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The Good-Bye
Players: Ice Queen, Trinityblue
----------------------------
One long, fun day at the beach later, the girls were back in the rented beach house and in their beds to sleep. Rhye was eager to get to sleep. One of their dearest friends was there: Wolf. Wolf had been visiting them since they were babies.

The fog of sleep cleared away to the dream world that was familiar to her. Just to make sure, Rhye looked down to make sure she was a teenager even here.

They both were. Kash practically ran to the picnic blanket, throwing herself into Wolf's arms. "Wolf!! We grew!" she announced happily. He hugged her back with one arm, holding out the other for Rhye to join them. But he hadn't spoken yet. In fact, had they looked closer, he would have looked downright depressed.

"Ya look gorgeous, wee bits."

Rhye also ran into his arms when Kash did, taking that open arm and hugging him. She grinned with joy with his compliment, since it wasn't just their mom and dad that found them pretty-- then she noticed his tone of voice. He wasn't usually so.. well, whatever it was, it didn't fit with Wolf.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you having a long day or something? We can play, or talk and then it'll be fine!" she told him encouragingly.

"Ackshully," he said slowly as they pulled away. "There's a lil bit of somethin' tha we need to be speakin' about. Somethin' tha I don't like one bit, but--"

"Wolf?" Kash asked. "Is it--is it because we're teens now? Does it have something to do with that?"

"No!" he said, looking shocked at the thought. "Even as adults you'll still both be my lil bits," he told them seriously. "Nuthin's gonna change that."

"So... whatever this is, it's not because we grew?" Rhye asked as well, wanting that reassurance as she looked up at him. She gave her sister a slightly worried look as well, then looked back at Wolf. "What is it?"

"Ya have a teacher now," Wolf said softly. "Ya don't need me when ya got a real life teacher, see? And I--" He sighed, leaning back on his hands and looking at them seriously. "Fer one, I'm not really a wolf. Had I been a wolf I woulda never lasted long enough to become a dream walker. I'm a carnian dragon. And I'm two thousand years old." His accent dropped.

"The reason I'm telling you this is because you two are dragons of some sort. And there's a good chance you'll have long lives as well. But you've already got magical abilities. That's why I was assigned to watch over you through your dreams until you got a magic teacher in real life."

Rhye frowned slightly and she took in what he was telling them: because they were magical, they needed someone to watch over them - him. He was also not really their 'big bad wolf', but a Carn Dragon. Their parents were from another planet - Vega - and they had mentioned the other planets as well, so, that wasn't such an odd idea, even if she didn't know what a Carn dragon was.

Their Wolf was two thousand years old and that seemed impossibly long to her right now. She decided not to think about the age thing or what he said about their own. She already missed the accent. "Winstead? You're talking about Winstead, right? He said we'd be working at his Luck shop," she said softly.

"Yes," he said. "Winstead's a certified Fairy Godfather, and as such is full able to train you in your type of magic. In fact, he's a lot better at it than I would be," he admitted. "Now this don't mean I don't love ya," he said, his accent slipping back into place as he reached up, ruffling their hair fondly. "Or that I won't show up sooner or later. Long life folks like us tend to meet often over their lifetimes. But for now," he said. "I need to focus on the kids that don't have teachers yet."

"But--" Kash said, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. "We love you."

"And we want to see you," Rhye replied, feeling equally sad about this. "And keep seeing you. We'll miss you!" Dreams were going to seem so much more lonely without him here, actually.

"I wish I could," he admitted. "But I need to explain something. There are all of fifteen dream walkers working for my company. It takes over a thousand years of training to become one. And there's over a thousand kids out there, just like you, who have magical powers that they don't know what to do with. I need to help them until they find someone that can teach them how to deal with it."

"But--" Kash whispered hoarsely.

"Kash... It's selfish," Rhye replied, not looking at her sister because she launched herself into Wolf again, burying her face in his shoulder. Selfish to keep him, yes, but she still wanted too!She didn't want him to go either!

He hugged her, sighing. "Okay, how about a promise?" he said, noticing that Kash didn't look nearly as willing to forgive and forget. "If one of you is still unmated at five hundred I'll marry you!"

"Five hundred?" Kash repeated incredulously. "That's forever!"

"That is forever!" Rhye replied, looking up at him with a pout. Then another thought came to her: "And what happens if both of us aren't, hmmmm? Then what are you going to do?"

"Well then!" he said with a wide grin, "I'll marry you both!"

Kash groaned, shaking her head. "He's so not taking this seriously," she told her sister.

"No, he's not at all," Rhye replied, then shook her own head lightly. Then she poked him. "What if we don't live long like that?"

"Then you probably wouldn't have enough power to catch our attention like this," he admitted. "I don't expect you to hold out for five hundred years, but for a dragon, that's the general age of adulthood. Live your lives, sweethearts, play to your hearts content. Be happy, that's all I really want for you." He looked at them each, then pulled the reluctant Kash into his hug.

"I really do love you both."

"We love you," Rhye echoed sadly again. "And we're going to miss you..." Now she couldn't help but feel a little irritated at Winstead for showing up. But them, maybe one day they could learn about this dream thing Wolf did, and join too.

"I think you're a would be polygamist," Kash muttered against his chest. "But I love you, too," she admitted, feeling her tears start to fall. "And--and if you ever get time off, you could--"

"Yeah," he said, kissing their heads. "I will."

"Good. You'd better or we'll be mad," Rhye added, also crying against him. But her tears had started when she had first buried her face in him.

The Dragon Wants...
Players: Ice Queen, Trinityblue
---------------
The bell over the door rang, and it opened for a second, but Kash didn't see anyone come in. She scowled slightly, standing and looking around before calling over to her sister. "We've got an invisible!"

"An invisible?" Rhye asked, looking up from her book with a small frown. It would figure that the good part of her book would get interrupted! "You sure? Maybe they just slipped in?"

