Just outside of Wu Yuan, past a carefully kept entryway leading into the underground, a massive subterranean fortress can be found. Its owner is Korliss, a vampire elder and father of Amilei Lei, who also doubles as one of the 'behind the scenes' rulers of Wu Yuan. The keep itself is a squat but massive structure that looks, all told, like a prison facility from the outside. Inside is a bit different, as Korliss is a creature of elaborate tastes.

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Wu Yuan
Yuan Orchards
Korliss's Keep
Other Side of the World

The Wretching Dragon

Second Floor Keep
Korliss Archive
Korliss Archive 2

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Amilei Lei might just be in the worst mood she can recall ever being in. With Orrin and a distinctly weary Kaies's help she's gotten Mara-Kuru back to bed, cleaned the spider-webs from and subsequently dressed Felina, Makyon, and Yue, and gotten them to bed, cleaned up the damage from Legion's assault and the insect corpses left from Mara's defense, and gotten Kaies washed up so that he no longer smells like a smoke house. Now she sits next to Felina's bedside, dirty and tired, just waiting.

And, after awhile... "mm..." Felina's eyelids twitch, before fluttering open groggily. Abnormally so...ugh, what...? Right. Poison and such. It's difficult to erase such things from a psychic's mind by traditional means. Still, she has no real concept of time's passage since then. Her golden eyes travel over to Amilei after a few moments. "How long has it been...?" she inquires quietly.

The vampiress perks when Felina speaks. A cool cloth finds its way to her forehead, dabbing gently. "Twenty-two hours, or so. Do not worry your head, though. Everything has been taken care of." Despite the coldness her milky eyes present, Amilei can be warmly maternal when she wants to be. "You were whimpering in your sleep. Are you in pain?"

"Mm..." Felina takes a moment to analyze that dutifully, then shakes her head. "No...whatever was causing that must have passed." She sits up with a disproportionate effort to lean against the headboard. Ugh. Still feels weak and drained...that may pass quickly, and she hopes it will. "You look tired, Amilei."

"There was much to do. All is finished, though, for now, and Makyon has permitted me to drink of him later." The elder vampiress sits back in her chair, at last able to relax. "You were covered in spiderwebs."

"Ah...sizeable ones, I'm sure, if I'm right about where they're from. You know, of all the professions in the universe, 'Felina Deyono's clothes' has got to be the most dangerous. I can't imagine soap and water will take arachnid brand adhesive out of silk."

"Actually, the silk lost its stick after several hours. I could not figure out how to get the webbing off your skin, either, and Orrin was getting far too excited watching me rub a cloth over you. After a while it just... fell away. I gathered it up, though... it is far too soft to put away."

Felina smirks. "So the husband is banished for the time being, I take it?"

"I asked him to get some rest. Whether he did or not, who knows. You know men." Amilei produces an attractive black jumpsuit that looks to be made of velvet with silk trims in violet, and a rather high collar, and lays it across the bed at Felina's feet. "You can wear this in the mean time. It belonged to that girl Isis, and her measurements are the same as yours. More or less." A cute white-gold belt chain is supplied as well. "More, but less."

Felina snickers. "I get the gist. Is everyone else okay, then, Amilei?" She inquires as she slips carefully out of bed, holding the bedpost for precautionary balance a few moments. "The kids, and Minna?"

"Quite. Ting even defeated a warlock all by herself. A very powerful warlock, actually. I owe Dewei a smack, but he is fine, otherwise. I had to shoo him away to get him to stop apologizing and doing nice things for me." She is not aware that Felina was not privy to Dewei's actions under Phenhine's power. "Minna was... excitable, for a while, but she and Kaies had a very personal moment when she healed the wounds he suffered at the warlock's hands, and now she is just fine. Mara-Kuru was awake, but was surprised by that warlock and hurt pretty badly. She's resting again. Your friend Yue was having fits in his sleep, but since, has calmed down as well. And so forth."

"Ting's been getting a lot stronger. Keeping pace with her brother, in a way, I suspect, while he's been under Moorn's tutelage." Once she's sure she's steady, Felina heads over to the bodysuit, grateful for it. "Okay, sounds like everything's more or less in order, then. What did Dewei do, by the by?"

The vampiress gives one of her dark little chuckles at that. "Oh, not much. He was only walking around with twenty-five inches of pure Dumeni man-lust earlier. My neck still hurts from being snapped. That woman, Phenhine, had his number it seems."

