Eating a lot makes for sleepy people. Tasha was due for some good solid sleep, now that some of her fears about Tia had been allayed. When she does wake up, she feels a little odd though. Probably because she seems to be missing her wings and tail, and can hardly smell anything.
Tasha's first thought is that she ate so much her wings, tail and sense of smell were lost; half awake, it makes a kind of sense until she realizes that, no, it makes no sense at all. She sits up. "Eh??" She starts feeling around. It's not the first time this sort of thing has happened, but it usually happens with more preamble than a heavy lunch.
Her ears perk up higher than usual, and she feels generally softer as well. The main things she discovers are that she's between two others in bed, her field of vision is wider, and she's pregnant. The person immediately to her left is Yue, as Human's are easy to identify, and she's either suddenly bigger or Tasha is suddenly smaller.
Tasha's been through a lot, and she's gained wisdom with all her travails, her journeys through different lands, cultures -- and bodies.
The red -- or not so red as it happens -- woman knows exactly whose body she's in.
But she needs to confirm; very carefully she makes her way out of bed, trying not to wake anyone. She looks for something to wear.
Moving causes the person to her right to stir, yawn.. and then let out a Lapi scream. This wakes Yue, who moans and grabs her head.
"Everyone, calm down, we'll figure this out," 'Tasha' says in her best voice of calm and confidence, which she thinks this body can convey, she's certainly been on the reviving end of it. She locates a mirror and what she assumes are 'her' clothes.
"What's going on?" 'Aaron' asks, checking out his body. 'Yue' sits up and says, "Everyone stop.. feeling things.. please. Let's sound off on who we are, okay? I'm Gabriel."
"I'm Sharon," Aaron says. "Shaaron now I guess? Whoa.. I feel like I could arm wrestle Vasha!"
In the mirror, Tasha sees Liza, and in profile can see the bulge of her stomach.
'Tasha' immediately snaps around, eying Yue with an intense and surprised curiosity. "Tasha," she answers, pulling on the nightgown and turning around. "It looks like this may be a wider problem. Which is good for me at least, if Aaron had been Aaron our relationship would have gotten extremely complicated."
Tasha, or rather Lisa, glances at herself in the mirror. "Shaaron," Lisa says with a chuckle. "I suppose I'm Tiza now, or is it Lisha?"
"Taza?" Lisa-Tasha adds, then she reaches up and runs a hand along her ears. "I always wondered what this would these would be like."
"Heeeeey," Shaaron says. "That's right, we're married.. so.. no problem with some morning nookie, right?" He also eyes the still naked Yue as well. Without the experience of dealing with male Lapi urges, Sharon is probably feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"These bodies are married, and we shouldn't do anything with them without permission from their owners," Tasha insists, although she does eye Aaron for a moment, and then Yue. And then she blinks. "No, we need to focus. Shaaron, now's not the time to unrepress yourself, not that I think Aaron would mind, but still."
Tasha then turns to Yue's body. "Okay Yuriel, it's probably safe to assume this may be base-wide. We need to reach out before people panic. You're Human and I'm a bunny, so do you want to take the lead on this?"
"Tasha.. Tiza.. whatever.. check the bathroom for Aaron's blue bottle and make Shaaron drink it, unless you want to be left alone with a Lapi buck's libido. I'll sort out everyone else, this emotion sense must be useful for that." Yuriel gets out of bed, and staggers towards the bedroom door without bothering to look for clothes.
"You need to wear clooothes Yuuuriel or you'll be dealing with Shaaaron toooo," Tiza insists, picking up what look like Yue's clothes and chasing after the Human. "And be careful about the feet!"
Yuriel struggles a bit with the clothes. "How do they walk without tails," she grumbles. "Alright, I'll try to find Aaron and Liza and figure out who else was affected."
"Might I recommend a... The base won't recognize our authority, will it? We'll have to do this manually. And whomever has my body may have access to enough combined firepower to level the countryside, so we need to find them quickly." Tasha pats Yuriel on the shoulder, then hurries off towards the bathroom and starts rummaging around. "I hope I don't end up with morning sickness, and Liza will never forgive me if I'm not careful. At least I have some experience being pregnant now... "
Shaaron is right behind Tiza, and nibbles on her ears while she searches. There are drawers full of jars and bottles and packets; Aaron is still an apothecary and has been testing whatever he's come across. There are several blue bottles, but they don't all look the same.
Tiza rolls her eyes, both at Shaaron and herself, because the nibbling is working and if she doesn't find the bottle soon she thinks she's going to end up bent over the sink and railed as Liza, and rabbits are-- no, concentrate! After sucking in a deep breath she starts trying very hard to read blue bottle labels.
Aaron has them marked in.. code? Skeek! Of course he'd write in Skeek. But Aaron also has a really good sense of smell, so maybe his body will remember which bottle is which. Some of them have the same label, which is probably significant. Either the Lapi has been brewing up his own since coming out or else has been depending on Liza and her hormones to make the issue moot.
Tiza quickly comes to the mortifying realization that not only does she not understand Skeek, she can't in good conscience risk poisoning or even killing Aaron. She's no apothecary and sniffing everything is just making it all that much worse. She doesn't understand and Shaaron's nibbling is driving her crazy. In her own body her own urges will suppressed by simply having too much to do and worry about, yet somehow the mild, prey-born calm and so many hormones are enough to wash away what concerns she carries.
With Aaron right behind her and stronger than her, she glances back and says, "Are you going to be okay... If not... just... " She waggles her hand in a vague gesture. She smells embarrassed and, increasingly, in to it, which further mortifies her. "Just do what you need to do! Agh, why did we get these bodies... curse you Aaron and your filing system... "
"You mean with you right, because.. How often will get this chance?" Shaaron asks. "I'm strong. I'm not.. not.. weak and covered in bandages.. Aargh! No no noooo!" The buck seems to fight his urges. "Just.. open all of the blue bottles! If they smell the same.. they must be the stuff!"
"I'm not going to poison Aaron! It may be hours before we find everyone, and who knows what's happened or what they're doing and... and... " Tiza looks herself in the mirror, grabs her ears and pulls them down the side of her head, groaning as now she has to fight off the same hormones. She had been fine before, but Shaaron just had to start nibbling and getting close. "Stay or go! Make a decision!"
She hears the door open in the bedroom (she can hear so much) and then a Vartan voice calling, "Where everyone at? No go running off I hope!"
Tiza tries to elbow Shaaron out of the way, saved. Still she does give Shaaron a bit of a look, somewhere between accusation and.. disappointment? The look doesn't register internally, however. "We're here, we're here!"
Vasha is in the bedroom, wearing shorts. Apparently tops were too complicated for whoever is currently in there. "Ah! Where.. Aaron?" the bird demands when Tiza appears.
"Shaaron is in the bathroom struggling with missed chances and buck hormones," Tiza replies. She then points to herself. "Tasha," and to the bathroom, "Shaaron," and then to Vasha, brows raising with surprising demand on such a cute face.
Shaaron appears behind Tiza, hands over his crotch and black ear down over his face. "I Aaron," Vasha declares, and strides over to grab Shaaron's shoulder and drag him into the bathroom. This is followed by the Lapi complaining, "This tastes awful!"
