{"submission_id":"860451","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"743","keyword_name":"adventure","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2920"},{"keyword_id":"60","keyword_name":"cat","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"110719"},{"keyword_id":"3283","keyword_name":"cheshire","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"329"},{"keyword_id":"44319","keyword_name":"contemporary","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"101"},{"keyword_id":"1979","keyword_name":"fae","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"307"},{"keyword_id":"11376","keyword_name":"faerie","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"284"},{"keyword_id":"2602","keyword_name":"fairy","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2015"},{"keyword_id":"2193","keyword_name":"fantasy","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"11602"},{"keyword_id":"123","keyword_name":"female","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"519918"},{"keyword_id":"112296","keyword_name":"garuda","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"51"},{"keyword_id":"1440","keyword_name":"human","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"46907"},{"keyword_id":"13361","keyword_name":"lagomorph","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"5038"},{"keyword_id":"251129","keyword_name":"lycantherope","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"1"},{"keyword_id":"191","keyword_name":"magic","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"11599"},{"keyword_id":"165","keyword_name":"male","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"639919"},{"keyword_id":"3313","keyword_name":"monkey","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"4908"},{"keyword_id":"186","keyword_name":"rabbit","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"64540"},{"keyword_id":"10129","keyword_name":"supernatural","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"375"},{"keyword_id":"597","keyword_name":"werewolf","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"5589"},{"keyword_id":"164","keyword_name":"wolf","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"111562"}],"hidden":"f","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"1","create_datetime":"2015-05-29 05:38:05.827756+02","create_datetime_usertime":"29 May 2015 05:38 CEST","last_file_update_datetime":"2015-05-29 05:32:24.930739+02","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"29 May 2015 05:32 CEST","username":"Simoni","user_id":"279733","user_icon_file_name":"75728_Simoni_simoni_barjar.gif","user_icon_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/75/75728_Simoni_simoni_barjar.gif","user_icon_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/75/75728_Simoni_simoni_barjar.gif","user_icon_url_small":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/75/75728_Simoni_simoni_barjar.gif","file_name":"1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1169/1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1169/1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1169/1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","files":[{"file_id":"1169945","file_name":"1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1169/1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1169/1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1169/1169945_Simoni_eyes__blind_and_wonderland.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"860451","user_id":"279733","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":null,"full_size_y":null,"screen_size_x":null,"screen_size_y":null,"preview_size_x":null,"preview_size_y":null,"initial_file_md5":"861cb55c8904bd7085fca3f356f42a9e","full_file_md5":"861cb55c8904bd7085fca3f356f42a9e","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2015-05-29 05:32:24.930739+02","create_datetime_usertime":"29 May 2015 05:32 CEST"}],"pools":[],"description":"Well, that certainly wasn't foreshadowing anything at all...\n\nHonestly though, its nice to do one that doesn't have any real conflict in it, especially given Morrigan's betrayal last time. I was eager to get Alice back into the story, really just the idea of a blind warrior girl was awesome in itself. Kind of like a female DareDevil that doesn't feel the urge to dress up in red spandex.\n\nSeriously, y'know what'd be funny? If Kingpin somehow swapped Dare Devil's costume for a hot pink one. Would he ever notice?\n\nAnyways, neat little sidestory where the crew got to take a proper rest from the general chaos of their lives. No promethians causing disquiet, no risk of getting grabbed by fae slavehunters, no fighting a giant dragon followed by an existential crisis. Just a visit, a lovely dinner, and Dusk embarrassing the hell out of everyone.\n\nWe're probably going to do a bit more with the Roche's before the group heads to Sicily for Drusilla's baby shower/kegger (pregnant or not, its a cyclops party, there's gonna be beer), so we'll have some more time to learn about the Roche clan of Monster Hunters before the group moves on.","description_bbcode_parsed":"Well, that certainly wasn't foreshadowing anything at all...
Honestly though, its nice to do one that doesn't have any real conflict in it, especially given Morrigan's betrayal last time. I was eager to get Alice back into the story, really just the idea of a blind warrior girl was awesome in itself. Kind of like a female DareDevil that doesn't feel the urge to dress up in red spandex.
Seriously, y'know what'd be funny? If Kingpin somehow swapped Dare Devil's costume for a hot pink one. Would he ever notice?
Anyways, neat little sidestory where the crew got to take a proper rest from the general chaos of their lives. No promethians causing disquiet, no risk of getting grabbed by fae slavehunters, no fighting a giant dragon followed by an existential crisis. Just a visit, a lovely dinner, and Dusk embarrassing the hell out of everyone.
We're probably going to do a bit more with the Roche's before the group heads to Sicily for Drusilla's baby shower/kegger (pregnant or not, its a cyclops party, there's gonna be beer), so we'll have some more time to learn about the Roche clan of Monster Hunters before the group moves on.","writing":"Its a warm morning in India as the group prepares to head out to France. Its only their first stop however. From there they'll be taking a boat to Sicily again as Drusilla's mother wanted to celebrate her upcoming grandchild. Nelen was actually dealing better with his impending fatherhood than before. It turns out all he needed was a bit of perspective... or more specifically, to hear that [i]his kid sister had gone up against a dragon[/i]. After he got done having a fit over that he was at least able to console himself in that whatever his future child could or would do, it could not possibly be THAT insane.\n\nAs for her discovery about Morrigan and the truth behind the vision that Eliza had been sent... she had left that part out. She'd told Nelen about Morrigan pushing her into the fight with Alyzya, but had only said that she'd managed to get Morrigan to stop influencing her without the details. She had told Arja after she'd finished tearing apart the training yard at Sera's castle, but had made her, Stephy, and Sammi promise they wouldn't tell the others yet.\n\nShe didn't know how they'd react if they found out that everything they'd been doing had been for such a damned petty reason, even if the outcome was good...\n\nAlice nods as she finishes packing… or rather, as Nessa finishes packing as Alice sorts through her clothes by tag, handing them off to her assistant to handle getting in the luggage well. \"This’ll be nice…\" she grins, \"I haven't been home in a while, it'll be nice to be back in France.\" she comments as Nessa nods \"Mhm, and it'll be interesting to see the Cyclopi too.\" she adds, \"I don't think we've ever encountered them before, I'll be sure to bring the journal.\"\n\nArja was smiling softly to Simoni, rubbing the girl's back, \"A vacation will be good for you, a more proper one. We're going to a hunter’s territory and then a Cyclops gathering, there's nothing dumb enough to attack either of those.\" she giggles.\n\nSimoni smiles back, but her heart isn't really in it. She'd been rather subdued ever since they returned from Arcadia. \"Yeah...\" she replies, reaching around and giving Arja's hand a squeeze. It had been a real blow to her to find out all that about Morrigan, and a bit more when she realized just how much she'd changed from when she first met Arja. She was happier being Simoni, there was no doubt about that among anyone, but at the same time it's still a bit of a shock to realize that your old self wouldn't even recognize the you of today.\n\nEspecially in her case, because it was both figurative [i]and[/i] literal.\n\nDawn walks past their room, her brothers and sisters running about her feet, or sitting on her head, as she raises her eyebrow at the pair, \"Jeez, is she still in that funk? C'mon you two, time to get going. Mom said she can keep an eye on the kittens so I can finally get away from all this construction stuff.\" she grins as Dusk, nestled between her ears pipes up, \"Me too!\" he grins as Dawn frowns, reaches up, and pinches the spot, \"Nu uh! No way! You weren't even supposed to come with them last time kid!\" she frowns as the kitten whines, \"But I waaaaanna! They wouldna known about that lady in her head if I didn't tell 'eeeeeeem!\" he fusses.\n\nArja smirks lightly, \"He's not wrong…\" she teases, putting an arm around Simoni and pulling her close as they walk.\n\nDrusilla was already waiting for them, grinning happily as she bounces lightly, obviously eager to see her family again, this time under better circumstances. Her luggage was just brown leather bag that looked to be made from the hide of some giant cat. Sammi had shown up too, always happy to go to his mortal 'home', the boy travelling with more luggage than the group had combined.\n\n\"Ya know, one day they're gonna charge you for airplane fuel…\" Trixie smirks playfully, the girl holding a couple of simple looking suitcases, not wanting to draw attention to them it seemed.\n\nStephy giggles, \"Well, techinically it's our luggage Trixie. We are the same size and all.\" he teases, hip-bumping his brother playfully as Dawn drops off the kittens with their mother (despite the cats all having names now their mother had abstained, saying that she didn't really need one since all her kittens knew who she was). One of Dawn's little sisters, Midnight, pawed at Drusilla's leg a bit as she passed by, the little black furred Cheshire having taken a liking to the Cyclops. She was called Midnight not because of her fur, but because she had a real knack for turning invisible (even better at it than Dawn was). Dusk however was pawing at Drusilla's bag, perhaps a bit worried about it being made from 'cat' hide. Drusilla giggles lightly, petting Midnight's head before looking to Dusk, \"Sabertooth, not even close to you guys.\" she winks, an interesting feat when you only have one eye.\n\nDawn says her goodbyes to her family and gets dressed to hide her cat bits, then joins the others as they head to the small airport outside of Jaipur. Once everything is loaded up and they're all on the plane she immediately untucks her tail and removes the hat though. \"Y'know, I think this is the first time we've actually gone to France isn't it?\" she says as Nelen nods, \"Yeah. Dunno why but I never wound up going there when I was still a merc.\" he replies to the cat, digging around his messenger bag. \"Huh, shit... Did I forget to pack my iPad? Drus, can you see if it got mixed in with your stuff?\" he asks as the cyclops nods, getting her bag down from the overhead and digging through it. Alice grins to Nelen, \"French hunters and such don't like using mercenaries, very honor bound and prideful groups.\"\n\nNelen nods, \"Yeah, still it doesn't mean someone else in France couldn't have hired us.\" he shrugs, \"Guess it was just a coinciden-\" he stops as a yowling sound comes from Drusilla's bag, then a small feline head pops up and hisses at her. \"Thats my tail jerk!\" frowns Dusk, the kitten huffing at her, then pausing as he looks at the rest of the group. \"... whups.\" he mewls as Dawn glares at him, \"DAMMIT KID!\" she snaps, rubbing her forehead as Dusk mewls, \"Oh come on sis! I don't wanna be stuck at home! Lemme go with you guys!\" he protests.\n\nDrusilla laughs, lifting Dusk up and placing him on Dawn’s head, \"Like sister, like kid sibling.\" she teases \"I mean, this is a way safer trip than your London one at least.\" she adds with a grin.\n\nDawn frowns, then smirks and looks up at Dusk as he sits between her ears. \"Safer for some of us... Dusk, we're going to visit a hunter clan, as in a clan that hunts supernatural things so if you're not on your best behavior...\" she smirks as Dusk meeps, then quickly teleports from her head to Simoni's shoulder as Dawn grins wickedly at her little brother while he hisses and spits at her from his perch on the garuda.\n\nSimoni sighs, then picks him off her shoulder and sits the kitten in her lap as Drusilla manages to find Nelen's iPad, smirking just a bit at him. \"Well, why not? He did wind up helping out in the end.\" she nods as Dusk sticks his tongue out at Dawn. Simoni snuggles into Arja as the plane gets to the crusing altitude, turning westwards as they begin the flight, the garuda snuggling into Arja once they really get going. Arja smiles, petting Simoni's head softly as she snuggles in as well. Sammi sprawling out comfortably on his chair as Alice and Nessa make themselves comfy by Stephy.\n\nThe flight is pretty uneventful thankfully... no dragons or giant eldrich creatures attacking the plane. As they fly Nelen tells them all that he'd been in contact with Jeanne and the rest of Clan Fullmoon about where the Mundane Blade could have wound up after it's encounter with the dragons. Simoni had told him that Morrigan said it had been stolen once Alyzya and Kirzar had been sealed inside of it but that they could at least get a general idea of what else they might encounter from where the sword had gone after that... or at least where it might have gone.\n\nThere are certain records of supernatural threats suddenly... vanishing... after Cillian Fullmoon's report of the dragon's defeat, though it's possible that other hunter groups, rival supernaturals, or even other Mundane Blades were the cause. Still, its a start.\n\n\"Dunno if we could expect any trouble in France though... She said there were a few who disappeared between when the sword was lost and when Franklin found it again, but they just fit the timetable. There's no telling what actually did it.\" he nods, flipping through the notes he took on his iPad.\n\nAlice nods, \"We'll keep on guard. I like to think my family is above such tools but you never really know in those days. Regardless, if there's danger I'm sure my family has it under control already.” she says with a light smile, toying with Stephy's hair idly.\n\nStephy giggles and snuggles into Alice as she does, still happy to have her back after what Robert did back then. After a few more hours, Dusk badgering Dawn to do something fun for a bit, and Stephy taking out a laptop from his bag so he could show Nessa (and let Alice listen to) the performance he gave at Divas! the plane finally begins its descent into France.\n\nSimoni excuses herself to get changed, getting out of her more casual travelling outfit and putting on her green and gold sari. She figured if she was going to be meeting a hunter clan she may as well dress nicely for it but, really, she wanted the excuse to show off her adopted heritage. It helped distance her from Morrigan and, after what had happened, there was no such thing as too much distance.\n\nAlice smiles, giggling as Nessa still is sniffling slightly from the video, (\"HE MADE ICE STATUES OF EVERYONE, ALICE!\"). She was dressed rather well too, a pair of black jeans and a dark green short sleeved blouse with a laced back, and a pair of soft black leather flats on her feet. Nessa was in her 'work uniform', a snug black suit over a white shirt, with black leather gloves over her hands. \"Nessa you arranged a driver right?\" Alice asks, Nessa nodding in response, \"Mhm, your mother sent a towncar for us, should be waiting.\"\n\nArja nods, the girl in her own sari, red and gold as usual, wanting to match her sister's planned outfit (and help her feel her new family bonds are still plenty close). \"Awesome, so you guys are pretty well off huh?\" She teases, Alice laughing a bit, \"Mhm. Just because we lived on the outskirts doesn't mean we lived like hermits.\"\n\nNelen nods, \"That and monster hunting tends to pay pretty well. Its like merc work, but you can be a lot more choosy about your jobs and you're usually hired to do the stuff that single mercs or even teams can't handle.\" he adds. \"I mean, Clan Fullmoon had an entire castle and a well supplied army, that stuff costs money.\" he nods.