Wonderland:

Simone’s Notes:

Nonmonogamy is a blanket term covering several different types of interpersonal relationship in which some or all participants have multiple marital, sexual, and/or romantic partners. This can be contrasted with its opposite which is monogamy and yet may arise from the same Psychology of Monogamy. Forms of nonmonogamy include:

Consensual nonmonogamy, in which a nonmonogamous relationship is formed by mutual consent of those involved

Casual relationship a physical and emotional relationship between two unmarried people who may have a sexual relationship

Group marriage, in which several people form a single family unit, with all considered to be married to one another

Group sex and orgies involving more than two participants at the same time

Infidelity, such as an affair, in which one participant fails to comply with expectations of a relationship

Line families, a form of group marriage intended to outlive its original members by ongoing addition of new spouses

Menage a trois, a sexual arrangement involving three people

Plural marriage, a form of polygyny associated with the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 19th-century and with present-day splinter groups from that faith. It is also associated with an evangelical splinter group which advocates Christian Plural Marriage

Polyamory, in which participants have multiple romantic partners

Polyandry, in which women have multiple husbands

PolyFamilies, similar to group marriage, but some members may not consider themselves married to all other members

Polyfidelity, in which participants have multiple partners but restrict sexual activity to within a certain group

Polygamy, a term encompassing both polygyny and polyandry

Polygyny, in which men have multiple wives

Open marriage and open relationships, in which one or both members of a committed couple may become sexually active with other partners

Swinging, similar to open relationships, but commonly conducted as an organized social activity

As can be seen from this list, the Greek prefix 'poly-' is often used in naming nonmonogamous forms of relationship. In informal use such names are sometimes abbreviated to just 'poly', with the rest indicated by context. Many nonmonogamous terms are flexible in definition, because they are based on criteria such as 'relationship' or 'love' that are themselves variably defined; see discussions at their respective pages for more detail on individual forms. In addition, usage creates distinctions beyond the raw definitions of the words. Thus, even though some relationships might technically be considered both polygamous and polyamorous, 'polygamy' usually signifies a codified form of multiple marriage, based on established religious teachings, while 'polyamory' is based on the preferences of the participants rather than social custom or established precedent.

The October night wind rattled over the ceiling of the back room in the abandoned church. Ivy and Syd lied close to each other in Ivy’s cot. Syd was lightly kissing on her back. The ghost shut her eyes in sweet desire. But yet, there was something on her lately. Try as she might to chase it away, but it was just no use at all. This was supposed to be a special night tonight. It was supposed to be romantic. But yet… something was very off tonight. The ghost blocked her lover’s next kiss. The deity looked up at her hungry for more. But then, he noticed the sad look in her eyes.

“Ivy,” he said to her. “What’s wrong? You seem upset about something.” The ghost looked up at him slightly confused by that question.

“Hm?” she asked him with blank eyes. Syd turned her over to face him. Ivy couldn’t help but to stare into his dark brown eyes. They always stirred love into his heart. But yet, there was always a since of sorrow with the love in her heart. This was just like the first night that they were together.

*Fifty Years Ago*

Syd’s visit didn’t stop with listening to Ivy play piano. In fact, the music was just the foreplay. Each note that the young woman played was seducing him into temptation. She was just flirting with him. Her music seemed so sad. At first, the music was at normal pace and volume in a continuous flow. But that soon got effected by her night guest. Syd slowly crept up behind her. He lightly put his arms around her. Ivy was nervous but kept playing. The notes subconsciously began to reflect her mood. Syd smirked to himself in silence. Glad to know he had such an effect on her. It was so tempting to keep playing with her head.

“Tell me something Ivy,” he said to her. “Wouldn’t you dojoin be angry with you if he found you playing for another man at night?” The notes became sad and slow. Sorrow was aching badly in her heart. Syd felt her pity along with the music.

“He’s dead,” Ivy answered him. “Cancer claimed him years ago.” Syd truly felt pity for her.

“Sorry to hear that,” he said. “Was he a good man?” The notes lightened some. The tempo was still slow. Ivy kind of smiled at that suggestion.

“Oh yes,” she replied. “He was very good to me. He left me this house and his money in fact.”

“Oh wow, you must be lucky,” Syd said. “But it must be very lonely in a big house all alone with just your music. I bet it was a nice change for me to come along and listen.” Right then, the music just stopped. Syd paused and waited. He knew that he had hit a sensitive place in her heart. Now, it was time to see how she would react to his question. The response was the one that he was looking for tonight. Ivy whipped around and kissed Syd on the lips. He kissed her back. He pushed her back against the piano bench and the piano itself. Ivy slipped her tongue into his mouth out of pain and pleasure. She grabbed onto him tightly. Suddenly, the woman felt so much better. Syd was strangely her source of comfort for the lonely night.

Pretty soon, one thing led to another. Syd was pounding hard into Ivy’s thin pale body. The musician was crying out in high bliss. It had been so long since she had felt anything like that. For eight years, Ivy had cut off any physical feelings to her body. All she had was her music night after night. It was so refreshing to have a person physically touch her in a lasting way. Sure, she and her dojoin slept with each off and on before his death. But that was just it. He was dead now. So memories do not really count. Being with a real person was *way* better than a memory.

The deity just kept pulling in and out of her. Syd was just happy to be getting soon again. Sure, Ella was good. But he just needed a break from her now and then. She was very strict and stubborn to him. The girl wouldn’t let him have any other girlfriends. So, Syd had to sneak out and meet his girlfriends. When he did however, Ella would find out and punish him in a sick sort of way. Tonight was going to be no different once she found out. But what did he care? It was all worth it in the end. Syd was getting what he wanted after all. He just had to have Ivy ever since he heard her music.

After a few moments, he came within the young woman. The deity groaned aloud in her ears. Ivy cried out happily. They both just lied there in silence for a long while. They looked at each other smiling.

“How was that?” Syd asked her. Ivy nodded in happiness.

“Yeah!” she said to him. Then they shared another kiss together.

*Present Day*

“Syd,” the ghost spoke up to him. “Do you love Ella?” Syd looked at her strangely.

“Of course I do!” he said. “Why?” Ivy just sat up in silence.

“Then go back to Ella,” she said to him boldly. Syd looked at her confused.

“What?!?” he asked in shock. Ivy kept her serious face at him.

“Oh come off it Syd,” she said. “We’re just chasing the past around when we sleep together. Now, I love you. But we can’t keep doing this night after night. You have a mission and I’m not supposed to be here. So go back to Ella and fight this bitch.” Syd was really confused now. Where was all of this coming from? Why was she talking like this? What did he do now?

“What’s wrong?” he asked her. “Did I do something to you? Did Ella know? Can I see you again?” Ivy lightly took him by his face and gently kissed him on the lips. Syd kissed her back. They slowly pulled away from each other. They stared at each other blankly.

“Yes you will see me again,” the ghost said to him. “Just not any time soon. You have to fight this evil or it will ruin us all! Now go back to Ella and tell her you love her!”

“But…” Syd spoke up.

“Just go!” Ivy yelled again. Syd sighed hard.

“Fine,” he said. Then, he got out of the cot, got dressed, and quietly left. Ivy sat in silence as she heard the door slam shut. She collapsed back onto her bed and breathed out in distress. The hardest part was over. Now she only hoped to Hell that Syd and the others would do the right thing and turn out alright in the end. She knew that they would be back together for more soon, but that couldn’t happen now. Too much crap was going on and if it wasn’t dealt with fast; they would all be doomed.