Yue, Ting, and Dewei all poof back into Deru's kitchen with the same sort of cloudy flare.

Orrin waves it away, and coughs. "Hey! No smoke in the kitchen unless I've gotten overzealous on a flambe!"

Yue looks around, blinks a few times for effect. "And me without my pipe. Did things work out with Felina, Orrin? Or do you know?"

"Sure. She's fed," Felina notes from off to the side. She'd been out of Yue's sight, just from the angle the kids had appeared at. She smiles a little.

"And me slaving over a hot stove," Orrin mock-whines. "Hungry anyone? And I see you pitched up a hitchhiker." He grins at Dewei. "Heya, stranger!"

Dewei smirks. "No one who can cook that well is a stranger as far as I'm concerned."

"Wait, who said food?" Yue looks around, eyeing the stove area, then eyeing Felina. "Good. She's at a safe distance."

Felina smirks, raises a spoon in mock threat. "Back off, smart-ass. You know very well that isn't my smoke you're standing in. For once."

Ting giggles.

"Aww, Felina wants to spoon with me." Yue clasps his hands and coos dramatically. "That is so adorable!!"

"And people ask me why I eat with chopsticks most of the time," Felina mock-sighs, then grins at them. "Well, did you have fun?"

"Quite," Yue lies openly, "Ting is a good dancer, and has a singular talent at making men fall over."

"Did you know that two pretty girls kissing can create large mishaps?" Ting inquires with a sweet little purr."

"Ting," Orrin notes sternly, "what did I tell you about weapons of mass destruction in public places?"

"You just told me no weapons of mass destruction in the house!"

"Did I really only limit it that far?"

"She talked you down from 'in the estate'," Dewei oberves.

"Damn."

Ting beams.

"Your father knows all about that, by the by, Ting." Yue trots over to the stove, feeling better even though it was his pride hurt worst back there. "You should have seen him the first time Mara and I were here at the same time."

Orrin groans. "Your mother has a good slapping hand."

Yue touches his cheek, thinking back. "Don't I know it." He looks down at the stove, eyes brightening. "Food. Orrin, have I told you how I love you when you cook?"

"Every time you're hungry and especially when a certain lady manages to magic me into a pink apron." The dumen grins. "We're not having Chinese tonight! A kind of dumpling, which also has our meat for the evening--it's not completely lean, so you're aware, but not bad--some braised vegetables, and something sweet I don't have a name for." He grins his largely sharp-toothed grin. "Shall I set you up with some of each? Planned for everyone being here, so there's plenty."

"That would be fantastic, Orrin." Yue hugs him, a side-hug that is perfectly innocent. "Erm..." he steps away. "If you all will excuse me, I'm feeling a bit... eh. Girly is the wrong word, but fits the bill well enough. I will be outside." He doesn't wait for them to answer, just heads for the door, breezing right by Felina.

Felina blinks. Looks to Ting once he's gone, evaluating a few moments. Orrin gets the twins both served up. "Here you go, guys!"

Ting bounces. Dewei smiles. Both thank him. They were raised right and all.

"I'll take a plate to Yue," Felina offers.

Orrin smiles, and nods. "Right." A few seconds later.. "here you are." Felina steps over to take it, and kisses Orrin's cheek. "Thank you, love." That important bit out of the way, she heads outside, and looks around for Yue.

"Hey, you forgot something."

The angel is leaning against a tree outside, sitting in a way that makes him look unsure as to whether he wants to cross his arms or hide his head against his knees. His eyes are red when he looks at Felina, though he does look away in a hurry.

"Oh. Thank you, Felina, you didn't have to do that," he says away from her, drying his eyes against his sleeve.

"Eh. I figured you might forget." Felina sets the plate softly on a fairly level branch. "Want to talk about it?" Same old story, she has little doubt. God, people are freaks.

"Oh, I'm sure you have some idea already." He looks at her, eyes still red, but dry. "Dewei took care of my face, and I shouldn't care about this anymore. But... I do. I broke two of the man's ribs for hitting me like that, and all I felt was worse."

Felina sighs quietly...sits beside Yue, puts an arm around him, and her her head against his upper arm. She treats him like a girl...ninety percent of the time. He is a girl ninety percent of the time. "Heh. Yeah, but...the problem with people is, people don't change. A person might. But people don't."

Yue is actually deeply flattered that Felina treats him the way she does. He knows that outside of her family this sort of treatment would be all but nonexistent.

