A Story of Twins

(again: Altered font is Taintedtamer, regular is myself.)



The morning air hung with dew, a chill shivering through the foliage and green around them as the birds were faintly beginning to stir all around to serenade the area around them.

Shivering a little, the gray mass hidden among the leaves shifted faintly, uncurling a little to reveal that it was alive.

Giving a small yawn, Wellung's antennae flicked up as he remained curled up around the two smaller forms as they slept, shivering a bit to feel dew clinging to his armored form, though trying to keep quiet for the sleeping buglets.

-

Oiedea and Tomi had been with Wellung for quite a while, now, Wellung had realized as he watched the still sleeping twin boys - even though they were still so young, they were actually very unlikely to grow much larger. That was fine with him. He liked being able to curl around them, even with a little room to spare actually. It made him feel better knowing they were secure, and if anyone was going to get hurt by something in the middle of the night, it would be him.

He smiled at them, seeing Tomi - the shier of the two - sucking his thumb. Oiedea was the bolder, more leader-esque of the two, and had no such childish motions during his sleep. But he still looked adorable.

It took him back - remembering when he'd first met the two...[/font]

~

Oiedea laughed joyously, clutching a laden honeycomb, wrapped in cloth, to his chest tightly. Tomi was a little ahead of him - upon Oiedea's insistence - with his own precious bundle of honey. This was their most daring bout yet - they'd always been alone, or at least they had been for the latest years of their life. They were very young, toddlers by human standards, even though they could function fully like an adult.

This wasn't just any honey, either. It was queen honey, made by the Bee Queen herself! Oh they were so proud of themselves - sneaking in there, at different ends. While Oiedea created a rather.... stinky distraction, Tomi was to steal two decent sized honey combs.

The plan had worked, and now they were on the run! Tomi could faintly hear the roaring thrum of bee wings - they would surely send their fastest after them. But how would they be caught, when they would merely hide in a hole or tree, or even leave the bees' faces in a cloud of stinky gas? Their wings weren't developed enough yet for flight.....but they could sure run!

And they laughed while they did - bursting into one of the daily markets that Darpan had, knocking over baskets of fruits - Tomi boldly snatched a rather bulky jeweled necklace on a rack as he passed it, letting it fly back into Oiedea's willing arms. Oiedea grinned as Tomi grabbed another treasure as he passed.

Within minutes of causing a rampage on the market, and with several bugs thoroughly enraged, some of them chasing after the twins - they were on the other side, and the sound of bee wings was louder. Tomi didn't dare a look back - one look would slow him too much. He could hear them well enough.

Tomi pointed in one direction, and Oiedea gleefully turned to it, sprinting to he was now in front of the smaller Tomi. The marketers had stopped their pursuit by now, not noticing the stolen items in the confusion, or what was hidden in their bundles. But the honey bees - now that was another matter. They knew what precious cargo they held, and weren't about to let them get away with it - and the twins weren't about to let themselves get caught!

Then suddenly Oiedea let out a screech, and Tomi only had a split second to skid to a stop - momentum making his feet fall forward out form under him, making him collapse on his back, toes touching his brother's back.

Tomi blinked, and looked up, then let out a little yelp of his own. He couldn't really tell what the tall black thing blocking his vision was - but it was towering over the two boys.

-


He gave a yelp, almost dropping the basket he was holding, the fruits inside jumbling about, one almost tumbling right out onto the ground as he regained his balance. Standing straight, his antennae twitched irritably as he whipped around with a glare...only to blink.

His gaze fell to the two that had run into him and he was quite surprised at their size...
"Sorry, you two okay?" Wellung asked, kneeling a little...and blinking in surprise as he looked over them.

Twins.

-

Tomi sputtered a little, and then gasped, scrambling to his feet, dropping the second necklace he'd picked up. He looked behind him, and gave a low whine of despair. Oiedea stumbled to his own feet, peering over Tomi's shoulder. He gave his own little murmur of disapproval.

"Thizzzzzz one hazzz our honeyzzzzz!" A short, lean and male bee huffed angrily, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently, with a dark-eyed glare focused on the twins.

Another honey bee or two stood behind him, bigger, and more mean looking. Tomi gave a whimper, and backed up a few steps, squeaking when he and Oiedea were stopped by the tall black stranger that he'd forgotten was behind them....

Tomi was shaking...

-

Wellung's gaze shifted from the twins to the bees...oh, this wasn't good. He had never really seen the bees in the market, but from the looks of things, these two had obviously stolen honey...

"Hey guys, um...just how much honey did these two nab from you? I can pay for it..." the pill bug said, stepping a little to have his legs against the beetles' backs.


-

"Cannot be paid for, crawler." one of the other bees retorted bluntly. Oiedea lifted his antennae a little, and brushed them softly over his brother's, in a silent message only they knew. Tomi smiled a little, and nodded slightly, pink eyes shining brightly.

The pillar repeated his question, excluding the part where he'd pay for it.

"Queen honey." the lean bee replied with a huff, kneeling down to be eye level with Tomi, reaching a hand out commandingly.
"You givvvve back, we forgivve." the bee said softly, stern face softening a little. Tomi blinked, then pouted a little, turning his torso enough to properly speak with his equally mute twin. The bee looked confused for a moment as the twins antennae flit about each other quickly - almost too fast to trace their movements...but apparently they got it just fine, and after a moment or two, Oiedea sighed greatly, picking up the wrapped honeycomb piece he'd had, and taking Tomi's as well.

Marching forward a few paces, Oiedea forcefully pushed the pieces into the bee's hands, but took back the clothes, which had also come from the hive. Oiedea's face crinkled together in a rather cute, but clearly argumentative gaze. The bee sighed, but stood again, true to his word.
"No zzzteal again!" the bee murmured a little, waving a finger meaningfully.

And as the bees disappeared on the horizon, Tomi and Oiedea burst into an odd sort of gurgling laughter, clearly it was forced. Oiedea wiped away tears of joy, and pulled back the cloths, which were smothered with the purest, crystalline colored honey. The bees had only left with the empty combs! The twins had obviously forgotten the presence of the pillar, whom was probably staring at the two very oddly right now...

-

He had been beyond nervous when the bee had said 'queen' honey, though after watching the little scene progress, he had relaxed, quite grateful that the bees left...

Only to blink in utter confusion when the two beetles began laughing so madly. He watched them...before is eyes widened as he realized why they were laughing. Kneeling quickly, he frowned, "You two are asking for it...what are you doing running around the markets by yourselves anyway?"

-

Oiedea and Tomi froze, turning to look at the rolly polly that was with them. But Tomi broke out into a wide smile, beckoning the rolly down - hoping that he knew the feeler language as well as the twins were forced to know - for their very survival.

Tomi's antennae touched the rolly Polly’s, and he gave a frown - seeing that the polly didn't start talking. He must not know it....Tomi reluctantly twitched his a little bit, in faint hope...

-


Wellung blinked softly as he felt the tiny antennae touch his own...and frowned a bit in confusion before remember how they had been touching antennae earlier...oh!

He smiled a bit, "Sorry, my feeler language isn't very good...its been a while since I've used it..." mainly with his own twin, just to annoy others...

-

Tomi heaved a heavy sigh, and pulled back, a sad expression on his face as he turned back to Oiedea, touching feelers with him delicately, but slowly. Oiedea nodded once, and bounced forward up to the Polly’s feet, looking up at him brightly.
And then he leaned down to the ground, to a small patch of dirt, and drew him and his brother, or something that looked like them, and what appeared to be the polly in front of them.

They were together - and in the background was what appeared to be some sort of house...Oiedea didn't know what a house looked like, really, because they always varied to so much, and he and Tomi had never lived in one, but he tried to get the message across. He stood up, picture drawn, and pointed to himself, and then to the polly, pleading his silent message was going through...

-

His gaze had dropped, watching the young beetle draw in the dirt, his antennae twitching a little...and Wellung blinked, eyes widening as the stinkbug pointed from himself to him.

"...you guys want to go with me...?" Wellung asked, rather hoping he had guessed right as he looked at the little drawing. "I don't live by myself, not yet, I have a home with a couple other bugs."

-

Oiedea blinked, really wondering if the Polly had just asked that. He gave an exasperated sigh, crossing his chubby, fluffed arms and looking at him, conveying just that emotion. Oiedea gave an enthusiastic nod. Tomi popped up behind Oiedea's shoulder, looking up hopefully at the Polly - giving him the widest eyes he could without making them pop out of his head. He added a lip quiver - just for kicks.

