#neffel ressur

[compulsivecadaver]

Act 4: ===> Honey Bunch, I Can't Help Myself

(~*~ Denotes a time skip. Takes place from when Fidant and Neffel left the group of 'The Other Guys' up until present time as of posting this. Going to slap a dozen trigger warnings and a guard your feels up here as well as in the tags because.... yeeeaaah)

Fidant: mISS nEFFEL,,, aRE YOU SURE THEY'LL BE ALRIGHT WITHOUT US? wEREN'T WE SOMETHING OF A TEAM TOGETHER? *yOUR HORNS JUST BARELY FIT IN THE TINY CAR YOUR BELOVED FLUSH HAS ACQUIRED AS YOU SPEED AWAY FROM THE SMALL TOWN, yOU'RE LEAVING YOUR GROUP BEHIND, yOUR COMRADES IN ARMS, yOUR MOIRAIL, AND YOU AREN'T SURE THAT YOU'RE ALL THAT COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA, eVEN IF mISS nEFFEL SAYS THEY'LL BE ALRIGHT,*

Neffel: mmm? i am suRE~ that they will be fine, you DO~n't want to leave me all alone now DO~ you? *You give him a patheTI~c look, holding your wounded leg close. You cried at SO~me point in the RE~cent past, mostly from the pain and the wound that's sTI~ll leaking your blood* this pLA~ce DO~esn't have anywheRE~ i could get fixed up and i DO~n't want to weigh heavily on the others while they'RE~ tring to help little MI~ss sarath *You frown, ducking your head* i'm SO~ SO~rry to ask this of you fidant...

Fidant: nO, nO, yOU'RE RIGHT, mISS NEFFEL, wE NEED TO GET YOUR LEG TAKEN CARE OF, aND *yOU LOOK OVER AT HER WITH A SWEET, iF TIRED, sMILE,* yOU KNOW i COULD NEVER LEAVE YOU,

Fidant: ~*~

Fidant: i BROUGHT THE ICE CREAM YOU WANTED, mAMA, hOW ARE WE TONIGHT? *yOU COME INTO YOUR HIVE, dRAGGING SOME, bUT SUCCESSFULLY CARRYING THE BAG OF mOOSETRACKS SHE WANTED, yOU WALK AS SOFTLY AS YOU CAN, bECAUSE SHE COMPL--NO! sHE mentioned A HEADACHE WHEN YOU GOT HOME FROM YOUR JOB AT THE sTARKBUCKS WAREHOUSE A FEW HOURS AGO, yOU'VE BEEN WORKING TWICE THE HOURS EVER SINCE YOU FOUND OUT, iT'S LONG, gRUELING WORK, sTACKING AND RE-STACKING SHELVES, lOADING TRUCKS, aND HAULING TONS OF COFFEE AT VARYING STAGES OF PROCESSING, bUT YOU DON'T MIND, bECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S ALL GOING TOWARDS THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU SINCE mISS nEFFEL HERSELF, yOU CROSS THE ROOM RIGHT TO HER AND KNEEL NEXT TO THE CONCUPISCENT PLATFORM WHERE SHE'S RECLINING,*

Neffel: *You look up from wheRE~ you'RE~ RE~clining and working on SO~mething. You put that away and sMI~le at him* oh thank you SO~ much fidant, we'RE~ gRE~at tonight *You give him a quick hug and beam at him, little badger tail wiggling while you pat him on the head with a sMI~le.* would you like SO~me ice cRE~am too?

Fidant: nO, iT'S FOR YOU AND THE WRIGGLER, *yOU'RE OH-SO-GENTLE WITH HER, cUPPING HER STOMACH WHERE YOU KNOW THE EGG RESTS, yOUR FINGERS BARELY BRUSH HER SKIN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HURT HER, aND THE TIMES YOU'VE GRABBED HER WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT SHE'S CRIED, tHAT LAST THING YOU WANNA DO IS MAKE HER CRY,* wE HAVE TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY, tHAT'S WHY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE JUST RESTING, sO HE'S STRONG AND HEALTHY WHEN HIS EGGSHELL FORMS, *yOUR TAIL CURLS HAPPILY TO THE SIDE AND YOUR EARS LIFT, tHE BRAND NEW EARRINGS WITH HER BLOOD COLOR DECORATING THEM GLINTING IN THE LAMP LIGHT,*

Neffel: *You sMI~le at him again, nodding* alright then, i flush you SO~ much fidant *You pRE~ss a little kiss to his cheek befoRE~ you take the ice cRE~am and RE~turn to RE~clining while you eat it*

