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Avion Calling part 2
Players: Trin, Bav, Jack, Bruns, Shade, Callisto
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Now Trin let go of the hand and both her hands fisted as she glared at him. ?Oh no, you can?t go and do that!! That?s not right at all!? She protested. No wonder Ice had left him! His sense of morals were completely twisted!

?You really don?t see what?s wrong with random killing, and this whole assassin thing, do you?? Bav yelled as well and took to the air, but she wasn?t about to go near him.

?Isn?t there something else you could take back with you? Like? I don?t know, my hair?? TB asked. Having short hair had never accrued to her before, but if it meant her life, then it was more than worth it. Besides, it would grow back.

Jack moved quietly over to lean his shoulder against the mantle, just barely out of Trin's reach should she need to re-establish the deathgrip of earlier. His attention was all for Shade, though, waiting to see what he would suggest.

Idly, he wondered how smart Shade's boss was and if a golem would fool them.

Shade went silent for a moment, thinking. "You know... different employees require different things as proof that the mark is dead. I've had a few heads, a few hearts, even some parts I'd rather not mention... but this group didn't seem that blood thirsty. They just wanted proof."

He glanced over at Callisto and the other feien, sighing slightly. "Give me something of yours that no other tech jockey could make. And tell me what color blood you have."

"Red, but don't you go killing a person just for the blood color." Trin said and pointed an accusing finger in his direction. Then she sighed and crossed her arms as she started to think. "Something that no one else would make, huh?" She already knew better than to ask Jack, he was tech-handycapped.

Mentally she was running though all her inventions.

"What about that toaster? The one that throws toast all over?" Bav suggested.

"Naa, not good enough."

".... You got alot of robots. You could spare one of them." Trin looked up at her feien at that idea.

Brunswick nodded eagerly, glancing at his sister in approval. "Sure, just give them one of those things downstairs. BeeVee could tell you if the Fleet has anything like it or not and that'd be a great way to judge if anyone else does." He shrugged and added solemnly, "The Fleet's got just about everything."

"A high tech robot. Something like an... AI or somethin?" Shade asked, looking impatient. Kori would know. But... well... it looked as if he didn't have any other choice.

Trin nodded, trying to pick one for a slaughter. Her poor A.I.! "It wont matter if someone else already has it. If they know my work, then they would know how to identify it. You might want to beat it up, since I was planning on using them as body guards." She told him, then turned to head to the lab only to stop and look all those in the room.

"I'll be right back. You boys play nice now, ok?" She said, looking from Jack to Shade with a grin before darting down the hall. Her tail swung happily as she did.

There was a long moment of silence in her wake and then, mildly, Jack said, "Good step in the right direction, mate." Without thinking, too wired from the tension to abide by Trin's earlier request, he retrieved his pack of cigarettes and shook one out. Immediately, it went in the corner of his mouth while his other hand searched for his lighter. "Before you ask, though, I didn't know before or I'd've said somethin' along the lines of hell no."

"I didn't expect this." Shade said with a shrug. "But hell, Ice would kill me if I killed her sister, so..." He reached into his trench coat, pulling a deadly looking dagger out and checking the edge against his thumb. "This should do."

"Do for what??" Bav demanded from her place in the air. She was just about to introduce herself to the diva and make nice when Shade pulled out the dagger. She still didn't trust this guy. If only she was bigger then maybe she could do more!

"Sharp enough for her upcoming trim," Jack suggested. He inhaled slowly, eyes half-closing in catlike satisfaction on his first dose of nicotine. "Do those clients o' yours have any magic? Can they trace things like blood and hair to a source?"

Brunswick fluttered over to Jack's shoulder and tugged abruptly on his bond's ear. "-Jack-," he hissed. "No smoking."

"Huh? Oh." Jack looked down at the cigarette between his fingers as if he had never seen it before and had no clue how it got there. Then he grinned sheepishly. "Right, then." Wetting finger and thumb of his other hand, he neatly pinched off the burning end and tucked the safely tipped cigarette behind his ear. He looked at Shade. "It'll be safe, pullin' a fast one like this?"

"Hell if I know." Shade said as he shrugged off his trench and rolled up his white dress shirt sleeve. He glanced in the direction TB had gone, looking impatient. "If they have a blood sample taken they'll assume I cut myself fighting the bot. If not... well hell, who knows?"

"Yeah, but won't they susspect something with all the blood being yours?" Bav asked, though she knew what it would mean. Trin would have to get cut as well.

Then Trin reappeared with a remote in and and a six foot tall metalman following her. It was a little worse for the wear, in fact and having it remote controlled meant that it wasn't fully one right now. Just on manual drive. "Sorry, I wanted to make a back up of his personality protocol and-- what's with the knife?" She asked, looking at the blade.

"I reckon we'll need to do a bit o' blood-drawin' t' pull this off, pet." Gently, Jack reached out a hand towards Trin and half-shrugged. "I'll heal you right up, nice an' neat, though," he promised.

Brunswick squinted at the robot and then shook his head slowly. "Nope, that's nothing like the Fleet has," he announced to Bavaria and Callisto (if she cared to listen). "Please tell me it usually moves smoother than that, BeeVee?"

Shade nodded, then whipped his long lizard like tail out to wrap around the robot. He squeezed and the sound of metal being bent screeched through the air. Then he picked it up, turned it over, and slammed it head first into the ground.

"Let's see..." He said, bringing it up to him. "Just enough to make it hard to rip off, but not enough to make it look like I destroyed it on purpose..." And slammed his fist into the front of the machine, leaving a large dent.

Trinityblue winced as she watched her poor, helpless bot get smashed by Shade and a small whimper escaped her. Poor, poor Frank! "With the damage to the head and torso, the main computer AI will be damaged. Which will work in my favor. I think." Trin muttered as she still watched in horror.

Bav also winced at it. "I've never seen it walk on it's own, but I sure do hope it moves better than that. There are others that I could find out with." She told Bruns and Calli.

Slowly Trin edged back towards Jack and rubbed her arm lightly. She wasn't too keen about having her gentic-code out there, and especially about being cut, but what can you do? It would be spoiled anyway if Shade mixed his with it.

Gently, Jack reached out and looped his arm around Trin's shoulders, squeezing reassuringly. "Better than the alternative, pet," he murmured in her ear as if reading her mind. "He's got t' make it look real or you're both dead. Don't worry." He gave her another squeeze. "Won't let anythin' happen t' you. Promise."

Brunswick looked back on his bond approvingly; finally, the man was doing something right. Then he refocused on watching Shade destroy the robot. He was -strong-. Scarily so. It was a good thing they didn't have to fight him.

Shade glanced over at Callisto. "Don't watch this part, sweetie. I don't think you're up to it yet."

Callisto almost argued, but she paled as he brought the blade to his forarm, slicing the flesh easily. blood welled, then dripped down, splattering over the machine and the sleeve of his shirt. Now she knew where the blood stain had come from. "Mmm... that should about do it. Now you." He said, motioning to TB.

Tb took a deep breath, nodding at both what Jack said and agreeing with Shade as she stepped over and held out the arm she was going to let be sliced. Least she was wearing short sleeves. Then she smiled at him.

"I'll let Ice know what you did for me, ok? I know she'll be happy as well. Kinda sucks that we have to meet like this for the first time." She told him, remembering how she and Ice often talked about how she had to meet Shade, they just never got around to that.

Bav also paled where she was, watching Shade intently. He had a blade and was more than strong enough to go back on his word and kill them both.

Jack stepped up behind Trin, far enough to give her room to move but close enough that he could do something gallantly stupid should the need arrive. His eyes were only for the knife in Shade's hand, though. Meanwhile, some small part of his brain was preparing for what would have to be done afterwards. His left hand flexed, fingers wiggling, and a soft, faint glow began to touch his fingertips.

Instinctively, Brunswick moved to hold his sister's hand tightly. He was not going to let her go, nope.

Callisto moved, stepping closer to both juveniles and wrapping her arms around them in silent support. But she kept watching, not willing to look away.

