Facing the Music:Attn Simon (Open to the adoring public)

Jan scanned the entrance for Simon figuring that it was far easier to find his tall creator instead of having Simon have to look for him in a crowd. Luckily it appeared that his father and sister were already here. Nova was in a dress...and it wasn't neon. How did that happen? What the hell was she doing standing next to Evans? Plotting to kill him? Getting close enough to strike? He could hope she'd toss him against a few walls before the evening was over; it would liven up the party.

Turning to Addison, he nodded in the direction of Simon and took the redhead by the hand. He made his way through the milling crowd towards his family, hoping to speak to the Tacharan Leader before things got underway and it became too busy and too crowded to speak.

"Let's hope he's in a better mood."Â?

He'd suggest waiting until after dinner for that but Simon wasn't human and sitting at a banquet with a bunch of snotty elite when the man had work to do was only likely to worsen Simon's mood over time, not improve it. Yep, best to get it over with now.

Jan came to stand next to his father and said quietly.

"Reporting for duty. Have you got a minute to speak to us?"Â?

((OOC: Off to lunch with the family but back soon. ))

Simon put his hand on Jan's shoulder and gave him a warm smile. His eyes flicked to Addison and his normal unemotional expression returned. He wasn't so much irritated with Addison now but curious as to why Jan was concerned with him.

He brought Carol's hand to his lips and kissed it softly. She seemed to understand and she gave the men a brilliant smile and joined Nova and Kyle.

'Shall we then?'

Carol gave Simon an adoring look as he kissed her hand and then separated himself from her. She watched Jan, Addison and Simon walk off to discuss whatever they were wanting to be all secret squirrel about. Turning, Carol caught sight of Nova again. She really wished Nova would dress up more, she looked so beautiful in that gown, granted she was wearing sneakers but it was chic cool. Her hair down on her shoulders, a handsome guy at her arm...she looked positively happy and wow what a glow.

Carol blinked.

Nova was glowing.

Carol's eyes narrowed.

Nova was GLOWING.

Covering her mouth she exclaimed, 'OH MY GOD,' in a little squeal. Running up to Nova, she grabbed her hand, the one not touching Evans (OH MY GOD) and accused her.

'YOU HAD SEX!' She pointed at Nova and Kyle. 'TELL ME EVERYTHING!'

Nova shot Jan a grin and gave Addison a little wave, wondering how things were going for the redhead. Breaking familiar bonds could…well, suck, but Carol and Marthinus seemed alright and she figured it was probably the same for Addison.

Deciding it was all so far from being her business that it wasn’t even funny, she started toward an empty table only to have a swarm of people attempt to pass by in the opposite direction. She gave Kyle an elbow as one particularly frumpy woman who seemed to have ostrich feathers growing out of her dress shoved by with the rest of the group.

“Glad I didn’t wear that?”

Then Carol came over with a look in her eye that Nova probably should have understood, but totally didn’t until she made her declaration.

She looked up at the ceiling.

Maybe a Buick would fall on her head. Or one of those VW buses. Those were cool.

Maybe a VW bus would drive into the ballroom and take her away. Or Carol. Or something.

Of course, that was not meant to be.

“Yeah, many times actually. The dress lies.” She pretended to consider Carol’s plea for information before quipping back. “Everything? Wow, that might take a while…let’s see, back in tenth grade there was an incident with a youth minister in a movie theater parking lot…” She tilted her head to one side. “Wait, does oral count? There’s debate on that I guess, I always thought it did but some people disagree…”

She cleared her throat and looked around the room, meeting the eyes of the ostrich woman, who was staring at her in open horror. She sneered back but thought maybe it might be good to tone it down just a notch. “Er, you know…maybe there’s a time and place or something?”

Jan felt much better when Simon laid his hand on his shoulder and smiled down at him. Good, this might go better than he thought. At least he knew that there wasn't anything he'd done lately to be on the shit list... or at least nothing that he had gotten caught for. Yes, I did hit my sister in the back of the head on the raid and knocked her out cold. She's fine really look at her. He smiled at that and then looked over at Nova who was chatting amiably with Kyle Evans.... okay maybe she wasn't fine. Oh my god! I hit her too hard. She's cracked! Lost her memory and thinks she likes this guy!

Nah! Did Simon put her up to going out with the reporter for saving him? Ugh what a suck job! Mercy dating AND wearing a dress! He was glad not to have been given that assignment. Babysitting the human would be yeck but if anyone could find a way to make that entertaining it would be his sister.

