Serjil shakes his head, pressing a hand to his temple. Ugh. Stupid clumsy Jenna. He looks up, blinking in the light, and sees Adileh sitting up against the ruins of a great tower not too far away.

"Where did we end up," Serjil demands, out loud.

"Owww...." Adileh groans softly. Her head is killing her. She squints in the light too, swaying though her balance clears up almost immediately, looking around. That tower...sobering. Really sobering. As she's looking over the wreckage and then up, trying to imagine how high it had been, she stiffens at an airliner floating silently by far overhead, leaving trailing white cloud behind it. What the hell is that?

"Freeze! Both of you, stop right where you are!"

Serjil pops up at an authoritative voice, looking away from the plane and into the eyes of seven uniformed men holding black cylindrical things.

One of the soldiers, clad in Wyvern blue and gray, rushes up to point his weapon at Adileh. "On the ground. On the ground!"

"Hang on. I just came from there, and..." She stiffens suddenly. Hadn't she been holding her brother... "Kohim! Where's...Kohim!" She pays no more attention to the soldiers, distracted by the gaping loss.

"Get on the ground, now!"

Serjil glares at them with ice-white eyes. "What do you think you're doing, commanding me?" He holds up one arm, expecting a bright blade of white light to form there.

It does, but crackles, and dissipates. He blinks, stumbles. Feels dizzy. It's almost as if his power has been muted somehow.

"He's got a weapon!"

The oil stench of gun fire fills the air as five distinct pops sound almost at once. Serjil clutches his chest and stumbles backwards, agape, unsure of just what the hell is going on.

"Get on the ground, lady!"

Adileh's eyes are wide...confused. What...on instinct, she does sink slowly to her knees. "I don't understand. Who are you people? I mean, I'm your princess!"

The soldier looks at her. Tilts his head. "Um. Mademoiselle, you, ah... hm."

"What's going on here? Who's shooting?" The grainy voice of one Petrovic stills the soldiers in their tracks. He strides past them, pistol in hand, and stares down at Adileh. "Who are you?"

To name a few: beside herself, confused, and about to cry. "How does no one here know me? I'm Princess Adileh Shadrazar!" Her eyes widen a bit at his ear fins when she spots them. "Who are you people? What are you?"

Petrovic's jaw sets. "And this is the part where you go to sleep for a bit." He raises the pistol--a tranquilizer gun. Fires.

Adi yelps at the dart in her arm, wincing. Her wings flutter out just a little at panicked defensiveness. "How dare...ooo..." And this is the part where she goes to sleep for a bit.

---

When Adileh awakens, she finds herself lying on a fairly typical suburban home bed, as utterly discreet as it gets. Clock on the wall, fluffly sheets...

and a beautiful, blond fin-headed man sitting in the corner couch next to a svelte, pale and horned lady.

The horned lady looks up from attentive flirting and petting, to stillness for several seconds.

Then Adileh wakes up gasping, startled by nightmares. Her eyes dart one way, pausing at the utterly alien setting, then at the other. She says nothing for a few moments, just...takes in the pair. Horns...fins...? She shakes her head, just trying to calm down and get it together. She's royalty, after all. "Who are you?"

"We are the closest thing to royalty you'll find in this country," Revilier is quick to answer. He stands up, immediately in intimidating cop mode. "There was an explosion, and we found you at the site with another man. An associate said you displayed wings and told everyone you were a princess. Understand that if these things are true, then you are not where you came from."

Yin, for her part, just folds her legs and listens, letting her lover do his thing. She can be backup intimidation, if the need be.

"They're true," Adileh insists immediately. "I mean...I don't remember wings on purpose, but sometimes if I'm scared or startled..." she shakes her head. Getting off track, and how does she know they aren't enemies? "I didn't see any explosion. The man is...one of our guards. I think he might have betrayed us, but I don't know, and....I'm so confused." She closes her eyes, and forces herself to take several calming breaths. Opens them. "Where...are we?"

Revilier nods. Okay. She's very good, or legitimate.

"You are in Julen City, Julen. Do you know where that is?"

Her eyes darken a touch, staring ahead. "...No. No, I've never heard of it." She bites her lip. Stiffens, and looks up to Revilier quickly. This gives her pause for just a moment. She hadn't noticed before, hadn't really looked at him...he's severe. Really severe, but...god what a pretty man. A second later, she shakes her head, and gets her head back. "My brother. I was holding onto my brother's hand...he has normal hair and eyes." As opposed to her dark features, of course. "Where is he...?"

"The only two we found were you and a ghost-faced fellow who's lying in a hospital right now. There were no remains, though. Your brother was not with you and I can state this as a fact." Revilier sits in the chair again. "We need to find out who you are, and you need to know where you are. So you go first."

She hesitates. "Ghost-faced...?"

"He had white eyes and was pale, rather like my associate here."

Yin has to snicker inwardly. "Associate" indeed.

"...Oh. That was Serjil. The guard." The princess breathes out, scoots back a touch, and leans back on the headboard, posture fairly good despite the half-reclined pose. Thinks. "My name is Adileh of the Shadrazar line. My parents are sovereign over Diaspora, due in part to our half-human bloodline." Of course, to her, this sounds terribly impressive.

Revilier smiles a little bit. "Half-human, eh? Hm. There are five humans living next door, you know."

Adileh blinks slowly. "...Wait. Seriously? I..." trails off. She shakes her head. "This is...definitely not home. Half human, half angel is a big deal at home..." hand finds her forehead, trying to get some hair out of the way...and hide the confusion in her eyes a few moments while she gets it under control.

"Yes, well. I want to say I'm more interested in your problem than not at all, but... okay, I am, a little. We have to ask you some more questions, to make sure you're not lying, and then if you're being straight with us, we'll help you out." The general smiles that prize-winning smile of his. "Sound good?"

Adileh can't help it when her cheeks redden at the overwhelmingly attractive expression.

A corner of Yin's lips twitches upward. Yep. She certainly knows the feeling.

"Okay. Yes. Yes it does." She just barely manages to smile a little, just...where's the rest of my family is rather close to the forefront.

"We can't ask the other man any questions until he comes to. So. Get up. We have some clothes for you. Get dressed and come with us. We're going to get something to eat, and chat." He grins again. "Normally I don't do this. Being the supreme general here and all. But you warrant an exception. Yin," he turns that smile on her. "Would you show her the outfit and such?" I.E. girl talk and sneak some questions?