"We'll just need a bit." Shade said as he took TB's hand and brought the blade up. Then he paused, looking at her seriously. "I don't have any diseases or anything." He added. "Hell, haven't had a woman in seventy-five years..." He muttered almost silently before he sliced a shallow cut down her forearm, so smoothly that it wouldn't even sting for a moment. Or bleed.

Bav had a death grip on her brother's hand now, not about to look away. Course, she'd never really admit to such a hold to anyone other than her family. She didn't even notice the older one holding them, being too focused on what was going on.

"I know spells for such." Trin murmured as she stared at her arm in grim fascination. The first thought was that the blade was really sharp to not hurt. The next. . . was that it was starting to sting as the blood started to flow and drip down on to the bot.

At some point during the procedure, Jack's right hand had found Trin's shoulder and he stood behind her. His left hand slipped forward now to cup her elbow, holding her arm still and willing the sting away for her. "There, pet," he murmured. "Hold it steady."

Red blood mixed and mingled with a darker red and Shade nodded and let go in satisfaction. "Problem solved." He said as he cleaned off the blade and pocketed it. His cut wasn't bleeding as much, either. "This makes us blood siblings, you know." He said almost teasingly.

Callisto sighed and loosened her old on the two juveniles.

Trin smirked lightly as she watched Jack work, holding her arm as still as possible. "Were were almost brother and sister-in-law. You just have one messed up job." She said lightly.

Bav finally relaxed and glanced at the two around her, then gave Callisto a breif smile before she fluttered towards her bond, having let go of Bruns now that it was safe.

Wordlessly, Jack smiled to himself as he licked a thumb and smoothed it down the line on Trin's arm. The neat cut immediately sealed up on itself and his other hand gently rubbed at her still-captured elbow. Then the magician pulled his hands away and nodded, content. "That was a clean job, mate," he said to Shade. "Ta." His eyes flickered over to the trio of feien and he laughed under his breath. "Calm down, you three. It's sorted."

"Yeah." Shade said, somberly. "I've been hearing that a lot lately. Tell Ice... Nah, just tell her it's over." He muttered, pulling out some gauze from his pocket and wrapping up his forearm. "Calli, sweet, we've got to go. I've got a job to finish."

Callisto nodded, taking a moment to smile at the two juveniles. "Maybe next time we'll get to see each other on a more... friendly basis." she said before fluttering over to her bond and dropping down on his shoulder.

Then Shade did something different. He raised one hand, running a finger down through the air and stepping forward. Only to disappear.

"Later Lady. Maybe next time." Bav said somberly as she watched them go. Course, the way they went made her blink, not being used to it. But if he could do that, then-- She pailed at the thought of there being not protection from him.

The rifting didn't even faze Trin, who was used to her sister doing such since they were very little and raided cookie jars. There was a moment of silence as Shade left, them a smile spread on Trin's face as she beamed up at Jack, then to Bavaria as she held out a head for her feien. "We're going to live!!"

Jack simply grinned at her, reaching out to wrap his hands around her waist and hoist her in the air for a brief moment, swinging her, before allowing her to stand once more and Bavaria to complete her own landing. "Yeah, pet, you are," he said and the grin seemed permanent, relief evident, dark eyes bright with teasing. "Good thing, too. I'm gettin' t' like you a fair bit an' god knows Bruns would pine if he lost his sister."

Landing on his own bond's shoulder, Brunswick snorted, back to himself with the removal of both the threat and the extra audience. "Stop flirting, idiot. Let's just, I don't know, celebrate."

Trin gave him a big, super-happy hug, laughing as she was swung around. Once set down, the grin seemed to be stuck on her face and her tail had a happy sway to it. She then cupped her hands for Bav to land on. "Agreed! But I haven't the foggiest idea of how right now! Suggestions?" She asked, too happy to come up with an idea.

Bavaria landed on the hands, crossing her arms in a serious, but happy way. ?Something big, and where you can get rid of that energy.? She said, smirking at her bond.

?Oh, I?m not that bad!? Trin frowned at her for a brief moment, but that smile came right back. ?I?ll calm down sooner or later!?

Jack looked at his watch and shrugged. Then he waved a hand in a vague way towards her bedroom. "Go put on some dancin' shoes, pet," he ordered. "Dinner at the pub an' then we'll hit a club for some dancin'." He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow in mock seriousness. "An' you promise not t' laugh at me dancin', right, then?"

"And what about -us-?" Brunswick huffed and crossed his own arms. "Where should we go?"

The smile Jack gave his feien was pure, darling wickedness. "Go visit your siblings, mate, or that precious Silva bloke o' yours."

Now that smile on Trin?s face turned into a sheepish one. ?I?m not much for dancing, actually.? Not unless it was the ?Happy Tail Dance? that Ice had made up when they were kids. Then she blinks. ?I need to tell Ice! J-Just a moment.? And with that, she headed down the hall to grab her cell.

As she took off, Bav left the cupped hand and went to Jack?s other shoulder, landing there with a smirk. ?She?s an idiot, ignore her.? Then she frowned at him. ?And I don?t want to go visit Silva! You two can?t go off and celebrate with out us! I nearly died too!?

"That's true." Gently, Jack reached up to touch a calloused finger to Bavaria's tiny shoulder and he smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, too, pet. It was a near thing."

"Too close," Brunswick agreed. "And that's why you're not just gonna take Trin off somewhere alone. BeeVee and I are coming wherever you're going."

"What? Like the world's icklest chaperones?"

"Hey, we do have to watch you. Trin's dense, but you're not." Bav said and gave his ear a pinch.

Trin entered into the room again, having left a message on her sister's phone. "Well, rather than dancing, why not a movie? Then our feien can watch it as well. It'll be dark, so on one could see them." She suggested, looking calmer now. There was still a happy smile on her face and her ears had picked up the conversation.

"Anythin' you fancy," Jack agreed easily. His sideways smile teased Bavaria. "We'll put the kids between us an' get some popcorn."

"And gummy bears."

"Yeah, Bruns. And gummy bears."

Beach visits
(current rp going on in which Bav and Trin visit Munich and Rhea's beach house, not yet finished. )

The Cup
Players: Jack, Bruns, Bav, Trin, the Cup
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“You’ve got to be kidding me! You aren’t going to do this again, are you?” Bavaria asked rather startled from where she sat on her bond’s shoulder.

“Would you rather us walk there? Or take a bus half of the way as well?” Trinity asked as she stood in the middle of her living room. Again she was preparing her teleportation spell. “Besides, if I’m going to do well with this spell, I have to keep working at it. This time I’m just going to aim for his driveway.”

The hope feien rolled her eyes, not expecting it to work. At all.

Once more they were consumed in the bright light and when it cleared, they were some where slightly windy. And uneven. Trin’s feet touched something solid, by which caused her to lose her balance. Her tail frilled around to try and regain it, but that didn’t help and the girl fell to the ground.

Bav had the insight enough to move. “Well, we’re not at the bottom of an ocean and we’re not in a bathroom. Good job! Now where are we?”

“…. A roof.” Trin muttered as she pushed herself up. Indeed they were on a roof and tiles under her hands were very hot. It simply caused her to get up faster.

“Ok, who’s roof?” Bav asked and returned to the shoulder.

“I have no idea.” Trin said and walked over to the edge of the roof to knock on a window. Someone, she hoped, would be home and let them in.

Long moments passed and she began to fear that no one was home and she would be stuck on the roof until she got the courage to try the teleportation spell again.

Luckily, the window began to slide up and the crown of a head of tousled brown hair emerged. Twisting, suddenly, Jack was grinning up at her, the smile cheeky and easy-going. "So it's the roof this time?" he asked calmly. As if he found young women on his roof every day. It was a complete flashback to his behavior the last time, when she ended up in his bathroom. "Need help getting down, pet?"

A lopsided grin crossed her features at this and she looked to her young feien. “See? I told you I’d get it right!” She said happily. Even if it wasn’t fully true. At least it –was- Jack’s house. She edged closer to him. “I could use a bit, yes. I can’t fly.”

