Dear Diary,

There are times I think to myself, 'I have created a monster!' when I look at Saffron or Isnomi. Then I look around at the world and remind myself, 'that's a survival trait around here'. Also, is a beneficent monster really a monster?

Saffron insisted on some kind of nightshirts for all of us, since we were hosting a guest. Isnomi wore one of her mom's nightshirts, only on her it trailed out behind like a train, and her arms barely stuck out of the short sleeves. Marie wears a shift under her Maid's uniform most of the time, so she was covered. Literally. Saffron had shifts of her own, and mine was only a little bit oversized for Bonnie. I'd say mine fit me, except Saffron pulled out the 'maid uniform' she'd had Marie knock together for me. It really had more in common with a 'sexy maid cosplay' than a real working uniform, but I refused to be embarrassed about something someone else chose for me to wear any more than I am to parade around naked. As I slipped it on, making an absolutely fake 'I have to wear this again' face, Saffron snuggled up to me and whispered, "Pain Heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory..."

I couldn't help it. She'd managed to put that all to the same wonderfully frustrating singsong she'd been torturing me with. Whispering as well, I sang back, "lasts forever."

So, all of us snuggled into bed, nominally dressed. Mimic had Mimic Dreams, although I swear she was navel gazing again for part of the night. Which is weird, considering all she seems to do, except maybe one action on All Hallow's Eve, is chill and vibe. Maybe she was thinking up her next move in that stones game?

When we woke in the morning, I snagged Marie before she left and had a quick whispered confab. She nodded, grabbed up Isnomi for a day of carting, then left for her busy day of Doing Marie Things. For her part, Saffron didn't even take off her shift, just settled into the chair in front of her desk after spinning it around to face the room. I realized why when I took a look through her eyes after a few minutes. She had at least a dozen spell windows open, tinkering with stuff. Okay, mostly tinkering with one of the windows, which she focused on to the extent that the others showed up as little more than rectangular blurs.

I spent the day practicing my scrying in Lancaster House's Scrying Room. Today I didn't do the 'scry on more than one Farmstead at once' thing; instead I practiced minimizing the amount of time it took me to Scry. That wound up a little more tiring than trying to maintain a bunch at once; at a guess I figured when I was doing that doing 'slow and careful' would be better than 'fast and sloppy'. Right before lunch Larry swung by and asked, "any progress with Bonita yet?"

I shook my head, and he asked, "do you mind if I watch you Scry? Given that it's got more than a sixth of Lancaster House's first floor dedicated to it, I figure I ought to learn it if possible. I also doubt Odin is going to be blessing me with that Boon any time soon."

I shrugged. "If you like. Let me know if you have any kind of trouble with it. Worst case, if it's just not possible for you, that's a Boon I can grant you as High Priestess of Loki."

He lifted an eyebrow. "He would do that for one who has not taken him as Patron?"

I shrugged again. "He can bitch at me if he doesn't like it."

I suppose I have told you that my reputation is yours to make.

Thanks, Boss. You're the best.

I know.

So I managed to scry on all of the farmsteads over the course of the morning and early afternoon. Marie brought lunch up for the three of us in the suite; apparently she'd already attended to Isnomi's lunch. A little after they'd normally stop serving lunch at the Academy, Saffron closed down almost all of her little spell windows, turned to me, and said, "could you please go get Sister Siobhan, love?"

The very throttled excitement in her voice, so well throttled that I'm pretty sure Bonnie hadn't caught it, inspired me to step directly to the Infirmary and ask, "hey Sister? You doing anything at the moment?"

I'm not sure how or why she blushed that hard and fast at my question, but she stood from where she'd been seated at her desk and said, "nothing at the moment. I'm all yours."

As I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, I said, "not me, Saffron needs you for something," about half of the sentence in our rooms.

Saffron looked at Sister Siobhan and said, "may I Assess you, Sister?"

When Sister Siobhan nodded, Saffron ran her hands through the Shape for Assessing, except she added a little something to the end. After a second or two looking at the results, she got the biggest smile I'd ever seen on her face, whisper-shouting, "yes!" She did a few more motions and some muttering, then took a deep breath and said, "could each of you please Assess me?"

