Watch the sunrise.

You're exhausted--everybody is, though that doesn't put a stop to the revelry. For hours, people dance and sing, drink and eat, all beneath a night sky radiant with unpolluted stars and a waning quarter, crisp and clear like a ball of worn silver. Some end up sleeping before others, often on the ground, though all are safe within the walls of Castle Phoenix, and the grass and beds of flowers are soft and comforting, especially when Peony tends to each snoozing party-goer personally, tucking them in with firm but gentle vines and roots. Many of the traders and common folk check out first, while some amongst your numbers seem otherwise unaffected, such as those akin to demigods, or beings like Mistress Dajy, or the vampiress Cat, though the latter fades away to elsewhere before the crack of morning's first light.

You sit back on a proper bench now--one facing the main road closer to the center. Though your sword is still bound to your belt, you relax with a shirt unbuttoned and boots removed. You have a good meal in your stomach as well as Lepo's wine to keep you warm. Some of said drink is still present in a glass you hold in your right hand, resting upon your leg. It's like thing you've tasted before, like it's made from an ancient berry that no longer grows, or it contains an energy that permeates your body like a potent flow of mana. Or it might just be very strong.

The morning light comes later to you then to those in most of Tivera. First it must climb the mountain, and then your dark stone walls. You can see the warm orange glow, however, and the sky is already a gradient of black to blue. Birds are awake. A squirrel hurries by, from one tree to another, not far from where you sit. After looking into your glass one more time, you set it down on the bench beside you, smile, place your hands upon your stomach, and breathe in the fresh autumn wind.

"What are you so happy about?" comes a voice.

Before you may have drifted to sleep, your attention is pulled to a woman standing nearby. It's Linzeri, clad as she normally is with a tight black corset and thigh-high boots. The way her hips swing as she approaches slowly must be intentional, or perhaps it comes naturally to succubi and it doesn't even cross their mind. They seem to move with precision when it comes to the matter of seduction.

"Are you not?" you ask.

She smiles. Then she crawls in close, placing a hand upon your leg as she whispers, "Kyle. You shouldn't need to ask me that. Do you not have a special sense the rest of us do not?" Then she pulls away, now with your half-filled glass between her fingers. She brings it to her lips, and polishes it off herself.

"I'm glad you're happy."

"Me as well." Her eyes shift down to the empty glass and allows the remnants of a scent waft up to her nose. "I seem to have suddenly remembered something interesting. Some time ago, I don't remember the context exactly, you said that you liked me more than Dajy. That's how I know you're both clever and observant."

"I guess I just prefer a cool, lone wolf kind of sexy. A bad girl who does her own thing."

"Mmm. I see." She bends forward, offering to your lips what recently held some wine. It looks like she's offering you to take a sip, but as mentioned, now it's empty. "Go on."

Unsure of what she's doing, you move to drink as if it were still full. The scent is still there. Though that's swiftly replaced by another, even more pleasant one as the glass is swiftly swapped by a pair of lips. Linzeri gives you a long, sweet kiss, and then after standing straight again, she turns around to an alluring backside view. Her tiny wings flap. Then she pulls back down to your thighs and says, "For what you've said, I think you've earned the right to be my seat."

"Such an honour."

You place your hands upon her--one on her side, the other to her smooth, bare thigh. She pulls up tight against you, makes herself comfortable, and sighs in a similar manner to you previously--the cool, autumn air, the refreshing touch of sunrise. Linzeri rests upon your lap and the two of you greet the new day.

A pale-white girl stands a short distance away. You notice her just as the sun cracks over the walls of Castle Phoenix, and immediately she glows beneath its radiance. The catfolk ninja Snow appears even more ghostly than usual, though not to be sickly, but like a freshly awakened dove to the dawn of a new day. Her garb isn't what you're used to seeing. Instead, she's wearing a blue button-up pajama top just long enough to drape over her body like a short dress above long, slender legs.

You recognize the garment. It's one of yours.

