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Post by Misty on Feb 20, 2021 0:20:50 GMT -5
“Oh, shit, you’re right.” Lucas had nearly forgotten about exchanging phone numbers with Selena due to how eventful their day had been. He took her phone, his thumbs hovering above the touchscreen keyboard as he thought of how to name himself in her phone. After he settled on Best Brother Ever and typed in his number, he handed the phone to her. “And that sounds like it’ll work. I don’t need my neighbors thinking too poorly of me.” As it was, he overheard some of the gossip when he brought a girl home late at night. Damn uptight nosy neighbors and their moral codes. “Thank you, Selena, for helping me with this.” ~~~ Hannah sat in silence for a few moments, considering everything Dasco had said as she set down her wine glass. She pulled his hands off her shoulders and held them in her own. “I wish it was still an ‘if,’” she said quietly. She had hoped Selena wouldn’t return to the Court, had hoped they wouldn’t have had to explain their relationship to her. Now that they had been forced to show their hand because of that appearance they had made earlier... Why hadn’t she just stayed in her office? God, why hadn’t she done that instead of joining Dasco? She should have known Selena would figure out her identity. There had been a reason Dasco trusted her as much as he had. “I think-” She swallowed. “I think that when that conversation happens, I’m going to need you there. I won’t be able to do it on my own.” If left on her own, the conversation could quickly turn into a screaming match, or a magic fight... “It’ll need to be somewhere we can’t cast. If she uses frost or ice, it won’t be pretty, and I’ll be damned if she learns about those issues. That’s something I want to stay between us.” featherleg |
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Post by featherleg on Feb 20, 2021 16:25:39 GMT -5
Misty Receiving her phone back, she glanced at the screen name he had made for himself. A small but heartfelt smile appeared before she texted him, “Your favorite sister in the whole world c:”. Selena chuckled as she said to him, “I’ll make sure they don’t.” Her experiences from working as one of the lead assistants in Dasco's Court and now as a head advisor and project leader at the Den had trained her how to best protect not only the information of each job, but that of her clients as well. Hearing him thank her again on top of affirming himself once more as her brother pulled on her heartstrings, causing her to draw him into a hug. “Of course, Lucas.” --------------------------------------- Hearing her voice become small caused Dascos heart to ache. “I know,” he whispered back as he gave her a sad smile. They had kept their relationship hidden for decades from the public eye. Grown comfortable in being able to share their lives in the security of the privacy the Court provided. However, having to reveal their relationship to someone like Selena could lead them down several different paths. All of them with the potential to hurt either of them, but...Dasco knew Hannah would be the one most heavily affected. During the silence that they shared, Dasco had kept his gaze down, focusing on their hands as he went over his thoughts. They, however, darted back up to meet Hannah's as she proposed her conditions to him. He nodded softly as he gave her hands a soft squeeze. “I’ll be there the whole time. And there’s no need to worry about her casting. The lounges here were outfitted for such requirements.” Ironically enough, Selena was the one who fashioned the lounges on the second floor to be anti-magic chambers. It took a week of convincing Dasco it was necessary, but after a small group of magic users ‘accidentally’ set fire to one of Dasco’s favorite couches during a meeting with Selena....well, those perimeters were installed almost instantly. Sighing to himself, Dasco brought her hands up between them and softly kissed them. “Apologies for ruining the mood, my love.”
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Post by Misty on Feb 22, 2021 20:59:03 GMT -5
Lucas tightly wrapped his arms around Selena and held her for a few minutes. Her help meant so much to him, and he hoped she knew how much he appreciated her. After he broke the hug, he took out his phone to see the text she sent him and send her the picture they had taken earlier. “Good night, Selena. I’ll see you tomorrow.” ~~~ Hannah didn’t have any objections to letting the Court know of her relationship with Dasco. In fact, she was looking forward to the days when she would be known as his girlfriend, and then his fiancée, and then his wife. To have the whole Court know of their relationship... She was ready. She couldn’t wait to monopolize his time at galas - and to dance with him all night! But it was somehow different letting Selena know. The relationship dynamic would be strange - Selena was Hannah’s sister and would become her adoptive stepmother... Thinking about that for too long would make her head hurt. “Okay, good. I couldn’t bear for her to learn about my magic issues. That stays between us and my friends.” The people she trusted the most. A small circle, but they meant the world to her. They wouldn’t take advantage of her for being a magic-borne vampire. “I think it’s about time I stopped reading for the day. I could use a long soak in the tub after today.” A warm bath would be heavenly after dealing with Selena today. To relax with the stunning view they had of the ocean and some soothing music playing in the background... Hannah deserved to unwind for the day in that manner. featherleg |
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Post by featherleg on Feb 23, 2021 19:01:28 GMT -5
“Good night. Don’t be late, alright?” Selena said as she waved at him and made her way out of his apartment complex. Prior to going back to her home, she stopped at the Den and had one of their runners stock Lucas’s trunk with about a year's worth of supplies. After explaining the situation to the runner, they proceeded to drive his car back to him, sending a text to his number upon arrival notifying him to meet them in the parking lot at Lucas’s earliest convenience. The drive back home for Selena was thankfully uneventful. Being able to relax in her own space following the whirlwind that the day had become was a welcome change. She spent some time organizing and choosing what she would need for tomorrow before retiring for the night. ---------------------------- “Of course, Hannah.” Gently, he let go of her hands to resume eating his dinner. As he leaned back into the couch, with his plate in one hand and the fork in the other, he glanced back at her as she discussed returning to their chambers for the night. “Would you like me to get that prepared for you?” The tub they had usually took longer to set up due to how large it was, and Hannah was particular about what types of bath bombs or soaps she liked to use depending on her mood. Considering how stressful this day ended up being for her, Dasco wanted to make sure she could spend the last few hours of it content. Misty |
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Post by Rosestar on Feb 24, 2021 11:48:51 GMT -5
Rosestar The warmth of his smile and voice caused her heart to flutter. It was so charming that she couldn’t help but be enamored by it, by him. She had been for some time now, but never thought a moment like this would happen between them. And yet, here they were. Reaching out and holding each other. Allowing the other beyond the walls they had built. Aika knew this was just the start, on both of their parts, of whatever this new path for them was to be. But for now, she was content with sharing this moment with him. Her lips curved into a caring smile as she nodded to him. Her fingers brushed against the side of his face as they gently removed his glasses, bringing them down in front of her as she looked over them fondly. They suited him quite nicely, though as she turned them over to look at the interior of the frames, she noticed the slight bends in the arms from him always fiddling with them. Some things never change, do they? Using the sleeve of her hoodie, Aika carefully cleaned the lenses of his glasses before holding them a small ways above her, making sure she didn’t miss any spots. Seeming satisfied in her work, she turned the glasses around in her grasp and delicately placed them back on his face. Aika’s eyes flickered about his features as she set them before she smiled tenderly at him. And then it hit her. The sudden call of sleep. She didn’t realize how tired she had become, but then again, it had been some time since she had had a heart to heart like this. Her eyes drifted downwards as they struggled to stay open, her hands falling back to Dalton's shoulders as she started to nod off until eventually she was leaning against him. Her breathing slowed, her eyes closed, and within seconds, Aika had accidentally fallen asleep in Daltons embrace. All Dalton could do was watch her movements through an admittedly blurry gaze. Despite this, he could tell how delicate she was being with not only his glasses, but him as well, taking her time to make sure everything was right. Clean glasses sat on his nose, at the angle he usually placed them. It felt strange, knowing that she knew things like that, both the simple and the complicated things. He was still for a moment, thinking about her looking after him, even after everything. What about those years in between, before the worked at the VDA? What was she doing, besides studying and sitting alone in a cold, inherited house?
