[2259] We're All Mad Here

                                   

Juliet:

I'm sure all the carnivores think I'm lucky with all the plant growth here, that I would have plenty of leaves to munch on.

But the leaves are weird. I have gotten a shock sensation whenever I tried and then when I did harvest some I noticed them growing and got zapped again when I tried picking leaves of those. And then felt them get bigger in my mouth.

....

Yeah... So... No leafy foods that way...


I stare at him in awe once he comes for me. I see flecks of light around him. (starvation) It's so magical.

He needs my help.

To look his best?...

I grin at the thought of being his 'arm candy'.

I shiver at his touch and follow him, swaying a little giddy and light-headed from the lack of sustenance.

Once in the tent I tell him genuinely, "You always look amazing to me. You can never not look amazing."

I think what he really needs is words of encouragement about his amazingness!

"You can even be covered in mud and everyone would think you're such a beautiful sparkly king and wonder who the lucky person was that you mud wrested with and would be sorry they missed out," I say trying to up his confidence with an example off the top of my head, then flush green and look away from his eyes, down at his chest embarrassed that I said that.. to him.. directly... And not just to the girls...

'The imposter':

She talks... so much and I try not to ring her neck..

*twitch*

Her sweet little paper thin neck..

"Thats not true I'm still a freak..a really freak of nature.. you pity me that's why you say those things...."

I say in a whinny little voice as I pace around her over dramatically. 

"Thats why I need you Juliet ....."

I swat at that UGLY dangling thing on her neck. Then snap a little at the empty corner. 

".BLYTHE wouldn't do it... but you'll do ANYTHING wont you??"

I have my back to her all forlorn and unbutton the heinous shiny blue dress shirt. 

"I need you to hack my other wing out! I cant have one ...when everyone now has TWO. I cant be that much of a laughing stock!"

*twitch twitch*

Ohh the squid dick remarks were bad enough but now the one winged wonder! 

I laugh/ growl uncomfortably turning back around.

"What...do you say?"

Juliet:

Oh.. My poor, poor Sebastian...

I flinch when he swats at the little turtle necklace. I rub the back of my neck asas he talks about Blythe.

Right... Blythe. No wonder he swiped at something dangling... All those... Alien feline instincts and he's already so keyed up... 

It was MY fault really. I should have been more considerate.

I gaze entranced at his back and squirm at little at the thought.

Wings....

So...

Delicate...

To 'hack one out'...

I swallow and twitch.

So... intimate... So sensual...

My cheeks burn and I feel light headed.

He asks what do I say and I try to clear my head.

"Oh.. Oh.. kay..."

I swallow and have to stop myself from reaching out to touch it with my fingers.

"Um... Do you.. Do you want me to use anything specific?..."

I ask at a loss. I'm not a 'medical' nurse.

'The imposter':

Her lack of enthusiasm worried me but I hug her all emotionally.

"Thank you for helping me.. I always can depend on you when it matters..."

In the hug I release her wreath necklace from its limitations, so she can hurt.

"Just be quick about it..."

I put a vine my mouth bracing for it trying to block it from all the other minds for as long as I could.

Juliet:

I smile at the hug and words, feeling a rush of euphoria.

"Of course! Always!" I say now more energized and determined. 

It looks like this is happening now.

Right.. Right. I can do this...

I look around the flower tent trying to find something.

I bring over the gardening tools and then start with the pruners. Since it was one of the smaller ones and I didn't want to accidentally hurt his trapped wing.

I wince I pinch his skin trying to get a good bit of skin to start cutting.

It doesn't want to cut and I twitch.

Okay. Not that one...

I pick up a pruning saw and look over at the rake imaging trying to rake the skin scales off one I get a slit in. But maybe that wouldn't be the best way to go about it... Maybe just try to saw it all off...

I put the prunning saw onto his back and try sawing.

'The imposter':


...


It was a dark tent BUT the skin would not break. The switching happened less and less. I made sure of it. The greenhouse like heat, brightness.the inability to be hurt.

*twitch*

"Is that the best you can do!" 

I hiss displeased.

Juliet:

I swallow and feel ill at his unhappiness with me.

"N-no."

I don't know why his skin won't break. The glitter must have some sort of super-strong, diamond-hard sparkle thing going on.

We'll have to go bigger then...

I eye the weed wacker and the lawn mower, but I don't know how I would get the latter on his back.

Breaks out the chainsaw instead.