"You and I have been around long enough to know that. But..." he closes his eyes, "... if I don't get upset over being wounded in battle with a hydra or interstellar mercenary band, why should I feel so upset over some idiot slapping me and ridiculing me with the rest of his pack?" He is a girl, sure, but there are still many things he doesn't quite get yet. It's not as if he gets a lot of chance to express his feelings.

"Because you didn't hand-pick the hydra or interstellar mercenaries in the hope of being accepted and even getting a touch of love for that little window," Felina points out, as gently as possible. "The hydra may attack you, but it never betrayed you. Of course that hurts worse, it's not abnormal to feel that way."

Yue really has nothing to say to that. It's true, of course, but his tongue isn't quite as loose as usual tonight. Nevermind the lump in his throat.

"Part of me hates to feel vulnerable like this. It feels like... weakness. The rest of me sees it as simply part of existance." He looks down at Felina, way down. "You have a fine family, Topaz. I didn't say so before, but you do."

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "Yeah. I do...somehow or another, the kids turned out great, and of course, Orrin's just wonderful." She looks up at Yue. "You know, there was something special about deciding to have children. Maybe even more than normal. Maybe. Ting and Dewei...are the first blood relatives I've ever had. Not just the first I've ever known...the first that ever existed. That's...special."

It occurs to Yue that this is something else he will never experience. He brushes it off. "I hadn't thought about that. But you know, you have always had people who care for you as if they were. Like Mara, for certain, and me. Even that oaf Makyon."

Felina smiles and nods. "Exactly. I've felt alone...a lot in my life. But I've never actually been that way. You're the same way, you know. You have me, and Orrin, and Mara, and certainly seemed to hit it off well with the kids, so they'll be in that boat before long...hell, even though she'd never admit it, I think even Ichenrei would have a fit if something ever happened to you." She grins a bit, then nods. "And we all know your quirks. Everyone here has hide things from the 'normal' world in general. Yours might be harder, just because it's a little bit closer to their realm of perceiving, though maybe not understanding. But no matter what...you do have us. Okay?"

"Okay. You know,' he looks down at her again, into her eyes, smiling in a sort of subdued manner uncommon to him, "you're mothering me. Did you notice?" He seems more touched than anything, if a bit amused as well.

"Hmph..." She smirks. It's true. He's got got her and she knows it. "Don't rub it in. I can smack you around a couple times and tell you to get over it, if it would make you feel better?"

He smirks right back. "Tomorrow. I have new tricks to show you anyway, and perhaps you can explain to me why I am so much stronger, and faster, but a backhand from a human still bruises me. For now..." his eyes clear. "Would a mother's hug be too much to ask...?"

Felina smiles, and hugs him. "It is good to have you back, you know."

"I know. I really am that good." He doesn't stay there long. Felina's already showing him far too much kindness on a day that has been so tough for her. "Alright. If it is alright with you, I will probably just eat out here. Tomorrow we will do something fun, if time permits."

"Fair enough." Felina gets to her feet. "If you need to freshen up, you know where to do it...and outside of an upset where a certain son of mine blew up part of the house and I had to reassemble things, the room you fixed up has been left at your designs." That's the nice thing about having a big house. She can do that. There are usually refugees of one kind of another coming in and out without any problem in some rooms, and very dear friends who come here, if not often, at least regularly can have their own places.

"Thank you. I will do that." He grins. "Mommy."

Felina turns around, and punches the tree he's sitting in. It's a fuit tree. About as harmless as the explode-y ones Ting assaults people with, but only about half as...juicy. And one of these snaps off. It explodes on his shoulder.

"Even if there were none over the head, I feel better, baby dear," Felina purrs. She laughs, and heads back towards the house. "Feel free to poke any of us if you need something or decide that you're feeling up for company again!" She waves over her shoulder.

Yue jumps and squirms, but smiles anyway. "I probably will. I haven't been properly introduced to your son yet." And he turns to his food, feeling better, but sticky.

"So, is Yue okay?" Ting pops up and springs the questio before Felina's even fully through the door.

Fel smiles at her daughter, puts a hand against her daughter's forehead, and pushes her gently out of the way. "Yeah, he'll be fine. Wants some quiet time, but I think he's feeling better."

"Yay for that!"

"Yes indeed. In the meantime, though, I never did...oh, what's it called... wash today. Think it'd be time to take care of that."