Bav rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, this really looks like a drive way to me.” She drawled and took to the air. –She- could fly!

Jack considered telling her to stay put while he got the ladder. Then he remembered that the ladder wasn't his and the neighbor had reclaimed it. Whoops. So, still grinning, he leaned further out. "Sit on the edge, pet, and let your legs hang," he ordered. "We'll get you down."

A blue blur shot out the window and upwards. "Bavaria! Sis!"

Sighing, Jack hoped his feien would keep his sister busy while he manhandled Trin. He was pretty sure that Bavaria would object to -that-.

Trin had good sense to know what was coming. But she did need down the roof one way or another. She was sure that if he did have a ladder, he would have offered it. So, she did what she was told. After all, the roof was getting hot.

“Bruns!” Bav flew at her brother, giving him a hug. “She did that spell again!” She explained, frowning at her bond. Then she realized what Jack was about to do to Trin…. She’d have to watch those hands of his!

Brunswick rolled his eyes and reached out to set his hand on his sister's shoulder. "Tell her to walk next time, BeeVee," he suggested. "She can't aim for anything and some day she's gonna end up in Jack's -bed- or something."

If Jack heard the tone behind Brunswick's words (a tone which implied that landing in Jack's bed was only mildly better than being roasted alive), he ignored it in his concentration on the bigger problem. Sitting on the sill, he reached up to touch Trin's ankle. "Okay, now go over on your stomach an' let your legs hang down. Waist at the edge an' all. I'll steady you."

Bav crossed her arms. “I told her to not do that spell, and she insisted!” She huffed, crossing her arms and giving Jack the ‘look’. One that would promise him pain if his touching got too friendly.

If she was big enough to follow through with that. Then again, something else would do.

Trin, on the other hand, was ignoring the two feien as she twisted around and slid over the edge of the roof. Her tail waved in the air to keep her balance as she worked. At this angle, it was easy to see how loved her shoes were. They were old and well worn with spots from spills on them. They were also more like hiking boots, so they would have good traction for this little climbing job.

Well, at least they weren't high heels, Jack thought as he reached out to pull her legs towards him and the window sill. "Steady, luv," he murmured. "Wiggle it back some more." He wished his house had dormer windows; things would have been much easier. Bloody old house. Keeping one arm in attendance on Trin, he shifted on his perch and moved to straddle the sill. Legs able to stabilize his weight now, he moved the rest of his body to the outside. "We're gonna have t' give you coordinates to follow or somethin'."

Rightly interpreting his sister's expression, Brunswick patted her shoulder again. "He won't drop her," he reassured her. "And she can punch him out later if he grabs her wrong. He'll let her."

“Yeah, but would she punch him? That’s the thing!” Bav answered her brother, huffing again. “Trin, you’re not allowed to do this spell! Never -ever- again when traveling!”

“Yeah yeah, Varia!” Her bonded called back.

“Bav!”

Trin couldn’t help but grin at Jack since Bav couldn’t see it. She was purposely teasing her feien. With his guidance, her foot was able to find the sill and she slowly lowered herself more. The foot shimmed over the edge to help get her in.

Jack's hand immediately moved to cup her hip. The other shifted to hold her foot to the window sill, providing weight to her balance. "D'ya feel like a princess bein' rescued from a tower yet, Trin?" he asked. He, too, ignored the feien. Clever man that he was, he knew this was the best way to get both Bavaria and Brunswick silent with boiling indignation. Taking a breath, he stretched out a bit more and gripped the waistline of Trin's pants. "Okay, then. Almost there."

"If she doesn't hit him, I'll hit him." Brunswick watched the rescue mission with narrowed eyes.

“Then I’ll do a follow up punch.” Bav growled as she watched them. Her own violet eyes were narrowed at the British man.

“I think this would have been easier if I have a rope of bed sheets. And wasn't trying to climb in.” Trin teased. The ironic aspect of what he just said did hit her, but she said nothing. As she shifted and slowly let her weight go to him so she could get in (who ever invented these overhangs should have to do this some time and see just how stupid it was!), her tail accidentally popped Jack in the face. She was climbing in so that her back would face him and didn’t even think of her tail.

Thus Jack's reward for being a knight-in-shining armor was a mouthful of fur. Gamely, he kept his hands on Trin and tried to draw his head back. The angle was awkward, her tail was long, and so his hands tightened reflexively at her waist to keep them both on the sill.

Brunswick nearly fell out of the air, giggling.

Brunswick wasn’t the only one. Bavaria laughed openly about this. “Way to go, TB! Whack him with the tail!” She called out, then laughed again.

Trin flushed and drew the extra appendage to her so as to not hit Jack again. Then she gave the two a frown. “It’s not like I meant too!” She pouted, then politely waited for him to get resituated. Her arms were starting to get tired of this. “Sorry about that, Jack.”

"N-no worries." Turning his head, he made a strange face as he tried to rid his mouth of lingering hairs. Then he turned back and offered her a naughty little boy's grin. "Warn me next time an' we'll be in clover." He paused and pulled himself forward a bit to better hold her. One of his arms loosed from her waist and shifted up to brace across her upper chest. "Okay, pet," he muttered. "Let go an' I'll pull you in."

“Some times I forget I even have a tail.” Trin muttered, then she took a deep breath and let go of overhang. She was all going to trust him to not drop her and her eyes automatically shut.

Bav did not like the position of Jack’s hold and her laughing stopped.

With a quick heave, Jack managed to draw the slender young woman towards him the moment she released her grip. She came to rest halfway through the window, her stomach resting on a combination of windowsill and Jack's thighs. His arms had shifted immediately once she was safe, leaving her with the weight of one of his hands at the small of her back, palm warm, and the other hand cupping her shoulder. "There ya go, Princess," he announced. "Rescued tail an' all."

Brunswick snorted under his breath and reached for Bavaria's hand. "Easy there, sis," he cautioned. "Jack's a perv but he's not going to do anything to her unless she says it's okay." There was grudging admission in his voice. "He's a good-guy jerk like that."

It was a very good thing Bruns did that, for his sister was about to lunge. So, she settled on growling at Jack. “If ya say so, bro…” Bav added softly, not looking at him.

Trin gave a nervous little laugh at this and pulled herself up right. “Thank you Jack. It was getting really hot up there and I’d hate to have to jump or something. But, um, no ‘Princessing’ me, okay?” She asked, straightening herself and her shirt.

"Whatever you like, Trin." Jack looked away from her and focused on bringing his upper body back into the room and then swinging his long leg back inside as well. For a moment, he sat on the edge of the windowsill and then he stood suddenly, hands raking through his hair as he grinned at her. "No more roofs, okay?" he teased. "I reckon the bathroom was much nicer, don't you?"

With his sister's bond safely inside, Brunswick relaxed and shrugged. He began pulling Bavaria with him to the window. "I'm glad you came to visit, anyway," he muttered. "Jack's been at his books lately. -Boring-. And then there's the cup thing."

“A cup thing…?” This threw the little hope feien off from how Jack had manhandled her bond. “What kinda cup thing?”

“In all of it’s awkwardness, yes.” Trin gave him a grin once she was straightened. “At least the fire department wasn’t called in to get me down.” She stated. “So how have you been?”

"Oh, I've been doin'." Jack shrugged vaguely. Then a comically exaggerated look of confusion appeared on his face. "Except I reckon I'm a daddy again. Maybe." He tilted his head and gave her a look of utter trust and adoration. Just like a great big puppy. "Can I be a daddy t' a cup?"

"Yeah, a -cup-. With funny red liquid in it. Jack's all worried about me spilling it." Brunswick looked positively disgusted at the insinuation.

Bav looked at him oddly. “So what the hell is it about this cup?”

“You got it at a Gaia shop, didn’t you?” Trin asked, lifting a brow at the Brit. “You should be careful, odd things can come from that.” A little, mischievous grin went on her face and her eyes gave a little twinkle. She knew strange things in Gaia could happen.