"Do we need to add that little motion at the end?"

She shook her head. "No need."

Right about then Sister Siobhan, who'd just said her little Assessing prayer, breathed out, "what have you done? What... how... I see..." Then she shook her head and said, "this is all your work?"

Saffron smirked and said, "I've been working on a couple other things, so I couldn't say it's all of my work, but everything you're seeing there is, indeed, my Shaping."

While Siobhan started praying about that, I stepped a little closer to Saffron and said, "did you just modify a Global Spell?"

She got a caffeinated squirrel look, including the excited vibration, and nodded her head while saying, "it's still local to our rooms at the moment, but I'm set to release it to replace the old Global Spell as soon as I'm done testing."

"Holy shit. What do you need to test?"

Without her vibration slowing in the slightest, she said, "among other things, to have you test it."

I took a deep breath, not unlike her earlier one, and said, "okay. Here goes." I Assessed her.

Assessment For: Saffron 'Kitten' Aetos-Diaz Target Type: Hybrid Humanoid Biped (Bag / Human) General Health: Healthy Conditions: Elevated Heart Rate, Elevated Blood Pressure Heart Rate: 120 Beats Per Minute Blood Pressure: 150 / 100 Granular Assessment Data: Activate: ( Y / N )

"Holy shit, Kitten! That's one hell of an improvement over the old one!"

Her brow furrowed a little. "Did you check the Granular Data?"

I rolled my eyes, "you know I can't make heads or tails of that stuff."

She shook her head. "Yes, but I want to make sure it comes up for you."

I nodded in submission to her logic. "Fair point." I mentally poked a 'yes' at the window still floating in front of me, at which point it rolled out the old version of the Assess Health information. "Yep. Still there. Still makes my head hurt just trying to make heads or tails out of it."

At that point Bonnie, who'd been sitting on our bed reading the copy of Law & Custom I still hadn't returned, walked into the bedroom, set the book carefully down on our desk, and said, fear and excitement in equal measure in her voice, "are you ready for me?"

Saffron shook her head. "Almost. Could you shape an Assess Health on me, please?"

Bonnie didn't ask, just Shaped the Spell. After blinking a bit, which frankly I'd probably have done too, "it says your heart rate and blood pressure are elevated?"

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Saffron blushed a little, smirking while she did it. "Yeah. I think I know the cause, though. I'm maybe a wee bit excited."

"I'm just impressed you haven't started dancing around in circles and screaming with joy, Kitten."

She took another deep breath, and I noticed the 'Elevated Blood Pressure' entry leave my Assess Health screen, and the line with her Blood Pressure did the same. "I have not forgotten why we started this endeavor. Even if I did learn quite a bit about Global Spells while doing so." She stood, motioned for Bonnie to sit in the chair, then stepped back and Shaped an Assess Health pointed at Bonnie. While she did that, I turned to Sister Siobhan, who stood where she'd been, eyes closed, hands clasped together, silently mouthing words. Praying to Canta, at a guess. By her frequent pauses, actually talking with him.

"Goof? Could you please go get Doctor DeLeon? I'd like his opinion, both on Bonita's condition and on my new Assess Health."

I shrugged, stepped to the Men's Infirmary, and said, "Hey, Doc? Have you got a minute? Saffron needs you to check on something up in our room."

He'd spun his chair to face me when I started talking, and now he opened and closed his mouth a couple times before saying, "before I come with you, I should let you know that I am utterly uncertain as to whether dallying with either or both of you would be ethical or not, and as such am not available for such activities."

I couldn't help but simultaneously be a little offended and chuckling. "Hey, it's not like I'm banging half the Academy or something like that."

"Really? Huh. You have a bit of a reputation. Stupid of me to have listened to it, but better safe than sorry where ethics are concerned."

I shrugged. "Hey, it's not that neither of us would, it's just not what we need you for at the moment."

"Answers like that are in and of themselves probably the reason for the reputation." He pushed himself to his feet. "Well then, lead on."

