Across the universe (closed)

[Ravenloft]

"Not personally, no, but the agency worked with them, that's why this entire area is designated as a nature preserve, to give them, and now you, a safe place to live. There are agents still in operation that did work with them though. Margret and David, right?" Agent Dean explained, extending his hand to Tara. "You must be Tara McIntyre... it is good to meet you. I hope we didn't scare you..."

 

[Snake_Mistress]

My mouth was gaping once again for several minutes. They... they... "You... my parents..?" I had no idea that the few I had... disposed of... were on my side. And now I felt so freaking bad about it! "I, um..." I swallowed before taking a deep breath and continuing. "I'm..." I took another deep breath. "Sorry..?" At that, I buried my face in my hands, for once truly ashamed at what I had done, actions that I had thought were to save me. "I never knew... so I never thought... and I should never have..." I took a deep breath, unable to continue, not just in disbelief of what was going on and what I had done but also to what I had just learned.

 

[Ravenloft]

"Sorry? For what? We should be the ones begging your forgiveness... if the agency had been more careful, your parents might still be here... mistakes... were made, but at least we still have you. We were afraid that something had happened to you... it took this long to get the clearance to come check on you." Agent Dean explained as Agent Nguyen finally started to relax.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

I took another deep breath, trying to calm myself further. Finally, after several minutes of silence, I spoke up. Not sure how to respond to them, I posed a question my own.. "Are you... are you also... snakes..?"

 

[Ravenloft]

"No, you're parents were very guarded about sharing their gifts with outsiders and we knew better than to push them... but... if you were willing to share it... I know many agents who would volunteer for it..." Agent Dean suggested with a sly smile. Agent Nguyen looked a bit shaken but kept her mouth shut. "I think he's hitting on you, Mistress Tara..." Evie sent, sounding a little miffed.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"As I'm sure you can tell... I've already chosen someone... they're just... away... right now..." This feels so freaking awkward... "And I'd prefer to stay here, if I could... this place has been my home for many years and, well, while it might be nice to 'boil' my skin," Or use some other source of heat that I currently can't get... "I would much rather live here." I definitely can't pass this pregnancy off as normal now that I know that they knew any my species... My thoughts paused for a moment. Unless they never saw mom pregnant... maybe... maybe that could still work... Evie..? Have you been scanning..? I don't know why but at that moment an image of me and Xetria adopting a boy and girl popped into my mind, causing me to smile a bit.

 

[Ravenloft]

"I see... So sharing the gift is a mating ritual?" Agent Dean was bold enough to ask. "Dean!" Agent Nguyen shot, incredulously. "What? Hey, she's the one saying as much..." Agent Nguyen rolled her eyes and stepped in front of him. "Ignore him, he can be an ass sometimes... so, you've taken a mate... can you tell us anything about them?" Agent Nguyen frowned a bit over Tara's reluctance to leave. "Oh... are you sure? It would only be for a few days, tops, we would bring in a team to repair your home... we could make it better actually... install high speed internet, cable, satellite... get you any home appliances you could dream of... heck, we could even put in a nursery, if you were willing to give us a few more days... really, the sky the limit! Come now, dream big!"

"Yes, I am scanning... I believe you would call what the female agent is experiencing baby fever... the male seems to want you to bite him... peculiar... do you have this effect on everyone you meet?"

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"Not exactly... there's cases in which one is bitten but with the intention of it lasting for a week... during that time they're meant to serve the one they were bitten by... at the end of the week... they're usually... eaten... my parents tended to have one or two around at a time..." I paused as I thought about Nguyen's words. "We both like our privacy and, even though you're here to protect us... I'd rather not say... as for the nursery... large nests with moss, grass and leaves are perfect, especially since they're so easily replaced for nothing. And, well... Naga babies can't control their shifting for about a year... and, since they're always born in their midway form... you can't exactly use diapers so... it's best to go with the nest..." And what about materials..? "Also... I eat food raw, never need to save it for later and usually only wear clothes when it's cold. Also... a good game of chase is always fun..." I smirked at that, remembering the deer I had chased last week. Not to eat her but just to take care of some extra energy. "If I'm bored enough, I either read or go find some snakes to talk with." I chuckled a little. "It's amazing how much they can focus on all things considered." I smiled before continuing with a more neutral expression. "I only have this house for two reasons. Warmth in winter and to keep me hidden from anything that might come across me while I'm passed out. Though the only time my slumber is deep enough that I can't be awoken for several days is the forced digestion sleep, when my body's breaking down whatever I just ate. Also... I only need to eat about once every two weeks. But I can go for a whole month without food and have no issues besides a very grumbly stomach."

 

[Ravenloft]

"Hrmph... not too keen on being eaten, but I would serve a week for such a gift..." Agent Dean said, his resolve unshaken. Agent Nguyen pushed him aside, the last thing she wanted was to lose her partner. "Point taken, we won't ask any further questions about your mate. Let me write this down... ummm... on second thought.... making a nest isn't something most humans have any experience with... we could gather the raw materials for you, but I have a feeling you would be far better at crafting your nest than we would be..." Agent Nguyen was enthralled with all the information Tara shared with them.

Evie was busy calculating what they would need and how much. "Uncertain." She sent to Tara.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"I doubt you'd even taste good," I replied to Dean before turning my attention to Nguyen. "Thanks... Also... I probably would. It's mostly instinctual. I think. I've never made one but my mother never told me how." Sh*t...

 

[Ravenloft]

Agent Dean didn't know whether to be relieved or insulted...

Agent Nguyen nodded. "Alright, so its settled then? You'll let us put you up in a nice hotel for a couple of nights and we'll get your home fixed up and leave you with all the nesting material you need?