Weakly it drags over.

As I do so, I have another idea but I fear he won't like that right now if he's already disappointed in me.

"Have you tried skin stimulation to coax it out? Like maybe because it's a part of you it'll have the same.. uh.. strength? and it'll be able to break out that way?"

Without waiting for an answer because I'm sure he wants this done right now and I might as well try right now, I heft up the machine and turn it on. The engine rumbles and I go for it, taking steps towards it and laying all my weight into the thing on to him.

Dora:

"Yeah, both is good!"

Gazes over the drawing.

Zeek sniffs it then turns away and sneezes.

When his head turns back he suggests,

(Zeek): ((Maybe have them cherry with rasberry shading?"))

I looks from his to Ettie.

"The mushrooms as both of the full two colours might be good too. To go with the style everything else, I think?"

I looks to Greg's.

"Cool!" I grin at him and work on mine.

'The Imposter':

I consider her idea of simulation..

I've been touched there before but I suppose never had sole focus onto the spot.

*twitch twitch* 

I sigh and grab the chainsaw from her - touching the blades as I do - before she hurts herself.

I toss it aside and spit out the vine.

"You can..try to please me..." 
I say with a surly growl flexing my scarred back crossly.

Juliet:

I wince when he takes it, but see that it doesn't cut his hands either.

And he took it so effortlessly.

He's so strong...

I flush green and nod, avoiding his eyes, afraid to speak.

I.. Can... Try...

I look back at his scarred back and swallow, thinking off the well known fact of the 'sensory-ness' of wings.

I step forward and start to massage his back. I dig my thumbs in trying to give him a deep-tissue message.

I breath on it with my hot breath, then glance over at a watering can and dip my singers in the cold water and run my wet fingers over his back trying to get different stimulations.

As I massage I bite my lip so close to his flesh.. I...

He needs stimulation.

And this is also... My chance...

I tenderly bite and suck on the skin and run my tongue over it is.

My eyes widen at my own sensations.

His skin on my tongue sizzles like poprocks. It's like energy tingles my tongue.

I pull back so I can swallow to not drool on him and use the moment to take the watering can and rain it on his back.

I set it down go back to massaging, then beath warm breath on the spot I think his wing slit is among all the scars and lick it from the bottom up.

It's even more of a sizzling tingle then before. My mind feels hazy numb and I burry my tongue deep and scratch down his back.

'Boren:

Her first attempts were so meager to me, it was hard to respond - she was so weak like a human being. Though I did value 
Lyratrisans for their intellect, any form of weakness physically did not stir me. I craved something so exotic, evolunary marvels as a mate. I have to visionize strapping her to a gurney and making some improvements... oh she could be so pretty indeed.. a true QUEEN bug..

But the little  thing keeps at it working my back and it does tingle.

Every time she used water more of my scales rose over the skin, bleeding a tad as they went though layers and I felt the movement causing a very deep discomfort at the stuckness between a bone and scale layer. 

My wet back was all exposed scales , black and slightly iridescent in the dim light now and she finds where the slit would be, the sensation causes me to let out a pained/moan roar as my scales we're damaged and cracking by my own bone. Blood gushes out hot. I dig into a raised bed's wooden frame cracking it loudly.

*Nosey Nurses with ears to tent hear raspy groaning ' Yesss Juilet Yesss.. good girl..'* 

It took EVERYTHING not to pull her by the hair and force those lips somewhere much more throbbing and in NEED but if I got release the pressure would not ebb where it needs to be. 

I black out slightly when it breaks the surface exposed but not fully out but the air touching it was hideous painful..
I fight the black out FINLEY realizing how idioc this desire to have two wings was and where the IDEA came from..

'Bash':

I laugh CRAZILY in pain too happy to be FREE FREE finely after so long. I willllll merry MERI NOT BOREN!!!!!

 I nearly roll over and touch the horrible bloody thing but stop myself instead
 fall off the planter I was leaning over I was leaning over to my knees holding myself soiled pants and all. I didn't care about the pain I can FEEL now not just a numb observation of Boren using my body. The hurt was just such deep validation I was me and I loooved it.

I giggle till it comes out short screams.

*nurses AFRAID Juillet is DEAD and lean in closer STRAINING to hear sound of life*

Juliet:

His back was beautiful! But I didn't have a moment to spare to appreciate it.

Blood gushes onto my tongue, nose, and face and I end up swallowing it and gasping it in to breathe through my mouth.

