[right][code]Home[/code][/right]
The night continued, with Trisha and Casey eventually rejoining the group. Just for a couple of hours before they started looking for opportunities to leave. 

It wasn’t that hard in the end. While the party was meant to be to celebrate Sycamore, most people were just taking it as a time to be social and drink. Everyone was respectful- or maybe intimidated- enough to not crowd around the sole three Sycamites that were there. Occasionally someone Trisha didn’t know would pass by with congratulations, and Leon had his fair share of people talking to him, but there wasn't as much focus on her as she’d expected.

Which meant that nobody really stopped them from leaving. It was just the normal goodbyes from the normal people. 

Thanks to Cass sucking most of the alcohol out of her system, Trisha was now just pleasantly tipsy. Enough left to feel that buzz, but able to think straight again. Not so drunk she couldn’t walk in a straight line like had been the case before they left… Though it didn’t change the way she leaned on Casey now that she could walk herself, or make her any less clingy in the cab home. 

The alcohol had helped her get through the night, forcing the tension out of her, but she was glad to be home. Just stepping up onto the roof had her fully relaxing, regardless of the frigid temperatures. It didn’t feel so cold with Casey right next to her anyway. 

As they got inside, Trisha paused before they could get too far into the main room. The natural inclination was to remove coats and go straight to the Den… But no, she had plans. She was going to see them through this time. They were both in a good mood. It was the time. 

[color=d1b300]“Uh… Casey? Babe? Do you mind staying out here for a little bit?”[/color] She turned to him, asking with a bit more anxiousness than she wanted to. 
[color=d1b300]“And… Closing your eyes. No magic sight either. Just… Five minutes?”[/color]

Casey had been far more liberal in his second helping of boozing. Still warm and toasty, he’d have a much harder time actually walking if it wasn’t for all the magic assistance. As it turned out, he [i]did[/i] have a certain level of innate prescience thanks to the White Lux, though nowhere near as vivid as his Mother or Sister. Rather, all it was helping with was something like this. In his impaired state, walking became incredibly difficult without some kind of focus, or something to lean on. But, in bright flashes in his mind, he saw himself and Trisha six or seven paces ahead. 

It could’ve even been his imagination putting things together, but the entire walk out to the cab, then up the Cannery had been spent staring at his much more sober back. It almost shamed him into adjusting himself, standing strong and straight for Trisha. He hoped she didn’t realize how drunk he was, but that was a pipedream as they got inside and he immediately became flushed in the warmth. Usually pale, Casey’s face looked something like a cherry tomato, or an angry fire truck.

[color=577d06]”Honey… I don’t take magic shits, in spite of all the Lux.”[/color] he giggled, looking down at her.
[color=577d06]”Where are you going? What do I do? I can’t… I can’t get on the comfy couch…”[/color]

Trisha pouted a little bit up at him. Maybe she should wait… He was obviously more drunk than she’d realised. It hadn’t been so noticeable when they were walking, and she’d only sobered up herself right before leaving. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m just setting up something in the Den… I need to get some things from upstairs, and the kitchen. But it can wait if you really want to get on the comfy couch right now.”[/color]

He looked at her, eyes narrowing before a smile broke across his face.

[color=577d06]”Go do it… But… I’m- The kitchen. Snack.”[/color]
Yet, he was oddly smug. Tapping his temple as if there was something going on in his poisoned mind. There was! He knew what he had to do… And he certainly wouldn’t be able to do it this drunk. That much was clear in his own mind.

[color=577d06][i]Ah! She wants to have sex in the living room![/i][/color]

He leaned down, planting his lips against hers, hands climbing up to her face to hold her there a moment before pulling away.

[color=577d06]”I love you, Trisha-Bee… I’ll only [i]bee[/i] a minute. Get… The stuff. Upstairs? We’re up- Oh. Right.”[/color] he looked up at the loft, then back down at her.

[color=577d06]”Race you!?”[/color]
And without waiting, he turned, spun his heels, and watched as the world turned into a trillion copies of itself until his head smashed against the hard wood of the island door as he tumbled over.

[color=577d06]”Aaaaagh! F-ffffuck! I’m- I’m okay! I’m okay! I can make it!”[/color] he called out, starting to peel himself off the floor before opening one of the nearby cabinet doors and pulling out a packet of some other kind of Temple concoction… Though, when he ripped it open, Trisha could very clearly see it was the Green Stuff.

Key-Lime Panacea. Delicious, nutritious, and able to heal just about every ailment… [i]Including alcohol poisoning.[/i]

[color=577d06]”B-be right as rain in a sec…”[/color]

Trisha barely had a chance to react, left practically gaping at him from just a little bit more into the room than before. She’d moved forward as soon as he fell, obviously, but he was up and ripping into a magical healing pack within moments. 

[color=d1b300]“What the fuck, [i]Casey[/i]?”[/color] She covered her face, playfully whining more than sounding actually annoyed. It would have been amusing if he hadn’t smacked his head- again!- and crumpled to the floor. At least there was something to heal it… 

But did he know what she was planning? He was acting like he knew. Had Cass told him? No, she didn’t know when Trisha was planning it- and Casey knew she had his ring, so he knew she’d be doing [i]something[/i] to give it to him. Was it because of the failed attempt? It wasn’t like anything she’d set up was overly obvious. Maybe the chocolate strawberries then gave it away?!

But she didn’t know he knew for certain. He was drunk. 

She shuffled over to him, taking his hand with both of her own. 
[color=d1b300]“We’re not racing upstairs- well you already fell so obviously we’re not… But, we’re not doing it, because I need you to wait down [i]here[/i] with your [i]eyes closed[/i]. You still haven’t agreed to do that.”[/color]

At her request, his eyes closed as his legs splayed out across the floor and he pressed his back up against the cabinet. He could already feel everything draining from him, being replaced with this concoction before flushing out through gentle bursts of random Lux. 

[color=577d06]”I’m sorry! I love you- my eyes are closed. No magic shit, like you said. I swear, I like to keep my underwear clean.”[/color] 

He bit his lip and giggled at his own joke.

Trisha shook her head with a soft laugh, more at the ridiculousness of what he said than finding the ‘joke’ actually funny. She leaned forward to press a light kiss against his forehead. 

[color=d1b300]“I love you too. I won’t be long… I’ll call you when you can come through!”[/color]

There were soft footsteps, followed by the distinctive thudding of her going up into the loft. She spent enough time up there to have feasibly gotten changed, before audibly coming back down and doing her best to silently open the fridge and pull something out. Then it was into the Den, the door closed behind her. 

Just like she’d said, it was only about five minutes before she gently pushed the door back open, calling out to him.
[color=d1b300]“Casey? You can come through now.”[/color]

Having had plenty of time to sober up, Casey had moved to a standing position with both hands leaning against the counter. When he heard her voice, he cleared his throat.
[color=577d06]”Okay! But, I’m blind, so if I hit a wall just be patient.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“You can open your eyes now… Please open your eyes.”[/color]

[color=577d06]”Oh, good.”[/color] he laughed, opening his eyes and making his way down the hall to push into the destination.

The Den was warmly lit by LED candles dotted around the room, a fire video playing on the TV quietly to add to the lighting ambience. There was a platter of fruit on the little table corner of the couch, roughly arranged into a heart shape with honey drizzled over it. Right beside it was a bottle of [i]very[/i] fancy looking wine- but not any of the bottles they’d been gifted when moving in. 

It was less than Trisha had wanted to do, but she didn’t have the luxury of Casey being out for a Thanksgiving sermon like she had the last time. Obviously having him there was better, it just made setup harder. 

Trisha herself stood on the couch, putting them at a more equal height. She [i]had[/i] changed. She was wearing that same bee onesie she’d worn when they first met… Though it felt a little embarrassing now that he’d come through. But he’d said it was cute and he wanted to see her wear it again, and it was… meaningful, right? 

Her hands were clasped together around something, and she nervously cleared her throat.

[color=d1b300]“I don’t have any fancy speech like you did. I’m sorry this took so long, I wanted to do it after Thanksgiving but-”[/color] She bit her lip, cutting herself off before she started rambling out apologies or bringing them back to that spot. Focus on the positive and the now. 

[color=d1b300]“I really love you, Casey. I’ve never felt so safe with anyone before, or felt certain that there will be a future. It’s how I know you’re the one. You’re what I’ve been missing my whole life… And I can’t live without you anymore. I just really, really love you, so…”[/color] She swayed a bit, before getting down on one knee on the couch and holding out the box she’d been holding onto. It popped open to reveal his engagement ring.

[color=d1b300]“It’s my turn to ask… Casey, will you marry me?”[/color]

Casey had gotten the distinct feeling, once he’d sobered up, that his first thought wasn’t the right angle. But, being here and now, he was more thrilled than if it’d been something carnal. More emotionally affected by this than he was by the problems that had led up to this point. The ones that’d prevented her from doing this when she really wanted to. November had been incredibly difficult to stomach. And early December had already managed to be a mixed bag. 

But none of it mattered right now. None of it mattered as Casey’s eyes climbed up the familiar shock of yellow and black to the face that stared back at him. The one that loved him, and who he loved in turn. She was everything. Absolutely everything. His face twisted slightly, a frown forming without his consent. It wasn’t disappointment, however. It was the struggle to keep from losing his head entirely. 

He wanted to weep. He wanted to cry like a baby. He surged forward, collapsing her hands and the box into his chest as he curled around her and fell entirely into the couch with her clutched in his arms like the game winning pass.

[color=577d06]”Of [i]fucking course[/i] I’ll marry you! Yes! [b]Yes![/b]”[/color] he spoke loudly, all the emotion inside coming out in the voice. At first, he was definitely holding back the sobs. But at the second yes, it all came flooding out. The emotional confirmation became a cheer for joy and laughter, and for love. A lot of love.

[color=577d06]”I’ll marry you, Trisha, and I’ll be the best fucking husband… And you’ll always feel that feeling! I’ll never let anything hurt you, or take you from me, or do anything to you that you don’t want! I’ll be your bastion and your palace; where you’ll always find safety, security and comfort therein! I swear, I swear! My wife! [i]My[/i] wife…”[/color]

He was really weeping now, and quickly buried his face in her neck and collarbone as he held her tightly… And the sobs began in ernest.

Trisha managed to wriggle out one arm to cling to him, tilting her head to nuzzle into his hair. Whatever anxiety she'd felt over the proposal disappeared. Obviously she'd known he was going to say yes, because they were already engaged! He'd asked her! It was just all those silly thoughts of it not being enough, as if he was the kind of person to care about anything more than it being her… 

[color=d1b300]“I know you're going to be the best husband… Because you're already the best fiance, and you were the best boyfriend before that."[/color] She cooed sweetly, letting him cry into her. 
[color=d1b300]“I really trust and believe you… I can't wait to be your wife, and for you to be [I]my[/I] husband. Even though it feels like we may as well already be married."[/color]

She giggled. 
[color=d1b300]“And you're already so happy you're weeping over me… Are you going to cry like this at the actual wedding? I don't mind… Because I love you."[/color]

It made her feel a bit emotional, though not to the point of crying too. They'd come so far in only a month… And before Casey she'd never really believed she'd have something- or someone- like that. She'd always hoped she would, but it was difficult to think it could happen after so many times things didn't work out. None of them were the right person… And now she had him. They were going to get married. She really was going to live a happy life with her person. 

[color=d1b300]“Do I get to see the ring on? You've had weeks looking at mine… I want to see yours. Because we're really engaged."[/color]

Casey scrambled in their little puddle, hands flapping around before sliding in between them to snag the box. He felt the ring’s warmth, and every bit of Lux therein. It sent a warm tickle up his spine, and he took a deep breath. He felt the little ring unhook itself, sliding over his knuckle until it felt it was right where it needed to be… Then it clamped tight. All at once, he felt his Grandmother’s stern and loving grasp holding his finger tight, and dragging his hand up in between them for Trisha to look at.

He looked at her, tears still in his eyes.
[color=577d06]”It’s here! And it’s never gonna go anywhere!”[/color] he nodded, face beat red as he smiled through the tears.
[color=577d06]”I’ll wear it long after my skin’s gone! All the skin, all the muscle… It’ll stay! Look!”[/color]

He immediately tried to take it off, and each time he did, there was a sharp humming whistle that echoed out from inside his hand as the ring absolutely railed against its own removal.

[color=577d06]”You’ll always be with me, Baby… Always and forever, until the Hound ceases to chase the Deer across the plains beyond.”[/color]

Trisha smiled widely, squinting at the ring and then him with pure love and joy. There was a hint of tears in her eyes, unshed and adding to the gentle glow of her expression.  
[color=d1b300]“If mine's the same, then you'll always be with me too. Maybe they'll dig us up in hundreds of years and figure out how in love we are… That's a bit morbid, isn't it?"[/color]

She giggled again, leaning forward to rub her nose against his. At the same time her left hand crossed her body to catch his, fingers lightly threading through his. The sight of both rings shining in the dim light made her feel incredibly happy. She loved him so much.

[color=d1b300]“They look so nice… I'm glad I was able to set everything up this time. Not that it's much… But I even got a bottle of wine from my share of dad's collection. I had Cass go get it so you didn't ask…"[/color] She smiled cutely at him, mixing bragging about the effort she'd gone to with making it clear she felt like she should've done more. Her cheeks flushed.
[color=d1b300]“I never expected to propose wearing this… But you said you hoped you'd see me in it again when we first met. It just felt right, if a bit embarrassing. You make me want to do things I wouldn't have before."[/color]

[color=577d06]”It’s a family heirloom now. We can’t ruin it in any fashion… I’ll be sure to enchant it, so we know that one day we’ll be able to pass it along as a representation of the moment our lives changed. Together.”[/color]

Casey shifted them both so they were fully upright again. It was truly a wonderful moment to be alive in, and he was thrilled to be sharing it with the love of his life. Warm, with fizzy butterflies still whirling around in his guts, he made for the plate of fruit to pop some in his mouth. He held a piece up to feed Trisha too.

[color=577d06]”I’m totally crazy over you. Leon said it too… I’m different. I know a lot of my concerns have shifted. But, to me, that doesn’t feel crazy. It just feels [i]right[/i] y’know?”[/color] he admitted to her as he chomped the strawberry in one go.

Trisha hummed happily as she ate the fruit from his hand. She was glad it wasn’t just her. Obviously it wasn’t, obviously Casey loved her a lot… But she hadn’t known him before that. There were some people who were just [i]like[/i] that. Like Cass. She’d do crazy shit for friends, nevermind partners. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s the same for me. Obviously it isn’t crazy… Maybe to outsiders it is. But we’ve met [i]our person[/i]. Obviously your concerns would shift… Mine have too. Maybe it doesn’t seem so drastic to other people, because I’ve always been looking for [i]someone[/i]. But I wouldn’t normally move in with someone so early, or get engaged- but it’s different with you. Even if some of my friends think it’s normal Trisha behaviour… It’s not.”[/color] She smiled up at him. 

She felt truly happy, and safe. Secure in a way she really never had before. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m glad. Really glad we’re both crazy for each other. I’m even starting to… Accept that you’re not going to leave me.”[/color] She admitted, voice getting quieter.
[color=d1b300]“I know I already should, because it’s what you’ve shown me but… It’s slow. I’ve never gotten this far before. Really believing that someone will stay.”[/color]

Casey took a deep breath, the smile on his face getting even bigger.
[color=577d06]”Do me a favor… Sit there, and don’t get nervous. I can’t wait for you to find out naturally. I’m too impatient.”[/color]

Without letting her ask what was happening, he placed the plate down and stood up. Clearing his throat, Casey put up his finger, telling Trisha to hold on without words. Tricking the ring was easy, because it had such a hair trigger.