Felina blinks. "Oh, hell. Maybe he'll reconsider letting me block his mind against that now. Also, I wouldn't be affronted if you broke his jaw." Pauses as she dresses. "I'm such a loving mother." Figures out the zipper, and magically corrects size discrepancy. "Ah, away with the curves. So. Is rest in your near future, then, Lady Amilei?"

"I won't need it after I've fed, dear. You know how vampires are."

"Point." Felina straps on her swords. "Is there anything I can help get patched up around here?"

"No." Amilei glances over the bed again. "But those are yours." She points to a set of strange translucent ropes, rather like long, mint green ribbons, with smallish cuffs attached at various points. "Your incubus brought them here, and told me that you needed a set."

Felina blinks, taking them gingerly in her claws. "Huh...pretty, like everything she decides is worth giving, but I'm not even positive what to make of these. I guess I'll have to track her down and ask...do you know where she is now?"

"The last I heard, she was visiting that girl Ai at the Shiny Thumb, and then heading back to the ether plane." Amilei glances at the cuffs just briefly, and snickers thoughtfully. "Dear, dear. I wonder what those might be for."

A smile touches one corner of Felina's lips. "That's a funny sort of laugh that makes me afraid to ask and yet unable to help myself. Care to share?"

Amilei's eyebrow goes up. "Well. Orrin got awfully red when he saw them, and that is all I have to say on the matter. That suit looks nice on you, though." Misdirection!

"'And my the sky is a pretty shade of blue today!' Got it." Felina smirks, and sets the cuffs aside for later. "I think I'll check in on Minna and Kaies, then, and then see to the kids and Ai and the rest, if you're sure there's nothing else, Amilei?"

"Nothing. Oh." Blinks. "You might need a shower. The subterranean chambers were renovated last year, if you recall, and the spring there is just right. Or so I'm told."

"Ah. Likely a good idea. I'm told that other people tend to appreciate those 'shower' things...particularly when they suggest it. Good to know, Amilei, thanks."

Amilei's lip twitches a little bit. "I just meant that you spent the day covered in webbing after a set of long battles. If you want to be petulant, feel free to shower somewhere else." Really! Felina ought to know by now that Amilei cannot immerse herself in water, and would have to get that information second hand. She dearly hopes that the smart remark was but a result of Felina's long couple of days.

Felina blinks. Of course she knows that...she'd only meant that if someone suggested she get one, then she likely stinks or somesuch and no doubt needs one. "Ehm...that would be called a miscommunication. I'm not positive what just happened, but I do appreciate the offer and everything you've done, Amilei, really, and didn't mean any offense."

"Of course not. If you had meant offense, I would have slapped you." The elder vampiress is far too well acquainted with Felina to think anything else. But sometimes Felina's dry wit cuts more than it amuses, even when the intent isn't there. "I am going to go see about getting fed. I apologize. I am only thirsty."

"Well, Makyon's big enough to feed two of you. Enjoy."

Amilei blinks slowly. She draws herself up and flows out the door, grumbling inwardly. Were it not for the hardships Felina and her family had just endured, Amilei would be sorely tempted to throw the lot of them out. She is not her father, and lacks much of his patience.

Felina sighs quietly, fingers to the bridge of her nose. One of these years she needs to stop trying to joke with people she's not trying to piss off, and just not speak more than necessary. As it is, though, she shakes it off and heads off to see Minna and Kaies, finally rapping quietly on the door.

The door opens in short order, of course. Kaies peeks through it for a moment before allowing Felina inside. "There you are. We were worried about you. Come in!"

Felina smiles, and bows her head. "Thanks, guys...are you two both all right?"

Minna stands up from where she'd been sitting on the bed, keeping her balance carefully on her cane. "I think so, yes, thank you." She smiles, then grins a little. "Though I think you need to stay away from danger awhile, Felina, you don't have a good track record this week." Yep, the albino's in a pretty good mood.

Which of course has Kaies in a good mood as well. "Next time, let one of us get captured. I make a terrible bargaining chip." He grins at Felina. "Coming in, though? I should tell you that Minna had a breakthrough of sorts, healing me earlier when some quiet little man set my insides on fire."

Felina's eyebrows perk a bit, as do her lips despite her mood, as she steps in. "Healed Kaies, Minna? That's wonderful! This was intentional, then...?"

Minna blushes lightly, eyes travelling down a moment, but she's pleased, and nods. "Yes. Well, kind of. I tried, and it didn't work, and then something else worked accidentally."

