velesdonnersen | A Second Cylinder Fires

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A Second Cylinder Fires

Tarvek made it through the madness of the last few events. He's recognized that his former not!wife has been droned -- a grief in its own right, as "Betty" is not returned, but Megurine Luka is so very clearly gone, wandering merrily through Betty's activities without notice of the shift. He's coped with Halloween, he's grown his friendship circle a little.

But he's still living as barely more than a talented Minion. So it's a matter of stunning excitement when he goes out to his mailbox, and finds another small cardboard carton. He rips it open, fingernails tearing at the sticky tape so common in Mayfield, and....

Yes. Yes! Another spark plug, resting heavily in the palm of his hand. He races in, slips the plug into a drawer of his home-office desk, and stretches his mind, running gears and cogs through his thoughts.

Nothing. Nothing?

He feels a moment of panic. Maybe... maybe it's just a signal of him getting back something small, like his proper pince nez? But, no: he simply got the pince nez, not a spark plug. The only time he's gotten a spark plug, it heralded the return of spark.

He's hesitant, now. Something has apparently been returned to him... but he's unsure what.

Time will tell.

He frowns, and putters to the office for the day, planning on returning to Ilsa's place for dinner, now that poor Pyro has been droned. It's nice to play house with Ilsa, and be both her Alpha and her "husband" -- in imagination, if not in Mayfield law.

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Did you have anyone with you when you opened your package?

[ At the perfume comment, she goes very still. ]

What... what do smell?

[At the "anyone with you" comment, he goes equally still. OMG-OMG-OMG. Screwed up! Aieeeeeeee!]

Um.

Aiee.

[Hangs head.]

Ach, liebchen, I was so excited I forgot. And then it turned out to be ... nothing? Nothing obvious.

[Takes her hands.]

I am so sorry, love. I have been an idiot.

My receptive empathy was like that, the signal did not crash in on me like the Sight did.

[ She cradles his face in her hands. ]

... but it could have been dangerous, and you being there with no-one but the drones, of course I worry.

[ The scent is a little stronger, some sort of wood with a sweet undertone. ]

[He does take danger seriously. He's not exactly cavalier... but he's also sure she loves him still. He grins.]

Heh. I still don't know whether I got anything back. Or what. Love, what *are* you making? It smells... almost herbal. Or...

[Playfully nuzzles...]

Ach, not the dinner. You smell good. I mean.. even better than usual.

Oh, no...

[ She pulls back to look him in the eye. ]

Nall was here earlier, and was my backup when I opened the letter. I didn't have any indication then, but...

[ Ilsa pauses, obviously worried about his reaction. ]

The scent is something I get from Daddy's side of the family.

[Cuddles and nuzzles, cheerfully.]

I suspect I like it better on you. At least... I... Um.

Anyway.

[Thinks.]

You mean this is natural? You produce this naturally?

[He's not really aware of it, yet, but his bio-spark just kicked in...not that it's likely to slow down the happy cuddle...]

Mmmm. Take dinner off the heat, and we can...talk....

[Cuddle and snuffle at same happy time...]

It's...

I bet you could sell this.

[

[ Very still, and very quiet. ] Tarvek... in your world, how much have you studied on pheromones?

[ She's worried and trying to shield him from it. ]

[ The shields are not working. ]

[Yes, he's getting the backwash, now. It worries him, and worse, he's never *heard* of "pheromones." Not by that name, anyway...]

Shhh, love. Is this about you smelling good?

Yes, a biochemical excretion to make the subject appealing, attractive - it's something I'll be able to control eventually, but right now, it's... a lure.

[ Now that worry is sharp, but it's being blunted by the inadequate shielding. ]

[Mmmmmmm. Yes....]

[He mutters something that may be some Romanian version of "bet your damned ass it is..." and snuggles closer.]

[Only after a second does he manage to extend the situation out to...

