Aberrant: Children of Quantum Fire - In the Light of Day

[z023]

Sakura started at the knock, having dozed off despite her worries. She stood and reformed her clothes into a looser-fitting purple dress with a v-neck that still managed to define her bust and hips. The rich, deep purple also set off her eyes and lips and highlighted the deeper pinks of her cherry blossoms. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and padded to the door, still barefoot. She opened it cautiously, unsure of who to expect, but gave Darrik a shy smile once she recognized him.

"Darrik. It's nice to see you. I'm sorry for interrupting everyone's breakfast this morning..." She paused for a second, then remembered her manners, "Please, come in."

The apartment was large, with while carpeting and sparse furniture in shades of tan and brown; it was undecorated, though, and obviously intended for a longer stay than just a few days or a week. Several plush couches and chairs created a comfortable visiting area in the center of the greatroom, though, and she motioned him over. "I..um, is there something I can help you with?"

She stole surriptitious glances at him, still coming to terms with the sheer beauty the man (and many others of the King's guests) possessed. She was rather unused to being less than the most beautiful person wherever she was, which was both a relief and a distraction that made her cheeks flush with attraction.

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik shook his head, himself casting one or two secret looks at Sakura's sweet figure as he came to lounge. "I thought I could help you. It's unfortunate what happened at breakfast, but it's not all your fault. You're not the only one whom others readily desire to have, Sakura." He was a little more self-contemplative as he explained. "Since puberty, I've had an uncontrolled manner of exciting the desires of others... and since Apotheosis... it's gotten worse. Men and women both, I scarcely think simply going out into public with baselines unprepared is comfortable anymore. Even fellow novas are largely susceptible."

His mind went back to the blow-out he had made of Orzaiz's party, informing his expression with a quiet concern. "I don't have much advice to give, but you aren't alone, I can say that much."

[z023]

"Apotheosis?" She asked quizzically, obviously unfamiliar with the term. "And thank you," she said before he could answer, looking down at her hands as she fiddled with them uncomfortably. She didn't seem uncomfortable with him, just with the subject of the conversation.

"I don't know how to explain it to people, no well enough." She blushed deeper, "And most of them aren't really listening anymore when I try. I don't want to cause problems, but....I don't want to be alone. I don't want my children to have to be alone, just because of me." Her expression crumbled, her eyes shining with unshed tears and she whispered, "And I don't want to have to give them up, but..."

But what if I can't keep them safe? What if just being around me puts them in danger because people go crazy around me? What if I'm just a bad mother? Mom was a great mom, but Mother...well, she was never around and then gave me away as soon as she finally did show up. What if that's part of me? In my mind or in my soul?

She pulled in on herelf, her knees pulled up to her chest. She was trying to be good host, like her Mom had taught her, but between all the hormones of pregnancy running through her and the stress of the day, she was simply at her limit.

[Toby Lupin]

"You're pregnant?" Darrik asked in surprise, before flashing a sympathetic and knowing grin. "I see. Again, something we have in common, impending parenthood and the worries thereof. I've got a lover- two- and Gwen's at our hideaway for a while now since I learned she was carrying my twins. I'm worried about the prospects, of being able to give them the attention, care and appropriate bringing up that I should. But I intend to try, and that is what counts here, doesn't it?"

[z023]

"She is safe? Gwen?" Sakura seemed worried, though given her own condition and her flight to the Congo from those that had been hunting her, that was hardly surprising. Not that Darrik necessarily knew any of that. At his nod and (breathtakingly beautiful) smile, Sakura relaxed a little. She refrained from commenting on Darrik's apparent young age, knowing from her own powers that he could be as old as any living person was when novas began showing up in this world. "I'm carrying triplets, which is more tiring than I thought it would be." She gave him a wan small, but still contented for the moment. "Next time, perhaps only one child at a time."

"I think," she said slowly after a moment, "that parents that truly want to be parents, that love and care for their children, then they're good parents." I hope. "Even if they make mistakes, right?"

Up close, Darrik could tell that Sakura was a bit older than he and his siblings; her sweet demeanor and vulnerability had made her seem younger when they'd first met. She looked thoughtful now, lost somewhere in her own mind before she shook her head and put whatever it was away for later. "You said something before, something about apotheosis? I know the denotation of the word, but it seemed like you were using it differently. What did you mean?"

Conversation, and a good deal of willpower, kept her from simply staring at the stunning youth; she silently prayed to whatever gods existed that she wouldn't make a complete fool of herself.

[Eingar]

Ein nodded amiably in response to Kamiko, absorbing what she said as well as the manner in which she said it. By the time they'd finished breakfast, he'd reached some decisions.

"Well, Miss Hideyoshi, you're most welcome to stay in the Congo." he told her as he pushed his empty plate to one side. "If you are a guest in the country, then naturally we won't be officially calling on your services." He winked at that. "That said, your extended offer of assistance is very public-spirited of you, something appreciated in these parts." He smiled at her, standing. "My aide in the outer office there can put you in touch with the right places for any paperwork you require. The Japanese embassy, I am sure, would be happy to assist you also. As to the Den of the Dragon..." he paused, considering. "You can communicate to them, officially, that the Congo and her King fully support the goals and work of Hanaryuko and, indeed, we vigorously favor creating places of safety where novas who want to exercise their basic living right to procreate can do so free of fear. I look forward to meeting more with you, and any other representatives they send, with an eye to setting up shop here. That, young lady, is a Royal invitation to Hanaryuko." He smiled again, escorting Kamiko to the door. "You yourself are always welcome to come and speak with me. I'll instruct my aide to put you on the priority list, which means unless there's a war, you should be able to see me within a couple of hours of calling for an appointment." As they stepped into the outer office, the uniformed men sitting at a couple of desks stood and saluted, and the civilian women bowed.