"Does that stuff work on me," Tiza calls after the two. "She -- he -- started nibbling my ears! Do you know how embarrassing that was??" Despite or because of her complaints she starts getting dressed more properly, having experience with two legged, wingless forms, and at least this one isn't as sense-devoid as the last one. The tail, she decides, is a little weird, as is being able to hear out to what feels like forever.
The feet are the difficult part to manage. Vasha reappears, feathers poofed out a bit. "Did not need to see that," she notes. "Ah, yeah, Liza really randy when wake up. Um. Hmmm." While contemplating a solution for this, the door opens again and Sasha appears.. wearing a skirt. "Who is who here?" he asks. "I'm Liza."
Tiza points to herself. "Tasha," Vasha, "Aaron," bathroom, "Sharon in Aaron. Almost in me." She finally gets the second shoe on and laces it up. "Have any of you seen my body? Whomever has it has a lot of responsibility at their mindtip."
"No idea," Sasha-Liza says, and picks up Tiza. "Ooof. Am I really this heavy?"
Tiza lays her ears back. "I'm not going to say anything; where are we going? Has Yuriel gathered everyone together, then? You'll be happy to note we didn't do anything, by the way." Then she looks down. "It's strange to be pregnant again. I was just pregnant a few hours ago, too."
"This is the kind that lasts longer," Sasha-Liza says, and just brings Liza back to the bed. "I'm going to take your pants down and calm you down," he claims. "Just go with it."
"You're going to make Vasha jealous, she's probably been secretly dreaming of this moment. So has Sharon." Tiza doesn't otherwise argue or struggle, she's feeling surprisingly mellow and passive, when may be weirder than feeling horny, something she's at least used to. "It's weird to feel so... whatever this is. Passive?" She exhales a sigh. "You better tell those two to go outside, first."
"I wonder if Sasha dreams of this too? He seems so passive.. " Tiza realizes she's rambling a bit, because she knows what's about to happen and then that's going to be in her head forever. And what's worse, she can't tell if she likes it or Liza's body does. Or both. "Ugh."
"Meh, shouldn't matter," Sasha-Liza says, and then Tiza feels fingers down there.. and within a minute the pressure is released, leaving her panting. "There, you should be good for an hour or so now," Sasha-Tiza says. "Now take.. Shaaron.. and sort things out. I'm going to do things with my husband that should be very educational for both of us."
Vasha-Aaron squawks. Shaaron has managed to get pants on.
"Did you get permission?" Tiza's ears seem to be perpetually stuck in the flattened stance now. She sits up, takes a moment to catch her breath, and then slides out of bed. She then realizes something. "Stupid me, I can talk to the rest of me even like this. I'll do that. Come on Shaaaron, the two unbunnies are going to play with different sides of me." Then she turns and winks at Vaaron. "I bet you didn't expect it'd go this way, huh?"
"Married life means trying things," Vaaron says. "Plus, I got big boobs. Biggest in the crew!"
"Well now you're even starting to sound like Vasha. So does this mean we have permission?" Tiza glances at Shaaron, and her gaze lingers a little too long. "And just don't get Vasha pregnant, somehow, those two butt heads enough."
"I know that these bodies being together is not something new," Lasha notes. "Yes, since it's still.. the same bodies.. go nuts." He then make shooing motions.
"I think the point is that whatever pairings need to not be traumatizing if things suddenly switch back," Shaaron says.
"Ohhh, well, that's interesting... " Tasha then waves Shaaron along as she walks out, not bothering to look back. "It's your lucky confidence building day it seems. We have an hour to get things done." She pauses, thinks on what Shaaron says, and nods. "Yes lets not add to our every day trauma with erotic team building exercises. Off we go."
And then a very confident Liza makes her way out.
"Would everyone who is not in their regular bodies please report to the cafeteria," Yuriel calls over the intercom system.
"I guess that's us then," Shaaron says. "How are you feeling?" he asks Tiza.
"Tiny, my back hurts a little, and somewhat less turned on. I've got experience with this kind of thing, so it doesn't bother me too much. Mostly, it's the weird pervasive calm-yet-anxious feeling. How about you?" Tiza glances back over her shoulder as she heads to the elevator.
"Weird," Shaaron claims. "Walking.. is different. And I'm hard! I mean, my body is. I feel like running everywhere. I could carry you if you like."
"I think we should keep touching to a minimum if we want to get anything done," Tiza insists. She holds the elevator for Shaaron to catch up. "But if it looks like I need it, I'll ask. Hopefully whomever has my body can handle it."
"I'm betting Vasha has it," Shaaron says, getting into the elevator. "If she does, she'll be going after the dragons.."
"It's interesting we didn't swap directly, either," Tiza adds as the elevator heads down. "Whomever has this kind of power, well, there's only a few people here, maybe, and more than a few beyond our home. The Ogdru'hem could, for one. Sam's boss, for another, maybe out of revenge. I don't think Kai is this powerful, Galatea may be but she doesn't do these sorts of things, well, she doesn't when she's... " Tiza trails off, then her ears perk. "anyway, one problem at a time."
Soon they arrive, and then it's through the complex to the mess hall. "Could be, or maybe Sasha. I don't want to risk displacing her with my own soul, as I don't know what will happen to her like this, even if it might be an 'easy' way to return to my own body. Also, Vasha would hate being a Lapi."
The cafeteria is packed, but only with the 'mortals' among the crew. And Pheeny and Kai as well. Not everyone has dressed properly, and bathrobes seem to be the popular compromise.
And Tiza sees Tasha there as well, sitting next to Gabriel's body.
"Okay I'm here, prepare for the leadership of Tiza, yes I'm adorable," goes 'Liza', who holds her hands up to get everyone's attention. She hopes she's talking loudly enough. She's not talking loudly enough. Does Liza even go to loud, she wonders? Sighing, she instead lifts her hand, snaps her fingers, and..
A loud firecracker bang issues forth across the hall.
There.
"There you are," Yuriel says. "What took you so long?"
"We ran in to the actual Liza and Aaron, who helped Shaaron with.. adjusting." Liza walks over to the bench, eyes the bench, then climbs up the bench and instead sits on top of the table so people can actually see her. "Anyway. First thing's first! Kai, Pheeny, did you do this?" She gestures at herself, then around. "Do you know who did?"
Kai clears her throat, and says, "Galatea, most likely. As part of her regeneration she may have affected the minds around her. She doesn't have her usual controls in place yet."
"Is this gonna happen a lot?" Gabriel's body ask, sounding a bit cruder then usual.
"Well that's complicated, I've been trying to reach her on an ongoing basis, but I haven't been able to. We don't know the rate of her regeneration nor how long until she regains safeties, either." Tiza taps her cheek with a finger, muzzle pursing. "This could impact our operation, too... Hmm. How is everyone doing? Anyone having a rough time with this?" She then looks back to her own body, stares for a moment, and asks, "Who got my body?" Shift. "And Gabriel's?"
"I'm Reeka!" Gabriel's body claims. "This is... so clumsy."
