[center][sub][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5605233]Thanksgiving[/url][/sub][/center] [hr] [right][code]Beppo Park[/code][/right] Cass had just shoved the nozzle of the bag filled with strange blue liquid in her mouth as Casey and Trisha wholesale disappeared. Not that she could blame them! The whole thing had been a shitshow! They absolutely deserved to go have their time. The whole thing had clearly been fucking traumatising to Trisha, and she imagined it had been for Casey too… Since he’d been a soldier. Based on what she’d seen with her own brother, at least. [color=629c3f]”What is this, Doc?”[/color] She mumbled around the nozzle, before gulping it down anyway. If Andy was giving it to her, it probably wouldn’t kill her! It was pretty tasty, no matter how gross it looked- all of these things tended to be. At least it was blue sludge, rather than something that looked like liquid shit. As she sucked it down, she didn’t feel much of a change at first. But gradually she realised that the spells she was constantly using weren’t draining her dwindling lux supplies as much. It was like there was a buffer, or the magic itself didn’t have such a high cost. Thank fuck… It meant she’d be able to heal and last a couple of hours before collapsing from lack of magic. She finished it off before channeling her magic into healing. The clotted wounds healed first, leaving behind unmarred skin underneath ripped clothing. Then she began the painful process of regrowing her arm, hopping from foot to foot and opening her mouth to babble and distract herself. It wasn’t as painful as Luxal Poisoning, at least. [color=629c3f]”What’s gonna be done about Leon?!”[/color] She asked, twisting her head to look at the multi-headed multi-tailed wolf monstrosity he’d turned into. She assumed it wasn’t Leon right now, but probably Lelou… Which meant the collar was off. That didn’t particularly surprise her. But she wasn’t sure what happened next. Would Lelou calm down after eating the whole snake? Had Leon talked to anyone else about his plans? She knew thanks to Trisha there were Apparition suppressants. But Leon probably wouldn’t want that used… Not when he was trying to rebuild his relationship with Lelou. [color=629c3f]”He ain’t gonna be shot or drugged or anything, is he? I can totally- probably- talk him- her- them down! Like make sure they don’t hurt anyone or shit like that! Probably best I try that, really, rather than everyone jumping right back into violence…”[/color] By this time, the chaos below the Box was full of grief and pain. The noises, the screaming and shouting, all of it was consuming Beppo Park as those sensitive to these emotions Kindled out into flashes of red, blue, yellow and pink. With so many people having still been there, it was bound to happen. Most probably died before they had the chance to do anything, but the remaining survivors suddenly thrust into this paranormal world had to be taken care of. Security teams started moving out again, pushing to completely clear the venue as the giant crab beneath the ground shifted and listed in an attempt to free itself completely. Surrounding it, dozens of White adepts pressed their communicative magic downward into the Crab’s emotional field, soothing it with visions of its ancient home as survivors continued to shuffle about. In the distance, there was still combat. Down on the beach, in the darkness, there were two people. Actual people, and the flashing sparks of swords clashing. Lynette, clearly outlined in the moonlight, dripped with liquid as she struck out against her opponent. The blade turned, and a woman without recognition to Cass pressed her advantage against Lynette. Both their bodies collided, sword tips silhouetted as they both dripped with sanguine effort. But the other dropped, and Lynette was alone now. Her eyes were still covered, and she stared at nothing as the sword in her hand rose, plunged, and repeated several times as she brutalized the corpse. Thankfully, most people were too preoccupied to see that, but Cass would’ve gotten a perfect view from the box. [color=CAFFB0]”Don’t fucking think about it! Either get back out there and start the triage process, or sit here and stay out of the way. But do [i]not[/i]-”[/color] Andy started to direct Cass’ energy toward a bigger task, but Mia’s presence was felt deep in the Emotional Field. She was channeling some of her deepest bolstering spells, her baby blue eyes dilated until they were nothing but sapphire spheres in her head. Orange Lux shimmered through them, creating stark contrast as they shone in the light coming from above. As soon as her hand touched Cass, it was an incredible reaction. Cass would be able to feel every bit of Lux in her bones tingle and dance to Mia’s touch. She was practically electric, and all that energy seemed to weave into a lattice around Cass’s bones. [color=ed145b]”Before I cut the leash, Leon promised they would work it out! But I don’t trust that wolf! I know you can do this, Cass!”[/color] she asserted with confidence. [color=CAFFB0]”Do what!? Be ripped apart as part of a meal!?”[/color] Both women looked at Cass with concern, but one had conviction while the other seemed to be filled with disgust. Cass wasn’t someone easily affected by other people’s judgement- especially not when it was negative, and not now. They knew what was right, and what they wanted to do… So if there were consequences, she’d take them on herself. She diverted her gaze from Lynette’s brutal stabbing of someone already dead towards Andy and Mia with a rueful smile. She could feel Mia’s confidence and courage [i]through[/i] her magic as it bolstered Cass and added yet another buffer to the limited supply. She felt like she could do almost anything with what little she had left… It was pretty amazing. [color=629c3f]”Sorry, Andy, but I gotta make sure shit works out of him- them! I’ll help with triage after, I promise!”[/color] Cass was already moving away, well out of arms reach of the Doctor she knew could try use magic to knock her out. She probably wouldn’t waste energy like that right now… And Cass had her own magic and Emotional Field up to block it anyway. But better to be safe. [color=629c3f]”I’ll be fine! I got enough left to get away anyway! Thanks for that, Mia, I’ll make sure everything works out!”[/color] She flashed a confident grin at the younger woman, not waiting for any more protests from Andy before scrambling over the stacked tables and off the box. She flexed her newly reformed hand as she carefully approached the massive werewolf devouring the defeated snake. Cass was still half shifted herself. Wolf ears and a big bushy wolf tail, legs still more like a cheetah’s with visible spots to match underneath ripped trousers. One hand had claws, while she hadn’t bothered regrowing them on the newly formed one. She stopped close enough to get Lelou’s attention, but not so close that she’d be immediately viewed as a threat. She had no idea [i]how[/i] this was going to go… But she assumed there’d probably be some possessiveness over the massive Apparition meal! [color=629c3f]”[i]Heyyyy…[/i] Nice kill! I ain’t gonna try steal any of it, promise!”[/color] She raised her hands as she spoke, before squatting down. Her head tilted slightly- putting herself in a lower position to the Wolf Queen, a clear deferral to her. Her tail thumped against the ground, all her pent up energy going to it as she stayed crouched. [color=629c3f]”I’m just gonna stay here and watch… Cause you look real sexy devouring that thing, y’know!”