Fidant: ~*~

Fidant: oH! oH GOG! i'M SO SORRY!!! mISS nEFFEL! aRE YOU OKAY?! *yOU JERK BACK IMMEDIATELY, hANDS FLYING UP AWAY FROM HER HIPS, aND YOUR BULGE SLIPPING OUT OF HER NOOK AS IN YOUR PANIC IT RETRACTS AT LIGHTNING SPEED, tHERE ON HER HIP IS THE MARK, aND IN SPITE OF THE WAY YOU'RE ACTUALLY BLEEDING YOU CAN STILL HEAR HOW SHE CRIED OUT WHEN YOU GRIPPED HER,*

Neffel: *You'RE~ gasping, sniffling and theRE~ aRE~ tears alRE~ady starTI~ng to flow DO~wn your FA~ce. Your bottom lip tRE~mbles as you sniffle* i... i'll be okay.just hurts... *You trail off, sTI~ll sniffling and RE~aching up to wipe SO~me tears from your FA~ce*

Fidant: nO NO NO, dON'T CRY, dON'T CRY, i'M SORRY, i'M SO SO SORRY! *yOU SHIFT OVER HER, tERRIFIED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRUISE HER MORE, sHE'S SO LITTLE COMPARED TO YOU, eVEN IF YOUR WEIGHT HAS BEEN GOING DOWN WHILE HERS IS GOING UP THANKS TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD (SHE IS CARRYING A GRUB AFTER ALL), yOU LAY DOWN SO SHE CAN CLIMB ON TOP OF YOU IF SHE WANTS, yOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST GRAB HER AGAIN, wHAT ARE YOU, aN IDIOT!? bUT IF SHE WANTS TO, yOU'LL LET HER DO ANYTHING TO DO IN RETALIATION,*

Neffel: *You wipe your FA~ce, calMI~ng your sniffling as you climb on top of him* i think i'd like to top for a while *You say from your newer vantage point up on top of him*

Fidant: *yOU NOD AT HER,* aNYTHING FOR YOU, mISS nEFFEL, *yOU SMILE AT HER ENCOURAGINGLY, eVEN THOUGH YOUR NOOK ISN'T REALLY LUBRICATED ANYMORE, aND YOUR BULGE HAS COMPLETELY RETRACTED, yOU DON'T REALLY WANT HER TO, bUT FOR HER? aNYTHING,*

Neffel: *You give him a shaky little sMI~le, sTI~ll working on calMI~ng the sniffles that got away from you. You RE~ach DO~wn to coax his nook SO~me and nuzzling him a little while you DO~ SO~, what? You'RE~ not heartless...*

Fidant: *yOU SORT OF WISH THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU JUST LAID BACK AND LET HER HAVE WHAT SHE WANTED IN SPITE OF HOW IT FEELS TO YOU, tHEN MAYBE YOU'D BE WORSE AT PRETENDING, yOUR NOOK OPENS AND YOU KISS HER WITH ALL THE FERVENT URGENCY THAT SHE WANTS, yOU EVEN THRUM AT HER, aND CANT YOUR HIPS SO THAT SHE CAN SLIDE IN EASIER, PENETRATION MAKES YOUR BREATH HITCH, bUT YOU HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO PLAY IT OFF WITH A TRILL, YOUR HANDS STAY FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BED, hOWEVER, bECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IT HURT HER MORE THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE,*

Neffel: *You purr and chirp for him, taking him with an urgency that has you leaving bite and cLA~w marks in several pLA~ces - moRE~ than one of which draw blood, and when you feel yourself climaxing you DO~n't bother to go for a bucket, rather you just sTI~ll and go off inside him with a purr*

Fidant: ~*~

Fidant: hONEYBEAR? cAN, uM,,, cAN WE GO HOME, uH,,, sOMETIME SOONISH? mAYBE? *yOU RUB YOUR STOMACH AS IT CHURNS, yOUR EYES FEELING HEAVY AND GRITTY WITH EXHAUSTION, yOUR STEPS ARE SLOW, aND YOUR TAIL DRIFTS LOW TO THE GROUND WHILE YOU FOLLOW HER THROUGH THE SHOPPING CENTER, yOUR ENTIRE PAYCHECK AND THEN SOME, sHE HAS THROWN INTO THE CART, aND YOU AREN'T ALL THAT SURE THAT THE FOOD SHE'S BUYING IS HEALTHY? bUT SHE WANTS IT,,, rIGHT NOW, yOU'D JUST BE HAPPY TO BE ALLOWED TO CURL UP ON THE RECLINING PLATFORM AND NAP,*