"Of course." She stands, and smiles at him. "But the boys need to exit first, despite himself." She grins at him, and heads over towards the closet.

The general heads out of the room. Doesn't matter, he has cameras anyway.

"Now...we need to get you looking more...inconspicuous, for the time being," Yin chats amicably like a doting attendant. "This is what I have picked out," here she lays out some jeans and a pretty shirt, "but you did mention wings. They aren't going to damage the clothing, are they?"

"No." Adileh shakes her head. "They're...ephemeral."

"Oh? That must be nice. Still manage to fly in tight spaces. Here you go."

Adi just nods a little as she takes the shirt to get dressed.

"These look about your size..."

---

A few minutes later, Yin steps out of the room as Adileh finishes getting her particulars sorted after having the clothign explained. Shuts the door...ostensibly for her privacy. She walks over to Revilier, and kisses his cheek. "Sorry, wanted to do that in the worst way earlier." She smiles at him.

"I can't decide if she's a brilliant liar or either truthful or insane." She ticks things off on her finger. "The wings, they don't touch anything, so she can purportedly fly even if there's not enough room to flap. Her diction's consistent. If she's acting her foreign-ness, she's perfect at it. She had her brother's hand coming through, but showed up with the guard. Rest of her family's unaccounted for. She lives in a giant tower. That's all I've got. What are you thinking?"

"We need to talk to the other guy," the general nods, blushing a bit from the kiss. "I'd like to see this flight in small spaces bit. Petrovic said they appeared at the center of the blast zone. Seems kind of odd, doesn't it? Suicide bombers without a scratch and packing cover stories?"

"It's even stranger to be bombing the bombed-out wreckage of Grace Tower," Yin agrees. "Anywhere else I'd think something was being covered up, but...well. There's nothing to cover, you know everything that went on in those walls, and we know positively what took it down. And, honestly, there are easier cover stories than 'I'm a half-angel princess.' Like, oh...I'm a travelling salesman of crodiles. The boom? Oh, they explode when irritated..." She shrugs. "She's out of her mind, trying for the 'insane' angle as a cover, or we have something odd on our hands."

"We can handle odd. As long as it's not another national crisis." The general grins. So. How's she look nekkid?" He snickers.

"Squishy but shapely. Also, has a mole on her ass I think you'd approve of. But it's hard to top scales." She winks, grinning as the door handle turns.

"I can top them." He winks back. "Hello there. What was your name again?" This is directed, of course, to Adileh.

"Adileh." She nods a bit. She'd grudgingly left her clothes folded on teh bed, but is holding the reasonably demure crown-circlet thing she wears in hand, unsure of what to do with it, but unwilling to leave it.

"Hm." Revilier takes a look at the thing, at her. "Yin. You're a girl. Does that look circlet look real?"

Yin mock-glares at him. If they were alone, she'd return with "you're a boy, do my boobs look real?" She glances at the circlet, and holds out her hand. "First impression says yes. But may I?"

Adileh hesitates a moment. it would just be the icing on the cake--and fit right in with the tone of the day--if someone ran off with her crown. But it's not like she has that much choice, honestly. It's the only good option. "Of course."

The vampiress turns it in her hands. "Well, to give you fodder for more jokes, the dragon in me is positive this is real gold. It's definitely not wyvern or draconic, though...it seems wrong for an actual metal-shaper to have done it."

Adileh is somewhat relieved to take it back. "Of course it wasn't. It was made by an angelic craftsman, his family has been making our crowns for three generations now."

"Maybe I can get him to work on that price albert I was looking into," Revilier snorts. "And also, Yin, the correct answer is it doesn't matter if boobs are real. Moving right along. What kind of food do you like, Adileh?"

Yin can't help but giggle behind her hand. Oh, he knows her so well.

Adileh brushes her hair behind her. It annoys the crap out of her, honestly, but long, untied hair is pretty much expected amongst women of breeding on Diaspora, and all but mandatory in her case. "Normal food. Tiktikki, riid, manta," three common meats. "I would have to take your word for it on preparation styles, I really have no idea what's available."

The wyvern blinks. "Oh. Um. What's your opinion of chicken?"

Adileh blinks in return. ...Okay. Yeah. Now they're posturing. But at least they seem to understand that she actually is royalty, to shell out for something so expensive. "Of course. I love chicken."

"Great. Yin, would you have a car brought around? I'd like to talk to her highness here for a minute." The general smirks a bit.

"Of course." His fiancee smiles, squeezes his shoulder, and heads out to get it done. You know. Pretending it takes longer than seven seconds.

Adileh, meanwhile, bristles a touch. Just because she deserves that sort of title doesn't mean that she's oblivious to sarcasm.

"I don't like processing people for citizenship," Revilier says when the door's shut. "It wastes time and money. Understand that if you are not an enemy of my nation, my aim is to get you home as soon as possible. But before we head out, I want to know what happened to bring you here the way you came."

Adileh nods a touch. Fair enough. Considers where to start a few moments, before looking back up to Revilier, trying not to notice how attractive he is. "My family can be reached in audiences once a week for a public audience, or by appointment. But once a month or for some special occasion, the entire royal family--my mother and father, the king and queen, my two older brothers, and me--are all present. That was today. Once they had ended for the day, we received one last caller, an ambitious man who's lifted himself from lower class to high nobility by the name of Jericho. He demanded that the king and queen abdicate, but my brothers...disagreed, to put it lightly. At that point, he turned to leave. Our guards, Serjil and Jensuela...let him, and approached my parents. Jensuela had a bag of some kind...said something about 'it wouldn't hurt, we would just end up somewhere else.' I..." here she trails off for a moment.

"I make clockwork dolls. It's my hobby. I had a little gryphon...I told it to grab the bag. It tried, but in the process, she dropped it. It hit the ground and some sand spilled out, and then this...vortex, exploded in the middle of the room. All of us were pulled in...my brother Kohim tried to save us, but...I guess we lost our grip on one another somewhere. And then I woke up in front of some...ruined tower. Met some military here, I think...and then woke up here. And that's everything."

Revilier takes all that in. He runs a hand over his ever-close-cut hair, considering.

