in collaboration with @MeiyukiSousiel woke up well ahead of Triss, as expected. Extracting herself from the witch's grasp was delightfully difficult, as intertwined as they'd managed to get, and Sousiel considered just staying put several times.
She grinned down at her lover's sleeping visage. They might never wake up at the same time, but she'd always get to see this, a fair trade in her opinion. She retrieved some parchment and ink from Triss' desk to leave a small note. All it said was 'I love you' and went on to thank her for the night, but Triss deserved to wake up to something sweet too after all. She left the note on the bedside table and made her way out of the room quietly.
The halls were mostly empty this early, still about an hour away from the sun's first light. She nodded to summoners as they drug themselves to their chambers after long nighttime rites as she made her way towards Lorelai's office.
She pushed the door open slowly, and let herself inside. The room was still dark, Lorelai wasn't here. Sousiel sighed and examined their connection. Evidently her mistress had yet to return. She flopped down in her desk chair, and retrieved her mistress' pipe.
She turned on a lamp and began going over documents and plans, looking for where best to apply her talents.
Elizabeth woke up surrounded by her entourage. Butch and Beebop had crept inside the door, staring at her. The mouth on Butch’s hip curled up with a cheshire grin full of fangs. Bob laid over the top of her, mouth wrapped around her arm, chewing hard enough to draw blood. She had gotten used to his strange cuddling patterns, and the scars from his morning nibbles healed up well enough that she didn't have to mention them to anyone. Bo was stretched out on a lounge chair, book in hand. As his claw skimmed the pages, he tore up the delicate golden leafed sheets.
Elizabeth smiled at them all, sitting up and tearing her arm away from Bob’s mouth. He wailed his complaint, but let her go.
“Good morning, everyone.” She told them, giving them all a nod.
“Morning, Lizzie.” Bo rang out, clutching Elizabeth's arm with a softly padded paw.
“You should really tell Bob to stop doing this, you'll ruin the sheets! Lorelai is going to be in a tizzy.” He told her, clicking his tongue.
“I'll do no such thing, Liz likes it rough.” Bob screeched, picking himself up and stretching out on the floor.
Elizabeth chuckled, pulling herself out of bed and wrenching her arm away from Bo.
“Yeah, something like that.” She told them as she got dressed. She didn't know if changing around them was bad, but they made no mention of it, and she didn't mind at all. They were like her...brothers.
They made their way down the stairs shortly after, heading to Lorelai’s office. Elizabeth would have to find time off that day, she had plans with Andri that had yet to be fulfilled. She opened the door, jumping at the sight of Sousiel. Instinctively, she threw her arm around her back, the wounds were beginning to close over but they were still present. The rest of her squad filed in behind her, and when they saw Sousiel they gave her slight nods, staying quiet.
“Sousiel! How are you? Haven't seen you in a while.” Elizabeth smiled brightly, moving to take a seat on the same plush chairs that she had been opposite of for the past few days.
"The Tellurian was every bit as beautiful and deadly as I'd hoped." Sousie's eyes lingered on Liz's sides, where she'd hidden her arms. That was curious, and Sousiel could almost smell blood.
"I killed new things, ate new people, and spent some lovely time with Triss.""How have you been holding up?" She looked around at Liz's new entourage. She remember that all of their names started with B, but beyond that she couldn't be bothered.
"I see you've made new friends."“That sounds like good fun, I'm glad you had a grand old time. Was Triss a fine partner?” Liz asked, wiggling her eyebrows. It wasn't her place to pry, but Triss sure went around. First Andri, now Sousiel. Witches were truly strange in that way.
When they were mentioned, Elizabeth tilted her head towards her friends, smiling.
“Yes, they entertained me while you were out and about. Tell me about your trip.” [cikir=92278f]"Triss is crazy, and doesn't pay too much attention to how dangerous her surroundings are."[/color] Sousiel grinned.