-

Wellung frowned as the 'elder' looking one crossed his arms and looked at him...before glancing at Tomi and he smiled a little. "If you two want to come home with me, I'm...well, I'm alright with that..." he raised a hand, shaking a finger, "But no stealing. Especially from the bees, that’s just asking for it."

-


Oiedea gave another fit of giggles, but nodded, Tomi nodded eagerly as well. Tomi knelt to the ground, picking up the bundles of cloth smothered with queen honey, and offered them up to the Polly. They never actually needed the stuff - nor were they ever intending to eat it. They actually would have just thrown it away...
Stinkbugs don't eat honey. They eat nectar. Honey was worthless to the twins - just good sport and play.

But surely the Polly could make some use of it - he at least could sell it. The twins didn't know how to buy things, only how to steal. Bartering was out of their mental capacity.

Tomi shook his hands a little bit, urging the Polly to take the bundles.

-

He hesitated a bit before taking the cloths, guessing Ilen could maybe use the stuff...honey wasn't one of his tastes. Glancing back to the twins he smiled a bit as he held the bundles, "It’s a bit of a walk, you two alright with that?" he asked as he stood slowly.

-


Oiedea gave the Polly another look, smiling jokingly. He jogged in place, and gave a thumbs up. They were perfectly alright with walking! They'd just run a few MILES from the bee hive without working too hard! Tomi smiled as well, and ran a bit ahead, but then he tripped, and fell into a heap on his face. He blinked, and sat up, a little dazed, but fine. He grinned childishly back at Oiedea and the Polly, and waved.

-

Wellung yawned softly; smiling...the twins had stuck with him ever since that day. He still remember Holz looking at him like he was crazy when he brought the two stinkbugs home, though he hadn't planned on leaving Oiedea and Tomi with Ilen...they were his twins and he wasn't planning on letting them go anytime soon.

He gently began to uncurl from around them after making sure they were in the clear, hoping they could catch the next shell to Fellgrad. Darpan was nice, but of late, some rather....nasty bugs had moved in on the west coast and taking a vacation now as a great excuse to put distance between those bugs and his twins.

-


Tomi and Oiedea slumbered contently, unaware that their bed-blanket-pillow combo was moving away. But they'd wake up soon enough, the grass was wet and cold, and even little children who slumber like rocks would wake at such an unwelcome sensation.

But for now, they slept, Tomi curled up tightly to Oiedea, and Oiedea tucked neatly over his twin.

~

The tall bug grumbled to himself, looking behind him - missing the line of bugs that he usually had whenever he stole into Darpan for slaves. His lady had ordered him out - more like requested. She may be the more dangerous bug, but they were mutual partners. He was larger and stronger, but she had species advantage. It didn't bother him. They were lovers and partners in a whole, and he did what she asked, as long as she did what he asked. And she did.

So he was out running her an errand - he wasn't allowed to bring back just any slave. She was being finicky again - she wanted something tough that she could toy and experiment with, and then he was allowed to bring back whatever he wanted for himself. So he'd set out - he almost captured a millipede the other day - but the blasted thing had curled up and rolled away. That had frustrated him greatly....

So now he gazed down upon a slowly uncurling pill bug - he had to suppress a pleasured sigh as he noticed the pill bug had two more bugs with him. They may be children, but he'd had his way with several young before, and Arsine would definitely enjoy sharing the other one. The pill bug was the main target, but the little twins would be an extra treat....

He flexed his massive wings, hidden in the trees, and waited....He wouldn't mess it up this time. His beloved would be very upset with him then...He thought for a moment of just taking the twins - Arsine had never taken a young male beetle before, and she would have two tries if she so desired, well, after he was done with his...His eye was on the smaller one, the one sucking his thumb. He must be the weaker, or more sensitive of the two, seeing as the other was curled, almost protectively around the twin.

Oh yes, Arsine would enjoy a fight, but Ulidae - no. He liked to break the spirit, to torture the soul and make them feel hopeless, and weak, until they bent to his will without a single glance....Arsine liked to overpower things. Ulidae was more elegant with his arts.

Yes. He would ignore the pill bug. He would fly faster with just the two boys, anyways. Arsine would be pleased with his bounty.

-

He smiled as he shifted, legs stretching out and he gently stroked over the twin's heads, fingers softly brushing their antennae. Wellung didn't want to wake them...but they had to hurry, otherwise they'd miss their shell to the Ko Peninsula and be stuck in Darpan for another couple of days.

"Tomi, Oiedea." Wellung said just loud enough to hopefully wake them as he completely uncurled, shifting to sit up as they were now lying on the grass. He stretched his four arms, rather enjoying the warmth coming down through the leaves of the trees as he glanced around. They could make it, though he might end up carrying them for the first leg of the journey if they were still sleepy.

-


Oiedea sleepily rose, tottering on his seat, rubbing his eyes free of sleep. Tomi shifted uncomfortably in his little grass niche, but still slumbered. He hadn't slept very well the past few nights, probably last night as well. He'd been having fitful nightmares, and had told Oiedea about them, but not Wellung. Wellung would worry too much over the child's night terrors of bugs coming to kidnap the twins, and the darkness of caves and smoke as they were kept apart, tortured individually in ways Tomi wasn't quite sure were possible....

Oiedea yawned, and let his twin sleep, gently asking their guardian to follow his example.

~

Ulidae crooned happily to himself as the Pill bug completely unwound, and one of Stinkbug boys awoke. The one he wanted, however, still slept - and he could tell by the boy's expression, even from this far away, that he slept difficultly. That was just better for him! If the boy easily succumbs to nightmares, it would make his process go so much smoother....The best way to make a slave bend to your will - was to make them fear you. Perhaps respect as well, but mainly fear. Night terrors would only usher his stimulation along.

He shifted restlessly, and forced himself to calm down. With prey so easily within his grasp, he was getting excited, and he couldn't afford a screw-up here. He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes, then exhaled, opening his eyes to his normal, chocolate brown, narrow-eyed gaze.

-

Wellung frowned softly, though nodded to Oiedea as he glanced a bit at Tomi...something told him the younger wasn't sleeping well at all, though the twins hadn't told him anything. They either didn't want to worry him, or it was nothing...he doubted it was the latter, but he trusted them to tell him if it got out of hand.

His antennae gently brushed over Oiedea’s, a soft gesture as he asked if the stinkbug was hungry.

-


Oiedea shook his head a little, giving another yawn. He leaned forward a little, touching Wellung's antennae with his own again, ushering the older bug to pick up the sleeping twin, so they could get on their way. Something felt... Wrong.

~

Ulidae silently worked his way down the giant willow tree - the thick hanging branches and leaves shrouded him quite well. He licked his lips in anticipation, stepping from the tree delicately. His feet made only the gentlest rustle on the wet grass, easily mistaken for any imaginable tame beast. It helped that giraffe-weevils hung around here more often than not.

He was well concealed. He glided over the grass elegantly. He was only another tree or two away from his prey...He spread his wings a little farther, giving a few hefting flaps to get himself quickly into a tree immediately overlooking the little group. And so began the game...

-

He blinked, though nodded a bit, shifting and gently bringing his two lower arms around Tomi, cradling him close as he stood; antennae brushing once more against Oiedea's to tell him softly to follow as Wellung got to his feet and started walking.

A bit unsteadily at first, but he was still waking up...hmm, they should make the shell on time...

-

Ulidae waited until the trio had gotten on foot, and within his reach, then suddenly let his weight fall from under him, and within seconds, he was on top of a now struggling pill bug, who probably had no clue what was going on.

Ulidae grinned with crazed lust - this only fueled his strength as he hopped backwards, landing a few feet behind the pill bug. He noticed something scrambling to its feet in the corner of his vision - He gave a snarl, long, slender face bearing a wild grin. The smaller stink bug - his own choice of prey, had finally woken, and was now unprotected and on his own.

He turned instantly, towering over the small, multicolored boy. His guard was down for one moment as he was over the boy, his face down by the armored face...Then his senses focused as he inhaled the intoxicating scent of the boy. Fresh, untainted and so succulent....His eyes bore into pink ones, and his face sharpened to a frown as he saw the reflection in those shining eyes - the pill bug was back on his feet.

-

A shout had left Wellung when he had been hit from above, the weight crushing and he was quite glad he had the sense to faintly curl when he hit the ground to help take most of the shock.

Shaking his head as he pushed himself to his feet, it took a couple moments to realize what the hell had happened...and when he turned to see the strange bug over Tomi, he growled angrily before charging at the taller insect.

"Get away from him!" Wellung shouted, aiming to slam right into the elder insect.

-

Ulidae couldn't help the snarl that came from his lips, as he was forced to abandon his superior position over the small stinkbug, in favor of his own protection. He may be strong, but he wouldn't be able to suffer a direct hit from a fully curled pill bug.