[/color] At first there was no reaction, the massive beast standing a story and a half tall at the shoulder, muscles rippling and heartbeat audible as it gnashed and ripped at the massive snake’s soft belly. What vaguely human parts remained, arms and head, pathetically scratched and moaned in pain, somehow still alive after being so thoroughly consumed. But one of its massive tails tipped downward, brushing against Cass. At first, the fur was prickly, like hair, and stood on end. Amazingly, it wasn’t [i]big[/i] hair, rather like a dog's, it was an incredibly dense two-layer coat. Only, the beast seemed to have individual control over each strand. Like they had musculature, the fur began to wrap around Cass at the shoulders and waist before hoisting her into the air wordlessly. She was brought up over Lelou, and pressed forward toward a patch of fur that seemed to be parting into a bare patch of pallid flesh. From it, slowly, things began to shift until the horrifying mashup became a familiar visage. A face, complete with a chiseled jaw, and a thick brow. [color=C67C12]”Shhhhh… Nobody knows I’m here…”[/color] Leon sputtered slightly, his vocal chords only half-formed into an esophagus to nothing. [color=C67C12]”I’m glad you’re okay. You are, right? You smell like blueberries and iron…”[/color] It was pretty difficult for Cass to contain a shocked shout, but she bit down on her lip and managed it. When she’d come over she’d been expecting to be dealing with solely Lelou… not fucking Leon face in her back like something straight out of a Doctor What episode! Fucking hell, it was pretty freaky… But thankfully Cass was alright with freaky. And the controlled fur was both cool and comfy… Made the situation all round much better than she expected to handle. [color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, I’m fine! Ain’t a wound on me, is there? Unless you can only smell and can’t see that…”[/color] Cass responded as quietly as she could, extra ears twitching slightly. She was alright now, but if he could smell the blueberries and lingering blood then she… Shouldn’t [i]really[/i] hide that she’d been hurt. It had never been serious, anyway! [color=629c3f]”I did get pretty fucked up by a couple of those Doppelganger things… Cause’ve the explosion! Used a lotta lux, lost an arm and shit, but it’s all good now! The blueberry gloop meant I could heal, and I got a good few hours till I ain’t got any magic left!”[/color] [color=C67C12]”I can smell and see. If you maintain your ‘surging’, your reserves have six hours, thirty three minutes, fifteen seconds. Don’t underestimate yourself, my Love.”[/color] While it was [i]Leon,[/i] it didn’t seem to be him entirely. He wasn’t smiling, his voice remained incredibly monotone, and his eyes weren’t exactly looking [i]at[/i] her, so much as through. [color=C67C12]”I can see the seem line, the blood is still coagulating deep in your arm. Give it another couple of minutes, or you can risk microtears that will give you trouble later. We won’t be seeing one another for some hours, so behave and do what [i]she[/i] asks of you. And… I promised her [i]the dead.[/i] Not just the enemies. They won’t like that, but… Their medicine won’t work anymore. I’m at her mercy.”[/color] Cass let her reformed arm drop to her side, forcing herself to stop waving that hand around like she often did while talking. Microtears would be such a pain… Especially when she was going to end up dealing with Luxal Fatigue in six hours, thirty three minutes and fifteen seconds. Fucking hell, how precise. [color=629c3f]”Well that’s gonna be a hard one to swing… Especially since Casey ain’t here anymore! But I got it, don’t worry… Was already planning to do whatever she asked anyway! I didn’t expect there to be any you… Real freaky by the way, Babe. Pretty awesome too.”[/color] Cass formed a clawed thumbs up with the alright hand. She wasn’t sure how the whole Leon promising Lelou the dead was going to go… Considering Andy hadn’t even wanted her to come over, and she imagined that kind of opinion was probably shared by a lot of people. Casey would probably trust Cass’ word, and Leon’s through her, but… He wasn’t here right now. [color=629c3f]”Don’t worry, I’ll try make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible… So you ain’t trapped forever, but she’s also satisfied! That’s why I came over, y’know! Even though Andy was real convinced I was gonna get eaten… But I knew that wouldn’t happen. I trust you both!”[/color] [color=C67C12]”I would ask if you want to give everyone a panic attack, but I don’t think now is the time. It would be child’s play to just fucking eat you and spit you out when nobody is looking.”[/color] he replied, half a grin forming on his toothless face. [color=C67C12]”Hopefully I will see you soon. Goodnight, Cass.”[/color] And then the entire face seemed to be dragged back down into a pool of flesh before the fur covered it all back up. Chances were, Lelou was probably too busy to bother speaking. So, the second consciousness was utilized to split the attention, and just as it had picked her up, it placed Cass back on the ground. The massive back paw of the beast lifted slightly, bumping against Cass as if urging her back out to the others. [color=629c3f]”Alright, alright, I’ll go convince ‘em to give you all the dead.”[/color] Cass half joked, getting the message with the paw bump pretty quickly. She reached up to very cautiously pat the back paw, before making her way back towards the box. She felt a bit like a strange messenger, or maybe a Diplomat between two countries where one was an ancient Apparition and the others, some normal humans and a bunch of crazy cultists. Totally fine, she was sure they could get to some solution that left everyone happy. And let Leon get his body back at some point instead of being stuck as a freaky flesh face. She climbed back up onto the box, beelining for Mia. It was easy to pick out people even before she could see past the stack of tables, smelling where each individual was. She could practically smell the Lux some of them were giving off after all the drugs they’d taken. [color=629c3f]”Who… Who the fuck’s in charge now Casey’s gone?”[/color] The box had filled up with people coming for a recharge. Mia would’ve answered if the defacto hadn’t been standing there as she asked. They were [i]all[/i] staring at her with surprised expressions, except for the person she was actually looking for. [color=de3b1b]”Why? Feel like putting the rest of us in danger or something? Do you realize that thing can fucking mash you like a cooked tomato?”[/color] Furio snapped, stepping forward to meet her. [color=CAFFB0]”Furio! Wait, you’re not-”[/color] [color=de3b1b]”-Why don’t you worry about saving people, leave me to [i]actually[/i] secure this fucking place! Now, what? What do you want?”[/color] Furio reiterated, staring at Cass. Cass folded her arms, not really bothered or intimidated by his tone. She hadn’t really been [i]looking[/i] at who’d been there, but now that she was it clicked into place. She’d never properly met Furio, but she’d heard enough from Leon, Casey and Trisha. Made sense that the old Security Head would be stepping in. Also made things harder! Because she barely knew him, but had a feeling he wouldn’t be so easy to convince. [color=629c3f]”I ain’t tryna put anyone in danger… But we just talked. Y’know, the big wolf that could’ve mashed me but didn’t. [i]Anyway[/i]... Leon and her have an agreement. I’m here to try sort that out cause the… ‘medicine’ ain’t gonna work anymore, I’m told. Probably safer for everyone that it ain’t even tried.”[/color] Cass did her best to keep things as short and to the point as she could, which was difficult when she was generally a babbler. Testing the waters before she threw the whole eating all the dead thing onto the table. Cause that was really gonna be a hard sell. There was a [i]very[/i] stark reaction in the eight or nine people who were gathered near Furio. All faces Cass knew; Doctor Andy, Mia, Hari, some of the security members that were in Casey’s office… But nobody looked excited to hear what Cass had to say. [color=CAFFB0]”[i]They what?[/i]”[/color] Andy asked, jaw quivering. [color=ed145b]”What!? Did you think that I was going to be able to do all of this at once?”[/color] [color=de3b1b]”You [i]idiot![/i] You selfish little bitch, you mean to tell me-”[/color] [color=CAFFB0]”-Stop! Stop, stop, stop! Cass… You… Said the [i]medicine[/i] wasn’t going to work?!”[/color] Andy looked completely shocked, as if disbelief had taken all of her at once. Cass just nodded, while shuffling closer to and slightly in front of Mia as if she could protect her from any further words. [color=de3b1b]”I’ll be the fucking judge of that!”[/color] Furio howled, spinning heel and making way for an unopened box that had [i]several[/i] magical seals on it. But, at his touch, it popped open. From it, Furio produced a massive rifle, into which he inserted a bullet that looked comically big. He swung the barrel toward Lelou, aiming directly at her massive frame from where he was standing. [color=629c3f]”Are you fucking- I’m putting people in danger, huh?! Shoot her and she’s gonna start eating everyone!”[/color] Cass shouted as things escalated- though she hoped that Lelou would be gracious enough to let them live over one hopefully measly bullet. But she wasn’t entirely hopeful, and it certainly wouldn’t help Leon convincing her that they could share his body peacefully. So she did something very stupid, and jumped in front of the barrel, scales forming across her entire body in the same instance. Furio wasn’t concerned about that. They’d beaten her before, and they’d do it again if they had to. They’d happily stuff her in one of the newly kindled, or a Third-Eye loyal to them. He wasn’t taking chances, and he certainly wasn’t making the decision in a panic like it may’ve seemed. Every motion was calculated rage, even the amount of time he took to line up the shot. Plenty to let people react, try to stop him, and hilariously enough, watch as Cass flung herself in front of the barrel only to hit the boards unscathed. [color=de3b1b]”This isn’t a movie.”