Several Conversations

Maria was not sure why Jayne looked so nervous about another guest. She’d met Tasya before... sure she wasn’t human. Or, depending on your philosophy, more human than human. Although she felt a desire to tell Jayne everything, she thought something like that she should hear from Tasya herself.

“So, yeah apparently your father called her to run a series of tests on me. One of which is a sleep study, so she’ll be in here with us tonight.” Jayne explained.

That would explain Jayne’s nervousness. That was disappointing. Unless... no that’s a stupid idea. “Well I guess it can’t be helped, our ‘us time’ may have to be pushed back.” She didn’t like it, but it wasn’t like Jayne wasn’t worth the wait. She thought there was something very earnest about the redhead that she’s so willing to go along with these tests. But she supposed everyone, especially her, wanted to know about her powers. Still, it didn’t sit right with her that her father had ordered these tests without even consulting Jayne.

“... first handjob...”

Wait. What? She’d been so lost in thought she didn’t even realize Jayne was still speaking. Stupid move, she told herself. But what did she say, handjob? What was she talking about? “I’m sorry, I apologize., can you repeat that? I zoned out.”

Jayne died a little inside just then. No, not seriously but she had just worked up the courage to let Maria know about her very brief, sexual history with Tasya. She hadn’t particularly wanted to say anything the first time but she felt the need to be honest with Maria. Was this a test? Was Maria pretending, just to see if she’d change her story? That was tempting now. But no. Instead she went to sit next to Maria on the bed, “hold me, and please don’t be mad at me... I don’t wanna repeat that but I will.

Maria suddenly had a sinking feeling in her stomach, what had she missed that had been so important? She wrapped her arm around Jayne, “I’m sorry. I’m listening now. I promise.” She tried to reassure her with a gentle squeeze.

“Okay... So I just wanted you to know, I have a very brief uh... history with Tasya. She gave me my first handjob. I didn’t want that to come out and then you think I was hiding it from you”

To her mind, what Jayne said sounded somewhat like a car crash. “I see... I appreciate your honesty.” Maria looked away blushing, she wondered why she was about to ask her these things, “... did you like it?”

From the depths of the Internet, Commodore Snackbar came to the forefront of Jayne’s mind, repeating his famous line, “It’s an ambush!” She tried to push the memes away in order to answer. “I uh... yes.”

She told herself she had zero reasons to be jealous, this was obviously before they’d even met, but the next question came almost unbidden. “Whose did you like better” She felt her cheeks burning.

“Well, yours, obviously. You and I were both extremely worked up, really into it and I wasn’t basically paralyzed at the time.” Jayne was actually surprised at the speed and candor was able to answer that.

Part of Maria relaxed and she felt a smug satisfaction, that she was better. Wait. Paralyzed. “I’m sorry you were paralyzed at the time??” She looked at Jayne with concern.

Jayne’s mind saw the bright yellow sign that said ACHTUNG MINEN with a skull and crossbones on it and decided this would be a fine place to play hopscotch.”Yeah...apparently I was delirious when she found me, and I kept fighting her when she try to put an IV fluid drip since I was extremely dehydrated. I have no real memory of that though.”

A reasonable mind would have thought that through and seen it made sense. But all Maria had heard was that Tasya had **** and then given her girlfriend a hand job while she couldn’t move.

10 seconds later...

“Maria?” Jayne asked with some concern.

20 seconds later...

Maria’s rational mind was slow to engage when it involved Jayne, “No. I get it... Okay, but how did that lead to a handjob?”

In actuality, Jayne had never played hopscotch. “Well...” she shifted nervously, “I realized I wasn’t wearing any clothes, I’m not sure why my mind went there, but I straight out said ‘I guess I’m naked under these covers’ I think. She kinda stuttered and said she had to check for damage. I’m guessing she also did that to clean me up, because I remember I was soaking from sweat, my own drool, and uh... you know. She had put my clothes in the wash. But,” Jayne bit her lip and looked at her feet, “I kinda flirted with her... because I had a boner, and it was obvious through the blanket... and I saw her looking at it... and I said a really cheesy pick-up line trying to flirt. I don’t know if it came across the way I wanted it to. I simply asked, ‘So, am I... damaged?’ to which she stammered, that no I was ‘fully functional’. Then because I could kinda tell we were both aroused, I asked for help with it... my boner... because I couldn’t move to do anything about it. In my defense, I had just been in a locker overnight, stuffed with sex toys and unable to move or do anything about it. So that was my first handjob... first time anyone had touched me, pleasantly anyway. I do remember feeling kinda bad about it. Like I was manipulating her. But when I think about it, that doesn’t make a lot of sense either. It was kinda confusing, and then my entire world changed, which you know about.” She then paused to breathe having realized she blurted all that out nervously in a single breath.

