Yue is dressed in his queenly attire when Mara, Felina, and company all arrive in Ansendul's throne room. The majestic fairy, in person, is the absolute center of the room. Yue's description falls tragically short of the maze-keeper's unnatural beauty, so alien that it almost crosses the line into unattractive. His flowing butterfly wings are more like those of a grasshopper or mantis now, though still have the markings of stained glass, and the blackness of his skin is now outlined by dozens of pale blue tribal-esque tattooes that provide contrast lines for his features.

Yue, as always, cannot help but bathe in that beauty for a moment before he can speak.

"Welcome to the maze."

Felina smiles at Yue, then approaches Ansendul, and bows as usual a respectable distance away. "Ansendul. Always a pleasure." She inlines Mara's mental state into quiet telepathy with the greeting, so that he's aware beforehand.

Mara just sways happily.

Ansendul rises from his chair and steps down that he might get a good look at them all. "Felina Deyono. It has been too long, even for one who owns time." His colorful eyes, still that allover-boiling-rainbow sort of shade, fall upon Ting. "And you are...?"

Felina looks over to Ting, smiles a little, and looks back to Ansendul. "I wanted you to meet my daughter. This is Ting Deyono. Ting...this is Ansendul, likely the most powerful time 'caster' you'll ever run across."

Ting grins, and tilts her head. "Hi! You're pretty. I like your eyes." She's not actually flirting, just observing.

"I am glad you could tell me," the fairy replies coolly, though in a friendly sort of way still. "I certanly am. Felina, a daughter... how disturbingly beautiful." He looks to Yue, who is beaming with the secret he and Felina share. "So, my dear Onos. Yue has given me a bit of a briefing on what you needed, but do explain in your words."

Felina nods. "Mara ran into an interesting episode recently with a newly-activated function in her mind, her father's doing. To save the Mara we knew, the parts of her mind were separated. Both are currently a bit unstable. Their minds will adapt to their new selves, but the interim will be very rough on everyone." Especially Ting. And Moorn. "It will take time, a century or so in a dream state. But," she smiles a little. "You have plenty of 'time' to spare."

Ting still thinks Ansendul's scarily pretty, and glances to him every now and again...but she's amusing herself by tapping the opposite side of her aunt's shoulder, from one side to the other and back again. In Mara's current state of mind, it's a neverending game.

Mara goes back and forth like a blow-up punching doll, giggling softly. "Shifty...!"

"And you want me to take care of that for her. For you, Felina, I would see to it that time stood still." Ansendul bows a little to her, which is something to be respected.

"Actually, I think you have done that for her before," Yue jests, grinning at Ting's antics with Mara.

Felina smirks sidelong at Yue at the double...triple...meanings, then looks back to the fairy, smiles and returns the bow in kind. "Thank you, Ansendul. It means the world to me." She glances over to Ting and Mara. "Ting too. She's the main reason I don't want to simply wait a hundred years in the linear planes. She's too close to Mara."

"Then let us get to setting things right. Yue..."

The angel looks to him curiously.

"Take Mara-Kuru to the cerulean room. Wait outside for two hours, and then bring her out." The time caster sits again in his chair, restoring the regality of it simply by being there. "I will send him back to you with Mara as good as ever, Felina. Does that please you?"

"Very much. Thank you." That's very, very true, and shows on her face. "Would it be troublesome in any way for me to wait near the room? If, of course, she'll be able to sense my signature despite the shift," this is a question, he'll certainly know, "I think that my presence may be a stabilizing influence to dreams and possible isolation in them."

"If that is what you wish, that is how it shall be. You may wait in Yue's place, or with him if he prefers to stay."

Yue looks to Felina, warm at the gratitude on her face. "I would stay with her, I think, if she wouldn't mind."

"Not at all," Felina affirms. "I should probably send Ting back now that she's met Ansendul and...oh lord." Fingers find her forehead.

Ting's met Ichei.

Currently, the ice elemtental is about to go nuts. She'd tried to startle the half-dumen with a serpentine form. Hadn't worked well. Now she and the mutt are locked in a contest of shifts, though Ting's are mostly illusionary.

Ichenrei, a duck-billed chimera, finally squawks agitatedly, though she's having a good time, and pounces Ting.

Pouncing happens to be Ting's specialty. Moments later, there's a tumbling, carwheeling, rolling mess of snow feathers and pale little first tumbling rapidly through the time sorceror's throne room with a quacking roaring squawking squealing laughing din, trailing a wide path of tall, jagged ice crystals behind.

Yue cracks up, abandoning all semblance of dignity to double over with laughter. Ansendul seems amused enough, of course.

"So that's why we keep Ichenrei around," he notes.

Felina laughs quietly. "So do we...ah...stop them?"

Ichei finally springs up, and emits a deafening squawk in her favorite mini-roc form. The half dumen grins her wicked little grin. An enormous kitty cat illusion manifests over the roc. It lowers its head and meows cutely.