[color=577d06]”Trisha!?-”[/color] he said loud enough for the ring to hear.
[color=577d06]”-I demand a divo-”[/color]

As if on a hard metal line attached to a fighter jet, Casey’s hand shot up to his face and absolutely mashed him in the jaw. It wasn’t a little force either; it dragged his arm hard enough into his face that he saw the stars in the sky through the floor. Reeling, he regained his composure enough to do the walk-away test.

Spinning, still pretending to be upset for the ring, he spun on his heel and tried to walk away toward the door. But the ring’s attraction activated, dragging both his arm [i]and[/i] Trisha’s up and toward one another. It practically locked Casey to one spot, his arm being ripped back toward Trisha like there was a massive beast tugging a rope around his wrist.

[color=577d06]”Ah! AH! FUCK, ALRIGHT NEVERMIND! WE’RE WORKING IT OUT!”[/color]

Both rings settled, and Casey took a long, deep breath before moving back toward Trisha.
[color=577d06]”See? Not a chance in Hell we’re getting away from one another. I’ll never ever [i]ever[/i] fucking leave you. Ever!”[/color]

Trisha reached out for Casey’s hands, looking concerned over the whole punching himself in the face then getting his arm literally twisted thing. He [i]seemed[/i] fine, but that didn’t make her any less worried, making sure to take a good look at his face before letting out a breath and nodding. 

[color=d1b300]“I believe you… If you chose to put the ring on knowing it’d do that, you really must not want to. It’d be a little terrifying if I didn’t know I’m never going to want to…”[/color] She trailed off, voice lowering to a whisper in case the rings were trigger happy. 
[color=d1b300]“[i]Divorce you[/i].”[/color]

It probably should worry her a little bit, since she hadn’t exactly been told before putting her own ring on… But the security from it outweighed any doubts. The little sick, overly possessive part was glad he was magically stuck with her. And her love for him was overwhelming enough that it didn’t really matter in the end. 

[color=d1b300]“How sensitive is it? Will you be somewhere completely different, get upset, try to walk away and get dragged in my general direction? Or is it only triggered by certain words?”[/color] She asked with earnest curiosity, looking at her own ring snuggly fit on her finger. As she looked at the green gems gently shining in the dim light, an actually nerve-wracking thought appeared. 

[color=d1b300]“I won’t be able to run away from fights anymore, will I?”[/color]
Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

[color=577d06]”Please… The spell is as old as my family. It wasn’t made to keep two people together. It was meant to keep one loyal and honest with the other. Nana wouldn’t saddle yours with the same impulse. Just… Don’t mention Divorce like you mean it. It may still hit you.”[/color] Casey laughed as he truly settled back down, taking Trisha in his arms again.

[color=577d06]”Maybe it’ll try to remind you that you should be working things out, but yours will never be as aggressive.”[/color]

He put their fingers together, letting the rings touch fully. They actually vibrated whenever they met, indicating that they were bound together by a set of enchantments.

[color=d1b300]“I see… Some I’m allowed to leave, but you aren’t.”[/color] Trisha teased, smiling playfully at him. The gentle vibration from the rings touching was strange, and she couldn’t help but play around with it a little. Playfully wriggling her fingers against his, letting the rings tap just to feel it. 

It was nice having them magically connected like that. Another layer of meaning on top of rings that already tied them together. 

[color=d1b300]“Good thing I don’t ever plan to even think about Divorce, nevermind say it like that. I only want to marry someone I’m confident I’ll never want to leave. That’s you, obviously.”[/color] She giggled, twisting in his arms so she could cuddle him back. 

It was part of why she was happy to wait for the wedding. She was already confident that Casey was the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, but it was better not to rush into something legal like that. Because if something really happened… She wasn’t sure if she could come back from it. Though, even if they weren’t married, it would be difficult to move on from this ever. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s not because I’m against it with other people or anything… I’m glad my parents got divorced. I wished they didn’t and imagined how much better things would be, but I know they would’ve been worse. I never wanted to be like that. I know I’m sort of like them… Because I rush into relationships. But [i]never[/i] marriage. That’s only for when I know it’s the one.”[/color] She admitted, still tipsy enough to feel more open and giddy on happiness that it all flowed out. Unnecessarily, maybe, but it felt nice to just talk about her thoughts.

[color=d1b300]“Once I marry someone- once I marry you- I know I'll never want to let go.”[/color]

[color=577d06]”Then don’t let go of me. And I’ll do the same. Forever and ever, and again the next time around. We’ll renew our vows as children playing on the playground. Pretending we’ll have a life. And we’ll grow together, and we’ll both be strong. Because now that we’ve found one another, Fate will always hold us together. Just like these rings.”[/color]

Which was the true meaning of the enchantment. It was a gentle reminder to a Crusader, that his betrothed remained home and unharmed. That a world waited for him. Now, it was just his Grandmother’s way of maintaining some vague control over the affairs of her progeny. A not-so-gentle reminder that they were still Catholics, and still [i]very much against divorce.[/i] He wondered if his Mother’s and Father’s rings were like that… If Lynette had to be surreptitious in order to not trigger the notifier that something had happened to him. Not that it was a thought he really wanted right now, so he pushed it out as best he could.

[color=577d06]”I’m glad you did this now… In a couple weeks, it probably would’ve been a lot more awkward.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“Because of what's going to happen with Lynette?"[/color] Trisha asked, tilting her head slightly. She assumed that was why, rather than anything between them. If things were in a state of chaos for the Temple like that… It would be more awkward. 

[color=d1b300]“I didn't want to wait anyway. I'd planned to do it the same day you proposed to me… I want us both to have rings, I just also wanted to give you a proposal. It's only fair we both know how loved we are."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Right, exactly. Well… [i]that[/i] part is definitely new. Even Nana was confused when I mentioned it to her. But, still; if you put it that way, there’s no chance I can be anything but grateful. Thank you… For wanting to make me feel just as special as I want to make you feel.”[/color]

That had always been a worry of his: That he’d be totally forced into a relationship in the position of “provider”. Not just monetarily, but emotionally as well. Like his Father… He’d seen his Mother be so cold. So terrible. He could only imagine that was what marriage was supposed to look like in private. That nothing was ever supposed to be “good enough”. Because if it was, it’d get [i]boring[/i], or mundane. Lynette had always told him that he was meant for great struggles. But the struggle of love was fearsome.

Thank God and all the Ancients that it wasn’t something to be afraid of with her.

[color=577d06]”I love you so much, my pretty little Trisha-Bee.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I love you too, Casey. Thank [I]you[/I] for being everything I need and more."[/color] She practically beamed up at him, before leaning up to kiss him. It was long but soft and gentle, as if she could only truly convey the depth of her love that way. 

As she pulled back she was still smiling, eyes narrowed in contented happiness. 

But she couldn't help but ask one little question on her mind. Not such an important one, but she was curious anyway. 
[color=d1b300]“Did you know that I was going to propose? Obviously you knew I wanted to, but I mean tonight? When I asked you to wait you acted like you'd figured it out… Had you guessed?"[/color]

Casey immediately broke into laughter.
[color=577d06]”What!? No, I… No, Babe. Honestly, I… Well, I honestly was still super drunk. You knew that. Uh, my first thought was that you had something kinky in mind. It wasn’t ‘till I sobered up that I remembered this was also an option. I heard you rummaging around in the fridge and thought [i]’Okay this is gonna get freaky.’[/i] But, this is much better. You, the cute ass bee onesie, some fruit… Expensive ass wine if we want it. And, after what I said about passing the costume down? There’s no way we could ever sully it like that.”[/color] he grinned at her, giggling like a teen.

Trisha stared back at him for a moment, before giggling uncontrollably. She shook her head, pressing her face into his shoulder.

He'd thought it was something kinky?! Sure, he'd been drunk, but it was still quite the crazy leap. Especially since it wasn't like she'd ever been secretive about what she was and wasn't into… Or when she wanted it. It also generally wouldn't be her first go to as a nice surprise for him! 

[color=d1b300]“Really? I knew you were really drunk but I- That's just so silly."[/color] She managed to stop laughing enough to talk, pulling her head back up to look at him. 

[color=d1b300]“So drunk you was expecting to… I don't know, walk in here to me naked and covered in honey or something?! Oh my God- I mean that would be ridiculous to go through all that for. There's no fun in it if you're not involved the whole way- not that I'm really into that… Good to know where you drink mind goes!"[/color] She was hit by another fit of giggle, grinning brightly at him. It was just so funny to her that was what he jumped to. 

[color=d1b300]“I [I]am[/I] wearing nice underwear under this… but that's cause I normally wear nice underwear, and I'd overheat if I wore clothes underneath. So you're safe from any of the scenarios you drunkenly thought up. The onesie's safe too."[/color]

Casey raised his eyebrows, waggling them playfully back at her.
[color=577d06]”Oh, [i]good.[/i] Such a tease, Trisha.”[/color]

His hand came up between the two of them, finger extending to boop her on the nose with a gentle smile.

[color=577d06]”Then I guess it’s a choose your own adventure game. I think I’ll start by [i]finishing the strawberries.[/i] Care for some yourself, my Love?”[/color]
[hr]
[right][code]Wednesday December 13th.
The Greenhouse[/code][/right]
The next day, and the agreed to training session, came faster than Trisha would have liked.

At least they got to spend a nice evening together, relaxing and winding down towards a good night’s sleep. There wasn’t any insane rush to get up, as it was just Leon and Cass coming up whenever they were needed. So they did get to cuddle in bed for a bit before having breakfast together.

Which was nice, but had to end when they were both done eating. Trisha knew she had to train- and create more bees- starting today. She’d already lost over a week because of her depressive episode… 

She insisted they wait outside beside the Greenhouse for Leon and Cass coming up, rather than inside their warm house. She didn’t want to risk Cass getting in there and it becoming more of a social thing. She’d end up wanting that too rather than the hard work involved in training. She was anxious about it. About working with Leon, mostly. 

[color=d1b300]“Are you coming in with us, or going downstairs… To the range or something?”[/color] She turned to Casey to ask, trying to sound like she was alright with it either way. They hadn’t really discussed what [i]he[/i] would be doing. She assumed most of his training involved guns, which couldn’t really be done in the Greenhouse with them. 

[color=d1b300]“You won’t want to see Cass creating flesh for me, will you? I can always send her to another environment. Or maybe it’ll need to be fresh, so I’ll work with Leon then later… Make bees with Cass just the two of us. Then you can train with Cass?”[/color] She bit her lip, knowing they didn’t have much time alone before the chaotic duo would get there.
[color=d1b300]“That probably won’t work, will it? Just whatever you think’s best.”[/color]

Casey had gotten word from Gin that his latest special order was ready from manufacturing that same morning, the quick read after the ding being the thing that prompted Casey out of bed first. He was a bit excited- more so than he was trying to let on to Trisha. Surprises could be good, after all. And he’d been doing the math wherever he could fit it in. Initial tests he’d run with more basic level enchantments had already proven fairly effective. Thus, he’d known what to have his partners in Eden fiddle and tinker with as far as mechanical channels. These miniaturized marvels were his latest work of art, and if she was going to be training, he wanted her training with the whole system in mind. 

Or, at least as far as she was comfortable. It could be fairly dangerous if there was a breakdown in one of the systems. 

[color=577d06]”Oh, don’t you worry. I’ve got plenty to work on inside. You’ve got a lot too, so once we reach a certain point, I’ve got Norm scheduled to bring lunch. We’ll be working hard, but I know that we’re basically gonna be gauging how long we work based on how long you’re able to keep it up. Hopefully we can get you locked into some kind of programmer mode: I hope what I have in mind is something you want to try working with.”[/color]

He didn’t look or sound proud of it, but inside he was bubbling with excitement. Because even if she didn’t want to use it, he knew someone else who would. As long as it worked how he envisioned, and his magic was strong enough to pull it all off, there was nothing that would be able to stop Trisha’s wrath. She’d be transformed into a walking war crime. 

Trisha nodded slowly. She hoped she'd be able to get locked in like that too… She could feel her nerves already bubbling up into self pressure, so it was likely. But she was also worried her reactions to failure would be amplified as she got more into that pressured state. She wanted to get focused without ending up agitated. 

[color=d1b300]“If it'll help us survive, I'll try it."[/color] She replied simply. 
[color=d1b300]“Even if I don't get locked in like that, I'll do my best to push through any tiredness. I'm good at that too, and we don't have much time. I know I'm the weaker one, so I don't want to drag you down. Even if it doesn't happen naturally, I can force that kind of focus."[/color]

Something to be thankful for from all the years of hard studying that got her nowhere. But she didn't want to dwell on that- or really give Casey an opportunity to refute some of what she said.

[color=d1b300]“[I]What[/I] do you have in mind? Or is that… a strange surprise? It's not bee guns, is it?"[/color] She hadn't exactly recognised his excitement over it, wrapped up in her own increasingly anxious and self pressuring state, but moving that topic to something that was his thing rather than her seemed like the best distraction.

As she mentioned the bee guns, Casey’s lower lip pouted up to cover the top, and his head tilted into a shy curve that took his gaze away from her.

[color=577d06]”It may be the Buzzforce control panel and uh… Fifteen thousand units of Buzzforce equipment. Yes.”[/color] was his very simple reply before he did his best to redirect her.

[color=577d06]”But, you’re not weak! You’re just [i]not used to pushing like this![/i] I seriously don’t want you feeling ashamed, or like you have to push yourself to some insane level where you wind up hurt. Seriously. If that ended up happening, I’m not sure what I’d do besides feel bad. So, seriously… That’s why I’ve set this up the way I have. It’s not all [i]magical feeling[/i] bullshit. Its real technology, enhanced by magical power. That’s why I’ve got work to do beforehand. All the units need attuning to the actual control panel, or it’s all useless micro-hardware.”[/color]

Trisha didn't really agree with her not being weak- it felt more like laziness. Because she'd been able to push herself like this when she was fourteen and then lost it. But she didn't want Casey to feel bad… Him feeling bad would probably make her feel worse than any reaction to her failure. Probably. At least Casey probably wouldn't have too bad a reaction to that, so then it would just be Leon, and Casey was more important. 

[color=d1b300]“I’ll try not to push myself too hard, then. You just might need to help stop me… I'm not great at regulating it."[/color] She admitted, shuffling closer to him to lean her body into his. She'd trained herself to push through discomfort and ignore her body's needs just for another hour of studying, so there was a chance it wouldn't even feel like pushing herself. Or she'd get into a state where she couldn't admit it was. 

[color=d1b300]“How does it actually work? Do I need to equip the bees, then use the control panel, or do you-"[/color]

She was interrupted before she could press further by the door onto the roof slamming open- somehow. 

[color=629c3f]"[I]Triissshhhaaaa, Caaaasssseeeeyyy![/I] How's the hangover, dude?! You were fucking smashed last night!"[/color] Cass practically bounded across the roof to them in no time. She had a big, square blue cooler bag slung over her shoulder that prevented her from doing her normal leaping hug. Or any hug at all. But she did shoot finger guns at Trisha with a grin. 

[color=629c3f]"Ready to make some babies together, Babe?"[/color]

[color=d1b300]“Not if you're going to put it that way."[/color] Trisha retorted immediately, shuffling herself around to look at the invited intruders rather than just Casey.

Casey’s entire mind and body was ready to enthusiastically talk about the project, but the interruption took his wind out completely. Leon trailed behind Cass carrying several coolers slung over his back and front in some odd makeshift chain-

[color=577d06]”Did you strap your coolers to a gimp harness?”[/color] Casey piped up getting a second look at his brother. The leather and chain harness did grip his lower body in an uncomfortably tight way, but Leon just furrowed his brow.