"I didn't buy it, pet," Jack assured her. Pushing away from the windowsill, he motioned for her to follow him out to the hall and down the stairs. "I was walkin' by, paused, got called in, an'... This little gel just gave it to me an' told me not t' drink it. Bloody weird thing. Why do people keep givin' me things t' take care of?"

Brunswick landed on Jack's shoulder and nodded morosely. "Like he said. It's a cup and he can't drink it or spill it and all it does is sit there."

“Oh god… how can you stand it?” Bav commented and took a seat on Trin’s shoulder. She was still too irritated at Jack to rest on his shoulder with Bruns.

Trin just shook her head as she followed Jack. “Maybe they think you’ll do a good job at taking care of things. I guess this means it isn’t safe to window shop any more? People will give you little things to take care of.” She said idly. Then her head tilted in thought. “What do you think will come of it?”

"Damned if I know. I reckon I'll just do like the gel said an' see what happens." At the bottom of the steps, he reached behind himself absently to touch Trin's hand and tug her in the direction of the dining room. "It's in here," he announced.

"I can't. Maybe I'll move in with you, BeeVee."

"No, you won't, lad. I don't want you botherin' Trin."

Brunswick scowled, reached up to pinch Jack's ear, and then fluttered over to sit next to his sister on Trinity's shoulder.

Trin choked on a small laugh. “I don’t think he liked that comment, did you Bruns?” She smiled at the other feien, turning her head just-so, so that her grin could be seen without the need to really moving her shoulders.

“Brunswick wouldn’t brother Tb! Nothin really bothers her!” Bav said and wrapped an arm around her brother. He could live with her! That would be the best, really.

Trin just rolled her eyes.

Showing his impeccable maturity, Brunswick stuck his tongue out at his bond over his sister's shoulder.

Matching the maturity and raising it, Jack stuck -his- tongue out and crossed his eyes. Then he grinned at Trin. "Honestly, I'd miss the little shite," he admitted. "So it's all 'bout savin' you an' maintainin' my manly image. He knows my secrets, y'see. Bruns lets me cry at movies. Hell, he joins me."

"I do not!" Trin’s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter, causing the two on her shoulder to have to hold on. This caused scolding on Bav’s behalf. “Don’t do that!” And she pinched the cat like ear that was on the side of her bond’s head.

That ear gave a flick and the grin didn’t vanish from Trin’s face. “Poor Jack. No drama movies for you.” She teased. “But I don’t mind it if Bruns wanted to spend the night with Varia—“

“Bav!”

“-Sometime.” The bond completely ignored her little feien as she spoke.

Jack winked. "I'll keep that in mind if I ever have a hot date an' need the privacy."

"Pervert."

Following Trin's lead, Jack likewise ignored his feien and led Trin into the dining room. A small glass sat on a bamboo placement which, in turn, rested on a bit of blue silk. A shimmering reddish liquid glowed softly within the glass. Jack pointed. "That would be the Cup," he explained.

There was still a smile on Trin’s face as she went towards the cup, studying the small bit of glass and liquid. “One is going to have to be careful with such a thing, aren’t they?” She said, leaning over slightly to peer at it more. There was something attractive about it, even if it was just a cup. Odd.

Bav grumbled again at this motion and the lack of thought regarding her and her brother. With the leaning, she took off again and landed near the cup to examine it herself. A thoughtful little frown went on her face. “It –is- dull, isn’t it?”

“I find it rather attractive, actually.” Trin said lightly. This earned her a strange look from her feien.

"Oh, it's pretty enough," Jack agreed readily, shrugging and running a hand through his hair. Absently, the hand then slipped down to tug a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket. Upon raising them, though, he discovered that they were crushed beyond smoking. He snorted under his breath and tossed the pack on the table. It skidded to a stop near the candelabra in the center. He was going to have to tear those apart and reroll them. The damage must have happened while rescuing Trinity. He slipped over to stand at Trin's side and studied the cup. "An' I plan t' do right by it." A vague gesture indicated the handmade label on the side of the cup. "I just wish I knew what t' expect, right?"

"I told you. It's going to be a face-sucking fish alien." Brunswick landed beside his sister and paced around the cup, eyeing it with annoyance. "And it'll serve you right. You should have said no, you didn't want it."

“Or it’s going to turn into the swamp thing! Maybe even flood your house and cover everything in its slime of death.” Bav said with utter logic in her voice. It only seemed right to her.

“You got into the old movies I have, didn’t you?” Trin lifted a brow at her girl. A little smirk twitched on her lips. It would figure… but at least she was learning that Bavaria enjoyed movies. If she had noticed the motion Jack made with his cigarettes pack, she made no sign of it.

... Well, ok, she did feel guilty for it being destroyed, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. She didn’t really know what to do about it, honestly.

Jack gently picked up the glass and held it to the light. He was quiet for a moment, watching the light shine through it, refracting in a strange pattern. Finally, he smiled and set it down again, carefully. His fingers straightened the bit of blue silk automatically. "Well, we'll just see what comes out, eh?" He turned the smile on Trin and it was warm and devoid of his usual wicked charm. "Anyway, stupid as it sounds, I wanted you t' meet it."

"So you know what to tell the police when they find our drowned corpses," Brunswick chimed in. It was hard to tell now if he was actually mad or if he was just enjoying playing the doom-sayer and creating outlandish deaths for him and his bond.

“You need to stock up on salt. Salt will kill the slime monsters, like it does snails.” Bav informed him with a little nod. “I can’t have my brother dieing on me!”

The small, pleasant smile that was on Trin’s face grew to a grin at Jack’s information. “Well then, it looks like I -did- come at a good time, yes? How long do you reckon it will take before something with it will happen?” She was very curious as to what it would turn into. Feien’s came from flowers. Little Rhea came from a book… Gaia had so many strange beings that came from odd things!

"Not a clue." He shrugged. "Hopefully, soon. Then I don't have t' spend my time shooin' Bruns away from it. I swear he wants t' turn it into a jacuzzi."

Brunswick leaned over and whispered in his sister's ear, "It's about the right size, though, right? I bet Soho and Marne would go for that. Pink water is a surefire draw for girls." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Except you, BeeVee, because you're not a girly-girl."

Jack again reached out to touch the glass and he looked thoughtful. "I have t' admit that I've been tempted t' try some scannin' spells an' the like but I don't know if it would hurt it or not."

“I don’t think it would be safe to try it, not knowing if it’ll work or not. Like you said, it could hurt it.” Tb agreed as she watched the man and the cup. Her eyes did a little glance at the two feien, just to make sure they weren’t sneaking off to cause trouble.

Bav was other wise considering her brother’s words. “It might need a little more and maybe a candle or an incense burner thing to stand on. One of those that you put a candle under? Or whatever that thing is…” She had seen it once in a picture. Her shoulders gave a little shrug. “And I’d prefer blue water.”

"Of course you would, BeeVee." Brunswick grinned. "Everyone knows that blue is the best color ever." The fact that both of them had blue markings clearly only proved the point to him.

"Wouldn't wanna do that." Suddenly, Jack straightened and moved towards his kitchen, touching Trin's shoulder with the barest of glancing motions as he passed. He chuckled under his breath as she kept looking at the glass, barely registering his touch. "Bloody hell, luv," he teased. "You keep lookin' at it like that an' I'll have to share custody o' it with you. Fancy bein' mum t' a cup?"

Trin jerked around to look at him, then gave a nervous little laugh. “I’m sorry! There’s just something about it that draws you to it.” She muttered. And, seeing him in the position to head elsewhere, she obediently started to follow him.

“And those who don’t know, haven’t yet seen the truth.” Bav nodded. Then hearing the word ‘mum’ coming from Jack’s lips, she turned a light glare on him.

"But we'll show them." Brunswick patted his sister's shoulder and then leapt from the table, winging his way to land on Jack's shoulder. Only then did he scowl and mutter, "Knock it off, Jack. You're being a jerk again."

