A high-class establishment at the edge of a certain nameless city on the outskirts of Ilitair, The Seven Suns Inn caters to all sorts of travellers. Mostly Ionnyan travellers, but some Kieen as well. At the moment, its west wing doubles as an infirmary, catering to those who were wounded in the recent battle just outside the city walls. It is foofy as hell, however, the bartender keeps some levity to it.

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Castle Dothaven
Dothaven Quarters
Seven Suns Inn
Dothaven Temples

Suns Archive I

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Feels like Momo's out on an errand of some sort. Good, good...she'd as soon not have her "little sister" around for this dastardly deed. For now, a certain petite serinian clad in grey training garments with a black sparring breastplate shows up in the inn, accompanied for the customers' sakes with a "of course I was here a minute ago, you just didn't see me" psychic suggestion. She looks around for Yue. It's not like he's ever hard to miss.

"... just like this. And then you give her a tip, and take her home." Clad a foofy, neon pink evening gown and streaming with yellow and mint ribbons, Yue has a better chance of being mistaken for a parade float than being missed. The circle of men around him twitters as a whole, most of them fake of course. They're more interested in what's under her skirt - if only they knew.

Yue himself takes note of a familiar energy signature.

"Felina?"

"Mm-hm. You're looking colorful today, Yue," she observes.

"Today is Momo's birthday," the angel explains, swishing his hair so that ribbons fly everywhere. "Hence the crowd of drunks." A few of the men whistle. "At least they have good taste. I take it you are not here for the festivities, oh ye of battle garb?"

"Oh." Felina glances down. "Heh, right. Just finished sparring, and...wait." Blinks. "Momo's birthday? Since when?"

"Since I found out this morning." Yue sets his drink down - peppermint long island iced tea, actually - and chuckles when someone snatches it up to look at the lipstick on the rim of the glass. "She seemed unusually sulky, sitting alone in her workshop. I asked, and she would not tell me. Of course not. So I hired a telepath to find out. She doesn't know I know, but this gathering should tell her that well enough."

Felina sighs. "I swear to god...what were the chances of me having a date tonight?" She smiles wryly, conflicted. It would mean a lot to Momo if she were here and she knows it, but...Kaies is already hurting and...well. Fuck.

Yue's painted lips twist into a dripping smile. "A date? And aren't you agnostic?" He blinks, though, and one cam almost see the porch light firing up in his brain. "Bring him with you. This is an inn, you know. Private rooms."

Felina blinks slowly. "It's a far cry from what I had in mind, but...not a bad idea, really. Actually, I came here because I have a favor to ask you, provided you let me live it down in, oh, a decade or less."

This gets the angel's attention perfectly, of course. "What did you have in mind? Would you like a drink while you build up the nerve to ask?"

"Nah. I actually, ehm...needed someone to do my hair."

He very nearly trips.

"Lies! Sweet, golden, honey drenched lies!" Yue's eyes sparkle, bright and big and expressive. "You are kidding, aren't you?" Yue would *love* a chance to get at Felina's hair. He adores it, and there's so much of it, but she's always so obstinate about it.

Felina has to snicker, but her cheeks are redening. "Ehm...no, I'm not. Mara's sticking me in a skirt suit, too."

"Felina, I would love to do your hair. I... oh stars! I need to think. May I? Oh, Felina, I just..." and so forth. She's so excited that she nearly steps on a man's foot, and starts to slip before one of her ribbons is tugged forward.

"Hey!" A tiny little sprite flits there, holding the ribbon. "Careful!"

Yue nods a little, then looks back to Felina. "Felina Deyono, this is Ivera Miracle. Congratulations, you have met someone shorter than you."

"Not by much," the serinian assures the sprite, amused. "A pleasure, Miss Miracle."

"Hi! So what's this about hair?"

Yue shoots her an icy glare. "Oh no, not this time. These lovely locks are mine to style, and just mine, for once."

The sprite pouts, hands on her hips. "Fine. I'll just turn you into a muskrat later. Or something."

The angel rolls his eyes. "Felina. When do you need this?"

"Well, he's napping now, or should be...I'm hoping to be mostly presentable by the time he's not, or at least not too terribly long after."

Miracle turns a loop in the air. "I'll get the hair stuff! At least I can watch!"

Yue nods to her, intent upon Felina's tresses. "So... how do you want it? Trimmed, evened out? Highlighted? Streaks? Braids? Dreadlocks, mohawk, no. No style touches that head except for a half updo and... a little wave." He's nearly ecstatic. How long he's waited for this!

"How should I know?" Felina laughs a little...at least assured that she's in good hands, if nothing else. "You're talking to someone who's worn slight variations on a ponytail virtually every day since she was a teenager. I'll leave the style up to you. I just...want to look nice." It's really important to her that, no matter how it ends up going down, tonight is very special.

"You will. Come along. The actual party isn't for four hours." Yue grins. "It'll take at least one to do your hair."

"An hour for hair?" Felina blinks. "Are you serious?" Okay, so she's new at this stuff.

Yue nods. "Unless I do something elaborate. That is my fastest time with hair your length, for an updo."

"Just out of curiosity," Felina inquires as she follows along, "how long do you spend on your hair each day?"

"I drop by the maze and work on it for a few hours," Yue answers smartly. "All of my dressing and hygiene takes place there, every day, for about five hours - bathing, waxing, plucking, lotions and oil, cream wraps, manicure, wardrobe, makeup..." He tilts his head. "It is worth it."

"I...own a brush," she offers, smirking.

Yue smirks right back. "I will do your hair so well you will spend the last minutes of the styling engrossed in a screaming orgasm. This way." And he swishes back towards the parlor where he and Momo share a bedroom and private kitchen.

This makes Felina blush again. Okay, so she's getting her hair done to seduce her boyfriend and the wording was entirely too close. She follows along quietly, observing the fanfare. "So why do you suppose Momo wouldn't let on that it was her birthday?

"She is a strange little girl. I would hazard a guess that something awful happened to her on her birthday, considering the way she's lived her life." He leads her into the open, tremendously girly parlor - not through Momo's direction, though there are gun racks on the walls - and fishes plastic cloth from a cupboard.

"Have a seat," he gestures towards a cushy, leather chair, "but spread this out first. You need a trim."

"Come on, Yue. Split ends are the new sexy." She pulls off her long hair tie and brushes it loose lightly with her fingers.