"Pierre? Have Miss Hideyoshi placed on my priority list, and contact the diplomatic office and have them notify the Japanese embassy that she has 'royal guest' status in the Congo." In an aside to Kamiko, Ein murmured. "It sounds more impressive than it is, but it's an effective door-opener if you want to go places and talk to people here." As the aides scrambled to make a few calls, Ein faced the Japanese teen fully. "Now you're technically a minor, but I doubt you'd be here without your parents permission. Knowing Long, I'm sure I'd have heard about it in the last ten minutes if you were." He grinned teasingly. "So for now, at least until you find your footing, you'll be a guest at the palace." He looked at one of the women. "Give the young lady a suite in the diplomatic wing."

"Yes, sire." she bowed, and picked up a phone, speaking French to whoever was on the other end. Ein looked back at Kamiko.

"There's currently some other guests neighbouring your suite - other young novas who come and go. You share a garden with them, so I'm certain you'll bump into one another. You can roam the palace more or less at will, but some places will be guarded and off limits. If you're asked to leave an area, please do so, obviously. The guards will be polite but firm. The rest of Kinshasa and the Congo is yours for the roaming. Any questions?"

"No sir. Sire." Kamiko squeaked a little at the end of her words. She was getting to stay in the palace? In the diplomatic wing? A royal guest?

"Well, if you have any, simply pick up the phone in your apartment. The housekeeping staff here outnumber the bureaucrats." Einherjar said with a laugh.

"Sire, the watch officer has something to speak with you about." a young officer with Lieutenant's pips bowed as he spoke, raising one hand to his earpiece. "It regards your newest guest... uh, apart from Miss Hideyoshi that is." Einherjar's face darkened a little, but he smiled at Kamiko.

"I'll leave you to get settled. Joilie will take care of you, I'm sure." he told her, motioning towards an older woman who smiled and bowed.

"It would be an honor, Hideyoshi-sama." she said in decent Japanese.

"Until later, then." Einherjar shook Kamiko's hand, then strode for the door. As he left the room it seemed to Kamiko that everyone, herself included, took a deep breath and sighed, already missing the Einherjar-shaped hole in the universe. His presence got you coming and going, it seemed.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"I see." Ein told the watch officer over the secure radio channel. He warred with himself, partly wanting to storm down there and chase away the competition, whilst sternly reminding himself that this wasn't a competition, and Sakura wasn't a trophy to be fought for and won. On the other hand, Darrik had an already-growing reputation, if his sources at Raoul's party and the Rainbow Room were any indication. A regular ladykiller. Ein wasn't going to cast stones - his own reputation was far from untarnished, but at the same time he recognised that if he felt like owning Sakura, another might feel similarly. And not be as chivalrous about it.

"Keep me informed." he told the man on the other end of the line. "If it seems like matters are out of hand, I'll intervene directly."

Now I have to go and discuss trade quotas with the Americans, Japanese and Canadians he grumped, heading towards his next appointment. Ordinarily, he had ministers to handle such sensitive matters, but these three countries were amongst the Congo's best allies on the world stage, so they got the royal treatment. At least the meetings were convivial, a working lunch in the east wing, where the business was interspersed with banter and personal chit-chat. Much better than having to glare across a conference table at the bloody Chinese and resist the urge to throw them bodily out of the country when they started getting all 'Middle Kingdom' complex. Though something vicious in Ein's soul liked battering the collective ego of the 'Peoples Republic' by reminding them that no, he didn't like or respect them and no, he didn't have to play ball with them at all, so they could toe the line or buy their rare minerals elsewhere.

If he was feeling particularly hardball, he'd throw in some offhand comments about going drinking with the Taiwanese ambassador later.

[Bombshell]

As Danica skipped exuberantly into the garden, her practice sword darting at imaginary enemies - not the flowers, Jason had stopped that quickly - Jason idly trailed her with an graceful saunter, the mere swing of her enticing hips having garnered her proposals from kings and queens, CEOs and heads-of-states. As the distance increased, Morri and Sakura's voices grew indistinct, then even tone was difficult to make, until to her ears, they were a bare whisper in the wind. She smiled wistfully as the Fountain of the Land Titans came into view, reminiscing on her very first visit to the Congo and the ornery hippopotamus she had encountered.

Danica hopped onto the coping and began dancing around the fountain and flitting through the streams of water spewing from Elephant trunks, hippo maws, and rhino horns. For such a young and bright-eyed girl, Danica showed impressive poise, the weighted practice blade steady in her small hand, brows furrowed in concentration even as she giggled, trying to hit the peddles Jason made skip around the fountain's basin with impossibly deft flicks of her wrist.

"Ease up, Dani. You're holding the saber too tight, and your shoulders are too tense. Loose and fluid, like the water, Dani," Jason encouraged her daughter.

