Walking Disasters and Me

The stinging hot water splashes against my arms and hands as I lean down and wrap them around Ios' waist. The soft, silky feel of her skin already sending shivers down my spine. In anticipation. In lust. And, unfortunately, in concern followed by frustration. The heavenly press of our bodies and release of muffled, wanting moans as frequent as the little whisps of worry that rise from the steam along with the pops of pink. Their twisted, dark forms clouding and tainting the experience that both of us have been longing for.

As we continue to lock and press our lips and bodies together, I try going further. The conscious thought to begin grabbing her generous, perky breasts or slide down to do the same to her shapely ass instantly bringing forth dark memories of what happened in the bunker which stills my hands. No matter how much I desperately want to go further, how much my ever-tightening core screams at me for attention and for me to give it to Ios in turn... I just can't...

Ios - just as interconnected to me as either Sandra or Akiko - easily notices that somethings wrong as she pulls back after we stay at the kissing stage for a few minutes which puts a pause on our most recent tongue wrestling match that I was totally winning. She smirks at the thought before sliding a hand up to my cheek, her new fingers lightly tracing against my skin and brushing away the falling water from above. "If this is too soon, Aims, I'd understand. I don't want to push you into something if you're not ready. Just getting to hold you in my arms for real and physically kiss you is more than enough for me right now~. I don't mind waiting to go the rest of the way until you're able to."

I frown at her words, at myself, as I begin to realize just how much my body is shaking. An unconscious fear flitting through my blood and tainting the once easy to come by and pure elation of pink. That alluring color now muted even in the midst of passion. I gaze into those emerald eyes staring back at me, noticing flecks of silver and gold in the iris as well as the complete lack of judgement or disappointment emanating from them.

"I-... I'm sorry, Ios." I begin as water not belonging to the shower head above begins to bubble forth from my teal counterparts as I lower my vision. I cup her hand in mine as I close them, trying my best to walk that tightrope of emotional honesty and coherent speech as I continue, "I want this. I really, really do. And I can feel how much you're craving it, too... But..." My voice pauses as I lean over, pressing my forehead to hers as the steaming water washes down upon us.

"But it's still so scary. I don't know how much of it is my actual fear or what that demon is mixing up inside of me. Every time I want to go further... All I see is what happened to Sam." Ios shakes her head against mine, wrapping her arms around me under the cover of steam and the spattering of the shower. Her touch gentle and missing its previous amorous intent.

"No, I'm sorry Aims. I shouldn't have put pressure on you like this while you still had that bastard in your chest. I was just... well, excited would be an understatement~." She says in a small giggle that does bring a smile to my face. Her head resting against my chest as we let the water rain down upon us. "Trust me, this is more than enough for me right now like I said. We have all the time in the universe to explore everything about each other together, and with the other girls. With Sandra and Ilya. I don't mind waiting for you to rip that nasty heart demon to shreds, like I know you will~."

I hum in agreement, the relief at her understanding and easing of my burdens greatly improving my shaky mood. The weight of inadequacy something that I'd rather not experience again before something she said finally sinks in enough in my mind. "Uh... Do you mean you and Ilya...?"

Ios snorts a laugh before she leans back, a cheeky raised eyebrow meeting her raised lips as she replies to the partially spoken question, "What? We spent thousands of years together in a void of fractals and geometries you couldn't fathom the shapes of with the only other 'sane' one of our species being Thu-Thu. Of course we... experimented, as well as grew close to each other. Besides, we're sisters on the merit that we were both created basically at the same moment. Not a lot of sexual reproduction among our kind, especially not when we're in the void."

Huh. Well, I guess that makes a certain amount of sense... "R-right... But its just, you talk about her like your actual sister every time you mention her. And... look, I know I'm the last person to throw stones in the glass house we share - apparently - but I'm just a little surprised is all. You hardly talk about things like your home and past, so I didn't have a clue that you two also had a romantic side to your relationship."

