enough to chill with elemental sorcery. "I brought you somethin', I figured it would be hotter in here. You have your shirt on, though, and Yue's not around. She wants you so bad its scary." She holds out the drink, beaming.

The dumen grins, and takes the bottle gratefully. "It's still sweet of you, though, Mara, thank you!" He raises it to her and takes a sip before setting it down on the bench. "And...I know. Felina too. Yue's willpower is something else."

"You're one to talk about willpower! You've been holding on like a trooper. Are you hungry? I have some Fel food here, not that Fel cooked it, but the kind she likes, cause if she cooked it it would have eaten me already. In the bad way." The jury is still out on whether Mara is as oblivious as she seems and doesn't notice, or care, or if she's ten thousand times smarter and only chooses to act this way.

Orrin and Fel have both cast their votes for the latter. "Nah, I'm okay...we have some leftovers in the fridge that were right tasty. Fel leftovers, actually. Her rice only eats the other food sometimes."

"Okee! I'll just save this back." Mara nods. "So how are you today, Orrin? I'm on my happy trail, you see, and everyone has to be smiling when I leave."

"Oh, I'm in a good mood. Can I still be on the happy trail, though?" He grins. "And how are you today, Mara dear?"

"Damn skippy! And I, I,, am fabulous. Mara has things to do and people to see and she's not bored and nothing horrible is happening and Fel's getting a belly and she's gonna have curves for a little while lucky you and then!" Mara breathes out, and back in. "I am gonna play congas on Makyon's kidneys for a bit."

Orrin has to laugh at the dissertation. Mara is...splendiforous. "And does Makyon know about this appointment?" He inquires.

"Nope. Gonna kick his fine ass good. Actually, I'm just gonna talk to him about Ting. Yoru told me she'd finally convinced him to sortakinda ask Ting out and Fel figures that they're both acting funny kinda cause of each other Ting and Makyon that is and I'm curious and nosy and meddlesome."

"And nothing would ever get done around here if you weren't," Orrin assure her.

"Hey! Are you patronizing me, slick?" Mara pulls all four legs up onto the stool, setting her bag down. Her butt wiggles, ears press back. "I can pounce a flea off a cat's ass at twenty yards. Feelin' lucky?"

"I...hm." He picks up the open bottle of juice, and smiles sheepishly. "I'll spill?"

Mara grins. "Not if I spill first!" She vanishes, reappears right beside him, and pokes him gently. "Tag, motherfucker."

Orrin uncovers his theatrically covered head a little. "Am I still alive, then?"

"Yup. And you're definitely it." Mara hops up and pats his head, beaming. "Dad! Oh, well... I guess I need to find Dewei. He's not hard to see smiling, though, I brought him an energy drink and some ginseng."

Orrin cracks up a bit at that. "Oh, I'm sure you'll turn him five shades of red. Not that that's hard to do nowadays."

"Ai must be insatiable. All those years pent up, but yeah, Dewei! What if your first girlfriend was a sexually and socially repressed divinity? I shudder to think of the bruised and beaten lump you'd be in a week!" Mara's laughing her carefully grown ass off about now.

"Well, when you put it that way...I think that a certain son of mine should very well be the envy of the entirely young male demographic in the universe." Orrin has to laugh, just because Mara's infectious.

"Yup! Do you know where lucky lucky is, though? It's hard to keep track of him these days." Mara's laughter clears, but her smile remains, bright and lively.

"No idea. You can probably track him more easily than I can, being our resident telepathic happy-train conductor."

"Yeah... I'll ask Yue, he'll know. He could find you in a hot-ass Dumen factory, no problem." She grins. "Bye! See you soon."

"See you later, Mara. Thanks for the juice, and have fun!" And he looks back to his work once she's gone. Mara's so awesome.

"Yuuuueeeeee?" Mara's hunting around, first at the Incubus's room, but she actually finds him down by the pond, gazing into the water. "Hey there cutie! Whatcha doin'?"

Yue looks up to Mara, who really ought to be his most kindred spirit here now that he is a self-dubbed 'devil whore'. "Hello, Mara-kuru. I was just admiring the scenery. Thank you for the outfits, by the way."

Mara plops down next to him, breaks out her food buggy. "You're welcome, but to be fair, Fel thought of it. I just added. Hungry?"

"Not really."

"Yue." Mara glares at him. "You haven't eaten in three days. I was watchin', slick. And did you ass rape my boyfriend in his dreams?"

A little smile comes to the incubus's lovely, gothic face. "In his dream it was consentual, though I doubt it would have been in real life."

Mara snickers. "It was kinda funny when I figured it out. Fel nearly choked to death laughing. Now, here. I have your favorite food with me."

"I doubt that, Mara... holy hell?! Where did you get that?"

"From Earth, you big silly. Where else can you get Brooklyn-style pizza and a Rice Krunchy treat?"

Yue looks like he's about to pass out. "Mara-kuru, you went to Earth for me...? Why?"

"Because I love you, you big dumbass. And we all love you. Fel loves you. Orrin loves you. I think if they weren't so prudish they'd probably double team you, dammit, Yue, everyone here is just heart broken that things are going so bad for you! You have to understand that you can't have a crush on your ex-girlfriend's husband no matter how hot he is. You know that, and you're doing good not just taking him cause you can."

Yue turns his head. "I know, Mara."

"And you're an incubus. So what? You know good and evil is all a matter of perspective. Look at my boyfriend! I don't think he's evil. But other people would. You're gorgeous, and flirty, you'll be good at it. And your wings are fuckin' sexy."

"Mara..."