"Wow, that's a odd one," goes Tiza, turning to Yue and shaking her head. "You're going to be a mess after this, you know. But Human at least! That's something." She then peers at her own body. "I'm weirdly quiet, but given the proximity, Katie?"
Tasha's body shifts in her seat, and says, "Katherine."
"I'm Yue," Katherine's body claims.
The bunny's ears go up, and she nods, expected. "Not enjoying the experience?" She then looks to Katherine's body and nods there as well. "Lucky."
The others chime in. Vasha is in Jonas's body, Sasha in Hakeber's, Jonas in Mressa's, and Hakeber in Sharon. Reeka's body is missing, but must be hosting Mressa.
"Well that answers that. Our priority then is locating Reeka's body, because Mressa will likely have no idea how to survive in the wild, if that's where she is." Liza-Tasha fixates on Gabriel. "Gareek- Rebrie- Reeka, where were you before this happened?"
"My body is in the weird tunnels under the airfield," Gareeka says.
"Then we need to recover it ASAP, Mressa isn't used to things like this, and I'm not sure how much survival training she has." The rabbit eyes the bench, then the floor, then looks to Yue, Aaron, and her own body and makes a 'help me down' motion. "Sooo... lets see. Yuriel, Sashaber, Jossa, with me, since we're short enough and we need both a doctor and a psychic in case she's gotten herself lost."
"I did not expect to be crawling through ducts when I woke up," Yuriel says. "But I should be able to sense her."
"I'll bring my kit," Jossa purrs, and goes to fetch it.
Kai just sits back and watches without offering any help. Pheeny looks very entertained.
"Dealing with unusual ductwork will be something we all face today, I think." Tasha then looks to.. Kasha. "Are you alright, Kasha?"
"Hooves," Kasha says. "And wings. I don't know how you balance, so I'm afraid to move much. Took a lot of effort to get here."
"You'll get used to them, and if not, maybe a stick? Just don't start looking through the menus. They may lock you out because you lack my soul, and my soul moves around a lot these days, but if things look bad also don't be afraid to use what you find there. Just stick to equipment you know since some of it melt a mountainside." Tiza taps the side of her head; she knows. "Otherwise... have fun with it?" It's weird to see Liza smirk and light up like that.
"I haven't seen any menus, or heard voices in my.. your.. head," Kasha says. Shaaron has been staring at Shakeber for awhile now.
"Then it probably doesn't detect you as a valid user, which, well, good thinking Galatea." Tiza then tries something; she tries bringing up the menus in this body. "At least my magic is tied to my soul." Her gaze shifts, then double-take shifts to Shaaron, following his gaze. "Huh."
Nothing comes up, since the menus are part of the ansible system, and connections to Galatea are not exactly active at the moment.
"I'm feeling very conflicted right now," Shaaron claims.
"No kidding," Shakeber echoes.
"Nope, nothing on my end either. Just be aware that if Galatea comes online or tries to reach out you might have to deal with something, um, unexpected. Maybe disturbing. Or dangerous. It could be a lot; contact me if it happens and explain you're Katie's soul and not, well, mine." Tasha then turns back to Shaaron and says, "I always err on the side of fun, unless I really shouldn't. But this is your experience, so follow your heart." Another wink, then she starts waving people to join her. "Okay we need to go rescue to Mressa before someone ends up without a body to return to. Come on then."
Jossa returns, and says, "I've got my gear." Gareeka stands up, and says, "I'll show you the way in.""
"Thank you." Tasha nods for Gareeka to lead on, and then follows after. "I'm sure we'll be able to home in on the... panic."
The utility tunnels beneath the airfield are full of conduits and sensors. They're a bit cramped, but Yuriel has the most trouble. Mainly because she's trying to sense Mreeka and also navigate, and of course the Kavi doesn't carry communication gear. Tiza had some issues as well, but they mainly came from being a pregnant Lapi and not from her size. Eventually they got into a tunnel where they could shout.. well, where Yuriel can shout.. and make contact.
Tiza hauls herself to the curved tunnel edge and has a sit down, huffing. "This has been an enlightening experience," the Lapi remarks between breaths, hand on her belly, left hand holding aloft a flame that's helped shed light in the darkened confines. She leans back, then puts an ear to the wall, listening. "Come on Lapi ears."
She can hear Mreeka moving towards them. "She's coming to us," Yuriel claims. It takes a few minutes, but the diminutive form of Reeka appears, with big eyes and puffed out fur. "What's happening?" she asks a bit hoarsely, as if she's been yelling for a bit.
"Galatea's recovery has hiccups," Tiza explains from where she's leaning, eyes now closed, ears pulled won to the sides of her head now that everyone's close and she can try and block out some of the loudness. "All the mortals have been swapped around. I'm Tasha, by the way."
Jossa steps forward and asks, "Any injuries?" This causes Mreeka to shriek at seeing her own body moving without her.
"Let's get out of the tunnels and deal with this," Yuriel suggests.
"Aaagh," goes Tiza, who pulls her ears down harder. "Lapi! Ears! Noise, stop." But she does pull herself up, then start making her way. "Being able to float would be very nice right now... "
"You're too big for me to carry," Yuriel says. Mreeka gets a nice sedative of some sort that calms her down. It's easier to get out than in though, since they can actually pop out through an access hatch in the tarmac.
Tiza pulls herself out, stands, and stretches her back, putting her palm to its small. "Being short at least has some advantages. Jossa, please have a scan at me and make sure the little ones are okay?"
"You'll need to come to the med bay for that, but just walking around isn't going to affect them," Jossa claims. "Lapi are very sturdy, and you aren't even fully gravid yet."
"How do I get my body back!?" Mreeka squeaks.
Tasha waggles her hands in a hush-down sort of way at Mressa-Reeka. "The important thing. Right now. Is to be. Calm." Her ears go back up now that the squeaking is gone. "Calm. And the answer is, we're not sure yet. Kai is keeping us updated on the situation. These things happen. We're all just going to have to make the best of it, and try to learn something from the experience." She then nods to Jossa. "Then there's probably nothing to worry about, I just feel protective especially after earlier and, well, the urges. I wonder if I can meditate like this? I feel like I'll be doing a lot of resting when... " She blinks. "Well, I'll deal with that later."
"This body is weird though," Mreeka complains. "It's got two thumbs on each hand. It's confusing. And I need to go to the bathroom."
"We'll be back in the residential section soon, don't worry. I also have to go to the bathroom, and I need to check on my not-so-little birdy." Tiza sucks in a breath, exhales, and nods. "Let's go. We should also all take the time to remember we need to eat and drink, and these bodies may not be able to handle what we normally eat." A sigh. "Jossa, help me figure out salads. Salads!"
By the time various biological needs are dealt with, there's still no sign of Shaaron or Tisha, and now Shaaron and Shakeber have vanished. Sashaber is trying to prepare meals.
Tiza has remained available and present, hoping her presence is reassuring during a time when Galatea is out of commission and everything is chaotic and uncertain. She's hardly a replacement for Galatea in terms of raw power nor knowledge, and her access is limited, but she can be herself, and she has something things left, and that has to be enough. It was enough when they started, back when she had very little indeed. Shes seated on a galley table, using a stool as her own table. She tried the stool, then opted for the table top instead.