"In a word, she's perfect for me. Although I have to share her with Alphonse apparently, that might be tough.""The trip was amazing, the Tellurian is awesome. We almost died several times, I ate most of a ship's crew worth of Fae, and we met the Aeon of love. Fun stuff." She sighed happily.
"But enough about me, you still haven't told me how you're doing."“Aeon of Love? Eating Fae? Should I ask...or would it ruin the romance of the situation?” Elizabeth asked, tucking her chin into her palms. The Tellurian seemed like a wonderous place, and it all but swept her mind away from the fact that Triss had yet another lover. It also kept her from answering the question Sousiel handed her yet again, she didn't want to regale her with stories of boredom and sitting at a desk.
“I thought Fae were nature types. Why were they on a boat? Why were you on a boat with Fae, aren't they elusive types?” All the demons around Elizabeth leaned forwards, seemingly interested in the tale as well. Elizabeth was wide eyed, a child in the presence of an adult with a good fairy tale or legend.
"Triss is related to Fae, and they gave us a boat and a crew so we could visit the Aeon of love. An Aeon is like a... manifestation of an emotion? That's the best I can do." Sousiel shrugged.
"Anyway, Fae are... I dunno, dreams? They have a lot of nature iconography, but I don't think they're nature types.""I had my musings in my notebook, but I lost it." Sousiel groaned.
"Right, and I also lost my music box, Lorelai's gonna kill me. Oh well, at least I had fun before the end."Elizabeth knew this wasn't the best explanation, but it was the only one she had for now. There were books on the subject, and paintings that captured the basic concept. There was also Lorelai, a great source of information on almost any subject. She would just have to wait until Lorelai came back up from the abyss.
Her train of thought was snapped in half as Sousiel mentioned Lorelai killing her, causing Elizabeth to smile bright.
“I'm sure she wouldn't be your end, Sousiel. She loves you to bits, and though she will be upset I'm confident she'll find a way to move past it.” She said calmly, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.
"Loves me to bits huh? Sometimes I think she doesn't need me anymore, but that's probably okay, just means more time to myself." Sousiel smiled.
"She probably won't kill me, she'll just look at me with that hurt and dissapointed face, and I'll kill me.""You still haven't told me what's up with you." Sousiel frowned.
"I'm starting to think you might be avoiding the question, what's up?"Elizabeth sighed, thumbing the small white dots that stood out on her arm. What did she have to tell? Really, there wasn't anything she was avoiding, but she had no story for Sousiel that could wow the demon.
“Nothing I'm avoiding, it's just boring desk work. I'm so stressed, I've been getting sick in the morning. Bo has been helpful, he sleeps by my bed with a bucket in case I wake up sick.” She glanced at Bo, who smiled back.
“I thought my time with Andri would help, but the moment I got home last night I emptied my stomach. General duties are weighing on me.” She groaned out, glad to tell someone other than her closest confidants.
Sousiel grinned mischievously. Surely Elizabeth had thought to brew her own tea right? Her prank couldn't have lead to this. She let out a loud cackle.
"Elizabeth, have you been around any strange or unexpected penises lately? And perhaps forgotten to brew some contraceptive?""Because it sounds alot like you're pregnant." Sousiel fought to surpress more mirth, but eventually decended into a fit of giggles.
Elizabeth's hand shot to her stomach, she ran her hand over the toned surface. She wasn't pregnant, Lorelai couldn't have kids with that penis she had spawned. Could she? Her eyes widened, and she felt bile rise in her throat. She already had two children to worry about and love and all that weird parent stuff. She didn't want more, not yet.
Bob was much more enthusiastic, he roared with pride, racing over to Elizabeth. Using his snout, he peeled up her tunic. He began trying to bite her stomach, a loving gesture in his books.
“I'm going to be an Uncle! Look at me!” He yelled out, finally finding a way to wrap his jaws around Liz’s stomach using her side as a path.
Elizabeth responded by swatting him on the head, rubbing her stomach protectively. If there was a baby in there, it wouldn't die because of a love bite.
