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

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Some time later, Ting, Yue, and the newly-dragged Dorian pop just outside the family home, on a balcony overlooking this side of the garden.

"Much prettier and nicer smelling than a dusty moon," Ting purrs.

Dorian gazes out over the gardens, eyes wide. He moves several times as if his pipes want to go to his lips on their own, a gesture that makes Yue coo softly.

"Beautiful aren't they?" The angel steps beside them, close. Dorian just nods. "Felina knows how to grow beautiful things." Here, he touches Ting's shoudler.

Ting smiles genuinely at Yue for that, then looks to Dorian. She grins. "Mom brought a lot of plants over from her dad's garden. It's even prettier! But speaking of which. Come on...I really want you to meet my dad." She giggles, and heads off towards the stairs, a characteristic bounce in her step.

Dorian follows obediently, a spring in his own step. To be surrounded by so many levels of beauty is practically overwhelming, and he aches to put it to music.

Yue swishes after them as well. He's feeling suddenly introspective, though, and stops to gaze out over the gardens for a while.

Ting barely manages to keep herself from pouncing her father, who's sketching outside in a clearing near the house. She pops up and sits on a tree branch instead. "Hey, dad, I wantchata meet someone!"

"Mm?" Orrin looks up. Blinks when he sees Dorian. "Mmm..." he ponders as he stands up, propping his chin on a hand in mock-thoughtfulness. "You're too blonde and not tattooed enough to be me. But, a good run at it, anyway."

Dorian tilts his head over. "Oh yeah? Well maybe you're not blonde enough." He smiles, holds out his hand. "I'm Dorian, Mara-Kuru's brother! You must be the Orrin Yue mentioned."

"I am!" The dumen grins, and takes Dorian's hand most amicably. "A pleasure to meet you, Dorian. I don't know that I've ever heard Mara mention you, though. Unless my memory's going in my old age, which shouldn't be discounted, mind you."

"Heck no," Ting half-murmurs.

"I'm sorry, could repeat that slowly enough to take notes on?"

"Oh. Well, Mara has never met me. It's a long story that I could sum up but last time it got me dangled off a cliff by a tall woman with shiny hair." Dorian nods. "So you're married to the THE Felina, eh?"

Orrin's grinning a bit, just for how much he can picture Yue doing that, then smiles, and nods. "That I am! And such a trip is, too." He laughs. "She's a wonderful lady, though. Even if it takes some time getting used to the love of your life being able to bench press oh...a couple thousand times what you can." He smirks. Looks over to his own bicep--pretty well toned, actually, but his jacket covers it too well to tell--and pokes it a couple of times.

"Oh, never fret. I'd show you mine, but as I'm buck ass naked under this cloak, you're better off assuming. Ugh." Dorian nods again. Obviously the phrase, too much information, has never passed this man's range of hearing.

Orrin smirks a little...he's thinking about exactly that. He laughs, though. "Well, if you're as uncomfortable with that as you seem, I'm sure we can set you up with some clothes." He tilts his head. "Just a thought, but I have a sneaking suspicion that anything of mine will fit you."

"The thought crossed my mind as well, but I think that tall woman might be interested in me! So I'll take my chances." Doriam beams, quite proud of his apparent allure.

"I'm sure she'll make it very clear if she is." Orrin just smiles at that. "She has fun with dumen."

Ting is trying ridiculously hard to not crack up.

Dorian notices this, as he is rather peceptive. Though with Ting, it could just as easily be some butterfly she saw that has her amused.

"What?" he demands, cheeks burning.

"There's...um...a breeze." Ting points to his cloak. It's true! It's a cop out. But it is true.


"Like you've never seen a man's ass before."

Elsewhere in the house, Yoru's eyes slide open without herald. She looks around, searching her surroundings groggily.

"Well, duh. That's the point. I have points of comparison," Ting purrs.

Orrin's fingers find the bridge of his nose, although he snickers. He doesn't need to hear this from his daughter.

"Hi there," Felina notes to Yoru. She's sitting nearby, just...sitting, for once.


"Hell is here," Yoru breathes, as if gasping for air. "Hell is here and it came for me...!" Her eyes are empty, totally blank. "Hell is here...!"

Felina narrows her eyes. Stands up, sets a hand along Yoru's temple, fingers alight with soothing magic. "It's one of your creator's other constructs, Yoru. Breathe. Now. Why are you calling him hell?"

Yoru calms a little at Felina's touch, but only marginally hesitates in her pronouncements. "A safeguard," she murmurs, "if things went wrong in Mara's mind. He is sure to shut me down! He is!"

Felina nods slowly. "Well. There won't be any such violence in my home, I assure you. Okay?" She pats Yoru's shoulder gently. "We'll see what his intentions are from there."

The newest construct closes her eyes again, nodding slowly. She cannot describe the alarm singing in her heart right now, even though it may not be accurate.

Dorian holds up his pipes for Orrin's inspection. "Do you play?"

"I don't! I draw. I leave the noisy stuff to her, she's better at making it non-noise," Orrin gestures up to Ting with his head, grinning, but still takes the pipes and inspects them with a critical, artisan's eye. "These are very well-made!" he declares genuinely, pleased at the craftsmanship he sees in them.

"I usually tell people they were forged for me by an Amazonian King. The ones who question that usually earn the pat on the back I give them."

Absently Dorian leans against the nearest wall, amused at these happenings. His eyes casually roam over everything he can see, for reasons that are of course his own.

"An Amazonian King? I dunno, that doesn't sound like such a bad way to live, to me." Orrin grins, and holds the pipes back to Dorian.

Ting, meanwhile, iw half-dozing on a branch fairly high overhead...she has a way of forgetting that she's tired until it hits her like a ton of bricks. And, really...she's walked her aunt's mindscape, sparred, gone to a club, met a bunch of new people, danced, been hypnotized, and a number of other little details, all since she last slept. She half-opens her eyes after a minute or so. "Mmm...Yoru's freaking out," she murmurs.

