Logs

Logs Home

2006 December 13

2006 December 13

2006 December 13

2007 January 09

2007 January 09

2007 January 09

2007 January 09

2007 February 28

2007 February 28

2007 March 01

2007 February 28

2007 February 28

2007 October 23

2007 October 23

2007 October 23

2007 October 23

2007 October 23

2007 October 23

2007 October 23

2007 December 28

Burning

Burning Home

Dramatis Personae

Maps

Game Logs

Realms

Realms Home

Dishonored

Goblin Town

Neverneverwhere

The Whole of the Law

Waking Dreams

When The Bough Breaks


One-Shot

Retired

Birthright

Burning Man

Cosmic Guardians

DNAnimals/Tamashii

Fukusei Crystals

Heartwood

Hunter

Idlewild

Indigo

Inizii

Morning Rain

NachtMusik

Oloth

Paradon

Scarred Lands

Shattered Stars

Starfall

Weston


Style Test

Reality Fault

Home

Player

Character

Referee

Programmer

Administrator

Operations


Search RealityFault:

General Info

Glossary

Realms

Events

Credits

Help Files

Help Files (old)


Reality Fault

Realms: Burning Man Logs

Burning Man Day 11, day

The eleventh day of Burning Man finds the visiting Celestials still awake. Bella, at least, seems almost energetic as the sun slides into noontime. She's positioned herself so that she's curled up perpendicular to Rosie and Slate, so she can reach either of them easily but not get in the way of them touching one another. "So after you came back in the pavilion last night, love, you were a lot calmer. How'd you work that energy off?" The Bright seems to be addressing Slate -- or at least that's whose hair she's playing with as she speaks.

Shateishael chuckles quietly, relaxedly caressing whomever's in reach, "Ah, that. Well, wuz Karl helped me, ac'sh'ly, lover. After I caught Deirdre..." He relates what happened, ending with, "'n then Karl 'scorted me 'way real careful-like, 'n I as't him how he kept from bein' overwhelmed by th'glamour. He said 'nitially wuz cuz he surrounded himself wi'steel, 'n other times he jus' tried workin' with it, givin' it whut it wan'ed." He grins, rather pleased with himself as he continues, "So I figger'd parta bein' th'Warrior's pr'tectin' folks, right? So... jus' concentrated on bein' a good pr'tect'r, rather'n fightin'!" He adds happily, "Worked pretty well, I think!"

Shateishael rumbles cheerfully, "E'en gotta new idea f'a piece a' jewelry t'sell durin' Renfaires. Gotta lotta cute fantasy 'n martial stuff f'th'ladies, but no fantasy stuff f'th'guys -- 'n then it hit me -- why not a horned man 'n a satyr pendant? 'N Pan wuz nice 'nuff t'lemme check 'is horns out, 'n we hadda nice talk 'bout two-spirits 'n th' li'l Rosebud bein' th' beautiful-one-that-goes-both-ways, 'n all!" He adds fascinatedly, "'N he 'n Bacchus both dance pretty good f'guys wi'goat legs! Wanna watch 'em close sometime t'see how." Rosenstern is slowly waking up, not being in too much of a rush. He's quite comfortable nestled amongst Bella and Slate, after all. Shateishael gently strokes Rosie's hair, where the slight Mercurian is curled up against him, making a small lazy rumble of contentment as he does so... then he adds, "How'd things go f'you, pretty blossom?"

Bella smiles and twists the multi-colored strands of Slate's hair around her fingers, "Ajax and Bacchus are not bad dancers. I need to give them both a big hug for being a safety net last night." As Slate speaks to Rosie, she lets go of Slate's hair and traces the line of Rosie's chin.

Shateishael smiles, tilting his head back to look up at Bella, "Y'have a nice time too, beautiful? 'R y'need bitta help fig'rin' out other aspects a'th'Seductress as well?"

Rosenstern makes a quiet, lazy sound. "Mmm, very nicely," he said, smiling shyly. "Danced with Lord Soma. Urf, what was in the glamour he cast last night?"

The Bright sounds amused, "I'm thinking you were, sugar. Or at least whatever it is you make him feel. It wasn't like that before you stayed with him for three days."

Shateishael nods amusedly, "Yeah, felt like Soma wuz kinda on fire inside, 'n wan'ed t'share... 'r sumpin' like that." He glances up at Bella again, curious as to her answer as well.

Rosenstern blinks a little, coming a bit more awake, and blushes. "Well," he murmurs, "That brings a whole new meaning to the term 'afterglow'...."

Bella rolls onto her back and shrugs, "I could be wrong, but didn't someone mention that he'd spent some time with Rosie and then went to see Zareh? Maybe he got a charge-up of some kind from being over in the Garden. I still think it had something to do with you, though."

Shateishael nods relaxedly, "He did say that, yeah... 'n if'n 'm 'memberin' right, he said th'Marches were good f' 'is people. 'Xpect that'd 'pply t' 'imself too."

Rosenstern nods quietly. "That makes sense, yes..."

"Well, we could always ask, right? Everyone's been willing to talk so far," Bella suggests.

Shateishael says, "Mmm, sure, lover. Whut're we askin' 'zactly, though?"

Rosenstern smiles, "Well, ask Soma why the glamour was so intense last night. I, uh, forgot to ask him myself..."

Bella smiles and rolls over onto her stomach, kicking her feet into the air a little, eyes twinkling, "Honey, I almost forgot not to molest Ajax and Bacchus on the dance floor. It was a distracting night."

Shateishael says, "Oh, that." He starts to consider -- then barks a sudden, startled laugh at Bella's comment! "Uh, yeah, sure 'nuff wuz." He grins at Bella, his eyes as alight with amusement as hers, "'Til I figg'r'd out how t'diffuse it, wuz feelin' much th'same, truth be tole... a'most f'got m'se'f and smooched Miz Peony at one point!" He shakes his head ruefully, "Wuz a close thin'... fortunately, don' think she noticed..."

Rosenstern blinks, looking at Slate. "The worst that happened was that you almost kissed Peony?"

Bella chuckles and shakes her head in amusement, "I'd say the bad thing is that you didn't."

Shateishael looks sheepish, "Um, well, not 'zactly..." he blinks and grins a bit startledly at Bella, then adds to Rosie, "Kept wantin' t'start fights 'n snap at folks t'get 'em riled up, 'n wuz a bitta time where..." he sighs, flushing with embarrassment, "uh... well, caught m'se'f mentally undressin' some a'th' folks there, 'n wantin' t'run m'han's all over 'em... mos'ly wuz worried 'bout startin' a reg'lar rumble, though."

Bella pushes herself into a sitting position, "Yeah, a fight might have been bad. Could have gotten badly out of control." She reaches for her clothing bag, starting to pull out shorts and a t-shirt, "I'm supposed to go hang out with Peony again sometime today. She was saying that court is sort of freeform tonight. Apparently it's going to be like it was the first night we were there. Folks are just going to be hanging around. Nothing planned particularly."

Shateishael nods ruefully at Bella, then considers a moment... then rumbles to her, "Well, wanna go hang out there then? We c'd ask Soma then 'bout whut 'zactly happened las' night?" He grins, adding, "W'dn't it be neat if'n someone got pregnant from las' night? Bet they'd be 'xcited 'bout that." He pauses, then adds bemusedly, "Wunner how long 'thereal pregnancies las'?"

Rosenstern starts to get dressed, still a little sleepy. "I'm not sure it's quite the same way Corporeal pregnancies are. Might be a mix of Ethereal and Celestial...." He gives a small yawn, stretching. "Though honestly, Slate, there could have been a lot worse than you kissing Peony!"

Bella blinks, not having thought of that, "The amount of sex I suspect was happening last night, I wouldn't be shocked in the least." She starts wriggling into her clothes, trying to do it without standing up, "And I'm with Rosie on that one. Looked kind of like you wanted to kiss Ayra there for a bit, too."

Shateishael nods soberly, "Yeah, 'n that'da been wrong. Firs' cuz wouldn'ta been fair t'Miz Peony, 'n second cuz Ayra feels more like a li'l sister t'me." He looks inquiringly at Bella, "Seriously, sweetheart... y'havin' trouble wi'th'Seductress? Wanna try t'think a' other aspects a' it?"

Once she's got her clothes on, Bella starts pulling on hiking boots and thick socks, grinning. "I'm going to take some of the little pottery pieces I brought with me and give to folks. It's supposed to be a Burning Man tradition to give little gifts to people you meet and connect with."

Rosenstern blinks to Bella, then 'eeks!' a bit. "It is?! Oh, gosh... uhm... oh, boy, I don't think... I'll have to dig through what I brought...!"

Bella shakes her head to Slate's question, "No, I managed it OK. Dragging you out by Karl's forge helped some and being close to people I wouldn't want to kill myself for having sex with helped more. Took the edge off to be able to flirt and have them react without actually expecting anything back. I think though that Ajax and Peony might have renewed a thing or two last night." Then the Bright reaches over and pats Rosie, "It's not a requirement, hon. It's just something some folks do."

Rosenstern blinks. "Karl's forge? What happened there?" He smiles quietly to Bella. "Even so, well... it'll be something to remember for next time.

Shateishael hms thoughtfully at Bella's comment, considering what he's got and who he might give small gifts to. Ayra, Ajax, Karl, Bast, Soma, Pan... who else... he chuckles at Rosie's question, rumbling with lazy contentment, "We had rather urgent sex, pretty rose."

Bella actually blushes as she laughs, kissing Rosie's cheek, "Which I suspect is what you did with Soma when the two of you disappeared for a while. I know I'd have wanted to drag you off if you'd been wearing just that body suit and sitting in my lap."

Shateishael gently strokes Bella's leg, where she's pulling on her socks, and rumbles quietly, "Anythin' I c'n do, y'know jus' ask, beloved, yeah?"

She nods, "I know." She gathers up a small pouch full of little clay goddesses that she often sells at festivals and cons, "Do you guys want to head that way, or did you have other plans?"

Shateishael grins, sitting up and stretching his arms with lazy luxury over his head, "Mmmm love to! Wanna try some sketchin', 'm thinkin'! Lemme get dressed..." He reaches out, pulling his duffel over to pull out some clothes to wear. He's shod in hiking boots shortly thereafter, with a pair of ragged but serviceable cut-offs, and a sketch pad tucked under one arm. Rosenstern blinks, then blushes deeply as he realizes what happened at Karl's forge, grinning sheepishly and shyly. Shateishael chuckles at Rosie's blush, leaning to gently kiss him on the forehead, then rumbling, "C'mon, pretty flow'r. Lemme get a bag fr'm th'truck, 'n I'm ready t'roll."

Shortly thereafter... something seems a little odd about the encampment. The normally barely-visible dome shimmers like a heat mirage in the heat of the playa day. The structures and the people inside look almost distorted if they're looked at too closely, but seem fine if glimpsed from the corner of the eye. As the Celestials draw closer, they can hear the soft almost-Song of the glamour, stronger than it has ever been before during the day. Shateishael looks a bit surprised, his gait slowing a bit as he studies the dome, "Hm... 'kay, this's diff'rent..." He looks around slowly, "Wonder if'n they're wardin' 'gainst sumpin'? Don' see nuthin' dang'rous nearby currently though...?" He takes a moment to study the area, but doesn't notice anyone noticeably lurking... he smiles and shrugs at the others, "Mebbe Soma's still sheddin' energy too, 'r sumpin'? Y'all wanna head on in? Be innerestin' t'see whut we come out like 'gain."

Rosenstern frowns a little, looking around. He nods. "Yes, let's go in -- make sure that there's nothing wrong."

Shateishael rumbles thoughtfully, "Wunner if'n this's whut it looks like when th'Tether's in use. That'd be diff'rent... usually they really thunder in th'Symphony." He nods to Rosie, then steps in first, like usual.

As Slate steps through the dome, he feels the shiver-twinge of the glamour taking effect. This is the first time it's done it during the day and when the Stone angel looks down at himself, the change is perhaps just as startling. From the waist up his body is just the same as always. From there down, things are hugely different. His torso melds into the body of a broad-chested chestnut stallion. He's dressed in what seems to be a leather battle-harness with a scabbard across his back. In it he finds a handful of short throwing spears. Shateishael boggles startledly at himself, "Whoa!" He studies the javelins, then looks up and rumbles to the others, "Umm... guess it's 'kay?"

Bella hangs back a moment, letting the men walk through ahead of herself, though she raises her brows at Slate's exclamation. After the changes they've been through, it must be something extreme. Rosenstern blinks slowly, looking at Slate. He glances at Bella, then swallows and follows Slate in.

Rosenstern has been transformed more than usual by the glamour. His clothes have mostly disappeared, leaving him only a silken loincloth that hangs down to nearly his ankles with a fringe of brass bells fore and aft. On his arms are sleeves made of the same deep red silk with holes for his thumbs to stick through. His legs are covered in much the same way, wrapped in silk from ankle to thigh. His hearing has changed -- become more acute -- and there's an urge to flick his ears in the direction of interesting sounds. They're much easier to do that with now, as they've shifted up his head, becoming soft-furred cat's ears. The swish of motion at the back of his calves turns out to be a matching tail. These new appendages merge onto his body seamlessly, and if he pays close attention he can feel how the tail slightly changes his balance. His entire body seems to have subtly shifted: spine a little more supple, the whole taking on a rather more feline grace. The coat on his ears and tail is fluffy and white, almost like a Persian's fur. There are more bells around his ankles and wrists, and brass rings through his nipples hold one last pair of them.

Shateishael grins suddenly, high-stepping in a small circle, his tail flicking fiercely back and forth. He snorts amusedly, "So this's whut Thea feels like!" He pauses, one front hoof still upraised as he sees Rosenstern, and repeats himself, although more admiringly this time, "Whoa! Dayum, li'l blossom... y'look good 'nuff t'eat!" He steps forward, hooves clopping on the hard-packed playa ground, and gently strokes his large, callused hands along Rosenstern's shoulders, then slowly down his back, fingers running through the luxurious fur... he rumbles in quiet pleasure, one hand sliding around to press the lovely little angel back against him while the other hand runs along the length of Rosenstern's tail.

When Bella steps through she finds herself having transformed in much the same way as her companions. A pair of russet-colored, black-tipped ears protrude from the mass of her hair and her simple clothes have been replaced with a simple white robe wrapped around her body and tied in place with a black sash of some shimmery material. From the base of her spine protrudes the huge brush-tail of a fox. She blinks and cranes her head, whistling through her teeth, "Oh, shit..." Shateishael blinks at Bella too, speechless by this point.

Rosenstern blinks in surprise, flicking his ears a bit unconsciously as he looks over himself. At first he doesn't notice anything different. He blinks and blushes to Slate, smiling shyly. "I'm not any different than before," he says, putting his hands behind his back... which is when he discovers the tail. Blinking confusedly, he turns around, looking at the tail, and a moment later realizes just how supple his spine is. "Oh... oh, my...." He blinks at Bella then, unable to say anything more.

Shateishael finally finds his voice, "Dayum! You guys are jus'..." He shakes his head bemusedly, and the long golden mane behind him flips back and forth a bit distractingly, "er..." He leans down towards Bella, reaching out with his free hand for her, "C'mere, beautiful, please? Wanna stroke y'r fur too!"

Bella grins and flicks her tail back and forth several times, seeming to enjoy the sensation moving it that way gives her. She moves over toward Slate, and that's when she realizes her legs seem to have transformed somewhat as well, ending in delicate fox paws. It takes her a moment to get the trick of walking on them, but she raises her brush of tail up toward Slate's hand, beaming, "Wow..."

Rosenstern shivers a bit with the unexpectedly sensuous sensation of being petted on his tail, which flicks slowly, swishing back and forth lazily as he gives a long, low purr. Shateishael's hand around Rosie slides up through the fur on the front of the slender angel's chest, absently tweaking one of the little nipple bells. With the other hand he strokes gently along Bella's tail to her rear, fingers sliding under the robe if she doesn't seem to mind. He grins delightedly, "Wow! Dunno whut's got inta Soma... but this's fun!" Bella doesn't seem to mind and actually swishes her tail more excitedly. She reaches out to let her fingertips brush through Rosie's hair to trace the outline of one of his ears. Now that she touches them, she sees that each ear is lined with over half a dozen tiny, delicate brass rings. Rosenstern takes in a sharp breath at the jingling of the bells, his tail flicking a bit more agitatedly. His ears flick a bit as well, and he blinks as he realizes the piercings in his ears. It seems to intoxicate him a little bit more.

Shateishael sighs quietly, shifting his large hooves carefully so he can stand next to both his graceful, incredibly alluring lovers, and slide a caressing arm about each of them. He lowers his head to nuzzle gently at the facial ruff framing Bella's face, murmuring contentedly, "Love ya, beautiful... y'both look... really d'licious..." His voice has dropped even lower, almost growling with pleasure. He inhales the strong, arousingly musky scent of eager fox and cat, and finds himself a moment later gently nibbling along the edges of Bella's excitedly pricked-up ears. He pulls Rosenstern snugly against his chest, almost between his sturdy forelegs.

Rosenstern smiles up to Slate, reaching up to run his hand along the big angel's cheek. "And you look very, very handsome, Slate. I knew the centaur look went well with you. Mmm, Thea might be pleased, too!"

Bella snuggles against Slate and reaches out again to play with the fur on Rosie's tail, eyes half-closed, "I can smell everything... this is... this is amazing..." Her tail starts up something that's damn near wagging, flicking against one of Slate's forelegs.

Shateishael chuckles, turning his head just enough to see Rosie as well as continue to gently nuzzle Bella. His cresting mane cascades in a heavy golden swirl across the back of Bella's head as he murmurs, "Dunno if'n she sees me thataways, but gotta say... if'n it wuz Spring heat, bet she'd be hard t'resist!" He nods to Bella, his movements almost languid as he continues gently playing with Rosie's nipple bell, doing his best to make the little angel almost incoherent with pleasure. "Yeah... y'all smell real strong a' wantin' sex... um..." He pauses at a sudden thought... then his hind legs shift around a bit as he leans low to look under himself. He straightens a moment later, with a sudden snort of laughter, "Oh, man! No wonder Karl's s'careful! Dunno how he does it, wi'folks all smellin' s'wunnerful!"

"I have to agree with Rosie, though, love. You look wonderful..." Bella slides her hand down the length of the Seraph-centaur's back and scritches just forward of the tail that's growing from the equine rump.