"And the kids, oh, the kids adore you. Especially Ting, but that's because you haven't spent much time with Dewei. You gave poor Makyon a permanent semi when you kissed him."

"Mara, please..."

"And you look good in that dress."

Yue looks down, at the mended black from the river rose incident. "I do, don't I?"

"Damn right you do." Mara grins, purring. "Easy access, too. And don't think I'm not tempted. This fidelity thing is tough."

Yue chuckles, a more male laugh than his usual giggle. "You have a way of making people happy, Mara. Don't ever lose it."

The Serinian nods. "Want to eat, now?"

A few minutes later, belly stuffed on deep dish pizza, Yue nibbles the edge of his cereal/marshmallow bar with a dreamy look on his face. "So good... oh, I missed this food so much. Thank you, Mara."

Mara-kuru gathers up her bag, pats Yue on the head. "You're welcome. Now feel better, okay? I have to find Dewei."

"I think he is with your boy toy, training. I spoke to Ai earlier, and she was complaining that she wasn't getting her Dewei-fix today because her father - somehow, Mara-kuru - found out that they had been intimate."

Mara grins. "Oops. Mara talks too much now and then. Well, I'll go find him, then. Have a good day, Yue!" And she vanishes for Istan Aiga, leaving Yue to levitate himself about a foot off the ground and lie back, resting on his wings. Yeah. Mara is a good one, for sure. 

Not much later, Felina blinks. Well. That was prompt. Good thing she didn't sleep in and do my homework later. She stands up, wanders down to the forge, and lets Orrin know that Minna's transition has begun--orrin already knew it was coming, so he nods, and helps her get some things together.

First Felina heads over to where she senses the incubus. "Yue!" she calls. "I should kiss you for the fun you had last night!"

Yue's still by the pond, playing with a blue plastic wrapper. "You heard about that from Mara, I take it?" He stands, smiling at her as he wishes away the image of that. "I thought you might have liked that. What brings you to the pond?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I'll be living away from Deru a couple of weeks, staying with a friend to help with something. You can certainly find me or call if you need me, but I won't likely be visiting until I'm done."

Yue's sorta contented expression shatters. For a moment the full, absolute extent of his poor broken heart is etched onto his features. "I..." Nothing. No words, no way to deal with this feeling. Still, his features take on a more optimistic sheen in a hurry. "I will miss you," he softly admits, "just be careful alright? I know you will, I just..." He looks away. 

Not again, he begs to himself, no more tears...

"Yue..." Felina's expression is, of course, instantly concerned, and she steps towards the demon. "Yue, it's only for a few weeks...what's wrong?"

Yue can't speak to answer, no matter how hard he tries. He knows that she can hear his thoughts, though, and tries that.

I'm sorry Felina. I really am. I'll be okay. I just... worry.

"Hey..." she sets her hands gently on his upper arms. She's never been able to reach the shoulders well. "I'll be fine, it should be a simple matter. Unless that's not what you're worried about...?"

"I don't know why I am so worried. Forgive me." Tears are rolling down his cheeks, for reasons he just doesn't understand. "If something happens, use your key. Please, and I can help you. You can... any time you want, you can use it."

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "Yeah...I'll remember that. It really should be okay, though...no big deal for me to handle any troubles that come up in this case, it's why I want to be there." She reaches up and wipes the tears gently from his face. "Now be happy. You had pizza, that's important."

"It is," he nods, agreeing. He reaches out, snags Felina's wrist tightly. Before he stop himself he kisses her hand, holds it between both of his. Seems to remember himself, and bows his head a little. "Forgive me," he sighs. "I... yes."

Ahh...so that's what this is about. "Yue..." Felina's eyes soften. "There's nothing to forgive. Thank you, and...I'm sorry." She closes her eyes a few moments, then looks up to Yue. "Orrin and I have been talking...after awhile, we agreed that...were you to visit me some night, it would be okay. Once." She looks up to him. Raises a qualifying finger. "If, and only if, it will help us say goodbye, in that way, to that part of our lives, and make it easier on you after, and not harder." She smiles just a little. "Not that it would exactly be a sacrifice from my side, but...think about it. Really think about it, from both sides. Okay?" Her golden eyes are imploring.

Yue feels distintinctly like he's been kicked in the face. He nods, not really affirming so much as wanting to end this conversation before it gets any worse. How pathetic, he thinks, to be offered such a courtesy like this. 'If you'll go away, fine' is the implication to him, and a deserved one.  He doesn't know what to think, but smiles weakly to make her think he does.

"I... will think about it." 

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. Starts to leave. Pauses. Of course she's caught his thoughts, she always does, but usually has the courtesy to not mention it. "Yue...I'm not just trying to get you to 'go away.' I never want that to happen. Next to Mara...you're my dearest friend in the universe, you really are." She looks up to his eyes after a moment. "I want both of us to be the happiest we can be. And besides...." She shrugs a little, smiling. "like I said...it's not like it would be a bad thing from my side. Take care. Orrin will probably talk to me with a seeing stone a couple of times if you want to join him. Otherwise, I'll see you in a couple of weeks."

Unless he makes it sooner. But, she doesn't bring that detail up, smiles weakly at Yue, and then is gone. Needs to tell Makyon this. Gathers herself a few moments, before approaching her apprentice.

Yue just sits by the tree near the pond, and holds his head in his hands. His wings wrap around him, as if he could hide away in them and never emerge. In a way, he wishes it could be so.

Makyon is at the training area again, working on combining his phase shift with the platforming. It's almost like short range telportation, now, and he's getting scary fast with it.

"Felina!" he calls cheerfully to her. "Going on a trip?" He looks at Yoru, who is reading her comics in a tree again, and hops down to face master. "Yoru said she could hear Yue crying again, so I figured you were leaving to see this Minna girl. Everything okay?"