Orrin glances up to her, expression immediately more clouded. "'Freaking out'? How 'freaking out'?"

Dorian's head tilts a little bit at that. He doesn't say anything, though.

A shrill scream that sounds a great deal like Mara's rips across the intermittent silence.


"That freaking out."

Felina's eyes, meanwhile, are narrow. "Yoru? Yoru, what's wrong?"

"Burning... burning!" She can't thrash, but it's obvious she would were she unbound. "His presence... it burns...!"

Dorian just blinks.

Felina nods once. "Yoru, stay here." Not necessarily a silly statement, since her restraints aren't geared against her power. She disappears, appears behind Dorian, takes his shoulder, and then they're both back on the cavern moon.

Felina sighs quietly when she reappears on Helantri Deru, on one of the balconies. She leans on the railing, just looking out over it. Damnit. Just...damnit. She's not positive she's right. Her gut says she is. But she's not positive.

And regardless of whether she's right, her blood is positively boiling over the comment about "endangering her new child."

Just...damn him to hell. Why can't anything ever be simple? She grits her teeth and slams the sides of her fists to the railing, to a sharp crack. Part of the stone falls away, and Felina just turns on her heel and heads inside, expression dark and coat swirling angrily behind her.

Yue meets her partway back into the house, his typical glitter gone in favor of the angelic pre and after-image of his natural teleportation.

"Hey. You left all of a sudden... is everything okay?" Yue knows better than that, from the look on his favorite ears' face.

Felina looks up to Yue. Way up, of course. Half-smiles, and her face softens to something more neutral after. "Eh...one way or the other, no. Just trying to figure that Dorian fellow out. There may be no danger. I acted on my best instincts, though, and told him to keep the hell away from Yoru and Mara. Routine." She clenches a fist. "Got way under my skin with a sidelong remark about how he'd hope I wouldn't dare endanger 'my new child' by fighting him, though, and refused to leave without that persuasion."

Yue's face scrunches up at that. "He's pretty perceptive, isn't he? Even I didn't know until you told me as much. But then, he might just be observant." He purrs, and leans down a little bit. "Shall I tune him up for you, dear?"

Felina has to laugh a little...shakes her head. "Thanks, Yue. I'm not positive of his power level at this point, though, so I'd just as soon have no one pick a fight with him for the time being. I did get him to admit that he was 'powerful'...but one of the other things he threw in my face is the little fact that I can't be sure of just how powerful."

Yue sighs audibly. "And he had such a cute little ass, too. Why do all the attractive people have to be taken or villains?"

"Because there's something cute about bad boys? I did marry the guy hired to kill me."

"True, but he is cute anyway, as he will agree I am certain. By the by, Yoru has ceased her wailing. She is with your family, except for Dewei, who is outside the house somewhere, with that goddess." Yue pats Felina's shoulder, a reassuring sparkle in his endlessly emerald eyes. "I can watch for Dorian, so relax. We will know if he shows up."

Felina smiles and nods. Yeah...I think I'll go lay down a bit. Not really ready to sleep, but...horizontal is good." She starts to head that way, then pauses mid-step. "Yue?"

The angel looks to her, silently, his lovely face alight with expectation of whatever she is going to say.

"I know it's been total chaos here since you showed up. But...thanks. For everything. It really is nice to have you back." Felina smiles just a little--sometimes a smile would only cheapen what you have to say, if it's not genuine--and heads off towards her room.

Yue gives his hair an instinctual toss. "You're welcome," he whispers to her back. "Now... I ought to go and find Dewei before Dorian decides to attack the separated heifer." And he vanishes, heading outside.

---

They appear in a bedroom. Yue's bedroom...so very feminine. Felina helps Yue to the bed. "Here...lie down, you look ready to drop." Faint. Scream. Pass out.

The angel is beyond the means to argue with her. He drops almost haphazardly to the furry blankets, immediately turning his face away from her. What he would not give to be a normal, every day woman! He cannot speak, still, at least, dares not try.

"I'm so sorry, Yue," Felina barely murmurs. She reaches out gently, and sets a light hand upon his arm...and, with no warning, weaves a powerful sleep spell through his body. He just isn't mentally stable enough right now to trust his not compromise the process--and both of their safety--in any way.

It works beautifully, as he is in no shape to resist. As he drifts off, his lips move as if to form words that never come. If Felina could read them, and chances are good, then she would know that his gratitude ran even more deeply than his tears.

She smiles, ever-so-faintly...and then looks to the lifeless body-double standing in the room, summons it over...and sets tothis most unpleasant task of restoring a friend's eternal stigma. When completely drained, the husk simply ceases to be, as things that exist soley to house energy tend to do.

For that matter, Felina is rather drained herself by this time. Things are always so much easier to break than to fix. She finally sets a hand on Yue's forehead gently, relaxing her spell into natural sleep that she expects to last some time. She sighs quietly, examing...his...angelic features for a moment. Shakes her head slowly and, on pure instinct, kisses his forehead lightly. "I'm sorry, Yue," she murmurs again. "But we'll be here for you." Touches the angel's shoulder briefly, and then leaves the room, door clicking quietly shut behind her as she heads off to brief her family on everyone being okay and then the cavern moon.

---

Not long after her departure, Felina is back, and asleep.

And remains so through most of the night, although it hadn't quite been dark yet when she'd laid down. The first thing Felina does when she slips quietly out of bed, careful to not wake Orrin, who'd joined her at some point or another, is feel for Yue.

The angel is right where she left him, though now he has slipped beneath his furry blanket. His mind is not really active right now... he is simply staring. His eyes are dry, but still ringed in red. 