Shateishael chuckles at Bella's comment, "Why, thanks, beautiful!" He grins, putting his arms around Rosie and twisting to easily lift the kittyboi onto his back, "Hop on up, Bellisima -- le's go fin' Soma, 'n show off this 'mazin' new look!" Rosenstern blinks at Slate's comments, then laughs out loud, the bells and earrings jingling softly. He puts his arms around Slate's chest as they go off to find Soma. Bella pulls herself up onto Slate's back behind Rosie, snuggling up against the cat-boy Mercurian's back, hands stroking over his belly. The Bright rests her chin on Rosie's shoulder and grins broadly, ears flicking. Shateishael has a sudden urge to head off at a proudly high-stepping, head-tossing slow trot -- but then he remembers how incredibly bouncy that gait is. He grins, restraining himself to a walk, but his head is almost aggressively high, while his flowing tail is carried raised and swishing proudly.

Soma isn't in his yurt, and neither is Bacchus in his tent near the Summer Lord. There aren't many of the Ethereals around outside -- odd for this time of the day. Shateishael looks around puzzledly, wondering where everyone is... he rumbles to his companions, "Y'all reconize anyone t'ask 'bout whut's up? 'R... mebbe they're all up inna Marches?" He leans into a slow, very even, easy canter, carrying his beloveds easily and enjoying stretching his long legs in the faster gait. He's realizing very graphically just how sensually exciting it is to be a stallion around one's own herd! One of Bella's hands wanders down until her fingertips dip below the front of Rosie's loincloth. Rosenstern takes in a sharp breath and gives off a catlike, 'meep!' -- after that there's not much vocal from him. After a bit of looking around Slate sees a familiar, stocky form. Shale, the dwarf that appeared on the scene of his confrontation with Deirdre, is wandering the camp, moving purposely and looking as if he's on a mission of some sort.

Shateishael canters over easily, slowing carefully to a walk next to the dwarf. As he clops along next to the smaller man he rumbles, "Frien' Shale? C'n we trouble ya t'tell us whutsup wi'th'camp currently?" He absently reaches back with one hand, resting it on Rosie's thigh to brace the slight angel in place on his back as he looks inquiringly down at the smaller dwarf. He sniffs reflexively, trying to gauge Shale's mood by his scent. Bella is ignoring Slate's conversation with Shale, having become fascinated with the little wriggles and sounds she gets out of Rosie by pushing her hand a little further under his loincloth as she nibbles on his neck. That excited scent just seems to climb as she experiments. Shateishael's hooves shift back and forth, his high-raised tail swishing restlessly as his greatly improved sense of smell tells him just exactly what Bella's doing with Rosie. He takes a deep breath through his mouth, huffing it back out and turning his focus firmly onto the dwarf.

Shale's scent seems to carry hints of tiredness, determination. He doesn't seem unhappy, but neither does he seem thrilled, "Soma didn't take the dome down last night. He said he was testing something."

Shateishael looks a bit puzzled, "Wunner whutsup, that we look diff'rent this time 'roun'? Y'know where he went?" He leans a bit to sniff again at the dwarf, then adds with a touch of worry, "Y'all right, Shale? Smell bit tired?" Rosenstern's ears don't need to be feline acute in order to tell Slate's trying to behave himself. But he can't help it -- his arms around Slate's chest tighten a little, and bit by bit he finds his hands starting to roam over Slate's chest even as he shifts his position, not at all sure if he should squirm away from Bella's touch or to move himself closer. Despite his curiosity at Soma's whereabouts and 'test,' he can't help but be even more distracted, and a tiny mewl escapes his throat.

The dark-haired dwarf motions toward the pavilion. "He's in there with the... with Karl and Bacchus and a few others. Most folks are still asleep after that ruckus last night."

Shateishael adds slowly, "In there wi'th' whut, please?"

Shale actually chuckles a bit and shrugs, "I don't really understand how t' sidhe glamour works. An' I've just been up for goin' on twenty-four hours. Don't feel quite right sleepin' yet." He snorts, "Th' generals, was gonna say."

Shateishael nods thoughtfully, straightening to stare consideringly at the pavilion. Then he looks back to the dwarf, rumbling politely, "Thankya kin'ly, Shale. If'n folks don' need me in there, I'll see if'n I c'n come spell ya later, if'n y'd like." He whirls easily on his haunches, careful not to disturb his beloved riders as he canters light-footedly towards the pavilion's entrance. He feels almost thrillingly, fiercely alive -- he had no idea stronger senses would make him feel so wonderfully and aggressively the Warrior! Also, Rosie's squirming seems to make Bella even more eager and she snuggles closer against Rosie's back, almost seeming to be trying to pin him against Slate's back as the explorations of her hand get downright intimate and she's humming happily to herself. Her tail swishes back and forth across Slate's back.

Shateishael clops up to the entrance, using a javelin to carefully brush aside the entrance flap from his riders as he steps proudly into the pavilion. He has a momentary urge to bugle a neighing challenge -- he shuts his mouth firmly to suppress it, and pauses just inside the pavilion, turning his long body slightly so his beloveds can see past his broad torso, and he can show how beautiful they look. He surveys the inside of the pavilion with bright-eyed pride, his high-held tail swishing relaxedly. By that point Rosenstern is almost in a world all his own, soft purrs and mewls escaping his throat in an oddly purring timbre. But he is definitely not complaining about Bella's teasing, and his back arches, rather feline-like as he stretches a little. His hands are very lightly scratching Slate's chest.

When the angels move into the pavilion they're met by a low whistle of appreciation in one voice and a chuckle in another. Soma's generals seem to consist of Karl, Ajax, and Bacchus. At the chuckle Bella opens her eyes and smiles at the four Ethereals there. Soma himself is lounging on his side, smiling dreamily at what his dome has wrought. The one caprine and two equine are all grinning widely. By his arched brows it was probably Bacchus who whistled. Ajax's eyes are twinkling with mirth. Karl, despite his smile, is carefully looking over Slate and his new body language. Shateishael clops forward, nodding politely to everyone and struggling with the difference between what his head and his slightly more equine body are telling him to do. He stops and sets his hooves firmly, mentally focusing himself on behaving correctly, and rumbles amusedly, "'Kay, this's diff'rent... whutch'all doin', if'n y'don' mind m'askin'?"

Soma slowly stands up, seeming like he's moving through a dream, "There's been something wonderful, and I've been stretching myself into it." He almost floats over toward the Celestials in their Ethereal forms, "A pooka... my sweet bloom... and a centaur... and a kitsune... ahh... lovely." One slender blue hand reaches up and rests on Slate's withers.

Shateishael starts to shift restlessly, then restrains himself, instead simply twisting his torso to watch alertly. He rumbles, "Pooka? Who'zat?"

Bacchus laughs quietly and rises as well. He's still wearing the kilt from the night before, but the harness is gone, "Usually by sunup he has to let the heavier aspects of the glamour drop. Take a rest, you know... but he's not been tired."

Shateishael glances at Bacchus, still feeling incredibly, almost aggressively alert, "Yeah? Whutsat mean?"

Rosenstern manages -- barely -- to turn his attention partially from what Bella is doing to him to Soma. He blushes with both shyness and a bit of arousal, both at the sight of Soma, the residual glamour from the night before, and Bella. She laughs quietly, letting her hands rest around Rosie as she smiles down at Soma. She nuzzles her cheek against the back of Rosie's neck, "Soma... this is... amazing." The Summer King leans his head against Rosie's knee, sliding a hand up the Mercurian's bared thigh, "Oh, it is."

Bacchus smirks slightly, "It means that he's growing stronger."

Rosenstern's mewling takes a slightly higher pitch; even if Bella isn't teasing him, Soma's touching him as well, and he's astride Slate, feeling his lover's strong muscles beneath him. It's a far stronger experience than he thought it would be. Even as he's dazed, however, he manages to focus on Bacchus's words. "He... h-he is?" he squeaks.

Shateishael holds his hooves firmly still again, although his tail is still swishing agitatedly. He glances at Soma, then back at Bacchus. His voice is carefully thoughtful, "'Kay, this's a good thing, yeah? So... why're y'all standin' 'roun' him like y'r pr'tectin' him? Y'all jus' watchin', 'r's there sumpin' t'worry 'bout?"

Karl moves around toward Slate, examining the Seraph's temporary form. He offers his hand to the big blond chestnut, "Well, can't say f'r sure what might happen. We don't know if he might collapse from it."

Soma smiles up at Rosenstern, eyes shining, "Oh... a tail..." He sounds positively intoxicated, then tips his head, "Two tails, actually... oh, no -- three." He laughs and leans against Slate's broad side.

Shateishael draws a slow breath as the other older stallion moves near him, not quite stiffening up in an effort to keep from giving an angry equine squeal... he rumbles carefully, "Karl, how y'keep from wantin' t'kick any hooved males movin' near ya?" He forces his hand out, palm open and up in a friendly gesture -- then looks startledly over his shoulder at Soma. He looks back at the other Ethereals, adding surprisedly, "He drunk on power 'r sumpin'?"

Karl snorts slightly, "Long years o' practice, Slate." He grasps Slate's forearm and smiles crookedly, "You feelin' like you're wantin' t'be herd stallion?"

Bacchus nods slightly, "Something like that. He says this is something he wasn't expecting." Rosenstern blinks a little at Soma, prrt?ing in concern. He's seen Soma intoxicated, but not quite like this. It's doesn't quite take him down from the arousal he feels, but it does diminish it a bit. He reaches over to gently touch Soma's hair worriedly.

Shateishael nods, looking embarrassed as he returns the greeting gesture, "Sorry. Y'd think I'd have some idea a' how t'control it after alla th'years wi' Thea."

Karl lowers his voice, sounding almost sympathetic, "Alla those years, y'weren't an actual stallion."

Shateishael looks puzzledly at Bacchus, focusing on the smaller goat-man rather than the big stallion standing next to him, so he can try to diffuse some of the pressing urge to assert equine dominance, "Wait... y'mean this wuzn't planned? Whut happened?" He sighs a bit gustily, nodding a touch tightly to Karl, "Well... tech'nic'ly, still ain't... 'n be damned if'n I'm gonna 'llow m'Vessel t'override m'common sense!"

Soma smiles up at Rosie and then, much more quickly than would seem possible in his dreamy state, he takes the Mercurian's hand and raises his wrist to drink in his scent. A moment later his tongue flicks out to trace the bracelets of fortune before he nips at the fleshy pad of Rosie's thumb. "I had been thinking that all of you were seeming more and more like family..." Rosenstern's eyes widen a little bit at the touch and the light nibble. He makes a tiny whimpering sound of pleasure, his eyes starting to drift closed again.

Bacchus moves carefully toward the angels. "Which part are you asking about, Slate? We didn't plan for Soma to suddenly seem to have a power spike, no. And I didn't know you were going to come across the dome with hooves and a tail."

Ajax chuckles and raises one eyebrow, "No, I'd say right now you're pretty much a stallion. You sure as all hell don't smell like a gelding."

Shateishael glances back at Soma, listening interestedly, and leaving his hand closed about Karl's forearm. Interestingly the rational part of him finds Karl's calm steadying... he'll release when Karl does, of course, but until then, curiously enough, the firm grasp helps him brace himself mentally. [Hm... actually, I guess that makes sense -- horses are really touch oriented and constantly brushing against each other.] Ajax's words unfortunately don't help, though -- his head comes up with a sharp snort, and his eyes flash for a moment as he shifts his weight -- then he remembers Soma's feet are far, far softer than his, and he closes his hand more firmly around Karl's forearm. He's an angel, dammit! Not a horse -- he is in control of himself!

When he sees Slate's eyes flash Karl squeezes the angel's arm a little more firmly, murmuring, "Deep breaths, lad. It'll pass. Eventually."

Soma smiles, his eyes sliding down to where Bella's hand has disappeared into the front of Rosie's loincloth, laughing softly, "Ahh, no matter the form, the nature manifests true..." He seems delighted for some reason. He closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths, not letting go his grip on Rosie, "I could drop the glamour if any of you are uncomfortable. But I would rather see if I can continue to sustain it. I feel as if I could hold it for a year..."

Shateishael draws a few slow, deep breaths, nodding to Karl and forcing his large body to stillness -- his tail is practically whipping back and forth as a result of not moving -- then focuses on Bacchus again, "Uh... which part... right. Wuz wond'rin'... whut might cause a power spike? This got sumpin' t'do wi'us, 'n Soma's comment 'bout us feelin' more like family?" He firmly shunts aside the seductive, almost visceral understanding of precisely where and how this body would strike to show that little upstart colt just who's boss! -er, no... no, he's, um... got riders, that's it! Can't go being nasty to others like that either. Right. Deep breaths...

Bella slowly extracts her hand, though her fingers drag along Rosie sensually the whole way, "I sort of like it. I've got a tail!" She grins and swishes it again, bouncing just slightly on Slate's back. Shateishael grins, relaxing a bit. Amazing how much touch helps him calm down! He makes a mental note to keep his lovers close -- and Karl too, if he can persuade the other stallion to do so -- should he ever be in this form again. He looks back at Bacchus inquiringly.

Bacchus clears his throat, "We think it has something to do with your Rosenstern, actually."

Shateishael nods, "Go on?"

Soma leans his head against Rosie's knee and nuzzles there, thumb brushing over the Mercurian's palm, "They think that because I feed on flowers and sweet Rosie gave himself to me for so long that I have done something like... what do the runners call it? Carbo-loading?"

Rosenstern blinks a little, some familiarity with human ways coming back to his mind after all this time of not worrying about that. "I think... yes, something like that...."

Shateishael ahs softly, looking thoughtfully down at the fae. With his free hand he reaches out and lightly touches Soma's hair -- a gentle stroke along the shining cobalt blue -- and rumbles quietly, "I unnerstan', I think." He twists a bit more, adding to Rosie with a warmly affectionate smile, "Good job, pretty flow'r. Allus knew y'wuz good fortune romantically."

Bacchus nods quietly, "Something like that. He's had basically a large amount of extremely potent... energy."

Shateishael considers a bit, then grins as he adds, "So th' li'l Rosebud's not justa bridge f'female 'n male spirits... looks like he's bridgin' C'lestial 'n 'thereal too. Fascinatin'!" He pats Rosie's thigh gently where he can reach, and rumbles quietly, "'M proud a' ya, li'l spirit," then slowly releases Karl's arm... he thinks he's got himself in check now. Whew!

Soma leans his head into Slate's touch -- this has likely been the most physically at ease he's seemed with the big angel. He holds his arms up toward Rosie, "Would you come down to my arms, little one? If your lovers do not mind letting you go so I may greet you?"

Rosenstern blinks and looks to Slate at the request. Shateishael tilts his head, not quite wanting to lose contact with one of the two folks helping him anchor... then he realizes there's probably not quite enough room for all three of them along his sturdy barrel. He grins slightly at that thought, then nods to Rosie, "G'head, lover. Need t'be sure I c'n c'ntrol m'se'f as it is." Rosenstern nods, smiling to Slate, then looks curiously to Bella, though he's enjoying her teasing... Bella grins and shifts back a little to let Rosie slide off Slate's back. Slate glances thoughtfully at Rosenstern, wondering... do Ethereals benefit from Celestial lovers, or is it just when the Ether- wait, he can just ask! He glances at the two older (and less befuddled-looking) Ethereals, "So... this sumpin' 'at happens ev'ry time an 'thereal is wi' a C'lestial lover, 'r jus' when th' 'thereal eats energy?"

Bacchus shrugs and smiles, "I've never seen it happen this way."

Shateishael twists back, almost without thinking about it, to reach back and put a hand on Bella. He firmly reminds himself -- he's not alone, and he does not have to fight for his herd and he is going to behave himself! He nods absently to Bacchus, "'Kay... huh."

Rosenstern slips from Slate's back, almost in the same motion slipping into Soma's arms... Soma doesn't actually let Rosie's feet touch the ground. He slides his hands under the cat-boy Mercurian's rump to hold him up and leans forward so that he's got Rosie pressed between Slate's strong side and his own body. The kiss he gives the Flowerkin starts out with little nips and teases of his tongue along the cat-furred Celestial's lower lip. Between them he murmurs, "Thank you for this gift, beautiful Rose of God's Heaven."

Shateishael's fingers gently stroke through the fur on Bella, and he muses to Bacchus, "So... this stays up 'til it runs out?"

Bacchus nods, arms crossed over his chest, smiling somewhat crookedly, "It's been interesting in here. A lot of the various courtiers have been a little dazed. Some of them haven't felt this much like themselves in centuries."

Shateishael says, "Dazed? Like... themselves? Um... 'xplain, please? They okay?" He tilts his head, studying Bacchus carefully and unwittingly sniffing at the goat man as well in an effort to understand.

Rosenstern gives a soft, purring meow, sliding his arms about Soma's shoulders. "I hadn't even known I would give it, my Lord," he prrts softly, "but I am so, so glad it happened." He begins to return to soft, small kisses and nips to Soma's lips, his tail swishing behind him agitatedly, his ears flat back.

Bacchus smiles slightly and nods, "Yeah, they're fine. Like ourselves... well. You know last night I had to go and get my kilt?" Bacchus smells of sex, purely and unadulterated -- sex with a clean, green scent behind it -- something growing and fertile. "Long ago we satyrs earned our reputation as lechers quite honestly. My body was remembering those days."

Shateishael gives Bacchus a confused look, "I... don' unnerstan'. Y'surely not tellin' me y'weren' havin' sex b'fore this?"

Bacchus laughs and actually slaps his thigh, "I didn't say I was impotent, Slate. But I could be in the presence of a beautiful lady or a lovely lad without my anatomy betraying me. Last night that was no longer the case."

Shateishael wonders a bit worriedly how the folks he knows and likes are doing... is Peony all right? What about Bast and Ayra and Pan and... his eyes widen, "The flow'r ladies? They feelin' better too? 'N whut 'bout y'r Willow Lady -- this reflectin' upstairs too?"

Soma shifts so that he is using one arm to support Rosie's behind; the other reaches up to stroke over his silky-furred ears as they lay back. He whispers, "Something has you either excited or agitated..." He half-absently answers Slate, "I have been to see Rose and Lily." His eyes start to shine, "They wish to see you all soon, I believe."

Shateishael glances amusedly at Soma, "Uh, yeah, he's 'xcited. Alla us 're 'xcited -- never had s'much sensory input in m'entire life!" He grins at Bacchus, his eyes lighting up, "So from whatcha sayin', there's a good chance some a' y'all're gonna have babies from las' night? 'N yeah, we'd love t'see th'flow'r ladies 'gain, 'n- oh!" He turns to Karl, adding, "Shale's been up 24 hours, 'n still walkin' guard. There anybody t'spell him f'a bit, p'raps?"

Rosenstern purrs long and deeply, almost oblivious now to everything else. "Yes..." he breathes. It's not clear if it's a plea or acknowledgement.