"Yes, and that's exactly what I'm doing..." ugh. She can never say the right thing. "I haven't actually mentioned that to Yue, though, so please don't tell him. If she doesn't make it through the next few weeks, I don't want him to know."

"Come on, Felina." Makyon crosses his big arms over his chest. "Just... no. You know better than that. He'll read it on your face if nothing else. She. Whatever. Listen, if you need any help with this, you know I'm available."

Yoru glances over at him, ears perked. Well. That was an uncharacteristic outburst.




Felina has to smirk at that, after a moment's surprise. Makyon doesn't often call her out as wrong. "No, you're right. But I still don't want him to spend the next three weeks agonizing over Minna's safety and mine. I don't expect her to die. I expect to be able to tell him in two or three weeks that she's fully divine." She tilts her head a bit. "And, thank you, I'll keep that in mind. I gave Orrin a training schedule for you, but it's nothing you couldn't guess yourself. Routine."

"I'm sure. Just come back with good news, and take care of yourself. I'll see if I can't get Yue to feel better, somehow. I'll get Ai and Dewei to conspire with me." He grins at her, hoping to bolster what he's certain was a streak of low feeling in Felina.

Felina smirks, and nods. "You do that. Take care of the place, huh? You're the most powerful person here while the twins are away." She looks up to the trees. "And after Miss Yoru, of course. Take care the next couple of weeks, Yoru, hm? Also, just as a warning, I always ward parts of my study when I'm about to leave, so it may be wise to raid books everywhere else."

"I will try to remember that. Have a safe trip, Felina dear." Yoru turns a page. "If you are a second over three weeks, I am coming after you."

Makyon looks up at her, surprised. "Good point, Yoru."

"Good to know, thanks for the warning." Felina grins. "Have fun, both...and let the kids know, hm? I can't really hang around until they get home. Bye...!" and, she fades away.

"She'll be fine. This is routine." Yoru flips a page. "Hey Makyon. This page has breasts."

The revenant chortles. "Yoru, you have too much personality for my own good."

A little while later, Makyon is still practicing his platform hopping in accordance with what he figures Felina would want. Only now, Yoru has agreed to throw fireballs at him once in a while, which she does from her tree while reading comics with one hand.

Yue has been sitting against the house wall for a while, invited by Yoru. He has been silent the whole time, not even bothering to look up unless spoken to.

Mara appears there, just as Makyon hops to another platform, and pounces him all the way to the ground.

"Gotcha, cutie!"

Makyon blinks, and lets his head fall back. "That you did, Mara. Can I have my heart attack now?"

"Of course not," she says with a poke of his nose, "you have Mara. I gots food for ya! Spanakopita. Gooooood."

While Yoru and Makyon share a meal of the funny spinachy stuffed thingy, Mara chases a tail she doesn't have. "Makyon, you whore," she says at some point, "why's Yue look so sad? I bet it was something you said, you big bitch."

The revenant shakes his head, still munching stuff.

"Nope. She's just upset that Felina left. They had an... altercation, of sorts, just before."

Mara looks over at Yue. "You were so happy when I left," she whimpers, trotting over to him. "What's wrong? Need a hug?"

Yue turns his head. Mara nods. "I know what's wrong with you. Only time can help you. She's a good woman, she is, but she has a man. A good man. A man with a great butt. Quit it! You need to go find someone for yourself. Quit hating who you are, who you are is wonderful!" She blinks, as Yue explains what Felina had said in a low, broken voice. "Yue... don't visit her. I know you want to, but I know you know better, too. You have to cut ties with her, romantically. If you dream-nail her, it might make you feel closer and... nope nope. Bad girl boy."

The incubus folds his wings over himself again, and Mara just smiles sweetly, and leaves him a six pack of malt liquor from her basket.

---

That night, Yue has finished his weeping. His eyes have been dry for hours, and the sickness in his heart, the self-loathing and worthlessness, has gone away. Mara's liquor had done a good deal to make him forget, but now he sits in his room, thinking.

Orrin, he decides, gazing out the window. Tonight I will visit Orrin and find out a thing or two. He feels closely with his energy sense, searching for the Dumen smith to see if he is asleep yet.

He actually is. Hasn't been for long, but...is. He's worn out from working such long hours.

Yue smiles a saucy little smile when he realizes this. He closes his eyes, reaching out to commune with the smith's mind. Reaching out for Orrin's mindscape.

The smith isn't yet dreaming. Thus, he's resting in the mindscape, too, that floating type of unaware idleness. Actually, in this case, he's floating. Bobbing, actually.

Orrin's mindscape consists of an ocean cavern. Dark, but more peaceful than gloomy. There are a few places where landfall can be glimpsed, but those disappear quickly into doors or bends. Many of the crags of rock are sharp, but not all of them. The dumen himself is subject to the waves' undulation, lying in an easy backfloat on the surface of the cool water.

Yue finds himself walking along the stones, a slow and even step carrying him into consciousness. He smiles at the location, thinking of how un-Orrin ish it seems. Beautiful, still, and he feels so relaxed here that for a moment his mission blurs.

"Orrin," he calls in a soft, charming voice. "Orrin, can you hear me? It is Yue."

"Mmm...Yue?" The dumen opens his eyes after a few long moments, and rights himself in the water. Interestingly, he's fully clothed, although on the dreamscape, his most often present armor pieces don't weigh him down. "Where are you?"

