Tasha wakes up back in bed in the hotel room. She's also looking into a pair of staring golden eyes that aren't Gabriel's. They're too close for one thing, nearly at the end of her nose. And there are little sparks of light in the iris. Tia's still human, but she's let her eyes return to their usual style.
"Where did you go?" she asks quietly. Probably so as not to disturb Gabriel behind her. But it's a spoken question all the same, rather than one over their shared channel.
Tasha blinks a great many times as she wakes and orients herself. "I think my soul was still here, but my mind crossed past the Sifran boundary in to the toy we sent to Mariel. I've been speaking to her and Fred for the last... However long it's been." Blink, blink, blink. "You have pretty eyes."
Now it's Tia's turn to blink, until her return their human color, which is hazel-green. "I woke up after two hours," she says. "Being human is hard. I think the girls want to go to the water park before we leave."
"I don't know why the doll was activated; I suspect Kai sensed my unease and wanted to help, and also she thought it'd be funny. Which it was." Tasha decides something, then tries to give Tia a hug. "I'm sorry I worried you, that must have been alarming. I didn't expect it to happen and was as surprised as you are." Then she nods. "Water park it is then?"
"Gabriel has his arm around me and hasn't loosened his grip all night," Tia notes. "I'm going to need some help getting out of bed. I don't understand how Kai manages the communication trick. We'll have to wear our bathing suits to the park. Also the girls will too."
"I agree with all of these points and don't understand how Kai does it either. She's a mighty mystery gremlin." Tasha glances over at Gabriel. "I know the trick." Then she leans over and nuzzle-noses him. "He's protective of humans, and every Karnor has a thing for Humans."
Gabriel removes his arm to scratch where he was nuzzled, then yawns. "Oooooo..." he says as he stretches, then grabs onto Tasha and pulls her closer, squishing Tia between them.
"This happens too," she squeaks, but her tail is wagging. "G'morning Gabe!"
"Well, I sleep pretty well," Gabriel says. "Tia makes for a good teddy-human. She barely moves. How'd you sleep?"
"I feel remarkably rested for having been back in the Bellerophon as a tiny adorable doll of myself. Fred and Mariel are doing relatively well, by the way." Tasha wriggles herself free enough to talk and also breath well. "And I know I can discuss complex topics and be uplifting even with a squeaky cute voice!"
"Squeaky cute voice?" Gabriel asks. "Did you have a squeaker?"
Tasha wiggles more until she can sit up, stretching as she says, "Not only did I have squeaky feet, my voice was high and squeaky too. So were my paws. I still managed to sneak around the ship, though! The second reactor's getting installed, Nora's in the tube, and Mariel's doing okay considering. Fred's got it a bit harder, but I think he'll be okay in the long term. They both want me to find some way to age them up, though. I'll have to talk to people and maybe pull in favors."
"What's wrong with being cute cubs?" Gabriel asks, and reaches out to squeeze one of Tasha's squeakers to see if she squeaks.
Tasha does, in fact, bark-squeak. Then she gives a big pouty frown before flopping on Gabriel, trying to pull Tia over to do the same. "I think they find it embarrassing, difficult, and hard to be taken seriously. Plus new bodies can create new outlooks; the body can shape the mind. There's a danger in that."
"Yes, I am acutely aware of that effect," Tia says as she falls on top, trying to wrestle one of Gabriel's arms into submission. She also imitates Tasha's bark-squeak.
"Oh my, I am besieged!" Gabriel laughs.
"We'll make a canine of her yet," Tasha declares triumphantly. "And like you can't just pick us both up! Well, we should probably get dressed before the girls barge in or melt our door and turn it in to a swan with a megaphone announcing they're bored or something.
"Or join in the struggle," Tia says, extricating herself. "I'll go see if they are awake and hungry yet. They always seem to be hungry, and they aren't even wolves."
"So, swim trunks," Gabriel says. "What would be a good color for me?"
"I don't understand it either, but after watching Mariel maybe I do, now. They run on a much higher setting than we do." Tasha also extracts herself, stretches -- and her wings as well -- then slides out of bed. "I think I'll wear my shiny gold metallic one piece, or maybe the strappy two piece that covers less? I think I have a rubbery black one and the one with the sarong..."
"Well, which would be most comfortable while going through a water filled tube?" Gabriel says. "Assuming your wings will fit.. hmm. Maybe they have some sort of giant bird-bath.." he jokes.
"That feels discriminatory," Tasha mock-complains. She rummages through things and opts for the shiny gold one, which is a glossy liquid gold one piece. She also throws a baggy shirt over it which reads, "Emotional Support Animal" -- laying behind her is an unused one that says, "Great Communicator".
"I'm a few thousand years out of date on water-slide technology, so who knows what they're using now," Gabriel says, choosing black trunks to contrast Tasha's gold. "Think the dragons will want to join in? I'm not sure how much they like water."
"I'm guessing either a lot or not at all. I think it depends on the dragon and their elemental mumbo-jumbo," Tasha explains, irreverently. Maybe you can be irreverent to dragons once you are one on some level. "I think I'm a earth-fire dragon? Mostly fire. I've never explored if I have an earth side. It'd be a bit counter intuitive, for me wouldn't it?"
"Well it's not like you'd turn into a mud dragon as a result," Gabriel says, and hugs her. "Karnor's like to play in the water. And shake it off on dry people. You're.. sort of part Karnor still, I think. And bird. Birds like water. Pretty sure Vartans do. I guarantee Sasha and Hakeber and Sharon will like it. Maybe Katie will let loose too."
"I'm going to get stuck in a tube and ambush someone going down the slide for fun," Tasha declares. "And find a very hot pool to secretly absorb all the heat from." But she winks. "I'll find a way to have a good time, I promise. I feel a lot better after my conversation with Mariel and Fred."
"Is Mariel having fun?" Gabriel asks. "Does she get to run around and play?"
"She seems to be keeping very busy, but everyone around is both too old and too young or too young and too old, simultaneously. She draws, she's a wiz in class, but I think she's a bit lonely and it's hard for her to rely as much on the rest of the crew who are all going through their own problems. We both know they're more thrown-together lot of people than original family, and I think there's a problem switching to that, especially with a big alpha personality like Nora influencing things to order -- her order. They still see themselves much like they used to, and that same dynamic is there. We may have to help find a way they can get where they need to be, if 'with each other' is no longer viable. I can feel their desire to spread their wings and find their own place," Tasha answers.
"I guess the docs are interested in getting their own families started," Gabriel says. "We hadn't spent a lot of time together as a crew before the crash. Nora and Fred knew each other before our training together. The docs were in their own world a lot of the time. Mariel followed everyone around, learning everything she could. Nora didn't have much time for her, since she was torn between regular duties and Themis-Skoll. Mariel mainly stuck to me and Fred."
