Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ruby eyes slitted open as the young female stirred. Ah there was the sound she had longed for. A small smile stole over her lips as she streched her body, making a odd sort of trilling sound as his fins caressed her. This was definatly an improvement over the way she normally woke.

Quickly as a sea snake she twisted about in his graps to kiss him soundly. She had to, she had to touch him, to kiss him, to mark her possesion of him. She idealy thought about slicing her name into him but figured he might object. It was strange, this new possesive streak she felt but the ieda of any female touching him....they would die.

Marinette laughed softly as she wiggled free of his embrace. "Mmmm not right before meeting your family. We would be late." Her ruby eyes sparkled with mischief as she knew that once wouldn't be enough to sate her newly found appetite for the pleasures of the flesh. She stole another quick kiss, least he think she might not want him as that was -defiantly- not the case, before she stretched again.

"When were we suppose to go?" She asked softly turning to look back at him not a hint of nervousness in her gaze. Oh she wanted his family to approve if only because it would be easier for him if his family did not like her but like her or not they -would- be stuck with her as she was not about to give up the prize she had found.

She arched a brow as a faint laugh spilled from her lips "I do not worry about meeting them for my sake my love only that it may benefit you." She had her family, why would she worry about becoming part of another unless it was for him?

Absently touching one of the many blades in her fins she began to hums softly as they traveled, again the hint of her power was there but mostly it was just her voice, surprisingly soothing in song where it was husky and rich in speech.

It was for him? Oguntocado chuckled with an almost pleasant sound at that. He did not otherwise respond, content with her answer. Besides, she was singing –humming- rather now and he did not wish to miss that.
Even in times of war one had to make time for the things one was fighting for. Now that he was not fighting for only the joy of war itself.
Red eyes flicked almost to a smile as they neared his family’s home. He was sure Marinette would like it…

His father’s anger hit him like running into a brick wall –and he was not even close yet. Never had Oguntocado seen his half-demon father in this kind of fury, and he had seen VooDoo’s anger at his little sister’s condition at the hands and fins of Kerrigor. In angry defiance Oguntocado met the fiery narrow gaze of his father’s glowing eyes. What was he thinking? Did VooDoo seriously think he had not weighed the consequences before bringing her home? True… there had been less thought and more feeling when it came to Marinette’s place in his life and blackened heart, but when he had acknowledged her mark on him it was before they had known of the vile one’s return. It was before Astarte had confided in them what had happened to her, though after the foul deed had been done.

Clearly, if Oguntocado thought his father would be proud he had been mistaken. It was something that infuriated the younger male, even as he felt VooDoo’s gaze burning deep inside him. Did not his father see his dark lover’s own demonic power within? Was that it?

But no… wait. VooDoo possibly could not see it. Marinette’s power was still mostly sleeping. Or biding is time. The war blessed was not certain. He had foolishly presumed that his more powerful and half-blooded demon father would be able to see what lay within the blue artist. He must have falsely concluded why he had a hard time getting more than a whiff of her powers except when they erupted. It must be something in Marinette that masked them, not his own ineptitude. Or at least… not all his own ineptitude. As far as Oguntocado was concerned there was always room for self-improvement. To gain the edge.

He fought the cold stab of fear knifing him from the sound of his father’s magical voice and the weight of those blazing red eyes. Resolutely he continued to meet them though his father’s disapproval was one thing he had never wanted to face. “What I think you would have done in my place, Father.”

The war-loa blessed did not bother enacting the spell for speech but responded to the booming magical voice of his father in his own quiet & low way. If this was a matter of the family war there was nothing to keep Marinette safe away from him anyway. Even if he had left it at a mere dalliance –which Oguntocado would never have done- she would have become a target to the fiend Kerrigor. Better she was with them.
Better too perhaps to have his family help with her powers as well.

All logic and strategy aside however… it was true that the war crazed sword-wielder had acted surprisingly out of character for himself. Sometimes he wondered about that but he was ready to face the music so to speak if he was so accused.