"Thank you!"

Felina smirks at her husband. "Yes, yes..." and she wanders off to do that.

It's a while before Yue comes back in. His dress is stained a bit from the fruit thing, which is immaterial of course as just about anyone in the area could make him a new dress, himself included, but he certainly seems less sulky.

"Excuse me," he calls to whoever happens to be there, "remind me which way to the baths? I seem to be covered in juice."

"Yup! You're a mess," Ting observes astutely.

Dewei points. "Down that hall, to the end, then to your left, then the third door on the right."

Yue bows his head a bit. "Thank you. Oh, Dewei, when I come out I would like to talk to you a bit, if it's alright?"

Dewei returns the gesture, but in a casual, comfortable way that indicates that it's not outside his usual mannerisms. "Absolutely. About something in particular?"

"No." The angel smiles prettily at him. "I got to know Ting a bit, but not you. And I have to thank you properly for fixing my face." And he heads off towards the baths, swishing as usual.

Dewei watches him go, then looks at Ting after he's gone. "You're sure she's a he?"

"Nope! She's a he but he's a she."

"...of course." He grins. "You should write a book on logic, Spot."

"I know!"

There dad grins, and finishes putting away the food. "Well. Wil you two magic-type mini-Aristotles clean the kitchen up for me? I'd like to take a walk."

"Sure!" Ting grins. "You cook well, so we'll let you off the hook."

"I feel so special," the dumen notes, grinning. "All right...see you two in a bit, then!" They can do it in the time it would take him to carry two pans to the sink, so yeah. It's been a stressful few days for him, too, and he needs to clear his head. Being the family leaning-post is a full time job, but needs coffee breaks. So, he wanders out on one of the most far-reaching garden paths.

Yue takes his time in the baths. He hadn't taken one before coming here, and feels... like he hasn't bathed in a century. He takes some extra time to even up his hair and clean his long, ever-painted nails, washing his entire body until his skin turns pink.

Standing under the flow of a shower, he stares downward, at the source of his troubles on this night. "Envy," he mutters, "how I hate you..."

When he emerges, dry, warm, and positively glowing in a simplistic emerald dress, he feels quite a bit better about himself. His makeup washed off, but he doesn't really care... he is still a pretty girl. 

"Now... to find Dewei." And he goes to do just that.

Ting had actually ben a hair hyper. A scuffle and spar later, she's out of energy again, and hanging upsidedown from a tree. Dewei, meanwhile, considering the predictable type of tree, has wisely chosen to take cover behind another tree.

"Come out and fight like a man!"

"Can't we talk about this?" Really, he's reading a book. But she's enjoying thinking he's cornered.

Yue strolls out to the garden, listening to their back-and-forth absently for a minute before hopping up, light as an angel feather, to balance on Ting's branch.

"Hello, precious."

"Hi! Did you know that you're upside down?"

"Heavens," Yue sighs, and flips over so that he's sitting upside down, his legs crossed to keep his skirt from falling over his head. "I didn't. Thank you!"

"You're welcome! This is a stakeout," she informs the angel grandly.

"Yes, I feel Dewei hiding over there, and your father wandering. And miss Yoru not too-" Yue stops. "Shit."

Ting blinks, and swings up so that she's on top of the branch. "Eh?"

Dewei's listening too, and steps into sight.

Yue falls, righting himself before touching down. "Yoru just appeared. My magic is limited, so to compensate I have a sharp energy-sense, and it is dancing."

"I think," Dewei notes, "That we should get there in a hurry then." And he's off that way in a hurry. Teleportation over short distances takes too much energy for the twins where speed spells could be almost as useful, and they could need everything if there comes a conflict with Yoru.

"Eep! Wait up!" Ting jumps out of the tree and hops off after, step bouncer and showier than her brother's side.

Yue has no problem teleporting about... he's been doing it for ages. Oddly enough, his afterimage still has wings when he does it, and he should arrive there about the time the twins do.

---

When Felina reappears with Yoru...she has the hesitantly hopeful notion that this whole thing is finally done.

Yue is waiting for her, and appears not far from them almost immediately. His weapon is drawn, eyes questioning.

"Felina?"

Yoru turns her face away from him.