"Then maybe we should see about getting them a place out here with us, at least in our support areas. Fred would really benefit from Caltrop I think, and there's an Academy there Mariel could attend where interacting with gifted, unusual youths may be a lot more common. This will also give them access to our other holdings, and they might be able to work on our findings and other projects without the stress of our frontline interactions." Tasha taps her shirt. "Nora will find her own way, though I think she might secretly feel betrayed and abandoned if everyone leaves her alone, or works to get away from her. Hopefully she'll find her own passion and pursue it -- and even more hopefully, that passion ins't slaying me metaphorically or physically or both. Maybe mentioning I'm a bit of a dragon now was a bad idea."
"Yeah, she'd definitely want a suit of armor and a magic sword," Gabriel says. "As for getting Fred out here.. aside from the whole 'ghost' thing it'd be hard to pull him away from Bellerophon until he's satisfied it's done being restored. I'm guessing you're going to talk to Kai about his situation, since she seems able to operate in that environment, somehow?"
"Yeah, the dragons and maybe even the higher ups if I need to 'age up' someone. That includes you, Tia!" Tasha waves over at Tia. "Once he's physical moving him should be a snap. I'll float the idea with Mariel, too, and work out if she wants to head out early and if we're worried it might negatively impact Fred to be alone. I'll visit both of them regularly. I bet Fred would enjoy working on some of our pile of artifacts and working on custom tech solutions with the other great minds. I'm sure together with everyone else we could produce some astounding work."
"He'll need to train Templars to fly Belle," Gabriel says. "I could probably go back and facilitate that, if needed."
"Maybe if we need to lay low for a bit, or a not-quite-vacation." But Tasha nods. "Well now that's sorted, food, then water." She winks, then waggles everyone towards the door. "Our minutes are numbered before the girls descend, we should get moving."
Tia has her own simple blue bikini on. "I'm not an expert on modifying other people's bodies," she points out. "Just my own." The girls are both in one-piece suits in the lounge area, eating breakfast cereal and pastries.
"Hmm, well that's one option down. We'll have to talk to the others, see what they think." Tasha then breaks from her group to rush over and double arm hug Pheeny and Whisper in to her. "Good morning girls mommy loves you!"
"Mmmmf!" Whisper complains, having a cherry tart in her mouth. Pheeny just lets out a sort of musical warble. "Good morning mommy," the Phoenix says after the singing. "Can I have a stuffed dolphin?"
"As long as it's not a stuffed real dolphin, you'd terrorize Kaa and Moka." Tasha says with a slow not. "I believe they sell them in the waterpark. We'll get you one. Though, maybe after the waterpark fun, so it doesn't get soaked."
"Yes of course!" Pheeny says, as if that was obvious. "Whisper wants a stuffed Karnor."
"I bet she does. Well, I'm sure they sell them around here, too. Same rules apply!" Tasha finally releases both girls, but does kiss Pheeny on her head before she makes her way to the other side of the table, no matter how much she wants to pick Pheeny up and hug her and never stop. "Well, we'll eat, see who wants to come with us. Who wants to coordinate, make the calls?"
"I'll do it," Tia volunteers. "I'm not that hungry," she claims, and grabs a pastry before heading to a desk to start syncing with the other groups.
"No.. oh, there they are!" Gabriel says, pulling out some bacon-jam pastries from the bottom of the stack.
"Then I... Will eat." Tasha grabs three pastries, one of the bacon ones as well as two jelly, and has at it. "Hey Whisper, Pheeny, do I see at all 'earth magical' to either of you?"
"What do you mean by earth magic?" Whisper asks.
"You know how there's fire, right? And water, air, earth, that sort of thing? Well, like that, but with earth. Elemental magic. Back home Mages tended to sort magic based on element. There's also elements like Shadow and Light. The dragon heart I ate showed a lot of affinity for the earth as well as fire, and I was wondering if there were any influences there. As I'm new to magic and you're both natively familiar, I thought maybe you could see it," Tasha explains before cramming a pastry in her face as a log in to a wood chipper.
"That's not how fae magic works," Whisper claims. Pheeny admits, "I only know life-fire."
"Sounds like you need to talk to one of the dragons," Gabriel says. "Do they have affinities? What sort of magic does Gwyn use?"
"Well, it was worth a shot. I'll ask the dragons later. Thank you, both of you." Tasha beams a smile. "Anything else you'd like to do while we're here?"
Tasha glances to Gabriel. "Gwyn? You know, I never asked. We were never at odds, and magic wasn't something we discussed. I'll ask her."
"I want to look at more boys," Whisper says. "I need to get the details right for when I make some."
"There will be plenty at the water park," Gabriel assures.
"I don't know," Pheeny says. "What should I want to do?"
"I'm not sure it's a good idea to make sentient life Whisper. As any of our senior members, and they'll tell you making sentient life can be a complicated problem," Tasha tells Whisper. "And besides, if you make them they can't be much of a surprise, and that's boring."
To Pheeny, Tasha says, "is there anything that interests or appeals to you? Do you want to spend time with anyone or learn about them, or learn about this world? Do you want physical pleasure or mental pleasure? I know all the options can be overwhelming, and this is new to you. You can also also along with people and see if what they do is interesting and enjoyable for you. You can try new things so that you can see if you like them or not. If you don't know what you like, try what you don't know, and then see how it strikes you."
"I guess I could learn more games," Pheeny says. "I heard there's one with balls and hammers and little hoop things."
"Crocket," Gabriel says. "I think. Might something completely different, like a Titanian game."
"There's also something called mini-golf, where you hit balls in to holes around whimsical landscapes," Tasha suggests, nodding to Gabriel's suggestion.
"That sounds fun!" Pheeny says. Tia seems shocked at the suggestion though!
Tasha looks over to Tia. "What's got you, Tia? You look like you've seen a minighost."
Tia blushes. "Sorry, I was told miniature golf was just for spousal groups," she claims. "It.. it may have just been a cultural thing though of the Chirr't'thar."
"Ohhh... Wait, these people also had minigolf? I guess it's a small multiverse. From Nora's memories, it's something families, friends, and dates do for fun. Apparently there was a park where you could golf across planet-areas with themes that was popular with some Karnors she knew," Tasha says.
"That's how I remember it," Gabriel says. "It's probably easier to play here than regular golf would be. Most sports eventually come down hitting balls with things."
"And sometimes that thing is you. Well, I've always been curious about these Terran sports that fill my brain whether I want them or not, so time to see if it lives up to the hype." And so Tasha grins.
"Softball was.. kind of interesting," Whisper says. "But it could use more blood and monsters."
"Everyone is going to meet us at the park," Tia reports. "Even Mressa is interested."
"There's plenty of blood and monsters elsewhere. Believe me, I know," Tasha tells Whisper, nodding, then she turns to Tia and nods to her instead. "That's that then, we can head out when ready."
Neptune's Kingdom is meant to look like it's actually underwater, with holographic fish swimming through the air and strange creatures. It uses salt-water, since a lot of Phins enjoy it as well. There are 'slides' that are streams of flowing water that seem to be suspended in the air, taking various courses, and plenty of pools. One is a large, long waterway with waves that people can surf on. There is also, oddly, a jungle area for Pans. An arcade has games and shops (where stuffed Phins and Karnors can be procured).