He backed off, looking longingly after his prey, who lay frozen with shock. He composed himself, standing quite nearly twice the pill bug's height. He had the advantage of wits here. He had to use them. Enrage the pill bug, handicap him somehow. His narrow chocolate eyes scanned the black and grey body quickly, looking for weak points. Easily, the pill bug's front side was weak. His back and sides weren't.

He had to be swift, weaken the pill bug at his stomach, causing him to curl up for him to gather himself an escape, with two green, yellow and red bugs in tow.

"Come now, young crawler. You have what I desire, and you desire to keep them. So come, attempt to disable me, if you can," Ulidae taunted, smirking confidently.

-

Wellung growled, throwing himself at Ulidae as he curled, aiming to slam his armored form right into the bug. There was no way he'd let this creep touch his twins!

-

The pill bug did just as he had expected - and desired. He pivoted slightly to the right, and saw the pill bug barrel past. He kept a straight face, but couldn't help his smirk to widen. He raised an eyebrow as the pill bug shook itself out, standing again, facing him with a glare.

"Come my friend. Can you not hit a twig like me?" Ulidae taunted again, his voice sickeningly sweet. He crouched a little, abdomen twitching anxiously as his small stinger slid from its sheath. He had no poison, but the small stinger was sharp. He wasn't sure, but he might be able to puncture through the weaker joints in the pills armor.

He inched back, towards where he knew the twins were. He hoped this would infuriate the bug even more.

-

"Oiedea! You and Tomi get out of here - hide!" Wellung shouted as he got to his feet, antennae twitching as he glared at Ulidae angrily - and ran at him once more, rolling across the ground quickly as he aimed for the insect's legs.

-

Ulidae shivered, guard dropped for a crucial second as he heard the twins' names. Tomi must be his....Oiedea seemed to strong.

That cost him dearly, and he shouted in pain as he experienced the punishment for his lust. He snapped back to attention as his wings started automatically, holding him when his legs could not. His right leg was broken at the femur, he was lucky the pill bug couldn't rend flesh along with breaking bones...

He snarled, and recoiled, swarming up to the pill bug who was now standing - swaying a little from the impact. Ulidae's stinger found the pill bug's stomach or the side of his hips at best, since Ulidae didn't have the best aim. Either way, his stinger found flesh, and he left the pill bug temporarily curled, and crippled. Ulidae turned, searching the immediate area quickly. He saw no sign of the twins.

He yelled in fury, and then sighed angrily, antennae twitching as he listened intently. The twins were clumsy, he could tell that fact, and fear would only make their run all the more easy to track. And he had very little time.

He flew off, and blessed the mother tree that this morning held so much dew upon the grass. The twins left an easy trail to follow. He quickly came up on the twins, who were running towards the general direction of the coast, and other bugs. He grinned a bit at the chase, and shook his head. Their flight was futile. He was upon them.

He flew down, grabbing the two by their necks, causing them to still on the spot.
"Hello, my darlings..." Ulidae crooned lovingly. Though love was a light term...Lust was more involved than any form of love. Ulidae was incapable of experiencing love. His heart was too far gone to darkness.

His clawed fingers shifted, and the twins found themselves asleep instantly as he found the pressure point that rendered any creature into slumber. Gently scooping them into his arms as he hovered, he turned sharply, and headed for home. His leg throbbed with pain, reminding him of his Lady.

She would not be happy with his wound. It would take a few moonturns for him to recover...But it was as much a punishment to him as it was to her. He would not be able to fulfill her desires while he was so injured, but then also, he would not be able to fully torture his new pet. Arsine however....Would be occupied by her new challenge. That should placate her enough.

Post 1

(story Note: This roleplay was done before I decided to not make Rhithra. Ignore any mentions of him. He no longer exists. )


Wellung had felt victory for a fleeting second before pain filled his world...he collapsed onto the ground, curling instinctively to protect himself, shuddering as he brought his hands to the wound in his side, feeling his palms become wet from his blood...

The twins.

The pill bug forced himself to uncurl, hearing only silence around him and fear struck deep.

"T-Tomi!? Oiedea!" he shouted out into the forest...and he keened when his voice echoed.

No.

Wellung forced himself to his feet, cringing and whimpering...oh, his wound was a bit deeper than he had originally thought...he glanced around in panic, eyes widening, "Tomi! Oiedea!" he shouted out once more, starting to walk a bit...before realizing that the fly would already be gone by now with his flight ability.

No!

He shuddered, feeling tears of anger and fear burning into his eyes. He needed help. Wellung quickly started for the coast, knowing only of one insect that may be able to help him get the twins back...he only hoped the twins could hold on until he could save them.

-

~ A day or two later, location: Grimm - Tortuga ~

Ulidae had indeed faced Arsine's initial fury, but now he hadn't seen tail or wing of her for an entire day. But he could hear the faint shouts and screams coming from her private chambers. Who knew the little beetle had such lungs....

Meanwhile, he'd been confined to bed, on his Lady's orders. His leg had been bound in a ghostwood splint - the only type of wood around here. He sighed. Sure, he could order the few members of his harem to come and smother him, and do for him what he could not perform with a broken leg, but where was the fun in that? Only three remained in his harem...Four now, if you included Tomi.

Ah, Tomi...He'd had the small bug brought to his private chambers, on the small guest - or slave - bed, chained to the posts. The cuffs were lined with sticky spider silk, a gift to him from Kreuz, the resident Arachin here. So the silk offered two purposes. One; the cuffs were doubly efficient at keeping young Tomi bound. The other, made it so his wrists would not chafe, go raw, or bruise. Tomi would not be able to hurt himself, fighting the chains - which is what he was doing whenever he wasn't unconscious from exhaustion.

Currently, Tomi was fighting the binds again. Ulidae sighed - the guest bed was within his reach - actually, it was actually connected to his bed, if you wanted to think of it like that. And the chains were long, or long enough at least.

Ulidae heaved his body up, pivoting his hips so he was now facing Tomi. The little stinkbug froze, gazing up at the crane fly who sat next to him. Ulidae lifted an arm lazily, and set the red-clawed hand on the young boy's heavily armored shoulder. A way he hadn't quite experimented with (at least not enough to satisfy him. The last one he tried this tactic with had ended their life themselves before he could finish the true process.). It was to gain the intended victim's trust, by any means possible. If it was to be a friend, even a father, that would eventually lead the young thing to let him be a lover.

It would work.
With time, it would work.

"Tomi...You are at no danger here - whatever your dreams tell you otherwise." Ulidae whispered softly, his thumb gently stroking closer to the stinkbug's rather tenderly fleshed neck. Oh he wished to just go at it now - take the little beetle as he was....No. He would make Tomi comfortable tonight, and then try to seduce him in the morning. If he at least got the idea planted into his head tomorrow morn, he would be pleased. It might be a while till he was as faithful as the other members of his harem, neatly hidden in their large communal room, but it would be worth it. Why? Because if Ulidae soothed the stinkbug's young mind now, he was bound to serve till Ulidae himself was old. And that would be many, many years away.

~

Arsine crooned giddily, eyes flashing cruelly as she gazed upon the rather crudely tied up stinkbug boy. She'd had to take a few herbal doses to render her sense of smell dull to any scent, but oh it was worth it! She thrived on pain and torment, you see, and this little Beetle was an endless fountain for both.

She sauntered up to the panting form delicately.
"Will you bend to me now?" She purred softly, crawling her hand over his rather chubby stomach - already covered with small, dark green slashes. Small, but painful. They looked like paper cuts...But they hurt as if they were real wounds. A wonderful trick of the poison she used. It held no real danger to the one affected unless received in an abnormally heavy dose - and she intended to push that limit. She kept careful track of each new cut she made on the tender flesh - carefully measuring the force of each as well, so the poison would enter, but he would bleed very little.

She had no desire for a bloody floor - yet.

Oiedea - she'd asked Ulidae of the names of the stinkbug boys, and grinned every time she thought or said the name. Simple, yet so meaningful. It was a strong name, fitting for a protector. Well, who was he protecting now? He was failing a duty to his brother, so his name no longer suited him.

And she constantly reminded him of that fact.

"Little Oiedea - pathetic little Oiedea... Are you ready to succumb to me?" she asked once more, forcing her long antennae into contact with his small, stubby ones. She had quickly discovered of the boy's inability to talk. Whether it was a vocal retardation, or simple lack of vocal chords, she did not know, nor would she until he was dead, and she could examine his body. Either way, he could still scream. It was an odd sort of screaming, have garbled and with a gurgle or two added in at random intervals. She liked it. But he talked through the 'feeler' language, as he called it.