Neffel: mmm? *You gLA~nce up and over at him, TI~lTI~ng your head. You drop your gaze to wheRE~ he's rubbing his stomach and you frown* DO~ you RE~ally want to just go home without checking all of these things out? it'll take SO~me TI~me, look, the lines aRE~ all way too long. we can go home SO~on if you'd like for yourself, me and our grub to starve *You turn away and put SO~mething else into the cart, moRE~ honey. You love honey.*

Fidant: *yOU SWALLOW REFLEXIVELY AT THE HONEY, aND SHAKE YOUR HEAD,* oF COURSE NOT, iT'S JUST, uM,,, i DON'T, uH,,, fEEL SO WELL? *yOUR EARS HANG LOW, tHE HEAVY RINGS (NOW GAUGED TO TWICE THEIR ORIGINAL SIZE) PULLING THE SENSITIVE FLAPS DOWN SO THAT THEY BRUSH YOUR COLLAR BONE,*

Neffel: you'RE~ not the only one that DO~esn't feel SO~ well you know *You rub a hand over your stomach, giving him the most patheTI~c look you can muster* i haven't compLA~ined at all... aRE~n't you a good bull?

Fidant: *yOU BLINK AT HER,* a WHAT?

Neffel: a good bull, you aRE~ my lovely little bull aRE~n't you? well, not SO~ little, but you'RE~ my perfect bull of a flush, ja? *You give him DO~e eyes, wide and blinking a bit*

Fidant: oH! yEAH, *yOU BLUSH SOME AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL A LITTLE BETTER, eVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY EATING HONEY FOR DINNER, aGAIN,*

Neffel: *You sMI~le and gestuRE~ for him to come DO~wn to your level SO~me SO~ you can kiss him on the cheek* see, my perfect good bull

Neffel: ~*~

Neffel: *You snap at him when he thinks he can RE~bel even a little, triggering the secRE~ts you've been inflicTI~ng ever SO~ slowly. Like the FA~ct that the gauges have electric charges in them. And while you'RE~ DO~ing that, you scowling at him* this hurts me moRE~ than it hurts you, i wouldn't have to DO~ this if you would just behave, be a good bull, aRE~n't you a good bull?! *You know what you'RE~ pLA~nning next, as SO~on as you'RE~ DO~ne punishing him for what he's DO~ne.*

Fidant: *yOU CRUMPLE OVER AT THE CURRENT RUNNING THROUGH YOUR SENSITIVE EARS, yOU CAN'T LIFT THEM ANYMORE, tHE RINGS ARE TOO BIG, aS BIG AS THE ONE IN YOUR NOSE, aND YOU WHIMPER,* yES! gOOD BULL! pLEASE, mISS nEFFEL,,, hURTS, *yOUR HANDS CURL AROUND YOUR STOMACH AS YOUR GASTRIC SAC THREATENS TO SPILL, bUT THERE'S NOTHING IN IT EXCEPT HONEY, iT CHURNS, aND YOU LOOK UP AT HER FROM WHERE YOU ARE ON THE FLOOR, wIDE, bROWN EYES RAPIDLY FILLING WITH TEARS YOU CAN'T SHED, gOOD BULLS DON'T CRY, gOOD BULLS TAKE THEIR PUNISHMENT WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY, yOU DRAW YOUR HOOVES UP, tHE HOBBLE DRAGGING ON THE FLOOR WITH THE SOUND OF METAL AGAINST CONCRETE,*

Neffel: *You keep going for a while after he says it hurts, only backing off when you'RE~ saTI~sfied. Then you'RE~ rubbing his cheek* i RE~ally DO~n't like having to discipline you *You murmur* i like it much better when you'RE~ my good bull. such a good bull *You purr, stroking his FA~ce gently. *

Fidant: *yOU SNIFFLE A LITTLE, aND YOUR LIP QUIVERS,* tHERE,,, uH,,, tHERE NEVER REALLY WAS,,, uH,,, a GRUB,,, wAS THERE, mISS nEFFEL?

Neffel: *At his quesTI~oning you, you look away* ...i was SO~ afraid of you going away and leaving me behind. that was what my vinny did, she left me behind when i told her i'd be right back. *You start to sniffle and cry, looking away from him* i just... d-d-DO~n't want to be left all alone anymoRE~. groups tend to outcast me a-after a while and i... *You rub at your FA~ce* maybe we'll have one, a RE~al one. i would want nothing moRE~ than that with you...