Which brought him back to the human he was standing with. He turned and smiled at Addison and squeezed his hand in return. Looking back at Simon, he said.

"Well, I was thinking over the current up in the air situation about Ellis's other familiars and knew that Addison was new, probably still very lost and not known to too many of the clan. If you didn't want to take him as a familiar. I'm offering to do so. I will take responsibility for him. If that's alright with you."Â?

Wow, how do you say something like that and not sound like you're talking about a new pet? I promise to love him and hug him and take very good care of him, so can I please please have him? He followed me home honest!

Carol made the UH face and then stomped her foot. 'Uh, hello??' She pointed back and forth between the two. 'YOU,' pointing at Kyle, 'having sex with YOU,' pointing at Nova, 'is BLOWING my mind.'

Carol stopped and smiled. 'Although I have to say, you both make the cutest fucking couple. Oh god I'm so happy for you guys.' Carol started to tear up, 'Hug me, quick!'

This was monumental, Carol thought. I mean, how cute is this? Nova, raging angry Nova finally met her match, raving lunatic reporter Kyle. It's a god damn match in heaven!

'Quick, HUGS!'

Simon raised his eyebrows. 'You want to take Addison as your familiar?' Well Simon certainly did not want to take the human for himself. He just didn't like the idea of familiars, but that probably stemmed from the fact that Ellis used his family as a familiar pool.

He shrugged, 'If that's what you wish, Jan. You know I've no desire to take any for myself.' It occured to Simon just then that Addison was probably wondering about Carol. The look of confusion had crossed his face but Simon had let it go, honestly not caring.

'I should probably explain about Carol, then.' Jan had missed the meeting, as did Addison, but he was fairly sure Jan knew thru Nova. 'Carol is my companion. It happened...quite suddenly.' Simon didn't feel the need to explain that situation further. He did add, 'I don't feed on her or plan to ever do that. I want her feelings for me to be more than just master and servant.' Clearing his throat, Simon changed the subject back.

'I do, however, have a problem with Addison here associating with an Evenhet.'

Kyle looked over at the ostrich woman that Nova was pointing out and blew the woman a kiss, much to her dissatisfaction. He shrugged and said outloud while pointing at Nova, 'Well she likes me,' and then turned back to Carol stomping her foot.

Her forward behavior cracked him up but then he stopped when Nova became flustered. Kyle didn't mind sharing, but he'd leave that up to Nova. He did, however, happily give Carol a hug.

'It was alright. She had to get me drunk first though,' he did the drinking motion with his hand and then shook his head gravely.

Jan looked over at Addison and smiled again. Was that what he wished? Yeah, it was. The two of them should probably talk about what all the entails again at some point but there had not been a whole lot of time to do that.

“Yeah, He's got no where else to go...and..”

He grinned at the redhead again.

“I kind of like him... so uh yeah. I did stick to the rules though. See, this is -me- sticking to the rules. Being a good kid and all that.”

He added in a quieter voice as an aside. “ I'll break something later so you don't think I was abducted by aliens or something.”

Frowning at the mention of Evenhet, he said.

“The guy used suggestion on him, Simon. It doesn't fix things but it wasn't Addison's fault.”

He looked at the accountant who looked a bit confused, probably over the continued situation with Nic and a little annoyed at it being brought up again. Luckily they were both shorter than Simon so maybe the Tacharan Leader wouldn't notice and if he did, it could easily be annoyance at what happened to him. Which he'd be feeling something close to fury about if it were him. The Evenhet nearly got him killed. Tacharan familiars just aren't treated the same, they belonged to vampires were not business partners.

“He won't be seeing Nic again. Don't worry. I don't think he has any desire to anyway.”

At that he shrugged and looked over at Addison to confirm or deny. Leaning closer to the redhead, he asked. They had been talking about him as if he weren't standing there.

“Got anything to add? Or does that cover it?”

((OOC: Addison's reaction with permission ))

Addison was about to stomp his foot in frustration. No, Nic shouldn't have used suggestion, but if he'd not been so paranoid about talking about being a familiar, he might have mentioned that to Nic and therefore bypassed the whole misunderstanding, so he was to blame as well. But he'd gotten the whole "don't talk about it" speech from Carol and Ellis.

