[sub]in collaboration with [@SunsetRoses][/sub] [h1][center][i][u]"Mama Drama"[/u][/i][/center][/h1] Elizabeth groaned as Bo wrenched the bottle of alcohol from her hands. She hadn't even had the chance to pull the cork. The bottle was passed to Butch, who put it in his hip mouth and ate it whole. Elizabeth watched, pawing towards him lazily. No alcohol for nine months, she didn't know how she was going to survive. She sighed, leaving them to talk on her bed while she got dressed. Liz threw on her nightgown, and released her hair. It fell down her back in long waves, still damp from her shower that morning. Or maybe it was the sweat from training with Andri. Or the blood...and was that white thing a piece of bone? She picked it out of her hair, throwing it on the ground and kicking it under the vanity. She laughed, walking towards her bed. Bo offered to read her a story, but she refused. He took up his spot in his armchair, curling his body up into a ball of fur and fabric. His claws dug in to the seat, and she couldn't ignore how cute it looked. Bob laid over her in the bed, chewing on her arm as per usual. Beebop and Butch stood guard outside, probably discussing the day and doing silly dares. Elizabeth smiled, closing her eyes and relaxing. For a moment it seemed like Elizabeth would drift of into some much deserved sleep. Elina, however, had other plans. She staggered to Lorelai's door with a steel bucket in tow. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her pale complexion had become ghastly. Gone were the traces of the well mannered, proper, poised young noblewoman. Instead she finally looked as crazed as she was. Beebop and Butch looked at each other briefly before knocking at the door. "Liz, Elina's here." Liz sighed, and pushed herself into a seated position. [color=magenta]"Send her in."[/color] Elina's eyes looked hopeful as she stepped into the room, but a quick scan told her the person she was looking for wasn't here. [color=cccccc]"Goddamn it Lorelai!"[/color] Her eyes fell on Liz, sitting comfortably in Lorelai's bed. Looking every bit like she was at home here. Her eyes narrowed. [color=cccccc]"Well look at you, settling in nicely are you?"[/color] She paused for a moment to retch into her bucket. [color=cccccc]"When does Lorelai get back? She's got some things to answer for."[/color] She ran a hand over her stomach, which was protruding oddly, and chuckled bitterly. [color=cccccc]"Well, actually only one thing."[/color] Elizabeth stared at Elina’s stomach for a few moments, working away the fog that had risen in her mind. She rubbed her eyes, and stared again. She blinked a few more times, before her stomach sank. She felt like she could use a bucket, but the baby had nothing to do with it. Bob chuckled as Elina retched into a bucket, not caring about the woman's condition. [color=9BCD9B][i]“Look at that, Lizzie. She's even more pregnant than you.”[/i][/color] He laughed even louder, the sound of violin strings being plucked irritably. He wanted Liz to get mad, she was always more fun that way. [color=9BCD9B][i]“Lorelai's sure been around, hasn't she? Shame on her.”[/i][/color] He added for emphasis. Elizabeth tapped him on the head, a warning. Lorelai was not the problem, Elina was. The haggard witch had the gall to turn up her nose at Elizabeth, while she stood before her looking like [i]that[/i]. [color=magenta]“I have no idea when Lorelai is getting home, she'll come to you when she prefers it. I'm getting very comfortable here while she's absent.”[/color] Elizabeth added haughtily. [color=cccccc]"Oh, fucking great,"[/color] Elina tittered maddly, tears rolling down her cheeks. [color=cccccc]"She impregnated you too, go figure."[/color] [color=cccccc]"She can't just wait for me to come around, she's got to find the nearest whore to bury her stupid cock in."[/color] Elina's voice dripped with venom. [color=cccccc]"She doesn't pay much attention to where she leaves her seed does she?"[/color] [color=cccccc]"She's [i]not[/i] leaving me like this,"[/color] Elina smiled, almost sweetly, but her eyes still burned with contempt. [color=cccccc]"I'll use Vespa's name to guilt her, I'll dye my hair so I look just like my dear departed sister."[/color] [color=cccccc]"Then [i]I'll[/i] get to sleep in that bed, and she'll take care of [i]my[/i] child."[/color] Elina practically growled. [color=cccccc]"And you can go back to doing whatever it is mortals do. Not like you could ever understand her work anyway."[/color] Elizabeth felt tears spark in her eyes, but she blinked them away. They were replaced with anger, the same rage she felt when she was fighting with Andri. Flames roared in her sapphire eyes, directed towards Elina. Bo and Bob stared at the witch, waiting for their chance to strike at her. [color=magenta]“No boys,”[/color] She said sweetly, causing them to retract. [color=magenta]“I'll handle it.”