AN: Mwaha! If you want to go back to checking the snippets again, I’ve updated them. They’re all new. So, if you’re interested, go check out my site (it’s on my account page) and go look under Muse Snippets. It’s archived on Livejournal… yeah.

Anyway, here’s the next bit of coherent writing XD

Read, enjoy, and please review!! ^^

Ja ne! ^^

I sigh and spin my bangle around my wrist one more time, trying to move my arm as inconspicuously as possible so as to make the twirling bracelet continue spinning.

Ranger watches me dryly from the side of the desk, and both Sully and Brynn are scowling at me, and distrustfully at each other. They don’t dare scowl at Ranger.

“Can we get to business, please?” Brynn eventually asks, sinking his brow into his hand, and tilting his head sideways so as to still be able to look at me. “This isn’t going to get us anywhere.”

“Yea,” Sully mutters. Usually, he’s not very serious when it comes to business, no matter how important it is for the others, but for Kael… Well, he’s willing to have a go at even Ranger for Kael, and that says all I need to, and in fewer words.

Especially seeing as I’ve given Ranger most writer privileges – with the added bonus of godlike powers. It’s good to have someone completely loyal.

“Look. I agree. The therapist is an absolute bitch. She has no professionalism, she reminds you of nails scraping over blackboards, and she wants to see the two of them together. I realize you have problems with this. I know it’s not healthy for either of them. But Brynn, I will not allow Kylan try to a) kill another person, or b) try and make someone else kill him, just so he can see the blood! He is going to a therapist, and he will see one now! As for you, Sully, I know she isn’t qualified to take Kael on, but you’re the one who wanted him to see someone, and I’m glad you came to tell me, really I am, but understand, would you, she was the only one available! I realize it a shitty situation, but it’s the best I can do for the moment. Ranger’s still currently looking for new therapists, but until one becomes available, you will have to put up with her. Just be happy you get to sit in on the first few sessions. It was a battle getting even that much.”

They sit silent for a few minutes, gaping at me as if I’d just chucked a brick at them. Honestly, I don’t throw bricks. Plot bunnies, furniture and food, yes, but not bricks. There’s always the chance that they’ll throw it back. However, if that happens, they get to suffer a bit in a brand new wing I’m thinking of putting up… But anyway, Sully’s looking like I just asked him to cut off his feet, and Brynn is looking equally distasteful.

Ranger gives a low trickle of a growl, and fake smiles get plastered onto their faces.

“All right,” Brynn says calmly, his eyes wishing for my – or the therapist’s – immediate and violent death. “I’ll see he goes to the medical room tomorrow morning. And I’ll come with him,” he shoots a look at Sully that I’m unable to decipher before it disappears.

I can read Sully’s scowling smile easily though. “Fine,” he growls politely. He’s studiously ignoring Ranger. “And we all get November off?”

I sigh and nod my head. He isn’t the first muse to ask me… neither is he the first to ask me repeatedly… as in, over and over again. “Yes, Sully, you all get November off except for the Nano characters moving in on the 22nd.”

Ranger gives me a secret smile, which I return in kind, and the muses stare at us.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Brynn asks me, probably judging me the one most likely to answer.

“No reason,” I reply sweetly. “None at all. Go spend time with your bondmate, Brynn. If I hear he’s been bugging the vampires or Karo again, I will rip his legs off and put him in front of a bath of blood as cruel and unusual punishment.”

Brynn gives me a tight smile as he stands up. “Remove his legs and he’ll crawl to it with his arms. You know that.”

I nod my head in acknowledgment as the brunette leaves. “And you, Sully, where’s that painting? I’d like to hang it up on my bedroom wall once your done with it, so hurry up. And it must be perfect.”

“I understand why you always want one of Kael,” the blonde mutters, standing up. “But he’s still mine, you realize that, right?”

I blink at him. “You really are insecure, aren’t you?”

He passes Ranger and leaves without another word.

I sigh and twist my bracelet.

“You shouldn’t be so cruel to them.”