"When I'm older, I'm gonna dance on the water," Danica boasted, though she listened and followered her mother's advice and direction as best she could. Her tongue poked from the corner of her mouth as she missed a peddle by a hair, its skip spritzing water in her face. "I'm gonna be a waterdancer, just like that girl in that book you read me."

Jason chuckled warmly, a sweet and rich symphony from one throat. "One day, you may well be a waterdancer, Dani." Jason's voice grew much softer, achingly beautiful in its tenderness. "I hope I've given you the chance to be whatever you want to be, sweetness."

"Jason, do you have some time to talk?"

"Of course I do, Morri," Jason assured her warmly. Over the years, she had tried to be a friend to Morri, tried to engage her in conversation and other interests, though she had for the most part been rather reserved. Perhaps she could have put a little more of her over abundant charm into the effort, but she wanted Morri to make the decision herself and so had been content to wait.

It didn't appear she had to wait any longer, though she wished Morri didn't look so stressed, the skin pulled tight at the corner of her dimly glowing red eyes. She noted those luminous, crimson orbs dart diffidently to Danica and back to her, realizing what she wanted to discuss wasn't for children's eyes. Jason nodded, holding up a finger.

"Just a moment, Morri. Dani," Jason called out. Dani paused and with a deft twist of her hand, Jason tossed a pebble, which landed perfectly in Danica's empty hand. "Morri wants a private word with me, 'kay, honey? We'll just be over there," Jason said, gesturing at a bench by one of the paths, that was just visible before the path curved. "I want you to see how many times you can bounce the pebble in the air with the tip of you saber, without lettin' it hit the ground. You got thirteen last time, let's see you do better this time."

Jason graciously waved Morri forward, walking beside her to the bench, then taking a seat, crossing her legs, her expression calm and expectant. Morri could tell Jason would listen without expecting anything from her and would do her best to help her with what was ailing her. "Is this alright, Morri? Dani can't hear, but I can't say the same for other ears in the gardens and palace. If you wish, we could go to one of my homes, though I'll have to take Danica with us."

[Toby Lupin]

"Something Uncle Shen coined." Darrik stated, causing Sakura to react in surprise. Darrik noted her expression with an amused look. "You know him then. Perhaps you might explain after I fully answer your question. Apotheosis is the biggest reason motherhunters exist, I believe. Second generations like myself are born nova. But it seems at maturity, under the appropriate conditions, a sort of 'eruption' occurs just like for baselines becoming first generation novas. The result is an exponential increase in power, as I can attest. Training has only heightened these abilities. Warren may have been mistaken in putting us at Pax's level, but we are certainly in the highest tiers. Boons and curses at once."

[z023]

She blinked, taking in the mention of a man she hadn't seen since was little, and answered, "Shen...he was the one my mother gave me to. He found me a family, years ago. He's your uncle?"

She also blushed deeply at his description of this 'Apotheosis', hearing the capital this time. "So that's what happened with Willem...I...I never really understood. I just...things changed, I was different and I could do all these other things than I had been able to before. I could...change people, make them fertile, at least for a time, or just make them pregnant. I could cure them of diseases or disfigurations. All...all sorts of things, all at once. I thought I was going crazy at first. It was so much. I broke a friend's arm, just trying to give them a squeeze to reassure them. And everyone started staring and acting weird around me. I was pretty before, but nothing like most novas, and then I was prettier than most novas."

She shook her head again, trying to order her memories and stop babbling. "This Apotheosis, it happens to all children of novas? Even if they had a hu-baseline parent, too?"

[z-The Morrigan]

Morri’s lips moved slightly, and Jason felt her eyebrows rise as she realized that Morri was really struggling with something. The last time Jason had seen this level of effort in her friend was when Ein had been teaching her about silverware. The memory drew a rueful smile from the beautiful nova. Right now, she had a bad feeling that whatever was troubling Morri wasn’t going to be quite so easily resolved.

Morri sighed and leaned over, clasping her face in her hands. “I almost killed Tahir.” The confession was said to the nova’s knees, but Bombshell heard it. Hesitantly, she put a hand on Morri’s shoulder, only to pull it away when she felt the strong muscles of that shoulder bunch with tension. Sometimes, it was alright to touch Morri when she was upset. Sometimes, it wasn’t, and Jason had learned the tells long ago. Quietly, the woman waited for Morri to continue after her revelation. “He did something innocuous. It was harmless, but he triggered a flashback to my last… rape.”

The word was ground out like broken glass coming over her teeth. Jason stifled a shocked reaction. She’d always suspected that Morri’s hostility towards men related to this, but it had never been confirmed. Einherjar had always made it Morri’s business to talk or not about her history and Jason had never found the girl quick to open up. But the clues were clear, especially to Jason after her own issues.

“I can’t live like this anymore,” Morri continued. Her fingers were white as she gripped her knees, holding tight to something she couldn’t break. “I’m afraid all the time – of strange men, of Ein leaving or that I’m going to hurt someone just because they triggered a bad memory. I lash out at strangers and threaten them for reasons I don't understand. I almost kill my friends, and I have... hurt... Ein, more times than I care to remember. And I want children.” The longing in her voice was painful; the look in her eyes was as full of pain as she lifted her head to watch Danica. “I could have them, if I could tolerate any man other than Ein touching me. But I can’t. It makes me sick. And I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to be afraid. But I don’t know how to be any other way.” Red eyes met her indigo ones as Morri said, “I need some advice on how.”