Yue blushes, staring. "Gods..." he breathes, "... such lovely hair...!"

Miracle flies back into the room a moment later, followed by a tranquil-looking woman clad all in gray. Her eyes are gray, as well. As is her hair. The woman is carrying a box full of equipment for styling.

"Ooh..." the sprite grins. "Gonna play with that!"

"Sit, my dear" Yue asks again, transfixed.

Felina smiles a small greeting at the newcomer, and then just does as bidden.

Yue, attended by Miracle and the woman whom Miracle introduces as 'She', gets to work. First, he spritzes Felina's hair and combs any tangles out - not nearly as many as one might expect - talking to her about nothing the entire time. He evens up the ends of her hair first ("Conditioner will help that") and cleans up the back of her neck ("You are not quite as furry as one might suspect, so your neck should match") before stepping back.

"We need help," he nods. "She, Miracle. Would you two get me three bottles of beer and a basin?"

Felina raises an eyebrow. "I thought the party wasn't until later?"

The others leave, and are back in jhust a moment. "We are giving your hair a beer bath, Felina." The basin is set on a stool, and Yue leans the chair back carefully so that the bulk of Fel's tresses pool in it. "It's good for you."

Felina shakes her hair in mild, amused disbelief. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you hardly realize you have hair," Yue grins. "This is going to feel strange." He pops the tops, setting each on his nearby table, and gently urges Felina's head back. Mindful of her ears, he slowly begins to pour the grain gold liquid past her forehead, fingers threading through her hair.

"Feels nice and smells like a grain refinery."

Yue chuckles, brushing through her hair with clerical precision. "I don't know how or why this works. But it does." He pours until all three bottles are empty and then... "Now, this is going to make you feel a little strange. Bear with me."

Yue begins, slowly and gently, to massage the liquid into her scalp. He takes his time and, as it turns out, is fantastic at it.

"So," he whispers, working quietly, "tell me about this man you have found?"

Felina's cheeks color just the slightest bit, but in a good way. "We met about six years ago, I was on his world on business. Some nasty stuff went down, I ended up getting my power sealed off by a high level curse. He helped me out to get things finished...afterward, he wanted to stay with me, to protect me." Felina's eyes soften and smile a bit at the memory. "He owns an inn on the nether plane now...fluent in summoning, curse magic, and necromancy, although he's far too pretty to be involved with any of those. I don't know how long we've 'officially' been dating, but...it's awhile." Closes her eyes, a faint smile set upon her lips. "He wants to build a house together."

"How utterly delightful! And... what does this fortunate stud look like?" Massage, massage... rinse. Shampoo, rinse, beer, rinse, conditioner, leave in, rinse, dry... style.

"Huge. He's three of me, minimum." Felina laughs softly. "He's human, looks like he's in his late twenties... taller than you, with a broad chest and shoulders. Very solid musclature, not an ounce of fat on him. He has long, very dark brown hair--it looks black in most lights--and strikingly blue eyes...just the littlest bit baby-faced, very much a pretty boy. Also, he has white tattoos travelling down his neck, chest, and arms."

"My stars," Yue clicks his tongue, "he sounds delicious. Aren't you afraid a tank like that will break you, my fragile kitten?"

"I think he's afraid that he will," Felina concedes. "I, personally, will take my chances."

"Daring, I see!" With Miracle's help, Felina's hair is dried all but instantly. Yue pulls it up, wondering just what he's going to do with all of it. A few pins, a little spritz, and a crowbar later, and he's off to work setting it into a half-updo.

"Are you scared?"

"Of?" So many things that could have alluded to.

"Anything." It was a general question.

Her cheeks colour a little. "I suppose." Her gaze is fairly far away. Some moments later... "this evening...really needs to go well, I think."

"You talk like things are not going right, somehow," the angel observes. Curl here, wrap there. Spritz. "You can tell a hairdresser anything, you know. Miracle will forget, and She can't speak, so your secret is safe."

Felina smiles at him a little. Yue really is a good friend. She finally shrugs a little. "It's just...well, you're pretty familiar with my assorted social hang-ups, and you can take a wild guess at my intimacy ones. We've..." to say it or not to say it? Eh...Yue's Yue. "Never managed to sleep together, and Kaies often ends up thinking that my various breakdowns are his fault and blaming himself, when they most certainly weren't. I really don't know why he's stuck with a screwball like me all this time, much less continued to be absolutely sweet and wonderful and accomodating at all times, but...I want to be able to show him how much I really appreciate and love him with more than hallow words." Pause. Eyes travel up to Yue, with a slight smirk. "Yes, yes...doing my hair to seduce my boyfriend."

Yue nods throughout all of this. He can understand, indeed... knowing how Felina is. 

"You think that doing your hair is going to keep you from having a breakdown, Felina?" No subtlety with Yue, anyway. "If he is in the middle of you, what then?"

"No. I need to do that, and...I think that I can. The hair...I want to show him that I'm really trying. And willing to change and work towards fixing myself. I don't want to be a lost cause." The last part, though the tone is more or less even, manages to embody the bastard child of vehemence and fear.

"Have you ever consented with a man, Felina?" Yue decides that the subject needs careful steering, here. Wraps her hair some more.

Again, the cheeks colour a touch. "No."

"Has he?" Yue stops, when Miracle whispers in his ear. "With a woman?"

Felina smirks a little at the qualification, then nods. "He was married, a long time ago."

"Let him do all the work, then," Yue nods. "Leave the worry to him. You can always use your fingers later if he fails to please you, and you will be free to heal your hearts together."

She coughs. Miracle snickers.

"You're making her blush, Yue," the sprite notes.

"Yes, that," Felina smirks. Still.... "He's becoming so paranoid of triggering some adverse reaction from me that he's finding it difficult to do a lot. But...I just need to make tonight different enough--and get him enthusiastic enough--that he'll forget that. What do you think of the suit, by the by?" She'd set it aside on the table.

"It is very perky and sassy. And smart. Not sexual, exactly, but it looks nice and conservative enough that he won't think you're going out of your way to seduce him."

"That's a good thing, right?"

"Of course. If he thinks that you are going way out of your way for it, he may believe that you are doing something you don't want to."

"He's really worried about that..." Felina affirms.

"Do you want to?" Sensitive question, for sure.

"Yeah." Felina nods, just a little to keep from disturbing the angel's work. "I do. I really do, it's just...my own head keeps getting in the way."