"It's all right." Felina nods an affirmative. "The parasol's been destroyed, and I think you were right about its effect. It wasn't...pleasant, but I think Yoru finally has the chance to be herself." She looks at the other construct. "Yue's the one responsible for your mind remaining fully intact, you know. Had he not suggested taking out the parasol, I'd intended to wipe all this from your memory." Makes her a little more the bad guy, but hopefully puts Yue in a slightly better light after walloping her on the head with a spikey piece of enchanted steel.

Yoru glances at Felina and genuinely inquires, "Who is Yue?" She had heard the 'he' pronoun, but all she sees is a pretty girl. "Her?"

Whoops. That slipped. She's tired, okay? Felina just nods. "Yes. Her."

"Gimme." Yue puts away the mace, shaking his head a little. "Go rest, do whatever it is you do, and I will ask the children to help me care for her." He holds out his arms for a transfer of Yoru.

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "Thanks...I really think Yoru's going to be just fine now. Right now...I just really want to visit Mara."

Yue nods too, accepting the still weak Yoru with gentle arms. "You need to rest, is what you need. But I know better than to argue with you about your health." 

Yoru looks up at Yue, smiles a little. "Oh... yeah. You, with the spikey. Pretty."

Yue's eyebrow goes up. "I see she's not all there right now. I will call for your children, then."

Felina's expression is some cross between a grateful smile and a smirk at the tongue-in-cheek reference to her stubborness on certain issues. She nods. "Right. Thanks, Yue." She vanishes, first to the kitchen and quickly to the garden, and then is off to Istan Aiga.

Yue carries Yoru back to the house, keeping his senses alert for any quick movements. Yoru is weakened so badly that she probably can't do much, but taking chances is folly and he knows it.

"Children," he calls, "I need a hand!" He lays Yoru on a chair, pushes her hair back, and smirks. "It's like gothic Felina."

"Meep?" Ting is the first to show up, Dewei just a few steps behind. "Eep! Is she...hm. Good?"

"Well. She knows I was the one who scrambled her brains back there, and hasn't gotten angry yet. Though... it probably wouldn't hurt to restrain her." Yue smiles at both of them. "She is weak, and I have my eyes on her."

"Awww..." Ting hops over in front of Yoru. Skittish she isn't. "Hi! How goes it?"

Yoru gazes at her, thinking. "Did you ever have your brains liquified? It is kind of like that." She smirks a little. "Is your father... does he hate me?"

"Well...he's okay, you didn't hurt him or anything! I think he's still a touch muddled, though, so I didn't ask." Ting smiles sweetly, and tilts her head. "But he'll be fine!"

"good," Yoru nods approvingly. "I need to apologize to him, and to you, too. I'm sorry for... everything."

Yue glances at Dewei. "You are awfully quiet, handsome."

Dewei looks over at Yue after a moment--he'd been watching his sister, still leergy of any harm--and smiles, shrugging. "Spot's got that half of things well-covered today, I think. Are you okay, by the way?" He definitely remembers the leaning, and his eyes are just a touch concerned with the question.

"Yes, thank you. I seem to have lost my stomach for violence, is all." He tuts a bit. "Well. Most of it, anyway. Would you show me to Orrin, please, before I start to hit on you as well?"

Dewei laughs softly, and nods, though his cheeks color a little. "Sure, you can hit on him instead." Considers that. "Actually, at this point, you might melt his brain. Not literally," he clarifies. "Anyway, I think he's still in the gardens." He smiles at Yue, and heads that way.

"Ting," the angel calls, "can you handle Yoru? Keep her bound while she is weak?"

"I can do that!" Ting chirps.

"Call if you need help, then." Yue follows Dewei outside. His swish is a bit less pronounced, but still present, as his mood has improved measurably since dashing Yoru's skull all over the gardens. He keeps in step with the younger of the children, trotting along, and along.

Dewei's pretty quiet. Not that he's ever boistrous, but Yue's probably getting a skewed sense of his personality, just from how distracted his various thoughts have him right now. Ting gets louder when she's bothered. He's quite the opposite. "Here we go," he notes.

Orrin's sitting in a tree--he'd picked up the habit playing with the kids when they were younger, and has noted many times how grateful he is that he doesn't age, considering how non-breakable being a dad requires of him--leaning back and looking fairly thoughtful, though not entirely happy. When he hears Dewei and Yue, though, he looks over to them, and smiles. Not entirely falsely, but not entirely not. "Hi. Is everyone okay now?" He almost asks what happened to Yoru. First. And physically bites his tongue.