[Maia]

Maia smiled, and indeed, the various owners of the shops they visited practically begged her to receive their wares as gifts, only taking payment because she insisted. They marveled in awe at the goddess in their midst, come down to be among them, dressing as they did, and with no outrageous expectations. Well perhaps only one. She wanted to simply be treated as another patron.

Shaman got a good sense of his elder sister's personality in her calm quiet refusal of a dozen marriage proposals, the way she agreed to bless children, when the one asking was so insistent, despite Maia's own denials of being capable of changing things one way or another. The parents of those children still smiled and asked all the same.

She gave freely of herself, and only when someone tried to touch her improperly did she draw back, and so did those around her. Twice she dealt with the tingle as the crowds pressed to tightly upon her and Shaman, grabbing him and taking to the sky, setting down in another part of the market, and the process repeating itself.

"That tingling sensation actually feels good, though I imagine it probably shouldn't, should it Shaman?"

His comment about it being nice made her smile. "It's not anything major, just a little shopping spree." She pointed to a store, in the window it had at least three different parrots visible. "There we go, I bet in there, we'll find all sorts of parrots for you." She began walking that way, and smiled back to Shaman. "Coming?"

When he caught up to her, she went inside, and smiled greatly at the fact they were alone with the shopkeeper. There were dozens of different birds present, and while the smell was strong she nodded. She went over to the shopkeeper, an older man, with a bright white smile, and knowing eyes. "My friend and I would like to look at your parrots, I know you're closing for lunch, but if possible we'd like to look quickly." Her eyes drifted lower, to her hand which a thousand dollars American peeked out beneath, and his eyes did as well."

"Yes, I can do that for you. You blessed my granddaughter today.." He folded the money into her hand, and went to flip the sign to "Closed" and close the blinds so others couldn't see within. It was obvious the young goddess was seeking to protect him from the near mob that had formed around her in the market, and looking for someplace quiet. He considered his good fortune at twice having the fate of his family cross her path in a single day, and resolved that she would want for nothing.

"Please look to your hearts content. All that I have is available to you, They are all handfed, raised by myself and my sons. No bird here has ever been taken from its home in the jungle, but nor have they always lived in these tiny selling cages." It was no salesman's line, Maia instinctively knew he was telling her the truth.

[Toby Lupin]

"I can't say." Darrik admitted. "As far as I know, all of my foster family had both novas as parents. Shen isn't a blood uncle, really. Everyone of us, from Maia and me to Alex and Butch, have been rescued by or otherwise given into the care of Shen when the motherhunters went at us. In my case, my father was killed on a mission, and my mother found out Proteus was involved. She had Shen come and take me in. That was about 2 years ago."

He stopped, still intentionally keeping his eyes above the neck- "And as for your pull, that's interesting. I've had mine since puberty- though when half a dozen male and a dozen female novas practically throw themselves at you, even removing some of their cloths- that is guaranteed to take me aback- just a few days ago. Good thing Orzaiz was such a gracious host, I could have caused quite some trouble."

[z023]

"Shen...kept you?" There was a subtle tone of hurt to her words, carefully hidden that only a perceptive nova would have picked up on. Sakura loved her parents, but she...just felt sometimes that novas didn't want to be around her unless they wanted her her help. Her mother had given her up twice, and Shen had found somewhere else for her to be a quickly (and safely, she conceded) as he could. Maybe he knew what kind of nova she would be, how she would affect others. Maybe he just didn't like her then; she knew she'd been pretty broken, physically, mentally, and emotionally when her mother had handed her off.

She didn't totally change the subject, but she did steer it away from Shen. "That's how it's been with me as well. People would admire me, the cute little girl or the very attractive teen, but they wouldn't...obsess...over me. Then again, I wasn't a walking pheromone factory that can't be turned off then, either." She gave her gorgeous guest at teasing grin, "And why so shy about bare skin? Clothes are pretty decorations, but hardly necessary unless you're outside in inclement weather. I've always found most of humanity's prudish shame about their own bodies sad and incomprehensible. People are beautiful, each in their own way, if not always to the public standards of wherever they are." She chuckled, in a better mood on a subject that amused her, "They just need to get over themselves."

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik laughed with quite amused tones. "Oh, I agree with you entirely." As he spoke, his eufiber rippled away, leaving him shirtless, displaying his heavenly- or infernally sinful- sculpted chest and abdomen. The pheromones of Sakura's arousal exponentially increased and she- barely able to keep herself from initiating anything- stared for long moments before laying a hand on Darrik's chest and chuckling. "It's hardly that impressive when society doesn't mind men going shirtless."

Darrik rolled up, and fixed her with the headlights of a seductive gaze. "Is that a challenge? You want me to remove the rest?" He asked in husky tones. The air was practically jam-packed with sexual tension and they knew it. And then Darrik leaned back- upper body still bare- and lounged back where he was. "What really is the source of concern, is the sheer extent of the power." For in a sense, that was what it was, if not completely wanted.