Fidant: *yOU NOD ENTHUSIASTICALLY,* i'D,,, i'D NEVER LEAVE YOU, mISS nEFFEL! i'M YOUR GOOD BULL! ALWAYS! i TRY! i REALLY DO! *yOU CRAWL TO HER FEET, hAVING TO STRETCH OUT ACROSS YOUR STOMACH TO ACTUALLY REACH HER, tHE HOBBLE ATTACHED TO THE WALL BEHIND YOU, aND YOU LICK AT HER BOOTS,*

Neffel: *You sMI~le a little bit, RE~aching to pat him on the top of his head* yes you DO~, and you DO~ SO~ well most of the TI~me, my good bull *You purr that LA~st bit out*

Neffel: ~*~

Neffel: how could you?! *You come into the room quickly, hurt written all over your FA~ce* DO~n't you know i DO~ everything in my power to keep you safe and protected? *You shake your head. It's easy enough to call the tears to your eyes* you know people would try to take you away from me if they came heRE~ ...what if he comes heRE~? what if he tries to take you away? *The tears aRE~ brimMI~ng now, about to FA~ll* aRE~n't you thankful for everything i DO~ for you? DO~n't you caRE~?! what if he comes to try and take you away because of you? huh? *You let them FA~ll finally, sniffling and scowling angrily*

Fidant: hE JUST WANTED TO KNOW WE WERE OKAY! hONEST! i DIDN'T TELL HIM ANYTHING! i PROMISE, mISS nEFFEL! *yOU HOLD YOUR HANDS UP AND SLIDE AGAINST THE WALL, yOUR CHAINS JINGLING IN THE DARK ROOM,*

Neffel: RE~ally? can i trust that that's all you did when you answeRE~d him anyway?! DO~ you swear it, can you prove it?! *You growl with your anger, what psionics you DO~ have aRE~ crackling, even if they'RE~ not as good as SO~me other yellows, they sTI~ll have their uses.*

Fidant: *yOU QUICKLY PUSH YOUR PALMHUSK AT HER,* lOOK! sEE! i TOLD HIM i WAS FINE AND HE LEFT ME ALONE! wASN'T THAT GOOD? *yOUR LIP QUIVERS AND YOUR STOMACH HURTS,*

Neffel: *You gather up the palmhusk and you smash it* clearly i can't trust you with this anymoRE~. just telling that was good, yes, but you sTI~ll diSO~beyed *You move around to bind his arms behind his back, scowling* you have been a very, very bad bull, i will be back shortly to deal with you *You sneer, alRE~ady moving off*

Fidant: *yOU WHIMPER, bECAUSE YOUR JOINTS HURT, aND THE COLD METAL MAKES IT WORSE BETWEEN THE ANGLE AND THE TEMPERATURE, yOU SHIVER, aND CURL UP IN THE DARK, bUT YOU NEVER, eVER, cRY, yOU ARE A GOOD BULL! yOU WILL BE GOOD FOR mISS nEFFEL, sHE TAKES CARE OF YOU, aND THAT MEANS SHE LOVES YOU, bECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE TRUSTED TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, jUST LOOK AT WHAT YOU JUST DID,*

[compulsivecadaver]

Act 4: Vinira ===> Occupy yourself while Amalia and Salixa molt

They’re molting. You shrug a little and keep training, flowing from movement to movement. It’s getting easier and easier to incorporate unarmed attacks, the ones you’ve gotten a handle on at least. You wind up finding a passing stranger and inviting them up so you can work on chokeholds and you send them away when they comment on your state of undress. You go back to training when…

  Your headset beeps to let you know someone came online. You figure it’s one of the others, but you stop to check and you stop cold. Because transparentHarmony isn’t one of your group. That’s a handle you haven’t seen light up in sweeps. You say the name out loud. Neffel. And then you realize it sent as a message and you blanch.

  ---compulsiveCadaver started trolling transparentHarmony---

CC: neffffel

CC: WAIT ffuck I DIDN’T MEAN ffor IT TO SEND THAT. MY HEADSET SENT IT.

TH: i don’t know this neffel you mentioned

TH: who are you?

  You wince, closing your eyes. You should’ve known better. Your headset is pinging and you look at the messages

  TH: why the everloving fuck is a tyrian messaging me

TH: who are you? what do you want? what the hell is with the backlogs of messages from you?

TH: this neffel, this mate of yours, i'm not them

TH: and from what i'm reading i don’t blame them for dropping you

TH: what the hell kind of selfish bitch keeps sending messages after someone’s dead?

TH: and blaming your fucking headset when you see me online? that's rich.

  You flinch away from your headset like you can escape.

  CC: I’M SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SOMEONE ELSE.