"Nonsense. She simply found another method of casting, and on the fly, too." Kaies beams at her, so proud of his little charge that he could just squeal.

Felina grins at Kaies, then looks Minna over. "Hmm...I think...I'm rather sure, actually, Minna, that accessing your power that way accelerated the acclimation process in you a bit. I'd give you a week to have finished transitioning entirely."

Minna's expression brightens further at that. "That...is a lovely perk!"

A week? Kaies is overjoyed, but at the same time... a week. And then what? 

"That is wonderful to hear. I must figure a way to celebrate this. Cakes? No... too typical. Strippers. Right. Female. Hm. Male strippers? I wonder if Makyon can dance..."

"Oh, lord but that would be awkward," Minna giggles. "What on earth would happen if you approved? 'Look, such a hottie I am!'"

"Not if I was dancing too," Kaies points out with an absurd sort of tone.

"Hmm...what if Makyon approved?"

"You tell me, Minna." Smirks. "Wouldn't you approve?"

Grey lavender eyes blink, and then she giggles. "Question recinded."

Felina grins.

"Good! You are female, sometimes that innocence made me wonder. Felina, everything is more or less settled. YOu should go see your husband, though, and get in some hugging before he goes berserk." Kaies sits down on his own bed, takes up a book he'd been thumbing through in the down time. "I think I saw him in the foyer a while ago."

Felina nods. "Likely a good plan. There's nothing you two need, then?"

"Nope!" Minna smiles. Brief, and to the point. "But, thank you." Okay, so she had to add it.

Felina smiles, and nods. "Feel free to let me know if you need anything, either of you...take care, and be careful!" She heads over towards where she senses her husband, thoughful. Good news, that, about Minna's speeded transition. Of course, it's another week, compared to how eventuful the last several days have been, but...still. Beats another two or three. Dewei's...with Ai. Of course. Mara's sleeping. Will check on her anyway. Ting is...nowhere to be found. Ether plane?

Meanwhile, though, on with the quality hugging time. She sneaks up behind Orrin, earning a throw for where his nerves are, but she knows his moves and manages to catch herself halfway through it, hanging from his shoulders. "That glad to see me?" She smiles, and kisses him before he can respond.

The dumen, for his part, despite a thousand things he wants to say about being glad to see her awake, isn't about to complain...smiles slightly, changes his grip on the suspended kitty-thing to a truer hug, and kisses in return.

Whatever confusion is dotting their life at any given moment, they definitely love one another.

Which is why Amilei, leading Makyon by the hand, skirts around the foyer. Bah. Her bedroom's more comfortable, anyway. She just doesn't want to give the lummox any ideas.

Outside the keep, Yue has returned and is dangling his legs in the cold underground river. Just thinking, but not too loudly.

Meanwhile, the two married lovers acknowledge being in a public place and are more decent in a couple of minutes, discussing, chatting, and clinging fairly animatedly, both relieved. Felina finishes neutralizing the ache in Orrin's repaired ears, and kisses his cheek once more. "I'll see you this evening, love...I need to check on the others. You'll be around?"

"Somewhere," the armorer acknowledges, nodding. "But be careful! You naked and spiderwebbed to a wall is less appealing than it sounds to a concerned husband."

Felina blinks. "I was naked?"

"Uhhh...of course not?"

Felina snickers, and squeezes his hand as she stands up. "Yeah, yeah. Just keep the image in your head until tonight." She's not sure why she makes this promise, really, or why she wants to, but...no complaints from the white eyebrow that creeps up his forehead.

"Yes ma'am."

Felina smiles, and wanders off to find Yue. "You look thoughtful," she observes, with a little smile. She isn't sure why the tiniest bit of discomfort, very uncharacteristic with this particular friend, manifests in her mind as she approaches. She doesn't remember last night.

Yue does, though. He smiles at her. "I was just... remembering this peace." Looks out over the water. "It really is something else. Are you all right now?"

"I think so." Felina nods, and sits beside him...although his phrase sparks a little deja vu. "How about you? I hear that I wasn't the only one drugged and webbed naked to a wall."

"Oh. Well..." Yue blushes a little bit. "Did I tell you I have a crippling arachnophobia?"

She blinks. "Not recently, but I've known you longer than 'recently' can cover." She smiles sympathetically. "Ikma must have been quite the trip, then, huh? The spider's name, if you didn't catch it."