Snow finally turns to face the two of you. Her eyes are barely open. "Mm. Good morning, Kyle and Linzeri," she says in a quiet, murmuring tone. "Such a lovely sunrise, don't you think?"

"Are you wearing my pajamas?" you ask.

She looks down over herself. Then she grabs the fabric and tugs it in tight against her body. Pink comes to her cheeks. "Oh... Y-Yes. I thought I asked, but I think I forgot. After my normal clothing was ruined last night, I needed something to wear, and your chambers weren't far away. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," you reply with a chuckle. "You look adorable."

That didn't help the colour in her face from spreading further. Her white tail sways happily back and forth. "Thank you," she responds timidly.

Just then, Eva appears. She looks even more sleepy than anyone else. With barely open eyes, she squeezes a blanket that's completely enveloped her body like a bunny burrito. Her hair is a complete mess, and she doesn't even notice the catfolk calling out to her.

"Eva? Are you all right?" Snow asks.

But she proceeds past and right to the bench. There she sits down, and snuggles up beside you. A big smile pulls across her face as she tucks her head in against your neck. She doesn't speak, but she does grumble back in response.

"Wow. She's still completely out of it," comments Linzeri. "Silly rabbit."

Then Snow's ears perk up as another figure nears.

This time it's Amara, and much to everybody's surprise, she's as naked as the day she was born, besides her magic choker. Her hair is filled with leaves and blades of grass, and much the same clings to various parts of her unclothed body. She rubs her eyes, blinks a few times, and forces herself to focus on the catfolk beside her. "Oh... Hello there."

"Amara! You're uhm.. Well, it's just--"

"Your everything is showing," Linzeri speaks up.

The elf's attention moves to you. She stares for a moment, then looks down at herself. "Ah. I see." She giggles nervously and puts a knuckle to her lips. "How embarrassing. I only remember bits and pieces of what occurred."

"Do you need me to grab you something to wear?" Snow asks.

She shakes her head. "No. It is all right." Then she meanders over to the bench, and makes herself comfy right beside you. As usual, Eva and Amara both snuggle up to your sides. Meanwhile, Linzeri still rests happily back against you, though now your hands have other duties. They leave the succubus, and instead comfort the other two.

"Has anyone seen my armour?" Niki asks from down the road.

Snow turns. She shakes her head.

The sunheart approaches, dressed in her usual adventuring attire sans any piece of metal--tight brown shorts, and a thin fabric to match which wraps around her bust much like a tube top. She doesn't even have her boots. "I don't even know how I ended up in this. I was wearing something entirely different during the party. So I must have drunkenly changed into my combat gear, but then lost half of it? I really don't know. Man, that's how you know it was a good party!" Her laugh is booming.

"And it never really ended, did it?" you respond. "I haven't even gone to sleep yet."

Then she looks to the bench disappointed. "Damn. No more room." Her brain cells work overtime for a moment, and then she raises a finger as an idea springs forth. She walks straight up to you, wraps her arms awkwardly around both you and Linzeri, and much to the surprise of you both, she lifts.

"What are you doing?" Linzeri asks.

Niki then pivots around, sits, and places you on her lap, sandwiching you between the two of them. And with Eva and Amara on your left and right, you're completely buried. "There. I'm so smart."

"... It is pretty comfortable," you say.

Linzeri laughs. "Well aren't you a lucky boy? Well enjoy it for a few more minutes. Then I'm going to go stretch my legs. First, however, I'd like to enjoy this sunrise a little longer."

She's so much more jovial than I'm used to seeing her. Guess she's had plenty to drink too. Though just like she said, I do have a sense the others don't. I know she's happy. I can feel the same from the rest. As hot as this situation might be, my heart is just as stiff... Does that sound stupid? It's a good thing nobody can read my mind. Either way, I've come so far from constant headaches. When I first came to Abso, I kept thinking I was going to die, and that these girls were going to cause that **** of me. My life is still pretty chaotic, but things have changed so much. Not a lot of time has passed either. I wonder what my future holds.