"Done!" Kryst slams the empty shot glass onto her table with a gasping intake of breath. "Another to me!" She snorts, the tint of inebriation coloring her cheeks. "I think I'm going to start calling you Too Slow!"

"It's not a competition."

"Clearly!" Sporting a huge grin Kryst settles back into her tall, high backed chair and throws her feet up onto another.

"I told you already, I'm not playing. So you don't have to shooter every drink. Besides I'm still working on this setup of yours anyway." I indicate the toy bed and the other assorted furniture that I'm arranging on the top of the table. "Which I'd be done with by now if you didn't keep interrupting me."

Cinnamon and I had moved the heavy red-wood card table from the communal lounge into the larger of the two bedrooms, sliding it underneath the window. The bowl of fruit that had been sitting in the center has been pushed near the edge and nearly all the flowers and plants we could find in the apartment now take up the majority of the tabletops real estate.

"There is one more. How are you making out, Brian?" Cinnamon calls from the other room.

"Awful! I'm killing him three to one!" Kryst yells back before I can open my mouth.

"Oh... I meant with the bed." Stepping into the room Cinnamon has the last plant in hand. It had been hanging near the front door, and like most of the other leafy decor, is coated with sweet-smelling blossoms. "I thought we weren't gonna play the clothes off drinking game?"

"Nah, it's just drink for drink. A good thing too. By now I'd have his skin."

"She is the only one playing." I say maneuvering the jewelry box trunk onto a small towel that has become an impromptu rug.

"He's only saying that 'cause he's losing."

Cinnamon shrugs and holds out the pot. "Okay well, here you go, Brian."

"One second." I make space. Moving the fruit bowl and large platter of snacks to the side. Cheeses, biscuits, sliced vegetables and a bottle of deep purple-colored wine; opened and poured into crystal glasses for each of us.

"Oh, Brian. Doesn't that look nice. It's like a little bedroom in a forest." Cinnamon coos admiring my handiwork.

"Thanks, Cinni." I try not to grin too broadly as I take the plant from her and slide it into place. "Doesn't look too bad, eh?"

Artist: Extreme Success!

Setting up scenes and dioramas for gaming was something that I always enjoyed. And although this one is immensely oversized compared to my usual 28 mm and 32 mm sized battle maps, I think I have done a good job on its arrangement. One of, if not, my best in fact.

Pretty damn proud of the display I pull up a chair and take a seat to admire my handiwork.

Kryst's extravagant king-sized toy bed is surrounded by fragrant foliage. Even the sunlight spilling through the window, and the occasional chirping of birds from outside gives an almost Disney-like magical ambiance to the fairytale bedroom set.

Along with the snack tray, a small carved wardrobe, chest of drawers and even a jewelry box sized trunk; most likely from a pricey dollhouse or toy set, had been delivered to the room for the Gleam while I had been relaxing in the bath.

As Morren promised, like the wardrobes and dressers stocked for Cinnamon and I, each piece of the fairy's furniture is stuffed full of posh-looking clothing. Most likely designed for rich kids dolls.

I can only imagine how many stores, or perhaps even affluent children's toy chests around the city have been raided to have so quickly amassed such a collection in such a short period of time.

Drinking and watching me do the 'heavy lifting', Kryst sits in a nook to the side of her custom bedroom at the table and chairs I had purchased for her; quickly resized for her comfort. The adjustments had taken less time than I'd thought, most likely due to the significant bonuses granted by the tools in my top tier tinkerers kit.

Passive Insight vs Kryst Thunderfist: Success!

Though casually lounging, and doing a pretty good job of hiding her excitement, I can tell the Gleam appreciates my efforts. Shooting glances toward the bed as if counting the minutes until she can cocoon herself under the covers.

"So what do you think, Kryst? Not too shabby?"

"It's alright, I guess." She shrugs, picking idly at the fluffy cloth robe she had found in her own wardrobe. Still attempting to fake disinterest she pings the edge of her glass with a flick of her fingers. "Hey, Carrots? Think you can gimme a reload here?"

Cinnamon, ever pleasant and eager to please, tops up my nearly empty glass, Kryst's, and then her own before she chooses a thick celery stick from the snack platter. After a crunch crunch crunch on her vegetable stick, she takes a swallow of her wine to wash it down.

I do the same. Rolling the sweetness of the strange dark purple liquid in my mouth.