"Am not." Turning his head to look over his unoccupied shoulder, Jack smiled at Trin. "Fancy a drink? Not that one, of course."

“Tea, of course.” Trin smiled at him and stuck her hands in her pockets, for lack of something better to do with them. “And drinking the liquid in the cup might be a bad thing.” She added, simply because she could.

Bav thought that Jack should drink it, as long as it didn’t kill him. She took her own place on her own bond’s shoulder and gave Jack a pointed look. “Got any grapes to eat?” It was a random question, yes, but she might as well take advantage of the host.

"Sure do, Bavaria," Jack drawled as he moved to the refrigerator. "Bruns made me pick some up so he could try 'em. Green ones okay?"

Brunswick sank down into a crosslegged meditation position and smiled. "Better," he announced. "And we'll have some juice, too."

"Yes, master." Jack straightened, hands balancing the milk, the juice, and a bunch of grapes. Neatly, he transferred it all to the counter and plucked two grapes. He rolled them towards Trin. "For the kids, darlin'," he announced with a laugh. "Black tea, right?"

Ohh, black tea, the strong stuff. One brow lifted on the cat-girl’s face, but she said nothing against it. Rather she picked up the grapes and started to wash them off of whatever might be on them. Then she presented one each to the feiens. “That will do just fine.” She finally answered.

Bav took hers with a smug little smirk. Then fluttered off the shoulder and onto the counter to eat. It was a good thing she moved too, for her bond started to wash off the rest of the grapes, so that she and Jack could eat them, if they wanted.

As Brunswick joined his sister on the counter, Jack gave Trin a strange look. "Not proper black tea," he finally explained. "Just without milk an' sugar. I don't have fancy tea in this house." He grinned. "Not so long as I can get my PG Tips, nope."

Trin gave a small chuckle. “Ahh, now I understand! I was thinking -real- black tea. It’s quite strong. Like a tea version of an espresso. I think I shall wait and see after the first sip, then see if I want the other stuff in it.” She gave him a grin.

Bav just gave a little snort and started to munch on her grape.

Brunswick nudged his sister in her side, ducking his head behind the grape for better privacy. "I like your bond, BeeVee, but is she always this dim?"

"Yeah, I know. It's paint-peelin' stuff." Jack neatly filled the kettle and set it to boil. Then he retrieved two mugs. This time, one mug was lavender and featured a cheekily grinning cat while the other was spotted black-on-white like a cow and said "Up until the cows come home." Setting them down on the counter, he began the ingrained ritual of pre-tea-preparations. Tea bags in both, milk and sugar in the cow mug. "I'm just a workin' class bloke, pet," he assured her. "No refinement t' me at all."

“Sadly she is. That’s why I’ve gotta make sure people don’t take advantage of it. It’s a wonder how she even got on without me around!” Bav whispered back behind her own little grape and gave the subject a sad little shake of her head.

“Bah, it’s fine, Jack! My great-grandpa loves tea. I don’t think he could get through a day without at least one big mug of the stuff.” Without other’s paying for it. The last was never said out loud. “And my great-grandma likes it, and my father and mother. I guess it kinda runs in the family. Peppermint tea is also good, and I do like catnip tea…” And where she was from, that was a favored tea. Jack and the feiens would more than likely find it very icky.

"Good." Jack spun to grin at her properly, leaning his lanky frame back against the counter-edge. "'Cause tea's pretty much a way o' life, y'know. My mum's American but da corrected her pretty quickly. Had, too, I reckon. She once told me that tea was usually the only drinkable thing in the flat. Unless you fancied canned lager."

Brunswick sighed and bit a hunk from his grape. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment and then shrugged. "Better dim than too smart, though, I suppose," he announced. "I can't get anywhere with Jack. He pays attention to stuff even when he doesn't seem to be."

“Then I got lucky with her in that respect. When she’s not working, she’s off doin something else, like playing a computer game. Then she has no idea what’s going on. Course when she’s workin, I’m helping.” The latter part of was Bav said was a half-boasted.

“I think my great-grandpa introduced the tea thing into the family.” Trin told him with a little smirk. “Even if there was something else to drink, he’d want tea. Has really good teeth cuz of it, oddly.” She was picking off some grapes for herself to munch on. Then she handed them to Jack, for him to eat as well.

Jack accepted the grapes with one hand and a smile. "Cheers, pet." He popped one into the air and neatly slid himself beneath to catch it in his mouth. Chewing, he winked. Then he turned back to lift the whistling kettle from the stove.

"Well, that's because you have to practice your making skills," Brunswick pointed out. "So your magic is insanely strong and we can properly do things." He frowned. "I need to get on Old Man Silva's case about teaching me. I need to get stronger."

Bav reached over, patting her brother's back. "Don't worry, we'll get that old b*****d to teach us. Mun'll need a teacher for her magic, as well and if I keep working, I should build up my magic enough so I don't have to take so many breaks." Then they could get some real interesting stuff done. What she wasn't yet sure.

"You've worked on that move often, haven't you?" Trin grinned teasingly as she waited for her tea. Personally she was happy to get the kitty cup, but she didn't say a thing about that.

"Mispent youth," he replied lightly. "The stories I could tell, pet, your tail fur would stand on end." Expertly, he poured water into both, swirled spoons through them to mix, and then fished out the tea bags a few moments later. Turning, he handed the kitty mug to Trin. "You might not believe it t' look at me now but I was a right little b*****d back then."

It took all of his strength but Brunswick managed to resist the opening Jack had given and focused on his conversation with Bavaria. "My magic's nothing special," he mused, "so I'll work on how best to use my strength, I suppose. Unless I can figure out how Jack does his things. That would be useful."

Like his sister, he wasn't quite sure what it would be useful for but Brunswick was a Boy Scout at heart in his Be Prepared beliefs... Even if he had never heard of the Boy Scouts.

"We've got the same strength and speed, so, I'm going to keep that up. Like back up muscle." Bav told him logically and finished off her grape. Then she looked at the too bonds to make sure they were alright. And that Jack wasn't doing anything funny.

She missed the whole grape poping show he had done.

Trin just grinned as she took her tea and leaned against the counter, cupping it in both hands. Her fluffy tail light wrapped around her leg to avoid the counter's wall, then gave a little amused twitch. "Ahh, now if we start going into life stories, I'd be tellin you things that would make you wonder just what was wrong with me." She had a lot of stories to tell. Something she didn't want to tell also.

Like getting lost her first time on the Gold Rings and winding up in the men's locker room.

"There's somethin' wrong with you? Trin, pet, this's the first I'm hearin' o' that." Jack grinned and absently rolled a grape between thumb and forefinger, brown eyes watching her. "Trust me. You're 'bout as normal as is healthy. Good sense o' humor, sweet-tempered, loyal, an' cute." He raised an eyebrow. "Unless there's somethin' filthy you're not tellin' me. Are you really a bloke? I promise I wouldn't mind."

Brunswick grinned. "Steal my thunder, huh? Let me be useful for -something-, okay? Let me be the best at something."

Bav reached out and poked her brother's nose with a grin. "I said 'back up', so that means you're going to surpass me in the who fighting thing." She told him, knowing full well she wouldn't have the time to do it all. "Sides, I know I can't be the best at everything, even if I wanna be." She then admitted to him.

Trin flushed at his compliments, then started to laugh as he called her a bloke. "Oh no! What you see is what you get with me." She grinned. "But my kind get a bit restless and pick up weird hobbies. Some have even become pirates, just because it sounds interesting."

"That's supposed t' shock me?" Jack shrugged and reached behind himself to pick up his tea. Thoughtfully, he blew over the top in an attempt to cool it quicker. "Piracy is a downright relief compared t' some hobbies o' people I know. Did you ever do a turn on a ship?"

Brunswick snickered and crossed his eyes. "Do that again, BeeVee, and I'll get mad. Especially don't ever do that in front of anyone but Mun, Berlin, Jack, or Trin, right?"

"Of course not! Hell, this is the first time I've done it in front of them." Bav said and pointed at Jack and Trin. "Sides, you might do something more embarrassing to me in front of others!"