The dragons look a bit odd in their bathing suits. They're a bit fit looking for typical humans. Gwyndrael pulls off a bikini look better than Thermoriax though.
"Looking good," Tasha tells the two dragons, giving them both a thumbs up. "So! Stick together, split up, steal all their tubes, what are people thinking? Pheeny and I at the very least will be minigolfing after we grab some stuffed toys on the way out."
"Miniature golf is a competition," Tia explains, which gets Katie and the dragons interested. "The tubes are invisible!" Hakeber squees, and hurries to get in line for one. "I guess there won't be a problem with wings then," Vasha says, and grabs Lacci's hand to drag her along.
"Cosmic Slide has the highest rating," Katie says. "We should definitely do that one."
Tasha looks aroud, then down to the kids, "Want to be with us or go off on your own? You'll get time with me later, too, and the others who come. Gabe?" Up, rather than down, "Want to do your own thing? Grab Thermy and head off? Me, I'm going to wander around and try everything if I'm left to my own."
Pheeny grabs Tasha's hand. So she at least doesn't want to go off on her own. "Sasha and I might try a bit of surfing," Gabriel says. "So you and the girls do your thing so you don't see us wipe out all the time."
"Get scarce so you can embarrass yourselves in peace, got it." Tasha salutes with her free hand. "Okay girls, or girl if Whisper is setting out solo, lets see what this water park has to offer. And since their are tubes nearby, and Hake's there, lets see what we can do in tubes. Tuuuuubes!" And so Tasha marches off with Pheeny in hand, howling about tubes.
It turns that just about all of the women join in on this, with Whisper keeping close to Tia and Sharon. The water slides look like they're just floating in air until you get into them. Then you're treated to a holographic flight through colorful nebula and fantastical landscapes as you rush down them.. until the eventual landing in a pool after being apparently swallowed by some sort of giant serpent (that isn't a Celestial). Quite a few Nagas seem to enjoy this part.
Tasha has wondered how long it would be before some kind of big lizard swallows her. Or, well, she is a big lizard swallowing others, which has come much closer to completion to actuality until now. She floats in the pool, ready to retrieve Pheeny should she need assistance while trying to just look like she's floating nearby. She ins't at all sure how the Bird of Fire will react to a fun park of water.
Pheeny is familiar with water, since the kids area she played at before had pools too. She does fluff out her feather and sort of dance around in it, making Whisper laugh. There are a few Vartan boys and girls that join in, making it a big chaotic bird-bath dance.
Tasha decides to not join in, content to watch and smile and not intrude, since she knows she can intimidate kids and adults alike and take the spotlight by virtue of existing. What she does do is lay her head back, watch out of the corner of her eye, and passively feel the heat in the water, the way the waves move, the heat in the area and the flow of time.
After things settle down, the kids want to try the Water War game, so everyone heads there. It's basically bumper-boats, but with low-power water canons on each. There's no real rhyme or reason to it, but Whisper and Pheeny laugh non-stop. Even Sharon and Tia laugh when they get hit. The tactical advantage of wearing one-piece bathing suits also comes into play, since bikini tops aren't hard to blow off with the water jets.
Which means Tasha blows off a few bathing suits on her own, including Sharon's, and several strangers for either amusement, appreciation, or both. All is fair in love, war, and bumper boats.
This also leads to several swapped tops. Katie, Hakeber, Thermoriax and Tia also end up with tops belonging to one of the others afterwards (and luckily they are adjustable enough to endure the size differences). The Vartans all wear one-piece suits like Tasha though, so are unscathed. Vasha does claim to have captured more tops than Tasha though, but since they don't have them at the end it's hard to compare.
Yue has been sitting out some of these events, but announces she's going on the Lazy River, which is.. just a river where you ride in an inflatable torus. There are alcoholic drinks though for the adults, with Phin waiters. Being in an innertube would be impossible if Kaa were around. He'd definitely poke everyone's butt with his beak.
Tasha does reward her sister with getting sprayed in the head over her victory, which results in s spraying contest which devolves to flapping wings in water to add more water volume, which further devolves in to a war as people pick sides and Tasha ends up with all the non Vartans versus all the Vartans and dragons, having been declared a 'ground traitor'.
It all ends with no bad feelings, and then her group joins the Lazy River. Except, she opts for the more adventuresome Adventure Path, which apparently floats through tunnels in to various locations, like somewhere caleld the 'South Pole', a dark and spooky forest, past houses that have ghosts, across the canals of Mars, and so on.
Some of the forests have Pans in them as well, swinging through the trees (and over the river), which is there own sort of fun. Tia takes the girls to the arcade for a bit while the 'grown ups' get to have their relaxing ride. Once they all link up again, the possibility of going through Neptune's Palace is raised. At least that one is a boat ride.
"Gabriel'll appreciate the boat," Tasha says, looking for this aforementioned boat. "He does really like boats."
The boats or more along the line of rowboats, and just follow a track through the castle, where various sea creatures and mermaids sing catchy, if simple, songs. But it's dark, and Gabriel puts his arm around Tasha to pull her close and making it a bit romantic. It helps that they have their own boat to themselves.
"Hmm, I'm beginning to see the appeal of boats," Tasha admits, snuggling in. "Having fun..?"
"Yes, there's nothing to.. think about," Gabriel says. "Water moves you whether you want it to or not. It's really about going with the flow, letting it carry away your cares. It's just this powerful force you can give into without fear. As long as you know how to swim, anyway."
"I can see the appeal. A lot of what I do in life is knowing which waters I can give in to and let carry me with the flow, and which I have to fight. To have a simple one without any motive except moving in a direction is refreshingly straightforward in a universe full of complex uncertainty," Tasha agrees.
"Also the mermaids are kinda hot," Gabriel claims, pulling Tasha closer for a moment. "Maybe Tia can have fish tail sometime," he jokes, before kissing Tasha on the side of her head.
"I'm sure she'd do it if we didn't push, and pretended not to be watching," Tasha suggests, then she turns and meets the kiss with her own, but on the muzzle. And a grin. "I could get a fish tail, cover every base?"
"A fish tail and wings might be seen as showing off though," Gabriel chuckles. "What would the dragons think? Isn't that their territory?"
"I am a dragon -- showing off is my thing, too!" Tasha smiles toothily. "I can even prove it, because kobolds will react to me the same way they do dragons. No to mention the sleeping on gold."
"When do you sleep on gold?" Gabriel has to ask. "To me you're Tasha the All-Purpose Animal though. Especially in bed!"
Tasha laughs at that. "I do feel like a universal animal, don't I? A bit of everything, compatible with all. Maybe I should start calling myself a Universal Animal. Avis Canis Universalis!" Then she winks. "Also, out of bed."
"Once I finish building my boat, you'll have to be my mermaid," Gabriel says. Light builds as the exit comes into view.
"Aww, so much for the mood. I'll refrain from barking at the light." But he gets another kiss. "Count on it."