Yue curls and twirls, pondering. It is Miracle who pipes up this time, though.

"You need to stop that. That's all it takes. You're Felina, biggest badass with the littlest actual ass in the universe. You have the power to drop that baggage like baggage!" She lights on Felina's knee, looking up at her. "I am a sprite. I've seen a lot of things that scare me. Yue here scares me. I came in on Yue in the shower once. I didn't know he was a he until I saw his thing was bigger than me!" She cracks up. "Oh, that rhymed!"

Felina has to smirk a bit. "You should have just turned off the hot water. Problem solved."

Yue smiles a little for Felina. "Darling, I am immune."

Miracle twitters. "All ya need is love. If you've got it, that's it! Let him take care of you. Just make sure he knows what not to do!"

It occurs to She that Felina came for a hairstyling, not so much a therapy session.

Felina smirks sidelong at She after a second. "It's okay. Walked in on a friend, cornered myself for an hour plus, and said the word 'date.' I had it coming."

She, who is just as dedicated a warrior woman as Felina - if in different ways - gives her a silent smile to assure her she's amused.

"You certainly did. Listen, I have some oils and perfume you might want, Felina. The perfume is very gentle, subtle stuff... smells rather like pine needles, actually. The oils are for him to rub into you later. You'll thank me."

Felina had been distracted by talking to She, who she finds an interesting person, and turns quite red at this. "Ah...I'll take your word for it."

She lowers her head a little. Her thoughts aren't in language, per se... she really can't form the words at all. She communicates to Miracle - and other telepaths - through ideas and images, mostly. She's thinking this time that a sensual massage will allow Felina time to relax, and let her man takes his time with her as well. Any difficult experience, she's sure, may be eased into.

Felina's perfectly comfortable with She's manner of communication, though...this is actually precisely how she and her brother communicate most of the time on a telepathic level, and how she and her father had. Words are only emphasis. "It's possible," Felina starts to admit..."now, ah, can we move on how's that hair coming Yue?"

"Fabulously. It should only take an hour and a half from here."

Felina groans inwardly. "This is to ensure that if I'm going to lose my mind in the next twelve hours, it's going to be right now and not tonight. Am I warm?"

"We haven't gotten to the screaming orgasm part, you shouldn't be."

Miracle groans. "God, you're awful, Yue!" She looks to She, who is groaning mentally. "Help me. Let's give her a manicure and a pedicure."

"That's sweet, Miracle, but okay, thanks...I actually just sharpened my claws earlier today, they should be clean."

Miracle's smile fades a little. "Well... poo. Want 'em painted?"

"Considering how frilly I'm already going to look, that would be further pushing the insanity line."

Miracle lowers her eyes. "Mkay..."

Yue tugs Felina's hair a little, pulling something into place. "Is everything trimmed that needs to be, by the way, kitten?"

Felina smiles a bit at Miracle. Isn't quite sure what the matter is, although she's starting to get a vague clue. Looks back up to Yue. "Nah. You've seen me naked, my fuzz is cool." Eh. They've been around one another in some icky-type situations that involved dressing wounds, not to mention a public bath.

Yue tilts his head a bit. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

She shakes her head at Yue. Hell no, she seems to imply, this girl has dignity.

Felina blinks. "You lost me." Lifetime prude.

She smiles uneasily. Then sends Felina an image, of a woman 'bare to the skin'. 

Yue nearly falls over, laughing.

And, of course, Felina's cheeks redden again. The upper cheeks! "You just want an excuse to get into my pants," she pokes the angel.

"Oh, Felina," yue smiles, "you aren't my type, dear. But thank you for the image." Style, style...

Felina just smirks, and lays her head back, letting out her breath. Tonight really has to go right. It has to. She has to find a better way to tell Kaies that she loves him. She just leans to the various sounds and pulls of hairstyling.

For the most part, Yue backs off of embarassing Felina. He finishes faster than expected, and an hour and a half after arriving Felina's hair is spritzed up, tied back, brushed, and all set into a flattering half-updo. Yue even crinkles the ends of her hair a little.

Miracle grabs a hand mirror and flies up so that Felina can see herself. 

She has to smile a little. That's...hm. Her? "That's...hm. You're bloody good at this, Yue."

"Darling, I am a miracle at this." Yue nods. pats the 'do, to make sure it will stay in place.

"I'm always a Miracle!" The sprite twitters. "Lookin good. I'm impressed, Yue! Can you do that for me?"

"Certainly. If you have tweezers." He looks at Felina again, pondering. "Is there anything else you need to get ready, kitten?"

"I don't think so...Mara mentioned hair and clothes, and I can't imagine what else there would be."

Yue coughs quietly. "Hygiene...? Perfume? Makeup?"

"Oh, right, you did mention perfume." Felina blinks a little. "I'm not sure what scents Kaies likes, though. As for hygeine, I showered, thanks. And makeup would be impossible with my facial markings." Pause. Fingers to bridge of nose. "Oh, god, I just issued you a personal challenge, didn't I?"

Actually, She thinks, a little eyeliner and a dusting of eyeshadow would not hurt your markings.

Yue ponders this. "You're probably right about that, kitten. I'll go get the oils and perfume for you, and you ought to get back... no telling when this mountain will awaken."

"Point." Felina smiles at She for the input, and looks back to Yue, and nods. "Right...probably a good idea, and I need to go and figure out how to wear a dress again, anyway.

Yue snickers, as he vanishes into another room.

MIracle twitters some more. "Don't be scared," she says, "we've all been there. I was terrified my first time."

She looks aside. Her first time had been much like Felina's, actually - and had ended with her loss of speech.

Felina smiles a bit at Miracle, a touch weakly. Thinks. Well...on some level it's actually important.... Quietly, "I'm actually in the same boat as you, She. It's why I keep flipping out when poor Kaies touches me in the wrong way. Last time it was that he pinned my arm." Smiles a bit. "He's different, though, so...I believe it's worth trying for."

She smiles just a little. Miracle is quiet, too... she knows the story. Until...

"... wait. Kaies who?" Her wings flutter.

"Kaies Metsaf." Felina tilts her head. "Familiar?"

She looks like she's been hit in the face. her mouth opens to speak, even, but nothing comes out.

"The guy with claws, right? She fought with a guy like that, about six years ago." Miracle buzzes. "Show her, She."