Trin grinned crookedly at him, not saying a word. After saying that, how could she tell them that her ship crashed with in a week, hitting a marine ship? She gave her own tea a little blow before carefully taking a sip so she wouldn't have to answer.

Bavaria suddenly wonder why is was so quiet...

So did Jack. He wondered if he had said something wrong. If he had, though, damned if he knew what it was. He shrugged, though, and sipped from his mug. "Say, Trin?"

"I don't know what but I'll think of something."

"You would." Bav muttered to her brother, then leaned closer to him to whisper. "What do you think he said to her to make her so quiet?"

"Hmm?" Trin asked, looking up at Jack curiously.

"What if the Cup turns into a girl or something?" Jack's brown eyes went huge and puppyish, expression clearly an overstated look of help-me-please. He cupped his mug in both hands, grapes pressed near the warm ceramic. "What'll I do?"

The look was bullshit but it was cute bullshit.

Overhearing Jack's words gave Brunswick pause and he blinked. He had never thought the Cup might turn into a girl. Would it be a cute girl? Would it actually be sort of like his sister? He didn't want any more sisters. He had two already and they were perfect.

Bav gave a little tilt to her head as she heard this question. Yes another girl? If it was to be Bruns' sister... Then would it be -her- sister as well? This thinking made a little frown of thought pull at her lips.

Trin had a similar reaction to Bav's and blinked at Jack. His expression was very... different to her, having never seen it before. Bull s**t, yes, but that didn't much click in her forward thinking. So, she gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, if it's a girl, I'm sure you'll do just fine. You'll just have to discover when she'll like and not like." And the girl might just turn into a tomboy with all these guys around her. It might be entertaining if she was a dainty little thing.

Not that the cup was going to be a girl. It could very well be a boy.

Jack smiled hopefully and very nearly fluttered his eyelashes at his friend. "Will you help me, Trin? Be it's godmother or somethin'. If it's a girl, she's doomed. What with me an' Bruns. Actually, I don't think we should let Bruns near it if it's a girl, do you?" The look wavered as if he was struggling not to laugh. "I hear he already has two girlfriends."

"I don't! Well... Not -really-."

"They're taking their time to come around." Bav said dryly, giving her brother a smirk.

Trin gave a little sigh at this plee, but there was still a little smile tugging at her lips. "I'm going to wind up being an Aunt twice over, aren't I?" She asked, then shook her head. "Ok, I'll help you if it's a little girl. Give you tips and the like." She told him, having this sense that she was just suckered into it all.

The brilliant, wicked smile that greeted her answer proved that she had, indeed, been suckered. Jack leaned over to brush a feather-light kiss over her cheek. "Excellent, Trin," he laughed. "You're the best. I promise not t' take advantage."

Brunswick smirked. "Slow and steady, BeeVee," he reassured her. "They'll figure it out soon how absolutely great I am."

His sister choked at that remark. Again, her hand patted Bruns on the back. "Of course they will! It's just a matter of time. Cuz -we- know how great you are." Course, it was true. Her brother was a great guy! Both of them were!

"... You suckered me in to that!" Trin said, and at the same time trying not to laugh at herself. "And I fell for it, hook line and sinker!"

Jack grinned, completely unrepentant. "Whoops," he laughed. "But you don't mind, right? I promise not t' abuse the offer. 'Cause I really am a bit worried here. Bruns is one thing. He can take care of himself, like. Fully functional. This is... A cup."

Sobering from his smirk, Brunswick pulled a face. "They're talking about the damn cup again."

Bav gave her own face to this. "That's all they seem to be talking about today. We really could do something about it, ya know?" She offered. Of course, that might get them into more trouble.. but that wasn't very much new.

Trin rolled her eyes and took another sip of her tea before speaking again. "I'm going to hold you to that promise, but I don't mind. You are my friend, after all, right? And you were prepared to help me, so, I can help you."

Shaking his head, Jack chuckled. His free hand reached out to flick a piece of Trin's hair from her eyes. Then he leaned back again, comfortable with his tea. "I promise," he repeated. "I'll muddle my way through an' call you in only the most dire of situations. Like, say, if Bruns tries t' seduce her or somethin'."

"Hey! I wouldn't seduce that lousy cup!" Brunswick glared at his bond; clearly, he was fine-tuned to mention of his name. "It's a -cup-."

Bav started to laugh at this reaction from Bruns. She couldn't help it! It was a great reaction! Even if she shouldn't be laughing at her brother.

Trin was also snickering about this and reached up with a hand to run it though the bangs Jack had fixed in an unconscious motion. “And if there are any questions you may have. But I may not answer everything.” She grinned teasingly now at him.

"I can't imagine what you wouldn't answer." Jack winked. "Flowers or jewelry? What sort o' breakfast in bed you prefer? Trin, pet, I promise I won't ask those an' pretend they're from the Cup."

Miffed, Brunswick reached out to shove Bavaria over with a fierce push. Then he pouted.

That only earned him another fit of laughter. But Bav tipped back towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. Topped with a big grin. "Poor Bruns."

Trin just grinned more. "Pancakes. And I figured as much, Jack." She wasn't about to say what she was thinking, but she doubted that would come, anyhow.

"Pancakes. Noted. I'll learn t' make 'em." He shrugged and sipped his tea, laughter still lingering in his brown eyes. "We're all set then."

Giving in to his sister, Brunswick returned the hug. "You don't have to -encourage- Jack, you know," he muttered sourly. "Your bond is doing that enough already."

"I'm sorry, Bruns! It's just... you're right, it -is- a cup! How can you flirt with it, anyway?" Bav shook her head lightly, finding the whole thing silly.

"You don't have too." Trin said, lifting a brow. There was still a little grin playing on her face. Then she reached for the grapes again, taking another one to eat. "So, picked out any names yet?" She asked, again referring to the cup.

"Not a single one. I reckon I oughta wait until I find out -what- it is." Jack shrugged and sipped pensively at his tea. "It might already have a name, anyway."

"And a boring, unattractive cup at that," Brunswick added. "Give me some credit for having taste, BeeVee."

"Oh I do! I do, don't get me wrong." Bav told him, still trying to make up for laughing at him. "And it's a -pink- colored thing, too. Which would be good for you attracting girls with." If he even dared show it off to Soho and Marne.

"True, it might come with a name." Trin was about to suggest he could kick out names, both boy and girl names, just in case. But that seemed a bit still to her. This was Jack, and he did have a lazy air about him.

She was running out of topics. That meant going home soon.

"Should I give you a call if it does anything interesting?" Jack finished his tea and moved to rinse the mug in the sink, looking over his shoulder at her. "You an' Bavaria can come on over an' if it sprouts a head or somethin'."

"True. Most girls seem to like pink." Brunswick scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "Except you but, no offense, I don't intend to ever attract you. That's pretty gross."

Again Bav gave a laugh, a fast happy sounding one, then she promptly made a face. "None taken. That is pretty gross. I don't ever want to be attracted by you, or you me."

"Yes, I'd like that, if it's no trouble too you." Trin smile again. Mentally she picture a little head or arm spouting out of the liquid. That.. would be odd. But it would be fun to know, anyway. "You already have my number, right? Didn't go and misplace it, did you?" Her smile turned into a catty-teasing-grin.

"Don't you worry, Trin." Jack returned the look with equal mischief. "Pride o' place in my lil black book." He held out his hand. "Done with your tea?"

"Eeww, yes." Brunswick twisted his face of extreme disgust. "On par with Trin and Jack hooking up, really."

Bav gave a serious nod to that comparison. "Yep, which is why both things'll never ever happen!" Then she blinked at remembering something. "Oh! And I did see Munich. She's doing good. Got her a nice bed made and she might be getting a doll house soon to live in." Late in the visit to mention this... but better late than never!

Trin finished off the rest of her tea before handing the kitty-cup to him. "Thank you." Then she gave him another grin. "Well then, I don't have to worry about you losing it." She pulled away from the counter, giving a little stretch as she prepared to leave soon.