[/color] The noise from the cannon echoed as he let it rip, the sabo round leaving the barrel and opening its fins to stabilize the injector case so that it hit straight and true. They hadn’t had all this anti-apparition tech back in the day, but he was happy to have stuff like this now. Knocking a ghost out should’ve been impossible, but here they were. The round flew straight and true into Lelou’s chest, burying itself deep and releasing its toxic payload. A viscous green oozed from the wound along with Lelou’s dark black blood. Yet, there was no reaction. Nothing to stop the beast from devouring its catch, as it had [i]so much[/i] to eat. It was pure ecstasy, and no less delicious than the last snake she’d been able to devour. And, as Leon had predicted, whatever level of formula was in that round seemed to be completely useless. One should’ve been enough, but she was eating. A full meal probably gave her a bit of a resistance. Fine. Furio bent his knees to pluck a second round from the box, brow furrowed in confusion. Cass rolled back onto her feet, relieved that the first bullet seemed to not have done anything at all… both to Lelou, and in terms of eliciting a reaction. Maybe it was like being bitten by a mosquito. Maybe she wouldn’t care at all! It wasn’t like Cass could stop Furio shooting another one, outside of trying to tackle him to the ground to prevent it. The thought was tempting… But kinda destroyed any negotiating power she had later! And it’d probably make things more difficult for Leon when he was back, and she was technically an outsider so that could really be seen as an attack… Fuck. [color=629c3f]”Are you really gonna take another shot?”[/color] She didn’t even look at Furio, gaze fixed on Lelou. Her own body thrummed with energy as she forced herself to stay crouched rather than trying and failing to stop it again… Or starting a full on brawl that’d get her thrown out and unable to help at all. [color=629c3f]”It ain’t gonna work…”[/color] By the time she finished speaking, the second round was already in the air, smacking into Lelou’s side. This one actually got something to happen, though not [i]much.[/i] One of the heads, on the side exposed to them, stopped what it was doing and turned to look directly at the box. For a moment, it didn’t do [i]anything[/i], until its eyes started to glow. The maw opened, and there was the faintest little red light that Cass would be able to see trace itself from somewhere deep in her throat, to Furio’s ear. There was blood, and Furio’s hand slipped up to feel it. A small nick, no bigger than a piercing hole, was shot [i]right[/i] through the upper ear. It also left a bald line on the side of his head, where a little blood started to trickle out from superficial splits in the skin. But, the head turned back to its meal, seemingly in no mood to be goaded into anything. At first, he looked incredibly frustrated, and tossed the rifle onto the ground. Either through magic, or because that’s simply how it was made, the rifle bounced once, and then never came back down, rather evaporating from view altogether. [color=de3b1b]”Fine! Fine, what the [i]fuck[/i] does it want?”[/color] [color=ed145b]”Food! She wants more food, almost definitely! I know, I heard them when I was disconnecting from the leash!”[/color] Mia squawked, very clearly in distress about the entire situation. [color=629c3f]”Yeah, that’s pretty much right.”[/color] Cass straightened back up, stretching her back as she did so. Now that Lelou hadn’t turned around and tried to eat them all, she felt relatively calm about the situation. The constraint and precise magical laser shot was pretty cool, honestly! She flashed an apologetic, hopefully comforting smile towards Mia before continuing. [color=629c3f]”Leon promised her… Uh… You ain’t gonna like this, but you probably don’t like any of this shit- He promised her all’ve the dead. Theirs and ours. As, yeah, food.”[/color] Furio’s stare was blank. Not the kind of blank where one didn’t understand what was being said, and wanted to express confusion either. The kind of blank that one couldn’t help but relate to serial killers. This was the look of someone who was no longer actually occupying their bodies, and if they were? They certainly weren’t trying to look like they’re home. The amount of stimulants he was on cleaned the wound and regrew his hair fast enough that Cass could watch it happen. Yet, his blank expression never left his face. He simply turned away from Cass, shook his head, and walked away. [color=CAFFB0]”Furio? [i]Furio![/i]”[/color] Doctor Andy stood, rushing after him as he tried to get as much distance between him and [i]probably[/i] the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard in his life. Which left Cass with a couple of the girls, and a few other people. Hari was a Crone, of course, but she was still the Junior of that sisterhood, and couldn’t exactly make [i]any[/i] decision. Mia frowned, her bottom lip quivering gently in anticipation. [color=ed145b]”We need to wait… Even if they say yes, we need to make tallies and identifications of everyone dead and wounded. She can’t just go from one meal to another, but I know she misses the taste of Battle-Dead. Cass, I’m… I’m sorry. I… The leash, and him, and her, and… And they told me, [i]he[/i] told me to drop it! To disconnect! I never should’ve done it, I’m sorry, I’m so-”[/color] she practically dumped to the floor, with Hari moving to help her up and out of the slump for the moment. [color=629c3f]”Hey, hey, it’s ok!”[/color] Cass also moved forward, going to hug Mia around Hari. [color=629c3f]”I know it was his decision! We talked about it… Like, properly! Well, he hadn’t decided if he was gonna yet, but… I expected this to happen sometime! Hoped he’d, like, take it off and figure out shit with her not in the middle of a battle… But it’s fine. It’s really fine, this really isn’t your fault, alright. If it’s anyone's its Leon’s, but… I don’t think it's a mistake in the long run! Just a bit fucked with the whole dead eating thing.”[/color] She rubbed Mia’s back, trying her best to comfort her. She knew it wouldn’t necessarily get through, because Mia was the one who’d disconnected in the end… But Leon had asked. [color=629c3f]”You have nothing to be sorry about. I’m fine! I maybe won’t be so happy if they don’t let her have ‘em at all, and then I get stuck with a two story tall wolf girlfriend for all eternity, but… It’s fine, really. I expected to have to do something like this eventually!”[/color] Hari looked up with a rather solemn expression. [color=0072bc]”From what Lynette’s always said? She’ll get her meat whether we deny it or not. Are you… Playing messenger, Cass?”[/color] she asked, as Mia’s new fit didn’t seem to be verbal, so much as fetal sobbing. Maybe whatever Cass was saying was getting into Mia’s head, but there was just as high a chance that it was all being deflected by a nice, thick barrier of self loathing. [color=629c3f]”I am, yeah! Messenger, diplomat, however you wanna put it… She’ll let me near, and she ain’t gonna hurt me. I’m confident in that.”[/color] Cass nodded, a hand moving to Mia’s shoulder to gently squeeze it. She couldn’t do much… But she let her Lux gently spread as much as it could, like a warm ghost hug across Mia’s skin. [color=629c3f]”Fucking… If Lynette’s said it’s gonna happen, surely that’s basically a yes, right?! Like, Lynette’s the [i]big[/i] boss, ain’t nobody saying no to her?”[/color] [color=0072bc]”Well, yeah! But, right now, she’s-”[/color] Hari stopped in her tracks, head popping up to look around carefully before continuing. [color=0072bc]”-She’s blitzed! Gonzo! I’ve literally never seen her do… [i]That.[/i]”[/color] Hari’s free hand pointed to one of the tables that’d been pushed to the side. Lynette’s clothing, her actual dress clothing at least, was sitting among a pile of empty salt shakers and plastic squeeze-packs of whatever stimulant cocktails she could get her hands on. Looking over at one of the boxes still stocked up, there were probably a dozen colors of filling, but there must’ve been twenty or thirty bags in various states of split, bit and shredded open. [color=0072bc]”She had it all on her. Obviously she knew this shit was coming… But now I have no clue how long it’ll take her to get back to a state where she’s not practically possessed by herself.”