A roc's eyes have never been so big.

So, then there's a giant cat chasing a giant bird in circles around the room.

"Before any head injuries? Sure. Yue?"

The angel puts out his hand, smiling a little. This is one of his new tricks, but one that he can only perform here in the maze. Knowing full well that no one ages inside the maze, he separates the essence of that which people refer to as 'time' from the space between Ichei and Ting, essentially turning their speed up until they, hopefully, get tired.

And sure enough, a few seconds later, Ting leans on her knees a moment, winded. She laughs, and plucks the worn out ice fairy from the ground--she'd actually outlasted Ichei--and plops her on her shoulder. "You're okay!"

She laughs, and trots back over towards the rest of everyone. When they get close..."eep!" Ting's turn for the really, really wide eyes when the fairy vanishes and an absolutely icy mist floods down her shirt, even under her bra, before sweeping back over to the time sorcerer, tittering even as an exhausted little garter snake manifests on the fae's shoulder.

Ting folds her arms tightl. "T-that's...c-cold!"

"Ice tends to be," Felina observes amusedly, chin propped on a hand.

Yue smirks at Ting. "I told you so!" Ansendul just grins at the snake.

"Sneaky, sneaky, dear. Did you wear yourselves out?"

"Ugh. Yes. No more cats allowed in the maze, they bend too many ways." The elemental giggles.

"Amen," Yue puts in. Poor kitties, all misunderstood.

"You never minded that back in the day," Felina murmurs behind her hand.

Yue plays at oblivious, for decency's sake.


"So then," Ansendul's ethereal voice brings the angel's attention back, "was there anything else you needed of me, Felina?"

"Mm. Let's see." Felina ticks off on her fingers. "Impose on you and your maze, introduce you to my daughter, wreak havoc around your throne...no, I think that covers it."

Ting giggles. "Ah, but fun!" She's starting to get her breath back, although she seems to have remembered herself as the daughter of a visiting dignitary, and has meekly--meekly for Ting--wandered back up to her mother's side.

"What was this about a tree, Yue mentioned?"

The angel smacks his own forehead. "Right. Right, the tree. Dewei and his woman friend wanted to know about growing a world tree in here."

The fairy tilts his head at that one. "A world tree? No, of course not."

Yue blinks. "Um... well... why not?"

"A self contained universe inside the maze? Or were they planning on air lifting ten million miles of tree somewhere else?" Ansendul glances up to Ichei. "Would you make a derisive remark, dear?"

"The only room we have to grow a world tree around here is in the abyss between your ears," Ichei purrs.

"Or that gaping noise-hole in your face," Yue coos.

"I apologize to whoever asked about it. I might be willing to create a time slip, though, if you can find enough space to grow the tree. Heaven knows there is enough space out there. I simply cannot have it here." Ansendul would pat Ichenrei, but he doesn't care for frostbite.

Felina nods. "Tht was my son...I could have told him it wouldn't have worked in here, but hey." She laughs softly. "Alright...Ting, want to head home? I'm sure Makyon would be glad to see you."

"Well, I get the funny feeling I'm being nudged that way," the infinitely youngest person present purrs.

Felina grins. "Astute."

"Call anytime, Felina. Having you here is quite nice. Oh, blast it all, I forgot. Yue... her present."

The angel snaps to attention quite suddenly. "Fuck! I almost forgot, I'm so sorry! I'll be back!" And quite suddenly he sprints down the hall, swearing at himself.

Felina blinks. "Well...it's very kind, although now I'm very curious as to what exactly has his panties in knot. The lovely hairbrush you gave me still sees a lot of use, by the way."

Ting snickers a little, to sidelong smile from my mom.

"Is it in my room, by the way, Ting?"

"It's on my vanity."

"I'm stunned."

Ting just makes a melt-your-heart cute face.

Yue comes back in a moment, bearing a violet pillow in his slim arms. An ornate skeleton key sits atop the pillow, its end forged into a solid ivory figure of a lady holding a clock. The tip of the key flows, sort of, as if emptying into a void at its end.

"This is for you, and I cannot believe I almost forgot." He holds out the pillow to Felina. "This a key to the maze. You just put this in any door, and turn it, and the door will become a gate back to your room that we prepared just before I was put to sleep."

Felina's face brightens. She's actually at a loss for words for moment, taking the key gingerly. She smiles for a moment at Yue, then looks Ansendul. "This is...very kind, Ansendul. Thank you. I'm not sure what to say."

"Just say," Ansendul shrugs, "that you will sleep here sometimes when you haven't the time in the waking world. I warn you that you wouldn't be able to retreat here if something called for it in a fight or what have you, as we cannot have destabilizing factors present in the maze. Everyone who comes here is prepared for. In cases such as those the key simply won't turn. But recall that time doesn't pass here, so you will have all the time you need to sleep."

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. It's really...an incredible gesture, on both their parts. "All right. Is there anything else I should know about it?"