“Honestly, the confluence of events that led to that is so bizarre I can’t even be angry,” Maria said. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about the fact that Jayne wasn’t able to move when that happened. “If she came here expecting to, do more than test, tonight... would you want it?”

Maybe skip roping through a minefield was more Jayne’s speed instead. But she was able to reply immediately, “not if came between us.” she looked up at Maria.

Maria studied Jayne’s earnest eyes, she had been completely honest with her, even when she certainly didn’t need to be. She realize Jayne made the difficult decision to talk to her about it, twice, and she had not made it easy on Jayme with all these questions either. “What if I allowed it?”

In her mind’s eye, Jayne saw the golden explosions of fireworks, the two women naked on the bed making out before looking at her and both giving come hither motions with lusty bedroom eyes, a symphony orchestra played Ode to Joy. “Yes...??”

“We’ll see how she feels then... of course, you and I are a package deal though. I will not be excluded,” Maria smiled and gave Jayne a kiss on her forehead.

Knock Knock

“Lady Lucero?” came a voice from beyond the door.

“Yes Jeeves, you may enter.”

A tall man in his later years entered. Everything from his motion, his posture, even eyes spoke of a professional who had trained and honed his mannerism over decades of experience. He wore a black suit with tails and white gloves. Jeeves, their butler.

“Seamstress Livia requests the presence of Miss Bronwen after she is refreshed, before dinner,” his speech was a sort of practiced dispassion.

“We’ll get washed up and be down there shortly, thank you Jeeves,” Maria replied.

“Begging your pardon, My Lady, while I would never seek to stop you from coming, she was quite insistent about seeing Miss Bronwen alone.”

Maria didn’t feel right about leaving Jayne unguarded... but Livia had been with them for years, she looked to Jayne who was waiting for approval, and nodded. “Very well. Thank you, I’ll walk her there shortly.” That seemed like a good compromise. Besides Jayne would need to find her way there at least.

“Thank you, My Lady, I’ll let her know,” he bowed and stepped out of the room backwards closing the door with ingrained muscle memory.

Maria smiled at Jayne ruefully, “well... I would help you wash up, but I think we’d keep Livia waiting longer than she’d like. I’ve learned you do not keep a woman with that many needles waiting.

One shower later...

Jayne strolled out of the bathroom wearing only a towel. She noted how different it felt with this body. Since filling out it felt like the towels were smaller than they should be. It felt farther away from the rest of her body as it hung from her new breasts. It almost felt more lewd than wearing nothing at all. She smiled when saw that Maria had picked another outfit for her since what she’d worn to train in had been soaked in sweat.

Her eyes followed Jayne across the room, she grinned. “Hey... sexy,” she was still new to this whole flirting thing as well. Her cheeks turned from rosy to crimson as Jayne returned her grin with a hint of mischief in her emerald eyes only to drop the towel right in front of her. The redhead’s lightly freckled, curvy yet athletic body was on full display. She felt her heart flutter.

“Hey there yourself, beautiful,” Jayne replied, she blushed brightly as well as felt Maria’s eyes taking all of her in. She fidgetted a little as the idea of deliberately putting herself on display like this was alien to her. She moved on to get dressed, realizing if she stood there facing Maria that there was a good chance she wouldn’t be able to fit in whatever she had given her to wear. However, she did make a point of bending over slide on her socks and panties. ‘So this is what it feels like to another’s eyes on you you like this,’ she knew Maria hadn’t taken her eyes off of her without even looking. She slipped on a pair of dark bell bottom blue jeans that hugged her hips nicely. Another sports bra that helped conceal some of her new growth, and a mint green form-fitting turtleneck sweater that came down far enough to help conceal her bulge. She turned back sound, “what do you think?”

Maria had a kinda love-drunk grin on her face, “I think I better show you to Livia before I undo all the work you just did getting dressed." She’d slipped on some more casual shoes and waited for Jayne to slip back into the boots she’d given her this morning. Most of them were hidden under the flared pants legs of the bell bottoms. “Come on, I’ll show you there and then get lost before she can realize I was there.”

One mansion wing later...