She shrugs back nonchalantly before answering, "Even if I've been around for a while, there really isn't much to tell. Ilya was always off doing her 'saving our species' thing, having me pop into realities to either test a new theory or see if we could use a certain type of energy to stave off corruption and insanity. Or see if civilizations had advanced enough for us to squirrel away some of their tech. Though finding stuff that'd survive and then still work in the void was... challenging. Not impossible though, mind you. Mortals can be quite crafty when given enough time.

When I wasn't helping her with that, or spending time with her, I would spend a few hundred years here and there causing some mischief among the worlds we could visit~." I give her a questioning look to which she brushes off, "Oh, relax~. It wasn't anything evil or like what Thu-Thu does.

I just liked messing with people! You know, make myself into a little woodland spirit that got people lost in the forest or some fey creature that made shady deals with them. Or give some young civilization a spook by sparking a natural disaster when they were praying to some deities or something. Oh! Or messing with scanners in space to scare some semi-advanced mortals. That was the most fun thing to do by the way, seeing a bunch of Star Trek knockoffs piss their pants at the 'galaxy spanning space anomaly' was just the best~."

The only sane reaction I can muster is truly the deadpans of all deadpans. My eyes glazing over from the sheer absurdity at this little ball of trouble I still have wrapped in my arms. "Well," I hollowly begin, "I guess its good to know that you've always been a menace and aren't just picking on me or something."

I pause as I start to remember some of those folk tales about fey creatures and such from legends, hesitating for a moment before carefully asking back, "You didn't like... kill folks or lead them to their deaths or something right? You just fucked with them a bit?"

"Hmm..." Ios says as she tilts her head back in thought before coming up with a reply, "There were quite a lot that I put down, not going to lie to you. But! I only went that far with people, or groups of people, that were obviously shit heads.

People that willingly sold me their first born for some mystical power or prize. Or tried to capture me for research or to burn me on the stake, or something else stupid like that. If it was just some lost little kid in the forest, I'd mess with them some and then send them back home. If they didn't have a home, I'd send them to the nearest other village or town since that meant they likely got cast out from wherever they came from."

"Right. So just traumatizing the innocent at the bare minimum. At least you spared the children, I guess." My continued deadpan voice says back, Ios' playful shrug once more the only answer I get before she cuddles back into me underneath the shower on a pleased hum. I sigh, stroking her wet hair a few times before deciding to just let the matter rest.

As human as she is, or plays at being, it's not fair to try and judge her by my own moral standards. Especially not when I remember that she's some immortal chaos gremlin, and that my moral standards are already shifting and veering so wildly from what they were from before landing here on Mara...

So long as she keeps her antics to trolling and causing a bit of mischief, I decide that I don't mind it or her past. Since we both regretfully agreed to put a pause on the super fun times, we instead shift focus and do something arguably just as intimate: washing each other. A fair compromise in my opinion, and one that has the neat trick of not activating my regret while still letting me gawk and appreciate her new body while she can get her fill of mine~. Which reminds me...

"So, why not four arms? Isn't that your preferred form?" I ask as I use a cloth bubbling with soap to wash her sides and underneath her breasts, my other hand languidly laying on her hip as she rubs her own cloth on my shoulder.

"Hehe~. First, it raises less questions if I'm only dual armed instead of quad. Second... who says this is the only form I can take?" She says cheekily as she steps back, a sparkling of microscopic metallic matter emitting from... somewhere before it floats along the steam and begins to attach itself underneath her exiting arms. In a seamless manner, they begin to build out a second pair of arms that are indistinguishable from the first two.

Although the process is kind of... graphic, it is rather quick. Not lasting more than a few seconds before the new set flexes its hands as Ios smugly smiles at me.

"Okay, that is neat I'll give you, but do you really have to make the bones and muscles and stuff all visible like that when you grow them? So not something I wanted to see right before bed..." I ask out after gingerly touching the completed additions, wiping them down as I feel their weight and trim. The natural feel of them surprising me as Ios gets ready to reply after sticking her tongue out at me.

"Unfortunately, yes. If I just slapped them on and then tried to make the inside bits, something might get made wrong. I could do it, of course, and it would eventually right itself, but in a combat situation or anything else that needs me to use them quickly, that'll be the best option. I can also grow... other things~." She replies in a flirty voice after I get done washing her again, mischief sparking in her green eyes.

