{"submission_id":"861885","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":"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":"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":"10129","keyword_name":"supernatural","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"375"}],"hidden":"f","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"0","create_datetime":"2015-05-31 17:34:23.951527+02","create_datetime_usertime":"31 May 2015 17:34 CEST","last_file_update_datetime":"2015-05-31 17:29:45.158816+02","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"31 May 2015 17:29 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":"1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1171/1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1171/1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1171/1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","files":[{"file_id":"1171873","file_name":"1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1171/1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1171/1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1171/1171873_Simoni_the_french_fae_festival.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"861885","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":"7d2201bf1c4688e775d091a2be2ec5e4","full_file_md5":"7d2201bf1c4688e775d091a2be2ec5e4","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2015-05-31 17:29:45.158816+02","create_datetime_usertime":"31 May 2015 17:29 CEST"}],"pools":[],"description":"Another fun little Stephy story and the introduction of a new character, Nessa's kid sister Patli. For anyone watching these (holy crap you're real?) I've already added her to Nelen's Encyclopedia Supernatural that I linked in my last journal.\n\nBut yeah, after this the group will be heading to Sicily for Drusilla's baby shower, cyclops style (read; lots of beer, lots of fighting).\n\nThis was a fun little chapter though, and it helped tie up the loose end from Dreamings & Dragons. Its nice to have short ones like this that are just cute and playful.","description_bbcode_parsed":"Another fun little Stephy story and the introduction of a new character, Nessa's kid sister Patli. For anyone watching these (holy crap you're real?) I've already added her to Nelen's Encyclopedia Supernatural that I linked in my last journal.

But yeah, after this the group will be heading to Sicily for Drusilla's baby shower, cyclops style (read; lots of beer, lots of fighting).