[/color] Cass stared at the insane amount of empty shakers and packs, before pressing a hand to her forehead. [color=629c3f]”Probably a long time, right? Long enough Lelou will be done and want to eat more? Fuck- Guess we’re depending on the grumpy ass saying yes…”[/color] Sure, Lelou was probably going to eat them anyway, but it was better if it was all agreed on. As little hard feelings between everyone as possible… to make it easier for Leon when he got back too. [color=629c3f]”But it’s not gonna be right away no matter what, yeah? Cause’ve what Mia said… tallies and shit? I should probably go… tell her that and convince her to not immediately devour other things when she’s done, right?”[/color] Hari nodded solemnly. [color=0072bc]”I think that’s best. I’ll sit here with this one, make sure she’s okay to start back up again… Thank you, Cass. I’m sorry that all of this has… Well, we’ll save it.”[/color] [color=629c3f]”Yeah, please, we can chat everything through when everything’s calmer again! But there ain’t really anything for you to be sorry ‘bout… Just look after Mia.”[/color] Cass leaned in to give Hari a quick, tight hug before detaching and making her way back to the edge of the box again. She approached Lelou again in much the same way as she had before- calmly, with her hands out in front of her just in case Lelou thought she’d been some active participant in the failed shooting. Hopefully not… but better to be safe! She wasn’t sure if there’d even be any talking now, or if she’d have to wait till Lelou was finished eating. Which she could totally do! She might start running in a circle to entertain herself, but she could definitely wait! [color=629c3f]”[i]Heellooo[/i] again! Sorry ‘bout the… y’know… shooting, I tried to stop it! Uh, we gotta talk ‘bout what Leon promised you! Not, like, that it ain’t gonna happen, just like… the when… That kinda thing!”[/color] Finally, the beast seemed to cease its endless ripping and tearing, at least with one head. Though, she did seem to relax a bit, rump on the ground now as two of the heads continued to gnash away, front paws tugging and pulling at the corpse. [color=a36209][b]”You said much, yet I see no more bodies at my paws. This delay… Permissions. I am Queen, I ask no permission and I certainly don’t [i]wait[/i] for it.”[/b][/color] she replied, her voice seeming to come from inside her throat, rather than speaking with the mouth itself. There was almost a glint of something inside that throat… Like [i]eyes[/i] in the light. [color=a36209][b]”So? Who must I ensnare to claim the rest of what was promised? The Mother, I assume? Or, the assailant? Surely he’s broken, seeing his own spell be flung back at him. I remember him. Every single shot. It’ll be a pleasure to break him like he tried to break [i]me.[/i]”[/b][/color] she growled, hot breath pushing out of her nose and into Cass’ face. [color=629c3f]”You threw [i]his[/i] spell back at him? That’s awesome! Can you do that for any magic?!”[/color] Even faced with a massive, hungry Wolf Queen, Cass was able to get completely distracted by what wasn’t the main point of the current conversation. She realised pretty quickly, coughing and continued. [color=629c3f]”Eh, you can tell me more about it later… No, no, you don’t gotta ensnare any of ‘em! Lynette’s high outta her mind somewhere, and Furio’s just… Well, you did totally break him with that spell, honestly. It ain’t a permission thing! It’s… They gotta count and identify the dead!”[/color] Cass said, looking up at the head talking to her while waving one hand. [color=629c3f]”It’s… I’m pretty sure the one who’ll get shit for it not being done’ll be Casey. Y’know, Leon’s brother, tall but not so tall, pretty cute, insanely in love- anyway, honestly, if he was here there’d have been no shooting… But! It’ll totally make things harder for Leon too! I know it ain’t something that matters to you- the tallying that is- but it’s like… human shit, gotta inform families of the dead… Then you’ll get the bodies! It’s just a bit of a wait. If… You can’t wait and you’re that hungry, you can, like, eat my arm as a snack?! I can keep making it, and you can keep eating it?”[/color] Lelou stared without words, letting the moment sink in. Her alien mind wasn’t a stranger to the mentality of humans, and of course if it were her pack, she’d expect they be given the same dignity… But these things were all so petty to her. Their wants and needs trivialized through her grand filter. Millennia, to a single moment in time. The head got a little closer, gently licking Cass’ face with a tongue the size of her torso. [color=a36209][b]”I would not. The beans, you see, don’t agree with me.-”[/b][/color] She paused, massive eyes shifting in their sockets with audible squelching. [color=a36209][b]”You will need to make further concessions, however. Until I’m given that which I demand, Leon will remain in me as I remained in him. And, while your flesh will not sate my hunger, you will maintain your duties as [i]my woman.[/i]”[/b][/color] she growled lowly. [color=629c3f]”Yes, duties, absolutely just out of obligation and absolutely [i]no[/i] enthusiastic willingness at all, nope!”[/color] Cass joked, before realising that maybe joking with the ancient Apparition who maybe couldn’t understand sarcasm (or maybe could!) wasn’t the smartest idea. She cleared her throat again and tried her best to look a bit more serious. [color=629c3f]”That sounds fair after everything they’ve done to you. I’ll make all of those concessions… But I may need some more magical gloop if it's gonna be longer than six hours, thirty- well, less now! And… Are you gonna stay this big? I can probably handle it, but I’ll need even more magical boosting so, y’know, I don’t run out’ve Lux!”[/color] If a wolf could grimace, this one did. [color=a36209][b]”You… I’m not done.”[/b][/color] she said very simply, half-shaking the remaining third of the near hundred foot long serpent apparition. The thing was massive, clearly used to floating through darkness more like a krait than a constrictor as the end of its tail was a massive paddle. There were two massive spikes on either side still dripping with something devilish. [color=a36209][b]”I know there’s more to come. War. And, I know that Leon has no intention of leashing me ever again. That’s good, it’s a good start. But, for he and I both? We need more. More battle-dead. And more still. I need their spirits.”[/b][/color] she continued, voice lowering itself slightly. [color=a36209][b]”By my teeth… [i]Stay this size?[/i] No amount of magic could hold you together.”[/b][/color] she offhandedly commented, still confused about why such a ridiculous question needed to be asked. [color=629c3f]”Whoa, now you’re totally underestimating me!”[/color] Cass said almost indignantly, putting her hands on her hips. Sure, Lelou was almost definitely right but… It was a point of stretchy Green Adept pride to at least pretend she totally wasn’t. And Cass could make herself bigger too… Maybe not that big, but when she was at full Lux capacity, she could do a lot! [color=629c3f]”I get it, it was a silly question… Let a girl hope…”[/color] She continued jokingly. [color=629c3f]”The, uh, other battle-dead thing… Well I dunno if that’s something [i]I’m[/i] ever gonna be able to help with. I assume you mean you’re gonna need more after the War, even? That’s… Well… Does it have to be humans, or can we find some more massive snake Apparitions?”[/color] [color=a36209][b]”Everyone dies, Cassandra. War is common. You two will figure it out, I’m sure; it’s not so difficult when you accept the mindset.”[/b][/color] The implication was grim… With no [i]direct[/i] answer, it was left somewhat to interpretation. But, still, she didn’t seem particularly bothered about any of it. [color=a36209][b]”Now, relieve me of the pesky gnats in my side. Don’t be shy.”[/b][/color] she directed sternly. Right, sure, everyone died of course… Cass didn’t really have a problem with Lelou devouring the already dead, or it happening when there was killing anyway. Not so much Leon turning into a serial murderer to keep her fed. Surely if she could eat Apparitions, that’d be better? Not just from a moral perspective, but they had to be more filling! How many humans would she have to eat to get the equivalent of this big snake? But that was something to worry about for another time. When Leon was back at least… They’d figure it out. [color=629c3f]”Yup, on it… Your Majesty!”