I turn back to her with a serious look set to my face, finger coming up to point at her nose. "No male appendages. At least, not for or around me. If you wanna try out using a ding-dong, go see if the others are game for it, but I'm not into that in the slightest. Honestly, a strap is probably the furthest I would ever go."

She puts on a fake air of disappointment, but its painfully obvious she isn't the least bit surprised at the declaration. Though she does have enough angst left in the tank to give one last little cheeky reply in a flirty voice, "Or a tail, right~? I could grow one of those instead, any shape or size you wanted~."

Another release of metallic sparkles swarm and center just above her shapely rear, trimming out into a line that ends in a heart shaped tail tip. As it becomes organic, it turns all black with velvety sheen, and proves to be very, very dexterous~. The classic succubus like tail easily over three feet long with the rounded point end being more than wide and thick enough to be... filling...

I blush almost instantly at seeing it, and then even more when Ios leans close and flicks it up to wave in front of my face before she says, "See~? We have all the options now~! At least, when you're ready again. And yes, I can grow the wings and horns too~."

My heart thuds loudly in my chest as I swallow down a cherry pink knot stuck in my throat. "... I still want our first time to be in whatever form you feel natural in, but keep this on the list for the future... for reasons..." I mumble out in shameful lust and embarrassment to the sound of Ios' cackling laugh. However, she nods before leaning up to kiss my cheek and reintegrating whatever bio-nanotech she was able to cook up, returning to a two armed variant of her usual self.

We finish up in the shower - me having to wipe down between my legs again after that... spirited display - and shuffle over to the bed, hands locked together as we walk. We stop there before looking back to each other, both of us giving a shrug before climbing onto the mattress and positioning ourselves in a comfortable way. For me, that means tangling up and wrapping around her smaller body like an octopus. For her, that means snuggling right into my breasts before letting out a beyond blissed hum~.

I give a small giggle before hugging her tighter. "Think I should dump the points into CON now or wait 'till right before the tribulation?"

Ios sleepily replies back after snuggling further into my natural pillows, "Shouldn't matter either way, but if you want to gawk at numbers before bed then I'd do it now." She pauses rubbing her head into me as she thinks for a second and then amends, "Actually, I would go ahead and just do it now for that very reason. Don't want you freaking out about the huge shift in your Health and Stamina pools right before starting the tribulation."

Well, can't say I disagree. It'll likely be a huge change, easily the biggest one I've done so far. With a non-verbal reply, I take a breath and then pull the trigger on adding the points straight into CON. Just to see how my other stats are comparing, I go ahead and bring up that section of the status page as well as the Health and Stamina figures to get the whole spread:

You have used 100,000 Ability Points on Constitution! Constitution is now 118,016!

Available Ability Points: 7,112

Strength 17,925

Dexterity 26,271

Constitution 118,016

Intelligence 18,848

Wisdom 33,140

Health Pool: 3,911,028 / 3,911,028

Health Recovery Rate: 35,420 pts per hour

Stamina Pool: 4,762,461 / 4,762,461

Stamina Recovery Rate: 43,434 pts per hour

Hidden Quest Complete!

[Hidden Quest: Immaculate Body

Have 50,000 in any physical stat before any mental stat.

Reward: 5,000 Ability Points, 10k Shop Points, 500 Skill Points. Unique Active Skill [Second Wind].

[Second Wind]: Once per 24 hours, restore up to half of lost Health and Stamina and receive a 25% damage reduction from all incoming damage for the next hour.]

Hidden Quest Complete!

[Hidden Quest: Pinnacle Physique

Have 100,000 in any physical stat before any mental stat.

Reward: 10k Ability Points, 20k Shop Points, 1,000 Skill Points. Unique Active Skill [Second Wind] now restores up to 75% of lost Health and Stamina, and the damage reduction duration is increased to 4 hours.]