Talking quietly together some ways away mother and daughter had not seen VooDoo go out to great the new arrivals. They had sensed him moving but were unworried by it. Until the booming of VooDoo’s voice echoed through the waters, nearly boiling them. Malia shuddered with fright at the sound of it, her glowing blue eyes searching for the silver gaze of her mother. Those silver eyes had darkened, appearing almost blue themselves as they reflected the dark waters of their home back out from their surface. Yunalesca frowned with concern, herself shaken by her mate’s magical tone of voice. What could Oguntocado have done to earn that? Damn mothering instincts sometimes. With an inclination of her head ‘Lesca led her blue-eyed daughter towards the sound. Hopefully the visiting Astarte had not been woken by it. Sleep was getting harder for the queen of the dead, as it was harder and harder for her to hold back the life growing inside her.

A slender brow lifted as they neared and ‘Lesca spotted the blue female near her son. Now that was unexpected… but it did explain why he was less and less at home of late. However, it did not explain to ‘Lesca her mate’s fury.

Blue settled on blue as Malia spotted the female as well. Pain more to the point of betrayal flashed and held in her eyes. Oguntocado has found a mate? She felt angry tears stir around her eyes, sparkling in their glow and distorting her vision before they joined with the waters around her. How could he find love before she did? How could he? Her little brother had never been interested in that sort of thing, and yet… there he clearly was. The female was kept to closely to him, himself positioned to both show her and protect her to mistake his feelings for her. How had he… not wanting love found it?
Was she wanting it too hard? Was that why it eluded her always? Malia remained quiet, hurt and lonely tears warming the water by her face.

VooDoo cracked his knuckles with a sickening sound a she studied his son "you're wrong son, I wouldn't bring one that needs to be protected, watched, and cared for constantly into a family that very well could be ravaged by war." His eyes darkened "you seem to not know what we face Oguntocado..." his anger seemed to have dissipated into nothingness for the time being. "You don't understand the grim straights we face now, this may be a loosing fight we're face with" his face, eyes, and voice were grim "I do not even know if I shall come out of this alive, Kerrigor is far stronger than he was when myself and your grandfather banished him t he first time."

He could feel his mate behind him, those words weren't the best to be speaking before er, but she had the right to know as well that they're time together could be yet very short.

"Do you remember the verse I taught you, 'He that live'eth by the sword .. die'eth by the sword'?" His arms crossed lightly over his muscular chest, he had no doubt his son remembered the proverb "if you follow down this path son you might not return home to the girl ... especially if your mind is elsewhere while in battle."

VooDoo's glowing eyes turned on Marinette now, studying her intensely then he waved his son away with a hand, he wanted to see this female fully and to get the right view of her he wanted to see her without the form of his son nearby.





As if one of he shadows himself, Ghede slithered forwards towards his family.

Unlike the rest of his family, this small dark male had an aura of hate and cruelty unrivaled by even Oguntocado. Nobody got on his bedside and lived to tell their story.

He stopped nearby his mother and his sister and studied the two beta before his father. A cruel sneer spread across his face "leave it to you little brother to find a weakling to call your own." Ghede was proud in hiss choice if a possible mate, Freddy Krueger was strong, cruel, and murderous like he and together they struck fear into the hearts of all the weak blooded fools. "I thought you had better judgment, or at least more family pride."

He had no toleration for weakness, and already he had decided that this female was weak and nothing would change the stubborn beta.s view now.

Marinette made a very soft laughing sound as the corner of her lips turned up. War? Well so be it. "What is life without danger? Should I stop my work just because it might be dangerous? " She did smile gently then at Oguntocado and touch his cheek gently before dropping her fin. "If you die love, at least you will die fighting an enemy. Better by the blade than a death of sickness or time." Her voice wasn't soft and musical as many females, instead it was rather husky and rough as if she wasn't use to speaking.

~ He will leave you all alone. He will go into battle and never come back.~

She shrugged faintly looking up at Voodoo when he motioned Ogun away, unaware that her ruby eyes had began to glow brighter. She knew rationally she should probably be scared of this man but she wasn't. After all how could you fear one physical being when you live with the threat of your own powers pulling your mind and body apart at any second. "I do not need protection from outside enemies. Nor do I need watching or caring for. I am use to loosing odds but that has yet to stop me."