She knew it as well as torture. She had once owned a bug, now dead from her own hands, who had the same condition, or at least a similar one. She'd forced the creature to teach her as well as it could. And so it did.

Oiedea's antennae flickered a little. [Never] She snarled, backing off and glaring furiously at her prey. Indeed, she did not intend to make him break within the first night, but her victim did not know that. It had been several hours since their session started, and Oiedea had very few cuts left until he was to be abandoned to recover for a full day, until the poison fully left his system.

Then she would begin again.

"You leave me no choice, my lovely little pet..." she crooned broodingly. She returned to him, pressing her face up against the underside of his very small chin, rubbing at it affectionately. He groaned in protest.

"You will come to yearn for my touch, young one. You will find yourself writhing in pleasure whenever you hear of my coming - instead of cringing in terror or rage. Your brother is being offered a slower process, one that I do not approve of. Pain will turn an unwilling heart, such as yours. Do not take it as you taking the brunt of the pain and torture. You will eventually die - and by my own hands...Your precious twin will live always with my Ulidae...Forever his, and by default, forever mine..." she whispered tauntingly, licking his soft emerald skin once, then recoiled at the rancid taste it offered - since he'd been so frequently secreting his rather smelly (though her nose had been shut off to the scent,) concoction, his skin tasted foul. He gave a small huff, and walked off. Let him stew - let his mind wonder at when she would be back - if he would escape, and of his friends, his brother. Let him think of the cruel future the both of them were promised.

It mattered to her not what he thought of, except that he thought. It made her job easier.

~

Tomi cringed and attempted to shy away from Ulidae's touch, whimpering a little. So far, he had not been harmed. But from what those screams sounded like - like Oiedea, those words were hollow and held no truth....But the comfort of another was a powerful draw, and Ulidae's soft, concerned features were more than enough to bring down Tomi's natural defenses against reality. Ulidae gently coaxed the little stinkbug closer, eventually having to rearrange himself so he was halfway on his own bed, and halfway on the slave's-bed. But it was worth the effort and strain of moving without his leg. Tomi was now curled up into his lap, chains at a comfortable extension. Enough to let the little stinkbug move freely in Ulidae's lap, but not enough that he would be able to escape Ulidae's immediate reach.

Tomi cried, and Ulidae had to stifle a smile - things were going well already. But...He couldn't get too excited, lest his latch loosen, and betray his true intentions with the little bug.

It seems like he was having to control himself a lot more, recently. Perhaps he should visit Arsine after his leg was healed. She would be able to make him re-learn to conceal his emotions. And...Odd as it was, he missed the touch of his Lady. It was like this every time she got a new plaything, though. He sighed. He'd have to live through it. Maybe Kreuz would be able to give him the pleasure he desired....No. He still had several things to do, one with a member still in his harem, and now Tomi. The two would get along well, he thought.

The termite, Banyu, a teenage female, was still devoted to her queen, even though they had been separated for many a moon. It was faint, now, but maybe if Banyu found a friend in little Tomi, she would lose that last devotion, and instead transfer it to Tomi. That would not hurt.

And if Tomi made friends with the other two in his harem along with Banyu, well, that only made things easier. The other two - one a Mayfly, the other a Tortoise Beetle, - were wholly his, the Mayfly being the eldest, but the other beetle been with him longest. The Tortoise beetle was named Viri, the Mayfly named Rhithra.

Yes - Ulidae would introduce them, slowly. But not for a few days yet. Just like with raising a young creature from birth or hatching, and you intended it to see you as its mother, and no one else, he would have to have the first week or so alone with Tomi. He would slowly give the stinkbug the hint that there were others - and if the bug so wished to meet them, it would have been 'his' idea, not the careful coaxing of the crane fly.

Yes....It would go well, he thought again, gazing down as the stinkbug slowly settled into sleep. Ulidae blinked, noticing now that he had been absent-mindedly stroking down the child's wings, and that was causing the little beetle to relax and calm.
'huh...That will come in handy later, I think.' he thought wearily, resting his hand on the armored bulge on the boy's back, as he felt the young thing fall into slumbering darkness. He felt his own eyes start to fall, and did not reject the dark. He lived in it, any how. Why reject it's loving embrace?

He would wake at the first shift of Tomi's body...Not that the boy would escape even if Ulidae wouldn't awake...

Yes....Sleep was good...

-

The moth laughed, covering his mouth with both hands to hide the sound, his chest still shaking softly however as he watched Holz below, the scorpion looking rather agitated of this game...

He glanced across the leafy branches to Katy, smiling at her as he kept completely still, not wanting to risk his lover finding them both.
Yes, it was rather mean to take to hiding in the trees...but Holz had known they would probably do so after the first couple of games they had played.

Besides, Mond enjoyed watching the elder insect, walking through the grass, glancing around every leaf and trunk for antennae or wing of the katydid and moth.

Mond watched curiously as Holz suddenly perked up, tail twitching before the scorpion suddenly took off with a growl.

"...uh-oh." Mond said, wings twitching and he flew down, worried Holz was about to get into a fight as he heard the dark insect running through the undergrowth.

The moth flew ahead of the other, easily flapping his wings silently and moving ahead to try and see...he paused, the dark form below rather familiar as it fell against the side of a tree, quivering.

"...Wellung?" Mond said softly and quickly shifted to land, wings flaring out a bit as he landed and the pill bug shuddered as he glanced up at the young moth.

"N-Need help..." Wellung said and Mond gave a squeak when Wellung suddenly collapsed.

"Wellung!" Mond shouted in panic, quickly rushing forward and Holz burst through the bushes to see the luna moth kneeling beside the pill bug.


-


Katy quickly joined Holz and Mond, gasping when she saw exactly why the two had run off. Wellung was collapsed on the grass, obviously he'd been running for a long time, and was exhausted.

"Havve to get 'im 'ome!" Katy chirped instantly, pointing to Holz.
"Pick 'im up! Carry 'ome!" Katy ordered. Whatever reason Wellung had to come home early from his vacation, and to make him pass out from the exertion of getting back home, it was important. And that meant Ilen and Chryso, and Oeco even, needed to hear about it.

~

Ulidae woke completely as Tomi's body shifted a little, as the young boy awoke. Ulidae composed himself, and stroked the boy's wings again. Tomi gave a little croon - whether it was pleasure or a part of a yawn, he couldn't tell - and looked up at him sleepily. Tomi's gaze met a soft, caring face.

"Did you sleep well, my young friend...?" Ulidae asked gently. Tomi blinked up at him with pink eyes - Ulidae found that he actually loved the color, even if it was feminine. Tomi hesitated, but nodded slightly. Ulidae smiled fondly.

"No night terrors?" Ulidae murmured with false concern. He wanted the little one to have nightmares - wait, no. He didn't. If he didn't have nightmares in Ulidae's presence, maybe the young thing would take his presence for granted.

Tomi shook his head almost instantly. Ulidae's smile grew.
"Good. You need not fear my home - or me. I will let no harm come to you, my love." Ulidae crooned softly. Yes, indeed he had called Tomi "his love". Let Tomi think what he would - Ulidae did not love him, nor would he ever. Tomi was just another toy, though a young and wonderful one.

Tomi's eyes had widened a bit at that statement, but said nothing - not even with his antennae. Something told Ulidae that Tomi didn't quite trust him with his precious communication just yet. Just as well...Trust would come with time. And Ulidae had plenty of that.

~

Oiedea moaned softly, still bound spread-eagled against a vertical wall. He'd been left to nightmares all night - and thus had gotten very little sleep. Not that he wanted to leave himself that much more vulnerable in this pit...

He sighed, closing his eyes forcefully. He would rather not see his current surroundings. He didn't want to see what the Lady planned for him. Though - he wanted to find a way out. Badly. And not for his own sake. He needed to rescue Tomi, before the easily swayed twin got himself into a mess he couldn't get out of, no matter what came to his aid.

He groaned, the small poison-infested scratches throbbing dully. The poison was fading, but he had a feeling his experiences with poison were all but finished - seeing as his captor was a Wasp, and a parasitic one at that. He just hoped that her ovipositor would not be finding itself inside him before he managed to free himself and Tomi - and whoever else was locked in this bloody hell-hole.

-

Holz was quick to pick Wellung up, nodding a bit, "Both of you fly ahead! Tell Ilen, get a bed ready." the scorpion said, securely holding the injured insect to his chest and starting back towards their home - though Mond had already taken flight.

His wings easily carried him above and ahead of his grounded lover and he was rather worried that he didn't see the twins anywhere with Wellung as he tried to get back to tell the others what was going on.