This was a fun little chapter though, and it helped tie up the loose end from Dreamings & Dragons. Its nice to have short ones like this that are just cute and playful.","writing":"Simoni yawns and sits up in bed, rubbing her eyes as she looks over at Arja laying next to her, the girl still asleep. She shakes her long hair out, then looks down at the food of the bed and nudges Dusk with her toe. \"Well?\" she asks as the kitten stirs, then mewls, \"Mnn... nope, lady is still gone. You were dreamin' about flying all night.\" he replies, stretching and pawing at the bedsheets as he swishes his tail.\n\nSimoni nods, \"Good... thats good.\" she replies, then flops back down and snuggles into Arja's sleeping form. Ever since they'd gotten back to India she'd basically press-ganged Dusk into watching her dreams and making sure that Morrigan really had removed the 'backdoor' into her thoughts, but so far her dreams, while occasionally being what would be considered 'inappropriate' outside of some of the darker parts of the internet or the Nightside, had indeed been her own and not influenced by anyone else... except maybe Dusk. She seems to remember a lot more fish in them than normal, but she'd rather have the kitten getting a meal than a goddess making her throw caution, sanity, and self-preservation instincts to the wind.\n\nThe house is quite calm in the morning, the early shift maids going about their work quickly and quietly. The guests were put up in the visitor wing of the large house, enough 'guest rooms' free to let everyone have their own room if they wanted, even though most everyone slept paired off or the like. The beds were soft and comfortable, they even had television sets in their rooms if they wanted, it was a pretty nice set up.\n\nTrixie was currently snuggled up with Stephy in bed, Sammi having pushed his way in as well to make a Stephy sandwich. The room was still quiet in the morning hours, though after a bit Stephy would feel some weight on the bed at his feet, and the feeling of someone staring at him...\n\nStephy stirred, having been visiting Sera in his dreams to tell her about the visit and Alice's family. One of the fringe benefits of being a Changeling on good terms with one of the True Fae, you can visit them when you sleep. In his dreams he's seated at a small table outside of Sera's castle, sharing some tea with his mother, \"... so then Nelen got all angry at Dawn because they'd ran right past one of the Mundane Blades six years ago and she just now told...\" he pauses, then blinks and looks down at his leg, \"Huh, I'd better go mom, I think someone is trying to wake me up.\" he nods, getting up and giving Sera a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug before vanishing back into his body as he blinks sleepily, squirming out from between the French fairy and the Texan tomboy as he looks down at the foot of the bed, groping around for his glasses.\n\nAt first it almost looked like Nessa was at his bed foot, squatting down and grinning wickedly at him, but something was off on that. When he gets his glasses on Stephy sees better. She looks a lot like Nessa, same dark brown skin and facial features... though she's smaller, and a good deal skinner, looking around Trixie's age, but a good near head shorter. Her hair is also different, shiny emerald green hair cut into a short mess of spikes. Her eyes were locked on Stephy, bright yellow, almost glowing even, as she grins wide at him.\n\nHis eyebrows go up and he tilts his head, then he reaches his hands down slowly and gently shakes Sammi and Trixie awake, \"Guys? I think Dawn finally figured out how to change all the way into a human... and dyed her hair...\" he nods, keeping his eyes on the girl. She did look like Nessa, but the eyes definitely gave away that she was more than just an ordinary mundane human as well.\n\nTrixie grunts a bit as she's shook, giving Stephy a little push back in response as Sammi wakes up \"eh?\" As Stephy speaks the girl comes crawling eagerly up to Stepy, nearly pinning down the boy as she does so, \"Hi!\" she chirps happily, \"You're Stephy right?\"\n\nStephy looks around, looking up at the tiny Nessa doppleganger, \"Um... yes?\" he tries, wondering if he should scream or something... though, some bit of his memory was trying to dig around for something, a bit of conversation he'd had with Nessa back when he was still human. He blinks a few times, then recognition sets in, \"Wait a minute, are you Nessa's little sister? Um... Pa... pa-something?\" he tries, he'd only heard the name once and it was a long time ago...\n\nThe girl giggles happily, nodding \"Patli!\" she grins, sitting herself down on top of Stephy, the girl wearing a long bright green and gold striped shirt with white shorts under it, clearly fresh out of bed herself. \"Glad you finally showed up here!\" she chirps. Trixie huffs lightly as yet another supernatural creature lays claim to her boyfriend, giving the girl a push off Stephy and sending her sprawling over Sammi, making both of them yelp loudly.\n\nStephy giggles a bit nervously, \"Um... yeah, nice to meet you too... but you probably should've waited until at least breakfast.\" he replies. He knew from experience Trixie did not like being woken up early. Still, yeesh, no wonder he'd mistaken her for Dawn at first. The manic personality, the lack of understanding of personal space... yellow eyes helped too. \"So, um... since we're all awake now, yeah. I'm Stephy and these are my brother Sammi and my [i]girlfriend[/i] Trixie.\" he nods to both of them, making sure to put extra emphasis on the fact that he and Trixie were a couple.\n\nShe nods, smiling to the other \"Hi! I'm Nessa's sister, Patli!\" she giggles, not seeming to notice or mind the death glare Trixie was giving her as she yanks Stephy over to her lap, \"Oh! Right, breakfast, I was supposed to get you guys up for breakfast!\"\n\nStephy lets out an eep, the young fae boy wearing just an icy blue satin nightie as he's suddenly dragged over into his girlfriend’s embrace. \"Yeah, um, okay, lemme get dressed and I'll meet you down there.\" he nods, glancing between her and Trixie, who he noticed was already reaching for the nightstand that held her cards and guns.\n\nShe nods, smiling happily as she hops up \"See ya down there!\" she chirps happily, running out of the room to wake up the others. Trixie huffs a bit, pinching Stephy's cheek lightly \"Ever since ya became a fae ya got too damn cute...\" she pouts.\n\nStephy flails a bit as she pinches him, but gets to his feet and rolls his eyes, \"That's Nessa's sister Trixie. Nessa knew me when I was still human, remember?\" he giggles, getting out of his bedclothes and changing into a loose blue silk sundress and sandals for now as Trixie smirks at him, \"Still, I'm gonna have to slap a brand on ya or somethin’ if this keeps up.\" she teases.\n\nStephy winces at the idea of Trixie with a branding iron coming towards him, \"Noooooooooooo way in hell Trixie. Fire AND iron.\" he nods firmly... then pauses, \"Though... maybe a tattoo sometime.\" he nods thoughtfully.\n\nOut in the hallway Patil all but collides with Dawn, the cat having begrudgingly given into Nelen's insistence that if she's going to stay human shaped she at least needs to wear some pants and a shirt. Her fur patches only covered up so much after all and he'd heard some of Alice's relatives talking the other night about their new 'streaker'. Dawn rebounds a bit, the cat wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a purple teeshirt with the Disney depiction of her species on it, before she blinks, looks over Nessa, and says, \"Huh, thought the women here said I was the only one they'd seen...\"\n\nThe girl grins wide as she looks at Dawn, seeing the girl's eyes and looking even closer, nearly shoving her face right up against the cat’s. \"Huh…\" she blinks, letting out a giggle, \"You're the wonder cat huh? Funny you could pass for a puma ya know.\"\n\nDawn earflicks, \"Wait wait, I think I heard that fucked-up-hand-girl talking about you. You're her kid sister huh?\" she asks, putting her hands on her hips as she swishes her tail, eyeing her critically, then leaning in a bit, \"Never seen a human with yellow eyes... are those contacts or...\"\n\nPatli grins wider at that, \"Nope!\" she chirps, tapping the side of her right eye and, suddenly, they vanish entirely, leaving two black (thankfully unnaturally black, nothing to see in there) holes behind before the eyes pop back in. \"Spirit eyes.\" she grins.\n\nDawn tilts her head the other way, \"Huh, trippy. Mine are Wonderland Eyes, wanna see what they-\" she starts before a large masculine hand lands on her shoulder, \"No Dawn, she doesn’t.\" frowns Nelen down at her, the blood mage wearing just a pair of pajama bottoms. He prefers to sleep topless and, given Drusilla's fondness for 'battle damage' she prefers it too... of course this means that Patil gets a good look at the mass of old scar tissue he calls his torso and arms. Even one of his nipples is missing, a relic from when he was starting out as a mercenary and made the mistake of flirting with a woman from the Nightside named 'Shotgun Suzie'.\n\nThe girl doesn't seem shaken by that at all, still grinning, \"Oh cool, are you a warrior?\" she asks, looking him up and down, \"Nessa didn't mention one of those in the group.\" It seemed the appreciation for 'battle damage' is shared between the cultures...\n\nNelen raises his eyebrow at her, glancing between her and Dawn, then replies, \"No, blood mage... Look, I'm gonna get dressed now. Dawn, if you're going to shatter someone's mental state and leave them a gibbering wreck of psychosis and neurosis, do it after breakfast.\" he nods firmly, then heads back inside and closes the door. He was already going to hear it from his mother when she found out he'd gotten a thirteen year old cyclops pregnant (even if in cyclops terms she was close to twenty), the last thing he needed was another supernatural tween giving him THAT kind of look.\n\nShe grins \"Oh! Right, breakfast! Sorry puma gotta go!\" she chirps, running past Dawn, knocking loudly on doors as she passes and yelling \"Breakfast time!\" at each one. After a moment Nessa walks out of the room she and Alice shared, \"Who told Patli to call people for breakfast?\" she groans sleepily, wearing a long white nightshirt down to her thighs, anything under it was a mystery, rubbing her eye with a scarred hand.\n\nStephy walks down through the hallway, running a hairbrush through his long blonde hair, \"No idea. She said someone told her so I assumed it was you.\" he replies as Dawn pads past, the cat having traded her pajama bottoms for jeans, though she insists on going barefoot. Simoni and Arja follow soon, Simoni dressed in a sari (she didn't need to dress up anymore, but she still liked to). Finally, Nelen emerges, putting on his hat and yawning wide, dressed in a teeshirt and bluejeans, the space between his wrists and upper arms exposed and showing more than a few scars, exit wounds, and other injuries. He should have bled out and died multiple times in his life, but one of the dubious bonuses of being Merihim's host meant that he couldn't die from blood loss unless, well, the wound would also cause him to die from something else (say, decapitation).\n\nNessa shakes her head, \"Musta volunteered, she was eager to meet you guys…\" she yawns, sighing as she walks back into the room, coming back out with a pair of jeans added to her outfit, Alice following behind in a pair of her own jeans and a green blouse. Trixie had slipped into a pair of shorts and a red button down shirt, and Sammi was wearing his ice blue shirt and black pants again. As the group gathers they start to smell breakfast. Multiple meats cooking, eggs, toast, the kitchen was working hard for sure!\n\nDawn steals more than a few breakfast kippers, Dusk immediately appearing on her shoulder and pointing out the ones he likes, before they both vanish outside. Even in her human-ish form Dawn's cat-like habits remain and she prefers to eat without others watching her. As the others sit down to breakfast Simoni glances over at Patil and asks, \"So, why weren't you here yesterday?\" she says curiously to the young Aztec girl.\n\nPatli smiles as she walks over with a plate rivaled only by Drusilla's (the cyclops girl now eating for two, eating meals that would normally be fit for many many adults...), mainly of meats with a scrambled egg 'foundation' it seemed. \"Oh I was training with mom, I wanted to be there but, ya know, spirit quest stuff, time gets all fuzzy wuzzy and by the time I was back it was like, dawn...\" \n\nNessa sighs at her sister, \"You've been up for an entire day?\" she asks, Patli shakes her head \"Two days!\" making Nessa sigh again, \"Guys this is my baby sister Patli, she's a Nagual, basically a spirit bound shapeshifter witch, her spirit is the hummingbird... so we have this...\" she nods, gesturing to the hyperactive girl and her mountain of food.\n\nStephy nods, \"That would explain a few things, yes...\" he replies to Nessa as he watches Patli and Drusilla scarfing down their food in a way that almost puts him in mind of the last Kirby video game he played... or perhaps Lupe after she robbed another vendor in Jaipur. He blinks, \"I am suddenly very glad Lupe stayed in India this time...\" he murmurs, then tries to focus on his own eggs and bacon.\n\nNessa nods, slapping her sister's hand, \"Slow down, you're with company…\" she scolds before the two argue in Spanish for a moment as another new face comes into the dining hall. She was older, Alice's parents' age it seemed, she had Nessa's dark skin and long black hair. She was wearing a long black top and matching pants, as well as white gloves. In fact, from the neck down her entire body was covered. It made sense, blood mage blood could come from any source, hands were just easier to get a good pool going in, most elder blood mages either had a high body count of 'donors', a body covered in scars, or more commonly, both. \"Girls, enough fighting, you're embarrassing yourselves in front of guests.\" she frowns then turns and smiles to the group, \"Hello all of you, Nessa and Alice have told us all a lot about you. I'm Kerra, Nessa and Patli's mother.\" She takes her seat between the girls, swatting both of them in the head as she gets her own plate.\n\nNelen raises his eyebrow at that. He can feel Merihim stirring inside him at the aura the woman was giving off. Hell she probably had more scars than he did, and in her case the majority of them would have been self-inflicted. He'd done some research on the Aztec variant of Blood Magic before coming out and some of the illustrations he'd found made The Passion of the Christ look like a Sunday School Play done by little kids (insert your favorite joke about Mel Gibson here). He willed him back down, growling mentally at the demon that they were in a house surrounded by hunters and the discovery that he was, infact, possessed would not end well for either of them as Merihim begrudgingly agreed and went inert again, settling back into his bloodstream.\n\nStephy giggles at her, though he tries not to pay too much attention to the edges of the scars he could see as he smiles, \"Oh, so you're Nessa's mom.\" he giggles, \"I'm Stephy, its nice to finally meet you.\"\n\nShe smiles, nodding to the fae boy, \"Ah the famous Stephy, I'm so happy to meet you at last. I hear you’re fitting in well with your new family.\" she replies in a friendly tone, Nessa nodding \"Yea, it seems you're really thriving as a fae.\"\n\nStephy smirks at Nessa, \"Well, you met my human father. Which family do you think I'd fit in better with? His...