Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rune laughed softly almost silently and nodded -yes... yes she probably would have. Particularly with her beloved's... insatiable drives. Not that her own were far behind. Really, it was surprising it had taken until now for them to conceive. All things considered.

There was a chorus of 'Merry Renascibilitas' from Trelweny & the Ginny's though the android did not seem to care. Sometimes Trelweny really wondered what her late husband was thinking when he programed the witch. The kitsu Ginny looked disappointed that it sounded as if she would not be cooking while the anthro looked a little relieved. With a nod that she had it all Myranda was about to start when she was stopped by the small kitsu. Well, small compared to the rest in the kitchen being only about 65 pounds or so. "Hold on, Myr. All well and good but how would you like them prepared? Seasoned? And what did you mean about ll but the wine & Syllabub can be retrieved from here?"

Oh dear God.... Anon was sooooooooo not helping with keeping Percy calm and relaxed. He rationed through her logic and found it sound... up until the end when he nearly lost it. "You can't... Did you think this out at all before doing it?" He did not feel good. This was making him not feel good...

Percy tried to think. "okay... I suppose... it might be possible to land like this if you got closer and held your wings still against you. I should be able to take your weight for a while -it's not that much. Or... I could levitate you to a safe distance..."

If the kitsu Ginny were an anthro kitsusagi like her mate she would have slapped her hand to her forehead. She should have known better than to ask such a question. It was like when Harry & Hermione had learned house elves prepared all the food at Hogwarts, and many of the other magical things that 'just happened' at the school: The princess simply had no knowledge of what went on behind the scenes in this case. "Nevermind. That's why I'm here after all." A glance at her anthro fox self, who looked amused. The two were very different, having different experiences both here and before. Differences which led to the kitsu perfecting the cooking learned from her mother & expanding on it. Myranda set the princess with a firm stare. "You don't know Trel very well, if you 'can't fathom' hidden alcohol here." Ginny anthro-fox giggled, not cowed at all by Myr's 'I am not amused' glare. "Oh I know it's age spelled to reach it! I caught Ron trying! Fred and George thought it the funniest thing until I reminded them bout the goblet. 'Sides, we all know Trel drinks."

Trelweny giggled sheepishly and blushed. "shush you. It's not that often." No... but when it was it was usually Myr forcing her walls down... bringing out the latent talent she fought to repress, even subconsciously. "Still not much of any wines... certainly not Seaon."

The GaiaCom huffed. "Fine. I will start with the wine & Syllabub. I'll need a description of the later for my databanks. You two work out the particulars of the rest of the meal." That said Myranda moved into the motions of her magic, calling her cauldron to life.

"Okay. Way I see it, there's two options. Explain to me as best you remember how those things tasted or trust me to choose styles and blends that will go well with each meat & each other and the rest of the meal." Ginny said with a 'if you want this in time for dinner we have no time to waste' tone.

Stepping lightly around everyone Rune fetched a clean glass and some cranberry juice from the fridge. Quietly she sat down at the table, out of the way of the others and watched. Thinking.

Percy's mouth pressed into a firm line, a hard look coming to his youthful face. "Maybe so... but I will do it nonetheless." The clearing was nearing. It was now or never. Besides... if he failed Peter would likely as not catch them. If only to save Amaryllis' garden from the damage their fall would cause.

"Get ready... soon as you're in position, I'm landing." Or starting to. He really had no idea if or how this was going to work. Not something that really sat well with Percy at all. He hated doing things this way: out of the box, out of knowing for certain, out of control. It made everything within him on edge -and not in a good way either. But he had quite a bit of stubbornness and would not permit himself to tail.

No one continued the drinking topic, for various reasons. Myranda nodded an almost thanks for the information. She was asking about the thing not in her memory banks... but whatever. It did not matter. She could still conjure them. This way... she knew what specifically to get. The GaiaCom witch set to work, conjuring enough for the family for a meal.