TH: obviously

TH: why don’t you go fuck yourself. thank you

TH: this is disgusting. you are disgusting. you should be ashamed of yourself

  You squeeze your eyes closed and sag back against a wall. You crack an eye open at the next ding.

  TH: and feeling like that for something that’s not even a troll

TH: you are utterly disgusting

TH: he sounds disgusting

CC: BUT HE’S NOT DISGUSTIN…

TH: of course you don’t think so. you're feeling for a different species while you’re already in a relationship. you should be ashamed.

TH: it’s disgusting

TH: he probably only likes you because you’re the empress, if these messages are to believed

  You whine. No. No. He doesn’t care that you’re the empress. He probably doesn’t even know. You’re the battle goddess. You’re the maiden.  You snarl throw yourself back into training, hitting the air faster and harder, letting loose on it. You can’t attest for Amalia and Salixa. Even if they say it. Neffel said it too. People keep saying it. But he’s never once called you Empress. He’s not disgusting. He is confidence where you’re not, he is kind, he… he is everything you as a wriggler would have imagined a prince to be. Even if you are not a damsel, and those were just silly wriggler fantasies.

  CC: mmmmrrr

TH: are you honestly fucking whining. oh my fucking god you’re pathetic.

TH: why don’t you go sex up your alien and leave me the fuck alone

TH: if he even wants your pathetic ass

TH: i bet he doesn’t though

TH: i bet your date was so utterly horrible that he never wants to see you again

CC: N-NO IT WAS A GOOD DATE…

TH: i'm fucking looking at the messages you sent this way

TH: you got dateblocked and then he left!

TH: he was so ashamed to be seen with you that he left your pathetic ass

TH: he's probably avoiding you right now

TH: making plans with his allies to never deal with you again

    You throw the headset and then you push yourself back into training. You were starting to get tired, but now you need to keep going because otherwise you’re going to have time to think and thinking hurts. It’s not true. Right? You’re sweating and panting as you train and you actually get your spear stuck into the wall with one of your swings. You hiss lowly, yanking hard until you free your spear, though it comes loose with a decent chunk of the wall that you spend a little while freeing it of. This isn’t good enough, training alone. You go over and pick up your headset. There’s no more messages from whomever it is that has Neffel’s handle now, and looking over the list you shake your head. Nope. You wind up just sitting down and humming along to the carol you composed before. None of… what that stranger said. None of it was true right? …You hope none of it was true.

    ===> Be transparentHarmony

  You are the one behind the handle transparentHarmony. Your name is Neffel Ressur and those were stupidly difficult messages to send. You give a little sad smile and sign off trollian, wiping your face. You… you honestly hope that this Turkey fellow does like her. She seems so smitten from the messages you’ve read. You’ve noted at least one message where she calls him wonderful and perfect among other things. Maybe what you said will give her something to talk about next time she sees him. Or maybe someone close to her now will track you down and make you feel physical pain to go with the emotional pain just sending those caused.

[compulsivecadaver]

Act 4: Neffel ===> Spent some time with a Bull

Fidant: *yOU WATCH AS sINBAD--OOPS, hE'S CALLING HIMSELF tHE dOMIINUS NOW--WANDERS OFF TO COMFORT HIS MATESPRIT/TWIN,,, yOU AREN'T EXACTLY SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT REALLY BUT, aT LEAST HE'S HAPPY,,, uNLIKE YOUR VERSION OF HIM, wHICH NEVER MADE GOD TIER,,, sO YOU TURN BACK TO THE PRETTY YELLOWBLOOD ON YOUR KNEE AND SMILE, yOUR FLOPPY EARS PERKING A LITTLE,,,* cARE FOR A BAMBOO SHOOT?

Neffel: *You watch the other two head off, smiling some* SuRE~, IF yOu DO~n'T MI~nD AT LEAST

Fidant: oF COURSE NOT, mISS nEFFEL, *yOU HOLD OUT YOUR TRAY OF STIR-FRY FOR HER TO TAKE WHAT SHE LIKES, yOUR PUMPBISCUIT,,,CAN IT EVEN BE CALLED THAT ANYMORE??? oH WELL, yOUR PUMPBISCUIT THUMPS IN YOUR THORAX AND YOUR CARAMEL BLUSH COMES BACK WHILE YOU WATCH HER, tRYING DESPERATELY TO NOT MESS THIS UP,,,*

  Neffel: *You smile a little and just take something small* DAnkE *You can stand him much more than the rest, at least. And on the plus side having all this fur means that it's sort of hard to see your own honey blush. He's so nice.*