Available Ability Points: 22,112

Available Shop Points: 235,050

Available Skill Points: 23,911

Oh, fuck yes~. That's that goodshit~. A feeling almost as good as the thing we put a raincheck on in the shower. Not to mention the surprise of those hidden quests getting completed!! Not only did they add a significant buffer in case shit goes sideways tomorrow, they also gave me an even more broken skill just perfect for the occasion! I'd say it almost feels designed, but honestly I would be more shocked if the Empress didn't have something to do with that kind of stuff by now.

And while the recovery rates are still lackluster, between [Steady Breathing], [Combat Recovery], and the newly acquired [Second Wind], I'd basically be unstoppable. Well, at least for 4 hours. Though any situation where I have to actually use that skill to regain so much lost Health and Stamina would not be... ideal. Still, I shiver in delight while trying my best not to make a mess underneath the covers and on poor Ios' new body as I look over the ridiculous new numerical values~.

"Hehe~. Yep~. Good thing we did that tonight instead of in the morning~. Plus, I get 60% of all your stats so that was nice for me too~. Congrats on completing the hidden quests, by the way~!" Ios says breathily as she slinks further into my body, both of us apparently feeling the alluring wave of pink from the raised numbers.

"Thanks~!" I mumble out still on cloud 9 before what she said hits me, "Wait, really?? So you're basically already stronger than a 3rd Rank?! Oh! Akiko said she felt Qi get used or something when you became physical again! Can you cultivate?!" I quietly exclaim, trying to distract away from the blissful and distracting arousal still persisting after dumping the points.

"Yep~!" Ios cheerfully replies before she hums in thought for a bit before eventually continuing, "As for the cultivation thing, I'm not sure if I can or not. We can buy some cheapo manual just to test it out after your tribulation. The Qi she probably felt is from... well, some other things. Things we can go over later. For now, you need to rest and get ready for tomorrow. I promise we'll go over every little detail about my awesome new body as soon as we get this Sword of Damocles off of your head, okay?"

"Fine then, keep your secrets." I huff back in response to which she just lightly giggles and stills herself. The rise and fall of her chest pressing into me and waving of her hot breath against my skin slowly ebbing the jubilance from the point spending and lulling me deeper and deeper into peaceful comfort. And, eventually, to slumber.

In what feels like an instant and also twelve hours, I blink back to consciousness with weary eyes and a scratchy voice. The disorientation of a blissfully wonderful sleep weighing on my cotton-filled mind like a fuzzy, warm blanket~. I lazily yawn and turn on the bed, my arms smacking down onto something that instantly yelps out a surprised, "H-hey!"

I open my eyes to see an annoyed seeming Ios, my arm draped across her face which I apparently just bonked on accident. I give a small smile as I shift the arm downwards and begin to apologize in my sleepy voice twinged with my usually subdued accent, "S-sorry, Ios. You're 'pparently at perfect head slappin' height when we cuddle~."

"Among other things..." She replies seemingly a little grumpy as she crosses her arms. "You toss and turn like a demon, Aims. Not to mention the constant groping and lewd noises you make while you're doing said groping. Honestly, if it weren't for our connection and everything we talked about last night, I would have thought you were trying to make a move on me! If this body needed to sleep I'd be pretty upset right now..."

I blush as I pull the offending arm back a little, the mortifying embarrassment rising up in me as I quietly say back, "S-sorry. Again... Though I don't really know what to do to like... stop doing that. Since I'm asleep n'all. Didn't you already know that about me though? Since you're always watchin' over me?"

Ios sees my timid reaction and sighs, pulling my arm back around her as she turns and nestles into my neck. Her constant need to be close and cuddle warming my heart~. "You're probably just pent up and stressed, honey. Once things calm down maybe you'll be a bit more... stationary while you sleep. If not, then it's just something I'll get used to. And no, I didn't constantly perv on you while you were sleeping like some naughty Santa Claus. I kept a tab on your mental and emotional states, but I usually wasn't watching what you were physically doing. I do try my best to give you as much privacy as I can, after all. Though I won't lie and say I haven't observed you a couple times either."

I hug her back, my sleepy brain relieved at being forgiven for such dastardly crimes as I breathily answer back between yawns after smushing my head against hers, "'Kay~. Thanks you~. Love you~." She chuckles, and I swear I hear something about how its good I'm so adorable when I'm sleepy but I brush it aside as we cuddle in bed for a few more minutes~.