"Don't worry, we can probably get a private gondola on the Ferris Wheel," Gabriel says after the kiss, and waggles his ears.
"Oh, probably. And I vaguely remember something about women on a a beach," Tasha says, ears wiggling. So she was paying attention! At least, somewhat.
"I think there's also a roller-coaster," Gabriel says. "Not sure if you have any of those on Sinai?" But Tasha has seen a roller coaster, in Chronotopia. But she wasn't allowed to go to the amusement park since they were taking on cargo and her mother was too busy.
They also couldn't afford it; her family wasn't exactly middle class, by any standard she's encountered. Not street people and not exactly poor, but dirty and dangerous working types, without many resources. It feels like a long time ago now -- and is indeed a lifetime ago. "Home's a bit basic, really, on the social-tech side. Aside from its special interests, anyway. The most exciting and simultaneously backwards dead-end place. The ferris wheel sounds nice, though. I'd like that."
"Sounds good then," Gabriel says, and tries to mess up Tasha's hair. "Gotta look like we've been snogging the whole time!"
Tasha grins a put upon grin, then she reaches up and tries to mess up Gabriel's hair in turn. "Why haven't we been snogging the whole time?"
"I just had a turkey-leg and didn't want you to get hungry," the big wolf claims, as their boat emerges into the daylight and heads for the debarkation landing.
"I'm always hungry." Tasha glances out to the park. "You know, this is fun, and it's nice. But I can't see myself doing this forever, so I'm trying to enjoy it as much as I can while we're here. But for now, you know, it's nice. It really nice."
"Hopefully Whisper won't try to build one next to her castle," Gabriel says. "Or at least stick to something simple." A robot with a hook on a pole catches their boat and pulls it over to the dock. "We hope you enjoyed your experience," it says.
"Always happy to have an experience," Tasha tells the robot, patting its head as she climbs up and saunters past it before turning to Gabriel. "As long as she finds a way to be happy that isn't animal hunting, you know? I think Pheeny will be a good influence, though the opposite may be true as well. But Pheeny will need exposure to all types, so I think it'll work out either way."
"All types," Gabriel echoes as he catches up, and then guides them towards the Ferris Wheel. "We'd need some normal teenagers then. Pre-teens? I don't know what their apparent ages are."
"What's normal anymore? What's normal to Pheeny?" Tasha spreads her hands wide. "Normal to here, maybe, but Pheeny and I wander far and wide. The normal here's another world's exotic, and on and on. We should abandon the idea of normality and say the people from here. Local color, is, I think, what Nora would have called it." She drops her hands and leans over, looking to the side and up. "But I guess you're not as used to the the, um, breadth of travel as some of us are yet? Are you attached to this world, this place, as 'normal'?"
"I just meant kids who can't blow things up by sneezing, pretty much," Gabriel notes with a chuckle. "So far they haven't tried showing off to the mere mortals. I have no idea what the dragons have been up to. I just figured Katie and the others were watching over them."
"Dragons go hither and yon wherest thy wilt," Tasha says with another grin. "This one's going to the ferris wheel. But I agree, seeing more mortal mortals may give them perspective and an appreciation for what they offer, need, and feel, before the superiority urge starts kicking in. As for Katie, I know she's keeping an eye on at least one dragon."
"Poor Gwyndrael," Gabriel says, as they get in line. Some of the others are already there! Namely the three girls, if one counts 'young' Tia as a girl.
"I fear we're about to be an example of what to do on a ferris wheel; a shame, I was hoping what we could do is me," Tasha says in with an airy considering voice. She runs her tongue along her teeth and then shrugs. "I can teach them about a bit, for now. I just don't want them too intimate before we understand what that means and they have the responsibility to deal with it."
"Didn't they just lose interest before things went anywhere?" Gabriel asks. "Tia is fine as a babysitter, since she can handle them, presumably. Not sure she's a proper peer or role-model though."
"It's hard to find proper peers at their level. Entities tend to become unique and strange the further up you go, and so, thinking about society may be the wrong tact. We work with what we have." But Tasha nods. "They did lose interest, this time. I'll keep an eye on things. I don't want to smother them but I want to make sure they don't fly in to the wires I did, with the corresponding regret and anger. but they'll need to face that, too. Pheeny especially. She'll face it in others and herself some day. She has live times of it to review, and she must come out on top of it."
"On the plus side, they really don't have any available partners back home, so will probably forget about it.. for a few years, anyway," Gabriel says. "And if we keep Kai from making them boyfriends."
"Ahh Kai, our red headed wild card... I know a certain Vartan back home that she'd be the nightmare of," Tasha says with a laugh. "Well, momma is here, and I'll look after them as much as I can. As long as I'm here."
"Do I need to be there when you give them 'the talk'?" Gabriel asks, as they move forward. The wheel is huge, nearly a kilometer across. So 'gravity' will feel different at the top of the arc.
Tasha looks up, and up, and up. "That is a big ferris wheel. The people back home would be in awe." Tasha then glances over. "Maybe. I'm not sure I should be there. You know a lot of where I'm from, and who I'm with, but my way of doing things is my way. And it might create expectations, or give the wrong idea without the 'me' to back it up. And my early sex life is more of a warning than anything. I have dead partners. I've killed one. What message does that send?"
"That it's a learning process, and there will be mistakes," Gabriel says. "Some of it will be wonderful, and some of it will be ugly. Some of it will be just for fun and some for love. I'm not a good one to talk about it though, because my generation's mating was pretty heavily monitored. Maybe ask Liza or Aaron? Hmmm, no, they might learn too much then."
"You also left your family behind to work towards a better future for them. That's a hard one for anyone to deal with. They'll need to learn not to over rely or become excessively attached, to deal with the pain. But we can start with the basics. A lot of this even I didn't know until the last few months." Tasha tilts her head. "The dragons can help with talking about the long haul. So can Tia. And the differences in living different ways and their challenges. Breadth is, I think, extremely important for them."
"I have no idea how dragon relationships work," Gabriel admits. "They each probably have different urges and such... and if Thermy is a priestess, does that mean she's celibate?" The girls get on the next gondola, and then it will be Tasha and Gabriel's turn after the next one.
"Celibate for now. Dragons live so long they go through different states and phases, taking on new things or discarding them. Novelty becomes important. I think Thermy's about done with celibacy though, since she made a vague pass at me. I wasn't in the mood -- I know, I know -- but I'd be curious about her in her dragon form." Tasha steps up and waits, turning back to look up at the tubular world. "Times are changing for them; a new era in their lives."
"Well, they're here for adventure," Gabriel points out, as the attendant opens the door to their gondola. "Please say in the gondola at all times," she says.
"Sounds like a challenge but... alright." Tasha tries to pat the attendant's head too as she saunters past, taking her seat. "In to the sky again flyboy."
"I'll try not to rock the gondola too much," Gabriel promises, but it does sway just from his weight when he gets in. Then the door is closed and they begin their climb as the wheel turns. This one doesn't have tracks that the gondolas can follow, so they it's just a regular, slow voyage.