To pass the time Tiza has meditated, which she hopes both shows a reassuring amount of power, but also control. The lotus-esque flame, she realizes, is a miniature of the Phoenix's down.
Out of the blue Tiza asks, "How are you doing, Pheeny?"
"Try not to show your flame," Kai instructs. "Internalize it. Also, here's a salad with fried potatoes and a pickle."
Lowering her voice, so low she doubts she'd be able to hear herself if she were in her own body, she explains. "I'm showing to reassure people while Galatea is out and everything is uncertain, many species looked to a fire for comfort." More loudly, she says, "I understand. And... Oh, my salad." She looks at her salad. "I hope this is better than I remember. Maybe the body will help. Thank you." She lets her flame return to her so as not to burn the salad, and tries a bite.
It's been seasoned, apparently to what Liza usually has, which is a bit spicy. Part of Tiza still thinks it should have bacon or steak, but it's still pretty tasty as is. The potatoes are probably there because Tasha likes them.
"It's not as bad as I feared," Tiza admits, betrayed somewhat by having gone through a fourth of it rather quickly. "Thank you for the potatoes, that was a nice thought." She stretches her back again, has another bite, and then asks, "How are the immortals handling things, Kai?"
"They're not affected," Kai notes. "The Jotoki also weren't included, but they've got five minds fused together already so they're brains probably just aren't compatible."
"Looks like it's just us, then." Half the salad remains; at least she seems to eat the same, especially after she figured out how to maneuver around her buckteeth. "I always wondered what it'd be like to be a Lapi, you know? Well, now I know. Has Galatea shown any changes, and how is Pheeny? I called out for her, but did she leave?" She looks around again.
"She went to see Whisper," Kai says. "Things were too weird for her here, I couldn't manage to explain things to her. Why did you always wonder what it was like to be a Lapi?"
"Poor Pheeny, I was hoping to give her something like normalcy for at least a little while. But, I suppose, this is who we are. Even while we're someone else." Tasha, as a bunny, wiggles her nose while she eats, it seems. "Oh, well, they're so different from me, you know? From Karnors, from Vartans. But Aaron always seemed strong, and, well, I wasn't cute before I died, so I wondered about that, too. I wandered what it would have been like not being or expected to be tough. I wondered about the ears. The fur is much the same, I'm used to not having hooves, and also not having wings, even if it's unsettling. I think I may even be used to transmigrating my soul. This isn't bothering me as much as the previous times."
"Well, you had to die the other time," Kai says. Tiza's ears pick up the sound of Shaaron returning, because he's trying to whistle with buck teeth.
Those big ear's of Tiza track the sound and, thus, triangulate the movement. "Shaaron's trying to whistle." She gives Kai a 'here we go again maybe' familiar look, but doens't otherwise seem alarm. "You know, Galatea was really brave, there. I think she finally decided to chose something. To get involved. It'd be nice if... Well, saying you're proud of her may not go over well, but, well, she may have saved your existence, too. When Kainudy asks you what happened, give her a good review, will you?" She then nods. "No dying this time, though I did die a little when I realized I was going to be eating salad for a while. It's alright, though. Maybe I like it as Liza. And speaking of things Liza likes, there's Aaron's body." She looks up.
Shaaron enters, looking a little disheveled. There's no sign of Shakeber. He smiles on seeing Tiza and comes over to.. check out her salad. "How are you holding up?" he asks, after purloining a bit of potato.
"Someone's got more confidence, I can't imagine you stealing my food before." Tasha eyes the buck, but she ends up looking more pouty than mad without that predatory edge. "And I'm fine. I've just been here meditating and talking with Kai, acting as a beacon of calm, order, and an actual light beacon. Terrans love fires."
Shaaron sits down next to Tiza and puts an arm around around her shoulders. "I think it's the body.. I mean.. It's so strong. And I have a new respect for my real body now. Hakeber knew exactly what I needed to do, since she's.. familiar with this body."
Tiza's ears go up when the buck puts her arms around her shoulders, and she looks to Kai with a little panic before blinking it right away. "I-I see," she notes, trying to sound even again. "Hakeber does have a lot of experience, and being in a new body can... change your outlook." Muttered, "Sometimes."
Kai's expression offers no help, because as usual Kai just looks amused. "It smells like you're hormones aren't.. huh, weird how I can tell that," Shaaron says. "The hearing and smelling and seeing more is.. hard to get used to. And the lessened sense of touch. And.. I have a weird urge that has nothing to do with this body, I think."
"My hormones aren't... what?" Tasha crams a potatoe slice in her tiny muzzle, chewing contemplatively as she glances aside to Shaaaron. "Arand whart ish thish hurge?"
"I.. wanna sleep with Aaron now when I'm back in my body," Shaaron whispers to Tiza. "Is that weird? Have you.. uh.. dabbled with anyone since I last saw you?"
"Oh thrat." Swallow. "Sleeping with Aaron isn't uncommon around here, so don't worry about that. And no, I've been here being a leadership figure and rescuing 'ca-rrets'." her nose wiggles. "My usual, in other words, rabbit-or-not."
"Oh, not too much stress I hope?" Shaaron asks, resting a hand on Tiza's belly.. and rubbing it. "Do you need a break?"
Tiza looks down at her belly, finding the rubbing strangely soothing. And there's touching, again. "Stress is my state of being; I am greater than it is." It's not quite as dramatic and heroic when said by a small bunny woman, it mostly makes her sound simultaneously pessimistic and a bit macabre in an upbeat way. "What kind of... break... did you have in mind?"
"Well, uh.. wanna try bunny sex?" Shaaron asks outright. "You drive me crazy. Even though I know it's weird because of whose bodies these are.."
Those ears go up again, another glance at Kai, who remains no help. Her gaze then rolls skyward even as her hormones and surge now that it's right there. She shifts where she's seated. "Me, or the body? Or both?" She looks over her at Shaaaron now, one ear drooping slightly, head tilted. "I remember your secret demon."
"That look.." Shaaron shudders. "I mean, you ravished me before, Tasha. So.. I should return the favor. These bodies seem to have their own motivations." Then he's nuzzling at Tiza's neck.
Shaaron can feel Tiza shiver and her breathing increase. For a long moment she just looks the buck straight in the eye, breathing heavily, and then she very deliberately puts her fork down, pushes back her ear, takes a deep, deep breath, then exhales. "Well..." Her stare is very intense, that hasn't changed, even if she looks like she's laboring to maintain it, fighting the urge to squirm. " ...show me what you've learned, then."
Part of what he's learned is how to scoop up a woman and carry her in his arms it seems, "Hmm.. where too.. I guess my.. Sharon's room is best," Shaaron says, and carries Tiza off.