Vitality Save vs Alcohol (Wine): Fail!

Condition: [Drugged] Special Effect: [Inebriation]

Inebriation Level: [Buzzed]

[Wits: -1] - Duration: [1 Hour]

Brian Status: HP 10 / 12 Stun: 14 / 14 (22) Mana: 2 / 4 (10)

Wits: 12 / 13

Vitality: 8 / 8 (15)

The additional nutty flavor from the ground up spice Cinnamon has stirred into the wine leaves a delightful aftertaste lingering on the tongue. I've taken a second mouthful before I realize and revel in the warmth spreading through my body and limbs. A tingling sensation stirs a few goosebumps over my skin, quickly chased away by a warm flush.

Amornel Nut (Spice): Effect: [+2 Vitality] - Duration: [3 Hours]

Secondary Effect

Vitality Save vs Amornel Nut (Spice): Fail!

Condition: [Drugged] Special Effect: [Aphrodisiac (Mild)]

[Wits: -1] - Duration: [3 Hours]

Brian Status: HP 10 / 12 Stun: 14 / 14 (22) Mana: 2 / 4 (10)

Wits: 11 / 13

Vitality: 10 / 10 (15)

While I revel in the pleasant feelings of the wine chasing away the aches in my joints and the stuffiness building in my sinuses, Kryst slams her drink back like she's at a frat house party.

Again.

I study the fairy as she wipes the back of her hand across her mouth. She still looks exhausted, but her eyes are dilated and her skin, which had taken on a sallow tinge, has now become flushed.

Insight vs Kryst Thunderfist: Partial Success/Fail!

It's more than apparent that she's feeling the effects of the alcohol, but the way she is looking at me with those sidelong glances suggest something else. She licks her lips, eyes lingering on my chest. And then they drift lower.

Getting hungry looks from the gorgeous Gleam, starts affecting me as well…

Condition: [Drugged] Special Effect: [Aphrodisiac (Mild)]

Trigger: Psychological Limitation: Mild Addiction to [Fairy Nectar]

Wits Save: Success!

...but I force whatever mirrored feelings she may be stirring up, back down.

The drinking. The lusty looks. I guess the corruption of the fairy, and being forced to kill the poor thing, cut Kryst deeper than I thought. It's no surprise that she is looking for a bit of an escape from that inner turmoil.

"Kryst?" I clear my throat unsure of how to broach the subject. "The little fairy before… I mean the whole situation. How it happened. What she turned into. It was a pretty terrible thing to witness."

"Can't say it was an experience I see becoming a fond memory anytime soon."

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Kryst boggles for a moment.

"Huh? Talk about what?" She holds her glass toward Cinnamon for a top-up.

"It's just that… I'm sure it wasn't easy on you."

"Yeah." Cinnamon finishes the refill and steps back, placing a hand on my shoulder. Presenting a unified front of concern as we look to the fairy. "I can only imagine how you must feel."

Kryst stares up at the both of us as if looking for some trick. After a pause, she shakes her head. "It was sad, yes. And I intend to find out just what happened. But as for how I feel? You don't have to worry 'bout me. I'm a big girl." She says with a warm smile, "Relatively speaking."

"Alright then, no pressure. But if you do need a shoulder to lean on--"

"Or an ear." Cinnamon smiles, her ears bending.

"Yeah, Yeah. I hear you. I'll let you two knuckleheads know if I ever feel like blubbering." Kryst jokes. "Don't get your hopes up though." Tipping her drink up to us we clink our glasses in a toast.

"Still, don't you think you should take it easy on the liquor?" I say as she comes up for air after chugging her 'bucket' of wine.

"No." Kryst lets out a belch and shakes her head. "And neither should you two if know what's good for you."

"What do you mean?" Cinnamon sits back on the edge of the bed, daintily sipping.

"Messed up as we got in that scrape, our tolerance is most likely in the outhouse. A bit of a blessing. It means that we should be able to get sloppy enough even on this excessively sweetened swill." She makes an overly dismissive hand wave to the nearly empty bottle.

I thought it tasted rather nice.

"You want us all to get drunk?" I take another taste myself and shiver a little. The warm buzz of intoxication becoming more apparent. I've never been much of a drinker and my skin feels warm. More sensitive to the touch. Even the light brush of my pants rubbing me feels uncomfortable... in a pleasant way.