Tasha crosses her legs and leans back, arms on the seat backs. She takes a deep breath, then exhales. "We've come a long way, haven't we?"
"Ahhh, crossed legs already?" Gabriel asks, and turns to snog Tasha. Then says, "Well, in time and or distance, yes. Growth-wise, I don't think I've changed at all in the last five-thousand years."
Tasha kisses right back and uncrosses her legs in a very deliberate motion. After their muzzles part, she says, "You've changed a bit. You were more formal before, more of an authority figure, and burdened by your past perceived failings. Now you're commanding Humans, trying very new things, and unhindered so much by the requirements of the past. You're as far as I know free of Terra. You now incorporate far larger horizons than merely space."
"Oh, never fully free of the home world," Gabriel notes. "If the Terragens have a 'job' for us, I don't think we can say no. We've already done one for them. And all of my money is still in Terran banks."
"How will we ever afford our two story house on Terra if they seize your assets?" Tasha laughs, head shaking. "Have you considered investing in gold?" And she winks, rubbing her thumb and forefinger together. "I know I have. And I suppose so. Or, well, it'll be that much harder to maneuver through this place-time with their resistance. But you know them better than I do, so I'll trust your judgment on jobs. Just so long as they don't control us."
"I think they're fine with how we're operating right now," Gabriel says. "We're shaking the trees, and they want to see what sort of fruit drops out."
"How much do they know about our entire operation? What do they think of our core players? I'm not exactly how I started. Have they been in contact about developments?" Tasha shifts to lean against Gabriel, pursing her muzzle and then playing with her hair. "I wonder what the others think of us, if anything. Do they know how connected we are?"
"I assume Yue is making reports, but not what she puts into them," Gabriel says, putting his arm around Tasha. "I doubt she's telling them about magical dimensions and dragons and aliens. Probably just what we can accomplish without going into details."
"A lot of trust going around. I never thought about it that much, for a variety of reasons, but now that I do it seems remarkable. So much loyalty, so many people supporting it all," Tasha muses, looking up and out at the turning world.
They're nearly to the top, and the view is very good. "I don't know if I can disobey a direct order from a Human," Gabriel admits. "The current Karnors probably can't. It's a condition of being a Client species in Galactic society. But the first of us didn't really get any of that."
"We can ask Sharron to find out. I'd rather know before it becomes a problem, just in case. That said, I know humanity's creators, and if I must I can talk to her about control authority. I won't have my big wolf taken from me by people who see him as a tool or merely an asset. I hope they know that." Tasha then stands up, rolls her body, and then drops right down to straddle Gabriel with her legs, sitting in his lap. "I've been distant... Let me show you I still love you. I'm bigger than they are, you know, and I can be bigger still. I can span the stars. Don't think I'd let them walk all over you."
"Oh, I can just stop taking the pheromone suppressants," Gabriel laughs, and bites Tasha's shoulder playfully. "They work on Humans as well as Karnors. And probably some other species as well. The first gens all have a 'command presence' scent."
"Hmm, I do like a nice commanding presence. Maybe that's been the problem?" Tasha grins, arches her back when bitten, and lays her ears back. "Enough worries... Let's have some fun of our own without the rest... "
Having fun on their own didn't work out exactly as planned, but not in a bad way. With Tia taking charge of the girls, Gabriel and Tasha were able to return to the hotel for some well deserved snuggle time.
"I'm going to tear of your bathing suit with my teeth," Gabriel warns, and then immediately follows through on his threat.
What follows is a intense flurry of raw affection, biting, and a lot of sex. Pent up but still not relaxed, Tasha instead decided to turn to distraction, and in that distraction, decided it was time to stop running away from the problem of kids and just have some -- a admittedly to get her fear out of the way and move forward. The girls weren't growing and younger and neither were the two of them; all that was left was to build the future, such as it may be.
She'll worry about the rest later.
These thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Galatea in her head: "We have to go back."
Tasha is laying in bed next to a snoozed out Gabriel when her eyes open and she stares at the ceiling, frowning. "I assume you don't mean generally speaking, Galatea?"
"We have to go home," Galatea clarifies, without really explaining anything.
"Is this an emergency?" Tasha flicks her gaze to Gabriel, who is sleeping soundly. She'd hate to wake him, but, an problem is a problem, and their vacation never was to last forever. There's always more work to do.
"I don't know!" Galatea says, uncharacteristically emotional. "I haven't contacted Kai. I just feel.. anxious?"
"Unusual for you, I admit. Not like this, anyway. I'm inclined to believe gut feelings." Tasha sits up and leans over to gently shake Gabriel; the least she can do is wake him gently. Then, out loud, she says, "Kai, have you felt anything ominous, suddenly?"
There's no response.
Tasha's frown deepens, and so she sends mentally. "Kai, are you there? Do you have a sudden bad feeling?"
It takes some time, but there is finally a response. "I do not have a bad feeling, but you should return sooner than later," Kai response. "And I've had lots of names besides Lilith, by the way."
"Well, that's that," Tasha says out loud, then she leans over and begins to more than gentle push Gabriel's shoulder back and forth. "Wakey wakey," she says, gently, "The Angel and Devil on my shoulder are both telling me we need to go home, 'sooner rather than later'."
And then to Galatea, "Kai got back to me, she's being ominous and told me to return ASAP. That it's, we're heading out as soon as everyone's up. Can you send the word out while I wake Gabriel?
"Right now, or after breakfast?" Gabriel mutters.
"I will contact the others," Galatea says. "Or I shall contact Katie and let her handle it."
"/Either's good. Time to get dressed and get out of here, I can shower on the way home." And so Tasha, seeing Gabriel start to stir, slaps her hands to the bed, takes a deep breath, and slides out of bed. Time to go.
Being able to execute a clean retreat is an important training element, according to Katie. They'd also already met their other goals, so nobody had an issue. Kaa was bragging about his own conquests for most of the flight back as well.
"It will be nice to have coffee from our machine again," Gabriel admits at the midpoint of the flight. "Do you think we'll be returning to some sort of trouble though?" he asks Tasha.
"It'd be unusual for Kai and Galatea to urgently bring us anywhere for good news," Tasha admits, spinning idly on one of the C&C chairs. She has her arms folded, legs crossed, and is tapping her chin. "There could be a problem with the realm, or Whisper. Invasion, outside influence, a surge in the unformed mass that exists outside of it... Anything really. Kainudy. It could be Kainudy. But I feel like they'd be more direct." And then she suddenly stops her spin with a hoof. "Unless it's really bad?" It's said more as a question to herself, yet it was enough to stop her in her tracks, figuratively and literally.
"I don't know how powerful the fey are, and they're the only ones I can think of that would try to invade," Gabriel says. "And we know that Kai can deal with them. And Tia has been acting weird, and by weird I mean normal, which is weird for her. Is Liza due to give birth already?"