Sadly, the good times can't last forever as a knock on the door interrupts the blissful pressing of our groggy bodies. I'm about to grumpily respond to let them enter before Ios places her hand on my mouth. As I give her a questioning raise of an eyebrow, she responds matter-of-factly, "Aims, we're still naked."

Ios the life saver!! I bolt upright, scanning for anything to wear for the moment before finding the regular robe Sam got for me. I also throw a frazzled apology to the visitor waiting beyond the door, "J-Just a second! Sorry!" and dart over to the identified clothing. I look back to Ios as I finish tying up the kimono who just shrugs under the covers.

"I don't have any clothes yet." She simply says, making a frustrated groan slip from my mouth.

"Just buy some from the shop Ios!! You don't have to ask me for simple stuff you obviously need!" I hiss in a whisper to her as she chuckles, though after a second I do plop back on the bed and give her a kiss before adding on, "You're very sweet though, and I appreciate you being so considerate."

A few spending of points after deactivating and then reactivating Luck later, and Ios has herself a collection of underwear, bras, socks, and a few unattributed Low Earth Ranked robes for now. Both of us deciding to wait and get specialized gear for her after seeing if she can cultivate or not. Once she dons some of said clothing as well as one of the robes - a cute pink one with soft teal and white floral patterns - we finally are ready for whoever is patiently waiting at the door.

I dash over to said door and begin to slide it open as I once again apologize, "Sorry about that, we weren't quite ready yet." As it fully opens, I am greeted by the nonplussed face of Akiko as she gently smiles down to me. Thinking back on it, I probably could have just sensed if it was the snowy kitsune in question but my mind was still a little all over the place... regardless, she waves off the apology as she enters the room.

"Do not worry yourself, my love~. I merely came to deliver some breakfast to both you and..." She begins, her hands full with a tray donned by a large silver domed lid before she looks over my shoulder. I turn back to see Ios give a little wave towards Akiko as she smiles.

"Hey there foxy~. Nice to finally meet you in the flesh." The powerful being greets before a whirlwind of activity happens. The first thing is that the tray of food magically gets deposited on the table in the room with nary a clatter of sound. The second is that I am scooped up in several white, fluffy tails and lifted into the air as a confused squeak leaves my lips. The last is that Ios is bodily picked up in Akiko's arms as she smushes her into her chest twirls the two of us around in circles before excitedly gushing over said spirit's new body.

"Oh my Heavens~!! You are absolutely adorable spirit Ios!! So small and cute~! I could just eat you up~! Or carry you in a satchel and parade you around town~!" I can't help but laugh, realizing that every adult I've seen so far on Mara has been well over her demure height of 5'5". Granted, that isn't a very large sample base so far, but Sam and I have for sure been the smallest people around at our 5'9" - 5'10" inches. Even Gerra is probably over 6 ft in height. Poor Ios just unintentionally made herself an even bigger target of attention, it seems.

The constricted spirit seems less amused, kicking her little legs in the air as she tries and fails to free herself from the dotting grip of Akiko who I swear has heart shaped pupils in her eyes. "Okay, alright!! I'm cute!I get it! Can you please put us down you clingy, shameless fox??"

After a few more twirls, turns, pats on the head, and barely restrained attempts at kisses, her request is finally granted as Akiko deposits us back to the wooden floor of the room, a blush coming to her face as she coughs awkwardly. "I apologize, to both of you. That was unbecoming of me. But truly, spirit Ios, your new form is precious beyond words~. I fear we may need to devise ways to hide or mask your presence if you accompany us outside the estate."

Ios huffs, waving off her apology as she mumbles, "It's not my fault you guys are all giants..." which makes both Akiko and I laugh a little under our breaths. The three of us sit down at the table as Akiko unveils the tray of food, a smattering of cooked meats, eggs, toast with jams and butter, as well as a generous portion of some kind of thick cut oatmeal seasoned with cinnamon.