"I want you to know that my instinct is to believe you. It's just pragmatism that makes me want to verify things, and I think you're smart enough to understand that." A small smile threads across his lips. "And trust me. We know all about political upheaval."

The general grasps the door handle. "I do know a guy who might be able to help you get home. We're not on the best of terms right now, unfortunately."

"Really?" She's immediately interested, of course. "Where can I find him?" She has to get back before that thrice-damned Jericho creep starts spreading rumors of their deaths or something equally dumb.

"Several hours from here by train. And you won't get anywhere near him if you try to go straight there. He's... hm." Revilier opens the door. "The little bastard has gotten quite paranoid in the last six months."

Adileh nods, though of course she can't know who or what he's talking about. "I would be insanely grateful for any help. I'm worried about what Jericho may do, and how soon. I'm not sure what power I will still have when everything is said and done, but I'm sure we could find some way to reward the aid." She bows her head a bit... not something she'd normally do.

The general nods. "Right. Moving on." He doesn't care for handouts, never has. 

With Adileh behind, Revilier heads for the car and, presumably, for food. He looks for Yin on the way.

She's leaning on the car, phone to her ear. "...yeah, I figured you'd heard. We're still trying to figure it out. Uh-huh. Thanks, Alou. If you could just keep half an ear to the ground," it's not like it looks pressing at this point, "for any others, that would be great."

"I am, sweet cheeks. And you'll never guess what just happened in Stuttgart."

Rev leads Adileh to the car, and gets the door for her. "After you."

Adileh pauses, not used to a vehicle that looks quite like this...but she's steeling herself to be ready for everything, and steps quietly into the car, seating herself primly and hoping she'd done it right.

"Taffy factory explosion?" Yin guesses. Of course she's interested, but levity is nice.

"Yeah, actually. How'd you know?"

Rev climbs in next to her. "Scoot, lady."

The driver adjusts his mirror. He's a thickly built Wyvern man behind dark shades and a goatee, very Jason Statham only with ear fins and, y'know, hair.

"Oh...of course." She scoots.

"I'm just that bloody good," Yin purrs. "What really happened?"

"An explosion at a taffy factory. It matched the description of the blast at Grace Tower where you found your chicky pie, only they didn't find anyone."

"Really...hm. Interesting. Thank you. Hey, I've got to go. Let me know if you need anything, right?"

"You still dating that blonde bitch?"

"I'll put you at the tip top of my rebound list, sweetie."

"Hell yeah. Later, baby."

Revilier whisper to the driver.

And the horn is quite abruptly honked.

And, predictably for someone leaning on the hood, she jumps about halfway out of her skin. Revilier may find the seat of his pants filled with ice.

"Gah!" He jumps up, blinks, and sits back down. "Um. Nothing. Nothing, YIN! Let's go, woman!"

Adileh blinks...and tries to hide a giggle behind her hand. Well, that settles any doubt that if Revilier's the king, she's the queen. In a...weird, kinda military-peasantlike kind of way. It's cute though.

"What was that, sweetie love?" Yin inquires as the door opens and she seats herself primly, crossing her legs and smiling a sweet-as-sugar smile at him. "You're feeling too hot?"

"Hey. I'm always too hot." He smiles when Yin gets in. "Alright, Johannes. Take us to the Palm in the Snow."

And the car roars that way.

"Now, Adileh. Do you think there's a chance you'll be followed here?"

"I quite honestly can't guess." She shakes her head. "Sirjil didn't seem to have any idea where we were, and since he and Jensuela were the ones supposed to be sending us away, that probably means that no one else knew this particular destination, either. Even if eyes were planned, they may take awhile to find us, and have multiple places to look if we were all separated. Honestly," and she hates to admit it, "I would be the lowest priority."

"Well, that gives us time anyway." Revilier looks out the window. "Driver. This is not the right way."

"Sure it is," Kaz's voice burbles from the driver's lips. "Just sit right still, fucker."

Yin stiffens a moment. Sits back, crossing her legs...closing her eyes mostly, glances quickly at the locks--yep, down--and finishes shutting them. "Hey there, Kaz. You found one of the others, then?"

Adileh is confused...though the hair on her back is prickled. It's been a trying day full of dangerous people, after all. "Is something wrong?"

"Just keep calm," Revilier tells Adileh. "Whatever you do, no panicking. Eh?"

"Nah. This is just for the hell of it," the bot-Kaz says. "So. How do you like Belgium?"

"Panicking? Of course not. Why, what is there to panic about?" She's trying to keep her cool, but this kind of thing clearly isn't something she's had experience in.

"It's alright. I couldn't get past the amount of beer in the blood, myself." Of course she's hit an alarm she has...but Kaz, no doubt, knows and has blocked the supposedly secure signal. "This is an awfully big international incident in the making. What's up?" It hurts to think that this used to be her friend.

"Needed to talk to you. I'm conflicted. Problem is, your boyfriend is still trying to kill me." Kaz's voice wilts. "So I had to make him helpless."

Yin sighs. Ugh. She wonders what Kaz has planned, though. If they're going out to lunch and make an unexpected trip for the border, they're going to be stopped, barricaded, and everything else a thousand times over. "So remote conversation isn't going to work?"

"Come on, Yin. Did you ever make up with a friend over the phone? It sucks. Okay? Sucks sucks sucks and who's the chick?"

Yin sighs...familiar humor tugging on heartstrings. She's quiet, though. She doesn't know what to do. She does miss Kaz. Doesn't want to be his enemy, either, but doesn't know that she's ever going to feel perfectly comfortable calling him her friend again. But her most pressing concern...she can't do what she wants to anymore. It's the good of the nation first. And this whole situation makes it a sharp concern that Menayen is still...loopy. "Is there some way to do this without making it an international incident?" she inquires softly. "Both of us going unaccounted for at the same time is not going to end well."

"Nah. You guys were overseeing a nuclear disarming test. I know people who know people. Look, I just wanna talk face to face. You and me and your bitch, and maybe that girl with you cause she's kinda hot not a perfect 10 like me, but hot nonetheless."

Adileh blushes at this.

"It's not that I don't want to, Kaz..." Yin notes, carefully, leery of a bad reaction...but last time I checked, you wanted him dead, too."