\n\nSimoni smiles at Arja as she sees her in her own sari, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze as the plane pulls into the terminal and the group disembarks. \"So what are your parents like Alice?\" she asks, Dusk already taking his quickly-becoming favorite spot on her shoulder as Dawn decides to forego clothing all together, draping herself across Nelen's in her animal form.\n\nAlice smiles, \"Oh they're very nice. A little... eccentric maybe... but good people.\" she grins to Sammi \"They're gonna love you... oh and Stephy too! I forgot you're a fae now!\" she giggles, after all the physical changes aren’t as obvious for someone who can’t actually see them, \"We timed this well, too, not quite a proper family reunion but there should be a good deal of us there. My older sister just had a baby so we're all coming by when we can to congratulate her.\"\n\nDawn grins, \"Her too huh?\" she smirks, glancing towards Drusilla from Nelen's shoulders as the blood mage rolls his eyes. \"Maybe when they get a bit older we can have 'em wrestle or something.\" she laughs as Simoni finds herself almost giggling at the mental image. \"C'mon guys! You can't deny that'd be neat! Kindergarten Cage Fight!\" she cackles as Nelen tries to keep a straight face, finally managing to say, \"Knock it off furbrain, you look like an animal right now and animals can't talk.\" he mutters, the cat just snuggling down on his shoulders and grinning.\n\nDrusilla just giggles at that, \"Pft, no offense but my kid’ll be able to take some hunter easy…\" she teases, rubbing her belly softly as she walks along, Alice just grinning back, \"I dunno, us Roches are tough to beat down.\" she giggles as the group is led by Nessa to a side exit for the private planes in the airport, leading out to where a rather large dark blue town car sat idle for them, the man leaning on the driver's door, a middle aged man with graying black hair also wearing a black suit like Nessa's, raises a brow as he sees the group, \"Didn't know there was so many of ya, couple are gonna have to hop in the trunk.\" he says in a heavy French accent, pausing to indicate he wasn't joking before moving around and unlocking the trunk access. \"Hold up hold up…\" he adds, reaching under the rim of the hood door and pressing something, a pair of stairs seeming to fade into existance in place of the empty trunk interior. \"Alright, Miss Alice and Nessa obviously get the car, grab whoever ya like the most to squeeze in with you, rest of you hop in quick before someone sees.\" he nods before mumbling in an annoyed voice, \"Pretty sure Nessa told me just her and 'a couple friends'...\"\n\nSimoni blinks, peeking inside as she finds a rather cavernous space in there, Nelen looking over her shoulder and letting out a whistle, \"Nifty. Same enchantment I've got on my bag. Not easy to do those on machines...\" he mutters as he looks around. \"Right, Dawn?\" he asks as she sighs, then teleports past Simoni just fast enough to grab Dusk in her mouth. \"Me'ff tamf th' trmfh.\" (‘We’ll take the trunk’) she nods, jumping in as Nelen shrugs, \"Well, I can't ask Drusilla to get in there when she's pregnant. I'm the biggest of us so I'll keep the cats company.\" he adds, climbing in himself.\n\nSimoni looks around at the others, then checks the backseat of the car to see how big it actually is and how many could fit in there.\n\nAlice nods, \"Yeah, mom's pride and joy there, took her ages to get that right.\" she says, getting into the front seat as Nessa gets in the back. The rest of the back seat looked like, aside from Drusilla, two others could get in, maybe three if there was some squeezing or lap sitting.\n\nSimoni thinks, then nods, \"Stephy and Sammi know them better. They should ride in the car. We can go in the trunk.\" she says, climbing in herself as Stephy smiles at her before climbing in the backseat with Sammi and Drusilla. Arja nods, climbing in the trunk with Trixie as the fae boys snuggle up with Alice and Drusilla happily, \"Sounds fair to me.\" she agrees. Soon everyone is tucked away, either figuratively or literally.\n\nDawn looks around the interior of the car and raises her eyebrow, \"Hm... Hey, remember Chloe? That clown fae we met in Japan? Think she has a car like this?\" she grins, \"I mean, it would explain how those clown cars work...\" The cavern inside was a pocket dimension, a small one, but big enough for the group to stand and walk around in. It was designed like a small study, even a pot of coffee with accessories on a table in front of a bookshelf. The room didn't move or jiggle, of course, as the car takes off, providing at least a nice ride for the group as the car takes off.\n\nSimoni looks through the books, Dusk taking his place on her shoulder again as Nelen examines the room. \"Damn, okay... now I am impressed. She not only made it bigger inside, but somehow enchanted in a kinetic dampening spell so that it doesn't react to the car's movement and even managed to keep it indefini-\" he says before Dawn puts a hand over his mouth and replies, \"Nobody cares but you.\"\n\nHe frowns at her, then shrugs and sits down in one of the chairs as the car drives along, Simoni not finding any books that looked interesting (or rather, any books not in French) and settles for just sitting with Arja until they get there.\n\nThe books are indeed rather dull, even if one spoke French they'd find the books were almost all scientific books on biology or journals of past hunters, and not nearly as interesting as you'd think. A lot of 'I don't know what's going on, oh it's a werewolf, silvered it in the face, got paid' more than dramatic retellings of epic battles.\n\nAfter about an hour and a half of driving, Alice wasn't kidding when she said 'Roche' implied living on the fringe, the group is finally roused by the trunk opening up, Nessa looking down at them \"Heya all, here we are!\"\n\nThe group eagerly clambers out of the trunk, Dawn shifting back into her animal form just on the off chance there were any mundanes around while Dusk ears himself another smack from immediately saying 'Finally! There wasn't anything to do down there!' as loudly as he could. Simoni climbs out last, looking up at the Roche estate as she straightens out her sari.\n\nThe estate was absolutely sprawling. One advantage of being so far out, the family owned acres and acres of land. Behind them (thankfully for the fae), was a massive cold iron gate attached to a brick wall that circled the estate, the symbol on the front was of an eagle in gold holding a blade of silver in its talons. In front of them was a large house that seemed to be right out of a period piece like Downton Abby. It was old, very old, not quite castle old, but this house clearly was pre-revolution at the absolute youngest. It looked at least three stories, with an attic, and no doubt a cellar and basement as well. The stones making it up were pale red and white, making the house almost shine when the sun hits it just right, topped by a short, wide, sea-foam green roof in the shape of a rounded pyramid. Through the windows the group saw a good bit of movement, though all the curtains were drawn.\n\nAlice takes a deep breath in, smiling happily, \"Smells like home sweet home…\" she grins, extending her cane as Nessa nods, looking over to a small bunch of trees that were bearing apples currently, \"Oooh, the apples are gonna be able to get picked soon, that means pies and tarts probably.\"\n\nNelen shrugs, \"I prefer 'em raw myself.\" he says as Dawn glances to the door, then hops down and shifts back into her humanoid form now that she's confirmed they're away from prying eyes. The group heads forward towards the house as Dusk's head turns every which way it can from Simoni's shoulders, sniffing at the air and trying to look in all directions at once with a wide cheshire grin. It seems this is the kind of adventure he's eager for. It even gets Simoni out of her melancholy for a bit, the girl smiling and rubbing at Dusk's ear, causing the kitten to bat playfully at her hand.\n\nStephy sticks close to Alice and Sammi, the fae dressed pretty formally (though still mundane formally. He didn't have time to put on an ice gown or anything before they arrived). He's dressed in a long ice blue satin gown with a loose white lace jacket over his shoulders for the event, wanting to look his best for her parents. It never even occurred to him that anyone might find it odd that a boy his age is dressed like a girl... but then he's a fae, and they could get away with a lot in supernatural circles.\n\nAlice smiles, rubbing Stephy's back, \"Don't be so nervous, I’ve told them tons about you, they like you already.\" she giggles as she walks down the long cobblestone path to those massive double wood doors. Sammi also pats Stephy's shoulder, dressed more casually, but still to impress, an ice blue silk tunic and black pants, not wanting to draw the eye away from his brother it seemed.\n\nSimoni smiles at them, leaning into Arja. Really, she and Stephy had a lot in common. They both got adopted into other families and they both found that their lives were a lot happier that way. The only real difference is that she still liked her birth parents, while Stephy only had one worth having and both were dead now. Part of her does have to admit one thing, for all of Morrigan's manipulations, there was some good out of it. If she hadn't gone on all those adventures with Arja, their little family would never have come to be.\n\nDidn't nearly make up for what the goddess did, but it helped.\n\nStephy blushes a bit at Alice, then nods and walks a bit more confidently. He's still nervous about meeting her parents, but at least now he knows his appearance won't be a shock to them.\n\nAlice smiles back at him as Nessa knocks loudly on the door with the heavy brass knocker, a moment later the doors open and a young woman in a maid's uniform greets them, near squealing with delight as she sees Nessa and Alice. \"Oh thank goodness you guys got here!\" she says, going to hug the both of them \"We really could use you two around, obviously we wanted to see you anyway but...\" she looks at the group before leaning in, whispering to Alice in French 'it happened'...\n\nStephy blinks a bit as Simoni glances at Alice and Nessa. Dawn just grinning as her ears perk, \"What happened?\" she asks, smirking at the maid as she replies to her in perfect french. Again, one of the perks of being a Cheshire is being born able to speak and understand mundane languages.\n\nThe maid frowns softly at Dawn before Alice shakes her head \"Its fine, just a bit of... family drama. Let's get you guys in\" she says as she ushers the group inside. The maid brings them into the sitting room where most of the family seems to be gathered. There was an older man and woman, looking to be in their early sixties or so, obviously the parents. Alice's father was tall and rather broad shouldered despite his age, his dirty blonde hair having faint signs of whitening. Next to him was Alice's mother, as tall as her husband, but lithe like Alice, her black hair tied into a bun behind her head as she sits in a chair.\n\nAlice's dad looks over to the group, it's rather clear there's something on his mind, but his blue eyes light up when he sees his daughter and Nessa, making his way quickly over to them, \"Girls, I'm glad you came…\" he greets them in a surprisingly soft voice, reaching to squeeze Alice's hand. Your siblings are here, and a few cousins.\" he says to her as Alice nods \"I hear them…\" she replies with a light smile.\n\nThere were what looked like three sisters, all seeming older than Alice, from a girl who looked just a shade or two older to one who seems to be in her early thirties or late twenties. Two of the sisters had their father's blue eyes, but it was hard to see the oldest's with her face buried in her hands. In front of her, flanked by what seemed to be the brothers, a man that looked the oldest sister's age and one around Alice's, both seeming to be comforting their sister.\n\nIn front of Alice's mother was the reason, it was a small dark green cloth lined bassinet that, on first glance, held a perfectly happy cooing baby. Though when the group gets closer it becomes clear, the baby's eyes are milky white just like Alice's...\n\nSimoni blinks at that, glancing between Alice and the infant as Dawn sniffs curiously. Nelen doesn't say anything, knowing that it'd be extremely rude to point out the kid's eyes of course. Sadly, in accordance with Murphy's Law... \"Why are the human kitten's eyes all weird?\" asks Dusk as Simoni cringes, Stephy lets out a soft groan, and Dawn's hand immediately darts out and pinches the special patch of fur on him as she glares daggers at her kid brother. \"Forgive my brother, he lost his manners in a card game.\" she mutters as the two of them vanish, Nelen quickly stammering out apologies.\n\nAlice's mother just laughs softly, shaking her head, \"A Wonderland resident I assume?\" she smiles knowingly as she reaches into the bassinet to rub under the child's chin. \"It's alright, this is hardly a new experience for us... has Alice ever told you about her blindness?\" she asks as Alice shakes her head, \"I didn't think it was right to talk about that with others…\" she admits, her sister with her face buried in her hands actually letting out a laugh at that, still keeping her face buried. \"Well, we're a bit past that huh?\" She says as Alice nods, sighing.\n\n\"My family, in the ancient days, made a pact with a powerful fae lord. He trained us in the way of combat and how to hunt beasts, and in return... in every generation, he takes the sight of two children born to them, a male and a female. We're given boons in exchange, speed, higher senses, the family blades... but it's never exactly an easy experience, especially for the parents.\" she says, looking to her sister sadly. \"I'm sorry, Leeah... is it...\" she nods at that, sighing softly as she pulls her face up finally, only to look at the roof, \"He's a boy, guess that'll at least let cousin Jen sleep better, her baby's going to be a boy too...\"\n\nSimoni glances away at that, not wanting to say anything. Blindness in exchange for power... that was a bit different from what Clan Fullmoon got... infact, she finds herself wondering what exactly they did give Morrigan. The boons of a goddess probably carried a bigger price tag than that of a fae.\n\nStephy pouts at the baby, then fidgets nervously, \"Huh... I didn't know it was something like that...\" he murmurs, \"I mean, she said she was blind from birth, but I thought it was just some genetic thing.\" he admits, feeling an odd urge to hide his pointed ears under his hair now. Its clear that the situation was uncomfortable for Alice's family and, perhaps, extended beyond just the fact that the son was born blind like his cousin.\n\nAfter a few minutes Dawn teleports back in, holding Dusk firmly by the scruff. \"Say it.\" she hisses. Dusk fidgets then rolls his eyes and says, as if reciting from a book, \" 'm sorry I'm a furbrained idiot who don't have any tact...\" he mutters before Dawn lets him go, the kitten immediately teleporting back onto Simoni's shoulder.\n\nAlice's father chuckles \"Yea, that's the excuse we give, it isn't technically a lie after all, it is kind of a genetic thing...\" he sighs, \"We'll be fine, Roches endure far worse, and despite the slight gloom about today the boy will be raised with love and a family willing to do anything to help him, far better lot than many like him get.\" Alice nods at that, \"I never had any problem growing up…\" she replies, mainly to her sister, \"Really, you remember, you were always so sweet to me, but you never babied me either. You're going to do great.\" That makes her give a small smile, before laughing a bit, \"Yeah, hopefully he won't be such a little princess though…\" he teases, making Alice blush faintly, \"Did she ever tell you all about the time she decided it wasn't fair that our baby brother got a birthday when she didn't, so she stole his cake and ate it all?\" She teases, Alice huffing slightly in response, \"In my defense I was SIX.\" she frowns defensively as some laughter comes from her family, the air around the room seeming to lighten a bit.\n\n\"You don't need to hide, dear.\" Alice's middle sister says to Stephy with a smile, \"We don't hate fae or anything. We weren't swindled or tricked, the deal was very clear, two children a generation, blind, no fixing it, it was a deal our ancestors felt was important enough to make to protect their people, and we honor that.\" she nods to the fae boy.\n\n\"I'm sorry, we're being dreadful hosts.\" her mother adds, \"You've been on a plane from India, then into that car, I'm sure this is the last thing you wanted as a reception. I'm Theodora, Alice's mother, and the recipient of a very cruel family tradition of my own with that name.\" she says with a light smile, \"My husband, Ryan, much luckier. Our daughters, Leeah, Rochelle, and Isolde.