"We did kind of piss them off by slaughtering their armies, and then there's the Dream realm, which I disrupted indirectly," Tasha admits. She spreads her hands unknowingly. "It could be either. Or both. Or factions from either. It could be something else. There's a lot out there. But I don't like how vague Kai was being. She's usually direct. And she's rarely so -- don't laugh -- sarcastically open with me. It sounded like stress."
"We'll know in twelve hours," Gabriel says. "I could probably sleep for most of that myself."
"Well, we may as well. Unless the Maelstrom suddenly has a bad feeling, there's not much to do around here, and no use worrying. Galatea doesn't have any more information, but she's been fretting. Best we not join her." Tasha leans back to stretch. "Might be a bust day in twelve hours."
Up on the executive deck, the dragons are lounging in the lounge, Hakeber is telling some sort of off-color joke, and Galatea is pacing. Katie is at the bar, checking things on her pad.
Tasha joins Galatea, and starts pacing with her. "Not used to bad feelings?"
"Is it a bad feeling?" Galatea asks suddenly. "I thought it was an urge."
"You were a bit vague," Tasha points out, still following and keeping pace. "But if it's an urge, I can't think of many beings who could summon you. And if Kai has also expressed urgency, the number drops to a handful. Kainudy. The Waymakers as a whole. Maybe Envoy, but that's a stretch. Whisper's with us. Pheeny too. Maybe Horus or Thoth, but that's still a 'Kainudy Problem'."
"Thoth!" Galatea says, stopping in her tracks. "Maybe he came back? I don't know Horus. Too many gods as it is. I never had to deal with gods before. Just demi-gods."
"And how did that avatar know so much about us?" she rants. "Thotep can't be watching us."
"If he's back then either the battle has ended or he requires help. I can't imagine he'd call us out of boredom, but I don't think it's critical either. Or if it is, it's not critical in a way that calls for so much outside power as to transport us immediately. Something serious. An update, a call to action. Something." Tasha then frowns. "I'd rather not say the obvious reason he might know about us. Thotep's powers are vast, and his sight considerable, so we could be underestimating him. But perhaps not."
"That shopping trip you went on," Galatea reasons. "Outside of faerie.. I think. But Kai was with you. That must be how he knows about her. Yes, that is.. reasonable."
Putting a hand to her head, Galatea says, "I feel tired."
Tasha puts a hand on Galatea's shoulder. "You should rest, then. Whatever the answer is, it's hindsight. We need to be rested for whatever may come. I can stay with you, if you want?"
"Alright, I'm not used to sleeping, and especially not sleeping alone," Galatea says. "Should I just stop being so human?"
"Do you want to?" Tasha says, finally stopping her pacing to fold her arms and lean in. "I mean I did, it's frustrating, but everyone's different."
"Being my usual self wasn't helping much after the accident," Galatea admits. "I guess I needed to feel more connection. Or vulnerability. Or something! Maybe a drink first."
"Drinks are great for problems," Tasha agrees, so follows Galatea over to the counter, where she sits next to Katherine. "What's new in news, Katie," she asks as she situates herself.
"We did well," Katie says, showing her tablet. It has a list of things with numbers next to them. "We can all function well in an urban environment while working in different teams. We also confirmed that dragon magic will still work."
"I confirmed my own magic as well. Then it looks like we're more or less as ready as we can be once everything's set, barring some disaster when we return." Tasha scratches her nose. "I don't like how vague our return is, however. The reasons."
"We still need to hear from the forward team," Katie says. "What does Galatea drink?"
"I always assumed she ran on alcohol, how else could you have so much power? I mean it worked for me." But Tasha grins. "Probably whatever she wants, but maybe she has a favorite." Then she kicks the side of the counter to spin and face Galatea. "What do you drink? Old Fashioned? Grasshopper? Stellar Catastrophe? Martini? Rainbow Coalition? Daiquiris?"
"Yes, one of those," Galatea requests. "Whichever one is the most colorful."
"Rainbow Coalition!" Tasha spins back to Katherine. "This is your stop Miss Bartender, one Rainbow Coalition!"
Katie gets behind the bar.. and actually knows how to mix drinks. Because of her entertainer training, or her spy training? Hopefully not assassination training. She uses a bit of flair while doing it, so probably the first one. Once it's done, Galatea just gulps the whole thing down in one go.
"Not a social drinker, I see," Katie comments.
"I'm ready to lie down now," Galatea comments, and then burps.
Tasha has a special look of fascination as she watches the entire drink go down the Galatea drain, even leaning in very close to watch the fluid just vanish before her very eyes. "I am both impressed and a little horrified," she declares. She glances to Katie, back to Galatea, and back and forth once more. "I'll take care of her, come on Galatea, let's get you some place where you can rest."
"Okay," Galatea agrees, and stands up carefully. "Someplace very close please."
Tasha then.. tries to pick Galatea up! "My quarters are just across the hall, Gabriel's probably already there, so we can use him for a pillow. See you in a few hours, Katie!"
Galatea does help by putting her arms around Tasha's neck and shoulders. She's pretty light, and while Tasha isn't as strong as she used to be, she isn't weak. And Gabriel is indeed waiting for them, already asleep.
Nothing is on fire when the Dark Horse lands in the lake. There isn't anyone waiting at the dock either. It's all pretty quiet, until the Kobolds show up in the utility truck.
"Noooot exactly the welcome I was expecting," Tasha admits, looking around. "All is disturbingly normal. And quiet. Neither of which I am very comfortable around." She eyes the truck as it approaches. "I suppose we'll find out what all the fuss is soon."
The Kobolds run up to meet the trio that went on the trip - even though they stayed abort the ship the entire time (and apparently spent that time cleaning). At least until Whisper comes out and they can fawn over her and the dragons. "This feels normal," Gabriel comments. Galatea is still a bit wobbly and leans on Tasha for support.
Tasha stands like a sign post, wings out, Galatea propped. "And no warning from the Kobolds either. So not a dragon-problem." She begins towards the truck, bringing Galatea along with her. "I hate waiting and I hate not attacking a problem, so let's cease waiting and attack. Unless Kai is already here?" She glances behind her.
Hakeber is behind her, and wags her tail. "Let's get to the base," Gabriel suggests. "If there are problems, they'll be waiting in the cafeteria. Or the Lapis will tell us."
Tasha beams at Hakeber, then nods to Gabriel. "Off we go. I expected she'd meet us, so maybe she's indisposed with... Whatever she's dealing with."
Once they part ways with the dragons, who want to 'stretch their wings', and Whisper and the Kobolds, they core group returns to the base and enters through the cafeteria. Aaron is there, already making coffee. So is Kai, who is sitting with Thoth, who is looking like his younger self as seen in the Half-World and Dreamlands. He's even got his caduceus staff leaning against the back of his chair. Pheeny chirps when she spots the strange avian.
"Double Thoth," Tasha exclaims, leaning back and scratching her head. "Does this mean I'm double right? Of course I am. Stil, if he's here..." Tasha exchanges a look with Galatea, then nods her head over to the twin birds. She begins that way, then pauses, and waves Pheeny to come along as well. "This is Thoth, and, um, also Thoth. Thoth is an archetype that can transcend realities, and there are many Thoths, but that one," she nods to the one with the staff, "is 'our' Thoth. The second one," she nods to the same, "has acted as guardian to the Dreamlands."