"Last time I checked, wyvern crazies were gonna blow us the fuck up if I didn't. God damn it Yin! He was gonna kill me, then they were gonna kill everybody. I... no. Shut up, shut up! We'll talk about this in Belgium."

Yin sighs, and leans back. Yeah. He's still unstable She ponders stopping the car. Either she or Revilier could do it, really...provided they got both the axels at the same time and didn't kill themselves. Her ice wouldn't be as reliable as she'd like with the others in the car. Revilier's metal would, though...damnit. She wonders if her "hey, give us a hand" signal had gone through.

Adileh, meanwhile, resists the urge to hug her knees. Now what had she gotten into the middle of...?

"Don't worry," Revilier sighs, "this is actually pretty common. I mean, not being kidnapped like this, but one way or another."

"This..." she pauses. "Then this, is a very strange kind of place, if you're royalty...."

"We're not technically royalty. Not a family line, anyway. This is sort of a military dictatorship on a voluntary basis."

"Oh." Adileh considers this. "That's...very unusual. Are you under a larger governance?"

As the princess works through puzzlement, Yin watches the fifth street bridge come and go. Well, damn. There are a three more checkpoints, but if Petrovic had gotten her distress signal and it hadn't been jammed, that would have been the first possible lockdown point. Granted, for a remarkably fast reaction by the military, but still.

"I suppose what I'm fishing for, Kaz," she finally notes quietly, "is assurance that both Revilier and I will be safe and not imprisoned at the end of this." She looks over to Adileh after a moment. "Not that I'm not concerned about you. I'm just not concerned about you. There's very little chance that you're in danger."

"I'm gonna say this one more time, and just one more time, so pay attention for once, Yin. Revilier. Is. Trying. To. Kill. Me. You're not getting shit for assurance because I haven't decided what I'm gonna do with him yet. Come on. If someone was trying to kill YOU, you would damn sure bet I would have tried to kill THEM. It's just not fair because it's blondie."

Yin nods inwardly. Okay. At about this time, thick, white noticeable patches of ice begin trailing their car...on one side, so that the people behind them keep traction with teh other wheel. Please, Petrovic, someone, take the hint. If I have to try to stop this thing myself, someone's liable to get hurt. Or someone behind us call 911 to report the disturbance. Something....

She just sits back, and closes her eyes. Ugh.

"Hey. Seriously. You know I've got this car monitored. Unless you want me to blow it up now, you'll stop with the ice."

Revilier glances at Yin. "He's watching from somewhere." The general glances at Adileh. "I don't support you can transport things with magic or some such?"

Yin grits her teeth a touch. The ice trails off. It's a vague hope that someone from their staff had been visually monitoring...but still a hope. We lost Millarca behind the dome, she observes ruefully. How nice to know that we have an appropriate replacement.

Adileh shakes her head a bit. Weird question...but then, they didn't seem to know much about her. "No. Um...I may--may be able to get this vehicle up off the ground, though. Would that help?"

"He'd probably detonate it." Revilier pauses again. "May as well just sit back and enjoy the ride."

Adileh hesitatesa bit, and nods. She sighs shakily. For someone sheltered her whole life, toughest trial generally the paces her brothers put her through teaching her to fight...it's been a very trying day. After a few moments, phantasmal wings flutter out, swinging through the other two to wrap around herself for comfort.

This certainly gets Yin's attention through generally unhappiness, the localized warmth as the wing passes through her. Huh. The girl doesn't know the meaning of discretion...or doesn't understand the need for it.

"I don't suppose you have wings anywhere else?"

Revilier has only partially asked that question when he realizes that Adileh is not the only glowing right now. Pale blue orbs float up from and surround him and Yin as well.

"Okay, kids. It won't do for you to know where you're going. So... I'm going to blow the car up in twenty seconds. Don't worry. You'll be transported first."

"Oh, hell," Yin sighs softly. National panic is fun. She flips open her phone. As expected, it has no signal. Closes it. Damnit. She just hopes his calculations are accurate. "Excuse me, sorry for this," she notes as she leans across Adileh, taking Revilier's arm tightly. She doesn't trust Kaz to transport him too after the conversation they'd just had. Crime of opportunity.

The blue orbs shatter, spilling glimmering grains of what looks like sand everywhere.

The car detonates.

to Clockwork City

---

When they appear next to the crash site in a pretty bunch of blue sparkles, Yin evaluates the situation a moment--the cops, the onlookers, the panicked security details of both she and Revilier. Fingers find the bridge of her nose. Oh joy. This will be fun to explain.

---

A quick cover story, Petrovic intervention, and a shower later, Revilier sits in a chair at the secluded home he shares with Yin when 'the ruling couple' needs to vanish. He sits quietly, looking the fireplace and just enjoying the way the crackling heat feels against his bare chest, hands set on the soft material of his exercise pants.

He's waiting for Yin to finish hers.

As per usual when she's been put under any unusual type of pressure, she'd mostly just punched the hell out of the poor bag right at first and, ultimately, had needed to make up on the normal workout. Finally, though, she finishes stretching.

Not long after, much cooler spots set to his chest in the form of two lithe hands. "Mmm...I'm glad that Ruseau was able to push back the fitting." Yin smiles down at Revilier from where her chin is sitting on the top of the chair, before her fingers trail up to his shoulders, rubbing gently. "He's such a diva, I swear."

The general's head leans back a touch, so he can smile up at her, the love of his life. "But Yin... would you really want a straight man tailoring your dresses? They would be made entirely of a scarf." He practically melts at her shoulder rub. "Come sit with me, darling," he purrs, patting his lap for her.

She smiles softly. Seems to wiggle just a moment as she shifts her feet and calculates...and then vaults herself straight up and over the chair.

...Catching her weight on the arm like a gymnast, before settling gently onto his lap. She grins impishly at the general. "Scared you." She kisses his jaw, and just settles contentedly to his chest, his chest, laying her head to the crook of his neck and gazing at the fire.

He smiles at this, chuckling, though his heart *is* beating a touch faster for it. He loops his arms around her, holding his beloved against his beautifully bare chest.

"Yes. But I love you anyway," he purrs for her, his free hand trailing lightly down her belly to rub the tightness between her belly button and mound of venus.