And what the fuck was a companion? Was that some sort of partner that you didn't bite....or maybe he was planning on turning Carol? Addison paled a little at the idea. Carol seemed...too bubbly...too human to want to become a vampire. And she'd never get into the stores she wanted for the sales if she could only come out at night...

"I kind of like him..."

Color tinged his cheeks at the admission. It was quite nice to hear but embaressed him some. What if Simon thought he was corrupting Jan with his "I once fooled around with an evenhet" ways... eek. If that was the case, he wouldn't allow Jan his request...but then unless they kicked him out, he'd be Simon's respooncibility and Addison doubted he wanted that even more.

When it came to the point where vowing never to see Nic came in, Addison quickly agreed. Granted, he didn't know what Nic was going through, but at the moment, Addison just hoped he stayed away from tachs for a while. The red-headed accountant might feel guilty otherwise.

"Got anything to add? Or does that cover it?"Â?

Addison thread his fingers in between Jan's and smiled, glad he'd remembered he was still standing there. "Not unless Simon has any questions..."

He shook his head. 'Enjoy, gentlemen.' Simon knew he didn't have to remind Jan about any of the rules. He trusted him and knew he'd always do the right thing for the clan.

Turning, Simon looked for Carol. He saw a fury of blonde curls bouncing over by Nova and Evans. Oh my, he thought and made his way over. His companion looked a little happy about something and was declaring that everyone hug her.

'What did I miss?' Kyle held his hands up and shrugged. He was looking a little too smug. Carol looked as if she was going to burst.

Carol was waving at her tearing eyes. 'I'm so happy,' she exclaimed again. She pointed to Nova and Kyle and said, a little too loudly, 'they had SEX!' She grabbed Simon's arm and looked proudly at the new couple.

It occured to her then. 'Wait, y'all are a couple now...right?'

Jan smiled at Simon's blessing and slid his hand out of Addison's grasp to wrap it around the man's waist now they had the okay to from Simon.


Thanks... and Congratulations to you two.


Carol and Simon... she would do all the talking for him for certain but at least she wouldn't rule him like Ellis did. It was still something of a shock. He wasn't even aware that Simon had known Carol existed so when he was told they were together... he was floored.

Speaking of floored... He had walked over to the group behind Simon and heard Carol's exclamation. Kyle and Nova? Was she out of her mind with delirium? One look at Kyle's and Nova's face said it was true. He looked smug and she looked like she was ready to kill someone... anyone! But she wasn't denying it either. Jan thought he needed to sit down, this was just too much.

He gave Nova a look that said
Are you crazy?
before finding a chair for him and Addison.


I'm guessing you remember my sister, the uh... name of her friend here is Kyle Evans.

Kyle nodded his head towards the younger kid that was with Nova at the hospital when they first met and the red head with him. He was certain the one called Jan was a vampire, but he wasn't sure about the red head.

Carol's question was...awkward. He made the appropriate fish gasping for air faces and then looked at Nova. He assumed that they were probably...well...possibly exclusive. Or was he assuming too much? He was pretty sure he cared about her and he thought maybe she liked him, but he wasn't sure now since she hadn't responded yet.

'Uh...,' was all he could managed under the scrutiny of Simon and everyone else.

Nova shot Kyle a dirty look and made a good attempt at kicking him in the leg, though her dress made that somewhat tricky. Even so, she rather petulantly hoped it had hurt.

Get him drunk indeed. What an asshat.

Things were pretty quickly going down hill, what with the people at other tables looking at her like she was the whore of Babylon at Carol’s overly loud declarations, and when Jan approached she tried to shoot him a ‘please kill me’ look, but he just looked back at her like she was nuts.

Then she looked over at Simon, wondering how he would take the news and remembering his very specific orders that he was not to be touched. She hoped her creator wouldn’t be pissed or get the wrong idea, and used her super telepathic powers to willfully explain that she had pretty much behaved. No biting, no handcuffs, no experiments with autoerotic asphyxiation, and in spite of Kyle’s claims of drunkenness he looked just fine and not in any way traumatized.

Shit, no telepathic powers. Ah well, they’d straighten it out.

She nearly snorted with amusement when Kyle gave his reply to Carol’s question, but was still stinging enough from the drunk comment that she replaced genuine mirth with a dry smile.

“Shit, I’m just trying to get through tonight without spilling anything on the dress.” Or having a Buick fall on her head.