[/color] The title was an afterthought, and certainly not one she thought she’d be able to keep up… Unless Lelou really forced it, that was. Cass [i]could[/i] be down for whatever, it was just remembering really. Since she’d said to not be shy, Cass wasn’t. Both of the needles were too high for her to just reach without stretching herself to annoying lengths. It was easier to clamber up onto her back, before hanging back over to carefully pull out the one in her side. It was… An honestly impressive piece of tech! She couldn’t help but look at it for a moment before shuffling forward, leaning round under Lelou’s heads to grab the ones in her chest. Then she slid back down to the ground, holding them both up in her hands. [color=629c3f]”There you go… Anything else you need? Your will is my command!”[/color] The wounds themselves started to bubble up and congeal the second that Cass started pulling the rounds out. Thankfully, both seemed to be just about perfectly intact. Lelou stared at the metal objects for a moment, one of the other heads even curious enough to tilt backward on its axis until it could see. The obvious rubberized properties of the beast revealed themselves in this, as the neck of the second head craned far further than it should’ve been able to. [color=a36209][b]”Now is not an appropriate time to be pleasured… Tell your anxious companions that I’ll be expecting my meal very soon…”[/b][/color] [color=629c3f]"On it! Then when you're done we can find somewhere more… appropriate… for that."[/color] [hr] Cass was able to pass on the information to Hari and slip a few packets of chocolate and blueberry goop in her pocket before being whisked away. Because Lelou wanted to ensure the Temple actually followed through on their promise, Cass had to go along with acting like there was some kind of conflict and that she was actually being kidnapped. It took pretty much all of her acting skills to go along with it… thank fuck Trisha wasn't around to call her out on it, honestly! As if she would ever be unwilling to be dragged away somewhere by a sexy ghost wolf lady. But it worked out, allowing Lelou to snatch Cass and abscond completely with her. The enclosed Grove Lelou vanished her to wasn't exactly a comfortable home with a bed and central heating, but it was pretty nice as far as the outdoors went. It wasn't like Cass was thinking much about comfort after a few moments, anyway… She was too caught up in the ‘pleasuring’ that was now appropriate. She did her best to microdose chocolate pudding whenever she had a moment… but there weren't many moments where she had the chance, and after eight hours she had to wave Lelou off for a proper break. [color=629c3f]"Just… Fifteen minutes! If I had all my fucking lux it wouldn't be a problem… This'll get me enough for, like, another eight hours!"[/color] Cass managed to not quite sound like she was begging and was rather making a confident statement as she grasped around for the chocolate pudding she'd managed to take a few sips of before, shoving the nozzle in her mouth to take big gulps. Not all of it. She didn't want to go back to full. Just put off the inevitable Luxal Fatigue until this was sorted and Leon was back… maybe an hour after Leon was back. But if she got all of her Lux back, she'd have to use it again, and it might lead to faster Lux Poisoning… which was much more of a hassle. She lay on her stomach without much care for the state she was in as she slurped the horrible looking goop, feeling it beginning to work its magic. [color=629c3f]"You don't happen to know of another bean that, like, stops me from having to go through these fucking cycles of using all my Lux, fatigue, using all my Lux, fatigue, using it all- intense pain, do you?"[/color] In nature’s own sweatsuit, raven hair cloaked the body that only partially belonged to Leon. For now, it was Lelou’s; thus its similarly bulky and tall form had been burnished with curves that hadn’t existed before. Augmented as she was, it was hard to hide everything, but she didn’t have to here. This was a place she knew the Temple would find her, but also a place she knew she could defend. A craggy hill some miles from St. Portwell, furnished fully with a tree grove that gave a perfect sense of defensiveness while avoiding any of the downfalls that came with fortresses. The view was unobstructed over the tops of the trees, and on the horizon, the ocean could be seen. It was exhausting work keeping Leon from being devoured by her intrinsic absorbent properties. Every few minutes, she had to dedicate a small piece of herself to dredging him back up! While it was fine for a little while, she realized that she didn’t necessarily love the setup as it was. There’d be a reason for independence, when this was all over… But, at the same time, that meant she was taking from Leon. Was it better to experience things from his perspective, knowing he’d die long before she would? [color=a36209][i]Obligation… Why? What’s the compulsion?[/i][/color] Life was easy. He didn’t ask a lot until recently, but then and again, they hadn’t been so intimate since recently. But, he was sweet often enough, and willing to be submissive should the need arise. Only, he’d been an Adept of some merit! The magics he wove that initially pinned her reminded her of the mythology of Thor and Fenrir, and about the end of time… Ragnarok. Would he be an ally until then? Would he look after her best interests too? The truth was, she didn’t know. All she knew was that this vivacious woman of the modern age had zero hesitation, and was game for anything. She’d hardly flinched on the battlefield, not shy of all the horrors that lesser people may’ve been. Even the Brother. [color=a36209]”It wouldn’t be a curse if it was so easily treated, Sweethound. Embrace the pain and anguish: When your enemies strike at you, mere laughter will turn their blades from your heart. You’ll want for nothing, should you harness it. There is no Lux of pain, after all.”[/color] she grinned, body turned and almost straddling Cass as a finger slipped down her back. There were plenty of other wolves in attendance, Lelou’s natural energy bringing them from the surrounding wilderness in packs to laze about this little mountain in ecstasy and contentment. Some seemed cognitive enough that they followed her whims even. Most of all, to bring her rotten fruit, which she devoured with one hand almost constantly as she worked with the other. [color=629c3f]"Mmm…"[/color] Cass reactively shuddered, eyes closing for a moment. She was even more at Lelou's mercy now than she had been… as her Lux levels dropped dangerously low, the effects of Luxal Fatigue already started to creep in. Dull aches in her joints, exhaustion, her limbs feeling like lead. Thankfully the chocolate pudding regenerated the Lux quickly, but it would take a bit for it to fully circulate. It pushed away the exhaustion first, but moving her legs was especially difficult right now. At least the pain wasn't too bad. She had to resist the urge to drink all of the chocolate pudding to get her full capacity back… but that was just putting off the inevitable, and making things worse in the long run. Plus, it'd probably add another hour onto whatever lecture Andy would give her when she got back. [color=629c3f]"I suppose that's true! It ain't all doom and gloom… shit comes real easy to me where it doesn't everyone else. Course I dunno their experiences, but at least from what I was told. I was really dreading the whole studying stage of learning but it looks like I ain't gonna have to bother."[/color] Cass quite happily babbled away, managing to prop herself up on her elbows and twist around to grin at Lelou. [color=629c3f]"Ain't many who get up to caving faces in in'a couple've days… So I'm already doing my best to harness it! Though I can tell I'm barely tapping into it… either way, I bet it'd be like a tickle if I tried to punch you. Not that I'm gonna… Well…"[/color] Cass' expression turned to thoughtful, then bright and excited. [color=629c3f]"I'd totally love to fight when I'm stronger and got loadsa lux, so long as you'd be able to not kill me! That'd be super fun… cause it's already pretty awesome fighting Leon… Not that I expect to be like, anywhere near a level that'd be worth it for a while!"[/color] [color=a36209]”You’re so quick to physicality… [i]I love it.[/i] We shall fight to establish dominance from here on. If you best me, you may find me soft to your touch… Enough times, you may even describe me as [i]submissive.