Felina sighs quietly...washes up, just by magic for speed's sake. Dresses, and heads downstairs. Before too long, she has some hot tea--Yue's favorite--steeping and a small but slightly foofy breakfast prepared, and heads up to the angel's room. Knocks softly on the door.

"It's open." Yue covers his eyes for a second before sitting up and swinging his long legs over the edge of his bed. There is no reason to give Felina an even harder time than usual by acting like a drama queen. "You ought to be resting too, you know."

Felina nudges the door open as she speaks. "Look who's talking. It's awfully early. I actually went to bed early, for once, so I'm fine. Here...brought you some tea and such."

Yue accepts the tea and food gratefully, moved as always that someone of her importance could care that much about him. "I hope I didn't wake you?" He knows that his mind was probably broadcasting all night, and it is this to which he refers.

"Nah. Well. Just once." Of course, it did lighten her sleep, because she was aware of it subconsciously all night. Doesn't mention this. "It's no problem, though. I don't suppose I should ask how you're feeling this morning?"

"Like... either beating the stuffing out of someone, or gardening." The angel takes up the tea to sip, though he decides better of it. Still hot. "I don't want to ruin a new day, though. What have you planned for yourself?"

"Well, even though I'm sure you don't want to hear about him, I need to see about neutralizing Dorian's dangerous effect on Yoru and Mara. I'd like to visit Mara...if I have time, I'll also try to visit the various charges I have scattered about, and see how they're all doing."

"I do not mind. I overreacted yesterday, Felina, it was not Dorian's fault. He's just inept at being good or bad." The angel tilts his head over a little, in a way that evokes an owlish sort of figure. "Are you training anyone today? That might be fun to play with."

Felina grins. "Maybe one, but maybe not. I won't hit all of them today, but I have nine people I keep an eye on right now...I'd like to visit six today, if none take an unexpected amount of time. One watcher, two full psychics, one elemental wizard, and two deity-infused mortals."

"Would it inconvenience you if I tagged along? I could really use a distraction for a while." He finishes the tea well enough, but isn't feeling much in the way of 'hungry' right now.

"Not at all. They're nice kids, else I wouldn't bother with them." Felina smiles, and nods.

"Thank you. I should get changed, I suppose..." Yue glances at her, quite suddenly, as if a light has flashed on in his head. "Is this a skirt or pants sort of trip?" Nobody likes to hike in heels.

Felina ponder this. "There will be a little uphill hiking for one of the psychics and the watcher, who live in a fairly traditional mountaintop monasteries. There's not much else that comes to mind outside of that, though, so it's your call. Nothing worse than the Dome alpine sector in either case."

"Momo always fussed that I wore dresses there. I ended up getting leaves in the material. Pants then." Which wouldn't be a first, but not quite an every-year occurence either. "I'll get changed. Thank you for breakfast!"

Felina smiles. "No problem. With any luck, I'll see you in just a few hours. Bye now." She turns to head out and track down a couple of notes in her study.

The angel lets her go. He hates to bring Felina down, and vows to himself to make it up to her somehow today. That said, he rises, and begins to go through the thousands of outfits he has stored in his memory to find one of the ten pairs of pants.

---

Some moments later, Ai's voice mingles its way along the psychic plane, softly seeking one particular fellow.

Dewei... Dewei... I know you can hear me. If you are awake, come to my palace? I have something I want to show you.

"Mmm...?" He's awake. Mostly. Yawns. Sure, Ai...I'll be there in just a minute.

It isn't urgent. Mostly I just want to see you. But... you will like it. Something warm passes along the spectrum to him. Though free for interpretation, Ai meant it as an embrace.

Dewei smiles, and returns that feeling...he rolls out of bed, only slightly grudingly, washes a little and changes his clothes, and then is bound of Niven Ai.

---

Not terribly long after, the better part of an hour, Felina tracks down Yue. "Hi. Ready to go, or need a little more time?"

Yue, now dressed in pink denim pants (which he made on the spot, as he could not find anything he liked in denim or pink) with functional white boots and a flattering white tank top under a pink jacket, is more than ready. He's showing just a little bit of cleavage and up, but no leg or anything. For Yue, it is a modest number.


"Will this outfit work?" he asks of his boon compatriot.

"Charming." Felina smiles, and nods. "Awfully functional for you, isn't it?"

"Well. Yes." Yue blushes a little bit. "But if there will be hiking, and... I just wanted to look pretty and not foofy. For once."

Felina smiles something between a nice smile and a smirk. "Eh...see, that's where you're usually okay. Most foofy girls just try to dress up not being very pretty to start. You're pretty and foofy. It works. Anyway...off we go, then. I'd like to check in on one of the watchers, first. It should be a quick stop, he's been doing well as of late."

"Alright." Yue has one last thing to do. He sets his holy water sprinkler aside, smiling a little at it. If there is any mercy in the universe, he will have no need for it. "I am ready when you are, Felina."

"Alright. Off we go, then. Be ready for a temperature drop." And then they're off for a mountain inn.

---

Felina returns a couple of hours later with Mara-kuru, appearing in Mara's bedroom. "Here you go, dead...actually, I think you still have some of your own clothes here."

Mara looks through the closet, aghast. "I wore these harlotries? Oh no... I need to clean. I need to be purified."

"Well, it certainly wasn't me. Only one of us has the curves to fill them out and...well...I'll give you one guess." Moorn must love Mara if he hadn't already killed her this morning.

"It's Auntie!" and a certain half-dumen comes springing out of the closet from between the clothes, pouncing for Mara.

"Gaaah!" Mara is taken soundly down, where she stares up at whoever has attacked her. "Mercy! Mercy!!"

Ting, of course, thinks it's all a joke. She giggles from where she's sitting on Mara's stomach, and huggles her to a degree that only previously existed in internet slang. ""I have you! Now stay! Hee...I'm so glad to see you aunt! How are you are you still you what's up and I think you lost some muscle tone." She pokes Mara's squishy belly.