Oguntocado bristled at what his father was saying to Marinette. VooDoo just was not getting it, was he? It was too late for that kind of stubbornness over what had already happened. He had met Marinette before knowing that their nemesis had returned. Even had they not mated... Marinette would still have become a target because of his connection to her. And because she was interesting to him even then, VooDoo's worries would still be valid. Was it not easier -having her as a mate and directly part of the family so that they could make strategies with all of the players known? And she had power! The war-loa-blessed wondered if it was on par with his father's own, them both being half-demons. Of course... he could not deny the danger of Marinette's potentially fragile hold on it nor her inability to control or use it at will.

... then he stiffened at being called to task like a fry like that. Missing training! His eyes flashed to retaliate, to defend his brave mate and try to get his father to see reason beyond his worry... but then VooDoo was gone. Frowning after him Oguntocado shook his head before turning to nuzzle his little artist-mate. "He's just worried, thandeka. It is the war makes him speak such. I know he would love you otherwise. You are very brave. I have faith in you. He will see."

Snapping a mother's warning glance at her oldest children at their bickering Yunalesca nearly swam off after her mate to comfort him before she stopped, still in the water. No. She thought softly, hating the ache it put inside her with the realization that VooDoo needed time alone. Frustrated she sighed, still assimilating the intensity of the war at hand... and realizing VooDoo had been protecting her from the truth. She felt stupid. All the signs were there... she should have known. Should have at least suspected with Astarte's state. It was just hard to believe someone was that much stronger than her mate and his father combined. Easier to think Astarte had merely been caught off-guard as she claimed -when she spoke at all to the living.

Another glance, watching Malia about to snap at Ghede before her eldest swam off. The mother might have sighed but she understood her son and knew there was no arguing with him. Although she was a bit surprised at his quick departure, mother senses tingling that something might be up but at the same time knowing Ghede would not appreciate or want her tagging along all mothering-like.

Still... with all that had unveiled... weak or strong it would not have mattered who one of their children brought home for a mate in this situation: VooDoo would have the same reaction. 'Lesca knew her mate on this, and was quite sure. On that her eldest son was wrong... for whether he would or could or not VooDoo would not choose beta to join them in this matter. At least... that was what 'Lesca thought quickly upon her summing up everything quickly. Later... she would speak to her mate about it.

Now it was time to speak to her son. And his mate. To explain to them -especially the girl- if she could. Whether VooDoo liked it or not... he would have to understand that the girl was now family. He had afterall raised their children to mate for life.

Well... mostly.

Swimming towards the lovers 'Lesca made no outward show when she felt her oldest daughter slip into place silently a little behind and to her right. The argument with her brother was pulling her down -and likely Malia was having her own revelations from her father's words as well. Yunalesca knew how much this particular daughter longed for a dark paladin mate. Oguntocado's mating would have been hard on his older sister regardless of the situation. This only made it much, much worse for her. As was apparent by the magical voice's stark silence. Another talk for later.

"Try not to take my mate's words personally, Daughter." The silver eyed female said in a soft, low voice as a flash in her eyes made the silver almost blue as they reflected the water around them. "If he has kept the severity of this war from me out of worry..." 'Lesca let her words trail off and shrugged, flashing Marinette a dark but welcoming grin.

"Now... what was your name?" 'Lesca nearly chuckled at her son's stern and protective position towards his lady even as she arched a brow waiting for the answer to her question. Behind her Malia offered the blue female a shaky smile, her bright and shining blue eyes both hurt and sad even before the smile fell to a cocooning frown and her eyes glanced to the side as if burned. An apt word... for Malia felt burned seeing her baby brother treat this female so -and wondered when or even if she would ever have something even half of what she could see between them. If it happened... Would Father yell at her too? For bringing in a distraction? And if she did not... would she have to wait until after the war to find a mate? What if the war never ended? Then what?

Much as it pained her... Malia was glad for her brother. At least he had someone, war or not. If he died... if she died... at least they would have had that.