Fidant: tHAT,,, tHAT IS THANK YOU, rIGHT??? iF SO,,, yOU'RE WELCOME,,, i'M SORRY i STILL DON'T KNOW MUCH OF YOUR,,, uM,,, nATIVE LANGUAGE, *yOU TAKE A WATER CHESTNUT YOURSELF TO CALM THE SHAKING IN YOUR HANDS, yOU'RE SO NERVOUS, sHE'S SO PRETTY, sTOP, fIDANT, yOU ARE A GROWN TROLL! yOU SMILE THOUGH ANYWAY,*

Neffel: Ah, yEAh. IT'S ThAnk yOu. AnD IT IS FInE, I ShOuLD pRObAbLy TRy bETTER TO kEEp TO TOnguES ThAT OThERS ARE~ FA~MI~LIAR wITh. SORRy. *You nod, offering an apologetic smile to him. You need to do better about that, you sort of stuck remembering to stick to one language*

Fidant: nO NO,,, i LIKE LEARNING IT,,, iT'S A HOBBY OF MINE,,, fOR INSTANCE,,, tU ES MUY BONITA,,, sPANISH FROM THE wESTERN CONTINENT ON aLTERNIA, *yOU BLUSH SOME MORE, hOPING SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT, bUT SECRETLY WISHING THAT SHE DOES,*

Neffel: yEAh, ThE MORE~ LA~nguAgES yOu knOw, ThE LESS OF A chAncE ThAT yOu'LL Run InTO SOMEOnE yOu DO~n'T unDERSTAnD. SO LEARnIng OThER LA~nguAgES IS ALwAyS A gOOD IDEA. *You smile a bit, it takes a moment, you're not totally sure what that meant, but you've got a idea* bOnITA... I'M unSuRE~ IF ThE LA~nguAgES ARE~ ThE SAME bETwEEn ALTERnIA AnD FuTuRn, buT ThAT MEAnS nIcE, nEIn? ...ER, nO?

Fidant: iT,,, iT CAN BE,,, *yOU CAN'T LIE TO HER,* bUT,,, oN aLTERNIA IT USUALLY MEANT,,, uH,,, pRETTY,,, bEAUTIFUL, *yOU DUCK A LITTLE, yOUR CHEEKS AND NOSE A DEEPER BROWN, aND YOUR EARS FLUTTER AS YOU SMILE NERVOUSLY,*

Neffel: *You're blushing and you duck your head a little bit* wAS ThAT juST An ExAMpLE OR wAS IT AIMED AT AnyOnE In pARTI~cuLA~R? *You offer a little nervous smile*

Fidant: cOULD IT NOT BE BOTH??? *yOU SMILE A LITTLE MORE, yOUR ROUNDED FANGS PUSHING YOUR BOTTOM LIP DOWN,*

Neffel: *You purr a little, smiling* jA, IT cOuLD InDEED

Fidant: tHEN,,, tU ES MUY, mUY BONITA, cORAZóN, *yOU PURR IN RESPONSE, a RUMBLING SORT OF SOUND, fROM DEEP WITHIN YOUR THORAX,*

Neffel: unD wIE SInD SIE, hERz *You like his purr, you decide. He's great to be around*

Fidant: i'M,,, uH,,, aSSUMING THAT WAS A COMPLIMENT AND AM GONNA SAY THANK YOU,,, eVEN THOUGH i'M NOT ENTIRELY,,, aLTOGETHER SURE WHAT,,, uH,,, THAT ACTUALLY MEANT, *yOU SMILE THOUGH, yOUR EARS FLUTTERING AGAIN,*

Neffel: IT wAS InDEED A cOMpLIMEnT, I wOuLD nEvER InSuLT yOu FIDAnT. AnD yOu ARE~ vERy wELcOME.

Fidant: *yOUR SMILE GETS BROADER, fULL ACROSS YOUR FACE FOR A MOMENT, tHEN YOU REACH UP AND TUCK HER HAIR BEHIND HER EAR, sOLEMN APOLOGY ON YOUR FACE,* i AM REAL SORRY ABOUT YOUR EX BEING HERE, mISS nEFFEL,,, i DON'T MEAN TO BRING IT UP, bUT MY MEMORY ISN'T,,, uM,,, sO GOOD, cOULD YOU MAYBE TELL ME WHY WE DON'T WANT TO BE MEETING mISS pEIXES? *tHE WAY YOU SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING 'PAY-HISS' SO YOU HOPE SHE KNOWS WHO YOU MEAN, aND MORE, yOU HOPE YOU AREN'T TREADING INTO UNCOMFORTABLE TERRITORY,*