That was not the response he was expecting. 'Your...dress? Nova...?' Kyle turned and looked at her now. What the fuck was she talking about and why wasn't she answering them? The sudden realization that he was obviously wrong crept down his spine.

Kyle wiped at his mouth and then smiled. 'Well then, there you have it. Straight from,' he looked around, now embarrassed and growing even angrier, '...the horses mouth.' His voice trailed off as he turned away from the group.

'If you'll excuse me. Again thank you, Simon for,' he looked at Nova one last time, 'all the fun.' He smiled her, and not kindly, 'Nova, thanks for everything. Carol. Gentlemen.' He nodded and then walked away...quickly.

((OOc - Kyle out))

[God, I had no idea. I thought...]

'Nova...I'm sorry, my mouth...'

Wow, Hi - insert foot into mouth, gag and throw into the atlantic ocean. Carol was mortified, but she couldn't even begin to think what Nova must be thinking.

'Wow ok, who needs a drink? I need one. I need a big one.' Carol took Simon by the hand.

[She's going to hate me forever on this one.]

"Well, that was easy," Addison whispered into Jan's ear as an arm wrapped around his waist. The red head mirrored the action with his arm, tucking his fingers into the jacket pocket. It was surprisingly comfortable to be with Jan like this and the thought surprised him. Ellis had always instilled just awe. Jan was...a very pleasant alternative. Before they could move, Addison tipped his head and placed a brief, chaste kiss just behind Jan's ear. Odd, but the urge had come over him suddenly.

I'm guessing you remember my sister, the uh... name of her friend here is Kyle Evans.

Addison raised his free hand in a little wave and smiled at Nova. However, was slightly confused at the turn of events that left Kyle skittering away. Maybe he was ill or something. He nudged Jan's shoulder, to get his attention. Maybe he would explain later why a man and woman having sex on their own would be such a surprise or embaressment. Granted, it was a black tie affair... "Do you want a drink?"

Nova blinked a little at Kyle’s initial reaction, muttering under her breath.

“Well hell, I thought it was funny.”

She made the likely very bad mistake of snorting at Kyle’s further dramatics, thinking he was just playing along and didn’t want to answer Carol’s question any more than she did, that he didn’t –have- an answer any more than she did, not really. And it was funny, a silly stereotype that Kyle was so fond of joking about, that it was the woman who decided the relationship crap. If his bedroom manner was any indication, she got the impression he felt as much right to say what the deal was as she did. She smiled at the memory of him taking over, something few men were willing to do on a first round considering she had the perverse habit of scaring the living daylights out of them.

When he stood up to go, though, she realized she had been…pretty off. What the hell was his problem? She made a disgusted noise as he walked away.

Carol, meanwhile, seemed pretty upset, and while Nova had been annoyed with her pressing the issue, the only person one could blame for Kyle was Kyle.

“Shit, don’t feel bad. I don’t know what he was expecting.” She shrugged to emphasize her point, that she totally didn’t get what was up Kyle’s ass. “I didn’t ask him to make a thing out of it.” She sure as –hell- hadn’t asked for any of this to come out, especially in front of her freakin patriarch figure and her brother, and didn’t really see where Kyle got off resenting her for that. He’d been just fine about her being uncomfortable but when the tables turned and she said something –he- didn’t like, he managed to surpass her own admitted immaturity.

As far as all that couple crap…well shit, she hadn’t thought about it. She hadn’t thought about it on purpose, because she didn’t –want- to think about it, but still.

Had he thought about it?

Hmm. Maybe that was what pissed him off. Who really knew with guys.

She was pretty damn relieved, though, when Carol moved on to drinks, though truth be told she didn’t feel like downing her usual whiskey and letting the rest of the party pass by in a haze. Instead, she looked over to where Jan and Addison were sitting, looking quite chummy indeed. She had the fleeting thought that Ellis might be pissed if she could see that.

Then again, she supposed a lot of things would be different if Ellis were here. She gave Jan a ‘what’s with you’ look, smiling. Her brother, at least, was worth her time. Her brother and her daddy, only two guys a gal could count on. She thought about her human brothers and nearly snorted at the thought. Yeah, some guys could only be counted on to be total and complete assholes, but what were you gonna do?

“You guys look sharp.”

She nodded at Jan and Addison and realized she was talking about more than the clothes. They made a nice pair. And they weren’t clawing each other’s eyes out. She looked over to Simon…and Carol. Another nice pair. Rough-around-the-edges Nova, surrounded by pretty people with pretty companions. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Jan smiled at Addison and answered.

