When the Ko' Trin Island Elf Heritage Association was formed centuries ago, women wore big fluffy curls and stiff farthingales that gave them a distinct waddle. Such a being as an elf would have been considered a demon, a servant of Satan-- so to speak. Most of the women-- even those of the partial raspberry-smelling blood --were treated like dolls by both human sexes. (That we know of thus far.) For while a female elf can reproduce asexually, through Sommogenesis (the mass pregnancy practice also used by some fairies) the practice has long since ended thanks to intermingling, the rise of the seductive Kringmy dialect, and they are, well, "intensely sexual beings." There is no "mating season", but every day— love unfurls slowly, as if a few-veiled rose unfurls petal by petal. Without this, their bones would be in museums. (Refer to chapter regarding the preventable 1878 A.D. extinction of centaurs. Humans and their puritan missionaries…!)
The matriarchal giant-women can use telekinesis to give birth at any time, and the fairies are capable of "holding court" for a short yet intense time-- but it is the elf-women who are the closest to humans sexually. (Humans also cannot procreate with the 'long-lasting' giants without death, or killing the easily tired fairies.) However, we are typically not shy about leaving one who considers us a plaything. We are superstitious beings who dream our futures-- or trust our dreams with our futures. Such an ancient instinct has not been lost on those of partial blood.
--KIEHA Association Handbook, translated by Bathilde Beraude
Pearl wore nothing but white. A long, flowing wedding dress. White high-heeled shoes. A white diamond glowing on her third finger. Past the ivory walls, she was greeted by a tall, handsome butler with an underbite. He opened the door and a couple walked in, looking young for their ages. The first was a tall, voluptuous woman with a baby face and wavy black hair, carrying a big green parrot in a silver cage. The second was a corpulent, balding man with gray hair and strong brows. Despite the white powder, his face was quite handsome, with a curved nose and full lips.
"Your Imperial Highnesses, I present to you...the Professor and Mrs. Solstice."
The old Emperor frowned, looking how a turtle might before it slides its head back inside the shell. The Empress rose and smiled, bowing before her guests. Hajime's jaw dropped, and a grin shot across Bathilde's face.
"Mom, Dad!" Pearl cried, running toward them. She wrapped her arms around each one, before waving to the parrot. It cried in response, "Hi, Pearl! Hi, Pearl!"
"Such fine guests!" beamed the Empress, shaking their hands, "I'm delighted you could arrive, Professor, Mrs. Solstice!"
"A Professor," the Emperor observed, smiling, "How well-established! And Mrs. Solstice, you are ever so lovely!"
Amma blushed and giggled as he shook her hand.
"These are your parents?" demanded the Prince, saying "these" the way one would a venereal infection.
"Yes, Your Highness," replied Professor Solstice, looking the royal man up and down, "And she got everything from us."
"Oh, yes, Your Highness," Amma said softly, bowing low, "It's such a beautiful day for her, and us...isn't it, Papa?"
The professor was still frowning at the Prince, even as Amma wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his big belly. Pearl smiled. They looked adorable together, she thought, With Mom's fur coat and turban, and Dad's gold-buttoned, crisp black suit.
"I think Dad will warm up soon," she said, "It just takes him a while, that's all."
"He won't be around that long," the Prince chuckled, "Even on his hands and wrists, I see rings and bracelets of fat!"
"Now, Hinata, that's my father you're talking about!"
The Prince chuckled, motioning toward Amma. Amma opened a lacy fan to her lips, as if posing for a photograph.
"Is that your mother? She's pretty; looks just like you. But if we are to marry, we're gonna have to lose the parrot. I can't stand birds."
"It's hers anyway," Pearl hissed, "Why don't you go talk to them?"
"To be fair," huffed Bathilde, scowling as she waddled in, "That thing is disgusting. Did you know my cousin Frederique died because her parrot's shit infected the air?"
"But she was a breeder," Amma sighed, "There were too many in the house."
"Well, aside from that, I cannot stand a talking animal. And that one isn't exactly a classical radio station, I can tell you that."
"Can tell you that, bitch!" squawked the parrot.
Bathilde whirled around, her eyes bulging with rage. Everyone else laughed.
"Maman," Amma said, gripping the parrot's silver cage, "You've had birds half your life…why don't you like Rudy?"
Bathilde rolled her eyes.
"Well, it's rude. It said it wanted to 'slut up' the book club."
"So a talking bird," added Professor Solstice, "Is what disturbs you."
"You could say that, ma bichette."
"You're also a witch— a talking bird is normal compared to your spells."
"Dad," Pearl warned.
Professor Solstice laughed until his high voice creaked.
"Ah, you know I was just joking!" he snorted, ruffling her hair like she was a child, "It's strange, though-- that the lady's known giants and cave-elves, but a parrot's the last straw!"