-

Katy was a second behind Mond - the moth had more stamina with flight, but he was slower. She was the opposite, and she soon found herself ahead of her luna moth friend.

But this was not a competition - not anymore. Now it was a dire need - for Katy had a deep suspicion what was wrong. The twins weren't with Wellung...

~

Ulidae spent the morning having idle chatter with Tomi - asking of the little bug's life, and describing his own - or at least a carefully forged version of his life.

Tomi, once he'd warmed up to Ulidae, was eager to converse. It seemed that the little bug was desperate for contact - or comfort, seeing that his brother was no where in sight. Tomi had timidly started using his language with the crane fly, but once it seemed as if nothing bad was going to come of his free speech, he started talking full-speed of his life, interests and dislikes.

~

Oiedea had long since fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion - his body convulsed in his forced sleep as the last doses of the poison wracked his body. Arsine watched hungrily from the other side of the room, flipping a small blindfold back and forth over the palm of her hand. Once he stopped convulsing, she'd put the blindfold on him so when he woke, he would be left in the darkness she would teach him to fear if she wasn't there.

~

Ilen folded a square of silk neatly over his desk, handing it then to Oeco, who smiled at his great blue-bodied lover, leaning forward to give the morpho crawler a loving kiss. Ilen smiled when they separated, reaching a hand up to hold the back of the Ant's head to bring him in for another quick kiss.

After that, Ilen released his beautiful bug, and reluctantly turned back to his work. He was behind on their recent quota, and he needed to catch up. He and Oeco had been laboring for four days straight, trying to meet the requested mark. The customers would be here today to buy the first half of the shipment, thankfully he had that much of it, and a little more.

He was interrupted by the loud slamming off the wooden front door. He shot to his feet, about to head out to greet the sudden visitor, when Katy barreled into his stomach. After he recovered - groaning painfully, and clutching his stomach - he looked down at the panting Katy - and up at Mond who was just now entering the room.

"Holz is on his way with Wellung - something's gone wrong!" Mond blurted before Katy could gather her breath.

-

The scorpion was running quickly, tail preventing any of the bushes from snapping against them as he rushed through, glaring as he tried to get to their home in time...especially now that the could feel wetness as he held Wellung.

He really doubted it was water or dew.

~

Mond was breathing a bit heavily after having spoken, wings quivering behind him as his antennae twitched.


-

Katy's brows furrowed in concern as Ilen's pained reaction turned to shock, and then anger.
"Well? Go fix his room! Now!" Ilen barked - Katy knew the anger wasn't towards them. Ilen held Wellung rather close, as he did with all who lived under his earthen roof, temporarily or permanently. Ilen ushered Katy and Mond out of his room firmly, before putting a few things in his pack. Time to test the minor healing abilities he gathered when he was young with Aurum. If it was grave, he would send Katy or Chryso to fetch Aurum here. If it wasn't, Wellung would have to tolerate Ilen's skills.

-


Mond had scrambled to get the room ready - Wellung hadn't been here in ages...so it lacked the usual comfort their rooms usually held.

~

Holz shuddered a bit, Wellung's weight almost a bit much for the scorpion - the younger had grown a bit and his armor had obviously thickened...he moved in through the door, almost stumbling and he quickly moved back towards the room with the hurt pill bug.


-

Ilen quickly appeared before Holz, taking the obviously heavy pill bug off the scorpion's hands. Holz was strong, but Ilen was stronger. Ilen bowled past the wood scorpion without a word, barreling past Mond and Katy who were in Wellung's bowl of a room. He gently set the pill bug down - now wondering how he was going to force the poor thing open without hurting him!

-


Wellung shivered, faintly uncurling as he felt that he was laid down...before shuddering and Mond's wings drooped when the pill bug curled right back up again, the moth moving a bit out of the room to avoid being in the way of Ilen's work.


-

Ilen grimaced at the damage, though there was no obvious outward affect. Good - no poison, just a wound.... But the wound itself was bleeding - heavily. Ilen found himself wondering what caused it...And why the twins weren't with Wellung.

He tenderly pushed Wellung's body open a little more, glancing at the pill bug's pain-contorted expression.
"Who did this, Wellung...?" Ilen murmured softly, pulling the hair on his arms back, and wrapping an elastic cord of silk over it to hold the black hairs back.

He gently ran his white fingers over the wound, pulling Wellung's clutching hands away, gently applying cotton to soak up the blood.

~

Arsine crooned lovingly, approaching her new little captive as his body stopped shaking and convulsing. Slipping her hands behind his head, and tying the black silk cloth in a tight knot, she gently brushed her long, feathery-tipped antennae up to his stubbed ones.
"Wake, my pet..." She whispered sweetly, licking his armored cheek once. His skin no longer tasted foul....Good. She might be able to have a bit of fun, in that case. [/font]


~

Ulidae laughed - a forced one, though that fact was not obvious. Tomi beamed up at him, smiling.
"You know, Tomi. You're not alone here....You could have friends." Ulidae murmured soothingly, smiling coyly down at the stinkbug in his lap. Tomi's eyes widened brightly, and hooked onto Ulidae's neck, bringing the elder's head down so Tomi could talk to him.
[There are other children here?] He asked curiously. Ulidae nodded half-way.
"Sort of. Would you like to meet them, Tomi?" Ulidae offered kindly.
[Oh boy would I!] Tomi answered back eagerly, his antennae moving so quick Ulidae had to think for a moment before he was able to decipher what the boy said.
"Well then. Let's get you out of those chains. I do hope you don't need them anymore..." Ulidae responded, his voice hurt, pulling his head away, an almost pained expression on his face. Tomi made an odd gurgle, and scrambled to pull Ulidae back down.
[No, no, no, no! I won't run away! I promise!] Tomi blurted without thinking. Ulidae gave a pleased smile.
"Good, my love. I wouldn't like to lose you..." Ulidae purred, stroking one of Tomi's antennae back fondly.

-

Wellung hissed a bit, shuddering as he resisted rolling back up, quivering as he looked weakly at Ilen. "I-I...a crane fly...h-he wanted..." he gritted his teeth a bit, blood soaked hands gripped at the bed, "H-He wanted my twins...a-ahh, t-tried to stop him..."


-

Ilen's eyes narrowed and his lips tightened in a frown. There weren't many crane flies around, and those that did, or the ones he knew of, lives on Grimm. He didn't know why a crane fly would want with children, though....Crane flies ate only nectar...

Unless this one was the crane fly that was banned from the whole of Darpan! Ilen resisted the urge to growl, and focused on his work, discarding the cotton pads when the blood was gone. Now he could see the wound without distortion, and it wasn't that deep, but deep enough. He grimaced again. Wellung had been hit hard, and on his weak spot...

"What did he look like, do you remember?" Ilen asked softly reaching for one of the half-empty pots of salve that Aurum had given them for Mond's long past head injury. They'd had a bit left over, and Aurum told him to keep it, in case anyone else got hurt. Ilen scooped out a bit, and hesitantly put his fingers just inside the gash - fully prepared in case Wellung curled, or thrashed. Ilen's body was tensed, his shoulder ready to ram again the pill bug's pelvis to make him curl open again.

-

He shuddered, "...t-tall...creep..." Wellung whined, "H-He wanted Tomi...w-was hovering over him l-like he was a fresh piece of meat..." Wellung gave a hiss, shuddering and his body instinctively tried to curl despite his resistance when Ilen's fingers slipped into his wound.


-

Ilen's eyes narrowed as he hunched over in concentration, looking at Wellung's wound intently. He carefully applied the salve, very grateful that they still had the extra. It was all-heal, and a special one of Aurum's, so it was bound to heal whatever wound it got put on.

Wellung was lucky. Some of his muscles were torn - and badly. But the all-heal would mend them with time. Ilen glanced at Wellung's face, and frowned. The poor bug was in so much pain - and it was obvious he was worried. So it was a tall bug - crane flies were typically very tall. If he could get the correct colors out of Wellung without offering them to him, it was bad news for the twins.

Because it was not the crane fly that anyone caught in the slave trade had to fear. It was the fly's partner - a female wasp, and a parasitic one who enjoyed torturing her victims through pain, both mental and physical, poison, and any other means she could use. Ilen hoped desperately that neither of the twins were caught in her talons...

"Wellung...What color was he?" Ilen coaxed gently, pressing the edges of the wound together, reaching for a needle, which he quickly threaded with his own silk.
"This will sting." Ilen warned delicately, sharply putting the needle on the edge of the wound closest to him. Again, he was braced, shoulder to Wellung's pelvis as he worked to stitch the wound shut.

