"And in the end, we're all just humans..."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez didn't make any movement to stop him, not realizing what the problem was until her hand was place elsewhere.

"... oh, so that's what that was. Sorry.

... good morning?"

[Basil Benson]

"Morning Jez." He replied pleasantly enough, considering he didn't realize she was there in the first place until she got handsy.

And he was visible laying between the pair of them, so she could tell he wasn't pissed off, though perhaps a bit weirded out at awakening in such a way. "Sleep okay?"

Leaning in to give Colette's surface a kiss, he began to softly whisper to her in French again.

"It's morning my queen, shall we rise?"

Basil made no attempt to throw off either of the ladies, but it was clear they were being treated vastly different.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette's face shifted to her familiar proportions when Basil's lips pressed against her own, taking on her usual visage. Her hair was pretty short though, a common sight when she first woke up; like most people she tended to wake up a little dehydrated, it just affected her differently than others.

"Mmm, perhaps." The changes rippled down from her shoulders, her form taking shape under the t-shirt. "How are you feeling? Has your strength returned?" She propped herself up on one elbow to look over her boyfriend.

"Good morning Jezzzzabelle." She sounded cheery enough.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Mm, you know what? I really, really did." Jez replied, the first to actually roll out of bed and get to her feet. She stretched her arms above her head, her rising t-shirt showing off her tummy and her panties in the process. "And I don't think it was just the boogeymen either. Between everything else that has been going on here, and midterms and stuff, I really, REALLY needed that. Thanks."

She paused for a moment. "Hey, Basil? Um... is the whole being-able-to-see-you thing like an timed exposure thing? 'cause I usually can't see you, but I guess I'm not around you enough to build up a... resistance?"

[Basil Benson]

"Mostly." He replied, snuggling into the bed and to her further.

"Hmmm?" He replied lazily, looking at himself. He brought his now free arm up from under the blanket.

"Ahhh.

We don't know. One of the campus therapists is working with me to figure it out... But I haven't gone back."

"I see Madame dressed you." He added, looking at her t-shirt.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"You should consider going back." Jez turned around to search through her clothes in search of her scrunchie before she stood back up and started to twist her hair into a messy ponytail. "I can only speak from personal experience, but they've really helped me a lot."

She looked down at her shirt, tugging at it. "Yeah, it's not fun to sleep in a shirt with buttons, or in a bra. She's got, like, a whole drawer full of these. Colette, I had no idea you were into cartoons and stuff."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette continued to gently dote on Basil, idlying playing with his hair as the two of them lounged.

"Hmm? Oh yes, my parents brought me many comic volumes from ze library when I was young, zey helped me learn to read."

[Basil Benson]

"There's lots of things people don't realize about Madame." Basil replied back to make the conversation about something besides himself and his lack of therapy follow through.

His eyes hadn't looked away from her as she doted on him, and he did a jaunty, smug little dance with his head as she played in his curls.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Oh, that's neat. Do you still have any? The art style on this is pretty neat, I kinda wanna check it out now."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette nuzzled her nose against Basil's, in full lovey-dovey mode.

"Well, ze ones I read were in French. But zey may have some copies in ze school library, or one of ze local ones. I will write down ze names of some of my favorites for you, once I get up."

[Basil Benson]

"Or we could just teach her French." Basil added, giving Colette a quick peck on the lips before continuing. "If she's staying in Europe, knowing more than one language could be useful."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I think that's easier said than done, unless you know someone who can telepath it into my head. My Spanish is super rusty."

[Basil Benson]

" Mmmm I do, but I spent years in primary school and hours flirting with a French girl to get it.

I feel like you shouldn't just get to cheat like that." He joked, bobbing his eyebrows at Colette.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette tilted her head a bit. "Well, French and Spanish are not terribly different. Not like German... if my fazer did not speak it I would not have had a chance myself."

Colette was, of course, of the mindset that there was no "cheating" with powers. Was it cheating that Jez could attend her classes while she remained in bed? Was it cheating that Basil could get some time to himself to study or destress by disappearing to everyone around him? But she kind of saw what Basil was going for.

"If you were interested in learning French, I would be happy to tutor you. It would make for a good elective, and look good on your resume. You mentioned previously zat you wished to become an ambassador, oui?"

[Basil Benson]

"You would seem a more appealing candidate for not only France, but potentially for relations with Canada as well." Basil replied, finally breaking eye contact with Colette and looking at Jez.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez seemed hesitant at first. "You... make some compelling arguments. I guess I'd be willing to try it. I'm not gonna let that Aiden kid beat me to the punch, that's for sure."

[Basil Benson]

"Jesus, is everyone going for ambassador in your country?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Oh, I have no idea. But considering that my dad basically had to trick them into letting me leave the country, and he's here on some kind of state scholarship? Well let's just say that if we both applied I don't have any doubts who they'd pick.

"Nothing against the guy, I barely know him. But he's definitely one of those mutants who believes in a caste system based on what kinda powers you've got."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"And as you are someone who has attended numerous protest rallies in zis country, I take it zat zis is somezing zat does not sit well wiz you."

[Basil Benson]

"Still not exactly sure why you're so enamoured with being the ambassador if this place is so....

Unwelcoming?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Because Isolationism is an unhealthy practice that leads to persecution and corruption. It makes communities turn on on themselves and breeds bigotism, unhealthy and exploitative social hierarchies, Jingoism, fear - outside and in. Communication is the most vital thing in forming strong, healthy relationship. Between people, between countries, between homo sapien and homo superior. I care about that country because of what it represents and more importantly the good, innocent people for whom it is the only place they could call a home, the only place they can be safe. And when you really care about something, you work to make it better, right?"