I feel my face heat up and my ears flap wildly at the praise. I can't stop now! Not for a second!

Suddenly I get whacked painfully in the face and fall back onto my arms roughly.

I wince at the hurt I feel on my face and find it even harder to breathe with now my own bloody nose ad not just his covering it. I gaze up bloody-faced at the strange wing, wincing at the taste of my blood dripping down my throat.

My eyes are soon drawn to Bash himself. He was so happy and giddy. Like EXTREMELY so. And I did that. I made that happen.

I grin, but feel a weird crunch and look down frowning feeling weird hard things in my mouth. I take them out and realize they were some of my teeth...

I gaze at them, moving them around with my thumb, as if I... Needed to be sure...

Then hesitantly move my tongue around and wince at the missing holes...

I tug up my dress to move it over my bloody nose and lick the cloth, wetting it to try to help with all this blood mess over me.

I feel a wave of light-headedness and sway a little dizzily. I blink and smile at him disoriented. Not wanting to say anything to disturb his euphoria.

*NOT LISTENING AT THE FLOWER TENT OF HORROR*



Ettie:

I listen to Zeek about shading.

"Ohhhh.."

I don't do that enough, I forget. It would make my drawings look more dimensional if I did.

I decide to try it as I glance back shyly at Beolan in his mushroom hat. A little 'eat me' sign was stuck on him. 

I try shading with the crayons.

(Gregorian): "Whereeee is my little muse... there you are let me see it..?"

He looks at the sketches I did with great intensity like they had meaning

I don't even notice him and stare at Beolan....to get the colors right.. yes. 

*slow gulp*

(Gregory): "Dad look at my mushroom man..." He tries to show him his art too.

I hear a sound and look back at the troop plus some of the men listening by the flower tent.

(Gregorian): "You need to get dressed Ettie..dont even think about joining...that.....your innocent little ..Alice..." He reminds me with a head pat before rushing off to the tent.

"O..ok.."

I get up quickly and look for a CLOCK for the time I was LATE to water the plants too, so late

'Bash':

I fight my legs feeling like noodles and so very awkward to raise up and stumble over more raised beds and flower pots.

I felt so wet so bloody.  I fall down onto the quiet figure and touch her all over trying to get sensation back in my hands. Nope they felt numb. Couldn't feel anything to much pain back there..

"Juiletttt you saved me agaaaaain.. " I could just KISSS her for giving me my body back but..

I have a FAMILY, WE"RE GOING TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN. 

I bite her a bit more sensually then I should but I was all tingly and scales very hard agonist her little dress - *Tries to get healing vemon to come out but its the DRUGGY venom so she can have her own euphoria trip out feel good pain relief**

Gregorian and the girls see her covered up by my body and BLOOD everywhere and of course assume shes been ripped apart died by the freakish alien D.

(Gregorian): "Your highness that material is NOT WASHABLE!! NOO!"

The girls cry for their friend he cries for the sparkly tight blue fabric now covered in INK stain.

"You can have it back!" I take off the pants and give it to him. Then walk out in only my boxers straight to the koi pond jumping in and searching for shinnies in the fish mouths. 

"5 goldeeen ringsssss!"

It was June but all I can hear are Christmas chorals in my head. And think of SNOW. 

 The water was so refreshing and cool on my new wing it quickly scales up like the rest of me and I practically purr in relief touching the stones at the bottom trying to grab the koi when they pass me. 

One has the ring in its mouth. yes.. indeed.

Juliet:

"Any- anytime, l-love." I stutter dazed. It was very stressful, but to see him so happy... Made it all worth it...

He felt so good against me and then his vampire-like bite with all the shinies felt even better.

And then it REALLY gets better.

He leaves and I lay back down in the blood just staring at the tent ceiling as it moves and sparkles.

"Woah."

I feel weird sensations all over me. My head feels funny and I taste new fresh blood (regrowing teeth) in my mouth, but it just causes me to gasp and turn my head unseeing, as it adds to the myriad of sensations coursing though me.

I suddenly also feel an intense absence when the feel of his being gone from me, the loss of his hard body, shifts into sharp focus.

I make whined noises and slowly force myself to roll over, my head swimming with the feeling of such a simple motion. I reach out whining towards the tent entrance for him, where the others were.

Gregorian:

The King was really MAD.  How could he disrespect my costume, I worked weeks on his groom outfit.. WELL I have back ups too. But still did he have to do..whatever vile freakish acts he did in my outfit! 