"Oh, yes, I couldn't hear him tell me over me screaming." Yue splashes a little. "We came to save you. but that did not go very well, at least not at first. It indirectly got Dewei to go back and get more help, sort of."

"Hmm...how do you mean?" Felina's quite curious to hear how things had gone down. Dips one of her own toes in the water. It's all that will reach.

"Phenhine apparently sang to him. Dumen voice and all, and she was pure. Cute, too, for a strange pervert. She sent him to the keep to get Minna and Orrin, which brought Ting and Orrin instead. House was cleaned. You know the rest." Kicks the water. "Cold."

"Quite! Hmm...well, in any case, I think both of us can take the rare opportunity to say...'huh. Well. I never did that before.'" She smirks. "Since it doesn't appear that anything bad came of it, the webbed thing is almost funny in a demented sort of way. Not that I intend to spread the word, mind you."

"It wasn't very flattering for you," Yue notes. "Webbing is the wrong color. It doesn't bring out your eyes." The incubus pulls out of the water, gazing into its black depths. It is good clean water, just... dark. He reaches up and tugs his dress down over his shoulders, still looking into the water. "I am going for a swim. Want to come?"

"Mm...sure." Felina nods, smiling a bit. "I could use the break for a few minutes, I think, now that everything seems calmed down."

Yue smiles a little over his shoulder as he unsnaps his bra, and proceeds to wriggle out of his dress. Leaves his dark under-shorts on though, for her sake. "Good. I would have pushed you in, otherwise." And he hops in, coldness be damned.

Felina snickers, then blinks. "Oh, damn you...you make me look bad with the intended 'wimp my way in gradually' strategy." Slips out of her weapons and borrowed suit, takes a deep breath, and slips into the water. "Holy damn that's cold!"

The angel chuckles, treading a little bit away from her. "I suppose I am just hot blooded, these days." He looks past the keep, wondering how far the river goes. And starts to slowly swim that way, sometimes floating on his back, when the fact that the coldness does affect him is more than evident.

Felina grins, and ducks under the water--she's always liked being underwater, at least since she's been able to breathe there since becoming a guardian way back when--and swims along after him, finally surfacing nearby when the current picks up. She brushes wet hair away from her face, spits water. "Either my heart rate is quite a bit up or my entire body is numb," she smirks. "Or a bit of both."

"Float like this," Yue says softly. "The current is carrying me now. It's... tranquil." There's no urgency in his tone, none of the stress that had been there. He just sounds calm, for once.

Felina smiles, nods, and gives it a shot. Wavers a couple of times before getting the backfloat right...she's a strong swimmer, can swim against a current or to save her life, but not one with a particular amount of finesse.


Unless, of course, that "particular amount" is "not very much.

Still, in a few seconds, she's floating along beside Yue, and closes her eyes. Mmm...is nice.

The incubus's wings fan out slowly, so as not to upset his floating. He just... goes. He knows Felina doesn't remember what he'd told her in the dream, and he does not want to argue with her about it twice. He's silent a while.

"Did you get my gift...?" he asks as the current picks up again.

"Oh, yes...I did, thanks so much," Felina grins. "It's pretty...although, I seem to have been the only person around who couldn't quite figure out what it was, although red cheeks allowed a pretty strong hint. Apparently you turned my husband several shades of red."

"Yes, well. Call it a hunch." The incubus looks back to the keep, now so far away. "There is a memento in your room, as well. Under your pillow."

"A momento? Of what?" Felina looks over to him as best she can in the water.

"You will see. It's a surprise." A smallish case, actually, containing an ancient photograph of the two of them at one of the few social gatherings he had managed to drag her to. Framed and enchanted, it is basically immune to ruin. "Something to remember me by."

Back on the shore, well out of sight of the two swimmers by now, a yawning, pajama-clad Mara-kuru pads out to the shore, clutching a stuffed kitten. She'd been thinking about getting a short dip of the feet to wake her up some more, but stops dead in her tracks at the water's edge. Yue's dress and bra, and Felina's weapons lying next to a Fel-sized outfit?

"Eep!"

Felina rights herself in the water at this, concerned. "Remember you? Yue, what are you..." glances suddenly back towards the keep. "Ahh...I think we just gave Mara some form of heart attack. She found our clothes."

"Let her have her theories," Yue is quick to answer, glad something had happened to dodge the impending bullet. "She needs something to occupy her mind after she finds out what happened at Istan Aiga."

