After the visit to the hog pens, it was time to check up on Hexen and Kizzy, who've been in the care of Mave for some hours now. So Alptraum headed for the guest suites, with Snow silently tagging along. It was hard to tell if the shrine maiden was upset by the events in the hog pen, or just nervous about meeting an actual Yodhinala. When they arrived they found silence in the suites, except for the distinctive drone of snoring coming from Mave's chambers.
"You're not mad at me, are you?" Alptraum asks Snow, his hand paused over the door handle that leads into the room…
"No," Snow says, simply. "I've never met a Yodhinala before."
"They're different," Alptraum says. His hand closes around the door handle and the Eeee tries to open the door without making too much noise.
Kizzy and Hexen are a jumbled, exhausted pile of fur and leathery wings atop Mave's bed. The Yodhinala herself is in the laboratory/kitchen part of her suite, busily working on something. "I doubt they will wake anytime soon," Mave reports when she notices Alptraum.
"Do you ever sleep?" Alptraum asks quietly as he slips into the room and lets Snow in behind himself before closing it. "Sister Toadstool, this is Yodhinala Mave. Mave, this is Sister Snow Toadstool," he says by way of introduction and heads over to see just what Mave is working on.
The human girl seems frozen for a moment, and then bows.
"Ah, bring her closer, Alptraum," Mave says. "I can't really interrupt what I'm doing right now."
Alptraum 'leashes' Snow with one of the shadow-tendrils (by wrapping it around her wrist), then lightly tugs Snow to follow him over to the Yodhinala. "What are you crafting?" he asks.
There are various tubes and powders in front of Mave, and Alptraum's vampire-trained nose can easily tell one of them contains Hexen's blood. "I just need to process this blood quickly," Mave nodes, working to mix things together even as she glances over at Snow. "Don't be shy, child," she says. This prompts Snow to finally pull back her hood.
"What do you plan to make with his blood?" Alptraum asks. "And did everything go well … well?"
"The fox will likely have a sore jaw, and may have trouble speaking clearly for a few days," Mave notes. "Assuming he is able to walk out of here. If you wish to do anything to him, now would be the ideal time."
"What happened to his jaw?" Alptraum has to ask. He removes the 'leash' from Snow's wrist and then pats her shoulder. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted while I go handle a small matter." He grins, winks, and heads over to the tired-looking mass of bat and fox.
Once Alptraum gets close enough, he can see what happened to the fox's jaw, since it's still happening: Hexen seems determined to swallow one of Kizzy's newly buxom assets even though he's passed out asleep. Even Alptraum has never seen his friend open his mouth that wide before.
Alptraum tries not to laugh. "I remember doing that with Kaira once," Alptraum admits to himself as he grins. The bat digs in his side pouch to find the earring the Radovah matron sold him. He spreads the clasp a bit to fit it around the Fox's septum and goes about the delicate process of sliding it in the foxes' nostrils before he'll lightly squeeze it to make it fit snug. It's not a pierced nose, of course, but the shock of seeing it will be just as good he figures.
A surprising side effect of this is that Hexen stops snoring, which causes Kizzy to mumble something in her sleep and shift slightly, showing that Hexen's jaw may very well be locked in the wide-open position after all!
Alptraum now carefully closes the ring until its inner clasps press snugly, but not tightly and the ring shouldn't fall out. He's about to step back, but can't help and try to close his friend's mouth with a gentle push.
The push tilts the fox's head back at first, and then the jaw finally closes with a slight crackling sound from the strained tendons.
Alptraum winces a bit. So … he tries to extend the shadow over the strained part of Hexen's jaw and try to apply some life energy to help the tendons recover faster.
About midway through this, the sleeping fox tries to suckle on the shadow!
Alptraum erks and tries to draw the shadow back quickly! Because, well, friends don't suckle on friends. Not studly guy ones anyway. No way, no how.
There's a stretched rubber effect before the shadow escapes, leaving Hexen to sleepily nuzzles around in search of a new pacifier.
Alptraum helps Hexen find Kizzy's, ah, augmentation. He sticks his tongue out at the sleeping fox, then slips away to go check on Snow and Mave.
The Shrine Maiden of Inala and the former High Priestess seem to be getting along, in that Snow hasn't fled in terror yet – but she is blushing. Mave seems to still be working at whatever it is she needed fox blood for.