"I'm on the shore, but I want to come to you." The angel looks down at his outfit, which is... a solid white gi with a yellow belt. Ugh. He looks at his hair... it is blonde, too. He closes his eyes and rights his appearance through force of will, smiling when he becomes his normal self in the dress Ting made. He'd had to change himself back from Mara-Kuru in Radivishe Moorn's mind, too, and from a little pink-haired woman, later, so this is no major surprise.

"May I come out to you, Orrin?" He looks out over the water, smiling beautifully.

Orrin smiles amiably. "Sure, if you like. It's nice. The current's gentle today." And he lays back again.

Yue stoops a little and takes off his sandals, tossing them aside. "Thank you." He takes a step to the water, but doesn't sink. Another step across the surface, and another, each deliberate and slow. When he reaches where Orrin is lying he lowers himself to his knees and lies upon the surface, trailing his gloved fingertips in the water. "Is this your place, Orrin?"

"Mm-hm." Orrin smiles a bit, and rights himself again. "It's a nice place to get away." Looks up at the cavern ceiling. "And relax a bit. I don't often dream about you, though, Yue. Sometimes." He smiles at her.

"Oh, really? I dream about you quite a lot." She smiles right back, lips parting a little bit. "You know this is a dream, then?"

"Sure." The dumen nods. "It feels like a dream." Not that he can precisely call much from his waking world to mind. It's just...a feeling.

"Some people do not notice. You're awfully observant for a man." Yue watches his fingertips tracing in the water for a moment, digesting the irony of that comment. He also knows that he must approach this delicately, especially until he figures out what he wants from Orrin. "Orrin. Felina told me today that you two agreed. If I wanted I could visit her, some night, and love her one last time." He speaks slowly, picking and choosing his words. "Why would you agree to something like that?"

Orrin ponders this quietly, floating. Finally... "because I understand what it is to love that woman."

A good answer. Too good. "Do you pity me, Orrin?" He asks this question with serious, somber eyes that are locked on the face of the Dumen.

Orrin considers again. "No. I empathize." He rights himself, and looks back up to Yue. "I lost Felina once, you know. My own stupid fault. But I still lost her."

Yue looks down on him, considering this. The lying on water thing might seem much, but it is actually paramount that he remains above those he speaks to in dreams... the elevation sets an illusion of grandeur, of something wonderful. It is like how great a bird seems in a tree, but on the ground it is just a tiny thing.

"Did you know that I treasure you, Orrin?" The incubus reaches slowly out, as if to touch his cheek. "For you are as wonderful a man as I have ever met, and knowing that Felina has you is of great comfort to me?"

Orrin smiles a bit up at Yue. "I treasure you, too, Yue...you're such a great friend to both of us. We both love you, you know that."

Yue's eyes close. It hurts so much to hear him say that, that his form actually flickers for a moment into the blonde, more Felina-esque for a moment.

"Orrin," he begins, slowly again. "If I told you I wanted to kiss you, would you smile, or would you look away?"

"If you told me? I'd be torn."

Yue lets himself lower in the water now, eyes fixed on the Dumen. "What if I asked you to kiss me?" His voice is neither too seductive nor too casual. He wants Orrin to feel... peaceful, and wonderful, no matter what.

It's a very good plan with Orrin, really, even from a strictly "incubus" standpoint. The assassin smiles a bit. "I would wonder how so mnay beautiful women end up in my life, I think, and what the big deal about heaven is supposed to be." still...he doesn't move to act on this in any way.

"I have been there, you know. To heaven." Yue stays where he is, too. He thinks this is where he wants to be... bonding with Orrin emotionally, instead of physically. For now. "It was a lot like this dreamscape, Orrin. People had what they wanted, as they wanted to perceive it." He smiles. "I could be anything you want me to be, Orrin. For example... I know how uncomfortable my being a man might make you. Here, though..." he moves forward, as if to press himself against Orrin and show him what he's talking about. He knows in his heart that he only wants Orrin's comfort, his shoulder lay her head upon for one night. But if it means giving herself to him, then, this is the perfect place for it.

Orrin's taken aback, to a degree...but everything about him is...not so much sedated, as calmed, as he's still warming to the state of dreaming. He doesn't stop Yue, but...doesn't respond exactly in kind, either. It's not that he's not at least a bit turned on, but..."Yue. Why are you trying so hard? I love you for you. Don't change."

"Does my being a woman here displease you?" The incubus doesn't push any farther, except to loop his arms around the assassin's chest. "Would you love me, still, if I told you I could not believe it?"

"Of course not...I would call you sharp. But...I don't know if that's what you're really looking for, is it?" Orrin's eyes soften a bit, relaxing again. "Do you want to stay here with me tonight, Yue?"

The former angel looks at last into Orrin's eyes. "With all my heart, yes." He sets his gloved, dry hand against the Dumen's cheek, eyes brimming.

The dumen has to smile. He takes Yue's hand gently. "I need to rest, but we both do. So stay here with me, and let's rest." The water is absolutely solitary, though. He knows this and, holding onto Yue, heads to the second nearest shore. It isn't far.

Yue goes along with him, floating with him, thanking the stars that Orrin is so understanding. "Just... just so you know, Orrin..." the incubus whispers, "... if you ever want me... I am yours. Now, or whenever." His lips touch Orrin's cheek, his ear, a contented smile coming finally to his face.

The dumen smiles at Yue as they reach this sandy little cove. It's cozy, no question..one of the few without a dark side. "Thank you, Yue..." his cheeks color a little at the kiss, but he smies, and settles down, dry, against a comfortable nook on the beach.

"No... thank you, Orrin." He settles next to the beautiful smith, calming himself in a presence that is so serene it feels almost surreal. "Let me give you this, though," he says, leaning close and gently parting Orrin's lips with a genuine, loving kiss. My gratitude...