Felina winces at that, looks back that way. "Speaking of which...I...really should tell her. When she finds out, the longer she didn't know...the more it may seem to hurt."

"Yeah. But you had better be ready to throw her in a room for a while after you do." The former angel rights herself in the water -her particulars are getting too cold- and looks along with Felina. "Or we could wait and see if I can bring him back."

"Yue..." Felina glances over to him. "What do you think the chances are of that happening? I mean, honestly, it's a question." Her eyes travel down and she catches herself on a stone, resting there. She looks back up to Yue. "He made a good run at it this last life, he did. But for a year and a half, against...well, a hell of a track record."

"Oh, no, I meant busting him out." That's right. She doesn't know that Yue has decided to go with Stasiel. "I could see about a trade, him for me."

Felina blinks. Twice. "Okay, first...no. Second...are you out of your mind? What..." her voice trails off as realization alights on her face. She closes her eyes after a few moments. "Momento," she observes quietly. Her eyes might be wet, but the river keeps it from showing. "Yue...tell me that getting Moorn back isn't why you're thinking of delivering yourself to Stasiel." She doesn't think it is. But she has to hear it.

"Of course not. I like Mara, and have forgiven the boyfriend, but I still do not like him." Yue splashes some water in Felina's general direction. "I am going so I can end all of the trouble everyone else is going through over it." He treads water where he is, using his wings to offset the slow current. Eyes clear, face calm... he does not want to make this any harder than it should be.

"Didn't you call that basic line of reasoning idiotic when I used it to justify an attempted suicide way back when?" Felina ponders aloud. Okay, so the thought of Yue damning himself has her unduly defensive.

"Well, yes. But what I am doing isn't suicide. I am a demon now, I belong in hell." He catches himself on a rock. How to argue this point again...? He isn't sure where, or if, he'd slipped up in the dream, but he wants it to go right this time. "I won't be staying anyway. As an Incubus, my 'duty' if you want to think of it that way, is to go into dreams. That cannot be done from the Pit."

"Yue..." Felina's eyes travel down. Consciously...she's been thinking about this to a level her more emotional dream self hadn't. "I can't...tell you not to. You're not one of my kids. I can't forbid you, or slap some sense into you, and I'm doing my damnest to not beg you not to." She squeezes her eyes shut a few seconds...swallows hard. Looks back up to him. "I know this is a really complicated situation, I do, but...you've had so little time to come to such a big, big decision. I know you've thought about. But please...at least think about it one more time? Really think, not just placate me. Please?" Her face really is imploring.

It turns out, her real-life answer had been no simpler than her dream answer. At least there he could tickle her. His eyes wander the surface of the water. "The alternative to going," he slowly begins, "is to be hunted until I'm caught. I talked to Ale briefly while you were asleep, and he and I concur that Stasiel is not as horrible as her position entails. If she did have to expend more energy to capture me, though, she would hold a grudge afterwards. If she didn't just destroy me outright, and you know I can't fight those overseers on my own." Smiles slowly. "Or the few worse things that are down there, and there are a number of rare ones. If you've ever met a molchaeial, you'd know. You never forget the way they look at you." He shudders. He can't help it, the memory of meeting one millenia ago is still one of the worst moments in his life. "I don't want one of those coming for me."

"I've never encountered one," Felina admits. "I've cleaned up aftermath, though." She sighs quietly. "What about just staying here? Or jumping universes entirely? Hell has no jurisdiction away from here."

"Until this plane's hell comes looking for me, that is." Yue leans down a little, submerges to his chin. "I'll be back. You owe me a night, and I owe Orrin gettng to watch you while you're asleep." She smirks.

Felina coughs, cheeks reddening. "I didn't hear about this part of the deal," she snickers quietly. Sighs. "I...hate...I mean, hate...to admit it, but...you're right. That running may make it worse on you in the end. I just..." she cringes. "Hell, Yue. It's not a resort."

"I know. But think about how much tougher I will be when I come out, Felina. No more crying every other day. No more weakness." The incubus's smile brightens. "I might even learn more about my nature, now." He knows he won't sell her on the idea. But he's going to try, anyway.

She's silent for a bit, quite ignoring some people on a path near the river. They can only see her back and maybe some refracted butt anyway. Finally, slowly..."Yue...is this what you want? Or is it because you see no other way?"