I pout just glad it wasnt BURNT UP.

"Well Juillet I guess you get a costume upgradeeee!" I sing out trying to be POSSSTIVE. 

Maybe we'll get a Queen fight to the death or something.. maybe the King wants to feed his pregenet wife a MANTIS. Like reverse uno. ... 

They are probably full of proteins since they eat one another.

The girls flock around her.

(Lasha): "Your alive.. Oh my Dane.."

(Leithe): "Uh well it looked like it hurt alot but you see happy and... healing.."

(Fretta): "Do you have energy powers too or shark teeth down there??"

She pokes Juillet with a stick NOT getting so close as the other girls hug her. 

I back away too worried about GERMS a little ..whatever BOREN was it was disgusting and gross and made nasty hybrids so I fear any fluids that come out of the King now that I KNOW.

I realize I am holding the pants full of ink and GAG. 

The girls want DETAILS.

 I JUST WANT EVERYONE DRESSED IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK.

Juliet:

I get distracted from my wanting of Bash's body against me again when I get crowded by the girls instead.

I jolt at the sensation of the stick poke but don't even realize where that feeling came from, as my vision feels like a kaleidoscope of multiple twins circling around above me.

I turn my head grinning with my broken missing teeth regrowing when I'm asked questions by Fretta.

"Nooooo Silly."

I reach out to pet one of the girls, but only get air as I reach for a moving fake one.

"I made his wing come out! I did! All by myself!" I say proudly.

I lower my chin and grin deviously.

"It took..." I wave my hand. "A lotta lotta lottaa tongue."

Giggles and grins.

Loudly whispers. "On his wing slit!"

Leithe: (wolf)

I smell so much going on here. The tent reeked of blood, it had a sweet sort of pheromone like scent to it.  I bite back the urge to lick up blood but I was so hungry and it smelt so good not like a prey. Like medicine... 

Fretta asks if she has new freakish mutant powers now, like Meri got. She doesn't but her teeth we're growing back that looked like a power. Maybe it takes time...

(Lasha): "Juillet.... he is getting married...today.... oh my Dane..whatif the BRIDE finds out.. she'll eat youuu." She panics at all the gore and eyes the CLEAN power tools VERY confused how they played into this.

We heard some shit.

All that will they / wont they ...he must have wanted HER so bad he waited till the last possible moment of freedom before being forever tied down by Meri. That was so romantic and SAD.

Maybe its not 'cheating 'if its a wing slit...yeah.. yeah. Its just borderline loophole way. So smart our King.

"Wow you like..made him a real Starker... with two wings...."

I finely react to her story in awe. Juliet was amazing yet again. Her passion and loyalty was inspiring.
It gave you hope to believe again and it was VERY Hot...

(Fretta): "How did it feel to lick a god?" She asks quickly as if we could be swept in in flame just talking about it.

Juliet:

I listen to Lasha but can't find myself to concerned. I felt too good right now.

Besides... The books... All of Sorin's wives...

"Now he gets to look nice on his wedding... And maybe I get to be the second wife. Sorin had so many..."

So I can't even feel jealous either... If she makes him happy...

I grin at Leithe, or at least one of the Leithes I was seeing.

"Wild... Like... Like sizzling energy... Like... poprocks..."

Brused face starts to heal shiny.

Gregorian:

I raise an eyebrow at the news of what ...he.. tastes like.

Our scales were quite 'special' for many properties but his must be sucking in that energy in all sorts of ways. 

(Leithe): "Really?" She squints and licks at the blood on the ground to try.
Lasha was starving and joins in.

Fretta crosses her arms waiting for them all to mutate.


(Fretta): "Your looking a little...shiny there...glowing?"

I get stressed and my eyes slit as I CLAP CLAP.

"Ok ladies, chop chip. DAMANGE control before the Queen takes off someone's head... Juillet you need a new dress and I think we're changing the theme considering your new.... favoritism with our ..King.."

I try to help her up with a hankie in my grip.

"Come come your going to be our White Queen...so fair.. counter balancing the dark red Queen..some duality metaphor of the King's ...new personality twitch after his trauma.."

Its like dealing with TWO people sometimes I swear...

I dont let her get to close or link arms as I would before.

STILL afraid of Overlord germs and unknown flame that comes from such gods.

Juliet:

Dizzily looks to Fretta and smiles. "You're glowing!" (Isn't really just Juliet high.)