[Basil Benson]

"Of course." Basil replied.

"But... You can't help a person who doesn't want to be helped. Similarly, you can't fix a country that doesn't think it's broken. It has to realize it's broken in order to heal again. "

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"And how better to fix a country, then from a position of power and influence, where you can talk to the masses?" Jezabelle smiled. "I mean, I can be a one-woman protest, but I think I'd be a little more effective that way."

[Basil Benson]

"Slytherin talk." Was all Basil added back, nothing more.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Only a little bit. I'm not eager to wear a metal helmet and run the whole show."

[Basil Benson]

"Oh come off it, you like being in charge. " He teased back.

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Which is a shame, because she is not ze one in charge, is she?" Colette asked Basil playfully before looking at the girl. "Perhaps Madame Sherlock could tutor me in exchange for me tutoring her...."

[Basil Benson]

Basil's reaction to Colette's statement was curious indeed.

He settled back down into the bed, as if shrinking up under Colette. His expression sheepish, he muttered to her in French.

"Not a good idea."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette played with Basil's hair a little more. "Oh? Why do you object, my tomcat?"

[Basil Benson]

Basil looked extremely uncomfortable, but let his hair be played with.

"She is not like me, and she is not Madame.

She probably doesn't have any help for you and she could tell someone."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette tilted her head in confusion. "I... do not understand Do you think she is a spy for her home country?"

[Basil Benson]

"Of course not. I just don't want her telling people about our game."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"You trust her enough to share a bed, but not a secret?" Colette pointed out, though the version of share a bed they had experienced differed from how most interpreted it.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Do, um, do you guys want me to leave? 'cause I mean I can go...."

[Basil Benson]

"Madame wants me to tell you something that I don't want to and she thinks I'm being ridiculous by not telling you." Basil summed up the conversation well enough.

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Basil, I swear, sometimes you make me sound absolutely cruel." Colette pouted.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"What, is it like, about the sleepover? 'cause I'm not exactly going to be spreading the word about that. Nothing against you guys, that's not what I mean. But trying to make someone understand that it was spooning without sex is way more trouble than it's worth, and no one else's business."

[Basil Benson]

Basil looked at Colette pouting. Sometimes he liked it, when it was playful. But when it was like this, he hated it. He wriggled his way out from under Colette to stand, sighing heavily.

For several pregnant moments, he was silent, standing there in his paisley shorts and his white a-shirt. He had his arms folded over his chest and was tapping his fingers on his clavicle, a habit he often engaged in when he was lost in his thoughts, but not something Jezabelle had ever fully experienced thanks to him usually being invisible.

It'd look a bit foolish if it weren't for the serious nature to the conversation.

Once he'd collected his thoughts, he spoke.

"No, it's not about the spooning.

You're wrong, Jezabelle, that I treat Colette like a princess.

Princesses are little girls, or at best the female companion to a patriarch. They are inherently designed not to lead, either by age or circumstance."

Basil coaxed Colette gently to come to him. Once they were both standing Basil towered over Colette's night-withered frame, but not for long.

Steeling his nerves, Basil gave Colette's hand a quick squeeze before dropping to genuflect. He hesitated in this position for several moments before moving into a seiza sitting position. Again he paused, reaching out with his other hand to take her by the arm, using both his hands to brush his face against her forearm lovingly. After another quick peck, he let go of her, and leant forward to kiss her feet before resting his forehead on the floor near them in prostrate.

And there he sat, waiting for Jezabelle to put together the implications for herself. He kept his eyes closed as he continued to speak. He didn't want to see Jezabelle's face.

"By design or accident, Colette Astrid Madeleine Rosenhof has found herself in the unique position of being my Queen. Something she has consented to and is adamant to pursue. Perhaps even more so than myself, given her enthusiasm to share with everyone she meets about it.

But despite her enthusiasm and my telling her she is worthy and that she will figure out what works for her in time, she doesn't believe she is up to the task.

She believes you can help her somehow."

[Colette Rosenhof]

With Basil's coaxing Colette slipped out of bed, though she thought he was being just a smidge melodramatic. That was until he dropped to one knee. If she had a heart it'd have skipped a beat because of course what comes to a woman's mind when a man gets down on one knee? Her face only grew more crimson as he continued downward. To her credit, she didn't try to push him away, or pull him back up, her touch was soft and welcoming to his affection. But it was pretty clear to the girl in the glasses that this was something the Queen was still getting used to dealing with.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle watched with curiosity at first, and then in what appeared to be stunned silence, which hung over the room for a moment.

"Oh... oh! This is wonderful!" The girl bounced on her toes for a moment, grinning widely. "I wish you'd told me ahead of time! I've got some 'M slash S' material saved in my stuff for the pride committee, I could have sent them to you. It's no longer strictly associated with leather pride." She hurried over and stood behind Colette, holding her arms and looking over her shoulder.

"That man, for whom you care so deeply, sees you as a being worthy of all of his respect and love and worship. Because that is what you are. And one of the best ways you can return those feelings is by being what he sees in you, by believing in yourself. You blush and shy away because like a lot of girls you have self-doubt, you feel unworthy, you see your faults. If you are his Queen, it is because you are a Queen. That doesn't mean you have to step on his face, or dote on him, but you have to start believing him."