The gray-clad woman lifts her shirt just a little, showing off a set of claw-slashes across her belly.

"How well do you know him, now?"

Felina winces at this. "I've known that Kaies's history isn't spotless, but...what happened...?"

"She doesn't remember too well, exactly how. He left her layin'. A lady named Malloria had hired us to keep attempts on her mistress's life down. Or that's what we were told. Kaies came looking for this mistress 'Lochria' one day, and..." Miracle shakes her head. "Awful ending."

Felina is duly shocked. "That's actually right when Kaies and I met...Lochria was Kaies's estranged daughter. She and Malloria stole his literally damned mask, nearly killing him. He went looking for it, but mostly for closure with Lochria. Malloria was immediately after my head since it's my job to look for the same sort of energy core she was after. Had her fury elemental tear off one of my arms and eat it looking for that sort of shard, actually." Felina rubs that wrist thoughtfully. "She summoned fear and chaos elementals into the city in her bid for power, and the fear elemental is actually the one that cursed me and sealed off my power." Blinks slowly. "I am afraid, though, Kaies would died prior to that without my help, Miss She, so...in a roundabout way, the injury you suffered was my fault. That you were injured, I am sorry." She bows her head.

She shakes her head, a soft, contrite smile set onto her lips. Her only concern was that the man might be hiding something from her... but if they had that much experience together, She doubts he could have concealed such a past.

Yue returns about now, with an unlabelled bottle in hand. In Momo's scribbling hand, it reads 'Yue's make guys hot spray'.

He grins, handing it to the Serinian. "Lavender."

Felina smiles a bit at She, contrition in hers as well. It's very, very awkward finding out that someone used to be fighting against you, especially if one was injured. She manages a smile for Yue. Glances at the label, and smirks. "Is this truth in advertising?"

"Of course," the angel nods, "Lavender is my favorite scent. So I assume it works on men."

"Heh...that works." She reaches out and gives Yue a one-armed hug. "Thanks for all the help, Yue."

He's a little surprised at the reaction. That's not exactly vintage Fel. "Um... any time. Of course." Hugs her, too.

"Awwwww!" Miracle coos, twirling in the air.

Felina smiles a bit...though of course, now she's more or less business again, as is always the case when even something simple like dressing needs to be done. "All right...well, I'll be along later for Momo's party. I'm not sure exactly when later, but I will be here." She drapes the suit back over her arm as she speaks.

"You're welcome to bring him. I'll make sure you two get some private time... I had Momo let me commission a suite on the other end of the inn." Yue smiles a little more. "Soundproof."

Felina smiles a bit, though she of course does feel a touch self-conscious talking about this just because it's never been a part of her nature, but she nods. "I'll do that. Thanks."

"Great. See you then, dear." And Yue sets to putting away his things. Miracle magics the bits of trimmed hair into rose petals, grinning a little. Technically, she could have magically styled Felina's hair. Yue, though, would have put up fly paper ever after.

"Oh, and She..." Felina looks back over to the other warrior chick, and smiles a little. "I don't care if we were fighting on opposite sides way back when if you don't. Nice meeting you, and you Miss Miracle." She doesn't dwell on this or try to force a "decide how you feel right now" bit, and just heads back to the Atrium Room.

---

When Felina shows up again a few hours later, it's with a certain large and snappily dressed fellow on her arm.

Kaies's instinct is to look around - first for danger, and then to know his surroundings in case of future danger - and study the inn. It's a nice place. Ritzier than the wretching dragon, but not quite as comfortable a setting.

There are patrons hanging around, mostly human with the odd elf, and a pleasant looking ogre minding the bar. She and Miracle sit near a window, looking out at a caravan as it moves through town.

Felina looks up at Kaies. "The inn's owned by Yue and Momo. Hmm...things to say...alright, first remember that Yue is a girl, a secondly...the grey-haired lady by the window was hired by Malloria as a bodyguard, so you two...hehm...had a brief altercation that you won." Her voice remains soft.

"Right. The lady is a lady, and..." he looks that way, trying to recall the monochromatic woman. "Ah, I remember her." He'll never forget. Ever. The expression on her face when his claws passed through her abdominal muscles, the horrifying, mute scream... he still has nightmares about it now and again.

Kaies finds himself squeezing Felina's hand, saddled with guilt.

She hugs him gently in response. "Are you okay to be here...?" she inquires softly.

"Yes," he is quick to respond. "The sight of her just triggered some unhappy memories. I am fine." He lets his massive hand rest between her shoulderblades, and is about to say something else when Yue wanders in, a drink try in each hand.

"Oh my stars," he coos, "is this your elusive man, Felina...?" For a moment, Kaies actually goes red from Yue's boundary-ignorant appraisal.

"This would be the one." Felina smiles up at Kaies a moment, and then looks back to the angel. "Yue, this is Kaies Metsaf. Kaies, Yue."

"Charmed," Yue coos, extending his hand. Kaies takes but briefly, offering a polite smile.

"Likewise." He looks aside a bit. Yue is really checking him out, and it is more than a little unnerving. "So... where is the lady of the hour...?"

"Ah," Yue grins, "to change the subject." Looks to Felina. "Momo will be here in a few minutes. Your timing is impeccable."

"Oh, wonderful. So does she know, or is she going to teach Kaies profanity he didn't even know existed?"

Yue's eyes gleam. "The second one."

Felina snickers. "Oh, well. She'll be too busy laughing at me for wearing a skirt to worry about it much."

"There she is!" Miracle's tiny voice rises over the reasonable din, hailing the arrival of Momo. "Okeeday everyone do the hiding thing!"

She looks over at Yue, but her eyes stick to Kaies. She reaches down, as if to grab a sword at her belt, but there isn't one - just a hard habit to break.

Felina resolves right now that she needs to get them to talk sometime this evening. For now, though... "Hiding? I'm confused. Regardless, where do we hide someone like you, anyway?" she inquires amusedly of her lover.

"Obviously. If I stand next to you, no one will be able to see me for the glow."

"Oy." Felina shakes her head. "Don't make me mute you, Cassanova, when I make us invisible." Grins at him, and then they fade from sight.

Kaies grins. When everyone else disappears he looks down to see if both he and Felina have as well.

Felina. Relax. As gently as any man could, he wraps his fingers around his beloved's shoulders. He leans down, brushes her lips with his own just enough that she won't startle, and softly kisses her.