I stumble up..

"Oooh woah." Looks around swaying. "Look at all that," I say to the mess that looked doubled cross-eyed to me.

"Lick, lick, lick." I sway my head side to side and let Gregorian lead me away.

"White Queen?... Oh yay." I responded awed and out of it. "I'm gonna be the White Queen."

I nod my head looking at him genuinely teary eyed. I would put a hand on his shoulder but I can't seem to reach.

"Thank you, Gregorian. You're the best."

Fretta:

I get paranoid at Juliet's words. I am??

It was hard to tell under all this... 'make up' *shutters at the makeover*

I did not even touch the infected blood, it must be airborne....

I look at the twins wolves worried they consumed it ..how much worst till they mutated and Juillet had Overlord allover.

I run away to find Ettie and make sure THE VESSEL is not infected and ravished by that horrible monster.  

Unfortunately she was in the changing area where Gregorian and Juillet were headed so to avoid a odd look from him I slow down and act like I am tagging along. 'Fan girling' Juillet. 

She was a new City Hero anyway after saving the King...

(Gregorian): "Don't mention it, really..." He said dryly and nervously looking around before helping her to  chair and whispering to a seamstress instructions to measure and cut a new dress to certain specifications.

They seemed overworked on 'ALice' already and start to dispense away from her. I check myself in a mirror.

I shutter again at all the makeup and 'beautification' that was done.

I was NOT glowing. Juile's a liar. I go to Ettie then and almost hug her when a green clawed hand stops me.

(Turtle Seamstress): "Don't smudge her makeup!" She scolds and waddles with a bucket of water towards Juillet.

"Ettie, you don't even have ONE badge why are you, Alice??"I try to get her to see reason they are going to sacrifice her or something or EAT HER.

(Ettie): "I ..I...wish it was a masked party.."."She replied blankly not liking the attention, trying to double tie the blue bow on her waist.  "

Juliet:

"Ooo.." I respond when a bucket of water is brought over.

Shivers thinking of Sebastian's wet back.

...The feel of it.

Zones out thinking about how beautiful iridecent it was.

Beolan:

Desmond's outfit, what a gas.

"Can he get a jacket??"

I try to tell one of the masked purple roses but it slaps me away to carry on stocking the table.

Grand.

Some guests take little mushrooms on sticks near by next to me's 'Eat me Sign'.

Whatever literature this was from was lost on me.

I get up alarmed smacking into the table, knocking over sample cups and try to move around looking for whatever sign of danger it was coming form.

One would think, I wouldn't PANIC every time I felt/sensed something but..I still do.
I stumble up loosing a few cloggs of soil on my hat when I see the Red Queen arrive. I speed past a 

"Meri!" I follow her, bumping passed the folks in card costumes 'round aboot.

I was relived to see her ok, aye 'ell outside the discomfort. I nearly thought she was going into labor at how bad that was 'ack there. I eye her massive stomach with affection.

"Can I get you anything???"

Prince Teagin:

I GASP at the pure white QUEEN coming into the great hall.

WHO WAS THAT?

It almost looked like she was the bride but she cant be Meridith! 

Me and a couple of the lads try to act all 'nonchalant' to walk her way.

I can't even pick up a scent in all this vervain everywhere.

But I thought no one NEW was coming in after the last batch of trouble.. 

"Ello good lady, sayhence who are you?" 

Is that the Valerian Queen all those blokes seem invested in?

Juliet:

I can't stop smiling! Today is wonderful and it's going to keep being wonderful! The fairytale dream is becoming a reality. I just know it. Just look at this fairytale world we're living in. There's even a sentient mushroom man!

Cole follows Teagin and the guys.

I look over when I hear the voice of one of the people walking asks a question.

"Oh, I'm the White Queen." I wink, then straighten.

I look over his wreath bird nest hat and try to think who he must be.

"Are you... Grandmother willow?"

I notice a treeman in a suit.

Maybe that's grandmother willow... Or at least one of her men.

Meredith:

I am escorted to the main area by cards.

I did not bother trying to UNDERSTAND.

*Keeps picking away at the flower decor until Beolan approaches offering his services in that most musical sounding voice of his.*

It was a rare occasion indeed when we got to see each other. Especially alone.

I pick off one of his mushrooms and suck.

"Afraid not."

I look away bitterly before politely smiling back at him to save face.

I missed him... a lot, but could not say it out loud for fear it would start something regrettable.