~

Tomi was now in Ulidae's arms, being carried oh so carefully, to another room he didn't know of. But as they went through - Tomi looked around. They were underground; he could tell that much by how much dust there was already collected on the wood flooring and walls. It was alright - a lot of bugs made their homes underground. The wood itself was very high-grade, the type only rich people could afford. Tomi didn't know the name, he wasn't rich! He giggled to himself a little at that, earning a smile from the crane fly.

"Here," Ulidae announced simply, pushing a delicately enameled and decorated door open, and stepping inside.

Inside was a wide and circular, gorgeous sitting room, the whole floor was lined with soft blankets, and benches and beds were built into the walls, smothered with pillows. A small bell-rope was off to one side - possibly for service? -, tasseled with white and brown threads.

The room itself was multicolored - for every room there was a different colored section of the sitting room. There were five doorways that split off into slightly smaller rooms, though they were probably just as luxurious. The first, on Tomi's immediate left, was a deep blue, shaded with gray and black pillows and blankets. The second was a rich velveteen green, with yellow and brown pillows. The third, direct center was a beautiful, deep crimson with black and gold pillows. The fourth, a delicate tan with brown pillows. The fifth, immediately on his right, was black with white and gray.

It all melded beautifully, and he could only imagine the decorations of the rooms themselves.
"Shall we meet Viri, and Blau?" Ulidae suggested kindly. Tomi didn't know who Viri and Blau were, but he nodded. There was no space for being rude, here.

Ulidae set Tomi down, and the little bug, as he swore, did not go running off. Instead, he was close to Ulidae's legs, but not so close as to crowd him.

Ulidae strode forward slowly - the little stinkbug had to take about 5 steps to equal one of his...He smirked at that. Viri and Blau would be good friends to Tomi, he thought. And if Tomi liked this part of the building enough, Ulidae would let him stay. This entire area was under constant, vigilant watch after all. Perhaps not by him or his Lady, but it was watched. By servants - and by Kreuz. Kreuz was allowed- if he asked Ulidae first - to claim any of his harem, excluding young Viri, who wasn't to be claimed by anyone but him, for his own pleasures.

Ulidae shrugged that off as he pushed Tomi towards the green room - Viri and Blau's technically was the blue, because it matched his colors, but he preferred Viri's company it seemed. Well, it was hard not to like the young, blind Scarabin. Viri was very kind, sweet and mannerly, and also wholly devoted to his master. Ulidae knew that no matter the circumstance, Viri wouldn't leave the harem. He depended on Ulidae, and Ulidae would much rather prefer if he didn't lose that companion.

Tomi poked his head into the room, and was greeted with the sight of two bugs - one relaxing on a bed, the other sitting and toying around with a rather complex looking item - Tomi could only gather it was a sort of adult-leveled puzzle piece. The one that had the puzzle was a lean, but rather large looking beetle; though Tomi could tell it was only because of the giant shell on his back. The one on the bed was a fuzzy-looking black and blue-winged bee.

Rather odd pairing, but he didn't really mind. Friends were friends, no matter the race.

"Viri, Blau, this is Tomi. He will be with us from now on." Ulidae said softly, formally, and to the green beetle, not to the bee. Viri - he assumed - looked up in Tomi's direction, and the little stinkbug had to stifle a gasp as he saw the scarabin's misty white eyes. He was blind...?

-


Wellung was gasping, shuddering as Ilen worked on him - and he yelped to feel the needle. "B-Brown! D-Dark features, ahh...w-white socks on his legs..." the pill bug gasped out as he gripped onto the bed beneath him, trying to keep from curling - the action wouldn't work and only sent more pain flaring through him.

~

Blau's wings fluttered softly as he glanced up from watching Viri work on the puzzle, blue eyes softening as he caught sight of the little stinkbug at Ulidae's feet...that looked so much like the bug that had captured his master's attention.

The carpenter bee hesitated before he shifted, sitting up slowly, antennae perking up, "...welcome." Blau said softly, giving a small smile - it had been a while since they had had any new additions to the harem.


-

Tomi blushed a bit, but smiled, and waved. He doubted anyone here besides Ulidae knew his language...And he wouldn't be able to talk to them, unless they did. Tomi looked up at Ulidae, and beckoned him down, so the crane fly could translate.
[Could you tell them I can't talk...but that I say hello?] Tomi asked timidly. Ulidae smiled, and nodded.

It seemed like Blau already could tell that the stinkbug couldn't talk, but Viri was blind - he wouldn't be able to. Maybe Viri knew the language...? Tomi hoped so.

"Viri - young Tomi here is mute. If you two want to talk, you'll have to use your antennae. I know it's been a while since anyone's used it here - but I hope you remember?" Ulidae asked encouragingly.

Viri's head tilted to the side a bit, and a small smile crept onto his features.
"I remember, Ulidae. May I see him...?" Viri asked in return, head tilting forward in their direction. See? Viri was blind, though... Ulidae softly pushed Tomi on the back, ushering him forward, to Viri. Tomi glanced at Blau as he passed, stopping shyly in front of Viri, folding his legs neatly underneath him as he sat in front of the green beetle.

Viri suddenly - but slowly - reached a hand up to Tomi's face, fingers soft like lambs wool. Ulidae turned to leave - confident that Tomi would be in safe hands.

One of Viri's other hands came up, and Tomi soon had two, gentle and knowing hands gliding over his skin, sending shivers down his spine.
"You don't have to be scared of me, Tomi....I know how it is to be scared..." Viri murmured fondly. Tomi managed a smile as one of Viri's thumbs went over his lips, and Viri smiled in return.
"There. I'm no mean bug...We're the same, here. We are equal - we are all equal." Viri continued, his hands slowly continuing their exploration - Tomi was a bit embarrassed, but realized it was important to Viri to know what Tomi 'looked' like, and with every spot Viri touched, a mental image was being put together, much like the puzzle, now laying abandoned on the floor...

~

Ilen sighed, tying the knot on the final stitch, and backing away.
"Don't you even think of curling, Wellung. If you do that, you will just rip open what I have just sewn." Ilen growled as he saw Wellung starting to shift.

His fears were confirmed, and he could do nothing about it. The crane fly and his Lady - as she was referred to by people outside of the black land - lived on Grimm. No boats went there, you had to fly to get there. And only one of their troop was strong enough to face Grimm's inhabitants, and fly there. Chryso. But Chryso wouldn't be able to walk into Grimm alone - he was a white marker in the dark land. Holz would fit in - but he couldn't fly...

And slowly, a plan formed in Ilen's mind as he sat down on a stool, watching Wellung, and getting up to stop him from curling up every now and then.

-


The bee watched Ulidae leave before his gaze shifted back to Tomi and Viri, the black insect shifting off his bed carefully to sit closer, watching the little stink bug as Viri 'saw' him.

"Viri’s right. You have nothing to fear." Blau said softly, his voice quiet, wings twitching softly behind him. A smile faintly crossed his lips, "Are you hungry or anything...? We have some food left over from earlier." the young bee said.

~

"I-I won't..." Wellung whined, shivering and looking at Ilen, "B-But..H-how long will it take for me to heal? I-I have to find my twins..." the pill bug said sadly.


Post 2

Ilen had said nothing for a while, merely watching over Wellung, hoping the pill bug would soon fall into slumber. If his plan were to work, Wellung would have to know nothing of it.

And eventually, the pill bug fell asleep from exhaustion, and previous blood loss. Ilen never really did answer Wellung on when the pill bug would be better - it was better that way. If he gave the Scarabin a set date, he would be out the door on that day even if he was still wounded....No date given, he would be forced to stay until Ilen released him.

Ilen grunted, and heaved himself from his chair, abandoning the pill-bug's room without a second thought. On his way outside, he gathered Chryso, and Holz, forcing them to follow him out of the house.
"Chryso, Holz, I need you to do something. For me, for Wellung, and the twins." Ilen started instantly, after Chryso's hand left the knob of the wooden, dirt-stained door.

~

Tomi blushed a bit at the kindness of the two - still not completely used to people being kind to him. Wellung was teaching he and Oiedea better, but a few years on the streets, fending for yourself taught that the world is full of hurt. He gently tapped Viri's shoulder, and the older bug leaned down - instantly knowing what Tomi wanted. Their antennae touched, and for a moment, Tomi nearly gave a sigh at the feel of the green beetle's soft skin. [I'm not scared...And thank you for the offer - I'm fine, though.] He replied slowly.

"He says he isn't scared, and that he does not require food, or drink." Viri translated slowly, smiling softly.

-

Holz frowned as he heard Ilen, tail twitching faintly behind him, "Where are the twins anyway...? Did Wellung explain what happened?" he asked, not liking that he hadn't seen the two stinkbugs with Wellung at all.