"Thank you Dewei." Yue pats the younger on his shoulder, letting the touch linger as he pretty much always does. "I can answer that question, Orrin dear, when you tell me how you have come out of this. Felina has gone to visit Mara-kuru, and Ting is watching an enfeebled Yoru."

"I''m fine," Orrin assures. Smiles and nods. "Kind of...hm. Thrown for a loop. But I'm fine."

"You may borrow my shoulder, you know." Yue gives his hair a determined toss, for Orrin's benefit. "You know it is creamy and smooth and exquisite for laying one's head."

The dumen grins at Yue for the thought, though a little wryly. "Yes...that I do. Thanks, Yue, I do appreciate it, but I'm really not sure it would help." For any problem but having his mind drift to another woman, he would have reacted better, for sure.

Yue's colorful green eyes sparkle with good humor. "You know, I was hypnotized once. For two days after that I walked around, and occasionally I would hop on one foot without thinking about it. After a while it went away." He glances at Dewei. "I think father needs a hug."

Orrin smiles at Yue much more sincerely for understanding. "Right." Hopefully in a hurry, with a very telepathic wife.

"I might, if I didn't think I'd knock him out of the tree," Dewei observes, grinning a bit.

The dumen smirks, feeling quite a bit better at what Yue had said. "Yeah, yeah...just because I can't lick strange places. By the way, Yue, do you have any idea how strange it is having children who are part cat?" He slips out of the tree, lands, and hugs Dewei with one arm, ruffling his hair with the other.

"Why yes, Orrin, I have seven of my own." Yue smirks at him, though does step over to take Orrin's ruffling arm once it's finished mussing Dewei. "Don't listen to him Dewei. He can lick some very strange places, some of them his own." If nothing else, Yue is talented at distracting people from their problems.

"Why do we keep you around again?" Orrin muses...though he's damned sure at this particular moment.

"Thank you," Dewei notes, nodding. He smiles. "I'll be trying dedicatedly to purge that mental image for the next seventy years."

A sprightly giggle cascades from Yue's lips. He covers his mouth, ladylike as ever. "Come along Orrin. Let's go back to the house and wait for Felina before poor Dewei ends up in therapy."

Dewei grins, re-tying his ponytail and then folding his arms behind his neck as they walk. "In this family? If I'm not already rocking back and forth in a long-armed jacket, I should be fine."

"They are unusual, for sure. But fantastic." Yue doesn't let go of Orrin's arm as they walk. He wants to make certain that Felina's nifty husband if as all right as he says. Orrin may not be as deeply self-destructive as his wife, but then, neither is a time bomb. He grows quiet as they approach the house, though, and his grip upon Orrin's arm tightens a little. 

He has yet to admit it, but he has been here for less than a day and has already nearly lost both of them, bashed in a stranger's skull, and been whore-slapped by an idiot. That, combined with his unusual temperament since awakening, has left him feeling more off than he will ever tell any of them. Orrin's presence helps, though.

"Hey..." when they're just about to the house, Orrin loops his arm around Yue's shoulders. Or, upper arms at least. "You, Miss, need to cheer up. Especially since all seems to be well and good now."

At this time, Felina and Ai appear in the kitchen. Dewei brightens a little.

Yue smiles down at Orrin, but doesn't say anything about that. This is too good a moment to pass up.

"Felina, look what we found," he purrs, "isn't he just beautiful?" He notices Ai, wonders if he ought to be jealous of those lips, and gives her a smile as well.

"That he is." Felina smiles at the lot of them, then looks to Ai. "Ai, this is Yue, a dear old friend. Yue...Ai Orr. Yes, she's half goddess, to answer the question."

Dewei, of course, smiles at Ai, but looks to Yue and doesn't intrude on the introductions.

"My pleasure." Yue holds out his hand, which Ai simply smirks over for a moment before taking. "Ai Orr...?" He shakes his head. "Nevermind. How do you do?"

"Wearily, Yue. It is nice to meet you as well." Ai grins. "For a man, you are quite pretty."

Yue just beams, as Ai turns her attention back to Dewei. She just smiles at him, though, for now.

Felina smiles at their interaction. She's tired, but not...she hasn't had any lack of sleep, but has burned off some energy, so she's at a bit of an impass and just...existing. "So. Ai and I decided that some food was in order...did you ever decide to eat, Yue?"