Orrin's eyes widen just a touch. He's a fully passive partner for a few seconds...then, kisses Yue back, a slight smile on his lips. However, he restrains himself from going farther.

Yue had not planned to go farther, anyway. He breaks the kiss gently, strokes Orrin's hair a moment, and nestles tightly against him. This is what she had wanted, whether she knew it or not. So this is why Felina loves him so much. Orrin is empathy and a comfortable embrace. The dreamscape Yue's eyes close slowly, and she descends into a contented slumber.

In the living world, a small, tranquil smile comes to the lips of the incubus and, for the first time in a long while, he rests peacefully.

---

Later the next day Yue is up and about, seeking Orrin. After getting directions from a tired, sweaty Makyon and Yoru, who is counting his drill excercises from her place in a tree, he heads down into the forge. "Orrin? Mind if I borrow you for a bit?"

"Sure, Yue." Orrin looks up at the angel, and smiles. He doesn't remember last night. "And good morning. Sleep well?" he inquires as he slips off his stool.

"Fantastically," she coos, "I spent last night in the arms of a friend. I feel worlds better, and today, I want to make up for giving you so much trouble the other day." She holds out her hand, un gloved for once.

The dumen grins. "We've been through this. You're more than worth some confusion now and again. I'm glad to hear that you had a nice night, though!" He does take the offered hand.

"Yes, we have, but are you going to turn down a gift..." Yue twists his hand a little bit, and pulls it back, leaving a smallish silver-colored necklace wrapped around a blue stone lying in Orrin's. "... like this?" His eyes glow. This feels so wonderful he can barely contain himself.

The dumen blinks, and looks at the necklace, features breaking into a smile. "Aww...it's lovely, Yue, thank you!" He smiles warmly at the demon. "You do realize that I have to hug you now."

Yue's cheeks pink a bit, but just a bit. "I had hoped so," he admits. Orrin is so amazingly splendid, it defies description.

Orrin grins, and proceeds to hug the incubus. "Thanks, Yue. You didn't have to do this, but it's very sweet of you."

Yue's eyes close, his smile sweetening as his head, for amoment, finds Orrin's shoulder. This is heaven, and how he wishes Orrin could know what it means to him! "I had to," he debates, "because it is what my heart told me to do. Besides... its more than a pretty stone."

"Oh? Am I going to be a strange color when I wake up?" Orrin inquires as he steps back enough to look at it, still smiling at the thought.

"I doubt it," Yue touches his own chin. "But I could be wrong. No, Orrin... as much as I love to see you glistening with sweat, this is a cooling charm. If you wear it in the forge, you can keep nice and comfortable."

The smith's eyes brighten and soften. "Aww...Yue, that's extremely thoughtful!" He grins. "And will result in having to shower less than three times daily!"

No innuendo, for once. Only a soft, happy giggle... Yue realizes that until now he has treated Orrin unfairly, as less than the friend he has been. More of a toy. "I won't tell if you won't," the incubus replies softly. "I do have an ulterior motive, though..."

"Oh?" Orrin in quires as he fastens the thing around his neck.

Yue nods smartly. "I was hoping you might cook tonight if I was extra good...? I would like to share a meal with your family."

The dumen smiles at Yue. Awww...not a scary motive, that. "Sure thing, Yue. I'm sure the kids could use some good food in them. Any special requests?"

"Your favorite, whatever it is." Yue's wings open a little bit, and close back. "I only desire the company of people I care for." Might ask about Felina, as well, but that remains to be seen.

Orrin smiles, and nods. "Absolutely. That was fun the other night, having everyone together...impromptu dinner party, except we liked everyone there." He laughs. "So, for planning purposes, do you know where my son is, by any chance?"

"Oh, yes. I spoke to him a little earlier, while he was atoning for his physical communion with the sorcerer's daughter. Last I heard, she was taking him somewhere to bed. To sleep, so I am led to believe." The incubus stands up on his toes a little bit. "I could find him more precisely if you want. Though he seems to have needed the rest."

"Nah, we'll let him sleep. Even an early dinner couldn't be for awhile yet, anyway." He smiles at Yue, fiddling with the penant. "So...any other plans for the day, Yue dear?"

"Not a one, other than to smile at you. Without the search for my wings, I have little in the way of goals anymore." She sits on that ever present stool, crossing her long legs again. "I ought to seek out some calling, I think."

Somewhere not too far away, a rising of unusual energy catches Yue's attention. It isn't enough to investigate, especially with senses as sharp as his, though, so he just smiles at Orrin.

Orrin, of course, can only sense energy a little, and isn't aware of it. He just smiles, folds his arms, and leans back thoughtfully against the bench. "It could be fulfilling, I think. Do you have any particular interests in the matter?"

"Not really, honestly. This incubus thing is lovely, truly, but my purpose in life must be more than the teasing and pleasuring of unkowing folk when they can neither fend me off nor dislike what I am doing." Yue beams. "Speaking of which. Felina and I had a talk yesterday."

"Ah...I can probably guess which, from the lead-up." Orrin smiles, a touch sheepishly. "But I'll let you start in case I'm wrong."

"Thank you for extending that courtesy to me," he nods. "And I intend on taking it as long as I know it does not make you uncomfortable."

That rise is growing, enough to distract the incubus a little bit.

Orrin and nods. "Yeah...well...I know you love her. That makes a big difference. She loves you too, if maybe in a slightly different way, and...well...quite frankly, eternity is a long, long time to ask someone to never see anyone but you. It's a little-mentioned immortality problem. Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to sleep with another woman. But...all circumstances considered, I think it would be a nice thing for Fel. For both of you. And maybe put some closure on something that ended too abruptly."