"Just one Thoth, in practice," Thoth claims. "Pleased to meet you, Phoenix. I didn't know you were real."
"Thoth is a demi-god of sorts," Kai says. "Physical existence can be.. complicated."
"Oh," Pheeny says. "Hello then."
"Oh, so a little like myselves, then?" Tasha's ears go up, then she glances to Pheeny and smiles. "Thoth has acted as a mentor figure to me in the past. He'd been away on... Business." And then back to Thoth. "To summerize very quickly, I made a promise, there were events, and then Pheeny became my daughter."
"Fascinating," Thoth says. "I'd like to hear the full account at some point. Things have been rather busy for me of late."
"For us both it seems. I can explain later, but Galatea thinks you may have tried to summon her here? And if you're here, that means you left your observation post -- and I don't see the others, Melchior, Horus, nor Kainudy," Tasha notes.
"I thought it best if I came to fetch you both personally," Thoth notes. "I didn't send a summons, so Galatea may just be particularly sensitive."
"I don't know any more than you do about this," Kai claims to Tasha and Galatea.
"By both you mean Galatea and I?" Tasha glances to Kai, then she frowns all over again. It's disconcerting to hear Kai admit she doesn't know anything about something, especially a matter as vital to her as Kaiundy. In fact she'd have assumed Kai would be the first to be informed with everyone else absent. Unless, she thinks, it's not about Kainudy. "Galatea said she felt a summon, but couldn't make out the nature of the intent. Is this a matter we need to discuss in private?"
"Privacy will be involved, to start, but not here," Thoth says, standing up and taking his staff in hand. "Is Galatea drunk?"
"No, I'm just... not that," Galatea claims and tries to stand up straighter.
"Apparently," Tasha says, glancing over at her wobbly compatriot. "She's been trying out humanity for fit, and the anxiety of not knowing got to her I think." Then Tasha turns to Pheeny and lowers herself to the girl's height, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Mamma may need to go away for a while. I just want you to know I love you -- and I will always love you, no matter what. I'm glad you're my daughter. I'm proud of you."
"Can I have ice cream while you're gone?" Pheeny asks, and hugs Tasha.
"Of course you can, have as much as you want if it helps," Tasha answers, leaning down to hug her daughter tightly. It would be the first time she ever felt like leaving home was a bad idea; what if she died? What of her promise, what would happen to Pheeny? Everyone? Just the thought of never hugging Pheeny again makes her begin to choke up inside, and it takes more than a little willpower to let go. She doesn't want to let her daughter see her doubts, nor worry, so she puts on a strong face. "Be good, listen to Gabriel. Well, I say that, but I have faith in you. So have fun, hopefully I'll be back soon." And then she kisses the girl on the head and turns to follow Thoth.
Kai comes along as well, as they all proceed to be arches just outside the base. There, Thoth spins his staff, and a portal begins to form. "I'll try have Tasha back before too long," he tells Kai. No mention of Galatea though.
Tasha shoots Kai a look somewhere between worry and confusion, but despite her look, says in an even tone, "I'll do my best to handle things well if it comes down to matters we're all mutually connected to. I trust you to keep things safe here."
"You trust me?" Kai asks, eyebrows raised. "Well, I'll take that as a prayer then."
"You haven't let me down so far. Take 'trust' as a sense of fondness and appreciation." But Tasha inclines her head to the point. "Maybe the wrong word. See you soon?" Tasha glances at the portal, then back, and then she's walking away, Galatea leaning against her.
Thoth steps through first. When Tasha passes through, it feels weird in a way she can't quite describe. On the other side is a forest. There's no underbrush, and all of the trees have white bark and golden leaves. Galatea immediately perks up and then.. she's gone! There's a snap of vacuum and and vortex of dust leading along the path ahead where she flew off.
"I thought she might do that," Thoth says.
"Why does this place feel fami--" And then she's mantling her wings and pulling inward against the sudden rush of wind and the clap of noise. By the time she peaks out again, over her wings, Galatea is long gone. "Iiiiiii guess I'm not the only one?" She glances to Thoth. "You did? Where are we?"
"A world made by an old.. friend? Ally?" Thoth ponders. "It's a recreation of the previous world Kainudy felt safe. This is forest of the mind though, full of her memories. It's not safe to leave the path. Especially if you hear voices calling to you. Stay close to me," he cautions before starting down the path. The leaves rustle and whisper in the trees, but there's no wind. And they didn't stir at all from Galatea's flight.
"I'm familiar with the type," Tasha says of the forest, and so she follows, looking around but sticking close. She's old and wise enough to not have the urge to tempt fate; she's here for a reason and has matters to take care of, people relying on her. "So... Lothryn, was it? There was a tower. Galatea's tower, but I saw it before the end, as well. Then... Oh, this must be a pocket universe created by Kaiundy? This would be the second one I've been in now."
"Created for her," Thoth says. "They weren't there for the battle, but they came to help put her back together afterward. For all her disparagement of gods, Kainudy has plenty of semi-divine allies that care about her. All of this," he says, sweeping one arm, "was created with a song."
Tasha is reminded of the angel that sung her soul in to an inedible ball; she knew Katie influenced nations by singing. Aldara Tasha Argentine can absolutely believe song can change the world, reality itself, and more. "That does not surprise me." And she sounds like she means it. "Then, they're gathered here? I got the impression many felt she needed to duke it out for a while and get her destructive impulse off her chest, a surprisingly relatable situation. I'm just sorry I wasn't of more help. This is partly my fault."
Tasha then pauses. "Or," she ventures, "... is that why I'm here?"
"You're here because the battle is over," Thoth says. "When Nyarlathotep arrived, Kainudy dissolved the Half-World and plunged us all in to the Unformed. Except for a bubble of protection that Persephone provided for us. It was very educational. All of the things I'd sought to learn from the fey, there on display. Nyarlathotep could not maintain his form there. Nor could Kainudy, as she became the Queen of Demise. It was hard to follow."
"But the demi-gods, multi-versal beings and Oolong the Black have all left now," he adds.
"I can see why we couldn't follow, aside from the concentrated psychic attacks," Tasha acknowledges. She continues along, surprised by her sudden apprehension of being judged. When did she become so cautious? And beyond that, she was wiling to fight it, even if she was guilty, or judged so. Something for her to consider later. "Isn't oolong a kind of tea?"
"He is also a dragon," Thoth claims. "But he did leave many crates of tea, and servants. Apparently Kainudy is a shrine to be tended to. The servants are all strange."
As they walk, Tasha can glimpse statues out among the trees. They look like ones from Kainudy's old memorial garden.
"I can see how one could accumulate strange servants over the course of an existence," Tasha says in what is surely a self-aware observation as much as an external one. "And I like tea. Well, let's see what the damage is and how on fire I might be about to be."
