Welcome to Gaia! ::

That decided things. Brunswick stepped off the table and fluttered over to sit on Jack's shoulder. "I'm coming," he announced.

"Mmhm" was his bond's oh-so-mild answer, neatly masking Jack's amusement. Instead of elaborating, Jack lead the little group from the cozy room and down the dimly-lit hallway and up a flight of creaking, carpeted steps. "Watch the runner on the fourth step up," Jack cautioned. "It's pullin' up some an' I keep forgettin' t' fix it."

Jack flicked on another light once he reached the top of the stairs, revealing another long, wooden-floored hallway graced with another carpet runner. The walls were a neutral ecru, soft and inoffensive; as yet, Shade could not guess if the house came furnished and decorated or if Jack had hidden Martha Stewart talents. "The first door is a no-go," he announced. "Trust me on that." He continued walking. "Second door here's a bathroom. There's towels an' stuff in there. Help yourself." finally, he stopped at the third door. "Here you go, mate."

Jack pushed open the door and reached in to turn on the light. The room revealed was clean and simple. The iron bedstead was almost stark in its basic nature but it was enlivened by a bright-colored patchwork quilt tossed over it. An Oriental carpet warmed the floor and a few bureaus of various sizes were scattered at the edges of the room. "How's this work?"

Jack blinked. "For what? A night? Don't worry about it. Just crash."

"Not even a favor, nope." Jack winked, leaning against the door frame lazily. "Mind, though, this is 'cause I can't let a lady out in the rain. If it was just you, mate, can't promise you'd be warm an' dry now."

Evie neatly twisted in her cup to smile at Shade. "Yes, please. If you think your hair is dry enough."

Snorting, Brunswick left Jack's shoulder to stand on the nearest tall wooden bureau. "Not a bad room," he said in Callisto's direction. "It looks out on the back yard so it's more private and all. Jack's room looks out on the front. Ugh."

Evie looked up at Jack and, when he nodded, she turned and nodded in exact imitation. "Yes, please. If Daddy puts me down on your nightstand, I should be able to reach." She paused and dimpled at Shade. "If I'm careful."

Clearly, the little girl already had decided that the room belonged to Shade and Callisto. Jack merely laughed and set her down in the place she suggested. "There you go, lil bit," he said. "Don't wreck his masculinity, like, right?"

Brunswick glanced at Callisto. "D'ya want a bed for yourself?" he asked her. "I bet we could find something so you don't have to balance on his pillow." He made a face. "Jack nearly squished me when I used to have to do that. He flops all over."

Jack nodded, grinning. He offered a short bow in Callisto's direction. "Right, then. I'll be right back." With that, he disappeared from the room.

"It's a big house. Even I don't know what all's in here." Brunswick shrugged. "Jack's probably already got something that'll work just perfect. He's like a squirrel or something."

"Well, maybe now that he's sticking around, you guys can settle down and get a place of your own." Brunswick grinned. "I've got a castle."

Evie stretched and reached until she could carefully pick up two handfuls of thick, white hair. "Thank you," she murmured. "I promise not to pull." Then, humming to herself, she began stroking and separating, preparations to braiding.