[color=C67C12]”A what?”[/color] he asked, managing to avoid sounding like there was any sort of attitude behind it.

Casey just stared slackjawed before clearing his throat.

[color=577d06]”Whatever… What’s even in those, more meat?”[/color] Casey asked the both of them.

[color=C67C12]”Nope, it’s gas… Tell ‘em what we did once we got home, Babe.”[/color] Leon grinned, shuffling past the both of them, sticking his hand out to ruffle Cass’s hair slightly with a warm smile before moving toward the door to the greenhouse proper. 

Trisha reactively tensed a little bit. She could guess what they'd done when they got home, and she didn't want to hear about it… what the fuck did that even have to do with Leon's strange cooler BDSM outfit. 

[color=629c3f]"We cooked!"[/color] Cass shouted enthusiastically. Trisha immediately let out a sigh of relief when it turned out to not be something sexual.

[color=629c3f]"Well, I did most of the actual cooking… But I taught Lee how to cook a bit! He's a surprisingly good soux-chef."[/color] She grinned teasingly at him as she followed towards the Greenhouse. The sooner she dumped this back, the sooner she could hug Trisha, after all! 

[color=d1b300]“You’d sobered up by then, right?"[/color] Trisha asked, also moving towards the door and pulling out her key. She slipped past Leon, turning it a few times to open the right environment. 

It was one that felt normal enough for something like this. A forested environment with nice clearings here and there that didn't look too odd until you looked closely and realised the trees had faces, and none of the abundant flora was from this world. 

[color=629c3f]"Fuck no! Cooking drunk is what makes it fun!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”I wasn’t really drunk until just before you guys left! So, yeah, I was pretty well bent- I actually fucked up a knife, Lelou saved the fingers. Had an extra set Andrade bought one year, so I cracked ‘em bitches open. Cass was having a drunken fit- I guess they’re expensive or whatever.”[/color]

Walking in behind Trisha, Leon was starting to look for a comfortable spot to get settled down in when he realized where they were. What really did it was the whispering. How [i]everything[/i] seemed to have some little piece of gossip that they were hiding just from you. He knew that Cass would be able to hear it if her senses were up like usual. But, he wondered if Trisha and Casey could hear. 

The constant gnawing of the Fae Wilds. 

The spirits utilized in the fertilization of this area was specifically made as close to a Bog of Malice as the biomancers could get. The ancient remnants of a Fairy battlefield between elves and gnomes, where the magics are strong and completely outside the realm of Lux and mortal men. Here, everything had energy to offer, and the honey was guaranteed to be rich with wild magic.

Leon had seen a place like this in their brief blitz excursions into other realms, finding places like this as nothing more than inhospitable jungles of death. He shuddered, knowing that there were no living entities here to accost them, not exactly helping him feel any better.

[color=C67C12]”Oooooh… Bad vibes. Yeesh. Well, better get used to this feeling.”[/color]

Casey heard his brother as he followed them in, knowing damn well how creepy this place had been. He’d had Gin give him the full spectrum of environments within the machine before. This place was probably ideal to have the flesheaters, since whatever resided here would be saturated in Apparitional magic- The harvested meat included.

[color=577d06]”It’s alright, Lee. If you get freaked out, just look up.”[/color]

Up above, the shutters to the outer examination port were open. A massive Gin was staring down at them smiling like she was looking at the most adorable thing on the planet. As Casey pointed up, she started waving like crazy.

[color=629c3f]"Is that meant to be less freaky?!"[/color] Cass started laughing in contrast to her words, waving back enthusiastically at massive Gin staring down at them like God. She could hear all of the whispering and sure, it was pretty weird. But she didn't exactly have experience with any other areas like this… If shit started crawling out of the trees and it turned into a horror movie, she'd just go full beast mode and destroy everything! 

No, some incredibly creepy whispers weren't enough to dampen the big bounce in her step. 

[color=d1b300]“We can go to a different one of you'd rather."[/color] Trisha offered, pursing her lips. She didn't have the same senses they did. It was easy for her to ignore the little details in the place, and she found it comparatively more comfortable to the other ones available. Some of them were really wild… The only saving grace for the future of setting up hives in them was that the hive box itself was close to the entrance. [I]She[/I] wouldn't have to venture in too far. 

[color=629c3f]"It ain't too bad!"[/color] Cass bounded forward to get next to Leon, jumping up to hit his shoulder. It was meant to be comforting, but she was too enthusiastic right now to dampen down her actions. 
[color=629c3f]"It's like being in a high school classroom where everyone's whispering about you! You just tune that shit out, right?"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”It’s just hard to believe there’s no Grave Guardian here. Or, anything besides the trees and flowers. Just a billion souls trapped in the dirt and water. Fairies come to these places to conduct war generation after generation, so they don’t sully their court grounds in blood.”[/color] Leon explained, clearing his throat.

[color=9399b8][b]”And they need a source vector to maintain adhesion to the elements around them. Which is why Leon’s weirded out. Also, installed speakers, lets fuckin’ gooooo-”[/b][/color] Gin’s voice echoed in an equally divine fashion from above them.

[color=9399b8][b]”Truth is, Lee, we skipped a few steps. There are some Apparitions commonly found feasting on these places. If we milk ‘em, they leak out this sludge that is a much better binder for all that funky magic in the soil. Hence the trees are actually louder. They’re getting even more concentrated magic because they’ve been digested together and boiled down for God knows how long.”[/b][/color]

[color=C67C12]”That’s… Ungodly.”[/color] was all Leon could respond with, now looking around in even more disgust in spite of his much more fearless sense of confidence. It was still creepy beyond what he was used to, even for the Temple. Which is why he tried to stay as far away from Project Eden as he could.

[color=577d06]”Oh, it’s definitely a breach of some kind of contract, but hopefully we’ll never see the bad end of the sticks. Imagine fighting a bunch of Shadow Elves?”[/color] Casey pondered aloud, waving up to Gin.

[color=577d06]”Hey! Where’s my goodies!?”[/color]
There was a whirring noise as a crane high above them started to shift about.
[color=577d06]”Oooooooh Baby, that’s my Ginny! You give Nance and Caleb big fucking smooches for me, I’m serious!”[/color]

[color=9399b8][b]”Thank us after we find out if it works. Get ready for the eight hour setup schedule. Did you read those books like I said?”[/b][/color]

[color=577d06]”I… Yes. [i]Read[/i], no. But they’re in my brain, yes.”[/color]

[color=9399b8][b]”White Lux is a sin. You should have to read a fucking book. I’m going to hot glue your eyelids open and Clockwork Orange you into reading Moby Dick.”[/b][/color]

Leon looked right at Cass.
[color=C67C12]”She said dick…”[/color] he laughed.


Cass started cackling in response, glad that Leon was feeling alright enough to be cracking jokes. 
[color=629c3f]"I can't believe it, that ain't the language I expected to hear outta Gin's mouth!"[/color]

Trisha looked up at the big Gin in the sky, managing a hint of a smile. 
[color=d1b300]“If he'd read them properly, then he'd have less time to spend with [I]me[/I]... And the only thing he's getting clockwork oranged into looking at is me too. Eight hours of setup is already a lot to lose."[/color]

Obviously it was a joke, seeing as they spent plenty of time just reading while cuddled up with each other. It was a nice, chill activity… but she also knew if she had White Lux, she'd probably use it to suck all the knowledge out of books like that too. 

[color=d1b300]“There’s a clearing just ahead."[/color] She continued, pointing down the path they'd been following. The trees did seem to open not too far away. She'd been in all the environments since she got the Greenhouse, and had at least taken the time to walk around the ones that were traversable. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s hopefully a good spot to be in. I don't know about the whispering, though. I can't do anything about it."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Heh, I bet it's the same in this whole place… Don't worry, cause I'm here!"[/color] Cass said, before grinning up at Leon. 
[color=629c3f]"If it gets too much, I'll just hold you really tight till the whispering gets less fucking freaky! Or, at least, you ain't thinking bout it cause you're just thinking bout how awesome I am."[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Well, I’m honestly not sure [i]what[/i] I’m doing besides lifting things and being moral support. I guess my thought would be, y’know, if you’ve got any time after dealing with the bees in between Casey being ready for you, we can talk about some better communication between you and the Queen. Or, maybe we can induce a conversation, and she can agree to start letting you drive the boat a bit more. I’m not sure which’ll be more useful, honestly!”[/color]

He was doing his best to be very good, and as far as Casey was concerned, he should keep it up and there’d be no problems. He was doing fine.

[color=577d06]”Which reminds me, Babe… Not sure what you can make happen? But, if you can get like… Hornets, or some other kind of super-slick bee relative? I need something that can handle supersonic speeds. I know a way to stuff- well, it’s a long complicated process, but just try and get them strong. Real strong, and dense as fuck.”[/color] he shrugged as he moved toward the crane’s boom, wagging his hands to direct Gin to drop the crate dangling from the string.

[color=577d06]”Ohhhh… It’s gonna be perfect! It’s a fucking marvel!”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I can't wait to see it."[/color] Trisha smiled a bit at Casey's enthusiasm. It was enough for her to answer his question about what she could make happen without immediately panicking. 

[color=d1b300]“But… I don't know what I can make happen either. There are cuckoo bees that look more like hornets, but I don't know if I can make them."[/color] She admitted quietly. It was something she'd planned to talk to the Queen about before falling into a prolonged depressive state where she didn't want to do much of anything. There hadn't really been a chance since. She didn't even know how to start making more honey bees, nevermind something that would fit what Casey wanted. 

Though, when she'd asked before- before Thanksgiving and everything that followed- the answer from the Queen had been ‘I’ll tell you when you're ready to do it.’ Like explaining in advance was too much of an effort. 

She turned to Leon, clasping her hands together so she didn't appear too nervous. 
[color=d1b300]“So, I think… I need some help with communicating first. Because I need [I]her[/I] help to even get started, and I don't know how to do it so I actually learn everything I need. Maybe getting to drive things would help… Did you just [I]know[/I] when you got a share of Lelou's magic, or did you have to ask her? Because for me it feels like I was given the first chapter of an instruction book, and the owner reads me sections when they're awake enough to bother."[/color]

Cass had dumped her big bag, purposefully away from everything Leon was carrying. Didn't want to mix up the food and limbs, after all! 
[color=629c3f]"I'll just sit here and start making limbs, unless anyone's gotta problem with that!"[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Do your thing, Babe. Just don’t go crazy with the gore.”[/color] Leon returned instructions, placing the coolers down as the harness came undone from his chest. He immediately pulled out a beer, cracking the top and taking a stretch before focusing on Trisha.

[color=C67C12]”No, to answer your question. The manual, as you say, was crammed into my head with the leash. It's different for [i]everyone[/i], as it turns out. So, I guess… Tell me what it feels like? Can you call out to her without her answering directly? She’ll just ignore you?”[/color] he asked with a furrowed brow.

Trisha nodded, with a slight frown, gaze turning downwards. Like she felt it was her fault. A bit of it probably was. When she first adjoined with the Queen, she’d been a teenager in a bad place. Some of her questioning had probably been quite aggressive. So maybe that was why the Queen just gave the basics then ignored her.

Though she said it was because she needed to rest. 

[color=d1b300]“She’d been better since she talked with Dadonda. But for most of the past eleven years, we’ve spoken maybe a couple of times a year. That summer was an exception, but even then, I had to figure most of it out myself. I’d say she ignored me more than she answered.”[/color] Trisha admitted. 

The Queen did claim to care for Trisha, but like with most positive feelings towards her, it was still difficult for her to believe. The only ‘proof’ was that she hadn’t left and taken the bees with her, and gifted Trisha magic. But it was a symbiotic relationship. Trisha looked after the bees and gave the Queen a resting spot which protected her from being sealed again. 

[color=d1b300]“It feels like I’ve been given access to enough to be useful to her, and to protect myself against some threats. Nothing more… But I haven’t tried to access more until recently. I stopped asking as frequently because I didn’t get answers. It’s like-”[/color] She bit her lip, not wanting to go to the easiest comparison. The one she’d given Casey the first day they met, before he really knew what the subject was like. [i]Her Mom[/i].

But she didn’t view her relationship with the Queen as being bad. She silently provided Trisha with all the bees that kept her company when no one else did. That had been enough.

[color=d1b300]“I don’t know, I shouldn’t complain about it. I guess I’m just not sure how to get through to her. Do I need to do something else to give her energy so she doesn’t sleep as much? Maybe she just sees me as a child asking annoying questions. Sometimes it feels more like we’re… Roommates, instead of sharing my body.”[/color]

Leon looked thoughtful for a moment before waving her along to a more open and slightly quieter patch of grass than the one that contained Casey ripping open into machine casings. He swung his arm widely at the ground, taking the moment to slide down into a cross legged position in front of her.

[color=C67C12]”Well, I guess you should sit. Maybe, if you want some snacks or something, get ‘em. I’ve got a bunch of questions to ask. I feel like getting things sorted out will make our endeavors here go more smoothly; but I’m a bit worried that some of ‘em are gonna be a bit hard for you. Shit you may not want to answer, or maybe you’ll take ‘em like I’m accusing you or attacking you. So, I want you comfortable, meaning you should get what you need now.”[/color]

This was already a great deal different from the lessons back in the day. Leon just shouted a lot, and told people that they weren’t doing whatever it was they wanted to be doing, correctly. Impossible, that a technique other than one Leon approved of, be correct. Here, he even acknowledged that things were different for everyone… Which hopefully made the idea of a question and answer session make sense in Trisha’s mind.

[color=C67C12]”To start: I’m working off the assumption that any communication made to the Queen is done under your immediate prompting. Is that a fair thought? Or, does she occasionally come out of the blue to bark an order at you?”[/color] Leon asked calmly, watching Trisha as she fiddled about.

Trisha moved towards the cooler box to find a simple bottle of water- thankfully it wasn't just booze and food in there. She wasn't exactly a snacker when nervous or learning… the opposite, really, she forgot to eat entirely most of the time. 

She wasn't sure how she felt about there being [I]hard[/I] questions to answer. At least he was being honest about it… And she'd do her best to not feel like any of it was an accusation. She was already doing that in response to what felt like a judgment- that she couldn't deal with questions to improve her magic without feeling attacked. But he was just saying she [I]might[/I]. It was a warning. It let her prepare herself. 

She took a deep breath as she sat down, knees pulled up against her chest. 
[color=d1b300]“Very rarely, but she does. It's less shouting orders and more making an observation. The last time was when I tried some of Casey's bread. Sometimes when I'm in [I]a lot[/I] of distress. But the majority of the time it's my prompting."[/color]

She pulled her ponytail over her shoulder so she had something to fiddle with, hands tangling in her thick waves of hair. 
[color=d1b300]“I don't think she's ever really present and watching."[/color]

From a short distance, Casey let out a loud, extended howl of excitement, beginning to dance around the half-opened crate as Leon tried to make sense of the Queen. Was she so out of touch that there was really nothing that could roust her regularly?

[color=C67C12]”Well, I understand that some questions would be more for [i]her[/i] to answer herself, but… Y’know, just as a starter? An intro question? [i]What if she just wants more bees?[/i] Nothing says that her power isn’t directly connected to the amount of bees you’ve got under your thumb, right? What’s the peak you’ve ever tended at once?”[/color] he asked matter-of-factly, hoping to avoid his brother behaving [i]like that[/i] and distracting his new student.

Trisha did get briefly distracted, smiling slightly as she turned her head towards Casey. Her whole expression softened for that moment before she turned back to Leon to actually answer his question. 