"So, what are you to up to? Has Mave offered to examine you or help you worship at the altar of Inala?" Alptraum asks the pair when he gets close.
"She suggests that I be an altar of Inala," Snow notes, sounding a bit scandalized. "But we don't worship Inala as a goddess in Sylvania, but as an Angel… "
"It is something to strive for though," Mave comments.
"Well, it would be enjoyable," Alptraum offers with a sympathetic smile. "You've enjoyed being with me… "
If anything, Snow blushes harder, until nearly every vein and artery is visible under her pale skin. Mave turns to look at Alptraum, and asks, "You've mated with a Shrine Maiden of Inala?"
Alptraum rubs his hand over the back of his forearm where the dagger remains inserted. "I have, yes. Why?" he asks, "She requested it to further her training… "
"I see," Mave notes. "You have replaced me for a younger woman, despite her obvious inexperience. Perhaps I should take over her training then… "
"Replaced you? I could never replace you," Alptraum notes, "She is a friend and a traveling companion. You don't travel to the places I usually do."
"Ah, but we will be traveling together soon," Mave points out with a sly grin. "I will remind you of my skills along the way."
"That may depend on what form I travel in," Alptraum remarks with a mischievous and vague smile. "Do you want me to leave you here for the evening, Snow, while I take Rosalind and Phlagaea out to a dinner?"
"Yes, I would like to spend more time with the girl," Mave answers before Snow can. "Her education seems to be a bit lacking in areas, and she will assist me with some potions."
"What areas?" Alptraum asks as his brow arches.
"Well, potions to begin with," Mave notes. "She will not be a Shrine Maiden forever, and must have other skills to support herself with."
"She is quite skilled with collecting certain materials from graveyard worms," Alptraum offers and fully prepares himself to get hit. "And very well, then, I will leave you two to practice your arts. Mave … just be gentle with her please."
"I have not had any complaints on my teaching methods yet, Alptraum," the Yodhinala claims with a smile. This makes Snow look even more worried.
"It's easier if you go with it," Alptraum whispers to Snow, "Besides, if I do end up going with a disguise we discussed, you might have further practice… " He grins, winks, and then lightly kisses Snow's cheek. "Have a good evening, ladies… "
After a good night's sleep, and arranging a time to meet up again with Rosalind to prepare for dinner, Alptraum has time to experiment with disguising his forearm using his own ability. He still has the spirit dagger inserted so that he can consult with Kaira if needed, and also to see how long he can leave it in before it becomes uncomfortable. He doesn't have any problem shifting his arm to look like an Eeee's, since he has Dr. Twig's pattern to work with – but it leaves the arm the wrong color. Getting it to darken takes several hours, since there feels like there's resistance. That only leaves the bare orb near his wrist (since the dagger sheath is easily covered by long sleeves).
"You are being impossible," Alptraum growls at his arm, "You shouldn't take this long to shift color; you're just trying to drive me crazy. And no, not you, Kaira!" He rolls his wrist a bit now as he eyes the orb on the back of his hand, "And then there is you. No chance I can draw you down a bit and cover you, is there?" And so … his brow furrows and he tries just that.
With considerable effort, Alptraum gets the orb to migrate a bit (a sensation best described as having an stubby-legged octopus crawling through your muscles) – only to lose the Twig pattern and revert back to the flayed-looking shadow-flesh appearance.
Alptraum grumbles. "This thing is not behaving very well for me. It seems like I won't be able to do this on my own," he whimpers to Kaira, assuming she can hear him. He shakes his hand out and tries to restore the Twig pattern again and hopes the color shift remained.
The skin sprouts brown bat fur again, at least – but not black.
"Perhaps you should just look for another bat with matching fur?" Kaira's voice suggests.
"This does not bode well for being able to change my body," Alptraum sighs. Again his brow furrows and he tries to restore the black fur quickly this time. Worst case with the orb he can make it look like a bracelet.
"And yes, I should just find a black bat to ken, that would be simplest. If I can learn Rose's pattern I would have that. Do you think Melusine can teach me that pattern? I can't ken Rose right now," Alptraum relents.
"Also, I know of a way to deal with this tonight," Alptraum says as he realizes something. He goes and pulls the bell-rope to summon one of the servants.