[z023]

Sakura closed her eyes took a moment to compose herself from his offer. And another. And one more just be absolutely certain she wasn't going to do something stupid and unwanted. Well, possibly unwanted on his end. Her eyes still closed to provide some measure of relief, she stated in a half-teasing, half quite serious tone, "You, Darrik, are very very dangerous man, I think." She tried to keep from smiling, but ended up laughing at herself anyways. "Especially to me. How old are you, even? You seem young, but that doesn't necessarily mean much. I could make myself an old crone or a teenager, if I wanted to."

She stroked a hand over her belly, which helped calm her more with motherly contentment, "Though I wouldn't do so at the moment."

"I wish I could help you. I'm working on...toning myself down as much as I can, but I haven't gotten much farther than keeping people from drooling or fainting so far." Her eyes were still closed, but her could see the micro-twitches in her hands as she kept herself from reaching out touch him again from sheer stubborn will.

[Adrian Moss]

Shaman felt out to the parrots around him, seeking the one with the most understanding, the most feminine, the most ... perfect set.

'Soon she will be raising young of her own. She and her mate will mesh will with the Blossom Maiden's aura.'

'And the feather will look nice in her hair.'

'That too.'

"These two," he says, pointing to one not so spectacularly specimen. "She's ready to nest, and soon. Hopefully they can each learn from each other. The male should make an interesting contrast, as he will spend his fair share of the time tending the nest."

"How much for this these? They are willing to seek a new home."

[Toby Lupin]

"We're all very dangerous." Darrik purred, though with a certain pride at her words. "And myself at eighteen, no less. To be honest, I hardly know if there is a way to fix that aura of my own. But as for your's.... I suspect it does affect me, though I certainly can be attracted by you certainly without it. Of course- I admit some part of me always gets a thrill from teasing others outrageously..." Again he rose, and moved forward so much that Sakura found herself fully backed against the couch, with Darrik's lips and body less than an inch from her own. "But you give me the biggest thrill yet of all the ladies I know, and I've known lots of women. Besides... it's not as if you touching me above the waist would be objectionable to me."

[Bombshell]

Jason took a deep breath, her loose blouse tightening against her extravagant curves, then exhaled slowly, her eyes never leaving Morri's, welling with sympathy. Though she had come to terms with her own horrors many years ago - what she had been forced to do, what had been done to her - and had moved on, still, the effects had lingered, traces of it even to this time. For Morri, the pain had festered, grown septic. A part of her condemned herself - she should have pressed a little more to have Morri open up to her... But at least, she was opening up now. Question was, would she open up enough?

"Oh, Morri... of course I'll help, as best I can. But I won't lie... It won't be easy and it'll take time." Jason leaned towards her, but refrained from placing a hand on her shoulder again. Her gaze turned to rest on her daughter, just watching her with fondness held back the memories of Lady Envy and what she had done to her. "Myself, I-" Luscious lips firming into a straight line, Jason glanced at Morri, still huddling with her hands around her knees, crimson eyes pleading. "Morri, have you revealed to any- someone what happened, all of it?"

Morri recoiled sharply, as if whipped, lips peeling back in a grimace. "What? No!"

Jason smile sadly. "I thought as not. Morri... that's the first step. It doesn't have to be to me, or here, or now, but it has to be to someone, somewhen. Ein and you have done a good job - an excellent job, even, considerin' - livin' with what was done to you Morri, but that's the problem now, I think. You've been living with it, instead of dealing with it. Like a wound that never healed. You're used to the pain, it's familiar, but now, that wound has grown infected. Think of talking as lancing the infection. It'll hurt - It will hurt - but then, the wound can begin to heal." Jason sighed wryly, a melodious exhalation. "There'll still be... scarring however, though how much, I can't say. It's different for everybody."

Morri looked far from accepting of the idea. Jason silently debated with herself, then nodded decisively. She was asking Morri to reveal the most traumatic event in her life, she could hardly do less. Very few knew the truth of that time in her life, and she preferred it that, but she would reveal it to Morri, if it would help her with her come to terms with her own trauma.

"If you're willing, I'd like to tell you a story." Jason flow gracefully to her feet, offering Morri a hand up - not for the physical support, but the emotional. Jason gave the surrounding gardens a significant glance. "But not here. Seems like too many have too sensitive ears, eh? But I know a place where it will just be us. Let me just make sure Dani is seen to, okay?"

Gliding back down the path, Jason pulled out her OpPhone, speaking to whoever was on the other side in a musical stream of Gaelic, then grinned at Danica ran towards her, all a flutter.

"Twenty-one, mom!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I bounced it twenty-one times around the fountain."

"That's a big improvement, Dani," Jason agreed warmly, kneeling down on a knee to bring herself closer to her daughter's eye level. "Morri and I have to talk some more, baby. So, I think, instead of dancing and sword lessons, it's time for history."

"Awww!"

"Not even if it's Black Irish teaching you?"

"Really? Yay! I like him! He's funny and he talks funny."

"I thought that might change your mind, honey." Jason glanced at Morri with a rueful grin. "Just give us a moment to gather our things, then we'll be on our way."

True to her word, Jason and Danica was back soon from their rooms in the Palace, each with a small pack on their shoulders, and Jason had even made the time to change out of her silken pajamas into a well-worn pair of jeans clinging her incredible legs and a snug, plum, v-neck shirt. Danica was holding one hand, and Jason offered the other to Morri. "Ready?"

Hesitantly, Morri reached out and took her slender hand, feeling the controlled strength in the feminine digits as Jason gave her a reassuring squeeze and attuned herself to Morri's quantum signature.. "And here we go."