"You seem well. How is Desmond?"

I ask despite already knowning.

Beolan:

Meri gives me mixed messages as always with her answer yet plucks a mushroom anyway.

"Is that right now.."

She then asks me of pretty boy before I can say more about whatever just happened. Assuming she is thinking he be the one who just got wrecked.

So it was Boren....

"They dressed him mighty prety' for you...see there.." I gesture with a wing nearly grazing her with as a TEASE - to point him out. He was so bright and white I'm sure she saw him the first thing in the damnable room.

 The cards take that as a que to lead her onward to Desmond's display in ALL its glory.

"Ant that the sight."

I see the soldiers distracted by a new face in the room and try to dart though the crowd to find where the weaken Boren is to END this MADNESS.

Meredith:

Beolan uses one of his lovely wings to point out Desmond to me.

I try to remain focused, but after last time, it was rather hard.

Desmond was.. stunning. They all were.

Everything was so very beautiful.. Perfect really. All wrapped together in a neat little boe.

I cringe suppressing my own inner turmoil at this "blessed" event before being led over to Desmond next.

I regain composure.

"A cat dressed as a rabbit? Though I must say you do look good in white."

I smile at him.

Desmond:


I gaze out my display wondering if I should be thankful for the dim light exhibit protecting me from the hot lights or annoyed because I already had to feel everyone else's highs and lows, especially with Mer about to pop. And that last feeling? Was it the contractions or pre-marital mating? Was this going to be a damn endless cycle of babies? How can Mer stand it?

...Yeah, I was leaning to annoyed at the unfairness.

Just a thing for everyone to gawk at.

My eyes shift over to Mer as she's brought over. And what's the first thing she says?... Oh right, my appearance. Of course.

"Yes..." I glance away and move my white jacket to fan myself with it. "White really compliments the hair, doesn't it?"

I look back at her.

"And you. You look like a primo Queen ready to make a whole dynasty for the Establishment... Felt ready too, earlier..."

I gesture to her after that last bit of resentment, with a more upbeat attempt on her special day.

"But look at you still standing and going with the flow. Just powering on with all that energy. Embracing the YOLO."

I glance to her belly then back at her.

"Think we're gonna grok the vibes of the little tikes once they're out or are they safe from the bond?" I ask.

It's been something on my mind, and how could it not be?

The pregnancy hunger was something already, will it get better afterward or just get worse with newborns and all their needs? Or maybe their emotions initially will be a boon. Maybe their innocence and joy of discovering the world will bring some good... Or maybe they're already corrupted, or are going to be from us in the bond.

Meredith:

I feel Desmond's emotions, as he does mine.

I wish I could be honest with him. With all of them truly, but there was a certain element to the connection between myself and my soon to be husband which kept my tongue in check.

Desmond plays along with my small talk. It was horrible that our interactions had been diminished to this.

I was just playing along with this horrible situation like the rest of them, because if I thought too deeply about this whole thing I would truly break. Perhaps even stay that way.

But really, would that be so bad? What am I holding out for anyways?

I subconsciously glide my hands over my stomach in thought before tuning back into our conversation.

About my appearance.

"Sure seems that way doesn't it."

I swallow hard.

He thinks so little of me to be fooled as the rest of them. How can I possibly convey to him what was really going on.

Hasn't he heard the rumours? They were out there somehow yet still, no one was listening.

I glance away thinking about Cary.

He was the one to disappoint me most in all this. He should know. He should KNOW this isn't all Bash.

I frown at Desmond's next observation disturbed.

"I'm afraid their minds are already connected."

I loved them so, so much, but they shouldn't be exposed to this.

They shouldn't be exposed to us..

"Can you not feel them?"

I asked, wondering if the connection only extended to the parents.

Desmond:

I lean against the wall and shrug as I fiddle with the pocket watch chain.

That answer didn't sound promising. Nor did what seemed to be her emotions. It gives me pause.

I had figured she could raise hell if she didn't like this wedding theme and everyone would acquiesce to her for the sake of not stressing her out for the children's health. And this was her wedding after all. Though maybe her soon-to-be husband didn't care about her wants.

"Could start flinging curses? Go ham and blame the hormones or pre-wedding jitters?" I say with a wink, and a smirk, thinking of her at the party last year with Jem... It felt like a lifetime ago now.. And just one person set her off then. Clearly, if all this bothered her it would be worse right?.. Or is to protect the kid's health or is the pregnancy weighing her down?... Didn't seem to exhaust her too much given the earlier feeling.