“Sousiel, Lorelai isn't fertile. She can't be, I can't have a baby...I don't have the skills to protect a thing in my stomach while I fight a war.” She moaned, slamming her head onto desk.
“I can't wear armor with a baby bump!”"I'm pretty sure Lorelai's done shooting blanks, Liz, leaving your infertile body behind for a new one tends to do that." Sousiel arched an eyebrow at Liz. Evidently this was going to be hard on the woman, but there were things that could be done.
"The Amazons fought wars with baby bumps, and so can you. Lenny will just have to be creative.""Your friends are convinced, I'm relatively convinced, and you seem too worried for someone that's sure she's not pregnant." Sousiel smiled.
Liz peeled her forehead off the desk, almost motivated. She could have a baby. She had to have a baby, Lorelai would be so upset if she dropped out of the race now. Lorelai didn't have to know tho- She had to have the baby. She couldn't kill it, it was living. She would have to deal with it, because it was living. Maybe she couldn't be as hard on herself in training, but that was fair.
It would be great, it would do...baby things. She did baby things as a child, it would do those things too. If she could keep the child's ‘Uncles' from killing it, then everything would be just fine.
“You'll help me with this, right. You're the godmother and the Aunt, so you have to help. If it turns out that I'm not pregnant, I'll do whatever I can to repay you.” She pleaded, her eyes going soft.
"Relax Liz, of course I'll help." Sousiel nudged aside the small desire to torment the woman.
"And I'm honored to be the godmother, although unsure what that is." She let out a small laugh.
"First thing's first, Lizzie. Do you want to have this baby?" Sousiel shifted uncomfortably. Lorelai wouldn't be thrilled about Sousiel offering what she was offering, at least not without the opportunity to weigh in. If Elizabeth didn't want to have this child though, Lorelai could dodge some heartache if it was dealt with now.
"It's a big step, and you've had some doubts. I don't think you can turn back from a commitment like this, not with any grace."Liz tensed, she could feel the eyes on the back of her head. She had a sneaking suspicion that the demons didn't care too much about her choice, they just wanted to see her finally flail under pressure. Bob stared at her with vacant eyes, and though they were nothing but black holes she could sense the emotion prodding her. Bob wanted the baby, and while he wouldn't mind her choice, he would think she had missed out on something epic.
Then there was Lorelai, a presence that haunted her even from down in the abyss. If they got rid of the baby now, Lorelai would never know, they could be happy in the future with baby number two. Lorelai would want to know though, and it tore Liz up inside. She remembered talking about a family with Lorelai, and while they had mused about it being a future event, this little thing was their chance.
“The baby...I don't necessarily want it. I-I just couldn't do that to her, Sousiel. You know what I mean, right?” She clenched her jaw, releasing it to let out a forced chuckle.
“A godmother takes care of the baby if the parents die, just so you know.”"I do understand that Liz, but you can't afford to think about it like that." Sousiel smiled softly, reaching across the table to set her hand on Liz's arm.
"If you have this baby, it needs to be because you want it. Do you want to resent Lorelai down the line for pushing you into this?""Lorelai's wanted a child of her own for a long time, but she's wanted a partner longer. I don't think she'd trade your happiness for a baby Liz." She gave the prospective mother her best reassuring smile.
"So think about what's right for you, okay?" Elizabeth thought back to the times she had wanted a baby. In her youth, she had carried around a porcelain doll in her parent's mansion, pretending it was her own child. Once, she had flashed a servant as she went to ‘feed’ her baby. Looking back now, she realized the servant had been fired because of her. Other than that, she couldn't recall a time in which she had wanted a baby.
Still, she had to talk to Lorelai first. She had to see what her lover thought before she could make a decision. The little bun in her oven was half Lorelai, after all. Maybe it would be the best decision of her life, maybe not. She couldn't tell yet, but her mind was made up.
“I want it, I want to keep the baby. It's my child, too.” She said confidently, overshadowing her doubt.
