Welcome to Gaia! ::

Julian blinked, trying to comprehend Rabid's sudden confusion.

"Oh, no, we're heading back to Rijan pretty soon. Probably the day after Halloween. I dunno why on earth she would think I was gonna stay here - I've got a partner in Fisk setting up my practice, and my father needs me as an advisor for the family business. Besides, six years away from home is more than enough for her - it's time to bring her home."

He picked at his frayed leather wallet a bit savagely, brow furrowed. There was the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he shouldn't have told Rabid this, gauging by her extreme surprise. Stay? In Gaia? How could Crow even dare to think he'd spend more than a week in this insane asylum?

Julian shrugged.

"I dunno what she was thinking when she told you that, but we're going home pretty soon. I'm sure she's eager to get back with her family after such a long time. I mean, Gaia's a decent place to stick around for a little while...but she belongs in Rijan with me and the folks. Anyway, she's set to inherit the business, and since she's never exactly had a head for it..." he trailed off as he got a good look at Rabid's face. The twinge came again in the back of his mind, though it seemed to encourage him to keep talking.

"Well, the sooner she get's back, the better. Sorry if she told you otherwise - she can get a little inventive when she wants to be."

Julian immediately felt cold anger flare, and he glared at Rabid through slitted eyes.

"You don't know the first thing about her. I doubt you even know her real name. I'm her brother, and her real family is what matters most, not some ugly freak of nature that got spit out of a cauldron."

He rose stiffly, discarding his blankets. His cold gaze fell on Malachi, and his lip curled. The look was shifted to Rabid, and the curled lip transmuted into a thin smile.

"Besides, the sooner I get her into civilized, non-haemavorus company, she'll be far better off."

He was prepared to say more, but was cut off by a rattling cough. Keeping his ground until the episode passed, he wiped a bit of spittle off his lip and sneered.

Julian was a bit startled at the sight of Rabid's fangs, but the Twinge made him bold.

"You're talking about things you have no grasp of. Back in Rijan, where she WILL be going, she's more important and powerful than you can even begin to understand. The Haedermann family is the most powerful and wealthy back home - she could buy and sell this piss-pot of a nation five times over. Don't bother trying to-"

Julian was cut off again, not by another coughing fit, but by Crow's nervous entrance into the room.

Turning on Rabid and smiling a cruel smile only she could see, he turned back to Crow, the cruelty turning to gentle charm at the sight of his sister.

"Crow, sweetie! Man, where've you been? I thought you'd forgotten about me."

Crow edged carefully into the living room, her eyes darting between Rabid, Malachi, and Julian.

"I, uh...heard shouting," she said uneasily, twiddling with her pilot helmet awkwardly.

Lenore peered from behind Crow's legs, looking up shyly at Julian.

"Uncle mad?" she asked in a small voice.

Julian's smile flickered for a moment as his eyes rested on Rabid again.

"Just debating which movie villain is better - Oogie Boogie or Freddy Krueger," he said lightly. He bent down to retrieve his blankets and stuffed them under one arm.

"C'mon, Crow, Rabid said she had to get going anyway. Why don't you show me where I can kip in your room without getting eaten."

He lead Crow away with subtle force by the arm, steering her briskly out the door.

"Uh, okay. Hi and bye, Rabid! C'mon, Len, time to go, I...I guess."

Lenore lingered for a moment, watching Julian push Crow teasingly out the door. She scampered up to Rabid and looked behind her shoulder warily, waiting until the pair were out in the hall.

Lenore looked up at Rabid urgently, nodding.

"I will, I will...."

She listened as the pair's voices faded down into the hallway, and she knew there was no way to get Crow to Rabid right now. Julian hardly ever left her alone. Tugging at Rabid's arm, she stood on tiptoe and whispered into her ear.

"Julian bad," she said. Giving Rabid a look full of deep meaning, she scampered out the door to follow them. Flaring out her razor feathers so they stuck out like deadly-sharp spikes on her arms, she followed resentfully after giving Malachi a half-hearted wave.

The door swung open as Chao stepped in, bag over one shoulder, a sleepy looking Reid in her arms. She'd been aimlessly wandering around the HeadQuarters for nearly an hour, unwilling to go home or stay in their room, and she'd merely cut into the first unlocked door she'd seen as her legs started to protest.

Reid grumbled as his mother slowed to look around, peeking one eye open and sitting up slightly, clutching a dragon plush.

"Ra?" he asked his Mu, giving the teen, who'd begun to stare at a blank section of wall a small pat on the hand, before glancing around, brightening slightly as he noticed who was there. "Ike!"

Reid glowed warmly when Ike responded happily, taking in the warm tones with glee. His own family had been in such a state of panic for the past few days, finally ending and deflating to a sort of vague depression, that seeing someone that was actually happy, not to mention a friend, was positively wonderful!

He squirmed fiercely in his mother's arms.

Chao blinked and seemed to shake herself out of her stupor with a glance to Rabid, "heya Rabid," she greeted with a slight smile, lowering Reid to the ground. Immediately the Mishap began to crawl off towards his friend.