Yin smiles softly at this. She lives for these moments. Just being alone with him, and not having to worry so much about Julen. "Thank you for that, earlier," she finally notes softly, finger trailing idly on teh back of his forearm. "For listening to me in regards to Kaz, when you knew I would have gone along with your call on it."

Revilier thrums softly, that gentle drone all Wyverns make deep within their chests... rather like a purr. "You're going to rule this nation by my side, Yin. I want to ease you into having that kind of power... and I don't hate Kaz. I just don't trust him." He kisses her hair, that lustrous white he so adores. "I do trust you, though." His fingertips gently tug Yin's shirt up a bit, enough that he can idly scratch her belly.

She smiles up at him. God she loves that sound. "I don't really have any desire to be his friend again persay, after what happened. But it will be nice to not be his enemy instead." She beams at the fingernails playing gently over her abs, and wraps her arms gently around his forearm, keeping it there. She sighs contentedly and lays her head back to his chest, to the heartbeat obscured under that delicious thrum.

He holds her there, then, sensing that she does not want him the way he's starting to want her tonight. His thrum gets a little louder--blissfully, he vibrates a bit when he does this-- and just scratches her belly gently, reveling in her warmth, and coolness, and weight.

He's silent for a moment.

"Yin. I've been thinking," he purrs against her ear, "a lot. About us. About the times, and..." Say it, idiot. Come on.

"Well, I just... I... um... and things are so complicated right now, I..."

Say I want you to marry me tomorrow or I swear to God I'll keep doing this. I like dudes and dudes like me! I like dudes and dudes like me!

Revilier cringes.

"Yin. I want to marry you. Tomorrow night."

This certainly gets her attention. she looks up quickly, smiling fading to surprise, just...taking in his face. His expression. She thinks...considers. They were going to have two ceremonies anyway. The first for them, and very close family and friends. The second...an elaborate extravaganza for what really is a monumental event to the rest of the planet.

She's quiet, thinking. Considering a thousand things.

Finally, the smile returns slowly. "I love that about you," she observes softly. Doesn't expound, though. After a few seconds, the smile broadens, and she lays her cheek back against his skin. "I think...I agree. Tomorrow night."

He nods. Holds her more tightly against himself, and fails to keep a tear from his cheek. "I love you, Yinxirziji." It's all he can say, all he can think to say.

"I love you too, Revilier. More than anything." She clings softly to his chest.

It's silent for a bit. Then Yin's smile broadens. "I actually have my dress for our rivate wedding. I just didn't tell you because you can't see it yet, anyway." She cuddles in, fairly glowing with contentment even as she's physically drained from the workout. "Not until tomorrow."

---

Around ten o' clock the next morning, a suit-clad Petrovic knocks on their door with the particular coded knock they agreed upon.

"Come in," Yin calls from her bedroom. She's dressed--in everyday clothes...just working on her hair quite meticulously at the vanity.

Petrovic keys open the door, sighing. He worries that she's not taking her security seriously enough, of course, but...

"Good morning. Are you two still planning to attend the summit in Sweden tonight?" The wyvern locks the door behind him and lays a brown bag of groceries on the counter.

"Good morning. And no, there's been a small change in plans. Quiet stuff, though, so if you have any open cell phone conversations or whatnot, please cut them before I tell you about it." Yin is just as happy as can be, practically purring. She's getting married. She's...getting married. To the man of her dreams.

Petrovic does not like changes in plans.

He pushes the 'bug killer' button he keeps for things like this, a small lump on his watch that makes the various aural and video transmitters he wears stop sending all at once.

"I'm listening."

"Well, I should start by saying that there's an extra week of paid vacation in it for you..."

"You should start by coming to the point because buttering me up makes me nervous." Petrovic folds his arms. "Out with it." Yes, she's technically his boss. That doesn't mean he can't treat her like a daughter figure.

Yin snickers. Petrovic does so amuse her. Poor bastard. "In light of everything that's happened recently, Revilier asked me last night...that we get married today. This evening. We don't really know if we'll both be alive until the proper wedding date, honestly." She looks over at Petrovic...he's just visible through an arched entryway from where she's sitting. "So yes. This is just for us. No official titles will be changed until the state wedding happens. We've decided to leak it into the information networks because it's in their best interests to keep it quiet and this way they won't be snooping for a scandal they suspect, but the media is not to get ahold of it."

Petrovic cringes a bit, but nods. Okay... this had been coming for a while. He should have been ready.

"Have you decided who you wish to invite, or shall I find a minister to threaten with death into silence?" His answer surprises even himself for its lucidity--as opposed to freaking out.

Yin, for her part, is impressed. "I undecided, though I have about three hours to figure it out by my count before it will become to late to fly people in. My father and some clan members are already coming to the state wedding...they don't know it isn't the real one. I'm honestly leary of having much in the way of family there...I'm not sure if his daughters' absence will prod Revilier's feelings in the wrong way."

Petrovic steps closer to her room, but not inside, in case she's not dressed well enough. "In my opinion," he begins, speaking like a soldier, "the only ones present at this should be the two of you, the required master of ceremonies, and one witness. Soze, I, or Alou, as you prefer."

Yin nods. "That's about what I was thinking. I do want Alou to be there, I'll call him in just a few minutes. You're welcome too, you'll likely be there anyway. Soze...well, we don't need three, but he's a sucker for this big, sappy, dramatic moments. I think he'd enjoy it almost more than Revilier and I, it may be a nice gesture, though we'll see. It depends on how inconspicuous he's feeling today. I believe Revilier is also inviting General Renoir and a retired officer, friends for a very long time."

She looks to the door. "I'm decent, you can come in. Also, I'm impressed. Isn't this the part where you're supposed to be freaking out and wondering aloud if the draconic high council is hiring?"

"I am a soldier. Those things go on inside where they cannot hurt anyone but my future wife who will have to deal with a splendid set of Yin and Revilier induced neuroses."

Yin can't help but titter at this. Despite a flutter of nervousness, she really is in a tremendous mood. "Fair enough. I was serious about the week's paid vacation, though. Additionally, if the media doesn't catch on, I'll send you anywhere you want to go from my own pocket." And she really does have fairly deep pockets, with her house long paid off and not paying any of her own expenses for several years.

Petrovic smiles a little, corner-smile. "I planned on that anyway. But my pockets are probably deeper than Revilier's and yours combined." His smile broadens. "So I would not worry about that."