And she stood up, to look around the isles.

There was a skittering sound from the floor and Kash glanced down just in time to see a tiny little tail disappear around the corner. "A rat?" she asked, a bit shocked. "We never get rats in here! Rhhyeeee, I hate rats!"

"I hate rats too!" Rhye replied with very 'ew' face. Where was dad when you needed him the most?? She got the broom - the ultimate weapon against rats - and held it up, ready to whack it. "Where'd it go??" she asked, looking around on the floor for any hint of rat.

"That way," Kash said, heading for the toys. There were no signs, and that creeped her out even more than the rat did. "You think it got into something?" she asked as she automatically started straightening the toys.

Then she stopped as she caught sight of a shockingly realistic little dragon. "Do you remember this one?" she asked her sister as she reached for it.

"No, I don't," Rhye replied as she looked at it. The broom was still high in the air, poised to slam down on some unwanted rat. "Where'd it come from?" she asked.

Kash picked it up, wondering at how warm it was and how it seemed to stiffen as she did. Then she turned it over. "It's anatomically correct--"

"Stoooppp!!" the dragon cried, twisting so he was standing on her hand. "Enough peeking you pervert!"

Rhye eeped, jumping away as he started to move and talk in her sister's hand. The dragon was about the size of a large rat, and she was already expecting such. "Kaasshh, what is that??" she asked, calming down as she got a better look at him.

Kash blinked, having jumped as he started to move and almost dropped him. "I think it's a... miniature dragon," she said finally.

"I'm a fairy dragon, there's a difference," the dragon said, scowling. Then he spread his wings, jumping off her hand. "And I'm looking for a present."

"Most people do," Rhye said, slowly starting to lower her brush. "I've never seen a fairy dragon before.. where are you from?" she asked him. Now that he wasn't a rat or anything else bad, he was really cute!!

"Oh crap, you're not supposed to know that!" he said, almost falling out of the air with his shock.

Kash groaned. "I doubt he's going to tell us," she told her sister. "Why do we get all the weird ones?"

"It's because it's a weird store?" Rhye suggested. "Well, if you can't tell us, then can you tell us what you're looking for and why?" she asked curiously, putting the broom down.

"I'm looking for a gift," he said, turning shy and looking away from them. "I want a girl to notice me."

"Wa! That's so cute! What kinda girl? What does she like?" Rhye asked eagerly.

Before the dragon could answer there was another ring at their door. In came another little person. This one was an actual fairy. Her pink hair was short, almost wild like and she looked around the room.

He let out a yelp and dove for Rhye's hair to hide. "You didn't see me," he whispered in her ear.

"Hello and welcome to the Lucky Charm!" Kash said. "How can we help you?"

"Um, see, I'm looking for something," Flower said as she flew up to the shop girls. "Have you seen a little dragon? I could have sworn I saw him come in here~!" she said.

Rhye said nothing with the dragon in her hair.

"Is he your dragon?" Kash asked curiously.

"Rice! There you are!" Flower said, heading for the dragon-in-hair. Apparently Rhye's hair wasn't very good for a dragon to hide in. "How could you just run away like that! Do you know how worried people are!" she told him. Though, the way she spoke to him was much like how the girls spoke to Bippo.

Rice backed up, pouting so obviously that Kash couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "But he came here for a reason," she told the little fairy. "He's looking for a gift, aren't you Rice?"

The little dragon nodded emphatically, and fluttered out of Rhye's hair to look around.

"A gift? Why a gift?" Flower asked. Then she narrowed her eyes at Kash. "How do you know he's looking for one, hmmm?? He could just be making an excuse!"

"An excuse for what?" Rhye had to ask.

"Because he has a big race coming up! And he's run off before it. My friend, Maddy was looking at to buy him! He's a racing dragon, ya know."

"Nope!" Kash said. "This is a very special shop, you know, only people who reaaaalllly need something here can get in. Isn't that right, Rhye?"

Rice stopped in front of the jewelry, looking at it for a moment before he headed for the flowers. He didn't want to be bought by Maddy! EVAR!

"Huh, well, I realllly needed to find him!" Flower said as if that explained why she was here. She watched Rice fly around and look at things. "Well, you might as well hurry up! The big race will be soon! I don't wanna miss it!"

He ignored her for the moment, sniffing the flowers and picking a pretty little pink rose. It smelled the best! Then he headed for the counter and dropped down, placing the rose there and twisting and turning for a moment before a handful of shiny dragon scales fell on the counter.

Obviously that was how he planned on paying. Kash would have complained, had she not envisioned the most awesome dragonscale ring at that moment.

Flower sighed, seeing what he was doing. "Okay, Rice, are ya done now? Maddy and I were going to watch Racco at the races, and those are about to start and--"

Rhye didn't say a word about the scales after seeing that look on her twin's face. She rang it up as paid for.

"Shiny," Kash said happily as the dragon flew past her and stopped in front of Flower. He held out the flower in his mouth, his eyes huge and hopeful.

"Wha--Rice, giving me this wont get you out of trouble, ya know," Flower said, giving him a puzzled look.

"I think he likes you," Rhye said ever so casually. "What do you think, Kash?"

The little dragon nudged her, trying to force the flower into her hand. "Yep! Looks like it! But it's kind of strange," she added, frowning slightly. "I woulda thought he was aiming to get a dragon girl."

"Yeah, you would think..." Rhye echoed, looking at the two.

Flower took the offering now with a little sigh. She placed it in her pink hair. "Silly dragon...." she said, shaking her head. "Why are you giving it to me? Well, never mind, let's get going."

He moved so he was under her, butting her gently to say she could ride. He wasn't going to take that for an answer, dammit! He didn't want her friend, he wanted her!

"Pushy little guy, isn't he?" Kash said, already lining up the scales how she would put them on the ring.

"Waoh woah! What are you doing??" Flower said, clinging on him now. "I'm no rider!"

