Welcome to Gaia! ::

*Aoi leans her head on his shoulder and lets out a frustrated sigh.*

My parents are getting on my a** about my "familial duties". They're not happy with all my illicit activities and they want me to come home and resume my position in the Japanese court.

You....might want to put some pants on.

*Seconds later, there's a knock at the door.*

My lady, there's a gentleman by the name of Hiroshi here to see you?

I'll bet there is. stare

*Aoi smirks and enjoys the view for a moment before scrambling for clothing herself. Luckily, a kimono-style robe is a lot more expedient than jeans. Not bothering with accesories or even to comb her hair before pulling it up in a messy bun, she ambles out into the living room and arranges herself on one of the chairs.*

Let him in, Jonesy.

*The man who enters is considerably more put-together, impeccably dressed, and carrying the cool airs of a courtier in addition to a silk-bound scroll. He bows deeply.*

Humblest apologies for my intrusion, hime-sama. I come bearing word from Their Majesties-....

Cut the crap, Hiroshi. I've known you since I was six. What do you want?

*Hiroshi looks shocked and rather offended by the rough breach of protocol.*

Your time in the West has not improved your manners, my lady.

They were lousy before I ever left Japan. Speak.

*Still looking like he just swallowed a rancid lemon, Hiroshi opens the scroll and reads from it.*

To our beloved daugher. Word of your breach with the Bostonian Spring Court and subsequent... *here Hiroshi pauses to give Aoi a disapproving look* ...activities has reached our ears. We are most seriously displeased both with your failure to represent the family's interests properly and with your outrageous behaviour.

We have decided the time has come for you to return home and resume your duties in the Okinawan Court. We cannot rescind your title, but your sister will henceforth assume your duties in Boston and attempt to repair the damage you have done. Meanwhile, you, as the eldest daughter, have a duty to continue the family line. In the interest of fairness, we have selected several candidates for-....

*Aoi practically explodes out of the chair.*

WHAT!?!?! scream

....-for your soon-to-be husband and future father of our grandchildren. We hope to improve upon your current proclivities, which we have heard now include a mortal lover. A halfling child, a dilution of the bloodline, represents a serious risk not only to our family line, but to the Court as a whole. It is unacceptable for-....

*Aoi snatches the scroll away, tears it in half, wads up the pieces, and pitches them toward the door.*

*Hiroshi stands his ground.* Your parents have spoken, hime-sama. This is something not even you, with your brazen ways, can ignore.

*Aoi draws herself up to her full height, raises her chin, and gives Hiroshi a look that Elliot hopes will never be directed at him, so full of rage it's shocking the man's head doesn't melt right off his shoulders.*

Just watch me. Get out. stressed

Demo, hime-sama....

OUT! scream

*Hiroshi turns and quick-marches out the door, pausing to retrieve the torn scroll on his way.*

For now. *Aoi collapses back into the chair with one hand over her face.*

This is not good. This is in fact the exact opposite of good.

Among other things. *sigh*

Our family is one of several prominent clans that has a standing arrangement with the goddess Benzaiten. She protects our territories from the other True Fae and in return, we give her our children to raise as Changelings. Yes, including me. I didn't get this awesome by accident.

When I left Japan to come here, the understanding with my family was that my younger sister would take on the responsibility of bearing the next generation since I would be too busy representing the family's political interests in Boston. But now that I've apparently displeased them, they want me to return home and start popping out babies by whatever noblemen they can find whose salmon still swim upstream.

Oh and they're furious that I'm sleeping with you. Not only a gaijin, but a mortal to boot. Ask me if I give an airborne reproductive act, but they're pretty pissed.

Eloquently put.

*Aoi runs a hair through her hair, pulling out the loose knot, and grins sheepishly.*

Told you I'd be trouble.

*She pushes herself out of the chair and strolls over for one more kiss.*

Come on, lover. We'd better get dressed. My spidey senses tell me there's a storm coming.

*Aoi pinches the bridge of her noise and sighs.*

Listen....somehow Carroll knows where we are, and if he doesn't, he'll sniff us out soon enough. Living in a speakeasy may not be enough to protect you, especially now that you're...well, you've suffered a loss. Not a single one of us is safe in Boston anymore.

I can't order you to go to Freeport, I can't order you to do anything. But I'm strongly urging you to consider it.

Especially since I think we may have a leak.

Now I'm not saying it's anyone here. I trust you all implicitly. But I do think it's someone close to us. The hobs that took Bree weren't in that alley by accident. And too many of Carroll's gunnysack goons have been popping up way too close to home.