[/color] She deliberately got out from under her sheets at a slow rate, forcing Elina to wait. She calmly walked over to the witch, a toothy grin on her face. Elina had no idea about her knighthood, and she couldn't wait to rub it into the girl's face. She wanted to teach the woman a lesson. How could she talk that way of her dead sister? She obviously didn't care much for Lorelai if she openly voiced her ideas for manipulating her. Finally, she stood before the witch. Blue eyes burned into red, Elizabeth looking down at her. The height advantage was pleasing, but when it came to a crazy pregnant witch, she knew they were on equal grounds. Elizabeth raised a finger, pressing it into Elina's stomach. [color=magenta]“You'll do no such thing to her. She's suffered enough at the hands of women the likes of you.”[/color] [color=magenta]“It appears you know next to nothing about me.”[/color] Elizabeth stated quickly, before the witch could respond. [color=magenta]“I'm no mortal. I am Lorelai's Knight, I was there for her in the pits when she faced her demons and came out alive. Where were you? Oh yes, that's right, you didn't care. You left her depressed, tossed her aside while you frolicked about.”[/color] [color=cccccc]"Of course I hesitated! I have a wisdom you've yet to grasp, girl."[/color] Elina stepped away from Elizabeth. For all her bravado the young Ruvina didn't like her odds against the physically superior huntress. A tingle of fear ran down her spine as she could help but provoke the woman in spite of that. [color=cccccc]"Did you really believe all those pretty words she whispers?"[/color] [color=cccccc]"Do you really think a Dragon feels like we do?"[/color] Elina laughed. She'd seed some doubt now, and hopefully reap it later. [color=cccccc]"She's convincing isn't she? When she says she loves you, when she holds you in her arms and promises forever."[/color] [color=cccccc]"She's an old monster that's been playing at being human longer than we've been alive,"[/color] She smirked cruely. [color=cccccc]"But it's just a game. You're convinient, just like I was, just like my sister was. A distraction, and a little something to mend the sheep's clothing when her fangs tear through, lest we all realize what lives among us."[/color] [color=cccccc]"She'll throw you aside when she has no further use for you. She'll do it to me too, but I expect it."[/color] Elina turned to leave. [color=cccccc]"If you were wise you'd run, before she uses you all up and leaves nothing left for you to grow old with."[/color] Elizabeth growled at Elina. She had seen Lorelai love. She knew Lorelai loved Abigail and Lotte, and if she was capable of loving them she was capable of loving her. She had never seen Lorelai happier than when she was with her two children, or when she was with her. She knew she was capable of human emotions, she was no monster. Elizabeth knew what a monster was, and she didn't fit. Hell, Sousiel was able to love. That had to count for something. Or did it? She had seen Lorelai's face when she talked about Vespa, but could it have been a lie? She felt an inkling of doubt in her heart. She clutched her chest, like she could simply tear it away. The doubt became anger, directed towards Elina. If that whore hadn't come here, this wouldn't have happened. [color=magenta]“I don't believe you,”[/color] she snarled. Her voice was pitched in a way that spoke differently, if Elina could catch it. [color=magenta]“Lorelai loves me. She loved you, too. You got rid of her. You got rid of something special.”[/color] Liz cleared the distance between them, grabbing Elina forcefully in a vice grip. [color=magenta]“You had your chance, now she's mine. I have no plans on throwing her away the way you did.”[/color] Elina sensed Elizabeth's doubts, the pitch of her voice, the voracity of her objection. She reached deep for an illusion to drive it home. She turned slowly to face the woman, the whore she aimed to displace. Her features coaxed into a mask of soft saddness, the kind you'd have for a friend about to make a mistake. She smiled softly, and met Elizabeth's gaze. When she spoke her voice carried a calculated tenderness, and a bittersweet melancholy. [color=cccccc]"She [i]is[/i] special, just not in the way we'd both like, Elizabeth."[/color] She looked away, putting on vulnerable airs. [color=cccccc]"I'm sorry, I just found out I'm pregnant today, and I've been very unkind. I wounded you when I should have held my anger and fear for the woman responsible."[/color] She met Elizabeth's eyes again, false tears in her eyes. [color=cccccc]"But if you take anything from this other than an understandable hatred for me, remember that she can't love you. She probably wants to, but she just can't, not like either of us would want her to."[/color] Elizabeth’s features remained hard and unreadable, though her mind was working overtime. She went through countless shifts of emotion, she seriously considered every word Elina said. She couldn't see through the guise, she hardly even tried to. What if she was right? What if Lorelai would leave her high and dry? She growled, at bother herself and the woman in her hands. She pushed Elina towards the door, only using half of her strength. [color=magenta]“Go.”