Before he could ask- Dalton wasn't even sure what he was going to ask- when Aika slowly lowered herself to his shoulder again, this time with the finality of sleep. He made a small noise of surprise, more at his situation than hers, but she didn't do anything but flutter her eyelashes one more time, in an attempt to rouse herself. The emotional toll of the night must have struck her, he figured, and debated about the best way to move her. He felt like she should be a light sleeper, but he wasn't sure where that particular thought stemmed from. Something he already knew, maybe? Either way, she wasn't going to be woken so easily. Gently, he held her a bit closer and lowered both of them down on the bed, and thought about how they must look, Aika fast asleep in his arms and laying against him. Dalton couldn't dwell on it too long, mostly because he was certain the girls were already aware of his visit to the guest room, and the longer he was in here, the more trouble it would become in the morning. He began to untangle himself, and then took it upon himself to grab all the blankets from the nearby closet and tuck Aika in. Possibly, it would be a level of warmth that she wasn't used to, but Dalton wasn't about to leave her alone and cold in the room. When he was done and looking down at his handiwork and the sleeping form of Aika, there was such a surge of feeling inside him Dalton was afraid it was going to cause another of those headaches. The night's events must be weighing on him as well. He left the room as quietly as he could, turning off the lights and listening to Aika's light breathing fade behind him.
The extra blankets and spare pajamas were already waiting for him back in the living room, and he got ready for bed as quickly as possible. The house was still, he was surprised to find. Normally James would come in to say good night, at least. Dalton fell asleep trying to recreate everyone's path throughout the North house- James' firm tread, the girl's excited sprints, and Aika, drifting through the new space, trying to find where she fit into it all.
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Post by featherleg on Feb 24, 2021 16:43:54 GMT -5
Throughout her slumber, Aika was met with dreams of her past. Of being dropped off at a house that stood in the heart of the city. Of running as fast as her legs could take her to knock on the door, only to be tugged straight into the abode by her best friend who was just as excited to see her as she was with him. Her days started not when she woke up, or when she had breakfast with her aunt and uncle, nor when she had her classes. They started during moments like these. When Dalton’s mother, Juniper, would greet her and offer her cookies while asking about her piano lessons, or when his father, William, would tell her about the trip he had planned for them all that upcoming weekend and would advise her on what items to bring with her. And then there were the times she spent with him. She dreamt of when they took their first hike together in the mountains in Northern Embra. Her hair was much shorter then and pulled back into little pigtails. His glasses were new at the time and round. They both wore matching baseball caps to keep the sun out of their faces as they walked the trail together, with Zeus walking ahead as their guide while his parents watched them from a few paces back. Occasionally, one of them would squeeze the others hand to grab their attention. Aika when she saw a butterfly or bird flying above them that reminded her of the stories they read. Dalton when he saw plants he had learned about from his science courses. Between these moments they had conversations about anything and everything, but from time to time, their conversations would fall into comfortable silence as they enjoyed their adventure in the forest. The last thing she dreamt of was the two holding each other's hand with the sun gleaming down on them through the trees above, the sounds of their footsteps fading away as the scene closed. Soft rays of sunlight flickered into the guest room as dawn came. The sound of early morning birds echoed around the North home along with the mellow drips and drops of water falling from the roof, signaling that last night's storm had passed. Beams of light crossed Aika’s face, causing her to stir awake. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked towards the windows on the side of the walls. As she wondered what time it could possibly be, she found her hands gripping onto several blankets that were wrapped tightly around her, those of which she had no recollection of seeing. Sitting up, she found herself wrapped in them from her shoulders all the way down to her feet. Whoever had tucked her in made sure she would stay warm, but that brought up the question of who? Aika found herself at a strange loss as her brain was still fuzzy with sleep. Perhaps she would remember once she had some water or tea. Finding herself a tad overheated from the plethora of blankets as well as the hoodie she had slept in, she sorted herself out of them, leaving her standing on the hardwood floors of the guest room as she stretched. After straightening out the tank top and shorts she had on and brushing her hair out partially with her fingers, Aika made her way downstairs quietly towards the entrance of the living room, pondering to herself if anyone else would be up besides her. Rosestar |
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Post by Misty on Feb 28, 2021 2:02:21 GMT -5
“I won’t be,” Lucas promised. He would be right on time for training, even if that meant speeding through town to get to the Den. He had no issues picking up the supplies from the runner. With the supplies safely in his apartment, he spent the rest of his evening unwinding before falling asleep. In the morning, Lucas made sure to wake early and give himself plenty of time to feed and get ready for training. It was strange to not feed after a hunt, and while he wasn’t sure he liked the resulting feeling, it would have to become his new normal. Despite his best intentions, he barely made it to the Den on time, meeting Selena only a minute before their agreed meeting time. Despite the chill in the air, he was dressed for a long workout. ~~~ “That would be amazing.” Hannah resumed eating her dinner as well, though she didn’t finish her plate. After the discussion concerning her fears about the trade tomorrow, she was too stressed to finish it. “Dinner was delicious, Dear.” To reassure him that his cooking was excellent, like usual. While Dasco cleaned up dinner and started running the bath, Hannah took a couple minutes to straighten up the library for the night before heading upstairs to their suite. She selected her pajamas for the night and set them in the bathroom before checking Dasco’s selection of bath products. He had set out one of her favorite body washes to use whenever she was stressed, as well as one of their favorite bath bomb and bath oil combinations. He loved the purple color of the bath bomb, and she loved how relaxing the bath bomb and bath oil combination was. After the tub filled, she turned off the water, added the bath oil, and tossed in the bath bomb before she climbed in to soak. After Hannah’s hour-long soak, she drained the tub and changed into her pajamas before she joined Dasco in bed. When she woke up the following morning, she groaned as she felt a familiar pain in the base of her neck and her upper back. The pain was accompanied by a throbbing headache. “Dasco?” featherleg |
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 28, 2021 2:04:53 GMT -5
(I'm replying tomorrow. ^^ )
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Post by featherleg on Mar 1, 2021 0:04:46 GMT -5