"Of course. Libations lower your natural block's. It allows for a more open-body pathway connection to the ambient Mana swirling around. Hence all of our internal Mana will recuperate at a much faster rate. Why do you think wizards are always puffing away at them pipe fulls of Dreamweed? Same thing. Actually it's better, but alcohol does the trick too." Kryst lets out another little burp. "If you're sloshed enough that is."

Turning around in her chair Kryst looks back over her shoulder.

"And then if I go sleep in the bushes bedroom that Brantly built." Kryst snickers at her alliteration.

"Will this really help you recover faster?" Cinnamon, leans over to check out the bedroom set again. Pulling back the covers on the bed she tests the softness of the mattress and then smooths out the sheets with a finger.

"I hope so." Kryst says, her words starting to slur. "When fairies rest it's better for us to sleep in a tree hollow or even a large flower bud or something. Long as I'm more or less surrounded, it should be good enough to help get my strength back."

"How exactly does that work?"

"Fairies have a symbiotic relationship with nature. When we're weak, or low on Mana, the surrounding plant life attempts to balance out the umm... the deficit."

"But when a fairy is full of Mana, the opposite occurs and… and whatever is around kinda, gets the benefits. And that's without them even realizing it either, you know? Plants, animals, people. Your Magi-tech type stuff... and Mana crystals." Kryst gives a little too exaggerated rolling hand motion.

"Of course." I nod. Memory and glimpses flooding my mind. "That's why the Fairy Roost is so important on Airships. To keep the Mana Crystals and sigils charged."

It's so weird. Things that didn't make sense before now click into place. My growing instinctual background knowledge and expertise in skills like Magi-tech now starting to fill in the gaps regarding the world. Topics and details that had done nothing but prompt questions before.

"Right. Like, take Too Tall. He's not a magic user like a real wizard, but we've seen those few little Mana manipulating fix-it tricks of his... like the one he fooled you with, Carrots." Kryst giggles a little and Cinnamons ears tint with a blush.

"Or items, like a magic weapon, that draw on a body's Xan-- Mana to use." Kryst says, seeming to lose focus on the topic. She then puffs out her chest and turns toward me. "I'm sure you've noticed how invigorated you feel the longer I'm around."

"Invigorated?" I can't actually say if I've noticed. This body has felt pretty amazing ever since I arrived, and we met Kryst soon after that. Compared to the old me it has always felt like a superhero upgrade. Except perhaps for now. After the Blyght encounter, I feel like I may be coming down with a cold. Though that too has waned over the past hour, and the wine certainly seems to be helping.

"Yeah. Energetic. Well, that is my natural aura increasing your Mana recovery." Kryst's voice takes an annoyed tone, "Your welcome."

"Oh? Is that what that feeling is? I figured I'd sat on a splinter or something. Cause it certainly feels like a thorn pricking straight up my ass."

"You know what you can do for me, Too Tall?" Kryst grins broadly. Skin flushed and eyes a little glazed, she spins in her seat and whips a portion of her robe back to expose a toned thigh and a good portion of firm butt cheek. Which she immediately smacks.

"Pucker up and kiss mine."

Condition: [Drugged] Special Effect: [Aphrodisiac (Mild)]

Trigger: Psychological Limitation: Mild Addiction to [Fairy Nectar]

Wits Save: Success!

"Done that." I smirk, extremely tempted to take her up on the offer.

Cinnamon lets out a long, overly dramatic laugh-sigh that cuts an odd break into the playful banter. "Oh, you two and your jokes."

A weirdly uncomfortable silence descends and after a too-long pause Cinnamon clears her throat.

"So, were you kidding? Or did you really want to…?" Cinnamon lets the question hang, glancing at me and then at Kryst's still slightly exposed bottom.

"Hells below, Carrots." Kryst rolls her eyes and plops back down. "You better leave your pants off." Indicating with a finger how Cinnamon is still only wearing one of my shirts. "Cause if you tried to cover that crotch of yours right now, I'm pretty sure the cloth will burst into flame. Fwoosh!"

"Kkkkryst!" Cinnamon coo complains sweetly. Ears dipping she glances at me with a shy smile that has me glad I'd at least had taken a couple of minutes to pull on a pair of trousers to hide my body's inevitable involuntary reaction. Damn she looks so cute in my shirt. And look at those legs...

