OEW

Settling a group of eight people into a group of apartments made for six was more of a chore than expected. The original layout for the Centerland portion of the embassy suits held one spacious room for one and a much smaller room actually designed to only be comfortable for one. Two rooms were designed for staff that frequently found themselves in cohabitation with others pretty much everywhere they went such as soldiers and servants.

For the sake of preserving as much peace and harmony as possible under the slightly cramped conditions, an aid to the Speaker of the Left offered a storage space in their compound to hold the furnishings and various amenities that weren't of any need, providing an ingenious folding cot that could easily be set up in any room but the cramped single that Orison selfishly claimed under the guise of needing privacy for his continued studies. He would have bit the bullet and offered it to his mom but the only two who could share the large bed in the much more luxurious room without raising eyebrows or causing misunderstandings with the obsidian elves expected to visit on a regular basis would be Droya and Yulian.

With the brothers being a natural choice for roommates and Morrel being fairly short of patience and tolerance to people he had to share sleeping space with other than Rithus, that left Gan as the floater. To keep him from feeling too short changed, Orison dedicated the footlocker and half his wardrobe space for Gan's personal effects and the office room would be Gan's private space from ninth evening bell to seventh morning bell. Any important documents and records would be held in Orison's or Droya's bedroom desks depending on nature and space needed.

At least that was the plan until Claudius and Corvinus got into some kind of forcefully subdued argument that had Claudius asking Gan to room with his brother and taking the floater position voluntarily. No one particularly minded but it left Droya and Orison somewhat worried if whatever was having them into it would become a bigger issue. Droya seemed to have an idea what was going on but had her own personal policies on getting involved in the private lives of anyone outside of Orison unless it became a necessity which left him holding the short stick.

Wanting to put best foot forward on upholding the arrangements in place, Orison knocked on the office turned after-hours bedroom. Claudius opened the door and let Orison in before returning to sit on the cot leaving the office chair for the 'Little Boss' which Gan had the two brothers now calling him as well. Heating up some water for tea using a newly improved novice spell he decided to also call 'Presto', as the model had moved fairly far from Degree Shift, he sat in comfortable silence and waited for the cups to finish steeping.

As Orison handed Claudius a cup, the older soldier took it upon himself to start. "I suppose you want to know what that was all about?"

"Only if you want to talk it out. Mom and I aren't really big on butting into your guys' personal lives. I figure you and your brother will hash it out eventually. I'm just here to lend an ear if you want one." Orison said.

Claudius sighed. "I really don't want one but it's more because I wish this thing that's happened just didn't."

Orison took a sip and just nodded. He was content to just sit in silent support if the man didn't want to say another word. Either way, he was intent on leaving after they finished their tea or the man had lost interest in his.

Half a cup down, Claudius finally relaxed enough or realized he couldn't relax and started talking. "About a week or so after Yulian was situated, the three of us went to visit her grandpa. I was planning to ask blessing and all of that. Well, it just so happened that there was a witch passing through nearby and Yulian's cousin fetched her. She paid the witch a silver to do a small little blood spell the old lady pretty much made her living with as most of her simples were little more than folk remedies that did more for peace of mind than the body, if you ask me.

"Well, the way it works is that the mother and the father both get their finger pricked and mixed in this bowl of squid ink and when she does her thing over it, the healthier the baby is the more ring shaped the blood in it is supposed to get. I don't know how true that is but I do know why her spell earns her so much coin. It only works if the drop of blood is from the mother and the father. It didn't work.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but we always knew there was a chance. It put a little damp on the day but it didn't really change my decision or anything. No, what did that was when my brother offered the witch another silver and had her do it again. It worked, a healthy little circle that used my brother's blood."

Orison said, "That's a rough one."

With a frustrated face, Claudius said, "You know, it's not like I'm mad. Nothing the girl said was a lie. In a twisted kind of way, I'm even a little grateful to her. The first day after the consul fire my brother looked fine aside from some bruises and scrapes. I got burnt trying to find the legate's aid and he had a beam fall on him but he got back up and dragged us out."

Orison said, "Internal bleeding's tricky. Sometimes it solves itself and sometimes it causes problems. In his case, it's where he was bleeding from."

Claudius said, "The pain my right side was in, it wasn't even comparable to what I felt when they carried my brother back into the sick room because he'd collapsed. That night, Yulian came in all tears and concern for us. She gave me something to eat she said came from a little red flower. It tasted like sh*t but it made me feel good and she made me feel like I wasn't some kind of deformed monster. That's what planted all these funny ideas in my head to begin with, that night.