Sousiel's face bloomed into a bright grin.
"I'm elated to hear that." She stood from her seat and came around the desk to give Liz a brief hug.
"If there's anything you need don't hesitate to come find me, I'll help you in anyway I can.""Also, consider this a formal request to be around when you tell Lore. That's one expression I don't want to miss." She giggled.
Elizabeth briefly wrapped her arms around Sousiel, before they pulled apart. It was a lovely show of affection from the demon, and she felt warm inside.
“I'll make sure you're notified, I can't wait until she finds out. I hope she'll be happy too.” Elizabeth chimed, her voice airy. She could see Lorelai's face now, a million different expressions filling her eyes as she closed them.
“Okay...so, let's move past the baby situation for a few moments. Why were you in Lorelai's office this morning, did you find anything wrong with my planning?” Elizabeth asked, brow creasing. She didn't know how many times she had gone over those plans. They had to be flawless, if they weren't she would likely stab her eyes out.
"Works for me, I'm sure she'll be thrilled." Sousiel returned her attention to the maps she'd been examining.
"Back to work. I was looking over your plans for where to apply my talents, trying to get a jumpstart on getting to work.""As for your planning, it's inspired, cunning even. The only 'errors', if you can really call them that, I saw came mostly from your understandable lack of knowledge of demonology." Sousiel retrieved a scap of parchment she'd be writing on.
"Lorelai rarely leaves notes about these things, but for example Lamashtu is a breeder demon. At first glance she's useless, but if you supply her with genetic material she'll push out an army for you. I've got some other notes clarifying some of Lorelai's sevitors and their talents.""I place myself at your disposal, Elizabeth, use me as you see fit." Sousiel couldn't help winking at the huntress.
"My talents are murder, hunting, and bedside comforts."Elizabeth returned Sousiel’s wink, but she had plenty of bedside comfort. Bob refused to leave her as she slept, which could be a problem when Lorelai returned. Butch and Beebop acted as her bodyguards, with Beebop being especially dangerous having once tried to kill a garden witch that gave Elizabeth a headache because she was too chipper. Bo was Bo, caring and cuddly when he wasn't being wise and cunning. She hadn't even thought of their place on the battlefield, other than the fact that they would be on the battlefield.
It was something Sousiel could help her with, so she beamed at the demon.
“You're a genius, Sousiel. If you would like, you can go into the battle by yourself. You can also inhabit me, and give me an extra push...both for strength and motivation, in case I get reluctant.” She let out the last part in hushed tones, a blush creeping up on her face from the shame of the words.
"Of course." Sousiel colored lightly at the praise.
"I've been with Lore for a long time. There isn't a servant she has that I don't know, feel free to make use of my expertise.""And you're a lovely host, your body is strong and your will perhaps stronger. Adding my might to yours would be an honor, and will serve to help keep you alive, which will take some worry from my shoulders." She tilted her head quizzically.
"...Liz? I think I'd like to consider us friends. You helped me a great deal with my worries about love, and you hold an exalted place in my mistress' heart. Would you mind if I refered to us as friends?"“Hm, I don't know, Sousiel.” Elizabeth muttered, tilting her head and letting the words carry in the air for a few moments.
“Of course we're friends! Don't be silly, Sousiel! After all you've done for me, you can refer to me as whatever you’d like.” She said gayly, excited to have Sousiel consider her as a friend. She had considered their relationship before, and had decided the word acquaintance was a good way to describe it. Now, Sousiel had confirmed their friendship, something that made her feel giddy.
Sousiel beamed, clearly elated. That made two friends, a lover, and... whatever you'd call Lorelai. The Caretaker had shown her that love isn't just passonate, there was fraternal love for friends too, and Sousiel was eager to explore it. Even comforting the huntress had lit a small warmth in her chest.
"Yay!" The demon performed a small victory dance, twirling gayly in the small room.