[/color] She roared, not bothering to watch the woman leave. Elina maintained her demure and defeated demeanor until she was safely in her own room, away from any watchful eyes. There was a pain in her chest, a guilt building there, but she'd done what she had to. Wasn't that what her sister, even Lorelai, had always taught her? Why did it have to feel so wrong then? [color=cccccc]"Kings and Queens do what they will, the rest of us do as we must."[/color] She'd spoken the phrase many times, it was one of her favorite quotes. Now she knew what it meant, or was starting to. Fairy tales were for children, she'd have to steal her happy ending. Too bad Elizabeth would have to pay the price. Elizabeth fell down onto the bed. She stared at it, breathing deep and heavy. Bo was prepared, he placed the bucket in front of her and held her hair back as she emptied her stomach into it. Tears fell, burning streaks down her face. She fell on her back against the bed, sobbing. [color=magenta]“Triss!”[/color] She gasped out when she could finally catch her breath. The witch could dull her emotions, and she could at least let her get some sleep. Her heart was heavy, and she felt uneasy. [color=magenta]“Get me Triss right now!”[/color] Bob nuzzled his snout against her cheek, while Bo ran to wake up Triss. [color=9bcd9b][i]“Lizzie, you don't believe that crazy whore, do you? Lorelai loves you...at least I think that's love. I don't know, never felt it before myself.”[/i][/color] He laughed, but was only met with more sobs. [color=9bcd9b][i]“Liz stop! I don't know how to deal with things that cry!”[/i][/color] [hr]Lorelai not being around was actually turning out to not be so bad. Sure, Sousiel missed her mistress, but sleeping next to Triss on a nightly basis was a decadent treat she was pretty sure she wasn't supposed to have. Of course, by 'sleeping' she meant cuddling and reading while Triss slept. Still, the experience was so heartwarmingly human that sometimes she forgot she had claws. A knock at the door pulled Sousiel from her reading material, a trashy romance novel featuring elves. [color=92278f]"That better not be Ettien."[/color] She muttered under her breath. She slipped out of Triss' arms and made her way to the door. She was pleasantly surprised to see Bo standing in the hallway, a look of concern marring his feline features. Her face relaxed. [color=92278f]"...Bo right? What is it?"[/color] [color=9F79EE]“Yes, I'm Bo.”[/color] Bo said hurriedly, he looked over Sousiel's shoulder and into the room. Though it was dark to any human, he was able to easily see the sleeping form of a redhaired woman in the bed. [color=9F79EE]“Elizabeth needs to see Triss. She had a...rough encounter.”[/color] He said with clear distaste. [color=9F79EE]“Might I have her?”[/color] Sousiel was torn between denying her fellow's request, for the sheer joy of having done so, and the desire to aid Elizabeth. For a moment. [color=92278f]"Rough encounter? I'll need specifics."[/color] She turned and approached her lover, leaning over to kiss her cheek and whisper, [color=92278f]"Triss? Sweety, could I trouble you to put Elizabeth's head back together? I think we'll get some juicy gossip out of the deal."[/color] Triss groaned as she was woken up, but soon found herself smiling. Sousiel stared down at her, and for a second she ignored the request, wrapping her arms around Sousiel's neck and pulling her into a kiss. [color=89fdc5]“Okay, I guess I can help Blondie.”[/color] She said after they parted. She pulled out of bed, tugging on her grass skirt. She was getting attached to it, if she was honest with herself. Bo watched the couple interact, clearing his throat and tapping against the door frame. They had no time for this, Liz was groveling in her bed. [color=9F79EE]“Ladies?”[/color] He sighed. [color=9F79EE]“The sooner we leave, the better.”[/color] Triss snapped her head to look at the demonic cat, one of Liz’s companions. He was almost cute, but she didn't like cats too much. She glanced at Sousiel, before following the demonic kitten down the hall. Sousiel was sure to hold Triss' hand, and be as affectionate as possible without being obscene as they made their way to Elizabeth's room. Mostly because it was fun, but the added effect of making Bo sigh and get impatient made it irresistible. Once they actually made it to the room, and she saw Liz's sorry state, she immediately regretted any delays. The woman's proud face was marred with tears, a far cry from the confident smile that suited her best. A bucket by the side of the bed held the noxious waste of her retching. She quickly made her way to her friend's side. [color=92278f]"What happened, and who needs dead?"