#magpie gene

[ladyironsky]

A human with the Magpie gene, reaching for something shiny: Ohhh what's this?

The aliens, seeing the human are about to pick up a poisonous animal: No don't touch that! It's poisonous!

The human, hand still inching toward said animal: You sure?

The alien, swatting their hand away: Very.

[nullvoidface]

Favourite genre of ocs: OCs little accidents babies

So here are Corvus’ cubs<3 their favourite hobbies include: eating rocks and wrestling<3

[telleroftime]

I have a love hate relationship with Biology. On the one hand it's a useful thing to know. I mean, it is a science. It's a useful set of knowledge to posses and it makes the world seem so much more fluid.

On the other hand... on the other hand it makes world-building a living hell. I can't just design something anymore. No-no. I need to explain it. This OC has a pair of wings? How? This OC has bird hands? How? In a world where there is magic I still think of evolution and it makes the creative process harder than it needs to be.

[many-gay-magpies]

pause. just remembered my dad made a gay joke today

[fr-thecollectors]

I've been overhauling a bunch of outfits the past few weeks, so!

meet the new and improved:

Mao (she/her) - the clan's combat leader, and first line of defense if anything with malicious intent gets past the magical wards protecting their Caves. Countless fights with the forest's malevolent, arcane energies has left her not quite a dragon anymore. Kaiju's mate. (skin: Sol's Blight by iiPessimystic)

Kaiju (he/him) - the clan's healer, he's a gentle soul, and the softening edge to Mao's sharp teeth.

Valor (she/her) - the co-leader, and Darklight's mate. It's rumored that her ever-growing collection of spiders not only keep an eye on things for her, but that she can speak to them. She's by no means cruel, but... well. Don't let her catch you in a lie.

Derr (he/they) - one of the hatchling caretakers, don't let his looks deceive you. He's kind and gentle; just listen to his lullaby. (skin: Smoke Storm by llithiumstars)

Nigel (he/him) - before the creation of Varkas, Sevim was swamped with work trying to archive everything himself; Nigel stepped in to lend a hand. He chose to remain the archival assistant, and can often be found reading in his free time. Magpie's mate. (skin: Scroll of Pells by Teadino)

Magpie (she/he) - Andric's apprentice, she's learning how to cast spells that can better protect her home. He dabbles in the darker arts, doing what must be done to protect the Collectors.

[tetedurfarm]

dazzle camouflage is real (think zebra stripes or shiny silver fish) but a harlequin's stripes is not that. it is just a marking that humans have selectively bred for because it's pretty.

Dazzle camouflage is a family of rabbit camouflage that was used extensively by Harlequin rabbits, and to a lesser extent, other rabbit breeds throughout history. It consisted of complex patterns of geometric shapes in contrasting colors interrupting and intersecting each other.

Unlike other forms of camouflage, the intention of dazzle is not to conceal, but to make it difficult to estimate a rabbit's range, speed, and heading.

[todaysbird]

do you have any cool rare corvids

i've tried so hard to answer this question and it just gets deleted every time, Tumblr please let the birds post

NOTE: rarity is subjective. I'm American, so a lot of these birds I've never seen, but that doesn't mean their populations are low or they're hard to find. I took rare to mean infrequently discussed/looked over in this case.

There's 100+ species of beautiful corvids, but hopefully this handful serves as a good sampler :)

Albino ravens of Vancouver, B.C.; there's a high population density of albino birds here, and birds carrying the genes keep having more albino babies!

Pied raven, a now-extinct color morph of the Common Raven

Magpie-jays!!! There's two species, white throated and black throated (this one is black throated), and these guys are total jesters. Masters of silliness. They also live in matriarchal flocks!

Javan green magpie! there's lots of colorful magpies (greens and blues!!), but I mentioned this fella specifically because they're sadly Critically Endangered at this time.

PIAPIAC!!! This African species of corvid resembles a lot of crows, but with a smooth, shiny beak & vibrant eyes that can be purple to bright pink!