Yesterday, Yue would have been crying all ready. Today, he simply smiles, and switches leg-cross directions. "There is something in it for you, Orrin."

The dumen smiles a little, and tilts his head. "Oh? What's that?"

"When I visit Felina, I will warn you beforehand." Yue rises from the stool.. that rise is too hard to ignore any longer. "I want you to be awake, while I am with her, so you can watch her. It should be quite a sight." He winks a slow, long-lashed wink. "If you'll excuse me, Orrin, I need to have a look outside."

Okay, for once, Yue manages to tie the dumen's tongue and turn him red. "I...ah...outside! Good plan!"

The incubus laughs a soft laugh, thinking of how adorable he is right now. She starts up the stairs, and is just out the door when something tells her to duck and cover. She does, just in time to hear something metal clang into the stairwell wall.

"Fuck! I missed." Yue looks up to see a thin man with features similar to his newly infernal ones, with a strong nose and a set of eyes painted over his real, dark gray ones. "Stop dodging." Something shiny flashes in his hand.

"Orrin, don't come out!"

"Yue? What's going on?" Orrin's terrible about listening...but runs first to the weapon closet for a crossbow.

The stranger flings two more of the projectiles, which look like diamond-shaped shards of glass. Yue's wings flap and pull him out of the way. "Leave me alone!" he cries, sensing the energy about this man. Demonic. Of course.

The stranger reaches into his belt bag and throws more shards, but it's obvious that he is watching more than attacking.

Orrin narrows his eyes, thinking, and runs for the side door, slipping through it and sprinting towards the open part of the house. Of course there's a side door, in a fire-prone room. Yue..

"Get out of here!" Yue's eyes flash for a split second, the heat around his body intensifying. Demon blood, after all. "Please!"

"Sorry. I have to take you home, demon." The stranger holds up more shards, glowing red hot, and tosses them. Yue flaps and misses one, but the other wheels in the air and rams cleanly into his side.

"Urgk!" She remains airborne, but this attacker is fishing for more ammunition and movement is not happening like Yue hoped it would.

This is when Orrin finally reaches the door, and an assassin's aim sends slightly enchanted crossbow bolts towards the base of the demon's head, his throat, and the side of his chest.

The chest arrow strikes home, the others missing by only a hairbreadth as the assailant moves to one side. "Company? A demon with mortal allies is fun." He holds out one hand, sending tongues of flame whipping out from his fingertips in Orrin's general direction. None well aimed, though, as he hadn't seen the shooter to begin with.

Yue flaps hard to get away, but every movement seems to make the shard stuff in his skin wrench further into him.

Yeep. Orrin tries to get out of the way. Doesn't make it. Blinks at infernal fire blowing right past him, on both sides...and a glowing blue pendant. Yue, I love you so much right now. And so several more bolts fly straight out of the flames.

Meanwhile, Ting and Ale appear quite nearby. Her eyes widen a little. "Eep! Ass! Nevermind, I'll whap you later." She analyzes the situation briefly, eyes narrow, then vanishes and reappears behind the demon, between his wings to thwart side to side motion, blade stabbing towards his back. "Shish kabob!"

It's successful, too. The stranger only smiles, though, as arrows and spear pierce him cleanly. "More company," he quietly says, "backup. Send..." His head falls forward, entire body wilts into a husk in an instant. More energy surges of the same kind rise up, four at least.

Ting's eyes widen, and she simply swings the naginata to send the withered pseudo-body flying off her blade. "That's not good," she observes.

Dewei appears, sword in hand, and Ting quickly fills him in telepathically as Orrin runs for the new incubus.

"Yue! How are you hurt?"

The angel lands roughly, sinking to a knee, but not falling. "I am not sure. This thing, I can't..." He tugs the shard. "I can't get it out. No matter how hard I pull." And breathing is becoming difficult, and he's bleeding... no need to worry them, though.

Black circles burst all over the area, as four of the same man appear in the clearing.

Oh, crap. The twins are suddenly both between the demons and the friends: eyes narrow, ears back, and weapons poised.

"They're just manifestations," Ale calls out, "killing them won't help. There is a source here somewhere, some demonic presence." From inside his jacket he draws what looks, honest to heaven, like western-style revolver. Yue can feel something strange about it, but can't comment... the shard is twisting, drilling into his side.

As one, the clones spray flames towards the twins and Yue.

"You find the source. I'll handle the toys."

Dewei nods, and vanishes, appearing high above and taking a careful psychic read of the area, searching for anomolies, while a wall of water springs up behind Ting. Naginata draws up and then slashes across, a scythe-shape shockwave of white magical energy slicing towards the intruders.

Orrin, meanwhile, reaches down, and tries to pull the thing from Yue's side.

The manifestations are cleanly cut down by Ting's attack, but for every one she puts down another appears, intensifying to the hellfire that's scorching the ground.

Yue groans, shakes his head. "Please, no... it won't come out, Orrin, please..."

Ale lifts his weapon and fires, and another clone goes down with a spew of white light issuing from the bullet hole. He can feel the source burning bright, just to the north... just about where Yoru and Makyon usually train.

And that's right where Dewei's heading in a hurry, as Ting keeps viciously slapping down any attack threatening Yue or her father, really building towards a feral streak.

Ale keeps his distance, firing at whatever Ting misses. He shrugs off his jacket, fanning his bright white angel wings to their full magnificence as he takes to the air.

Yue looks helplessly at Orrin. "Something is coming," he whispers, "something big. Bigger than the trees."