Neffel: IT'S pERFEcTLy FInE, DO~n'T wORRy AbOuT IT *You offer a smile, hoping to let him know you don't mind it* I kEpT SOMEThIng IMpORTAnT SEcRE~T FROM hER. SOMEThIng I ShOuLD hAvE TOLD hER, buT InSTEAD I bROkE OFF bEIng hER MATE bEcAuSE I wAS AFRAID. I... I DO~n'T wAnT hER TO knOw whAT I kEpT FROM hER. ThAT SEcRE~T. ThAT'S ALL. *You still have no intention of ever telling her, not if you can help it. But Fidant is nice, you're not as uncomfortable saying it as you may have with one of the others around*

Fidant: sOME SECRETS ARE MEANT TO BE KEPT, bUT OFTEN,,, sECRETS IN A MATESPRITSHIP CAN BE DAMAGING,,, i HOPE YOU DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU DID,,, i AM SURE IF THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER OPTION, yOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT, corazón, *yOU DRAW YOUR THICK FINGERS DOWN HER CHEEK AGAIN, tHE HOOF-LIKE NAILS COMBING HER FUR EVER SO GENTLY, lIKE THE BRUSH OF A FLUTTERBUG'S WINGS,*

Neffel: yOu hAvE A pOInT wITh ThAT. AnD yEAh, I SAw nO OThER ALTERnATI~vE. *You're purring and smiling again, because for all that it sort of tickles it's also pretty nice* DAnkE FOR unDERSTAnDIng... ER, ThAnk yOu I MEAn

Fidant: wHAT IS 'YOU ARE WELCOME' IN YOUR LANGUAGE??? *yOU TRILL YOUR 'R'S A LITTLE, rELAXING BACK AGAINST THE CHAIR WITH YOUR TRAY OF VEGGIES BALANCED BETWEEN YOU ON YOUR STOMACH, yOU ARE THICK, aND STURDY, bUT WITH A LAYER OF SOFT SQUISH VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE, eXCEPT FOR THE GNARLED SCARS DOTTING ALL OVER YOUR HIDE, wHICH IS VERY LIGHTLY DUSTED WITH DARK BROWN HAIR, aND ALL YOU HAVE ON, iS YOUR KILT,*

Neffel: SIE SInD hERzLIch EIngELA~DEn *You frown a little, it's ridiculously long* SORRy, yOu'RE~ wELcOME IS STupIDLy LOng In My nORMAL TOnguE *You snag a veggie. Snacking on it. You yourself are pretty thin, skinny dork that you are, but at least the prototyping made you not as easily breakable. You've earned few scars, little places where your fur no longer is. You'd probably have something to say about his just wearing a kilt, but hey, he's nice to look at. You're not complaining*

Fidant: *YOU CHUCKLE,* i THINK i WILL STICK WITH,,, uH,,, pLAIN OLD 'THANK YOU' THEN,,, iT ROLLS OFF OF MY TONGUE BETTER, i THINK,

Neffel: *You chuckle some yourself, nodding* yEAh, I'D SAy IT DO~ES.

Fidant: i FEEL i SHOULD MAKE SOME KIND OF,,, uH,,, ATTEMPT AT RED FLIRTATION, bUT,,, uH,,, i AM REALLY NOT VERY GOOD AT DOING THAT SORT OF THING, sO,,, pERHAPS IT WOULD BE BEST IF i JUST CAME OUT AND SAID THAT i FIND YOU,,, uM,,, vERY BEAUTIFUL, aND,,, i WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO KISS YOU,,, iF THAT IS A THING i COULD CONFESS WITHOUT SOUNDING LIKE i AM TRYING TO INTRUDE ON ANYTHING,,, uH,,, yOU MAY HAVE GOING ON OF THAT NATURE,,, *yOUR EYES DART TO THE SIDE AND BACK AGAIN WITH A LOP-SIDED HOPEFUL SMILE, yOU REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SAID THAT, bUT THERE IT IS, aND IF THERE IS ONE THING YOU REMEMBER ABOUT BREATH, oNCE IT'S LEFT YOUR BODY, yOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK IN, eVERY INHALE IS NEW,*

Neffel: *You giggle because he's completely and utterly adorable and no one can tell you different* ThAT IS InDEED A ThIng ThAT yOu cOuLD cOnFESS, bEcAuSE I wOuLD LIkE TO cOnFESS SOMEThIng OF A SIMI~LA~R nATuRE~, ShOuLD yOu nOT MI~nD. ThAT bEIng ThAT I FInD yOu IncRE~DIbLy hAnDSOME AnD I wOuLD hAvE nO cOMpLA~InTS AbOuT A kISS *You smile*