Black-collared Jay - a handsome fella, not to be confused with his close relative, the White-collared Jay

the Unicolored Jay - pretty common in their range in Mexico, but a handsome feller nonetheless

TUFTED JAY!!! very silly head

[vy-canis-melodis]

the following is a blog post, written by tanja, in the Bird HRT universe:

UPDATE and a cancelled article!

Hi all, it's been a long time since my last blog post. Here's the deal; I was in hospital. Long story short, some things went pretty wrong, and here I am, having to deal with a huge backwards step in progress then having had to retrace those steps with additional gooey complications and therapy.

Anyway, here's a journalistic article I was pretty close to finishing and submitting to actual newspapers before everything went down and I had to cancel it.

Rejecting Humanity - Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Just Be Myself

As I write this, I'm sitting in the waiting room of a Hospital cross Research Laboratory in London. By the time you're reading this, I'll have been on my treatment journey for over a year. What treatment, you ask? Well, it's Humanity Removal Therapy. One year ago, I undertook a radical new procedure which slowly transforms you from human to another form. Perhaps you've seen strange creatures out and about; a snow leopard at the supermarket, a dog at the drive-thru, or a tuatara at the thrift shop. Or, perhaps, you haven't; as I write this, the number of patients might not yet have reached triple digits worldwide.

Perhaps I should introduce myself. My name is Tanja ------, and I am an Iberian Azure-winged Magpie, scientific name 'cyanopica cooki'. One year ago, I was fully human, and now I look like a hybrid between our two species. So, let me guide you through my world.

How is this possible?

A little over a year ago, certain medical circles revealed that species transformation had been trialled in mice, turning them into various other creatures, with various success rates from 20 to 80% depending on size and how different the target species was. Now, I'm not for animal testing, but when I heard that human trials were going to open, I kept that pinned to my calendar. And so, after a few months, I was able to finally sign up and have my first interview. Which was… short. Turns out, they had pretty elaborate ways of gatekeeping people who really meant that they wanted it from those that they thought would regret the procedures. They also had a little joke, based on gender HRT, where they would ask if you'd spent years living as your preferred species beforehand. Or at least, I think it was a joke. And then, I was on my way to becoming the bird I love.

How much did it cost?

Well, luckily for me, the NHS provides free healthcare. Then, due to this being a clinical trial, I get paid for being a test subject. Then, due to the effects of the medicine, I receive Disability Benefits. The treatment itself is… a bit of a legal loophole, really. This very article may well be the first you've heard of it.

Is it just a magic pill?

Nope! It's a mix of CRISPR, gene replacement, hormone injections, and surgeries over time. It's a real mishmash, at least in my case. For example, keratinous structures can be grown through selective DNA editing and hormones that stimulate 'hair' growth in specific areas in specific ways. Bone structure can also slowly be altered in some cases through gene replacement, though in some cases, surgery is needed. My back, for example, will soon be undergoing surgery to adjust the way the vertebrae are laid out. Some aspects just are too difficult to be done naturally, and so artificial parts and prosthetics are added. But this complicated procedure has an upside - it means that there is more customisation possible! For example, a Harpy would be a very specific set of applications of Bird HRT that exclude certain aspects such as the face!

Are there downsides?

Definitely. There's the immunosuppression that has to occur to stop new parts from being rejected. There's the high risk of cancers and other diseases to occur as a result of this procedure. There's just the risk that your organs will fail. Most of this is irreversible too.

Why even do it then?

Because, to that small number of people, it's so worth it. This is a new life, an opportunity to discard that uncomfortable human vessel and be yourself at last. For the vast majority of people, being oneself is being human, but that's not the case for everyone.

Is it going to be banned?