\" he gestures to Sammi, \"... or the one who, if I remember right, was extremely rude to you and Alice when you two met him.\" he nods. \"Besides, most of my classmates used to call me a fairy, guess they were onto something.\" he giggles. Nelen rolls his eyes at him, but the older mage is impressed. He knew what Stephy went through and it really says a lot that he can laugh at it.\n\nSammi giggles, nodding, \"And we're glad to have him, willing changelings are very rare, and he's thrown himself into Arcadia with gusto.\" he says, rubbing Stephy's back, his own breakfast plate mainly fresh fruits with a few strips of bacon and eggs on the side. Alice smirks a bit at Stephy's description of his father's actions, \"Yes, rude is a word for it. Remind me to show you the couple of burns I have on my back from his 'rudeness'.\" she nods in a teasing voice, Nessa blushing faintly at that.\n\nStephy giggles a bit at Alice, giving Nessa's arm a gentle squeeze. He remembers that fight. His late father, Robert Fullmoon, holding Alice by the throat, Nessa slicing her palm and conjuring the green fire of the Aztec underworld to attack him, and the minute she released them he'd turned and used Alice as a human shield. Some would say that Drusilla was a monster, but as far as he was concerned she took down a real one that day they met. \"So, whats the plan for today?\" asks Nelen, noticing Nessa's reaction and deciding a change of subject was in order.\n\nAlice smiles as Leeah and her siblings make their way down, the woman seeming in better spirits, holding her baby and smiling as she sees the group. \"Well…\" Alice thinks, \"Good question, we kinda have the day to ourselves. Obviously I'd like to catch up with my family but as far as I'm concerned you guys are basically family too, whatever you like to do is open.\" she says Nessa nodding, \"I'm happy to play tour guide if you like\" she suggests as her sister perks up, \"Oh! me too!\"\n\nNelen nods to that, and Simoni looks curious too, the girl swiping a piece of bacon from Arja's plate as they listen. \"Hm, well, we saw most of the house yesterday. Was there anything specific you guys wanted to show us?\" asks Stephy as he helps himself to some toast. There's a faint pop as Dawn reappears, quickly scoops up more fish, and vanishes again.\n\nNessa nods to the fae, \"Hmm well, depends, what are you guys interested in? There's a lot going on. It's harvest time so we could go to the orchards, or we could go into town...\"\n\nStephy perks up at that, \"Town... hmm... France is known for being a major fashion center... right?\" he grins, glancing at his brother as Simoni rolls her eyes, \"Oh boy, here we go...\" she giggles, though she wouldn't really complain herself once they got going. Still, it amused her sometimes how her male cousin was girlier than any of the girls they lived with. Sammi nods eagerly, \"That sounds fun!\" he replies as Nessa chuckles, nodding \"I know a few little boutiques in town...\"\n\nThat pretty much settled it as Stephy quickly finished what was left on his plate and dashed off to fix his hair and such. Nelen smirks and shakes his head, \"Dunno why he doesn't just ask me to give him a disguise bracelet so he can just go ahead and be a girl.\" he chuckles as the others finish up as well, Dawn reappearing, stuffing one more kipper in her mouth, belching loudly, and then looking around at the others, \"... what?\" she asks as Dusk appears as well with half of one in his mouth still.\n\nNessa giggles, her sister and her quickly finishing their meals as well \"Alright then! Let's get ready and anyone interested in hitting the shops meet up here.\" she nods as she stands, both her and her sister going to get changed \"Hrm…\" Trixie muses, \"On one hand, not much for fashion, on the other, getting to watch Stephy play model...\"\n\nAfter Stephy and Sammi spend their usual hour fussing, arguing, and trying to figure out what outfits they want to wear until Nelen knocks on the door and tells them that, in five minutes, Dawn is going to teleport them out of the room whether they're ready to go or not, they finally head out for the day. Trixie did decide to go after all, slipping into a more comfortable pair of jeans instead of her shorts, and a pair of cowgirl boots over her feet, not caring at all that she was in France for that fashion option...\n\nStephy giggles as he sees her, slipping his arm around her's as they head out to the village. He may not be able to understand languages like Dawn, and he only knew the basics of French (the fact that he knew it at all was because Sammi had been teaching him), but if anyone sneered at his cowgirl's attire they'd suddenly find themselves the recipients of a nasty case of brain freeze.\n\nTrixie snuggles into Stephy as they walk, Nessa smiling as she leads the group to the car, \"Hey the group's small enough for you guys to all squeeze into the back with one in the front.\" she nods happily as her sister shoots her hands up, \"Dibs on the front!\" Sammi and Trixie don't seem to mind being squeezed up with Stephy though.\n\nNelen opted to stay behind with Dawn, Dusk, and Drusilla. Clothes shopping wasn't really his thing and the cats were, well, cats. He did insist that Stephy take his phone with him just in case though. He'd had a private word with Alice's father on their discoveries about the escaped creatures from the Mundane Blade and while they hadn't confirmed that some of them were in France, they hadn't confirmed they weren't either. Simoni opted out as well, saying she'd rather just hang out with Arja (read; spend the day in bed with Arja), so it's just Alice, Nessa, Patil, Trixie, and the two fae 'boys' for the day. \"So...\" asks Stephy, \"What's all in the town anyways?\" he inquires as the car gets moving.\n\nNessa smiles as she drives along into town, \"Well it's not a very big town, but it has a good bit. Some nice bistros, a few higher end boutiques.\" she replies before frowning at her sister, who is still in her shorts and shirt, \"Luckily they know us and won't mind SOMEONE being under dressed…\" she frowns, \"Hrm, what else...\" she thinks, though that question is answered soon enough as as soon as the town gets in view the air is filled with music and laughter, \"Oh! Is today it?\" she asks to her sister, the girl nodding eagerly, \"Mhm! Started last night!\"\n\nStephy blinks, feeling a sudden tingle all over his body. Music and laughter meant high emotions which meant lots of glamour, the fae boy suddenly having to force himself not to have a sudden giggling fit as the wave of emotional energy washes over him and his brother. \"W-woah, wow... bit of a rush there...\" he grins, squirming a bit from the sudden high, \"Whats going on?\"\n\nNessa grins wide, \"It's the festival!\" she chirps excitedly, \"It doesn't really have a name. See, Alice's family isn't the only one with ties to the fae. This whole little town kinda does. There's a legend that at the founding things were very hard, almost impossible to live in, but the one day 'the people of the forest' came out to help them. From then on every year they hold this huge festival, like Mardi Gras, to thank them and 'lure them out'.\"\n\nStephy blushes, \"Huh, well they've got two already.\" he nods, one of his feet tapping involuntarily to the music. He had to admit this was definitely one way to attract fae, an upwelling of glamour like this would get more than a few of them to appear. He even idly wondered if they should contact Sera and invite her over for it...\n\nShe nods, \"Oh they get more than two. This is a very rural town, lots of fae holdings nearby have heard of it by now, and they all kinda work together to keep it safe as long as these parties happen.\" Sammi nods \"Sympathetic contracts. They're not formal but they're traditions that last so long that they might as well be.\"\n\n\"Huh, didn't know we did that...\" he replies. He'd only been fae for a few months after all, he was still learning the ins and outs of contracts. He had made a few changelings of his own with Sera's help, but even then he could only pull it off when he was actually in Arcadia, and then only in Sera's kingdom where he could tap into the ambient glamour through his connection to her. \"So we're probably gonna see more than a few of our people around.\" he nods, letting out an involuntary giggle as they pass by a bar, already packed full despite the early hour.\n\nNessa nods to him, \"Mhm! Should be fun.\" she grins, pulling the car into the town. The streets were full of partiers already, most places closed down, the only ones open would be able to cater to the party anyway like the cafes and such. People of all ages were moving around, laughing, talking. A band was set up on a stage playing an upbeat song, there were even stalls set up with street food and drinks.\n\nStephy squirmed a bit as he got out, his face flushed as he felt the glamour all around him, the emotional high running through the village filling him right up. \"Whew... Jeez... I don't think I've ever been around this much outside of Arcadia...\" he nods, taking several deep breaths to keep himself calm. \"I mean, jeez... its like being drunk and high all at once.\" he feels his cheeks flush. Even Divas! hadn’t been this intense, but then this was specifically planned to generate glamour for the fae.\n\nSammi giggles, having better control over himself thanks to all his training though he was still looking a bit flushed, Trixie and Patli nodding as they all exit the car. \"Sounds like fun.\" Trixie grins as Sammi puts his arm around his brother. There were indeed a great many fae around the town, all types hanging around and mingling with the humans happily, no one at all seeming to care about the presence of 'strangers', after all this was a festival to basically throw the gates open.\n\nStephy giggles happily, leaning into Sammi as the tips of his pointed ears turn pink, the poor boy all but overwhelmed. Sammi may have had years of training to hone his fae powers, but Stephy hadn't! \"Whee...\" he giggles, snuggling into Sammi and nuzzling his shoulder.\n\nTrxie grins, licking her lips as she looks around. \"So where to first, wanna get some drinks? Pretty sure a blend of Fae party and France means there's no IDs bein’ checked…\" she giggles as Patli chirps and nods, “Mmhm!”\n\nStephy giggles and nods, though it'd probably be a good idea not to give him any. He's so buzzed off the glamour already that any actual alcohol would probably knock the poor boy unconscious. He follows along with the group, stumbling a bit here and there but managing well enough so long as he's holding onto either Sammi or Trixie, though they might notice a light dusting of snow in their wake. It melts quickly enough, but still, its there. He’s so overloaded on the stuff that his powers are manifesting on their own.\n\nNessa smirks, \"No booze for Stephy, if someone just plucks his little drunk butt off and carries him away Alice will tan my hide.\" she teases as she gets some drinks from a nearby stall, Trixie, Sammi, and the Aztecs enjoying some local drink, a bunch of fresh berry juices and wine and spices, honestly not very strong but very refreshing. Stephy got the 'virgin' version, equally refreshing as just a tasty fruit drink. \"Hrm, our clothes store may be closed, wanna check anyway or wanna see where the party takes us?\"\n\nStephy giggles a bit drunkenly at Nessa, \"Mmhmm… Alice 'n Trixie 'n Nelen 'n Sera... they'll be lining up to smack your butt…\" he giggles, playfully swatting her rear as he drinks his wine, too buzzed to care. At her words he glances towards the stores and pouts, \"Aww, they can't be clooooosed... I wanna buy pretty stuffs...\" he replies, then glances back towards the party, \"Though... its lotsa fun being here too...\" he giggles again, nodding.\n\nNessa smirks, \"You're an adorable drunk\" she teases, her sister nodding eagerly, \"Come on.\" she chirps, grabbing Stephy's hand, \"Let's go see the band!\" she giggles, Patli dragging the drunk fairy away from the others and into the crowd by the stage. Nessa just smirks, shaking her head, \"He'll be fine…\" she assures Trixie \"She's just eager, I kinda talked him up a lot I suppose.\" she blushes.\n\nStephy stumbles a bit, but manages to keep up with Patil and soon the two of them are dancing along with the music, Stephy's fae nature making him graceful enough to keep up with Patil's high energy movement as soon all eyes are on them, the fae boy too drunk on glamour to even notice, much less care.\n\nPetli was keeping up with the fae just fine. She may be a hyper little thing, but she did at least have a bird's grace and speed, grinning wickedly as she dances along with him. After a bit though he feels a strong hand on his hips from behind, and an all too familiar Texan drawl whispering in his ear \"Ain't gonna invite me to dance too?\" Trixie teases, pulling him over to her away from the other girl.\n\nStephy lets out a squeal as Trixie grabs him, spinning around to face her as he drapes his hands over her shoulders, giggling away as the two continue. He seems barely aware of anything around him now, hell he probably doesn't even remember what the name of the country is anymore. It’s a good thing that nothing dangerous is going on, the poor boy is so glamour drunk that he probably wouldn't even recognize it.\n\nTrixie smirks, licking Stephy's cheek playfully, \"So cute…\" she giggles. The song stops after a bit, the band taking a small break to get their next set ready as a young man walks up the stairs to the side. He was tan, with long black hair and dark brown eyes, wearing a nice looking suit entirely in white. \"Ladies and Gentlemen!\" he addresses the crowd with a smile, in a heavy French accent, but not Parisian or 'rustic', more like Sera's, implacable, \"I would like to thank you, the lovely mortals, for once again welcoming us into your town.\"\n\nStephy stumbles a bit as the music stops, leaning into Trixie as he blinks up at the man in white. \"Hum... he's fae... I can tell...\" he giggles, whispering to Trixie as he leans into her. Fae can sense others of their kind, able to see through any disguises that would hide their true forms from mundanes… though the way he referred to the ‘mortals’ letting them into their town was also a hint.\n\nThe man smiles, looking at the crowd, eyes focusing on Petli, then moving to the nearby Nessa, \"Ah! And we are honored! The Roches have sent someone to the festival!\" he grins, bowing slightly as Nessa blushes faintly. \"You all know the Roches, they live in the huge house, hard to miss...\" he laughs, some of the crowd clapping and laughing as well, it seemed Alice's family was well liked in town. \"I have to admit, selfish as it is, I was a bit dismayed to hear that the birth of a new Roche would keep them from our festivities this year. I understand it, though, I do, that is more important. After all, if the Roches don't keep having kids, I don't get my power either, right?\" he grins, the crowd laughing as well. \n\n\"Speaking of, Nessa dear, ever figure out how to make a kid with Alice yet? Come on, still owe me a girl right?\" He grins, Nessa huffing just a bit, but smirking, more amused than offended it seemed, like when someone's bawdy uncle toes over the line a bit at Thanksgiving.\n\nThe man didn't 'feel' like a true fae, but he did feel powerful. In larger domains it wasn't uncommon for there to be dukes and barons and such, under one central lord, they were allowed to make deals on the authority of the lord and benefited from some 'trickle down' (though likely one of the Roches' nature involved the lord themselves, with this being his agent that found them or the like.)