“Here she is... I dunno what this is about. But hopefully getting you some new clothes. Not that I mind picking outfits for you,” Maria grinned as she stopped a good deal before the doorway to Livia’s workshop.

“Alright. I don’t know how long this will take... but I’m sure we’ll see each other at dinner,” Jayne waved to Maria and then turned to the door, took a breath, and knocked.

“Come in,” came a woman’s voice from the other side.

Jayne stepped through the threshold to see a beautifully furnished fitting room. There stood a woman in her earlier forties who had long black hair with a few streaks of silvery gray that seemed to give her more of a noble look, than an aged one. Her face was gorgeous, even if her expression was severe. She wore a black jumper that came down just below her knees and long sleeve white collared shirt underneath.

“Miss Bronwen. Good to meet you, do close the door behind you,” she grabbed a nearby measuring tape.

Jayne complied, “yes ma’am. Pleased to meet you as well,” she offered her hand for a moment, Livia stared at it, before motioning her over toward a series of mirrors and stools.

“Please don’t take my attitude as a slight, Miss Bronwen. I’m not what they call a people person, arms outstretched please” she began to take Jayne’s measurements.

Well. She really wasn’t a people person. Lenora Lind Livia, age 43. Extremely good at her job. Kept on as staff, she does fitting and tailoring for the Lucero household. Likes dogs, allergic to cats. Her true passion is knitting and she makes a little extra income on the side from running a business online selling her patterns and the like. Her hobby is video games, which she never brings up primarily due to the lack of anyone else in the household being an avid enough player to keep up or know what she’s talking about. This, unfortunately, makes finding good people to co-op with difficult. Hates playing with randos, also has no patience for your bullshit. Has a compulsion to get all the collectibles and achievements.

“So. Miss Bronwen. Either the uniform you came to us in has shrunk beyond all reason, or you’ve had a growth spurt that defies modern medicine,” she finished taking her measurement. “You can put arms down now dear.”

“Well... I uh...”

“Save your explanation. I hear you’re a mage, and around here one learns to take such things in stride. If you’re to stay here for any period of time though, you’ll need a new wardrobe. I imagine even if someone were to go gather all your old clothes most of them would no longer fit.”

A little surprised by how direct she is, Jayne nodded in agreement.

“Tonight’s dinner is going to be more formal. Lord Lucero is hosting more guests... So we’re seeing if I eyeballed your new measurements right yesterday when you were wearing that awful green tabard.”

Jayne winced “Was it really that bad?”

“Meh. It would’ve been solid 5 or 6 out of 10 for a cosplay event. Now strip if you would.”

“I uh... I mean.” she hesitated.

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, Miss. This is my job.”

“O-okay if you say so.”

One outfit later...

“Well. This is a new challenge actually...” the seamstress said calmly looking at Jayne’s flaccid eight-and-a-half-inch cock. She looked Jayne in the face, an eyebrow arched, “I have a solution... even if somewhat lewd and inelegant.”

Jayne tried to maintain eye contact even though she was naked and blushing. “Y-you do?”

“Right, just a moment...” she disappeared into the back room for a moment before returning with a black lacy piece of clothing and a lacy ring of cloth. “Try these on first.” she presented Jayne with a pair of lacy black crotchless panties.

Jayne swallowed... “you just happened to have those laying around. In my size?”

“Call it serendipity if you will. I’ve long had a number of eventualities planned. Including Lady Lucero bringing home a woman she fancied. You won me $50 by the way. Anyway. I’d planned to make sure to arrange a fitting for the object of her affection, so she has something nice to unwrap later. Now put it on, I won't say a it third time.”

Jayne was very surprised at how forthright the woman was with her, she complied slipping into the tiny lacy bit of fabric. It actually felt really nice on her skin... But it did indeed leave her complete undercarriage exposed. “H-how did you-?”

“My dear, our employer though he may be a good man, is willfully blind of some things, and ignorant of others. He had no idea how to raise a young woman. It took a few of the maids with more candor than sense to help Lady Lucero come into her own as she was growing up. But anyway. It’s our job to be perceptive. To predict what our employers need before they realize it. So while Lord Lucero may not realize or is willfully ignoring your relationship with his daughter, every servant in this house knows, even if we say nothing. Half of us keep secrets we’ll take to our graves. Now. Try this on,” she handed Jayne a small lacy elastic band.

Jayne stared at the tiny thing and took it from her, she swallowed, “forgive me... uh wh-where does this go?”