Eating a lot makes for sleepy people. Tasha was due for some good solid sleep, now that some of her fears about Tia had been allayed. When she does wake up, she feels a little odd though. Probably because she seems to be missing her wings and tail, and can hardly smell anything. Tasha's first thought is that she ate so much her wings, tail and sense of smell were lost; half awake, it makes a kind of sense until she realizes that, /no/, it makes no sense at all. She sits up. "Eh??" She starts feeling around. It's not the first time this sort of thing has happened, but it usually happens with more /preamble/ than a heavy lunch. Her ears perk up higher than usual, and she feels generally /softer/ as well. The main things she discovers are that she's between two others in bed, her field of vision is wider, and she's pregnant. The person immediately to her left is Yue, as Human's are easy to identify, and she's either suddenly bigger or Tasha is suddenly smaller. Tasha's been through a lot, and she's gained wisdom with all her travails, her journeys through different lands, cultures -- and bodies. The red -- or not so red as it happens -- woman knows exactly whose body she's in. But she needs to confirm; very carefully she makes her way out of bed, trying not to wake anyone. She looks for something to wear. Moving causes the person to her right to stir, yawn.. and then let out a Lapi scream. This wakes Yue, who moans and grabs her head. "Everyone, calm down, we'll figure this out," 'Tasha' says in her best voice of calm and confidence, which she thinks this body can convey, she's certainly been on the reviving end of it. She locates a mirror and what she assumes are 'her' clothes. "What's going on?" 'Aaron' asks, checking out his body. 'Yue' sits up and says, "Everyone stop.. feeling things.. please. Let's sound off on who we are, okay? I'm Gabriel." "I'm Sharon," Aaron says. "Shaaron now I guess? Whoa.. I feel like I could arm wrestle Vasha!" In the mirror, Tasha sees Liza, and in profile can see the bulge of her stomach. 'Tasha' immediately snaps around, eying Yue with an intense and surprised curiosity. "Tasha," she answers, pulling on the nightgown and turning around. "It looks like this may be a /wider problem/. Which is good for /me/ at least, if Aaron had been Aaron our relationship would have gotten /extremely/ complicated." Tasha, or rather Lisa, glances at herself in the mirror. "/Shaaron/," Lisa says with a chuckle. "I suppose I'm Tiza now, or is it /Lisha/?" "Taza?" Lisa-Tasha adds, then she reaches up and runs a hand along her ears. "I always wondered what this would these would be like." "Heeeeey," Shaaron says. "That's right, we're married.. so.. no problem with some morning nookie, right?" He also eyes the still naked Yue as well. Without the experience of dealing with male Lapi urges, Sharon is probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. "These /bodies/ are married, and we shouldn't do anything with them without /permission/ from their /owners/," Tasha insists, although she does eye Aaron for a moment, and then Yue. And then she blinks. "/No/, we need to focus. Shaaron, now's not the time to unrepress yourself, not that I think Aaron would /mind/, but still." Tasha then turns to Yue's body. "Okay Yuriel, it's probably safe to assume this may be base-wide. We need to reach out before people panic. You're Human and I'm a bunny, so do you want to take the lead on this?" "Tasha.. Tiza.. whatever.. check the bathroom for Aaron's blue bottle and make Shaaron drink it, unless you want to be left alone with a Lapi buck's libido. I'll sort out everyone else, this emotion sense must be useful for that." Yuriel gets out of bed, and staggers towards the bedroom door without bothering to look for clothes. "You need to wear clooothes Yuuuriel or you'll be dealing with Shaaaron toooo," Tiza insists, picking up what look like Yue's clothes and chasing after the Human. "And be careful about the feet!" Yuriel struggles a bit with the clothes. "How do they walk without tails," she grumbles. "Alright, I'll try to find Aaron and Liza and figure out who else was affected." "Might I recommend a... The base won't recognize our authority, will it? We'll have to do this /manually/. And whomever has /my/ body may have access to enough combined firepower to level the countryside, so we need to find them /quickly/." Tasha pats Yuriel on the shoulder, then hurries off towards the bathroom and starts rummaging around. "I hope I don't end up with morning sickness, and Liza will never forgive me if I'm not careful. At least I have some experience being pregnant now... " Shaaron is right behind Tiza, and nibbles on her ears while she searches. There are drawers /full/ of jars and bottles and packets; Aaron is /still/ an apothecary and has been testing whatever he's come across. There are several blue bottles, but they don't all look the same. Tiza /rolls her eyes/, both at Shaaron and /herself/, because the nibbling is working and if she doesn't find the bottle soon she thinks she's going to end up bent over the sink and railed as Liza, and rabbits are-- /no/, concentrate! After sucking in a deep breath she starts trying /very hard/ to read blue bottle labels. Aaron has them marked in.. code? Skeek! Of course he'd write in Skeek. But Aaron also has a really good sense of smell, so maybe his /body/ will remember which bottle is which. Some of them have the same label, which is probably significant. Either the Lapi has been brewing up his own since coming out or else has been depending on Liza and her hormones to make the issue moot. Tiza quickly comes to the mortifying realization that not only does she not understand Skeek, she can't in good conscience risk poisoning or even killing Aaron. She's no apothecary and sniffing everything is just making it all that much /worse/. She doesn't understand and Shaaron's nibbling is driving her crazy. In her own body her own urges will suppressed by simply having too much to do and worry about, yet somehow the mild, prey-born calm and so many /hormones/ are enough to wash away what concerns she carries. With Aaron right behind her and stronger than her, she glances back and says, "Are you going to be /okay/... If not... just... " She waggles her hand in a vague gesture. She /smells/ embarrassed and, increasingly, in to it, which further mortifies her. "Just /do what you need to do/! /Agh/, why did we get these bodies... curse you Aaron and your /filing system/... " "You mean with /you/ right, because.. How often will get this chance?" Shaaron asks. "I'm /strong/. I'm not.. not.. weak and covered in bandages.. Aargh! No no noooo!" The buck seems to fight his urges. "Just.. open /all/ of the blue bottles! If they smell the same.. they must be the stuff!" "I'm not going to poison Aaron! It may be hours before we find everyone, and who knows what's happened or what they're doing and... and... " Tiza looks herself in the mirror, grabs her ears and pulls them down the side of her head, groaning as now /she/ has to fight off the same hormones. She had been /fine/ before, but Shaaron just had to start nibbling and getting close. "Stay or go! /Make a decision!