"I have no idea if a pattern can be transferred," Kaira admits. "I suppose if she can impose it on the arm, and then I can try to ken it… err… if I can do that… "
"Should I go ask her tonight? I was thinking maybe I could just dye the fur using clothing dye tonight," Alptraum suggests.
A Khatta butler arrives soon after the pull. "Yes sir?" he asks politely.
"Good sir, do you have any black clothing dye that would work on fur? I have a minor issue I need to deal with. My hand is the wrong color," Alptraum explains and shows off his brown hand. He grins, knowing that as weird as this is, they're probably used to it.
"I… will see what we have," the butler replies. "Perhaps mistress Lilith will have something."
"Will it take long?" Alptraum asks.
"I will send a runner, so… ah… how soon do you need it?" the man asks.
"Within half an hour if possible?" Alptraum requests. "I can deal with a few things in the meantime."
"Very well, sir, I will do my best!" the Khatta says, and then quickly hurries off, closing the door behind him.
"Do you think the fur is really fur?" Kaira asks.
"No, but I figure it is worth a try. Otherwise it is back to visiting Melusine to try and get Rose's pattern," Alptraum explains. "While we wait for the dye, mind if I pull the dagger out? I want to make sure my arm is okay."
"Go ahead!" the dragon responds. "May want to have a towel handy though, just in case."
"I might bleed?" Alptraum asks as he heads into the bathroom in the suite so that he can use the tub to collect anything too nasty. As he sits on the tub rim with a towel now in his lap, he says, "I'll re slot it if everything seems okay." the bat then draws a couple deep breathes, grips the hilt, and gives it a light tug, testing how secure it is … and if it hurts at all when he pulls.
It may take more than a light tug – which only makes it feel a little looser in the sheath, but unwilling to just slide out.
Feeling no pain when he tugs, Alptraum slowly pulls harder, prepared to stop if it starts hurting at all as it comes out. "Come on, behave… " he tells it.
There's a bit of resistance… and then all at once the dagger seems to slip out… but the blade is covered in a thick web of colorful veins, instead of just a few thick ones like before. It's as if the lining of the sheath had grown into the blade, and was now being stretched out.
"Gaaaah!" goes Alptraum as he stops pulling and sits there for a minute or two with the webbing still attached. "Okay, okay, breathe. It isn't that bad. It can't be that bad," he tells himself. He releases the hilt of the daffer so he can try to pick the webbing loose using a claw.
At least it isn't gooey, but it is a bit… wet. Light tugging seems to get the tendrils to pull away or break close to the surface of the blade (which itself absorbs the leftover bit), and it doesn't come with any real sensation. It also doesn't have the horrible odor of past long-term connections, when their was a certain undeadness about the shadow.
Alptraum does lean down at one point when his nostrils aren't assaulted by the stench of dead flesh and licks up a bit of the wetness to taste what the fluids may taste like.
It tastes like blood. Eeee and dragon, depending on which color it is; red or gold.
"Bleh," Alptraum comments, particularly about the dragon taste and resumes working on plucking all the vessels loose. "Looks like if I leave it embedded too long it might fuse to me," he murmurs to himself. "So, a day or so may be the safe limit… "
There's no response, since even though the dagger is still connected, in a sense, it's obviously not connected in a way that counts. Work progresses without much mess, as the tendrils are too narrow to really gush fluids about.
"This doesn't seem so bad now," Alptraum rationalizes as his claws pick. pick, and pick away the attached veins. He relaxes some and even breathes a sign of relief.
It does take longer to deal with than the thicker-veined version… but then, it could probably just be yanked free all at once since it doesn't hurt. Within a few minutes, the mesh of tendrils is pulling itself back into the dagger sheath and the dagger blade is back to normal.
Alptraum looks satisfied as he flexes and stretches his fingers as the mesh retreats back into his forearm He figures he should leave it out for a bit before, well, just slotting it again so he can talk to Kaira. Though … it is also nice to be alone for a bit, too. He goes to check to see if the dye has been brought yet.
A female Khatta is just waiting outside the bedroom, panting a bit but carrying a bundle in one hand. She straightens up and tries not to look winded when Alptraum reappears. "I… I have the supplies you requested, sir," she reports.
Alptraum dips his head. "Thank you," he says as he walks over and collects the bundle. "Feel free to rest a bit while I see if this will do what I need?" he offers the Khatta and heads right back into the bathroom!