“Oh you poor child,” Livia sighed. “It’s a garter it goes on your leg up near your thigh. They used to used be used to hold up stockings, now they’re largely eye candy. It should be just about right to help you tame that beast between your legs so you have one less thing to worry about wearing a dress. Just tuck your package to one side and slip it under this so it’s held to your thigh. You’re actually long enough this might work.”

Once more complying Jayne did so, bringing the garter up her right leg, high on her thigh, and tucking herself in. “Well...that might help.”

Livia looked and nodded, “I might be able to make something a bit less impromptu than this later”

Jayne smiled at, her “thank you... no one’s ever really known what to do or help me with this... uh special wardrobe problem before. I appreciate it.”

“You are welcome... it is my job. But it is still nice to hear my efforts are appreciated.” Livia smiled and began to gather some other small lacy garments. “Now, let's get the rest of Lady Lucero’s present wrapped, shall we?”

One fitting later...

Jayne had of course worn skirts before. Largely due to the school uniform. But she’d never had the occasion or desire to wear a dress. As she looked herself in the mirror her breath caught. She almost didn’t recognize herself. She now wore a silver pair of high-heeled strappy sandals, black lacy garter stockings held up by a similarly black lace garter belt over the lacy crotchless panties. The panties, garter, and garter belt of course being hidden underneath a satiny india-green evening gown, with a split up to her thigh. It hugged her hips and butt which now felt especially exaggerated due to the high-heels. The dress came up and covered her chest, pleasantly showing the shape of her breasts while covering them, and tied behind her neck. The back of the dress dipped low down her back but high enough to conceal the belt of course. Her curly red mane was held back by a simple braided silver headband. Livia had also scrounged up an old silver tennis bracelet which was now around her left wrist.

Jayne was beautiful, and for once she saw it. She held back tears and surprised Livia with a hug, “I... I... thank you. Just thank you.”The seamstress froze at first. Uncomfortable with this entirely, before reluctantly returning the hug.

“... you are welcome, Miss Bronwen,” she managed without telling the grateful redhead to get off of her, somehow. “I’ll see about arranging a few outfits for you to be delivered to Lady Lucero’s room. I’m am quite sure she can make a space for you in her walk-in closet while you’re with us.” She eyed the old pendulum clock on the wall, “they’ll be gathering for dinner right about now, you should run along”, ‘and let go of me’, which she didn’t say aloud.

The redhead smiled and withdrew from the hug, “of course” she stopped at the door, “I know I said it already, I but I really do appreciate it. Bye” she gave a wave to Livia before she left.

The seamstress couldn’t help but smile a little. She thought Jayne was a sweet young woman and offered a silent prayer, to whatever would answer, for that aspect of her to be preserved from the horrors of this new world.

Some directions to the dining hall later...

Jayne descended the staircase carefully but somehow managed to appear elegant in her gown. She had worn high heels before, in high school. It was a phase but felt a little clumsy in these. She typically preferred much more practical shoes... though she might reconsider that after tonight.

She of course saw Lord Lucero at the head of the table, his outfit as handsome as befits a man of his station and refinement.

Maria wore a black evening gown that crossed across her chest up to the shoulder and ended in a full-length sleeve. An asymmetrical design, her left arm was sleeved while the right arm was bare. The dress was shorter than hers, but two splits. Jayne’s eyes followed the length of those toned legs up to where they disappeared un the dress. Maria’s mouth hung open for a hot second when she noticed her. This caused Jayne to cover her red lips and half-heartedly conceal a giggle. Jayne somewhat felt like a princess, finally.

There were two other faces here. One she recognized. Cecilia the Keeper she had met. She wore an elegant silver-gray shawl over a similarly colored short sleeveless dress, again her eyes were covered by some sort of blind that looked more like jewelry that’d more at home as a crown than a blind. Though she did not look at Jayne, the Keeper smiled as she approached. Was that a blush?

The final person at the table was unknown to her. She wore her silvery-white hair in a bob cut, just above her neck. Her eyes were peculiar. Her irises fill up almost her entire eye, you could barely see the sclera at all. They were fixated on Jayne right now. She wore a blood-red full-length dress with thin straps over her shoulders. The seemingly out-of-place garment she wore was a roman red cape that covered her shoulder and went down to the small of her back. The cape had gold trim along the edges and it was secured by a gold chain clasp that ended in a golden wolf’s head. She had scars on her really muscular body, that she made no attempt to hide, even on her face she bore three scratch marks on the right of her neck, and a long thick scar running from just under her eye, down the left side of her face... lower still disappearing under her dress. Everything about her screamed danger to Jayne.

