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Charms
Players: Ice & TB
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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.

Pina Colada
Players: Ice & TB
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It was one of those weird times when Kaeden was by himself. It was happening more often that it usually did, and he found himself in odd places. Sometimes with books that weren't meant for kids, and rum. No doubt those things would be found. He wasn't about to tell anyone what he knew.

Kaeden wasn't alone in his head. He had been suspecting it for a while, there were blanks in his memory about actions he couldn't remember. At least in acknowledging it, he remembered more things and was more aware what was going on.

Like right now. He was having a taste for some kind of drink, and had finally found the right flavor. Pina Colada. But it just wasn't right. Kaeden made a face as he drank. "What's it missin?" he asked, no one in general as he walked down the sidewalk.

Antony sighed, feeling more exhausted than he had been since he was possessed by the prince. It had been a rough half a month or so. Ever since he met the old lady in the park, things kept happening.

He paused, seeing a boy walking down the street. But it wasn't the boy that caught his attention. It was the massive sized ghost riding on his back. "Lovely day, don't you think?" he asked blandly as the boy got closer.

Boy and Ghost looked up at him, then at the sky. "It's cloudy 'n cold," he replied, looking back at Antony, his feet didn't stop walking either. "Why?" he asked then, not used to people just randomly asking about the weather. He sipped on his drink again, still trying to figure out what was wrong.

"It seemed like a good enough lead in as any," he said, his eyes on the ghost. "My names Antony, by the way. Antony Shade. Do you go to Liberty Center?"

"And?" Kaeden asked and stopped his walking. Blue eyes narrowed on Antony slightly. He wasn't looking at him at all. A glance over his shoulder told him it was no one else that he could be talking too. "I'm down here, pal. Not up there," he said and his tail gave a twitch.

This guy made him on edge. Did they steal from him once? ... He couldn't prove it!

Antony looked down. "Tell me, have you had moments where you can't remember what just happened? Even an hour or two that disappeared completely?" he asked the boy.

He hit the nail on the head. Kaeden lifted a brow at him, then started to walk around him. So what if he did? What did this guy know about it?? And besides, he didn't feel like talking to him. That sounded like some lame lead into an infomercial.

Even the ghost gave Antony a dark look as the boy walked off.

"If you don't want me to kill you outright, Captain, I suggest you make the boy stay," Antony said softly. "Because I have this thing against possessing ghosts. It's a bit personal, even."

The drink fell out of the boy's hands as he turned on Antony. "Wha the hell do you want?" he demanded, backing up slightly. "I ain't doin a thing wrong. Just goin--" the ghost was cut off and Kaeden cut in. "How'd ya know?" he asked, eyes still narrowed on him.

"Grim reaper in training, I'm afraid," Antony said, his short dagger in his hand. He tested the blade, sighing. "I really dislike bullying people, though. Especially in public." The blade disappeared into his coat. "Why don't the three of us go for a walk in the park?"

"If you keep that knife where it belongs," Kaeden replied, already reaching behind him, just to make sure his own blade was there. It was. He didn't seem to part with that Christmas gift. It was the most awesome thing ever.

"So, mister reaper-in-training, are you gonna tell me what ya want when we get there?" he asked, already walking for the park. "Or am I gonna have ta guess?"

"That depends," Antony said slowly. "Do you believe in ghosts?" It was going to be another episode as with the twins, he figured. He still hadn't figured out how to deal with the people half of the problems.

"Ha, like there's a choice in that question," Kaeden replied. The Captain's grouchiness with these thing had rubbed off on him. "You come up to me ' tell me you're a reaper. Then ask about ghosts? If someone didn't already think you're nuts, they would with that question."

"Yes, I'm insane," Antony said, sighing and holding up a hand for the boy to look at. The skin went invisible, showing veins and bones, then disappeared entirely. "I used to wake up with random parts not visible. Do you have any idea how insane that can make you?" he asked curiously.

"... Extremely," Kaeden said, giving him an odd look. "Well I didn't say you were. Just that I don't have a choice in that matter. I have ta believe in ghosts, or believe I'm crazy. Could still be that," he added, shoving his hands in his pockets, as if they would disappear too.

"So you're accepting the fact that you're possessed?" he asked, realizing that this was going easier than it could be.

