Lunch

"All right y'all. Is anyone choosing not to go out to lunch?" Seamus looked around the group and realized that with guards included they probably would swamp the restaurant...

"I could eat, like a HORSE! Wait, not an actual horse. Maybe a little one? Noooooo, small ones are, like ponies! Amiright? And ponies are like soooo cute! Wait...what was the question again?" Tiffany asked, her fingers of one hand idly flicking one nipple then Tiffany's other hand flicking her other nipple.

Seamus forced his eyes away from Tiffany's hands. "Lunch...anyone not going out to lunch. Ahem, Tiffany, I assume you're not going to the restaurant though?"

Tiffany pouted. "Why not? Like, I LOVE eating out!" Tiffany bounded up and down on her toes. "It's, like, totally my favorite thing? Welllll, after makeup." Bounce. "And cats." Bounce. "And..."

"Tiffany! You're naked, boo." Alice interrupted her.

Tiffany stopped bouncing. Her eyes widened, and she stared at Alice. "Oh! Yeah? I should like, totally get dressed before we go?" Tiffany's eyebrows furrowed. "Like, probably?"

Keiko groaned. "Tiffany...you just got UNdressed to STOP the vibrator."

Tiffany shrugged. "Soooo? I'll cum at the restaurant!" Flick flick, flick flick, flick.

Keiko sighed. "Seamus..." Keiko turned and looked at him. "...I'm pretty certain most of us want to go. Even if just to watch the coming train wreck."

Tiffany gasped and her fingers stilled. "Nooooo! Train wrecks are, like, REALLY bad! People get hurt in those!" Her eyes watered a little. "Why would you WANT to watch one?"

Keiko shot a glare at Tiffany who missed it.

Seamus wrenched his eyes away from Tiffany's hands again. Sighed. "Tiffany, would you like to be...smarter?" Wow, that came out wrong.

"Wait, WHAT? I AM smart! Ask me ANYthing about makeup! Or, like, the body, and like totally what makes the body look good? Or you! I know what YOU like!" Tiffany said in a rush, tears welling up in her eyes. She sniffled and said something softly that Seamus didn't catch under her breath.

Seamus smiled softly. And felt a pang in his heart. Aaahhhh. That one...felt sweet. "Thanks, Tiffany."

Tiffany suddenly beamed. "For what?" Her fingers resumed movement: flick, flick, flick. Tiffany stared at him with wide eyes, her head slightly cocked.

Keiko's hands shot out and pulled Tiffany's hands away from Tiffany's nipples. "Stop that. Or we'll never get fed." Keiko said, peevishly.

Tiffany shrugged. "Sorry KeiKei! It, totally like just felt sooo good?" She looked down at her nipples, and cocked her head the other way, then looked back up at Seamus, saw him eyeing her nipples, and grinned. She wiggled her hips suggestively.

Keiko let go of Tiffany's hands and ran her own fingers through her hair aggressively, squeezing her eyes tight before relaxing her shoulders with a sharp sigh.

Tiffany's hands wandered down to start stroking her own hips and stomach, her face looking blissful.

Sighing again, Keiko said: "No worries Tiff. And I've told you. Keiko. Kay...ko. Keiko." Keiko repeated, spinning a lock of hair in a tight spiral behind her right ear before pulling hard on it. Her eyes closed briefly and she swayed for a second before she blushed and opened them again, her eyes shooting to Seamus who smiled at her.

Keiko cleared her throat and pressed her legs together. She pursed her lips but couldn't stop the moan. Her tongue slipped out and wetted her lips as she swayed again, her knees turning white from the pressure. Keiko's other hand crept down her stomach before grasping the waistband of her skirt and holding it tightly as her stomach muscles clenched hard. Keiko's eyes shot open and she forcefully spread her legs and breathed in deeply.

Tiffany grinned, her eyes finally clearing as her own hands ceased moving, then she turned and focused on Keiko after Keiko moaned again. "Like totally, KeiKei!"

Keiko smiled back frostily. "It's a good thing you're pretty." Keiko turned back to Seamus and stalked forward.

"Ahhh! Oh my gosh! That's like, TWICE in one day!" Tiffany turned to Seamus and put her hands on her hips, spread her legs and drew her head up tall, whipped her long blonde hair around and told Seamus: "SEE? KeiKei's all, 'Good thing you're pretty,' and I'm like, 'I KNOW, right?' I told you I'm good at makeup and hair!"

Seamus felt momentarily overwhelmed, so he just smiled back, and nodded. "So you did, Tiffany." His eyes flicked back down at her spread legs and he pushed his eyeline back to meet her eyes with an effort. "So you did."

Tiffany smirked, swayed her hips in circles, ran a single fingernail up her side and paused with her finger beside her nipple, blinked her eyes coquettishly at Seamus, and asked: "May I get dressed?" She blinked her eyelashes at him rapidly.

Seamus nodded as he felt Keiko turn his chin towards her.

Keiko smirked up at him. "I'll take the hour, Your Evilness, I'll even ask for three hours...if you agree that the time allowed for finishing goes up exponentially, hour by hour."