Jason's telelocational ability felt like being immerse in a pool of warm water, a soothing caress. Suddenly, the three girls found the Palace Gardens replaced by rolling green foothills by a coastline, a rustic castle of dark-grey stone rearing ahead of them. A man of indeterminate age was striding towards them from the gatehouse. He was short, five-and-half feet tall, if that, but stocky and well muscled, dressed in jeans and an open flannel shirt. Most notably, save for his brilliant blue eyes and the flashing of his white teeth as he smiled, every inch of his flesh was solid, matte black.

He greeted the women with a deep bow, his thick Irish brogue charming and mischievous. He assured Jason he'd take good care of Danica, and as Danica jumped up and down, pleading with him to tell her a story, he scooped her up and set her on a broad shoulder and began to regale her with a fanciful tale of Irish heroes with the virtuosity of a master storyteller.

"Black Irish," Jason explained, kissing her fingers and waving good-bye to her daughter, who distractedly waved back. "He rebuilt Dunseverick castle himself. A very good man, he dotes on Dani and will protect her with his life." Jason cocked a brow. "One more jump."

Again, Jason reached out and took Morri's hand. This time, they appeared on a pictureque tropical island in the Pacific. This far East of the Congo, night had fallen, moonlight making the white-sand beach glow almost silver. It was silent save for the soft sound of the waves, and the salty smell of the ocean washed over them. Jason nodded towards the sleek, modern house sitting above the tide-line, designed to complement the lush surroundings.

"You want to sit down, or just continue walking while I tell you my own story of... my own story?"

[z023]

Eighteen? Yeesh, he's almost a decade younger than me.

Does that really matter to a nova? He's an adult, if just barely, a rebellious and absolutely libidinous part of her mind countered without remorse.

Hush, you.

I'm fine with not talking....

Her hands, in totally collusion with that other voice, we already running fingertips lightly over his chest and back, tracing out languorous and pleasurable patterns across the more sensitive nerve pathways. She was trying to behave, to hold herself in so that neither she nor Darrik did something they would regret later with distance and recovery from the effects of her pheromones.

He has lovers already, and one of the pregnant. He has a family...

Lovers. Plural. Obviously not your standard American apple-pie sex-with-only-one-person situation.

We don't know the whole story.

You're making excuses. He wants you, you want him. That's simple. Besides, how long has it been now? Much longer and you might as well be a spinster.

A month hardly makes me a spinster.

So bed the man. He's hot, he's into you, and you could really use the relaxation.

While her inner dialogue debated the merits of what she was doing, her control slipped even farther; her hands trailed over his shoulders and down his chest again, feeling the ripple of pleasure at her light touch. Her fingertips teased along the line of his pants, dipping underneath to trace around his hips and pull him closer to her. The air was heavy with her scent, sweet blossoms and something far more primal that touched every male instinct Darrik had; but she pulled back as far as she could, her head pressing into the couch, before he could kiss her. Her breath was heavy and her eyes lidded with overwhelming desire, but she managed to find a whisper of her voice. "Darrik, I-we...if we don't stop now, I don't know that we...that I'll be able to." She swallowed, forcing the words out between gulps of air as she exerted the last of her restraint, even though her body screamed at her to shut up and just let him, let them both, do as they pleased. "Y-you have others, lovers and....and the mother of you children. I don't...don't want to cause anymore problems...."

It wasn't a rejection; she doubted she could tell him no if he pressed the matter, or even just pressed up against her. Her sense of honor simply wouldn't let matters continue without honesty and the even briefest thought of consequences for them both.

She's putting out close to the full strength of her pheromones, a Toxin Rating of 8 or so. The rules for resisting, if Darrik attempts to, are listed on her character sheet under Body Shift.

[Sailor OOC]

"Joilie, is it..." She says in french, to make her guide to the palace more comfortable. "I really need to get out of my flight gear so if you could show me to my room that would be most helpful. I can take care of my belongings."

Joilie nods and escorts her to a nearby room. When opened it's a stately, but spartan accomodation. A basic bed, a large dresser and mirror, some communication terminal with OpNet capability, and a internal network phone done in a old, classic brass style. "Thank you." She says to her minder as she sets her two yellow large bags on the bed, and starts taking off her flight suit as Joilie takes her leave.

"So... I just got myself into a big one." She says in a whisper pulling out a light blouse and skirt from her bag. "I'll have to find who the other hatchlings are here and start networking. I guess father was right I tend to adapt better when tossed into the deep end."

She gets dressed, gently folding her flight suit and putting it on her dresser, and her gear on her bed. "I should fetch a few books real quick."

She opens a Tesseract warp gate, forming a arch with some spare newspaper that was left on the bed... probably from the last guest and quickly walks through to grab a few books around her mattress in her room at home before hopping back through again. She also grabbed a couple spare changes of clothing and a large blue dufflebag. "There... all set." She says as the new bag makes a thwump on the floor. She sets her books up on her dresser and pulls out her comlink again, accessing Doryoku's voicemail.

"Mother, this is Kamiko. I have made it to the palace and... get this... I'm a Royal Guest now... Like I'm an ambassodor or something. I grabbed some formal clothes now that I know how to warp here and everything and got some whitewater gear. I'm intend to raft the Congo once while I'm here... Of course... with escort. In any case can you send me a Den file on who is here from the Tokyo den so I know who might be a contact? I don't want to look completely lost." She says with a smile. "And thank you for trusting me." She adds before closing her comlink.