"I've known, so?" Kaeden said, as if this was common thing in the world. It was weird having someone who wasn't his friend knowing he was possessed. "It's not like the Captain does anything bad. He's just... there."

"Are you sure he hasn't done anything bad?" Antony asked. "Do you know what happens when you're taken over?"

"I ain't cut, I ain't in pieces, and I ain't afraid of danger. I -am- a pirate," Kaeden informed him, shoulders going back proudly. The Captain smirked over at Antony. "'N why harm me? It'll get him no where, if he does."

Antony was silent as they entered the park, his hands shoved into his pockets. "I was possessed a while ago," he said finally. "But he took over my body entirely. He never let me out. He was using me to get the chance to kill my father. I won't say that my father didn't deserve it for some of the things he did in the past, but it was horrible nonetheless."

"... Well, that would be bad. I mean, you don't get a chance ta say no and it was against someone ya like. Captain, he hasn't done that. It's more like... catching a ride? I guess," the skunk-tailed boys shrugged. He just hoped the Captain wouldn't do something like that. Ever.

"My friends, they don't know about this," he admitted.

"I see," Antony said. "Can you hear the Captain speak? When he's not taking you over?"

"Ain't listened, and he ain't said. If he can, then he just doesn't wanna talk," Kaeden said after a pause. Then thought, Well? Can you?

Yes. The answer made him pause. He shook his head and kept walking with Antony. "Apparently."

"Then I want to talk to the Captain for a bit," Antony said, looking at the ghost again. "Let's find a bench to sit on. Somewhere people won't notice me talking to the air over your head, preferably."

Both ghost and boy gave a snort as they walked off. "Right, right, not like it matters," he said. Of course, he was hoping Austin of Polly didn't find them talkin like that. It would look strange.

"Captian already said he wants a drink, but he can't drink rum, and you made me drop the pina colada I had. Though... it was missin somethin..." Kaeden told him, conversationally.

"Probably the alcohol," Antony said easily. "Since you're obviously underage. Let him grow before you force him to drink. Now," he went on as they reached a bench. "How long have you two been... sharing?"

"Few months now," the Captain said through Kaeden. It was a fast, easy switch. He wasn't going to give more information unless the youth asked. He didn't need to know, after all.

"That means that the boy--what's your name, boy?" Antony asked, distracted from his thought.

"Kaeden," the boy answered and lounged on the bench, looking at Antony expectantly.

"Then that means you're a mediator, Kaeden," Antony said. "You're vulnerable to ghosts. I have the same problem, I'm afraid. But you see, this month could be even worse for you, since Halloween is coming soon."

"... What's a medi-ator?" Kaeden asked, running the word oddly over his tongue. It didn't fit right, nor did the ghost seem to care for the word either. "And why would it make me vulnerable to ghosts?"

"It means you can be possessed. Used. There's a lot of ghosts out there that want to live again, and they could use you to do so," he said bluntly. "Kind of like your Captain is doing. But some of them aren't willing to share."

This time the Captain snorted and Kaeden's body picked up his actions, crossing his arms over his chest like the ghost was doing. "Like I'd let some two-bit spooky b*****d come 'ere. 'N you, blue boy, ain't gonna make me leave," he pointed out smugly.

"Don't underestimate me, Captain," Antony said mildly. "But you see, that's why I didn't kill you right off. I need every protector I can get for the younger kids. You seemed likely."

The Captain gave him a dumb found look. "A wha? Just cuz I ain't movin over a spook?" he asked.

"Exactly," Antony said. "They like the ones that can see or hear best. Of course there's other monsters running around right now as well. You can handle those, can't you?"

"...." Was the answer he got as both boy and ghost got thoughtful looks on their faces. Kaeden shifted in his seat as a decision was finally made. "Na, they ain't gonna kick me out. And The boy, he can handle himself. Can't see s**t, though." Then again, they hadn't run into another spook. Being as they were for so long, that might have changed.

"Still," Antony said. "Don't go running around late at night. Not until this month is over, at least." He stood, yawning. "Be careful, you two."

"Mister, what happened to that ghost that possessed you?" Kaeden asked as he was leaving.

"He passed on, thinking he managed to kill my father," Antony said. "Unfortunately for him, he never realized that a soul blade can't kill a living being." He started to walk away then, intent on getting a nap in. Or maybe another shower.

He had run out of hot water after the fifth.

