Mentor Mine

[Darastrix]

~I don't want to go in there,~ Nagi said quickly, taking a step back.

~He can't "take" me from you,~ Schuldig retorted, the statement directed at Efil. ~I'm not one of your followers. Or a follower of any of the other Forces, for that matter.~

[Kender Bard]

Efil did not deign to respond.

~What could it hurt?~ Soahc murmured to Schuldig.

"You have no sense of adventure," Locket sighed and poked around a bit more.

"Well there's a voice I recognize," Dreamwarp purred as the mist parted from around her and she approached the gate. Locket grinned and greeted Dreamwarp with a tight hug. Dreamwarp, in turn, tipped Locket back slightly and planted a passionate kiss on the younger girl's lips.

[tuo]

Adam gave a whoop at the sight. "Now there's something that never gets old." He steps into view and gives them both a big hug. "Two pretty girls smooching, doesn't get much better then that...well it does but you know what I mean."

Drake chuckled. "You might want to watch out, you say she's engaged right? Don't want the guy trying to kill you brother."

[Darastrix]

"Actually, we're already married," Nagi spoke up from his spot near the gate, a noticeable flush on his cheeks.

Schuldig crossed his arms, only listening to Soahc with half an ear. Hadn't they gone over this back when he was given the Swan's mantle? He didn't appreciate ultimatums or being treated like some tool or slave. With Filly there, did Efil even care any more beyond his being her White Swan?

[Kender Bard]

Of course I care.

Filly gave him a semi-annoyed look. ~We love you.~ After a moment, she added, quietly, ~I'm jealous.~

Soahc glanced back and forth and, for once, his look of good humor faded. He regarded Filly with the stirrings of irritation. ~You ruin my fun, sister. I'm going to stop calling you Filly and start calling you Killjoy like I told Schuldig.~

Locket squirmed in the embraces, blushing. Dreamwarp let her go and the priestess hurried back to Nagi, as though frightened off by the woman, though in reality she just didn't want to get kissed like that again.

"I just came to see you and him," Dreamwarp said and gave Nagi a look from head to toe. "Not quite to my taste but I bet you're just full of surprises. I hope you enjoy Adam's and my handiwork." Locket blushed harder. "Are you certain you won't be staying? You can be my guests for the night. No priest will bother you unless you want them to or they'll answer to me."

[Darastrix]

~Jealous of what?~ Schuldig asked, blowing his bangs out of his eyes a bit. He needed to retie his bandanna. ~I'm hardly in any danger of falling in love with him. He acts too much like me.~

"Handiwork?" Nagi asked, confused. He felt the urge to hide behind Locket, but considering she'd run back from the other priestess, he decided to stay where her was an just put an arm around her waist.

[Kender Bard]

"I taught Locket as much as I could while I was in Khelek, and whispered a few more tips when we met in Sensatia," Dreamwarp explained. "I don't suppose she felt inclined to let you know that I'm a Lustful did she?" She'd let him figure the rest out.

Locket blushed brighter. "Dreamwarp, please..." The other woman laughed.

~I'm not worried you'll fall in love with him~ Filly protested. ~But, well, you don't belong to anyone. I know that. But you're close to me, spiritually, and that's not something I want Soahc to take or pervert.~ She realized how ridiculous that sounded and made a frustrated noise. ~It doesn't have to make sense, it's just how it is!~

She and Soahc had a few tense moments where they carried on their own waspish dialogue in silence. Then suddenly Soahc smirked at something and Filly looked a little hurt and guilty, and she turned her back on them all, taking slow breaths to soothe her temper.

~She's so possessive~ Soahc told Schuldig moodily. ~She and Taed. You won't find Taffy and I throwing tantrums like that. I'm telling you, man, you bit into more than you bargained for with her. Don't mind me, though, I'm happy to get her off your back and ruffle her feathers. Just say the word and you can enjoy some peace from the old nag.~ He snickered, his mood shifting back to merriment with ridiculous ease.

[Darastrix]

Nagi turned red as well as the implications sank in. "Oh," he said in a small voice, averting his eyes from Dreamwarp.


~I don't know about Etaf, but I bet you would throw a tantrum if the mood struck,~ Schuldig told him, reaching out a hand to stroke Filly's feathers. He didn't want her to be upset, but dammit, things like that should be his decision and he really didn't care to have some sort of claim laid to him that he had no say in.

[Kender Bard]

Dreamwarp laughed a little. "Oh, you're too cute!" She winked at Locket. "Yep, he's a keeper, if only because I bet he's endless fun to tease."

"Well..." Locket murmured, smiling. "But we really should be getting back. I suppose. And Flux doesn't seem like a place for children." She indicated Harmony.

"Fair enough," she agreed. "Then we'll see you much later in Khelek. We'll set off on foot tomorrow most likely."

Filly glanced sadly over her shoulder at Schuldig. ~I'm sorry~ she said quietly.

~Yeah, I would,~ Soahc agreed. He heaved a sigh. ~Well, I'm bored with this now.~ He bent down and pat Harmony on the head. "Uncle Sol's going to head into the sunset now, kid. I'll see you around, okay? And next time I'll bring you a little something."

Harmony smiled brightly at him. "Okay!" she agreed, hugging him. "Goodbye Uncle Sol!"

Soahc smiled at her. ~See you all the time, sourpuss Filly. Oh and Schuldig... I still watch you sleep!~ With a small cackle, he 'teleported' away.

[Darastrix]

Yeah, but you probably only really pay attention while I fuck, Schuldig thought snappishly.

~How, exactly, would my getting talked into a Fluxian orgy change anything anyway? Last I heard, crossing thresholds didn't equal conversion.~ And even if he did "find religion," so to speak, it wasn't going to change him. If for some strange reason he did choose to follow anyone, it'd be because it fit him already. Changing yourself just to fit and follow some rhetoric was bullshit, anyway.

"Let's get going," he said gruffly. His question had been rhetorical. For Harmony's benefit, he added, "I'm getting a headache and the sooner I can get in a bed, the happier I'll be." Headaches did have a tendency to make him irritable, so he doubted she'd think anything else of his mood.

[Kender Bard]

Locket watched her Fluxian friends go after the gate was shut. She stood and stared a the temple-city a few moments longer before wrenching herself away with a sigh and slipping her hand into Nagi's.

Filly silently lay her hand on Harmony's shoulder, subdued, and the little girl just blinked at her parents. She didn't really like the ambiance going on, but if Schuldig had a headache, that explained a lot.

"Feel better soon, Daddy," Harmony murmured.