Ting is peeking over her shoulder at the pretty key, shiny as promised. It's actually really easy, since she's six inches taller than her mom.

"I don't think so," Yue answers for his mentor, "the key is actually steal proof, since it will only work for you. Just don't lose it."

"Ahh...that's actually reassuring to know. I'll tke good care of it. Thank you." Felina smiles, and bows to both of them. She's really very touched.

"Alright then. Let's get Mara settled. Ting, you can get out the way you came in, when you're ready." Yue takes Mara's shoulders and begins to guide her to Felina's room, smiling at Mara's obeisance.

"Okee!" Ting grins, and looks back to Ansendul, and ctually bows. "It was nice meeting you. And..." she points at Ichenrei. "I'll get you next time, pretty!" She laughs, and heads back out the door.

Felina watches a moment, just out of instinct that wants Ting to be safe at every moment. Once she's safely away, she smiles at Ansendul once more and, since the fairy has never been one for extended goodbyes, follows after Yue, still practically purring about the key.

Ansendul glances at Ichenrei once all are out of the room.

"Yue would kill to have gone under that Ting's garments like Ichei."

The angel in question leads Felina down a shifting hall that is surprisingly easy to navigate, as marked by various clocks.

"Your room, and Mara's for now, is 0730. It has your name etched into the wall here, so you will know." He points, and ushers Mara through an open door of white wood.

The room is... actually, an exact copy of the atrium room from Kaies's old inn.

Felina's hand actually goes halfway to her mouth, eyes widening a touch. "Yue...this is wonderful. I can't believe you did all this for me."

The angel sets Mara down in the cute little nest-bed. He takes his time responding to that, not really knowing how to. "Well. You've meant a great deal to me over the centuries. Still do. So a small favor here and there is deserved, I think." 

"Hm. Well." Felina steps up behind him, and hugs him. "Thanks. It's still incredibly sweet."

The angel's eyes go wide, and his voice silent, but it isn't for lack of want to cry out. Mara notices, but is in no condition to make a lucid judgment on it. 

"You're welcome," he manages to utter. "I... yes. Ting was awfully well-behaved."

"Nothing blew up, yes. I'm impressed." Felina grins. "It could have been bad bringing her here, but I really did want Ansendul to meet her."

Yue slides away from Felina's embrace before he starts feeling too awkward, though he does cover her hand with his first.

"I think he enjoyed her presence. You know how understated Ansendul is. He wouldn't go on about it." He looks down to Mara. "Would you put her to sleep?"

Felina nods, though wondering when Yue became anti-touch, and sits on the edge of the bed, smiling at Mara. "Hi. Ready for nap? I'll be waiting with you the whole time. Like a creepy stalker!"

"Sure, mommy, I'll have a banana."

Yue sits upon the edge of the heavy, oak vanity and crosses his legs, smiling at their interaction. And noticing that he badly needs a pedicure.

Felina grins at Mara. "Yeah, yeah...only if you're a good girl. Sweet dreams, Mara." She sets her hands gently to either side of Mara's head, and begins weaving a powerful stasis spell that will sustain itself...until she tells it not to.

With no resistance, Mara drops instantly off. She's muttering about sins and cross dressers almost without hesitation.

Yue bites his lip. He tries to ignore it, but can't help but feel that he lacks the energy to speak.

Felina's being careful with this. It's another fifteen seconds before she finally finishes solidifying all of the spell's threads and creating true stability. She breathes out. "Okay. That should do it." She looks over to Yue. "Are you okay?"

"Sure," the angel assures her, "just a little overwhelmed still from today. It was complicated, as you know well."

"Yeah. So, what do you say we go and get Mara settled...and then we'll have two hours to just sit and work things out?" She smiles a bit. "No distractions, no calamities, no Moorn, nothing I can run off and fiddle with."

Yue smiles his angel's smile in all its radiance. "I would be thrilled at that, Felina." Especially the no Moorn part. "It would be heaven on... wherever we are."

"Limbo is highly underrated," Felina laughs quietly, happy to see his smile. Poor guy's had really tough time, no doubt. She gathers Mara up gently into her arms, shifting her a bit and then finding a comfortable position for both of them. "So. Lead on."

Yue stretches out, lying horizontal and parallel to Felina and Mara, but upon the floor cushions. "Well... that hundred years I slept passed for me like twenty minutes. Some things I remember too fondly that others have let go over time. Us, for example. And Minna." He blushes a little at 'us'. "Being with Orrin today, and Ting, and as teasing as I am, I've... found myself wanting. Your new gift sealed the thought in my mind," he explains this in reference to her pregnancy. "I crave sometihng permanent. And then we saw him again, and... ugh." The angel lets his head hang a little. That is a great deal for one such as him to fuss about in such a short time.