Ajax is the one that responds to that, shaking his head in amusement, "I told him to get some shut-eye. I'll go relieve him." The younger centaur walks very carefully around Slate, giving him a respectful berth.

Shateishael finds himself starting to twitch as the younger centaur approaches, and gives a small irritated growl to himself as he concentrates on being still. Unfortunately the growl sounds a bit more like a challenging equine squeal, causing Slate to flush and mutter, "Uh, sorry..."

Bacchus laughs and there's mischief in his eyes, "Lord knows I certainly did my share to try for a few." Bella grins and bounces again, causing some interesting movements under the robe she's wearing, "Baby fae? Little nymphs and satyrs and dryads and sidhe?" Shateishael grins, relaxing at Bella's enthusiasm, brushing one large hand gently over her thigh where he can reach her. He sighs... being a stallion is surprisingly hard work sometimes!

Karl chuckles and reaches out to squeeze Slate's arm again, "It's OK, lad. I think he realizes what's going on." Despite his calm words, the older centaur's tail lashes through the air.

Soma takes a long moment to kiss Rosenstern, still holding him pressed against Slate so that the cat boy finds himself trapped between his male lovers. When the kiss breaks he murmurs, "Good." Rosenstern gives a sound that is most definitely less a purr and more a groan as he feels Slate behind him and Soma before him. He hold himself to Soma tightly, plunging himself into the kiss.

Shateishael gives Karl a guilty look, "I'm irritatin' you too, ain't I... um..." he looks around, then adds, "Mebbe might be best if'n we went t'meet th'flow'r ladies?" The irrational part of him really really wants to squeal at Karl too! He carefully puts a hand over his mouth, concentrating on calm.

Karl chuckles, "My hindbrain wants to remind you who the lead stallion here is and this is my territory. But I've been practicin' this a long time. You won't misbehave if you c'n help it."

Shateishael nods to Karl, his gaze wry, and takes deep, slow breaths. Not his territory, and he's not going to pick a fight! Ruefully he thinks, [Now to just convince myself of that...] He twists around abruptly, putting his arms around Bella and hugging her tightly, pressing his face into her hair for a moment so she's all he can scent. [Deep breaths... deep slow breaths...]

Karl once again squeezes Slate's forearm gently, "Still... I think I should join Ajax for a moment and let Bacchus and Soma explain things. That way you aren't fighting instincts other than the ones having to do with the way your lovers smell." He smiles as Slate buries himself in Bella and carefully moves out of the pavilion.

Shateishael rumbles muffledly, "Thanks, Karl," but doesn't let go of Bella immediately unless she wants him to. Bella hugs Slate back tightly and strokes his hair, which flows into that lovely mane down his back, nuzzling the top of his head. Bacchus smiles slightly and sits down, waiting for the foursome to untangle somewhat.

Soma eventually pulls back somewhat reluctantly from the kiss, smiling at Rosenstern, "Shall I put you back on your Warrior's back, bloom of my heart?"

Shateishael sighs at Bella stroking his hair, feeling Rosie pressed against his shoulder... okay, he can do this. Slowly he starts relaxing, and when his tail isn't swishing madly back and forth any more he carefully released Bella. He looks a bit embarrassed, a bit unhappy, as he murmurs to her, "Thanks, sweetheart. Damnedest thin'... hard t'think like this sometimes!" Then he glances at Soma, adding half-apologetically, "Ac'sh'ly, umm... y'min' holdin' onta him f'justa sec? 'N Bellisima, c'n y'slide off justa sec? Think Karl's had 'nuff time t'be 'way from th'fronta th'pavilion... 'n I'd like t'stretch m'legs justa sec, please?"

Bella smiles and wriggles a little on Slate's back, "It's OK. I've been resisting the urge, with all this talk of stallions this and lechers that to have a peek under your belly." She scritches through Slate's chestnut coat, grinning broadly at him... do her teeth look slightly more pointed? "I don't think it's any harder than being an angel. It's just different. I mean, how hard did you have to work to figure out that stories aren't lies?" Rosenstern starts to say yes, then hears Slate's request and looks between the two confusedly. Bella wriggles herself backward and slides off Slate's rump, taking a moment to scritch just in front of his tail and give his rump a fond pat before she scampers over to flop down next to Bacchus. Soma shifts so that he's holding Rosie with both arms again and changes his balance so that he's not leaning against Slate with the sweetly feline little angel. Rosenstern prrs again, wrapping his legs around Soma as well now.

Shateishael rolls his eyes amusedly at Bella's comment, "Oh, lordy... that wuz a bear'n a half, true!" He grins, his mood rising a bit, and chuckles at Bella's comment, "Sweetheart, y'don' need t'look if'n y'ever seen a stallion b'fore... ain't nuthin' new, 'far's I know." He sighs once he's got no riders, then trots quickly over to the entrance to the pavilion, looking out cautiously to be sure Ajax and Karl aren't around -- he doesn't want to offend or challenge friends at this point. Then he draws a deep, relieved breath at noticing both centaurs are gone -- and his haunches bunch up and he practically explodes out of the pavilion! There's a happy squeal as he goes straight up on his hind legs, pawing towards the sun -- then twists as he falls, landing stiff-legged and sunfishing in wicked, twisting bucks that draw grunts of effort out of him. The people in the pavilion can see him occasionally through the entrance as he works off the accumulated tension of the last few minutes in typically equine fashion -- explosive and joyous movement!

Bella smiles, having seen Thea do something like this a time or two, but never with quite that flavor to the explosion of energy. Without even thinking about it she stretches out on her side and puts her head in the lap of the casually sprawled satyr.

The Summer Lord has shifted his grip so that his hands are actually beneath the loincloth on Rosie's rump. He carries Rosie over to where Bella and Bacchus sit and lowers himself carefully. One he's settled he lets one hand wander, stroking the hair between Rosie's flickering, ring-bedecked ears before moving down to slide over the sleek-furred tail. Rosenstern curls himself in a very feline manner in Soma's lap, nuzzling Soma's arm as he curl-stretches, shivering and giving soft mewls with the increasingly intimate touches. As Rosie snuggles kitten-like against him, Soma starts stroking his stomach. Sometimes the touches stray upward to play with the bells dangling from his pierced nipples, sometimes quite low on all that entrancingly soft stomach. Rosenstern's back arches with the stroking, his purrs deepening and basking in the touches like he would sunlight. Each intimate touch makes him tremble a bit more, becoming more and more excited and at the same time more and more unlikely to move from that spot.

Shateishael finally eases off into a relaxed canter circling the open area before the pavilion, the occasional happy buck tossed in just for the pleasure of it... then, still grinning and panting slightly, he heads back towards the pavilion at a high-stepping, ringing trot. He feels much better now! He ducks his head under the entrance flap and slows to a walk once he's inside, glancing around alertly. He's still got that very high tail carriage, but he doesn't look like he's got an urgent need to trample something any more. He snorts faintly at seeing both lovers curled up with the Ethereals, but simply draws a long breath and rumbles to them, "'Kay... whutch'all need t' 'xplain t'us?" One forehoof paws the ground a touch impatiently, until Slate notices and firmly plants it on the ground.

Bacchus seems to be quite carefully keeping his hands on the ground despite the comfortably snuggled Bright. He smiles up at Slate, "This was about it. Somhairle seems to be having a power spike. We think it might have something to do with Rosenstern. But I have a bit of a theory. Soma and Rosie made love before that... but when that happened, none of you had been to the Garden."

Shateishael nods, listening to Bacchus as he lifts one hoof, leaning to check and see if he's shod, "Y'think th'Garden augmented us 'r sumpin', 'n that passed on t'Soma?" Slate is shod. Nicely, too -- the sort of shoeing job done by a farrier trying to show what a perfectly shod hoof should look like.

Soma is watching Rosie with something that can really only be called adoration mixed with ardor. The fae lord's voice is starting to sound a little less intoxicated, as if having Rosie there grounds him somewhat, "The Garden is an archetypal place, the Bower even moreso. I have come to wonder if Flowerkin is truly the sweet bloom's self."

Shateishael straightens, pleased -- sharp job! Makes sense, since the centaurs and satyrs are all shod too, as he recalls. He'll have to remember no kicking or pawing, though -- metal edged hooves can slash right through bone, from what he's seen, and while he doesn't expect to be in a fight, he also doesn't want to accidentally damage someone else's stuff. He idly wonders why Thea dislikes horseshoes so... maybe she considers them a white man's thing? Then he rumbles thoughtfully to Soma, "Y'mean... mebbe we're more y'all's flavor now, 'r sumpin'? 'R..." he ponders a bit, then tilts his head curiously at Soma, even as he clops over towards Bella and Bacchus, "Y'r sayin' we're really th'archetypes? 'R they're us, 'r sumpin'?"

Bacchus smiles and shrugs, "From what we've sort of hashed out, we think that the Garden or the Bower or just something about you passing in and out of the glamour has... unlocked something. Like taking the Flowerkin to the Garden was..." he raises one hand off the ground and makes a waffling motion, "like it was a key and he was a lock."

Shateishael glances at Bacchus as he leans to run a stroking hand along Bella's side. His voice is puzzledly flat, "A... lock. T'whut?" A moment later he adds, "This got anythin' t'do wi'our bondin'?"

Bacchus shrugs, smiling lopsidedly, "Wish I knew, Slate."

Bella arches into the stroking of Slate's hand, tail swishing lazily. She sounds almost sleepy as she murmurs again, "I. Have. A tail." She giggles a bit and stretches.

Shateishael frowns perplexedly, absently watching Bella as he runs his fingers gently through her fur, "So..." He grins, relaxing a bit at Bella's obvious enjoyment, then touches her gently, murmuring, "Sweetheart? Y'wanna hug?" He has a very strong urge to press close to her, and in this form settling next to her and Bacchus has a good chance of squishing them.

Bella opens her eyes and grins up at Slate, wriggling her way to her feet she wraps her arms around him where his human torso melds into his equine body and hugs him tightly. Shateishael gently scoops Bella up into his arms, straightening his torso and relievedly hugging her close, pressing his face against the side of her head and rumbling quietly to her, "Y'smell so incredibly good, lover!"

Soma smiles and continues caressing Rosie, "I think it fulfilled something. Some condition." He laughs, fingertips tickling the back of one of Rosie's adorably pointed ears. Rosenstern's ear flicks and he gives a soft chuckling purr at the tickle. His eyes are bright now as he finds a state of mind where he can relish the caresses and touches that Soma is giving him while still managing to comprehend the conversation. As Soma is caressing him, gingerly his own fingers are touching the fae lord, and every so often he leans up to nuzzle beneath Soma's chin.

Shateishael finally draws a slow breath, relaxing a bit as he rumbles to Bella, "Y'wanna sit on me 'r onna groun', beautiful?" To Soma and Bacchus he adds, "'Kay, so what're we lookin' at here? If'n there're conditions on th'Bower, who put 'em in place? There more we need t'try unlockin'? Would th' Willow Lady know what wuz up there?"

Bacchus shrugs, "I'm not sure anyone actually knew about what would happen. We didn't have a clue. I've been through to ask Zareh, but she was as surprised as we are."

Bella smiles and squirms a little, "Put me on your back. I can snuggle you from up there."

Shateishael brightens in pleasure, twisting to settle the lovely Bright gently sidesaddle on his back, staying turned towards her so he can run a stroking hand along Bella's thigh and tail. He glances at Bacchus, still bright-eyed, and nods, "She's 'kay? She's closer t'th'Bower'n we are, after all...?"

Bacchus chuckles softly and sighs in a satisfied sort of say, "My Lady is a lovely as ever. She seemed happy to hear what's happening."

Shateishael nods, faintly relieved, then glances at Soma, "'Kay... so, whut now? Y'want us t'go back'n see if'n sumpin' else happens, 'r stick 'roun' here'bouts 'til it wears off, 'r whut? How c'n we help?"

Soma smiles, "I'd like for you to stay with us until the end of the festival. You don't have to, but I wanted to extend the invitation. Karl and Ajax and Bacchus and I will help you move any of your things. With things changing as they are, I wanted to invite you three to join us rather than visit."

Rosenstern blinks, his ears perking interestedly and curiously. Shateishael shifts slightly in surprise... then grins, "Well now, tha's right kind a'y'all! Um..." He thinks a bit, then adds, "We gotta pickup, though, 'member? Don' wanna burn anyone, 'r have it freeze solid?"

Bacchus nods, "I don't know that sending you back to the Bower is needed... though you're all welcome to go, of course." When Slate mentions the truck, the satyr chuckles, "Many of us drove. We have the vehicles parked a way off from the camp."

Shateishael nods thoughtfully to Bacchus... then glances between his lovers, "Whutch'all think? Wanna shift camp, 'r stay put?" He adds with a smile to Bella, "Wouldn't hafta worry none 'bout Lilith here, 'm guessin'?"

Bella smiles and leans her head against Slate's shoulders, "I'd like to stay here for the last couple of days."

Rosenstern smiles, purring. "I... I kinda like the idea of staying here for the last few days as well..."

Shateishael grins, stroking her hair with gentle fingers... then he grins down at Rosenstern, looking blissed out in Soma's lap, as the slight Mercurian replies. To Soma he replies, "Then we'd be honored, Summer Lord."

Soma smiles -- beams really -- and nods, some tension leaking out of his body. He tips Rosie's chin up and kisses him again, mmming against his lips. "It's my honor for you to be guests here."

Shateishael adds a bit bemusedly as he looks around, "Uhh... we gonna hol' these Vessels, though, f'th'next coupla days, 'r whut? 'N... y' 'xpectin' more changes?!"

Soma laughs dreamily, "As I said, I can drop the glamour if you are uncomfortable. But I think this is likely what you'll wear until you leave again. You may change into something else if you leave and return." Rosenstern unconsciously gives a long, low, rumbling, happy-kitty purr at that idea. Soma laughs at the purr and slides his hand along Rosie's stomach again, "I must say I'm rather fond of these forms you wear."

Shateishael nods slowly, a bit reassured -- if the stallion part pushes him too hard he can always step outside, then back again. He grins, "'Kay, don' drop it then, please..." He glances down the length of his barrel, realizing suddenly he's a) likely not going to be able to make love to his beloveds in this shape, and b) likely going to have a bit of an issue with size in the tent! Then Rosie purrs and Slate's reservations melt -- the pretty Mercurian and the Bright are having so much fun! He doesn't have the heart to mess with it. He reassures himself -- he can surely handle himself for a few more days, after all. He makes a mental note, though, to keep one or both of his lovers close all the time! Then he takes a deep breath and smiles, "Well... guess we sh'd go see th'flow'r ladies then, yeah? Y'said they wan'ed t'see us soon, after all?"

Then Shateishael pauses, a thought occurring to him, and rumbles slowly, "No... wait. I'm doin' this wrong, ain't I? I'm th'Warrior archetype, 'n ev'ry form we've taken here t'date's taught us sumpin' 'bout 'rselves... so I shouldn't be runnin' from this; I should be workin' it out so's I c'n handle it smoothly." He's silent a moment, absently stroking Bella's tail and thigh as she sits on his back, then nods to himself, "Yeah. Stallions work t'gether jus' fine, 'long's there's no mares in heat 'round 'em. 'N I handled th'Warrior jus' fine las' night, after Karl gave me th'idea t'work with it, not 'gainst it... so I jus' need t'do th'same thin' here, right?" He looks pleased, then adds, "Jus' gotta 'member th'Warrior's a pr'tector 's well as a fighter, 'n people ain't property... 'n how stallions settle arguments wi'out fightin'," he grins, his eyes alight with mischief, "'n that Thea'd kick m'butt if'n she foun' out I wuz rude inna horse form!"

Shateishael tosses his head back relaxedly as he laughs, then muses cheerfully, "So... how t'start..." He studies Soma ponderingly, then turns his gaze to Bacchus, his long golden tail swishing thoughtfully back and forth. "Don' feel all 'ggressive 'bout Soma, but I did 'bout you... why's that." He's silent a moment again, just studying the satyr... then he slowly holds a hand out to Bacchus, "Karl 'n Soma both touched me, 'n it wuz nice 'n relaxin'. Wanna try?"

Bacchus chuckles and pushes himself to his feet and moves over to offer Slate his hand, "It may also be that you already think of Soma as someone you share Rosenstern with, and I'm not Bella's lover."

Shateishael shakes his head, "Dunno... but I do know I feel like Soma's someone I should d'fend." He takes Bacchus's hand, looking down thoughtfully at the satyr for a moment... then grins, clopping forward a step so he can look directly down at the top of Bacchus's head. He reaches with his free hand and (if the satyr doesn't flinch away) curiously runs his slightly scarred fingers over the heavy, curving horns, "Pan says y'hadda cut y'horns back coupla times cuz a' fightin'. Thought y'all were more lovers'n fighters, though... whutcha fightin' 'bout?"

Bacchus looks a little confused at Slate's sudden touch on the top of his head. He stays still and lets the ersatz centaur examine his horns, "We are more lovers than fighters, but there have been a lot of wars over the years. I couldn't just sit back during them. And crooked horns are frightful ugly, so if they break I cut them back and let them grow again." There are some areas along the horns that do look like they've been perhaps polished or ground down. "Then I end up having to shape them because they don't grow back quite right. It's a mess."

Shateishael chuckles quietly, "Yeah, I hear 'at 'bout not jus' standin' by." He studies the horns a moment longer, then grins relaxedly, inordinately pleased with himself. "Think I got it now -- thanks, Bacchus! Been 'roun' modern humans too much, 'n f'got how good simple contact feels. Gonna hafta 'member that 'roun' y'all, 'm thinkin'." He leans a bit and, if the satyr doesn't seem to mind, gives him a gentle hug.

Bacchus chuckles and returns the hug, thumping Slate companionably on the back as he does so, "Aye, we are a touchy lot. And honestly, goats aren't always peaceful. We've got horns for a reason. Dominance displays. Self-defense."

Shateishael nods and grins as he straightens from the hug, "Yeah, seen that on 'ccasion. S'okay... think I figger'd it out -- jus' gotta 'member not ev'ryone wantsta fight, 'n d'fend th'folks that're willin' t'be honest wi'me, 'n it'll be fine." He grins cheerfully, his eyes lighting up noticeably as he adds, "An' if'n folks wanna test 'emselves 'gainst me, happy t' 'blige!" His big hooves shift a touch restlessly as he mentions that... then he grins, standing steady as he adds, "Y'wanna c'mon 'long, Soma, t'visit th'flow'r ladies, 'r whut?" He thoughtfully rumbles half to himself, "Sh'd check this self-c'ntrol thin' wi'Ajax 'n Karl too, t'be sure."