The angel opens his mouth to answer. Closes it, a thoughtful look on his face. "Yes, I did before I bathed, but I forgot the plate outside. Excuse me a moment." He untangles himself from Orrin, smiles at all of them, and swishes that way with a rhythmic click of heels.

Ai looks at Dewei, and Orrin, amazed and puzzled. "Are you sure that is a man?"

"Nope! Yue is a lesbian with unusual hardware." Felina smiles as she serves up a plate for Ai and hands it over the counter to her nearby son, who's happy to pass it to the goddess.

"Technically," Ai takes the plate with a grateful bow and sharp little grin for Dewei, "so is Mara-Kuru. I was thinking... do you suppose that Mara will be all... saintly, without her dark half?"

"Nah. I'm sure she'll find a way. She's still...well, if you'll excuse the term, 'human.'"

Dewei grins at that. "I'm sure Spot will find a way to remind her how fun mischief can be, if it starts otherwise."

"Oh, there is no doubt in my mind about that. Ting is a whirlwind." Ai eats with gusto, begging pardon every so often for not displaying her typically sublime manners.

Felina smiles at Ai, amused. She's not offended, of course. Eventually she sits down just out-of-the-way enough to be...there, but not anti-social. Dinner's not sitting well again. Ugh.

Dewei, of course, relaxes and opens up a bit again now that Ai's around.

Once Ai has finished eating, she sets her plate in the proper place, cleans her teeth without ever opening her mouth - how she loves being a goddess - and heads over to Dewei. "You must tell me what happened to your hair!" she demands in mock outrage.

Dewei points at his father. "His fault."

Orrin grins, and bows. "It's always a father's pleasure to wreak havoc with his childrens' hair."

She eyes it with a very 'Mara wants to play barber' expression set on her face. "Would you care if I brushed it?" Her eyes turn to Orrin. "Provided father is done with it?"

"All yours."

Dewei raises an eyebrow in mock wariness. "You have that same look my aunt gets right before she makes someone's hair purple. Or braided with flashy beads."

"Well, that precedes the next question dear." Ai threads her fingers together. "What is your favorite color?"

"Ahhh..."

Felina laughs quietly. "Dewei, never put words into Ai's mouth. She may call your bluff."

The goddess smirks over at Felina. "How dare you know me so well!" She reaches for Dewei's hand, eyes bright, her weary features looking profoundly less so when she's so excited. "Come!"

Dewei grins, and consents to be led by the hand. "Well, I suppose you could twist the other arm."

Orrin waves. "See you when you're polka-dotted!"

Ai smirks again at Orrin, and leads Dewei back outside deru. Her eyes are gleaming, though, in a way that makes Yue think something else is up as he passes them.

"I found it," he announces, setting his plate in its place. "Did I miss any chaos?"

"Mmm...no. I think that's going to happen outside," Felina notes. She yawns, and settles into her chair a bit now that everyone who's not a very close "relative" of some sort is gone.

"I am curious to see what color that boy will be when he comes back to us," Orrin ponders.

"'Red' is usually a good bet."

"So let me get this right." Yue sits across from Felina, crosses his legs, and reclines as much as he can. "Your son and his daughter?"

"Mmm. Let's add that Dewei is Moorn's apprentice--even though it will be short-term, in all probability--and that my daughter is a member of the Derrias...yes. Yes, that covers it." Felina grins wryly. "Although I've mentioned to Dewei that if he ever hurts Ai one way or the other, I don't think even I could protect him from her father."

"I never thought that genitalactic gimp would have been capable of fathering anything, let alone that masterpiece that just walked out with your son. Perhaps she isn't as pretty as I. But neither is God." Yue tuts his amused tut, particularly at Orrin. "Shame on you for raising a son with good taste."

"Look at the company in the room! I set a good example." Orrin grins at them, and walks over to kiss Felina on the head. "I'll be back soon, ladies. Try not to miss me too much." Hey, even pretty-boy members of near-extinct vampiric races have to pee.

Yue beams at being called a lady. Sure, he passes without a hint of doubt. It's still nice to hear.

"Are you feeling all right, Felina? I think some tea might settle you, if you feel up to mint."

"Mm...that might be nice, actually, thanks." Felina smiles, a touch sheepishly. "Would you mind throwing in some chamomile as well?" Eh, slight medicinal properties, anyway.