One minute the rift was open, the next it was closed. Antony glanced over at his father before smashing a fist into the nearest ghost. Shade had been able to take care of it so easily.

He watched as the ghosts and demons around them scattered. Now that the rift was closed there was no reason for them to be there, and every reason for them to be gone. He looked over at Chris, noticing that the big man was still fighting blindly. "That's enough, Chris! They're gone."

"Yeah? Where to?" Chris asked.

"Probably hiding. I'll have plenty of time to hunt them down later." Antony sighed and ran a hand over his face, noticing that the sun was already starting to rise. It had been an exhausting night. "Go on home, we could all use the sleep."

Chris nodded and walked away, his tail dragging along the ground in a manner that said even the living tank had his limits. It almost made Antony glad he got to see it. He glanced over at his father, a questioning look in his eyes as the Ancient Dragon headed for him. "So?" Antony asked.

"Something must have happened to cause the rift to open," Shade said bluntly. "It wasn't caused by someone. At least, not directly."

"What does that mean?" Antony asked.

"It means that there's someone messing around with a very powerful creature. And by the looks of it... I think it's one like me." He stared at the spot where the hole had been, a dark expression on his face.

"How--"

"There's only three of us. Ice, who's so busy babysitting her menagerie that I really doubt it, me, which is obvious, and Kori."

"Kori?"

"If this has something to do with her... then she's found me. But I don't think that's what it was. I'm going to go ask a few questions, see if there's been any mock ancients appearing on Gaia. If that were the case we'd have our explanation."

"Fine," Antony said. "I, on the other hand, am going to bed."

"So," Antony said, lifting his pop off the table. He was ignoring the dirty look shot at him from across the table. He had never seen this kid in his life, but the kid seemed to hate him. It did seem to happen often, now that he thought about it. "A toast," he said. "To old friends and new."

"Dude. There's only three of us here," the kid, Dante, said dryly. "That's like one of those toasts you make at a gigantic party. You should be wearing a tux and banging the house owner's wife behind his back--"

"Dante," Shade said.

The boy looked down. "Whatever," he muttered, reluctantly reaching for his glass. "He's probably gay anyway. More likely he'd have been banging the house owner--"

"And you invited this to our Christmas Eve dinner?" Antony asked his father, not missing the look of hurt that crossed Dante's face at that.

"I thought he'd be able to control himself," Shade said with a hint of amusement that Antony alone caught. He gave his father a dirty look, knowing that the older man was enjoying this.

"I am not gay," Antony said. "But personally I think that sexual preferences are not to be discusses at at the table. Especially a table in public." That was the only dressing down he gave the boy. The place was practically empty, save for the mobster looking fellows in the corner, and a loving old couple two tables away. They couldn't hear Dante's comments, unless their hearing aids were a lot more powerful than they seemed. He doubted that by how loud the woman was speaking.

"You're a p***k," the kid muttered, crossing his arms over his bony chest. His arms were bony, too, lacking the muscle definition that Antony had already gotten by his age. Although Antony had been quite skinny, then, as well. Some would say he still was.

"And you are a crass, rude, and quite judgmental little punk," Antony said, his eyes catching on the stack of menus. They weren't straight. He put his drink down and straightened them before turning his attention back to Dante.

The boy had been spluttering for a few minutes by this time. "I am the LEAST judgmental person EVER!" he burst out. "I was a LESBIAN just a--just a--"

Antony raised an eyebrow. "You realize, you're not old enough to have hit puberty, and secondly, you are a boy."

"I--I--it's complicated."

"I'm sure it is," Antony said. This was Gaia, after all. "But just being a lesbian, regardless of your gender, doesn't mean you can't be judgmental. You just judged me, didn't you? You hardly know me, so you shouldn't make assumptions like you have."

He picked up his glass again. "As I was saying--"

"To family," Shade said before he could finish, "both old and new."

"WHAT?" both Antony and Dante bellowed in shock.

"Family," Shade repeated. "You two will be sharing a room for a bit, so I expect you to work out your differences quickly. Otherwise you'll both suffer."

"You CAN'T do that! I have--"

"Nothing, you admitted it earlier, remember? And as an Ancient Dragon, you need someone to teach you what you need to know. Besides, you and Antony here seem to get on like a house on fire!" Shade said cheerfully. "Now where's that waitress? I'm starving."