Seamus smiled back, nearly saying yes, but he paused on seeing something in her eyes. That look...a memory called to him, so many years back, so he smiled wider, reached up with his right hand, threaded his fingers gently through Keiko's hair close to her scalp and suddenly pulled her head back so her neck arched back, her neck muscles taut as he pushed his chest against her torso trapping her in place. Keiko's eyes went wide in surprise. He leaned in close and whispered into her ear. "I remember you too...Keikei."

Seamus felt her heart pounding as he pressed her harder against his chest, pulling his head back so he could see her face looking up at the ceiling. Keiko's hand slipped down and slid under the hem of his shirt as her mouth parted with a sigh. "Oh...oh thanks be..." she whispered. Seamus saw a small glimmer in her eyes as his grip tightened on her hair. Keiko winced and she shifted a little in a vain attempt to ease the tension.

Seamus slipped his other hand behind her and under her skirt, got a firm grasp of her butt and squeezed hard, getting a firm grasp of her cheer briefs and bunching them up tight in the process. "I'll give you exactly what I want to give you. No more, no less. No bargains." He growled. "You take what I give you." He slipped his right knee between her legs and using her cheer briefs pulled her up so her feet were off the ground, her crotch grinding into the top of his thigh. "Understood, Keikei?" He whispered into her now parted mouth.

Keiko shivered, her legs attempting to come up around his waist until he yanked her cheer briefs tighter in warning. "Yes. Ohhhh. Yes." Her head still pulled back, her neck arched, she moaned hard as the tight position caused the vibrations to grow ever more intense. "Whatever you say. Just...uahghh... don't let me go!" Her other hand started to drop to his chest as the one on his stomach started to go behind his belt.

Oh, naughty girl. Oops. Alice thought with a laugh.

Seamus smirked. "Tsk, tsk. No bargaining."

Keiko froze. Her face went tight.

Seamus pulled his leg out from under her to a protesting whimper as her feet suddenly were dangling inches above the floor. Seamus then swiftly released Keiko's hair, cheer briefs, and butt and she dropped to the floor.

Keiko stumbled backwards a few steps, keeping her arched position, shuddered, put a hand up to her throat, swallowed hard, swallowed again, and then tilted her head back up.

Keiko stared at Seamus. "Sorry, sir." She blushed. Cleared her throat. Fire came back into her eyes. "I mean, you'll have to do better than that!" She put her hands on her hips, shot him a grin, closed her eyes briefly and growled under her breath as she swayed, and her grin faltered. She unsteadily took the two steps back towards Seamus and peered up at him.

"Seamus?" Keiko asked.

Seamus felt his smile disappear at the seriousness in her voice. "Yes, Keiko?" He searched her face in concern.

"H..." Keiko cleared her throat, cleared it again quieter. "How much..." very quietly, "...how much do you remember?" She looked down, but not before he saw the worried look in her eye. Her hands were grasping her skirt tightly, bunching it up a lot.

Seamus felt himself relax. Closed his eyes, revisited the memories. Smiled. Opened them. Shot his right hand out and squeezed her throat, hearing her let out a startled squeak that cut off as the pressure of his hand and thumb on opposite sides of her throat increased swiftly. He leaned in. Used his other hand to pull her chin up roughly and he kissed her hard on the mouth, biting her lip in the process. He dropped his hand from her chin and yanked up her top and then slapped her right breast hard. Her body jerked and a harsh breath burst against his mouth. He slapped her left breast and she jerked again, a cry escaping her into his mouth.

Seamus pulled back. Saw the pain flare in her eyes as her pupils dilated, her cheeks flushed. Seamus lifted Keiko slightly onto her tiptoes and shoved her away. He heard gasps from a few people around them as she landed, stumbled and fell to the ground, her right hand slapping the ground just barely before she hit.

Keiko lay on the ground, her eyes wide in shock, her breath coming in great gasps, her left hand at her throat as she stared at him for a long moment.

Seamus froze, afraid he'd done the wrong thing.

Keiko burst into tears, her left hand frozen on her neck.

Oh crap. Seamus thought. He started to take a step forward. He heard several cheerleaders also take quick steps forward just before he did, but Tiffany didn't move from her spot.

Keiko suddenly pushed with her right hand against the floor and jumped up, then leaped into Seamus's arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as she sobbed out joyfully. "You're back! You're finally, finally back." She closed her eyes as she pushed her face into his chest. "Thank you, God!" Oh, thank you." Keiko cried.

Seamus froze again and hugged Keiko firmly. Kissed her on the head. "I'm trying to be, Keiko. I'm trying to be," he said into her berry-smoothie-smelling hair. He rubbed her back, carefully pulling her top back down as he did so.

Keiko drew her head back off his chest and swiped her left forearm across her face, dashing away the tears. Then she punched his right pec, hard. "Don't do that to us again!" She sniffled, her eyes red.

Keiko looked up into his face and Seamus gave her an exaggerated ow expression. Seamus watched as her expression softened. Keiko pulled her legs back from around his waist, dropped out of his arms, leaned forward, gripped his arm and breathed in his scent, then turned and went back to Tiffany, sniffles punctuating her journey as she went.