Well, that's hard to say. Governments worldwide are, I'm sure, now aware of this phenomenon. And I think it presents a threat to the status quo. This is something new, something scary, something intimidating, that shifts the power balance between subjects and governers. And it's not just because some people have become huge fire-breathing dragons - it's the meaning behind it. They've rejected the very notion of the social contract between humans and crafted a new identity. Do we still count as people? And that's really the question, isn't it. So much of the way government and society works is to split people into groups of those that are 'more' people, and those that are 'lesser' people - and that dictates what societal violences are permissible, for example. This whole new procedure will have to make governments rethink so much, and it can either be a source of worry for us, or a source of hope for everyone. We just have to be loud enough to be heard for who we are.

So what will come next? Well, I'm going to hop on in to my next appointment, and the Earth will keep spinning. My first set of wings has almost reached full-span, and my toe-dexterity is almost at where I was with hands as a human. With my next set of primaries, I may have enough of a wingspan to fly, if I keep my weight low enough. Meanwhile, Parliament will likely have a debate on the issue, as a petition to legalise the procedure has a few thousand signatures on the government's official petition website. I'll be waiting on that result eagerly.

If you have any other questions, I'd be more than willing to answer them!

[bluestempigeons]

Hi I just started learning about pigeon genetics and saw that you know a lot about this! Are shield-marked, splash, baldhead and white-flight caused by the same gene? And if yes what letters are used for their alleles? And are there any other piebald versions that have names?

A bunch of different genes! Even the pigeon genetics stuff I've read isn't quite sure what is going on with piebald genes in pigeons. A couple of them have standardized symbols, but not a ton. Gazzi is z, magpie is mp, white head is k, white sides is Ws, white tail is s2 (in monk-marked birds) or s1 (in shield-marked birds)

There are a whole mess of piebald patterns! Monk, magpie, bib, bellneck, white sides, colored head, gazzi... not to mention the breed-specific patterns found in many color breeds.

[gomzdrawfr]

bonus:

Uncle Simon's babysitting journey, part 2

part 1

aftermath:

[lies]

Today was rainy at the villa. This Eurasian Magpie confided in me enough to take an extended rain bath while I watched from the villa balcony. Later we had a wine and balsamic vinegar tasting with lunch at an organic farm just down the road, which was super fun.

“Confiding” is an interesting word to me as a bird descriptor. I’d noticed a few European birders using the term over the years when birding in the US. It always struck me as funny, like the bird was sidling up whispering secrets. But it’s only now after I’ve spent several days birding in Italy that I appreciate why the behavior I tended to view as just normal ignoring of a nearby human seemed noteworthy to them.

Birds in the Italian countryside have been hunted for food for millennia. Any bird willing to act oblivious to humans had its genes removed from the pool a long time ago. With few exceptions they don’t perch up on telephone wires, don’t expose themselves in the tops of trees, don’t hop around foraging on the ground if a human is in view.

I’ve been out birding every morning here. It’s what I’d consider birdy habitat; trees and bushes and gardens. My Italian life list currently stands at 20 species, a couple of which I haven’t even seen but am listing based on audio recordings. Most of the others I’ve only glimpsed briefly. There are another four or five I’m pretty sure are here but haven’t been able to get identifiable looks at.

Which is just so surprising to parochial-birder me. Someone told me Asian birds are even harder. I haven’t been properly appreciating my California birds up to now. I’ll show them more gratitude when I’m back.

[originalcharactersexyman]

I present my creature;

"The Sickened"

(they/it/he)

It lived peacefully in a small village, when some wretched day they became infected by a misterious illness.

Their genes changed, rapidly mutating them into a corvid hybrid. Feathers emerged from all over its body, irritating the skin, sharp talons having replaced what once were hands and feet. Its skin, sickly and cold contrasts the deep black plumage, wich glimmers misteriously with blue and green shine.

Fearfull of the creature he had now become, the villagers banished him, beliveing his ailment to be a curse from the gods. Stories of this "murderous creature" spread like wildfires. Nowadays the sickened is only met with hostility and ignorance.

Rejected from society, he wonders the outskirts of villages, but preffers the comfort it finds in the woods. They find company in crows and magpies, scavenging what they may need.