\n\nStephy blinks a few times as he surfaces a bit, shaking his head as he glances over at Nessa, \"Hm... whats he mean Nessa?\" he asks, giggling a bit, \"You can't make a baby with Alice... gotta have... havea... have...\" he shakes his head a bit, surfacing further as the crowd calms down and the glamour begins to wane. \"Gotta... have thingie... like Sammi... 'n Trix...\" he pauses, blinking slowly as his brain cells start to shake each other awake. Have a thing, like Trixie, his girlfriend. He looks from Trixie to Nessa, then back to Trixie, then back to Nessa as his glamour marinated brain tries to get the hamster in the wheel.\n\nNessa just smirks lightly, patting Stephy's head, \"You're a sweet little guy, be glad of that.\" she teases as the fae on the stage laughs loudly, \"Oh, you must be new, yes?\" he asks Stephy, crouching down, \"Come on up here, I know your brother there but I've only just heard of you.\" he nods to Sammi, the fae boy just nodding back as he walks to the stage as well \"Huh, didn't expect this to be your boss's doing, last I heard he didn't make deals.\" he replies, climbing up and offering a hand to Stephy as the man nods, \"I'm sure the fae know of these guys at least, if they're winter court that is, lady Sera's heirs. Let's give the nobility a little welcome!\" he grins, the crowd laughing and clapping, \"You kids are gonna participate in the games right?\"\n\nStephy blinks several times, finally emerging from his glamour high as he steadies himself, then glances at Sammi for some help. Participate in what games exactly? He wasn't told of any games. What kind of games? Badmitton? Poker? Stratego? Magic the Gathering?\n\nSammi just grins, \"We sure will be…\" he says, winking to Stephy, the crowd cheering loudly at that \"Thank goodness.\" the man grins, \"Was worried without a Roche in the games I'd win too easy, I like a challenge before I win!\" he laughs, Sammi putting an arm around Stephy's shoulder, \"How about we make it fun, though\" he teases, \"Wanna make a bet? Your Lord still has control over that island right, the one right on MY domain's lake?\" He grins, the man just laughing \"Last I checked we agreed that was neutral ground... but yes. Winner gets the isle?\" He says as Sammi nods happily, bumping Stephy's hips, \"You want a nice beach island don't you Stephy?\"\n\nStephy blinks, \"Um... okay...\" he nods, suddenly realizing what's going on and that he's been pulled into a game infront of an entire village, Nessa, Nessa's slightly insane sister, and Trixie, \"Um... what [i]kind[/i] of game?\" he whispers to his brother.\n\nSammi just winks to Stephy and whispers back \"One you're going to win easy, so just keep playing drunk and dumb for a bit more, trust me, mom will love ya for this…\" he smirks as the crowd begins to cheer for the prospect of the game, \"Well then, let's get to it!\" the fae grins, clapping his hands as he hops off the stage, leading the crowd with him to the town square, where a massive clocktower was built, seemingly made of sheer, smooth, white stone, topped with a red roof that bore a flying banner. The banner had a golden field with a white tree on top, the tree bearing a bright green fruit. \"So!\" he explains \"As per usual the game is a race. First to the top to claim the banner AND bring it back down wins! Anyone who beats me to get it will get a boon from my Lord as a token of respect... and apparently this year we're offering an island.\" he grins, \"Have to be able to enter Arcadia for it sadly, a cozy little beach island right on the border of winter and spring.\"\n\nStephy blinks, then smirks knowingly at his brother. Get to the top of a clock tower and claim a flag first? Jeez, now he wishes Simoni had come, she'd get a kick out of this. He nods and moves up to the starting line, glancing around at his competition as he discreetly slips out of his sandals, glad he went with something easy to remove today.\n\nThe fae nods to everyone, \"Alright, as before the only rules are you must be OUTSIDE the tower at all times, no just running up the stairs.\" he grins as he nods, \"Ready, set, go!\" There were a good amount of competitors, fae and human alike, but all of them had trouble scrambling up the smooth stone. All but the host of course, jumping up and driving his fingers into the rock, long claw like nails digging into the masonry easily, \"Come on! It's not that hard!\" he laughs, moving slowly but steadily up the side of the tower.\n\nStephy watches with a smirk, letting them get a good fourth of the way up before suddenly crouching down and spreading his arms out taking a deep breath before suddenly letting out a loud shrill whistle. There's a blast of icy air from below and the other racers get a glimpse of a blue and white blur shooting up past them as Stephy, still overcharged with glamour, clears the clock tower in a single gust of winter wind, his wings outstretched and the banner clutched in one of his talons as does a few circles around the building, then glides back down, landing with a small puff of ice and snow as he fluffs his wings. \"So!\" he giggles, \"Whats the next game?\"\n\nSammi giggles wickedly as the fae raises his brow, but laughs softly, \"Can't say you cheated, did I? You stayed outside... gotta add no flying to the rules next year!\" he grins, slapping Stephy's back firmly as the crowd applauds, the fae man getting back to the ground as he looks over Stephy, \"I didn't know Sera made avian types, your brother sure isn't a flyer.\"\n\nStephy giggles and ruffles his feathers a bit, \"Well, I was kinda... adopted.\" he nods, shaking his wings as his feathers molt off them and the scales on his legs shed, both of which vanish into powdery snow as his body changes back into its more human form, the boy reaching down to pick up the banner once he has hands again.\n\nHe nods, holding his hand out for the banner \"Well, as the Roches can claim, my lord and I are men of our word, not only do you get the island, you're entitled to a boon from my lord. And the people here are in for a treat, my lord hasn't been in this town personally in a good while.\"\n\nStephy tilts his head curiously, wondering just who this man's 'lord' actually is for a moment. He'd never met any of the True Fae beyond Sera and Aythia. \"I think I'll let my brother decide on that one, he's better at picking things like that.\" he nods.\n\nSammi shakes his head as the man takes the banner, holding it up and causing it to glow softly, forming a beacon to his lord, \"Nope, this is your prize, couldn't claim it if I wanted.\" he winks, \"Come on, it's almost like a genie, this is a Lord of Spring, you can think of SOMETHING I'm sure.\" he says as the man sets the banner down, causing it to widen into a large gate.\n\nStephy nods, thinking, \"Um... well, thats the thing. I really don't know what to ask for Sammi. I mean, I'm fae royalty, I live in a castle or a mansion, the two worst people I knew in my life are gone... what could he give me that I actually want?\" he whispers to him.\n\nSammi winks, \"No one said it had to be for you, it's a boon, you can use it to help someone else if you want\" he says, the gate swinging open to reveal a rather large man, he had to be around seven feet tall, and very muscled, wearing a suit of jade green shiny metal armor. Oddly enough there were no gaps in it at all, as if the armor was a part of his body... the only skin that was exposed was his head, tanned like his underling, with bright gold eyes and short cut salt and pepper hair. He was certainly a True Fae, but thankfully one of the lesser fae, who were known to be more ‘human’ and therefor more friendly towards others, \"Well…\" he nods in a friendly tone despite his imposing appearance, \"It's been a while since another won this little game, I was worried Marcellus was rigging it...\" he grins, showing a mouth of pearly white teeth.\n\nStephy blinks, then nods as he ponders this. He thought for a moment on giving Alice her eyesight back... but that was out of the question. He didn't want to risk getting her family in trouble. He also considers Nelen and his pact with Merihim, but the demon would probably be able to overrule a fae... then he thinks of something else, it was a longshot but... well... it would solve a problem for them. He shakes out of his daze as the fae emerges, bobbing a polite curtsey to the fae lord. \"Well, your lordship, I feel that Marcellus never considered that one of his opponents would be capable of flight.\" he replies.\n\nThe Lord laughs loudly at that, grinning back to the other fae, \"Got ya with that 'you have to stay outside' rule, hm? Well good, you were getting too sloppy anyway.\" he teases as he looks to Stephy, sizing him up, \"Ah, one of Sera's aye? Well at least the island is going to a neighbor, I can accept that without being upset, consider it yours. As well, of course, as the boon you're entitled to.\"\n\nStephy thinks on that, \"This island... how large is it would you say?\" he asks, pondering that thought for a bit.\nHe thinks on that for a minute, whispering a bit with Marcellus before nodding, \"About the size of the island of Oahu.\" nods the fae lord. He was referring to one of the smaller islands of Hawaii, about five hundred square miles.\n\nStephy nods, \"Hm... decent hunting on it, perhaps enough to sustain a sizeable family?\" he asks.\n\nHe nods, \"It has an ecosystem yes, and it can hold a family well, I wouldn't found a nation on it but a family line can live comfortably on it for generations.\"\n\nStephy nods, \"Well, in that case, this is going to sound very odd... but I would like the island to go to someone else.\" he replies, \"You see, about a month ago we were visiting an allied freehold...\" he explains, telling the fae lord of their encounter with Alyzya and Kirzar, how one of their group (he doesn't name Simoni) was 'being manipulated' and drove the dragons out of the freehold without them having anywhere to go. They discovered that she had been controlled and forced to fight them and were able to expel the influence, but too late for Alyzya's brood, \"... and so, out of compassion for their situation and in the hopes to avoid retaliation, I would like the island to go to Alyzya and her brother.\" he nods.\n\nHe raises his brow at that, \"You'd give your island to a brood of dragons? You realize this island is between my kingdom and your mother's, right? I have no objection to this, but are you comfortable with dragons you've quarreled with being a short flight from your forests?\"\n\nStephy smirks a bit, \"Dragons who will then be receiving a home to call their own from myself, on behalf of my mother's kingdom. Dragons may be prideful, but they are honorable. I'm sure Alyzya will understand this to be my attempts to make amends for what happened. As I said, we would have negotiated, but the presence controlling my companion prevented this from happening.\"\n\nHe smirks, chuckling at that, \"Well then, I will send an envoy to inform them of your kindness. That was good of you, young one. Compassion is a rare trait in our kind, we all bear scars, and scars can often make one's heart hard. It's nice to see some kindness even to your foes.\"\n\nStephy giggles, \"Well, I'm hoping this means they won't melt my mother's castle because my friend kicked them out of the freehold.\" he replies, \"That and my friend has felt incredibly guilty for what happened, even though she'd been forced into doing it. I'm hoping this'll help her...\" he nods, glancing at Sammi, \"You alright with losing an island?\" he asks him.\n\nSammi smirks, \"I dunno, swimsuit season is coming and I could use a tan...” he teases, then nods, “Yeah that's a good idea Stephy, I'd rather have a clutch of dragons as a friend than enemy.\"\n\nStephy nods to his brother and then looks to the fae lord, \"But yes, that would be my boon. That the island go to the dragons instead of us. I thank you, your lordship.\" he smiles, curtsying the fae again.\n\nHe nods, \"It will be done then.\" he nods, sighing happily as he looks around the town, the crowd still around, in a bit of awe of the lord's presence, \"Not a bad town you people have built here.\" he chuckles.\n\nStephy giggles, letting the fae lord do as he will as he wanders back over to Nessa and the others, \"Well, hopefully that makes up for what happened at Aythia's freehold.\" he sighs, \"I mean, if nothing else they've got a home of their own now.\"\n\nNessa nods, patting the boy's head \"Sweet as ever, that's good. No offense to your mother and Frenchy here but Winter fae aren't exactly known for compassion and kindness.\"\n\nStephy giggles, \"Well, ice has to be rigid and unyelding, but snow can be soft.\" he nods, blowing a little puff of frost from his lips with a wink. \"Still, it'll be a load off Simoni's mind to know that Alyzya won't have a reason to torch our home anymore and a good reason [i]not[/i] to.\" he nods, \"That and an island of dragons... I dunno, but it just seems rather... appropriate.\" he nods. \n\nSammi smirks, \"Hm, setting yourself up as the prince of snow huh?\" he teases, pinching his brother's cheek.\n\nStephy smirks right back and swishes his skirt at Sammi, \"Princ[i]ess[/i], brother dear, and don't you forget it.\" he giggles, then glances at Nessa, \"Sooo... what was that he was saying about you and Alice having a kid?\" he grins mischeviously. \n\nNessa smirks at that, lightly swatting Stephy, \"Yea, curious about that are ya?\" she teases.\n\nHe giggles, \"Weeeell, I have to admit there are certain questions like 'basic biology' that would need to be answered.\" he replies, \"Unless, someone isn't quite what they seem to be.\"\n\nNessa just grins, tickling under the boy's chin \"Hmmm was he making a joke about lesbians not being able to have kids, or what he talking about an extra endowment of mine, guess we'll never know huh?\" she winks as Trixie giggles.\n\nStephy smirks, \"Well, yeah... until we get back and I ask Dawn anyways.\" he nods, \"Did we tell you she was the one who told everyone Drusilla was pregnant? Apparently she could tell just from her scent being different. I don't think even [i]Drus herself[/i] knew until Dawn told them!\" he gives a grin to rival the Cheshire herself, \"I'm preeeeeeetty sure she could smell exactly what your deal is Nessa…\"\n\nNessa just giggles, \"Or I could drag your cute little butt back to the car and let you see yourself…\" she teases, Trixie huffing as she grabs Stephy, \"You better drag me too then.\" she pouts, not really protesting her boyfriend being 'dragged off' though.\n\nStephy shrugs, \"I dunno, I mean I don't wanna come between you and Alice...\" he nods, then smirks, \"Hmmm, maybe I should just ask her.\" he replies.\n\nNessa just giggles, grabbing Stephy at that, \"Come on cuties.” she grins, obviously a couple drinks in herself as she drags the two back to the car. \n\nHardly anyone to complain in the party, it seemed the fae lord had decided he liked the party so much he'd stay around, the area once again becoming saturated in glamour as Sammi smirks at Nessa's little sister, \"It's cute how they get along.\" he teases, the girl just giggling, \"He coulda just asked me of course....\" she chirps.","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Simoni yawns and sits up in bed, rubbing her eyes as she looks over at Arja laying next to her, the girl still asleep. She shakes her long hair out, then looks down at the food of the bed and nudges Dusk with her toe. "Well?" she asks as the kitten stirs, then mewls, "Mnn... nope, lady is still gone. You were dreamin' about flying all night." he replies, stretching and pawing at the bedsheets as he swishes his tail.