They saved a seat for her at a corner. To the right, in between both Luceros with Lord Lucero being at the head of the table of course. She didn’t think that a coincidence. The new face was directly to Lord Lucero’s left and Cecilia after her.

“Forgive me if I’m late,” she sat down and nodded towards everyone, “Cecilia, I’m glad to see you again,” she tried not to be intimidated by the woman in red, “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure. I’m Jayne, Jayne Bronwen” she didn’t know why she fell back to using a parody of that line from those old spy movies. Maybe because it gave her something to say that sound confident? This eclectic group of individuals did not seem like moviegoers anyway for them to have picked up on that.

She regarded Jayne coolly.

Lord Lucero spoke up, “Yes... normally I’d like to schedule such a meeting, not at dinner. But she is here informally. Miss Bronwen, I present to you Countess Estrid Waerhild, 1st Tribune of the Watchers and Knight of the Wolf.”

Jayne paled slightly. That would explain the woman’s attitude. “Countess, Ma’am...I am deeply sorry for what happened to your seers. I understand I may have had a hand in it, and for that, I apologize. But I can assure, upon my honor, it was wholly unintentional and with the gracious help of the Luceros I am trying to understand more about... myself. Because I never want that to happen again.” Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid it would fly out of her chest. Simply trying her best to address the woman and apologize had triggered a fight or flight response in her. Maybe because the woman looked ready to leap across the table and claw her throat out.

Maria looked at Jayne and allowed herself a slight smile. She tried not to show how proud she was of Jayne for managing something so eloquent in the face of Countess Waerhild. She searched for and finally found Jayne’s hand under the table to hold it, Only to realize she was shaking like an autumn leaf on a tree. She realized then just how scared Jayne was, but she still held her ground. She wanted to swoon over Jayne’s bravery, but all she could do was squeeze her hand to try and reassure her. She felt Jayne squeeze back gently. Perhaps an appreciative acknowledgment since neither one of them really dare take their eyes off the Countess.

For his part, Lord Lucero remained stoic. He knew the Countess often was intimidating, yet remained silent hoping all parties involved could get this out of their system. He wasn’t worried about ****, as with all the precautions, experience as a warrior, and the fact she was in his home, surrounded by his guards, his attitude could best be described colloquially as ‘I wish a bitch would.’

Cecilia was hard to read, one of the advantages of having half your face covered. But there was a hint of something as she listened. It might even have been concern, but if so she hid it well.

Finally, the Countess rose from her seat, putting her hands on the table, and leaned over to Jayne. Wait. Did she just sniff? No. Nevermind. Yes. This woman was definitely sniffing the air near Jayne. She returned to her seat arms folded with a frustrated look on her face. “There’s no stink of corruption on you, and the good Keeper has shown me all that she had seen. It does not change what happened, but... I accept your apology. It was an unfortunate accident, that ironically even the seers could not foresee.”

Everyone at the tabled collectively seemed to be holding their breath waiting for the proverbial other foot to fall.

“You shall not be subject to any retaliation from the Watch. However, since the Lucero’s have been so generous as to take responsibility for you, I shall hold them accountable for any further incidence in which I find you at the center of.”

Jayne was shaking slightly now as the Countess had begun to lay into her.

“Furthermore, I still consider you a danger, especially to all those around you. I would have had you in a secure facility but the Luceros prefer to keep their pets in a gilded cage-” she continued this way for quite some time.

She felt the rain on her face. The wind howled, it was so strong the droplets of rain felt like tiny daggers as they hit her. Lightning flashed bright enough it turned the night sky into day. The thunder that followed was deafening and shook the ground she stood on. She saw vehicles tossed aside like toys. Entire neighborhoods leveled to the foundation. Buildings crumble, homes flooded. This was her, she was the storm. It raged. Oh, how it raged. That rage was good, and it was satisfying. It was violent and unrelenting. It was without mercy as it ravaged everything in its path. Uncaring. Why would she care? She was the storm.

Most people flee from the storm. As one is wont to do. Jayne knew she wasn’t most people anymore. If you stand in the path of a storm long enough, you find the eye. The one spot of tranquility in a maelstrom of devastation where you can hear yourself again. The rage is tempered by the very nature of the storm. You can find the peace and calm you need. This is part of the storm. She was the storm.

“I think that’s enough, Countess,” every eye in the room fell on Jayne. She took a deep breath and stood.