"Women," Mara whispers shakily, "should not touch like this. Please let me up."

Ting blinks. Twice. Then again. "Umm...like what, Auntie? Are you okay?" She's too confused to think to get off Mara's belly.

"You're touching me. Please, let me up." Mara's patience seems endless with this... she will not be angry, only insistent. "I apologize if this is inconsistent with the way I was. I'm more mature now, I think."

Ting wrinkles her nose, confused and a bit crestfallen. She gets quietly off of her aunt's belly. "Well...what if I liked you before?" she asks quietly, offering Mara a hand up.

Which Mara graciously accepts. "Then I hope I can get you to like me now. I don't want to alienate anyone, just because I have morals now."

"I have morals!" Ting eeps in protest. Of course she takes it that way, she's just like Mara...was. "And you did too! You always helped people who needed it, you never injured anyone, you always helped out any friends or family who needed it..."

Mara's expression glows of a certain desperation for about two seconds. "Ting. I'm sorry, I am not the same person I was before. I feel different... I can still help people. I just..." her voice trails away. She doesn't even begin to know what to say about this.

Ting's ears are drooping as she listens. Felina takes her shoulders gently from behind. "Ting, we need to let your Aunt rest," she notes softly.

Ting looks at Mara for a few more moments...then turns and walks out without further word to either of them.



Felina closes her eyes for a moment. "I'm sorry, Mara...it's been an upsetting time for all of us."

Mara shakes her head. "No, I'm sure. But don't be sorry. Figure me out how to be me again." She looks to her sister, eyes imploring. "Please..."

Felina's eyes soften, and she nods. "I'll do my da...best, Mara. I promise." She smiles, expression warming. "But, you're okay. I think that's a great accomplishment for the day, and something for all of us to be happy about. So what do you say to giving me a hug, and then finding your way to bed?"

The red-haired Serinian does just that. Her embrace is tender, meaningful, in ways that her previous hugs were not. They were more like... loving train wrecks back in the day. "I'll find my way. Tell Ting I'm sorry, and... and I love her."

Felina returns the hug gently, heart warming and a faint smile threading across her lips. Okay. So she's worried about Mara. So Mara's not herself. So she has a thousand other things to worry about right now. For this moment...Mara's okay. She's alive, and that's all that matters. "I'll do that. She does love you, you know. I do, too. She's just confused."

"I know. It will all turn out alright." Mara slips away from Felina, smiling still. "Goodnight... er... morning? Wake me if something comes up." And Mara saunters off, just about the time Ai and Dewei appear in the front room of the house.

"Yeah. Rest well, Mara." Felina leaves quietly, shutting the door softly. Leans against it a moment...lets out her breath. Oh boy. She really needs to talk to Iscovis.

Meanwhile, Orrin is just outside the front door being the house's only smoker. There's nothing addictive or mind or mood altering in his particular herbal cigarettes, but it's a habit he's had for a very long time, and likes very much thank you very much. Hears Ai and Dewei, puts out the cigarette, and heads inside. Smiles when he sees them. "My, aren't you two looking spiffy. Ai, how much did you bribe him to comb his hair?"

Ai squeezes Dewei's hand again, provides Orrin a low bow. "I can be very persuasive. It is nice to see you again, Orrin."

Orrin returns it, though still in his unchangingly casual manner. "And you too, Ai, always. Hey, have you two had breakfast yet? I'm sure we could find something if not."

"That would be lovely, if it isn't too much trouble. And... Dewei and I have something to discuss with you and Felina anyway." It doesn't occur to Ai what that statement indicates. Sometimes, for such a brilliant creature, she is overwhelmingly naive."

"Oh?" Orrin beckons them along towards the kitchen, but Ai definitely has his attention in the meantime. "Is this the 'not gonna tell you old man who's actually a lot younger than me until your wife's around' kind of thing?"

"I just did not want to have to tell the story three times, Orrin. I must conserve my strength." The goddess marvels as always at Felina's home, so modest, and yet so brilliant. Her palace is exactly that, a palace, and there is nothing comfy about it.

Before long, Orrin's got some kind of simple hot cereal with the right spices thrown in and some sliced fruit nearby, right around the time Felina finally wanders in. "Well, good morning. You too look...awfully prim." She smiles. Knows something's up.

"We have something to talk to you two about. Sit with us, Felina?" AI glances at Dewei, wondering a little at his silence. "It is not urgent, but important nonetheless."

"Sure thing." Felina smiles at Orrin, responding to a mental question about whether she's eaten, and he sits beside her. Felina smiles over at him a moment when he rests his chin on her shoulder. "Comfy?"

"Oh, quite. On with the exposition, then? Ai's been teasing me with snippets."

Felina grins, kisses Orrin's cheek, to a smile, and then looks over to Ai and Dewei, waiting and questioning. Whatever else she is, she's a mom. And she's very interested.

"Well..." Ai quickly goes over the nature and history of the Yggdrasil she's acquired. When she speaks of botany her voice tends toward a more scientific tone, a very 'this is how it is' sort of inflection dominating her speech. 

"I was hoping Dewei and I could rule over the new World Tree together," she explains to the parents, emphasizing the word together. "But we thought we ought to ask your thoughts on the matter first."

Orrin's positively beaming. Felina's actually...looking rather pleased herself, though characteristically more restrained.

"Well," the serinian begins... "I think it's absolutely wonderful for both of you. Have you talked to your father about this yet, Ai?"

"Oh, no. He and I had a fight the last time we saw each other, so I would think refraining from mentioning it to him yet would be wise. I am afraid he would take it out on Dewei." Ai squeezes his hand again. "And that would not be fair. But you know Father, Felina."

Felina nods. "We'll wait until he has less on his mind, then." She smiles. "I think it's a lovely thought, really. You've both been largely without direction from some time now...it should be a wonderful experience for both of you."