MistySelena had arrived at the Den an hour prior to her and Lucas’s training start time to review the case file Elizabeth had sent her about the Cyra family, as well as general details about the Yilas estate, where the family had been taken. The two discussed a few different approaches they could take as Selena would be spearheading the investigation for the most part, provided that Detective Black would cooperate with her. Having finalized the routes Lucas could use to enter and leave the estate, Selena headed outside to meet with her brother. She took a gander at her wristwatch and saw that there were only two minutes left until they were supposed to meet up. I hope he didn’t forget, or decide to skip. Looking up, her doubts were quickly dashed away as she saw Lucas approaching her in a slightly rushed manner. “Morning, glad to see you made it.” She said as she took out a small list from her track jacket pocket. “How are you feeling after getting the supplies from last night?” --------------------------------------------------------------- It wasn’t the calling of his name that necessarily woke Dasco up. No, it was the pain he heard behind it that caused him to open his eyes and look down towards Hannah, who he had been holding throughout the night with a loose grip which now tightened out of concern. Carefully, he sat up against the pillows and bed frame to get a better look at her only to see her eyes closed shut and her shoulders tensed. “I’m here, Hannah, it’s alright. Walk me through what’s going on. Is it the cold again?” He asked quietly as he searched her face for any sudden changes. If his suspicions were correct--which God he hoped he wasn't for once--what Hannah was going through in this moment....he didn't even want it to be true. He'd seen her go through this pain, this trauma, so many times before, and to have it start on the morning of a meeting she was dreading? It was an omen if he'd ever seen one.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Mar 1, 2021 0:21:27 GMT -5
It seemed to be very difficult for Tom to actually listen to Darrick. There was a lot going on that they really had this much family stress? Feeling like it was life or death? He wanted to relate, really ... but he'd just never had a family like that. Or had them in danger like that. So he listened to Rowlin and he listened to Derrick, but he waited for his turn in the whole mess. And considering how it had been going, it was honestly a long time since Tom had gotten into a mess like this. He did glance down as he was released from the chair. He raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised. Then he crossed one leg over the other. Might as well indicate that he was indeed going to answer the question. After all, it had been made very clear. What organizations was a concern for these people though? Why? Why was this such an issue that they felt like he was somehow involved in all of this? He cleared his throat. A part of him - the nasty part that wanted to get him in trouble to see what would happen - wanted to say that he was part of an organization. That he totally had affiliates and that he was totally doing something nefarious. But he wasn't that much of an idiot. "No," he said simply. With a sigh, as well. "I'm not. Hopefully you believe me on that one and if you wanted to apply some test of some sort, go for it. But frankly ... I have no idea what you're talking about. Again, the fact that you think I'm something just ends up telling more details than what you probably want. The fact that you actually have some ... reason ... to worry about other groups. That there are other groups." He leaned his head back a little. "But no. No, I'm not." And he really didn't want to be. Not in the least. Auransky featherleg |
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Post by Misty on Mar 1, 2021 8:15:15 GMT -5
“Good morning.” Lucas paused as he considered Selena’s question. He wasn’t going to lie to her in his answer, but was there a best way to tell her the truth? “It was strange to feed without there being a hunt.” Yesterday, he had told Selena how he felt during and after a hunt, as well as how he enjoyed those feelings. He hadn’t felt any of that this morning. Even though he had been able to feed without consequence this morning, he wasn’t yet convinced that it was the best option for him. “And it was colder this morning than I was expecting it to be.” It would have been easy to stay in bed this morning, but he had promised Selena he would show up for training. He intended to keep his promises with her. ~~~ Hannah slowly opened her eyes, as if even that action could result in the pain intensifying. She was aware of Dasco looking down at her, but she didn’t dare turn her head to look at him. “This isn’t the freezing cold that happens when I cast. This is the other pain, from the memory search.” On days like this, she normally remained in the suite and took the day off from work, but that wasn’t an option today. She needed to complete the trade with Elizabeth. “I need you to warm my upper back and get me something to feed on before I even think about getting out of bed. After you do that, could you charge the battery for my heated blanket?” If she had to, she would drive into Embra with it wrapped around her body in addition to being bundled up with the heat blasting in her car. On days like this, it was important for her to keep warm without using her magic. Remaining warm minimized the pain. Dasco and her assortment of heated blankets helped with that. Some plugged into the wall, while others had rechargeable batteries. featherleg |
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Post by featherleg on Mar 2, 2021 15:20:13 GMT -5
A light frown posed on her face as she nodded in understanding. Feeding off of reserves helped mainly in the department of satisfying a vampire's hunger or thirst, however, it could not replicate the rush of hunting nor the act of it. In her own experience, she only hunted when completely necessary, and even then she made sure to only take what she needed from those she had fed upon. However, those instances were so far and few that she had no real desire for the adrenaline rush hunting provided. At least that’s what she told herself, anyways. “I’m sure it was, but as we discussed before, you’re going to have to get used to it.” She gestured for him to follow her as she started walking towards the side of the Den. Pushing open a gate that was held between the building and the wall that surrounded the complex, she led him to what seemed to be a practice field, one that was equipped with a medium sized track that circled around a center field that had several different pieces of equipment as well as obstacle courses laid about it. “It’s better that it’s cold right now. It will help once we get into today's course.” Placing down the duffle bag she was carrying, she took out two large water bottles and passed one to him. “We’ll start with some light stretches and then do a few laps around the field before we go into what’s set up here, okay?” -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dasco swore under his breath upon Hannah confirming what was actually causing her the pain he was witnessing. Despite how comfortable and warm his bedroom suite was, it couldn’t combat or keep away the lingering damage she carried from the memory search she had had all those years ago. “Of course.” Being as gentle with her as he could, he unwound himself from their embrace and sat next to her. Placing his hands on her upper back, he focused and channeled the ever burning fire that churned within him to those central points. Flame Tongues like Dasco were known to be walking furnaces, but coming from a trueblood family like his meant his alignment with the element was more pure. Overtime he was taught how to refine his prowess and skill with fire as well as lower the amount of energy it cost him to do tasks such as this. None of this was really on his mind though as he worked on breaking down the tension that had built practically overnight in Hannahs back. No, all he could think about was how she was going to be able to carry herself through with today's task. While he knew her requests of feeding and staying warm had helped in the past, those were used to help her recover while she rested. There were a few occasions where she was able to work in her office, thanks to her heated blankets, but she wouldn’t be able to bring one of those with her to the exchange. It would be out of place and questionable from Elizabeth's side. Sighing out of frustration, he finished what was the preliminarily task of warming her back and neck and got up to search their supply cabinet for a reserve that would help. His eyes landed on what seemed to be a large bowl of fruit, all of which was skillfully disguised to hide the actual contents of the food; a frozen, pure source of feed. Dasco grabbed the bowl and took it back to her. Sitting next to her again, he assisted in prompting her against the pillows and headboard before sitting the bowl in her lap. “Hopefully this will suffice. I'll go get those batteries charged for you. Just call if you need me.” Misty |
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Post by Auransky on Mar 2, 2021 22:25:16 GMT -5