"So, maybe he wants to take you for a spin?" Rhye aid casually, letting Kash play with the scales.

"It really doesn't look like he cares," Kash said, picking up the smallest of the scales with tweezers and lighting a lighter underneath it to see how well it stood up to heat. It didn't even char.

The little dragon looked up at her hopefully, twisting his neck so he could see her. He had given her a gift! It should work out now!

"Alright," Flower said, relenting to the look. "I'll ride, already. But I'm no jockey, so you know."

"Like Kash said, I don't think he cares about that," Rhye replied. Well, this was interesting after all!

And with that he raced for the door, leaving the shop behind. He wasn't about to pass up this chance!

"You get the feeling he'll be back?" Kash asked curiously. "Cuz I could totally go for a matching set of earrings."

"Maybe? I just guess that depends on things?" Rhye offered, honestly not sure. "You just want more of those scales."

The Devil You Know
Players: Ice & TB
----------------------

"Quit shoving," Kash whispered at her sister. They were outside her father's office, holding glasses to the door to try and hear what was going on inside. Problem was, that trick seemed to work a lot better in the movies.

Usually they didn't care about who came to talk to their dad. When he worked he was never really off work. Some of his clients or partners liked to come by and pretend to be family friends while they made sure he was getting their asses off the line. But this was different. This was their mortal enemy. This was Antony.

"So you're looking for a bit of experience?" Dyer said, leaning back in his chair and eyeing the blue haired boy on the other side of the desk.

"Yes sir, while I finish up my high school education and start taking junior college classes," Antony said. "My father is a friend of Mr. Deakon, and Mr. Deakon says that you're a lawyer. I thought being a research assistant might be an interesting job. If you're interested, that is."

"Oh, I am," Dyer said. "But only if you're thorough."

"Sorry," Rhye whispered back, ear to her own cup. What was he doing here? She still hadn't forgiven him after the time he dropped a warning. It wasn't well done, at all. But that didn't matter. What mattered now was what he was doing here.

They should invest in a stethoscope as soon as they could, if they were going to continue this spying habit. At what she could pick up, from the conversation inside, she frowned. Things would be annoying if he worked with their dad.

"I try," Antony said modestly.

"Unfortunately, you don't ever start out as the research assistant only," Dyer said. "What you're offering to be is an intern. That means you do all sorts of jobs, such as getting me coffee, cleaning up, etc. Are you still interested."

"It seems fine to me."

"Then, because your teachers extol your abilities, considered yourself hired," Dyer said. "You can start on Monday."

"Thank you sir," Antony said as he stood and headed for the door. He opened it a bit too quickly and Kash fell in, barely managing not to land on her glass.

Unfortunately for her, Rhye tumbled in and landed on top of her. Her glass fell out of her hands. She looked up sheepishly for a moment. "Uh... Hi Antony.... What brings you here?" she asked awkwardly.

Antony looked at Dyer, who shrugged. "I came here to ask for a job," Antony told her, offering them his hands to help them up. Kash glared at the offered hand and shoved her sister off of her before standing up.

"We don't like that," Kash told her father, shoving past the blue haired youth and glaring at Dyer. "Find someone that's not a complete jerk!"

"I think I'm offended by that," Antony said.

"Which doesn't matter," Rhye told him, getting to her feet with out his help. She straightened her clothes first, then walked up to their dad as well. "Can't you find someone else? Some how I doubt you even need an intern. Wouldn't you have offered it to one of us?"

Never mind they had their own part time job, thanks to a fairy godfather.

"You're both already working," Dyer said. "And you don't need to work unless you want to. This job is also extremely boring, unlike yours." He didn't seem as if he was going to give in.

"But Daddy!" Kash said, pulling out her princess card.

"Really, Antony seems to be a fine boy to me," Dyer said. "He seems to have great potential as a lawyer, too," he added with a hint of amusement. "And he is your classmate--"

"He's in other classes. I wouldn't call him a classmate," Rhye corrected. Then she pulled her own princess card. "But Daddy, why him? Shouldn't you test him more? You can't just out right hirer a guy! Even if he is willing to get your coffee. There should be a... a testing period!"

"True, but usually they quit after the first week, anyway," he said with a shrug. "Somehow I think it'll be interesting either way, don't you?"

Antony sighed. He was going to be sooo tortured by this, he could already see it.

"Your a** is grass," Kash growled as she walked past him, storming out the door. She obviously didn't agree with this situation one bit.

"Good," Rhye said, giving her dad 'that look'. It was the same kinda look Croela gave him when he didn't agree with her and she thought he should do something about that fact. She too walked past Antony, giving him a glare of her own as she followed her twin out. Her tail swung behind her.

"Actually," Dyer said as Antony started to leave. "Could you clean up the glasses before you go?"

Antony looked down at the glasses that the girls had dropped and sighed, leaning down to pick them up. "Tell me, do you always work out of your home?" he asked the man.

"As often as I can," Dyer said. "I like being close to my loving family."

"Right," Antony drawled.

"We have definitely got to get rid of him," Kash told her sister as they headed for their room.

"Then let's make this internship hell for him," Rhye agreed. "Then he'll quit and we wont have to put up with him," she added, heading for the desk to get a note pad. They would work on plans on 'how to get rid of the annoying guy'.

Kash dropped onto her own bed, thinking about it long and hard, only to jerk as Bastion suddenly appeared right in her face.

"You know," he hissed happily, "I'm always good for this sort of thing."

"Sadly he is correct," Atreyu said reluctantly. "But I could be on help too," he added almost wickedly. Anything to keep them out of trouble and it going right.

Rhye looked at her sister. "Well....? Do you want to try it?" she asked.

"We'll see just how annoying he is first. Then we'll do it," Kash said with an evil little smile.

Charms
Players: Ice & TB
------------

Rhye was leaning back in her seat, reading a magazine. With out customers around, there really wasn't too much to do about the shop while you waited. It was making the teenager think more about getting a gameboy or something.