/" She hears the door open in the bedroom (she can hear /so much/) and then a Vartan voice calling, "Where everyone at? No go running off I hope!" Tiza tries to elbow Shaaron out of the way, /saved/. Still she does give Shaaron a bit of a /look/, somewhere between accusation and.. /disappointment/? The look doesn't register internally, however. "We're here, we're here!" Vasha is in the bedroom, wearing shorts. Apparently tops were too complicated for whoever is currently in there. "Ah! Where.. /Aaron/?" the bird demands when Tiza appears. "/Shaaron/ is in the bathroom struggling with missed chances and buck hormones," Tiza replies. She then points to herself. "Tasha," and to the bathroom, "Shaaron," and then to Vasha, brows raising with surprising demand on such a cute face. Shaaron appears behind Tiza, hands over his crotch and black ear down over his face. "I Aaron," Vasha declares, and strides over to grab Shaaron's shoulder and drag him into the bathroom. This is followed by the Lapi complaining, "This tastes awful!" "Does that stuff work on /me/," Tiza calls after the two. "She -- he -- started nibbling my ears! Do you know how embarrassing that was??" Despite or because of her complaints she starts getting dressed more properly, having experience with two legged, wingless forms, and at least this one isn't as sense-devoid as the last one. The tail, she decides, is a little weird, as is being able to hear out to what feels like /forever/. The feet are the difficult part to manage. Vasha reappears, feathers poofed out a bit. "Did not need to see that," she notes. "Ah, yeah, Liza really randy when wake up. Um. Hmmm." While contemplating a solution for this, the door opens again and Sasha appears.. wearing a skirt. "Who is who here?" he asks. "I'm Liza." Tiza points to herself. "Tasha," Vasha, "Aaron," bathroom, "Sharon in Aaron. /Almost/ in /me/." She finally gets the second shoe on and laces it up. "Have any of you seen /my/ body? Whomever has it has a lot of responsibility at their mindtip." "No idea," Sasha-Liza says, and picks up Tiza. "Ooof. Am I really this heavy?" Tiza lays her ears back. "I'm not going to say /anything/; where are we going? Has Yuriel gathered everyone together, then? You'll be happy to note we didn't /do/ anything, by the way." Then she looks down. "It's strange to be pregnant /again/. I was just pregnant a few hours ago, too." "This is the kind that lasts longer," Sasha-Liza says, and just brings Liza back to the bed. "I'm going to take your pants down and calm you down," he claims. "Just go with it." "You're going to make Vasha jealous, she's probably been secretly dreaming of this moment. So has /Sharon/." Tiza doesn't otherwise argue or struggle, she's feeling surprisingly mellow and passive, when may be weirder than feeling horny, something she's at least used to. "It's weird to feel so... /whatever/ this is. Passive?" She exhales a sigh. "You better tell those two to go outside, first." "I wonder if Sasha dreams of this too? He seems so passive.. " Tiza realizes she's rambling a bit, because she knows what's about to happen and then /that's/ going to be in her head forever. And what's worse, she can't tell if she likes it or Liza's body does. Or both. "/Ugh./" "Meh, shouldn't matter," Sasha-Liza says, and then Tiza feels fingers down there.. and within a minute the pressure is released, leaving her panting. "There, you should be good for an hour or so now," Sasha-Tiza says. "Now take.. Shaaron.. and sort things out. I'm going to do things with my husband that should be very educational for both of us." Vasha-Aaron squawks. Shaaron has managed to get pants on. "Did you get permission?" Tiza's ears seem to be perpetually stuck in the /flattened/ stance now. She sits up, takes a moment to catch her breath, and then slides out of bed. She then realizes something. "Stupid me, I can talk to the rest of me even like this. I'll do that. Come on Shaaaron, the two unbunnies are going to play with different sides of /me/." Then she turns and /winks/ at Vaaron. "I bet you didn't expect it'd go /this/ way, huh?" "Married life means trying things," Vaaron says. "Plus, I got big boobs. Biggest in the crew!" "Well /now/ you're even starting to sound like Vasha. So does this mean /we/ have permission?" Tiza glances at Shaaron, and her gaze lingers a little too long. "And just don't get Vasha /pregnant/, somehow, those two butt heads enough." "I know that these bodies being together is not something /new/," Lasha notes. "Yes, since it's still.. the same bodies.. go nuts." He then make shooing motions. "I think the point is that whatever pairings need to not be traumatizing if things suddenly switch back," Shaaron says. "Ohhh, well, that's /interesting/... " Tasha then waves Shaaron along as she walks out, not bothering to look back. "It's your lucky confidence building day it seems. We have an hour to get things done." She pauses, thinks on what Shaaron says, and nods. "Yes lets not add to our every day trauma with erotic team building /exercises/. Off we go." And then a very confident Liza makes her way out. "Would everyone who is not in their regular bodies please report to the cafeteria," Yuriel calls over the intercom system. "I guess that's us then," Shaaron says. "How are you feeling?" he asks Tiza. "Tiny, my back hurts a little, and /somewhat/ less turned on. I've got experience with this kind of thing, so it doesn't bother me /too/ much. Mostly, it's the weird pervasive calm-yet-anxious feeling. How about you?" Tiza glances back over her shoulder as she heads to the elevator. "Weird," Shaaron claims. "Walking.. is different. And I'm hard! I mean, my body is. I feel like /running/ everywhere. I could /carry/ you if you like." "I think we should keep /touching/ to a minimum if we want to get /anything/ done," Tiza insists. She holds the elevator for Shaaron to catch up. "But if it looks like I need it, I'll ask. Hopefully whomever has /my/ body can handle it." "I'm betting Vasha has it," Shaaron says, getting into the elevator. "If she does, she'll be going after the dragons.." "It's interesting we didn't swap directly, either," Tiza adds as the elevator heads down. "Whomever has /this/ kind of power, well, there's only a few people here, /maybe/, and more than a few beyond our home. The Ogdru'hem could, for one. Sam's boss, for another, maybe out of revenge. I don't think Kai is this powerful, Galatea may be but she doesn't do these sorts of things, well, she doesn't when she's... " Tiza trails off, then her ears perk. "/anyway/, one problem at a time." Soon they arrive, and then it's through the complex to the mess hall. "Could be, or maybe Sasha. I don't want to risk displacing her with my own soul, as I don't know what will happen to her like this, even if it might be an 'easy' way to return to my own body. Also, Vasha would /hate/ being a Lapi." The cafeteria is packed, but only with the 'mortals' among the crew. And Pheeny and Kai as well. Not everyone has dressed properly, and bathrobes seem to be the popular compromise. And Tiza sees Tasha there as well, sitting next to Gabriel's body. "Okay I'm here, prepare for the leadership of Tiza, yes I'm adorable," goes 'Liza', who holds her hands up to get everyone's attention. She hopes she's talking loudly enough. She's not talking loudly enough. Does Liza even /go/ to loud, she wonders? Sighing, she instead lifts her hand, snaps her fingers, and.. A loud firecracker *bang* issues forth across the hall. /There./ "There you are," Yuriel says. "What took you so long?" "We ran in to the /actual/ Liza and Aaron, who helped Shaaron with.. /adjusting/." Liza walks over to the bench, eyes the bench, then climbs up the bench and instead sits on top of the table so people can actually see her. "/Anyway/. First thing's first! Kai, Pheeny, did you do this?" She gestures at herself, then around. "Do you know who /did/?" Kai clears her throat, and says, "Galatea, most likely. As part of her regeneration she may have affected the minds around her. She doesn't have her usual controls in place yet." "Is this gonna happen a lot?" Gabriel's body ask, sounding a bit cruder then usual. "Well that's complicated, I've been trying to reach her on an ongoing basis, but I haven't been able to. We don't know the rate of her regeneration nor how long until she regains safeties, either." Tiza taps her cheek with a finger, muzzle pursing. "This could impact our operation, too... Hmm. How is everyone doing? Anyone having a rough time with this?" She then looks back to her own