Meanwhile Ginny listened to Maryline's descriptions. Except for the sirloin & duck being 'quite sweet' there was little to give her insight to the seasoning. Not that she was particularly expecting any. But she knew ways to make those that way... and ways to season the others to compliment and stand on their own all at once. "Thanks." She said with a bright smile, turning to Myranda when the beverages had been conjured and explaining in detail what she wanted and how many of each. Trelweny stayed by the door contemplating something. With a nod Rune stood and made her way to Maryline as the anthro Ginny started setting things aside in preparation for the big meal. "It sounds delicious."



Percy prepared himself as best he could. It was still almost not enough. He was not expecting Anon to get so close to him. He could explain away her arms, knowing she had to hold on. Not so quickly her legs around his waist nor her lips near his ears. On top of his flying focus it was hard to keep to what needed to be done at that. He did know -or at least he was pretty-much sure- That Anon meant nothing by it.

His eyes were wide as he jolted a little at her added weight as he instantly made alterations to adjust it. And then they were lowering, going beneath the tree canopy as they dropped into the clearing. Amaryllis -now between a baby and an adult- was in the garden talking with Peter in the garden.

Trelweny smiled at Maryline softly, not missing Rune's questioning & slightly worried look. Maryline had not 'messed up'... she simply did not have the direct information Ginny had been looking for. One couldn't be expected to know everything about everything. Even Myranda, mechanical being that she was, could not know everything. "I think we can manage if you need the time to rehearse."

"Rehearse? Need me to play audience, woman-princess?" Zell's cheerful voice asked as his spiked blonde head peeked into the room with a smile. A smile that didn't fade even as Seifer elbowed his way past him gruffly to get back to Rune and wrap her in his arms from behind, one hand going to gently rest on her belly his chin resting on her shoulder. The moth accommodated him smoothly, settling her wings so they would not be smashed and resting her hands lightly over his. Zell gave a whistle seeing everything Myr had conjured so far.e

"Or should I help get those things out to the yard? Duuude! Those're a lot of kegs!" The fistfighter's hazel-blue eyes went wide, barely getting reigned in as he flashed an 'I love ya & yea I know there're too many here to show ya' smile at the princess. He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels waiting for her decision. Trel gave a silent look that should Maryline need him, Zell could be spared. It wasn't like they had a shortage of bodies to help out.


His face was tight with concentration. This would be tricky for someone practiced to do... and Percy, scholar more that he was, certainly lacked that. But there was a certain advantage to instinct and as long as he didn't fight his owlish side it was being rather accommodating to the additional weight and mass of Anon. He fanned his wings out, cupping them, and glided down beside the gardens. His feet sank deep into the white snow surrounding the cottage and gardens and breath short from worry and fatigue pulled his wings in to best assist the fallen angel from his back. He was shaking. Percy could not believe he had pulled it off! His entire body felt weak.


((... percy was being difficult.... *thwaps lightly*))

The warming of Maryline's smile was missed by few, unfortunately for the princess those that were present being among the ones most perceptive and watching of such things. Even Seifer, for the moment was more inclined to watch her reactions around the fistfighter especially after earlier though he was not at the moment. Instead he was focused on his girl, taking a breather before gathering others to move out the vast amounts of food.

Zell tried -and failed miserably- to hide his disappointment at behind a nod and a smile that while though as warm and cheerful as ever didn't quite reach his eyes. Trel's was not the only head to tilt in confusion and curious concern. Theirs was a household of hundreds, many with magic or strength that surpassed Zell's. One moomba-anthro would not be missed. "Well, yeah. Okay. Just, ah, gimmie a holler if ya change your mind." A playful wink, not quite as bright as it could be. "And I'll 'dally time' on ya."

A subtle and subconscious nudge from the latent psy and respectfully no one -not even Tien- impeded the princess from getting to her room.