I [Appraise] all of it as we eat, but I mainly focus on the buffs the food gives as opposed to fully reading out each entry:

[... for the next 48 hours, physical stats as well as Health and Stamina pools will increase by 20%.]

[... for the next 48 hours, Qi accumulation rates will increase by 25%.]

[... for the next 48 hours, mental stats as well as Health and Stamina regen rates will increase by 15%.]

[... for the next 48 hours, all outgoing damage will increase by 15% while incoming damage will be reduced by 15%.]

My mouth hangs open at the sight of the buffs as well as that last one which is entirely new, and remarkably powerful! I look at the oatmeal in question before Akiko helpfully supplies an answer to my questioning gaze with a light tone. "I asked Gerra to provide as many different beneficial effects for combat as she could in one meal. She broke out some special herbs to spice and season everything with, ones that we reserve for dangerous situations which - I believe we all can agree - this upcoming tribulation certainly qualifies as."

"W-well, I think she certainly followed those instructions! These buffs are insane!" I say back between bites, eagerly transferring the food from its spot on the tray and into my tummy~. Ios and Akiko have some as well, but both seem perfectly fine to ensure I get my fill.

Soon enough, the meal is conquered by our combined efforts - even if I was the main culprit - and we are once more trekking down the hallways after I switch to my battle robe. It was suggested, and then decided, that since the room I've taken the last two tribulations in still hasn't been repaired yet - and that we are abandoning secrecy for the most part - that I should take this next one in the gardens. That way, Akiko can activate some reinforcing measures on the estate itself which will hopefully shield it from destruction in case anything gets... out of hand.

As we enter the manicured space, we are greeted by the girls who - predictably - also instantly give cuddle attacks to poor Ios who at this point just sighs and accepts it with a defeated look toward the sky. Though the rosy pink flush that immediately shines to her face when Jun Li has her turn is quite telling~. A smile pulling to my face even though I'm torn at the sight.

I know Ios is holding a massive flame for the fox woman but wants us to tie the knot before she does anything else. And its beyond obvious Jun Li is interested in her too, even before she got this cute little body~. In a way... it kind of reminds me of myself and the hang-ups I had leading up to becoming intimate with Akiko. An introspection that also further dampens my mood a touch, seeing someone I love go through something that I know firsthand can be incredibly painful and awkward.

I mentally sigh as I push the thought away for now. Even more reasons to get this tribulation sorted and then work on getting rid of this malignant tumor at my heart. Speaking of which, the girls finally get their fill of pampering poor Ios and turn back to face myself and Akiko who has returned from activating the defenses. At least, most of them do. Jury is still out for Jun Li who now cradles a bashfully blushing little eldritch woman to her chest as they all await the event to begin.

Akiko coyly smiles at the scene as well before turning to face me. "Everything is ready and prepared as far as the estate and Village are concerned. I have activated the local defenses and reinforcements here and raised the inner shield array to separate us from the Village at large. I also informed the remaining and returning leadership of what is about to occur, so no one should be surprised or concerned when you begin. We will all be right here, eagerly awaiting your success whenever you are ready, my love."

I nod back to her, giving her a hug and kiss which she gladly returns before she pats my head, gives me a wink, and then saunters off to the side with the others. I smile back to all of them as Akiko takes her place before taking a deep breath and closing my eyes. The fear and worry of my title tempting me to call this off until we're sure I can survive the worst that this Heaven can throw at me. The anxiousness at the unknown. At the unsure hope that the Empress is right and now is the right time to go forward.

But beneath all of those twisting blues and blacks, the sparks of yellow, and gold, and the pink of love mix and slowly silence the doubts. The love from Akiko, and Ios. The care and support of the girls who watch on in respectful silence, though their unquestionable surety of my success is almost palpable. Taking that warmth, I breathe in deeply. Qi beginning to gather and fill me as I steel my nerves and push the last remaining bits of power to my silver moon, voided channels, and floating soul.

The crack and rumble of dark clouds sound out overhead as I open my eyes amidst the torrent of Qi. All of us turning our vision skyward as the burgeoning morning rays of sunlight are slowly replaced by the inky black roils of Heaven's judgement once again.