"Well, it's your call, but the offer stands." Yin's still smiling. She really is beside herself with anticipation. She turns in her chair once this lock of hair is properly pinned, retrieving a piece of paper and holding it out. "Revilier and I have made many of the superficial arrangements ourselves. Picking an appropriate magistrate, reserving a small church under a pseudonym and false occasion, etc. I jotted down all of the pertinent information here. I'll call Soze in about an hour--he was working late tonight, anyway, so he's coming in late this morning--and get him working on starting to button down the media."

Petrovic considers this quietly. "If no one knows about it, there will be no media. But I suggest you take it to Tarantella if you want to be especially secretive."

Yin smiles a bit. "Already done. I visited a very pretty church there once with Alou, that's where we'll be gettng married."

Petrovic nods. He starts to say something, but stops, looking around quiet suddenly, head snapping to a flash of glitter in the corner.

Out of the flash emerges a gorgeous, raven-tressed fallen angel in an absolutely slut-tastic sorceress outfit; what amounts to a black bikini with fang-shaped ivory bits holding it together and a cape with faux pauldrons, blood red on the inside, leaving very little to the imagination. 

Thank goodness he can change his figure when he wants to wear something like that, now.

"I... heard... wedding, dears."

Yin blinks. "It's okay, Petrovic, the gun's not necessary." She finally titters once she's over her shock, and goes back to meticulously brushing out the next section of hair she's going to be working with. "Good morning, Yue. Yes, we're jumping the gun with our private ceremonies before the state affair."

"Fantastic. I demand you allow me to take part." 

Petrovic puts his gun away. Doesn't take his hand off it, though.

Yin cocks an eyebrow, smile similarly quirked. "Let me preface any answer by noting that this is going to be an extremely quiet affair. Priest and witnesses, and changing out of my dress before leaving the church." Yue seems like...a bells and whistles person. "No one can know about it."

"Oh, actually, I was interested in officiating." Yue smiles a sultry smile for Yin and Petrovic, who gets a little lip-lick to go along with the smile.

Officiating by a demon...? Yin has no idea how to say no, Yue can be an extremely...insistant person. "We already have a priest," she finally notes. "I would need to ask Revilier about the change."

"Oh, I am just sure he'll agree. Why would you ever get a religious official when you could have a genuine representative of both sides of the theological spectrum?" Yue strolls over to Petrovic, looking him over.

His gun makes that lovely clicking noise.

Yue just purrs. "Tease."

"Seriously, Petrovic, that won't end well," Yin notes, glancing over to him. "I don't really want to rush you to a burn ward. Meanwhile, Yue, there is something you can help with."

Yue turns her head, resting his crystalline greens on Yin. "And what is that, darling?"

"Well, this was decided just last night. It wasn't supposed to be for another month and a half yet. In such..." she smiles a bit. "I don't have shoes, and hadn't fully settled on my hairstyle."

Yue's expression only changes a little bit. It's just a slight cock of an eyebrow.

"Don't. Even. Breathe." He strolls over to Yin's side.

"Give me the foot."

Yin restrains both an eye roll eye and a giggle. She's quite amused, but hey, he'll certainly do a good job. She shifts a bit to hold up a foot.

Yue kneels, taking it. His long, pale fingers roam over it, measuring it, debating it.

Petrovic just shakes his head. Another coded knock at the door, and he opens it to let Revilier in.

"Good morning, Petrovic holy shit!" Revilier blinks at the sight before him.

Yin snickers. "I had a markedly similar response, actually. I didn't expect to see you back this early, though, did you cut the meeting short?" She smiles at him.

"Quite," he answers back, just watching for a moment. Revilier the male in action.

"Yes, quite," Yue purrs. "She has glorious feet. And I have ideas, but I will need to see the rest of the outfit."

"Sure." Yin beams at Revilier as she stands, though. "You're banned from the bedroom for the time being, though. Not allowed to see the dress before the wedding," she purrs. Stands to head into the larger bedroom, waits for Yue, and shuts the door.

"...the boys will love the speculation, anyway," she snickers softly as she heads for the closet.

Revilier looks at Petrovic. "If she doesn't put it on, no problem."

Yue's wings flutter a bit against his back. "I would think you would dress like I am now for a proper wedding. But then, few can pull this outfit off."

"I'm not one," Yin assures...for the sake of argument, anyway. She searches to the back of a closet for a garment back with a lock on it. Snoopy wyvern, and all. A minute later, she carefully withdraws the dress, though she can't hold it high enough that the train doesn't drag. "Here we are."

Yue looks it over, considering it, top to tail.

"You are so conservative for such an on-the-surface "sultry spy cliche" darling." He touches the material, considers it. "Glass shoes. Do you like heels?"

"I don't mind them. I'd admit I've never worn glass heels, though, it sounds a touch on the hazardous side."

"If it is typical glass, yes. But when it comes to clothing, I could literally have you wearing a cloud if I wanted." Yue considers this. "Actually..."

Yin snickers. "I really like my dress, Yue. Will be sticking with that one."

"Yes, I'm sure," Yue chuckles. "Alright, then. Glass heels, but they will be filled with clouds. And I will bind your hair with golden links and a gem to put this planet's diamond wealth to absolute misery. A polished sapphire, cut with angel tears to streak it with glitter and gold..."

She does go on.

Yin smiles a bit. Well, at least she has competent help with the preparation thing. She's still opposed to the idea of Yue officiating, but she certainly seems happy to be involved with this part. "White gold would be a boon if it's not what you mean," she puts in, smiling a bit. "It's always been a marked preference, and more than that in this case, my ring is white gold." She holds it up. "I'm not sure what the wedding band itself looks like, but I'd imagine it's just an accent of some sort to this one. This one's shaped suspiciously like it's part of a wedding set."

"White gold would be difficult to see in your hair, dear," Yue notes, "and I trust you have better plans than to go with a traditional veil."

"Yes, but silver beading and embroidery on the dress, silver ring...it just doesn't work. It shows up surprisingly well...take something from my jewelry box and test it, you may be surprised."

Yue huffs a bit. "I will take your word for it. You will look like a ghost, though."

Yin smiles a bit. "Oh, come on. You're way too good for that. I do like blue..."

Yue considers this. "Instead of this lace choker, you must wear jewels. A topaz cluster, sky blue, set in white gold."