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"Wah!" At her quick movements Percy lost his balance and pinwheeling his arms just kept himself from falling face-first into the snow, falling instead to hands and knees ungracefully. Well... better than his face. "Anon what was that abou..." Brushing off his hands and pants Percy straitened his glasses to turn and see Anon curled into a terrified ball in the snow. He forgot what he was saying as fretting concern invaded him. "Miss Anon!" Ungainly limbs scrambled through the snow to her, and his knees sunk for the second time in as many minutes into the cold and frigid blanket of white. The eyes behind his glasses were wide, terrified that somehow he had harmed her in their decent but logically not having any clue how. Nothing had been wrong! ... Had it?

"Miss Anon! Are you okay?" Stupid Question: she was clearly NOT OKAY. The cait Amaryllis, no longer a baby but still not full grown, peeked over a row of roses with her rabbit familiar. "What happened?"

Zell of course couldn't take his eyes off of her though there were a few moments he tried. Maryline was being a Princess with a capital 'P', but so different when she went cold-princess and ran away before. This Princess did not make him ache as the other had. Well, perhaps a little but only because he wanted to love on her.

The corner of his lip curled, hinting at a full-blown grin, as her pinky curled with his. It was totally awesome whenever Maryline made even a hidden show of affection when they were anywhere other than closed doors that Zell was just thrilled. A surprise? Zell lifted his eyebrow, his grin lopsided as it spread over his face. About to comment, anything he was going to say was cut off indefinitely at the sweet & fleeting touch of her lips. Stun. Happy blissful unexpected stun. She had kissed him... in front of everyone... and it was a good thing it had managed to stun the fistfighter so that he couldn't move or he'd very likely have wrapped his arms about Maryline and not let her go. As it was he stood there, frozen and dumbstruck and grinning in a thrilled but dazed sort of way with his hazel-blue eyes never leaving her face. "After dinner?" he repeated almost sounding drugged. Someone giggled and the giggle cut short. "yea... booya..."

Shocked eyes politely turned away with a fair amount of soft coughs from the scene as the others went back to preparations. doot doot doo. Trel & Rune however shared a glance and a smile, exceptionally happy for Zell.

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The scream had Percy falling backwards with the force and suddenness of it all. Wide eyed, he found himself fallen back into the snow and staring mutely at the huddled and crying girl. What on earth had happened?

There was the sound of the front door opening and shutting, followed by a giggle. A giggle that changed to an angry and worried gasp partway through. "Percy! What have you done?" there was the sound of fluttering robes and wings as a short, witch with long red hair ran down the porch steps and across the yard to the pair followed closely by a slightly taller girl with bright blue eyes and long wavy blonde hair wearing red and white half covered by a warm parka.

Percy winced at the angry tone of his sister's voice. "I don't know!" His wail was extremely defensive and worried at the same time. He just stared at Anon in worried confusion. "You bring a girl home, she's wearing your robe -backwards I might add- you're on your butt in the snow and she's huddled into a whimpering ball and you just don't know?!?" The blonde swan was going to her knees beside the fallen girl as the witch thrust her hand angrily at her brother to help him up. "There, there, tovarish. You are safe now. Let us take you inside out of the snow, da?" She still wore a bright crown of poinsettias nestled over her hair though Christmas was far over.