"Besides, look how cute they are," Orrin coos. Felina elbows him. He snickers.

Ai looks again at Dewei. She's starting to worry, actually, about his silence. "Dewei... what do you think about all this?"

Dewei looks over to her after a moment, and has to grins. "Only one of us knows what's going on with the tree itself, and the other one's still waiting for someone to pinch him, so you'll have to exuse the reticence, Ai."

The goddess shrugs, and reaches up to his bicep to pinch him.

Dewei eeps, jumps, and very nearly falls off the narrow breakfast stool...noble armor, tailored jacket, and all.

"Young love?" Orrin inquires.

"Fits right into this family, whatever it is," Felina observes, nodding.

"Anyway..." Ai pats him. "I was thinking of planting the tree today, with your friend Yue's help. Is it true that he is an angel? Honest to goodness angel, not just a euphemism?"

Dewei grins sheepishly, but is as amused as anyone else. "I believe so, yes."

Felina nods. "Honest to goodness angel."

"And one on the eyes, too!" At this point, Orrin's stool becomes see-through, and he splats right through it onto his back. "Oof! Well..." He grins up at an amused Felina, then looks to the other two. "With an omnipotent wife, I may as well just say it right in the here and ow."

Dewei groans. "Please tell me that puns aren't genetic."

The dumen grins as he climbs to his feet. "You're doomed, kiddo."

"You'll all understand then if I turn your son into a mute." Ai winks at him. "This angel has access to a time slip, doesn't he? I woul like to use it to grow Yggdrasil."

Felina nods. "He does. She can tell you more about what is and isn't okay to use the maze for. It's under the jurisdiction of the time wizard Ansendul, who Yue served for some years and still helps out."

"Good. That will make it come about much faster. Do you know where she is?"

"In her room. She's awake, though."

All told, Dewei's a bit disappointed...okay, so he's a traditionalist, and, as the goddess had observed, a quiet type of romantic. But he was rather enamoured by the idea of planting the tree together and watching it grow bit by bit. Still, if it's what would make her happy... "I know which, Ai, if you'd like to track her down."

"Please." Ai rises from the table. She knows why Dewei feels disappointed, but has another far more difficult request for him in the future that might rectify that. "Show me."

Dewei smiles nonetheless brightly at the goddess, bows his head to his parents, who are still both in a pretty good mood and, on a whim, takes Ai's hand to lead her down to that particular part of the house.

Yue is there, of course, idly fingering Felina's knife. He's downcast at his cowardice, among other things, but brightens at the sight of them.

"Hello."

Ai bows her head a bit. "Hello! I have a favor to ask of you, and beg your forgiveness if I ask too soon after meeting you."

Yue's eyebrow lifts. "And that is...?"

Ai glances at Dewei.

Dewei catches her gaze, and then looks back to the angel, and smiles at Yue. "Ai and I would like to plant a yggdrasil, and we were hoping that you could help us accelerate its growth."

"You want me to ask Ansendul about this?" Yue tilts his head. "For you, I could do that. Heaven knows he has the extra time to listen. Does your mother approve of this?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you so much...and yes, we went to she and dad first." Dewei bows a grateful little bow to Yue.

The angel stands, nodding to each of them. "Excuse me. I won't be a moment." And he vanishes, but reappears almost the instant he leaves. "Hello again. Ansendul would love to assist the family of Felina however he can."

Dewei has to grin at that...once it occurs to him what just happened, of course. "Tell me, since you've known her so long...is there anywhere my mom doesn't have connections?"

"Well, it has been a while since I've seen her naked, Dewei."

Ai twitters.

"Ahh..." Dewei turns fairly red at this, and is admittedly at a complete loss for words.

"I know, I know, scarred for life." Yue sits on his bed again, still playing with the knife. "Go on, and do what you need to do. I'll show you to the slip when you're ready."

Dewei smiles, maybe a touch sheepishly, and nods. "Right. Thank you very much, Yue."

"Yes, thank you!" Ai smiles at him, but Yue mostly ignores her. He shoos them out of the room with a dismissive gesture.

And, thus shooed...Dewei shoos. Looks to Ai. "So. What do we need to do now?" He grins.

"It depends on what you want, Dewei. We can get the tree and plant it right now, if you want... and we can go with it, if you want, and bring it up together. Or we can wait for it." The goddess looks deeply into his eyes, searching for his actual feelings. "It is up to you. I am happy with your choice, no matter which it is."

Dewei smiles a bit at this...Ai is really such a sweetie. "Well...I have some mixed feelings. Want to find somewhere we can sit down and sort through things, and hear what you feel about it, too?" He squeezes her hand.

"If that is what you would like, that is what we will do. I'm sure it is quite a lot to swallow, anyway." She returns the squeeze of his hand. "What about your sister? Should we talk to her about this?"

"She's one of the big things on my mind, actually," Dewei admits. "Ting and I are really close, and..." stops. Blinks. "Actually, I think something's wrong with her."

"Wrong? What sort of wrong?" Ai's expression loses its warmth to a substitute of fear. Her fondness for Ting is nearly as great as for Dewei, if different.

Dewei shakes his head. "She's not in danger, just...really upset." Is quiet a moment, then starts off in a different direction, clearly heading for his sister outside Deru.

Ai follows at a fast clip, worried still despite Dewei's words.

Meanwhile, Felina looks for Iscovis.

The psychic is awake at last, and is dundering around Felina's library, reading whatever is permissible.

Hey, I wondered when I'd get to see you again. Come on, we need to talk.

You do realize that I'm really not used to someone knowing I'm looking for them before I find them, right? Felina notes, amused, as she heads that way.

Well, I promise I wasn't listening in. My brain just jumped. "Someone's looking for you," it said, and then I punched it, reminding it that I didn't like to talk to organs.

And did it listen then, or did this result in being punched again with the resulting spasms? "Because that would have been amusing to watch," she notes as she heads into the library.