“I’m not being cruel to them,” I reply. “I’m simply trying to know them better. It’s not like they tell me anything not relating to plot about themselves. How can they expect me to write them accurately when I don’t even fully understand who they are?”

Ranger shrugs and comes to sit on my desk to the side of me. “I don’t know. “

“Exactly,” I reply, and scowl down at the bangle. “And it’s not like they help any, keeping secrets and stuff.”

Ranger laughs at that. “I’d feel more sympathy for you if you were actually truthfully angered by it.”

I grin up at him ruefully. “Oh, shut up. So what’s the plan today?”

The fox gestures towards my door with a hand. Next to the entrance, there’s a bill board with a whole bunch of post it notes, the rainbow kind that twirl crazily in a strange circle. I specifically remember Gabby picking that one out for me.

Unfortunately, the spiral is ruined completely, and all that's left of it now is a bunch of scattered post-its, with names and times scribbled on haphazardly.

Welcome to my schedule.

I sigh. “All right. Send in Karo then, would you? And if he’s not already waiting outside, send in the person there. If he’s not here, he loses the appointment.”

Ranger cuts in, his tone mild, and ever so faintly amused. “You’re the one who is over an hour late for the appointment.”

I sniff superiorly. “It can’t be all that important if he’s not willing to wait a few minutes…”

Ranger grins, but decides not to reply, and I start spinning in my oh-so-cool swivel chair, with the appropriate sound effects.

I only stop when I hear Karo from the doorway. “And you think people should respect you?”

“Yes,” I answer calmly, shaking my head to try and clear it faster. “And they do. I can get you lost in musespace or living in angst forever and a day. So watch who you insult.”

Karo shakes his head and comes to sit down opposite me. “You need better threats.”

“I know,” I say mournfully, staring down at my wrist. Hang on. Where did my bangle go?

“What are you doing?” Karo asks after a few minutes.

I lift my head, careful not to bang it on the underside of my desk. “Nothing. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?”

“Teague,” Karo replies distastefully. “There’s something wrong with him.”

I groan and bury my face in my hands. “Not another one. What is it this time?”

“He’s missing Eden, apparently.”

“You mean he wants you to come with him.”

“Yes.”

“And you still don’t want to?”

“Well…No… Not really,” he concedes. “It’s just… well, I’m a demon. I fell for a reason, you know.”

“I know,” I say softly. “But still, why not just give it a try?”

“I still have a scar from Loki’s blasted sword from the last time I went up there… And demons don’t get scars!”

“Yes,” I muse thoughtfully. “Funny how that works out, eh?”

“Shut up,” Karo sulks. “You’re not helping.”

“Look, just give in. You love the fool, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” he frowns slightly and stares down at the desk. “But I…”

I sigh. “Karo… Look, you love him. End of story. Right? It’d break his heart if you decide you’re not sure now, not to mention ruin the plotline!” I pause. “Is that why you’re being so slow with your chapters?”

He nods miserably.

I sigh again and fallback against my chair. “Look, just ignore it for the time being. Demons aren't equipped to deal with love, so it’s really no wonder you’re trying to get out of it now. Just buckle down and enjoy yourself around him. That’s what love’s all about anyway, isn’t it? Enjoying yourself around the person? Liking life, and all that mushy stuff?”

“I suppose,” his brows are furrowed.

I wave him away. “Look, go swimming with Teague or something. Go prove to yourself that you do love him, because this is crap. All right? Go on, move! Shoo! Now, Karolek!”

He offers me a small, hesitant smile, and I suddenly hate the fact I made him look like such a handsome young man, because all of a sudden he looks like an adorable and lost twelve year old who is having his world fall out from under his feet and…

And thank God he’s gone before I can call him back, because I sincerely doubt that he’d be happy to get a hug from me, of all people… It’s too dangerously close to glomping, and he was one of those muses who politely but firmly requested I don’t glomp him – unless there’s a very good reason.

Sad thing is… I don’t get those good reasons all too often.

But that’s all right.

I can usually make up my own.

Heh heh heh…