Bacchus nods and goes to settle back down where he was sitting before, leaning back to rest on his elbows, chuckling at Slate's excited thoughts on getting to test himself against someone. Shateishael holds out an inviting hand towards Soma and Rosenstern; the other still rests relaxedly against Bella. Soma looks up from where he's still caressing Rosenstern's stomach and nuzzling at his ears, "I would be happy to visit the renewed flowers." Rosenstern brightens at the prospect of the trip and at Soma's joining them, and purrs, starting to slip off of Soma's lap and giving a long, languid, and very feline stretch.

Bella wriggles forward until she's pressed against Slate's human back. Were she riding piggyback on his fully human form she'd be wrapping her legs around him just above the hips. Then, because they're in the way, she starts pulling the javelins from the sheath and dropping them on the ground. Shateishael grins, "Hol' on, lover! Lemme jus' take this off'n leave it here, 'kay? Na'much f'throwin' thin's as it is..." He lifts the strap over his head, giving Bacchus (as the least dreamy looking Ethereal here) an inquiring look, "S'okay t'leave this here?"

Bacchus takes the sheath and starts picking the javelins up to put them back in it. "I'll put this in my tent. I don't know if it will continue to exist if you cross the glamour, but it's rude to leave weapons lying around."

Shateishael nods to Bacchus, "Thanks, guy. I'll keep an eye on Soma 'till you 'r th'centaurs turn up 'gain, promise."

Soma watches Rosie's stretch with adoration and a healthy helping of naked lust. After a moment he realizes he's holding his breath and laughs at himself, starting to get to his feet. Shateishael also turns his gaze to the butterfly fae and the Flowerkin. He grins at the languid stretch, admiring the pretty way Rosenstern shifts his slender body... then offers his hand again, cheerfully rumbling, "C'mon, pretty kitty... wanna ride 'gain?" He tilts his head thoughtfully as he watches Soma too... and the faintly puzzled thought occurs to him -- if Soma cannot love Rosenstern... what is he feeling? He runs his free hand gently over Bella's legs, where she's wrapped herself about his waist. He feels very, very nice currently... like he has lots of lovely people to protect! It makes him feel very proudly useful and helpful -- a lovely sensation indeed.

Rosenstern bobs his head, beaming, and slinks onto Slate's back behind Bella, glancing back at Soma with twinkling eyes and a twitching tail. Shateishael twists enough to gently run his free hand over Rosenstern, then grins at Soma, "C'mon... c'n lean on me 'n put an arm 'bout Rosie's rear as we walk, if'n y'want?"

Soma moves toward the pavilion entrance, letting his hand trail over Slate's withers to Bella's hip and finally to Rosenstern's thigh. As he passes down Slate's barrel, he does just as Slate suggests, sliding his arm around the curve of Rosie's rump, under the base of the feline tail. "Good suggestions." Rosenstern prrs comfortably at the multiple sensations, and the unusual sensation of all three people he is intimate with touching him and touching each other at the same time. It's almost blissing him out, in a way.

Shateishael inhales slowly, drawing in the scents of his people. So many hearthfolk! He feels almost nostalgic, remembering times when he had an entire clan to be close to. He'd missed that so much for so long, he'd almost forgotten how warm and secure it felt. He's delighted to feel that wonderful sensation again. He grins, looking back to be sure everyone's in place and steady, then nods, turning towards the entrance, "'Kay, here we go, folks!" He paces out at a careful, decorous walk, not wanting to either step on Soma or leave the fae lord behind. He can move faster later; now's for keeping everyone warmly together. Soma takes a step or two to figure out Slate's gait and speed, the fingers resting against Rosie's bared hip stroking there unthinkingly. Some of his weight does lean against Slate and his eyes have gone heavy-lidded, a smile on his lips. When they approach the Flower Ladies' tent, the flaps are both pulled open and there's the sound of singing coming from inside.

Shateishael walks with slow, almost rapturous pride through the camp, heading for the simple, beautifully decorated tent he remembers the flower ladies living in. His tail's carried as confidently high as his head as he looks around, eyes bright with a fierce joy. His Nature is almost singing through him; it feels wonderful to have such a community accept him! He glances back frequently at his riders and Soma, obviously very happy... then slows at the singing, his gaze warming. He turns and murmurs to Rosenstern over Bella's head, "Y'wanna go say hi wi'Soma, pretty blossom? 'S y'r help t'Soma 'at caused this t'happen, after all?"

At the sound of hooves a head pokes out of the tent's door. Hair far too yellow to be simply called blonde flows down around a delicate face that nearly glows. The skin is the color of daffodils and the eyes blaze like tiny suns. Upon seeing who the visitors are, Lily launches herself out of the doorway, laughing joyously. Rosenstern blinks, then smiles warmly. "They seem to be coming out to say hi to all of us!"

Shateishael turns back, then raises his head in faint startlement, "Whoa! Miz Lily, y'look beautiful, ma'am!" He reflexively holds his arms out as she practically bursts out of the tent. Rosenstern starts to slip off of Slate's back to greet Lily as well.

The formerly bleached-looking sidhe flings herself into Slate's arms for a hug first, since he's the one most forward -- at least his arms are. She kisses his cheek exuberantly before fluttering around to hug Soma as well. Her wings are shaped like a Swallowtail, with rich brown tips at top and bottom and two pairs of "eye" spots. When Rosie slips down as well she turns toward him, a somewhat hoarse voice saying, "Flowerkin... I have no words."

Shateishael grins, hugging the wonderfully renewed lady sidhe gently, then watching in amazement as she actually speaks! He looks back at the tent, wondering a bit excitedly if Rose is going to walk too? Rose comes out of the tent, still in her wheelchair, but her colors have darkened as well. The hair that now flows down her back so far she's sitting on it is the red of anemones, her skin a vibrant dusky rose. Her wings are scarlet, edged in black with delicate black veins. Eyes like rubies shine as she watches her companion, "She's been singing for hours. I keep telling her she's going to lose her voice again before she's had it back for one cycle of the sun."

Rosenstern blinks in surprise as Lily talks. He brightens visibly, and embraces the lady tightly and warmly. "I'm so glad," he whispers. "I'm so very glad."

Shateishael chuckles rumblingly, leaning forward and down to carefully hug the other sidhe as well, "Lady Rose, y'both look truly 'mazin' -- does m'heart good t'see y'both so!"

Rose stretches up as far as she can from her seat to hug Slate. Despite the fact that she's not restored completely to her pre-Purge form, she's almost vibrating with excitement, "We don't know yet if it's simply the glamour making us appear almost whole again or if it's a true healing, but I'm not leaving the dome yet, just in case."

Shateishael says, "Yeah, c'n unnerstan' that, ma'am. Don' wanna leave m'se'f f'a bit still -- kinda like this form!" He grins a little shyly, adding, "If'n y'wan'ed a lift some'res, 'd be honored t'offer y'one?"

Rose smiles up at Slate, stroking over the coat between his forelegs just below where a horse's throat would end, "I believe I may take you up on that, Warrior."

Shateishael beams, very pleased, "Thanks, ma'am! Jus' say when, 'kay?"

Lily's delicate hands cup either side of Rosenstern's face and she presses her lips to his forehead, whispering to him, "For making this possible, Flowerkin, I owe you a boon. I would pay you my life if you asked it."

Rosenstern shakes his head. "I do not know what brought this about, or if it's permanent or just glamour. To see you like this is payment enough."

Lily smiles at Rosie and there is a feeling of ages in her beaming face, "Nevertheless, child, if ever I can give you something that you need, you only need ask." Soma is standing just behind Rosie, one hand resting on the feline-formed angel's shoulder. Pride, joy and just sheer exultation in the strength that seems to have returned not only to himself but his people radiates out from him. Rosenstern blushes, and says nothing more other than to hug her warmly, purring the while. Rose chimes in, "That goes for both of us. To all of you, actually."

Shateishael stands steady, just watching and smiling as he absently runs a gentle hand over what he can easily reach of Bella. He'd gladly offer some of his energy too... but he's not sure the Warrior's energy is what the camp needs just now. Still... he can lend a strong back and a willingly protective arm, if nothing else. His eyes are alight with happiness as he rumbles to Rose, "Y'r too kind, ma'am... but far's I c'n tell, this's Soma's 'n pretty Rosie's doin'."

Lily strokes over Rosie's ears, getting momentarily distracted by all the rings there. She actually smells like lilies, that peculiar musky-sweet smell of them mostly coming from her hair. She starts singing quietly, the tune obviously a lullaby,

"I am thinking it is an angel fair
The Angel that looks on the gulf from the lowest stair
And swings the green world upward by its leagues of sunshine hair
Lennavanmo Lennavanmo who swingeth you and the Angel to and fro..."

Rosenstern's blush just deepens at her singing. "Lennavanmo?" he asks quietly.

Lily smiles and nods, "A word for your God, sweet Flowerkin."

Rosenstern ducks his head a little. "It's humbling that I don't know that name... thank you, Lady. Your voice is wonderful and beautiful. I'm glad I could hear it!"

Rose rolls her chair far enough back to smile up at Slate, "To separate the three of you would be to take an arm or a leg from a body." She shifts and starts moving over toward Rosenstern to hug him herself.

Shateishael listens to Lily's singing, quietly and happily entranced -- then looks back hastily to Rose. At her words he flushes with slightly sheepish pleasure, "Um... thanks, I guess, Lady?"

Lily laughs softly, "It is an old, old name. Sweet Rose is right, you know, that I need to be careful and not strain it, but the joy keeps bubbling up." She kisses Rosie's forehead again and steps back, letting Rose move up to the Novalite. Rosenstern blushes, smiling to Lily, and leans down to give Rose an equally warm purring hug.

Bella has been watching all of this with perked ears and a twitching tail, but she hasn't spoken much -- possibly because she's still back on the 'I have a tail!' part of things. It hasn't yet occurred to her that she's feeling like life is very simple right now. Life has never felt simple for the Bright. Shateishael grins at Bella's silence, still gently stroking her legs and tail as he watches and ponders. In her distraction, the Bright does get fascinated with some of the buckles on the harness crisscrossing Slate's body. She starts playing with them, undoing one or two, fastening them back, unfastening them again and then refastening them wrong. Shateishael tilts his head curiously at what Bella's doing... then chuckles and doesn't worry about it. He's very much enjoying once again being someone strong and trustworthy to an entire clan.

Rose nuzzles her cheek against Rosie's, much like one cat might greet another. Her ruby eyes are shining and tears start to trickle down her cheeks, "Our thanks, Flowerkin. Even if this is just a glamour-borne seeming, it is something I will treasure until the stars turn to dust."

Rosenstern is still blushing, and it doesn't seem that he can blush much deeper -- all over his body. "I am glad to have done whatever small part in this that I had."

Rose smiles and squeezes Rosie's hands, "I'm certain it will all fall into place."

Bella does eventually quit fiddling with the buckles and grins down at the Flower Ladies, bouncing on Slate's back, "Pretty wings!"

Shateishael grins at Bella's wonderful, child-like enthusiasm, "Oh, yeah. Ain't they gorgeous, sweetheart?"

Bella ducks her head and covers her mouth with her hands. Part of her is realizing that she's been speaking in non sequitors. The next words out of her mouth are very careful, almost reverent, "They're beautiful. Now their outsides match their insides!" Rosenstern hasn't quite yet noticed how Bella is right now. He mainly nods enthusiastically in agreement with her.

Shateishael nods slowly, still smiling as he watches the flower ladies, "Mmhmm. Wish't I c'd share th'way th'Symphony's singin' 'roun' 'em wi'ya." He notices Bella covering her mouth with her hands, and smiles, twisting enough to put an arm around her and murmuring very softly by one furred, pointed ear, "'S okay, lover... be th'way y'r Nature calls ya t'be. Y'wanna bounce 'roun' 'n squeal, feel free. I'll be here f'ya n'matter whut." He kisses her gently, then tilts his head to smile with quiet, joyous warmth to her... he's faintly amazed inside at how very, very good he feels, and he can quite understand what Bella may be currently going through internally.

Soma steps closer behind Rosie, wrapping his arms around the Mercurian and snuggling him back against his chest. "Sweet ladies, your joy makes my heart sing." Shateishael nods silently at Soma's words, still hugging Bella and watching the flower ladies in great happiness.

Lily moves around behind Rose, stroking the seated sidhe's shoulders, "Come by again before the end of the festival, Friends. We are working on something for you. A small thank you, and just a token of friendship."

Shateishael smiles, rumbling politely and sincerely, "Ladies, whut th' li'l Rosebud said's true -- jus' seein' y'all so is thanks 'nuff."

Rose laughs and nods, "It's just a friendship token. Something the humans do."

Rosenstern smiles, bowing to them, purring softly, "Thank you. We're very, very honored."

At the mention of that Bella's ears flick and it filters through that she brought something with her, "Tokens! For the pretty butterflies." She digs into the pouch at her side and pulls out two of the little stoneware goddesses. She scrambles down from Slate's back and presses one into each of the Flower Ladies' palms, beaming and tail swishing excitedly, "Little goddesses. Thank you." Lily and Rose accept the little clay sculptures with quiet laughter, smiling at Bella's enthusiasm. She gets a kiss on the cheek from each, which just sets her tail wagging more happily.

Shateishael grins as he watches, still inordinately happy. Then he realizes he's got no riders currently, so he cheerfully checks, "Lady Rose, wanna lift anywheres now?"

Rose smiles up at Slate, "Later, Warrior. For now, I suspect you may wish to explore a bit in your new form."

Shateishael grins, unable to resist -- after the kisses he leans and gently runs a hand down Bella's tail! Bella finds herself making an excited little yipping noise and then catches herself, hands covering her mouth again as she laughs. Shateishael grins mischievously, his eyes dancing! Then he nods to Rose, still beaming, "'Kay! Offer's open f'when y'feel like it, ma'am."

Rose bobs her head and Lily giggles at Bella's enthusiasm, "Perhaps we'll see you tonight when court comes together." The swallowtail-winged fae says, "I think there are going to be several people wanting to thank you... or at least to see you."

Shateishael looks interested at that. He glances at Soma, "Anybody else we sh'd go visit on 'counta they're lookin' great too, 'n might wanna see Rosie?" He rests his large hands gently on Bella's shoulders, shifting a foreleg so she can easily lean back against his equine shoulder if she wants. Bella snuggles herself back against Slate, tail curling around one of his forelegs, ears flicking here and there. Shateishael sighs contentedly, enjoying the tactile sensations. If he could figure out how to do it, he'd shift so everyone here was either sitting on him or leaning against him! With one last round of hugs, the Flower Ladies move back into their tent, Lily's voice starting up almost immediately in a quiet ballad. Shateishael is still grinning delightedly as he watches them disappear into the tent... once they're out of sight he turns to look at Soma. His voice is quietly amazed, "Dude, how d'y'keep from jus' bustin' wi'pride at how beautiful they look?"

Soma watches the two restored sidhe back into their tent and kisses the back of one of Rosie's ears, purring, eyes aglow so brightly that the light is visible even under the glaring sun, "I've been feeling that for the last several hours, Slate. I've wanted to sing it out to the heavens that my people are healed, but we're waiting to see if this is temporary..." He hugs Rosenstern tightly back against himself, "But as Rose said, if it is just a temporary thing, the memory of it will always be a blessing and a joy. We have long memories, and those spots of brightness can carry us through long dark times."

Shateishael shakes his head slowly, his golden mane ruffling back and forth across his human spine, "Wow. Jus'... wow. We gotta figger out whut happened, 'n see if'n we c'n do it 'gain!" He smiles, adding, "So... anybody else we sh'd go meet right now?" He glances around, wondering if Peony's awake... or Bast, or Pan, or any of the others he knows and likes.

Rosenstern prrs even louder -- a rich, rumbling timbre -- as he leans back against Soma, placing his hands on the sidhe's arms as his tail curls around Soma's leg. Soma smiles and shrugs, hands having started stroking over Rosie's chest apparently of their own volition, fingertips finding the bells on his be-ringed nipples, "Rose and Lily asked to see you as soon as we saw you. Several of my people are awake and moving if you wish to look for your friends. I'll accompany if you wish."

Shateishael rumbles sincerely, "Summer Lord, 's allus a pleasure t'spend time wi'folks that're's happy as y'all are right now. Jus' wish't I knew how t'add t'this for ya." He looks around again, raising his head and scenting the air for folks he knows.

For all three of the Celestials the air is carrying a flood of scents that didn't seem to be there before. The residual scents of fire and of people that have passed by mix with the stronger scents of the people still there. Bella wriggles herself around and starts to scramble up on Slate's back again, "I can smell Peony. Over there..." She motions in a direction that's not toward the leprechaun's tent, as Slate remembers its placement. Rosenstern decides to walk between Soma and Slate this time. Soma seems rather reluctant to move just at the moment with the warm and wriggly form of Rosie nestled in his arms and that silken-furred tail around his leg, but once the Mercurian moves he shifts to bracket the cat-boy between himself and Slate.

Shateishael grins, his tail lifting in cheerful excitement and his head high as he studies that direction, "'Kay!" He glances back at the others, already beginning to shift his large hooves impatiently, "Ridin'?"

Bella wriggles herself back into position against Slate's human back, wrapping her legs around him. Her fingers start playing blindly with the straps of the harness he's wearing, "This thing is in the way." She shakes her head and chuckles, "Sorry... can't seem to keep my thoughts coming straight out my mouth today, guys."

Shateishael hms, studying the others... then grins, realizing Rosie wants to stroll. "Catch up, y'all, 'kay?" He gives a small rear, one hand bracing Bella, then gives a cheerful, "Yeah! Take it off if'n y'want, lover!" A moment later he's bounding powerfully over the hard-packed playa, his hooves thundering as he dodges lightly around tents, excitedly following Peony's scent, which leads directly to one of the tents near Karl's forge.

Soma watches Slate takes off with the Bright on his back, laughing happily, "I believe your lover is enjoying that body, sweetling."

Rosenstern blinks as Slate charges off, then laughs softly. "I am as well. Enjoying this body, I mean..."

Soma's smile takes on the barest wicked tinge as he nibbles carefully along one be-ringed ear, hands pressing against Rosie's chest to pull the Mercurian against his body. "Would you be averse to me enjoying this body later, sweetling? Your fur is wonderful..."

Rosenstern rrrs comfortably. "I would not be, my Lord," he purrs richly. "And I doubt Slate will mind, though we would have to ask him first...."

Soma laughs quietly, "I was thinking of inviting him to join us... but shall we go find them now? They'll think we've slipped off alone."

Rosenstern's mind goes into a brief blissful haze when he considers being with all his lovers at once. He purrs softly. "Oh! Ah... yes, let's find them..."

Lacing his fingers together with Rosie's, Soma heads off in the direction he last saw Slate and Bella moving, "I'm fairly certain they're going to find her near the forge."