Felina's eyes widen a touch...she almost giggles just at the unexpectedness of it. Witholds it, but he can probably feel the surprised smile that threads across her lips. She moves her hands to take his elbows lightly, and kisses him back.

It's a nice touch. Anytime she smiles is a nice touch. He lets his end of the kiss linger, enjoying her softness.

The inn door groans open, and a dirty, content-looking Momo trudges in with a bag over her arm and a purse at her hip. Yue's still visible, of course - he has to be, and had taken pains to nullify Felina's effect with Miracle's help.

"Hello, Momo... how -"

"What're you scheming?" Momo trains her eye on Yue, a suspcious look on her face. "You never greet me that way, Yue! And what's with the getup? You..." she smiles some. "You look great. I love those ribbons."

Yue blushes a little. Anytime, Felina.

Felina grins, blushing a little, and gently backs off of Kaies. She situates herself on his arm again, amused at the stolen kiss. And then everyone fades into sight.

Momo's reaction is instant. Yue sort of expected it, though, and replaced her gun with a handle early that morning. "The hell? Who the hell are you people? What are you doing here? Why the fuck were you bastards invisible? Yue, what the hell?!"

Kaies reaches down, eyes wide, and covers Felina's ears. Well, part of them.

Felina smirks up at him, and elbows him lightly, jokingly. "Blame Yue," she notes to Momo. "And happy birthday."

Momo goes perfectly white. "How the hell did... wait. What? Birthday? Who told you?"

Yue snickers an amused little snicker. "I told me. Come on, all these people are here to see you."

"Fuck you, Yue."

"Too young, Momo. C'mon, we have blueberry pie."

"Fair enough."

Felina smiles. "Never let it be said that I don't keep interesting company, Kaies."

Everyone has been warned beforehand to avoid singing, and so everyone goes back to the routine. Several of them congratulate Momo, or give her a small something, but eventually she makes her way to Felina and her mountainous accessory. Her eye lights up at the sight of her big sister.

"Felina! Dont' tell me Yue dragged you here."

Felina grins at Momo. "It's a long story. We can blame him if you want because it's fun, but I actually dropped by to ask him something non-related. When he told me what was going on, I had to hang around and embarass you properly."

The young girl's eye travels up and down Felina, stopping at her hair. "You look frumpy, you know. Very classy. I'd ask what the occasion really is, but..." she looks at Kaies. Way. Way up. "I think it's kinda obvious. Hello, muscles."

Kaies just smiles a little. "Hello, Momo."

The girl smiles again. "Fel. Congratulations, it's a pretty tank."

Felina grins. "Isn't he, though? This is Kaies. Kaies, Momo Deyono."

Kaies casts her a sideways glance. "Relative of yours?"

Momo grins. "Nope. Just honorary. One hell of a coincidence though. You smell like cookies, by the way. So Felina... what's with the getup, anyway?"

"I was actually looking to impress this lug here. The reason I first tracked Yue down was to do my hair. I'd lie and say it was to celebrate your party, but something tells me I would have gotten you much more excited and fit in better had I showed up in artilliary range armor. Which, by the by, is about what you get for your birthday. I found this really amazing firing range on an out of the way planet. Very exciting place, you can do pretty much anything but shoot straight down a range at a still target. Have to see it to believe it. We'll go there."

Momo grins. "I'd hug ya, but I'm dirty. I think I'm gonna duck out of here, though. This birthday stuff is not my idea of a good day."

Felina nods. "You'll have to explain that one to me later. But at least you get pie."

"Maybe later," Momo nods. Looks up at Kaies. "I bet you can eat all kinds of pie." Looks at Felina.

The serinian just shakes her head. "Momo, I've had Yue, Miracle, and Mara fawning over me for a date and giving advice of every sort for the last three hours. You're going to have to try a lot harder than that." She grins.

"Oh." She seems to ponder for a moment. "Ah... well, then, Kaies. Remember that even though she is a cat, you can't just lick any part of her to mmf!"

Yue smiles, slightly mortified, his hand over Momo's mouth. "Uh... SS Ten is your room, Felina. At the end of the hall, over there."

Felina snickers. "Much better, brava! And...noted, Yue." She grins at her "little sister," and looks up to Kaies for his reaction. Yup. Her family!

Kaies is just red. Momo's fun, though, and fairly easy to handle after being with Mara-kuru. Lays his hand on Felina's, though.

"You'll do fine. Don't worry about opening the lock, you can handle that without a key." Yue nods a bit. "Shall we have pie? You two are welcome to retire, if you like."

"Kaies?" Felina inquires, looking up at him. She's up for whatever he wants, really, pretty relaxed.

"Shall we have a look at the room, first, my lady?" Kaies glances that way, ignoring Yue's smirk. Yeah. He has exactly the same thought.

Felina smiles at him. "I think that would be just fine." She smiles at Yue a little. Yeah, yeah...his hairstyle is pretty freaking good.

"I'll bring some pie by later." Yue shoos them off, and Momo waves before heading towards the back room, where Yue is instantly saddled with the task of convincing an angry teenager to go to her birthday party.

Kaies takes Felina's hand in earnest, and heads to SS Ten.

---

"... and I swear to God, if you try to bring me back, I'll shoot you in the fucking foot!"

Yue cringes when the door slams. That hadn't gone too well. The rest of the gathered start to feel somber, but Miracle's giggling gets most everyone's attention in short order. A drunken sprite is hilarious, even if Momo stormed out.

---

Quite sometime later, a pants-wearing Felina who looks a bit more like herself, except maybe the mostly content, somewhat stunned look behind her even features, wanders back into the main room, looking for Yue.

Yue is, of course, thigh-deep in a drinking game with miracle and a merc type who happened to stop in during the party. Miracle is hovering on wilted wings, just barely aloft. The merc type is lying half across the table, his pants around his ankles, and Yue, sober as a judge, is tattooing his name happily on the man's buttocks.

"Oh, hello, Felina," he laughs, musically. "This gentleman lost a bet."

She smirks. "At a cost most dear, I see."

"Quite," the angel twitters. "I am done anyway. You, on the otherhand..." he looks at her, gauging her expression. "... are too."

She blushes. "A lady never tells. That said...yes, I am." Smirks a little, although still red. Face softens a bit. "It was...much nicer than expected."