[color=d1b300]“Eighty thousand. About a month or two into that Summer… If you remember, there was a few weeks at the start when I was basically useless?”[/color] Though, she hadn’t exactly been that useful when her bees listened to her fully.
[color=d1b300]“Probably not… But I had five queen bees to make more then, so they didn’t listen to me. That’s why Cass is making me arms… I went down to twenty thousand by the time we sealed the Snake. Then I went back up to sixty thousand in the next year or two, and have had around that amount since.”[/color]

She was overexplaining unnecessarily. She should just get to the point.
[color=d1b300]“Sixty thousand was the number we agreed on. The Queen told me there was no need to make any more, since it’s the size of an average [i]normal[/i] hive. So she doesn’t seem to want more bees… Or maybe she just didn’t trust me with more.”[/color]

Leon scrunched his nose as a frown formed across his face. She’d been given some kind of limitation? As if the entity itself didn’t want Trisha utilizing anything other than the most basic level of her abilities? A sudden uneasy feeling passed over Leon as he delved inward.

[color=a36209][i]”Is it not so obvious? A greedy Queen believes her age has come and gone. She’s died a thousand deaths, trapped in a vessel with which she’s unable to express agency of the hive in any meaningful fashion. She is, as we all are, dealing with the results of Temporal Malaise.”[/i][/color]

[color=C67C12][i]”Surely, I can’t fucking tell her that.”[/i][/color]

[color=a36209][i]”I never claimed the information was useful. Only that it is what it is.”[/i][/color]

Leon shook his head openly, his eyes having rolled back into his head slightly before he came to once again.

[color=C67C12]”Well, I’ll be honest Trisha: That doesn’t sound great. Not to me, anyway. From personal experience, the only reason Lelou holds back certain abilities of hers from me are because they’ll subsume me completely. And I’ve really never known an Apparition that didn’t [i]want[/i] to express their powers. It’s kinda their thing. Meaning, she’s either too afraid of bursting out of her own vessel, thereby killing you… Or, she’s… [i]fucking depressed.[/i]”[/color]

Leon’s face said it all: [i]I know you don’t want to hear this. I wouldn’t either. Please hear me out.[/i]

[color=C67C12]”From all that Lelou’s told me, there’s a lot of layers in the old power structure… But there was always a seat vacant for a bridge spirit between the spirits of Flora and Fauna. And pollinators are that bridge. Other insects can take the same role, but the Bee Empire was [i]vast.[/i] Seillean had a [i]lot[/i] on her shoulders! So, I mean, take your pick essentially: The fear of responsibility, continued burnout- You said she’s talked about resting, right? What’s a few centuries when you’ve been around for a hundred million years? So, really… My first guess is that she [i]just doesn’t want to work.[/i] A lazy ghost!”[/color] Leon finished confidently, shrugging his shoulders with a frown.

[color=C67C12]”It’s really not your fault. But, it does make asking her directly even more relevant. I’d recommend going in with the attitude that no matter how much you ask of her, you would never ask her so much that she would be affected. Basically, get real humble. And if she sounds like she actually [i]wants[/i] to build her kingdom up again? Like, if she laments its fall and wants to get things back on track? Give her the dedication. It’ll be worth it.”[/color] 

Trisha frowned, hands tugging her own hair hard enough that it hurt. Depression was what Dadonda had said too, to the Queen herself. It seemed strange to Trisha… Because if she lent more of her abilities, wouldn't she still be able to sleep? Surely she'd be passing even more responsibility off? 

So it was difficult to accept it wasn't in some way her fault. But she also knew the Queen hadn't adjoined with her out of the kindness of her heart. Trisha freed her, and was a suitable enough vessel when she was weakened. It was purely selfish with no love for Trisha or humanity. Maybe she'd grown fond of Trisha now… But Trisha remembered the feelings held when they'd adjoined, the brief sharing of minds as the Emotional Field formed before the Queen withdrew. 

None of it made her feel more confident that she could get stronger. If anything, it shook the confidence she'd been beginning to build. It wasn't Leon's fault… he was just being honest. He was even being quite nice about it. 

[color=d1b300]“She did adjoin to me and immediately hand over care for the Hive. She left growing it from the tiny amount left to what it is now pretty much all to me. So your first guess is probably right."[/color] Trisha bit her lip. 
[color=d1b300]“Guess we make a good pair. She probably saw someone who wasn't going to bother asking for much at all… I was the perfect lazy vessel till now."[/color].

She really couldn't help with the self deprecation. It wasn't even like she was looking for someone to jump in and tell her that wasn't the case. If she was, she'd be saying it loud enough for Casey to hear. But she was quiet, and glad that he was happily distracted. It all just made her feel more inadequate than it should. Like she didn't do a good enough job that the Queen wanted to hand over more magic, but also her own state of laziness was perfect for the Apparition to happily lounge in. 

[color=d1b300]“Should I try asking her now? What would I even ask… What she wants? Or just directly for more magic, but humbly? Like I only expect it to be a fraction of her power."[/color] Trisha asked, hands moving from her hair to clasp together in her lap. She took a deep breath. She was the one that wanted to learn more. It didn't matter how it made her feel, she just had to push through it. She probably looked like a nervous mess to Leon right now… Another thing she didn't like. She hated not knowing things. But it was just natural. Asking for help was fine.

[color=d1b300]“I feel like I've already given her dedication. I've been raising an entire hive for almost half my life. Since she never pushed for more, I assumed that was all there was. But I didn't actually ask what she wanted. So I should start with that, shouldn't I?"[/color]

Leon half-frowned, nodding his head as he cleared his throat.
[color=C67C12]”If all it takes is a long, somewhat uncomfortable conversation? I’d call it worth being able to access things that you didn’t know were useful until now. Like, imagine there’s a pheromone for you, like the one Lelou gives off; makes you confident, fearless, able to take on the world. She calls it Primal Majesty. I don’t doubt that Seillean has the same thing! So, it’ll be good for you, hopefully.”[/color]

The truth was, all of this was an estimation. Leon spitballing ideas. The main goal was to give Trisha the confidence to explore her situation regardless of the somewhat painful nature of it. At least if she thought he knew what he was talking about, Leon recognized her incessant need to be seen as capable. He knew she’d just push harder to ultimately seem “normal”, or like she was in control. She’d act; and in that acting, hopefully she’d find real, solid ground without ever having asked for help.

Trisha pressed her lips into a thin line, before nodding. 
[color=d1b300]“You’re right. I don't know if she has something like that, but I should ask. It's just a conversation. I've had plenty worse before!"[/color]

She managed to speak with some amount of confidence, as if she didn't try her best to run from every single uncomfortable conversation she could. At least the ones that delved into anything about her. Nevermind that it probably wasn't that simple… Her natural reaction was to fall back onto laziness and not bother when it was difficult. But she couldn't be useless anymore. She needed access to more magic. 

Trisha closed her eyes, head drooping forward slightly as she lightly tugged the connection between her and her Apparition. It was easier to let the Queen wake up first before asking, she'd found. She didn't say anything until she felt the spirit rousing. 

[color=d1b300][I]"What do you want for the future? From me."[/I][/color]

Melodic laughter sounded in her mind. 
[color=c18e1b][i]Quite the question. I'm afraid you would not understand the wishes of one such as I.[/i][/color]

Trisha's hands clasped together tightly in her lap, nails digging into her skin. A great start. She just had to move forward and be more specific. 
[color=d1b300][I]"I understand… But don't you want to rebuild your kingdom and go back to how you were before you were sealed?”[/I][/color]

[color=c18e1b][i]It will happen one way or another. In a hundred or a thousand years, my kingdom will naturally come back into existence. It matters not if I take a brief rest.[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300][I]"If you don't mind when it happens, why not let me start for you? Give me just a fraction more of your magic… Then you can rest and leave it to me, can't you?"[/I][/color]

[color=c18e1b][i]Did we not agree this was all that was needed? You did not want to manage a Hive of a larger size. There is no need.[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300][I]"When I was fourteen! I'm an adult now… And I'm surrounded by people with magic. I can handle more now. I [b]want[/b] more. You already know I'm going to make more bees… Isn't it obvious that I've changed?"[/I][/color] It was impossible for Trisha to not get frustrated at what felt like rejection, quickly ignoring the advice Leon had given her about being humble. Because it felt like she'd been constantly dismissed by people in her life… it was hard to not get set off. 

[color=d1b300][I]"I want to be stronger."[/I][/color]

There was a brief pause. 

[color=c18e1b][i]I understand. Then you have two options, my Dear Beekeeper. We continue as we have been. You ask, I answer, I provide more as I deem it necessary. We talk more. I rest as I need to.[/i][/color] Seillean responded evenly, a golden glimmer appearing in Trisha's closed eyes. 
[color=c18e1b][i]Or I pass it all to you. The knowledge and [b]access[/b] to all the magic your body can handle. But understand, it will take a toll on you. It will not be channeled through me as it is now. You will be in control and you will have to learn how to tap into what I have given you. But the lines between us will blur.[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300][I]"If you could give me control before, why didn't you? You told me you were recuperating… but you clearly have enough magic now?"[/I][/color]

[color=c18e1b][i]Because it is peaceful.[/i][/color] Seillean answered simply. 
[color=c18e1b][i]What is your choice?[/i][/color]

It wasn't a difficult choice. Not when she wanted to stand on the same level as all the people surrounding her… she wanted to be equal to them. To Casey. 
[color=d1b300][I]"Pass it to me."[/I][/color]

[color=c18e1b][i]As you wish.[/i][/color]

Trisha's vision blacked out completely, electric shocks shooting across her brain. Magic burst out of her in a wave of golden light and potent floral pheromones that filled the environment. Her whole body was covered by it, impossible to see Trisha beyond the intense light she was radiating. It was like she'd become the sun, an orb of radiant, honey coloured light surrounding and concealing her.

[color=629c3f]"Holy fuck- What the fuck did you tell her to do, Babe?!"[/color] Cass shouted, covering her nose with the third hand she'd just grown. The pheromones heavy in the air didn't seem to actually be doing anything beyond the really strong smell, though she could vaguely feel them scratching at her emotional field.

Leon sat still, nose operating at an incredible level to the parts in the air. Each gave another scent, and another still that sent himself and Lelou into overload. There were quite a few memories of the massive, unending grovelands dotted by millions of beehives carefully clinging to the sparse trees in those roving hills. All were equal in the Empire… All who would guard the flowers knew the same safety.

And Leon was living it all over again. Casey had rushed to Leon’s side before his magic had the chance to parse out even a fraction of what was going on. And even then, it wasn’t clear. Apparitional magic, sure. But what was it doing to her?

[color=C67C12]”Well, we agreed on her having a conversation with the Queen. That’s all that was said! We had to figure out what the Queen wanted in exchange for more substance, and so whatever they’re talking about, clearly, is working!”[/color] Leon spoke rather calmly all things considered.

[color=629c3f]"Did she ask to be turned into the fucking sun?! Fucking hell, I'ma go blind!"[/color] Cass used another hand to shield her eyes, moving towards the two brothers. If Leon was calm it was probably fine, right? Casey didn't seem to be screaming or sobbing or anything either so… Probably all good? Just some crazy magical exchange or some shit. 

[color=629c3f]"Is this how it normally goes? Does-"[/color]

All at once, the radiant light died down. A soft glow still clung to Trisha's body, where she floated just off the ground. She'd grown [I]wings[/I]- though they didn't seem to move, and the hints of other bee features were quickly receding with the blinding light. Then, it was all gone. With a soft thud she dropped, standing for only a moment before she was on her knees. 

She curled forward, hands clutching her head. It was absolutely swimming with information, leaving her dizzy and confused. The process hadn't been painless either. It felt like it did whenever a bee died but a thousandfold. 

[color=d1b300]“Fuck, fuck, [I]fuckkk[/I]."[/color] She whimpered, eyes squeezed shut. Tears slowly crept down her cheeks, appearing to be more like honey than water.

Beneath the physical sensations, she could feel the deep supply of powerful magic she didn't have access to before. Seillean had opened it up to Trisha and passed over all the knowledge to use it… but it was so much to parse. It was overwhelming, and her body wasn't exactly in the perfect state to handle it. 

[color=c18e1b][i]Goodnight for now, dearest Trisha.[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300]“Goodnight- what, huh?!"[/color] Trisha said out loud in her confusion and panic, suddenly feeling completely abandoned with stronger magic she hardly understood.

Casey pressed forward as fast as he could, scooping Trisha into his arms and holding her, his hand moving to cup her head.
[color=577d06]”Baby!? Baby, no, don’t sleep! Whatever you do, don’t go to sleep!”[/color]

Leon started laughing, being the only one in the surrounding area with strong enough hearing that he had a sense of Seillean’s voice echoing in Trisha’s head. Or, maybe it was just his being used to the shock and awe that was Aberrant Synchronization. For someone like him, with plenty of Luxal pathways already opened and expanded by years as a kindled Adept, it was probably a lot easier. But, Trisha had never really harbored magic in her body like this. It was all low-intensity, funneled through another source. Now, that source was truly commingled, pushing its way through her blood and the electricity in her brain.

She’d finally taken the Bee pill.

[color=C67C12]”She’s fiiiiine. Give her a few minutes, she’s not going to sleep Case.”[/color]

Casey looked back, a frown on his face.
[color=577d06]”What about the fuckin’- She said [i]goodnight![/i] Like she’s got a concussion!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”The Queen, dude! Just trust me!”[/color]

Casey pouted in turn, frowning and turning his head back to look at Trisha, where he waited like Leon suggested and took a deep breath, trying to be patient.

It was difficult for Cass to be patient too, but she did her best to not to bother Casey with it. Which meant Leon got the brunt of it- it was basically what he signed up for, anyway! She ended up behind him, starting with hugging around his neck and swinging from side to side like she was going to sumo wrestle him to the ground, tugging at his face, and just clambering onto him as best she could while he was sat down. 

Trisha reactively curled into Casey, one hand weakly grasping at his shirt. It felt like her body was on fire, and her brain had been stuffed full. She could barely think beyond subconsciously processing the information passed on, but she recognised the comfort of Casey's arms around her. 

Her head tilted back to squint at him, gold and amber flecks glowing in her bleary eyes. As she stared at his face, her gaze started to get clearer and the unnatural additions faded. The constant electric shocks and burning heat of magic coursing through her veins ceased. 

Her brain still felt incredibly full. It hadn't been as smooth as she'd expected. She'd assumed that the Queen would hand over the knowledge and then she'd just [I]know[/I]. Like it was natural, like Casey seemed to after Lynette gave him her spellbook. While she had access to a wealth of magic now, she had to pick through all the information stuffed into her brain to figure it out. More studying, more training… More time. 

So much for being the easier route. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m fine. I'm alright, Casey."[/color] Trisha managed a weak smile, arms snaking around him as tightly as she could manage. 
[color=d1b300]“It just hurt more than I expected… No sleeping for me, don't worry. I'm alright, really."[/color]

She was doing her best to comfort him, and was clearly more back to normal. But she was still struggling to process what had happened herself. Once again, she had no idea where to start with what she'd been given. But she couldn't ask, could she? Because then she'd look stupid and weak. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m sorry for scaring you. I really didn't expect it'd be like that… she didn't warn me."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Wait… So, that was [i]it?[/i] That means she [i]was[/i] holding out on you!? This entire time?”[/color]

Casey didn’t seem to have a terrible amount of processing time for the situation. As it stood, he could only assume that the massive influx of Apparitional magic was some kind of boundary breaking, and the ensuing rush of energy from one host to another. But, it was just dumped on her? Like she was supposed to know everything all at once? [i]Goodnight!?[/i] He wasn’t worried now, but he was nonplused. 