"She told me she cared for me because I held her like a lover and not like I paid for it, because I smiled and had a kind word instead of leering at her or whatever. She liked my brother because he was friendly. He wasn't interested in slipping her a coin but he'd chat with her, made her feel like a normal person.

"From what I could gather, when I wasn't busy trying not to hear it, he just kind of broke down after seeing Yulian and I do our thing. He thought, he KNEW, he was going to die. After she gave him the rest of that flower stuff, he pretty much gave her his last confession and she gave him a 'close your eyes and think of them' kinda thing.

"All that said and all of the heat of the moment intentions behind us, I just want her to be happy. I just want my brother and his baby to be happy. What it boils down to is that both of us have different ideas on what's best. He wants to be responsible and I want to leave him free to chase the one he's had his heart set on. Sometimes I get the idea that there's something he isn't telling me but I learned a long time ago that he only says what he wants and you can't even beat another word out of him."

Orison sighed. "Did the both of you talk with Yulian, ask her what she wants?"

Claudius looked up at Orison a little irritated and said, "Of course we did. She's more sappy than both of us combined. We both care for her in different ways and she cares for us too. She doesn't want to be a problem. We all got something good going for us with you and your mom and none of us want to mess that up. I think that if me and my brother don't sort this out then she's just going to go at it alone."

Orison mulled over it then said, "The way I see it, and treat it as so much hot air if you don't agree, is that all three of you are over thinking this trying to be considerate and respectful. Both of you brothers should just tell her what you feel about her and what you're actually offering then let her make her choice. Assure each other that you'll respect whatever choice she makes and then deal with whatever hurt or disappointment comes after in the same way you've dealt with everything up til now. Because if things keep going this way, you'll all just wear each other out and everyone's going to be unhappy."

What Orison knew of the two brothers that was the best he could think of. Claudius was hotblooded and a bit impulsive and Corvinus was a cool-headed, big picture kind of person. Out of all the differences between them they shared one thing in common, the way they liked to deal with problems. Simple, clean and no wasted effort is just how they wanted it. Rip the bandage and dive all in, no toe dipping.

If it was anyone else in the world they wouldn't be having this problem at all. Forcing themselves to walk on egg shells around each other and Yulian is what was causing this whole mess or it would have already been solved. Sure enough, as soon as he was done planting the idea, Claudius was halfway out the door.

With the fire lit and nothing left to do but clean up the ashes after a bridge or two were burnt, Orison headed to his room to crack open the journal and get back to studying his spell models, something he'd not had time for in awhile. Before he'd even managed to close the door of his room, the main door of their apartment suit was knocked on. Seeing as he was the only one free, Orison sighed and headed to the door.

Orison muttered under his breath, "Three soldiers, a steward, a maid and a general staff yet I'm the one answering the door."

The person waiting on the other side made him genuinely glad it was him, however. Lyra was just as gloriously stunning as ever. The small amount of resistance he'd managed to build up when staying with her to avoid being pinned under those eyes filled with cold humor as if the whole world was just a dirty joke she found funny yet distasteful, was completely gone.

"As refreshing as I find your way of ogling me, how long are you going to make me stand out here?" she said with a smirk.

Orison unfroze, stood aside and welcomed her in. Closing the door behind her, she turned and gave Orison a once over. And as if she was the physical manifestation of karmic retribution, she pushed him against the wall with a hand to his chest and sniffed him.

To finish off her intimidating assault, she grabbed his crotch and fondled it for a second before she said, "There's no way in the Abyss that you're a girl in disguise. I'll admit you're pretty enough but illusions and disguises only go so far."

Orison, mentally blanked, squeaked, "What!?"

Having finished her business with him, she stepped back and was looking around while she answered offhandedly, "Just a man-child looking for a reason for something that doesn't even need one. As if a stray thought or a cool breeze isn't enough of an excuse for boys...excuse me, men your age to pop one. Since he just HAD to have an actual reason, he offered that maybe you were a girl in disguise.

"I thought if there was anything beyond a man's natural inability to control the head that does most of the thinking for them, it would have been some smell stuck to you after brewing a potion or something. Looks like my first thought was right. So sad for him... Where's your mom at? Oh, there you are, Droya. How have you..."