Fidant: *yOU ARE THE BIGGEST DORK, it IS YOU, bECAUSE AS SOON AS SHE SAYS THAT, yOU GRIN, yOUR EARS FLUTTERING LIKE A TINKERBULL'S WINGS, aND THE FLUFFY TIP OF YOUR TAIL WAGGLES BACK AND FORTH, yOU SET THE FOOD TO THE SIDE THOUGH, oN THE TABLE THAT ALWAYS SITS NEXT TO YOUR CHAIR, nO, sERIOUSLY, yOU CAPTCHALOGUE IT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU EVERY TIME YOUR TROUPE PICKS UP AND LEAVES AGAIN, iT'S YOUR FAVORITE CHAIR AND YOU'VE HAD IT SINCE BEFORE YOU ENTERED THE GAME AS PLAYER, tHE END TABLE TOO, aND THE LAMP WITH THE BUBBLES BLOWN INTO THE GLASS, tHOUGH YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE ELECTRICI--wHAT WERE YOU DOING? oH! kISSING, yES, tHAT IS A THING THAT IS HAPPENING, oR WILL BE AS SOON AS ONE OF YOU MOVES, sINCE YOU'RE A BIT BIGGER THAN SHE IS, aND AT SOMETHING OF AN AWKWARD ANGLE, yOU SIT FORWARD AS BEST YOU CAN THOUGH, a HAND RESTING ON HER LOWER BACK,* cOULD WE,,, uM,,, mAYBE TRY IT NOW?

Neffel: *Yup. Most adorable troll, right here. You adjust how you're sitting and lean forward, so maybe the angle isn't quite so awkward* OF cOuRSE wE cAn *You decide that you should lean forward, pressing a quick kiss on his lips*

Fidant: *yOU PURR AGAIN, lIKE YOUR PURRBOX ONLY WORKS ON THE EXHALE, aND WHEN SHE PULLS BACK YOU HAVE A GOOFY SORT OF FLOPPY SMILE,* mISS nEFFEL, hOW DID YOU GET TO BE SO SWEET?

  Neffel: *His purr has you purring in return* I cOuLD ASk ThE SAME OF yOu FIDAnT, yOu'RE~ ThE SwEETEST bEIng I knOw *You give a crooked smile*

  Fidant: aW, gEE, i JUST,,, UH,,, tRY TO BE POLITE, yOU KNOW,,, *yOU BLUSH PRETTY DEEP, tUCKING YOUR CHIN TO YOUR CHEST AND GIVING A LITTLE EAR WIGGLE,* i WAS KIND OF,,, uH,,, lUCKY BACK ON aLTERNIA,,, i HAD ONE OF THE LAST tINKERBULLS LEFT, aND HE SORT OF,,, uM,,, tAUGHT ME THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT A TROLL'S DONE, oR WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, oR HOW THEY ACT, eVERYBODY DESERVES A CHANCE TO BE NICE,,, sO THAT'S WHAT i TRY TO BE TO EVERYBODY,,, iT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THOUGH,

  Neffel: ThAT'S A pERFEcT ThIng TO LIvE by, AnD I'M wILLIng TO bET ThAT FOR EvERy OnE IT DO~ESn'T wORk FOR, ThERE~'S AnOThER FIvE IT DO~ES.

Fidant: i CERTAINLY TRY, mISS nEFFLE,,, *yOU TUCK YOUR HAND BEHIND HER HEAD, rUNNING YOUR FINGERS THROUGH HER HAIR, yOU AREN'T NORMALLY A VERY TALKATIVE TROLL, aND RIGHT THIS SECOND YOUR PUMPBISCUIT IS SORT OF DROWNING OUT YOUR THOUGHTS ANYWAY, sO, yOU CONTENT YOURSELF TO JUST SMILE AT HER, eXPRESSIVE BROWN EYES TAKING IN EVERY DETAIL, tHE SAME WAY YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO FIGHT,*

Neffel: I'D SAy yOu MAnAgE IT *You lean your head against his hand, content to just smile right back and watch him*

Fidant: *yOU CUP HER CHEEK AND DRAW HER UP FOR ANOTHER SOFT KISS, yOUR EYES CLOSING AS YOU MEMORIZE HER TASTE, yOU NEVER KNOW IN THIS WORLD, yOU COULD WAKE UP TOMORROW AND HAVE TO CULL HER BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN CORRUPTED, bUT FOR NOW, iN THIS MOMENT, tHERE IS ONLY YOU, oNLY TONIGHT,*