The sickened is kind of heart, honest and caring, despite their past. He was an outsider and socially inept, perhaps that scared the other villagers, perhaps that is the reason they reject him, him? who is he?

It doesnt know, it lost itself long ago, memories twisted and obscured, like roots at the bottom of a pond. Without a sense of self, not even a name to call its own.

It is the monster the villagers fear. They are the friend the ravens hold dear. He is the child that illness must beare.

They are weak, often infected and fatigued. They suffer from mental ailments that are not yet known to scholars. Disabled. But, somehow, they continue fighting, and surviving.

If it is threatened it will use its claws as knives, with agile movements and a unnatural form, similar to martial arts. Cuts and wounds inflicted with its talons often get infected and bleed profusely, making them very dangerous. Ocassionally, it may call for the crows, who will help stun the atacker. The sickened quickly loses stamina and might faint, so they rely on adrenaline to get away from danger. They are very weak and thus will dodge all atacks if possible.

Perhaps, someday, somehow, someway, the sickened might find the empathy, love, and care he so desperately cant attain.

This is my OC, i tryed to explain the lore, i apollogize for the very long text, i feel every word is important and cant make it shorter :")

I hope they are good enough. Thank you for making this cool tournament!

THEY ARE IN!

seats taken: 18/24

[roguemonsterfucker]

My sister: *painstakingly comes up with a list of names for the baby birds*

Me: Okay this one looks like the mom, so her name is Junior. This one looks like a bird I had named Magpie, so his name is Magpie. This one was the fifth egg to hatch so his name is Number Five. And this one's distinguishing feature is that it has the opaline gene so I'll call her Opaline.

[thedovesaredying]

I just wanna say hi and also ask if you have pictures of your chickens bc I love chickens

I'm glad to see more chicken lovers out here! I'll have to put the pics under the cut because my current count is 31 chickens and I have waaay too many pictures of them, so I've tried to be somewhat selective.

I actually breed Gold/Blue Partridge Brahmas on the side because where I live the nearest breeder of brahmas in general is about a 2 hour drive inland and there's a fair demand for them since they're much less likely to get taken by hawks due to how MASSIVE they are.

Anyway, floofy babies below!!

This is my sweet girl, Buttercup, a Speckled Sussex. I have near enough every different Sussex colour under the sun lmao. Pale, Silver, Buff, Coronation, and Platinum. They're named Crystal, Salt, Pepper, Ivory, and Gracie respectively.

This is Gracie, the Platinum Sussex I mentioned. She is the LOUDEST girl known to man. She has many opinions and need to make sure they're known!!! Will come and stand outside the back door and shout into the house for attention.

This is Cricket, my Plymouth Rock hen. I named her Cricket because when she was a little newly hatched baby, she would cuddle up in my hand to fall asleep and start trilling/purring. The sound was exactly like the sound of a cricket chirping.

Maisie, my fluffy little Easter Egger girl. She lays bright blue eggs, and her sibling Bean, lays bright green ones.

My head rooster and main breeding male, Sergeant Major. This image doesn't really do him any justice, but he's absolutely massive, both height wise and because of how broad he is. He has balls of steel and fears nothing. Magpies try to swoop him? They're the ones that have to swerve to avoid colliding with him, because he doesn't move for nobody. He's a big baby for his mamma tho, he lets me pick him up and carry him around like a toddler lmao.

A terrible picture, but it gives you a good idea of how large he is, even though he's smaller than Sarge. This is my second in command, Stevie McQueen (named after the actor in The Great Escape, since as a chick he could and would find a way to escape his enclosure). He might be large, but he's smart enough not to mess with Sarge, so he gets along well with the rest of the flock.

Bluey!! The roundest of girls!! She's a little anxious around humans she doesn't know, but she's so, so very gorgeous. Went through a major molt recently, and is looking a bit scrungly, but here she's looking lovely uwu.