Nearer Karl's forge, Shateishael laughs, realizing Peony must still be in Ajax's tent. He glances around to see if the younger centaur's anywhere nearby -- last Slate saw, Ajax was going to relieve Shale. Ajax's scent is here, but faded. The young centaur isn't around the tent or the forge. Karl's scent is quite strong however, as is the smell of hot metal and an intense fire. Bella starts to wriggle down off Slate's back and stops herself, "Uhm... wonder if she's still asleep.." Her ears flick as she tries to catch sounds of movement. Shateishael trots over to the tent, then taps lightly on the canvas. After that he tilts his head, listening carefully.

There's the sounds of someone stirring around in the tent and the flap twitches open to reveal a sleepy-eyed Peony. She tips her head back slowly and the sleepy expression fades into surprise as she realizes that the centaur isn't Ajax or Karl. Shateishael rather likes the tent, actually -- he glances at it with some admiration. It's large enough for several horses, from the size of it, with a high centerline and a sort of cabin shape to it. Slate wonders interestedly if Ajax plays in the SCA as well -- that'd be fun! He looks down at Peony as she emerges and grins, "Hey, pretty lady. Soma's havin' a field day wi' his glamour!" He will -- unless she doesn't want him to -- cheerfully scoop up Peony into an exuberant hug!

Peony still hasn't quite managed to open her mouth when Slate scoops her into the hug. She's wearing a massively oversized tank top that fits her rather like a dress. Laughing, she hugs the centaur-Seraph back and smiles at Bella over his shoulder, "Oh, my. This is a different look for the pair of you."

Bella grins and nods, bouncing and squirming a little. She raises her tail so that the black and white tip is visible over her shoulder, "I have a fox tail! How cool is that? And I can smell everything... this is amazing."

Shateishael grins, "Ain't it cool?! 'N th' li'l Rosebud's a simply gorgeous li'l kittyboy now! Y'r gonna have trouble not runnin' y'r fingers through his fur when y'see 'im!" He happily nuzzles Peony, breathing in her scent with pleasure, "Dayum, you smell great!"

Peony actually smells strongly of sex and Ajax as well as her own faint violet scent. She laughs and starts trying to wriggle her way down, "I smell like I need a shower."

Shateishael mms contentedly, but sets her gently (if a touch reluctantly) down once she starts wriggling. He absently brushes back his thick golden forelock as he smiles down at her, "Wait'll y'see th'flow'r ladies, too." His voice is almost reverent, "They're... beautiful!" He reaches out carefully and, if Peony lets him, runs his fingers gently through her scarlet hair. "Touch feels jus' 'mazin' too."

Peony blinks, "Rose and Lily? They've always been beautiful." Apparently the little leprechaun has slept through most of the day's surprises.

Shateishael chuckles quietly, "True. But they're..." he struggles for words, then simply says, "They're fulla colors! 'N Lily's singin'!"

Peony leans into the stroking of her hair without quite realizing, but then goes very still, "Wait... Lily's... singing?" She blinks in confusion, "Wait... why are you even looking like that? It's the middle of the day." She rubs her eyes.

Shateishael grins down at Peony, "Yes'm." He raises his head, looking around to see if Soma's approaching yet.

Rosenstern walks comfortably with Soma, his tail flirting against the fae-lord's side, his ears tilted comfortably, and a soft purring in his throat. It makes for an odd harmony when combined with the numerous small bells upon him. Soma and Rosie appear just as Peony is rubbing her eyes and trying to figure out why the glamour is up this early.

Shateishael chuckles, shifting slightly so Peony can look past him and see Soma, "There, see? 'Pparently Soma's feelin' kinda high 'motionally due t'sumpin' 'bout li'l Rosebud 'n th'Bower... 'n th'glamour di'n' go down las'night."

Peony blinks and nods slowly, smiling a bit, "He's still got the dome up after all the glamour that was flying around last night? That's... I haven't seen anything like that in centuries."

Shateishael grins delightedly, "Cool, huh?!"

Peony nods, still blinking, "It's... amazing, really."

Shateishael laughs, leaning down again to cheerfully hug the tiny (even moreso than usual!) leprechaun, "Yeah! So... wanna go ridin' w'me 'n Bellisima 'r sumpin'?"

Peony laughs, "Uhm... let me get dressed and then we'll talk about it."

Shateishael looks around curiously to Soma, as Peony ducks back into the tent to grab some stuff, "Hey, Somhairle? Anybody checked th'kids yet? Th'ones too young t've ever felt anythin' like this -- like Ayra 'n Pan 'n all?"

Soma slides an arm around Rosie's waist as the pair of them catch up with Slate and Bella. He smiles quietly, "Some of them have checked in. Once people start stirring again, I'm going to have someone check in with them, discreetly." Rosenstern's tail is flicking quietly around Soma's leg, and his eyes are bright and alert even if he's purring up a storm.

Shateishael nods, "'Kay." He straightens to his full height, actually rocking back on his hocks a bit such that his front hooves leave the ground for a slow moment, as he looks around the encampment. He's very curious as to how folks are doing, and who's up and stirring. Now he's been indirectly invited by Soma to consider the fae as more like family, he has this strong urge to brush up against them and get all their scents. He knows the sensory urges are a large part equine... but he does love being close with family, even if it's been far too long since he was a clan member of any stripe.

Soma gets a little distracted by the tail flickering and leans down to nuzzle at Rosie's ears, breathing in the Mercurian's scent and just luxuriating in the decadent fur. He's still talking, though he sounds distracted, "Some of the youngsters might be a handful..."

Shateishael settles back on all fours a moment later, shifting so he can provide a sturdy leaning spot to Rosie and Soma. He grins down at the two, rumbling curiously, "How so?" As if the mention of being a handful summoned him, Puck crawls out of a tent that looks like it's had Jackson Pollock go crazy all over it. Shateishael snorts amusedly at the synchronicity of Puck's emergence, then simply rumbles a cheerful, "Afternoon!" to the young, rainbow-haired satyr.

Rosenstern purrs happily with the nuzzling, leaning up to nuzzle -- and catlike nip -- at Soma's chin. Soma smiles and laughs softly as he's nipped at, kissing Rosenstern's nose, still having eyes only for the cat boy as he says, "Such as Puck and perhaps Giselle. But she's not here... I forgot. She chose to stay away this summer."

Shateishael glances back over to Soma, "Who's Giselle?" He gently strokes the back of one finger along one of Rosenstern's perked ears, then along Soma's shining cobalt hair.

Soma chuckles quietly, "Giselle is one of my people who works as a model in her mundane life. She had, as she put it, 'the opportunity of a human lifetime' to work with a photographer whose name I forget. She's just barely older than Puck."

Shateishael glances back at Puck, wondering if the satyr's even noticed them yet, then looks back at Soma, "So she mus' be strikin' lookin'. Why'd she be a handful?" Rosenstern, in contrast, acts distracted but is paying rapt attention to both Slate and Soma even as he continues to nuzzle and nip along Soma's chin. The touch upon his tail base makes him yerp a little and purr comfortably.

Soma's fingers move down to scritch just above Rosenstern's tail base, "Because she is a bit spoiled." Puck seems to have noticed them and is squinting perplexedly as he wanders over.

Shateishael nods, understanding that -- really pretty, protected individuals are often somewhat self-centered in his experience. He grins down at Puck, inhaling the young satyr's scent while his tail swishes relaxedly back and forth, "Hey there, dude. How ya feelin'?"

Puck pushes his fingers through his multi-hued hair, peering blearily up at Slate, "Hung the fuck over..." He looks up at the sky and then around at the angels, and then looks at Soma, "Special occasion? Or'd the Tether go all gamma radiation on us?"

Shateishael grins, "Kinda th'latter, 'm guessin'?" He leans down a bit to better get Puck's scent -- the young satyr can be irritating as heck, but Slate would still consider him part of the family to be defended.

Puck leans back from the sniffing, still looking perplexed, "Huh?"

Soma chuckles at Puck's demeanor, "There seems to have been a surge. Experimentation will tell us the limits of it." His gaze moves down the young satyr's body meaningfully. Puck peers at Soma for a moment and then looks down at himself. "Huh... thought I already took care of that."

Shateishael chuckles, straightening once he's caught Puck's scent, "Th'glamour from las' night? 'S still up. Soma's doin' fantastic, 'n they think it's got sumpin' t'do wi' li'l Rosie 'n th' Bower."

Peony emerges from Ajax's tent, wrapping the end of her braid in a length of rawhide. Puck smirks, "So... the sex really was heavenly, huh?"

The tips of Soma's fingers slip under Rosie's loincloth so that he's against bare skin and fur for the scritching. The summer lord laughs despite himself, "Keep a civil tongue, Puck. The binding still holds."

Shateishael raises an amused eyebrow at Puck, politely not commenting... then grins cheerfully at Peony, "Hey there. Y'wanna lift anywheres? Got this urge to run all over th'place 'n back, 'n rub up 'gainst ev'ryone!" He's still very lightly stroking Soma's hair and Rosie's ears, and resting a hand on Bella. It feels so natural to him currently he's not even really aware he's doing it, unless someone objects. Soma has very carefully said nothing about being petted by Slate. Bella on the other hand is practically rubbing her entire self against Slate in an effort to nuzzle back against him. Rosenstern is purring happily, wriggling just a little bit with the touch beneath his loincloth and the petting Slate is giving him. To all the world he's a happy kitty.

Peony laughs quietly, "Do you just need to work off the energy or are you looking for an excuse to give me a thrill?"

Puck yawns again and shakes his head, snorting, "The leprechaun can flirt, but I have to try and be nice." With another little headshake he says, "I'm going to go find some coffee."

Shateishael grins, unwittingly tossing his head as well as his tail, "Sure!" He holds out the hand he'd been stroking Rosie and Soma with, "Want a hand up?" To Puck he amusedly rumbles, "She flirts p'lite." He cheerfully adds to Soma, "Y'need anybody checked up on while I'm runnin' 'roun', 'r anythin'?"

Peony shakes her head and moves forward to hug Slate around the waist, "Later. I have to go check on the camp and I have a feeling you don't want to leave the dome."

Shateishael says, "Not right now, nope. Gonna hafta leave later t'move our tent over, but right now'm still enjoyin' this form." He leans down to hug Peony warmly close, then rumbles a touch wistfully, "Maybe later, yeah?"

Peony blinks again, "Move the tent over? Uhm... definitely later, yes."

Soma blows playfully over the inner curve of Rosie's closer ear, "Why don't you and Bella go with Slate while he runs off some of the excess energy? I have a cousin to check in on. I'm not certain I'm going to be happy with the effect on him."

Shateishael gives Soma a curious look, which almost immediately turns into rueful understanding. He looks back at Peony, "Hey, how's y'r li'l cousin doin'? Angus, right?" At her words he looks a bit puzzled, "That a problem?"

Rosenstern's ears flick and he giggles softly at the sensation. Then he blinks at Soma's words. "Gaelach?" he whispers.

Peony laughs and shakes her head, "Not a problem, just a surprise." She smiles and distributes hugs to all and sundry before starting to move off in the direction of the main body of Black Rock City.

Soma nods and smiles, kissing Rosie's nose tip, "Yes, Gaelach." He wraps his arms around Rosie tightly for a moment, "Go on, blossom, I promise to come find the three of you soon."

Rosenstern hugs Soma tightly, purring into the hug, and murmuring, "Be safe."

Shateishael watches Peony leave for a moment... then shakes his head, causing his mane to ruffle back and forth. He twists to grin back at Bella, "Wanna put th' li'l Rosebud b'tween us 'gain?"

The leprechaun pauses, remembering she forgot a question, calling back, "Angus is fine! Probably sleeping it off, though."

Shateishael nods to the leprechaun, waving politely, then glances back at Soma and Rosie. "Y'sure y'don' want Bacchus 'r Karl 'r someone else wi'ya while y'r still feelin' like this, Summer Lord?" He wonders a bit if he's just too big at this point... he's noticed people starting to lean away from him somewhat.

Soma nods to Rosie, murmuring, "I will." To Slate, he nods, "I will find one of my lieutenants before I go speak with Gaelach."

Shateishael nods, leaning down to lift Rosie up onto his back once Soma's taken his departure of the little Mercurian. Rosenstern clambers onto Slate's back with the pseudocentaur's help, trying to suppress the urge to use his claws -- er, nails, to help him scramble up. Flexing his fingers in the wanting-to-use-claws motion makes something feel like it's starting to move inside Rosie's fingertips. Shateishael grins, boosting the slight Mercurian up easily. Bella waits for Rosie to be settled on Slate's barrel before she snuggles up against his back again, sharp little teeth nibbling at the back of the kittyboi's neck, and wriggling happily. Shateishael chuckles as both riders settle snugly in, and reaches back to draw his hands lightly along their sides and thighs. "Mmm... y'all feel wunnerful! Both settled now? Got anyplace in p'tic'lar y'wanna go visit?"

Rosenstern mrrps softly at the nipping, wriggling a little with the nips. In turn he also is nibbling Slate's shoulder, suppressing urges to 'knead' a bit. After a moment he nestles his head against Slate's back, and looks at his fingertips curiously, doing that same motion again. Repeating the motion makes the sensation repeat and calls attention to the tiny slits in the tips of Rosie's fingers. Bella wriggles happily, trying for a moment to wrap her legs around both her lovers' waists, and pouting for a moment when she realizes they can't quite reach, "Mmm... Karl, maybe? Or, uhm... just take a lap or two?"

Shateishael chuckles, "'Kay, lap first, then Karl! 'N Ajax if'n we see 'im onna way!" He rocks gently back on his haunches again, waving to Puck, "Later, dude!" Whirling with care, he canters off on a swift circuit of the fae encampment, head and tail excitedly high, looking around and sniffing with great interest. Rosenstern's eyes widen a little, and for the next few minutes he tries to figure out how he can make his claws come out. Maybe a bit stronger of that moving motion? Surely not just willing it to happen? With experimentation, Rosie finds the trick of tensing his fingers just so to unsheathe some wicked looking, if small, claws from his fingertips.

Bella reaches around Rosie and holds onto the straps of the harness she still hasn't managed to strip off of Slate, using the grip to press Rosie's chest against Slate's back as the lap around the encampment starts. The Ethereals are beginning to stir and there is a scent of surprise in the air. Shateishael grins, enjoying both the feel of his lovers clinging close, and the lovely surprise the Ethereals have waiting for them. Rosenstern blinks in surprise at the claws. He hadn't expected such a purely sensual form to have them. He re-sheathes the claws, and erps! as Bella snuggles him against Slate's back. He holds on to Slate tightly, enjoying the galloping ride (and the movement of Slate beneath him -- it's strangely sensual) and wonders if his toes have similar claws. Concentration and experimentation shows the toes to have similar, but they're more difficult to unsheathe. Both sets actually require quite a bit of effort.

On the circuit around the camp Slate spots Pan out of the corner of his eye. The young satyr is wrapped a silky kimono-looking robe and standing outside the door of a simply enormous dome tent. Shateishael brightens, admiring both the kimono and the large tent. He heads over with a small thunder of hooves and a cheery, "Heya, Pan!"

Pan blinks slowly up at Slate and, like Puck, looks upward again as if checking to make sure that is the sun and not just an exceptionally bright full moon, "Good morning to you, too." He has a water bottle in one hand, "This is a nice look for all of you."

Shateishael grins, coming to a gentle halt before the young satyr and leaning to sniff curiously at him, "Thanks! Kinda fun. Y'look nice too... 'speshly like th' kimono." He leans to study it a bit, gently stroking one finger along a sleeve seam, "Smells like real silk, but 'm thinkin' th'lines're bit off. Good 'mbroidery, though!" He straightens, beaming at the slight satyr, "So! How're y'feelin'?"

Pan laughs and holds his arm up for Slate to examine the robe, "Deliciously energized. And thank you; it was a gift from a suitor that wanted me to think he actually bought it in Japan. He left the receipt in the pocket, though." He lets his gaze wander over Rosie and Bella as well, "We've got an animal theme."

Shateishael chuckles, "If'n it's gotta pocket, ain't Japanese! An' yeah, Soma's still got las' night's glamour up, which is why we're all wearin' diff'rent forms." He glances over his shoulder at his companions, beaming proudly, "Don' they look gorgeous?!"

Rosenstern considers the claws. He'll have to remember them if he ever gets into a scrape. It might actually be hard to think of them as 'claws' rather than 'thorns,' though. He blushes a bit, smiling at Pan's comment and Slate's compliment. "But not as handsome as Slate is."

Pan smiles and tosses his head, getting stray strands of it out of his face. It's an oddly feminine gesture and seems perfectly right for him, "You all look wonderful. Gotta love the tails." He considers the news about the glamour, "Wait... this hasn't been down at all?" A couple of slow blinks and he snorts in amusement, "That would explain why I don't want to rip someone's head off. I am so not a morning person."

Shateishael laughs, tossing his head, then reaches back to gently pat Rosie's thigh, "Aw, y'r sweet, lover." He grins at Pan, "Yeah, mornin' ain't mos' folks' fav'rite time a' day." He grins a touch mischievously, reaching back a bit further to stroke Bella's fluffy brush, "An' yep... tails're fun!"

Bella grins down at Pan and raises her tail, showing off the magnificent brush, "Aren't they great?" She squirms her rump on Slate's back, "He's all touchy today," she informs Pan, "but he's too big to do anything but ride and snuggle. I think." She wraps her arms around Rosie again and one of her hands starts its downward wander, partially just stroking the bared stomach... but despite the petting, it continues vaguely hip-ward.

Shateishael laughs again, feeling wonderfully relaxed, "Hey now, nuthin' wrong wi'jus' wantin' t'hug ever'body! An' get their scent..." he looks back at Pan, still beaming, "People smell great! I din' ever know b'fore!" He tilts his head thoughtfully, then grins and leans down to sniff gently at the top of Pan's head, resting one large hand lightly on Pan's shoulder if the satyr doesn't seem alarmed."

Pan laughs and leans his head into the snuffling, "People smell how they smell... though I suppose our sense of smell is a little more acute than humans." He seems quite comfortable with Slate touching and smelling him.

Rosenstern prrs, squirming just a little bit at Bella's touch. He tries to swing his tail out so that Pan can see it as well. "Oh, yeah, tails're great!" he says, probably with a bit more distraction in his purring voice than he intended.