"That is not a fair question, Felina." The incubus covers his breasts with crossed arms at the sight of others. This must lead out somewhere. "Because I see no other way, it is what I want. I would much rather stay here, and be your on-the-side fling."

She smirks at him the littlest bit for that. "Can't you...at least give it a little while longer? There must be a way...we just need to find it."

"What if a while longer is too long, though? There could be enforcers out looking for me as we speak, Felina. I love you, you know I do, and I cannot keep risking your family. Please understand...!"

Felina squeezes her eyes shut. "Yue..." This time the wetness tinging her lashes is more clearly tears. "Of course I understand. What do you think I would do in your position?" Exactly the same. Damned. Thing. Her eyes trip down and off to the side. "I just...damnit. Yue, whatever you decide, I won't stop you, but...for the love of god, be careful, and...you owe me a visit, remember." She's barely keeping her voice from cracking, and refuses to look at him.

"I would never forget." He manages to keep himself pretty calm. His instinct is to hug, but that might be a touch odd in their current states. "Let's go back to shore," he suggests, "and get dressed so I can hug you. Okay?"

Okay. Felina thinks she smiles a bit. She actually doesn't, just nods. Starts to head back up to the shore, stops when Ting plops down onto the water's surface, looking agitated. "Ting? What's wrong?"

The white-haired bundle of hugs sees Yue, cringes a little, but takes a deep breath and dutifully does just what she'd said she would. "There's some demon guy and he's fixing our house apparently because of some deal you made with some queen lady named Stasiel and he brought back my plant! And he doesn't seem all that un-nice but I bet he could be and he's like really powerful he's an Archduck Major General or something like that his name is Amhersch and he's really really powerful and he's looking for Yue what do I do?"

Felina closes her eyes.

"Amhersch? Heavens." Yue covers himself again, out of respect to Ting. "Big guns, Felina. I guess it is time for me to go." When he speaks, it is not with regret or apprehension. Just... boredom. As though he knows he has to go, and can handle it, but doesn't care about it in the least.

Felina's lip quivers, although she's at least keeping it together admirably. "You're sure there's no chance of cutting a deal with Stasiel somehow...?"

"No, of course I'm not," Yue shakes his head, "I just don't know what I'd offer her." That look on her face, keeping it together or not, is killing him. Time to hunt for alternatives.

Felina closes her eyes, fingers on the bridge of her nose, just...trying to think. She doesn't think well under this particular kind of pressure, it's been a fault for years. "It would have to be something that satisfies that balance she's maintaining, she murmurs aloud, considering... "one less demon, or one more angel, but...ugh. How...?" she actually feels the slightest bit faint for a moment at the sheer pressure of it. She loves Yue so much...

Ting blinks, and drops down beside her, steadying her in the water, concerned. "Mom...?"

Felina manages a slight smile...shakes her head. She's fine.

"Relax, Felina," says a comforting Yue, "relax. I think I have an idea of who to ask about this. Felina. How well do you remember Shal'ahn Min?"

Felina blinks. "The infernal siren Mara stayed in hell awhile for, right?"

"Right. She was high ranking. I mean... very close to the top. She had her own province and everything." And a fabulous voice that made Yue want to slap the divine choirs sometimes, for being shown up so badly. "We could ask her opinion. I think she was pretty close to Stasiel before."

Felina considers this, then nods. "Yes...it's likely a good idea. Do you know where we can find her now?"

"Yeah, I... hey. Wait." Blinks. "What about Ansendul? Do you suppose we could ask him?"

Felina blinks. "Likely. Will he let you into the maze with Amhersch looking for you?"

"From here, I can't see any problem with it. Amhersch can't come into this realm, no matter how powerful he is. And he is, too, so we had better hurry. I don't want to ever end up on his bad side." Yue looks at Ting. "Sweetheart, would you turn away so we can get our clothes back?"

"Awww..." And she turns.

Yue smiles a little at her. "Such a beautiful young woman you've raised, Felina. She must be Mara's daughter, though, with such pretty curves." Make Fel smile. Or smirk. Or something.

She does smile, just a little, and nods. "Yeah. I'm sure Aunt's cookies have something to do with the curves."

"Don't make me wiggle!" Ting threatens.

"Don't make me beg," Yue adds, "your mother will hit me." And he goes for the short, puffing out his wings to dry them. He bends down and gathers the bra first, snaps it easily into place - a rare man who can easily work the damn things - and glances back at Ting. "So cute."