Blondie, one of the roosters from my hatch last November, I decided to keep because he's such a sweet, gentle boy. He's a mix of Brahma (from Sarge) and Pale Sussex (Crystal), but because his mum had some sort of gigantism mutation, he has also outgrown both of his parents and is only 7 months old!! Afraid of his own shadow.

This is Smokey, another of the babies from November. Stevie is her dad and Bluey is her mum, so she has fluffy, round genes from them both lmao.

Froggy!!!! My darling baby girllll!!!!! Another of the November babies, one of the purebred brahma hens. She would've been an excellent show bird, but sadly was born with two of her toes on both feet fused together, forcing her to hop around, hence the name Frog. We corrected the issue so she can now walk correctly now, but her feet aren't good enough to be used for showing or breeding, so we're just keeping her as a pet. She thinks she's a human too, and demands entrance into the house for kisses and hugs ever night. She won't go to bed at night without behind held for a good while and told what a good girl she is.

Bonus pic of Froggy as a tiny baby being snuggled by my mum. Just look at that sweet baby girl and tell me you could say no to her.

[many-gay-magpies]

also, today on happenings in my probably-neurodivergent family: my dad and i has an at least half-hour, most likely longer conversation about dystopian YA fiction at dinner because i bit down on a piece of cilantro and thought "mmm, cilantro"

[bagheerita]

Long Forgotten Light at the End of the World and I Can Find You In the Dark please 😄

❤

""I Can Find You In the Dark" is my SGU Lisa Park/Ronald Greer/Dale Voelker ship fic. I haven’t worked on it at all since I answered an ask about it a couple months ago; I’m stuck at the end of s1 in my rewatch because I don’t like the end of s1 and for some reason I think throwing a tantrum and watching literally anything else will help me with that, and I have to get back in the late s2 vibe to channel that trio.

I am obsessed with historical AUs and “A Long Forgotten Light at the End of the World” is my attempt at a SGA historical AU that includes Wraith, because no one else is gd writing it. So the premise is that a Wraith hive crash lands in Great Britain in about 1790. The Queen pretty much takes over the island, her Wraith kill the royals and upper nobility and place themselves in those positions of power. With their technological advantage they can hold their position against all opposition, but the queen settles in there; there’s no need really to expand when she’s got millions of humans to eat here on this easily defensible island. Her Wraith take a lot of the wealth and land, but leave most of the other structures in place, like trade and the military, so society more or less still functions "normally," you're just likely to get eaten by a Wraith if you annoy them too much or you're not useful to society. (I like just remembered that the church is a huge power in this time period, and that I should probably think up a response they have to aliens being real…🤔) Anyway, the actual plot is set 100 years after the Wraith arrive and features John/Todd more or less playing out one of my favorite books of the historical m/m romance genre, K.J. Charles' The Magpie Lord. Instead of the “curse” thing in the book, I’m inventing a different “magic” that’s based off of the ATA-gene, and the connection to the estate (if you haven’t read the book don’t worry about it) is that Atlantis is buried underground on the estate that Todd was “given” by the Queen, and they unbury it at the point where they need something to help them fight back against the Queen. I have like 3 chapters written, but I keep running into backstory that I haven’t thought up an explanation for, or get frustrated by my inability to correctly grasp period-sounding language, or having to stop and look up anything about history- like names of pieces of clothing, or what furniture looks like and how you describe it. (The title comes from the song "The Islander" by Nightwish, and it's Atlantis: Atlantis is the long forgotten light.)

Like 3 pages from my draft of chapter 1 below the cut: (this is a John/Todd fic, but Keller is my primary fill-in for the Magpie Lord character of Merrick, so she and Todd have a very deeply trusting friendship, which is mostly what this initial chapter is about, because before I introduce Sheppard and all his issues I needed to establish that Todd is Up To Something.)

One the one hundredth anniversary of the Wraith's landing, the Queen held a celebration, so that all her human vassals on the island of Britain could come and demonstrate their allegiance to her and her Wraith, and their willingness to give others to feed her in order to save themselves.