"I'd tell you, but I seem to have blacked out the result." Iscovis wheels towards her, looking much older than he had before... at least, in spirit. "What can I do for you, for the sake of asking?"

Felina does note the changed appearance with some degree of concern. For now... "For the sake of telling, I wanted to ask about whether Mara can be put right somehow." Reintegration had occurred to her, but...she wants to see what he has to say first.

"Put right? You mean put the way you remember her." Iscovis nods, shakes his head, and nods. "Yoru and Mara are forever separate. But just as Yoru is adapting into who she really is, Mara will adapt as well. Her memories will flood into her mind, and she will conform to them as her mind regenerates IF..." the psychic pauses. "And this is a big goddamned if. If she doesn't mind waiting about a hundred years."

Felina cringes a little at that. "I assume you heard our conversation earlier? The part where she was all but begging me to return her to the way she was?"

"No, darling, I told you I wasn't listening in." Iscovis sets down the book he'd grabbed. "But I know now. I also know that you have a friend or two in the time manipulation business." He's unaware of the irony of this statement.

"I do, yes."

"So ask her if she's willing to spend a hundred years in stasis or something. Have your friend age her. The way she is now, she is practically immortal as far as years are concerned."

Felina considers this. "Will her mind really adapt while in stasis, though?" She's never really heard of anything like that.

"If we allow her to dream, yes. Make no mistake," Iscovis lifts a finger, psychically of course, to waggle at her. "This will be tough on her, but nothing compared to some of the things you two have gone through. If she's up for it, this is an easy answer for all involved."

Felina frowns, thoughtful, and nods. Closes her eyes a few moments, then opens them. "Right. Thanks. Anyway...how are you settling in? You don't feel quite the same as you did before." Referring to the 'older' bit.

"Helping your nether sister was a strain, is all. It took a lot out of me, but otherwise, I am fine." He grins. "As fine as an invalid can be anyway. Don't worry about me, just look out for your loved ones."

"Heh...right. Will you be okay, though? Goodness knows there's power and fancy tricks to burn for restoring energy and such around here." She's really...extremely grateful for what Iscovis has done for Mara, and will move worlds to make sure he comes through it okay.

"Of course. I had a long nap in your gardens, so I'll be right as rain by tomorrow. Trust me, dear, I am a world-bending psychic. I have the ability to see the ends of my own, uh, ability." Iscovis smirks. "Now, since your history is free for reading, as per our agreement, I have to ask... what's it like to make it with an angel girl with man-bits?"

Felina coughs. Damnit. "The chest is distracting, but it's really pretty damned nice when the angel girl with man bits happens to know what she's doing." She smirks.

"Fabulous." In fairness, Iscovis was just trying to get her to blush. It's not as if he can actually do anything with this information, anyway. "Alright, I won't ask anymore tough questions. Please go ahead and tend to this Mara thing, though, before you worry yourself to death."

He'd succeeded. The ears are red. "Oh, I'm sure you'll find some more later," she observes, grinning. "Thanks...and let me know if you need anything, or poke Orrin or one of the kids about it, hey?"

"You've got it. I'm not too proud to ask someone favors." The psychic grins again. Holy mercy did Yue know what he was doing. "Let me know what she decides, mentally, and I'll condition her mind for the switch if she agrees."

Felina nods. "I won't need to bring her this way or any such, I assume?"

"Not unless you want to." But what in hell did they need feathers for?

Well. He's probably going to figure it out in the next few seconds. "Okay. I'll leave that for the moment to decide, then. Anything else, related or otherwise?"

"Your daughter is pretty upset about Mara. I've been feeling tremors from her for some time now. You might talk to her. Other than that, I'll just be reading." Huh. There's a memory that isn't dirty. Felina being read to by the angel, as they sit in a tree together, on parallel branches. Aww...

A surprise breakfast, albeit with a small fire in the kitchen...an injured critter nursed back to health together...times were definitely good. Felina nods. "She's with Dewei right now, but I'll be sure to check in on her. Thanks." Glances down to her sword. Nervous habit. And then heads for the door.

Iscovis goes back to his study without a second thought.

Elsewhere, a certain angel emerges at last from his room. He's cast off his nervous shaking, and has just remembered that he owes Orrin a knife. He goes searching for the Dumen patriarch, humming to himself, and any that care to listen.

Orrin, appropriately, is down in the forge. He's more planning and thinking than anything, sketching a bit...he's a bit tired of feeling completely useless with all of hte family's calamities, and just has to do something productive.

He looks up, and smiles. "Hey, Yue. What's up?"

Yue returns his smile eagerly. He does so like Orrin.

"I brought you this. Your better half said you were to work on it, and sent me to retrieve it from a coffee house." He beams, holding out the weapon so that its handle points to Orrin. "I think she left it on purpose, to give me somewhere to get away from Ai's father. But I digress, my dear. Here."

"Hmph. I say you have a phobia of white hair, charcoal-head." Orrin grins at Yue, and takes the knife. Aww. Felina's sweet. "Well, whatever else she told you, I had really planned on tightening this today, thank you. Here's to being useful once in a great while!" He smiles at Yue. "So, Yue dear, plans for the day?"

"I think I do, yes. Plans though?" The angel cups his cheek in one hand, leaning his head against it as he considers. "Not really. I was going from place to place with Felina until she went to see Mara." And he doesn't especially feel like darkening Orrin's mood with that news, either. "Would you mind if I helped you? Or watched, if nothing else?" There's a certain timidity to Yue's manner right now, which has become much more characteristic of him since his long sleep.

"Of course I wouldn't mind. Anything that means I can be lazier, right?" He grins. Usually he'd have cracked more of a joke there, but Yue's manner has him a little on alert...with her already upset, it might be harder to pick up sarcasm, or too easy to attach meaning that isn't there. "You always had a good hand...I have one more diagram to do. It looks like the one on top of the pile here..." he picks it up and shows it to Yue, "and all of the measurements are written on its paper already."