Seamus watched Keiko go, his shoulder sagging as he sighed in relief, then he squared his shoulders, turned, and looked down at Maya who had finally stopped growing pony features. Thankfully these features apparently didn't include real pony feet but her new ensemble did include thigh high pony boots. And blinders, bit, bridle, harness, hands in bondage mittens, and bells on clover clamps weighing down her nipples. "Ahhh. Maya. Ready to go?" He forced out through a strangled laugh. Please don't be permanent. Please don't be permanent. Please!

"Neiigh!" Maya said, her eyes full of mirth, and threw her head up and down, stamping one of her feet.

Seamus snorted and laughed. Alice, please tell me she chose those and not that she grew them...

She chose them, dear. She wasn't kidding about wanting to pull you behind her. I recommend not doing that in Baton Rouge on our way to the restaurant though... Alice thought back.

Seamus sighed. "Vavnagal, why are so many weird things happening around me lately?"

Vavnagal smiled. "Incubi always have weird things happen around them. It's part of why succubi love them." She looked abashed. "Although... my King, this time it's partially my fault. When I set up the beta user system for you, I went a little overboard on your effects."

Seamus froze. "My effects. I see. Wait, you set up the user system for me, why? I thought you had a development team."

Vavnagal looked at him steadily. And slow walked her answer, but when Seamus failed to stop her, she sighed. "I had a personal stake in it and a feeling you would need to bypass the typical human emotional attachment delay in preparation for being King, husband."

Seamus closed his eyes, I'm not going to get mad. I love my family. It's a day with my family. All of them, even if some became that way due to supernatural influences...enough. Family. Including Vavnagal. "Okay. Enough chit-chat then. We'll just hope and pray the restaurant can seat all of us at once..."

Dear, before you get too mad at her...just remember why Vavnagal needed to do it. Her people starving make a pretty compelling reason. Alice reminded him.

Seamus growled at Alice, who bowed deeply, mockingly. Seamus sighed. I know, dear. Later. Deal...later.

Making a decision...and before the guards, along with everyone else individually capable of leaping, jumping, folding space, or navigating a controlled singularity departed, Seamus turned to Maya and ordered: “Normal clothing... please.”

Maya pouted, pointed to her boots, and gave him a questioning look. She then neighed through her bit, with her eyebrow quirked while her other hand was held up in a begging motion.

Seamus sighed, then nodded.

Maya beamed, and accepted aid in getting her bondage mittens off.

Tiffany panted and moaned, drawing Seamus's attention back to her. Her knees were pressed together and she was partially bent forward.

Seamus asked: "Are you going to be okay to eat, Tiffany?"

"Mmhmmm! Yes-s-s-s! Oh! Oh! Ooooh! Yeeesss! Please please please!" Tiffany's eyes shot open and she looked at him, pleading.

*Smack!* Keiko smacked Tiffany's butt, hard. "Down girl. We're hungry."

"Yeowch!" Tiffany shot upright, her hand shooting to her butt. "That was, like SO hard! And SO mean! Only Seamus is supposed to do that to me!" Her knees pressed together again and she moaned harder.

Seamus sighed. I won't look in my memory. I won't look in my memory. I won't look in my memory. Not yet, anyway. She is sooo not my regular type. "Transport us...now! Please?" He begged a laughing Sireah. Memories of Tiffany bent over his lap wearing the quintessential schoolgirl outfit whimpering as she counted another spanking, and then another filled his mind for a moment. Traitor! Seamus yelled at his brain as the room dissolved in mist to yet more mental laughter from Alice.

Seamus cleared his throat, pulled his eyes away from Tiffany while he felt his palm begin to itch, and he looked around the parking lot of the restaurant. He made sure everyone was there, and began walking toward the doors. Elaln walked in front of him, Sireah to the left, Alice to his right with a big smirk in her eyes, and Na cuddled up against his back between his wings, somehow managing to walk without tripping either of them.

Tiffany sidled over and said: "You are SO like totally thinking of like, bending me over your knee again, aren't you?" She flicked her hair behind her back and beamed a thousand watt smile at him. And rubbed her thighs together quickly with a suppressed moan.

Seamus stopped walking and stared at her. "How did you...?"

Tiffany pointed to his hand. "Like duh! Your hand! It totally twitched! I SAW it! When you checked out my a...butt. Sorry." Tiffany's smile turned into a deep frown. "I grew up in SoCal, around, like, a TON of Marines? You like legit learn to read that stuff when they walk by. Oh! Why am I even telling you this? You already soooo KNOW that!" She shivered and one hand came up to start pinching a nipple while she rolled her hips before Keiko pulled Tiffany's hand back down by Tiffany's waist.

Seamus smiled at her and put his hand on Tiffany's arm. "It's all right Tiffany. My memory of you is coming back in bits and pieces."

Tiffany's eyes watered and she sniffled. "Wait...you don't remember? Like, ANY of it? Is that why you..." her eyes crossed for a moment "ooooh!" Tiffany cleared her throat, "still call me Tiffany?"