[/color] Triss stayed far away from the two women. She hovered near the door. She was a healer, yes, but her overall presence was anything but soothing. She didn't hate Elizabeth, that couldn't be further from the truth. However, she hardly knew the woman. Tears scared her, especially tears that came from a woman who was usually strong and joking. Elizabeth looked up at Sousiel, giving the demon a pained smile. She hadn't expected her to come. For a moment, she was tempted to tell her friend that Elina needed to die. That was washed away when she realized she wanted to do the deed personally. Instead, she reached up and put her hands around Sousiel, drawing the demon into an embrace. [color=magenta]“It's just been a bad day.”[/color] [color=9bcd9b][i]“Liar! It's all because of that whore! I'll trample her, I'll eat the monster lying in her stomach!”[/i][/color] Bob roared, stomping and rearing on the bed. He had never witnessed so many tears, he would do anything to make them stop. He would kill Elina himself. He would take her eyes as a trophy! [color=92278f]"No, you'll drag her kicking and screaming to your mistress as a trophy, like a proper servant. Right Bob?"[/color] Sousiel chided the demonic steed playfully. She stroked Liz's back calmly, in stark contrast to the frothing rage building in her chest. She pushed it aside, it wasn't useful to Elizabeth right now, perhaps later she could find a practical outlet. [color=92278f]"It's alright Elizabeth, we can talk about it as much as you need later, okay?"[/color] She turned towards Triss, gesturing her over with a nod. [color=92278f]"For now though, let's get you a little closer to the Elizabeth we all remember. Triss'll see you relaxed and peaceful, won't you sweetheart?"[/color] Bob stared at Sousiel with his void eyes. He had no muscles, no way to express his emotion, but if he did he would be smirking. [color=9bcd9b][i]“I suppose, but only if I get to keep her eyes. Maybe I could pop them into my skull, the last pair I had rotted.”[/i][/color] Elizabeth breathed a shaky sigh of relief. That was all she needed right now. If she couldn't find contentment in a bottle, she could find it with the help of Triss. [color=magenta]“Thank you, Sousiel.”[/color] She told her friend with a smile, closing her eyes and waiting for Triss to draw near. Triss recoiled for a moment, before putting on her best doctor guise. The only practice in the job she had was with Andri, and she was pretty sure Elizabeth didn't want to sleep with her. She walked over to Elizabeth, smiling mainly for Sousiel. [color=89fdc5]“Well, Liz, how do you want to feel?”[/color] Triss asked with a tilted head. Elizabeth looked up at her, slowly pulling out of Sousiel's arms. [color=magenta]“Happy, loved, I don't know. Something good.”[/color] She muttered, sniffling and wiping away a tear. Triss shrugged, she could do happy. She reached out and patted Liz’s shoulder in an attempt to be comforting. Then, with a flash of green light coming from her eyes and enveloping, she was taken into her new favorite plane. Things moved slow here, and everything was a bright emotion. While on the outside she remained a motionless statue -eyes glassy for the few moments it took to complete her task- on the inside, she ruled. She watched Elizabeth with pursed lips. She emanated doubt and sadness. Triss stepped inside, using her body as a bridge to her head where her emotions resided. Everything in here was orderly, but now doubt ran rampant. It flipped things onto their heads, decimating the strong temple of love that took center stage in Elizabeth's mind. Triss narrowed her eyes, walking towards it with little fear. The emotions of others could not manipulate her, not here at least. She stepped up to the temple, staring cooly at Lorelai's visage. It flickered once and awhile, moving back and forth from the beautiful woman to a monster. Hideous claws, crooked teeth, smoke puffing out of every orifice. Triss jumped, whoever caused this was good at what they did. Given enough time, Elizabeth's love for her Dragon would fade altogether. Triss didn't want that, as much as she hated to admit it. She walked around the monster that was Lorelai, finding the other sources of Elizabeth's love. There was one she couldn't name, a baby with no clear features. It was beautiful though, guarded by Elizabeth's arms from all the bad in the world. Triss held out a hand, drawing from this love. She used it as a sort of adhesive, piecing together Lorelai's lovely statue. The flickering no longer occurred, but doubt still beat at it. If Elizabeth didn't fix this herself, it would take over, and there would be nothing Triss could do. Triss then worked on making Elizabeth happy, an easy task. The woman was masked by doubt, but she was still relatively joyful. Triss drew up a large ball of this joy and planted it at the front of Liz’s mind. With a final once over, she pulled out of Elizabeth's head, and the emotional plane. [color=magenta]“You good, Blondie?”[/color] She teased, voice pained. Elizabeth's mind was eased, she felt good. She felt like she could conquer the world, when before she wanted to hide from it. She nodded merrily, falling against the bed with a giggle. [color=magenta]“Yes, yes I am.”