Shateishael finds himself gently nuzzling Pan, rumbling in quiet contentment. He rumbles amusedly, "Hey, we use human vessels, so this's pretty darned new 'n wunnerful t'us." His long golden tail is swishing happily back and forth as well as he speaks. Pan smells like sex, sleep, and not one but at least three different people. Two of the scents are familiar; one is not. One of the familiar ones is most definitely Bacchus. Shateishael chuckles delightedly, "Man, you were busy las'night!" He realizes he's got both hands on Pan and is practically rubbing against the young satyr as he nuzzles... he grins ruefully, straightening, "Whups. Sorry 'bout that... still dealin' wi'a kinda sensory overload here."

Pan laughs and rolls his eyes, "A lot of us were busy last night, actually." He reaches up and, if Rosie doesn't flirt it away, runs his hand down the cat boy's tail. Rosenstern purr-giggles at the touch, and holds his tail still for Pan's touch. He does flirt his tail but only against Pan's hand.

Shateishael grins, realizing the second scent he recognizes is Ajax. Well, good -- that explains why Pan isn't alarmed by his size and closeness! He watches with beaming pleasure as Pan plays with Rosie's tail, then blinks, glancing up at Bella amusedly, "Hey now, I'm multi-talented... y'never know whut I might be capable a'!"

Pan smiles up at Rosie and scritch-ruffles the tail, "Diversity is indeed key." He looks around at the awakening encampment, "I may have to go and gather up the gossip."

Shateishael nods cheerfully, also looking around, "Yeah, 'at's pretty much whut we were doin' too... well, that'n wond'rin' where t'stick our tent so it's not in anybody's way." He tilts his head curiously, "That y'r tent? Real nice lookin', if'n so?"

Pan looks over his shoulder, still stroking Rosie unthinkingly, "Mmm? Oh, yeah. I realized after the first year that those little domes just don't have enough room for me and all my stuff, much less a guest." After a moment's thought, "Maybe around near Karl's forge? Most of the court avoids that area. Too much metal."

Shateishael blinks slowly, studying the tent. Finally he looks at Pan and rumbles bemusedly, "Dude... how much stuff d'ya got?!"

Pan looks over his shoulder and laughs, "You remember all the speakers and so forth from last night? They're mine. And I've got all my costuming and clothes and my bed and... well... I sort of pack like a woman. I usually have three times as many outfits as there are days."

Shateishael stares boggledly at the tent... then down at Pan... then his head swivels around to stare at his riders. A moment later he shakes his head bemusedly, muttering under his breath, "'Kaaay... gonna need bigger tent, 'm thinkin'..."

The satyr smiles, "Plus various and sundry toys and gewgaws and things to give to friends and food, of course, and water." Pan smiles and resists the urge to pat Rosie on the behind as he takes a step back, "Most folks start out with a smallish tent and build up. Some stay small, though."

Shateishael grins, shaking his head a touch bemusedly as he absently runs his hands over whomever is closest, "Well... live 'n learn, I guess!" He studies the big dome thoughtfully, his glance wandering over his lovers again, and they can almost see him calculating mentally...

Rosenstern is purring with the tail-scritching, smiling comfortably. He grins softly. "Mmm, a larger tent might be in order for next year...."

Shateishael grins again a few heartbeats later, cheerfully asking his riders, "'Kay, 'at we c'n do! So, where to next, folks?" He gets a suddenly thoughtful look, "Wunner how Bast's feelin'? 'N Ayra? 'N after we been 'roun' a bit, I should go move our stuff..."

Bella grins, chin still on Rosie's shoulder, "Mmm... something a winged person can fit into." Her hands move down, tracing the waistband of Rosie's loincloth, fingers plucking at the fastenings before she catches herself and puts her palms firmly back on his stomach, "Karl, maybe? Maybe we can ask him to help with moving things. He's all butch and big." She grins, "We should find them." Rosenstern prrrs with the touches, his purring reaching a slightly higher pitch as Bella's hands move downward, then returning to a more normal and blushing tone.

Shateishael nods to Bella, studying Rosenstern thoughtfully, "'Kay, need a sturdy tent too, gotcha." He casually, gently scritchies across both Bella's fingers and Rosie's soft tummy fur, then nods, "We c'n do that, sure. Need t'show 'im I c'n manage th'centaur form too... oh, an' Ajax as well. 'Kay!" He grins and waves to Pan, "Later, dude! Glad t'hear y'feelin' s'good!" and whirls lightly away on his haunches again, breaking into an easy canter. He sniffs the air, checking for the scent of Ajax, Ayra, or Bast... he already knows where Karl is.

Bella mmms and nuzzles against Rosie's neck, "I think we should move the tent and stuff soon." She giggles again and says, "Getting harder to behave."

Ayra's scent is strongest around a two-man dome tent set up near Bacchus and Soma. Shateishael chuckles at Bella's comment, rumbling, "Then we def'nitely need t'find ya place t'stay whiles I'm movin' stuff, lover!" He trots over happily to the little dome tent and leans to scratch politely at the canvas, rumbling very quietly (so as to not awaken sleepers), "'Lo? Anybody home?" Rosenstern giggle-purrs softly, nodding to Bella, as his own hands start to wander around Slate's chest... Shateishael mms contentedly at the touch, one large, calloused hand gently brushing along Rosie's smaller hands as he looks down at the dome tent.

There's a little rustling around and one of the male leprechauns sticks his head out of the tent's doorway. He looks up at Slate and blinks, "Well, t'would appear he's still not tired out." It looks to Slate like he's the one that spelled Pan at the kegs.

Shateishael grins a bit bemusedly at the leprechaun, "Afternoon! Who's not worn out?"

The slender, petite fae pushes his hair out of his face and grins, "Soma." He tips his head, "Bet you're looking for Ayra..."

Shateishael says, "An' is Miz Ayra-" he pauses, thinking. He doesn't want to interrupt her, so he amends his query, "Er, how're y'both feelin'?" He nods, "Nope, he ain't!" then curiously adds, "Y'all first noticed this las' night?"

The leprechaun laughs quietly, "We're all feeling just wonderful..." He ducks back in and there's a glimpse of two more bodies in the tent. They must have been cozy to all stay in there. Ayra is wriggling her way out of a tangle of blankets, answering Slate, "No, we noticed it earlier today, but it was before we went to sleep."

Shateishael grins, leaning down to peek in and waving to Ayra, "Howdy, Miz Ayra! 'Kay, looks like y'all're havin' fun, so we'll head on off. Jus' makin' th'roun's, sayin' hi 'n showin' off how nice Bellisima 'n Rosie look. Y'all have a nice day!" Rosenstern curiously tilts his head to the side, blinking as he sees how many people they fit in that tent. Shateishael starts to straighten, then leans again, "Oh! That remin's me... y'all got a s'ggestion on where Rosie 'n Bella c'n stay f'coupla hours, 'at's private, while I move th'tent?"

It looks, now that the bodies are a little more untangled, like it's Ayra and two of the male leprechauns -- who look enough alike that it would be hard to tell who's who. Ayra sits up, keeping a blanket mostly around her chest. The leprechaun that first stuck his head out of the tent is wiggling his mostly-bare self back under the covers while the dryad speaks, "Uhm... I'd offer my tent, but this is it... maybe ask dad or Soma?"

Rosenstern blushes a bit more, his tail flicking slightly. Shateishael nods cheerfully, "'Kay, soun's good! Thanks, ma'am; nice t'see y'all, guys; be well!" He laughs quietly, then backs up a few steps before turning to head off. Ajax, he thinks... where's the young centaur walking guard? He'd like to show he's not a jerk in centaur form, to Ajax... and he's curious as to how the former goddess Bast is feeling too. Although, all things considered, he's willing to wait until later on the cat goddess. It suddenly occurs to him that she might find little Rosie quite enticing... and he doesn't want to be rude.

Bast doesn't seem to be anywhere to be found in the encampment, but Ajax isn't difficult to find with just a little effort. He was as good as his word and is wandering the edge of the dome in a way that can only be called patrolling. He's singing as he walks along, voice a chest-vibrating bass.

Rosenstern's hands are starting to wander a bit, though up against centaur-Slate's back it's hard to reach anywhere distracting. He settles for teasing Slate's chest, prring softly into Slate's neck. Shateishael grins at his lovers' adventures in petting, rather enjoying the pleasantly tingly feeling he gets at both their touch, and their increasingly happy scents. He spots Ajax at a distance and brightens, waving and calling, "Ajax!" as he canters on over. While his head and tail are carried high and proud currently, he's not intending aggression -- he's already firmly reminded himself that Ajax already noted he's a better fighter than the young centaur. To provoke conflict now would simply be mean-spirited!

Ajax looks just the tiniest bit cautious, or at least that's what his body language is saying. With his face he smiles and raises a hand, "Got Shale to go get some rest. Thanks for letting me know he was being stubborn."

Bella's fingers have managed to move up above Rosie's waist. However, what they found above the waist was the two little bell-hung nipple rings. She slips fingertips through them and tugs just a little, but she's smiling at Ajax, "You have a nice voice." Rosenstern's wandering hands pause as he takes in a sharp breath at Bella's discovery.

Shateishael grins, easing into a long-striding walk next to Ajax, and companionably bumping his equine torso against the other centaur, "Glad t'help, guy." He glances around, then rumbles a touch sheepishly, "Um... look, jus' wan'ed t' 'pologize 'bout b'fore... wuzn't thinkin' real clear yet, y'know?"

Ajax bumps back against Slate, carefully because of the Seraph's passengers. His nostrils flare slightly and he clears his throat, "No problem. You seem to have gotten things a little more under control, though."

Shateishael laughs, tossing his head, "Uh, kinda... sorta... well, no, not really." He grins over his shoulder at his riders, "Gonna need t'find a nice private place f'Bellisima 'n Rosie whiles I'm movin' th'tent, but I figger I'll ask Soma 'r Bacchus 'bout that. Y'think y'r uncle'd be willin' t' he'p move stuff?"

Bella's fingers are still toying with Rosie's nipple rings as Slate and Ajax patrol and chat. She wriggles around until she can curl her tail around her hip and up around Rosie's so that her tail tip is in his lap. Rosenstern's nose twitches a little, and he tries not to lean towards Ajax. Wow -- he can smell Pan and Peony on him! Rosenstern is still royally distracted, however, by Bella's movements and Slate's petting, prring as he curls his tail with Bella's, holding still and going a little glassy-eyed with the tugging of the nipple rings. Shateishael gently runs his fingers along Rosie's hands and arms about Slate's wide human chest, and grins at the almost besotted look the slight Mercurian has while Bella's playing with him so. Inhaling, he can catch the increasing arousal of both lovers (a wonderfully distracting scent indeed!), as well as Ajax's slight wariness. Shateishael rumbles contentedly to Ajax, "Man, I had no idea a better sense a' smell wuz so much fun!"

Ajax nods his head, "I'll help out too. Got an idea where you want to set things up?" At Slate's exclamation Ajax clears his throat and goes very slightly pink along the throat, "It can be a bit distracting, actually."

Shateishael grins cheerfully at Ajax, his tone utterly unworried, "Tell me 'bout it! 'N far's settin' thin's up, wuz figg'rin' someplace near th'forge might be best, since mos' a'th'fae avoid that area, so we wouldn't be crowdin' no one. Gonna ask y'uncle 'bout that too, soon's we head thataways." He adds cheerfully, "We sh'd sing t'gether sometime too -- we c'd swap songs 'n stuff!" He's in a gloriously good mood now he's re-adjusted his mental map of who needs protecting and who's his clan. He runs his free hand along Rosie's leg, finding both Bella's tail and Rosie's, and happily caressing them both.

Ajax bobs his head and chuckles, "Be glad to. I'll sing you some old Greek poems and you can teach me Norse music. I'm sure Uncle will welcome you near his forge."

Shateishael nods, looking pleased, "Excellent!" He tilts his head, sniffing slightly again... then grins at his riders. To Ajax he says, "Um... 'm thinkin' 's time t'hustle f'Rosie 'n Bella, so I'll talk t'ya later, 'kay? Soon's I got them settled, I'll be grateful f'any he'p you'n y'r uncle're willin' t'offer. Later, guy!"

Ajax laughs and nods, waving as he continues his circuit, "Smart man, though I have to say you're nuts if you're going to wander off with them both wiggling like that."

Shateishael grins relaxedly, "Love's a renewable resource, far's I c'n tell." He leans to bump his torso gently against Ajax again, then peels off gracefully and heads in a relaxed canter towards the forge end of the encampment. He's scenting carefully for either Bacchus or Soma as he goes, and to Bella and Rosie he cheerfully rumbles, "Hol' on jus' li'l bit more, guys, 'kay?" He finds himself humming contentedly along with the cheerful three-beat gait.

Rosenstern makes a quiet sound. "Oh, I th-think we'll be okay...."

Bella has moved on from tugging and teasing Rosie's nipple rings -- her hands have slide back down his irresistibly pettable belly to disappear under the fluff of her own tail. Hidden by it, she's dragging her nails up and down the insides of Rosie's thighs. She giggles, "We'll be fine..." Rosenstern prrts a little startledly, squirming a little as he holds on to Slate with one arm, his other reaching back to gently scritch along Bella's leg, his gaze most definitely glassy and distracted now.

The scents of Bacchus and Soma both are strongest around Soma's yurt. Shateishael chuckles quietly, keeping one steadying hand on Rosie's thigh as he rumbles relaxedly, "That ain't whut I'm worryin' 'bout, but 's okay!" He feels almost effervescently joyful inside -- and he's quite delighted to think the Ethereals are feeling something similar! He slows and comes to a halt at Soma's yurt, tapping lightly on the doorframe, "Y'all free?"

Soma's voice calls from inside, "We are! Please, come in!"

Shateishael enters very slowly and carefully, not wanting to either knock the doorway askew, nor whack a lover's leg against it. As he's entering he adds in a curious tone over his shoulder, "Hey... whutch'all s'ppose'd happen if'n we went t'th'Bower wi'Soma right now? Think thin's'd get more wide open, 'r whut?" He nods politely to Soma and Bacchus, "Afternoon. Hope thin's went well wi'Gaelach?"

At Slate's question, Bacchus laughs. The satyr is sitting comfortably in one of Soma's chairs, "I think if the three of you went to the Bower with Soma, we'd not see you again for two weeks."

Shateishael chuckles, considering, then grins, "Point taken."

Soma himself is apparently mid-clothing change, working on fastening a vest around his torso. The back is midnight blue satin, the front a richly embroidered paisley in blues and burgundies. He's switched out last night's pants for trousers with legs so loose they seem almost like an ankle-length skirt, also done in midnight blue. He smiles at Slate, "Gaelach is seething with jealousy, but I feel we have nothing to fear from him. Green eyes make it harder to see."

Shateishael looks puzzled, "Jealousy? Whyso? He got th'benefits too, din' he?" He tilts his head one way, then the other as he observes Soma dressing... then he rumbles, "Nice colors, guy." Rosenstern's tail twitches at the sight of Soma, his expression becoming warmer and even more amorous as he watches Soma, Bella's touches making him even more distracted.

Soma perches on the edge of his bed and smiles quietly, "Yes, he did, but it would seem that the average courtier had an increase arithmetically while my increase seems geometric." He chuckles and inclines his head, "Thank you, Slate."

Shateishael nods at the thanks, then thinks about his comments for a bit... "So... that mean y'even stronger'n ev'body else now? 'At'sa good thin' though, right?" At the sudden flick of Rosie's tail Slate blinks -- then laughs! "Oh, yeah... sorry, need t'ask a favor a' y'all. There someplace private we c'n borrow so's I c'n leave Bellisima 'n Rosie there whiles I'm movin' our 'ncampment?" Under cover of her tail, Bella pushes Rosie's loincloth aside and tickles along the crease where his leg meets his body. She's got her face buried completely against Rosie's neck and seems to be pretty well preoccupied. Shateishael cheerfully adds, "Cuz they're well onna way t'havin' a real nice time, 'n I thought they might be bit happier after if'n they woke up someplace more discreet than in front a'th'pavilion 'r such!"

Soma smiles, "They're welcome to stay in here. I shall even leave them to themselves if they wish." There's a definite hint of reluctance at that last.

Bacchus is watching Rosie and Bella with a half-smile on his face. Shateishael contentedly strokes Rosie's arms and nods to Soma, "Thanks much, guy." He murmurs to his riders, "That 'kay wi'y'all?" even though he's pretty sure at this point they'd agree to the center of the pavilion as well!

Bella raises her head and giggles, "Uhm... OK with what?"

Shateishael grins at the lack of real reply, rumbling, "Stayin' here f'a bit, sweetheart!" He twists to wrap one arm gently around each of them... he takes a few steps forward, then slides them easily off his back to deposit them both carefully on the bed. Rosenstern makes a tiny whimpering sound with the touching, and blushes even more with Slate's comment. He slips off of Slate's back slowly and reluctantly. Slate leans down to gently run his fingers through their hair, rumbling with quiet happiness, "Y'all have a nice time, 'n I'll be back soonest t'take ya both t'our tent, 'kay, so Soma c'n have his home back?" He's not so foolish as to lean down and give them both a kiss, however... their scents are marvelous currently!

Bacchus stands, smoothing his kilt down carefully, "I have a feeling I had best leave. I'll be around, Soma, if you need me." As he walks by Slate he pats his flank in a friendly way and slips out of the yurt.

Shateishael nods to Bacchus, "Later, guy!" and adds to his lovers, "Might not be centaur when I come back, but no worries, 'kay?"

Bella awws and wriggles her way off to bed to wrap her arms around Slate's waist with a little pout, "You have to go?" The Bright's brain really does seem to be working on very basic concepts.

Shateishael chuckles, leaning to hug Bella warmly, "Jus' f'a li'l bit, beautiful... gonna bring our tent over, 'kay? 'Member, Soma 'nvited us t'camp wi' 'em here?"

Bella wriggles slightly, "But you have to go do it now?" Soma reaches a hand over to stroke Rosie's thigh once Bella has untangled herself from him, smiling quietly.

Shateishael gently strokes Bella's hair, admiring the way it ripples smoothly and softly into body fur, and rumbles quietly, "Love ya, beautiful. Take good care a' li'l Rosebud, 'n I'll be back soon, promise. Wanna get this done t'day, so's we still got daylight t'verify th'site's clean." He leans down to gently kiss the top of Bella's head, and smiles at Rosie, one big hand gently drawing the slight Mercurian close for a similar kiss. He grins, adding wryly, "Plus, don' wanna be stuck wi'no tent f'th'night!"

Soma chuckles quietly, "I would happily let you bed down here tonight if time got away from you, Slate."

Shateishael glances over at Soma thoughtfully, tempted... then slowly shakes his head, "Thank y'kindly f'th' offer, Somhairle, but don' wanna make thin's awkward." He pauses, looking around carefully... he could probably squeeze in here with three other folks, but it'd be... a touch snug, yes. He grins ruefully at Soma, "'D feel pretty damn stupid if'n I rolled on someone 'r sumpin', not bein' use'ta this size."