[/i]”[/color] the ancient queen of wolves grinned wryly. Of course she wanted everything carnally! Whatever depth of knowledge and understanding would never not have a primal lens through which it gets projected. As it stood, she was coiled for a fight. Her Apparitional energies were never sparse, so long as dirt from the Earth was beneath her feet. She drew directly from the force of Shimmer which gave the planet its corporeal form. Some classified her as a Mana Hound. Others, a Life Leech. Her gut didn’t just digest everything and anything, but it broke Lux down to the most basic wavelengths, allowing it to dissipate into the bloodstream and mix with Shimmer’s natural energies in a seamless conversion process. And, with nobody to ask permission or guidance from, all of Lelou’s abilities that were usually unavailable to Leon were right here for her… Though, the next step was getting rid of that pesky seal. Once it was gone, this process would be more fluid, though even more dangerous for Leon as both of their psyches would no longer have a barrier. She’d not be forced into a cage anymore. In turn, she intended to make sure [i]he[/i] got the benefits too. [color=a36209]”I’ll educate you: Avoid a drawn out conflict with those like myself. The longer we fight without you delivering the final blow, the stronger we become. The three heads do different things. One’s responsible for being attentive, one makes decisions, and the third is meant to bite first, as it holds all of my desire for blood so that I may maintain crystalline focus and decision making.”[/color] she practically bragged. Cass nodded along, expression getting equally more thoughtful and excited. [color=629c3f]"So… I gotta go for the throat first?! But you got like, three throats, right? Well… I guess I gotta go for one of the smart heads first! I can take a bunch've biting, but if I cripple your decision making, then that makes it easier, right?!"[/color] Not that she had any chance of doing that right now, even if she'd been at her full capacity. She was well aware of her limits, even though her abilities had absolutely skyrocketed over the past couple of weeks. It almost made it feel like she was being goaded… like the allure of winning was being dangled over her head even though they both knew it was a far off possibility. But one day. And she didn't fight just to win! She enjoyed the thrill of it, and was more than happy with what it would lead to here. Dominating and being dominated were equally as exciting to her. [color=629c3f]"Ughhh… You're just taunting me with what I could have… y'know I ain't gonna be able to beat you for, like, years!"[/color] Cass groaned playfully with a mock pout, though she quickly moved onto more questions. Her curiosity was just as insatiable as her other appetites, after all. [color=629c3f]"Not that I gotta problem with losing and submitting… But how come you get stronger the longer it takes? It ain't just having the three heads, is it?"[/color] [color=a36209]”Every bit of Lux you put toward harming me that doesn’t break the threshold is absorbed back into my body. I don’t [i]need[/i] to eat or drink. I can fight for days and days without rest. And every attempt made against me by an Adept allows me to push a little more. If you use the same spell enough, I can mimic it. Like the Assassin. His Red Lux is incredibly powerful, but he revels in inflicting pain. Thus, he could never kill me. His sadism would ultimately be his undoing.”[/color] She seemed so forthcoming with all of this. It was probably worth contemplating why everyone painted Lelou as such a dangerous creature when she seemed so [i]amicable[/i] in this context. Granted, her wandering hand winding up wherever it wanted certainly spoke truth to the idea that she was operating on an altogether different wavelength. Carnality was life to her, and all this talking was only preamble to more pleasure. It wasn’t pointless, but in her mind, this was just a recovery. In ancient times, were things different, Cass probably wouldn’t have had such an [i]attentive[/i] companion. Plenty of other wolves around, after all… But, the way she saw it, Cass was an ally and more. Maybe she would’ve been a pet were it not for the tugging that the drowning Leon was doing constantly. A consistent reminder that they were all locked in this together for the moment… [color=a36209]”My point is, fighting, you may never win. Because, I think like many Adepts, you have enough Lux to kill me. But, like many Adepts, your goal simply [i]isn’t[/i] to do so. Which always works poorly, because I have no reciprocal compunction. If we’re fighting, I’m trying to kill you. Because a fight is to the death. Pups don’t call it fighting. We call it playing. Two pups bite one another’s faces, try to force one another to topple over, scratches and paws flying. But you don’t want to [i]kill.[/i]”[/color] she explained calmly, trying to highlight the stark differences she noticed. Cass nodded slowly. When put like that, it made sense to her. There was a difference for her even when it came to fighting for fun, and fighting in situations like today. In the latter she killed without thought, the former the goal was never killing to begin with. Just the thrill of punching and being punched. [color=629c3f]"No, I don't really wanna kill, not unless I gotta. Sometimes I gotta… and I ain't holding myself back then. But I guess normally it's more like [I]playing[/I]. Play fighting. Sometimes I do it to put someone in their place! But I guess that ain't really a thing you got- well, there must be, surely?! Like in a pack of whatever, ain't there dominance fights… or is that just to the death? I guess you're probably way too strong to have anyone challenging you anyway!"[/color] She certainly understood the difference, and with it could categorise how she thought. It was strangely comforting… mainly because of those fears she had about becoming a killer, and hurting the people she loved. But whenever she fought with Leon, it was very different from fighting things like the Undesired. She went all out but was never going for the throat. And it made sense a primal being like Lelou wouldn't have fights that didn't end in death. She was on a completely different wavelength, after all. [color=629c3f]"That means we ain't really gonna ever fight then, are we? Cause I don't wanna kill you, and I quite like living too! And by the time I ain't so fussed ‘bout it I'll be way too old to do anything but throw a pathetic punch before toppling over!"[/color] [color=a36209]”We both may pray that the need for conflict doesn’t arise. I’d say my reign was peaceful until those conquistadors had the gall to murder my last Litter. But, you’re right in a sense… Any of my kind who compare to my energies, usually end up dead if they challenge me. Occasionally, you take one under your wing, but they die too. Like the Widow, or the Mantis, sometimes the mate is necessary for nourishment.”[/color] She understood there was a grim implication at the end of her statement, which she left purposefully ambiguous. She had no intention of extrapolating the plotting and scheming that sometimes happened when a true Queen took an exiled Prince or Princess from another kingdom as a concubine. These internecine maneuvers were rare, and usually only happened if you had neighbors to your own territory. But a powerful Queen like Lelou could establish a border that stretched for hundreds of miles, and a border territory of nothingness a couple hundred more miles deep. You were bound to get neighbors, and bound to deal with external politics. Yes, even in the forest where the Fay and their kindred took names and hid secrets… [color=a36209]”You don’t pose a threat to my reign, I don’t think. I would need to be tyrannical, which I wouldn’t be. I have been grievously misrepresented…”[/color] she finally gave up a little reassurance. [color=629c3f]"Oh- Oh, good… I mean, if you'd wanted to kill me or whatever, you've had like… hours worth of opportunities! But I certainly ain't planning to try overthrow you or anything."[/color] Cass responded calmly. She wasn't as concerned as she maybe should be. Sure the whole mate nourishment thing was a little concerning… but then again, Lelou couldn't eat her cause of the beans! So she was more concerned for Leon than anyone else. But as for her own safety… Cass couldn't say she [I]entirely[/I] trusted Lelou. But that was simple because she was an ancient Apparition- a creature Cass couldn't even begin to understand, or to guess her motivations. What little she knew and perhaps believed came from what Leon said… And that was mixed. From the talks about an intrusive voice in his head unhappy unless he did what she wanted, but also the confession of his own feelings towards her… it wasn't exactly all negative. As for others, and the Temple? She didn't exactly just trust what was said at face value anyway. She believed Leon, she believed what him and Trisha had told her about Apparitions in general, but beyond that she liked to make her own observations. Just because Lelou was initially sealed within Leon for a murder spree in St Portwell didn't necessarily make her evil… Because she wasn't human. Apparitions played by different rules. Not that Cass thought killing was good! Just… She wasn't concerned like she would be if she was lying under a human serial killer. [color=629c3f]"Who've you been misrepresented by? Leon? Or, like… the Temple? Cause, they're a crazy cult, I don't really trust half of what most of ‘em say. Even though y'know, my boyfriend's part of it, and my best friend's fiance is too… still, there's a bunch of beliefs that are bullshit. [I]Especially[/I] when it comes to Apparitions and Abberations."