"Oh, alright." The angel gazes at the paper for a bit, figuring it out. "I think I can help you with this. Would you mind?" Though he is pretty sure he already has permission to do so, Yue doesn't want to irritate anyone today with assumptions.

"Knock yourself out. It'd be welcome...too heads are better than one, and all." Orrin ponders this. Grins. "Or, one for you, and a half for me. It still beats one!" He wanders over to his surprisingly scant tools as he notes this, selecting what he needs to tighten the dagger's hilt.

Yue watches him walk over, eyes wandering him sadly. No one like that could ever fall for him, he's sure of it. At least, not permanently. Felina probably knows how good she has it with him.

"I didn't know your wife was fond of daggers, Orrin." Small talk, sure. But it keeps him occupied.

"Oh, she's not, particularly. It's mostly a 'just in case' thing. Also, you know her..." The dumen retrieves what he needs and heads for the anvil, facing Yue again, and grins. "She likes shock effects. A dagger's a lot easier to pull a 'see? I could have killed you three times already, so behave' maneuver with than a broadsword."

"Point." How very like Felina, the most oft-fighting conscientious objector he's known. "How would you like me to help, Orrin? Hold something? Bend something? Or maybe just moral support?"

"Well, I have two things I'd like to get done first." The dumen sets the dagger down and folds his arms comfortably as he speaks. "The first is this thing getting tightened. I'm quite sure that you can do it...you may already know how, and if you don't, I'd be happy to show you. The other thing is the last diagram being drawn to those specifications, which you, in your infinite talents, can also handle. So I suppose it depends on whether you'd like to work with your hands or with a pencil today. I can go either way."

It occurs to him at this point just how many ways Mara could have twisted several above statements.

"I will take the pencil, then, if you don't mind." Eyes still down a bit, the angel reaches for the device in question. He doesn't really feel confident enough to do anything that can't be done over without breaking something, today. Though he does notice that Orrin is going out of his way to be complimentary, which makes him smile.

"Suits me, then." He prefers it. "This actually won't be too loud, so you don't have to cringe in anticipation." And he sets to work, first working the blade over with his fingers and then tapping on some wrapping around the blade's base with a hammer, evaluating exactly how much needs to be done. "So," he inquires as he works, "I understand that you and Felina were visiting some of her special charges today?"

Yue sets to drawing, paying careful attention to what he's doing. So much so, in fact, that he almost misses Orrin's voice.

"We visited one, and then..." Then what? I had a breakdown because someone I used to love was reincarnated? Doesn't remember me? Because my heart has been in such turmoil since I woke up that I can barely look at Felina without remembering too fondly? That I look at you the same way, Orrin?

"Then we decided to have tea, and visit Mara." Yue's hair is spilling over his face, which helps his situation right now immensely. "And you know the rest."

"Yep! Now I only have to do half my work, which is happy until I wonder in a few minutes how to keep myself busy." He sets to tightening the blade. Essentially just squeezing it in the right place with a lever's help, simple stuff. "For the record, Moorn scares the shit out of me, too."

Yue just nods to that. If Felina trusts Moorn, he knows he can. But... all he can think about in the man's presence is what it felt like to have his nose driven into his brain and swallow his own teeth. He draws, though, without thinking about it any more than he has to.

"Felina trusts him," he points out, "though I can't imagine why. I must have missed a lot, but I wish with all my heart that he wasn't part of your lives. I worry for you."

"I'll be okay," the dumen assures. Not that he has any good way to back this up, and doesn't attempt to. "As for her trusting him...she distrusts him implicitly, for reasons you're more than aware of. But...she's Felina. She refuses to condemn him until he proves that he has it coming. She'd give a fire a chance to creep onto her arm if said it wouldn't burn her."

"I used to tell her it would be her downfall. But... thousands of years, and it hasn't yet been, so..." Yue holds up the paper. "Is this what you were looking for?" It isn't, but he wants to change the subject. Badly.

Orrin takes the hint, and looks over the drawing. Examines it a few moments with critical eye, and then smiles. "Perfect! Except...the handwriting isn't quite right." He wrinkles his nose. "It's too swirly and pretty and...legible...to be mine."

Yue blushes a little bit. "You lie like a rug, Orrin. But you're sweet, and I think I could kiss you for it. Maybe." He looks at the paper again. "Maybe later."

The dumen grins. "Ah-ha! There's the Yue I know and adore. Nosebleed-inspiring." He laughs, and picks the dagger up. Examines it critically, and flicks it with a fingernail, another hand's finger on the blade. "There we go. No worries about a hilt shattering in her hands. The claws are too cute for that, you understand."

"Oh, I know." This is the part the angel hadn't been looking forward to. Now Orrin must find out about Mara, and his daughter's distress. Everything gets to be complicated again. He smiles anyway. "You're too good at this. Hey..." he tilts his head. "Is that a new fan lying unfinished, dear?"

"Yeah..." Orrin glances to it. "Objectively, it's a great project, very interesting. But it's one that Yoru requested, before the parasol's influence went away. Sooo...not sure what to do about them now. Wasn't sure what to do about them before, for that matter. I was just trying to keep her from getting so militant about the umbrella, and it may not be the best of ideas to give her a weapon right now."

"I don't suppose I could ask you for it, then?" Yue sets aside the paper, and sidles up to him. His sharp green eyes soften, sparkling kitten-like. "Puh-lease, Orrin?" he purrs. "Puhlleeeease?"

"Well, I...gah. Don't do that, it's not fair at all!" He laughs. He's considering, though.

Yue isn't taking any chances, though. He leans down just a little and lays his lips aganst Orrin's cheek. "Please, Orrin...?" he whispers again. It does occur to him that he is employing illegal weaponry, though.

