The Curious Princess, Inverita

{reveal "Princess Inverita"}{endreveal}

There's a brief period where we just stare at each other; her green eyes to my blue. She's still in the trees (gauging threat and intention). Her injured antennae flicks slightly off-center as the other dances through the air (distressed, maintaining stoicism to cope, sensory disorientation, possible vertigo).

Then she slowly, carefully, descends the tree and grabs one of the goblins. (no vertigo, or exceptional self-control.) Her eyes are locked on me the entire time, so I don't move except - in moment of intuition (she's testing for food aggression)- to release the dead dwarf and slide off of his equally dead compatriot.

There's a quiet puff of air, and the goblin is dropped after she gives it a thorough pat-down.

"You are far from the coast, Dracaena." She comments, voice clear and almost lilting. She could probably sing quite well if she were inclined to learn. (May have practiced? Seems like natural voice.) "For what reason do you roam here?

I shift, and wince as the thorn - (axe) in my side shifts a bit. "Um..." Great job, James. You know so much about her instinctively, and still fumble the first time you have to actually speak to the woman. "...Well. Would you believe me if I told you was just born this morning? Actually..."

I pause, considering, "...the cave I hatched in is pretty, and secluded, I mean - it's pretty secluded. Lots of food and fresh-water and partially fortified already... I could lead you there? We can both try to do something about our injuries..." I'm rambling (she's listening to every word), "...because, um. I don't want to hurt your feelings but... you're alone now, aren't you?"

The Princess' head tilts, causing her injure antenna to roll in a way she clearly finds uncomfortable as she immediately straightens, shoulders tight. "...This morning?" (not surprised by timing - identifies you as ex nihilo birth; confused by location.) Her legs shift as she rotates slightly to one side, then the other, but she doesn't put her back to me. Fair enough - she's injured and alone and probably (definitely) pregnant. Who was the father though? (Most likely an elf; and probably her own father.)

...egh!... ? Why didn't that bother me as much as it-

(Most Monster Girls have no parental taboo due to monogendered nature.)

Ah. Thanks, Appraisal. (Method, too.)

The Princess draws me from my momentary distraction as she - wait, when did she get so close? (not confident she can withstand grapple; confident she won't *be* grappled). "Little...?" She pauses, "Ahem. New one..." She corrects, "...if we're to go anywhere, the axe in your side should be removed. It might drive itself deeper rather than be pushed out. Even if it's pushed out, it might injure you more on the way. You slither, after all."

She's rambling herself. A little uncertain? (Likely unused to non-hive exchanges. Earnest. Sisterly/maternal affection. Reciprocal protective obligation.) Her hands extend to the axe, but hesitate. I feel I might be able to remove it myself, but then I might also hurt myself more than she would so... I take a breath, try to relax, and subtly angle the axe to her.

The Princess takes that as the invitation it is and, with sudden but dextrous movement, grabs the axe then pulls it out at a specific angle. It hurts a bit for a moment... but only a moment. Now the wound just has a slight tingle to it rather than persistent irritation.

I glance at her antenna and sigh, "...Sorry. I could maybe make a splint but... that'll have to wait until we're back by the water."

The Princess nods, eyeing my face (lack of pain) with an unreadable expression (extreme interest.) "To the water then."

So, we set off.

Surprisingly, the wound doesn't hurt much. It's kind of like having something stuck just under the edge of your nail then pulled out I guess? Very uncomfortable, but then instant relief as long as you don't go poking the wound. Despite that, the Princess seems keenly interested in it, and my lack of response to the injury. It's kind of restless behavior, like she wants to do more. Or she's anxious. About the scratch. Why? (Reciprocal protective obligation. Sisterly/maternal affection.)

...I probably should've figured that out on my own based off the last note.

"...So, um. I'm James." I say, to break the silence as we enter the 'Northern Cave' and get away from the jungle.

The Princess blinks, a gesture I presume to be uncommon for Myrmidons, "James is an interesting name for a newly born Coral Dracaena. Or, indeed, a Monster-Girl at all." She comments with a peculiar tone - (suppressed curiosity). "I am Inverita." Her introduction is delivered without fanfare or adornment. Her head shifts to one side, and stops. She was probably about to tilt it again. With a sigh, "...Miss James," She asserts, "why such a human name? As an ex nihilo birth, there should be no parents to grant it to you, and it is not so fanciful as the typical name your kin would claim."