[/color] Lelou smiled, her sharp teeth pressing together as her pliable inner mouth filled with the dangerous piercing tools. There was a clear rage in her eyes in spite of the smile. [color=a36209]”The Tribes. Local humanity. Mautec, Willapa, Chinook… The people of the Mother, and of Leon similarly. They came over the sea from the West, across the Expanse, and came down from there. My kingdom’s borders were as big as they’d ever been in that age. I said nothing when they moved into Potrunga, and cleared my Son of his territory. I prayed that when they invaded Sinnet that they’d not take more from me. [i]I relinquished things, Cassandra.[/i] In the interest of peace, I gave them pieces of myself. Yet, they took more. And more. Until I couldn’t avoid them anymore. They forced my hand, and then called me evil for defending that which I refused to share. They invited hostility and distrust, and imbalanced the area until the Expanse flooded, and they could no longer return from whence they came.”[/color] She was shaking. Quaking, maybe, and though her hands and body weren’t tense, there was an aura that was unmistakably radiating from her core. The recollection of wrongs accumulated over a thousand thousand moons washed across her as she thought about the countless shadowy wars. About her own mistakes, and the fact that for a long while she absolutely made her bed. But, they’d brought that out of her… Just like they brought the Stygian Snake. The Imbalance. [color=a36209]”So imagine my surprise when I thought the dust had settled… Only for them to return, and provoke me again.”[/color] Cass could understand why so many sentient Apparitions hated humanity- they had a habit of taking and destroying. From what little Trisha had told her of the Queen, it was a similar tale. A territory encroached upon, then the Bee Queen herself being sealed in an artifact because she was too ‘dangerous’ to people trying to encroach on her forest. She didn't verbally offer sympathy, because she wasn't really sure what to say and how it would be taken. Her natural reaction would be physical comforting too… but this was an ancient wolf queen they were talking about! What could Cass ever do or say to help? It wasn't like it changed things. [color=629c3f]"What did they do?"[/color] Of course her curiosity always got the better of her, but expression was clearly one filled with sympathy and interest. [color=629c3f]"I, uh… Ain't surprised they provoked you again… Us humans have a tendency to want to get rid of anything we ain't in control of, or don't understand. Some're worse than others. They ain't ever satisfied."[/color] [color=a36209]”You’d think it would be so simple that the problems of yesterday would resurface. Yet, this time was different. It was for nothing… Or, maybe nothing. They’ve tried to pin us down, Leon and I, to tests. Submission to those who would devour me, just like I would devour them. Only, I would give them great dignity, where they would torture me and pick at my insides while I live.”[/color] Then, a single burning tear crept from the side of her eye, rolling down her flesh and searing a rivulet that healed as it formed. [color=a36209]”A hundred years. A hundred years since I felt safe and secure, and fed well enough that another litter would be possible. That I’d not be [i]alone[/i] anymore. And what happens? They took them. All six. The Assassin, and the Walker. Distracted as I was, I never imagined they’d… They… Well, you know their proclivities, these conquistadors. This [i]Temple.[/i]”[/color] [color=629c3f]"They… Took your children?"[/color] Cass whispered. Reactively, one hand raised to brush away the tear that was already gone, pausing just before she actually touched Lelou's face. The Assassin… Furio… The Walker could only be Clarissa, from what she knew. As for what they'd done? Cass knew what they did to Apparition. They turned them into food. It was a concept she struggled with. She had no qualms eating meat- but it became different when something was sentient. Apparitions weren't like humans, but a vast majority seemed to be sentient. Killing and sealing them was an entirely different matter to [I]eating[/I] them. Though Apparitions ate humans, so maybe it wasn't such a moral problem… But children?! No matter if they were human or ghost that was… [color=629c3f]"That's so fucked up. I'm sorry."[/color] Cass frowned. She wasn't certain she wanted to have children in the future, but if she did, one thing she was certain of was that she'd protect them more fiercely than she did herself. Just like she protected everyone she loved. And to have someone like that torn away and turned into [I]food[/I]. She'd go on a rampage too. [color=629c3f]"So that's why you attacked St Portwell? And ended up sealed inside Leon… no wonder! I mean, I'd try to raze the whole fucking Temple to the ground- I already wanna do that to Lynette for what she's done to all her children and Trisha! And they ain't even mine!"[/color] Cass' sympathetic sorrow quickly turned into anger. Was there anyone the Temple hadn't hurt? Certain people at the top, she guessed. The people who founded it… but fucking hell… [color=629c3f]"And they're- they're making you out to be some fucking evil ghost when they're the evil ones! Fucking hell, does- does Leon know?"[/color] [color=a36209]”I see no sense in burdening him with such things when the plan stands. The Mother and I have had long conversations: I’m aware that the decisions, and plans to utilize my essence like she has that [i]freak[/i] of a Deadborn she keeps entombed in her space, were hers alone. With her gone, the chances of peace climb, as the Tribes that once ruled the lands surrounding us have so greatly diminished as the conquistadors crossed the continent.”[/color] she responded softly, contemplatively rubbing her thumb up and down Cass’ thigh. It made sense that it had been Lynette's plan. A lot seemed to be. Cass was hopeful there'd be peace when she was gone too… though it wouldn't be for a while, since the aftermath was likely to be bloody. But at least the system of oppression would eventually be dismantled! [color=629c3f]”A lot'll be fixed when she's gone… well, the whole fucking cult is dismantled. I'd fucking kill her myself if I was allowed to!"[/color] Cass' voice lowered into a quiet growl, fist clenching and unclenching. It was a fucking complicated situation, and she sometimes felt helpless about it. Because she couldn't do anything… it wasn't her place. But she calmed down as quickly as she got angry. Her mind's focus shifted slightly, shuffling herself even closer to Lelou. [color=629c3f]"You really care for Leon, huh? Not wanting to burden him even though he, y'know… has the totally biased version of the story about you. It's kinda…"[/color] Cute. But she was fairly certain calling Lelou cute would not get a good reaction… it just wasn't her fault she could see cuteness in even the roughest of places! Though there was probably something a bit fucked up in her head of that was where her mind was going after all this. [color=629c3f]"Benevolent! Real benevolent and awesome! Not that he seems to… Well… Ain't really my place to say how he feels, I'm sure you got enough of it after y’know… Un-leashing- heh."[/color] Cass laughed at her own shitty pun. [color=629c3f]"Shit's gonna be different now, ain't it? I assume you ain't just… going back to what it was like before? The status quo and that?"[/color] [color=a36209]”Of course not. I’m done with this. Six years isn’t a long time when I’m alone, but being corporeally leashed to a mortal is recontextualizing my lifespan and driving me mad. Minutes were [i]years[/i]. A decade passed in the blink of an eye. Pups take five centuries before they’re able to pass into the deepwoods for testing. Another thousand before they make it back home, or… Sometimes they don’t. Life is a process, even for beings like us. But, our time is so much more abundant.”