\" she says, nodding to her daughters from older to younger, \"And of course Alice\" she adds \"The twins, Francis and Leon, and... hrm…\" she frowns, looking around, \"Where did Marshal get to?\" she asks before a familiar clacking sound comes from nearby before a boy about Sammi's age with his mother's black hair comes walking out from the kitchen, \"Sorry mother, I was checking on the food.\" he replies to her, licking his lips. The boy was obviously the male side of Alice's generational curse, wearing the same black glasses and holding the same cane she does.\n\nStephy relaxes a bit at the girl's words, still feeling a bit awkward about the situation. They may not be acting upset, but its clear they weren't happy when he came in. Still... its not like he's the fae who's doing it. Nelen waits for them to all arrive and nods, \"Well, I'm sure Alice has told you about Stephen, or Stephy as we call him, and his brother Sammi.\" he replies, gesturing to the two fae boys. \"I'm Nelen Fullmoon, but I hope you won't hold that against me. This is Drusilla Leorne, my...\" he pauses, \"... well, I guess we're as good as married given what we found out recently...\" he blushes a bit, then continues, \"These two are Arja and Simoni Barjar. Simoni there is my sister, its complicated.\" he adds, then nods to Dawn, who was idly tickling at the infant now, \"Thats Dawn, and you already met her brother Dusk...\" he frowns at the kitten again, Dusk merely shrugging before he starts washing his ears. \"And our friend here is Trixie Smith.\" he gestures to the huckster girl. Stephy giggles a bit and curtsies the group when he's introduced, Simoni offering a polite bow, as Dawn merely waves and replies, \"Yo.\"\n\nAlice smiles as Nelen introduces the group, Sammi nodding his head politely, Arja smiling and waving to the family. Drusilla blushes a bit at being basically called his wife, but beaming happily when he does, and Trixie simply nodding her head as her name is called. \"Sorry if the group is a bit big,\" Alice adds, her father shaking his head, \"Nonsense… we could use some fresh air around here, get us out of the funk, I'd hate for this boy to think his birth was something we mourned.\" he says, Leeah nodding in agreement as she stands, \"Yes, despite my fears I couldn't be happier to have a son.\" she says, smiling softly as she moves over to look at him. \"What's his name?\" Trixie offers, Leeah shaking her head, \"We don't name children for a week and a day, he still has six days to go.\" she says, poking the boy's nose as Sammi nods, \"Fae thing. Mortals who are close with us, even if it's a friendly relationship, don't name their children until enough time has passed to keep them from our hands. Obviously abductions can happen any time but tradition says that the best time to take an infant is a week after birth. Without a name we have no power over him.\" He smiles at that, poking the boy's nose softly, \"Don't we?\" he coos, \"I can't even make you a little chilly can I sweetie?\" he giggles.\n\nAs Sammi and the girls move to fawn over the baby, one of Alice's brothers, the older one, moves over to Nelen, sticking his hand out, \"Francis Roche, nice to see a Fullmoon who isn't trying to break my baby sister in half.\" he grins. Despite being called 'twins' with his brother it's pretty obvious he's Leeah's twin, being the same age and looking so similar... \"Ignore what mom said about me and Leon, she likes giving me a hard time for hanging out with him more than my sister when we were little…\" he laughs.\n\nNelen sighs and rolls his eyes at that, taking the man's hand in his bandaged one and giving it a shake, \"She told you guys about her encounter with my late uncle Robert huh?\" he asks, \"Well, if it makes you feel any better he got what was coming to him.\" he smirks, gesturing to Drusilla as Dawn grins. \"Yep! Our one eyed wrecking machine here tore him up good. It was raining Fullmoon that night!\" she grins widely. Nelen lets out a sigh at her words, Dawn had more tact than her brother... but only just really. \"Yes, well, either way he's not going to be hurting anyone anymore... and I have it in good faith that Clan Fullmoon will be focusing entirely on things that actually are a threat to the mundane world from now on.\" he nods.\n\nStephy goes to join his brother, tickling the infant's toes as he fusses over how tiny he is as Simoni blushes, then winds up joining in, even forgetting about her own frustrations in the face of a newborn (its probably a girl thing). Dusk even hops down, sniffs at the kid a bit, then curls up in the basket next to his side, the kitten about half as big as the baby.\n\nFrancis nods at that, \"Oh don't worry she's told us plenty about your fight with the Fullmoon, we're glad to hear the clan's going back to what it was supposed to be. We may not be best friends, but I'd rather be rivals with the occasional scrap than outright enemies. Not how stuff's supposed to work, you know?\" he then grins at Drusilla, \"You tore that guy up, huh?\" he chuckles as she nods, grinning as well as Francis slaps Nelen's side at that, \"Can see why you got in good with her, never heard of a giantkin getting involved in an outside conflict in ages.\" he teases before looking a bit more serious. \"How are you two doing, though? The whole... crossbreeding thing… I know that can be tough, the Roche line has been known to sprinkle in the occasional ‘not so mundane’ members, but we never had a giant in the mix.\"\n\nNelen shrugs, \"Honestly just the fact that it happened at all was a shock. I mean, I dunno how much she told you guys about me, but I'm an ex-mercenary. Used to operate out of the Wolf's Head Pub in London and occasionally the Nightside. I never thought I'd actually have kids at all.\" he replies to Francis, \"Still... I guess the real question is what we're going to have... and I don't just mean boy or girl.\" he nods, \"A kid with cyclops strength and either Fullmoon's strength boosting that or the ability to use magic...\" he sighs, \"Yeah, our 'babyproofing' is going to involve refitting the kid's nursery walls with titanium...\" he rolls his eyes.\n\nOver at the baby pretty much everyone else had gathered, universally agreeing Dusk looked adorable curled up next to him. \"Surprised to see a pair of Wonderlanders in the mundane world…\" Alice's mother smiles, \"You Chesires are rare enough, I thought most of you stuck in your homes.\" she nods. Dawn pads over and shrugs, \"Well, if you wanna get technical we're only half-Cheshire. My mom was a full Cheshire herself, but my dad was from Earth. Not sure if he was a supernatural too or if she just shacked up with a tomcat.\" she nods, smirking a bit at Dusk as he nuzzles into the infant's side. Alice's mother nods, \"Ah, interesting! I've never heard of that happening.” she replies. \"Well you look very cute, as does your brother.\" she says as the baby coos happily, snuggling into the soft sensation against his side and electing a squeal from everything female (or just girly in the fae’s case) around him.\n\nAs she explains their parentage Marshal makes his way over, accidentally bumping past Stephy as he gets to the baby, \"Oops, sorry…\" he apologizes before leaning over to 'look' at the baby, \"So he's blind too huh?\" he asks about as bluntly as Dusk did. \"Mhm…\" Leeah replies, not exactly sounding thrilled, but at least not sounding sad anymore. \"You're gonna be a good cousin and help him out right? He's gonna need help learning to do stuff.\" Marshal just grins in response, \"So am I gonna be his teacher like Alice then? Do I get to smack him too?\" he asks, the question answered as Alice swats his side lightly with her cane, \"Maybe if you learned do duck better you wouldn't get smacked, how do you know you're not just the slow one in the family?\" she teases.\n\n\"So!\" Alice's father announces after a bit, \"Enough pouting inside. We have a lovely garden set up, it's a beautiful day… shall we get a little fresh air? I'm sure Alice's guests will appreciate some nice country air after all that travel.\" he grins as Arja nods, \"Yeah, that actually does sound nice.\" she agrees. Leeah nods as well, \"It's about time for this guy's feeding anyway, and nothing against Alice's lovely friends but it would be nice to not whip my tit out in front of them within our first half hour together. We'll catch up in a second.\"\n\nNelen lets out a sudden cough at Leeah's words as he nods, heading quickly towards the door with Dawn smirking and following along, plucking Dusk out of the bassinet and tossing him to Simoni as the kitten lets out a yowl, then vanishes in midair and reappears on her shoulder, hissing at his sister. \"Sounds good to me.\" grins the older cat as she follows Nelen outside, Simoni petting Dusk's head to calm him down so he wouldn't claw her wrap up as she follows along as well.\n\nAlice smiles, walking after the group happily. The garden is indeed quite well tended, flowers planted in beds all around, even a section for vegetable gardening, though it looked freshly harvested for the party, only a few under-developed tomatoes and such left behind. Tables and chairs set up under a large arc of white wood with flowers and vines woven through it. After a moment more Nessa comes back out with a small group of maids, all holding covered platters or pitchers of what looks like fresh fruit juices, \"Here we go.\" Nessa giggles, setting her tray down on a table and pulling it open to reveal a tray of skewers of roasted meat and veggies, other maids revealing things such as large salads, fried pastries stuffed with assorted things, and even a tray of fresh looking sushi. \"Enjoy this before it gets eaten.\" Nessa grins, getting herself a piece of sushi with what looks like squid on top of it, \"This always is the first to go.\" she giggles.\n\nNelen eyebrows it, then takes a skewer of roast meat for himself (he’s never liked seafood) as Dawn immediately grabs a plate and as much sushi as it'll hold, Dusk appearing on her shoulder and pointing out which ones he wants excitedly before they both teleport away into the bushes. A few minutes later a sound like two cats loudly devouring a platefull of seafood emerges. Simoni shakes her head at them, having her own skewer like her brother, whole Stephy has a few veggies and a couple pastries.\n\n\"So, Nessa... I've been meaning to ask. How exactly did you wind up working with the Roches anyways?\" he says, tilting his head at the aztec sorceress. \"I mean, South America and France aren't exactly next door neighbors...\" he nods, taking another bite of his roasted steak kebab.\n\nNessa smiles, \"Well, my mother is friends with Alice's mother. They both were hunting friends ever since her family helped mom with a problem. They were on a trek into South American jungles to study creatures and they heard about a camp of cartel types who were harvesting supernaturals and magic users for parts. Mom was one of them on the chopping block and she didn't really have a home to go back to, so they paid her way here and helped her immigrate and all. Me and Alice have been basically sisters since we were born.\" She smiles, chewing on her own skewer as Sammi grabs himself some sushi, getting into a tugging match with Isolde over a few bits before making his way to join Stephy with his fish and pastries. \"Wow, Alice's family is neat, huh Stephy? You havin fun?\" he smiles as he bites into some food.\n\nStephy nods, eating a few baby tomatoes. He prefers fruits, but certain veggies are fine too. \"Yeah. Heck of a lot different from how Fullmoon's family gatherings went. Dunno about how they are now that Jeanne is in charge, but if we were at one while Franklin was still around by now at least three of my Uncles would be bare-knuckle fighting each other and one of my cousins would have me in a headlock while another would be filling a bucket with what he could find in the stables...\" he nods slowly, then looks at Sammi, \"See why I wasn't scared at the idea of Sera adopting me?\" he asks, smirking.\n\nAs the two fae talk Nelen nods at Nessa, \"Huh... harvesting supernatural bits... Sounds like Cheron to me. Had a run in with them before. Got contracted by some werewolf pack leader in Southern California to get one of his kids out of there before the doctors could vivisect him. Wound up getting a bit of a bonus on that one...\" he smirks, thinking of how he and Dawn had found a rather irate little lagomorph in the same lab who promised them the sun and the moon and the stars and that he wouldn't start screaming for a guard at the top of his lungs if they took him with them.\n\nAlice's father raises his brow when he hears that, looking to Nelen, \"Pardon me, sorry to butt in but did you say you've gone against The Cheron Group before?\" he asks, grinning before suddenly putting an arm around Nelen's shoulders, \"I knew I had a good feeling about you! Come on into the study, you can tell me everything you saw in there, down to the color of the elevator's carpeting!\" he nods firmly, pulling Nelen somewhat roughly to the house as Alice snickers, Nessa shaking her head, \"May be best to just go limp and accept it, Nelen. The Roches have been fighting Cheron for a good bit, when he hears about someone who fought them he's eager to compare notes...\" she says with a little smirk.\n\nNelen lets out a sudden yelp, but manages to grab another skewer before he gets dragged away, \"Oi! Dawn! Someone wants to hear about the Cheron Job!\" he calls as he's pulled off as Dawn peeks out of the bushes with a squid tentacle sticking out of her mouth, quickly shovels five more in to keep it company, and vanishes, catching up with the pair as she pads along into the house. Simoni smirks at that, \"Wait until he hears what they actually found in there...\" she giggles, seeming to forget how upset she's been... but then with all the laughter and the bright sunlight it's a lot easier to do that.\n\nSammi nods to his brother, patting his hand, \"Well we're happy to have you, and Alice is happy to have you as a friend.\" he says with a soft giggle, Isolde making her way over to the table and snatching the last piece of tuna sushi off Sammi's plate, sticking her tongue out, \"My house, my tuna.” she teases, sitting down with the brothers, \"So, who's your patron then?\" she asks in a friendly tone, kicking her feet up on the table as she eats the sushi right in front of Sammi, making him huff angrily.\n\nStephy giggles, letting Isolde have the tuna. Like his cousins he's never been much of a fan of seafood. \"Well, her name is Sera, but I'll let Sammi do the whole introduction for her. He's better at it.\" he replies, taking a few grapes and such out of a fruit bowl and popping one into his mouth as Dusk appears on the table and snatches up another piece of octopus, then vanishes again with it in his jaws.\n\nSammi huffs as the good sushi is grabbed up before looking to Isolde \"Lady Sera d'Orleans, queen of winter's fury, holder of the throne of the frozen blade, I'm forgetting some stuff but you get it.\" he teases, Isolde nodding, \"Neat, I think I've heard of her. Sorry I'm kinda the fae nut of the house. Obviously we all know the generals but I've been doing a ton of research on the major players in Arcadia and all.\" she explains with a smile, Sammi nodding, \"Huh, neat, not a lot of mortals who focus on us, not as sexy as werewolves or make for badass trophies like vampires.\" he teases, Isolde nodding as she looks to Stephy, \"So, you're the famous Stephy…\" she giggles, \"You’re cuter than she described you.\"\n\nStephy blushes at that, \"Well, I try...\" he giggles, \"But yeah... Alice was kinda the one who helped me get started with all this...\" he gestures to himself, \"Though... I do wish that had ended differently...\" he sighs, \"Glad my thug of a father got what he deserved...\" he frowns, then shakes it off, \"But yeah, that was when I was still human. Lady Sera adopted me into her house after I'd already met Arja and our other friends.\" he nods.\n\nInside the study Nelen is explaining as much as he can remember about the heist at the Cheron facility, \"... the real trick was the electronic security, but thankfully I had a contact for that. A hacker with severe OCD owed me a favor... though getting him to remember that he did was a trick. Guy called himself Dev/Null, and he's a Malkovian vamprie. Real nutjob, but he does good work and was able to forge the credentials I'd need to fake my way in as a Cheron operative from out of state.\" he explains, \"As for the facility itself...\" he frowns, thinking, \"Geez this was like, six years ago...\" he mutters as Dawn pipes up, \"I remember it...\" she grins, \"Infact, I could show everyone if you really wanted to 'see'.\" she grins wider, her eyes shining in the light.\n\nNelen blinks at her, \"Oh yeah, geez the last time we did that was when we first met Akul...\" he mutters, \"Hm... the rest of your family interested in seeing a heist from a Cheron facility?\" he asks.