body, stares for a moment, and asks, "Who got my body?" Shift. "And Gabriel's?" "I'm Reeka!" Gabriel's body claims. "This is... so /clumsy/." "/Wow/, that's a odd one," goes Tiza, turning to Yue and shaking her head. "You're going to be a mess after this, you know. But Human at least! That's something." She then peers at her own body. "I'm weirdly quiet, but given the proximity, Katie?" Tasha's body shifts in her seat, and says, "Katherine." "/I'm/ Yue," Katherine's body claims. The bunny's ears go up, and she nods, expected. "Not enjoying the experience?" She then looks to Katherine's body and nods there as well. "Lucky." The others chime in. Vasha is in Jonas's body, Sasha in Hakeber's, Jonas in Mressa's, and Hakeber in Sharon. Reeka's body is missing, but must be hosting Mressa. "Well that answers /that/. Our priority then is locating Reeka's body, because Mressa will likely have /no idea/ how to survive in the wild, if that's where she is." Liza-Tasha fixates on Gabriel. "Gareek- Rebrie- /Reeka/, where were you before this happened?" "My body is in the weird tunnels under the airfield," Gareeka says. "Then we need to recover it ASAP, Mressa isn't used to things like this, and I'm not sure how much survival training she has." The rabbit eyes the bench, then the floor, then looks to Yue, Aaron, and her own body and makes a 'help me down' motion. "Sooo... lets see. Yuriel, Sashaber, Jossa, with me, since we're short enough and we need both a doctor and a psychic in case she's gotten herself lost." "I did not expect to be crawling through ducts when I woke up," Yuriel says. "But I should be able to sense her." "I'll bring my kit," Jossa purrs, and goes to fetch it. Kai just sits back and watches without offering any help. Pheeny looks very entertained. "Dealing with unusual ductwork will be something we all face today, I think." Tasha then looks to.. /Kasha/. "Are you alright, Kasha?" "Hooves," Kasha says. "And wings. I don't know how you balance, so I'm afraid to move much. Took a lot of effort to get here." "You'll get used to them, and if not, maybe a stick? Just don't start looking through /the menus/. They may lock you out because you lack my soul, and my soul moves around a lot /these days/, /but/ if things look bad also don't be afraid to use what you find there. Just stick to equipment you /know/ since some of it melt a mountainside." Tiza taps the side of her head; /she knows/. "Otherwise... have fun with it?" It's weird to see Liza smirk and light up like that. "I haven't seen any menus, or heard voices in my.. your.. head," Kasha says. Shaaron has been staring at Shakeber for awhile now. "Then it probably doesn't detect you as a valid user, which, well, good thinking Galatea." Tiza then tries something; she tries bringing up the menus in /this/ body. "At least my magic is tied to my soul." Her gaze shifts, then double-take shifts to Shaaron, following his gaze. "/Huh./" Nothing comes up, since the menus are part of the ansible system, and connections to Galatea are not exactly active at the moment. "I'm feeling very conflicted right now," Shaaron claims. "No kidding," Shakeber echoes. "Nope, nothing on my end /either/. Just be aware that if Galatea comes online or tries to reach out you might have to deal with something, um, unexpected. Maybe disturbing. Or dangerous. It could be a lot; contact me if it happens and explain you're Katie's soul and not, well, /mine/." Tasha then turns back to Shaaron and says, "I always err on the side of fun, unless I /really/ shouldn't. But this is your experience, so follow /your heart/." Another wink, then she starts waving people to join her. "Okay we need to go rescue to Mressa before someone ends up /without/ a body to return to. Come on then." Jossa returns, and says, "I've got my gear." Gareeka stands up, and says, "I'll show you the way in."" "Thank you." Tasha nods for Gareeka to lead on, and then follows after. "I'm sure we'll be able to home in on the... panic." ------=====*=====------ The utility tunnels beneath the airfield are full of conduits and sensors. They're a bit cramped, but Yuriel has the most trouble. Mainly because she's trying to sense Mreeka and also navigate, and of course the Kavi doesn't carry communication gear. Tiza had some issues as well, but they mainly came from being a pregnant Lapi and not from her size. Eventually they got into a tunnel where they could shout.. well, where Yuriel can shout.. and make contact. Tiza hauls herself to the curved tunnel edge and has a sit down, huffing. "This has been an enlightening experience," the Lapi remarks between breaths, hand on her belly, left hand holding aloft a flame that's helped shed light in the darkened confines. She leans back, then puts an ear to the wall, listening. "Come on Lapi ears." She can hear Mreeka moving towards them. "She's coming to us," Yuriel claims. It takes a few minutes, but the diminutive form of Reeka appears, with big eyes and puffed out fur. "What's happening?" she asks a bit hoarsely, as if she's been yelling for a bit. "Galatea's recovery has hiccups," Tiza explains from where she's leaning, eyes now closed, ears pulled won to the sides of her head now that everyone's close and she can try and block out some of the /loudness/. "All the mortals have been swapped around. I'm Tasha, by the way." Jossa steps forward and asks, "Any injuries?" This causes Mreeka to shriek at seeing her own body moving without her. "Let's get out of the tunnels and deal with this," Yuriel suggests. "Aaagh," goes Tiza, who pulls her ears down harder. "Lapi! Ears! /Noise, stop./" But she does pull herself up, then start making her way. "Being able to float would be very nice right now... " "You're too big for me to carry," Yuriel says. Mreeka gets a nice sedative of some sort that calms her down. It's easier to get out than in though, since they can actually pop out through an access hatch in the tarmac. Tiza pulls herself out, stands, and stretches her back, putting her palm to its small. "Being short at least has some advantages. Jossa, please have a scan at me and make sure the little ones are okay?" "You'll need to come to the med bay for that, but just walking around isn't going to affect them," Jossa claims. "Lapi are very sturdy, and you aren't even fully gravid yet." "How do I get my body back!?" Mreeka squeaks. Tasha waggles her hands in a hush-down sort of way at Mressa-Reeka. "The important thing. Right now. Is to be. Calm." Her ears go back up now that the squeaking is gone. "/Calm/. And the answer is, we're not sure yet. Kai is keeping us updated on the situation. These things happen. We're all just going to have to make the best of it, and try to learn something from the experience." She then nods to Jossa. "Then there's probably nothing to worry about, I just feel /protective/ especially after earlier and, well, /the urges/. I wonder if I can meditate like this? I feel like I'll be doing a lot of /resting/ when... " She blinks. "/Well/, I'll deal with /that/ later." "This body is weird though," Mreeka complains. "It's got two thumbs on each hand. It's confusing. And I need to go to the bathroom." "We'll be back in the residential section soon, don't worry. I /also/ have to go to the bathroom, and I need to check on my not-so-little birdy." Tiza sucks in a breath, exhales, and nods. "Let's go. We should also all take the time to remember we /need/ to eat and drink, and these bodies may not be able to handle what we normally eat." A sigh. "Jossa, help me figure out /salads/. Salads!" ------=====*=====------ By the time various biological needs are dealt with, there's still no sign of Shaaron or Tisha, and now Shaaron and Shakeber have vanished. Sashaber is trying to prepare meals. Tiza has remained available and present, hoping her presence is reassuring during a time when Galatea is out of commission and everything