The angel nods a little. No catcalls, no teasing. Just a smile that says 'I'm proud of you'. "There is a woman hiding in that battle-hardened armor. Congratulations, dear."

"Somewhere. And...thanks." Tilts her head. "Also, that woman is now engaged. Heh."

Yue blinks. Looks at Miracle, who has passed out on the desk. Most everyone else is gone, except for She of course, who is still sitting in the corner.

"That must have been one hell of a lay," he mutters, staring at her.

She reddens a bit, but smirks. "Well, we've been dating for more than five years, you know. And...maybe." Coughs.

"Five years? Has it been that long...?" Yue shakes his head. "It reminds me. I have no idea how old Momo really is today. Buuut... she's starting to get cranky impatient every so often." Gazes at her meaningfully. "She's human, so that puts her about... thirteen? Fourteen, maybe?"

"It'd guess fourteen, possibly fifteen. Where is she, by the way?"

"I kept track of her. She's in the barn down the way, probably shooting at haystacks." Yue nods. "She is a difficult kid, and furious with me, so... watch your step, eh?" He knows Fel is going to go see her. It's what she does.

"Here a gun cocking, duck. Got it." Felina nods, and heads off that way.

Yue lets her go. Still... it won't have changed her all that much. But he's glad she experienced it, especially with a giant pretty boy. Heaven knows there aren't that many boys as cute as him with such, well, bigness. Still, he lets a certain congratulatory 'yay!' feeling flood his mind for her to feel, knowing that she'll pick up on it.

And she smiles a bit, but...it is somewhat embarassed. Heads down the path towards the barn and haystacks.

The smell of cordite. Concussive thumps. Bullet holes in the haystacks. Yeah, Momo's here.

The young woman is reloading by the time Felina shows up. She's set up a number of pieces of silverware as her targets, it would seem, and in her angry state, her accuracy is down to only about 85%. Which just pisses her off.

Felina walks up quietly and, smirking, picks up a spoon with a bullet hole cleanly through it. She knows that she's pretty safe next to the targets, Momo has good aim most of the time. "You should make a necklace out of this just to piss Yue off for the sense of style."

Momo ignores her for a few seconds. Ponders shooting the spoon out of her hand. But no... this is Felina. She's innocent.

"Where's your skirt?" the girl-child asks demurely.

"Felt too girly. Changed." Felina tilts her head. "So...anything I can do to help?"

Momo smiles just a little. "Of course you would ask me that." She turns back to her haystack. Fires, cutting a fork into shards. "I'm venting. I'll be fine. You should go have fun with your boyfriend."

"Did." Watches. "Nice shot."

"Thanks." Momo looks at her. "I'm sorry I stormed out, Felina."

"Don't be. I'm sure you had a good reason. You've seen how I get when Yue tries to give me a hairbow." Holds up a little box. "Brought you some pie. Figured blueberry was too birthday-ish, so it's lemon." Smirks a little. "Well. Assuming you haven't shot all the utensils."

"I have," Momo nods, "but I'm a tomboy. I have fingers." Smiles some at her. "Dirty fingers, though."

"Works for me." Felina grins a bit, and sits down on a bale of hay. Reaches into a small bag near Culheru's scabbard, and pulls out a clean white cloth. For cleaning blood off the sword. "Here you go."

Momo takes it reluctantly. Wipes her fingers. "Sorry," she sighs, "I'm so sorry..." sniffles. "I just hate my birthday. I hate it so much, I can't even stomach the thought of it, fucking stupid day."

"May I ask why?" Felina tilts her head. "I was thirty before I even knew my birthday, so I think they're somewhat odd things, anyway."

"Don't you remember Misao's birthday, Felina? All the horrible things that happened that day?" She's referring to the day Felina arrived at the Dome, of course. "I haven't wanted to even think of a birthday since then."

"Ahhh..." Felina nods a bit. "I can see that, I suppose." Flicks something aside. Seeing what it looked like when bombs tore people apart. She's pretty sure that's the single most scarring part about it. "We're...really lucky everyone got out of that one alive, really." Flicks some piece of fluff aside. "I really need to check up on all the Dome people again...been over a year, I think."

"I haven't heard from most of them. Got a letter from Alma a while back." She takes a bit of pie. "Leon's okay. She said he still hasn't regained use of his arm, but he can move his fingers now."

"Auspicious," Felina affirms, nodding. "He should live an unduly long time for a human-looking mortal, so he'll likely get it working again."

"Yeah..." Momo sighs quietly. "Divina's dead."

Felina nods slowly. "How did it happen?"

"After Saul disappeared, she grieved herself crazy. That's what Alma says." Momo looks aside, again at the haystack. "She says she's not sure if it was by her own hand or not, though."

Felina nods a bit. "Divina was...borderline schizophrenic, the whole time I knew her. I wouldn't be surprised if she crossed the line and ended up prompted by something internal to either kill herself...or put herself in a situation to be killed." Closes her eyes. "A shame."

"She needed it," Momo assures Felina, "like you need sleep, or I need booze. Her heart died long before the dome did." Looks down. Fuck. "Felina, what happens when a person dies?"

"I don't know, Momo," she admits, honestly. She's always honest with Momo, and as straightforward as possible. No sugar-coating. "It feels...like drowning, after you leave your body, except without the pain or the fear, if that even makes sense. Something happens after, I just don't know what...I've met several ghosts, and my father helps me sometimes, when I really need it. So...it doesn't just end, anyway."

"I guess I could ask some of the people I've shot," the young woman decides. "We've had a lot of trouble with uppity 'thieve's guild' wannabes lately, in this town. Idiots. They don't know what the hell they're doing." A glimmer distorts the glow in her eye. "I shot two of them this week. Killed them."

Felina's eyes soften a bit. Is silent for a few seconds, considering. Finally... "what do you want out of life, Momo? Granted, you haven't really been able to be a kid, persay, but...it's a transitional period just as sure as for anyone else, and you're really nearing the top of it." Tilts her head just a little. "Forget probability for the moment. If you could just choose a life out of any of the vaunted 'adult' possibilities...what would it be?"

The redhead shrugs a bit. "I'd want to be a poet." She speaks, as though she's embarassed by it.

Felina has to smile at that. "House? Lifestyle?"

Momo puts her gun away, a very good sign. "I just don't want to shoot anyone anymore. Or have to, anyway. I miss my house in the alpine sector, though."