Yin beams. "Now you're talking. That sounds lovely." She's practically allergic to yellow gold.

Yue bristles a bit. "Then I will wear real gold. Ugh. Well then. What about this hair?"

"Honestly, I don't have a clue what to do with it. I've been making myself crazy over it, but just can't decide. I just know that it can't be a full updo...Revilier likes my hair down too much for that. I was thinking about pushing its natural wave more than usual, too."

The succubus looks the hair over. Ponders it.

"I think you should cut it."

This gets a cocked eyebrow. Yin loves her butt-length hair. Pause. "Well, what do you have in mind?"

Yue looks it up and down. "You have a slim figure, and strong face. Something almost military short would emphasize your horns, give you a very stately look."

Yin rubs the back of her neck, hesitant. "I'm not sure what Revilier would think...or what I would." She admits. "It seems like a really dramatic irreversible change to make right before one of the biggest events of my life."

"You're probably right. Ah, well." Yue rubs his own neck. "Don't wear it up. It's such a dramatic part of your look. Braid it in one heavy braid."

"Mm...that's actually more or less consistent with some of the pictures I'd clipped. Here, let me find those..." Yin stands and heads over to a book, and pulls out a handful of the pictures she's clipped in the last month or so, and holds them out.

"Honestly," Yue answers quickly back, "leaving it loose and flowing would be attractive, as well. Do remember that your darling man will only have to unbind it for the wedding night, anyway, if you put it into something complicated." He looks at the snippets. "The third one seems most appropriate to your length, darling."

"I can see that." Yin gazes at the picture. "It will also be less artificial-looking with my hair, since it's fairly thin." She smiles a bit. Looks to Yue. "So. Can you make it happen?"

Yue tuts softly. "I could style that on you even if you went bald first, dear. Just say when."

"Well...how long will you need?"

The demon shrugs her shoulders. "A while. But I work faster than anyone you will ever encounter here."

"Mm..." Yin ponders aloud. "Probably before we leave for the church then. I can always wear a hijab to gently cover it, I've been known to do that from time to time anyway. So...about four-thirth? We'll leave about six."

"Fine, fine. I'm sure it will be a very beautiful, very pale ceremony." Yue smirks. "Enjoy your nuptials, darling."

Yin grins. "It's my pleasure. So, since you know, is Troix coming? Also, did she decide whether she wants to stand as a bridesmaid for the state ceremony?" Lot of discussion that was, where to include the oddball mixed-race creature under the eyes of the planet.

"Troix plans to be one, yes, given the proper provisions. She does not want to detract from your day by drawing too much attention."

"That's sweet of her. Well, I'm sure whatever you lot plan will work out fine. I still haven't decided on bridesmaid's dresses, though. Do you think she'd like to come to the private version tonight? She's welcome if so."

I don't know. I do think you should not invite many to this one, though." Yue preens a bit. "Leave the festivities for the honeymoon."

Yin titters appreciatively at this. Ah, yes, her surprise for Revilier. "We're not. The offer stands since you know, she'll get it out of you somehow, she always does, and I don't want her to feel left out. There are virtually no friends or family coming...one friend of mine who lives in town, Petrovic--who will be handling security anyway, a friend of Revilier's, and possibly our press secretary."

"If she comes, she comes, then." Yue glances at the door. "The boys have probably made up all sorts of delicious fantasies by now. We should not keep them waiting forever."

"Yes...I think it's been long enough for a quickie." Yin snickers. She puts away the dress, zips it up, and heads back out to the main room.

Yue smiles a bit at that. "You have no idea, darling. None whatsoever." He tosses his hair and poofs away, in a cloud of fading sparkles.

Revilier is sitting in the front room, talking to Revilier about something business-y, when Yin returns.

"Good morning again, you."

"Good morning. Mmm..." She folds her hands in front of his chest from where she stands behind the chair. "How do you not have coffee at this hour? Want me to get you something?"

Revilier leans his head back some. "Just you. Come here."

He pats his lap, and Petrovic heads for the stairs.

Yin grins at poor Petrovic--though he's used to it, his job is a mix of absolutely boring and awkward and insanely intense and difficult--and seats herself on her lover's lap. "There is some coffee made if you want any, Petrovic," she notes.

"Thank you." And he goes that way. Yeah. He's glad he has little interest in other peoples' sex lives and cuddling. 

Revilier, on the other hand, gathers his beloved as close as he comfortably can. "I love you, Yin. Even if you are flirting with a demon."

"An attractive female one," she corrects. "Come on, you can't say that's not a little hot."

Revilier hugs her a little tighter. "It is. But you with anyone would be hot."

"I know one who's a case in point," she purrs. "I have a surprise for you, too."

Revilier's brow arches a little at that. "Oh? What sort of surprise? Or must I interrogate you?"

She can't help a grin at this, and her pale hands settle to his chest. "Please," she purrs.

Her general needs little prompting. His hands begin to move up and down her back, circling, rubbing, caressing, up, and down, down, until one hand curves around her bottom.

With the other arm, he pulls her gently toward his lips to kiss.

"Mm..." she's more than happy to kiss him. Softly, quickly harder.

He returns it with a little more pressure, breathing in her cold breath, his heart tingling with love for this woman, this exotic, delightful woman. His hand glides across her gently curved bottom, down along her outer thigh until he can begin to push her skirt up a little. His kiss deepens, chest beginning to rise and fall faster.

And then, a small smile breaks the gentle pucker of his lips. His head dips, lips lighting with golden energy as the press neatly to Yin's neck--

-- just as his roaming hand reaches under her skirt to the rear waistband of her underwear. His fingers blaze gold as they sneak beneath, and he runs the index finger gently along the valley between her tight, gorgeous globes.

"Ah..!" Yin catches her breath, cheeks quickly taking a bright red, a laugh catching in her throat. Exactly the same as that first time.

He can't help but laugh, too. Revilier has always loved doing things for Yin; he can't help it. He's fixated, and always has been.

And so his glowing hand strokes and pets, dipping low to brush a certain special part of his beloved just so as his lips massage her neck.

A bit under a minute later, before he can get too hard and absolutely squirming from the pleasure of it all, Yin finally loosens her lips from her lover. "Okay...okay," she laughs softly. "I have an appointment I shouldn't break in like...half an hour. But we'll pick this up again later." She kisses him one last time, absolutely in love with this man."