\n\nAlice's father raises his eyebrow, \"Her powers are developed enough to cause mass scale hallucination? Now that's impressive! Yes I think the whole family would be very interested, any information we can get for future raids is very important, especially first hand like that.\"\n\nNelen nods, \"Yeah, she got plenty of practice while we were working together.\" he says, \"Well, go ahead and let them know lunch will have a show with it then.\" he grins as Dawn blinks, then frowns, \"Um... most of 'em anyways. Alice and Francis are sittin' this one out.\" she points out as Nelen winces, \"Ah crap, that’s right. Wonderland EYES... it doesn't work on someone who can't see her.\"\n\nHe nods, going to tell the group that they were getting a special treat in an actual proper memory of a Cheron raid. Alice just smiles and collects her slightly pouting little brother Marshal, patting his head, \"One good lesson, gaze moves have nothing on us, so while it does suck to miss out on the fun now, you'll be happy for that when you get a contract to take out a gorgon or a basalisk.\" she teases, making the boy giggle softly.\n\nNelen waits in the living room for them with Dawn next to him, \"Well, sorry that some of you are going to have to miss out on this one... but since you guys are enemies of the Cheron Group here's a presentation on the inside of their San Antonio offices.\" he nods to Dawn, \"Do your thing.\" he smirks as Dawn grins, takes a bow with a flourish, and then her eyes shine bright golden.\n\nEverything goes black, and then the MGM logo appears with her own head taking the place of the lions as she lets out a very un-cat-like roar. \"Sorry everyone, she always does stuff like this.\" says Nelen's voice as Dawn shoots a dirty look to her left, \"Deal with it Wizzo.\" she hisses as the scene fades to show... the inside of a cat carrier, the whole thing from the point of view of the occupant as she peers out through the metal bars. \"This is never gonna work Nelen...\" whispers a much younger-sounding Dawn as Nelen whispers back, \"Think positive. That Malkovian owed us and he does good work. We just get in, find the werewolf, grab him, and you warp all three of us to safety.\" he replies, Nelen clearly being the one holding the cat carrier. They get up to a security desk as the voices of Nelen and what is presumably the security guy drift down. \"Yeah, I'm from our Minnesota branch. I was in town on leave and came across this beauty so I figured I'd drop her off for the lab guys to tinker with.\" says Nelen's voice.\n\n\"... No shit? A real Cheshire Cat? How the hell did you capture it?\" asks the guard as Nelen replies, \"Special cat carrier. See those? Put some runes on it, cat can't teleport out.\" he replies smugly as the man replies, \"Huh, well, you check out. Go ahead, I'll buzz ya through. Good job.\" he nods as Dawn whispers to Nelen once they're out of earshot, \"Runes... hah, dumb human can't even tell they're just spraypaint.\" she laughs as Nelen shushes her. \n\nAlice's family is absolutely enraptured by the sight, looking at every little detail they can, obviously taking mental notes as they watch the show. Alice, meanwhile, grins a bit, taking her brother further into the garden for a quick training match, the two blind Roches sparing with their canes, Alice obviously taking it easy on her brother as they jab and swat at each other.\n\nThe show continues as the cage gets its way to the lab, Dawn occasionally putting on a show of rattling the bars and yelling things like 'let me outta here human!' to keep up their cover. Finally he gets to the lab entrance and his voice comes down as he talks to the guard there.\n\n\"Yeah, special delivery for Doctor Geiszler.\" he says to the guard there as Dawn gives the bars another rattle and hisses loudly, \"Let me go you jerk! I've already had my shots!\"\n\nThe guard shrugs, replying \"Fine, leave it here and I'll call for him.\" to which Nelen says, \"Not so fast buddy. I've got orders to deliver it personally to the doctor.\" he says. The guard grunts, \"I don't think so, protocol says...\" he starts as Nelen talks over him, \"Protocol doesn't mean dick when Geiszler wants something and you know it. Now do you want me telling him you kept him waiting? Maybe he'll decide he needs another ‘volunteer’.\"\n\n\"Woah! Hey now, c'mon... J-just doing my job here...\" the guard replies, sounding unnerved as he buzzes Nelen through. Once they're away Dawn giggles and Nelen mutters, \"Even in Cheron the rent a cops are idiots...\" he nods, the view from the cage showing white sterile hallways as Nelen walks along them, \"Lets see... hum... aha. Broom closet here... and over here...\" Dawn's viewpoint shifts, showing a red fire alarm box. \"Alright, nobody around...\" he mutters, then opens the closet door as a bandaged hand comes into view. A crimson tendril bursts out of the bandages and wraps around the alarm's handle, then Nelen pulls sharply and quickly ducks in, slamming the door. The view shows several bottles of industrial grade bleach as a loud screeching noise fills the laboratory, followed by the sound of running feet. \"Right...\" he nods, putting the cage down, then leaning down and opening the door as Dawn pads out quickly, looking up at Nelen.\n\nThe Nelen of six years ago looked rather different from the current one. No gray hair yet, and he didn't have his beard either, though he had a few scars on his cheek in the shape of claw marks. Making up for the lack of facial hair is a ponytail that reaches almost down to his waist. \"Ready to go?\" he asks as Dawn's view nods, \"Right. We find the werewolf, then you teleport us out of here and we initiate Plan 53.\" he nods to her as Dawn giggles, \"Fifty three... the 'run like hell'?\" she asks as Nelen smirks back, \"Thats the one.\"\n\nThe family watches just as carefully, a few of them clapping for Nelen's little performance as they do, \"Hm, make a note to look up this doctor ‘Geiszler’…\" Alice's father whispers to her oldest sister, the woman nodding, \"On it.\" she adds. Leon chuckles as the fire alarm goes off, clearing out the building. \"Nice move.\" he laughs with a grin. \"Gotta remember that...\"\n\nIn the vision Dawn changes shape, the view from her eyes suddenly shooting up from the floor to just below Nelen's waist as he opens the door, looks around, and nods. \"Coast is clear, c'mon.\" he says, taking a small kleenex out of his pocket and holding it open, then letting a tendril dip into it before it points down the hallway. \"Right, he's this way.\" he nods, heading past the labs. Dawn's view glances around in them showing, well, some pretty awful sights. A vampire strapped into a dental chair with several teeth missing is in one. Next one down a fae is tied down to a gurney as a needle draws his blood out into a medical bag, several full ones hanging nearby as well. \"Jeez... That woman wasn't kidding about this place...\" mewls Dawn as Nelen nods, \"Yeah... Wish we could just torch the lab, but I don't want someone else putting a price on my head. Frank is enough.\" he nods firmly as they run along, finally finding the room with the werewolf.\n\nNelen pushes at the door and frowns, \"Locked... Alright...\" he nods as Dawn watches one of his arms shudder, the veins bulging on it before he gives it a hard, straight arm punch just below the door handle, knocking the latch right off the wall as he runs in. Inside is a transformed werewolf, muzzled and strapped down with several restraints designed for bear handlers. On a tray nearby are surgical tools, edged in silver. The wolf growls at him before Nelen pulls off his muzzle and quickly pulls his hands back, dodging it's teeth. \"Woah woah hey! Calm the fuck down! We're here to get you out kid! ... shit what did she tell me to say?\" he mutters, \"Um... Gibbous! It was a gibbous moon when you first changed!\" he says as the werewolf hesitates and then replies, in a voice that sounds like a young teenager, \"Grandma sent you?\"\n\nNelen nods and starts to undo the straps, having to cut them off as the keys were presumably in the pocket of whoever was about to use the tools on him. \"Yeah, they'd be ready for a werewolf pack busting in, so they sent me instead.\" he nods, managing to free the lycantherope as his fur shrivels and he takes on the form of a scrawny fifteen year old kid. Nelen frowns and looks around, then tosses him a spare lab coat. \"Right, we're not gonna have much time, we gotta...\" he starts then a voice comes from one of the counters.\n\n\"HEY! Hey you! Mister Magic! Over here!\" it calls. Standing in a large wire cage is a bipedal rabbit with a blue unicorn's horn growing out of it's forehead. Nelen looks at it in puzzlement and asks, \"So what the hell are you?\" and the creature replies, \"I'm Bugs Goddamn Bunny, who do I look like? Listen, if you're getting teen wolf out of here would you mind terribly saving my furry ass too?\"\n\nNelen thinks, \"Hm... whats in it for me? Nothin' personal, but I am a merc y'know.\" to which the rabbit replies, \"You'd just leave a cute defenseless little creature like me here after seeing what those sick fucks did to their other captives?!\" he demands. Nelen smirks, \"Yeah, cursing like a sailor kinda devalues the whole 'cute' thing...\"\n\nThe rabbit smirks, \"Alright, how about this? If you don't get me outta here I'll tell the guards exactly who busted him out?\" he sneers as Nelen glances back at the now human werewolf and frowns, \"... dammit, alright fine. Lets get you out of here...\" he peers at his card, \"... U. N. 1. L. 0. P? Wait, Unilop?\" he blinks, the rabbit sneering, \"They're scientists, not writers. They suck at names... LESS TALK DAMMIT!\" he yells as Nelen sighs, makes a blood tendril, and rips the cage door off it's hinges, the rabbit quickly hopping out and nodding, \"C'mon, I know where there's a service entrance.\"\n\n\"Interesting…\" Alice's mother says, \"Never seen a creature like that. Has he been useful to you guys at all? Any clues to his origin?\"\n\nThe present Nelen nods, \"I'll tell you guys about him after this.\" he replies as in the vision the past Nelen just smirks, \"No need Bugs, we've got our exit. Dawn?\" he smirks as Dawn's viewpoint changes to look up at Nelen, presumably she's grinning. \"One get out of jail free card comin' up!\" she replies, then blinks and pauses, looking at her hands as she wiggles her fingers a bit, \"... um... comin' up... c'mon... c'mooooon... uh oh...\" she mutters as Nelen's looks down at her with a confused expression, \"What?\"\n\n\"Um... its not going.\" she replies. Nelen frowns, \"What do you mean it's not going? Those runes were bullshit remember?\" he asks as Dawn hisses back at him, \"Yeah! I know they were, it was my idea to do that! Something is blocking my magic!\" she shoots back as Nelen looks around in a panic, \"Wait, something can actually do that?!\" he yells as Dawn replies, \"Well yeah apparent-\" before a voice cuts over her. \"You! Vat are you doing vith mien verevolf?!\" it spits in a thick german accent.\n\nStriding towards them is an elderly looking man in a lab coat with receeding white hair, a hawklike nose, and a stern expression. \"Who are you boy, und vhy are you in mein laboratory?\" he demands as Nelen looks around, \"Oh, um... you must be Doctor Geiszler... its, um, its a real pleasure. I've read all your papers...” he attempts, then sighs and shrugs his shoulders, “… yeah fuck this, BLOOD IN YOUR EYE!\" he yells as he shoots a blast of blood at the doctor's face, causing him to yell and fall backwards before he lands on the floor unconscious. \"Dawn, plan 53!\" he yells as he runs out of the room, grabbing Unilop on the way out. \"The fuck is plan fifty three?\" demands the rabbit as suddenly three guards burst through a door at the other end of the hallway.\n\n\"RUN LIKE HELL!\" yells Dawn.\n\nAlice's family seems to enjoy that, \"Been there plenty of times…\" comes from the crowd, another voice laughing, \"Yeah, I was with you on that one...\" to add in as they watch, still making notes of the instruments used and the methods of containing their 'specimens'.\n\nNelen takes down one of the guards with a blood blast as the werewolf shapeshifts again, falling on another with an appropriately gory outcome as the third one grabs the blood mage from behind. \"Think you're clever do ya?\" he sneers, \"Well try this! I've got real vampire fangs buddy!\" he hisses, then bites down hard on Nelen's throat... for about three seconds before he suddenly shrieks and jumps off him, clawing frantically at his face as the blood in his mouth suddenly sprouts a series of tendrils covered in jagged teeth and begins tearing him apart from the inside out.\n\nUnilop curses loudly at the sight as Nelen just smirks, \"Guess he didn't like how I taste.\" he sneers, heading onwards as Dawn's viewpont changes, looking around frantically for an exit until...\n\n\"WOAH! HEY! DAWN! Go back...\" says the present Nelen.\n\nLike a video rewinding the view slowly moves in reverse until Nelen tells her to stop.\n\nSitting in one of the laboratories, tagged and everything, is a large wooden bat-like weapon with jagged shards of metal all around it... shards of metal that have a shadowy, empty aura all around them. \"... ah crap, forgot all about that...\" mutters the present Dawn.\n\n\"Dawn? What is [i]that[/i]?\" asks Nelen in a way that says he knows damn well what it is.\n\n\"Um... looks like one of those weird aztec weapons? A maca... macu... mekkalekkahaimekkaheinieheinieho?\" she tries.\n\n\"A [i]macuahuitl[/i] Dawn and you KNOW thats not what I'm talking about.\"\n\nDawn giggles nervously, \"Um... well... maybe... possibly... it might've been a Mundane Blade...\" she mewls.\n\nNessa raises her brow at that, \"I've heard stories of an ancient weapon used in central America, it was called the ‘Path to the Underworld’ I believe, it was said to have been stolen from the gods themselves... that would be how they would view something like a Mundane Blade wouldn't it...\"\n\nNelen lets out a long sigh, \"... right... well, we'll discuss that in a minute... Guess we know why you couldn't teleport then. Dawn. As you were.\" he says.\n\nThe show continues, basically showing Nelen, Dawn, Unilop, and the werewolf boy fighting their way through several of Cheron's thaumatech enhanced guards before finally busting out through the backdoor of the facility and, once outside, Dawn was finally able to teleport them back to where the Werewolf pack made their base.\n\nThe vision fades in what appears to be millions of butterflies as the view of the Roche family's living room returns, Nelen glaring at Dawn. \"So, when were you planning on telling me about [i]that[/i]?\" he asks as Dawn frowns at him, \"Oh give me a damn break Nelen! We were running for our lives and, besides, after his den mother got us tickets out of the state you got me fish remember? Give a six year old Cheshire fish and she won't remember much of anything for a while.\" she smirks.\n\nNessa laughs softly, \"Well, that WAS very educational then, we saw a rare look at a Cheron lab and the existence of another blade, one belonging to MY people...\" she frowns a bit, \"That's troubling in itself... There are many creatures from that region that have all but been wiped out.\"\n\nNelen nods, \"Yeah, but if it was that Mundane Blade that did it then I doubt Cheron was the ones behind it. From what we've seen the Mundane Blades literally trap supernatural beings inside them, body and everything. Cheron wouldn't do something like that unless they were damn sure they'd be able to get them back out again.\" he makes a face at that, \"I mean, why waste good parts? More than likely they just found the thing and wanted to see what it could do. They probably have it locked away in one of their labs or something. I mean, even their own thaumatech boys wouldn't be able to use it without the thing killing their own powers.\"\n\nNessa chuckles softly, \"Interesting, so they're kinda doing our job for us...\"\n\nNelen shrugs, \"So long as it stays there I guess.\" he nods as Simoni shakes her head, \"Jeez... no wonder you're able to plan all this stuff out whenever we need it.\" she says, looking to Nelen, \"I mean, that had to be, what, 2009?\" she asks, \"I know you got rid of the ponytail about then...\" she giggles a bit.\n\nNelen shrugs, \"Call it job experience.\" he replies as Dawn takes the opportunity to swipe whatever sushi is left, Dusk following quickly behind her and yowling, \"Save some for me!\"","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Its a warm morning in India as the group prepares to head out to France. Its only their first stop however. From there they'll be taking a boat to Sicily again as Drusilla's mother wanted to celebrate her upcoming grandchild. Nelen was actually dealing better with his impending fatherhood than before. It turns out all he needed was a bit of perspective... or more specifically, to hear that his kid sister had gone up against a dragon. After he got done having a fit over that he was at least able to console himself in that whatever his future child could or would do, it could not possibly be THAT insane.