"Perish the thought. If I do, you'll just have t' teleport over here again. We'll see where you turn up next time." Efficiently, he rinsed out her mug and set it to dry. Then he turned to face her again. "It'll be a fun new game, huh?"

"Oh! Man, it's been ages since I've seen her. I need to get out more." Brunswick sighed. "Jack just doesn't travel much. I'll have to ask him about visiting the others. Heck if I'm flying all the way there on my own!"

"Pptthh, you've just been too busy flirting with Soho and Marne to ask about getting out." Bav teased, getting to her own feet. She sensed it was getting time to go. "But I still got to get a hold of Berlin. You could come too, if you wanted! Then we could both travel on Trin." She offered happily.

"The moment I appear in the bottom of the ocean is the moment I'm going to stop teleporting to your house." Trin said logically. Mentally she was already prepared for such a problem. There was a moment around the traveler where they were still safe, like in a pocket dimension or out side time and space. Once that was gone, where ever they were would effect them. So, all she had to do was make sure where she was, then pop out.

But she didn't say anything about this. Rather she stuck her hands in her pockets, waiting for him. "Then watch me appear on your door step, soaked to the bone."

"I'll tell the neighbors that you're my prize from a wet t-shirt contest if they ask." Jack winked and absently flicked open a nearby drawer, withdrawing a packet of cigarettes. "But you know you're more'n welcome t' visit whenever you like. I like havin' you over an' Bruns needs his Bavaria around, eh?" He pushed away from the counter, eyebrow raised as he tapped the cigarettes against his hip vaguely. "You off then, pet? I'm not chasin' you out, right?"

Brunswick lit up at the suggestion and hugged his sister before scrambling to his feet. Out of sibling devotion, he ignored the comment on where his attentions were lately. "Sounds good. Besides, I don't want Jack embarrassing me in front of whoever Munich has. We'll go as soon as possible, right?"

"Right! And it's a little girl that Munich got bonded too." Bav told her brother, grinning still. "And ya know I was just teasing about the whole flirting with girls and not seeing Mun or Berlin, right?" She then asked, giving him a look. Being out of place made her more grumpy, even with her siblings.


Now Trin flushed with embarrassment. She wasn't trying to rush away! Not at all! "Well, I don't -have- to leave. I do like talking to you was well. It's a good break from my shop." And her resent gaming hobby. "Besides, I'm still curious as to what you really do with your time and magic." She grinned at him in an wicked, catty way.

"At the moment? I'm just kind o' relaxin'." Jack looked a bit sheepish and rubbed the back of his neck. Then he picked at the cellophane around the cigarettes, crumpling it in his hand. "Doing a bit o' research into circles." Somehow, his accent improved when he talked about his work; his Gs magically reappeared. "I reckon I'm on the right track to finding one that's strong enough and simple enough for just about anyone. It'll take a bit more fine-tuning, though. The little beasties are so insistent on ritual, you see."

"You mean I'm the only one who got a guy? Huh." Brunswick grinned wickedly. "Guess it makes sense. I'm the most manly of us." Reaching out, he teasingly tugged Bavaria's hair and then scooted off the counter, into the air, and onto Jack's shoulder.

Bavaria ran her hand though her short, curly hair. Then she followed suit, heading for Trin's shoulder.

Trin listened to what he said, listening intently, thinking over his words. Then she nodded. "It seems an important part of it all. At least... from what I've seen. I.. er... I don't do anything that involves summoning. Not with how chaotic my maigc seems." She told him sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.

"Might just be what you tap into," Jack suggested gently. "Or lack o' concentration or practice. You said yourself that you never bothered with it much before." He moved to push the cellophane into the garbage can and then flipped open the carton and studied the cigarettes inside thoughtfully. "Magic is just like anything else. You work at it. Even if you've got natural tendencies, like."

Brunswick settled himself on his bond's shoulder and tried not to yawn.

His sister did likewise, but half paid attention.

While Jack made an odd sense of guilt wash over the Teiru girl. He was right, she knew it, but that didn't mean she was quite ready to do her magic studies. Not fully, at least. Being good at it meant that she'd have to take up.... the 'family business', you could say. Thus went her freedom. "Yeah, I know I'll have to work on it. Which is why I keep using the teleportation spell." She told him. There was still a sheepish sound to her voice.

Jack frowned at the tone in her voice and moved to tuck two fingers under her chin and lift her face so he could study it. Releasing her, he shook his head. "Trin, luv, only do it if you wanna do it. Magic knows when it's not wanted," he murmured. "An' you don't haveta do all of it. Magic, if you're smart enough, you can pick an' chose what you want. Got it?"

Surprised at the seriousness in his bond's voice, Brunswick looked up and squinted as if making sure it was really Jack.

Trin blinked up at him, taken slightly back at the tone in his voice while her own feien looked that he man curiously. Then a slow, almost relieved smile broke over her face. "Don't worry. I do want to get the hang of the teleportation spell. It's just... I'm not yet willing to learn the other magics I need to know. Certain... conditions come with learning..." She admitted softly.

Sunny Day
Players: Soho and Bav
-----------------------------------------------------

The beat of a stereo bass filled the air of the backyard. Soho was the only one there, but by how she was draped out on a barbie lounge chair on the sandy part of the beach showed that she didn't mind so much.

The stereo was on a table next to the kiddie pool, and punk music was the musical preference of the day. Next to it was an unfinished strawberry, attracting flies.

Bavaria had been heading to the open window to enter the house and hunt down Silva. That old b*****d stilled owed her some training! Well, her and the others. She still wanted to get powerful, after all.

But the sound of the music distracted her. From her limited experence, music meant they were some place other than the house, so she headed in that direction. Once around the house, she spotted the red girl sunning herself. Soho, right? With a shrug she flew there and landed on the sand.

"Yo..." Yeah, awkward greeting, but how else was she to do that? She looked around, seeing no one else. "Geez, did they all leave you or somethin?"

"Mister Silva Demon decided to go shopping with Ice." She replied. "And Aleric is going shopping with the new pirate guy that lives in our attic."

"New... pirate guy?" Bav blinked and took a seat on the sand. Well, Silva and Aleric were gone but there was no reason to turn around and fly back home now.

That was a long flight.

"He lives in the attic." Soho said, finally opening an eye. "He's big and cool! I keep trying to get him to say 'ARRR!' but he only did it once. Ice says that he's safe because he's a dou, which means he doesn't like girls."

"... Ok, so why does that make him safe? What if he did like girls?" The hope feien asked, confused about that issue. Did it really matter if he liked girls or not?

Maybe Red's bond was still pissed at Shade, so was taking it out on all guys! If so, Bav should figure out how to get Jack here so Ice could be mean to him!

But that might make Bruns mad.

"Because pirates are supposed to RAPE and plunder." Soho said as if that explained everything. "But if he doesn't like girls that means... well, actually, I'm a bit confused past that part, too. I mean, sex is just rubbing against something right?" She frowned, opening a second eye and touching her chin with a finger.

"But anyway, we've got another housemate. And he's got a dog."

"Maybe she just doesn't want the whole rubbing thing going on." Bav said logicly. She vegaly knew what feien sex involved, then she added. "But I think there's a bit more for humanoids." What she wasn't sure. Yet.

"But he's got a dog? And you also got that metal thing rolling around here. Does the dog chase it?" She couldn't help but ask and also wondered if it chased Nick and Nack around the house.

"Nuh uh. Oblivion scares it." Soho said with a nod. "But Oblivion scares a lot of things. And she's just a baby. I'd hate to see her when she's full grown!"

Bav choked at that idea. "Who needs a gaurd dog? Just stick her at the front door and those sales men will never ever bother you!" She agreed, leaning back on her hands and looking out over the water. Why didn't she get her own beach?

"So, whatcha doin here by yourself? I'd figure you'd be someone who likes to be around people." She asked lightly.

