~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Today, I told Tal that we were married. I also admitted that I love her. I can't shake the feeling that the first time around it would have take much longer for our feelings for each other to become manifest, but I was forced to reveal my hand by Tal's father, who was obviously already aware of the marriage.
For a while, Tal had been telling us that we had to move, that staying with Reginald was not a good idea. Finally, we managed to convince the other of this and I lead them out of the room towards the stairs. I heard a thud behind me as Tal waited behind, but decided to leave it be. Rupper apparently had heard something as well, as he stormed off with Wuiy close behind playing peacemaker.
What exactly went on with either of them, I do not know, but for the sake of the units integrity, I may have to bring them together to talk about it. I'd heard and seen many of the Keepers closing in on the group, including at least one moving around above us but I considered that to be our best option. I soon found myself alone with Kelly, who I ordered to wait whilst the others regrouped. She spent the time waiting in the shadows, I now know conversing with her damned spider.
Kathy was busy emulating a statue, and drawing crowds as it appeared that uninhabited clothes were floating doing so. Of course, this would draw the keepers but I could not do much without the others. Soon enough, Tal and Rhia re-emerged, so whilst Cal was sent to scout outside, I sent Pepper to search the foundation for Wuyi and Rupper, which took some explanation but eventually took. Within the minute, I heard her screaming, so Tal and myself headed off to find her, followed closely by Kelly.
It was Sawu. The glass spider had grown jealous of Peppers tracking skills and webbed her up. I deftly cut her down, and then turned on Kelly my eyes full of rage. How dare she trap Pepper. The fool girl could have killed my closest friend. I heard Tal behind my soothing the bird and immediately softened. It was an accident, but I would have to watch out for that spider. I did not trust it in the slightest around my Pepper.
Finally, Rupper and Wuyi returned, having almost been attacked by Keepers near the front door. Ushering them back to Rhia, we found her trying to persuade Kathy to move. I was getting pissed at the constant charades, so moved to the Shakti and ordered her to get a move on. After she conversed with Rhia she agreed to do so, in exchange for some sort of gift. The implication being she wanted to sleep with Rupper or myself. Not bloody likely.
We managed to escape and it turned out that the Keepers could not see us, so we slipped past them and headed back towards the caves, where a storm was brewing due to Thanatos' grief at his brothers death. The storm did not bother me much, but I could see the others were getting injured by it. Wuyi, Rhia and Rupper ran to the caves to calm Thanatos, and apparently succeeded because the storm ended whilst Tal, Kelly and myself were speaking to Tal's father, The Big H. My Father-in-Law.
That's right, Huitzilopochtli himself had appeared from the mists at Tal's beckoning, and after forming a protective sheaf about us all, bade us to speed on our way to reblock the underworld before returning at sunset. Just as we left, he referred to me as Tal's husband. Now we really needed to talk. Before that though, we needed to close the underworld. We did so, Rupper and Kelly taking memories of Hypnos and ordering us around. We all managed to recover and even I managed to slip out of the underworld, but not before taking a memory string which resonated with me. Never know when such a thing will come in use.
We met with my Father-In-Law again and wer taken to his realm. It was something of a paradise, and the environment certainly loosened me up for what came next. Not to mention the abundant alcohol. Tal and I were taken separately, and finally I was forced to face facts.
I told her everything of our wedding day, of how we were married. She told me of how she had once killed me. I told her of my doubts, of how I was afraid that our motions could make us weak. She kissed me. I returned it. Finally, we re-established our true bond. Finally we reaffirmed our love in more than one way. I felt at peace, but still at the back of my mind had niggling doubts. I decided it was nothing I could do anything about for now, and pushed it away as we went to meet Rhia and Wuyi.
I'll admit, I took surprisingly well to teasing the girls, and then finally explaining what had come to pass. Amusingly, Rhia threatened to kill me if I ever hurt Tal. I don't think I could ever do anything to upset Tal, she's just too strong, too open with herself. Unlike me.
Finally, we started serious talk, once again of Kathy and of what we were to do next, but the conversation was too much, and the women all fell asleep. I stay awake. Thinking and watching.
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