"It's sickening," Jennifer Keller observed as she looked out of the window of their second story rooms on Queen's Boulevard, the street below filled with yelling people as the parliamentary bigwigs who'd survived the Landing paraded up to the Queen's palace. There were few Wraith involved in the procession, and certainly the Queen wouldn't exert herself on behalf of her peons, but the well-to-do of the nation gathered to show the Queen how earnestly they felt she should choose anyone other than them to sate the hunger of her Wraith. 

Keller fanned herself. Her long hair was bound up off her neck and she wore a light muslin skirt and a modern shirtwaist in a light cotton as well, but there was no breeze, even by the window, and no relief from the stifling summer heat. "They think if they cheer loud enough, she might not choose their family to feed her favorites."

Deeper in the room behind her, far distant from the nonexistent breeze but not feeling the effects of the heat as much even in his long leather coat, Kenny hissed his opinion of her observation. "As we are certainly not counted among her favorites," he offered sardonically, "perhaps we should focus on our work?" 

Todd chuckled, listening to them as he read from Keller's notebook concerning her latest findings. His booted feet were balanced on the corner of the table as he held the notebook before him while slouched in the high-backed wooden chair. The temperature mattered as little to his comfort as to Kenny's, but he preferred the local style of dress to the Wraith way, as well as a certain level of dishabille, and at the moment his coat hung off the back of the chair and his shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows, the collar open and no cravat in sight. "I believe your latest notes have solved the conundrum that has been perplexing us, Doctor Keller."

Keller was flushed as she turned away from the window and smiled at him affectionately. "Flatterer."

Todd looked up. "Not at all. I only grant you the title you are due." 

"If some good has come of this entire mess, it's that your lot respect a woman's ambitions," Keller replied sourly as she joined them deeper in the room. 

Kenny huffed. "If our hive had not happened upon your backward world, you would not have been permitted to pursue your passion."

Keller scowled at him. "Look here Mister 'Backwards Planet'..."

"Perhaps the pair of you can resolve this later?" Todd put in patiently. 

Kenny hissed under his breath, while Keller rolled her eyes and nodded. "What do you think?" she asked Todd.

"I am prepared to move to testing it, if you are," he replied.

"We could use some progress to report to our allies," Kenny mused, half to himself, gaze distant as he considered those allies- and possibly reached for their thoughts. 

Todd ignored the interruption. "You have enough serum prepared in order to perform a test?" he asked Keller, though he knew her well enough by now to easily guess her reply.

"Yes." Keller met his slit-pupiled gaze with determination. "And I've already administered it to the primary test subject before bringing the information to you. I recommend a forty eight hour incubation before full effectiveness in the test subjects."

"You have test subjects?" Kenny looked at her, frowning. 

Todd shifted his boots from the table to the floor. "It's her, my Second. She is the test subject." Todd leaned forward, holding Keller's gaze. "You are certain?" 

She snorted. "It's not like there's any other Wraith I trust to test it with."

"Then there is no time like the present." 

Keller shivered with an eagerness of her own, holding her ground as he stood and approached her.

"For the sake of our heads, lest the Queen know what we're up to, you might conceal the evidence," Kenny put in sourly.

Keller rolled her eyes and raised fingers trembling with anticipation to undo the laces of her shirtwaist, moving the clothing out of the way and baring her throat and upper chest. 

"Well thought," Todd offered to his Second, continuing, I was rather too eager to consider it.

When Keller stood ready, Todd raised his right hand. He felt the handmouth quiver in anticipation as he brought it toward her flesh.

"It has been too long since you fed," Kenny chided him.

Todd sighed. His hand rested on Keller's chest, not latching on yet as he looked at her. "Do you doubt my control, if the serum should fail?" he asked her. 

She shook her head and, lifting her chin stubbornly, demanded, "Do it."

He bared his teeth in an eager grin, as the handmouth opened against her skin and his claws latched, and he began to feed.