Seamus stilled. Cast through his memory. Groaned. "I am NOT calling you that in public."

Tiffany moaned and clapped a hand over her mouth. Giggled. "Not THAT, silly! Although..."

"Later! Later. Come on Fifi." Seamus turned and started back to the restaurant.

Tiffany squealed and jumped up and down, causing Ranekoo to hiss and flatten her ears at the pitch from her hiding space behind Vavnagal. "Noooo way! You legit REMEMBERED! Oh!" Tiffany stopped jumping and pressed on her stomach. "Jumping makes the vibes worse! Ooohhhhh! Please please please may I...?"

"No!" Came the chorus again.

Tiffany pouted. Tossed her hair and bounced after them.

Seamus chuckled, then rolled his eyes as Na started using the base of his tail to rub her groin back and forth on as they walked. But he decided to let her do it. Instead, he reached back and chose to tickle her side.

Na shrieked in laughter and swiftly flinched to the left. "Not there! Ooh, not there! My liege please, still healing there!"

Seamus saw a few people walking nearby look over with small smiles on their faces as they chuckled and continued on their way.

"Sorry, Na." Seamus said as the doors opened and they walked in.

"My liege, next time you want to tickle me, I recommend tying me down so I don't claw you by mistake. Securely. Preferably with titanium plate cuffs." Na said, licking his wing root gently.

Seamus shivered and growled: "Not so loudly in public kittycat." He reached back and softly pushed her face away from his wing root.

"Yes, my liege." Na's voice came back with a purr. Quietly she said: "Feel free to tickle between my legs anytime."

Seamus heard Tiffany's whimpers grow fainter and he quickly looked back to see her stuffing her fist part-way in her mouth. He was about to open his mouth and just give her permission anyway when Keiko once again touched her finger to her lips.

Seamus sighed. Good point Keiko. She probably wouldn't be all that quiet...stop it brain! Traitor! I didn't need to know that right now!

Alice snickered.

Seamus turned and smiled at the patient hostess in her red plaid crop-top shirt: "Sorry about the sudden drop-in on you ma'am, but do you have room for around abouts sixty people?"

The hostess froze, her hand having been in the process of reaching for menus, pushed her black bangs behind her ears and stared as woman after woman entered the restaurant. "Uhhh." She turned, left the menus behind, walked partially past the hostess station and peered into the, thankfully, partially empty restaurant. "Let me...check."

She craned her neck around the restaurant, her right forefinger swiftly bouncing from table to table, started to shake her head, paused, and turned back to Seamus. "Do you all need to sit together?"

"I'd like to, but I know some of my party needs to be at any sight lines or entrances or exits to the main parties table." Seamus said easily. "And I apologize again, I realized too late I should have called ahead."

The hostess froze again. Looked at him closely, looked at a few of the people with him, then turned back into the restaurant again, thought for a moment longer, and finally nodded bruskly. "If we did the booth by the bathroom at four people, then a booth by the kitchen with another four...yes...I think we can accommodate you." She turned back around and grabbed a tall stack of menus.

"Excellent! Thank you ma'am." Seamus followed her as she led him, Alice, Na, Nazps-Odo, Vavnagal, Tiffany, Keiko, Maya, Ranekoo, Sireah, Lal, Elaln, and Hanae to a trio of tables the servers were joining together in the dining area next to the bar. One of the younger cheerleading staff members with long, wavy auburn chestnut brown hair with hazel green eyes took a deep breath, then joined them as well. Seamus took a deep breath of his own and smiled. Ahhh. Love the smell of that food.

Seamus watched as the cheerleaders and guards filled the nearby booths, occupying nearly empty booth and table in that half of the restaurant. Looking over his shoulder, a couple of guards were at the bar, resting easily on the stools, their tails tucked under the stools and their wings folded close behind while the rest had grabbed tables or booths spread out through the restaurant.

Multiple patrons looked over curiously with quirked eyebrows, but they then turned back and resumed talking with their lunch companions.

Seamus sat down and lifted Alice's left hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand while he looked her in the eyes. I'm sorry for this morning dear. His eyes were filled with the remorse he felt.

It's fine. Just please don't take us down that path again. I had no idea your mind could be so bleak while outwardly so calm. If I hadn't known better...I would have called a psychologist. Alice thought back at him.

Seamus quirked a smile. "Can you just imagine how that would have gone?"

Alice laughed lightly. "Hello Dr. Jung. I've been having nightmares that're impacting my abilities to handle being King of a race of succubi and incubi..." Alice trailed off quickly as her eyes widened as she looked over Seamus's shoulder.

"Hi, sweetie! I'm Melody. What can I..." Seamus looked up to see the waitress stop, frown, blush, look around quickly, shifted her body close to the table next to him, partway pushing between him and the young cheerleading staff member...what was her name? Linda. Oh! Not the youngest staff member. Oops... and Melody slid a finger up between the tight high cut blue jean shorts and her thighs to start awkwardly pulling and wrestling with something under her shorts.