"I wouldn't say that, pumpkin," purred Amma, stroking her husband's shoulder, "She suggested the name, after all."
"Valentino?"
"Well...yes, but we condensed it to Rudy. Like the actor's first name. And Rudy couldn't talk for a while, like those silent movie actors...."
"I'd prefer he stay that way," snapped Hajime, side-eyeing the bird, "For now, at least."
"I rather like parrots," said the Empress, "You know, I have a female greenie Rudy could mate with-- we call her Mae West."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," grunted the Emperor, adjusting his bow-tie, "Mae is perfectly happy on her own...."
In the distance, a bird squawked: "Are ya happy to see me?!"
"Aren't they fun?" Pearl asked the Prince, stroking his shoulder, "You'll love my parents, too, won't you?"
"Of course." He turned to them. "I'm sorry I came across so...judgy."
The Prince bowed low. When he rose, Pearl's eyes flashed excitedly.
"You're still there for me, aren't you? Darling?"
Prince Hinata shuddered, his mouth twisting with confusion.
"Well, I don't know what to say!"
"Let me tell you."
Wrapping her arms around his body, Pearl leaned forward and kissed him. It was quick, but the warmth and softness of motion left her trembling for a few moments. The Prince blinked, his mouth hanging open in shock.
"Kiss me again," he huffed, "I can't forget it."
"Hinata-Sama!" Pearl cried, "What do you...?"
Her heart raced. She lifted her hand, and saw that both skin and muscle melted, leaving only delicate, curved bones. Her jaw dropped, but no scream came out. Her other hand was nothing more than a pale, curled mass of bone. Even her arm flesh drifted away, leaving only bones. She turned to her family, and their faces stretched and squirmed in horror. With two bony hands, she reached her face and felt nothing but hardness. But coldness-- but bone. When she dared to reach for her nose and mouth, all she felt were dark, empty hollows. She saw Prince Hinata's rugged, smiling face one last time-- before her eyes faded to darkness.
"Kiss me again," he repeated, "I can't forget it."
Pearl gasped. Her eyes shot open. Grass. Lush, green grass-- just where Bathilde had left her. Just a dream, just a dream...! She sat up and examined her hand-- muscles and flesh stretched over bone, fingers that curled and spread and held things that grew....! She exhaled in relief, but her body felt too tired to rise. She was happy to lie here and forget the world. A load of trouble that's caused me! she thought, staggering to her feet, Grandma...where are you? Tell me...what power did you give me? What does it mean, what do you want me to do? Thank you! Thank you, but if only I could find...!
She stepped into pale sunlight, seeing nothing but the twisted hands of trees-- and a royal, rugged face in the clouds.
XXX
Now, I don't know much about the Kringmy dialect the elves use to seduce each other, but I do know that the words are a combination of "Krin" meaning love and "gmy" meaning motion. When aroused, they don't fling shit at each other like hippos or some Hollywood stars, but their mating rituals are...interesting, to say the least. Mom won't go into detail, and I'm glad she doesn't.
Sometimes I wonder if Hinata would be happier if he was an elf, as they are more willing for love, and less willing for rage. But would that make him even worse? When Pearl said she was vain of her feet (not the wisest thing to tell him), he couldn't resist running a tongue across his teeth like a big bad wolf. It's true, her toes are long and elegant, and she paints the nails well-- but my God! It's as if the man's never seen a woman before!
"Feel bad for him, don't hate him," Mom says about Hinata, "For his parents view him as a pawn rather than a person, and never thought to teach him how to act."
Whatever. That sucks for him, but it's still wrong. She still doesn't know how he bullied and betrayed me, and thank God she never will.
As disgusting as that brief interaction was, it was nothing compared to what became of poor Princess Achara.
--from the diary of Tadashi
"Suicide? Are you sure?"
The middle-aged Inspector nodded and scribbled something in his notepad. He was a bespectacled, middle-aged man with a firm chin and small paunch. To the young man, his senior was so stiff and emotionless, he could have been made of porcelain.
"Yes, Officer Yagami. I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
"Should we tell...?"
The Inspector lifted a hand.
"I don't want to alarm them; it's the cave-elf in me."
"Eh? Inspector Nishimoto, she's dead!"
The Inspector frowned down at the woman's cold, bloated body. Her face was hardly recognizable, with brown eyes bulging with a horror that would last eternity. Pasty cheeks oozed past her ears. Hard veins bulged in her temples. Her pale lips were parted, as if to speak. No! He shook his head, looking away.
"They have nothing to do with it. I'm positive. But as for the others...we should let them know."
"All right. Well...this is going to be tough."
"Any tougher than the others?"
Inspector Nishimoto took a deep breath, lifted his glasses, and wiped his eyes.. Officer Yagami blinked; he'd never seen his hard-boiled senior shed a tear.
"Maybe. But only because she was so...beloved."