She pulls out a black bodysuit as Joilie walks back in. "Oh... I didn't see you were getting dressed... What sort of outfit is that?" She says, pointing to a black, shiny pile of plastic off to the side.

Kamiko blushes..."Umm... it's... What I wear when I work for Nippontai from time to time. It's just what I wear under my ohter gear. For protection."

"Oh... You don't seem like the sexy type."

Kamiko's blush now could be seen from space. "Oh... well this... isn't the complete outfit so..."

"Anyways, just as a courtesy here's a listing of the week's activities. I hope you can attend at least a few of the formal dinners."

"I brought an outfit just for that sort of occasion from home too." She says, pointing to a white number fit for royal gatherings.

"Ah... your Mom spoils you." Joilie says with a giggle. "You don't know the half. Now if you excuse me I'm settling in..."

"Oh, my apologies, Hideyoshi-sama..."

"Miss Hideyoshi is plenty title enough."

"Ah. Alright."

Kamiko sighs with relief as Joilie walks out. "Phew... she is thorough..."

[Toby Lupin]

The pheromones were overwhelming, and at this point, even though Sakura was saying her words, he didn't really hear them. The sweet smell of cherry blossoms overran them both, and the mixed musk of male and female bodies and sweat told the future, an oracle of lust and sex and the gods mating.

Gwen and Agatha.

A faithful, controlled piece of his mind pleaded, though it was an island dissolving into the sea of what the rest was already imagining as Sakura's heavenly juices when she came- Darrik wordlessly pressed against her, melting the last shred of reserve Sakura possessed, lips and a now naked body atop her.

Gwen and Agatha.

The piece became a speck. Darrik had already pulled the dress up, letting his tongue and lips leave kisses and the most devilish licks upon the skin revealed, starting from her womanly places upward in accordance with the new discoveries, and Sakura responded with her own expert traces and caresses, with multiple love-taps on his erection.

Then Darrik lifted her up and carried her over to the nearby bed, depositing her there before clambering on like a predator king. Their bodies met again, and Sakura wrapped her arms to encircle him-

Gwen and Agatha!

She caught nothing but air. And the feel of Darrik's perfect body was gone. He was there, but intangible, and getting off of her, shame burning in his face. Somehow though it had exhausted itself, the speck succeeded. He had gotten too close, almost too late.

"I'm sorry," he stated, the eufiber definitely moving in to cover him up now. "You were right. I don't want to cause any troubles for you." Before she could respond, he strode to the corner of the room, and stepped into a shaded area. Melting into it, he was gone a moment later.

[z023]

Sakura blined and stared at where he had been, her mind simply stopped for several heart beats. Her skin was cold now, goosebumps forming where her clothes had been moved and Darrik had kissed and licked her.

What...the hell...just happened?

He left.

I know that. Why?

I don't know....

Well, go get him back.

No.

No?! Why not? You want him and you know you can make him want-

No! It was a mark of just how much Darrik had gotten to her, to her libido at least, that the thought had even started to cross her mind.That's rape. Flat out. He wouldn't be capable of saying no, and that's just not right. Never. She took a shuddering breath, Besides, he disappeared into a shadow. How would you suggest I find him?

Dammit! Then go get someone else.

No.

....

No.

After several long moments as her heartbeat slowed down, she sighed and sat up. She pulled her legs tightly up to her chest, burying her face in her knees and squeezing her eyes tightly enough that tears sprang up in the corners. It wasn't that he'd left. It wasn't what had happened. She'd gone through that before, though there had been less people than she could count on one hand that had been able to pull back once things had gotten so far. It was the sheer frustration, both emotional and sexual, that left her shaking and gasping for breath on the bed.

Dammit.

[Adrian Moss]

Flying several steps ahead of Maia, Shaman floated gently up to one of the windows leading into Sakura's room.

'This is SO lame.'

'What? Birds are pretty, and a life lesson.'

'Like she needs a life lesson.'

'Concentrate on the pretty birds.'

(sigh)

He held up his arm and set down on the window sill.

"Sakura, her's some ...."

'Oh crap, she's crying!'

'What do we do now?'

'Running away isn't going to happen. She needs us.'

'Why am I so scared?'

"I ... I brought you these parrots. They are a mated pair and she will be nesting soon. I ... I thought you might like them to share your home."

(gulp)

"Why are you crying? Have I ... who's ... can I help?"

[Maia]

Maia flew behind Shaman, and watched him go brazenly into the window, presumably of Sakura, the young lady they'd bought the birds for. The shopkeeper did allow her to pay him, but only a token payment, anything more and he'd have felt guilty. She got his name, and would remember it, should the need arise.

She waited outside the window, her powerful, luminous white-feathered wings keeping her aloft. "Shaman, is everything alright in there?" She was close enough to look inside, but a sense of morality, one didn't go looking into windows uninvited, prevented her from doing so.