I lose the smirk at her answer. Yesh... Poor kids.

I tilt my head at her question.

"I don't know, Mer."

I straighten and look around the place.

"I don't know for sure what's coming from where or what they all are all the time."

I stop gazing around and look at her stomach.

"I could be and I just don't know it."

I look back up to her.

"What do they feel like to you now? At this moment?"

Meredith:

I smile at him in amusement.

"Don't tempt me."

I tease right back but somehow, something had changed over the course of all this.

My confidence was lacking and overall depression crippled me to the point of indecision at the best of times.

I knew something was wrong and could do nothing about it.

I don't think there was ever a worse feeling to be had.

"Their minds are quite simple Desmond, I understand completely if you need to tune into them  more amongst the chaos."

I smile and tilt my head looking down at my waste for a moment.

"They are full and.. I believe one of them is anxious. Kicking me right here."

I gesture to the general area.

"I am so sorry by the way that you were pulled into this madness."

I look up at him sadly.

"This connection.. it's a bit impossible at the best of times isn't it?"

Prince Teagin:

Whoever the beauty was.... she wasn't giving her real identity, very emersed in the 'storyline' of this fairy tale wedding.

She asks if I'm grandmother willow. I think she was shooting me down there calling me a girl. Not just any girl a old hag.

*pouts*

"I think I'm just a generic woodland creature...right lads? Are you anyone specific?" I look to Cole.

I think we're just 'poused to be fancy...no? Yes?"

I look back at her, she must be important to be a character. 

Someone to fight the red quee? Drama and a showdown too??

Desmond:

I kinda did want to. Just to feel it from her. But I don't for the sake of her and her kid's health.

I watch her and her tummy as she explains and gestures.

"Already anxious, huh?... Maybe they aren't so simple-minded then if they got stuff to be anxious about..."

I look down at my fiddling with the pocket chain.

"Or are just feeling... Others feelings."

And ain't that a thought to consider?

I move from fiddling with the chain to my bracelet in deep thought.

With her kids in the link... I wonder if Mer has been stuing over the whole her kids and everyone feeling all the births or if she's been avoiding it or hasn't even thought of it.

I don't want to stress her into labor though.

I hear her apologize and bring up the connection again. Maybe this is one way to slip the thought in.

I look back up to her.

"Well... It'll certainly be something once the kids get the show on the road. Though I guess it'll be a lesson to all of us never to do the deed ever. And I can think of the pain each time someone brushes a wing... Have you decided how are you going go down that road? C-section? All-natural? Dopped to hell? Where's Russia with the good stuff, am I right?"

I look off to the side as if waiting for her to come in through the doors, while another thought nags at me.

If it goes from parent to child, then Blythe must be in the connection too right?

I wonder if my lack of trying to think about it 24/7 so it doesn't consume all of my conscious mind beyond how much it gets already is why I didn't notice. Or it's because I'm not a Soulfire person like these people.

Or maybe she isn't in the link...

Maybe it degrades over time?.. Or there's a cure in the lab?

Or... Maybe I'm just obliviously ignorant and stupid...

I look back to Mer.

"Speaking of motherhood, is Blythe in the link?"

(Cole): "Yeah, no. Just looking fancy." Cole says in agreement. Having not been told about a character when he was dressed.

(Juliet): "Oh, I see. Well, you're all fancy, indeed. How wonderful."

Meredith:

"I suppose not."

I respond to Desmond's observation regarding the young infants being simple.

I smile wondering if the feelings were that of empathy or of their own nature.

Desmond wonders the same.

"Good question."

I pause.

Desmond then makes a funny observation regarding sex and asks about my plans for labour. A subject I'm sure that has been weighing heavily on everyone's minds.

"I would prefer a natural birth."

I could care less however if I was drugged up or on venom at that point.

Desmond then asks about Blythe being in the link and I pause.

"I don't think.. so?"

I respond now understanding what this could mean for the babies.

Desmond:

The 'joys' of natural birth... Fun...

"Might be worth asking her about..."

Both for our own sakes but also so Mer doesn't suddenly think they died or something if they suddenly fade from the link.

Meredith:

"Yes, I'll add it to the list."

The next time I work up the courage to be in the same room as her.

That skinning was.. terrible.

I notice a male hidden away in a nearby rose bush but say nothing.

Some of these decorations were.. rather strange.