"Sure." Yue holds out his hands, and closes his eyes. "I learned this from Ichei just before I left the maze agan." A ball manifests in the air, gray at first, but liquifying and turning a sort of pinkish color as it spread to the size of a softball. The smell of hot blueberry tea, shortly tempered by the earthy scent of chamomile, fills the air.

A straw plops onto Felina's lap.

"Enjoy!" Another ball manifests next to Yue, who wastes no time in plunging the straw into the ball and drinking from it.

Felina smiles, and takes the straw. "Quirky, but effective. Heh. Thanks, I needed that." She sips it.

"Ichei rarely finished one without throwing it at me," Yue points out, "but it is nice. And it won't get cold." He sips again, but his eyes are on his surrogate mother figure. He glances to the other room, where Yoru is apparently drifting. "So what are you going to do with her?"

"I'm not sure, to be honest." Felina keeps these thoughts unreadable to Yoru, and sips the tea. Feels a little better. "I'd still consider the monk thing a very viable option...it really wouldn't be bad for her at all, truly, and things may just be too awkward with Mara. Besides, as long as there's a chance she's still unstable...I don't want her here for too long." A bit out of character, maybe, passing the buck. "I'll see what she thinks about it, though, maybe take her for a visit there after pitching it to the head monk. They really are good people."

"If that falls through, you could send her to the maze. Ichenrei could find any instabilities in two hours, maximum." The seraphic degenerate sends his tea away, of course letting it poof into glitter. "She is dangerous. And in danger, as well. If I had come at you like I did her earlier, you would've dodged and probably pinned me to something. She just doesn't have the experience to defend against people in her power bracket."

Felina nods. "She's at severe risk for being exploited. Whatever happens, I'd like to either have a constant watch on her, or know that she's somewhere she has virtually no chance of hitting that kind of trouble. Thanks for raising the maze as a possibility. I'll keep it in mind." Because, seriously. No one except maybe Abyss can screw with Ansendul. She fiddles with her tea with a claw, amused at the thing on some level but gaze far away.

Yue notices, of course. "Hey. Do you need a hug?"

"Hm?" Felina looks up quickly. Smiles sheepishly. "Nah...I'm okay, but thanks. Dinner just didn't quite sit well, is all. I'll be fine in a few."

Yue's eyebrow lifts. "Ting," he calls into the other room, "would you come here sweetheart?"

There's a stillness. Then Ting trots in. "Hiya!'

Yue gives her his saucy smile, laced as usual with mirth, smirk, and a dash of 'I could love you blind, if you were worth it'. 

"Your mother isn't feeling well. Would you care to look her over? She would argue with me if I suggested it to her first." He glances at the matriarch.

Felina raises an eyebrow at Yue. "Hmph. Sneaky traitor." She laughs softly, and looks at Ting. "I'm fine, Spot, really."

"Sure." Ting nods. "You'd say you're fine if you just licked a porcupine! Now be good." She laughs, and sets to giving her mom a thorough look-over. "Hmm...nope! Nothing on the verge of blowing up." She administers some light healing magic, and Felina smiles at her daughter. "All better!"

"Yes indeed," Felina notes. She looks at Yue. "I check out. Toldjaso."

"Yes, well, forgive me for wanting to preserve you for future cuddling." Yue blows Felina a kiss. "Thank you Ting. I suppose if she's fine, she's fine." It still nags at him, though. Felina is not a person to become ill under normal circumstances.

Felina looks to her daughter. "Ting, could you do me a big favor?"

"Depends!"

"I think your aunt has some cookies made in her kitchen. They'll just go to waste if we keep leaving them there. Would you go and grab those?"

Ting blinks. Then... "Sure! Watch Yoru, then?"

"No problem." Felina smiles, and nods.

"Hee." Ting pats Yue. "Bye bye, then!" And she poofs. There's just no saying "no" to cookies.

"Hmph. I guess I should tell you before you get your petticoat in a knot," Felina ponders, sipping the tea. "But only if you promise to not pass it to anyone else just yet. Even Orrin, or the kids."

Yue's smile vanishes. "Should I be worried...?" More than anyone else in the universe, Yue cares for Felina. Since Momo passed all those centuries ago he has really had no one else outside the maze, and losing her would be... well. He prefers not to think about such unpleasant business.

Felina smiles a little, reassuringly. "No."

The angel's eyes light up. "Good," he breathlessly mutters before composing himself. "Good. Yes. So, out with it before I am forced to puppy-eye you into submission."