"Wait, how did I talk about my trip and not show you this?" Sousiel stopped suddenly. She grinned sheepishly and dug through her pocket for a small metal tube.
"Watch this."She pressed a small button on the side, and the top emitted a bright light with no heat. She waved it around, giggling softly as the light danced on the ceiling and walls.
"It shoots light out, not sure what it's good for, probably weird sex stuff."Elizabeth's eyes followed the beam of light around the ceiling with wonderment, a tool that was apparently found in the Tellurian. She wondered what weird sex stuff they could do with the thing. The more practical use would be lighting up the dark, but she didn't want to ruin the demon’s moment.
“That's amazing! Did the Fae craft it? What kind of magic does it use? Are there more?” Her barrage of questions was spit rapidly, as her hand itched to snatch up the tool.
"Nope, found it in the lost city of Lud. Along with some twisted humans that were probably trying to eat us. That didn't work out for them all that well." Sousiel giggled at Liz's wonder. She handed her the tool.
"There was alot of cool stuff there. Carriges that didn't need horses, buildings made of glass and steel that stretched straight into the sky, my favorite was a bed made of leather with water inside.""As far as I can tell there isn't a drop of magic in any of it. My nose isn't usually wrong, but I'm willing to consider the possibility." She grinned.
"You should make Lorelai take you there, I'll bet you and her fare quite a bit better than Triss and I did."Elizabeth reached into the deepest recesses of her imagination, looking for an image that could match these amazing descriptions given to her by Sousiel. She found none, there was nothing that could match what she had been given. If Sousiel hadn't showed her the light stick, she wouldn't have been able to imagine it either. It was all but impossible to believe that these items didn't have magic flowing through them, but she didn't doubt Sousiel's nose.
“How strange, metal carriages...a bed made with water? How deranged! Who could think of that? Could you imagine how big the waterskin must've been?” Elizabeth mumbled, brain doing circles. A bed that was like laying on a waterskin...there was nothing practical about it. Yet, she found herself wanting one.
“Maybe Lorelai and I can take the kids out on a family vacation, she deserves a trip.” "So do you." Sousiel nodded.
"I won't lie, I half expected this place to be in chaos by the time I got back."She waved a hand, continuing quickly.
"Not because you're incompetent of course, but I'm surprised to see how effectively you've commanded respect. Many of these witches don't like you yet, but very few seem unwilling to follow you." Sousiel grinned.
"I'm very impressed. I'm not easy to impress either, but I see you managing it all the time. Lorelai's found something special in you.""Keep the torch thingy, I've got a couple anyway." She giggled.
"And I'm gonna have Lenny make me a water bed. You can try it out when it's finished."“I guess it's in my blood, because my mother does the same.” Elizabeth was shining, pride in all of her features. Her grin was so wide it almost hurt to maintain.
“I thought they would revolt, they may just be afraid of Lorelai though. I wouldn't hold it against them, I personally think she's cute when she's angry, others don't hold my opinion.” She giggled, taking the light stick and stuffing it into a pocket on her trousers. She would show it to Andri later, when he was available.
“Lenny may have to mass produce those water beds, they seem like an interesting concept.” Elizabeth hoped the idea worked, it seemed like something everyone would enjoy. Maybe she could find a comfortable position in it, if her baby bump was being troublesome.
"She is adorable when she's pissed isn't she!?" Sousiel laughed.
"I mean, sure, head will roll and whatnot, but she's still cute.""However, speaking of revolt, I should get to sniffing any out shouldn't I?" Sousiel sighed.
"I think I'll get to work, and leave you to your morning, unless there's anything else you need?"Elizabeth's grin loosened, it was about time that they both got to work.
“There's nothing I need, no. Thank you though, Sousiel. I'll catch up with you later, maybe we can think of baby names or something equally silly.” She winked, hand running over her flat stomach. Soon it would be filled with a miniature human, and she wouldn't even be able to look at her toes. The thought made her warm, but it also sent a shiver down her spine.