As for her discovery about Morrigan and the truth behind the vision that Eliza had been sent... she had left that part out. She'd told Nelen about Morrigan pushing her into the fight with Alyzya, but had only said that she'd managed to get Morrigan to stop influencing her without the details. She had told Arja after she'd finished tearing apart the training yard at Sera's castle, but had made her, Stephy, and Sammi promise they wouldn't tell the others yet.
She didn't know how they'd react if they found out that everything they'd been doing had been for such a damned petty reason, even if the outcome was good...
Alice nods as she finishes packing… or rather, as Nessa finishes packing as Alice sorts through her clothes by tag, handing them off to her assistant to handle getting in the luggage well. "This’ll be nice…" she grins, "I haven't been home in a while, it'll be nice to be back in France." she comments as Nessa nods "Mhm, and it'll be interesting to see the Cyclopi too." she adds, "I don't think we've ever encountered them before, I'll be sure to bring the journal."
Arja was smiling softly to Simoni, rubbing the girl's back, "A vacation will be good for you, a more proper one. We're going to a hunter’s territory and then a Cyclops gathering, there's nothing dumb enough to attack either of those." she giggles.
Simoni smiles back, but her heart isn't really in it. She'd been rather subdued ever since they returned from Arcadia. "Yeah..." she replies, reaching around and giving Arja's hand a squeeze. It had been a real blow to her to find out all that about Morrigan, and a bit more when she realized just how much she'd changed from when she first met Arja. She was happier being Simoni, there was no doubt about that among anyone, but at the same time it's still a bit of a shock to realize that your old self wouldn't even recognize the you of today.
Especially in her case, because it was both figurative and literal.
Dawn walks past their room, her brothers and sisters running about her feet, or sitting on her head, as she raises her eyebrow at the pair, "Jeez, is she still in that funk? C'mon you two, time to get going. Mom said she can keep an eye on the kittens so I can finally get away from all this construction stuff." she grins as Dusk, nestled between her ears pipes up, "Me too!" he grins as Dawn frowns, reaches up, and pinches the spot, "Nu uh! No way! You weren't even supposed to come with them last time kid!" she frowns as the kitten whines, "But I waaaaanna! They wouldna known about that lady in her head if I didn't tell 'eeeeeeem!" he fusses.
Arja smirks lightly, "He's not wrong…" she teases, putting an arm around Simoni and pulling her close as they walk.
Drusilla was already waiting for them, grinning happily as she bounces lightly, obviously eager to see her family again, this time under better circumstances. Her luggage was just brown leather bag that looked to be made from the hide of some giant cat. Sammi had shown up too, always happy to go to his mortal 'home', the boy travelling with more luggage than the group had combined.
"Ya know, one day they're gonna charge you for airplane fuel…" Trixie smirks playfully, the girl holding a couple of simple looking suitcases, not wanting to draw attention to them it seemed.
Stephy giggles, "Well, techinically it's our luggage Trixie. We are the same size and all." he teases, hip-bumping his brother playfully as Dawn drops off the kittens with their mother (despite the cats all having names now their mother had abstained, saying that she didn't really need one since all her kittens knew who she was). One of Dawn's little sisters, Midnight, pawed at Drusilla's leg a bit as she passed by, the little black furred Cheshire having taken a liking to the Cyclops. She was called Midnight not because of her fur, but because she had a real knack for turning invisible (even better at it than Dawn was). Dusk however was pawing at Drusilla's bag, perhaps a bit worried about it being made from 'cat' hide. Drusilla giggles lightly, petting Midnight's head before looking to Dusk, "Sabertooth, not even close to you guys." she winks, an interesting feat when you only have one eye.
Dawn says her goodbyes to her family and gets dressed to hide her cat bits, then joins the others as they head to the small airport outside of Jaipur. Once everything is loaded up and they're all on the plane she immediately untucks her tail and removes the hat though. "Y'know, I think this is the first time we've actually gone to France isn't it?" she says as Nelen nods, "Yeah. Dunno why but I never wound up going there when I was still a merc." he replies to the cat, digging around his messenger bag. "Huh, shit... Did I forget to pack my iPad? Drus, can you see if it got mixed in with your stuff?" he asks as the cyclops nods, getting her bag down from the overhead and digging through it. Alice grins to Nelen, "French hunters and such don't like using mercenaries, very honor bound and prideful groups."
Nelen nods, "Yeah, still it doesn't mean someone else in France couldn't have hired us." he shrugs, "Guess it was just a coinciden-" he stops as a yowling sound comes from Drusilla's bag, then a small feline head pops up and hisses at her. "Thats my tail jerk!" frowns Dusk, the kitten huffing at her, then pausing as he looks at the rest of the group. "... whups." he mewls as Dawn glares at him, "DAMMIT KID!" she snaps, rubbing her forehead as Dusk mewls, "Oh come on sis! I don't wanna be stuck at home! Lemme go with you guys!" he protests.
Drusilla laughs, lifting Dusk up and placing him on Dawn’s head, "Like sister, like kid sibling." she teases "I mean, this is a way safer trip than your London one at least." she adds with a grin.
Dawn frowns, then smirks and looks up at Dusk as he sits between her ears. "Safer for some of us... Dusk, we're going to visit a hunter clan, as in a clan that hunts supernatural things so if you're not on your best behavior..." she smirks as Dusk meeps, then quickly teleports from her head to Simoni's shoulder as Dawn grins wickedly at her little brother while he hisses and spits at her from his perch on the garuda.
Simoni sighs, then picks him off her shoulder and sits the kitten in her lap as Drusilla manages to find Nelen's iPad, smirking just a bit at him. "Well, why not? He did wind up helping out in the end." she nods as Dusk sticks his tongue out at Dawn. Simoni snuggles into Arja as the plane gets to the crusing altitude, turning westwards as they begin the flight, the garuda snuggling into Arja once they really get going. Arja smiles, petting Simoni's head softly as she snuggles in as well. Sammi sprawling out comfortably on his chair as Alice and Nessa make themselves comfy by Stephy.
The flight is pretty uneventful thankfully... no dragons or giant eldrich creatures attacking the plane. As they fly Nelen tells them all that he'd been in contact with Jeanne and the rest of Clan Fullmoon about where the Mundane Blade could have wound up after it's encounter with the dragons. Simoni had told him that Morrigan said it had been stolen once Alyzya and Kirzar had been sealed inside of it but that they could at least get a general idea of what else they might encounter from where the sword had gone after that... or at least where it might have gone.
There are certain records of supernatural threats suddenly... vanishing... after Cillian Fullmoon's report of the dragon's defeat, though it's possible that other hunter groups, rival supernaturals, or even other Mundane Blades were the cause. Still, its a start.
"Dunno if we could expect any trouble in France though... She said there were a few who disappeared between when the sword was lost and when Franklin found it again, but they just fit the timetable. There's no telling what actually did it." he nods, flipping through the notes he took on his iPad.
Alice nods, "We'll keep on guard. I like to think my family is above such tools but you never really know in those days. Regardless, if there's danger I'm sure my family has it under control already.” she says with a light smile, toying with Stephy's hair idly.
Stephy giggles and snuggles into Alice as she does, still happy to have her back after what Robert did back then. After a few more hours, Dusk badgering Dawn to do something fun for a bit, and Stephy taking out a laptop from his bag so he could show Nessa (and let Alice listen to) the performance he gave at Divas! the plane finally begins its descent into France.
Simoni excuses herself to get changed, getting out of her more casual travelling outfit and putting on her green and gold sari. She figured if she was going to be meeting a hunter clan she may as well dress nicely for it but, really, she wanted the excuse to show off her adopted heritage. It helped distance her from Morrigan and, after what had happened, there was no such thing as too much distance.
Alice smiles, giggling as Nessa still is sniffling slightly from the video, ("HE MADE ICE STATUES OF EVERYONE, ALICE!"). She was dressed rather well too, a pair of black jeans and a dark green short sleeved blouse with a laced back, and a pair of soft black leather flats on her feet. Nessa was in her 'work uniform', a snug black suit over a white shirt, with black leather gloves over her hands. "Nessa you arranged a driver right?" Alice asks, Nessa nodding in response, "Mhm, your mother sent a towncar for us, should be waiting."
Arja nods, the girl in her own sari, red and gold as usual, wanting to match her sister's planned outfit (and help her feel her new family bonds are still plenty close). "Awesome, so you guys are pretty well off huh?" She teases, Alice laughing a bit, "Mhm. Just because we lived on the outskirts doesn't mean we lived like hermits."
Nelen nods, "That and monster hunting tends to pay pretty well. Its like merc work, but you can be a lot more choosy about your jobs and you're usually hired to do the stuff that single mercs or even teams can't handle." he adds. "I mean, Clan Fullmoon had an entire castle and a well supplied army, that stuff costs money." he nods.
Simoni smiles at Arja as she sees her in her own sari, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze as the plane pulls into the terminal and the group disembarks. "So what are your parents like Alice?" she asks, Dusk already taking his quickly-becoming favorite spot on her shoulder as Dawn decides to forego clothing all together, draping herself across Nelen's in her animal form.
Alice smiles, "Oh they're very nice. A little... eccentric maybe... but good people." she grins to Sammi "They're gonna love you... oh and Stephy too! I forgot you're a fae now!" she giggles, after all the physical changes aren’t as obvious for someone who can’t actually see them, "We timed this well, too, not quite a proper family reunion but there should be a good deal of us there. My older sister just had a baby so we're all coming by when we can to congratulate her."
Dawn grins, "Her too huh?" she smirks, glancing towards Drusilla from Nelen's shoulders as the blood mage rolls his eyes. "Maybe when they get a bit older we can have 'em wrestle or something." she laughs as Simoni finds herself almost giggling at the mental image. "C'mon guys! You can't deny that'd be neat! Kindergarten Cage Fight!" she cackles as Nelen tries to keep a straight face, finally managing to say, "Knock it off furbrain, you look like an animal right now and animals can't talk." he mutters, the cat just snuggling down on his shoulders and grinning.