Rowlin stood in place, and he felt like if this kept going, Tom would sink, not by choice. He glanced back at Derrick who clearly wanted to speak his mind-but for now, it be best the other man keep silent, before the father of three snapped. The younger man crossed his arms with a heavy shrug. "I'd consider holding back on that theory. I think you are overthinking it." He glimpsed up. "You've ever herd of refugees escaping persecution?" He raised a curious brow. "That could also be another reason behind anyone being on edge over unwelcome guests." He slightly nudged his head at an angle behind him. "Hatred always exists somewhere, either out of fear, jealousy, anguish, or revenge. With that in mind, there isn't much else to say on the matter. Anywhoo, I think this is enough. You assured these people you came with no mal intent, and probably opened some traumatic door along the way. You should probably make your exit now, if the others have nothing else to say." He turned to Derrick who was just eyeing everything-on edge. When readdressed, Derrick took in a hefty breath from his seat, and nodded. "I have nothing else to say, but it's not my decision to make." He turned now to Aika, and Celestia. "What say you?" He asked the two. mintedstar/fur featherleg |
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Post by featherleg on Mar 3, 2021 2:30:41 GMT -5
Rowlins short but precise speech resonated with them both and reminded them of how, in the past, he was able to bring together people in only a few words. It was reassuring for Celestia as his former teacher, and as Aika as his former leader, to see he had not lost his touch. With the conversation being brought back to them with the idea of finishing what had become a rather exhausting conversation, Aika simply looked towards her friend before speaking. “The decision is yours to make here. No matter what it is, I’ll stand by it.” Celestia nodded back to her, and looked towards her former student, and then back to her husband as she made her decision. “I’d like you to leave, Tom, and never entertain the thought of coming back here.” Her voice was cold as she looked towards him. “My husband will escort you downstairs and allow you to exit through the backdoor. Once you’re outside, you leave this neighborhood, and you don’t look back. Simple as that.” Celestia looked back to Derrick to make sure he was on board with seeing him out. mintedstar/fur Auransky |
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Post by Misty on Mar 4, 2021 23:15:36 GMT -5
“I know.” Lucas knew he would have to get used to this feeling, understood why it was important that he feed off reserves rather than people... but he missed the adrenaline rush of hunting. “It’s always been harder for me to work out in the cold. Guess I know why now.” So many of his habits suddenly made sense now that he knew he was a Generation Three. He followed after Selena, taking in the sights of the field and beginning to regret agreeing to this - not because he didn’t want to help, but because this training was going to kick his ass. He mumbled, “Shit,” in response to that realization. Lucas took the water bottle from Selena and held it for a moment. “How much will I regret agreeing to this?” ~~~ Hannah leaned into Dasco’s touch, gradually relaxing as he warmed her upper back and neck. With some of the tension released - they simply didn’t have enough time for him to release all the tension that had built in her back overnight - she sat up and leaned against the headboard and pillows with Dasco’s help. Her head was still throbbing, but that pain would be alleviated after she fed. With the bowl of fruit in her lap, she selected a large lemon (which she insisted be included because lemons were always included in display fruit bowls) before she bit into it. Almost immediately, the throbbing in her head decreased, and continued to do so with each bite of the purr feed source. With the lemon gone, the worst of the throbbing had disappeared. Hannah set the fruit bowl on the nightstand before throwing off the blankets and getting out of bed. She immediately put on her slippers and robe before making her way over to the walk-in closet and selecting her clothes for the day. Beneath her clothes were a thermal shirt and pants to help keep her warm. The outfit she selected consisted of a long-sleeved, ribbed black dress that ended a couple inches above her knees, sheer black tights over light beige leggings, and flat black boots that ended just below her knees. She would put on a coat before leaving, but for now, she needed to focus on doing her hair and makeup. featherleg |
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Post by Rosestar on Mar 6, 2021 14:55:05 GMT -5
Throughout her slumber, Aika was met with dreams of her past. Of being dropped off at a house that stood in the heart of the city. Of running as fast as her legs could take her to knock on the door, only to be tugged straight into the abode by her best friend who was just as excited to see her as she was with him. Her days started not when she woke up, or when she had breakfast with her aunt and uncle, nor when she had her classes. They started during moments like these. When Dalton’s mother, Juniper, would greet her and offer her cookies while asking about her piano lessons, or when his father, William, would tell her about the trip he had planned for them all that upcoming weekend and would advise her on what items to bring with her. And then there were the times she spent with him. She dreamt of when they took their first hike together in the mountains in Northern Embra. Her hair was much shorter then and pulled back into little pigtails. His glasses were new at the time and round. They both wore matching baseball caps to keep the sun out of their faces as they walked the trail together, with Zeus walking ahead as their guide while his parents watched them from a few paces back. Occasionally, one of them would squeeze the others hand to grab their attention. Aika when she saw a butterfly or bird flying above them that reminded her of the stories they read. Dalton when he saw plants he had learned about from his science courses. Between these moments they had conversations about anything and everything, but from time to time, their conversations would fall into comfortable silence as they enjoyed their adventure in the forest. The last thing she dreamt of was the two holding each other's hand with the sun gleaming down on them through the trees above, the sounds of their footsteps fading away as the scene closed. Soft rays of sunlight flickered into the guest room as dawn came. The sound of early morning birds echoed around the North home along with the mellow drips and drops of water falling from the roof, signaling that last night's storm had passed. Beams of light crossed Aika’s face, causing her to stir awake. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked towards the windows on the side of the walls. As she wondered what time it could possibly be, she found her hands gripping onto several blankets that were wrapped tightly around her, those of which she had no recollection of seeing. Sitting up, she found herself wrapped in them from her shoulders all the way down to her feet. Whoever had tucked her in made sure she would stay warm, but that brought up the question of who? Aika found herself at a strange loss as her brain was still fuzzy with sleep. Perhaps she would remember once she had some water or tea. Finding herself a tad overheated from the plethora of blankets as well as the hoodie she had slept in, she sorted herself out of them, leaving her standing on the hardwood floors of the guest room as she stretched. After straightening out the tank top and shorts she had on and brushing her hair out partially with her fingers, Aika made her way downstairs quietly towards the entrance of the living room, pondering to herself if anyone else would be up besides her. Rosestar The earliest riser in the North household was James, whose discipline dictated he wake before his family and prepare the house in the dim glow of early morning. His parents weren't home yet, and probably wouldn't be back until evening. His father had texted and said being stuck at the restaurant was a good opportunity to sift through some paperwork. But even without them there was much to prepare. After all, James had many guests. His sister and Nariko would most likely sleep in- he had heard them giggling late into the night. He knew Dalton liked quiet early mornings, but if he didn't sleep well, he wasn't in the business of depriving himself. Today seemed to be one of those mornings. He was curled into one arm of the couch in a way that couldn't possibly be comfortable. Was he having trouble sleeping, on top of everything else? All James could do was tiptoe back to the kitchen and prepare more coffee. There was already tea steeped and warmed on the stove. He got the feeling Aika was an early riser too.