~

Blau smiled, "Alright! If you need anything, just ask me - I'll be happy to fetch it." the bee said happily, wings twitching. His gaze shifted when the door opened...and his smile faded faintly as the black insect leaned against the frame, glaring in on the three. "So, that’s the other new one. Looks the same..." Meuchel said and Blau frowned,
"Meuchel, this is Tomi..." he said, really hoping the beetle would keep the fact that Oiedea was in their master's quarters - Arsine wouldn't be happy if Tomi ended up wandering in...

-

Ilen glanced at Chryso, and then back to Holz. "Neither of you will like it, but if you want to rescue the twins, you've got to do it." Ilen warned sternly. "What do we need to do?" Chryso growled, teeth bared a bit. "You'll have to go to Grimm, Chryso. The both of you, and there is only one way the both of you will get in, unharmed." Ilen sighed, rubbing his temples gently. "As for what has happened to our little stinkbug friends - they've been kidnapped by, who I can only assume was the companion to the Lady of Tortuga." Ilen muttered jaw clenched. Chryso bristled, all his fur standing on end. "And how -" Chryso grumbled, speaking through grit teeth, "do we get them back, without getting ourselves caught, and sold in the slave trade?" Chryso finished reluctantly.

Ilen glanced at Chryso through narrowed eyes. "you and Holz will have to work together, and be very, very careful. Holz will not look out of place in Tortuga, but you, Chrys, will stick out like a yellow jacket amongst pill bugs. Tortuga is known for its slave activity. No one would think anything amiss if You acted the slave's part, Chryso, and Holz as the master, intended to make a sale to The Lady and her accomplice." Ilen offered slowly. Instantly Ilen found himself hoisted bodily into the air, being shaken at the throat by his Moth counterpart, white claws holding him by his neck-ruff. "Chryso! Do you ever want Wellung to be happy again?! Do you want those two children tortured, sexually abused and beaten at the hands of those monsters?! Or will you let your damned PRIDE take you?!"

Tomi fell forward from surprise, hearing the foreign female voice, landing himself wholly in Viri's lap. Scrambling to sit up so he could see what had frightened him so, he was further surprised to see a relatively short, but thin, black and red female. She looked vicious, and her expression did nothing to improve that interpretation. "Ah...Meuchel. I see you found your way into our quarters, again." Viri muttered lowly. Though the tone was not rude, nor annoyed, it was obvious Viri took this girl's presence as a displeasing factor. ~ Oiedea had been moved several times, just since the morning, each time he'd been fondled roughly by soft hands, and sharp talons. Each new spot, whether he was on the wall, or bound at the ankles to the ceiling, offered new pains... He missed Tomi.

-

Holz growled a bit, "Chryso, put him down and grow up. We can do this - it won't be difficult if you can just keep yourself in check." he said, tail twitching faintly behind him. Honestly, the idea of going to Grimm wasn't too frightening...though the idea of being partnered with CHRYSO of all insects was rather irritating. This moth had a hard time with keeping a level head...and blowing their roles would probably land with them both being slaves for real. The beetle's smile darkened a little, "Hmph, its not hard with the stench..." she said and Blau's wings twitched, "Meuchel, you know Master Ulidae doesn't like you being in here..." he said and the female glared at the bee. "Shut up. Ulidae can shove his orders - Arsine just told me to avoid your room, she never told me not to peek in..." she smiled, "Besides, with such a cute little newcomer, I just had to greet him...I'm sure he'll be so happy with you two distracting him."

-

Chryso glared at the short Wood scorpion hotly, but released Ilen, carefully setting him back down. Out of sudden fear, he glanced at the window of the home - though it was often dirty, and hard to see through, there would've been no mistaking Chryso's actions towards Ilen, should someone look from the inside. Thankfully, he saw neither Oeco or Katy, or in fact, anything, in that window. He sighed heavily, sapphire orbs narrowed at the caterpillar. "There is no other way?" He muttered, again through grit teeth. Ilen shook his head, a hand massaging his tender neck. "Chryso, it's either you fly Holz and yourself to Grimm, or the Twins suffer a life of pain, and Wellung too." Ilen murmured softly.

~

Tomi's gaze shifted from surprise and fear, to a stern frown. He turned his head upwards, and his antennae touched Viri's. As Viri thought about Tomi's request, he chuckled, lifting his head to Meuchel. "Our "Cute" little newcomer has something he is just dying to tell you. Do you wish to know it?" Viri asked slyly. Tomi smirked mischievously at the Scarabin.

-

The misty gaze of the brown insect looked to Ilen, "Where exactly are they being held...? Or would we be able to find their captors where abouts once we get there?" he said...and frowned, "Depending on how long they've already been there..." hopefully it wouldn't be too late for the twins.

~

Meuchel glared at Viri, really wishing he could see it, though her voice held the glare nicely. "What does the little stinkpot want to tell me." she asked and Blau glanced curiously at Tomi and Viri.

-

One of Viri's eyebrows perked up a bit, and a coy smirk appeared on his face. "He says that if you're not careful, he'll slip word to Ulidae, and then insist that word be passed on to your mistress. Now, this is from me, Meuchel....You only visit when you want to insult one of us. Is it that you are so desperate for attention that you crave the retorts? Or is this foul nature brought on by the fact that Arsine has been favoring Blau as of late, and not you?" Viri crooned smoothly. Viri knew the inner workings of the house - the servants that stood watch in every room often spilt the gossip of what they all saw, for gossip was not discouraged, here. In fact it was well looked upon, as long as the information wasn't too private, and did no harm to another. Viri was confident in his chide.

~

"They will probably still be with the house - they typically do monthly auctions, and I happen to know that the last auction was only just a week ago. They would not have been sold yet, if at all." Ilen replied to the scorpion, voice a bit scratchy and gruff. "You would have to ask around a bit for the location of the house, but the Lady's slave trade is a wealthy one, and is well-known around Meddus. The hard part would be getting inside, and not getting caught. Then, it would be to find the twins - they would be separated, probably - and get yourselves out before you were captured yourselves, for whom you really are." Ilen muttered, looking at the dusk-colored sky. "Prepare tonight, and pack lightly. Holz, you'll have to suffer your fear of heights. There are no boats to Grimm."

-

Blau instantly cringed under the venomous glare directed mainly at him before she hissed a bit and left without another word, the bee frowning and glancing a little at Viri and Tomi. "She really hates me..." the bee said, wings twitching as he frowned, "Sorry about that Tomi...she’s just really moody. I would say she’s not always like that, but..." the bee rubbed his head a bit, "She is. And she usually directs her anger towards me, but she hasn't really been doing that much of late since I've been spending so much time with Viri." Blau said, smiling at the last part. He loved sharing a room with the green beetle.

~

The scorpion nodded as he took in the information...and scowled at the last part. "Sadly I was afraid of that..." he said, glancing faintly at Chryso, guessing the main reason he was needed for this was to get to Grimm. His gaze shifted back to Ilen, "...what are you going to tell Mond and Katy? I can't even mention this or Mond might try and follow us..."

-

Ilen shrugged. "I'll tell them nothing. I will give them a dose of sleeping herb in their drinks tonight. That will give you till noon to get out and far enough away. Your scent trail will be gone by then, with the afternoon heat." he replied dully. Ilen didn't like drugging his 'children' if he could help it, but in this case, it was for the best. He'd have to drug Wellung, as well, but that was an easier feat. As for Oeco....The ant would stay, for fear he would ruin the journey if he went. Oeco would help him drug the children tonight.... Chryso gave a heavy sigh, crossing his arms. Katy wouldn't be happy with him....He had no clue how long this rescue would take. He and Holz might have to make a temporary establishment in Tortuga - claim they were waiting for the monthly auction.

~

And while they waited for said auction, Holz and himself would have to try and convince the Lady or her partner to crave Chryso's services, be them sexual or physical labor. He cringed at that. He hadn't had sex in a long time....But that was because he still had a year or two to wait for Katy to be of age. He was more than willing to wait for that special moment - but he might just have to give it up for this rescue, even if it meant giving himself to the Lady, or her partner. ~~~ Tomi blinked, and yawned a bit, rubbing at his eyes. He still was catching up on sleep from those fitful nights of nightmares...A nap would do him good - and Viri's lap was so warm, and comfortable....And without knowing, Tomi drifted off into sleep. ~ Viri gently stroked the arm of the stinkbug, smiling.