"Just call if you need assistance!" the Khatta says after the fleeing Eeee. Back in the bathroom, Alptraum discovers the bundle contains a box of black powder and mixing equipment, along with a brush applicator.
Alptraum sets out each and peers at it. "Hm, right," he says once he thinks he has the general idea. So … in goes some of the black powder into the mixing apparatus along with water to mix it into a liquid…
It takes some trial and error to get the mix to be more liquid than goo, but eventually Alptraum has a black liquid without any obvious unmixed lumps in it.
"Hm," Alptraum says again as he picks up the brush in his left hand. He dips it into the liquid until it coats the brush and then the Eeee gently brushes it into the brown fur of his right forearm as a single stroke to see if it looks like it will take at all.
The dabbed spot looks black, but it also looks wet. There are no instructions or anything to tell how long it needs to set, or if the excess can be washed or wiped away.
"Are you still out there? How long do I need to leave this stuff … oh, never mind! Will you come in here and apply this for me?" Alptraum asks.
The Khatta girl peeks into make sure Alptraum is decent, and then enters and checks the dye mix. "Just relax and leave it to me, sir," she says reassuringly, as she picks up a rag and starts rubbing the dye from the initial dab around.
Alptraum holds his arm out and sits back, willing to let the Khatta take care of it for him. "I'm not used to people helping me with things," he admits.
"Well, you depend on others for things like clothing and grooming, don't you?" she asks conversationally as she works in more of the dye.
"Well … no? I buy clothes, but no one usually dresses me," Alptraum admits, "Or bathes me."
"Well, I meant you depend on others who have skills you do not," the girl explains. "Like making and mending clothing. Do you need to learn how to apply this yourself? You did the mixing part well."
"It could be useful in the future, perhaps," Alptraum admits. "Show me? And does it seem to be working? The for of that arm is a little … odd."
"Is it discolored from a rash?" the girl suddenly asks, pausing. "It doesn't hurt when I rub, does it?"
"No, it is just … wound damaged. It may not take color well," Alptraum claims and shrugs. "You're fine."
The girl describes how to rub the dye in, stroking first with the direction of the fur, then backwards to get the other side, then back with the natural flow once more. So far, it seems to be taking, although the girl seems to falter when it comes to working around the orb and sheath, clearly unsure of how to broach the subject of them.
Alptraum listens to the explanation and nods along as she shows him the proper technique. He also seems pleased that the color is taking. As for the orb and sheath, well … "Magical implants," Alptraum offers as the explanation for the sheath and orb. "Bound to me to help protect Draco County. Just try to dye around them?"
The girl nods, and very carefully works around the objects, as if frightened to touch them. Eventually the entire arm is now as dark as the rest of Alptraum. "This dye uses a special bleach to get out," she notes. "So, just ask for Millie – that's me – if you need it washed out."
Alptraum nods at that. "Thank you, Millie, you did an excellent job," he tells the Khatta and smiles to her, "I appreciate it. Now I must get ready for a special dinner tonight. If you would be so kind as to leave me, I can tend to clothing change and such."
"Are you sure you don't need any help?" the girl asks, and seems to be eyeing Alptraum's long hair.
"What? Did you wish to brush out and style my hair?" Alptraum asks as he follows the servant's gaze.
"Well, have you ever considered braids?" the girl asks. "I also noticed that your left hand's claws aren't as well kept as on your other hand, so thought you might want a manicure as well."
"I've done braids now and then. They work well with my hair … and as for my claws, well, I wouldn't mind if you helped shape them up some… " Alptraum offers and can't help but grin a little. So being tended to isn't too horrible. Particularly by a cute girl, of course. They make everything better.
"Would you like me to do the work before or after you've changed clothes?" Millie asks.
"After. You're welcome to stay and watch. I'm sure you have seen men naked before," Alptraum says as he slides up from where he was seated to go collect some cleaner, though not austere, clothing; just something that looks well-kept.
"Oh… uh… I'll wait outside if you don't need help dressing!" the girl squeaks and slips out of the bathroom.
"Everyone treats me like a monster or something," Alptraum grumbles as he strips down to nothing but his fur. The Eeee goes to the mirror and looks over himself from toes to head, including the star burst scar on his chest. "You must be crazy to be considering letting Melusine alter your body permanently. Well, until she undid it," he tells himself and then shakes his head. "She somehow makes it so desirable, though. Ah well. Time will tell on if I do it."