I lay a hand on his shoulder and stepped us both back to the bedroom. Bonnie started a little bit, probably because she still didn't have more than her shift on, but I think realizing that Saffron didn't have any more than that on either kept her from freaking out. Saffron nodded to Doc DeLeon and said, "thank you for coming so quickly, Doctor. Could you please Assess Bonnie's Health?"

Doc DeLeon nodded, turned to Bonnie, and said, "as you're not in any obvious immediate danger, do you consent to this, Cadet Obol?"

"It's Obol-Lancaster now, Doctor. But yes, I consent."

He nodded, waved his hands through the motions, first of Assess Health, then after a moment's concentration, paging through the results. "Congratulations! I take it we have you to thank for the improvements to Assess Health, Cadet Aetos? Pardon, Cadet Aetos-Diaz?"

"Yes. When Sister Siobhan is done praying, should she concur, I intend to replace the old one globally." She then kinda held her breath until Doc DeLeon replied.

"Everyone here has attempted the Shape and had it work for them?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Then I concur; from what I've read those who historically created or changed Global Spells didn't even do that much testing before implementing them. I commend your thoroughness."

"Thank you, Doctor."

Right then Siobhan's hands dropped slowly to her sides as she stared at Saffron. "I don't think my concurrence is really necessary."

Saffron looked at her and said, "I heartily disagree. You, in fact, are the one person whose concurrence I valued most, if only slightly more than Doctor DeLeon." At Doc DeLeon's raised eyebrow, she said, "I mean no disrespect, Doctor, but while you are an accomplished caster and Healer, Sister Siobhan is a High Priestess of a God of Healing."

Doc DeLeon's brow dropped back to normal and he nodded. "Fair point."

"And the reason my concurrence, even though you have it if you need it, is unnecessary." She focused on Saffron and said, "Canta concurs. Spread your Global Spell with his explicit blessing, Saffron Aetos-Diaz."

I thought she deserved more than just vibrating at this point, so I jumped over to Saffron, lifted her by the waist, hugging her, and spinning in circles. "Holy shit, Kitten. Your first attempt at a Global Healing Spell, and it gets the okay by a fuckin' God of Healing!"

She chuckled, hugging my head, but said, "it's a Divination more than a Healing spell, but thank you, Goof. However, I think I'd like you and Sister Siobhan to Assess Bonnie with the new spell, if it's not too much trouble?"

I squeezed her one more time, shuffled her over to sit on one of my arms while I extruded an Assess Health in front of my eye.

Assessment For: Bonita 'Bonnie' 'BonBon' Obol-Lancaster Target Type: Hybrid Humanoid Biped (Bag / Human / Shadow Construct) General Health: Healthy Conditions: Pregnant Pregnancy Status: Normal Granular Assessment Data: Activate: ( Y / N )

"Fuckin' awesome! Congratulations!"

Bonnie, still sitting in her chair, slumped a little and said, "if you're all done congratulating Saffron, has her new Assess Health told you anything about whether I can bear children or not?"

I spun immediately and held up a hand in front of Sister Siobhan and Doctor DeLeon. Keeping my voice solemn through sheer force of will, I said, "I think Saffron ought to be the one to tell her." The other two blinked, then nodded, their serious bedside manner faces slipping on. I set Saffron on her feet and said, "your show, Kitten."

Bonnie looked a little confused, but then she was the only one who hadn't seen her Assessment. Saffron stepped in front of her, put a hand on her shoulder, and said, "bad news first. I'm afraid you will not be able to become pregnant for at least seven to fifteen months."

Her face twisting into confusion, Bonnie asked, "why?"

Saffron leaned over and stage whispered into her ear, "because those 'congratulations' weren't for me... mom-to-be."

What can I say? My Kitten's sense for dramatic timing is absolutely perfect. Sister Siobhan, Doc DeLeon, and I all three shouted, "Congratulations!" Bonnie slumped into her chair, tears of relief sliding down her face, her smile looking like she wanted it to stretch from ear to ear. After a couple moments like that, she perked up just enough to say, "Commander... Tabitha, can you take me back to Larry? Now?"