He yawned into his already empty mug- just because he got up early didn't mean he always slept well. James was restless by nature, and troubling thoughts didn't help. At night, it was easier to think of bigger picture problems, and where his small team fit in to it all. The VDA was meant to be a beacon shining into the dark corners of the supernatural world. Sometimes it felt more like they were a flicker of light surrounded by shadows. Sometimes, in his dreams, James found himself reaching out towards that blackness. Alone in the kitchen and sunbeams sneaking up the window, he wondered what it meant.
Naomi would stare into the shadows and wait for the right moment to strike. Dalton would plunge into it, unafraid and bright enough that darkness could never swallow him. And Aika, steady, quiet, fierce, would be there, an anchor. No one would be lost to the night with Aika on the watch. It was James' job to assist. It was okay that he was still wary of what was lurking. The problem was how small he felt.
But these thoughts were no good in the morning. It was a new day, and James had breakfast to make. He put his mug on the counter and got to work. There was no one up to make requests, but he knew Lily would love waffles with all the fixings. If there was one thing that made him feel himself again, it was watching out for his little sister.
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Post by featherleg on Mar 6, 2021 18:59:36 GMT -5
Descending the stairs at a quiet pace, Aika wandered into the living room, suppressing a yawn as she did. From a drowsy scan of the room, she saw Dalton sleeping and wound into a corner of the couch in a way that could not be pleasant. At least she had the certainty for once that he was resting, but seeing him like this made her feel like she was missing something. Something important. It had to do with last night, that much she recognized. However, it wouldn’t do her any good to start her morning off questioning and prying into her thoughts as if it was a case. Looking away from Dalton's sleeping form, she took a moment to compose herself before she was met by the drifting smells of fresh coffee and tea. Carefully, she made her way into the kitchen to find James with his back turned to her, working on what seemed to be either pancakes or waffles. She wasn’t certain which, mainly due from the angle she was standing at, but she could pick up the scents of a batter being made nonetheless. The thought of having fresh pancakes with strawberries, syrup, and whipped cream with a matcha latte made her smile reminiscently as she leaned against the island table that stood between them and softly spoke up, hoping she wouldn’t spook him in the process. “Good morning Chef North, anything I can assist you with?” She had volunteered to help him with preparing breakfast for everyone, after all. It would be rude to not follow through on her promise, considering how many plates would need to be on table by the time everyone woke up. While she wasn’t on the same level when it came to cooking as James, they worked well together when it came to making slapdash meals at the office or lunch at her apartment with whatever was in her fridge at the time. It made her reflect on how much she had come to rely on him as not only a teammate, but as a friend. They often had to pull Dalton and Naomi back from their impulses, those of which could be just as unpredictable as the weather was. Despite how defiant and headstrong their friends tended to be, she had found James to be a stable pillar of support. Even if he didn’t see himself as one, she was sure Dalton and Naomi would agree with her, no doubt about it. Rosestar |
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Post by Rosestar on Mar 7, 2021 0:13:03 GMT -5
Descending the stairs at a quiet pace, Aika wandered into the living room, suppressing a yawn as she did. From a drowsy scan of the room, she saw Dalton sleeping and wound into a corner of the couch in a way that could not be pleasant. At least she had the certainty for once that he was resting, but seeing him like this made her feel like she was missing something. Something important. It had to do with last night, that much she recognized. However, it wouldn’t do her any good to start her morning off questioning and prying into her thoughts as if it was a case. Looking away from Dalton's sleeping form, she took a moment to compose herself before she was met by the drifting smells of fresh coffee and tea. Carefully, she made her way into the kitchen to find James with his back turned to her, working on what seemed to be either pancakes or waffles. She wasn’t certain which, mainly due from the angle she was standing at, but she could pick up the scents of a batter being made nonetheless. The thought of having fresh pancakes with strawberries, syrup, and whipped cream with a matcha latte made her smile reminiscently as she leaned against the island table that stood between them and softly spoke up, hoping she wouldn’t spook him in the process. “Good morning Chef North, anything I can assist you with?” She had volunteered to help him with preparing breakfast for everyone, after all. It would be rude to not follow through on her promise, considering how many plates would need to be on table by the time everyone woke up. While she wasn’t on the same level when it came to cooking as James, they worked well together when it came to making slapdash meals at the office or lunch at her apartment with whatever was in her fridge at the time. It made her reflect on how much she had come to rely on him as not only a teammate, but as a friend. They often had to pull Dalton and Naomi back from their impulses, those of which could be just as unpredictable as the weather was. Despite how defiant and headstrong their friends tended to be, she had found James to be a stable pillar of support. Even if he didn’t see himself as one, she was sure Dalton and Naomi would agree with her, no doubt about it. Rosestar It was unclear if James didn't hear Aika enter because he was focused on cooking, or if because she was being so quiet. He twitched at the sudden greeting, but recovered quickly and turned to greet her. It was strange being called Chef North, even if it was true in the moment and also a joke, since his parents were the true chefs of the family. Still, he was in charge of breakfast, at least. He offered Aika an amused smile and said, "Good morning. If you wanted to start cutting up the fruits, that would be great." There was already a cutting board and knife set out, and the assorted fruits in the fridge. "I'm thinking of making fresh whipped cream. Whichever one of us is done first can start that, if you're comfortable with that."
He had finished making a few waffles at that point, and began pouring batter again for the next batch. It sizzled in the waffle-maker, and James found himself smiling once Aika settled into her task. It was nice to have company this quiet morning. "Did you sleep well? The guest room can get a bit drafty."