Felina finishes adjusting Mara's cushions, and then settles her back onto them. Pets her hair out of the way gently, then wanders over to sit near Yue. Not uncomfortably near, but beside him. "Well...just to start with one thing...I think both of us knew before terribly long tht we were never to be permanent. It's why it only took two years to graduate from 'lovers' to 'friends with privelages.'" She smiles bit, though a grin would be improper right now. Looks aside. Thinks. "It really has been a hell of a couple days for you, though, hasn't it?"

"Well... yes, but compared to yours and your family's, not so much. My problems are simply emotional issues. Yours are life and death." I feel insignificant. "I could not imagine placing my needs in front of yours. That's why I have never attempted to intrude on your marriage, though I've wanted to.  What you have is beautiful." Something I never will. "Besides, I doubt Orrin would have liked to share you, or you him."

"Yue..." Hell with it. Felina moves over to sit closer to him. "You'll find someone. I know that you will. You're a wonderful man, and a wonderful woman. Wonderful people attract other wonderful people, you know. You've got a face for a fling, but you've got a heart of gold. Someone's going to see through your outer beauty and realize that it only gets better inside."

"When ten thousand people have found a beautiful girl with a package, and perhaps three have ever cared to look past it, my hopes are not high. But beyond that..." he tenses at the proximity, now. It seems strange to him, when he was fine before, but he attributes it to the emotions of the situation.

Felina smiles sadly, and stands up to check out the dresser. Her heart just goes out to him. "But one of those three was really important. Minna was very much working on loving you. You know that."

"... yes. Yes, but..." He shuts his eyes, tight. He cannot tell Felina that he felt hers was important, too. That wouldn't be fair to either of them. "I could not bear to look at her, if I saw her again."

Felina fingers the beautiful maze key thoughtfully. She tries to stay out of things like this, normally. She closes her eyes. Plus, she's quite aware tht their own relationship isn't truly platonic...it breaks her hert, but there's just...nothing she can do about it. Opens her eyes again. Sets the key lightly upon the dresser. "Yue...listen to me." She walks back over to him, and sits quietly on her feet near his head, though not looking directly at him. Places hand lightly on his wrist.

"I don't mean today, and I don't mean tomorrow. I don't even mean this year, if you can't muster yourself yet. But I really...think you should consider it. Talking to Minna, I mean." Her eyes trail to the floor. "I know that terrible images are impossible to forget...believe me I know." It hadn't been gruesome,exactly. But the pale, broken neck had still been quite visible. "And I'd never tell you to just get over it. I know better." She's quiet a few moments, then looks back down to Yue.

"She doesn't remember you now. She doesn't remember anything of her last life. But if something strikes a deep enough chord in her...then there's a very good chance she'd begin to. Yue, you're one of the most courageous people I have met in my entire life. That's not long next to yours, maybe, but...it's still a whole hell of a lot of people. I just...I know you don't want to be hurt again, Yue. But it kills me to think of you missing the chance for real happiness because you're afraid."

"I am not afraid." Yue gazes steadily at Felina. "I just cannot stand to lose another Minna. Or worse, make her life more difficult by being there. I know you understand, Felina, you told me about her bodyguard. I..." his voice fades. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

Felina had closed her eyes. "No...no, I had that one coming." She smiles at Yue, something between sad and apologetic. Just...looks at him a few moments, then away. "I just...really wish that I knew a way to just suddenly make all this better. It would be a lot simpler if you were just in immediate physical danger. But being lonely...I can only help that so much. Heh..." she shakes her head. "I don't really understand people. They're...inexplicable. I just know that you deserve someone very special. But I wish I knew how to make it happen. Sooner rather than later, for how long you've already waited."

"Saying something like that makes me believe that you understand better than you let on." The angel returns her smile, his full of optimism for her benefit. "Don't worry too much about it for now. I will not be lonely as long as I have you and your family to visit, but as for happiness... well. There is something you can help me with."

"What's that?"

"I want my wings back. And I know how to get them." Yue brightens instantly. "Your son's talking about a world tree gave me an idea. See... Yggdrasil universes have a sort of 'rebirth cycle' where souls are concerned. Someone dies, they are born again later as a new person with the same soul. But since divine bodies can't change, divinities are reborn as divinities." The angel beams at Felina. "So all we would have to do is subject my soul to an Yggdrasil's rebirth cycle."

Felina's face had brightened at any hint of his knowing how to regain his wings...becomes more serious by the end. She ponders this. Draws a breath, and tries to push the image from her mind. Yue is one of her...very dearest friends. If it will help him...but only if she's sure it will help him...then....

Yeah. Mental picture shoved forcefully aside.

"So...once the universe is in place, we take you there, and I kill you?" Another thought dawns on her. "Also, do you know what determined what your gender became, exactly? Will that necessarily duplicate itself again?"

"That is basically it. I really cannot say what decided my outcome, but I always assumed it was my particular deity's doing." He had danced around the 'killing Yue' issue for good reason, but obviously she would've figured it out eventually. "Whether we can control or not I cannot say, but I doubt it. Because of the static nature of my body I assume I will come out the way I am."