"Yes, red wine but I'm sure someone will come around with some soon enough. Unless you're dieing to get up."Â?

Looking up when Kyle left in a huff, he crossed his eyes at Nova before rolling them in a 'what the fuck was his problem' expression.

"So you're girlfriend get his feelings hurt? Want me to smack him around? Just say the word."Â?

He grinned at her comment on their appearance and stood up and walked over to her. Pulling her to her feet, Jan scrutinized the dress and the hair, turning her slightly by the shoulders so he could see the whole thing before turning her back around.

"You look hot. Hell, I'd date ya....but that would be weird and all."Â?

Hugging her, he leaned over and kissed her cheek and said quietly for only her to hear.

"Seriously, you look beautiful."Â?

Turning back to Carol, he shook his head.

"And you look smokin."Â?

Winking at her, he smiled and then turned to Simon.

" Its okay to tell your date she looks hot, right?... you're not going to kill me or anything?"Â?

He knew that Simon wasn't going to be upset with him or that Carol would think he was seriously flirting. She was a part of the family long before she became... or would become or, hell, whatever.

Jan leaned in to whisper to her though still loud enough for Simon to hear.

"So if he marries you...do I get to call you Mom?"Â?

Deciding it was best to back up lest he get swatted from either side for the remark, he retook his seat next to Addison. Placing his arm around the back of the redhead's chair, he leaned over and returned the earlier kiss.

Simon gave his youngest daughter a soft smile. He loved her but he wasn't about to get into her personal life, therefore he didn't know what to say. Instead he leaned in close and gave her a kiss on her cheek, 'You should wear your hair down more.' Giving her a wink, he turned towards Jan.

'What is it about uncomfortable questions tonight?' It was his turn to look nervous. He had just assumed that things with Carol would progress...and that's about as far as he got. There were too many questions that came along with marriage and he wasn't sure if that was something she even wanted. Marriage meant forever to Simon and in his case...it was literal.

Simon tugged at his bow tie and grabbed a champagne flute as a waiter passed by and downed half of it in one gulp.

Carol gave Nova a sad look as she seemed to blow off Kyle's reaction. She knew it had to be embarassing for her...for fuck sakes it was embarassing to everyone. She heard a glass break and she looked up, seeing Kyle with another group now. Carol decided it was best not to say anything else, not that she had to, Jan seemed to put Simon on the spot with his question. Fun evening so far.

She watched Simon's reaction to the marriage question and noted that he didn't look at her. Honestly, they hadn't talked about it. They really haven't had the time - what with him being in the hospital, news of outsiders coming into town looking to see who had taken over Tacharan and if it was worth fighting over, them shagging at every possible moment (not that it was a bad thing) and now this thing with Evans. They were just happy together and she just assumed they would stay together for the long run.

Of course now the question of how long was that run was up for discussion. Carol chose the most appropriate Carol response.

'Marriage? Till death do us part is...well, a bit of an issue, I think.' She snorted and god it was as forced as it sounded. 'We're happy...pfft, it's all good.'

At least, she assumed it was.

'Let's talk about something else?' Carol looked back at Nova and just couldn't fucking resist. 'Ok, let's talk about something else after I say this one last thing. Nova, maybe what he was expecting was...well...an answer from you. That's IT. That's all I'm saying.' She recrossed her legs and smacked a passing waiter for another drink.

Nova came damn near blushing when Jan gave the dress a closer look, shuffling her feet in place and grinning goofily.

“I’ll let you know. Though, hey, I can do my own smacking around!”

She couldn’t help but grin up at Jan, all too willing to come to her defense, and when she hugged him back she didn’t even give him the usual hard slap on the back in closing. Simon was being a sweetheart too, really. Family was a good thing.

She grinned at Simon and Carol’s good natured responses to Jan’s question, though she was busy noticing that her brother was getting all smoochy with Addison.

Hell. She was just hoping to maybe get her hands on Ellis’s M&M dispenser, but Jan really took the cake.

Then Carol really went and threw her for a loop. What was this ‘answer’ she spoke of, and was it anything like a smart assed retort to change the subject?

“Well for fuck’s sake. He said ‘uh’ and –I’m- supposed to have answers?”

Hmm. Well. Nova wasn’t about to let anyone say –she- couldn’t cough up an answer. She stood up, still trying to work with the awkward material of the dress, and announced:

“I’ll be right back.”'