[color=C67C12]”Casey?”[/color] Leon’s voice echoed toward his brother in empathetic calm. For once, he seemed totally in control.
[color=C67C12]”Trisha made her deal a decade ago.Then? The terms, man… They were much less intrusive. Do the minimum, and in return, receive minimal benefit. Whatever the conversation was just then, it was [i]clearly[/i] an easy one to deal with. It was just jarring, like if you didn’t have White Lux as a buffer to organize a billion things.”[/color]

Casey looked at Leon, then back to Trisha.
[color=577d06]”Is it really like that? I can try to help… Maybe it’d be easier?”[/color] he offered, looking like he was moments away from shedding a tear over her pain.

[color=d1b300]“Sort of."[/color] Trisha pursed her lips together, managing to glance past Casey at Leon for a moment. But her gaze quickly moved back to her fiancé, overwhelming confusion and panic reducing a bit. 
[color=d1b300]“I didn't knowingly make any deal. I was only [I]thirteen[/I] when we Adjoined, and I wouldn't really say it was-" consensual.[/color]

But she couldn't say that without putting her Apparition in a bad light. She was perfectly fine with what had happened- happy, even. Without being Adjoined she wouldn't have her bees, and she wouldn't have met Casey. She just wanted to make it clear that she hadn't really known what was happening at the time. She wasn't as bad as Leon made her sound with [i]’Do the minimum’[/i].

[color=d1b300]“Formal. I haven't been lazily doing the minimum because it's what I wanted. Leon makes it sound like there was some kind of agreement beyond me saying I couldn't manage a larger group of bees… Which I couldn't! You saw what it was like, Casey, I had them all living in my bedroom!"[/color] She was trying her best not to get overly defensive at the perceived slight of choosing to do very little for the Queen because she didn't want to. 

It wasn't [I]really[/I] true. She hadn't purposefully chosen to do the minimum. It wasn't like the Queen had ever really offered her more. Her assumption had been that the only route was through expanding the Hive to sizes that a fourteen year old had no way of managing. 

She didn't really know until she met Casey, and talked to Leon and other Adjoined, that there actually was more to be given. Sure, part of it was her laziness. She didn't ask or push for the last decade. But it wasn't like there'd been a proper deal or anything. 

[color=d1b300]“She wasn't at her full power back then anyway. I-"[/color] She cut herself off, biting her lip and taking a deep breath. She was fixating on it, and it would only make her look worse if she kept bringing up more reasons that it hadn't all been on her. But she wasn't trying to blame the Queen either…

She managed a smile, forcing herself out of the tight ball she'd been curled up in. Not moving out of Casey's arms, obviously, but she was hugging him back more normally rather than clutching. He was concerned enough for her that he looked like he was going to cry… she should try concentrate on that love rather than making excuses for how she'd been magically up until now.
[color=d1b300]“I guess that's not important. How do you think you can help? My mind feels like it's been stuffed full of cotton… Except every piece is filled with information I can barely process."[/color]

Casey had wanted to play the reassurances game. The one where he took Trisha’s concerns and actively walked them all back to the source in order to placate her. But, she seemed able enough to pull herself out of it, which was impressive. Though, Leon’s face had boiled down into a more raw kind of skepticism. Not at Trisha’s victim mentality, either.

[color=C67C12]”Can you actually parse out Apparitional Magic?”[/color]

Casey smiled and nodded in turn.

[color=577d06]”Mom can. I have the spell, at least.”[/color] 

Looking back down toward Trisha, Casey kept her held in his arms and rocked backward slightly to really hold her close.

[color=577d06]”Think of it like this: Every cotton ball is made of fibers, right? So, if you ripped them all out of the wad, and then straightened each fiber individually, it would all technically take up more space. But, at the same time, every fiber is observable. And once you can see it all, you can organize it better. Size, shade, texture… Obviously this is metaphorical, but I can show you what my head is like mostly, to give you an idea.”[/color] he enthusiastically explained.

Trisha’s brow furrowed as she peered up at him. The metaphor didn’t really help at all… Because it just felt like there was too much in her mind to even consider organising it. And how could she even do something like that? She didn’t have magic for that, and she’d never been good at actually retaining and organising information she had. It was part of why she did so badly on exams after studying so much. 

Even seeing it all seemed like a mammoth task. Because surely that required processing it all, which required understanding it… That was going to take her weeks. Months, maybe. 

[color=d1b300]“I don’t really understand… Well, I get the organisation thing. But my mind isn’t a [i]shelf[/i]. I can’t just move information around and store it in different places. It’s just in there now and I need to go through it… Maybe I’ll understand it better if you show me what your head’s like, but you can use White Lux to actually organise it, can’t you? I don’t have that.”[/color]

[color=577d06]”Oh, Babe… The human mind is way better than you give it credit for. You just need help. C’mon, give me your hand.”[/color]

Taking her hand, Casey brought it up to rest with her palm clasping his skull. She’d be able to feel the warmth before finding herself in the relative darkness. There was a strange machine in front of her, constantly churning away. It looked like two massive wire brushes attached to a rotational mechanism. And in between the two giant brushes, a big wad of white cotton was getting ripped and shredded apart.

[color=577d06][i]”Your brain is always churning out information of some kind. Most of it gets trapped here, in the primary cycle. Right now, that's causing you all the stress. Because it's all caught basically at the forefront of your mind. But your mind is a complex machine! Every one is.”[/i][/color]

Casey’s voice echoed through this place with the same gentle inflection as a teacher. The whole machine spun, revealing the other side. Strands of cotton that made it to the top of the machine all tumbled into an odd vacuum, which sucked each fiber in and deposited them into slots which further shook them around until they disappeared..

[color=577d06][i]”Everything gets organized, and when it's processed, the thought gets filed away into a few categories. That's usually based on things like relevance and immediate usage. Now, I think I can offer a few different solutions. One, I can take the bulk of the information from you, and run it through my brain. But it’ll organize it how I would organize it, which you may not like. We can link together, and you can use my brain like a second processor. Or, I can cast a spell on you that’ll temporarily improve the speed at which your brain can process, and you can keep working at it yourself. My only worry is that you’ll still overload yourself without knowing how to handle it all.”[/i][/color]

Trisha frowned. Though it was a strange action, because she wasn’t really there. She just felt like she was frowning… Maybe her body was. She wasn’t sure how she felt about all of it. Because either option felt a bit like cheating. She asked for all the information from the Queen and she couldn’t even handle it.

Though she hadn’t expected it to come over like that… As an absolute mess she had to figure out. She didn’t just [i]know[/i]. 

Casey was right that she’d probably just overload herself if doing it by herself. Probably because she’d end up fixating, processing, and not caring for herself. She wanted to get it sorted so she could at least start learning how the fuck to use the magic she now had access to. 

There shouldn’t be any shame in asking for help from him, because he was her fiance. They were supposed to help each other. But she still felt ashamed she couldn’t just handle this herself. 

[color=d1b300][i]“I don’t know. How long would it take to do myself like that? I’ll probably struggle to do anything else until it’s done… But what if you take it and do it? Won’t that take a lot of your time and energy?”[/i][/color] Or maybe it would be easy and fast for someone like him. 
[color=d1b300]“I don’t really care how it’s organised. I don’t even know how my brain organises things… [i]Not well[/i], I think. What do you think’s the best option? Honestly.”[/color]


A hand formed in the dark surrounding Trisha, the machine’s noise dulling away until it stopped moving. A thousand more hands rolled the massive wad of cotton out of the machine, while the first remained with Trisha holding her hand.

[color=577d06][i]”I bet it’s not cotton… I bet its a big honeycomb.”[/i][/color] Casey’s voice radiated much closer to her now, and the space all fell away to nothingness. 

[color=577d06][i]”Alright. Go ahead! Start thinking about it. I’m here with you. We’ll work it all out, no matter what form the information comes in.”[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300][I]"Huh?"[/I][/color] Trisha was a bit confused at first about what had happened. Her confusion messed up the dark space they were now in, sections blurring as if colourful information was trying to get through. 

So they were in… Her mind? She was glad it didn't just [I]show everything in there[/I] like she always worried about with these things. The disorganised chaos that it must be. So she just had to start thinking about it… 

That wasn't hard with all the information crammed into her mind still at the forefront. It took barely a thought for the whole area to light up. Just like Casey had guessed, they were surrounded by towering honeycombs. Each cell contained thick globs of honey- or information. Some of it even dripped out, like there was too much for Trisha to hold. 

It was a bit strange for Trisha, because she never processed things like this. She didn't have magic… Had it come to her in this form, or was she just visualising it like that because of what Casey said? It didn't really matter. 

[color=d1b300][I]"I don't know where to start…"[/I][/color]

[color=577d06][i]”It’s all visualized here. That’s where you start. Visual categorization. Look.-”[/i][/color]

Casey wasn’t himself anymore… He was, in fact, a small bee which now flitted about Trisha’s summation of a head, buzzing without much control besides knowing where he wanted to be positioned. The towers of sweetness all seemed so uniform, so [i]alike[/i]... But, Trisha would know from her years of working with the material, that honey wasn’t always made equal. There were grades, gradients in the honey that told her what was good, and what wasn’t so. 

[color=577d06][i]”-There’s colors. Even I can see that. So, we run a little experiment. You test the dark stuff, and you test the light stuff. You see which one seems more important, or less important. Then, organize the gradient. At that point, you still don’t [i]know[/i] anything, but you’re sure of what you need to know, and what you don’t! Does that sound doable? When we know that’s possible, I’ll fly around and start marking off which combs have the darker stuff, and which have the lighter stuff, so that you can get it all centered. Oh, here… For now-”[/i][/color]

Another machine… A massive honey press formed, along with several different tanks.

[color=577d06][i]”-we’ll have a place to store it all. You’ll need to figure out your own storage for it all when we’re done since if I’m holding it all and I leave, it just explodes back into your brain.”[/i][/color]

[color=d1b300][I]"Oh-kay."[/I][/color] It was still a bit confusing and overwhelming for Trisha, but she trusted Casey. She could do it with his help… And organising by colour was a relatively easy start. 

[color=d1b300][I]"That sounds doable… I'll start figuring it out now."[/I][/color] 

The slowest part was the start, with Trisha having to test the 'honey' to see what kind of information it held. It wasn't exactly cut and dry about what was useful and what wasn't… she had to think about that. But in the end the darker stuff seemed more important- and more information dense. The lighter stuff was the kind of knowledge she wouldn't need for a long while. 

Actually sorting it was easier with Casey's help and conjured up storage machine. Once it was all sorted from darkest to lightest, Trisha was able to make out a vague pattern in each comb- at least differences and similarities between each. It allowed her to sort it a bit more into some form of categories without having to delve into every single important looking piece… Which would take a long time. Instead she checked a few before moving them into categories based on what it seemed to describe. There were three overarching categories of [I]bees, pheromonal magic and self-transformation[/I], with the first two being vast and the last smaller but entirely new to her. The information within was sorted as much as it could be, so that it was in neat places for her to pick out as she actually needed to learn it. 

Figuring out her own storage was another difficult stage. She struggled to understand how to even do it, because she just couldn't adjust to the fact she was sort of in her own mind. Eventually with a lot of help from Casey she managed to move all of the 'honey' information into labelled jars, 'boxed' by category. 

[color=d1b300][I]"I'm going to have a lot of training and learning to do…"[/I][/color] She managed to half grumble mentally when they were finally finished. There was so much there it just wasn't possible to absorb it all in a way that she could then immediately use it. Maybe if she'd had more magical exposure it would feel more natural. At least thanks to Casey's help the process of actually learning what she had at her disposal would be easier, and she didn't feel like her brain was stuffed full. 

[color=d1b300][I]"Thanks, Casey. I love you… Uh, how do we get out?"[/I][/color]

It had been a busy few hours. Hours spent with the two of them still talking like they always did. Goofing and joking as Casey did his best to keep Trisha stable. There were quite a few instances where she wasn’t doing well with the volume of information. Frankly, it was overwhelming. Or, would’ve been, had Casey’s White Lux not been so powerful in its own right. The centuries of gathered knowledge coursed through his magic, leaving him with at least some kind of idea about what millions and millions of years [i]could[/i] look like.

And it was a lot. There was no doubt about how rough this all was. But, there was also a lot of overlap. Places that they could at least “condense” the honey into thicker and thicker grades. Thankfully, the information wasn’t entirely trapped inside Trisha, and Casey had the chance to make “copies” of the different jars to bring back and examine in his own memory. With that, and that they’d established a system of understanding the information together, he could spend his own sleeping time getting some of the studying done for her. 

Other people may take his willingness to do his fiance’s homework as him spoiling her, but in all actuality, Casey found himself being quietly selfish. Not only would he know everything she could do alongside her, but given how voracious he was in the concerns of knowledge like this, he’d likely reparse and devour it all wholesale over the next few weeks. It was exciting, being the only other person allowed to crack open the books of knowledge on a being so old it made him look like a radar blip in time.

With his knowledge intact, Casey pulled a final look at the honey stash before peeling the magic back. As he did, he spoke to Trisha.


[color=577d06][i]”Oh, my silly bee… We don’t just get out of our own heads! That’s a good idea though.”[/i][/color]

The world around her unfurled, the darkness of the far distance becoming colored once more as other voices faded into Trisha’s consciousness.

[color=C67C12]”-ust curious how many limbs you [i]think[/i] she’s gonna need. ‘Cuz, I know it’s a lot easier for me to rip ‘em off, but this is getting weird.”[/color]
The wet shredding noise of flesh being torn from flesh echoed along with Leon’s voice.

[color=629c3f]"Aw, Babe, you gotta much lower gore tolerance than I expected!"[/color] Came Cass' teasing reply. 
[color=629c3f]"I dunno! A lot I imagine, so, keep ripping!"[/color]

As Trisha's vision of the real world came back, she was met with the sight of Cass having gone full spider mode. She had far too many extra tendril-like limbs, a couple of them wriggling playfully at Leon in tandem with her words. The gaping wound from the one he'd torn off had immediately healed over, before a brand new limb started to grow from the same spot. 

Trisha grimaced, tilting her head so she could use Casey to block out Cass. 
[color=d1b300]“Not so many [I]right now[/I] that you have to torture Leon, Cass."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"It ain't torture he's just- Wait, you're back?!"[/color] Cass flung up every single limb, accidentally smacking Leon with multiple. 
[color=629c3f]"How was your mind date? Got all've that knowledge now?!"[/color]

[color=d1b300]“It’s sorted so I can actually learn from it."[/color] Trisha replied calmly. The time with Casey sorting it had at least helped her feel a bit less inadequate about her inability to just [I]learn and use[/I] it. There was so much information in there it was impossible for a normal person to just absorb it. In the end it was probably a good thing, too. She'd just hurt herself if she immediately started blasting the strongest magic she could. 

[color=d1b300]“I’ll start with implanting the bee larvae. I'm not actually sure how much I'll need in the end, but I'm sure you've made enough to start. You-"[/color] There was a surprisingly loud growl from her stomach that interrupted her. She blushed, hiding herself against Casey out of embarrassment. She normally never got hungry like that… 
[color=d1b300]“I guess I need to eat first."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Now you're just giving Lee an excuse to get outta ripping my limbs off, cause that ain't a meal time activity!"[/color] Cass joked, pushing down her initial reaction about how fucking cute Trisha was to tease her boyfriend instead with a bright grin.

Leon heard the change in the couple’s breathing before Trisha had actually spoken, and reactively twisted both himself and Cass into a position where at least Casey wouldn’t be blasted with immediate visions of hacked meat. They’d been at it for hours now… He was tired in a bored sense, and worse; dealing with the fact that Cass seemed to be eternally enjoying this process.

[color=C67C12]”You can’t keep getting away with moaning every time one comes off. At this point, I’m not sure if you’re just joking, or if you actually [i]like this shit.[/i] Either way, it's definitely a step past my fetish list.”[/color] he spoke with as much of a playful tone as he could while still letting her know he was sore about it.