Felina's fiddling with the pommel of her sword as he speaks...a nervous habit he's no doubt aware of. That's distasteful as soon as she's aware of it, though, consider what she's agitated about, and she stops as quickly. She nods slowly. Is quiet a few moments, before looking up to Yue. "So. Will you remember this life?"

"Mortals who undergo the rebirth cycle tend to remember it as flashbacks or waking dreams. Divinities, according to historical precedent, remember it quite well." The angel coos at Felina, noting her sword-play. "I could never forget you, anyway. And if I forgot everything else you could always remind me."

Felina smiles at him, perhaps a little weakly. He knows her well..."historical precedent" was one of the very few exact phrases she would have accepted. "Well, yes, I think a good beating fixes memory loss in general." She looks aside moment, thinking. "So, you'll be born a child to someone, then?"

"Unless my soul is captured and placed into a homunculus, yes. But my divine soul won't let me keep a child's body, Felina. You won't be bouncing me on your knee." Yue shrugs his narrow, milk-white shoulders. "Unless you want to."

Felina grins a little at that, for a moment. Takes a deep breath. "So. Time questions. How long would your soul let you hold onto a child's body, and how long does it tend to be between incarnations?"

"The divine receive precedence, even if I'll be an outside presence. As for the incarnation... I doubt any longer than a day. And I'll be able to restore myself as soon as I emerge back into the living plane." He smiles at her. "Does this worry you? I can look for another way if it makes you uncomfortable."

"No...you've looked too long and too hard to find a way to get your wings back. If you can convince me that this will be reltively safe for you, I'll help however I can." Felina nods.

"I cannot really prove it, though... I spoke with Ansendul, and he gave me his blessing. He knows pretty much everything, so I figured... well. If nothing else, you know my energy signature. You'll be able to find me." The angel sits up straight, stretching his shoulders a little. Blasted floor. "I am not afraid. But the first order of business for me is to see about the tree."

Felina nods, though still a little hesitant. She laughs a little. "Ugh...my kids are growing up too fast, is what they're doing." She shakes her head. "Planting a world tree with Ai, indeed. I guess we can't all spend most of our lives as willing singles."

"But is it not the sweetest thing you've ever heard?" Yue clasps his hands, eyes positively twinkling. "What shall we do today, my dear? Oh, nothing. Wait! Let's create a universe for one another! Goddess!"

Felina laughs softly. "Yeah...it is sweet, to be sure. I wish Ai luck in breaking Dewei of being such a homebody...but if anyone can do it, she can." She leans back. "I'm not entirely comfortable with it...well, for the obvious reason tht she's Moorn's daughter, of course, but because she's so absolutely in control of the relationship. I mean, it's not malicious, far from it, it's just...she's so much older than he is. Of course he had a crush on her the moment they met, such a beautiful woman flirting a little--there really were sparks, in retrospect. She had him wrapped around her finger from the moment they met."

"True, but Dewei is quite old enough to react in an adult fashion. Humans have the dating thing learned by twenty-five or not at all." Yue nods. "I've seduced my share of them. Not that humans are especially open-minded, but I digress." He shifts a little. His butt is going numb from the way he's sitting. "What would you do if they ever decided to wed? I mean... this world tree thing is a sign that at least one of them has the intent. There is so much to consider, letting him into your family."

Felina's eyes travel down. "I...really don't know, Yue. Once everyone knows about my little secret..." her voice trails off. She shakes her head. "Orrin and I...have a lot to discuss. I don't know if I'm comfortable staying anywhere we might have contact with Moorn as long as I have a dependent child." She sighs, and leans back. "I just don't know. There's a lot to think about."

"I can imagine. Do you still have the 'kill 'im stick' you used to put him down before?" Yue has his priorities. "I was thinking... I want to invite him to come with us to the new tree." His eyes glimmer. "I don't want you to have to be the one to submit me to the rebirth cycle. He would do it without blinking."

Felina looks down a few moments, then back up to Yue. "Yue...I can't say I'm not going to lose a lot of nights' sleep over it. Well, I can, but not without lying." She's staring at nothing for few moments, then looks down to Yue. "Whtever else I am...if it comes to it, I can kill so fast you'll never know what happened, painlessly. Moorn would need a dictionary to figure out what 'painless' meant. I couldn't feel comfortable with that."

"I know. But the thing is this, my dearest kitten. I..." here the angel sits up straight, eyes full of purpose, and gazes directly at her. "I hate him. And I want a shot at him. In this environment, if I lose I still win."

"Wait...you aren't actually thinking of picking a fight with him, are you? What if he holds it gainst you once you're back?"

"I do not think he would, my dear kitten. If I prefaced it properly, telling him why. It seems idiotic, yes, but if I even score a single blow against him I will feel world's better. I still remember the feel of my teeth sliding down my esophagus, Felina, I badly need a bit of closure." The angel smiles, displaying his now-perfect whites.