Drusilla just giggles at that, "Pft, no offense but my kid’ll be able to take some hunter easy…" she teases, rubbing her belly softly as she walks along, Alice just grinning back, "I dunno, us Roches are tough to beat down." she giggles as the group is led by Nessa to a side exit for the private planes in the airport, leading out to where a rather large dark blue town car sat idle for them, the man leaning on the driver's door, a middle aged man with graying black hair also wearing a black suit like Nessa's, raises a brow as he sees the group, "Didn't know there was so many of ya, couple are gonna have to hop in the trunk." he says in a heavy French accent, pausing to indicate he wasn't joking before moving around and unlocking the trunk access. "Hold up hold up…" he adds, reaching under the rim of the hood door and pressing something, a pair of stairs seeming to fade into existance in place of the empty trunk interior. "Alright, Miss Alice and Nessa obviously get the car, grab whoever ya like the most to squeeze in with you, rest of you hop in quick before someone sees." he nods before mumbling in an annoyed voice, "Pretty sure Nessa told me just her and 'a couple friends'..."
Simoni blinks, peeking inside as she finds a rather cavernous space in there, Nelen looking over her shoulder and letting out a whistle, "Nifty. Same enchantment I've got on my bag. Not easy to do those on machines..." he mutters as he looks around. "Right, Dawn?" he asks as she sighs, then teleports past Simoni just fast enough to grab Dusk in her mouth. "Me'ff tamf th' trmfh." (‘We’ll take the trunk’) she nods, jumping in as Nelen shrugs, "Well, I can't ask Drusilla to get in there when she's pregnant. I'm the biggest of us so I'll keep the cats company." he adds, climbing in himself.
Simoni looks around at the others, then checks the backseat of the car to see how big it actually is and how many could fit in there.
Alice nods, "Yeah, mom's pride and joy there, took her ages to get that right." she says, getting into the front seat as Nessa gets in the back. The rest of the back seat looked like, aside from Drusilla, two others could get in, maybe three if there was some squeezing or lap sitting.
Simoni thinks, then nods, "Stephy and Sammi know them better. They should ride in the car. We can go in the trunk." she says, climbing in herself as Stephy smiles at her before climbing in the backseat with Sammi and Drusilla. Arja nods, climbing in the trunk with Trixie as the fae boys snuggle up with Alice and Drusilla happily, "Sounds fair to me." she agrees. Soon everyone is tucked away, either figuratively or literally.
Dawn looks around the interior of the car and raises her eyebrow, "Hm... Hey, remember Chloe? That clown fae we met in Japan? Think she has a car like this?" she grins, "I mean, it would explain how those clown cars work..." The cavern inside was a pocket dimension, a small one, but big enough for the group to stand and walk around in. It was designed like a small study, even a pot of coffee with accessories on a table in front of a bookshelf. The room didn't move or jiggle, of course, as the car takes off, providing at least a nice ride for the group as the car takes off.
Simoni looks through the books, Dusk taking his place on her shoulder again as Nelen examines the room. "Damn, okay... now I am impressed. She not only made it bigger inside, but somehow enchanted in a kinetic dampening spell so that it doesn't react to the car's movement and even managed to keep it indefini-" he says before Dawn puts a hand over his mouth and replies, "Nobody cares but you."
He frowns at her, then shrugs and sits down in one of the chairs as the car drives along, Simoni not finding any books that looked interesting (or rather, any books not in French) and settles for just sitting with Arja until they get there.
The books are indeed rather dull, even if one spoke French they'd find the books were almost all scientific books on biology or journals of past hunters, and not nearly as interesting as you'd think. A lot of 'I don't know what's going on, oh it's a werewolf, silvered it in the face, got paid' more than dramatic retellings of epic battles.
After about an hour and a half of driving, Alice wasn't kidding when she said 'Roche' implied living on the fringe, the group is finally roused by the trunk opening up, Nessa looking down at them "Heya all, here we are!"
The group eagerly clambers out of the trunk, Dawn shifting back into her animal form just on the off chance there were any mundanes around while Dusk ears himself another smack from immediately saying 'Finally! There wasn't anything to do down there!' as loudly as he could. Simoni climbs out last, looking up at the Roche estate as she straightens out her sari.
The estate was absolutely sprawling. One advantage of being so far out, the family owned acres and acres of land. Behind them (thankfully for the fae), was a massive cold iron gate attached to a brick wall that circled the estate, the symbol on the front was of an eagle in gold holding a blade of silver in its talons. In front of them was a large house that seemed to be right out of a period piece like Downton Abby. It was old, very old, not quite castle old, but this house clearly was pre-revolution at the absolute youngest. It looked at least three stories, with an attic, and no doubt a cellar and basement as well. The stones making it up were pale red and white, making the house almost shine when the sun hits it just right, topped by a short, wide, sea-foam green roof in the shape of a rounded pyramid. Through the windows the group saw a good bit of movement, though all the curtains were drawn.
Alice takes a deep breath in, smiling happily, "Smells like home sweet home…" she grins, extending her cane as Nessa nods, looking over to a small bunch of trees that were bearing apples currently, "Oooh, the apples are gonna be able to get picked soon, that means pies and tarts probably."
Nelen shrugs, "I prefer 'em raw myself." he says as Dawn glances to the door, then hops down and shifts back into her humanoid form now that she's confirmed they're away from prying eyes. The group heads forward towards the house as Dusk's head turns every which way it can from Simoni's shoulders, sniffing at the air and trying to look in all directions at once with a wide cheshire grin. It seems this is the kind of adventure he's eager for. It even gets Simoni out of her melancholy for a bit, the girl smiling and rubbing at Dusk's ear, causing the kitten to bat playfully at her hand.
Stephy sticks close to Alice and Sammi, the fae dressed pretty formally (though still mundane formally. He didn't have time to put on an ice gown or anything before they arrived). He's dressed in a long ice blue satin gown with a loose white lace jacket over his shoulders for the event, wanting to look his best for her parents. It never even occurred to him that anyone might find it odd that a boy his age is dressed like a girl... but then he's a fae, and they could get away with a lot in supernatural circles.
Alice smiles, rubbing Stephy's back, "Don't be so nervous, I’ve told them tons about you, they like you already." she giggles as she walks down the long cobblestone path to those massive double wood doors. Sammi also pats Stephy's shoulder, dressed more casually, but still to impress, an ice blue silk tunic and black pants, not wanting to draw the eye away from his brother it seemed.
Simoni smiles at them, leaning into Arja. Really, she and Stephy had a lot in common. They both got adopted into other families and they both found that their lives were a lot happier that way. The only real difference is that she still liked her birth parents, while Stephy only had one worth having and both were dead now. Part of her does have to admit one thing, for all of Morrigan's manipulations, there was some good out of it. If she hadn't gone on all those adventures with Arja, their little family would never have come to be.
Didn't nearly make up for what the goddess did, but it helped.
Stephy blushes a bit at Alice, then nods and walks a bit more confidently. He's still nervous about meeting her parents, but at least now he knows his appearance won't be a shock to them.
Alice smiles back at him as Nessa knocks loudly on the door with the heavy brass knocker, a moment later the doors open and a young woman in a maid's uniform greets them, near squealing with delight as she sees Nessa and Alice. "Oh thank goodness you guys got here!" she says, going to hug the both of them "We really could use you two around, obviously we wanted to see you anyway but..." she looks at the group before leaning in, whispering to Alice in French 'it happened'...
Stephy blinks a bit as Simoni glances at Alice and Nessa. Dawn just grinning as her ears perk, "What happened?" she asks, smirking at the maid as she replies to her in perfect french. Again, one of the perks of being a Cheshire is being born able to speak and understand mundane languages.
The maid frowns softly at Dawn before Alice shakes her head "Its fine, just a bit of... family drama. Let's get you guys in" she says as she ushers the group inside. The maid brings them into the sitting room where most of the family seems to be gathered. There was an older man and woman, looking to be in their early sixties or so, obviously the parents. Alice's father was tall and rather broad shouldered despite his age, his dirty blonde hair having faint signs of whitening. Next to him was Alice's mother, as tall as her husband, but lithe like Alice, her black hair tied into a bun behind her head as she sits in a chair.
Alice's dad looks over to the group, it's rather clear there's something on his mind, but his blue eyes light up when he sees his daughter and Nessa, making his way quickly over to them, "Girls, I'm glad you came…" he greets them in a surprisingly soft voice, reaching to squeeze Alice's hand. Your siblings are here, and a few cousins." he says to her as Alice nods "I hear them…" she replies with a light smile.
There were what looked like three sisters, all seeming older than Alice, from a girl who looked just a shade or two older to one who seems to be in her early thirties or late twenties. Two of the sisters had their father's blue eyes, but it was hard to see the oldest's with her face buried in her hands. In front of her, flanked by what seemed to be the brothers, a man that looked the oldest sister's age and one around Alice's, both seeming to be comforting their sister.
In front of Alice's mother was the reason, it was a small dark green cloth lined bassinet that, on first glance, held a perfectly happy cooing baby. Though when the group gets closer it becomes clear, the baby's eyes are milky white just like Alice's...
Simoni blinks at that, glancing between Alice and the infant as Dawn sniffs curiously. Nelen doesn't say anything, knowing that it'd be extremely rude to point out the kid's eyes of course. Sadly, in accordance with Murphy's Law... "Why are the human kitten's eyes all weird?" asks Dusk as Simoni cringes, Stephy lets out a soft groan, and Dawn's hand immediately darts out and pinches the special patch of fur on him as she glares daggers at her kid brother. "Forgive my brother, he lost his manners in a card game." she mutters as the two of them vanish, Nelen quickly stammering out apologies.
Alice's mother just laughs softly, shaking her head, "A Wonderland resident I assume?" she smiles knowingly as she reaches into the bassinet to rub under the child's chin. "It's alright, this is hardly a new experience for us... has Alice ever told you about her blindness?" she asks as Alice shakes her head, "I didn't think it was right to talk about that with others…" she admits, her sister with her face buried in her hands actually letting out a laugh at that, still keeping her face buried. "Well, we're a bit past that huh?" She says as Alice nods, sighing.
"My family, in the ancient days, made a pact with a powerful fae lord. He trained us in the way of combat and how to hunt beasts, and in return... in every generation, he takes the sight of two children born to them, a male and a female. We're given boons in exchange, speed, higher senses, the family blades... but it's never exactly an easy experience, especially for the parents." she says, looking to her sister sadly. "I'm sorry, Leeah... is it..." she nods at that, sighing softly as she pulls her face up finally, only to look at the roof, "He's a boy, guess that'll at least let cousin Jen sleep better, her baby's going to be a boy too..."
Simoni glances away at that, not wanting to say anything. Blindness in exchange for power... that was a bit different from what Clan Fullmoon got... infact, she finds herself wondering what exactly they did give Morrigan. The boons of a goddess probably carried a bigger price tag than that of a fae.
Stephy pouts at the baby, then fidgets nervously, "Huh... I didn't know it was something like that..." he murmurs, "I mean, she said she was blind from birth, but I thought it was just some genetic thing." he admits, feeling an odd urge to hide his pointed ears under his hair now. Its clear that the situation was uncomfortable for Alice's family and, perhaps, extended beyond just the fact that the son was born blind like his cousin.
After a few minutes Dawn teleports back in, holding Dusk firmly by the scruff. "Say it." she hisses. Dusk fidgets then rolls his eyes and says, as if reciting from a book, " 'm sorry I'm a furbrained idiot who don't have any tact..." he mutters before Dawn lets him go, the kitten immediately teleporting back onto Simoni's shoulder.
Alice's father chuckles "Yea, that's the excuse we give, it isn't technically a lie after all, it is kind of a genetic thing..." he sighs, "We'll be fine, Roches endure far worse, and despite the slight gloom about today the boy will be raised with love and a family willing to do anything to help him, far better lot than many like him get." Alice nods at that, "I never had any problem growing up…" she replies, mainly to her sister, "Really, you remember, you were always so sweet to me, but you never babied me either. You're going to do great." That makes her give a small smile, before laughing a bit, "Yeah, hopefully he won't be such a little princess though…" he teases, making Alice blush faintly, "Did she ever tell you all about the time she decided it wasn't fair that our baby brother got a birthday when she didn't, so she stole his cake and ate it all?" She teases, Alice huffing slightly in response, "In my defense I was SIX." she frowns defensively as some laughter comes from her family, the air around the room seeming to lighten a bit.
"You don't need to hide, dear." Alice's middle sister says to Stephy with a smile, "We don't hate fae or anything. We weren't swindled or tricked, the deal was very clear, two children a generation, blind, no fixing it, it was a deal our ancestors felt was important enough to make to protect their people, and we honor that." she nods to the fae boy.
"I'm sorry, we're being dreadful hosts." her mother adds, "You've been on a plane from India, then into that car, I'm sure this is the last thing you wanted as a reception. I'm Theodora, Alice's mother, and the recipient of a very cruel family tradition of my own with that name." she says with a light smile, "My husband, Ryan, much luckier. Our daughters, Leeah, Rochelle, and Isolde." she says, nodding to her daughters from older to younger, "And of course Alice" she adds "The twins, Francis and Leon, and... hrm…" she frowns, looking around, "Where did Marshal get to?" she asks before a familiar clacking sound comes from nearby before a boy about Sammi's age with his mother's black hair comes walking out from the kitchen, "Sorry mother, I was checking on the food." he replies to her, licking his lips. The boy was obviously the male side of Alice's generational curse, wearing the same black glasses and holding the same cane she does.
Stephy relaxes a bit at the girl's words, still feeling a bit awkward about the situation. They may not be acting upset, but its clear they weren't happy when he came in. Still... its not like he's the fae who's doing it. Nelen waits for them to all arrive and nods, "Well, I'm sure Alice has told you about Stephen, or Stephy as we call him, and his brother Sammi." he replies, gesturing to the two fae boys. "I'm Nelen Fullmoon, but I hope you won't hold that against me. This is Drusilla Leorne, my..." he pauses, "... well, I guess we're as good as married given what we found out recently..." he blushes a bit, then continues, "These two are Arja and Simoni Barjar. Simoni there is my sister, its complicated." he adds, then nods to Dawn, who was idly tickling at the infant now, "Thats Dawn, and you already met her brother Dusk..." he frowns at the kitten again, Dusk merely shrugging before he starts washing his ears. "And our friend here is Trixie Smith." he gestures to the huckster girl. Stephy giggles a bit and curtsies the group when he's introduced, Simoni offering a polite bow, as Dawn merely waves and replies, "Yo."