Rosenstern prrs with Soma's touch, smiling to the fae lord, then leans up to kiss Slate warmly and deeply. He still hasn't realized to what extent the glamour's effects are having on him that day. Shateishael looks slightly boggled as he gets kissed -- Rosie does tend to have that effect on people! -- then draws a slow breath as he straightens, several heartbeats later, "Uh! Whut wuz we sayin'...?"

Soma smiles and tucks one foot beneath the other knee, "I was offering my yurt for the night, and if you feel you wouldn't fit, I could make some alterations."

Shateishael says, "Uh, I wuz? -er, I mean, you were?" Then he shakes his head sharply, "Gah! Deep breaths..." He straightens up enough his head's above his lovers' easy reach, and takes a moment to breath and clear his head. He grins ruefully at Soma, "So, uh, where were we... right, stayin' th'night. Y'sure 'bout this? Don' wanna be bother'r nuthin'?"

Soma smiles and reaches forward to curl his fingers around Rosie's tail, "I suspect if you were to ask your lovers, they'd rather have you here now than to have the tent today." Rosenstern glances to Bella, then nods, beaming, to Slate. The fae lord smiles, "I'm certain."

Bella squirms around, finding that getting to her knees in this form isn't as easy as in the human one. She grins, starting already to unfasten the belt on her robe, "Yes. Stay."

Shateishael hesitates, glancing back at Rosie and Bella... then back at the yurt... then he grins, "Um... well, 'kay, if'n it's n'bother..." He shifts slightly, letting some of his ordinarily rigid self-control ease off a bit, and the wonderfully alluring scents of his lovers hit him like the joy of coming home... he sighs quietly, his gaze on them softening, and rumbles, "Y'all are darned d'stractin', y'know..." He leans down, now he doesn't have to hold back, and gently nuzzles his face along Rosie's entire front. He rumbles contentedly, both at the softness of the fur, the sweetness of the scent, and the lovely reactions Rosie gives. When his head clears and Bella's got her robe off, Slate decides, he'll have to try it with her too!

Soma smiles and reaches up to touch Slate's equine shoulder, just below the withers, "I believe I can help you change without leaving the dome." The sidhe smells of lilies, musky and sweet, like they smell in full bloom when they are full of pollen. It is an obviously sensual scent.

Shateishael mumbles contentedly through fur, "Don' need t'change jus'yet, 'less y'all want...?"

Bella squirms out of her robe, giggling as she has to pull it off her tail, fumbling with it a little, "Too many holes." She grins up at Slate and her eyes follow the way he's nuzzling Rosie, "You're pretty as a horsie." She shakes her head and chuckles, taking a deep breath, "Mmmf. Hard to think like this." Shateishael grins sideways at Bella through his golden forelock, and reaches out to gently tickle her tummy fur with his free hand.

Soma smiles and reaches over to rest his hand against Bella's head, "Some fox spirits are creatures of simplicity. Some are creatures of cunning... I suspect that you've manifested the first, Bella." The Bright nuzzles against Soma's hand and tries to also arch her belly into Slate's tickling, "Mmm... maybe. 'S nice..." Her tail is swishing slowly back and forth across the bed.

Rosenstern purrs and wraps his arms around Slate as the angel-centaur nuzzles along his chest fur. He holds on snugly enough that he is almost lifted upward with Slate when Slate moves his head away. Shateishael grunts slightly in startlement at Rosie wrapping around him... then grins and leans down again to the pretty kitty, "Dayum but y'r d'licious like this! You'n Bellisima both!" He steps back slightly, carefully folding at the knees so he can lower the heavy equine body (with a small grunt of effort), which puts him at about eye level with the others while they're seated. He grins, reaching to lightly catch Bella's tail as it swishes by, stroking sensuously along it... then he looks over to Soma, "'N kitties? They come in types too? 'R centaurs?"

Soma hasn't yet moved to take off the vest he just managed to don. Laughing, he nods, "I don't think our Rosenstern is a Bakeneko, though... he is far too sweet. He feels more like a pooka, an animal spirit, slightly mischievous. And as far as I have seen, centaurs are all very similar."

Rosenstern prrs even longer, if softer, arching his back a bit and really starting to loose himself in the sensations and the nice buzzing in his head, giving himself over to some wonderful sensual thoughts as he curls himself around Slate. Shateishael grins as he runs his fingers with luxurious pleasure up and down Rosie's sides through the fur, "He's allus been wunnerfully sweet, yeah." He considers, then rumbles, "Well, th'Lapith centaurs were mos'ly jus' beastfolk mentally, from whut th'legends now'days say. Dunno how accurate they are, though. 'N th'other centaurs were artisans 'n warriors 'n teachers." He's silent a moment, then smiles, "'Kay... c'n live wi'that."

Bella crawls over and starts working on the fastenings of Rosie's loincloth again, humming happily to herself and tail wagging quite merrily. Soma smiles and lets his hand stroke down Bella's back, smoothing the fur and watching the play of emotion through the three angels. Rosenstern doesn't quite flop on his back, but he does manage to turn himself around while still nuzzling and embracing and tracing small kisses along Slate's shoulders and sides. He is no longer trying to conceal the loincloth from anyone. Shateishael raises his head and draws a deep breath, trying to clear his thoughts slightly. He rumbles a touch breathlessly to Soma, "Uh, better talk quick now 'fore we lose capability... y'okay w'same deal's las' time we shared Rosie, 'r need modifications?"

Bella tugs open the ties on the loincloth and pulls it away from Rosie's body. With it gone the Mercurian-catboy is left in just the silk sheaths around his arms and legs. She licks and nibbles along the edge of one white-furred ear, letting one hand slide over his shoulder to rest against the middle of his chest. Soma smiles and starts unbuttoning his vest, "I am willing to abide by those rules, Slate. Though I'm not as certain my hands won't wander."

Bella giggles and smiles over at Soma, "You can touch me if you want to, pretty butterfly." Her attention is almost immediately recaptured by the way Rosie wriggles, however.

Rosenstern mrowls softly as the loincloth goes away, writhing a little, holding his ear still but generally keeping his position. He places a hand on Bella's even as he attempts to lick/nibble down along Slate's hip. Shateishael draws another slow breath, his eyes widening as he admires Rosie's extraordinarily graceful, sleek form. The kitty and the beautiful foxie side by side make him murmur almost reverently,

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove."
Still not taking his eyes off of his lovers, he rumbles absently, "'S fine wi' me, Soma. Y'let me touch y'pretty hair earlier t'day, after all... 'n 'm thinkin' we may have trouble keepin' ourselves separate as it is..."

Shateishael leans his human half slowly forward, reaching out with both arms to cuddle up against his beautiful lovers, stroking their fur with gentle adoration... a moment later he glances down and carefully works the equine part of his body closer, leaning up against the bed frame. Then he reaches back to do his best to help his beloveds feel as wonderful as possible, his eyes bright with dreamy joy. Bella snuggles against Slate even as she continues petting Rosie, running her fingers happily through his fur as he nuzzles over Slate's human half. Her eyes are barely half-open and she smells quite clearly of arousal. Her tail moves to try and wrap around Soma.

Soma bites his bottom lip as he starts to slide his slacks off, that lily-scent mixing with the more primal scents of fox and cat and horse. He shifts, crawling over the bed to add his hands to those moving over Rosie's body, fingers sliding through the fur along the outside of one thigh. Shateishael is not seeking Soma out so much as he's not avoiding the butterfly fae. He doesn't want to be pushy -- especially in such a large form! -- but he does want to touch and cuddle and be warm and loving, and in his current mental state that desire encompasses his entire clan. His fingers tease playfully through warm fur, and he rumbles with deep contentment at the caresses and kisses shared with him.

Rosenstern's eyes are mostly closed; he senses more by touch and smell at this point -- if he even is concerned about that. Very gently he scratches Slate's back, slowly drawing himself upward along Slate's body to kiss and nibble upon his nipples. His body is twisted in a very feline way, mrrowling softly at the pets upon his body and twisting to try and meet them with his tummy. Shateishael sighs blissfully, nuzzling his face against Bella's fur as well, his back arching a bit into Rosie's touches. He chuckles with gentle happiness at Rosie's sensual abandon, and runs the fingers of one hand through the soft tummy fur as well. Bella simply cannot resist the offered belly and buries her face in it next to Slate's caressing fingers. Of course, this puts her hand in the perfect position to trail down over Rosie's thigh and then back up again to cup him teasingly before moving on to simply petting again.

Soma's breathing is getting a bit quicker and his hands move up Rosie's body to his chest, teasing over the pierced nipples before he carefully brings his head down to close over one of them. The tip of his tongue slips through the ring to tug on it. Rosenstern's meowl becomes a bit louder and higher-pitched with the combined petting and cupping and tugging, shivering deliciously with the sensations. Shateishael's quietly blissful growl rumbles deep in his chest, and he leans to explore the fur on Bella's chest while she's doing naughty things to Rosie. His hands continue to stroke sensually through fur, and he realizes he too is starting to rely more on touch and scent and hearing than sight... and it feels very good to do so! He has to shift his curled up hind legs a bit so he's still comfortable while teasing his beloveds.

Soma's head comes up at Slate's shifting and he reaches over, running his fingers through the ersatz centaur's hair/mane. He murmurs, "This is lovely, but I think this is not comfortable for you in this moment, Warrior..." his voice is a little hoarse as he leans forward enough to kiss Slate in the center of the forehead, if the Seraph will let him. With the kiss Slate feels his body changing, shifting, shrinking. When the strangely liquid heat of it is finished, he finds himself transformed.

The body that was huge before is now simply very large. The chestnut coat has been replaced with a pelt of vibrant orange with inky black stripes, both of which fade into a cream-colored stomach. Round ears emerge from a ruff of fur around a face somewhere between human and feline, though the eyes are still the same steely blue. His spine, like Rosie's, has elongated slightly and instead of ending at his rump, continues on to a magnificent tail. Smaller than a centaur, yes, but if he stood full-height he would brush close to eight feet of muscled were-tiger. Soma smiles, purring a little himself, "Now you won't crush the bed or injure yourself..."

Bella's eyes light up and she grins, "Another kitty!"

Rosenstern draws back a bit, looking at Slate for several long moments, blinking. Then he smiles, mischievous glints in his eyes as he leans down and purrs, watching Slate attentively. "Another kitty!" he says, with a lot more arousal in his voice.

Soma looks almost abashed, "I... believe I can reverse it if you prefer, Slate."

Shateishael blinks startledly, drawing a slow breath at the curiously sensuous heat diffusing through him... he shivers pleasurably, his fur rising for a moment as he does so, and the shiver travels down his spine all the way to the end of his tail. His sense of smell/taste has suddenly and dramatically increased, to the extent that he doesn't even realize his vision is less useful. He raises his head, slitted eyes widening, and growls in a deep basso, "I... wha...?" He looks down at his slightly paw-like hands... then laughs aloud, almost filling the room with the joyous sound. "Reverse it? When both lovers light up? Please don't!" He grins as he rises and crouches over the bed, sharp fangs gleaming, and leans to rub his cheek ruffs slowly and enjoyably over both lovers, one after the other. His profoundly deep purr practically shakes the bed he's relaxing across.

Soma, now lounging on his side, reaches over and brushes a hand across the back of Slate's head with a smile, "I'm glad everyone approves." Shateishael rumbles with delicious pleasure, lazily rubbing his cheek fur across everyone that seems to enjoy it. His sense of touch is almost breath-takingly wonderful! He feels like he could roll around in ecstasy, wallowing in the lovely seductive sensations. Rosenstern purrs happily at the transformation, even a bit instinctively licking at Slate's ruff a bit, or at least where Slate's ruff would be.

The three transformed angels and the fae lord spend most of the rest of the afternoon simply exploring the sensations these forms elicit from each other, reveling in the sheer hedonistic pleasure of it. Eventually, the pleasure-seeking winds down to a relaxed and sensual pile of bodies. Soma stretches and takes a deep breath, skin still holding a slight glow. After a moment he opens his eyes and blinks, smiling foolishly, "I'm... still not tired."

Shateishael chuckles relaxedly, reaching out to stroke a lazy hand down the fae's shining cobalt hair, where it lies across Rosie's soft-furred stomach, "'At's a good thin', yeah?" He lies there, his deep basso purr contented, then rumblingly adds, "Y'hungry 'r anythin'?"

For a moment, there's something nearly childlike about the millennia-old sidhe. He rubs the back of his head against Rosie's stomach and smiles upside-down at Slate, "No. I'm not."

Shateishael smiles with slow pleasure at the happy fae, his slitted eyes dreamily half-closed, "'S all good then, yeah? Whutcha wanna do now?" Rosenstern gives a long, low, contented purr. Shateishael's smile widens slightly at the purr, and he gently strokes Rosie's tail where it's twined close about Bella's brush. His voice is as dreamy as his gaze, "Mmmmlove ya, beautifuls..."

Bella wriggles around on her back, "Mmm... bask. Wanna bask." She reaches out one hand to push it deep into Slate's fur, liking the heat of his skin beneath his pelt. The Bright also turns her head and kisses Rosie's cheek, murmuring, "Love you both."

Shateishael's chuckle is a low growling amusement, and he obligingly stretches out a bit for Bella. He rumbles contentedly, "Wunner if'n other folks'll wanna cuddle t'night too... love th'way it feels t'be touched like this."

Rosenstern purrs softly, curling up amongst them both. "Love yooou," he murmurs, drawing out the last syllable contentedly and languidly.

Shateishael is contentedly silent a moment... then he twists slightly, reaching to wrap an arm about Soma, carefully including him in the blissfully contented dog-kitty-something pile they've created together. Soma's eyes are closed, a smile on his lips, "I think you may understand now why we are such a sensual people." Shateishael is still practically wallowing in delicious sensation... he simply rumbles relaxedly, curled up as warmly as possible around and under his lovers.

Bella eventually wriggles her way around so she can nuzzle into Slate's belly fur, making little happy noises, "So pretty." Shateishael chuckles quietly, gently stroking her soft fur and hair. He's happy to bask with his beloveds and Soma for as long as they wish.

After a long, luxuriant time of snuggling, Soma eventually disentangles himself and starts getting dressed. He apologizes extensively and seems rather reluctant to go, "There is checking up for me to do."

Shateishael tilts his head enough to glance at Soma over his stripy shoulder as he rumbles, "Y'wan' comp'ny?"

Soma slides into the midnight blue pants again and starts putting the vest back on as well, "I would not object to having you accompany me, Slate." His voice is slightly lowered since the kittyboy and kitsune shaped angels both look as if they are drifting off into sleep.

Shateishael's tail flips lazily as he considers... then he nods, "Moment." He slides almost bonelessly off the bed, careful not to jostle his lovers, then sits on his haunches next to the bed, looking down at them with a fond, almost foolishly happy smile. He sighs contentedly, inhaling their warm, sweet scents, then gently tucks them in, leaning to give each of them a light, brushing kiss. Bella wriggles and curls closer to Rosie, wrapping her arm over the white-furred catboy's form almost as if cuddling into a large stuffed animal.

Shateishael is still beaming as he turns and straightens, taking a step towards Soma before he stops in surprise. He's... looking down at Soma?! He pauses, studying his tiger-form thoughtfully, turning his hands and arms over to see both sides... arching his back easily to glance down his back... running a hand along his tail... then he grins delightedly at Soma, whispering softly, "Soma, dude -- this's a cool form! Wish't I c'd keep it f'later!"

Soma tips his head to look back at Slate, smiling and reaching up to touch the new cheek ruffs, "If this level of glamour is sustainable, I may be able to help you have it again." He turns and slips out the yurt's doorway.

Shateishael grins, dropping to all fours to slide gracefully and silently out the door... then rises to his full height outside, stretching his powerfully muscled arms high overhead. His deep, growling voice is marveling, "Wow! I c'd sure han'le bein' a Stone tiger! Wunner if'n a real tiger feels half's nice!" He chuckles, looking down at Soma again, "Nah, if'n it's a trouble, don' worry 'bout it, guy. I c'n jus' 'njoy it t'th'fullest right now... not worth it t'cause ya t'use up energy better spent on y'r people, y'know?"

Soma stops and turns toward Slate, face serious, "Slate, you and your loves are my people too. Or that's how it is beginning to feel."

Shateishael looks around, his whiskers twitching noticeably and his tail swishing slowly back and forth... this is exciting! He grins, the tips of his shining canines showing, as he draws in scent and taste -- his round, furred ears flick happily, catching all kinds of wonderful sounds -- the very air against his fur seems loaded with marvelous amounts of information! He rubs the back of one forearm against his face, then sniffs interestedly again... what fascinating news does the wind have for him? At Soma's words he glances down, ears pricked alertly forward as he listens... then he grins, dropping down to rest on his haunches so he's a bit closer to Soma's height, and gently hugs the butterfly fae. "Thanks, Somhairle... 'm proud t'be seen thataways, 'n if'n I c'n help I'd sure like ta." He has to stop himself from rubbing his cheek fur against Soma again, and he pulls his head back with a slightly sheepish chuckle, "Er, sorry... feels s'good t'do that, 's a bit distractin'!"

Soma hugs Slate back, laughing quietly, still sounding perhaps a little intoxicated. "Affection is quite acceptable. You radiate it like a small sun. And excitement." He disentangles himself from the hug and starts to walk, "We may not actually encounter much of anyone, but I want to be seen and give people a chance to ask questions or let me know of any concerns."

Shateishael nods, pacing easily along next to Soma and collecting his thoughts. He's still beaming contentedly as he glances around, his long tail swinging easily behind him and his heavily padded paws practically silent on the playa dirt. He clasps his large paw-hands behind him and reflects as he paces quietly along next to Soma -- would it be easier for him to run than walk quadrupedally? It had been a very natural movement earlier, after all, to slip out the tiny (to him) door that way. He grins more broadly, his whiskers flicking back, as he considers what Soma said also... radiating affection and excitement? That's nice! He rumbles cheerfully to the butterfly fae, "Soun's like a good idea t'me... alla th'best leaders I've known made sure t'be 'ccessible t'their people, after all."

Soma chuckles quietly and shrugs, "I try to shepherd rather than lead, Slate. People tend to set leaders on pedestals. It's a fine line to walk between being a king and being seen as a tyrant. I want my people's trust as well as their respect."

Shateishael smiles down at Soma, rumbling, "Y'soun' bit like m'Architect, David. He wants us t'learn on our own, 'n 'at includes 'ccasionally stumblin' -- but we allus know we c'n turn t'him f'help 'n guidance." He sighs contentedly, his gaze straying back to interestedly surveying their surroundings as he adds, "Hard not t'respect that... 'n wanna live up t'it, 'n make 'im proud."