[z023]

Sakura started at the sound at the window of the bedroom as it slid open and Shaman took up his perch on the sill. Her eyes were wet, but not the red that came with really crying; the air inside the bedroom was heavy with the heady smell of cherry blossoms and that unmistakable scent of male and female. Not sex, not that tone, but definitely arousal and heat. She tried to smile at the parrots, it was such a sweet gesture, but it was pale twitch of her lips that lasted barely long enough to see. "Thank you for the gift, Shaman. They're beautiful birds; I'll make sure to take excellent care of them and their chicks."

She took an unsteady breath and looked away, her cheeks reddened as she firmly silenced that voice inside of her that spoke from the libido instead of the brain. "And I'm fine. I'm just...tired and...and..." She shook her head, "Just tired and trying to figure out how I'm going to live here without destroying every one I come around." She waved her hand at him, "Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. I'll...figure something out." Like locking myself in the room.

Maia's concerned question caused the high-strung woman to start again, her arms still wrapped around her legs defensively, and try to peer around Shaman in the window. "Is there someone else out there?"

[Adrian Moss]

Shaman looked outside beyond Sakura's view. He smiled then looked back, He motioned this third person forward, saying, "Maia, come on in.".

"It's my Sister Maia, and I wish you wouldn't cry."

'Because having your SISTER in the room will make everything so much better.'

'Maybe it will.'

'Keep your head clear. We don't want to make a fool of ourselves.'

'We don't want her to leave.'

"I thought the twin birds would be appropriate for ... you. I mean, a nest is what you make it out of. A family is the same way. It's a lot of work before you can even know its the right home for you. It doesn't pop up, you build it. That's what makes it worth having ... don't you think?"

'Like - please stay here and work on this. It won't always be bad.'

He motioned for the two birds to fly over.

"The right nest takes time, is all. Give it some time ..."

[Maia]

Maia's head came into view behind Shaman, her wings blocking out most everything else behind them. Once Shaman had gone into the room, Sakura got her first look at Maia, a young woman clearly on the path to being every bit as beautiful if not moreso than Bombshell, or anyone else. As soon as her feet touched the floor, her brilliant white wings vanished, the feathers falling away to nothingness, and Maia looking every bit like a radiant young angel, having descended from upon high.

She nodded to Sakura. "My little brother has the right of it. Congratulations as well, on your pending parenthood. One of my other brothers found out he will be a father in due course of time as well, must be something in the water." The old joke was intended to lighten the mood. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

As Maia beheld Sakura, something clicked instinctively, this was someone who needed protection. She was stretched thin as it was, yet in her heart she didn't have it in her to refuse. The entire tenor of Maia's voice changed, as well as the way she stood, becoming those one would expect to see from an elder sibling seeking to console a younger, and a mother bear defending her cubs. There was little doubt she couldn't accomplish either.

[z023]

She was beautiful, Shaman's sister, as beautiful as Darrik, if not so...charged; the palace of Kinshasa seemed a nexus of the impossibly beautiful and alluring. Sakura was too emotionally exhausted to take it all in though, and merely shook her head and tried for another reassuring smile. It wasn't much, but it was a little better than her first try. "No, really, I'm fine. Thank you for offering, though."

She called the birds to her, silently introducing herself and letting them know that she would help protect them and their chicks from now on. They chittered back at her, somewhat excited, somewhat confused, and mostly just curious. Sakura slid off the bed and found a bowl, probably for washing you face with in the morning, and filled to the brim with flowers from her hair. Slowly, some of the flowers began to change and the two half-sibs could feel a wash of quantum flow through the room; the flowers continued to morph, turning brown and twig-like, grey and downy, or dark muddy brown with same consistency to hold it all together. Sakura kept pulling the flowers from her hair as they rebudded and rebloomed, until the bowl was filled with as perfect and comfortable of a bird's nest as could be made. She set the nest on one of the higher shelves on the wall to give the birds some privacy when they decided to be inside. "There," she said both aloud to the other novas and in her way to the parrots. "A little home indoors, and we can make another outside, tomorrow perhaps?"

The birds chirped again and flew up to the nest, talons clacking on the marble of the bowl as they inspected the nest. Evidently satisfied with it, they stepped down onto the transformed twigs and down, hopping to and fro for a moment before taking wing again to go explore the gardens just outside Sakura's suite. She finally smiled, really smiled, as they flew out. "Truly, Shaman, thank you. I needed something...bright, something simple and just kind right now."

[Sailor OOC]

Kamiko steps out of her stateroom into the hall. Thinking she might as well get acquainted with her surroundings and some of the staff. Her flat whitish-tan shirt with pockets like a explorer's shirt form the pulp era and a unmarked sailor collar, with a sturdy dark khaki utility-skirt with ankle-legnth boots just adds to the fact she's ready for a hike in the wilder parts of the Congo. But right now, it's time to explore the palace. While she does so she updates her diary on her tablet with the days events. Looking slightly absorbed in her writing as her stylus gently but quickly dances about in her hands.

"So... extra notes... have better communication with ground control, parachutes are a good idea, Ein is better in person, and Kinshasha isn't a bad place to visit..."

She adjusts her glasses and looks about.

"- Ambassador Kamiko Hideyoshi" She adds with a giggle.

"There... now to take a few pictures."

She looks at the tapestries and more public areas of the Palace, lost in the beauty of a Nova Kingdom in the making... or more in it's prime.

[Quantum Fire]

End of Thread

XP: 4 Standard, 2 Baseline, 2 Nova.

Also,some good roleplaying here, which is why I awarded 2 extra standard xp.