Alice smiles as Nelen introduces the group, Sammi nodding his head politely, Arja smiling and waving to the family. Drusilla blushes a bit at being basically called his wife, but beaming happily when he does, and Trixie simply nodding her head as her name is called. "Sorry if the group is a bit big," Alice adds, her father shaking his head, "Nonsense… we could use some fresh air around here, get us out of the funk, I'd hate for this boy to think his birth was something we mourned." he says, Leeah nodding in agreement as she stands, "Yes, despite my fears I couldn't be happier to have a son." she says, smiling softly as she moves over to look at him. "What's his name?" Trixie offers, Leeah shaking her head, "We don't name children for a week and a day, he still has six days to go." she says, poking the boy's nose as Sammi nods, "Fae thing. Mortals who are close with us, even if it's a friendly relationship, don't name their children until enough time has passed to keep them from our hands. Obviously abductions can happen any time but tradition says that the best time to take an infant is a week after birth. Without a name we have no power over him." He smiles at that, poking the boy's nose softly, "Don't we?" he coos, "I can't even make you a little chilly can I sweetie?" he giggles.
As Sammi and the girls move to fawn over the baby, one of Alice's brothers, the older one, moves over to Nelen, sticking his hand out, "Francis Roche, nice to see a Fullmoon who isn't trying to break my baby sister in half." he grins. Despite being called 'twins' with his brother it's pretty obvious he's Leeah's twin, being the same age and looking so similar... "Ignore what mom said about me and Leon, she likes giving me a hard time for hanging out with him more than my sister when we were little…" he laughs.
Nelen sighs and rolls his eyes at that, taking the man's hand in his bandaged one and giving it a shake, "She told you guys about her encounter with my late uncle Robert huh?" he asks, "Well, if it makes you feel any better he got what was coming to him." he smirks, gesturing to Drusilla as Dawn grins. "Yep! Our one eyed wrecking machine here tore him up good. It was raining Fullmoon that night!" she grins widely. Nelen lets out a sigh at her words, Dawn had more tact than her brother... but only just really. "Yes, well, either way he's not going to be hurting anyone anymore... and I have it in good faith that Clan Fullmoon will be focusing entirely on things that actually are a threat to the mundane world from now on." he nods.
Stephy goes to join his brother, tickling the infant's toes as he fusses over how tiny he is as Simoni blushes, then winds up joining in, even forgetting about her own frustrations in the face of a newborn (its probably a girl thing). Dusk even hops down, sniffs at the kid a bit, then curls up in the basket next to his side, the kitten about half as big as the baby.
Francis nods at that, "Oh don't worry she's told us plenty about your fight with the Fullmoon, we're glad to hear the clan's going back to what it was supposed to be. We may not be best friends, but I'd rather be rivals with the occasional scrap than outright enemies. Not how stuff's supposed to work, you know?" he then grins at Drusilla, "You tore that guy up, huh?" he chuckles as she nods, grinning as well as Francis slaps Nelen's side at that, "Can see why you got in good with her, never heard of a giantkin getting involved in an outside conflict in ages." he teases before looking a bit more serious. "How are you two doing, though? The whole... crossbreeding thing… I know that can be tough, the Roche line has been known to sprinkle in the occasional ‘not so mundane’ members, but we never had a giant in the mix."
Nelen shrugs, "Honestly just the fact that it happened at all was a shock. I mean, I dunno how much she told you guys about me, but I'm an ex-mercenary. Used to operate out of the Wolf's Head Pub in London and occasionally the Nightside. I never thought I'd actually have kids at all." he replies to Francis, "Still... I guess the real question is what we're going to have... and I don't just mean boy or girl." he nods, "A kid with cyclops strength and either Fullmoon's strength boosting that or the ability to use magic..." he sighs, "Yeah, our 'babyproofing' is going to involve refitting the kid's nursery walls with titanium..." he rolls his eyes.
Over at the baby pretty much everyone else had gathered, universally agreeing Dusk looked adorable curled up next to him. "Surprised to see a pair of Wonderlanders in the mundane world…" Alice's mother smiles, "You Chesires are rare enough, I thought most of you stuck in your homes." she nods. Dawn pads over and shrugs, "Well, if you wanna get technical we're only half-Cheshire. My mom was a full Cheshire herself, but my dad was from Earth. Not sure if he was a supernatural too or if she just shacked up with a tomcat." she nods, smirking a bit at Dusk as he nuzzles into the infant's side. Alice's mother nods, "Ah, interesting! I've never heard of that happening.” she replies. "Well you look very cute, as does your brother." she says as the baby coos happily, snuggling into the soft sensation against his side and electing a squeal from everything female (or just girly in the fae’s case) around him.
As she explains their parentage Marshal makes his way over, accidentally bumping past Stephy as he gets to the baby, "Oops, sorry…" he apologizes before leaning over to 'look' at the baby, "So he's blind too huh?" he asks about as bluntly as Dusk did. "Mhm…" Leeah replies, not exactly sounding thrilled, but at least not sounding sad anymore. "You're gonna be a good cousin and help him out right? He's gonna need help learning to do stuff." Marshal just grins in response, "So am I gonna be his teacher like Alice then? Do I get to smack him too?" he asks, the question answered as Alice swats his side lightly with her cane, "Maybe if you learned do duck better you wouldn't get smacked, how do you know you're not just the slow one in the family?" she teases.
"So!" Alice's father announces after a bit, "Enough pouting inside. We have a lovely garden set up, it's a beautiful day… shall we get a little fresh air? I'm sure Alice's guests will appreciate some nice country air after all that travel." he grins as Arja nods, "Yeah, that actually does sound nice." she agrees. Leeah nods as well, "It's about time for this guy's feeding anyway, and nothing against Alice's lovely friends but it would be nice to not whip my tit out in front of them within our first half hour together. We'll catch up in a second."
Nelen lets out a sudden cough at Leeah's words as he nods, heading quickly towards the door with Dawn smirking and following along, plucking Dusk out of the bassinet and tossing him to Simoni as the kitten lets out a yowl, then vanishes in midair and reappears on her shoulder, hissing at his sister. "Sounds good to me." grins the older cat as she follows Nelen outside, Simoni petting Dusk's head to calm him down so he wouldn't claw her wrap up as she follows along as well.
Alice smiles, walking after the group happily. The garden is indeed quite well tended, flowers planted in beds all around, even a section for vegetable gardening, though it looked freshly harvested for the party, only a few under-developed tomatoes and such left behind. Tables and chairs set up under a large arc of white wood with flowers and vines woven through it. After a moment more Nessa comes back out with a small group of maids, all holding covered platters or pitchers of what looks like fresh fruit juices, "Here we go." Nessa giggles, setting her tray down on a table and pulling it open to reveal a tray of skewers of roasted meat and veggies, other maids revealing things such as large salads, fried pastries stuffed with assorted things, and even a tray of fresh looking sushi. "Enjoy this before it gets eaten." Nessa grins, getting herself a piece of sushi with what looks like squid on top of it, "This always is the first to go." she giggles.
Nelen eyebrows it, then takes a skewer of roast meat for himself (he’s never liked seafood) as Dawn immediately grabs a plate and as much sushi as it'll hold, Dusk appearing on her shoulder and pointing out which ones he wants excitedly before they both teleport away into the bushes. A few minutes later a sound like two cats loudly devouring a platefull of seafood emerges. Simoni shakes her head at them, having her own skewer like her brother, whole Stephy has a few veggies and a couple pastries.
"So, Nessa... I've been meaning to ask. How exactly did you wind up working with the Roches anyways?" he says, tilting his head at the aztec sorceress. "I mean, South America and France aren't exactly next door neighbors..." he nods, taking another bite of his roasted steak kebab.
Nessa smiles, "Well, my mother is friends with Alice's mother. They both were hunting friends ever since her family helped mom with a problem. They were on a trek into South American jungles to study creatures and they heard about a camp of cartel types who were harvesting supernaturals and magic users for parts. Mom was one of them on the chopping block and she didn't really have a home to go back to, so they paid her way here and helped her immigrate and all. Me and Alice have been basically sisters since we were born." She smiles, chewing on her own skewer as Sammi grabs himself some sushi, getting into a tugging match with Isolde over a few bits before making his way to join Stephy with his fish and pastries. "Wow, Alice's family is neat, huh Stephy? You havin fun?" he smiles as he bites into some food.
Stephy nods, eating a few baby tomatoes. He prefers fruits, but certain veggies are fine too. "Yeah. Heck of a lot different from how Fullmoon's family gatherings went. Dunno about how they are now that Jeanne is in charge, but if we were at one while Franklin was still around by now at least three of my Uncles would be bare-knuckle fighting each other and one of my cousins would have me in a headlock while another would be filling a bucket with what he could find in the stables..." he nods slowly, then looks at Sammi, "See why I wasn't scared at the idea of Sera adopting me?" he asks, smirking.
As the two fae talk Nelen nods at Nessa, "Huh... harvesting supernatural bits... Sounds like Cheron to me. Had a run in with them before. Got contracted by some werewolf pack leader in Southern California to get one of his kids out of there before the doctors could vivisect him. Wound up getting a bit of a bonus on that one..." he smirks, thinking of how he and Dawn had found a rather irate little lagomorph in the same lab who promised them the sun and the moon and the stars and that he wouldn't start screaming for a guard at the top of his lungs if they took him with them.
Alice's father raises his brow when he hears that, looking to Nelen, "Pardon me, sorry to butt in but did you say you've gone against The Cheron Group before?" he asks, grinning before suddenly putting an arm around Nelen's shoulders, "I knew I had a good feeling about you! Come on into the study, you can tell me everything you saw in there, down to the color of the elevator's carpeting!" he nods firmly, pulling Nelen somewhat roughly to the house as Alice snickers, Nessa shaking her head, "May be best to just go limp and accept it, Nelen. The Roches have been fighting Cheron for a good bit, when he hears about someone who fought them he's eager to compare notes..." she says with a little smirk.
Nelen lets out a sudden yelp, but manages to grab another skewer before he gets dragged away, "Oi! Dawn! Someone wants to hear about the Cheron Job!" he calls as he's pulled off as Dawn peeks out of the bushes with a squid tentacle sticking out of her mouth, quickly shovels five more in to keep it company, and vanishes, catching up with the pair as she pads along into the house. Simoni smirks at that, "Wait until he hears what they actually found in there..." she giggles, seeming to forget how upset she's been... but then with all the laughter and the bright sunlight it's a lot easier to do that.
Sammi nods to his brother, patting his hand, "Well we're happy to have you, and Alice is happy to have you as a friend." he says with a soft giggle, Isolde making her way over to the table and snatching the last piece of tuna sushi off Sammi's plate, sticking her tongue out, "My house, my tuna.” she teases, sitting down with the brothers, "So, who's your patron then?" she asks in a friendly tone, kicking her feet up on the table as she eats the sushi right in front of Sammi, making him huff angrily.
Stephy giggles, letting Isolde have the tuna. Like his cousins he's never been much of a fan of seafood. "Well, her name is Sera, but I'll let Sammi do the whole introduction for her. He's better at it." he replies, taking a few grapes and such out of a fruit bowl and popping one into his mouth as Dusk appears on the table and snatches up another piece of octopus, then vanishes again with it in his jaws.
Sammi huffs as the good sushi is grabbed up before looking to Isolde "Lady Sera d'Orleans, queen of winter's fury, holder of the throne of the frozen blade, I'm forgetting some stuff but you get it." he teases, Isolde nodding, "Neat, I think I've heard of her. Sorry I'm kinda the fae nut of the house. Obviously we all know the generals but I've been doing a ton of research on the major players in Arcadia and all." she explains with a smile, Sammi nodding, "Huh, neat, not a lot of mortals who focus on us, not as sexy as werewolves or make for badass trophies like vampires." he teases, Isolde nodding as she looks to Stephy, "So, you're the famous Stephy…" she giggles, "You’re cuter than she described you."
Stephy blushes at that, "Well, I try..." he giggles, "But yeah... Alice was kinda the one who helped me get started with all this..." he gestures to himself, "Though... I do wish that had ended differently..." he sighs, "Glad my thug of a father got what he deserved..." he frowns, then shakes it off, "But yeah, that was when I was still human. Lady Sera adopted me into her house after I'd already met Arja and our other friends." he nods.
Inside the study Nelen is explaining as much as he can remember about the heist at the Cheron facility, "... the real trick was the electronic security, but thankfully I had a contact for that. A hacker with severe OCD owed me a favor... though getting him to remember that he did was a trick. Guy called himself Dev/Null, and he's a Malkovian vamprie. Real nutjob, but he does good work and was able to forge the credentials I'd need to fake my way in as a Cheron operative from out of state." he explains, "As for the facility itself..." he frowns, thinking, "Geez this was like, six years ago..." he mutters as Dawn pipes up, "I remember it..." she grins, "Infact, I could show everyone if you really wanted to 'see'." she grins wider, her eyes shining in the light.
Nelen blinks at her, "Oh yeah, geez the last time we did that was when we first met Akul..." he mutters, "Hm... the rest of your family interested in seeing a heist from a Cheron facility?" he asks.
Alice's father raises his eyebrow, "Her powers are developed enough to cause mass scale hallucination? Now that's impressive! Yes I think the whole family would be very interested, any information we can get for future raids is very important, especially first hand like that."
Nelen nods, "Yeah, she got plenty of practice while we were working together." he says, "Well, go ahead and let them know lunch will have a show with it then." he grins as Dawn blinks, then frowns, "Um... most of 'em anyways. Alice and Francis are sittin' this one out." she points out as Nelen winces, "Ah crap, that’s right. Wonderland EYES... it doesn't work on someone who can't see her."
He nods, going to tell the group that they were getting a special treat in an actual proper memory of a Cheron raid. Alice just smiles and collects her slightly pouting little brother Marshal, patting his head, "One good lesson, gaze moves have nothing on us, so while it does suck to miss out on the fun now, you'll be happy for that when you get a contract to take out a gorgon or a basalisk." she teases, making the boy giggle softly.