"Well..." Felina's uneasy. Finally voices that. "But," she adds, "I...do understand, really." She breathes out. "I really don't know if I'm comfortable involving him, but...well, what happened earlier isn't like you. I know that."

Yue would prefer to think of other things, and does, to an extent. "I am glad you understand. Not telling you would have been a disaster, you see." He chances a look at Mara, who is wiggling on her bed. "We need to leave this room. The longer we sit in here, the longer it will be before Ansendul can turn up the time's rate."

"Ah. Right then." Felina stands, since she's in a better position to do so, and offers Yue a hand up.

He takes it, of course, pausing to kiss it before getting to his feet. "Yummy."

"But of course. Only the finest hands around here, you see." Felina glances over at Mara as she retrieves her key...yeah, she's pretty sure it's a comfortable position she's laid her double in. "Alright, then. Shall we?'

"Yes." Yue leads the way, shutting the door tightly behind them. A keypad-esque plate sits beneath Felina's name, and Yue taps on it a few times, muttering to himself.

"There. In two hours, Mara will be a hundred years older." He looks at Felina. "How shall we spend two hours?"

"Trying to not picture you fighting Moorn," Felina observes. "Mmm...this is normally where I rattle off long to-do list, but I suppose that's moot. I do need to create a chain or something to keep this key in place. You could critique my fashion sense? Two hours may not be enough, though."

Yue tuts brightly. "Darling, two hours is never enough where fashion is concerned. I had the most fantastic idea for a skirt suit for you, something nice and accessible. Well. It would be more of a present for Orrin. But still."

Felina laughs softly. "Well...lay it on me, then. You picture things, and I can start manifesting, raising necklines, and engaging in the resulting debates." They both have some really difficult times in front of them. For now...they should just try to relax together.

"Oh, Felina, necklines aren't a worry, you haven't the cleavage for it. Not that your assets aren't darling, but I think your appeal is in your legs and your shoulders. Let me tell you..." and he begins to rattle off about short skirts and appropriate undergarments, shoulderless blouses, and shiny armlets and anklets.

Felina, amused, finally finds a comfortable nook in the amorphous hallway "wall," since she's spent enough non-time in the maze to have some level of comfort with it. She settles into it, half lying down, and is pretty happy to hear about mini skirts. Hey, beats the alternative conversation. Well. Maybe not the part about sequins. Those would be a "no."

"... and just because your butt is small does not mean it can't be accentuated with leather." Yue has been going pretty consistently for a bit, a sign of two things. One, he is nervous and chattery, and two, he adores his subject. "With side-zippers for Orrin. What do you think?"

"I think if we repeat this in front of Orrin, the poor dear is either going to kiss you, kiss me, or have a stroke. One of the three."

Yue blushes a little too brightly. Yeah. Orrin is just scrumptious. "So what do you say we invite him?" He's kidding, of course. "Come to think of it... did you ever gain baby-curves, dear? That is an important consideration."

"Oh, I'll give you one guess at that." She had. Her obsessive-compulsive fitness routines hadn't treated them kindly, though. "Still...I will again before too long, here. Serinians show pretty fast."

"Then we must get to work on new dresses for you. No mumus, of course, but... oh. It would be so beautiul for you to wear one of those open-in-the-middle cloaks during your term. The ones that show belly and a little bit of breast on the inside? It would give you room to breathe, too." If it isn't obvious enough, Yue is enamored by the idea of a pregnancy.

Felina grins at him bit. "See, this is one of the other reasons I was asking a lot of questions about how long you're going to be down with the reincarnation bit. You're already cute. I wouldn't want you to miss this. Besides..." She shrugs. "Me with hormones. Orrin needs all the support he can get."

"I will be there for him and for you. Nothing can stop me from that." Yue nods, perfectly serious. "Besides. What could be luckier than an angel present for the birth of your child?"

Felina smiles. "This angel present for the birth of our child."

Yue's face is perfectly pink. "Well then. What else can we do but be there?"  He pauses a moment. "Poor Orrin is going to faint when he finds out."

"Uh-huh. I really feel bad that he's not the first to know, but...I didn't plan to tell anyone. It just happened, with the nosiness about being unusually sickness-prone and all." She grins at Yue. Then shrugs. "Mara would have felt left out if it were too long after the fact, and feel like she missed more time with us than she actually did. I wanted to tell them close together, Orrin first and then Mara, except in the likely event tht she sensed me hiding something and tackled me out of my chair."

Felina stirs some mist with claw. "Heh...it seems like an eternity ago that she and I and the rest were all just sitting around the gardens like this. Wasn't even a week...I should have realized something was eating at her. Didn't, until the progression was too great..." blows the mist gently away, face bemused. "It seems like forever."

Yue considers that for a bit, eyes wander Felina's face in search of some clue as to what she needs to hear.

"If there is anything I've learned living here," he begins, slowly as he pieces his thoughts together, "it is that time is only a perception. If you think of it as 'how long' it will be long. If you don't think of it, it won't be. You cannot blame yourself for what happened to Mara any more than you could blame me for what happened to Minna." He closes his eyes. "Mara will be fine. And this will turn into just another memory for you two to laugh about. And Mara will laugh. Imagine how she will react when you tell her that she considered drinking immoral?"