The Countess stopped mid-sentence, looked as if she’d just been struck in the face by a fresh trout, and stared in confusion and dismay. She rose back to her feet, unsure where this was going to go.

“I don’t care what you do or say to me. I’ve suffered other people’s cruelty and indifference... but you came here, and sat at this man’s,” Jayne motioned toward Lord Lucero, “table where you would break bread with us. You insult his guest. You insult his family. I had offered you an olive branch, which you tossed aside. You did not come here in good faith, ma’am. You came here to prove your point that I was dangerous, that couldn’t control myself. Maybe you have a point You wanted to provoke me... and maybe you have. But I don’t think this was the response you were expecting. Regardless of how you feel about me, I believe you owe Lord Lucero an apology.

Here in the eye of the storm, she could it rage and hear it howl. But she would not leave the eye. She was the storm. The quiet part that guided and directed its energies. Here she remained. She controlled the storm, it did not control her. She was the eye of the storm.

Lord Lucero chewed on that for a bit, before he turned to look at the stunned Countess. “so would you like to do that now, or should I expect a written apology?" He asked wryly.

Cecilia was taking deep breaths herself, she couldn’t believe someone stood up to her, but more than that, she could feel and see the power radiating off Jayne right now. Swirling energies centered around her, threatening to lash out but they stayed with her at the center. Something about it was... intoxicating.

Maria was wide-eyed, sitting on her hands and biting her tongue because she wanted to cheer for Jayne right now. This had gone from a ruined meal to one of the most incredible displays she’d seen. Dear God, she wanted that woman inside her.

Jayne scruitinezed the countess. Something about this didn’t add up. She could not have been that powerful. She was a dominating personality, yes. But someone other than her would’ve stood up to her long before... There’s a very specific reason she’s stunned. “I think I understand your confusion. You’re wearing an enchanted item that inspires fear. I don’t know why it’s not working on me now, but I sure felt it for a time.”

This time all eyes were on the Countess. She was caught. Exposed by this girl. How? Why? What was she supposed to, she’d used this for so long. Wait. Why is she coming here. What is she going to do?! She’s going to use her magic on me!

Jayne walked around the table to the frightened Countess reached out to her, and undid the wolf head clasp on her short cape, letting it drop to the ground. In that moment the same calm that Jayne had struggled to find in the eye of the storm washed over the room. “Makes sense that would be the item. A wolf should be intimidating. Now, Countess,” she placed one hand on the small of her back and took one of her hands to guide her back to her seat. “Please just have a seat. Some of us are hungry, and I’m sure the kitchen can find something strong to drink for you. You look like you need it.”

At this point, Maria was trying and failing not to giggle despite covering her mouth. Cecilia had looked away to hide her face and Lord Lucero had turned his head away similarly, though he made no sounds you could see his torso move as if he were laughing and his mustache was twitching fiercely.

The dinner was themed surf and turf, everyone had some seasoned rice with sliced veggies, but there was a veritable buff to choose from, baked chicken, fried chicken, chicken tenders, shrimp, lobster, crab... and always more rice. Both the Lord and Countess had ordered something stiffer to drink from the kitchen after that mess. Lord Lucero had a glass. The Countess had the rest of the bottle. She was thoroughly sloshed, very apologetic, and asked for a guestroom. Jeeves made a point of ‘misplacing’ her cape. Jayne consumed a frightening amount of food and was sitting there with a stupid happy grin on her face, 'the chicken tenders were amazing' she thought. Apparently whatever she did to her body agreed with her metabolism.

Jeeves came back to the dining room with a short blonde in toe. “My Lord, Miss Tasya Grothia is here.”

She looked out from behind Jeeves and waved. “Hello! I’m a little early,” she eyed the table, “do you still have a plate for me? Maybe?”

The sloshed countess was surprisingly the first to reply, “hhhhullp yeeersheeeelf!”

[Auther note: Sorry, I'll try not to do these often, just had a lot on my mind with this one. This one took a while to get right. I had to go back and rewrite a couple of pages. I think, without checking, this might be the longest chapter I've published. I just had a number of goals with the theme "Honest Conversations." I wasn't sure what to do about Estra, if I wanted her a reoccurring antagonist or not but I think I'm happy with this. I had one version of this where instead of finding her inner peace Jayne snapped... and things got weird. But I just couldn't quite write it the way I wanted to without spilling over into the next chapter. I have a lot of plans and paths yet to explore. Thank you all for joining me on this trip!]