Other Men. And for that matter, Other Women. To his credit, jealousy is matched by fear for her: she's going to get a lot of unwanted attention.]

Ach, liebchen. You're going to have to stay close, be careful, and always stay with people you trust until you can control this. It's dangerous for you, otherwise.

[Bio-spark is sparky.]

How does it work, love?

Can I take...[lascivious voice...]Ssssssaaamples? [Eyes glimmer, and visions of test tubes dance in his head.]

[ The worry lessens a bit when he demonstrates that he knows the problems. ]

I have some things I can do to lessen the effects. It's not that strong yet, thankfully. You might be a little bit more attuned to it, being this close.

[ His glee brings up another worry, but this one is not a new problem. ]

Samples? Um, Maybe?

[Huge Puppy Dog Eyes. He's a spark, and he waaaaants to test this! Puppy Dog Eyes! The Biggest and Saddest!]

Please?

[Slips arms around her, and carries her to the sofa...]

Dinner can wait.

Liebchen, how are we going to protect you? Can you even risk going to work, or shopping? With me? Or is that too likely to draw unruly crowds?

I can manage, I think, with the tactics I used when I first started emanating. Frequent showers, avoiding crowded situations, and similar adjustments can limit the problem.

Now that I realize it's a problem, I can handle it.

[ She still hasn't relaxed completely. ]

Are you okay with it? I mean, I know how much you resent being controlled, it's why I don't project to you much.

[Frowns, but not at her, exactly.]

If you were Zola, love, I would hate it: it would be horrible, to find myself wanting that evil little serpent against my will. But you are not Zola...and I have yet to want you against my will.

If anything, this is...

Mmmmm. Very nice perfume, Schatzi.

[Frowns.] What will be hard is knowing that all the other men will react, whether they thought to or not. Men attracted without being prepared for that may be less controlled than I would like.

[Crooked grin]

Including some you may be pleased to have respond, love.

I'm prepared for that - this isn't the first time I've gone through this, remember.

[ She smiles, and leans into him. ]

I want to make sure you understand, you are still my alpha.

[He holds her close, and snuggles, but she should be quite aware that he's trying to pretend away very real insecurity... and by now she should know it's woven layers deep in him, and his fears aren't just imagination or low self-esteem in the normal sense: his experience tells him to be afraid. His courage and his faith in her are all he's got to hold the line against that.]

Good, love. So, tell your alpha, woman: do we have dinner first... or after I investigate this lovely perfume a bit more, er, intimately?

[ She knows, because it is major work to shield him out, now - ans she has to use that energy to make sure she doesn't hurt him, knowing some of the other issues that might have come along with her new "perfume". That bit he does with her earlobe also makes concentration a little difficult. ]

We pack up dinner, and take it downstairs with us so the drones don't find us here.

[ Grabbing his hand, she leads him back to the kitchen. ]

[He's determined not to whine or sulk. He's being staunch, and so there. He follows her out, and cheerfully digs up a picnic basket as a way to start the packing. He wraps pans in towels, and tucks them in.]

So... what *are* we having for dinner, Ilsa?

If we get to it, you mean? Pollo en Salsa de Frijol Negro, old family recipe, from Mama's side of the family.

[ Much more relaxed now, the Spanish rolls out without a hitch, and she packs the flan carefully. ]

It should be all right cold, if you get carried away.

[He leers, lovingly.]

If I carry you away -- always a delight -- I will repay by reheating it on your lab bunsen burners. I am no cook, schatzi, but I do know a bit of lab cookery.

Mmhmm, and my lab isn't decked out like that, but I do have a hotplate there now.

[ Balancing the plate on one hand, she opens the door to the basement, then reaches for the basket. ]

Quick, grab your things from the couch so the drones don't come looking to say hello.

[Grabs his briefcase, and the various bits of dinner she didn't manage on her own, and hurries after her, closing the basement door behind him...]

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A Second Cylinder Fires

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