[/color] Sousiel smiled proudly at Triss. The woman's gift was horrific in scope and potential damage, which was hot, and her restraint and control was awesome. Alluring even. [color=92278f]"You make that look easy, love."[/color] She added a few things to her mental list of things to do to Triss during this second wind before returning her attention to Elizabeth. [color=92278f]"Now that you're feeling better, what was that about?"[/color] Triss shrugged, but her heart bloomed and she strained to suppress her urge to skip around the room in her state of content. She planted a kiss on Sousiel's forehead, and took a seat on the other side of Elizabeth. She had a small understanding of what had happened, but she craved to know more. She had no insane tendecies in mind, but she could always let lose a bit and harm whoever hurt Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled cheerfully up at Sousiel. [color=magenta]“Elina's pregnant!”[/color] She rang, smiling still. [color=magenta]“Now, she wants Lorelai back. I said no, because I have Lorelai. Lorelai's mine and she's is wonderful.”[/color] She cooed, lifting her nightgown to rub her belly. [Color=magenta]“Especially her dick, and her tail.”[/color] Sousiel was quite familiar with Lorelai's dick, but perhaps this wasn't the company to elaborate in. Instead she mulled over the first portion of Elizabeth's whimsical musings. Elina couldn't be pregnant, Lorelai was sterile before her descent. Unless... perhaps the Elina problem would solve itself. [color=92278f]"Sucks to be her, shoulda put a ring on it. My mistress is a special lady after all."[/color] Sousiel chuckled. [color=92278f]"And you've gotta love the dick and tits combo, best of both worlds, right Triss?"[/color] She winked. [color=92278f]"I doubt you have much to worry about as far as Elina's concerned."[/color] Sousiel added. [color=92278f]"What's the worst she can do? Beg? That would be fun to watch."[/color] Elizabeth brought up a finger, she knew many things Elina could do. She may have been happy about everything, but she was still realistic. [color=magenta]“Well, she said she would dye her hair to look like Vespa. That's sickening, really, but I wouldn't put it past her. She's a bitch!”[/color] She giggled, fingers dancing over her stomach. [color=magenta]“Or use the baby as leverage. That too. We all know how much Lorelai loves family. Nearly as much as I love her tits. The combo can never fail.”[/color] She winked at the ceiling. The thought of Elina emulating Vespa in a misguided attempt to ensnare Lorelai was delightfully depraved. It reeked of a lovely desperation generally reserved for the insane and terminally addicted. Which one was the young Ruvina? If it wasn't her friend and mistress' hearts at stake Sousiel would have been tempted to let it play out just to see. Unfortunately she may have to. Lorelai's last standing orders reguarding Elina were to ensure that no harm came to the girl. As much as she'd like to nip this particular fiasco in the bud while it was fresh, disobeying her mistress' commands would literally be fatal for her. Worse yet was the fact she couldn't even turn a blind eye whilst someone else did the dirty work. Hopefully Lorelai would return soon, and clear this up. Elizabeth was vulnerable, and if tonight was any indication Elina had plenty of ammunition to capitalize on the chinks in the woman's armor. [color=92278f]"Well, I think it's time for you to get some rest, and dream of those tits you're so enamoured with hmm?"[/color] For now there was nothing to do but watch and wait. She stood, and extended a hand to Triss. Fortunately she had an endless source of joy and amusement to bouy her spirits. [color=92278f]"I imagine you're not quite done sleeping either are you, love?"[/color] Elizabeth let out a final giggle, she didn't want to go to bed at all. However, she knew a good night's rest would help her aching mind in the morning. So, with a small smile towards Sousiel and Triss, she crawled into her sheets. Bo and Bob gave the women small nods, showing their gratitude. They both went to help Elizabeth in their own way, Bo reading her a favorite section in his book -this section being a bloody slaughter- and Bob laying over her like a blanket. Triss stared at Elizabeth for a moment longer, before she squeezed Sousiel's hand and pulled herself off of the bed. She felt bad for Blondie, who could so easily lose the love she felt for her Dragon. What would the girl do? She would be stuck with a baby, and when that baby moved on she would have to watch as Lorelai loved another. It stung, but she was glad she wasn't in that position. She had Sousiel, and Alphonse. She smiled at Sousiel, and headed for the door. [color=89fdc5]“I think my night can be better spent, don't you?”[/color] Triss grinned suggestively, shooting Elizabeth a fleeting glance before running out the door.