"It was a fantastic place," Felina acknowledges. Smiles a bit, reminiscing. "If I couldn't find an excuse to visit often enough instead of staying in that stuffy palace, I'd make one up."

"Palace?" Momo glances sidelong at Felina. "Do you mean Yue's inn?"

"Nah...I meant in the palace sector." Shakes her head. "Being a Golden was useful, but annoying. Illisia's a smart lady, reasonable to work for and with, but all the pomp necessary, just...ugh." She wrinkles her nose.

"Oh. Well, obviously. You had to wear that damned sparkly getup all the time. You and everyone else looked like fuckin' munchkins."

Felina smirks at her growing-up little sister. "Someone wants blue sparkly hair? Is that what you said?"

"Yue might," Momo smirks right back. Giggles at the thought of it. "That would be kickass with the shiny gold jumpsuit."

Felina snickers. "Oh, Momo...I could arrange that, you know. I need to give you something to slip into one of his shampoos."

"Just tell me when!" Her smile casts a different sort of light on her face, really. It makes her look almost like the child she is. Looks down at the ground. She really doesn't know what to say, right now.

"Will do." Felina grins, and stands up. "Meanwhile, let's go."

"Huh? Go where?" Momo's brow lifts a little bit.

"Well, I'll admit that I've never actually gone in, but I know of an interesting little cafe that does some quality poetry reading. Gim went there a lot before he went off to Elidair. The only catch," she smiles a bit, "is that you can't be offended by swearing."

Momo just blinks. Slowly turns red. "I couldn't," she shakes her head, "I'd be scared to death."

"You don't have to read," Felina is quick to assure. "Unless you want to. But it's a good chance to see what other people are doing. Get some new ideas. Besides, they serve food, and I seriously doubt you grabbed dinner."

"You've got better things to do," Momo insists, "I know you do."

"Probably. And an eternity to do them in. Perk of immortality, you know."

The young woman's resolve is shaking, of course. It's all but impossible to say no to Felina, really. And she is hungry.

"What about your friend?"

Felina smiles. "He's had plenty of amusement in the last hour to keep his brain busy for a week."

Momo, of course, has no idea what she's talking about, or what to infer. "He doesn't seem like the type to get bored after figuring something out in a hurry, that's for sure." Blinks. "Not that he looks dumb, just... um... nevermind."

Felina grins. "I have something interesting to tell you anyway. Shall we?"

Momo casts one last look at the poor perforated haystack. Sighs a little.

"Sure. Um... should I put these up, though?" Taps her gun and belt with one little finger. "Even though having a gun at poetry readings seems like a good idea?"

"Your call entirely. You won't actually need them, I'm quite sure."

She looks down at them. "I wonder what they'd say? Little girl with a gun." Smiles brightly at Felina. "I'll take them. So where are we going exactly, lady?"

"It's a little world, moderately high technology but no widescale space or interdimensional travel, so almost exclusively human. I'll be wearing an illusion. Oh, yeah...heh." Her form shifts...ears go bye bye, markings and claws and fangs disappear, and her eyes become human except the gold irises." She looks up at Momo. "Stop growing."

"I can't help it," she shrugs, grinning at human-Felina, "they keep feeding me. Yue swears I could live on booze, but says he'd put my hair in pigtails every day for the rest of my life if I tried."

Felina smirks. "Braids become you. Off we go, then?" A portal opens to the poetry house Black Sun.

"Sure!" Momo swallows her pride, and her worry, and a handful of pie. And goes, without waiting for Felina for once.

---

When they get back, just in front of the inn, Felina folds her hands behind her head. "Well, that was interesting. Have fun regardless of confusion?"

"Yeah, I think so." Momo's still a little red, just thinking of it. "Thanks for going out of your way to placate me, Felina."

"Everyone has bad days. That's where friends and family come in handy. Speaking of which, some of the above category are paranoid," she holds her hands just above either of Momo's shoulders as her human illusion fades, "so hold still a moment while I check you over for any residual effect from our poetic magician."

"Oh. Sure." She's sort of accustomed to that, too. Yue's got the same complex, and doesn't trust anybody with Momo save for a few.

Other than exceptionally high levels of adrenaline and endorphins, Momo is tip top. There's a trace of the electrical energy that triggered her reaction to his touch, but nothing apparently harmful.

Felina takes a moment to clear what's left of the foreign electrical charge, or tries to. Scans again to check, but folds her arms. "Eh...you're just fine, I think. Just a way to go after pretty faces, probably." She smiles. Still wants to go see Kaies after that poem. "So where are you headed, now?"

"My room." Blushes. "To clean my gun, um... my gun." Looks away. "I should see Yue and apologize too. He's such a bitch sometimes, but I owe him that."

"He is. But he tries hard, anyway. He loves you, too." Lets the word "too" skim over, amused. It was important that she say it, but then, dwelling would be amusing but unnecessary. "Meanwhile, I think I'll track down Kaies. He's running around somewhere or other."

Momo nods, though she does smile at 'too'. Aww. Felina tries so hard to be nonchalant. "Mkay. I'll be upstairs." And she trots that way, waving a little bit, and very nearly runs into Kaies at the stairwell. Smiles at him, and goes right by.

Felina heads back inside, looking around for Yue.

The angel's sitting behind the bar, looking pensive. He's worried about Momo, really, but would never admit just how much. Nevermind the fact that poor She has been doing her best to look everywhere but at the tall guy in the ice cream suit all night. It bothers him.

Felina heads over to the bar and sits down. "Momo will be fine. She's feeling better."

Yue offers her a subdued little smile, one that's far more genuine than the bright one he favors people with most of the time. "Thank you. I wish I knew how you could do that so easily."

Felina returns it, just a bit. "It's not too hard. Momo's a lot like I was at her age, so I have a big head start." Her hair is prickled at the electricity exposure, so she pulls out her hair tie to resettle it. "It turns out she doesn't like birthdays because of what happened in Dome on Misao's. I think she's mostly stressing about her life in general...dwelling on the two theives she killed, for one. Afraid it's not going to change even though she wants it to. Another year gone by without her getting past having to fight anymore."

"Two?" Yue looks at Felina, alarmed. "Just two? Is that what she told you?"

"With the qualification 'in the last few days'...but yeah. Two." Felina tilts her head a little.

The angel considers this. "I bet she told you she shot two who died, didn't she. Felina..." he pauses. Of course he pauses, he can hardly bring himself to tell her. "Momo planted a bomb at one of the thieves' safe houses. Some of them robbed people leaving the inn, and she went off by herself."