"Get started..." Melody finally pulled her finger out from under her shorts, the waistband of her panties in tow, and forcefully pulled them down over her knee. Melody stretched them badly before hopping like mad while getting the panties off of her foot. "...for you?" She looked at Seamus expectantly.

Seamus cleared his throat, and trying to studiously ignore the machinations of the waitress, he kept his eyes on her face and smiled gently at her. "Sweet tea please, ma'am. And the sirloin steak, with the lemon garlic pilaf please. Oh, and a Brandy Alexander...no, sorry. Forgot, you don't have that. Louisiana Mule please."

Seamus turned back to talk to Alice but before he could get another word out, a pair of panties landed in his lap. Seamus closed his eyes, stifled a sigh, turned back to the waitress: "Thank you, ma'am."

"Sure thing sugar!" The waitress said, she turned and started writing down the drink orders for everyone else. "I love your costumes by the way! So lifelike!" She adjusted her shorts with one hand as she set the pad of paper down and prepared to write Linda's order. "How about you, miss?"

"Bloody Mary, please. Extra olives." Linda said, then stopped. "Wait! Sorry, make it a virgin please."

"Sure thing sweetie." Melody said as she wrote it with one hand while her other finished pulling her shorts back in order.

Seamus cleared his throat and responded to her compliment. "Thanks, ma'am. It was hard to get my wings right. My feathers kept coming out."

Multiple people groaned and Sireah glared at him. Seamus shifted his leg just in time to avoid a kick from someone and he stuck his tongue out at Sireah, assuming it was her.

"Huh? What wings?" Melody asked, craning over backwards, looking at his back. She blinked for a moment, her eyes defocusing, then she shrugged, stepped around Linda, and turned back to take Na's drink order next. Melody's eyes went wide when Na ordered ten orders of Ragin' Redfish. "Are you certain... Sorry sugar! Okay. And to drink?"

Seamus was still staring at the waitress in shock when Alice tapped his arm and whispered. "I know you have wings and I can barely see them honey."

"What?" Seamus turned to Alice and looked at her in surprise.

Vavnagal said from the other side of Alice. "Probably the Fae background, husband." She shifted her wings carefully to fit over her chair and winced as her tail caught in the chair back. Vavnagal shifted uncomfortably, finally sitting up a little, adjusting her lace panties and her tail away from the pinch points on the chair before sitting back down with a sigh of relief.

"Ah. Oh! Is that why Sireah couldn't..." Seamus looked over at Sireah who suddenly smiled, looking relieved. "I'd forgotten Nazps-Odo mentioned the glamour."

Sireah spoke up: "I remembered the glamour last night but didn't realize it worked on all of you, Master, and not just the wings and tail." Sireah paused then continued: "And the crown."

Melody was standing behind Sireah now, and Seamus saw her shoot a look at Sireah, Melody's eyes flickering down to Sireah's neck, then over to Seamus with a wide O shape on her lips. Melody's eyes flickered over to Vavnagal, then to Alice's hand that Seamus was holding and she blushed. Melody cleared her throat and leaned forward a little to take Sireah's order.

Seamus frowned. His eyes flicked from Melody to Sireah and back again. He nearly glared, but thought better of it.

Sireah inclined her head and mouthed an apology back.

Seamus shrugged with a smile. Then frowned when he felt a hand slide into his right pocket from behind him. Letting go of Alice's hand, Seamus was about to grab the hand disappearing from his pocket when he saw Alice smirk and quickly shake her head. Seamus closed his eyes. Let me guess.

"Yup. Another one for your treasure box." Alice teased. I think those came from the bartender. Alice turned around. Yup. She's adjusting herself now like she had to remove a little something dainty and sheer. And purple.

Seamus rolled his eyes, and you can see whether someone removed a specific color, texture, and cuteness level, can you?

Woman's intuition dear. Mayhap don't question it. Alice thought.

Seamus snorted, delicately picked up Melody's panties from his lap with the tips of two fingertips, folded them gently, pulled the second pair from his pocket, also folded that pair, and then held them out to Sireah who smiled, accepted them, and spirited them away.

Hanae leaned in close to Vavnagal, speaking low. "Gomen. Heika, hai?" She bowed lightly towards Vavnagal.

Vavnagal turned to regard her gravely. "Once before and yet again, yes. But so are you now, dear young one."

Hanae froze. Took a breath and continued. "Ah, so...Heika, does that?" Hanae flicked the backs of her fingers in the general direction towards the opposite side of the table where Sireah was sitting. "...happen often?"

Vavnagal nodded once. "Hai, it is tribute paid to His Majesty. Also a consequence of Seamus's pheromonal impact. An impact which has only heightened since his marriage to Na."

Seamus felt his eyes widen and he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye as Melody stumbled, dropped her pad and bent down to retrieve it. "Vavnagal. Stop teasing the poor waitress."

"Yes, Master." Vavnagal bowed gently from her chair. "My King, I offer my apologies."

Seamus felt... something. He frowned. "Please be careful with those words." Something stirred inside...something...he couldn't quite grasp.

Vavnagal frowned herself, but it was Nazps-Odo who stiffened.