Alptraum starts dressing. He is, as usual, quick about it. He pulls on his pants first. They're clean and well tailored … and without any patching. Next comes the shirt, which is a simple white shirt with tied-cuff sleeves and a tie up neck. The neckline he does up to the point it covers his scar, but still shows a bit of his chest anyway. Over that he pulls on a newer-looking mid-thigh 'travel coat'. No patches on it either, it seems. He adjusts the collar a few times until it sits correct. The last thing he pulls on is a delicate-looking chain mesh onto his right hand, where a ring attaches to his middle finger and the rest of the chain drapes over the orb and then around his wrist, the 'slave bracelet' he wore the last time he disguised the orb as mere jewelry. The bat finishes up by checking his earrings, making sure they're all clean, the holes through his ears included. "Okay, I'm ready for you to braid my hair and shape my claws a bit!" he calls out.
The door opens, and Millie returns… followed by Rosalind! "Don't worry Millie, he wasn't trying to seduce you," the Countess assures the young Khatta. "I'm sure it's safe to braid his hair."
"She thought I was trying to seduce her?" Alptraum asks. His ears skew to the side and he looks very confused. He certainly wasn't trying to seduce her. "I wasn't. Where did she get that idea?"
"Well, did you offer to let her watch you change?" Rose asks, almost teasingly.
"Because she is one of the servants and was earlier talking about taking care of clothing and such?" Alptraum points out, still looking confused. "I figured she was used to taking care of dress. She has dressed you before, hasn't she? Just because I'm a male doesn't mean … " The bat then sighs and shakes his head. "Never mind. Sorry, Millie, for making you uncomfortable. You do not need to tend to my hair or claws. I will manage."
"Oh no sir, it's just that I'm not used to serving men," the girl claims. "I can still do your hair and nails though! I've been a handmaiden since I could walk."
"Your choice," Alptraum says as he sits down into one of the chairs for a minute. "I get stares if I don't ask the servants to help with stuff," he grumbles to himself, "And I get them if I do ask. I can't win."
"Do not feel bad, sir," Millie apologizes. "You just confused me by inviting me to stay but saying you didn't need help… and… well, I wasn't thinking of you as a man until you actually mentioned it."
"Don't take such things so seriously, Alptraum," Rose notes. "Now, tell me how you think I should dress."
"What were you thinking of me as?" Alptraum asks and arches his brow.
"Well, as a noble… " the girl admits.
"Oh never mind, then, come and do my hair and nails," Alptraum relents, looking defeated. As for Rosalind, he says, "Something nice, but simple. A reasonably made dress, one that goes to the ankles. Maybe a little billowy. A deep red or green would work well. For your upper, a nice billowy white blouse, perhaps, with a lightly-laced corset-vest. "Something that looks successful, but not lavishly wealthy… "
"Hmm, I may ask to borrow something from Millie's mother then," Rose says, sitting on the edge of the tub to watch while the Khatta begins weaving Alptraum's hair. "And again, don't feel bad about the misunderstanding. The personal servants of the Draco family gain their positions by heredity, and few ever leave the upper levels of the castle, so they are not especially worldly. This is necessary for security, you understand. We simply cannot trust strangers."
"Oh I know," Alptraum admits, "I'm probably too friendly with people and don't think about how it might come across. I'm not used to being treated like a noble, even if I am technically one by birth too. I just … I want people to like me, not fear me. If that makes sense."
"My advice is to not try to make them like you," Rose notes. "Of course, that means some will not, but it also means that those who do will do so for genuine reasons."
"I do have something I wanted to talk to you about. Can we talk about anything in front of Millie? It is regarding your own security in the months that come," Alptraum says, changing the subject a bit.
"Millie has my trust," Rose says with a smile. "We can speak freely in front of her."
"I wanted to ask Melusine to try to transfer the knowledge of your … body pattern to me," Alptraum explains, "With it I could impersonate you if required when you're in later stages of pregnancy. Since you're a vampire and the same color, I think I can replicate it on myself without a huge amount of difficulty when it would be required. I was also considering using it plus some color changes as a disguise while dealing in Babel. There may still be factions hunting for me. But as this is your body pattern I'm talking about, I would not want to learn it without your approval."
"Hmm, I can see the benefits of having you able to impersonate me in any situation," Rose concedes, looking thoughtful. "Using me as disguise is not without risk, however, since there are many outside of Sylvania who know what I look like, including Babelite nobles. However, without the… accouterments… of nobility, I do not think anyone would look twice at me and divine my identity."