Orrin nods. "Can you stand? We need to get you to one of the warded rooms downstairs." He lifts Yue to his feet with a shoulder as he speaks.

"I can't move my legs," Yue shakes his head. "This does not hurt that much, I am just immobilized."

A circle of dark energy fifty times the size of the others looms overhead, dragging gray into the puffy white clouds above.

"Ting, get to safety!" Ale's wings snap together, shoving him away from a tongue of flame. "Hurry!"

"Then I'm sorry for this in advance." With every bit of the strength being a blacksmith has earned him, Orrin hoists Yue up over one of his shoulders and begins to run awkwardly for the lower part of the house, casting a single worried glance behind.

Ting, though, just bares her fangs, the shields around her becoming stronger and more complex, and her naginata whips behind her at the ready.

The irony is that Yue would have loved to be treated like this any other time.

The manifestations cease appearing for the moment. Ale hovers closer to Ting, frantically looking this way and that.

The sky splits into severed shards of jet, raining upon the ground and shattering like bits of glass. 

Cracked yellow claws emerge from the rift, followed by thick black fingers teeming with infernal heat. Ale opens fire against the massive paw, but more and more of whatever beast it belongs to pushes through the rift.

Even Orrin can sense it, and grimaces a little. Then something occurs to him. "Yue, can you get to the maze?"

"Probably. But why?" Yue tries to look back, but cannot seem to move his neck either.

An arm emerges from the rift, as thick as a fat tree trunk, followed by the tip of what looks like a toothy maw, dripping acidic saliva.

"Because the minions of hell have nothing on Ansendul. Yes?"

Ting sets her jaw, glaring at the anomoly, as she finishes finishing the most enormous and sharply powerful light-based attack she's ever created in a raised hand. Points of light--Dewei's--appear at intervals in front of the rift.

"Bye bye, ugly," she growls, dark eyes glowing faintly. She flings the attack at a tremendous, tremendously self-damaging energy expenditure. Dewei's points flash, and her attack distorts and stretches to meet them for just a moment, and then bursts into a one-way explosion of "holy" and banishing energy.

Ting actually has to drop to a knee, catching her breath, though keeping her weapon in hand.

Ale can only watch in awe. Looks at his gun as the entire rift, along with the creature coming through, is consumed in white light.

"I need a bigger gun," he observes, floating down to Ting's side. "Ting?"

"He wouldn't help," Yue protests, "keeping neutral. But listen..." he blinks. "I think the source is gone."

Ting doesn't repond to the angel, still glaring at the rift as she catches her breath, trying to sense whether anything is coming through.

Dewei is there in just a moment to place final seals on the infernal rift.

Ale trots over to it, though, as if it is a post office box. "Excuse me. Hi." He grins at Dewei. "Try this." He holds up a sphere, the size of a grape, pulsating with white light, and tosses it into the hole in the sky. "It goes boom. Hit the dirt."

Dewei blinks, but knows better than to stand around talking about it, and gets the hell out of the way.

Ale spreads his wings as far as they will spread and stands in front of the rift. The blast is thick with light and sonic energy, but is without concussive force. Wisps of black float away from the fading sphere of white, and the rift is sealed again. "There," he nods, "you got the source, right?" He looks to Dewei. "Or was it someone else? Actually, as long as it's gone, it doesn't matter."

"It's sealed. It still needs to be banished, but the house's shield system should do that once it's activated." He mentally pokes his father to do this.

Ting, meanwhile, gets to her feet, and finally throws out her arms in exasperation. "What the fucking hell was that all about?"

Ale looks at her quizzically for a second. "How should I know? I've never been here before." His eyes soften, though. "Are you okay? You handled those manifestations like a pro, Ting."

She smiles a bit, and poses. "I'm the dumb muscle. I do my job well!"

Dewei, meanwhile, vanishes. Ting blinks. "Ding..?" And she vanishes after him, not knowing they're heading for Makyon.

Ale sighs a quiet sight. So much for getting information. He folds his wings and heads toward the house, and begins gathering the glass shards from the manifestation attack. They'll need to be destroyed, or else serve as shiny little beacons for further assaults.

Yoru has Makyon all snug in his hammock, and is busily tending his wounds. The attacks were well-placed and executed - both lungs and his heart, cleanly pierced - and if he were any sort of mortal he would likely be dead already.  She looks up when the twins appear.

"Hello," she calmly greets them.

"Hi," Dewei notes. Steps forward, the healing spells for dark-based creatures that Felina had taught him. Building to the ready if Yoru hasn't covered it.

Ting, meanwhile, is horrified, eyes widening. "Creepy...?" And she's at his hammockside in an instant.

"He will be fine. I think fine, I found the rest of his blood and put it back in." Yoru glances between them. "Forgot he was a zombie, though, and took a step backwards trying to heal him at first. We are on the right track now." She pats him. "Dewei could have dodged. It was a dumb thing to do."

Ting pieces together what had happend from the last bit, and sniffles. "Creepy's just awesome that way," she sniffles, settling by his head and gently petting his hair out of the way. Her mouth is tight and her eyes are sparkling, but she's more or less doing a good job keeping it together.

Meanwhile, Orrin finishes scripting a set of runes onto the wall with a normal piece of chalk he keeps in a pocket. Then he cuts his own finger slightly and presses it to the seal, which immediately actives...along with a high level of Helantri Deru's remarkably formidable shield system. At this level, things can get out, but nothing can get in, even via teleportation. Maybe Felina, since she had built it inside and out...but only maybe.

He knows it will worry Mara and his wife, but it's necessary.

"So," Ale calls from high above, thankful he found them so quickly as he drops to the ground not far away, "where's the demon?" Looks at Ting, looks at Makyon. Oh. Oh.