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Post by featherleg on Mar 7, 2021 1:48:41 GMT -5
Aika nodded eagerly, pushing herself off the counter as she made her way over to the fridge. “You got it.” After a quick peruse and selection, she set herself up next to him with a carton of strawberries, a bundle of bananas, a few peaches and apples, and a bowl of blueberries and raspberries. “Oh that would be wonderful! I've made it a few times before, so we should be alright.” Having arranged all the fruits in an order of what would be sliced and diced, she started working on slicing the peaches while James worked on the waffles. It felt nice to be making breakfast for everyone for a change, as she had become accustomed to having hers alone or just skipping it all together to get to work early. To be able to enjoy breakfast with company was a welcome shift in her routine. She turned her attention towards James as he asked how her night went, only to find her minding drifting back to the image of her and that pile of blankets that she had been tucked under oh so carefully. Her burrows furrowed as she looked back down at her task. Perhaps she was making a rather quick assumption, but from the way he had asked as well as her memories from last night, there was no way James had tucked her in. He had headed downstairs after showing her the guest room. So who would have known when she had fallen asleep? And then she started to remember. How Dalton had held her as she cried over the fear of losing him. How she had confessed to him her feelings alongside revealing their shared past upon him finally opening up about what was ailing him. How he had promised to stay by her side so she'd never be alone again. That they had agreed to spend time together outside of work to allow him the opportunity to get to know her properly, with at least one of those instances being a date? Then she finally recalled what she was missing. Him openly inviting her to clean his glasses and....her falling asleep directly afterwards. In his arms. Aika didn’t notice in the moment that she was blushing at the realization that her boss, her friend, her crush, Dalton Black, had tucked her in. “I-I did, thank you. I didn’t seem to notice the draft in there, but maybe that’s just me.” She said with a nervous laugh as she tried to refocus her concentration on the task in front of her, and not on her friend that was sleeping just a room away from her. Rosestar |
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Mar 9, 2021 3:31:39 GMT -5
Well, by all accounts, his fate was decided. Tom looked very carefully at everyone, then slowly stood up. "Deal," he said, still sounding tired. And for all intents and purposes, he believed his statement. This didn't mean he would stick to his word, but in the moment he completely believed he would. This was Tom though. Even still, he glanced at Rowlin, eyes narrowing a bit. So what Rowlin was implying was that Tom's prior question was correct, but that these people were more ... refugees from something? Huh. He didn't buy it as being that simple. It didn't feel right. And didn't even begin to account for Rowlin either. But he dipped his head to those around him. "I'll be going then?" he half said and half questioned. They still seemed to be deferring among themselves whether this was in fact to be his fate or if they were still making their minds up. featherleg Auransky |
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Post by featherleg on Mar 9, 2021 3:50:55 GMT -5
MistySelena chuckled at his comment on finally understanding why this type of weather worked against him. It made sense on two different degrees. The first being the discovery of his generational link, and the second due to their magical heritage. Having a connection by any margin to magic and then having that source be amplified through the imbuing of vampiric blood meant such changes in weather would impact him more so than others. That, of course, wasn’t the only thing to consider, at least in Lucas’ case. And that was part of the reason why they were training to begin with. As he took the water bottle from her, Selena couldn’t help but sigh as she placed a hand on her hip. She knew he was going to hate this, but he did sign himself up for playing bait in a rescue mission that seemed set up to fail. “You’ll regret not following through on my instructions more so than just leaving right now and showing up to the mission without them.” She took a quick sip from her water bottle before she continued. “I know this is overwhelming to a degree and may appear to be overkill on my part, but we don’t have the luxury or advantage of time in regards to...well...any of this? That’s why I spent all of last night planning out what would best help you train for this mission.” Being the perfectionist she was, Selena had gone through several potential training courses before settling on the one that they would be using today. Focusing her attention on that had helped hide her anxieties about the mission. About her fears of losing her brother once more. It was her job to make sure he was prepared for his task, and if she failed here? No. She couldn’t think like that. If she did, he would pick up on it, and that would just cause both of them to stress out. Maintaining her focus and concentration was paramount to seeing them both succeed. “You’ll do just fine, okay? The course I set up is very similar to what I went through when I was in the Court and being tutored in magic and how to better grasp my capabilities. If you start feeling tired, let me know and we can take a break.” ---------------------------------------- From the mirror of Hannah’s vanity she could make out the image of Dasco returning to the room, wearing what was the base layer of his work attire, which consisted of a white button up shirt tucked into black slacks. A dark green vest sat open over his shirt as he entered the frame, his focus on that of the cufflinks he was fixing to his sleeves. More often than not, their days typically started like this. The two of them preparing for their respective roles within the Court while having light banter between them. But this morning was different. After setting most of his attire to his standards, Dasco walked up behind Hannah and carefully set his hands on her shoulders, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror as he spoke. “The batteries are charging and should be good to go whenever you depart, but....,” his eyes closed for a moment, his grip on her shoulders tightening briefly before he looked back to her, “...are you positive you’ll be alright? I could call off the exchange. Reschedule it to next week.” A part of him didn’t want her to leave. Not just because he would miss her presence, but due to how they had dealt with this issue in the past. With keeping her here, in this room, well fitted with whatever she needed to ease the burden of the pain. Beyond the walls and access of the Court, there was nothing Dasco could do besides the brief preparation he had done to ensure she would be alright. There was no evidence though in his mind that his efforts would be enough. What if she got caught in a rainstorm? Or the temperature dropped to a point that she couldn’t handle on her own? There were too many what ifs in Dascos mind, the concerns of which bled into his eyes and overall demeanor as he held onto her.