A great thing about slithering is it's hard to stall out when you're surprised, but as a former human my legs - presently lifted up along either side of my tail - almost knee the stone below me as I try to stop walking with them and by proxy attempt to *start* walking with them in spite of my current posture...

Inverita is suddenly a lot closer, so I quickly assure, "Woah. Um, sorry, probably post-battle jitters. Don't worry about it." She seems doubtful (she seems doubtful). Thanks, really. "As for my name... "I guess it's just the name that feels the most 'right?' Like, why did you know you're a 'Myrmidon?' No on told you that, right?"

Inverita, still at the edge of my personal space, nods agreeably and then winces as her antennae bob with the motion. "That is true." She pauses (considers something), "...Very well. Then, Miss James-"

We round a corner into the tide-pool, and she stops in place with a look of vacant wonder. Her antennae are locked in place. (Absorbing the moment / savoring the atmosphere.)

"...You alright there, Inverita?" I ask, after this has continued long enough to be uncomfortable.

The Princess blinks, shaking out of her reverie as she looks at me with appraising eyes. From the tip of my tail to the crown of my head, and then deep into my eyes. (Genetic quality and scent/aura appraisal.) "...Mhm~♥." She hums, uncharacteristically. Her stinger wiggles in glee, which - combined with her abrupt and unwavering interest - is... certainly something. "Miss James, are you...?" She nearly asks, before seemingly thinking better of it, "A-ahem, I mean. Shall we? The water, or... the 'fruit?' Mushrooms?" She looks all over the cavern, legs tapping restlessly. She is- (extremely excited, high, eager to examine and sample everything, lay her eggs, gestate new eggs, build a colony-) whoah-kay Appraisal, that's a lot. I can barely keep up.

And I already figured she was excited. She's doing the tappy-tap dance for Goddess' sake. (Much like a cat in heat. She is drunk with arousal and reproductive drive.) Well. Shit. I was able to work through it for a while and settle down with a single 'self-care' session but... somehow, I doubt that will work so easily for Inverita. (She will likely calm after first generation is laid, second is ready, and injure is healed.)

"Inverita," I say, snapping my fingers. "Hey, hey. Look at my hand." She turns in place, eyes dilated and ears twitching much like her antenna. She's not even reacting to her wildly flailing injury. Her gaze locks onto my snapping fingers like they hold the secrets of life. "You're still injured. Let's go to the water. I need you to be very still, alright?"

She giggles, stinger twitching as she nods agreeably. "Yes. The water is an ideal place for eggs- no, too deep. Connects to others, Miss James can make coral filter to keep unwanted things out yes? Wonderful!"

(Longterm appraisal and planning is inhibited.) No really?

"We'll get there." It's not like I want a surprise climbing out of the pool while I sleep either. "But your injury first, come one." And - in a mimic of a dog herding sheep - I guide her to the pool.

"The fronds are like workers," she giggles as she gleefully skitters around amidst the anemone-grass while it blatantly cops feels and yet also scrubs away detritus, "gentle, thorough."

"Alright, gu- no, probably girls, right?" I ask the grass. "Please help me settle her down. We need to do something about her antenna."

Strangely, yet unsurprisingly after seeing its behavior this morning, the grass obliges. Its motions don't change but Inverita becomes progressively more placid and sluggish in its midst until she settles down on the ground in bliss. Which is honestly kind of terrifying.

Thus begins the process of trying to heal - and maybe sober - a very thoroughly inebriated 'Princess.'

[ AN: Well, here we are. That was a bit late, sorry, but hopefully I did a decent enough job with the character byplay to make it entertaining. And, naturally, we're at the first point where things can get a bit spicier depending on how well James handles this (and what comes after). If any of you'd indulge my curiosity, why do think Inverita is getting hit so much harder by the aphrodesic musk than James? Oh, hey, they patched the polls. I don't have to pre-vote to see results anymore. ]