Casey’s eyes turned and saw the tips of tendril-like pink rolls of meat, like prepared pork loin tucked into itself. The nautiloid spiral it made in the center, the leaking blood from the chopped ends. It wasn’t like normal cadaver. The stuff he’d dealt with was always far more… [i]Gritty.[/i] Bone chunks kicked up dirt and debris, massive slabs of coagulated blood sat like jelly molds, organs-

He immediately stood, holding Trisha’s hand until the last second that saw him sprint off past one of the face-covered trees. From behind, only the sound of loud retching could be heard as Casey painted the ground. At least the shaking seemed to be a reaction to the vomiting, instead of a usual panic reaction… Or, maybe it was all lumped together, and happening very fast. 

Leon frowned, shaking his head.
[color=C67C12]”See, I said we should get it organized and shuffled away before Casey wakes up!”[/color] he insisted to Cass.

[color=629c3f]"I thought there was gonna be some kinda warning! Like, y'know, how people normally wake up!"[/color] Cass shot back with a light huff. Though she [I]did[/I] feel incredibly bad it'd ended up affecting Casey like that and maybe she had gotten a little too into the whole limb growing ripping off thing… In a fixating way! It was fucking fun! Okay maybe it had pushed a little into what Leon was upset about… But just a little. 

[color=629c3f]"It ain't like we had to do it here… I did say we could move but-"[/color]

[color=d1b300]“Please just get it moved somewhere out of sight now."[/color] Trisha interrupted Cass, not able to deal with whatever was going on there because of her worry for Casey. She'd already pushed to her feet. 
[color=d1b300]“I’m going to make sure he's alright."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"On it, boss!"[/color] Cass was already bending down to scoop up as many disgusting meat tendrils as she could with her normal arms and the remaining four additional ones.

Trisha went after Casey. She still wasn't entirely sure if it was the right thing to do, but the last time he'd reacted like that he'd said her being there was enough… So she'd do that again. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m sorry you had to see that, Casey… Do you want to go back to the house?"[/color] She offered as she came round the tree, making sure to avoid any splatter on the ground as her hand moved up to comfortingly rub his back.

Like usual with this reaction, Casey’s first instinct was to be apologetic, and embarrassed. It was things like this that disrupted others lives, and even though he could’ve had a far worse reaction, he’d be just as hard on himself for this minor inconvenience.

[color=577d06]”N-no! Absolutel-e-eh…-”[/color] he paused to gag, trying not to think of the shredded flesh at the frayed ends.
[color=577d06]”-Ab-so-lutely not. I’ll be fi-ne. I’m s-sorry! I… Oh, oh fuck! Shit, did I fuck the environment up!? I’ve gotta ask Gin, oh God, fuck! Fuck, if I fucking ruined it, I’ll be-”[/color] 

Casey clenched his eyes shut, which was a good way to block the guilty tears from coming up. Like he’d ruined her perfect science project, he was going through all the ways his poor reaction to something so simple could ruin Trisha’s time. If the environment couldn’t handle food waste left in it, and it all had to be scrubbed, he’d feel terrible. Evil, even. Like he wasn’t fit to keep trying to help her if he couldn’t stand a natural process for a certain type of bee.


[color=d1b300]“I don't care, Casey! It doesn't matter if it's fucked up… and if Gin cares, [I]I'll[/I] deal with it."[/color] Trisha interrupted before he could get any further. She slipped in front of him, hands moving to hold his face. It was brave when he was still struggling… But she could handle it if he ended up throwing up on her. She didn't care. She just cared about him feeling better. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s really fine. I'll use another one… and if this could mess it up, it wasn't very stable. How would it handle all the growing bees? Please don't be upset at yourself… You don't need to apologise. And [I]you[/I] told me that I shouldn't be ashamed of [i]my[/I] attacks. So why are you beating yourself up over yours?!"[/color]


[i]How would it handle all the growing bees?[/i] It was a question he hadn’t had the wherewithal to ask himself in the moment, but it was a pretty good question. Would something so small as him throwing up what was essentially stomach acid full of fruit juice have any kind of effect here? Maybe if she was worried the bees may be tainted by a little bit of sweet in their diet, but if this was a Fae Forest, there was no way the plants cared. 

[color=577d06]”Be…cause…-”[/color]
He frowned, then looked down in shame.
[color=577d06]”-I should’ve expected it. I had time to brace myself, I just wasn’t thinking. And now Cass and Leon have to move it all, when I should really get used to it if I’m going to help tend to them as I can.”[/color] he tried to assign as much logic to his reaction as possible, discontent with the idea that it was some sort of “attack” rather than a simple gut reaction to something that was objectively gross.

[color=d1b300]“I appreciate you wanting to help that much, but I really don't expect you to help with this part."[/color] Trisha responded simply, thumbs gently rubbing his cheeks. Maybe it wasn't a helpful response… But why would she expect her fiance with some serious PTSD to help her grown larvae in human flesh. The whole process was already gross enough for a normal person. She just had a surprisingly high tolerance for this kind of thing. 

[color=d1b300]“Even if you expect something you can't always control your reaction, right? I always expect rejection and still panic when it happens…"[/color] Maybe not the best example. 
[color=d1b300]“But Cass and Leon won't mind… And I care more about you. I don't want you to see things you can't deal with… I'll feel worse if you try and push through it to try and help with something I have to do the majority of anyway."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Neither of us like feeling useless, do we?”[/color] he asked her quietly, opening his eyes finally. They were leaky, but he wasn’t sniffling or moving toward outright sobbing; at least for the moment.

Part of Trisha wanted to argue with that… That she didn't just feel useless, she actually was most of the time. But she could also recognise that would be hypocritical right now. Even if her self view was poor, she was slowly getting better at not just giving into the irrational feelings that came with it. 

[color=d1b300]“Maybe that's why we understand each other so well."[/color] She replied softly. It wasn't quite an outright agreement, but it practically was. 
[color=d1b300]“I guess we just need to remember that… we'll never be useless to each other. You help me just by being here."[/color]

Casey nodded, feeling the truth in what Trisha said. She certainly wasn’t useless standing here and holding him. He felt [i]much[/i] better. His body crunched, and he wrapped her in both arms to pull her up in an embrace. He shook them both side to side slightly, feeling her small frame trapped inside his arms.

[color=577d06]”Same to you… I’m much better with you around, Trisha Bee. Thank you. I… I guess we’ll probably save the beequipment for another time. But, I still need to finish getting it set up. Gin was helping me with it and then, y’know, we decided to take a three hour nap.”[/color] he tried to joke.

[color=d1b300]“It was the most productive nap I've ever had. Most fun too."[/color] Trisha smiled up at him, managing a soft giggle as she let him swing them gently from side to side. Not that she could wriggle out… but most importantly, she didn't want to. 

[color=d1b300]“That sounds like a good idea… I still want to start with bee creation, since I'm not sure how long they'll take to grow. But I didn't actually plan to do it and leave them here. Probably among the trees… I just want to get started."[/color] She continued quietly. She'd absorbed a bit of that information during the sorting, and making more [I]honey bees[/I] didn't seem difficult. It would just take more time to create any others, so she imagined she'd have to keep doing it for the next few days. Today she'd be happy with getting the basics done. 

[color=d1b300]“I guess I can ask Leon and Cass to help move things… Or maybe just Cass, to give Leon a break. We might need to save them both from Cass, she was acting strangely… Snappy."[/color] 

[color=577d06]”She’s been at it for hours. Surely, she’s hungry. Get ‘em both out for lunch, and uh… Maybe just for giggles, try the “Autono-bee” thing? And, y’know, set some of them to follow me? I can get the little suits fitted to them while you guys eat.”[/color] Casey suggested, hoping that she either wouldn’t care that he was asking to work through lunch without her, or that she wouldn’t notice.

[color=d1b300]“You’re not going to at least sit with us?"[/color] Trisha immediately pouted up at him. Unfortunately, she was never going to miss or not care about time he wanted to spend away from her. She understood that he probably didn't want to eat after that… And Cass especially could be a horrendously messy eater. But she'd rather just kick them both out and still get to eat in his company. She could easily have a fully vegetarian lunch. 

[color=d1b300]“And I’m not sure about trying that and then leaving. What if it stops and they start stinging you? They recognise you because of all my pheromones lingering, but I'm not sure if that'll be enough when you start trying to put suits on them."[/color]

He frowned, not seeing any other option besides acquiescence. Obviously he didn’t want it to be any bigger of a deal for her than he’d already made it, so rather than protest further, he frowned and moved forward with her hand in his.

[color=577d06]”Then, I’ll just come along. It’s alright.”[/color] he said very simply.

It was hard to not assert, but at the same time, it was the easiest thing he could do. Just let her have the moment, and show her that ultimately, he was always going to be stronger than what he wanted to be. He’d always push himself past the goal line, especially for her. She was worth it.
[hr]
After lunch, everything proceeded as smoothly as it could. Casey finished getting his new equipment set up while Trisha concentrated on beginning to plant Honey Bee larva in the flesh tendrils Cass had made. 

It was a bit of a strange process. The egg stage was essentially skipped- while it was what Trisha put in, the magic she channeled into it had the egg immediately hatching into a quickly growing larva. From what she’d managed to get through, they should grow much faster than normal bees would… Thankfully. She didn’t have twenty-one days to wait. 

After the first few, the process got easier for her. It felt more natural and she didn’t have to think so hard. In the end, she managed to do over a thousand. They were small enough she could do multiple to a tendril. It was nice to know she could get so many done in just a few hours, and she was getting faster with each bee. 

It would take a bit more effort to do something different, but that was a problem for the next day.

The information sharing and organising had taken a toll on her, and she couldn’t push as long as she wanted to. Tomorrow she’d do more… But in the end, it was barely the evening when the two of them ended up back in their home and in that safe spot on the couch. The TV droned on, one of the more brainless shows they were watching switched on. For Trisha, it was mostly just background noise as she cuddled into Casey, barely looking at the screen. 

Without anything to actually distract her, all those thoughts from earlier started slipping back in. About how lazy she looked when Leon mentioned her making a minimal effort deal. She was glad she hadn’t gotten defensive at him then, proving that she was really trying to be patient… But it didn’t stop her own self doubts from creeping in. If he felt that way it was fine. But what about Casey? 

She hadn’t known what she was agreeing to, or that she was even agreeing to something. 

[color=d1b300]“If it was that easy, I would’ve asked the Queen for more magic ages ago.”[/color] Trisha spoke softly. They’d been cuddling in comfortable silence long enough for her to relax and let the thoughts slip out, but not quite so long that it felt jarring. Not enough time for either of them to start drifting off. 

[color=d1b300]“I always thought the only way to get stronger was to get more bees. She didn’t really say any different, so I didn’t realise until I met you and talked to other Adjoined. I assumed that was all I could get.”[/color] She continued, carefully avoiding what she actually wanted to say. She’d only look bad if she went straight into the excuses. Bad, and like even more of a mess. 
[color=d1b300]“I guess I shouldn’t say it was easy, since I would’ve still been struggling with all the information without your help.”[/color]

For all that they’d done today, Casey wasn’t satisfied knowing that there was more to learn. He’d strayed away from the topic of the day in favor of trying to figure out the various forms of bee that Trisha could conjure up in her infinite ability. Some were special, and needed to be gestated as they were. Others were common bees induced into transforming via a magical pheromone that Trisha could produce. Certain forms actually seemed much more useful to the end he was interested in pursuing, which made him excited for what was coming next.

He hadn’t had any particular thoughts on what Trisha’s agreement with the Queen was. When Leon had made his earlier comment, it hadn’t even affected him in turn. He’d barely heard it. So, as Trisha did her best to subtly broach the subject, she did so without him being in any way the wiser. As it was another patented Trish-insecurity, it was also buried deep enough that the first foray into discussing it was totally obscured by Trisha’s inability to be completely honest with herself. So, he listened to her speak, then had to ask himself where it was coming from in such an out-of-the-blue fashion.

[color=577d06]”Well, it’s basically my fault. You wouldn’t be worried about this stuff if I wasn’t accidentally dragging you into wartime.”[/color] he retorted, shaking his head and rubbing her head gently.

[color=577d06]”It’s alright though… You [i]do[/i] have me, and we’ll work together to get you as situated as possible!”[/color] his voice remained warm and comforting, even as he was somewhat confused over being pulled out of his vaguely meditative research state.

[color=d1b300]“I do… I'm really lucky to have you."[/color] Though Trisha's voice was soft, she pressed her lips into a thin line and tensed up a little bit. 

She wasn't sure what she'd been hoping for in response. Something she could latch onto to bring up what she was thinking about. She almost wanted him to realise and prod at her so she got defensive, rather than having to be vulnerable. It was still such a struggle… Especially after everything that had happened. It felt silly to fixate on something and force it onto him with the expectation of comfort. Well, she was really expecting that, was she? She was just trying to explain. 

And maybe he had given her a way to bring it up…

[color=d1b300]“But I would still be worried about this stuff. Maybe not to such an extreme, but… I did think a lot about how to get stronger. I just didn't know how besides the bees, and the Queen barely responded to me. I would've liked to have access to more, especially with the Father Wolf thing. I just didn't trust other magical people enough to seek help."[/color] Her voice got quieter, lowering to a whisper as she eked out close to what she actually wanted to say. 
[color=d1b300]“I really didn't realise I was agreeing to the minimum forever."[/color]

Casey shrugged, still not picking up what part of the conversation she was trying to highlight. At least he was, until she finished speaking for that moment. After that, it was a Hell of a lot easier to figure out what the problem was. She was embarrassed, or something similar. There was a problem with being made to seem like she’d taken the minimum deal, he guessed. Like that was ever an issue.

[color=577d06]”Wait, Trish… Is this about what Leon said? Be honest with me, just tell me what’s troubling you. If you feel like you can’t tell me the truth, I’ve gotta assume it's either bad, or embarrassing you. You’re… Wait, let me guess: You’re feeling crappy for not being an expert. You think I’ll, like, get bored of you? Or mad that you’re not some bee goddess?”[/color]

Once he latched on, he was a bulldog about these sorts of things. If Trisha had wanted him to poke and prod so she could get defensive, the mission had been a success in spite of the delay.

Trisha pursed her lips, looking away from him. It wasn't about her not being an expert… Sure, she did feel crappy about that, but it was a truth she couldn't really defend. She hated not knowing things, which was why she'd burn herself out to rectify it.

[color=d1b300]“I don't think you want me to be some kind of bee goddess… you wouldn't have even gotten with me if you wanted anything near that."[/color] She responded, shaking her head. 

[color=d1b300]“If you're even mentioning getting bored of me, that means it's a possibility, doesn't it? But I'm really not lazy. I know it seems that way! But I promise I'm not. Even if I'm never that good at things or that knowledgeable I still try really hard to learn. There's no proof of it but it's really true… I haven't just been sitting on my ass doing the minimum by choice."[/color]

Casey couldn’t do anything but push out a laugh with a smile crawling up behind it. His eyes hadn’t really been looking at her until now, body language casual and calm. It still was for the most part. He wasn’t any more or less tense than he had been.

[color=577d06]”Trisha… [i]You[/i] live in a world where someone gets bored of someone else and dumps them like a child’s toy. It’s only a possibility in [i]your[/i] head. See, in my world? You don’t see someone who doesn’t know much and think the worst of them. You protect them. You nurture them, until they have the desire and the opportunity to learn more. Just like us.”[/color]

His head finally turned downward to fully look at her, the expression on his face maintaining a sagelike calm.