[/color] The last six years had felt like centuries normally would. She only ever had to think in such short terms [i]because[/i] she had to deal with the tribes that she managed to press under her paws. But none of them had been so foolish as to think they could trap her and keep her like [i]these people.[/i] And she’d not been prepared for it! They caught her entirely offguard, destroying a large portion of her holdings and forcing her to make the defence so they could invade a sanctum that she didn’t even think they knew about. Then, when she started retaliating, they defended with their wretched poisons and exposed her to things that she’d never felt before. It only took a little while to build an immunity, but the Oblivium infection in her host made him personally susceptible to their drugs. Now that she’d been allowed to row the boat herself, however, she was able to harness the energy from it directly and convert it back into energy just like everything else that entered her body. It was enough to cleanse his susceptibility, allowing her to completely shrug off the effects of the suppressants she’d been impacted by before. [color=a36209]”They’ve made the mistake of letting me see through his eyes. Of seeing how they operate, and what they make. How they make it. What the components are… Synthesizing these things inside myself is part of my connection to this world.”[/color] she explained calmly. [color=629c3f]"Ohhh, so once you know what it's made of you can just… Neutralise it? That's pretty awesome. You- You should've seen Furio's face after he shot you the second time and it didn't work. He was so pissed off he had to hear your terms!"[/color] Cass giggled a little bit, before managing to bring herself back to a hint more seriousness. Not that she was often fully serious, and she didn't feel right now was a time that it was entirely necessary. She'd begun to get a feel for what Lelou was like more now after having the actual time without the Leon buffer. She certainly didn't seem to get annoyed at or try to suppress Cass'... Cassness. [color=629c3f]"So they can't use it on you, and you got all the power now… What does that mean for Leon?"[/color] She asked rather bluntly. It was something of a concern, after all. She liked Lelou. But if she had to choose, it would be Leon. Ideally, it would be both, in whatever way they could make it work. Though, it wasn't like any of the choice was hers. What could she do if Lelou decided she wanted to devour Leon and take his body? But she didn't think that was what was going to happen. She'd certainly implied Leon would come back when saying what concessions had to be made. [color=629c3f]"I kinda miss when I had two in one."[/color] She half joked, lips pulling back into a sharp toothed grin. She didn't want Lelou assuming that she only wanted and cared about Leon, after all! Lelou gave a gentle grumble, contemplative in its tone. She wasn’t sure what Cass was actually asking. Mean for him? [color=a36209]”I think it means great things for him. My pleasure, and my safety, are things he concerns himself with in spite of our forced union. I have no reason to look at him as anything other than a companion and a fellow victim of the circumstance as it stands. I… Can’t say that I share all of his feelings. His passion toward me is somewhat misplaced. His modern mindset leaves him considering this [i]committment[/i] as a lifelong source of love and compassion for one another, when…-”[/color] She trailed off, still thinking about the idea of sticking around for the next sixty, seventy years… Stuck in this temporal Hell… [color=a36209]”-When being trapped here like this is causing me distress. True distress… The amount of time I’ve been trapped with Leon should’ve been a nap. A daytime snooze. Instead, it’s a nightmare I can’t escape from.”[/color] That… was kind of surprising to hear. Leon had said he didn't want Lelou's voice constantly in his head- but then he'd missed her when she was gone. The lifetime Apparition-Host companionship seemed to be a Temple… ideal? Teaching? But Cass hadn't expected it was something so torturous for Lelou. It was a different situation from most Adjoined, she guessed. The two were trapped together. Trisha had said the Queen could leave her anytime she wanted, but didn't. And Leon wanted magic. He wouldn't just let Lelou go. [color=629c3f]"I assume you wanna be… Not attached to someone then? Back to being a big bad wolf ghost? That's… Well… I can understand! I'd be super fucking annoyed if I was trapped with someone else. I felt it a bit when I couldn't move, like I was trapped in my own body! And that was mine, not someone else!"[/color] Cass hummed thoughtfully, body rocking from side to side a bit as her physical energy began to come back. [color=629c3f]"But without you Leon ain't got magic. And he… yeah, he does like you. Probably a lot more than he does me, since it's been longer!"[/color] She paused, mind jumping about a bit. [color=629c3f]"What I meant was what gonna happen with the whole body sharing shit… like you gonna swap, fully share, What- but I guess the problem's way deeper than that, huh? That's the kinda shit that… ain't so easily worked out…"[/color] [color=a36209]”Oh…-”[/color] she replied quietly, mouth turning into a slight frown. Of course she’d be worried about her mate. [color=a36209]”-Would it help if I brought him back? You’re wondering if he’ll actually be around now. He will. I hadn’t realized that this would be [i]so difficult[/i] to maintain. The seal, the fact that my consciousness is trying to devour his… It’s nice to be out, but it’s not on my own terms. Does that make sense to you?”[/color] she asked thoughtfully. [color=629c3f]"It does! You don't gotta bring him back, not till you get your meal, that was the deal after all… I ain't asking cause I'm worried you ain't gonna bring him back… Well, maybe a little bit. But really, I wanna know how it's gonna work for [I]both[/i] of you? If you're saying this ain't easy to do, and it ain't on your terms… Well…"[/color] Cass trailed off, waving one hand as she tried to get her thoughts in order. As her Lux and energy came back, it was difficult for her not to get all erratic. There was just too much to think of and ask at once! [color=629c3f]”Ideally, there's something that works for everyone… for both of you! But I assume for you that's leaving, and then that leaves him without magic… Uh, is it the seal that stops you from doing what other Adjoined Apparitions do? Like Serenity, who just floats around wherever she wants to?"[/color] [color=a36209]”Partly. I’m always manifest. I have vague essential control, and enough gravity to affect gaseous particles. But, I’m… You imagine every Apparition is a ghost, or a phantom. I’m not either. We’re two physical beings forced into the same body based on magic that isn’t meant to do that.”[/color] she explained calmly, clearing her throat. Aberrations were the types of mortals who utilized Apparitional magic… But what exactly qualified as Apparitional was not so narrow. Guardians, spirits of nature, elementals, unbound, divinates, mortiticals… A spectrum of corporeality and connection to the woven reality they lived in. Entities almost exclusively related to one plane, versus entities who could unbind themselves from one energy source and migrate to another… It all affected what, to people like the Eden Scholars in the Temple, deemed as an incredibly esoteric set of rules and laws with even more exceptions and addendums than you could fit in the book. [color=a36209]”So, I’ll be able to manifest a lesser form, something intangible. I believe we’ll remain as we have been for the most part, however.”[/color] she confidently nodded. [color=629c3f]"I suppose that makes sense if it's what's easiest! It ain't like Leon ignores you or anything."[/color] Cass nodded after a moment. [color=629c3f]"I… really don't know much ‘bout Apparitions, obviously! Or anything that ain't my own magic… You ain't missed some insane Cass magic education session. So, uh, it's pretty interesting to hear straight from you."[/color] She found everything she learned about magic interesting, really. It was a whole new world that she'd been discovering more and more of recently. [color=629c3f]"You already know all've Leon's feelings and all but… I did miss having you around. So I'm glad you'll be able to manifest in some way!"[/color] The Queen of Wolves grinned in a subtle fashion, giggling slightly. [color=a36209]”Well… You’ll have your cake and eat it too, Sweethound. Now,-”[/color] Lelou curled over in the moss, hands trailing down somewhere more intimate. [color=a36209]”-enough questions… You’ll have more time next break, I promise.”[/color] she pushed forward slightly, kissing her playfully.