[i]She doesn’t hurt him. She could. But she doesn’t. She might. Not important. She’s soft now. She’s sweet now. Her breath is sweet as it washes over his face. Chin up for her? Mouth open for her? Breath [b]deep[/b] for her…[/i]

…and breathe out. Out. Out out out. Get them out. Get them all out. Stupid thoughts and stupid flutters and…

[i]Drop.

Sink into her coils. Sink into her eyes. Give in. Give it up. Let her take it all. Let a Princess handle a Princess. Let a Princess handle [b]her[/b] Princess.

Let her long, long tongue flicker over deep, painted lips (painted deep red.) Let her savor a delicious little snack. Let her...[/i]

…take him without a fuss. Try not to mess up the apology for the trouble. Tell her it wasn’t intentional. Focus. Focus. Focus. It’s his first time throwing a ball? It’s, no, ngh, stop it. Legs bad, maybe? No, lying’s dumb. Never works. Stop it. Lost track of time. Big night. Maybe. He could…

[i]…do nothing as she pinned his arms over his head. No leverage. No strength. No defense, as she cupped his chin and struck. And struck. And struck. And struck. And struck. Hungry. Proud. Triumphant. Alive with the thrill of the hunt, sinking her teeth into her prey, [b]her[/b] prey, and…[/i]

…Olesya drew him tight to her chest, wasting no breath on a snarl. The Queen would have to come and claim him from her awkward, gangly arms. That was all there was to it.

But before she could, a small, silly boy reaches into the depths of his flowing sleeves, and the amulet he raises to the sky cuts through the smoke with beams of starlight. “I…am the Golden Fawn!” His voice lilts and wavers, straining to climb in volume and authority. “I thank everyone who came to see me tonight. It is an honor, an honor I will repay in dancing and company. I promise that everyone will have their turn, and no one will have their turn taken from them or cut short. Please, uh, please see Miss Yaz if you would like a turn. She will sort the order out. Don’t interfere with her either. That…that is all! Thank you! Again!”

The amulet fades. The speech fades.

The boy fades.

Don’t worry about him. Bagyum Olesya was strong enough to stand before a Queen. She is strong enough to hold a small, useless boy as he falls back into her arms.

(Not that he deserves to be held.)

[Rolling to use the amulet to make a new rule: 6 + 4 + 2 = [b]12.[/b] Hazel takes the Guilty condition, as the amulet saps his strength.]