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Post by Rosestar on Mar 10, 2021 19:03:16 GMT -5
Aika nodded eagerly, pushing herself off the counter as she made her way over to the fridge. “You got it.” After a quick peruse and selection, she set herself up next to him with a carton of strawberries, a bundle of bananas, a few peaches and apples, and a bowl of blueberries and raspberries. “Oh that would be wonderful! I've made it a few times before, so we should be alright.” Having arranged all the fruits in an order of what would be sliced and diced, she started working on slicing the peaches while James worked on the waffles. It felt nice to be making breakfast for everyone for a change, as she had become accustomed to having hers alone or just skipping it all together to get to work early. To be able to enjoy breakfast with company was a welcome shift in her routine. She turned her attention towards James as he asked how her night went, only to find her minding drifting back to the image of her and that pile of blankets that she had been tucked under oh so carefully. Her burrows furrowed as she looked back down at her task. Perhaps she was making a rather quick assumption, but from the way he had asked as well as her memories from last night, there was no way James had tucked her in. He had headed downstairs after showing her the guest room. So who would have known when she had fallen asleep? And then she started to remember. How Dalton had held her as she cried over the fear of losing him. How she had confessed to him her feelings alongside revealing their shared past upon him finally opening up about what was ailing him. How he had promised to stay by her side so she'd never be alone again. That they had agreed to spend time together outside of work to allow him the opportunity to get to know her properly, with at least one of those instances being a date? Then she finally recalled what she was missing. Him openly inviting her to clean his glasses and....her falling asleep directly afterwards. In his arms. Aika didn’t notice in the moment that she was blushing at the realization that her boss, her friend, her crush, Dalton Black, had tucked her in. “I-I did, thank you. I didn’t seem to notice the draft in there, but maybe that’s just me.” She said with a nervous laugh as she tried to refocus her concentration on the task in front of her, and not on her friend that was sleeping just a room away from her. Rosestar
James almost didn't notice her pause. Just a lapse of conversation. It was the nervous laugh that put him off. He had thought that both he and Aika moved on from their awkward stages of working together at this point. He glanced over and watched her fidget with the peach she was de-pitting, and almost leaned over to take the knife from her, but decided that would only further the strangeness of the moment. Besides, putting a hand near a knife in a twitchy grip was definitely a bad idea.
She seemed to shake off whatever it was soon enough. After a long moment of contemplating the fruit, she went back to slicing. Perhaps she didn't sleep as well as she wanted? "Well, as long as you were comfortable. Certainly your setup was better than Dalton's, at least." he shrugged, shoveling another completed waffle off the griddle and onto the platter. "I'm sure it's best just to leave him be, but he looks so cramped."
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Post by featherleg on Mar 11, 2021 1:47:02 GMT -5
As she finished de-pitting and slicing the last of the peaches, Aika sighed in agreement with James. She grabbed a bowl that was off to the side to place the slices in before moving on to the apples. “He’s sleeping in what has to be the most uncomfortable position I’ve ever seen.” Sure, sometimes she would wake up in awkward spots on her own accord, or sleep in such a way that was more detrimental than helpful when it came to being rested the next day, but the way Dalton was curled on the couch was just bizarre. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if it was linked to the visions he had been experiencing. If that was the case, she could only hope that he would feel confident enough for their talk to confine such details to her. But she wouldn’t know until he woke up, and even then he might revert back to telling her and James that everything was fine. No, she had to trust that, at the very least, he would approach or try to signal to her that he had remembered another detail of their past. Having sliced all the apples, she made quick work of the bananas before grabbing the necessary ingredients and equipment to start the whipped cream. “We should just let him rest for now. I’m sure he’ll wake up soon enough.” With the smells of fresh brew and batter wafting through the air, it was only a matter of time until their friend would wander into the kitchen to greet them and ask for a cup of coffee to wake him up properly. Rosestar |
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Post by Auransky on Mar 12, 2021 19:19:34 GMT -5
mintedstar/fur featherlegIt seemed like things had come and gone- what could have led to a regretful decision was avoided. but can we assure this doesn't happen again? Rowlin stepped back, taking a seat, mostly along the edge. He didn't feel like sitting-but standing wasn't necessarily a good call at this moment. Derrick nodded his attention looking over at Celestia. Seeing as Aika and Celestia were agreed-and Rowlin wanted the man out; it was basically a unanimous agreement. "Well with that, let's head out." He started heading for the door out of the room. He opened the door, and awaited outside; it was now up to Celestia and Aika to remove the man's restraint's and hope the stranger would keep to his word. Refugees... that's exactly what fate has thrown at us... He thought to himself, keeping a serious controlled posture.
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Post by Misty on Mar 12, 2021 21:18:27 GMT -5
Lucas placed his palm on the top of the water bottle as he let out of a sigh of his own. “And what if I regret signing up for this mission?” He asked quietly. Yesterday, he had been convinced that signing up for the mission was the best thing he could do as part of his fresh start. After having time to think on the drive over this morning, he now wasn’t certain that he had made a smart decision. He had less than a week to nail the basics of firebending, and now he wasn’t certain that he wanted to learn how to firebend. After living for so long without using his powers... Did he really need to learn about them now? “Because this,” he gestured to the field and the equipment set up on it, “is overwhelming. I know absolutely nothing about my powers, and now I have to get them under control in less than a week? I don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I agreed to this. I want to walk away from this mission alive... but what if-” Lucas swallowed, unable to finish the sentence. If he said it, maybe it would actually happen. ~~~ With a different heated blanket carefully wrapped around her, Hannah began on her hair and makeup. With the trade happening today, she wanted to emanate formality as she represented Dasco and his Court, so she decided to pull back the hair above her ears on either side of her head and secure the hair with bobby pins and one of the many beautiful hair pins Dasco had gifted her. The top knot she normally wore didn’t strike her as formal, even though it was cute and true to her style. However, she couldn’t go without curling the ends of her hair and was just beginning that when Dasco came up behind her. “You can’t reschedule the exchange with Elizabeth. She’ll be pissed if you do, especially since it’s happening later today, and I fear your relationship with her would be negatively affected if you do reschedule. I can assure you that I am dressed as warmly as I possibly can. Thermal underclothes, wool socks with the kitties on them... I’m even going to wear my puffy coat even though it’s what I wouldn’t typically pair with the outfit.” Hannah was taking every precaution that she could to stay warm today. There wasn’t a single good reason to postpone the exchange. Elizabeth would want to know why Dasco decided to postpone the exchange, and if it was even suggested that one of his vampires wasn’t feeling well... Hannah didn’t want anyone to know of her condition. In her time at the Court, she had made progress on her research for fixing the issue, but it was slow going with her other projects. “While you’re here, would you like to pick out my lipstick for the day?” Hannah kept a lipstick holder with her favorites on top of the vanity, but there were more lipsticks in one of the vanity drawers Dasco could pick from if he wanted to. featherleg |
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Post by featherleg on Mar 25, 2021 13:28:39 GMT -5
Once Derrick and Tom had exited the office, Aika promptly closed the door to the room and leaned against it. Celestia released a sigh of frustration, one that had been building throughout the entirety of the exchange. Even with Tom being removed from the scene, she was still left with having to examine Rowlins restraints as well as discuss with Aika her current path with her VDA associates. “Well,” she began as she turned towards Rowlin, “I did promise to begin the process of fixing your shackles. I can’t guarantee that you’ll be leaving here tonight with such a solution, but as long as you’re willing to make time to visit a few times during the week, then I can commit to realigning them.” Her hand extended out towards him as she gestured towards his arm so she could inspect the restraints. “Would you be so kind as to remind me of the rules that we need to abide by?” Auransky mintedstar/fur |
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Post by Rosestar on Mar 25, 2021 23:09:20 GMT -5
As she finished de-pitting and slicing the last of the peaches, Aika sighed in agreement with James. She grabbed a bowl that was off to the side to place the slices in before moving on to the apples. “He’s sleeping in what has to be the most uncomfortable position I’ve ever seen.” Sure, sometimes she would wake up in awkward spots on her own accord, or sleep in such a way that was more detrimental than helpful when it came to being rested the next day, but the way Dalton was curled on the couch was just bizarre. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if it was linked to the visions he had been experiencing. If that was the case, she could only hope that he would feel confident enough for their talk to confine such details to her. But she wouldn’t know until he woke up, and even then he might revert back to telling her and James that everything was fine. No, she had to trust that, at the very least, he would approach or try to signal to her that he had remembered another detail of their past. Having sliced all the apples, she made quick work of the bananas before grabbing the necessary ingredients and equipment to start the whipped cream. “We should just let him rest for now. I’m sure he’ll wake up soon enough.” With the smells of fresh brew and batter wafting through the air, it was only a matter of time until their friend would wander into the kitchen to greet them and ask for a cup of coffee to wake him up properly. Rosestar Sure enough, Dalton was stirring in the other room, though not quite awake. It had taken him a long time to fall asleep the night before- even though he had answers and had found a joy in even small reconnections with Aika, the still missing pieces of the puzzle of their past seemed to loom more prominently as he laid alone in the dark. For now, he was half in sleep, the reality of breakfast cooking in the next room guiding his dreams into memory. His curled form lent to the feeling of being small as the memory grew clearer.