But then again, she liked her books. She just needed a new series to read. "What are you planning on dressing up for, for Halloween?" she asked her twin, flipping the page in her costume magazine.

"I honestly have no idea," Kash admitted from where she was piecing together a necklace on the counter. She had gotten the sudden urge to make clay flowers the night before and was now making them into jewelry with Bastion watching closely. He didn't usually take notice of her jewelry making, so it kind of weirded her out, but she ignored it.

"Hmm..." Rhye replied, letting her sister work. "Witches, do you think? Sexy witches, of course. Vampires?" she was asking, going throughout a few ideas.

"Witches is more understandable," she said. "If anyone should look like a pansywaist vampire, it should be Antony."

The bell rang over the door and she glanced up, groaning as the man in question walked in. "So it's true, speak of the devil and all that stuff."

"Speak of the devil and who should appear?" Rhye said, setting down her mag to give the youth a small glare. "I hope you find what you're looking for quickly," she said.

"I'm looking at who I'm looking for," Antony said, evilly enjoying the fact that they hated him so blatantly. To be honest, it had bothered him at first, but he was so used to it now that it made him happy. At least two beautiful women forgot about everything other than him whenever he was near.

"But I'm afraid it's not to make you angry this time. I need your help. Actually, a few friends of mine need your help."

"Wait... you've come here to ask for -our- help? And why should we?" Rhye asked him, hands going to her hips. Her tail gave a little flick of annoyance.

"Because, I'm afraid, there's a rift between the natural and the supernatural world. Carmel, you've met her, right? Chris's little sister. She was kidnapped by a teenage ghost. Rayne, Rory's little sister, was kidnapped by a kitsune. There's going to be more spiritual creatures invading as time gets closer to Halloween--"

"Are they--" Kash started out.

"No, they were rescued."

"Oh good," Rhye said, relaxing her shoulders now. "So, why have you come here? So you want charms or something for them?" They probably had something like that some where, actually. They had luck charms, after all, so why not protection charms?

"I actually told them to come here for that," he said. "Yes, I want charms for them. I also want to warn you two about the problem. You're both extremely powerful mages, after all. They might take an interest in you."

Kash looked down at the flowers she had made before, chewing on her bottom lip. "How many kids did you say needed these?"

"I hadn't, actually. Three that I know of, but I might want two more. Touda and his sister could be in danger as well."

Rhye looked over at her twin, who was better at the whole creating thing than she. Then she looked at the little flower things she had been doing. "Right," she said. That probably was the reason she was making them.

"So you've already made them?" Antony asked, eyeing the flowers curiously. "They're glowing well--"

"These aren't--I mean--we need to ask Winstead, he should have something, I'm just--"

"Got up in the middle of the night with the urge to do this," Rhye completed. "Even Bastion's paying attention. You know he doesn't normally do that. So, i believe you're making them for a reason," she said and started to chew on her lip. So, Kash could make things, then what could she do to them?

Atreyu shifted on her arm, going to her wrist. Antony knew, so there was no reason to hide.

"She's right," Bastion said. "These are dangerous little numbers--"

"What??" Kash asked, dropping what she was working on entirely. "How are these dangerous? They're just flowers!"

"They're repellents," he said, looking at her patiently. "Anyone that touches the wearer with bad intentions is going to have quite the shock."

"That's--"

"Perfectly logical to what you are doing," Rhye said. "Especially with what we can do, according to what Winstead said."

Then the little bell above the door rang, signaling more coming in. Rayne's little face peeked in and looking around. Her body followed once she saw Antony and Rory came behind her. "Wow, this is the place? I swear I didn't see anything," Rory was saying.

Carmel and Coba walked in after them, glowering at each other. It seemed that neither of the siblings liked Carmel. But Coba had a personal reason for it. "She's mine," he muttered.

"No she's not, she's mine!" Carmel said, her expression thunderous.

Rayne huffed a sigh, going back and stepped between the arguing ones. She took then hands and held them, not about to say who's pet she was. They were both friends, even if Coba like scaring her. He also tried to save her. So, that was good.

"They've been arguing like that the whole way here," Rory mutter. Then she looked at the girls and the shop. "Wow, so you really do have your own shop? How awesome!"

"Well, actually it's not ours," Kash said. "We're just the lackeys that get stuck doing all the work, and--" She slapped Antony's hand as he reached for the finished necklace. "You can't have that! I told you, we need to talk to Winstead about it!"

"This would work perfectly," Antony said. "Why don't you just trust yourself for once?"

Rhye put her hand on Kash's shoulder. "It'll be fine, don't worry. Want me to blow of them for a bit of luck before we give them away?" she asked with an almost wicked grin.

"Put them on," Kash said, taking her seriously.

"Toys!" Carmel said, dragging both Coba and Rayne to the display.

"They'll be fine, even if I don't. I just want to feel like I'm doing something in this whole thing," she told her twin, winking at her as she took the charms off.

Rayne skipped a little to get her balance. Then she saw the toys and her face brightened. "Toys!" she echoed, also dragging Coba along.

Coba pouted, not really into toys that much, then stared at a plush gargoyle sitting on the ground next to the others. He crouched down in front of it, mimicking its pose and flicking his tail back and forth.

Carmel glanced over and started to laugh, unable to help herself.

"Okay, now Antony, you touch her while she's wearing them," Kash instructed.

"You want to curse me?" Antony asked.

"I wish," Rhye muttered under her breath, having them on now and making sure that was all of them. "More than likely it's to 'program' them for spiritual energies, or something like that," she shrugged. "Just don't touch to long, or you'll get bit."

Rayne giggled at Coba, seeing his pose. There was little fox plushy that she had spotted and was cuddling. It had tails like she did.

Carmel, on the other hand, didn't see anything that really struck her fancy. She pouted for a moment before she started to dig through the display.