"Not yet," Thoth says, and guides them onto a forked path. "Those two need time along together. There's something else to tend to first."
"Of course. I suppose I thought they could communicate hyper-quickly or something, or, well, Kainudy may not be communicative. They're hard to gauge the limits of, you know?" But Tasha follows, curious where all this will lead.
"Kainudy is different now," Thoth says, a bit wistfully. "Being reassembled may have fixed certain things that were broken." He sounds like he still has a thing for the dragon.
"I spoke to her creator personally and had been working to try and resolve the situation personally, but it seems that wasn't necessary." Tasha then reaches over and pats Thoth on the shoulder consolingly. "It's an infinite multiverse, I'm sure you'll find someone again. I'm sorry for your loss."
"I haven't lost anyone," Thoth claims. "It's normal for people to change over time." The suddenly come to a clearing, and face an angled black wall. It looks metallic, but also not metallic.
"Ah, I just thought with how's she's made, well..." But Tasha lets the thought go, head shaking. She then instead turns to regard the wall. After regarding it for along moment, she asks, "Are we going... Inside?"
At the sound of the question, golden hieroglyphics glow on the wall, and golden seams appear as the wall becomes a wing with engraved feathers. The wing pulls back, and there is Melchior. Or Horus. It doesn't look like a machine, but like.. well.. a /god/. He's wearing armor, and has golden eyes. When the head turns towards her, Tasha sees that the left eye has the Eye of Horus laid out in gold. The figure is down on one knee. "Hello, Tasha," Melchior greets, and at the same moment an entry for "Melchior/Horus" appears in her ansible communication options. "Persephone helped, but being able to access the Unformed allowed me to perfect Melchior into a /proper/ form."
Tasha's eyes widen until they look ripe to fall out of her head, even her wings spread out, and her feathers get a bit poofy. By the time the transformation is complete, she's blinking several times. "O-oh," is about all she can manage for a moment, looking up, but her tail begins to wag. She had expected some disaster, something to answer for or address, and is ashamed in all her worries and fears she'd forgotten to ask about her friend and Titan, assuming, on some level, he could take care of himself.
Tasha sees she wasn't exactly wrong.
The link is accepted, and Tasha claps her hands together. "Well look at you! I guess I wans't the only one to do some growing up since we last met. Are you... together now? One being, or two? You seem very... godlike, now." There's a hesitation there, an unasked question. It doesn't get asked, because instead she blurts out, "I've missed you. I'm glad you're safe. You are safe, aren't you?"
"I'm safer than I've ever been," Melchior claims. "It's not Vril, but timestone is wonderful. I will never run out of power now. I also have relativistic cannons in my gauntlets and other tricks. I am more than a match for the Four Horsemen, should I ever go up against them."
"Four men on horses or four Rhians don't seem like much of a threat," Tasha admits, not knowing the reference and picturing the horses and men from Abaddon. "I suppose it's a title? Horseman has always been a very strange thing to me since meeting original horses. What am I going on about?" The young woman shakes her head out, then smooths her hair back in to place. "It sounds like you're much stronger than before, and I'm a bit familiar with timestone. I have some in my head somewhere. I envy never running out of power, though, kids are exhausting."
A pause, then again, "I missed you. I'm glad you're alive and well. I was trying... " She sucks in a breath; between Pheeny and this, she's feeling a lot more emotional than she expected to be, "... I had been trying to put on a strong face. To stand on my own while you were gone. I've... " Her hands beat a little at her side, "I ate a dragon heart. I can use magic. The Phoenix is my daughter; I carry some of her Flame too, now. I can shoot lasers from my fingers, create fire form nothing. I have a daughter."
"I was never your strength, Tasha," Melchior claims. "It was your strength that moved me."
"The horsemen are the Apocalypse Titans," Thoth explains. "I designed them to house Ogdru-hem spirits, much like the Dark Horse houses and harnesses Tatha-hem. I'm unsure if they were ever created though."
Tasha bobs her head a little. "I-I know, I see that now, that I've been standing on my own. I guess... " She spins a finger in idle anxiety, "I just wanted you to be proud of me. You're more than just my Titan. You're someone who never stopped supporting me, and I wanted to give as much back as I could. You're special to me. I couldn't be the only one to not work to be better. We are a team after all, and we were both created and have become more." She glances to Thoth and cocks her head to the side. "I find weapons of war and power are often hard to resist, harder still the greater the power, the need, the ambition."
"Well, I intend to be more useful now," Melchior claims, then stands to his full twenty-meter height. His wings spread and he floats up into the air. Then he half-folds his wings and stretches out, turning horizontal. At that point, it's like watching the Dark Horse become a Khattan yacht. The Vartan form somehow becomes a Vartan starfighter, like she saw during the mock wargame between the Silent-Ones and the Vartan fleet at Caltrop. The black and gold ship lands in the clearing, and the airlock opens. Out of this steps.. Melchior, just as a Vartan. He's still got the Eye of Horus painted onto his feathers though.
"I feel like becoming part dragon's a bit underwhelming now," Tasha admits after a long moment, scratching her cheek with a nail, ears back but her tail is still wagging, and wagging furiously. When the transformed machine -- existence? -- lands and out pops Melchior, Tasha hurries to him. She even reaches up with both hands to give him a hug. "I never did get a chance to do this before. Welcome back, Mel."
The Vartan returns the hug and chuckles. "I'm glad that you missed me. Do you approve of my upgrades then?"
"If anything I feel like I should have upgraded myself more," Tasha says with a self-deprecating laugh. The machine, man, something beyond labels, is hugged tightly, then released. "And of course! Of course I approve. I know it's just ritual by this point, but yes, I approve. So how does this all work? And you know, just the other day I had the Eye of Horus. Quite so, the other day. And Pheeny had the Eye of Ra."
"It works however we want it too," Melchior says. "I can't do everything someone like Galatea can, but I will do what I can. What you need. I'm a hybrid now myself, something new."
"I wanted him to be a proper shell like the Vril-ya wore," Thoth says. "I think I've done that one better. Horus is still in there though. I just needed access to the ability to create, and some Waymaker technology and assistance."
"I don't know what to say, 'really impressive' seems like a gross and embarrassing understatement," admits the red woman, who scratches the back of her head. "You've both done very well, if you don't mind a limited being like myself saying so. It feels odd to judge you." Even as she says it, Tasha realizes it doesn't sound like her. How much has Pheeny changed her, is her modesty rubbing off, or is it something else? "So this, then, is what the Vril'ya of old were like?"
"Yes, when they walked the worlds as the Progenitors," Thoth says. "It is easy to see why they became gods."
"I know I'm impressed," Tasha blurts out. Then she grins widely, grabs Mel's hand, and then locks arms with him. "Well, not letting you go now. I hope watching Granny Doom fight old Old Man Chaos wasn't too boring. I don't want you to be jealous, but we had ice cream and rode on a ferris wheel. Anyway, now that you're back I can go get incinerated by Grandma Mentor Dragon and still feel really good about today."