is chaotic and uncertain. She's hardly a replacement for Galatea in terms of raw power nor knowledge, and her access is limited, but she can be herself, and she has something things left, and that has to be enough. It was enough when they started, back when she had very little indeed. Shes seated /on/ a galley table, using a stool as her own table. She tried the stool, then opted for the table top instead. To pass the time Tiza has meditated, which she hopes both shows a reassuring amount of power, but also /control/. The lotus-esque flame, she realizes, is a miniature of the Phoenix's down. Out of the blue Tiza asks, "How are you doing, Pheeny?" "Try not to show your flame," Kai instructs. "Internalize it. Also, here's a salad with fried potatoes and a pickle." Lowering her voice, so low she doubts she'd be able to hear herself if she were in her own body, she explains. "/I'm showing to reassure people while Galatea is out and everything is uncertain, many species looked to a fire for comfort./" More loudly, she says, "I understand. And... Oh, my /salad/." She looks at her salad. "I hope this is better than I remember. Maybe the body will help. Thank you." She lets her flame return to her so as not to /burn/ the salad, and tries a bite. It's been seasoned, apparently to what Liza usually has, which is a bit spicy. Part of Tiza still thinks it should have bacon or steak, but it's still pretty tasty as is. The potatoes are probably there because Tasha likes them. "It's not as bad as I feared," Tiza admits, betrayed somewhat by having gone through a fourth of it rather quickly. "Thank you for the potatoes, that was a nice thought." She stretches her back again, has another bite, and then asks, "How are the immortals handling things, Kai?" "They're not affected," Kai notes. "The Jotoki also weren't included, but they've got five minds fused together already so they're brains probably just aren't compatible." "Looks like it's just us, then." Half the salad remains; at least she seems to eat the same, especially after she figured out how to maneuver around her buckteeth. "I always wondered what it'd be like to be a Lapi, you know? Well, /now/ I /know/. Has Galatea shown any changes, and how is Pheeny? I called out for her, but did she leave?" She looks around again. "She went to see Whisper," Kai says. "Things were too weird for her here, I couldn't manage to explain things to her. Why did you always wonder what it was like to be a Lapi?" "Poor Pheeny, I was hoping to give her something like normalcy for at least a /little/ while. But, I suppose, this /is/ who we are. Even while we're someone else." Tasha, as a bunny, wiggles her nose while she eats, it seems. "Oh, well, they're so different from me, you know? From Karnors, from Vartans. But Aaron always seemed strong, and, well, I wasn't cute before I died, so I wondered about that, too. I wandered what it would have been like not being or expected to be tough. I wondered about the ears. The fur is much the same, I'm used to not having hooves, and also not having wings, even if it's /unsettling/. I think I may even be used to transmigrating my soul. This isn't bothering me as much as the previous times." "Well, you had to die the other time," Kai says. Tiza's ears pick up the sound of Shaaron returning, because he's /trying/ to whistle with buck teeth. Those big ear's of Tiza track the sound and, thus, triangulate the movement. "Shaaron's trying to whistle." She gives Kai a 'here we go again maybe' familiar look, but doens't otherwise seem alarm. "You know, Galatea was really brave, there. I think she finally decided to chose something. To get involved. It'd be nice if... Well, saying you're /proud/ of her may not go over well, but, well, she may have saved your existence, too. When Kainudy asks you what happened, give her a good review, will you?" She then nods. "No dying this time, though I did die a little when I realized I was going to be eating salad for a while. It's alright, though. Maybe I like it as Liza. And speaking of things Liza likes, there's Aaron's body." She looks up. Shaaron enters, looking a little disheveled. There's no sign of Shakeber. He smiles on seeing Tiza and comes over to.. check out her salad. "How are you holding up?" he asks, after purloining a bit of potato. "/Someone's/ got more confidence, I can't imagine you stealing my food /before/." Tasha eyes the buck, but she ends up looking more pouty than mad without that predatory edge. "And /I'm/ fine. I've just been here meditating and talking with Kai, acting as a beacon of calm, order, and an actual light beacon. Terrans /love/ fires." Shaaron sits down next to Tiza and puts an arm around around her shoulders. "I think it's the body.. I mean.. It's so strong. And I have a new respect for my /real/ body now. Hakeber knew exactly what I needed to do, since she's.. /familiar/ with /this/ body." Tiza's ears go up when the buck /puts her arms around her shoulders/, and she looks to Kai with a little panic before blinking it right away. "I-I see," she notes, trying to sound even again. "Hakeber /does/ have a lot of /experience/, and being in a new body can... /change your outlook/." Muttered, "/Sometimes./" Kai's expression offers no help, because as usual Kai just looks amused. "It smells like you're hormones aren't.. huh, weird how I can tell that," Shaaron says. "The hearing and smelling and seeing more is.. hard to get used to. And the lessened sense of touch. And.. I have a weird urge that has nothing to do with this body, I think." "My hormones aren't... /what/?" Tasha crams a potatoe slice in her tiny muzzle, chewing contemplatively as she glances aside to Shaaaron. "Arand whart ish thish hurge?" "I.. /wanna sleep with Aaron now when I'm back in my body/," Shaaron whispers to Tiza. "Is that weird? Have you.. uh.. /dabbled/ with anyone since I last saw you?" "Oh thrat." Swallow. "Sleeping with Aaron isn't uncommon around here, so don't worry about /that/. And no, I've been here being a /leadership figure/ and rescuing 'ca-rrets'." her nose wiggles. "My usual, in other words, rabbit-or-not." "Oh, not too much stress I hope?" Shaaron asks, resting a hand on Tiza's belly.. and rubbing it. "Do you need a break?" Tiza looks down at her belly, finding the rubbing strangely soothing. And there's touching, again. "Stress is my state of being; I am /greater/ than it is." It's not quite as dramatic and heroic when said by a small bunny woman, it mostly makes her sound simultaneously pessimistic and a bit macabre in an upbeat way. "What kind of... /break/... did you have in mind?" "Well, uh.. wanna try bunny sex?" Shaaron asks outright. "You drive me crazy. Even though I know it's weird because of whose bodies these are.." Those ears go up again, another glance at Kai, who remains no help. Her gaze then rolls skyward even as her hormones and surge now that it's /right there/. She shifts where she's seated. "Me, or the body? Or /both/?" She looks over her at Shaaaron now, one ear drooping slightly, head tilted. "I remember your /secret demon/." "That look.." Shaaron shudders. "I mean, you ravished me before, Tasha. So.. I should return the favor. These bodies seem to have their own motivations." Then he's nuzzling at Tiza's neck. Shaaron can feel Tiza /shiver/ and her breathing increase. For a long moment she just looks the buck straight in the eye, breathing heavily, and then she very deliberately puts her fork down, pushes back her ear, takes a deep, deep breath, then exhales. "Well..." Her stare is very intense, that hasn't changed, even if she looks like she's laboring to maintain it, fighting the urge to squirm. " ...show me what you've learned, then." Part of what he's learned is how to scoop up a woman and carry her in his arms it seems, "Hmm.. where too.. I guess my.. Sharon's room is best," Shaaron says, and carries Tiza off.