"I do..." She said slowly. "I get lonely real fast. But Marne's gone home to get some things and I haven't seen Dee in like, forever, and Silva's no fun to shop with and--" She sighed. "So I'm working on my tan. I already painted my toenails, see?"

And sure enough the tiny toenails were black once again.

Bav blinked at the nails, wondering how the hell she was able to paint those. It did look cool, though! She just smirked at them. "Maybe you just need a hobby! That way when no one's around, you'll have something to do."

"Then when you get bored of that, go bug someone." She gave a serious nod. It what she did, after all... and it worked for her! So why shouldn't it work for someone else?

"I thought about that." Soho said with a nod. "But I couldn't think of anyone off the top of my head."

"Mmmm... that does make it difficult then, huh?" Bav answered then gave a shrug. "Well, I'm bored too. Trin's off doing something or other in her shop and my brothers and sister are too far off to travel too on my own, so I was going to bug Silva... but he's gone."

Soho nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Then she paused, cocking her head. "What was life like in the fleet? Or do you even remember?"

"Some of it's fuzzy, like some names and faces that I can't really recall. Kinda like a dream that's been half forgotten. What I remember the most, though, is how fu-- freaking limited it is." Least she felt it was that way. "Because of all the rules you had to follow. Some really like it, though. But I like it better here."

"... Except... Losing contact with some of my siblings." She said more softly than the rest.

"But we're cousins now!" Soho said. "We can break into toy stores together! I did it with Marne. It's lots of fun!"

"You... broke into a toy store??" Bav asked, a little amazed by that idea. Who knew that this little red would do something like that? Then she grinned. "What did you do once in? Find anything good?"

"Well, we wrecked a hummer and made out with one of the GI Joes." She said, looking thoughtful. "Oh, and we checked out Barbie's stuff, but we liked the hummer better."

"You shoulda kept the hummer, if you didn't wreck it." Bav snickered. "Or at least got it to me! I might coulda fixed it up! I've been learning how to build stuff, ya know?"

"Next time you break into anywhere, I wanna come. But I'm not making out with a G.I. Joe." She wrinkled her nose at that. If she was going to make out with anyone, then he'd have to respond!

"We just wanted to see what was under his pants." Soho explained with a sunny smile.

The hope feien started to laugh at that. A real, doubling over kind of laugh that only her siblings got from her. Once she had found a break in her laughing and got her breath, she spoke again. "What did you find??"

"Nothing much! But he had these weird joints for his knees." Soho said. "But I've never seen a feien as big as this guy was. His arms were as big as my head!"

At this, Bav made a low whistle. "Was he bigger than a feien? Or was he about as tall at Silva or Aleric? Cuz if he was bigger, then it would figure his arms would be bigger!"

"He was shorter than both of them." Soho said, shaking her head. "Humans have strange anatomy ideas."

".... Yes, they do.... " Bav answered as her fact twisted in a funny way. Then she shook her own head. "So... what's with this beach thing anyway?"

"Mister Silva Demon likes to surf." Soho explained. "But every time Aleric tries he wipes out. I'm good at it! But I don't last very long."

"I've never surfed before. Is it fun?" Bav asked lightly. Would she even enjoy surfing? She had no idea. But hell, it was worth the try if she could impress people!

"It is if you can swim." Soho said. "Can you swim?"

Bav opened her mouth to repond, then closed it again as a deep red flush crept on her face. She tried to play it off, however. "Naaa... Dunno how to swim, never needed too before." She admitted as smoothly as possible.

"Want to learn?" Soho asked. "Nack's much better at teaching than I am, but we can figure it out!" She didn't seem bothered in the least by the fact that Bav didn't know.

Which made Bavaria feel all the more better. She smirked slightly. "Alright. Long as I can touch the bottom, I should be fine." She said and got on her feet. Learning how to swim! It should be fine, right?

Soho got to her feet and reached for Bav's hands, backing into the waves. "First you have to get your feet wet!" She said cheerfully.

"I don't see how I can't if I'm entering like this." Bav drawled lightly, letting Red drag her into the water. "Wonder if Bruns, Mun and Ber know how to swim? Bet ya anything Bruns'll say no, just to have you teach him."

"Oooh, and then maybe I can cop a feel!" Soho said, looking happy with the idea. "A little further now, until you're up to your thighs." She said, still pulling.

Bav broke out into another laugh at that. "Girl, he would enjoy it if you did!" She grinned, then glanced at the water so she could see where it was on her, rather than just feel it. Normally she took a shower under a fosset.

"I bet Mister Silva Demon knows a lot more about sex than I do, though. I once saw him doing it with his lady friend." Soho said guilelessly. "She had him pinned against the santa statue and she was moaning and groaning..."

"Then maybe spy on them more to learn?" Bav offered up. The b*****d had a girl? That figured. He was probably too busy with her to tend to their further training. Jerk! "Cuz if he knows, then maybe you could learn stuff for later."

":Nah, I'd rather figure it out first hand." Soho said. "I know that it feels really good if you rub right between the wings! But it's hard to reach there..." She pulled the other female in a little further.

"And since I know that I get to be a lolita!"

"Um.... ok? Why?" Bav had to asked, raising a brow slightly. Then she looked to the water again, hoping this would be good enough seeing how the water was now up to her waist. Her cloth wings were some-what floating on top of the water, trailing behind her.

"Because that's what Mister Silva always said I was." Soho said cheerfully. "Now sit back and try to float in the water. But I'm almost a year old now, so I'm not sure if it's legitimate or not."

"But you're still little!" Bav answered with a nod. "I'm almost 3 months on Gaia now." Then she started to squat down to go on to her back. "Um... how am I to float, anyway? Just.. lay back?" She felt weird doing this.

"Kick your legs and move your arms a little while you're doing it." Soho said. "But I don't know if I'll ever grow up." She went on. "Maybe I'll be a juvenile for the rest of my life, and then what?" She asked.

"Maybe I should ask Bruns if he'll do it with me. I don't want to die only having kissed my best friend and doing it with a plastic toy..."

Bav choked on another laugh. "He'd probably do it too. Kiss you that is. Cuz he rather likes you and Marne." Once that was said (and obviously she didn't mind telling her brother's feelings), she started to lay back and take her feet off the sanding bottom. Having no idea how to balance herself in the water, her head promptly went under and she shot back up, sputtering.

Then gave the water a good glare before trying it again. Water was not going to best her!

"You think?" Soho asked, starting to float herself. "I mean, he wouldn't ask any questions or expect anything out of it, would he? Because I love Mister Silva Demon."

"Um... how do you mean?" The other girl asked as she again attempted the floating on water thing. After watching Soho do it, she laid back in the water, this time expecting her head to go under as it did and bring it back up.

The topic of loving Silva she figured that that love was like the love she had for her siblings. Nothing more.

"Well..." Soho said, looking thoughtful. "I like being with him! and I'm sad when he's away, and I like to cuddle with him..."

Bav jerked, almost going under the water again. Then her violet eyes looked over at the other girl. "You mean with Bruns??" That was who she was thinking of when she had asked.

Or did she mean Silva? She looked back up at the sky, frowning slightly.

"No, I haven't cuddled with Bruns yet." Soho said. "I mean Mister Silva Demon."

"Oh..." Bav answered. The frown grew a little bit more. "But what about his ladyfriend? Think she'd mind? Cuz that could cause some problems if she does." Hell, it might cause problems all the way around.

"I know, but I can share!" Soho said.

Yeah, but could this ladyfriend? What happends if she can't? Or if Silva doesn't feel just the same for Red? All of this was causeing a strange whirrl of emotions through her. After all, Red was like extended family and family was really important to Bav.

She let out a great sigh, making her bob slightly in the water. "You're going to be a heart breaker, aren't you?" She drawled lightly, shaking her head.

"Do you think so?" Soho asked. "That would be fun!"

That caused a light laugh from the Bavaria. "You would think it's fun. Admit it, you're really evil with a really thing candy coating! And people just don't know it!" She teased.

Soho just grinned her angelic little smile. "I've always loved candy." She said noncommitantly.