Felina smiles a little, expression still thoughtfully and far away. "She would have freaked out a week ago. Now...I'm trying to withhold judgement of how I expect or want her to react. This stasis will stabilize her...but to what, exactly, I can't really say. I have to be able to embrace whoever we wake up...because that's how she's going to stay. Whoever and whatever she is." She looks down a few moments, then back up to Yue.

"It's why I won't consider this for Yoru. She has so many of Mara's darker traits that I want to be there to nudge her in the right directions every step of her development."

"I had all but forgotten about her, with my own problems..." Yue feels a twinge of guilt at that, and it shows in his face. "I can help you with Yoru, if you like. I... well. And she is pretty.  I could turn her into a lady." 

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "Yeah." Reaches out and puts a hand on Yue's arm. "But. I think you should have wings to do that."

"And I will. And then you and I must get photos taken. Or paintings done. Or something. The only issue with wings is that I will need to design some backless outfits that woulndn't be ruined."

"I can't imagine you'll have too much trouble with that," Felina observes. "You like backless styles anyway."

"True. This just gives me an excuse to wear them more often! You ought to try them, though. You have an attractive back."

"My back scares men. They cry when I'm more built than them." She snickers.

"Well, I like it. And your track record has been good in that respect, Felina. Except for me, you tend to end up with people with builds similar to yours, proportionally. You find yourself with muscular blacksmiths with broad chests and strong arms, all sweaty from the forge with no shirt on, the ones that can hold you and carry you wherever you feel like ordering them to. And... ehm." Yue closes his eyes. "Excuse me, Felina. I really, desperately need to relieve some of this stress. Would you care to take your key and find out about the tree while I retire to my room for a few minutes?" His gaze takes on a meaningful tint.

"If you don't mind, I'd really like to hang around here, so that Mara continually senses my presence on her dreamscape...but I certainly wouldn't be affronted waiting alone a little while, I have some things to think about anyway...and I can't sense you well in other parts of the maze anyway." Felina smiles, and makes a shoo-ing gesture. She'd certainly taken the hint.

Yue smiles at her guiltily, and rises. "I'll be back soon. Do forgive me." And he heads off to take care of things with himself.

Mara's mind can occasionally be heard bubbling through the door, and bit by bit, it seems closer and closer to the real Mara.

This is oh-so-slowly reassuring Felina bit by bit...although she's still doing her very best to reserve judgement. Still, she can't help but be hopeful, and just settles back into her nook. She really hadn't minded Yue's running off like that. The poor thing really is quite a sexual creature, which she certainly doesn't look upon badly after so many years with Mara, but...well, you can only be thwarted so many times in three days. He's toned down the flirting--despite wanting to--with two certain half-kitty mutts, and she hasn't failed to note and appreciate that fact.

Yue comes back a few minutes later, dressed in a warm, white faux fur outfit with tight, furry pants and boots. He smells different, almost as if he's taken the time to shower and dab himself with oils before coming back. And he has, actually, thanks to the time issue.

"Forgive me dear. I... feel better. Is everything all right?"

"I'm glad..." Felina smiles at him, "and, yes, I think so. Mara's feeling gradually more like...Mara."

The angel beams at that, opens brightly up. "That is beautiful, it is. I cannot wait to hug Mara when she wakes up." He sits again, smiling at Felina. Feeling so much better.

Felina has to smile at his improved mood, and stretches. Can. Amorphous walls are so nice. "Yeah...I can second that." She smiles. "Also, I'm getting really eager to tell she and Orrin. I don't think I'll wait long...well, at all." She laughs softly. she really is thrilled...okay, so maybe there should be more pressing things in her mind, but it's important to her.

The angel nods. He wants to put his hand on her belly, but... nah. "It shouldn't be long before time to let Mara out, by the way. I so love this maze."

Felina smiles brightly, and nods. "And now I can visit you folks more often and track you down when you go MIA."

The angel just smiles at that, happily, and lets his head rest against the wall. All in all, it's been a good day despite the heartbreaks and complications.

Mara's mind quite suddenly floats closer to them, calling to be let out. Calling for booze, too.

Felina blinks. "Mara's done. And wants liquor. That has to be a good sign, doesn't it?" She stands up. "I'll let you let her out, since I'm not sure what all has been done to the area.

Yue nods. "Wonderful!" He rises , sets his hand to the door. It flashes for a moment before sliding open. "There. I-!"

A blur of red and white tackles the angel almost clear to where Felina is sitting. Mara hugs Yue so tightly he cannot breathe for a second, smiles, and kisses his cheek. 

"Hiya! You look good! Fel! C'mere!" And another pounce ensues.