Simoni nods, "Good... thats good." she replies, then flops back down and snuggles into Arja's sleeping form. Ever since they'd gotten back to India she'd basically press-ganged Dusk into watching her dreams and making sure that Morrigan really had removed the 'backdoor' into her thoughts, but so far her dreams, while occasionally being what would be considered 'inappropriate' outside of some of the darker parts of the internet or the Nightside, had indeed been her own and not influenced by anyone else... except maybe Dusk. She seems to remember a lot more fish in them than normal, but she'd rather have the kitten getting a meal than a goddess making her throw caution, sanity, and self-preservation instincts to the wind.

The house is quite calm in the morning, the early shift maids going about their work quickly and quietly. The guests were put up in the visitor wing of the large house, enough 'guest rooms' free to let everyone have their own room if they wanted, even though most everyone slept paired off or the like. The beds were soft and comfortable, they even had television sets in their rooms if they wanted, it was a pretty nice set up.

Trixie was currently snuggled up with Stephy in bed, Sammi having pushed his way in as well to make a Stephy sandwich. The room was still quiet in the morning hours, though after a bit Stephy would feel some weight on the bed at his feet, and the feeling of someone staring at him...

Stephy stirred, having been visiting Sera in his dreams to tell her about the visit and Alice's family. One of the fringe benefits of being a Changeling on good terms with one of the True Fae, you can visit them when you sleep. In his dreams he's seated at a small table outside of Sera's castle, sharing some tea with his mother, "... so then Nelen got all angry at Dawn because they'd ran right past one of the Mundane Blades six years ago and she just now told..." he pauses, then blinks and looks down at his leg, "Huh, I'd better go mom, I think someone is trying to wake me up." he nods, getting up and giving Sera a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug before vanishing back into his body as he blinks sleepily, squirming out from between the French fairy and the Texan tomboy as he looks down at the foot of the bed, groping around for his glasses.

At first it almost looked like Nessa was at his bed foot, squatting down and grinning wickedly at him, but something was off on that. When he gets his glasses on Stephy sees better. She looks a lot like Nessa, same dark brown skin and facial features... though she's smaller, and a good deal skinner, looking around Trixie's age, but a good near head shorter. Her hair is also different, shiny emerald green hair cut into a short mess of spikes. Her eyes were locked on Stephy, bright yellow, almost glowing even, as she grins wide at him.

His eyebrows go up and he tilts his head, then he reaches his hands down slowly and gently shakes Sammi and Trixie awake, "Guys? I think Dawn finally figured out how to change all the way into a human... and dyed her hair..." he nods, keeping his eyes on the girl. She did look like Nessa, but the eyes definitely gave away that she was more than just an ordinary mundane human as well.

Trixie grunts a bit as she's shook, giving Stephy a little push back in response as Sammi wakes up "eh?" As Stephy speaks the girl comes crawling eagerly up to Stepy, nearly pinning down the boy as she does so, "Hi!" she chirps happily, "You're Stephy right?"

Stephy looks around, looking up at the tiny Nessa doppleganger, "Um... yes?" he tries, wondering if he should scream or something... though, some bit of his memory was trying to dig around for something, a bit of conversation he'd had with Nessa back when he was still human. He blinks a few times, then recognition sets in, "Wait a minute, are you Nessa's little sister? Um... Pa... pa-something?" he tries, he'd only heard the name once and it was a long time ago...

The girl giggles happily, nodding "Patli!" she grins, sitting herself down on top of Stephy, the girl wearing a long bright green and gold striped shirt with white shorts under it, clearly fresh out of bed herself. "Glad you finally showed up here!" she chirps. Trixie huffs lightly as yet another supernatural creature lays claim to her boyfriend, giving the girl a push off Stephy and sending her sprawling over Sammi, making both of them yelp loudly.

Stephy giggles a bit nervously, "Um... yeah, nice to meet you too... but you probably should've waited until at least breakfast." he replies. He knew from experience Trixie did not like being woken up early. Still, yeesh, no wonder he'd mistaken her for Dawn at first. The manic personality, the lack of understanding of personal space... yellow eyes helped too. "So, um... since we're all awake now, yeah. I'm Stephy and these are my brother Sammi and my girlfriend Trixie." he nods to both of them, making sure to put extra emphasis on the fact that he and Trixie were a couple.

She nods, smiling to the other "Hi! I'm Nessa's sister, Patli!" she giggles, not seeming to notice or mind the death glare Trixie was giving her as she yanks Stephy over to her lap, "Oh! Right, breakfast, I was supposed to get you guys up for breakfast!"

Stephy lets out an eep, the young fae boy wearing just an icy blue satin nightie as he's suddenly dragged over into his girlfriend’s embrace. "Yeah, um, okay, lemme get dressed and I'll meet you down there." he nods, glancing between her and Trixie, who he noticed was already reaching for the nightstand that held her cards and guns.

She nods, smiling happily as she hops up "See ya down there!" she chirps happily, running out of the room to wake up the others. Trixie huffs a bit, pinching Stephy's cheek lightly "Ever since ya became a fae ya got too damn cute..." she pouts.

Stephy flails a bit as she pinches him, but gets to his feet and rolls his eyes, "That's Nessa's sister Trixie. Nessa knew me when I was still human, remember?" he giggles, getting out of his bedclothes and changing into a loose blue silk sundress and sandals for now as Trixie smirks at him, "Still, I'm gonna have to slap a brand on ya or somethin’ if this keeps up." she teases.

Stephy winces at the idea of Trixie with a branding iron coming towards him, "Noooooooooooo way in hell Trixie. Fire AND iron." he nods firmly... then pauses, "Though... maybe a tattoo sometime." he nods thoughtfully.

Out in the hallway Patil all but collides with Dawn, the cat having begrudgingly given into Nelen's insistence that if she's going to stay human shaped she at least needs to wear some pants and a shirt. Her fur patches only covered up so much after all and he'd heard some of Alice's relatives talking the other night about their new 'streaker'. Dawn rebounds a bit, the cat wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a purple teeshirt with the Disney depiction of her species on it, before she blinks, looks over Nessa, and says, "Huh, thought the women here said I was the only one they'd seen..."

The girl grins wide as she looks at Dawn, seeing the girl's eyes and looking even closer, nearly shoving her face right up against the cat’s. "Huh…" she blinks, letting out a giggle, "You're the wonder cat huh? Funny you could pass for a puma ya know."

Dawn earflicks, "Wait wait, I think I heard that fucked-up-hand-girl talking about you. You're her kid sister huh?" she asks, putting her hands on her hips as she swishes her tail, eyeing her critically, then leaning in a bit, "Never seen a human with yellow eyes... are those contacts or..."

Patli grins wider at that, "Nope!" she chirps, tapping the side of her right eye and, suddenly, they vanish entirely, leaving two black (thankfully unnaturally black, nothing to see in there) holes behind before the eyes pop back in. "Spirit eyes." she grins.

Dawn tilts her head the other way, "Huh, trippy. Mine are Wonderland Eyes, wanna see what they-" she starts before a large masculine hand lands on her shoulder, "No Dawn, she doesn’t." frowns Nelen down at her, the blood mage wearing just a pair of pajama bottoms. He prefers to sleep topless and, given Drusilla's fondness for 'battle damage' she prefers it too... of course this means that Patil gets a good look at the mass of old scar tissue he calls his torso and arms. Even one of his nipples is missing, a relic from when he was starting out as a mercenary and made the mistake of flirting with a woman from the Nightside named 'Shotgun Suzie'.

The girl doesn't seem shaken by that at all, still grinning, "Oh cool, are you a warrior?" she asks, looking him up and down, "Nessa didn't mention one of those in the group." It seemed the appreciation for 'battle damage' is shared between the cultures...

Nelen raises his eyebrow at her, glancing between her and Dawn, then replies, "No, blood mage... Look, I'm gonna get dressed now. Dawn, if you're going to shatter someone's mental state and leave them a gibbering wreck of psychosis and neurosis, do it after breakfast." he nods firmly, then heads back inside and closes the door. He was already going to hear it from his mother when she found out he'd gotten a thirteen year old cyclops pregnant (even if in cyclops terms she was close to twenty), the last thing he needed was another supernatural tween giving him THAT kind of look.