Nazps-Odo asked: "Husband. Give me permission to use my magic to check your soul." She looked concerned, then added bruskly. "Please."

Seamus sighed as Melody froze and stared at Nazps-Odo with wide eyes, her pad once again on the ground, fallen from frozen fingers.

Maya reached down, picked up the pad, held it out to Melody, who unblinkingly eventually accepted it.

Melody turned and looked at Seamus from across the table. Opened her mouth, closed it again. Wrote down something on her pad, then shook her head, and moved on to take Ranekoo's order. Melody again froze at the large order of Ragin' Redfish. But kept moving on around the table.

Seamus finally decided to answer Nazps-Odo here in the restaurant, in public. So he nodded. And instantly regretted his curiosity.

Nazps-Odo drew some sigils in the air above the table, the flames of the sigils attracting multiple curious glances from the patrons and Melody stopped pretending to focus on work and just stared at the spectacle. After Nazps-Odo had finished writing a horizontal line at the top, she drew a large circle in the middle underneath, the top of the circle tangent with the line. Afterwards, she drew short jagged lines in several places under the horizontal line and inside the circle. When she finished, she drew a forward slash with the midpoint of the slash touching the end of the horizontal line and then with her right hand, pushed the flaming sigil set with her hand towards Seamus.

Seamus watched as the sigil flared, then swirled into a new set of sigils, his name circle not appearing again this time. Seamus blinked. My name circle? What?

Alice's head whipped back to face him so quickly he thought she'd crack her neck. Honey? You could read that?

Seamus gaped. "Uhhh. Sort of? Not really. I mean...maybe..."

Nazps-Odo's eyes were laser focused on reading the sigils. Her lips moved soundlessly. She swiped her hand through the remaining sigils, dissipating them before staring off into the distance, her eyes wide.

Multiple people in the restaurant started clapping softly, murmuring impressed noises.

Nazps-Odo's wings shivered and she said: "We must teach you tonight, husband."

"Teach me what?" Seamus asked.

Nazps-Odo drew in a deep breath. Let it out. "How to safely raise the dead, and how to avoid it." Her brows furrowed. "Oh. And how to choose when to control the minds of someone else."

Melody's hands shook as she wrote on her notepad, her eyes flickering around the table rapidly.

Seamus froze. "Uhhh. Shouldn't learning not to control someone's mind come before raising the dead?"

"The price of a mind is fleeting and mortal. The price of the dead can be eternal and steep." Nazps-Odo drummed her fingers on the table slowly, then stilled. She turned to look at the quaking Melody. "Coffee, black. Lumbar vertebra and attached meat of a dead cow, blue. No dead plants. Be not afraid. Your time has not come yet." Nazps-Odo turned back to the table and furrowed her brow, deep in thought.

Melody blanched. Then she moved on to take Hanae's order as Seamus pinched the bridge of his nose and laughed softly.

A few minutes later, having gathered a few food orders and everyone's drink orders, Melody beat a hasty retreat.

Seamus turned to Nazps-Odo. "That was mean. Funny, but mean."

Nazps-Odo blinked at him. "Explain please."

"Telling her her time has not come? Great way to make someone scared to death of you!" Seamus laughed. Then winced at the bad pun.

Nazps-Odo frowned hard. "I told her be not afraid. Then I explained why she shouldn't be afraid."

Seamus chuckled. "In other words: I haven't come to kill you. Today."

Nazps-Odo kept frowning. "Yes. Exactly."

Seamus sighed. Turned to a laughing Alice. "Dear?"

"Oh no. I think you're handling this quite fine on your own." Alice said.

Seamus made a sour face. Raised her hand to his lips. Kissed it slowly while looking up at her through his eyelashes.

Alice sighed, her laughter dying with a smile. "I hate it when you do that."

"No you don't." Seamus continued kissing her hand.

Alice crinkled her eyes in amusement. "No, I don't. By the way, do you like my tits in this shirt?" She grinned wickedly as Seamus choked and coughed at her question.

Seamus sighed. "Fine." He thought hard.

Alice gasped.

It worked! Seamus thought with a grin.

Seamus! Alice squirmed in the chair. Public!

And? Seamus smiled. Just... Don't.... Cum.

Alice glared at him, a glare that was somewhat softened as her hand bore down on his. Seamus! The ridges...

Yes...? Seamus replied, aware of feathers ruffling around them as the guards started spreading their wings a little and Seamus could feel his own doing the same. The extra energy influx was nice. Seamus gave her a slight pout, cleared his throat and thought again.

Alice sighed in relief. Thank you dear. She blushed. That plug responds really fast to your wants.

Seamus shrugged and grinned. Thought I'd give you a little of what the cheerleading team is going through right now. Seamus frowned. Oops. One hour from the maze will put them here in the restaurant. He sighed. Didn't quite think that one through.

Alice let out a peal of laughter.

Seamus returned the hand holding Alice's back to the table, turned to face the group and then heard Linda take a deep, shaky breath, then let it out. Seamus cast a careful eye on Linda's face, which was pinched, and worried. Her legs were crossed primly, her back straight, an her hands resting pressed lightly against her thigh, one atop the other. She reminds me so much of the picture in her office right now. The one back in the 60's when she was a 20-year-old pageant winner.