"Yes," Felina affirms both statements as she dries off magically and dresses quickly. The bodysuit shifts to her usual garments, though minus the armor, which is still in the keep. "Shall we, then?"

"Sure," Yue answers, struggling a little with his dress so that his voice is muffled by it. "You have the key, lead on."

Felina nods, spots an iron gate nearby, and the key materializes in her hand.

"Sooo...what do I tell the demon guy?" Ting inquires, rocking back and forth on her feet a bit. "I asked if I could just tell you he was looking for you and he said 'sure but be quick' although in different words than that."

"We will be quick. In fact, we shouldn't be gone any time at all." Yue looks at the door again. "Just wait right there and be cute."

"Okay!"

Felina smirks a bit as the door clicks open. "Ladies first."

Yue steps inside with a bow and flourish, heading to the Millenium Maze.

---

Ting, of course, has barely had time to roll up her socks and dip her feet in the water by the time Fel and Yue get back. "Gah! Slow down!" Blinks. "Mom looks peppy!"

Felina smiles. "Mom is peppy! With a little luck, Yue is off the hook and Minna may even have hell itself guarding her, at a stretch."

"Ooo...that's good!" Ting's eyes widen, and she looks to Yue. Wiggles.

The incubus smiles a quarter-smile for Ting. He doubts that her enthusiasm is going to rub off on him very quickly.

A wiggle more, and she pouncehugs him right into the shallow stream behind. "Yay! You get to stay with me! Poor you!" She giggles, and hugs again.

Yue hugs her too. Really hugs, like he's missed her for years.

And then tickles.

Just about the time a just-appearing Mara-kuru pounces for Felina.

"Shree!"

It's over the din of a kicking, squealing daugter that Felina meeps quietly, almost immediately going down herself. "Gah! Well, look who it is." She grins, and hugs her double. "Hi there. Rest well?"

"Hi there I saw you in the water and your clothes were lying on the shore and I wanted to know why you didn't come and ask me to come help cause I'm good that way and you two were in the water and it was obviously cold cause Yue was sticking up well part of him was because he was wearing shorts and his girlness was cold and he was belly up!"

Felina smirks. "'Cold.' Is that the excuse we're using today?" She grins, though the statement had mostly been intended for Yue and he's likely to distracted by the fact that Ting tickles back. She's like the stealth bomber of tickling; always where it's least expected. "I didn't know you were up, Mara...though I'm certainly glad to see it!"

"Well! Cold doesn't make man parts go up, so yup!" Mara grins, listening to Yue cackle at being tickled, and grinning at the water splashing against her face. "I'm up and up and you were naked!"

"Well, I'm naked right now under my clothes," Felina points out, amused though at the same time wondering how long this can last. She's wrapped Moorn's body and prepared it, but it won't be buried until she hears from Ai where to do it. Unless they can somehow get Moorn back, not that she's hopeful, in which case she'll burn it. In any case, the sight of his body burns in her mind's eye, though shoved far beneath the surface.

"Bitsh," Mara remarks as though pointing something out, "whatcha got makin' you so glum?" She hops up, sitting on all fours in good company. "Mara feels like dancing!"

Felina grins. "I'm sure Ting will help you out, there. Good news, though! With a little luck, we can get Yue out of this mess! Ansendul's the only one who thought of the little detail that Minna's turning divine will restore the divine-infernal balance."

"The what?" Mara tilts her head this way and that. "Mara is so lost."

Yue sits up, out of breath from Ting's tickle-prowess. "You too, Mara?"

"Long story." Felina laughs, and finishes brushing off her sleeves. "Bad trouble, may be fixed. We need to go talk to someone and make it official before it turns into worse trouble, though."

Ting, meantime, picks her claws, still sitting on Yue's lap. Actually avoids problem areas, though, is mostly on his knee. "You are my tickle-bitsh," she declares smartly, and nods.

Yue just smiles. Ting is ticklish lots of places he wouldn't show in front of her mother, if he remembers correctly. "Yup."

"Oh good!" Mara grins. "Let's do that! Badness is not goodness."

Felina smiles, and nods. "Mara should stay here, though. Both of us going kind of looks like we're gearing up for a fight. Because, you know...we're awesome. But we don't want to be confrontational."

Mara pouts openly at that. "Fuck," she observes. "Well! I'm gonna go see Gabriel then."

Yue cringes.

"If nothing else, I could use some good morning hugs!" Mara beams, bouncing back and forth. "Seeya later?"