She grins "Oh! Right, breakfast! Sorry puma gotta go!" she chirps, running past Dawn, knocking loudly on doors as she passes and yelling "Breakfast time!" at each one. After a moment Nessa walks out of the room she and Alice shared, "Who told Patli to call people for breakfast?" she groans sleepily, wearing a long white nightshirt down to her thighs, anything under it was a mystery, rubbing her eye with a scarred hand.

Stephy walks down through the hallway, running a hairbrush through his long blonde hair, "No idea. She said someone told her so I assumed it was you." he replies as Dawn pads past, the cat having traded her pajama bottoms for jeans, though she insists on going barefoot. Simoni and Arja follow soon, Simoni dressed in a sari (she didn't need to dress up anymore, but she still liked to). Finally, Nelen emerges, putting on his hat and yawning wide, dressed in a teeshirt and bluejeans, the space between his wrists and upper arms exposed and showing more than a few scars, exit wounds, and other injuries. He should have bled out and died multiple times in his life, but one of the dubious bonuses of being Merihim's host meant that he couldn't die from blood loss unless, well, the wound would also cause him to die from something else (say, decapitation).

Nessa shakes her head, "Musta volunteered, she was eager to meet you guys…" she yawns, sighing as she walks back into the room, coming back out with a pair of jeans added to her outfit, Alice following behind in a pair of her own jeans and a green blouse. Trixie had slipped into a pair of shorts and a red button down shirt, and Sammi was wearing his ice blue shirt and black pants again. As the group gathers they start to smell breakfast. Multiple meats cooking, eggs, toast, the kitchen was working hard for sure!

Dawn steals more than a few breakfast kippers, Dusk immediately appearing on her shoulder and pointing out the ones he likes, before they both vanish outside. Even in her human-ish form Dawn's cat-like habits remain and she prefers to eat without others watching her. As the others sit down to breakfast Simoni glances over at Patil and asks, "So, why weren't you here yesterday?" she says curiously to the young Aztec girl.

Patli smiles as she walks over with a plate rivaled only by Drusilla's (the cyclops girl now eating for two, eating meals that would normally be fit for many many adults...), mainly of meats with a scrambled egg 'foundation' it seemed. "Oh I was training with mom, I wanted to be there but, ya know, spirit quest stuff, time gets all fuzzy wuzzy and by the time I was back it was like, dawn..."

Nessa sighs at her sister, "You've been up for an entire day?" she asks, Patli shakes her head "Two days!" making Nessa sigh again, "Guys this is my baby sister Patli, she's a Nagual, basically a spirit bound shapeshifter witch, her spirit is the hummingbird... so we have this..." she nods, gesturing to the hyperactive girl and her mountain of food.

Stephy nods, "That would explain a few things, yes..." he replies to Nessa as he watches Patli and Drusilla scarfing down their food in a way that almost puts him in mind of the last Kirby video game he played... or perhaps Lupe after she robbed another vendor in Jaipur. He blinks, "I am suddenly very glad Lupe stayed in India this time..." he murmurs, then tries to focus on his own eggs and bacon.

Nessa nods, slapping her sister's hand, "Slow down, you're with company…" she scolds before the two argue in Spanish for a moment as another new face comes into the dining hall. She was older, Alice's parents' age it seemed, she had Nessa's dark skin and long black hair. She was wearing a long black top and matching pants, as well as white gloves. In fact, from the neck down her entire body was covered. It made sense, blood mage blood could come from any source, hands were just easier to get a good pool going in, most elder blood mages either had a high body count of 'donors', a body covered in scars, or more commonly, both. "Girls, enough fighting, you're embarrassing yourselves in front of guests." she frowns then turns and smiles to the group, "Hello all of you, Nessa and Alice have told us all a lot about you. I'm Kerra, Nessa and Patli's mother." She takes her seat between the girls, swatting both of them in the head as she gets her own plate.

Nelen raises his eyebrow at that. He can feel Merihim stirring inside him at the aura the woman was giving off. Hell she probably had more scars than he did, and in her case the majority of them would have been self-inflicted. He'd done some research on the Aztec variant of Blood Magic before coming out and some of the illustrations he'd found made The Passion of the Christ look like a Sunday School Play done by little kids (insert your favorite joke about Mel Gibson here). He willed him back down, growling mentally at the demon that they were in a house surrounded by hunters and the discovery that he was, infact, possessed would not end well for either of them as Merihim begrudgingly agreed and went inert again, settling back into his bloodstream.

Stephy giggles at her, though he tries not to pay too much attention to the edges of the scars he could see as he smiles, "Oh, so you're Nessa's mom." he giggles, "I'm Stephy, its nice to finally meet you."

She smiles, nodding to the fae boy, "Ah the famous Stephy, I'm so happy to meet you at last. I hear you’re fitting in well with your new family." she replies in a friendly tone, Nessa nodding "Yea, it seems you're really thriving as a fae."

Stephy smirks at Nessa, "Well, you met my human father. Which family do you think I'd fit in better with? His..." he gestures to Sammi, "... or the one who, if I remember right, was extremely rude to you and Alice when you two met him." he nods. "Besides, most of my classmates used to call me a fairy, guess they were onto something." he giggles. Nelen rolls his eyes at him, but the older mage is impressed. He knew what Stephy went through and it really says a lot that he can laugh at it.

Sammi giggles, nodding, "And we're glad to have him, willing changelings are very rare, and he's thrown himself into Arcadia with gusto." he says, rubbing Stephy's back, his own breakfast plate mainly fresh fruits with a few strips of bacon and eggs on the side. Alice smirks a bit at Stephy's description of his father's actions, "Yes, rude is a word for it. Remind me to show you the couple of burns I have on my back from his 'rudeness'." she nods in a teasing voice, Nessa blushing faintly at that.

Stephy giggles a bit at Alice, giving Nessa's arm a gentle squeeze. He remembers that fight. His late father, Robert Fullmoon, holding Alice by the throat, Nessa slicing her palm and conjuring the green fire of the Aztec underworld to attack him, and the minute she released them he'd turned and used Alice as a human shield. Some would say that Drusilla was a monster, but as far as he was concerned she took down a real one that day they met. "So, whats the plan for today?" asks Nelen, noticing Nessa's reaction and deciding a change of subject was in order.

Alice smiles as Leeah and her siblings make their way down, the woman seeming in better spirits, holding her baby and smiling as she sees the group. "Well…" Alice thinks, "Good question, we kinda have the day to ourselves. Obviously I'd like to catch up with my family but as far as I'm concerned you guys are basically family too, whatever you like to do is open." she says Nessa nodding, "I'm happy to play tour guide if you like" she suggests as her sister perks up, "Oh! me too!"

Nelen nods to that, and Simoni looks curious too, the girl swiping a piece of bacon from Arja's plate as they listen. "Hm, well, we saw most of the house yesterday. Was there anything specific you guys wanted to show us?" asks Stephy as he helps himself to some toast. There's a faint pop as Dawn reappears, quickly scoops up more fish, and vanishes again.

Nessa nods to the fae, "Hmm well, depends, what are you guys interested in? There's a lot going on. It's harvest time so we could go to the orchards, or we could go into town..."

Stephy perks up at that, "Town... hmm... France is known for being a major fashion center... right?" he grins, glancing at his brother as Simoni rolls her eyes, "Oh boy, here we go..." she giggles, though she wouldn't really complain herself once they got going. Still, it amused her sometimes how her male cousin was girlier than any of the girls they lived with. Sammi nods eagerly, "That sounds fun!" he replies as Nessa chuckles, nodding "I know a few little boutiques in town..."

That pretty much settled it as Stephy quickly finished what was left on his plate and dashed off to fix his hair and such. Nelen smirks and shakes his head, "Dunno why he doesn't just ask me to give him a disguise bracelet so he can just go ahead and be a girl." he chuckles as the others finish up as well, Dawn reappearing, stuffing one more kipper in her mouth, belching loudly, and then looking around at the others, "... what?" she asks as Dusk appears as well with half of one in his mouth still.

Nessa giggles, her sister and her quickly finishing their meals as well "Alright then! Let's get ready and anyone interested in hitting the shops meet up here." she nods as she stands, both her and her sister going to get changed "Hrm…" Trixie muses, "On one hand, not much for fashion, on the other, getting to watch Stephy play model..."

After Stephy and Sammi spend their usual hour fussing, arguing, and trying to figure out what outfits they want to wear until Nelen knocks on the door and tells them that, in five minutes, Dawn is going to teleport them out of the room whether they're ready to go or not, they finally head out for the day. Trixie did decide to go after all, slipping into a more comfortable pair of jeans instead of her shorts, and a pair of cowgirl boots over her feet, not caring at all that she was in France for that fashion option...

Stephy giggles as he sees her, slipping his arm around her's as they head out to the village. He may not be able to understand languages like Dawn, and he only knew the basics of French (the fact that he knew it at all was because Sammi had been teaching him), but if anyone sneered at his cowgirl's attire they'd suddenly find themselves the recipients of a nasty case of brain freeze.

Trixie snuggles into Stephy as they walk, Nessa smiling as she leads the group to the car, "Hey the group's small enough for you guys to all squeeze into the back with one in the front." she nods happily as her sister shoots her hands up, "Dibs on the front!" Sammi and Trixie don't seem to mind being squeezed up with Stephy though.

Nelen opted to stay behind with Dawn, Dusk, and Drusilla. Clothes shopping wasn't really his thing and the cats were, well, cats. He did insist that Stephy take his phone with him just in case though. He'd had a private word with Alice's father on their discoveries about the escaped creatures from the Mundane Blade and while they hadn't confirmed that some of them were in France, they hadn't confirmed they weren't either. Simoni opted out as well, saying she'd rather just hang out with Arja (read; spend the day in bed with Arja), so it's just Alice, Nessa, Patil, Trixie, and the two fae 'boys' for the day. "So..." asks Stephy, "What's all in the town anyways?" he inquires as the car gets moving.

Nessa smiles as she drives along into town, "Well it's not a very big town, but it has a good bit. Some nice bistros, a few higher end boutiques." she replies before frowning at her sister, who is still in her shorts and shirt, "Luckily they know us and won't mind SOMEONE being under dressed…" she frowns, "Hrm, what else..." she thinks, though that question is answered soon enough as as soon as the town gets in view the air is filled with music and laughter, "Oh! Is today it?" she asks to her sister, the girl nodding eagerly, "Mhm! Started last night!"