A clatter from the table quickly pulls my eyes away from Cinnamon's thighs and I blink as the room wobbles a bit. Kryst sucks her teeth as her shot glass rolls away from her under her table and she fumbles around at it with her foot and calf trying to scoot it out.

"Looks like your sloshed enough. I think it's time to cut you off."

"What?" Kryst makes a 'pssshh' sound as she grips her glass and hauls it up, banging it noisily onto her table. "I'm fine. Don't get your undergarments all knotted up."

"Did... Did you just tell me not to get my panties in a bunch?" I smirk, finding the idea a bit more humorous than I would have thought. The wine really is quite good.

"What the hell's a panties?" Kryst arches an eyebrow at me. "But whatever it is, it sounds funny. So... probably."

"You have never heard of panties? Women's underwear?"

"Like, chest wrappings?" One of Cinnamon's ears cocks cutely.

"No, not really. More along the lines of bikini bottom booty shorts and lacey lingerie than bra bandage strips." I correct.

"I dunno what that is. But by that dopey grin on your face, I'm guessing it's more of that pleasure house stuff." Kryst shakes her head like I've done something wrong.

"It's not... Well… Maybe it is, but I mean, you don't have to be a prostitute to wear lingerie. It's for fun. Or to feel sexy… I guess."

"oOoo!" Cinnamon coos obviously intrigued, "It's sexy? Is that something that the Playbunnies wear, Brian?"

"Uhh, yeah all of the time. Its kinda one of the things they are known for wearing. Lingerie. That and naked..."

"I'd like to try some! Do you think that there is any in the wardrobes?" Cinnamon turns and heads towards my standing closet, opening drawers and poking about.

"If there are there they wouldn't be in my closet, Cinni-buns." I say leaning over and checking out the way her ass is peeking out below the edge of the shirt as she bends over slightly. "Lingerie and panties are just worn by women." I suppose that technically wasn't true, but--

"It all sounds very interesting, except y'know, completely the opposite." Kryst clumsily stands, knocking her glass over again. This time she doesn't bother picking it up. "So while you two girls go on and giggle about your dresses I'm gonna go get some sleepys."

"But, you know? If either of you need to wake me up for... anything." Kryst nods seriously to the both of us. "Don't."

"Okay, I'll go and check my closet." Cinnamon says in an excited voice, ignoring Kryst she hop-skips from the room.

Kryst shakes her head at the bunny-girl then turns to saunter shakily toward her bed. Midway she drops her robe and looks over her shoulder at me as I stare at her naked body. The wine and horny heat quashing any apprehension I may have felt in lecherously checking her out.

The Gleam, obviously having no objection to my ogling, leans over the edge of the bed giving me a delightful view. Keeping her eyes on me, and clearly trying to be seductive, she slides forward.

Then, one hand catches in the folded comforter and she tumbles, face-planting into a pillow.

Laughing she flops around. With my own smirk I reach over and untangle then lift the silky sheets. Allowing her to twist about and climb underneath. Wriggling her butt to get comfortable she turns and smack-fluffs a pillow.

"Thanks for my bed and stuff. It looks real nice. Dunno why I didn't tell you that before, Brian." Kryst lays her head down. Pushing it into the pillows with a smile. She closes her eyes, clearly relishing the feel of the bed. "You're a nice guy... you know that?"

"Oh! Is this lingerie?" I hear Cinnamon call from the other room.

"Cinnamon too." Kryst says hearing the bunny-girl. "I know, I can be…" She makes a blowing angry sound and slaps the pillow with a loose fist. "Gettin' close? I jus' can't, y'know?… it's too hard… I'd wanna stay wif... " Kryst murmurs, already drifting off. The alcohol swirling through her system dragging her toward unconsciousness. "you an… Carrotz."

Standing, now a little shaky myself I notice, I tuck Kryst in with a couple of fingers then lean over and give her a peck of a kiss on her shoulder and neck. She doesn't object and even gives a sighing smile.

"Rest up, nuisance." I whisper.

"Ookay." She bobs her head deeper into the pillows, without opening her eyes.

"Brian?"

"Yeah?"

"C'n you close the plants, pleasez?"

"Sure." I can't help but smirk as I slide a pot around to obscure Kryst in a domed shell of leaves and flowers.

"An don't... do anythin naughty… wif out me."