Welcome back, my lovely reader!
Not everything is about Alice's chimera powers making everyone a horny mess. Sometimes there are those outside of the sphere of influence that have kept a hidden away secret.
When a mouse finally has the courage to say something she's held inside for centuries, will it lead to blossoming love or bitter heartbreak?
Let's jump right in!
—♥—
Episode 6:
Jennifer: Confessions long overdue
"Oh, I'm elated to be getting back on the sea tomorrow night!" Sarnai called out with a hum, her tail wagging behind her as we paced through the halls of the Silverpaw estate, Katrina right next to her.
"I think it's amusing you still keep your yacht on this side of the country maintained, my lady." Jeremy grinned at Sarnai's obvious excitement.
"Naturally! Katrina has never helmed this ship and I'm eager to see the way she adapts!" The vixen folded her arms before stopping to glare back at the small mouse. "Also, how many times have I told you not to call me by that title? I'm your equal now, brother. Save that stuffy stuff for Lorelai!"
"Tch... please do not! Jeremy, we are all family here, let's just shelf the titles outright, alright?" I bleated out while walking, my arm linked with Ryders, the angel looking about curiously, this being his first visit to house Silverpaw.
Jennifer grinned at the angel before clearing her throat, "Ah, Ryder, it's not a fanciful place, but I'd be happy to give you a small tour later if you'd like!" Jeremy cut his dark eyes to his sister and I couldn't help but notice the small ever so faint nod they shared as if making sure they were on the same wavelength.
"That's very kind of you, lady Silverpaw. I'd be thrilled to tour your estate later, thank you for your hospitium!" He barked out and wagged his tail, keeping his large wings close to his back to not knock something over in the halls.
"Hm... yes. Will Val and Kylie be joining us tonight?" I asked the twins while trying to shake off the sneaking suspicion they were up to something. The reality was, no one knew those mice as well as I did, as I quite literally raised them from children.
"Val texted me a few hours ago saying they wouldn't be able to arrive until tomorrow. It seems they had some family business to attend prior," Jeremy told me matter-of-factly.
I scoffed at that, "Pah... most likely the only business he's attending is having another marathon with that eager lemur!"
"Well, your family is rather... sex-healthy, yes?" Ryder smiled down at me with an awkward grin. I snorted up at him but offered a small smile. He had always been rather eager, but once Alice got involved and churned her energy through him, well I was actually thankful he had other outlets, he'd probably never let me sleep otherwise.
Jennifer blinked at that statement and so did Jeremy, both seeming to hesitate in their stride, looking back at the angel. I couldn't blame them, they had been some of the first to know and even hear us. Ryder did get a little loud sometimes despite my efforts to keep him quiet during those days, still, I was getting an odd sensation off my mice tonight.
Your question brought me back to the present as I lifted my ears, Sarnai already answering you, "Yes, my child. We'll be having the storytelling on my yacht and I expect you to do your own fair share of work maintaining her. I and Katrina will have our hands full directing Kylie on matters."
"I'm eager to make you proud, my fox. I'll also do anything I can to help in your instruction of her." Katrina purred while holding the vixen's hand.
"Do not forget we are all capable of maintaining your ship... Captain," Jeremy called out playfully, Sarnai offering an approving grin as her personality shifted right there on the spot.
"Aye, that you are, my brother. I never could have asked for better mates when we sailed back in the day! Erm... night as it were!" She barked out a laugh as Ryder chuckled at the lingo.
"That's rather cute how you shifted to swashbuckler mode right on the spot, Sarnai." He mused as the Vixen showed him a grin.
"Cute was it? Don't you have enough tail to be flirting it up with, Celestial? Already got the mother, now want the daughter?" Sarnai barked out jovially as Ryder gave his own awkward bark.
"Wha?! No, Sarnai I was just being friendly, I didn't uh... I mean, you're a beautiful fox, just like Rachel, but uh-"
"Sarnai, stop picking on my lover, you already know he was just being friendly," I grumbled at my vixen who showed me a playful smile but nodded.
"Would Rachel grow jealous if you took another lover, Ryder?" Jeremy asked curiously, shifting the attention away.
Ryder tilted his head at that. "No no, Rachel is like all my lovers, she holds no resentment towards things. We all do as we please, as the love is clearly there, no need to reinforce it with monogamy which tends to be... dangerous, with long-lived ones such as us."
"It can work amongst our kind, but rarely. Harold and his wife Mino are successful enough with it. To my knowledge neither has ever strayed," I chimed in on the matter, but I was getting that vibe once more from my mice and finally spoke on it, "Why do you ask, brother? Finding MY angel-fox fetching? He does enjoy males as well you know."
"M-My Lady! T-that had nothing to do with it!" Jeremy stammered out awkwardly.
"Lorelai, why are you picking on him? Even I could tell his question wasn't laced with that kind of interest..." Ryder frowned at my response.
"Oh, can you now?" I scoffed and then stopped right there, folding my arms.
"Uhm... are you guys about to have a lovers quarrel?" Jennifer asked meekly.
Ryder frowned at my stance and opened his palms. "Lore? Uh... did I upset you, my ewe? I wasn't try-"
"No, I just don't like the tension in the air, something is amiss tonight." I showed my teeth and shot my gaze right to the two mice who stiffened their posture slightly. I cocked a brow and pushed my will out, making sure the twins were the only ones who received it. "You know I detest secrets and subterfuge don't I, children?"
"Y-Yes my lady!" The mice answered in perfect unison, both of them looking nervous and frowning.
"So out with it already!" I snarled out, but then perked my drooped ears as Ryder put a hand on my shoulder.
"C'mon, Lorelai... that's not really fair, is it?" Both of the mice bit their lower lips as the angel interrupting me eased my domination on them.
I gave him a fussy glare. You, Katrina, and Sarnai of course knew better than to argue with me when I was like this. Taking a deep breath, I composed myself. It wasn't that I was trying to be overbearing, but on the same hand, these two never kept things from me, so it left me concerned for them.
"I said what I said to you two, I'll have what you're scheming... If it is... dangerous or problem causing to the two of you." I snarled the stipulation as both of them looked upon one another and then shook their heads.
Jeremy rubbed his shoulder as he spoke out for them, "My lady, it is nothing of concern I assure you, just-"
"Then I am satisfied, let us continue!" I spat out pointedly. Letting them have the time to disengage from the subject.
—♥—
Later that evening I found myself called to the main study and audience chamber of my mice, but only one greeted me there, Jennifer.
"My lady, thank you for coming to speak with me." She squeaked out with a small smile behind the desk, then hopped down off the elevated chair before moving over to me. She was one of the few females I could say I had a height advantage on, albeit a small one.
"It's not as if I weren't in the house already, my sister. Yes, you should be thankful for the grueling trek I endured to arrive before you." I offered her a playful grin to show this need not be a stuffy meeting.
She grinned at my words, then her gaze slipped into a more business-like one, but then shifted awkwardly as she looked away, rubbing her shoulder and biting her lower lip. I cupped her cheek and drew her gaze back to me, looking intently into her brown eyes. "What weighs on you, my sister? This is from before, yes?"
I heard her small gulp before she spoke out quietly, "Uh... You must understand something about I and my brother, my lady, we have been what we were since we were mundane. Like Sir Harold and Lady Mino, we have had one another and only one another for centuries, we do not have the influences of Alice within us that all of you do."
"I realize all of this, Jennifer, but why do you bring this to me now?" I stepped back and shifted my hands to my hips. "I'll not force you, but clearly you have something on your mind."