He was younger. Middle school aged, though Dalton wouldn't be sure what grade later on. He was tall for his age, but for ease of access, he was standing on a step stool to make sure he could see the whole of the kitchen counter. Zeus was next to him, already old enough to be in care of the hot pan and lit stove. He was in charge of cooking the pancakes. Dalton was mixing carefully, or at least as carefully as he could. He had to do it by hand, powered by his excited energy. Zeus yawned. Dalton bounced. Their parents weren't up yet, but they knew what their boys were up to. It was Dalton's idea to cook breakfast this early Saturday morning. A warm meal of pancakes and sliced fresh strawberries and cream would be waiting for when their guest arrived.
"Looks good little buddy, I'll pour it in."
Dalton began to pass over the bowl when the doorbell rang and he whipped around towards the sound. Before Zeus could remedy the situation, the bowl of liquidy pancake mix plopped to the floor, splattering onto mostly Dalton, thanks to the angle. The two brothers stood staring at each other for a moment of shock. The doorbell rang again.
"I'll get it." Dalton said, seeing Zeus still blinking in surprise. Still covered in batter and not listening to his brother's sputtering, Dalton marched to the door and swung it open for the guest he knew was waiting.
Aika smiled when the door opened, but quickly her brow furrowed, seeing the mess he had made of himself. When Dalton just grinned at her, she started giggling, and the memory faded there, the two children bowling over with laughter in the doorway as Zeus began to clean and prep the next batch of pancakes.
....next thing Dalton knew, his stomach was growling and his hands were fumbling for his glasses. Operating on instinct instead of higher thought processes, he wrapped himself up in the blanket he was using and squinted as he stood, on the hunt for the smell of breakfast and coffee.
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Post by featherleg on Mar 26, 2021 23:50:25 GMT -5
Aika was about halfway through whisking the cream together when she heard soft footfalls approaching the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder, ready to say ‘good morning’ to whoever had made their way into the space, but upon seeing Dalton sleepily enter the room, she couldn’t help but turn and stare at him with a look of surprise. His hair was a mess, his glass slightly off placed. The fact that he was still bundled in the blanket reminded her of when he used to do the same thing as a kid whenever she had slept over. They were both early risers, but if Dalton had stayed up later than her, then this scene was likely to occur the next morning. Even with that memory present in her mind, seeing him like this now made those feelings that she usually kept locked away rouse awake. Her face softened as she smiled towards him. “Morning, sleepy head.” Having set the bowl of cream down, she grabbed one of the coffee mugs James had set out earlier for them to pick and choose from and poured him a fresh cup of brew, making sure to add the amount of cream to it that he usually requested whenever she went on coffee runs for the group. Turning back towards him, she reached out and placed the mug on the island table for him to take. “Did you get enough rest?”, she asked as she brought over the bowl of cream to the island table to resume working on it. Rosestar |
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Post by featherleg on Mar 26, 2021 23:51:57 GMT -5
Selena stayed silent as she listened to her older brother, her eyes following his gestures. She hated seeing him uneasy like this. Hearing him cut himself off with the idea of possibly not making it out of the mission alive, she stepped forward and grasped his hands firmly. “Lucas, look at me.” Her voice had softened, considering her words carefully. “I’m aware this is a lot. But as I just said, we’re going to take any and all precautions needed to make sure you are ready for this mission. If you need to take a break, we will.” She squeezed his hands in reassurance as she continued. “I won’t let this mission divide us again. Whatever it takes, I will make sure you survive this. You have my word.” -------------------------- Dasco’s shoulders rose and fell as he exhaled out of frustration. She was right. If he called off the exchange, it would throw everything related to Elizabeth and her Wolves back to square one for him and his Court. There were reputations to uphold, and this was just one of many, but still one of mass import that he could no longer allow to set on the backburner. His eyes looked back to hers through the mirror as he nodded weakly. “Promise me you’ll be as cautious as needed to keep yourself safe. If you need to speed up the exchange, then do so.” He reached out and grabbed one of her lipsticks and placed it down in front of her. The soft buzz of his phone echoed from their bedchamber, causing him to step away to answer it. A few moments later, he returned, looking even more aggravated than before. “Looks like one of my clients decided to arrive early this morning-,” he explained while he hastily buttoned his vest and grabbed his suit jacket, “-and wants to start our meeting in the next fifteen minutes.” Shaking his head, he straightened out his jacket and took one final glance of them from the vanities reflection. “I’ll be off then. I’ll see you once the exchange is finished and you return home.” He promptly planted a kiss on the side of her temple prior to leaving their suite. Misty |
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Apr 3, 2021 0:34:01 GMT -5
Having been led out, Tom left, like he said he would. This didn't stop him from glancing back, but at least for the time being, he didn't have any interest in going back on his word. So what he did was he continued away from the house, took his car, and kept going. All of this made the situation almost sickly humorous. He'd been removed from a house and there just seemed to be no acknowledgement of Rowlin's oddities. And Tom certainly had no answer about them. With left ... what? He didn't know where else to go but home. So that's where he went. He turned away from the world he'd stumbled into - at least in form. This didn't meant that he didn't find himself thinking about it ... All the way home ... featherleg Auransky |
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