Stephy blinks, feeling a sudden tingle all over his body. Music and laughter meant high emotions which meant lots of glamour, the fae boy suddenly having to force himself not to have a sudden giggling fit as the wave of emotional energy washes over him and his brother. "W-woah, wow... bit of a rush there..." he grins, squirming a bit from the sudden high, "Whats going on?"

Nessa grins wide, "It's the festival!" she chirps excitedly, "It doesn't really have a name. See, Alice's family isn't the only one with ties to the fae. This whole little town kinda does. There's a legend that at the founding things were very hard, almost impossible to live in, but the one day 'the people of the forest' came out to help them. From then on every year they hold this huge festival, like Mardi Gras, to thank them and 'lure them out'."

Stephy blushes, "Huh, well they've got two already." he nods, one of his feet tapping involuntarily to the music. He had to admit this was definitely one way to attract fae, an upwelling of glamour like this would get more than a few of them to appear. He even idly wondered if they should contact Sera and invite her over for it...

She nods, "Oh they get more than two. This is a very rural town, lots of fae holdings nearby have heard of it by now, and they all kinda work together to keep it safe as long as these parties happen." Sammi nods "Sympathetic contracts. They're not formal but they're traditions that last so long that they might as well be."

"Huh, didn't know we did that..." he replies. He'd only been fae for a few months after all, he was still learning the ins and outs of contracts. He had made a few changelings of his own with Sera's help, but even then he could only pull it off when he was actually in Arcadia, and then only in Sera's kingdom where he could tap into the ambient glamour through his connection to her. "So we're probably gonna see more than a few of our people around." he nods, letting out an involuntary giggle as they pass by a bar, already packed full despite the early hour.

Nessa nods to him, "Mhm! Should be fun." she grins, pulling the car into the town. The streets were full of partiers already, most places closed down, the only ones open would be able to cater to the party anyway like the cafes and such. People of all ages were moving around, laughing, talking. A band was set up on a stage playing an upbeat song, there were even stalls set up with street food and drinks.

Stephy squirmed a bit as he got out, his face flushed as he felt the glamour all around him, the emotional high running through the village filling him right up. "Whew... Jeez... I don't think I've ever been around this much outside of Arcadia..." he nods, taking several deep breaths to keep himself calm. "I mean, jeez... its like being drunk and high all at once." he feels his cheeks flush. Even Divas! hadn’t been this intense, but then this was specifically planned to generate glamour for the fae.

Sammi giggles, having better control over himself thanks to all his training though he was still looking a bit flushed, Trixie and Patli nodding as they all exit the car. "Sounds like fun." Trixie grins as Sammi puts his arm around his brother. There were indeed a great many fae around the town, all types hanging around and mingling with the humans happily, no one at all seeming to care about the presence of 'strangers', after all this was a festival to basically throw the gates open.

Stephy giggles happily, leaning into Sammi as the tips of his pointed ears turn pink, the poor boy all but overwhelmed. Sammi may have had years of training to hone his fae powers, but Stephy hadn't! "Whee..." he giggles, snuggling into Sammi and nuzzling his shoulder.

Trxie grins, licking her lips as she looks around. "So where to first, wanna get some drinks? Pretty sure a blend of Fae party and France means there's no IDs bein’ checked…" she giggles as Patli chirps and nods, “Mmhm!”

Stephy giggles and nods, though it'd probably be a good idea not to give him any. He's so buzzed off the glamour already that any actual alcohol would probably knock the poor boy unconscious. He follows along with the group, stumbling a bit here and there but managing well enough so long as he's holding onto either Sammi or Trixie, though they might notice a light dusting of snow in their wake. It melts quickly enough, but still, its there. He’s so overloaded on the stuff that his powers are manifesting on their own.

Nessa smirks, "No booze for Stephy, if someone just plucks his little drunk butt off and carries him away Alice will tan my hide." she teases as she gets some drinks from a nearby stall, Trixie, Sammi, and the Aztecs enjoying some local drink, a bunch of fresh berry juices and wine and spices, honestly not very strong but very refreshing. Stephy got the 'virgin' version, equally refreshing as just a tasty fruit drink. "Hrm, our clothes store may be closed, wanna check anyway or wanna see where the party takes us?"

Stephy giggles a bit drunkenly at Nessa, "Mmhmm… Alice 'n Trixie 'n Nelen 'n Sera... they'll be lining up to smack your butt…" he giggles, playfully swatting her rear as he drinks his wine, too buzzed to care. At her words he glances towards the stores and pouts, "Aww, they can't be clooooosed... I wanna buy pretty stuffs..." he replies, then glances back towards the party, "Though... its lotsa fun being here too..." he giggles again, nodding.

Nessa smirks, "You're an adorable drunk" she teases, her sister nodding eagerly, "Come on." she chirps, grabbing Stephy's hand, "Let's go see the band!" she giggles, Patli dragging the drunk fairy away from the others and into the crowd by the stage. Nessa just smirks, shaking her head, "He'll be fine…" she assures Trixie "She's just eager, I kinda talked him up a lot I suppose." she blushes.

Stephy stumbles a bit, but manages to keep up with Patil and soon the two of them are dancing along with the music, Stephy's fae nature making him graceful enough to keep up with Patil's high energy movement as soon all eyes are on them, the fae boy too drunk on glamour to even notice, much less care.

Petli was keeping up with the fae just fine. She may be a hyper little thing, but she did at least have a bird's grace and speed, grinning wickedly as she dances along with him. After a bit though he feels a strong hand on his hips from behind, and an all too familiar Texan drawl whispering in his ear "Ain't gonna invite me to dance too?" Trixie teases, pulling him over to her away from the other girl.

Stephy lets out a squeal as Trixie grabs him, spinning around to face her as he drapes his hands over her shoulders, giggling away as the two continue. He seems barely aware of anything around him now, hell he probably doesn't even remember what the name of the country is anymore. It’s a good thing that nothing dangerous is going on, the poor boy is so glamour drunk that he probably wouldn't even recognize it.

Trixie smirks, licking Stephy's cheek playfully, "So cute…" she giggles. The song stops after a bit, the band taking a small break to get their next set ready as a young man walks up the stairs to the side. He was tan, with long black hair and dark brown eyes, wearing a nice looking suit entirely in white. "Ladies and Gentlemen!" he addresses the crowd with a smile, in a heavy French accent, but not Parisian or 'rustic', more like Sera's, implacable, "I would like to thank you, the lovely mortals, for once again welcoming us into your town."

Stephy stumbles a bit as the music stops, leaning into Trixie as he blinks up at the man in white. "Hum... he's fae... I can tell..." he giggles, whispering to Trixie as he leans into her. Fae can sense others of their kind, able to see through any disguises that would hide their true forms from mundanes… though the way he referred to the ‘mortals’ letting them into their town was also a hint.

The man smiles, looking at the crowd, eyes focusing on Petli, then moving to the nearby Nessa, "Ah! And we are honored! The Roches have sent someone to the festival!" he grins, bowing slightly as Nessa blushes faintly. "You all know the Roches, they live in the huge house, hard to miss..." he laughs, some of the crowd clapping and laughing as well, it seemed Alice's family was well liked in town. "I have to admit, selfish as it is, I was a bit dismayed to hear that the birth of a new Roche would keep them from our festivities this year. I understand it, though, I do, that is more important. After all, if the Roches don't keep having kids, I don't get my power either, right?" he grins, the crowd laughing as well.

"Speaking of, Nessa dear, ever figure out how to make a kid with Alice yet? Come on, still owe me a girl right?" He grins, Nessa huffing just a bit, but smirking, more amused than offended it seemed, like when someone's bawdy uncle toes over the line a bit at Thanksgiving.

The man didn't 'feel' like a true fae, but he did feel powerful. In larger domains it wasn't uncommon for there to be dukes and barons and such, under one central lord, they were allowed to make deals on the authority of the lord and benefited from some 'trickle down' (though likely one of the Roches' nature involved the lord themselves, with this being his agent that found them or the like.)

Stephy blinks a few times as he surfaces a bit, shaking his head as he glances over at Nessa, "Hm... whats he mean Nessa?" he asks, giggling a bit, "You can't make a baby with Alice... gotta have... havea... have..." he shakes his head a bit, surfacing further as the crowd calms down and the glamour begins to wane. "Gotta... have thingie... like Sammi... 'n Trix..." he pauses, blinking slowly as his brain cells start to shake each other awake. Have a thing, like Trixie, his girlfriend. He looks from Trixie to Nessa, then back to Trixie, then back to Nessa as his glamour marinated brain tries to get the hamster in the wheel.

Nessa just smirks lightly, patting Stephy's head, "You're a sweet little guy, be glad of that." she teases as the fae on the stage laughs loudly, "Oh, you must be new, yes?" he asks Stephy, crouching down, "Come on up here, I know your brother there but I've only just heard of you." he nods to Sammi, the fae boy just nodding back as he walks to the stage as well "Huh, didn't expect this to be your boss's doing, last I heard he didn't make deals." he replies, climbing up and offering a hand to Stephy as the man nods, "I'm sure the fae know of these guys at least, if they're winter court that is, lady Sera's heirs. Let's give the nobility a little welcome!" he grins, the crowd laughing and clapping, "You kids are gonna participate in the games right?"

Stephy blinks several times, finally emerging from his glamour high as he steadies himself, then glances at Sammi for some help. Participate in what games exactly? He wasn't told of any games. What kind of games? Badmitton? Poker? Stratego? Magic the Gathering?

Sammi just grins, "We sure will be…" he says, winking to Stephy, the crowd cheering loudly at that "Thank goodness." the man grins, "Was worried without a Roche in the games I'd win too easy, I like a challenge before I win!" he laughs, Sammi putting an arm around Stephy's shoulder, "How about we make it fun, though" he teases, "Wanna make a bet? Your Lord still has control over that island right, the one right on MY domain's lake?" He grins, the man just laughing "Last I checked we agreed that was neutral ground... but yes. Winner gets the isle?" He says as Sammi nods happily, bumping Stephy's hips, "You want a nice beach island don't you Stephy?"

Stephy blinks, "Um... okay..." he nods, suddenly realizing what's going on and that he's been pulled into a game infront of an entire village, Nessa, Nessa's slightly insane sister, and Trixie, "Um... what kind of game?" he whispers to his brother.