"No, I want to see how sensitive it is," Kash said honestly. "If Bastion's right, then if he has any ill intentions towards you he'll get hit hard--" She stopped, a bit shocked as Antony dropped a hand on Rhye's shoulder.

Nothing happened.

Rhye rolled her eyes. She sucked at this, apparently. Well, just leave her to the books and she'd be happy. "Okay, that's enough touching," she told Antony, giving him a little glare.

Rayne started to help Carmel look for something that might interest her. Maybe there was a chocolate kiss like one in here, or something chocolaty.

"Actually," Bastion said, "that might give the kids a bit of good luck for wearing it. Who knows." Which was more of a "who cares" in his opinion.

"Hey, kids, why don't you come over here for a moment?" Antony called to the three pilfering through the toys. "We have presents for you."

"Present?" Carmel asked. "I want a present!"

"Present?" Rayne asked, looking up at the others. She was setting down the little fox toy, as well and reached down for Coba's hand again.

Coba went willingly this time, hoping it was a book of some sort. He had the nerve to look disappointed when Antony handed him the necklace.

"These are very important necklaces," he told them as he handed each of the girls one as well. "You need to wear them all the time, okay?"

"Mine's pink!" Carmel bragged happily as she slipped it over her head.

"Mine's blue," Rayne informed her. She liked blue, after all. Then she looked up at Antony and the girls. "This will protect us from the bad ones, right?"

"That's right," Rhye told her, then bragged: "My sister made them. She's good at that sort of thing."

"Is black," Coba said.

"It's dark purple," Kash said, peeking over the counter. Then she stopped. "Rhye! Rhye! It's a gargoyle!!" She hopped over the counter, pulling poor Coba into her arms. "So cute!!"

"You didn't notice?" Rhye asked, grinning at her. Then again, Kash was busy with the necklaces.

Rayne giggled again at the treatment Coba was suffering.

Coba suffered through it, his necklace in his hand over her shoulder as she cuddled him shamelessly. "You are a million times cuter than that jerk of a gargoyle we grew up with," she told him, although it was actually a toss up. She just didn't like Casca at the moment.

"Yours is almost as pretty as mine," Carmel complimented Rayne.

"How much do I owe you?" Antony asked Rhye, since her sister was busy.

Rhye chewed on her lip. "Well, they're to protect our friend's little sister, plus one cute little gargoyle boy, so, I would say.. Free? Unless Kash has another idea for it," she said, feeling genurous at the moment. "If it was just you, however, then that's a different matter."

Rory tried not to laugh at that. "Antony, you're just making friends all over, aren't you?"

"Thank you," Rayne said, taking the compliment where she could.

"I, of course, cannot afford the price she would probably make me pay for one myself," Antony said dryly. "But that doesn't change the fact that I need more than just these three. I can think of two others off the top of my head, and there just happens to be two more--"

"Take them," Kash said, letting Coba down and putting his necklace on for him. "But you'd better only give them to people that will really need them, understand?"

"Yes, I understand. I was planning on it."

"Good, because if we found you did give them to someone who doesn't need them, we will charge you," Rhye warned him.

"Thank you, too," Rayne said too Kash, giving her a little smile.

He pocketed the spare necklaces, then glanced over at the stuffed toys the kids had been playing with. "Sorry about the mess," he said evilly, since they constantly made messes for him to clean up when he worked, then said his farewells and left.

"I still really don't like that guy," Kashmira muttered.

"Same," Rhye muttered, glaring at him as he left.

Rory shook her head. "He's not all that bad. But anyway, who here wants some hot doughnuts? There's a shop around here--"

"Yeah!" everyone cheered, including Kashmira.

"Break time!" Kash said. "Let's get donuts!"

"Same!" Rhye replied.

"You girls are paying for your own," Rory told them with a smirk.

So no more arguments broke out, Rayne took both Carmel and Coba by the hands again to walk with them. It was a good thing Jordan wasn't with them.

Mobster Holiday (Part I)
Players: Ice & TB
---------------------------
"This has got to be sexual harassment," Kash muttered, looking at the skimpy elf outfit she and her sister were wearing for work. "Or it would be, if the lazy jerk actually bothered to come to work," she added darkly, wrapping her arms around herself. She stood behind the counter, rubbing her arms briskly. "I think we should turn up the heat in here. It's freezing."

"We need arm warmer," Rhye muttered, looking for her air control system. It was behind a stack of things behind the desk. "Or arm socks, something like that. Otherwise, I think the outfits are cute! So glad he's not here to see us in them, though," she grinned at her twin.

"He probably picked them thinking he would be, then got another case he had to take care of," Kash said, looking happier at that thought. "Watch him not be done until after Christmas!"

"Then it would be all his fault!" Rhye laughed, getting the heater turned on more. "Okay, heater's on more. Remind me to turn it back when we're done," she said, getting down for the stool that allowed her to get at the control. "So! Have you got all your presents ready?"

"Absolutely not," Kash said. "Other than you, Mom, Dad and Bippo, I've got nothin. What about you?"

"I... have no idea what to get Chris, or Rory, or anyone else for that matter! I mean, I got you and the rest of our family... Wanna do some browsing after work? I bet we could find something together!" she said. Then wrapped her arms around her twin's neck from behind. "What you get me, sis?"

"A smack on the hand if you think sucking up will get it out of me," Kash said evilly, smacking lightly at Rhye's hand. "I ain't tellin, and you can't make me!"

"Awww! And here I was going to tell you yours! Oh well!" she replied, just as evilly, moving away so her hand wouldn't be smacked again.

"Oh come on, now!" Kash said, only to stop as the bell over the door rang and someone walked in. For a second she thought it was Raul, by the sight of his pinstriped suit, but he didn't look like Raul. This man was tall and thin, with a sharp, ratlike face that sneered as he looked around the shop.