A startled cry follows in short order, and
Felina goes tumbling to the ground as well. She's positively ecstatic to hug Mara...her relief at her doubles manner is quite potent enough for even Yue to sense on a psychic level, for how it's bleeding over into involuntary telepathic broadcast. "Hi!" She laughs, and kisses Mara's cheek. "You seem...yourself, dear. That's wonderful!"

"Oh it is so much nicer! I was feeling funny for a while and I dreamed about things but you were always there and so was Yue but not so much because I can feel it when you're around and then I was walking and something happened because I wanted a drink and when that happened I decided it was time to get out and then there Yue was and I hugged him and he's cool and now I'm hugging you and GAH!" Mara peers at Felina. "What the fuck, lady?"

Felina smirks. "Okay. Between the profanity and the liquor request, I feel much better. So. Going to let me up?"

Mara's eyes glimmer. "No. No!" And she hugs Felina again, clinging to her, until Yue tugs them both to their feet.

"That's so sweet," he purrs. "I will go tell Ansendul about it. You can use the key to get out, Felina." And he heads off that way, swishing prettily.

Felina smiles sidelong at Yue, then just hugs Mara, setting a hand gently to the back of her hair. "Long sleep, huh?" She murmurs softly to her nether double. "You're back with us now. Ting is going to be so thrilled to see you...Moorn too, not to mention the rest of your family. All waiting for you."

"I wanna kiss them all. You first." And she does. "I love you, Felina! You were all there and I could feel you and it helped me because I was afraid. And I date Moorn, not much scares me."

Felina's eyes sparkle a bit...for mixed reasons. Largely for humor at the last bit, but there's certainly more to it than that. "I love you, too, Mara. And...of course! I promised I would, didn't I?" She smiles, and squeezes Mara's hands. "I think this entire messy matter is behind us now. You're you, thank whatever gods you want, and now you're even back with us."

"Oh! I thank Ai. She's a goddess right?" Mara grins, and steps back a bit to give Felina some breathing room. "Oh, I wanna go home and see Orrin. And Ting and Ding! Can we go mommy please?"

Felina grins, though just the tiniest bit of color touches her cheeks at the "mommy" bit. "Sounds like a plan." She raises the key, smiling. "Yue and Ansendul gave me a key to the made. Handy thing, that." She head back over to the door and slips the key into the lock--the lock, not the key, changes its shape before her eyes--and turns it.

The door opens, revealing a whirling vortex for a second and a half before the courtyard of Helantri Deru shimmers into view. Mara squeals. "Home!"

Felina smiles. "After you." And, once Mara's through, she steps after her into Helantri Deru.

---

Felina makes good on the offer made to her and grudgingly relinqishes contact with the Chaotic outside world to curl up in the beautiful room so lovingly crafted for her. Twice.

And, about five hours later, she's really remarkably grateful for it. Stretches, yawns...and then heads out again, back to Helantri Deru.

---

Ansendul notices a door opening near his chamber, but as always, doesn't seem terribly interested in it. Yue floats through with his usual grace, possibly followed by Felina.

"Gone goth, Yue?" he inquires, without looking up from the book in his hands. "Looks good."

"Rub it in, why don't you," the incubus pips. "From someone who looks like a queer elf-raver."

"My daughter would approve, I'm sure," Felina observes, mildly amused as she follows Yue in.

"Did you need something?" Ansendul, amused, still has his way of being to-business.

"Yeah. We..." And Yue explains the entire mess from top to bottom, leaving out his various dreamwalks of course. "And that is how it is. We were wondering what kind of offer we could make Stasiel."

Ansendul shuts his book and rises grimly. He walks down to Yue, looks up to her. Smirks, and honks her nose. "Idiot."

"Wha...?" Yue touches her nose, eyes full of confusion. "What'd I do?"

"Isn't your friend Minna about to become divine on your plane? Wouldn't that balance it out?"

Felina blinks. Twice. "I had...not thought of that. So a goddess balances a demon? It doesn't have to be an angel?" She pretty much keeps to the physical plane. Knows more about the rest than most mortals, but keeps her nose out of it for the most part.

"Well... a goddess is divine, as is an angel. It's just a difference of who created who. Besides. If you ever hear of an antithesis to a god, what is that antithesis? It's not a minion, that's certain."

"No...I suppose not." Fingers to forehead. Oh good lord this was made more complicated than it was. "See, this is why we ask you these things." She smirks, though she bows her head a little when she says it, and looks to Yue. "I think we need to talk to Stasiel. Before she goes to far with not having made this little connection."

Yue is just touching his nose, staring stupidly forward. He's never felt like such a fool in all hife life.

"Yes, you should. Get gone."

Felina takes Yue's arm gently to steer him towards the exit. "Cheer up. You just had your whole life handed back to you. Let's grab Ting first; she'll worry."

The incubus's nod feels like it takes a week to complete. All of that trouble. All the overseers, all the destruction, all the pain... for nothing. Their door opens, and he heads that way, quietly.

And so they're headed back to Korliss's Keep.