"I don't have a problem with it." I looked around the room, and when all three of the people with more medical knowhow nodded, I took her hand in mine, pulled her upright, and stepped us both to the fourth floor common area at Lancaster House.

Larry was there using one of the bigger tables to hold something as he, Lachlan, and Raven discussed it. Bonnie put her face against my shoulder and, while giving me a hug, went, "ssshhhhhh!" Then she turned around, head bowed just a little bit, and walked over to Larry. He stood up and met her halfway, his arms out; he pulled her into an embrace. The other two stood when he did, but stood motionless, solemn faces not betraying any emotion that might make bad news worse.

After he'd held her a moment, Bonnie put her arms around Larry, lifted her head just enough so that all of us could hear her, then said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to get pregnant for several months, at least." When Larry pushed back, a hopeful question in his eyes, she continued with, "so we'll have to practice a lot, so you can do it again then."

He mouthed the word, 'again' while the hope in his eyes shone ever brighter.

Inside my head I thought, three, two, one, we have comprehension!

"Really?"

She didn't say anything, just bit at her lip and nodded, then started bouncing up and down and squeeing, at least until he got his arms around her thighs and started spinning her around, laughing the whole while. I stepped over between Raven and Lachlan and said, "so, how's it feel to be joining the members of the 'aunts and uncles' club?"

Raven just snorted. "Bold of you to assume I'm not one already, what with my family's proclivities."

Lachlan sighed and chuckled. "Damn. Here I was hoping you'd want to celebrate."

"Didn't say I didn't." She turned to face him, index finger already pointing at his nose from about twelve inches. "Do not take that as me consenting to anything!" She spun back around to watch the happy couple's antics, then muttered, "yet."

"Hey, we should have a baby shower!"

"A what?" asked Raven.

If Lachlan had asked, I would have taken it as Lancaster sexism residue, but if Raven didn't know, that meant it wasn't really a done thing. Time to correct that. "Don't worry about it. I'll sort things out with Saffron." I looked at Larry and Bonnie, watched him practically juggling her around with absolute glee, then said, "hey, I gotta get back to Saffron. If you need me, I'll be downstairs."

Larry paused for a moment, then said, "I'd like it if your family came back tonight, so I can thank them in person."

"You got it, Larry." I stepped back to our bedroom, only to find that Sister Siobhan and Doc DeLeon had already left. "Did you take them back to their Infirmaries, or is Doc DeLeon wandering around the Ladies' dormitory?"

She smiled up at me from where she sat at her desk, Shaping something with so much Mana that even I could see a glimmer in the air. "A little help, please?"

I stepped over, shaping as I did so, then laid a hand on her shoulder and poured Mana into her. She, in turn, poured it into the Shape, until it glowed so bright I thought I might be able to see it through the fucking stone walls of our rooms. Then, with a crackling noise that sounded uncomfortably close to the sound locks made when I decided I wanted through the door, everything disappeared. As I caught Saffron to keep her from faceplanting into the floor, I saw a pulse of something flow outward away from our window, a curved line moving until it hit the horizon. "Damn, Kitten. Nice work."

"Thank you, Goof. Now, I have a very important favor to ask of you."

"Anything for my Kitten."

"Could you perhaps arrange for Grandma to take Isnomi for the night?"

I shook my head. "No need. I accepted an invite to Larry's for dinner tonight. He wants to thank you for helping Bonnie out. No way will Menace sleep with us when she's got her whole host of co-conspirators to pile in with."

She smiled, then kinda melted into my arms. "Excellent. Can you come pick me up then? I need to get back to the Council."

"Just one moment." I leaned her back, kissing her thoroughly, before insta-changing her into Glowing Midnight and stepping to the Intra-City Council's chamber. As I stood her up in front of the rest of the council, who looked everything from shocked to amused, I said, "see you at sunset!" Then stepped back into the me in the Scrying Room.

Yeah, I know, we could have Co-Located and been engaged in shenanigans while doing our busywork, but I figured she needed a couple hours break to catch her breath, what with rearranging part of the global magical landscape. I can be a mature woman and delay gratification of my base desires once in a while.

That makes it even better.

I am such a fuckin' idiot.