Rhye frowned slightly, looking at him and wondering how, at times, people like this made it into the shop. Well, a customer was a customer. "Welcome to Lucky Charms! Anything special you're looking for, this holiday?" she asked him pleasantly.

He walked to the counter, leaning on it as he looked both of them over. "You two... luck dragons?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kash lied through her teeth. She was really starting to wish Winstead had come to work after all. This guy gave her the creeps.

"Nor I," Rhye added, feeling the same as her twin. Where was he when you needed him?? "So, are you here to buy something?" she insisted, standing her ground on this.

"Yeah," he said, shooting out a hand towards Kash. She jerked, frozen where she was from unseen magic. Then he did the same to Rhye. "You."

Rhye yelped, jerking as she was frozen in place. She couldn't even struggle! What did this guy want with her?!

"Come on in, boys!" he called, bringing in two scary looking males. They looked at him and he motioned to Rhye. "That one," he said. "I always liked gold gold better than black gold."

They headed over to pick her up as he walked out the door. "Pleasure doin' business with you."

If Rhye could have yelled, she would have! Who did this jerk think he was? And now she was hating the elf outfit! This so wasn't something she wanted to be kidnapped in. Course, she didn't want to be kidnapped in the first place! And poor Kash couldn't do anything to save her right now! Damn it!

"Boss, there's an anticrime ward on this place," the biggest of the lot grabbing Rhye said.

"Oh, right," the man muttered, waving his hand. "Move fast!" he snapped as he realized how powerful a ward it was. He was sweating by the time they got out. Then they weren't on gaia anymore. They were on a strange planet with a purple sky.

Rhye would have gaped at it if she could. The probably the thing even worse than being kidnapped was that their hands were COLD! But... Where was she?

"Take her to the office," the man said. "We're gonna make a killing with this one, boys! An honest to God luck dragon!"

She gave a little growl in her throat over this, not able to protest in any other way. But she could breath, if not move alot, so she could growl at them all for this. She he was after her luck? Well.. that was stupid! If he though he was going to get anything from her, he had another thing coming!

"Boss, how do you know she'll help us?" the big teiru male asked. He was a lot smarter than he let on, but this stupid a** idea was going to get them all cursed--

"She will because I know how to find her sister," Marone snarled. "And there ain't nothin else she can do to keep her precious sister safe. Now is there?"

That just made Rhye growl more. They'd better not touch Kash! If they did, then she would -totally- find a way of cursing people herself! And Kash wasn't alone, there was Winsted-- Expect he was off someplace. Okay.... Chris! Chris was being and powerful enough!

"You got a point," Boydon said reluctantly. He could understand having a hostage. Although one that they, technically, didn't have was kind of pushing it. "Okay, boss, we'll take her to the office. But what are you gonna do?"

"I," Marone said, "am gonna get a paper. I got some bettin' ta do!"
***

Stupid Raul! He and the boys were all going camping while she wasn't allowed to go with them. It was the 'guys time'. Well.. SO?! Like that was any different from all the times she had been around them -anyway-. Even with their pool games! But noooo, she couldn't go on a camping trip, no matter how much she wanted too!

She was going to have to get their twins to go out camping with her, sometime. Which was where she was headed, to the Charm shop. But when she got there, she frowned for a completely different reason. Something was seriously wrong as she walked into the shop.

Kash was still frozen behind the desk, her eyes almost glowing with the rage she felt at the moment. She had had plenty of time to think up revenge, and she was rearing to go.

After she went to the bathroom, that was. And scratched her nose. Both things were driving her nutty.

"Oh wow," Milly said, entering the shop and seeing Kash as she was. "That happened to you??" she asked, going over to the girl, who was very, very bound. "Wait, never mind and tell me in a moment..." she said, walking around and trying to figure out the spell. It wasn't a difficult one, of course, but she wasn't the greatest at these sort of things. People got complicated with their spells, throwing together flash things and--

It was clear the Teiru was distracted at this point.

Had Kash been able to move, she would have been squirming. As it was an urgent whimper escaped her, trying to get the older woman to hurry. She had to pee!!

"Ah ha!" Milly declared, almost like she was waiting for that moment. Kash was suddenly free. "There ya go, hun! You can thank me by--"

Kash raced for the bathroom as fast as her legs could take her, rubbing her nose as she went along. She was in there for a good five minutes before she came out, breathing a sigh of relief. Then she remembered what had happened. "Where did they take my sister?" she demanded angrily of Milly.

"Who took her?" Milly asked, lifting her brow as she was looking at trinkets in the shop, waiting on the girl. Obviously she wasn't going to be thanked!

"This skinny, rat looking guy with the same ears and tail as you and Raul! He was in pinstripes, he had thugs, he HAD to be related to you guys somehow, so where did he take her?" Kash snarled, obviously barely in control of herself. The glass of the counter cracked without her even touching it, spiderweb fissures marking the glass.

A light popped overhead, flashing brightly before dying. Her rage was making itself known through her powers.

Milly was distracted by these thing, looking up as the light frizzled out. There was another little frown on her face as she though things over. "A rat looking Teiru in pinstripe? Hmm.... Did he say anything special, hun? Like a name, or something? Did he have any thugs?" she asked calmly, her tail swishing lightly behind her.

"I just told you he had thugs! Two scary lookin ugly guys! And he didn't say anything except that he liked gold gold better than black gold, which was why he was taking Rhye instead of me!"

The air seemed to sizzle around her, and the snake wrapped around her arm let out an angry hiss. Her short hair seemed to be weightless, floating around her face.

"Kash, if you don't calm down, you wont be able to find them. You're going to need me for that, since it was another Teiru mobster. A lousy one, of course. But! As I was left behind by the stupid boys, I will help you find Rhye! She, like you, is cute and shouldn't be with an idiot! How's that sounds?" Milly asked happily, her tone at first being more serious.

Kash blinked and her hair stopped floating, falling into its usual messy style. "You can find them?" she asked, sounding more like a little girl than the dangerous creature that had done destruction to a very powerful Godfather's store just a few seconds before.