Sammi just winks to Stephy and whispers back "One you're going to win easy, so just keep playing drunk and dumb for a bit more, trust me, mom will love ya for this…" he smirks as the crowd begins to cheer for the prospect of the game, "Well then, let's get to it!" the fae grins, clapping his hands as he hops off the stage, leading the crowd with him to the town square, where a massive clocktower was built, seemingly made of sheer, smooth, white stone, topped with a red roof that bore a flying banner. The banner had a golden field with a white tree on top, the tree bearing a bright green fruit. "So!" he explains "As per usual the game is a race. First to the top to claim the banner AND bring it back down wins! Anyone who beats me to get it will get a boon from my Lord as a token of respect... and apparently this year we're offering an island." he grins, "Have to be able to enter Arcadia for it sadly, a cozy little beach island right on the border of winter and spring."

Stephy blinks, then smirks knowingly at his brother. Get to the top of a clock tower and claim a flag first? Jeez, now he wishes Simoni had come, she'd get a kick out of this. He nods and moves up to the starting line, glancing around at his competition as he discreetly slips out of his sandals, glad he went with something easy to remove today.

The fae nods to everyone, "Alright, as before the only rules are you must be OUTSIDE the tower at all times, no just running up the stairs." he grins as he nods, "Ready, set, go!" There were a good amount of competitors, fae and human alike, but all of them had trouble scrambling up the smooth stone. All but the host of course, jumping up and driving his fingers into the rock, long claw like nails digging into the masonry easily, "Come on! It's not that hard!" he laughs, moving slowly but steadily up the side of the tower.

Stephy watches with a smirk, letting them get a good fourth of the way up before suddenly crouching down and spreading his arms out taking a deep breath before suddenly letting out a loud shrill whistle. There's a blast of icy air from below and the other racers get a glimpse of a blue and white blur shooting up past them as Stephy, still overcharged with glamour, clears the clock tower in a single gust of winter wind, his wings outstretched and the banner clutched in one of his talons as does a few circles around the building, then glides back down, landing with a small puff of ice and snow as he fluffs his wings. "So!" he giggles, "Whats the next game?"

Sammi giggles wickedly as the fae raises his brow, but laughs softly, "Can't say you cheated, did I? You stayed outside... gotta add no flying to the rules next year!" he grins, slapping Stephy's back firmly as the crowd applauds, the fae man getting back to the ground as he looks over Stephy, "I didn't know Sera made avian types, your brother sure isn't a flyer."

Stephy giggles and ruffles his feathers a bit, "Well, I was kinda... adopted." he nods, shaking his wings as his feathers molt off them and the scales on his legs shed, both of which vanish into powdery snow as his body changes back into its more human form, the boy reaching down to pick up the banner once he has hands again.

He nods, holding his hand out for the banner "Well, as the Roches can claim, my lord and I are men of our word, not only do you get the island, you're entitled to a boon from my lord. And the people here are in for a treat, my lord hasn't been in this town personally in a good while."

Stephy tilts his head curiously, wondering just who this man's 'lord' actually is for a moment. He'd never met any of the True Fae beyond Sera and Aythia. "I think I'll let my brother decide on that one, he's better at picking things like that." he nods.

Sammi shakes his head as the man takes the banner, holding it up and causing it to glow softly, forming a beacon to his lord, "Nope, this is your prize, couldn't claim it if I wanted." he winks, "Come on, it's almost like a genie, this is a Lord of Spring, you can think of SOMETHING I'm sure." he says as the man sets the banner down, causing it to widen into a large gate.

Stephy nods, thinking, "Um... well, thats the thing. I really don't know what to ask for Sammi. I mean, I'm fae royalty, I live in a castle or a mansion, the two worst people I knew in my life are gone... what could he give me that I actually want?" he whispers to him.

Sammi winks, "No one said it had to be for you, it's a boon, you can use it to help someone else if you want" he says, the gate swinging open to reveal a rather large man, he had to be around seven feet tall, and very muscled, wearing a suit of jade green shiny metal armor. Oddly enough there were no gaps in it at all, as if the armor was a part of his body... the only skin that was exposed was his head, tanned like his underling, with bright gold eyes and short cut salt and pepper hair. He was certainly a True Fae, but thankfully one of the lesser fae, who were known to be more ‘human’ and therefor more friendly towards others, "Well…" he nods in a friendly tone despite his imposing appearance, "It's been a while since another won this little game, I was worried Marcellus was rigging it..." he grins, showing a mouth of pearly white teeth.

Stephy blinks, then nods as he ponders this. He thought for a moment on giving Alice her eyesight back... but that was out of the question. He didn't want to risk getting her family in trouble. He also considers Nelen and his pact with Merihim, but the demon would probably be able to overrule a fae... then he thinks of something else, it was a longshot but... well... it would solve a problem for them. He shakes out of his daze as the fae emerges, bobbing a polite curtsey to the fae lord. "Well, your lordship, I feel that Marcellus never considered that one of his opponents would be capable of flight." he replies.

The Lord laughs loudly at that, grinning back to the other fae, "Got ya with that 'you have to stay outside' rule, hm? Well good, you were getting too sloppy anyway." he teases as he looks to Stephy, sizing him up, "Ah, one of Sera's aye? Well at least the island is going to a neighbor, I can accept that without being upset, consider it yours. As well, of course, as the boon you're entitled to."

Stephy thinks on that, "This island... how large is it would you say?" he asks, pondering that thought for a bit.
He thinks on that for a minute, whispering a bit with Marcellus before nodding, "About the size of the island of Oahu." nods the fae lord. He was referring to one of the smaller islands of Hawaii, about five hundred square miles.

Stephy nods, "Hm... decent hunting on it, perhaps enough to sustain a sizeable family?" he asks.

He nods, "It has an ecosystem yes, and it can hold a family well, I wouldn't found a nation on it but a family line can live comfortably on it for generations."

Stephy nods, "Well, in that case, this is going to sound very odd... but I would like the island to go to someone else." he replies, "You see, about a month ago we were visiting an allied freehold..." he explains, telling the fae lord of their encounter with Alyzya and Kirzar, how one of their group (he doesn't name Simoni) was 'being manipulated' and drove the dragons out of the freehold without them having anywhere to go. They discovered that she had been controlled and forced to fight them and were able to expel the influence, but too late for Alyzya's brood, "... and so, out of compassion for their situation and in the hopes to avoid retaliation, I would like the island to go to Alyzya and her brother." he nods.

He raises his brow at that, "You'd give your island to a brood of dragons? You realize this island is between my kingdom and your mother's, right? I have no objection to this, but are you comfortable with dragons you've quarreled with being a short flight from your forests?"

Stephy smirks a bit, "Dragons who will then be receiving a home to call their own from myself, on behalf of my mother's kingdom. Dragons may be prideful, but they are honorable. I'm sure Alyzya will understand this to be my attempts to make amends for what happened. As I said, we would have negotiated, but the presence controlling my companion prevented this from happening."

He smirks, chuckling at that, "Well then, I will send an envoy to inform them of your kindness. That was good of you, young one. Compassion is a rare trait in our kind, we all bear scars, and scars can often make one's heart hard. It's nice to see some kindness even to your foes."

Stephy giggles, "Well, I'm hoping this means they won't melt my mother's castle because my friend kicked them out of the freehold." he replies, "That and my friend has felt incredibly guilty for what happened, even though she'd been forced into doing it. I'm hoping this'll help her..." he nods, glancing at Sammi, "You alright with losing an island?" he asks him.

Sammi smirks, "I dunno, swimsuit season is coming and I could use a tan...” he teases, then nods, “Yeah that's a good idea Stephy, I'd rather have a clutch of dragons as a friend than enemy."

Stephy nods to his brother and then looks to the fae lord, "But yes, that would be my boon. That the island go to the dragons instead of us. I thank you, your lordship." he smiles, curtsying the fae again.

He nods, "It will be done then." he nods, sighing happily as he looks around the town, the crowd still around, in a bit of awe of the lord's presence, "Not a bad town you people have built here." he chuckles.

Stephy giggles, letting the fae lord do as he will as he wanders back over to Nessa and the others, "Well, hopefully that makes up for what happened at Aythia's freehold." he sighs, "I mean, if nothing else they've got a home of their own now."

Nessa nods, patting the boy's head "Sweet as ever, that's good. No offense to your mother and Frenchy here but Winter fae aren't exactly known for compassion and kindness."

Stephy giggles, "Well, ice has to be rigid and unyelding, but snow can be soft." he nods, blowing a little puff of frost from his lips with a wink. "Still, it'll be a load off Simoni's mind to know that Alyzya won't have a reason to torch our home anymore and a good reason not to." he nods, "That and an island of dragons... I dunno, but it just seems rather... appropriate." he nods.

Sammi smirks, "Hm, setting yourself up as the prince of snow huh?" he teases, pinching his brother's cheek.

Stephy smirks right back and swishes his skirt at Sammi, "Princess, brother dear, and don't you forget it." he giggles, then glances at Nessa, "Sooo... what was that he was saying about you and Alice having a kid?" he grins mischeviously.

Nessa smirks at that, lightly swatting Stephy, "Yea, curious about that are ya?" she teases.

He giggles, "Weeeell, I have to admit there are certain questions like 'basic biology' that would need to be answered." he replies, "Unless, someone isn't quite what they seem to be."

Nessa just grins, tickling under the boy's chin "Hmmm was he making a joke about lesbians not being able to have kids, or what he talking about an extra endowment of mine, guess we'll never know huh?" she winks as Trixie giggles.

Stephy smirks, "Well, yeah... until we get back and I ask Dawn anyways." he nods, "Did we tell you she was the one who told everyone Drusilla was pregnant? Apparently she could tell just from her scent being different. I don't think even Drus herself knew until Dawn told them!" he gives a grin to rival the Cheshire herself, "I'm preeeeeeetty sure she could smell exactly what your deal is Nessa…"

Nessa just giggles, "Or I could drag your cute little butt back to the car and let you see yourself…" she teases, Trixie huffing as she grabs Stephy, "You better drag me too then." she pouts, not really protesting her boyfriend being 'dragged off' though.

Stephy shrugs, "I dunno, I mean I don't wanna come between you and Alice..." he nods, then smirks, "Hmmm, maybe I should just ask her." he replies.

Nessa just giggles, grabbing Stephy at that, "Come on cuties.” she grins, obviously a couple drinks in herself as she drags the two back to the car.

Hardly anyone to complain in the party, it seemed the fae lord had decided he liked the party so much he'd stay around, the area once again becoming saturated in glamour as Sammi smirks at Nessa's little sister, "It's cute how they get along." he teases, the girl just giggling, "He coulda just asked me of course...." she chirps.","pools_count":0,"title":"Part 2.5: The French Fae Festival","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"application/msword","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"0","rating_name":"General","ratings":[],"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":""}