"Now. About that surprise." She beams at him, and reaches around to rub his back. "You know how you have a free weekend this weekend?"

He smiles at her, just smiles. He's used to that, too, and doesn't mind in the least.

"Yeah," he almost pants, smiling into her eyes. "What about it, love?"

"Well. I took the liberty of poking my nose into your schedule for Friday and Monday. Everything was pretty transitive to me, except for one, so I did some digging. My little birdies tell me that Colonel Sint is slacking behind quite a bit on his reports and concerned that he wasn't going to be properly prepared for your meeting Monday. I had it moved to Tuesday and convinced him it was his fault because you wanted complete results, then juggled the rest. Also," she purrs, "we may have a very nice suite reserved for four nights on an isolated little island in the Mediterranean." Honeymoon.

Revilier knows exactly what to say to that, and does, when his smile turns into another deep, loving kiss. Hands in safe places. Just... an affectionate, amorous embrace.

Her expression melts, eyes sliding shut. She kisses him, just...loves him, adores him.

---

"Where is this meeting, Yin?" Revilier asks a few minutes later.

"It's at the conference center adjacent to the Four Seasons. Since they were more or less forced to at least back off of assassinating me, for the moment, discussions are in motion about assigning a new draconic ambassador since I'll be biased. It should only take a couple of hours, I think...it's a brunch meeting." She wrinkles her nose. "Always awkward when they wonder why I only drink things. I have another appointment soon after, but it shouldn't take long." I should be done by one."

The general nods. It's their schedule, really; a few minutes for love, then official stuff for a day or three.

"Just tell them it's how you can keep that stellar figure," he laughs. "All you eat is donuts to keep your curves funded."

"Oh, don't joke," Yin mock-groans as she straightens her collar. "I've been written up in two major magazines already that I know of speculating about my anorexia."

"Perhaps you should start drinking fat-person blood?"

"I need to watch my cholesterol, beloved." Yin titters and slips off of Revilier's lap, kissing his hair and ear. In the same kiss, actually, those fins are funky. "I'll see you in a bit. We have an awfully big evening planned, anyway." She beams, blushing just a touch. Big day!

He, of course, still blushes a little at her. She's his world, after all.

"I'll meet you at the altar, Yin," he quietly promises her. "I love you, my little dragon."

"I'll be counting the minutes. I love you, too." She smiles softly at him, kisses his hair once more for good measure, and then heads over to call up the stairs where a wyvern and cup of coffee had headed. "I'm leaving now, Petrovic."

The soldier appears in an instant, of course. "What is this meeting about, if I may inquire?"

"My resignation from 'draconic ambassador' as official duty position and my replacement."

"Ah... I see. Are you nervous?" Petrovic opens the door, peers outside.

"Yes and no. It does represent another severed tie, but the position was always for posterity anyway. My only concern is who they'll choose for a replacement. Someone sane, I hope."

Petrovic smirks a little. "Nowadays? It would have to be me if you wanted that, or no one."

Yin snickers as she finishes straightening her hair, and heads for the door when he gives the okay. "Well, we'll have to see how good you look in horns."

"We may just." He steps out with her, unlocks his car's doors. Petrovic generally drives a scratched up VW Bug with tinted windows; a fairly nondescript vehicle, of course. "Are you driving?"

"Yeah, sure. I've been chauffeured all week, it would be a nice change." Yin takes the keys, and they're heading off in that direction bfore long.

Petroic watches the other cars go by. Thinking, wondering where all of this mess will eventually lead.

For now, it leads to the Draconian Embassy.

---

When they get back, Yin's hair is looking absolutely pristine and Petrovic is looking...buzzed. "You stay with me," she purrs. "I don't want to explain to Revilier why you're inebriated, though I can very well, and it won't hurt anything anyway." She's not getting naked, after all. any such worries are totally beyond her, though...she just feels obscenely good, these are just casual thoughts as she rifles through the closet for a soft, light, pale blue head scarf to fold oh-so-gently over her hair after one last peek at it. When this is tucked, she heads to the bedroom for supplies.

When all is said and done, Yin's nails are perfect--filed, buffed, sealed, and shiny, but not painted, with a tiny, clear rhinestone glued to the tip of each--as is her makeup. It's very minimal...the faint touches of color just enhance natural features and the whole effect leaves her alabaster skin absolutely flawless without a painted effect. She'd considered her lips, as she held her usual mocha lipstick...and then sets it aside, opting instead for a faint blue lip gloss to enhance out the true color. Revilier is certainly familiar with it...and he's taught her to like it, over the years.

The final touch...a sprayed pattern of small, diamond-esque bits of ice crystallize outward from her eyes. Not too heavy, not too light, just...very exotic. She has to smile a bit at her reflection.

She breathes out, and finally gets into her gown...behind a screen, of course, since Petrovic has his senses back together. She clips it in a way that it won't show from under a long coat while they travel--she'd experimented with this for an hour last night--but will hide the wrinkle from it when she lets it back down.

Yin breathes out, and checks the clock. Yep. It's almost time to go. She slips on a long, pale blue overcoat, and buttons it over her dress.

"All right...I think I'm ready. I also have jewelry and some plain white shoes if Yue's forgotten...though I seriously doubt it. They won't show anyway."

"This may be odd timing, but have you chosen a maid of honor, Yin?" Petrovic blinks. This just occurred to him. "Or will you have one?"

"If Troix comes, she'll be it. Otherwise, I won't have one. It's kind of moot for tonight, though it will matter in the public version." She grins at him. "Unless you want to be it. We can probably alter one of my Islamic bits pretty quickly into a dress that will fit you."

"Ha ha clam up white wedding," Petrovic rumbles in his best Billy Idol impression, which is quite horrendous. "We need to get going, if you're going to meet Alou."

"Yeah." Yin breathes out, slips on a pair of white satin heels, and grabs her purse. "Alright, off with us. Is Revilier meeting us there, or are we going together?"

"He's meeting us at the altar, apparently. Believes in not seeing the bride in her gown, and all that."

Yin smiles a bit. "That's sweet. Alright, then...off with us." She breathes out, and heads downstairs.

Petrovic gets the door for her, and they're bound for a Tarantella Church.