"Yep! It'll take some time, of course, but we'll find her! Now... How do you feel about traveling?" she asked, looking over at the girl.

"The sooner I get to my sister, the better," Kash said. "No matter how we gotta go."

"Good! Then, let's get started. But we have to close up the shop before we go. So, come on," she said, heading for the door. "Now, you said he was rat looking... did he smell like cheap cologne? And have this horrible fluff of hair that just didn't lay right on his head?" she asked.

"Um, yeah, yeah that's pretty close to it."

"Then I know where to start looking," she said, taking the girl by the shoulder once they were out of the building. One moment, blue skies were above them and the next, the sky was purple.

Kash was no longer on Gaia.

Mobster Holiday (Part III)
Players: Ice & TB
-------------------------
For a long moment the only sound was that of the river flowing gently behind them, and a bird taking flight from the tree overhead. Then Raul sighed, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "So you're absolutely sure."

"We're sure," Koma said. The large teenage male was not, nor would he ever be, handsome, with a square face and glowing blue swirls of tattoo over his eyes and on his cheeks. His skin was dark brown, swarthy and flushed with days spent under the sun, his hair more like coarse white fur growing over his head and hands, and down his back to a stub of a tail. He was a Komainu, one of a pair of twins that Raul had found abandoned almost a hundred years back.

"You swear you'll never love any other woman than my Milly," Raul repeated.

"Very sure," Moka replied. The other twin matched his brother, with unruly hair and deep green marking. Neither of them would ever be called handsome. He had a serious look on his face, as he replied to their boss.

"But you realize," Raul said. "She considers you like her kids."

"Yes sir, we know," Koma said, his shoulders slumping.

"And even if I was the one to raise you boys, neither of you is man enough for my woman," he went on. "Which is why I'm going to introduce you two to some friends of mine. They're more in your league."

"We don't--it's positive that nothin's gonna sway us from our love for Milly!"

Moka nodded to what his brother was saying. "Nothing can! Even if she does consider us -- like that," he added. "We are faithful to Milly! So, even if you did introduce you to some friends, it's not going to change how we feel."

"Alright," Raul said, standing. "Then let's go meet the twins!"

"Tw--twins?" Koma managed to get out before they were standing in the middle of the Lucky Charm. He looked around blankly, wondering what was going on.

"Girls?" Raul called. "Kash, Rhye?"

"Right, twins," Moka replied, arms crossed as he looked around the shop. Okay, maybe he was curious, but that was only because they were twins. No one could top their Milly, after all. "But it looks like they ain't here, boss."

"Why didn't I grab the other b***h to begin with?" Marone snarled as he appeared right in front of Koma. More out of reflex than anything else, Koma's fist slammed into Marone's face, knocking him across the room to the wall on the other side.

"Whoops. Sorry, boss," Koma said guiltily. "Didn't mean to beat your brother in law."

"It happens," Raul said.

"Nice hit," his brother returned, going over to the fallen brother-in-law and picking him up by the back of his suit. He brought him over to their boss. So, what was this guy doing here?

Marone was still unconscious, so Raul slapped him across the face to wake him up.

"Wha--what--" Marone stuttered.

"Where..." Raul said dangerously, "are my little girls?"

Marone's eyes narrowed. "They ain't yours," he snarled. "I'm takin' them. You already got--"

"Koma? Hit him again."

Moka held up Marone so he couldn't get away from the hit, letting his brother do it. Brother-in-law or not to the boss.

"Dammit, you already got these freaks! What do you need with luck dragons?" Marone demanded, a trickle of blood coming from his right nostril.

"Luck dragons?" Koma repeated, his fist primed, but not flying.

"So that's what this is about," Raul said. "You wanna use my girls to win cash! You dipshit! They don't have enough control to get you a dime! Now where are they?"

"I--I only got one of them," Marone muttered, seeing Koma's fist start. "I don't know where the other is. She's supposed to be here!"

"Well apparently she ain't," he said, keeping him steady and hoping his brother wouldn't miss. That would both suck and look bad. Then he let the boss do the talking again.

"Try not to hit him where it'll show, boys, Milly wouldn't be happy," Raul said, starting to turn away.

"Wait!" Marone bellowed. "Don't you wanna know where she is?"

"Nah, I'll find her. This way just seems more entertaining."
***

"Where is she?" Gena asked, walking down the hall and to the office. She looked like she was hell bent on something, and wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Boydon said, blocking her way. "You is not on the visitors list, Ms. Gena, and as such--"

"Visitor's list?!" she replied, glaring at him. "Since when do -I- need to be on a visitor's list, Boydon? Ronie told me he has a luck dragon. I want to see if it's true," she said sharply, her tail completely frizzed at this point.

"Well, yeah, but--but she is not looking for company at this present time and place," Boydon said. "When she is feelin' more communicative--"

"Oh, right Boydon, she's feeling nice and comfy with you big thugs hanging around her, is that it?" she asked, her tone still sharp. Then she snorted, walking around him for the office door.

He followed her, knowing he'd get yelled at, possibly even fired, if he manhandled her out the door. The boss didn't show it, but he was clearly liking the little trollop. And Boydon didn't understand his logic, but he knew better than to lose his job.

Rhye was inside, guarded by the other thug, who was still cleaning his gun.

Rhye's arms were crossed as she glared at the one cleaning his gun. When the door opened, she had expected just Boydon to walk in, since he was the only other one she had seen in the area. She was surprised to see the female with him.

Gena huffed, running her eyes over the luck dragon. This.. This was just a baby! She looked at the guard, then at Boydon. "I'm impressed you don't have her tied up! Has she eaten? Had anything to drink? At least gone to the bathroom?" she asked him, doubting it all.

"I'm not hungry," Rhye said, even if she was.