Nelen waits in the living room for them with Dawn next to him, "Well, sorry that some of you are going to have to miss out on this one... but since you guys are enemies of the Cheron Group here's a presentation on the inside of their San Antonio offices." he nods to Dawn, "Do your thing." he smirks as Dawn grins, takes a bow with a flourish, and then her eyes shine bright golden.
Everything goes black, and then the MGM logo appears with her own head taking the place of the lions as she lets out a very un-cat-like roar. "Sorry everyone, she always does stuff like this." says Nelen's voice as Dawn shoots a dirty look to her left, "Deal with it Wizzo." she hisses as the scene fades to show... the inside of a cat carrier, the whole thing from the point of view of the occupant as she peers out through the metal bars. "This is never gonna work Nelen..." whispers a much younger-sounding Dawn as Nelen whispers back, "Think positive. That Malkovian owed us and he does good work. We just get in, find the werewolf, grab him, and you warp all three of us to safety." he replies, Nelen clearly being the one holding the cat carrier. They get up to a security desk as the voices of Nelen and what is presumably the security guy drift down. "Yeah, I'm from our Minnesota branch. I was in town on leave and came across this beauty so I figured I'd drop her off for the lab guys to tinker with." says Nelen's voice.
"... No shit? A real Cheshire Cat? How the hell did you capture it?" asks the guard as Nelen replies, "Special cat carrier. See those? Put some runes on it, cat can't teleport out." he replies smugly as the man replies, "Huh, well, you check out. Go ahead, I'll buzz ya through. Good job." he nods as Dawn whispers to Nelen once they're out of earshot, "Runes... hah, dumb human can't even tell they're just spraypaint." she laughs as Nelen shushes her.
Alice's family is absolutely enraptured by the sight, looking at every little detail they can, obviously taking mental notes as they watch the show. Alice, meanwhile, grins a bit, taking her brother further into the garden for a quick training match, the two blind Roches sparing with their canes, Alice obviously taking it easy on her brother as they jab and swat at each other.
The show continues as the cage gets its way to the lab, Dawn occasionally putting on a show of rattling the bars and yelling things like 'let me outta here human!' to keep up their cover. Finally he gets to the lab entrance and his voice comes down as he talks to the guard there.
"Yeah, special delivery for Doctor Geiszler." he says to the guard there as Dawn gives the bars another rattle and hisses loudly, "Let me go you jerk! I've already had my shots!"
The guard shrugs, replying "Fine, leave it here and I'll call for him." to which Nelen says, "Not so fast buddy. I've got orders to deliver it personally to the doctor." he says. The guard grunts, "I don't think so, protocol says..." he starts as Nelen talks over him, "Protocol doesn't mean dick when Geiszler wants something and you know it. Now do you want me telling him you kept him waiting? Maybe he'll decide he needs another ‘volunteer’."
"Woah! Hey now, c'mon... J-just doing my job here..." the guard replies, sounding unnerved as he buzzes Nelen through. Once they're away Dawn giggles and Nelen mutters, "Even in Cheron the rent a cops are idiots..." he nods, the view from the cage showing white sterile hallways as Nelen walks along them, "Lets see... hum... aha. Broom closet here... and over here..." Dawn's viewpoint shifts, showing a red fire alarm box. "Alright, nobody around..." he mutters, then opens the closet door as a bandaged hand comes into view. A crimson tendril bursts out of the bandages and wraps around the alarm's handle, then Nelen pulls sharply and quickly ducks in, slamming the door. The view shows several bottles of industrial grade bleach as a loud screeching noise fills the laboratory, followed by the sound of running feet. "Right..." he nods, putting the cage down, then leaning down and opening the door as Dawn pads out quickly, looking up at Nelen.
The Nelen of six years ago looked rather different from the current one. No gray hair yet, and he didn't have his beard either, though he had a few scars on his cheek in the shape of claw marks. Making up for the lack of facial hair is a ponytail that reaches almost down to his waist. "Ready to go?" he asks as Dawn's view nods, "Right. We find the werewolf, then you teleport us out of here and we initiate Plan 53." he nods to her as Dawn giggles, "Fifty three... the 'run like hell'?" she asks as Nelen smirks back, "Thats the one."
The family watches just as carefully, a few of them clapping for Nelen's little performance as they do, "Hm, make a note to look up this doctor ‘Geiszler’…" Alice's father whispers to her oldest sister, the woman nodding, "On it." she adds. Leon chuckles as the fire alarm goes off, clearing out the building. "Nice move." he laughs with a grin. "Gotta remember that..."
In the vision Dawn changes shape, the view from her eyes suddenly shooting up from the floor to just below Nelen's waist as he opens the door, looks around, and nods. "Coast is clear, c'mon." he says, taking a small kleenex out of his pocket and holding it open, then letting a tendril dip into it before it points down the hallway. "Right, he's this way." he nods, heading past the labs. Dawn's view glances around in them showing, well, some pretty awful sights. A vampire strapped into a dental chair with several teeth missing is in one. Next one down a fae is tied down to a gurney as a needle draws his blood out into a medical bag, several full ones hanging nearby as well. "Jeez... That woman wasn't kidding about this place..." mewls Dawn as Nelen nods, "Yeah... Wish we could just torch the lab, but I don't want someone else putting a price on my head. Frank is enough." he nods firmly as they run along, finally finding the room with the werewolf.
Nelen pushes at the door and frowns, "Locked... Alright..." he nods as Dawn watches one of his arms shudder, the veins bulging on it before he gives it a hard, straight arm punch just below the door handle, knocking the latch right off the wall as he runs in. Inside is a transformed werewolf, muzzled and strapped down with several restraints designed for bear handlers. On a tray nearby are surgical tools, edged in silver. The wolf growls at him before Nelen pulls off his muzzle and quickly pulls his hands back, dodging it's teeth. "Woah woah hey! Calm the fuck down! We're here to get you out kid! ... shit what did she tell me to say?" he mutters, "Um... Gibbous! It was a gibbous moon when you first changed!" he says as the werewolf hesitates and then replies, in a voice that sounds like a young teenager, "Grandma sent you?"
Nelen nods and starts to undo the straps, having to cut them off as the keys were presumably in the pocket of whoever was about to use the tools on him. "Yeah, they'd be ready for a werewolf pack busting in, so they sent me instead." he nods, managing to free the lycantherope as his fur shrivels and he takes on the form of a scrawny fifteen year old kid. Nelen frowns and looks around, then tosses him a spare lab coat. "Right, we're not gonna have much time, we gotta..." he starts then a voice comes from one of the counters.
"HEY! Hey you! Mister Magic! Over here!" it calls. Standing in a large wire cage is a bipedal rabbit with a blue unicorn's horn growing out of it's forehead. Nelen looks at it in puzzlement and asks, "So what the hell are you?" and the creature replies, "I'm Bugs Goddamn Bunny, who do I look like? Listen, if you're getting teen wolf out of here would you mind terribly saving my furry ass too?"
Nelen thinks, "Hm... whats in it for me? Nothin' personal, but I am a merc y'know." to which the rabbit replies, "You'd just leave a cute defenseless little creature like me here after seeing what those sick fucks did to their other captives?!" he demands. Nelen smirks, "Yeah, cursing like a sailor kinda devalues the whole 'cute' thing..."
The rabbit smirks, "Alright, how about this? If you don't get me outta here I'll tell the guards exactly who busted him out?" he sneers as Nelen glances back at the now human werewolf and frowns, "... dammit, alright fine. Lets get you out of here..." he peers at his card, "... U. N. 1. L. 0. P? Wait, Unilop?" he blinks, the rabbit sneering, "They're scientists, not writers. They suck at names... LESS TALK DAMMIT!" he yells as Nelen sighs, makes a blood tendril, and rips the cage door off it's hinges, the rabbit quickly hopping out and nodding, "C'mon, I know where there's a service entrance."
"Interesting…" Alice's mother says, "Never seen a creature like that. Has he been useful to you guys at all? Any clues to his origin?"
The present Nelen nods, "I'll tell you guys about him after this." he replies as in the vision the past Nelen just smirks, "No need Bugs, we've got our exit. Dawn?" he smirks as Dawn's viewpoint changes to look up at Nelen, presumably she's grinning. "One get out of jail free card comin' up!" she replies, then blinks and pauses, looking at her hands as she wiggles her fingers a bit, "... um... comin' up... c'mon... c'mooooon... uh oh..." she mutters as Nelen's looks down at her with a confused expression, "What?"
"Um... its not going." she replies. Nelen frowns, "What do you mean it's not going? Those runes were bullshit remember?" he asks as Dawn hisses back at him, "Yeah! I know they were, it was my idea to do that! Something is blocking my magic!" she shoots back as Nelen looks around in a panic, "Wait, something can actually do that?!" he yells as Dawn replies, "Well yeah apparent-" before a voice cuts over her. "You! Vat are you doing vith mien verevolf?!" it spits in a thick german accent.
Striding towards them is an elderly looking man in a lab coat with receeding white hair, a hawklike nose, and a stern expression. "Who are you boy, und vhy are you in mein laboratory?" he demands as Nelen looks around, "Oh, um... you must be Doctor Geiszler... its, um, its a real pleasure. I've read all your papers...” he attempts, then sighs and shrugs his shoulders, “… yeah fuck this, BLOOD IN YOUR EYE!" he yells as he shoots a blast of blood at the doctor's face, causing him to yell and fall backwards before he lands on the floor unconscious. "Dawn, plan 53!" he yells as he runs out of the room, grabbing Unilop on the way out. "The fuck is plan fifty three?" demands the rabbit as suddenly three guards burst through a door at the other end of the hallway.
"RUN LIKE HELL!" yells Dawn.
Alice's family seems to enjoy that, "Been there plenty of times…" comes from the crowd, another voice laughing, "Yeah, I was with you on that one..." to add in as they watch, still making notes of the instruments used and the methods of containing their 'specimens'.
Nelen takes down one of the guards with a blood blast as the werewolf shapeshifts again, falling on another with an appropriately gory outcome as the third one grabs the blood mage from behind. "Think you're clever do ya?" he sneers, "Well try this! I've got real vampire fangs buddy!" he hisses, then bites down hard on Nelen's throat... for about three seconds before he suddenly shrieks and jumps off him, clawing frantically at his face as the blood in his mouth suddenly sprouts a series of tendrils covered in jagged teeth and begins tearing him apart from the inside out.
Unilop curses loudly at the sight as Nelen just smirks, "Guess he didn't like how I taste." he sneers, heading onwards as Dawn's viewpont changes, looking around frantically for an exit until...
"WOAH! HEY! DAWN! Go back..." says the present Nelen.
Like a video rewinding the view slowly moves in reverse until Nelen tells her to stop.
Sitting in one of the laboratories, tagged and everything, is a large wooden bat-like weapon with jagged shards of metal all around it... shards of metal that have a shadowy, empty aura all around them. "... ah crap, forgot all about that..." mutters the present Dawn.
"Dawn? What is that?" asks Nelen in a way that says he knows damn well what it is.
"Um... looks like one of those weird aztec weapons? A maca... macu... mekkalekkahaimekkaheinieheinieho?" she tries.
"A macuahuitl Dawn and you KNOW thats not what I'm talking about."
Dawn giggles nervously, "Um... well... maybe... possibly... it might've been a Mundane Blade..." she mewls.
Nessa raises her brow at that, "I've heard stories of an ancient weapon used in central America, it was called the ‘Path to the Underworld’ I believe, it was said to have been stolen from the gods themselves... that would be how they would view something like a Mundane Blade wouldn't it..."
Nelen lets out a long sigh, "... right... well, we'll discuss that in a minute... Guess we know why you couldn't teleport then. Dawn. As you were." he says.
The show continues, basically showing Nelen, Dawn, Unilop, and the werewolf boy fighting their way through several of Cheron's thaumatech enhanced guards before finally busting out through the backdoor of the facility and, once outside, Dawn was finally able to teleport them back to where the Werewolf pack made their base.
The vision fades in what appears to be millions of butterflies as the view of the Roche family's living room returns, Nelen glaring at Dawn. "So, when were you planning on telling me about that?" he asks as Dawn frowns at him, "Oh give me a damn break Nelen! We were running for our lives and, besides, after his den mother got us tickets out of the state you got me fish remember? Give a six year old Cheshire fish and she won't remember much of anything for a while." she smirks.
Nessa laughs softly, "Well, that WAS very educational then, we saw a rare look at a Cheron lab and the existence of another blade, one belonging to MY people..." she frowns a bit, "That's troubling in itself... There are many creatures from that region that have all but been wiped out."
Nelen nods, "Yeah, but if it was that Mundane Blade that did it then I doubt Cheron was the ones behind it. From what we've seen the Mundane Blades literally trap supernatural beings inside them, body and everything. Cheron wouldn't do something like that unless they were damn sure they'd be able to get them back out again." he makes a face at that, "I mean, why waste good parts? More than likely they just found the thing and wanted to see what it could do. They probably have it locked away in one of their labs or something. I mean, even their own thaumatech boys wouldn't be able to use it without the thing killing their own powers."
Nessa chuckles softly, "Interesting, so they're kinda doing our job for us..."
Nelen shrugs, "So long as it stays there I guess." he nods as Simoni shakes her head, "Jeez... no wonder you're able to plan all this stuff out whenever we need it." she says, looking to Nelen, "I mean, that had to be, what, 2009?" she asks, "I know you got rid of the ponytail about then..." she giggles a bit.
Nelen shrugs, "Call it job experience." he replies as Dawn takes the opportunity to swipe whatever sushi is left, Dusk following quickly behind her and yowling, "Save some for me!"","pools_count":0,"title":"Part 2.4: Eyes, Blind and Wonderland","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"application/msword","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"1","rating_name":"Mature","ratings":[{"content_tag_id":"3","name":"Violence","description":"Mild violence","rating_id":"1"}],"submission_type_id":"12","type_name":"Writing - Document","guest_block":"f","friends_only":"f","comments_count":"0","views":"22","sales_description":null,"forsale":"f","digitalsales":"f","printsales":"f","digital_price":""}