Soma nods, still smiling as he raises his hand in greeting to a couple of sidhe that Slate hasn't yet met personally. "I hope to inspire my people in much the same way." The way he says the words "my people" is affectionate and proud rather than possessive. As the pair walk along, a familiar gray-furred shape comes through the dome. Before she crosses the dome there is a glimpse of her as a human on the other side, lithe and olive-skinned with blue-black hair down her back in a knee-length braid. On both sides, she's wearing a piece of white linen wrapped into a sarong.

Shateishael watches in interest -- is that Bast? She looks lovely in human form also, he thinks. He wonders if that's an Egyptian human's genotype she's using as her glamour... and if she enjoys being in the human world or not. He grins and waves to her if she looks their way. He sniffs curiously, wondering if scent changes in the glamour as well, or if it's just visual. Then he realizes suddenly he's not wearing any clothes. He glances down at himself, wondering if that will bother anyone... he hopes not. He's very comfortable currently. The scent doesn't seem to actually change as Bast crosses the border. She stops as she catches sight of Slate, ears fluttering. Her tail flirts side to side, hands on her hips, "Soma, you have outdone yourself..."

Shateishael tilts his head, his ears perking forward curiously -- then he remembers his manners and nods politely, "Lady Bast, evenin'." He's slightly amused to realize this body considers a polite nod to include a sort of graceful swirl of movement starting at his head and sliding all the way down his spine to end with a lazy flip of his tail.

Bast watches that whole movement with a broad smile. She inclines her own head, "Good evening, Slate. I must say I approve of that look for you." She's wearing heavy gold bangles around her wrists and a torque around her neck. Her own tail is slowly swaying back and forth in a feline show of curiosity.

Shateishael grins broadly, his steel-blue eyes lighting up, "Kinda like it m'se'f too, ma'am!" He adds courteously, "Y'r lookin' quite fine t'night also."

Soma laughs quietly and nods, "It suits him, yes. But I can't really bring something into being that isn't there already."

Shateishael tilts his head curiously to regard Soma, "How y'mean, please? Like th'forms jus' 'xpress clearly whut's inside th'person a'ready?" Bast smells of exertion and henna and curiosity. She also has the faint lingering scent of sex, though that's almost a given after seeing her interaction with her djinn companion the night before.

The Summer Lord nods, still smiling, "Glamour is about seeming."

One of Slate's ears turns towards Bast, and he wishes a bit wistfully he could see her dancing sometime. She had said that was what she did, after all... he nods thoughtfully to the butterfly fae, "So... f'y'all, th'glamour's on th'other side a'th'dome? 'N f'me it's here in th'dome?"

Soma nods, smiling, "The dome works to bring forth inner being."

Shateishael huhs thoughtfully... then his big head turns to study Bast and he smiles again, "If'n dancin's part a' y'r inner bein', like I think y'said y'did, then someday I hope t'get t'watch ya dancin', Lady."

Bast laughs and reaches up to stroke Slate's cheek ruff, "You've danced with me yourself, Warrior."

Shateishael smiles, turning his head slightly so he's easier to reach as he rumbles, "'S diff'rent watchin' than dancin', Lady." Almost without thinking one large paw-hand comes up to gently cup her smaller paw-hand, and he turns his head so his muzzle rests against her palm. He inhales her scent, the tip of his tongue coming out to flick lightly across her fingers, rumbling contentedly.

Bast smiles and nods once, "That is certainly true. Perhaps before the festival ends you'll get your chance." She purrs at the quick flicker of the tiger-shaped angel's tongue, but it doesn't seem to actually make her smell of arousal.

Shateishael's chuckle is a quiet rumble in his chest as he straightens, savoring Bast's scent and taste. He wonders a bit happily if she'll curl up near him tonight... he has this odd urge to stroke her fur, but thinks that might be a bit much. Actually, he's not even sure the lick wasn't too much... but she hadn't smelled annoyed to him, so... probably okay? "I look for'ard t' it then, Lady."

Bast's eyes seem to shine and her ears flicker in an expression quite easily read as happy approval to Slate, "I shall as well." She turns to Soma and rubs her cheek along the side of his face, murmuring, "You are feeling well? Not tiring out."

Soma returns the nuzzling greeting and hugs Bast warmly, "Today I am but a dam, and the floodgates have opened." Shateishael beams happily down at Soma and Bast, still feeling that lovely, inordinately gleeful inner happiness. Watching Bast rub her cheek ruff along Soma's face makes him feel a touch proud he got to do that too -- sharing scent is nice!

The goddess smiles and nuzzles against Soma's other cheek, having to stretch up to do it, "Don't let the flood overcome you, golden one." She settles back to her feet and smiles at both men, "I am off to find the efreet to speak with them about music for a celebration once the festival ends."

Shateishael looks curious, "Who're th' 'freet, Lady? 'N whut flood?" He looks even more curious as he realizes 'golden one' must refer to Soma... who looks mostly blue and white to Slate!

Bast smiles up at Slate, "Fire spirits. Not quite my people, but we come from the same continent."

Shateishael brightens, "Fire spirits? Huh! Love t'meet 'em sometime, if'n tha's 'kay?" He wonders if Gabriel knows about them. Interesting!

The cat goddess adds, "And I meant the flood of the glamour, Warrior. Magic can overwhelm without warning."

Shateishael's ears prick up more alertly, and his rumble sounds a touch concerned, "Really? Din' know 'at..." He glances at Soma, then back at Bast, "How d'ya tell? 'r help someone who's havin' trouble?"

Soma smiles and lays his hand on Bast's shoulder, "I don't believe I am in danger, great lady. It feels very right."

Bast nods and nuzzles her cheek against Soma's hand, answering Slate, "Water, salt, a ring of fire. All are said to be effective."

Shateishael nods slowly, making mental notes. That's the second time he's heard salt mentioned... interesting. He rumbles to them both, "Feels real right t'me also, but I dunno nuthin' 'bout magic... so whut's it look like if'n there's trouble?"

Bast and Soma both look thoughtful for a moment, but it is Soma who speaks, "It would manifest in different ways for different beings. But it is almost always unmistakable."

Bast adds, "And it is normally the fault of someone trying to harness powers they have no business trying to channel. I should not worry about Soma, because he hasn't that kind of hubris. But we are all protective of him." That last statement isn't quite true.

Shateishael nods inquiringly, his tail swishing slowly back and forth and his slitted eyes intent. He nods again to Bast, adding, "Thanks, Lady, f'th'inf'mation." He grins, adding, "'Most all. Th'ones I care 'bout, least'ways."

Bast smiles, "As a friend once said to me, 'All the ones that matter, anyway.'" She inclines her head to the sidhe and the Seraph before continuing her casual search for the jewel-skinned fire spirits.

Shateishael nods quietly, agreeing, and bows politely as the cat lady paces off. Then he looks at Soma inquiringly, "So whut's 'is 'bout magic problems? Related t'greed, huh? 'M guessin' we're likely t'see 'at inna Winter Court, I take it?"

Soma smiles, looking perhaps a bit sad, "Glamour and other magics -- at least our magics -- want to flow like rivers. They seek their natural conduits. Some can be easily channeled; some cannot. Bindings can turn on their makers. Simple glamours usually do not."

Shateishael nods, listening carefully. His whiskers twitch a bit as he thoughtfully licks his chops, then rumbles, "'Kay. This th'kinda thin' folks c'n he'p wi' 'r is it more a 'jus' get outta th'way' kinda thin'?"

Soma tips his head inquiringly, wings spreading and flapping slowly, "Circles of salt or fire or running water can sometimes dampen the effects."

Shateishael nods, "'Kay, I'll keep 'at in mind then." He grins, adding, "Not that y'look like y'r havin' trouble... y'still look kinda glowy wi'happiness!" He leans and sniffs a bit, then grins again, "Smell real nice too."

Soma laughs and shrugs, the motion languid as he smiles, that dreamy and intoxicated expression filling his features again, "This is what I was meant to do."

Shateishael's ears flick curiously, "Really? Y'knew this'd happen?" He adds puzzledly, "Whut 'zactly are y'doin', if'n y'don' mind m'askin'?

Soma shakes his head, still smiling, "No. I had no idea this would happen. But it feels right." He pauses in his walking, thinking on that for a moment, "I am... serving as a conduit for the strength of my people. I am healing the wounds of a mistaken battle."

Shateishael's ears flatten for a moment in chagrin -- he still feels a touch guilty about the Ethereal Holocaust. Then he draws a slow breath, blowing it out and making his whiskers flutter, and rumbles, "So... y'r strength functions as a channel t'guide magical power'r sumpin' like that t' y'r people? 'N somehow th' li'l Rosebud... whut, increased th'flow, 'r opened up th'channel more, 'r sumpin'?"

Soma smiles lopsidedly, "I would be lying if I said I understood what has happened here, Slate. Something has made me stronger, or there's more energy to be had. Something has changed. The universe is rewarding us."

Shateishael nods slowly, studying the butterfly fae with all his senses, trying to figure it out. Soma seems much the same as the first night the Celestials met him, but less worried. There is a peace in his posture and his face, a sense of something being right. Shateishael smiles slowly, a bit reassured. He rumbles thoughtfully, "Y'been wi'out a consort for whiles? Y'seem lot more relaxed now?"

Soma laughs quietly, "I've not had a consort in my reign. I think I may have been waiting for that still soft voice to speak in me."

Shateishael's smile gets a bit wider, his eyes half closed with lazy pleasure. His voice is a low purr as he replies, "Now 'at's sumpin' th' li'l Rosebud's got in spades, true." He grins, resting a large hand on Soma's shoulder, "'Kay! Thanks f'satisfyin' m'curiosity. Y'wanna head on some'eres?"

Soma pats Slate's paw-like hand where it rests on his shoulder, "I should find Bacchus or Karl. They tend to get restive if I'm out of touch for too long."

Shateishael chuckles, his tone dry, "Cain't 'magine why." He grins, his tail whisking cheerfully back and forth once as he adds, "Need t'find Karl m'se'f as it is -- wanna ask if'n we c'n pitch our tent near th'forge!"

Soma nods and changes course slightly as if that made up his mind, "Karl it is, then."

Shateishael feels that rumbling purr echoing up in his chest again, "Thanks!" He strides contentedly along next to Soma, feeling wonderfully... "belonging." It's a truly fantastic feeling to a Stone angel, and he finds himself humming -- struggling not to burst into song, in fact! Soma sort of floats along. He manages to give the impression that his wings have actually lifted him off the ground, even though they haven't. When they get close to Karl's forge he slows down slightly, moving more cautiously. The older centaur is standing over the anvil and pounding out what looks like a rather large sheet of rounded steel. Shateishael beams, striding over without qualm -- and momentarily forgetting Soma would want to be careful. He settles a hip against the heavy wooden table, waiting for Karl to finish and still humming to himself... although the occasional snatch of lyrics is starting to slip out, in his deep bass voice.

Karl looks up from his hammering and arches a brow, nostrils flaring. He doesn't speak until he's finished the shaping he's working on. Putting the piece carefully aside, he wipes his hands off on his apron, "That's a diff'rent look."

Shateishael grins cheerfully, "Ain't it, though?" He smoothes one large paw-hand down his front, beaming at the pretty fur colors, then raises his large head again and grins down at the old centaur, "Kinda neat... 'n best a' all, m'sweethearts like it bunches too! Which reminds me... we were lookin' 'roun' f'place t'pitch th'tent, 'n wondered if'n some'eres near y'forge'd be 'kay wi'you? We were hopin' not t'get in anybody's way...?" He grins a touch shyly, remembering the amazing warmth and joy of the afternoon as he adds, "'N wuz thinkin' 'bout movin' it t'morra p'haps...?"

Karl scratches his chin and looks around, one hind hoof pawing at the playa dust. There's almost a hint of amusement around his eyes, "Well, I'm sure y'd feel at home 'round the forge. I don't own the place, but I do 'ppreciate the thought of askin' me about it. I'd be glad t' have you for neighbors."

Shateishael nods, rumbling with pleasure, "Thanks, guy... 'ppreciate it." His tail swings happily back and forth -- fortunately there's no one behind him -- as he adds, "Ajax said he'd be willin' t'he'p wi'th'move. Y'need 'im f'anythin' t'morra? I'm happy t'schedule when's c'nvenient f'y'all?"

Karl shakes his head and snorts, "Nah, got nothing big going on tomorra. I'll help, too, if y'need it."

Shateishael beams again, and one paw-hand kneads lightly and pleasantly against the heavy wooden table, "Thanks, Karl! Y'all're bein' real kind t'us. We 'ppreciate it much!"

Karl's back hoof paws at the ground again and he watches Slate absent-mindedly leave scratch marks in the rather weather-beaten table, "Y'ain't done anything t'make me want to shove a hammer down y'r throat. No reason not t'be nice."

Shateishael's amused snort comes out as a sort of coughing grunt. He grins broadly, his ears tilting back wryly, and rumbles, "Well, if'n it came t'that, 'xpect I'd know well b'fore then there wuz sumpin' wrong, so's I c'd try'n fix thin's." Soma is standing by, smiling a bit to himself, hands in the pockets of his loosely flowing pants. Shateishael chuckles quietly again, then rumbles, "Figger th'form may change t'morra, but if'n y'need a han' b'fore then that this form'd be suited to, y'know t'jus' ask, yeah?"

Karl's mouth shifts into something almost smile-like, "I reckon you probably would." He hefts the hammer he's still holding, eyeing Slate, "I can't think of anything it might be more useful for than any o' the others."

Shateishael nods relaxedly, still smiling, "'Kay. Then I won't bother ya n'more. Thanks, 'n I'll letcha know when I'm headin' out t'morra, 'kay?" He tilts his head inquiringly at Soma, "Y'gonna be hangin' roun' here 'n discussin' thin's, 'r wouldja like me t'hang 'roun' with ya s'more?"

Soma smiles, "I just wanted to let Karl see that I'm not falling over. You're welcome to continue wandering with me."

Shateishael chuckles, "Not yet, nope! 'N no sign a'that yet." He's a bit curious... what exactly has happened with Soma, Rosie, and the Bower? He wonders if there's a way to figure it out... so far he has no idea.

Karl chuckles and inclines his head, "Much appreciated, Soma. Was gonna come lookin' m'self in an hour or so." Shateishael grin quietly, absently licking his whiskers. It's nice to see good folks really seem to care about Soma... it says very encouraging things about the butterfly fae.

Soma wanders the encampment seemingly purposelessly, but he and Slate do manage to speak to several of the Ethereals. Some ask questions about the persistence of the glamour, some simply seem to be thrilled that things seem to be changing. Most of the beings they speak to seem genuinely affectionate toward their king. One or two seem detached or even edging on unfriendly, but no one is actively rude. Slate gets many a sideways, nervous glance on first being glimpsed. Shateishael will quietly catch the scent and look of the folks who seem unfriendly, and makes mental notes about them. He can forgive detached, since he knows he's come across that way also, but he'd like to be... if not wary, at least aware, of those folks who're not happy with the Summer Lord.

Aside from that, though, Shateishael is beamingly happy, and quite pleased to either settle down on his haunches so he's a bit less imposing looking, or hug anyone who'd like it, while Soma talks to folks. He's absurdly delighted when Jenny's little ones discover him, and fearlessly clamber all over him, pelting him with questions and trying to feed him bits of the fruit they're sharing. Slate good-naturedly endures having his tail and ears tugged, tosses the more daring ones carefully up and down (with much delighted squealing from them!), teases them gently back with tickling that leaves them giggling, and gets them all to give him the name they're using, so he can tell them apart.

Jenny, after a slightly worried glance at Soma, relaxes at the butterfly fae's reassuring nod, and simply smiles as she watches the children enjoying themselves. She finally shoos them on, after Slate's promised rides later tonight at the pavilion, and they depart reluctantly, waving and calling back shrilly excited reminders to Slate to not forget his promise! Shateishael's still licking fruit juice off his whiskers as he turns to grin at Soma, "Darned cute kids! Bet folks jus' love havin' 'em 'roun'." He pauses, then rumbles in sudden fascination, "Hey, Soma, jus' hadda thought... wunner if'n I c'd scent pregnancy?!"

Soma watches Slate with Jenny and the small beings with the crystals in their foreheads, smiling quietly at the gentleness of the ferocious-looking shape, "Mmm... possibly, but I doubt it would be obvious so soon."

Shateishael nods, looking around curiously, "'Kay. Dun' really know much 'bout it, but..." he grins at Soma, his whiskers bristling excitedly, "Wu'n't it be sumpin', if'n it happened? Bet Bellisima'd be 'xcited!"

Soma looks confused for a moment, "You're trying to impregnate her?"

Shateishael tosses his head back with a roar of laughter! A moment later he grins down at Soma, "No, 'fraid not... cain't do that. C'lestials're all sterile, sorry. But I thought she might like bein' 'roun' babies, c'nsid'rin' she wuz bouncin' 'bit at th'prospect a'baby sidhe 'n dryads 'n satyrs 'n all!"

Soma's expression of confusion clears up and he laughs quietly, "Your Seductress is enthusiastic about many things today."

Shateishael grins with great amusement, "Oh, yeah. Keep wantin' t'wrap 'er up in hugs -- she's s'cute 'n happy like this!" He paces along happily next to Soma, taking the moment to lick one paw-hand and smooth back his ruffled fur around his head. The children with the red gems in their foreheads were quite enthusiastic!

The Summer Lord does eventually start back toward his yurt, "I believe I need to refresh myself. I should probably have food before people start really congregating."

Shateishael nods amiably, "'Kay. We c'n check 'n see if'n Rosebud 'n Bellisima're 'wake too." He glances curiously down at Soma, "Folks'll jus' be congregatin' t'get t'gether f'th'fun a' it in th'pavilion, right?"

"That's the current plan, yes," Soma affirms. "This close to the end of the festival, it's good to have some non-structured time."

Shateishael nods again, "'Kay." He sighs contentedly, adding, "Sh'd be fun... 'speshly wi' Jenny's li'l 'uns 'roun', s'folks c'n see I won' eat anybody." He grins cheerfully.

Soma laughs and smiles, reaching up again to stroke Slate's cheek ruffs companionably, "Not in any way they would object to."

Shateishael's rumbling laugh is delighted, "Ah, y'gotta point there!" His eyes gleam with amusement.

[Previous Log] [Index] [Next Log]





Last modified: 2006-Dec-07 15:15:59

All material on this site is
Copyright © 2006-2024 Reality Fault
unless specifically indicated on each document.
All Rights Reserved.
Administrated by Reality Fault Webmaster