Meanwhile preparations continued; Ginny taking control of what was being ordered & conjured, Trelweny taking charge of the placement & arrangement of it all on the tables. In between, Trel went to Relm audio and asked her to find and gather the entire household outside at the appointed time for dinner. She also nudged Zell & got him shuffling things so he wasn't standing around quite so stunned. After a while he seemed almost back to normal for cheer & smile at least, but with an odd difference. Daydreamy.


~~~~~~

Ginny snapped her mouth shut before she could say her next comment, watching as her brother stood awkwardly. The Russian girl smiled down at the female. "Let's talk inside over tea, da? Before you freeze, tovarish. Ginny. Percy. Closer please."

As the two stepped two steps closer the girl nodded and created a glowing pink/purple circle around all of them. The next instant, without even feeling sa if they had moved, and the four were inside, in a cozy but simple room almost like a teahouse but with a Russian twist.

Percy nervously and anxiously went towards Anon and Illyana. "I don't know. We landed. And then... you pushed off me and rolled into a little pll where you threw a fit an yelled at me... Anon what happened?"

((a most excellent idea))

And so the time seemed to fly with busy preparations and much shuffling of food and beverages. Well... up until the point Myranda said to Hell with all of the running back and forth and instead instructed the talaya Seifer and Zell to carry her cauldron upon their backs and outside. Then things moved even faster, Trelweny directing the placement of each dish. Soon enough everything was laid out if not expertly still very elegantly. So much so that only an expert or one accustomed to experts would know the difference. The table and all the places were set with the right amount of silverware for the dishes provided. At least for those species that could use them Miniature tables were set up on top of the larger in spots for the smaller creatures like Tien and Caylee & the other fae. A special manger height 'table' without utensils and bearing simply some bowls to hold the food and drink for the large ninau, gryphon, & ginger cat that lived in the barn. Trelweny was fastening Theron into his booster chair even while helping Aiden and Remus, Relm Audio and the Ginnys to direct everyone to their places. The three Runes likewise were assisting, though even quieter than the soft-spoken audio. Seifers leaned back in their seats, scowling at anyone who stepped out of line of given directions, Seifer Talaye actually literally snapping a few times at those needing -in his mind- discipline. The Rasputins were quiet, Illyana lightly holding the fingers of one Alphonse Elric whom she had fetched from the home he shared with his mother & brother for this feast. So they sat Mikhail, Piotr, Illyana, Alphonse, & the Druid Bellamue -softly speaking with the alchemist of how things had been for him.

Having not been given directions of seating, Trelweny had decided to seat Maryline at the head, she to one side and Zell to the other. Rune and Seifer beside the fistfighter then Relm. Beside her of course, Theron, Aiden, Myranda, Locke, Remus. Ambar by Theron's side, as always. The others she had a care of who sat where to best minimize desencions. Or distractions. Like not having both talaye and anthro Weasley twins directly near each other. That was usually quite volatile though not in the angry way. Cedrella Molly near her mother where she could be overseen best, and of course Sonmi -always Cedrella's cheerful & willing shadow- beside her. Remus' children were near him, Chroma and her son near as well. The perma-kits Trel had needed to separate and were interspersed where more mature family members could keep them in line. For the beta she had set up a table for them within their tank in miniature and brought the tank from the window to a stand near the other tables. All was set. All were being seated with surprising efficiency. Even Jezebel, blinking her sleepy & shy red eyes, & Niabi, twittering softly nearby with eyes darting nervously around her. Everyone but the housecats, who were too stupid not to run away and get lost if let out of the house. A ceremony would be lost on them anyway. Zell looked expectantly towards the door. All that was needed was Maryline. Should he fetch her? He did not know if for this she was supposed to have escort or something like that. They really had no idea what was to happen now. Zell decided to wait. Though close... it was not the appointed time just yet.

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"No tea?" Illyana repeated, uttering the surprise all three felt at that statement. "Oh Perce do be sensible and shut up. Didn't you see her wince when you spoke? You must've done something horrid."

Percy flinched at his baby sister's words, wanting to argue with her. But he had seen Anon tense and felt struck by it. He backed away, frowning his worry, confusion and hurt as he found a chair to fall into where he could watch, quietly brooding, the odd girl wearing his robe backward. Really... he was wishing he had never gone to check the ruddy shields at Solstice's Cottage.

"Really, Tovarish? It is hard to imagine Komrade Percy flying so high another flier would be afraid of the height." Ginny gave a small derisive snort. "Yeah... Perce's always been afraid of heights. Why Bill & Charlie could barely get him on a broom." Percy in his chair scowled and looked away, crossing his arms angrily over his chest. He continued to watch from the corner of his eye however. What the bloody hell had happened anyway? ANON was the one doing those bloody dangerous maneuvers. She couldn't have gotten scared from just landing. And why was she like this to him now, after near scaring the life out of him with her closeness before?