Felina does, too. "I don't think now's a good time, Mara. Mm. Amilei's had a tough day, for one, and she always does so well with Mara-brand cheering up."

Ting is absolutely quiet, and just plays at being terribly enomoured with the foofy hem of Yue's skirt. Mara can read her like a book, and she doesn't want to allow that.

Mara blinks. "Huh? Why? Fel... Mara needs!" She winks each eye in turn. "No talky in front of the kids about it, but yeah!"

Yue concentrates on getting his hair dry, for now.

Felina closes her eyes a few moments. "Ting...you and Yue know what's going on quite as well as I do. Be careful, call me if you need anything, but but maybe go and do that yourselves?"

Ting nods, and stands up.

"Sure." Yue gets up too, smiling grimily at Ting. "C'mon shortness."

"Okeedokee." Ting nods, cuts a portal back to Helantri Deru, and hops through.

Yue follows. One way or another, he's glad things are getting done.

Mara glares at Felina. "Okay bitsh. What's going on?"

Felina lets out a slow breath. "Well...you're sitting down, so..." her voice trails off. She bites her lip, looks over to the water. Closes her eyes a few moments, and then looks hesitantly back to her nether double. "Mara...Gabriel is...gone again." Cut the euphamisms, right. "He's dead."

It's a slow burn. Mara's eyes widen, then narrow, and soften, from expectancy, to horror, to disbelief, and finally despair.

"Nu..." she breathes, as though an afterthought. "Fel, why? Did..." she looks at the black sword. "You didn't...?"

"No...god no, Mara...I tried to help, but I was too late..." she closes her eyes a few moments. Takes a deep, shakey breath. "Istan Aiga was attacked. He was...by your side when it happened. He was still watching out for you in your sleep, Mara...he was...well, he was one of the good guys, through the very end." She manages a small, tight smile. "He even saved all of us. After he died, but before his spirit had to leave this plane...fried two overseers. I might not be here, either, had he not." Make him a hero. Hell, this time, he really was. But...a hero for Mara.

Mara's eyes drop. She feels so beaten down after all of this... outrage is simply too much work. She hasn't the energy for tears. Just... stares.

"It won't ever stop happening, will it. I can keep bringing him back. He'll just be murdered again." She sniffles. "When does it end...?"

"I don't know, Mara..." Felina admits. She...hates the black sword. Wishes it weren't here, and yet doesn't feel safe having it elsewhere. Damnit. "Could you...handle a hug, do you think?"

Mara slowly shakes her head.

"I don't want any more hugs." Her eyes close.

Felina closes her eyes, and nods. Just...stays. Sits on her feet where she is and just...sits quietly, not trying to speak or offer any false comfort except by being there. Maybe for...quite awhile.

Mara doesn't ignore her, exactly. She's working things out in her little mind. Slowly, but surely. "Fel." Her eyes clear a bit. "Mara wants to go bar hopping. Want to?"

"Absolutely." Felina nods. "Where to?" Mara knows the moods of all the different bars...everywhere, so it's important she picks.

"I dunno..." Mara shrugs. "Somewhere Mara can get laid without a great deal of effort." With Mara, that doesn't limit things much.

"Let's try Hal's place," Felina nods, standing and offering Mara a hand up. Hal's a great hostess, and she likes Mara.

Mara reaches up and takes it, her little hand as cold and trembly as if she had been in the water instead of Fel and Yue. "Mara wants lots of guys tonight, Fel. At least two. And a girl. That's what I want. Okay? So you shoo them my way. Unless you want to share them and be the girl I dun care." She sniffles.

"Whatever you want, Mara, it'll happen." Felina nods. She's not sure her double won't regret it later, but... "I'll make a good wing-chick and get some hot ones."

"I wonder if Amilei's off limits," Mara sniffles, "she's hot." Tries to smile. "Wanna double team a vampiress with me?" Cuts off a sob. Bless her poor slutty heart, she's trying.

"I think Amilei's still finishing with Makyon. Biting," she clarifies with a small wink. "Biting him."

"I wanna bite him," Mara whines. "What about Kaies?" Tilts her head. "Nu... that would be awkward. Orrin? Nah, you wouldn't be up for it. Damn, we do have to go somewhere. Okay, get your pussy together and let's go." Mara tramps off that way, as though intending to walk to Hal's bar. She hides her tears well until she turns away.

Felina follows along quietly on the way to the Shiny Thumb. Just...damnit.