"Oh, don't." Felina laughs, and shakes her head...sips the tea again. She's taken to just drawing it close to herself...doesn't care for the straw contraption. "Well..." her voice trails off a moment. "I was planning to have told everyone by now, but...I want to wait for Mara to be back around first, is all. I've been getting sick a lot lately. Sometimes at meals. But usually first thing in the morning." She glances up at the angel.

Yue considers this, a thoughtful sort of look on his pretty face. "Well, any number of things could cause that. It might..." he pauses. His train of thought is suddenly demolished by a runaway caboose. He tries to speak. "Zuh??"

Felina has to laugh softly at his reaction, and raises her tea. "Give that girl a prize, he's got it."

"I just... well... and... timing!" Yue stands up, marches around the table. "Come here! I cannot belive... hug! Now!"

Felina laughs...it feels really good to get that off her chest, really. She stands, and hugs him. "Yeah...it's...really, quite a fluke. I'm physiologically, intentionally designed to not have kids easily without magical help--the twins were a conscious decision--but...well...as soon as the 'maybe I'm...' bit dawned on me, the whole yes-no sense bit decided to slap with with a duh stick." She grins.

Yue leans down to a level where his breasts won't be smashing into Felina's face and hugs her tightly, practically overflowing with emotion that his male side finds awkward.

"That is so wonderful, Felina, it just..." his voice trails away, and he hugs her more tightly. 

Felina smiles softly, and nods. "Yeah...it is. And what do you know? You're the first to know. Because you're special that way. And damned nosy." Felina laughs quietly, and pats his shoulder. She does love Yue. He's her family. "And hey, you missed the twins being young, but it looks like you get to relieve with me." She steps back, and looks up into his eyes. "But you have to promise me one thing."

He doesn't say anything, just... waits for her to speak, and fights those blasted joyful tears he's been fighting since he woke up. It is not a battle he is even close to winning right now.

"If I have twins again, you'll have me committed."

That works. Yue giggles a pretty little song that lifts the seriousness from his shoulders in an instant. "Can I have Orrin, if you do?" He smirks, but still, amusedly.

"You can have me if she does what now? Just trying to keep up and all," the dumen inquires as he walks back in.

Felina's really feeling much better now that someone knows. She purrs at Orrin. "Have me committed, dear."

"So just remember, Orrin, if you ever succeed in driving your wife insane, you belong to me." The angel's facade alters swiftly from the emotional-Yue back to 'smile, or not, I own you' Yue. "And you could pretend you didn't approve, too."

"I'll do my best to be obedient arm-candy, then." Orrin snickers. "You two both seem to be in much better spirits.

"We made out the entire time you were away." Yue nods. God, how he loves to play with Orrin.

Orrin sniffles and pinches his nose shut. "Does anyone else get a bloody iron smell in the air?"

Another giggle plays across the angel's lips. He shakes his head slowly, almost in disbelief. "Nowhere else can everything go straight to hell one minute, and laughter rule the next. See now why I came here first?"

"You mean it wasn't for my cooking?"

Yue just shakes his head. "No. Of course not, Orrin." Quite suddenly his ears perk a little, which is of course less noticeable for a person with round ears. "Felina. You destroyed that parasol, right?"

"I did." Felina nods. "There's not enough left of it to fill a thimble."

"Odd. I feel something like its energy somewhere... not close, but in the area. Off planet for certain." Yue glances through a window in the general direction.

Felina blinks. "Oh, good. Well, that merits checking out. Now where'd that..."

"Cookies!" Ting appears sitting on the counter, to a slight smirk from Felina.

"...daughter of mine go? Hi, Ting. Something to munch on guard duty, I think. Would you mind watching Yoru a bit more?"

"I think mom needs to make up her mind," Ting grins. She takes a cookie out of the box and munches. Holds them out to people in general. "Cookie? And sure!"

Felina smiles. "In a bit. Now, remember, on the off-chance that Yoru becomes violent in any way, you can try to restrain her, but not if it looks remotely like you can lose. Remember, she's a lot more powerful than you, and you can find her later if she leaves."

Ting screws her face off to the side suspiciously. "So. What blew up now?"

"Nothing yet. We just need to check something out."

"It feels like the source is coming from the Cavern Moon that way, Felina." 

Felina nods. "Off we go, then. See you two later!" And she and Yue poof off to the moon in question.

---