Keller gasped at the sensation, as she always did, her hands coming up to hold Todd's arm. His other arm came around her, prepared to take her weight when she should fall senseless. But as he watched she did not wither from his hunger. Her grip on his arm weakened, but her face was contorted in concentration and not pain. When he felt sated he withdrew.

Keller swayed, unsteady on her feet, but blinked up at him, quick and aware. "It worked?" she asked. Her voice was a hoarse croak, but she cleared her throat and said, "I think I need to sit down."

Todd transferred her easily to the chair, kneeling beside her and observing her carefully. 

Kenny came around the table, watching her carefully as well. "It appears to have worked," he ventured. 

"Yes," Todd agreed. "My hunger is well sated." 

They both remained still, watching Keller as she sat with her eyes closed, until she opened them and frowned at them. "Oh honestly. Get me something to drink," she instructed, making a shoo-ing motion at Kenny. He went, and she closed her eyes again with a sigh.

"You are well?" Todd asked.

"I feel drained," she admitted. "Tired, and slightly dizzy." She accepted the cup of tea Kenny brought her and after a few sips she grinned at Todd. "It worked."

He grinned back. "It did. But," he sobered, "we have a great deal of testing before us still, to ensure that the serum remains effective, and that our past history has not had an influence in this particular case."

Keller nodded, sharp and businesslike. "I think I should retire for the remainder of the day, but tomorrow I'd like to try it with Kenny." She met his eyes with seriousness, and he nodded in affirmation with equal weight.

"So soon?" Todd cautioned. 

"I know you need to send him north." Keller set her teacup on the table. "I'd like to get that particular facet of the test out of the way before he goes. Once I have that data, I can begin to look for more subjects, and we can test the human variable as well."

He nodded. "Very well." Standing, Todd lifted her in his arms. "I'll take you to your room."

Sighing, she leaned against his chest. "Fine, but make it quick. It's too hot for your gallantry."

He chuckled and Kenny shot them a look of long-suffering as he opened the door for them. 

Todd carried her down the hall to her room and laid her on her bed. 

"Hmm." Her eyes fluttered opened. "I should undress, but I'm too tired. Help me loosen my stays." 

"You'll crease your skirts," he reminded her.

Keller snorted in an especially unladylike manner. "We're leaving early, I know, and I'm likely to sleep through the journey. Just bundle me into the carriage tomorrow morning; it's not like anyone will see me a mess, or that anyone who sees will care." 

He brushed her hair back from her face. "I have a care for your reputation, Doctor."

Her expression softened. "You know if you were debauching me in the usual manner it would be a step up in my 'reputation.'" She tried to stifle a yawn. "It's what my father already thinks, anyway." 

Todd sighed. "I wondered why you insisted I send him quite so much money."

She laughed sleepily.

"Though you are certainly worth all of it. Rest well, Doctor." Rising from her bed he drew a blanket near her still form, in case of chill should a breeze chance through the open windows as evening approached, and left. 

Kenny paced the front parlor with uncharacteristic energy. Do you know what this means? he demanded when Todd returned. 

That the quicker I send you away the better, Todd replied. 

Kenny bared his teeth, but didn't reply. They both knew the Queen could strip thoughts from Wraith if she desired, and if she suspected any of the things they were up to she would not hesitate. Knowing how they were plotting to remove her main weapon of terror from working to threaten the populace would mean immediate death to everyone involved. I do not want to leave you alone, Kenny responded finally.

I know, Todd replied. And he did know that returning him to such a state was not something his brother desired in the slightest. But you must secure our allies in the north. I will take Keller to the estate, as planned. He could not hide the distaste that filled him at the idea, but the lands had been given to him by order of the Queen with no way he could refuse, and it had served as a convenient meeting point from which to organize their contacts in the south and west of the island. I will keep her with me.

A human is not enough, Kenny grumbled. 

Todd sighed. She has been in the past. When I had nothing else.