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"I don't want to but... if you can put me somewhere where I can go and hunt... I guess it can't hurt... and if you don't take too long..." I almost sighed. This better not take a month... "And I'll gather my own materials - I know what feels best when it comes to my species." Maybe you should slow it down just a bit... I placed a hand on my stomach. Just in case...

 

[Ravenloft]

"Hunting would be a bit impractical, but we will bring you anything you want to eat. It will only take four, five days tops. Look at it this way, you'll be coming home to a fully restored and upgraded home, free of charge. Agent Nguyen said, pulling out her keys. "Great! Ready to go when you are!" She seemed quite excited about taking Tara to the hotel.

Evie did as Tara asked and slowed the progression of her pregnancy. "Done, this will give Mistress Xetria more time to gestate."

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"I prefer to hunt on my own..." Though it'll be harder when I'm bigger... I resisted sighing as I stood at slowly walked over to my closet, pulling out what other undestroyed clothing I could find. Thanks... Quite soon, I returned to where the agents stood, glancing at Dean, momentarily baring my fangs out of Nguyen's view before starting out of the cabin.

 

[Ravenloft]

"Oh, alright then, we will just have to make sure we are out of your way when the time comes for you to hunt again." Nguyen responded. Dean tilted his head and smiled congenially at Tara as she flashed her fangs his way. Agent Nguyen opened the passenger side door of her sedan for Tara and went around to get in the drivers seat. She started the car and pulled out of the drive way. "Do you like any particular type of music?" She asked, opening a storage compartment full of cds for her to chose from.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

Slowly climbing in, I spoke up, shaking my head slightly. "I'm going to guess that you don't have a recording of snake rattling so go ahead and listen to what you want." I nearly sighed as I closed the door. "I hope I get a lot of privacy at this hotel you're taking me too... especially since I sleep... differently... than humans..."

 

[Ravenloft]

"Hmm, I have something like that, it's like nature and animal sounds arranged to a beat. Here, give it a listen!" She skimmed and found the title, plucked it out and put it in the player. It was an interesting array of sounds that formed an up tempo beat that was both toe tapping and entrancing. "It's from a secret summit that was held fifty years ago, my last partner was there, he gave it to me before he died. ...listen!" There was a moment on the track when the rattle of a snake took over. It was unique and seemed familiar. Agent Nguyen couldn't help but stare at Tara, excited to see if she recognized the sounds of her mothers charm dance.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

My eyes widened, mouth seeming to gape slightly at the sound. "That's... that's my mother..." I started to cry lightly but the tears soon became heavier. "I... I haven't heard that... in so long..." I took a deep breath. "She... used to... attach rates to her tail... she'd place and tie them... so perfectly... that you thought... that she... was a real... rattlesnake..." It was good that the windows were quite dark as, unconsciously, I shifted forms, tail soon enveloping me, body quivering.

 

[Ravenloft]

"Yes, yes it is!" Agent Nguyen was overjoyed she could share that with her. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for you to cry, here you go, here's some tissue!" She fumbled in her pocket for a travel pack of tissue for Tara and handed them to her. "Though, I bet it might do you good to let it out, huh?" She drove them to the hotel, trying her best not to marvel at the shape of Tara's body. It's not every day an agent gets to drive a supernatural being like a Nagi around. "You know you should probably have this... it is your mothers last performance..." She offered the cd to Tara, although it pained her to do so, because of its immense rarity and it's meaning to her.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"Th... thankss..." I took a deep breath and slowly took the disc. "Do you... have a casse for it..?" I took another deep breath and slowly shifted back to human.

 

[Ravenloft]

"Here, here you go, it's got art by some of the other members of the summit... please... keep good care of it, okay? It's the last thing my old partner gave me." She handed her the case as well, unshed tears in her eyes as she struggled silently to let go of the past. "Okay... well, here we are, let me go pay for your room and I'll help you with your things.

 

[Snake_Mistress]

Sensing the unreleased flood behind Nguyen's eyes, I took a deep breath. "I can record it onto something else... and leave you with the CD..." I slowly opened the door and climbed out, grabbing the small woven basket that held my clothing. "And this is all I brought."

(I'm literally trying not to cry...)

 

[Ravenloft]

"Oh my gosh! Would you? I mean, well... the original should stay with you, but I would be so very happy if you let me have a copy!" Agent Nguyen was thrilled at the thought of having it copied as she rushed off to pay for Tara's room. She came back as quickly as she could and offered to take her basket. "You're in room three oh seven. Here, let me take that for you!" She led the way up to the room and used a key card to open it for her. "Alright now, here you go!"

(Damn, didn't mean to make you cry...)

 

[Snake_Mistress]

"I just want to hear my mother again... and, thanks to you... I have... in a way..." As the woman rushed off, I slowly stood and closed the door, basket gripped in my hands. Upon being offered hello again, I politely refused. "Thank you but... I'd much rather carry it." Upon hearing the number, I smiled slightly only to frown again. "Was that number on purpose..? Because my mother had me at 37... so it's an interesting choice..."

(I really resonate with my characters... once once hot a before in her arm for medical reasons and I literally felt the cold, metallic point in my own arm when thigh there wasn't a needle in me...)

 

[Ravenloft]

Agent Nguyen lingered, wanting to ask something of Tara, but unsure how to broach the subject. "I don't mean to be forward, but... I was wondering if you would allow me to feel the baby move? I've never been, and I've always wanted to, but my career isn't very conducive to maintaining relationships..." She never would have dreamed of asking, but Tara was exuding a subtle pheromone that was making Agent Nguyen want to take care of her. It was as though she was being charmed by her.