Having spotted a much more interesting conversation partner she strode past him. Left in the aftermath of her unrestrained actions and damaging words, Orison stood there with dark lines down his forehead and a cold wind in his heart. He thought about explaining to her what really happened to Venito but if his brother wanted to send Lyra with a mission to grope and indirectly insult him then he could return the kind favor by letting her keep thinking that Venito was an unrestrained pervert. As far as Orison was concerned, it wasn't a lie anyway.

After a few minutes of sulking, concern won over irritation and Orison went to the Northland suit. After being greeted by two men on sentry that he'd never met before, one poked his head in to clear Orison and let him pass. As he waited for a blushing obsidian elf maid with a rumpled uniform hastily donned to show him where Venito's room was, the young mage compared the two suits. He tried not to get a little heated that it had two extra bedrooms and good deal more space to pace around but failed.

Orison glanced at the maid with spiritual vision opened to see a nestle of energy low down congregating around a small shred of barely 'alive' remnant.

Orison thought, "One last bid for survival, huh? Odds aren't good, whoever and whatever you are." Walking past her, he whispered, "That seed's going to take."

She smiled widely and said in a low voice, "Truly? How do you know?"

Orison hadn't expected that response but let a little more 'soul' shine through his eyes, leaving her wary but convinced.

As soon as they stepped into the room, the maid said, "Your brother has assured me that the deed is done. Should I send my sister or would you like me to attend you the rest of this night?" the elf girl said.

Venito looked at her from where he was sitting in a desk chair with nothing but unlaced pants and slightly yellowed undershirt on and said, "I'm not finished with you yet, sweet roll, but give us brothers a little privacy. I'll make it up to you later."

The girl giggled as she closed the door while leaving. "These elves sure are accommodating. It's been killing weird sh*t and f***ing, the whole way here."

Orison felt a little sick as he said, "That hasn't been my experience but then again, Centerland is almost a curse word around here... It doesn't bother you at all, the children thing?"

Venito shrugged, "I keep track. Got them down in my book so maybe if I get all knotted up about it later, I can look for them. But Orison, these kids will be born into a whole clan. It's a whole large family to look after them and it's how they've done things forever. I mean, they prefer elves and some clans don't participate directly but they've lost a lot of people. One of the things the Progressives are about is making sure blood doesn't get too thick."

Orison sighed and said, "Your life, your choices. That's not why I'm here anyway. About the, uh, incident in the hallway-"

Venito cut him off and while looking half guilty and half accusing said, "Nooo...Let's just forget about it. There's better things to talk about any way be-"

Orison tersely said through gritted teeth, "It isn't about a little moment of embarrassed confusion. It's about the the foreign objects in your body you don't know about."

Looking slightly offended, Venito said, "I was checked before I left and I've been checked since I got here. I'm clean."

Anger slipping his leash, Orison bellowed, "Not everything's about your damn s*x life!" He took a deep breath and said, "Do you have a way to insure privacy from other means of spying?"

Looking confused again, Venito said, "I do but I was told to only use it for emergencies. It's not subtle."

"Use it. It's more for who might be monitoring me anyway. Besides, you're in an embassy. Everyone expects diplomats to carry ways to keep conversations private." Orison said.

Venito stuck his head out of his bedroom and said, "I'm going dark. So don't panic like last time."

A couple voices grunted acknowledgment as Venito pulled out a finger bone from his pack and broke it. A sphere of darkness expanded out over them and Orison switched to spirit vision. It only let him see his brother and some mess on the bed but it was better than nothing. Even the mask didn't help him see any better so he put it back away.

"Well, I hope it's important. I only have one of those left." Venito said.

Orison explained everything that had happened since he had gotten to Obsidian Island, skirting and explaining things vaguely when it came to things the laws didn't want talked about. About the scroll that had started this whole mess, he just explained it as the source of what Venito now had with no further details. After explaining what little he knew about the spatial ring and the golden marble, he mentioned the entity's remains that he hoped would shed more light into his brother's situation.

He ended his rant by giving Venito a 'proper brotherly hug' and said, "Welcome to the special people's club or whatever the Abyss you decide to call it... Oh, and you should think extra hard about spreading the love right now. Until you properly claim it, that energy leeks out of you every time you do."

Orison walked away with a benign smile on his face. What he said wasn't a lie but really didn't think the amount, outside of what the last barely living, probably not even sentient, remnant piece took was worth bothering about. Curtailing his brother's manwh*re ways was just sweet revenge. And right before he stepped back into the Centerland suit, a pouting elf woman stomping away let him know that it was already in effect.