"We offered her food, but she didn't want it," Boydon said, his shame clearly showing on his face. He knew she was right. This little one was way too young to be dragged into their lifestyle. But the boss-- "And she went to the bathroom!" he added, his guilt forcing him to.

"At least she got that much," Gena muttered, not impressed with the situation. "You both will be going to get her something to eat, and to drink! Got that? Cheeseburgers. Judging by the boxes in the trash, you didn't leave her any of the Chinese, either. Now, go," she said bossily, pointing at the door for them both to leave.

Rhye blinked at the new, extremely bossy lady. "But--"

"You're hungry," Gena cut in, not taking no for an answer. "Did these thugs do anything to you?"

"Other than kidnap me? No--"

"Good."

"Go," Boydon snapped at the other thug, getting an irritated look before the tall, thin man walked out. "I can't leave the prisoner," he said, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Gena.

"You think I'm gonna do something to her, Boyd?" she asked, returning his standoffish pose. "And why would I do somethin like that to someone Marone wants to use? Ronie wouldn't like me doing that."

"Because you--you--" Boydon started out, then stopped, glaring at her. "I gots a job to do, an' I'm doin' it," he said stubbornly.

"Boyd, between you and the other guy, who would you rely on more to get a little girl her food? And not eat it?" she asked, lifting a brow.

"If he eats it, he knows I'll beat the crap outta him," Boydon said, crossing his arms over his chest. He wasn't going ANYWHERE.

Kash grabbed onto Milly's shirt, dizzy from the little trip they had just took. She looked around, staring blankly at the empty office that they were in. "Why are we here?" she asked the blonde.

"Because we can find your sister here," Milly said, her tone soft. "But shh, we have to be careful, because there's at least going to be two goons around here. And maybe more," she said, quietly heading for the door.

"... Alright then, as long as you are sure," she said, turning away from him. This was going to be a little more difficult to get rid of the girl then. Besides, she had to do this in such a way that Ronie wouldn't suspect it.

She could totally handle goons, Kash thought as they slowly opened the door. She blinked at the size of the goon standing in front of the door, his back to them, then looked around him to see who else was there.

"Now," Gena continued on, inadvertently letting Kash know who else was here. "When he gets back with the food, I expect you to eat. Even if you don't want too, you're going to need to eat something," she said, the sharpness in her tone gone.

Milly tilted her head as she got an idea of the room. It was only two of them? She couldn't hear anyone else, after all. A little smile graced her full lips as she readied herself to take them by surprise.

Kash laced her fingers together, raising her hands high above her head, then slamming the double handed fist down on the nape of Boydon's neck.

It should have knocked him out. It would have, if he hadn't been built with a half foot thick layer of muscle over the back of his neck. As it was it only had the two of them looking up at a very disgruntled male. "What," he snarled, "was that?"

He had a lovely view of a gun at his head, and a slow-spell already being placed on him. "It's called a distraction," Milly smiled, another gun in her hand and aimed at Gena. "Now, let's play nice! You have something we want, and we have guns pointed at you. So, if you would just kindly hand over the girl - and don't even dare think about casting a spell."

Of course, where Milly had the guns hid, int he leather outfit she was wearing was a big mystery.

Kash made a face at Boydon and kicked him in the shin for good measure. "Teach you to take my sister!" she said, poking him in the chest. "Rhye? Did they hurt you?"

Rhye was on her feet, walking past Gena. "No. They didn't hurt me," she said. "I'm so glad you're here!" And she attacked her twin with a hug.

"Okay girls, back through the door. Then we can get out of here and celebrate!" Milly told him.

Gena had her hands in the air, not about to do anything. Perfect story! For once, Milly was doing her a favor! And Boydon was there as witness that he tried her best.

"What's goin on here?" the other thug demanded as he stepped through the door with a bag of fast food. Before he could say anything else, though, a fist slammed down on the nape of his neck. And unlike Kash's attempt at the maneuver, this one worked.

"Sorry, boss, I knocked out your brother-in-law's goon," Koma said a bit sheepishly.

"Shove him out of the way, Koma, we don't wanna step on him, too," Raul replied.

"Awww, I was having fun!" Milly almost pouted, but she never looked away or lowered her guns. "But thank you Koma!"

Rhye looked over at what was going on, worried that there would be more trouble, but at hearing Milly's comment, she felt better. And heading Raul's voice. See? She was totally going to be saved!

"Brother. In. Law?" Kash repeated dangerously, pulling away from the sister hug.

Koma felt a little disappointed by that move. The hug had been fun to watch! He found himself flushing slightly as he looked at the two girls, and reached up, rubbing the back of his head as he tried to get over the strange feeling. But--but they were so damn cute!

"I've noticed, though," Raul said, ignoring Kash for a moment, "you've been apologizing after the fact a lot lately, Koma. I might start to think you're doin' it on purpose."

"Na, he just doesn't think about it until after the fact," Moka replied, having been watching the girls too, and enjoying the hug!

"Yeeeaahhhh, Marone's my little brother," Milly sighed. "Which is why I knew who he was and where to find your sister. But that doesn't mean we agree with him. This was a stupid thing for him to do!"

"Where is he?" Kash demanded. "Where's that rat jerk? I wanna kick him! Grab my sister--"

"I already punched him for you," Koma volunteered.

She glared at him, obviously not happy with her vengeance being taken from her.

"Koma!" Milly replied, giving him a glanced glare. "Anyway, let's gooo. I got the girls back, so, we can go now. There's some shopping I want to do with them!"

"You ladies go on ahead," Raul said. "I wanna have a little talk with Boydon here, it won't take long."

"Kash? Rhye? Come over here please," Milly asked them.

Rhye looked at Boydon and Gena before taking Kash's hands to go to Milly's side. She could handle being with Milly, even if it was Milly's brother who kidnapped her. At least it was away from here!

And then they were gone, leaving Boydon to wish, almost desperately, that they hadn't left.

The twins had gotten DAMN big when he hadn't been watching.