"A bomb?" Felina's brow creases, and she sits up straight, listening. "She hasn't touched bombs since the one went off of Leon. She can hardly stand the mention of them, last I checked, let alone any reminder that she's had something to do with them."

"I couldn't believe it, either. It made me wonder if she's neglected to tell me something about it, but still. No one in this area knows what a bomb is, unless they're travellers like you and I. This is a rustic fantasy-story hole in the wall. People are amazed and terrifed by Momo's gun, even."

"Yes. To get away from this kind of trouble." Felina frowns a bit, leaning her chin on her hands. She's quiet for a minute or so. Finally... "Did you know that Momo wants to be a poet?"

"I know she writes some. I caught her reading to herself in front of a mirror one day." Yue's tension dissolves somewhat at the change of subject. "It was bad. But she was just starting, so I clapped for her, and I've never seen her doing it again."

"We went to a poetry house this evening, is what relaxed her. She didn't read, but...had fun with it. Also, if you ever want to distract a poet from her troubles, comment on how the people don't rhyme."

The angel blinks a little. "Poetry rhymes, though, right?"

"See, that's what I said!" Felina snickers. "Apparently not, though. Gim cured me of saying that. Writer types get pissy." Blinks. "There was a fellow Momo was pretty taken with, but...possibly due to some kind of artificial influence, something she noted herself. Cyborg. "

"That would explain why she had that sparkle in her eye just now. Thank you for taking her, Felina. She's been pulling away from me, bit by bit... she is at the right age, and I suppose I am more or less her parent..." he trails off. It's breaking his heart, whether he'll admit to it or not.

Felina's expression softens a bit at this. She can't fully understand, of course, but...still. "It was my pleasure. And...yeah. She's growing up fast." Taps absently on the bar with her claws. "Four years isn't a long time, but...she was just a scrappy kid then."

"She's still a scrappy kid," Yue points out, "only... she's starting to get curvy. She gets irritable every month, and believe me, she does. I know not all women do, but Momo... well. She's been noticing boys, though she won't generally admit that either. Pretty soon I'll have to start loaning her bras." 

A nonchalant Kaies sits next to Felina, smiling, but not interrupting.

Felina blinks. "She's not wearing bras? Ouch. Pushing that particular inevitability has to be painful." Smiles at Kaies.

He just smiles back, his most charming expression, just for her.

"Momo is a late bloomer, Felina. Imagine what she told me when I insisted she start wearing pads? What was it... ah. 'I'd rather shoot myself in the foot and bleed from there. Got it? Screw you, Yue!' She was irritable, that day."

Felina smirks. "That sounds...well...exactly like I'd imagine a PMSing Momo."

"Poor thing cramps terribly. I can't blame her." Yue finally glances at Kaies, who is idly pondering asking Yue how the hell he got all that tied into his hair. "You two are the worst looking couple. He's an ox, and she's tiny." Smiles at them. "A very good match."

Felina grins a little. "We were just pondering ways to look more opposite. Drew a blank."

The angel winks. Kaies, having had quite enough of the separation, reaches his arm around Felina's shoulder.

"Honestly," Yue shakes his head. "I never thought you'd settle down, Felina. Oh, God... do you think Momo will try to get a boyfriend? Ugh..."

Felina smiles at Kaies, blushing the littlest bit, before looking back to Yue. "Funny coincidence: I didn't either. And...probably. She was awfully interested in another poet's leather pants. He was of the male variety, by the way, and let's just say I didn't often catch her eye checking out his shoes."

Yue cringes a little. "I don't think Momo will ever be beautiful. I don't. She'll be plain, but there's nothing wrong with that. I just worry... I mean, so much can happen to a young woman."

Felina nods a bit. "It doesn't help that she's been saying since I've met her that you're hotter than she is. She's got to have internalized it, and, well...an angel is a terrible point of reference for a human to compare herself to." She leans on Kaies.

Who gladly supports her. Yue is crestfallen, though.

"I never thought of that," he admits sadly. "I guess I should stop trying to look so nice. Right? I don't know. I don't want her to feel bad, I love her."

"I know. She loves you too. She slipped and told me so."

Yue closes his eyes. Smiles a bit. "No way I'll ever get her in a wedding dress, though." Glances at Felina. "Of course. I said the same thing about someone else in the room."

Felina smirks and blushes simultaneously. "We'll see. If I hide from you, Mara, and Amethyst for the next however long, maybe I can get away with pants or something."

"Like hell. We'll find you. I'll call up your asshole buddy Moorn if I have to. Then we can gang-fuck him or something, with sticks." Yue blinks. "I'm starting to sound like Momo."

The guardian has to snicker. "The dress would be worth it for the second part," she assures.

Kaies squeezes her shoulder a little bit. Just remains silent, though, enjoying her presence. He knows that being in her life generally means being in her shadow, and has no problem with that.

"So," Yue softly speaks this time, "Momo's squared away. What will you do now?"

"Well...good question. Hadn't thought that far ahead." Pauses, and glances up to Kaies.

"We need to see your brother," Kaies nods, noticing that the answer is his. "Mara will have a banner proclaiming things when we get back to my world. We should take our time."

Felina has to smile, thoughtfully, and nods. "Yeah..." considers. "I wonder how he's going to react? I actually haven't the faintest...."

"Calmly," Kaies ventures, "and quietly."

"Well, yeah, that's what makes it hard." Felina grins at Kaies for intentionally stating the obvious. "That's what makes it hard to read him, sometimes even for me."

"Hopefully he'll be forthright, then," the medium grins, petting her shoulders gently.

Felina smiles, and slips off the stool. "He is right, you know," she notes to Yue. "Let me know if you or Momo needs anything, right?"

"Of course. And you tell me when it's happening so I can fix your hair again." Yue smiles. Kaies does too, thinking of what a lovely job Yue had done. He beams at Felina, just pleased as punch.

"No promises. I'll do my best to elope despite how good all my friends and family are at stalking." Felina grins, and looks to Kaies. "Off to Saea's Gardens, then?"

"Certainly."

"Bye, then. I'll get your measurements from Mara." Yue looks at Felina. "Minus some bust and hip."

Felina shakes her head, smirking a bit. "It's going to be a long few however-longs. See you later." And then they're off.