The little boy had fallen asleep in his lap a little while ago, after the tortoise beetle had delivered a nasty remark to Meuchel. Viri was proud of himself for that bit - he'd saved Blau and Tomi both, a screaming match between Bee and Assassin Beetle. So, content, he had cradled the young child in one of his pairs of arms, and heaved himself up, finding his way to one of the large pillow-beds that lined the circle of the room. He laid himself comfortably along it, Tomi laying over his chest. One of Viri's hands toyed absently with one of Tomi's Antennae. "Blau? Do you know why Ulidae doesn't want Meuchel in here?" Viri asked - he knew the answer, and he made sure that his tone proved that. He didn't know where Blau was right now, but as soon as the bee spoke, he would.

-

Holz frowned as he heard that, though nodded in understanding. He would make it up to Mond once he got back...he smiled faintly, "Take good care of them while we're gone. I know Mond and Katy will worry..." Holz said, tail twitching softly before he shifted, "I'm going to pack now and be ready. Is there anything you advise me on taking?" he asked the elder, not really all to sure what he should bring on this trip. He doubted it would be quick and easy...


~

The bee had fallen silent once he watched Viri move, smiling that the little stinkbug had fallen asleep and moving over to a bed closer to Viri and Tomi's...though he frowned softly as he picked up a pillow from the ground, pulling it onto his bed. "...Meuchel hates me." Blau said as he laid down with a soft 'huff', curling up into the soft pillows as he looked at his friend. "I...I know she’s jealous...but..." he frowned, "Something she said to me a while back is probably the main reason why she hates me..." the bee said, wings drooping against his back.

-

"Pack a decent amount of currency between the both of you, but not so much that it weighs you down. You'll need something to feed yourselves. Who knows how long you'll be there....Any little necessities you think you won't be able to live without - Chryso, I recommend you take your potions with you." Ilen added with a glare. Chryso had, for the last 3 or so years, had in fact been taking a potion every morning, that Ilen was practically forcing down his throat. It was a potion to control his lusts - and it only worked if it was a constant dose. Even a few days break of the medicine would take another month to get back into his system. It was just a good thing it was impossible to build an immunity to. Thankfully, it only took one small gulp to keep in check. A vial or two would last him.

~

Viri's hearing focus centered to Blau's new position, and he nodded gently. "Yes, she does hate you, but that is not why Ulidae wishes you away from her, and why Arsine backs it up." Viri muttered lowly. This subject was a grave one - and one he probably shouldn't be sharing, because it was one of his master's darker secrets, but Ulidae had not forbade him to tell....

-

Holz frowned - he really hoped Chryso would do as Ilen said, the last thing he needed was the moth...he pull his mind away from the subject, it only bringing anger that boiled in his stomach. He looked at Ilen, "Would medical supplies be good to take? Or would it only weigh us down?" he asked, tail twitching softly behind him.

~

"...M-Meuchel says I'm useless." Blau said, saddening as he shifted a little. "Said that Arsine holds back with me - that she lets me please her and is gentle when she doesn't really like any of that. A-And she said that Ulidae won't touch me because I disgust him..." Blau's wings quivered as he looked at Viri, "But if I was a bad slave, then Arsine would've killed me already, so it confuses me a lot when I start thinking about it...and I think one of the reasons I'm in here with you is because you'd be able to protect me if Meuchel tried anything, r-right?"

-

Ilen glanced back at the window, making sure there were no peeping children trying to see what their elders were up to. Then he looked back to Holz, shaking his head. "Except for Chryso's potions, none. Tortuga has very little medicine, except for poisons and cures for said poisons. There are few healers sane enough to make a post in Grimm, therefore, medicine would not be advisable to take." Ilen replied. ~~ Viri stopped petting Tomi, brows furrowed. "You do not disgust master Ulidae, Blau....It is another matter entirely, and one that should have been made known to you from the start. Arsine is indeed soft with you, but out of respect to Ulidae." Viri started slowly. "Ulidae had a female in his harem years ago, before you were born, and before I came to his home. This female was gorgeous, talented, and perfect in every way, except that when Ulidae took her once, he'd forgotten his potion, an his seed was no longer sterile. Neither knew this, and that night, she was impregnated. Nine months later, she had a young boy, and Arsine would have nothing of it. She banished the woman from Grimm, and now no one knows where she lives her life out, in misery, without her child. Blau....You are that child....You were told that you were stolen from your hive, because you'd strayed too far from the safety of the watchers....Ulidae is your father, Blau, believe it or not....And...Why do I know this? Because, also, believe it or not, our masters are not completely powerful. Ulidae is emotionally weak, and he spills his secrets to me....He does care for you, Blau." Viri murmured.

-

The scorpion nodded softly, guessing that made sense - it would instantly arouse suspicion if they had medicine from another continent...he shifted forward. "So, shall we start packing then partner?" the wood scorpion said, glancing at Chryso with a small smirk - this would be interesting.

~~

Blau listened...and his eyes had widened by the time Viri was done, shivers going through the young bee as his friend finished speaking. It...was all confusing, but...Viri wouldn't lie to him. Viri was always honest and it would make sense that Ulidae would speak in secret with Viri...Viri was his favorite and the one he treasured most...but... Blau whined, a hand going to his head, clutching it a little. "...I-I'm Ulidae's...? B-But...then why am I a slave? W-Wouldn't he want his child to be free?" he shivered, though it did explain why he saw resistance in his master during their playtime..

-

Viri shrugged a little. "All I can guess, is that he wanted you to grow strong, with the best nourishment possible, and so you would remain under his eye. He would not want you himself, but Arsine would be more than happy to have another in her harem - even if she is required to be gentler. A lover is a lover, in her eyes, even if it requires her methods to be adapted." Viri finished, hoping he made a bit of sense. "You have never been mistreated, have you, Blau? Ulidae made the smart choice, keeping you here....Even if it means you would be in Arsine's hands. It meant you would not be in Grimm, alone." Viri offered a bit more. That was his best opinion. ~~ Chryso grunted once, but nodded. "I plan on leaving at dawn, so you better be ready, Holz, or I will go by myself, and do it alone”

-

The bee was quiet as he listened...and gave a small nod after a moment ,smiling. "Y-You're right. I've...been hurt before, but it was nothing more than bites and scratches that didn't take long to heal. Arsine has never really been mean to me, even when I'd mess up...she'd just scold me and show me how to do it again." Blau nuzzled his pillow, "T-Though its strange to think that Ulidae is my father...I-I would've never guessed that, but...I-I did notice he seems to watch me sometimes..." the bee looked at his friend, "He won't be mad that I know, will he? I don't want to get you in trouble Viri..."

~

"Please, you can't do this one alone Chryso." Holz said over his shoulder, turning and heading for his room, already making a mental list of what he needed to bring.

-

Viri laughed a bit. "No, he won't be mad. Just don't bring it up, unless he mentions it. He never forbade me to speak of it. In fact, I think at some point or another he expected me to tell you..." Viri mused with a chuckle, his hands resuming the soothing action that Tomi, in his sleep, had started to yearn for. "I find it odd that he is your father, as well, but it makes sense. You have longer antennae then a typical bee, you only have one pair of wings, like a crane fly....Though, you are a bit stout, that must be gotten from your mother," Viri joked teasingly, with a grin. ~~ Chryso shrugged. "If I set my mind to it, I can do anything, Holz. I've waited for nearly 10 years so far, haven't I?" Chryso retorted with a chiding smirk

-

Blau smiled as he heard him, "The servants said I'm lighter than most bees they've seen of my type too." he said, perking up a bit and turning in his bed to be on his back, brightening. "...this is kinda cool. I've always like Ulidae...a-and it helps to think he's not disgusted of me..." he glanced at the other from his 'upside' down view and giggled softly. "Though, in a way, Arsine is kinda my mom. I mean she was the one who raised me...taught me most of what I know. She's always been gentle and made sure I wasn't in pain..." Blau said, stroking one of his pillows softly. He actually missed his playtime with Arsine, though she was focused on her new toy and he could wait.

~

Holz frowned a bit, shifting to walk side-ways for a moment, "You've managed not to touch Katy - doesn't mean you've been without." he said, his words giving a touch of anger before he disappeared into his room.

-

Chryso cringed. Was Holz referring to that one time he'd forgotten his potion, when Ilen had been in the market? Holz was out doing something with Katy at that time, and Mond had been sleeping...But when the luna Moth awoke....He was there, and he'd been in remarkable heat, unable to control his lust...Holz had never really forgiven him. He sighed, and went into his own room, and begun the boring chore of packing.... ~~ Viri laughed, Tomi bouncing a bit on his chest. "Yes. Our masters may seem all high and mighty, but somehow we still manage to find their weak points!" Viri joked. [/font]

Post 3

(Story note: After this, we moved onto another RP. Eventually we found a way to blend the two together, so that combined story will be on a third topic / thread. Next RP will also be on another thread / topic. )