The dumen can't help it. He turns quite a bit red at that...and for half a second, wishes he weren't married. Laughs. "Okay, okay. I need you to think up what it should look like, though..." he wanders over to his wall, plucks a sketch off of it, and holds it out. Smiles. "This is the frame I'm working with. I didn't know you were into fighting fans, though, Yue."

"I'm not, really. But I was looking for a replacement for the water sprinkler, and I already dance with fans, so..." He's pretty when he's red. Yue sighs inwardly, though, realizing that he needs to get away from Orrin quickly before his runaway needs get the best of him again. "I like the design that's there. With the wire... it looks interesting."

"Absolutely. You want to hold onto the wire, then? It will be new and different, to be sure."

"Yes, I think so. Um... Orrin, I am sorry to kiss and run, but I..." Need to get out of here before something comes up? Can I say that? Yue's blushing furiously. "I need to go see about Dewei."

"Sure thing. And anytime." He laughs. "Take care...let my wife know her dagger's done if you see her first?"

"Sure. I... yes. I will see you later." The angel hurries outside, eyes closed as he tries to think of anything else. Interstellar squish bugs. Bullfrogs. Tofu. Sneakers. Pit stains. That does it, and he sets to searching for Dewei.

Dewei's actually still with his sister. She'd gotten bored and is going for a swim, trying to clear her head. Dewei sits nearby, not reading for once, face bemused. He looks up when Yue approaches, though, and smiles a bit in greeting. "Hi, Yue. How's it going?"

"Oh, it's... fine. Just fine." Yue plops down nearby, leans back against a tree. "I wish you people weren't so damned attractive, though. How is Ting?"

"Distracting herself." Dewei nods, and looks out to where Ting's swimming. In a black bikini that's not unduly tiny, but...she does have the body for it. "She's calming down a bit. Evaluating, but trying to shut down and not think about it for now."

Yue looks out to her, a half-smile on his face until he actually sees her. He looks instantly away, pinking in the cheeks. She certainly does have the body for it. He wonders for a moment where she got her curves, immediately remembers Orrin's butt, and answers his own question.

"Well, I... I'm glad." Felina's cooking. That one was simple. "Did you get your tree issue worked out with your lady friend?"

"Not yet. Ting ws pretty upset, so we tabled the issue for the moment so that I could be here. Important stuff, and all."

At this point, Ting becomes aware of Yue's presence, and swims over their way. Unlike her mom, who's capable of swimming and little more, she's pretty at home in the water. Leans on rock when she's on their bank. "Hi!"

Yue nods to Dewei, smiling a reassuring smile. It is a difficult issue when other things are complicated, for sure. Ting's voice gets his attention and he looks before he can stop himself.

"Oh... hello, Ting. Do you mean to cause an angel's cheeks to burn like this?" He smiles all the more brightly.

"I do my best," Ting purrs. "I can always wiggle a little."

Dewei laughs softly. Even if it's denial, it's kind of nice to hear her more or less herself.

"Not unless you want me to either flee, or tackle you, dear." Yue's not kidding at all, either. "You swim well, especially for a kitten."

"Half kitten! Half creepy vampire dude. Hmm...that doesn't help this prticular matter much at all, does it?"

"Not much, no." The angel has to turn his eyes from her, and looks to the water beyond her instead. "You grace that suit, at least, water or no."

Ting grins. "You can't go wrong with a bikini, for sure."

"I've seen it go very wrong," Dewei volunteers.

Yue glances at him at that. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Have you ever seen a three hundred pound human lady in swimsuit?"

Ting covers her eyes. "Gah! Dewei! I didn't need that!"

Yue nods slowly. "I had post traumatic stress about it, too." Yue looks at Ting until the image fades away. Thank goodness for kittens. "Ting, would you mind if I swam with you, while that horrendous thought dissolves the rest of my brain?"

Ting laughs prettily. "Okay. Maybe mine can go away, too." she snickers, and pushes back off into the water.

"Lovely." The angel stands up, smiles at Dewei, and hops into the water clothes and all. Of course they vanish once he's under, replaced with a snow-white bikini. The top is a net number with spaghetti straps and just-there strips of light blue to shield certain parts from wandering eyes. His bottoms are cute, ruffly ladies' trunks beneath which a set of black v-strips can be seen coming up and over his hips. Well, when he wants them to be, anyway.

With as much grace as he ever shows off the angel glides around the water, jsut letting its coolness distract him from what's going on. He hasn't much to say, only... to be, right now.

Ting smiles very teasingly, and disappears under the water.

But, contrary to any hopes...one snagged ankle later, Yue's there too.

Ai appears about then, looking of course for Dewei, while Yue eeps and disappears under the water.

"Hey," she calls to him.

"Hi. Hey, I'm sorry about earlier, and..." his voice trails off. He tilts his head, and stands up, expression quizzical though he'd smiled when first sensing her. "Ai? Is everything okay?"

"Yes," she answers with striking defiance. "No," she admits. "Father is just... still off, is all." She can't tell him why. Never. "Can I borrow you for a while?"

Dewei glances to the churning water. Yeah...she should be okay for awhile. He nods. "Sure...abolutely, Ai." Notes mentally to his sister that he's heading off for a bit, and looks back to the goddess. "Okay. Where to?"

Ai shakes her head. "Somewhere else. Niven Ai?"

"Okay. I'll follow you, if you don't mind...not sure where you want to show up and all," he notes, smiling mybe little tentatively. He's not sure what's up, but she's...hm. Blow things up-ish.

The goddess just vanishes, leaving only a hint of her anger in the air.

Yue emerges from the surface of the water about then, coughing and sputtering, eyes wide and shivering. He could have sworn that he felt... him... nearby just now.

Ting breaks the surface a moment later, and blinks. "Hey, are you okay? I mean, outside of the 'me trying to drown you' part?"