Alice gasped from beside him. Your memory...I didn't realize she was that old. You and her danced so lively together!

Seamus smiled softly. If you go by her calendar birthday, she's in her 80's now. Not 22. I...gave her 40 years back to dance the night away more easily again. His memories filled with pleasant thoughts of Wednesday nights, learning West Coast Swing with an enthusiastic partner, her lightly dyed auburn hair flying through the spins, careful in her footsteps as she made her way gracefully through the movements.

Alice grasped his hand tightly as another memory filled his mind of the night Linda had gained 40 years of her life back. Seems she enjoyed it rather spectacularly from that memory.

Seamus blushed. And hesitated.

Alice raised his hand to her lips and kissed it. That was sweet what you did. No. Don't taint that memory thinking you did it to see your Custom Girl nearly your own age. I saw your thoughts, you saw her love of dance and gave her the chance to enjoy it for another 40 years.

Seamus sighed. Nodded, smiled and lay his head on Alice's shoulder.

Linda looked over quickly and then back down again. A finger of her lower hand was picking at her hose and she rapidly pushed her hand flat against the leg. "Seamus."

"Yes, Linda." Seamus sat back up again. He turned to face her.

Linda took a deep, steadying breath. "I need to preface what I wish to say with something else first." She turned her head to face him. "I've heard your wishes and how you feel regarding marriage." She looked at him steadily. "I've been married five times before."

Seamus's eyes widened. But he kept quiet and nodded.

Linda blew out a slow breath. Kept her eyes steady on his. "I had two sons. Both died in the Persian Gulf during the first Gulf war." Her eyes closed and she took another deep, steadying breath. "The pain lost me my first marriage, and my faith." She opened her eyes again.

Seamus gripped Alice's hand a little tighter and heard the sympathetic voices around him murmur.

Steeling herself, Linda continued. "We've had exactly one night together, eight weeks...no. Twenty years ago. You owe me nothing. I greatly appreciate the gift you have given me. I will treasure...it...always." Her breath hitched. She looked over at Alice, then slowly looked around the table, then back at Seamus. "You have enough wives to take your attention, and I don't wish to be a burden upon you." Her lip quirked. "By your reckoning, I have six husbands already, including you."

Seamus nodded for her to go on.

Linda's lip trembled slightly, then stilled. Her eyes were steady, and clear as she said: "I will continue to be the cheerleading program director, helping my team transition from who we were twenty years ago to who we are now." She looked at him cautiously as she asked: "I have seen your love for my team, and their love for you, even my staff loves you. From what Vavnagal says, that might have been chemically aided, but I don't think it was only that. I can go back to being a program director, just as I always have been, with fond memories of our dancing. But I need to know what you want."

Seamus pondered her words as Linda fell silent. Alice?

Yes, dear. Alice replied.

I don't know as I would say that I love Linda the way I love any of the rest. But I enjoyed dancing with her immensely. And that night was special to me. But it is like she said. I have a lot of wives already. Do I really have time to care for her the way she deserves to be cared for? Seamus asked.

Alice squeezed his hand. Dear, you are asking the wrong question.

Seamus frowned. Ah. How would I feel if she was no longer here.

Alice was quiet in response.

I would miss her. Seamus closed his eyes. Please don't hate me.

Alice squeezed his hand fiercely.

Ow. Seamus protested.

Seamus Malone...don't ever think that. Alice thought peevishly.

Seamus smiled. And opened his eyes to see Linda's face placid, still, and her back and shoulders steeled. "I would miss you greatly if you weren't here."

Linda's face was still...still. But her back and shoulders eased.

"I have a bounty of riches, more than I think I deserve. But if it be not too greedy of me, I'd be happy if you stayed." Seamus said.

Linda smiled at that. "It might be a bit greedy. But I'd be happy to stay as well." Her hands left her thigh and rested low on her stomach. "And I don't think I'm as worried about this answer after seeing your expressions recently...but..."

Seamus's eyes widened at the placement of her hands. "Noooo...really?!" His grip crushed Alice's hand.

Ow! My turn to say: owww! Alice complained good-naturedly, but Seamus could feel the hint of slight pain and jealousy in her thoughts.

Sorry dear. Seamus thought back and relaxed his hand. He squeezed her hand lightly this time.

Linda nodded.

Multiple congratulations murmured from the table, accompanied by shocked whispers from several of the squad.

Seamus beamed. "But...it only was..."

"The once. Yes." Linda smiled easily. "First you gave me a great gift, then a greater still." Her eyes shone with tears. Her shoulders shook a moment. "Thank you." She let one smile curl up higher than the other. "Needless to say...I was out of the practice of thinking about birth control, even if I had wanted it."

Seamus laughed.

Maya snickered, then cleared her throat.

Linda shot a stern look at Maya, who looked abashed and mouthed an apology.

Linda gave her a small smirk in return, and Maya looked relieved.

Seamus held out a hand. "May I?"