"I think Yoru has this handled," Dewei observes softly. Holds out a hand towards the strange gelatinous thing, and a simple mark forms on its seals. Looks that way as Deru begins to react to the thing being marked for banishment. "And the estate's own defense system should finish this off. May I ask your name, by the way?" He looks back over to Ale.

"That's Ale...he's cool," Ting sniffles. She knows that the angel being spoken for right now is a good thing at a time of such confusion.

Yoru looks at Ting, ears perking. "Why don't you go on and git, Ting? I'm fixing him up, no problem, and then I can get back to my comics. It shouldn't take long."

Ale shakes his head at Yoru, who sounds far too calm and detached for what she's doing. "Yeah. Ale. Can we talk somewhere, the three of us? I sort of need to know what happened here, and I think we can puzzle it out." Glances at Makyon. How to compete with abs like those?

Dewei nods.

Ting looks up suddenly. "Yue! I think it had something to do with Yue. She was hurt. We need to see if she's okay." She pats Makyon and stands up, and looks at Yoru. "Tell Creepy I'll visit him soon, okay?" She looks down at the zombie, and pokes him in the forehead. "I will personally find a way into the afterlife just to kick your ass if you pull something stupid like dying on me. Jackass."

Sniffles again, and trots off towards her brother and Ale, ears sagging and step mellow.

Yoru looks at Makyon once Ting's gone. "See? See? I told you. Idiot." And goes back to patching the wounds. She hadn't told them, but the blades had been teeming with some kind of life form. Makyon's wounds are already putrid, but more importantly, are burning with hellfire. The former Mara can handle it, but still... they did not need to know how bad it was.

The twins and the angel are restricted to flying or on foot since this level of lockdown prevents any portals from forming on the estate...and are on foot since Ting doesn't feel up to flying. They're a few minutes out from the house.

Ting's hands are locked behind her neck in a very "Orrin and Dewei" sort or gesture, pretty quiet. Finally, she smirks a little at Ale. "Um...welcome to my life?" She looks ahead again, a somer sort of expression set across her pretty face. "I like clubs and music and dancing and silliness. They're a total departure from all this."

Ale glances at the guns at his hip, previously hidden by his jacket. "Don't I know it," he would have laughed, but his voice comes out more as an observation. "I take it that man was a friend?"

Dewei picks up on the meaning behind the statement.

Ting doesn't. She nods. "Makyon's my mom's apprentice. Well...remember how I told you one of Shigoriath's zombies changed sides and helped us? That was him."

"Ah... I see. And this handsome fellow is Ding, right?" Keep her talking, until we get where we are going. Right.

Her lips twitch towards an amused smile.

The younger twin smirks. "In the same sense that she's 'Spot.' I'm Dewei...a pleasure to properly meet you."

"Delalenei," Ale holds out a hand, "but Ale is easier. So anyway... is that who we're looking for?" He asks this as the group comes upon Orrin and Yue, who is sitting up against the wall with that shard still embedded in his skin.

The twins both nod...Ting scampers up to Yue. "Eep...bleeding isn't good. Stop that?" She tilts to look at the injury, concerned.

Yue smiles at her, his face clear of any indication that he is in pain. "It's nothing. It doesn't even hurt much, it is only keeping me from moving. This thing won't come out, and... hiya Ale."

"Yue, you should have been ready for this. You know what happens to turned angels. Every time." Ale kneels not far from Ting. "Those people," he says, to everyone, "were malefactors. Avarice malefactors, actually. High ranking demons use them like grunts. They were here to take Yue to hell and... fix her temperamant so that it matched her physiology."

Ting's eyes widen. "No!" She wraps her arms around Yue's neck. "We like Yue how she is!"

Orrin's reaction is much the same, but he listens more quietly. "And the shard in Yue now? Can we remove it?" He inquires.

Ale looks at, reaches out to touch it. A loud bang and a cluster of sparks emit from the device when he touches it, and he draws his hand back in irritation. "You need demon to do it. Or a god. Angels can't touch these things. They would have taken her to Stasiel, I think, who is an infernal deity, and... yeah. I can't do anything for you, Yue."

Yue just smiles at him. "That's okay. We will figure something out."

"Would it be safe for the god?" Dewei inquires. Ai.

"No damage could be done that someone with your abilities couldn't undo," Ale shrugs. "Unless the god was incredibly weak by divine standards." He looks up, catches Orrin's eye for a moment. "You're the father, aren't you."

Orrin nods. "Yes...I don't believe we met. I'm Orrin."

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Ale, I..." he looks at Ting. She'll know eventually, anyway. "I am a Vanguard archangel. It's sort of my real job to keep demon uprisings in check." Cringes, though he looks to Dewei. "You talked like you knew someone who could help with this. We need to destroy this shard as soon as possible, before Stasiel sends another skirmish."

Ting blinks. Hey. Cooooool.

Dewei nods, hesitantly. "My girlfriend, Ai...she's a goddess. She only very recently became a full goddess from half-blooded, though, and I'm not sure whether she could safely do it or not."

"You're dating a goddess? Schwing." Ale looks at Ting. "Sorry, male bonding. Look, I can help her do it if she will, and we can get this thing out. I'll redirect the backfire to myself."

"Maybe. Her dad is who you need to convince--the guy trying to crack open the shields right now--and he's probably also a very good authority on whether she can safely do it." Dewei nods a bit, and looks over to Ting, who's concentrate on her feet, which are rocking her back and forth a bit. "Ting, can you sense any immediate threat building if we drop the defense grid?"

"Mmmm...mm..." rock rock. "...No. There's not."