"In Babel it would be your body shape, but I would alter the coloring. I don't believe anyone would mistake me for you," Alptraum explains. "I cannot ken you right now, of course, but Melusine may be able to teach it to me. Kaira and I are not certain it will be teachable, but we figured it would be worth a try. I have other Babel disguise options too, of course. But … I have to admit having your shape close at hand would also help ease the feeling of being so separated from you when I travel."
"So, your choice to approve or deny me access to it," Alptraum concludes.
"I can hardly deny you access to my body, Alptraum," Rose notes, patting her (still flat) belly while grinning. "I see no reason to worry about it, aside from the initial awkwardness of seeing you as me."
"You… you would at least have clothing available that fits properly as well," Millie offers quietly, as she finishes the main braid.
"I'm pretty certain as awkward as it will be for you, it will be doubly so for me," Alptraum remarks, grinning right back. "Because, well … with the pattern applied to me, I will be you in all ways physical. And I do mean all." There's a hint of nervousness at that admission.
"I will help 'break you in' then," Rose offers. "I know my own physical quirks well enough."
"I will need that, I think. Plus lessons on how to walk and compose myself as you do on official business," Alptraum agrees, "To be an effective double, I need to be able to mimic those. And since I still have my shadow link, I retain my ability to defend myself, much as you could when Melusine's link was active with you."
"Do not think that I cannot defend myself without Melusine," Rosalind notes, and even narrows her eyes a bit. "But it will help immensely that her powers still be evident on certain occasions."
"I know you can in many ways, but you do lack the shadow cloak armor," Alptraum points out and holds up his hands placatingly. "That is all I meant by that."
"And one more matter, if I may, Countess?" Alptraum now asks.
"Hopefully we will not face the need to use our defenses," Rose says, hand on her belly. "Yes?"
"The transformed prisoners in the dungeon," Alptraum begins, "How much do you know about what is happening to their spirit?"
"Their spirit?" Rose asks. "I placed no curses upon them, so I assume they are fine."
"I ask because Sister Toadstool asked me to talk to you about it," Alptraum says. His ears flick back a bit and he looks a bit worried. "Their spirits are not fine. They are dying slowly. Little bits dying and fading away each day. Memories are fading, everything about who they were is fading. They are not just hogs in body … but as time passes they are becoming them in mind and spirit too. Snow and I learned this when we visited them below. A few experiments on them showed how tortured they are; perhaps more than you intended. One begged for me to kill it before it reverted back and began the slow process of dying all over again. I did not, for their fate is your choice, not mine. You are the Countess and while I love you dearly, I still serve your wishes too. I am telling you what I learned and if you decide to reconsider their fate and allow them the peace of death; or let them suffer as they are."
Rose sighs, but doesn't seem alarmed by the news. "Take them to Melusine, and have her restore their original bodies. Those that recover their minds I will deal with… those that do not may be fed to Melusine."
"Kaira wanted me to deal with them by using their bodies to free more of the spirits trapped within the dagger," Alptraum admits, "and I would do so if you choose to deal with them by death and permitted it. I want to spare you from some of the things you must endure alone. You've endured far too much over the years and I do wish to ease your burden when I can." Alptraum then holds up his hands and adds, "If I am overstepping my bounds, though, I am sorry. Your will in this matter will be followed."
"If any have their minds, then I will consider the dagger as their means of execution," the Countess agrees. "For now though… I need to find some civilian clothing that is not in the black-and-crimson of the castle staff."
Alptraum nods at this. "It is a matter for another day. It need not be done immediately," he agrees. "And Countess? Rose? I may always be completely honest with you on any of these matters? Or would you prefer that I stay away from them as much as possible?"
"You are one of the only other people that can even deal with these matters enough to have an opinion," the woman says as she stands. "So you had better share your thoughts on them with me."
"I just wanted to be sure that this was also a part of your life you were willing to expose to me," Alptraum says, "Because i know there are aspects you do want to shield me from. To keep me as innocent as you can for a time, I think you once said. But, thank you. I will always be the shoulder to lean on when you need it, and you will be mine. Now, enough thoughts of sad things; we have a happy time ahead tonight. I will see you in a while and soon, soon, you meet my parents."
