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Alexander began to follow as Belladonna began leading Mort away with words of dancing. The false Kings words toward him had him waiting perhaps a bit too long before remembering to chuckle in reply. Down, boy? "Maybe later."

He felt like he might vomit, he really did.

The thought of sharing only increased the sensation.

"And wouldn't that just be a treat?" He waggled his eyebrows towards Belladonna, then gave her the biggest most apologetic look he could manage when Mort was no longer looking in his direction. He was just as disgusted with the situation as he was sure she must be with him at the moment.

Following along in silence now, Alexander preoccupied himself by sharing glances with Sophie, most of which were combined with small gestures, shrugs, and looks of 'I don't even', as they made their way along. Julian made his way off with Sin, and feeling as though he aught to say something, the dhampire called out. "Hey Julian, watch out for her claws! I know from experience that she's a handful." He really didn't know a damn thing. It was actually quite amusing now that he was awakened to sift through the thief's memories only to realize that he was all talk and no action.

But oh dear jack did he feel like the biggest douchebag ever right at this moment.

Very carefully ignoring any looks he might have received for the crude commentary, he came to a halt outside of the great hall, a room he recognized through memories not his own. "I shall wait here then." He said. "Though I believe there is still a matter of our own dance, oh horny one." He was wincing so hard on the inside. So hard. This was the worst.

He was starting to wonder if Belladonna might just attack him instead. He was starting to wonder if he might just let her.

He watched carefully from outside of the doorway, watched, and exchanged one last glance at Sophie before nodding to indicate they should enter, once the King's back was turned.

In the distance he could hear shouting.

It was now or never.

He crept into the room, with a stealth not his own, sneaking up behind the King. As soon as Belladonna made her move, he was making his own, his daggers flashing into each of his hands.

"And I want you to know, when you wake up, that we as in just me and you, are never speaking of any of this. Ever."

He said from behind, before plunging one blade forward, not sure of how effective it would be in this world, against what was likely a powerful opponent.

Jack help them all, now.

"Have they? I hadn't noticed." He was too happy to be sharing this one tender moment with Belladonna to care; another kingdom could be at his doorstep and he wouldn't rush the moment. Mort was lightly humming when she began a strangely faltering sentences, and he tilted his head down to view her with expectation, a small bolt striking him from the top of his spine downwards at her touch. But his brows lowered a little at the word "hate", so confusing and out of place in this moment he was sure she could practically see his quiet adoration -

- and then she shoved him, her weapon in hand.

He barely recognized what had just happened. To his brain, one moment they were dancing and the next simply parted, but the dull throb where her staff had been forced against told a different tale. No words left the king as he gave Belladonna a terribly confused look. Had she lost her mind - ?

He did not tay silent when he felt cold steel slip against his aura, however. In a practiced motion he whirled about to divert the other dagger away, though in a split second he recognized Alex had been talking and diminished his attack to something comparable to a wrist slap. "I thought you would respectfully keep your distance!" In spite of himself, Mort had to laugh at Alex's inability to stay away.

He hadn't quite registered he was being attacked. It was too far out of the realm of possibility.

"Now what's this about not talking and not hating . . . ?"

Julian swatted at the bat with a hiss, dropping his sword to do so. The False-Sin's words only made his anger rise and tears p***k at his eyes.

"Don't say that to me! You have no right!" It hurt to be reminded of what he was, what he was trying so hard to become. He was a champion, a protector, but one of his real friends, not of this world. He was a big brother now, he had two baby sisters. He didn't even know what he had with Lumi, just that it was something new, something he didn't fully understand and sure as hell didn't want to lose.

"This is not real!" Maybe he shouldn't have said it. Maybe he should have just kept it to himself. Either way as he dove for Sin again, tackling her once more, his claws burrowing into her shoulder, the words came out with a passion he didn't fully comprehend.
Because if this wasn't real, then in reality he could know that he would never, ever hurt one of his friends.

Any other pleasantries or banter the faerie who was really a witch wanted to say died when he looked at her with such adoration and then turned into such surprise. Her eyes snapped shut and she dodged backwards as Alexander entered the room, unable to continue to look at that confused face. The faerie tried to flutter backwards, but could not fully leave the King.
"Say it... Promise me." The faerie added with a quick smash of her heel down against his foot. It was so silly, but just, Hecate how could she really ruin all of this? How could she destroy his happiness and this perfect world?
Wasn't real, wasn't real, wasn't real, real, real!
If she could just remember that...

Sin couldn't believe it, Julian had gone mad, not real? How could he think such a thing, the pain for Sin was all too real. She screamed as his talons dug in and shoved herself away from him her hands flashed against his skin...

Wasn't everything a game if you just smiled long enough at it?

Mort was now passing them both quizzical looks because this particular game was not one he was aware of. What were they after so suddenly that they had to rough house him? Why did Belladonna look like she was still on the verge of tears . . . ? And what was Alex going on about? For that matter, when had he ever used his king's name so informally?

Something made the hairs at the back of his neck rise. When he was stomped and shoved, Mort countered with a shove that was a little too rough to suggest he was quite as happy about how they were treating him. "Love, I couldn't hate you if I tried, you know that. You two are acting a bit strangely," he commented with that same damn smile still going, trying to swallow down the strange feeling curling in his stomach. "What's going on? Drank a little too much ale, eh? Hit your head when you passed out?"

And then a third, because no matter what logic told him, curiosity would always override his impulses.

"Where are the others? Sin and Julian should be back by now, and Sophie wasn't far behind. The rest of them are waiting for us."

Still smiling.

Still striving to be optimistic.

He wanted to wake up, oh how he wanted everyone to just wake up. Jake forbid Sin remembered this. This wasn't Sin, but... but maybe there was still some connection and she might... Please don't let that be possible.
"It isn't, this has never been real." The words came out in a shuddering sigh. He was tired and he hurt and he hurt.
"And when we wake up from this nigthmare, Jack, I hope you don't remember this." That was a mistake, he shouldn't have said you. He was losing it again, he had to keep it in his head, this wasn't Sin.

And yet... it was sort of a part of her. A part stolen from her by who knew.
He tackled her to stop her, but his plan backfired, sending them crashing into the next room, where Bella and Alex had confronted not-Mort.

They were in the wrong place, this should have been over, one of them should have been dead before the other got to this room, to help one side or the other. That plan was ruined. And he was weak, so very weak. He needed to finish this, if the false-Mort hadn't already attacked, he would now.

She tried to get away, but he held on his, claws digging and scraping, gasping for air as she tried to throttle him.
He was so tired.