[color=577d06]”Or, would you rather I started talking about how much fun it is to sit and learn about something so vast [i]alongside you?[/i] Because I’ve got a lot of angles where this ends up being, y’know… A [i]you[/i] problem, essentially. One I’m happy to help with as much as I can, but still… I don’t think you’re boring, and I certainly don’t think you’re friggin’ lazy. God, you must look at yourself like you’re some kind of grifter all the time, doesn’t that get exhausting?”[/color] he asked in full seriousness.

Trisha frowned. Of course the way she thought about herself got exhausting… But that didn't mean it wasn't always true, or that she could just move past it. It was probably part of why she had those depressive periods where her brain just shut down… Or the days where she just wanted to sleep and do nothing. Which just made her feel worse in the end. 

It was more than just the magic and this situation, obviously. It was all bundled up in how she viewed herself- inadequate. Then there was the conflict inside where she flip flopped from being pissed off all her hard work didn't get her anywhere, and feeling like she was the worst person around because she was where she was through no effort of her own.

[color=d1b300]“It does…"[/color] She answered quietly. 
[color=d1b300]“But I don't know how to look at myself any other way. I don't know what I've done to deserve anything I have. I don't have to work because I was born into a rich family, I was able to get into an alright university cause I was paying insane out of state fees and then I haven't even done anything with it. I only have my magic because I destroyed one of my dad's expensive artifacts. Then I've barely done anything with it. I [I]am[/I] happy I get to learn more about it with you. And I know you love me and probably don't really care, but I just feel like… I don't deserve to stand beside you either. Not magically at least."[/color]

She curled inwards to hide against him, next words coming out muffled and quiet. 
[color=d1b300]“It’s a me problem, I know. Sorry."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Hey, hey!-”[/color] he shifted, tucking her into his arms and patting her on the hip for a little comfort.
[color=577d06]”-Don’t go latching onto that as a statement, because I’aint meant it how you heard it. You heard [i]’It's your problem, I don’t care, help yourself.’[/i] Which is [i]not[/i] what I said. What I said was [i]’It’s a you problem.’[/i] That implies that the problem is ultimately in your head, but it [i]doesn’t[/i] imply that I don’t care or that it being a problem for you doesn’t automatically make it an [i]us[/i] problem. It is an us problem now, because it’s on the table for observation. Right? You and I will get you to where you want to be. Whether you have questions about why you deserve it or not… I just love you so much, Trisha. Ain’t no way I’ll ever make you feel like you need to handle something all on your own. Because we’re here together, right?”[/color] he asked sincerely, getting nice and close to her so he could wash her in a comforting embrace.

Trisha nodded, taking a moment to actually absorb what he said. So that she actually understood and believed that he wanted to help… And so she could figure out what she wanted to say next. What did she try and walk through to help herself? She wasn't even sure. The goal was always to alleviate the clawing anxiety, but she never knew how to do it in a more permanent fashion. 

[color=d1b300]“We are here together. I didn't mean to take it that way… That's not fair when you've always tried to help."[/color] She said quietly, curling up properly against him like it was somehow possible for them to get any closer. She felt safe in his arms… Safe enough to open back up rather than continuing the process of completely shutting down. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s more than just my magic… But that feels like the worst right now. Everything else I'm used to feeling constantly undeserving of. With magic… it's not just because of what Leon said today. It's how people like Mia and Gin look at me, when I really don't deserve any of it. And then there's Cass… it's only been a month and she's already so good at it, because she's been working hard! Whereas I've been too anxious to talk to my ghost more and work out what I could do. I just feel like it's another thing I don't deserve to have and I don't know how to change that. I'm barely able to accept that I deserve [I]you[/I] and you've told me that you want to be with me over and over again."[/color]

Casey frowned as he listened to what Trisha had to say. He’d heard about stuff like imposter syndrome, and he’d dealt with the idea of Blinds being treated more like useful cattle than actual people by his peers. He could understand why she’d be worried, he really could. But his only job in this moment was to get her out of that funk by any means necessary. 

But how?! She was the perfect storm of self doubt. Everything was one big spinning wheel, where she could move from one insecurity to the next without even pausing. Like eternal whack-a-mole, he’d suppress one just to have three more pop up and taunt his own inability to prevent them. He knew that if he brought that concept up, she’d probably get it… But only if she didn’t miss the forest for the trees. She’d hear [i]’You’re too much to deal with.’[/i], rather than something like [i]’I feel like a failure who doesn’t deserve you every time I can’t help you directly.’[/i]

One was a lot easier to hear. Because it's what she expected in her heart of hearts… Because they really hadn’t been together that long. How could she really trust him with that as the case? She couldn’t. The pit of her stomach would forever withhold the worst parts of her personality, until time eventually handed them the opportunity to drain that swamp. And all he could do was remain consistent, even if it didn’t fix what was wrong immediately. He had to believe, and trust that right now, just sticking around was enough.

[color=577d06]”Then you’ve gotta figure out what your friggin’ standards are, Sweetheart! You won’t ever dispel any of those feelings until you figure out how to be satisfied with your own effort. Like, let’s just brainstorm for a second: What does a Trisha who deserves what she has [i]look like?[/i]”[/color] he asked playfully, doing his best to keep it light so she didn’t think or feel like she was being ambushed and accused.

Trisha's brow furrowed thoughtfully. She'd never tried to think about what she had to do to be satisfied with herself. She always just assumed she never would be. It was difficult to see far enough ahead to imagine there'd be a time when she wasn't crippled by self doubt. She'd struggled to even imagine a stable future until recently. 

[color=d1b300]“I don't really… know. My gut reaction is someone that actually gets results. Like good grades, a top degree, a proper job that could be bragged about… But those are my mom's standards. I'm not sure how to see my own beyond those."[/color]

She had them. While Maria had been a large part of why she'd ended up so lacking in self confidence, it wasn't all external. Even if she stopped feeling like she had to be the best at everything- something that just set her up for failure- she still wouldn't feel like she deserved what she had. 

[color=d1b300]“I guess… Someone who really puts in effort to what she does and who doesn't just give up. But also it wouldn't just be effort for [I]nothing[/I]. Someone who actually treats other people well and doesn't get touchy at the smallest things, or lash out. An actually nice person that people aren't worried to say things for and can rely on."[/color] It was only the tip of the iceberg. It was much easier to think of things she hated about herself than how she should be to no longer feel that way.

Casey snickered quietly. He knew what he asked was misleading, but that was the point.
[color=577d06]”Is she… Tall? Blonde? Does she have massive boobies? Does she punch and kick her way through all the doors that the world presents to her?”[/color]

Practically swaddling her, Casey rocked Trisha back and forth in a gentle motion.

[color=577d06]”Because I feel like the Trisha who deserves what she has looks a [i]lot[/i] like the Trisha in my arms right now. [i]Maybe[/i] she smiles more. See, all the stuff you mentioned? Changeable. With time, effort, and a lot of love, we can improve on every single point you made. But you’re never gonna look so different that you aren’t [i]you.[/i] And you have what you have because [i]something else[/i] said that you deserved it. So, let’s think about it in a different way.-”[/color]

He paused, taking her hands in his and playing with them slowly


[color=577d06]”You’re smart. You’re capable. You [i]know[/i] inside yourself, that you can accomplish your goals. You have a degree. You [i]could[/i] find whatever job you want in your field. You [i]are[/i] magical. Yet, your brain wants you to basically prostrate yourself in  constant self-flagellation while telling you that the only thing you deserve is pain. But if that’s all you deserve, then why [i]were[/i] you born rich? Why were you born intelligent? Or strong-willed? Why did you have the opportunity to break from the mundanity of your bloodline to join the ranks of the Paranormal spread across this planet? Life could make you suffer without ever washing those luxuries upon you. So why didn’t it? Because you’re not meant to suffer! You’re meant to struggle, maybe, and that’s what we’re in the midst of now… But, suffering? Because of this feeling? No, no… We can’t be like that. No. It’s a [i]challenge[/i]. It’s life asking you to sort it out yourself. To find satisfaction in the cracks into which we’ve fallen, and to grow toward the sun as any plant would do. Remember, tree roots smash concrete.”[/color] he finished rather enigmatically, mentioning his favorite observation about the natural world and its functions. 

Life, after all, would always push through obstacles. It was all they were really here to do. Struggle. Some did so just to live, while others did so to carve out their peace. He hoped for the latter.

Trisha's answer to all of his whys was [I]luck[/I]. She didn't really really believe in fate in that way… Not like he did. Even when there was magic to see the future, she didn't entirely believe that things were just fated. Or that there was any kind of higher power that cared enough to decide how people were born based on what they deserved. It didn't help how she viewed herself, because even if life decided she didn't deserve to suffer… What was the decision based on? A past life she didn't even believe in?

But she could sort of understand what he was trying to say. About how she'd always be herself, and that any struggle was something to be pushed through to keep going. She knew deep down that more than changing all those problems she had, she had to change her [I]outlook[/I] on both life and herself. 

[color=d1b300]“I sort of understand what you're saying. Not all of it… I don't really see it the same way as me deserving those things just because I have them. But I get that this is just… Another struggle, right? To eventually love myself so that I can really grow and be happy, no matter what other negativity is in my life. It's really difficult for me to see how I'll get there or accept that maybe I won't be much different… But I know it's something I need to work on. A big challenge in my life, I guess. It's just really hard to start growing out of the crack I've ended up in, because every time I've tried it feels like I've been stomped on. But I should be able to without that affecting me, right? Or at least not stomp on myself too."[/color]

Casey shook his head.
[color=577d06]”Not stomping on yourself is great, but… Honestly, Trisha? It’s a lot more like uh… It keeps raining, and the crack fills up with water. And you panic, because it feels like you’re drowning. When, in reality, the water will drain and whatever you got out of it will make you stronger. And, y’know, there’s plenty of crack! Like, I mean, it’s long. Someone would have to come and pave over it for you to not be able to just maneuver up and down it. A foot here, a bunch of sand there: But nothing’s here to pave over you. You’re growing out of the sidewalk, the town’s just gonna let you grow.”[/color] he smiled back at her, still comfortingly rubbing her hip and side.

[color=d1b300]“So I'm the only thing stopping myself from growing? Because I panic and feel worse about myself instead of trying to learn from it?"[/color] Trisha asked, trying to understand exactly what he was getting at with the metaphor now. She'd sort of understood before… Or maybe she hadn't…

[color=577d06]”Well, kind of. But, like, rain comes from the sky. Shit comes from above you, and your world has walls all around it that block you from being able to see what’s coming up. To me, that makes it, like, impossible for you to do the growing. You can’t try and learn from shit when it all feels like you’re the last dwarf in Moriah. You’re too busy being in survival mode.”[/color] he suddenly referenced Tolkien, like Trisha had even read the Lord of the Rings.

Like she was the… What? Trisha looked up at him with visible confusion now. 

[color=d1b300]“You’re right that I always feel like I'm in survival mode… But I don't [I]really[/I] get the rest of it."[/color] She admitted quietly. While Trisha had gotten quite into reading when she finally didn't have constant studying to worry about, she'd never gone much into fantasy. It was difficult for her to enjoy when magic was actually real. 

[color=d1b300]“Is it that I need to… let down my walls and accept help, or something?"[/color]

Casey nodded emphatically.

[color=577d06]”If you feel like you’re all alone in a world full of monsters, you don’t run or fight. You just cower and wait for the next attack. Because that’s all that’s in you can observe. That’s all that’s real to you. But, you aren’t stuck. The proverbial crack isn’t a pinhole. You can maneuver; you can try something that doesn’t work, and pivot to something else. And, in the endless dancing, you’ll realize other people are stuck in the same crack you are. You’re not actually alone. You’re not doing this on your own.”[/color] he reasserted, taking a deep breath and letting her process that.

[color=577d06]”Shit… I lost my point. I guess it’s all like uh… Y’know, don’t blame yourself. Don’t think you can’t change what you want. Oh! Time! Right, the fucking whole tree in the crack thing. The roots don’t just fuckin’ magically appear and start breaking concrete, right? You gotta grow! More and more and more, until you’re so big that you can actually ignore people stepping on you. That’s it! Your self confidence is the tree. Your efforts now are your roots trying to bust through the sidewalk so you can get all the room you’ll need to grow into the biggest, most beautiful maple tree on the planet.”[/color]

Trisha nodded, managing a small smile. 

[color=d1b300]“You’re right… Even if it feels really hard to imagine now, I guess that's because I'm at the most difficult part. I've never really had the support so that I can grow… I've just been trying and struggling alone, feeling worse when I don't get anywhere. So… Thank you for being here."[/color] Her smile widened and she leaned up to kiss his cheek. 

[color=d1b300]“You’re also probably going to have to tell me all of this again for the next thing I struggle with…"[/color] She admitted, self aware for the moment. 
[color=d1b300]“But I'll do my best to grow little by little until I manage to get to a point where it isn't so easy for me to fall back down. I really want to be like that, even if it's hard. I don't want to let my anxiety and other issues control my life… I'm already a little bit better than when we first met. I managed to talk to you about it without panicking or getting too snappy…"[/color]

[color=577d06]”Baby, you did a-”[/color] Casey stopped to kiss Trisha right on the top of her head, squeezing her tight and waggling his torso back and forth to nuzzle her. 
[color=577d06]”-fantastic job this time around. No fussing, no big crying or anything… You wanna think about your progress, I say think about this right now! Totally indicative of progress toward being the Trisha who you think deserves all your gifts.”[/color]

He finally leaned back, settling back into the comfy couch with little concern in the assumption that the problem was handled for the moment.

[color=577d06]”Now, do you want me to pass off all the info I’ve parsed out over the course of the day? Or, would it make you feel better to do all of your own work when it comes to Queen stuff?”[/color] he asked with a gentle tone, not wanting her to worry about the fact that he was [i]absolutely[/i] reading ahead of her.

Trisha took a moment to think about what she actually wanted as she shifted herself into a less curled up position, more languidly lying on Casey. Generally she wanted to do it all herself… But there was so much information to get through it would probably take her months. She needed to get to grips with at least some of what she could do before the end of the year. And she should try to get used to asking for help more. 

It was just more efficient anyway. 

[color=d1b300]“You can pass it to me. If I do it all myself it'll take too long, especially since I then have to use it. I don't think it'll be great for either of us if I end up hiding away for days trying to work on it by myself, forgetting to do anything else."[/color]

Happily, Casey slipped his free hand into his pocket, the other hand brushing Trisha’s hair away from her forehead before resting on the spot. What came next was a very slow stacking of jars that he’d been through. And with each empty jar he stacked, Trisha felt herself simply recognizing them. Each one individually spoke to her in a way that felt like she’d been holding her breath for years, then suddenly remembered how. The same feeling one gets after hearing a song that had been lost to them.

He’d obviously gotten into subjects he found useful. Again, mostly subjects having to do with transforming the bees, or breeding new types. Hundreds, no, thousands of different bee varieties, each one more exotic and specialized than the last. He’d peeled through each, hunting for the information necessary to make each one relevant, or not-so-relevant based on what he assumed their needs would be. Soldier bees the size of small dogs, Noble bees extending and regulating control over vast hive numbers. Even autonomous specialist bees, whom he related to on a deeply personal level as their jobs were those which only they could handle on their own. Bees with deadly toxins, or abdomens whose makeup allowed them to drop from the sky at bullet-like terminal velocity. Swimming bees, digging bees, teleporting quantum bees whose Purple Lux-like abilities still confounded him in spite of his complete understanding of them as creatures with purpose. 

And then there was the section involving “activation and deactivation” of the bees as entities altogether. Something like a strange hibernation state, it seemed the Queen’s bees were all special enough to be able to take to ground, burrowing deep to where the permafrost wouldn’t get them, in order to stratify and hold in waiting for new commands. The same state could be induced without them getting the command to dig, which meant Trisha could theoretically hibernate entire hives at a time, storing them away for transport or in case of guests.