Linda looked back at him. "You've done a lot more than touch my stomach young man...I mean...oh sweet suffering sassafras this is weird." Linda laughed lightly, her face lighting up as she smiled.

Seamus kept holding his hand, waiting.

Linda looked up impatiently, then nodded with her smile growing bigger.

Seamus rested his hand on her stomach and felt his face go gooey.

"Aaah! I want ShayShay to look at me like that." Tiffany said with a sigh.

"Get pregnant." Keiko told her.

Tiffany sat upright. "That's it? Oh! Wait...ShayShay didn't know?"

"What do you mean? None of us knew." Keiko said.

Tiffany laughed. Then stopped and looked around. "Wait...none of you knew? But how? Like, HELLO? It was sooo obvi!"

Linda stared at Tiffany. "How long have you known young lady? Tiffany. I..." Linda sighed.

"DUH! The next day after she found out! You were like totally glowing?" Tiffany gushed. "I was like, sooooo jealous...I wanted to be the first to have his baby...but I'll be his first babies Auntie now!" She bounced on the chair. "Oooh. That was, like, a mistake. Can I cum now?"

"No!" Keiko shot back.

"Young...Tiffany. Tiffany, a restaurant is not the best...oh dear. Seamus?" Linda turned wide eyed to look at Seamus.

Seamus winced. "Yes...I realized that earlier."

"Ah." Linda settled, Seamus's hand still on her stomach. And smiled. "All good then, long as you have a plan." She closed her eyes. Opened one with a small slit. "You do have a plan, right?"

Seamus grinned back sheepishly.

Linda sighed.

"Your Majesty?" Lal asked. "Not to interrupt, but I have a curiosity question."

Seamus chuckled, then checked with Linda who nodded, so he looked up. "Yes, Lal? Go ahead."

"For all the waitresses are dressed quite nicely, there doesn't seem to be as much Erogen output as I was expecting from the other patrons." Lal said slowly.

Seamus smiled. "Probably because most people I've met come here for the food, not to gawk at eye candy." Seamus cleared his throat and smiled apologetically as Melody paused in setting down the first of the coasters from the tray, and then nodded gratefully to her as she set the drink down beside him on the coaster.

Melody paused before moving to the next person with her tray. "Did I hear correctly...are you Fairy? And everyone in your party...those aren't costumes for the football game today?" Melody asked hesitantly.

Seamus smiled sheepishly. "Apparently I am. But most of my life...well, I thought I was entirely human. And everyone here...well, the cheerleaders in uniform are actually cheerleaders and they are playing in the Cypress State University football game later today."

"Go Wardens!" Cried Maya.

"G-o Wardens! Gooooo Wardens!" Cried every cheerleader in the restaurant in response.

Seamus laughed. And spotted a few patrons rolling their eyes and smiling, shaking their heads, most of whom were wearing purple and gold with tigers festooned somewhere on them, but the vast majority of the patrons laughed and cheered back good-naturedly. He turned back to Melody who was going from a smile to a frown. "Yes. In answer to your deeper question, a lot of us aren't human or not entirely human anymore."

Melody looked scared again. She looked at Nazps-Odo. "And..." She gulped. "...her?"

Seamus smiled reassuringly. "Angel of Death."

Melody brightened at Angel and paled at death. "Oh. So God really exists then. Did the rapture already happen and we're the ones left behind?"

A snort from Nazps-Odo filled the dead silence that answered her. "There is zero basis for that left behind belief." She thought for a second and then said. "Not that I would deny that the Most High might do that, but it's unlikely. Do not fear, young one. The trumpets haven't sounded. You would have heard them by now if the presence of Miz on Earth were indicative of that."

Melody blinked. "Huh? Trumpets? Miz?"

Nazps-Odo grumbled and sighed and muttered under her breath.

Seamus smiled slightly. "Melody, I would recommend reading the book of Revelation...that might help."

"Oh." Melody nodded, then peered carefully at Nazps-Odo. "Does everyone else know what you want to eat?" She asked.

Seamus felt more at ease now than he had in a while. He listened to the patter of voices wash over him like rain and relaxed as he took occasional sips of his drink. A while later he started in surprise as a hand appeared in front of him with food and he smiled in thanks at the server. Looking around the table, he saw everyone grab hands.

Seamus looked over at Linda and quirked an eyebrow.

Linda closed her eyes, then nodded slowly. She held out her hands as well.

Seamus did his best to ignore the pain in his left hand from Linda's grip, and mourned the hot tears accompanying her pained face as he prepared to say grace.

"Lord, we thank you for this food and the blessings of the family that you have provided, those here now and those soon to join. Thank you for life, love, and laughter. Thank you for joy, even with times that are hard. Please help us remember the good in the bad. And bless the hands that prepared the food and the servers serving the food, Amen."

"Amen." Chorused his family, and guards.

Linda paused, then slowly made the sign of the cross.

Seamus waited for her to finish, then reached back out and caressed her hand.

Linda looked up. Sat up straighter and nodded briskly. Then she gave him a soft, old smile.

Seamus smiled back carefully. Then he turned back to his food, and ate.