Casey had been hard at work, it seemed. And as he pulled away, all the information handed over to her, he smiled.

[color=577d06]”I should’ve probably warned you about how excited I was to be able to learn about all this.”[/color] he giggled softly. 

[color=d1b300]“Wow."[/color] Trisha breathed out, eyes glazing over and staring into the distance for a moment as she took all of the information in. It was so fast and easy… Natural like how she'd hoped it would be when the Queen first handed over her knowledge and power. 

[color=d1b300]“You got through a lot… When were you even doing this?"[/color] Trisha asked, looking at Casey with a smile. After the talk they'd just had, she managed to push down the creeping feelings of inadequacy for once. He'd only done all this because he was excited to and had the magical tools to get through it. Trisha herself was still getting to grips with learning things that were already in her head. 

[color=d1b300]“You selfishly went through all the exciting stuff, didn't you?"[/color] She teased instead of dwelling, reaching up to gently pinch his cheek. 
[color=d1b300]“Knowing about all the different types of bees I can get means you can figure out beequipment for them, doesn't it?"[/color]

[color=577d06]”There’s so much exciting shit. Uhh… Pretty much as soon as we were done, I started processing and logging it all in the back of my head. And, yeah. I know which ones can handle shit better, which ones to get you into the habit of developing over the others. I’m considering a Warhive. Somewhere whacky, where nobody would ever find or get to it. And we can pack it full of the real winners. I mean, a hundred-fifty thousand bee strong hive of any little creature would be devastating, but imagine a hundred-fifty thousand steel bees packing M60’s and LAW disposable rockets. Honestly, that’s a pipedream even for me. It was incredibly difficult securing all the equipment I managed to get for them this time.”[/color]

Casey could happily go on forever and ever about information they both knew. It was pleasurable for him, the crafting and theorizing about what would be most effective. He hoped it would allow them to explore the topic together in a way that helped her learn actively, and about important things. Like how to really utilize her bees to the fullest. 

[color=d1b300]“I think by the time I make that many bees, they won’t be needed anymore.”[/color] Trisha giggled, smiling warmly at him. His excitement was contagious… Doubly so when it was over something important to her too. While she had a contentious relationship with studying, she did genuinely love learning about things that interested her. Her bees and magic were two of those things… Though Casey seemed even more enthusiastic than her. 

[color=d1b300]“But a hidden hive like that’s a good idea, even if they’re not armed to the teeth. We talked about having at least one hive not in the Greenhouse, but hadn’t figured out where would work cause I’d need to visit it… But having one in hibernation means we don’t have to worry about it. It’s just there and safe for when I need it. Packing all of the more special bees in there makes sense too- since technically most species don’t actually produce edible honey, so I only really need my honey bees and their varieties to have access to the flowers.”[/color] She nodded, quite happy with that idea. Though she’d want to hibernate some honey bees too… Just in case. If she lost the whole honey producing hive it would ruin her business. Though, she really hoped that wouldn’t happen. 

[color=d1b300]“What kinds of bees do you think would be best for that? The [i]Warhive[/i], even if the full thing is a pipedream.”[/color] 

Casey didn’t have to hesitate. He’d come across these warforms early, so it was far more about determining force order and gathering equipment for them.

[color=577d06]”Uh… I started naming them. The Queen’s knowledge only ever refers to bees as subjects from certain prefectures. But, you’ve seen [i]her[/i] bees, haven’t you? The ones with the wavy bands? They have no need to gather, so they're all smooth and sleek. Like wasps. Hornets, even. They seem naturally militaristic, like she made the perfect bee soldiers, then just… Locked them away?”[/color]

An unnerving fact, that those hornet-bees had served as providence of the Queen, and had saved their realm without her divine involvement on many occasions. Yet, they seemed to completely disappear from the historic record of the Bee Empire not long before the Queen herself decided to abdicate the throne. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the two moments were somehow connected.

[color=577d06]”There’s also the little ones from the place referred to as [i]The Field of Armors[/i]. They're still fuzzy, but it's all supposed to be iron fibers, which they weave together into little armor suits that protect them. As far as I’m aware, they're projectiles. Set ‘em up on some self-propelled missile system, and we have guided, multi-use bullets. They’d form a screen around the hive, even if it'll be deafeningly loud.”[/color] Casey grinned as he thought about all the little metal bees.

[color=d1b300]“We’ll need to invest in some good earplugs.”[/color] Trisha laughed softly, smiling back at him. It was surprisingly easy for her to pull up information about the exact bees he was talking about. The iron bomber bees had to be grown, whereas the soldier bees could be transformed from her normal honey bees. Which was crazy to her… She hadn’t even known any could be made through transforming her honey bees until Casey passed over what he’d learned to her. 

[color=d1b300]“I guess I’ll start with trying to make those two tomorrow. I have a pretty good understanding of how to do that thanks to everything you figured out… Nobody’s going to expect the proper military bees! I wonder if you can train the soldier bees, or if they just know when they’re transformed. I bet even if they do you can teach them something. Proper military formations and the like.”[/color] Trisha suggested, not thinking too hard about why those ones had disappeared in the first place. 

If they hadn’t, the Queen probably wouldn’t have been sealed… But it was long gone history. 
[color=d1b300]“Whereas I just need to target the fuzzy bullet bees. I really can’t believe I can make bees with [i]iron[/i] fur… I know it shouldn’t seem crazy because magic, but I didn’t expect more than normal bees. Maybe ancient ones, but not actually magical ones.”[/color]

[color=577d06]”Like the Borrowers? Actual bee wizards? I like that they form magical symbols with their bodies… I imagined a big, flying pentagram casting Red magic like they’re not bothered by it. But, I mean… [i]Obviously,[/i] letting them feed off of a living Adept is pretty fucked up.”[/color]

Borrower was a self-explaning name, which if one understood their breeding process, would become all the more horrific. The Lux, it seemed, had to constantly flow. Some Adeptal prisoners held in captivity by the Queen and her court actually chose to partner with a hive of Borrowers, walking around as living hive boxes whose lives typically consisted of breathing and channeling. Only made worse when one realizes they did so in order to avoid a far crueller fate.

[color=577d06]”Kind of takes what you’re doing with Cass to a whole new fucked up level. Those guys will be interesting anyway, probably. Just because, y’know, the whole Adept flesh thing. It definitely works similarly to how we utilize Apparitions to make Oblivium to eat, which means these guys are gonna have some seriously hearty and robust lives. I honestly think they’ll make great tests for the Beequipment I’ve made. It’s all, y’know, mostly small arms. And, if they behave like normal bees, then the software Gin cooked up will be immensely helpful.”[/color]

Trisha nodded, grimacing a bit when she thought about the Borrower bees. She’d meant pretty much any that you wouldn’t find naturally when she mentioned magical ones, but those were definitely the [i]most[/i] magical. As much as that much power would be nice, she couldn’t justify the means to get it. 

She was only alright with growing them like this because Cass so enthusiastically volunteered- and would have pressured Trisha until she agreed anyway. 

[color=d1b300]“As far as I’m aware, they should. Or at least they should act like my bees, which isn’t entirely normal, but close enough. But I don’t really know, so I guess we’ll see when they’re born. Should be by the end of the week for the ones I did today.”[/color] She continued evenly, before biting her lip with a hint of nerves leaking through. 

[color=d1b300]“We need to make sure Cass never finds out about the Borrowers. She’ll probably try insist she does it… I bet she’d even enjoy it in some fucked up way like she did the limb stuff. But that’s a line I really don’t want to cross.”[/color] She frowned for a moment. 
[color=d1b300]“I guess even if she does find out, between you, me and Leon, we can [i]probably[/i] dissuade her.”[/color]

Casey’s skepticism didn’t bode well for Cass having the chance to know about those things. As Trisha said, her candid attitude over parting with her own flesh wasn’t comforting to begin with. Now imagine she had the chance to have some kind of symbiotic relationship? Why bother going through it like that, when a Green Lux Adept of considerable power should theoretically be able to make their own bees? 

Because, he was starting to understand; Cass was sick in the head. Not like Junior sick, obviously, but definitely some kind of sick that gave him serious memories of a few different soldiers he’d served with over the years. Kind people. Excited to do the right thing. But, ultimately fucked up. And sometimes, when they put themselves headlong into crazy situations, it worked out fine. But others ended in tragedy.

 [color=577d06]”We [i]can’t[/i] give her the chance to try. I like her, and I like how much she loves you, but there’s no way I’m gonna let her pressure you into doing something that’s bad [i]for her.[/i] It's just utter depravity that keeps that girl hunting for new shit to mess with. I just… It’s better if we lock those ones up. Those, and uh… Those fucking Lowland Bees.”[/color]

The Lowland bees he was referring to were a very special and high-energy toll species, who were in fact too fat to fly. Massive twelve and fifteen pound ground bees, with fur so thick you’d think they were walking shag rugs. One wasn’t bad, but like most honey bees, they loved to swarm and gather in massive football-field sized hives that often burrowed dozens and dozens of feet into the ground.

Their massive sizes only made their curious and precocious natures more threatening, as they had a tendency of swarming over whatever interested them like playful terriers. Playful terriers with massive spikes coming out of their rumps, and finger-sized mandibles. Not to mention the patented bee-ball behavior. Casey got flash images of piles of thousands of Lowland Bees absolutely swarming what looked to be a wolf creature similar to Lelou. By the time they left the corpse, it was smoldering and charred from the intense heat they were able to generate at the center of the ball.

[color=577d06]”They’re… Frankly, they’re just too cute to be safe. Nobody is ever going to look at a single giant bumblebee and not want to hug it. So, when it tips the hive off and a fuckton of them waddle out to meet the new friend, things will get dicey.”[/color]

Casey frowned, knowing full well how badly he wanted a giant bee-dog pet.

[color=577d06]”Maybe… Maybe if you made [i]one[/i], and kept her around you all the time, she’d be okay not being part of a hive. I’m honestly not sure, I have next to no idea how you actually affect them with your presence at a consistent level.”[/color] he shrugged, pouting slightly.

Trisha scratched her cheek, trying to think about what it was like with the current bees. While she didn’t keep every single one with her all the time, they all got fairly consistent time with her. At least until she moved them into the Greenhouse, meaning they didn’t get all the time she spent sleeping or just in her room to hang out with her. 

[color=d1b300]“I can’t really say, because I’ve never had just one. The bees I have definitely grew more attached to me the longer I was just around them. I think it helped that during highschool, I was either at school or in my room [i]with them[/i] studying. But they still had each other. I don’t know how feasible having her around me [i]all the time[/i] would be now. Or ever, I like having time without bees.”[/color] 

Though maybe it would be possible to train one of them in some way, so that she was content with a decent amount of time but not constant. Solitary bees [i]did[/i] exist, just these ones weren’t. Maybe during the growth period she could adjust things to try and make some perfect combination.

[color=d1b300]“We can always try it when we move… And it doesn’t work, we get another big patch of land for a little hive of them, and cordon it off.”[/color] She smiled, reaching up to squeeze his cheeks.
[color=d1b300]“I’m guessing by the way you’re pouting you want one?”[/color]

Casey nodded, a frown on his face.
[color=577d06]”Big eyes, cuddly, fluffy. You, in bee form. Well, maybe we can adjust her to being with the other smaller bees? Like having a friend who is seven foot tall when your whole friend group is only five and a half! Sure, she can’t really climb into their hives, but-”[/color]

He found himself blushing slightly at the idea of the big bee ruining a hive trying to crawl her chunky ass through a hole that wasn’t big enough.

[color=577d06]”Well… [i]Surely[/i] there’s things we can do. Maybe there’s even a way to assign her to me, so we can swap off custody duties.”[/color] he laughed, ultimately referring to the mythical giant bee as if it were already around, and part of their family. He’d left his turtle downstairs simply because there wasn’t enough room up here to keep the tank, so he figured it wouldn’t be fair to get another pet now… But, like Trisha said, when they move…

[color=577d06]”We’ll come back to it. One day. For now, we should maybe come up with lists of desirable and non-desirable species. Like, the ones [i]Where the Gorgons Reside[/i]?”[/color]

Talk about giant bees: Casey had an immediate name picked out when he came across these nasty pieces of work.
[color=577d06]”I was thinking of calling them Gluttons, y’know ‘cuz of the mouths.”[/color]

Where Borrowers partook in the ritualistic residence and consumption of Adeptal flesh to maintain a hive, the Gluttons were far more demonic and monstrous due to their time spent in what appeared to be some kind of corrupted valley. These Gluttons clocked in at the size of children, sometimes hitting a hundred and twenty pounds with maws of razor sharp teeth, and two massive and unblinking single-lens eyes which stared at its surroundings searching for organic life to devour. With massive forceps, these bees would fly just out of reach of their prey with their mouths open wide, waiting for the perfect moment to dive and pin their target to the ground as their feast began. 

Totally useless to them, the only thing the Glutton bees had going for them was their immense size, ferocious nature, and basic grasp of Apparitonal magic, which they used to secrete a gaseous cloud from where their stinger would be. This cloud has the added effect of being a searing, fully blinding capsaicin compound… Extra strength pepper spray.

[color=d1b300]“You’re not wanting me to make those ones, are you?”[/color] Trisha grimaced. 

Their aggression and size would mean they [i]could[/i] be useful for combat situations. Brutally so. But she wasn’t sure if she could handle bees like that, or wanted to let them loose in the world. It would be different if she knew she’d have access to the Greenhouse forever, but she figured after they moved all her bees would be living more naturally… She didn’t want to have bees whose nature pushed them past a normal predator and into something more sinister. At least the other dangerous bees were organised and unlikely to attack unless threatened or ordered to. 

[color=d1b300]“I don’t think I could, no matter how much they might help [i]now[/i]. It seems like I’d have to spend most of my time making sure they don’t… kill anyone…”[/color]

Casey nodded.

[color=577d06]”Thats why they’re on the proverbial [i]no fly[/i] list. We’re definitely not dealing with uh… Well, honestly, they’re probably evil. I bet, if they’re from the land of the Gorgons, then they’re uh… Well, maybe we call them Hades bees. ‘Cuz they’re Greek.”[/color] he spitballed. 

Still holding tightly to Trisha, he smiled down at her. 
[color=577d06]”This is fun. Talking about it, I mean. The bees, and the knowledge. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to carry it out, but I guess the Queen really doesn’t give a shit sometimes.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“Yeah, she seemed to be more than happy to pass it all onto me and leave. She said the only reason she didn’t was because her [i]resting[/i] was peaceful. I don’t really understand that, because now she’s sleeping more… It did feel like I annoyed her a bit by asking.”[/color] Trisha trailed off, shrugging. She didn’t want to get caught up in how she felt about the Queen’s abandonment. She was the one who’d chosen the option where it was all passed over, in the end. 

[color=d1b300]“But I’m glad I get to learn it with you. It really is fun. I think I’d have enjoyed all of my studying more if I had someone to talk about it with… Though, math is a lot more boring! I don’t know if it can be made all that fun. I’m glad you’re so into all of the bee possibilities… It’s really cute.”[/color] She smiled warmly back at him, eyes creasing happily like a content cat. 
[color=d1b300]“I don’t have to worry about getting super enthusiastic either, cause I know you’ll enjoy it.”[/color]

[color=577d06]”It, and every other bit of you. You’re my world… So, I’m happy to sit and watch you spin and dance around the sunshine. I love you.”[/color] Casey replied simply, smiling and letting his face slide down slightly to kiss her. It was true, after all: He loved every little bit of her.