/ooc out and on the warpath

Carol clapped as Nova got up and walked away in search of, she hoped, Kyle. 'Yeah!' she said. Then her expression changed to horror.

'Oh god, I hope she doesn't hurt him.' She stuck the tip of her fingernail between her teeth. 'Wow I wouldn't want to be Kyle right now.'

She looked at Simon who was wincing at the thought.

"Nnn..." Addison answered absentmindedly. He really didn't want to move just now...he was comfortable and contentedly close to Jan, so why bother. He'd only offered in case Jan wanted something right then. He'd go get it. But if there were people moving around with that sort of thing, he'd just relax and listen to the conversations going on around him. And, of course people watching. He watched a couple dressed in gaudy jewlrey take a seet at the table nearby. Someone invested poorly.

Addison's attantion drifted from the gaudily garbbed duo with the introduction of Jan returning the prior kiss. It was when Nova left that the red head realized he wasn't paying attention to those at his own table at all. "Are you ok, Carol?" He asked, catching the blonde's expression while simultaneously tryign to scoot his chair closer to Jan's. He surprised himself with his quick attachment to the youngish looking vampire. Addison supposed it might have something to do with the newness of it. Give their association a little more time and hopefully he wouldn't keep acting like a crushing 16 year old girl.

Jan watched Nova go off presumably to salve little Kyle's bruised ego. If he'd known his sister was into mothering her dates he could have hooked her up with some of the young ones that followed the band. A few could really use a mother figure. Strange though he always thought she'd find someone more like her, sporty, natural, fun, intelligent. Last he saw Evans wasn't any of those things. Just goes to show you can't tell about people's tastes. Nova liked loud obnoxious shirts and had the same requirements for her men so it seemed. All he knew was that if Evans hurt her then despite Simon's order not to touch the human, Kyle would be in a world of hurt.

Sighing, he looked up at Carol and shrugged.

"Well its not like it wouldn't have been obvious soon anyway. I mean really I would have expected her to have killed him by now and then told Simon 'Ooops, he slipped....repeatedly'. So yeah there -had- to be something physical involved somewhere. Sides, if we have to put up with him. He has to put up with us. We're her family."Â?

He caught Addison's glance towards a couple with some of the worst taste in cheap jewelry he had seen in ages. The woman seemed quite proud of the collection...and by collection, he meant about five chains with various pendants, gold bangles and cheap coloured stone tennis bracelets, large gem earrings that looked plastic from here and three or four rings on each hand. Did she not own a jewelry box?

Leaning close to the redhead's ear, he asked quietly.

"So do you think she got all that out of one of those machines? That would cost her... what five dollars total?"Â?

Carol laughed at Jan and gave him a little push. 'Oh come on, Kyle's adorable in that annoying man kind of way. I had lunch with him a couple weeks ago, although he did make me pay. What a fucker.'

Craning her neck, she looked around the room. 'I see some Evenhet. Oh, Alfarin...Ala...no it's Alf-arinn isn't it. I can never spell that right. Anyway, he's right over there with some Anantya. Hmm.'

Carol looked at Simon.

[Sorin is over there with them. Do they know about Ellis...they must, right?]

Nova shot ‘the family’ a grin as she plodded over, still holding onto Kyle’s arm and trying to look nonchalant about the whole thing. The effect got a little messed up when she tripped over the back of someone’s chair and had to tighten her grip on Kyle, but one couldn’t have everything and in any case they managed to make it to the table with no further incident.

She plopped back in her chair as though she’d only gone up to powder her nose and somehow managed to bring a man back instead.

“Hi! No food yet?”

Carol narrowed her eyes at Simon in what he fondly referred to as, 'the squinting angry look'.

[It is SO on.]

Just then Nova and Kyle returned. Clapping happily she smiled at the pair. 'Well, I'm sure they're going to serve soon. Did anyone see the menu? Anything with asparagus? I love asparagus tips.'

"So do you think she got all that out of one of those machines? That would cost her... what five dollars total?"Â?

Addison burst into laughter as Jan mocked the woman's taste in jewlrey. it DID look like it came out of those little egg shaped plastic containers at the front of grocery stores. The red head colored as a few people standing around looked at him suddenly for the loud outburst. Addison bit his lip to stop, leaning in close to Jan. "Some of them look like hardened jello...although if she eats one during dinner, I'm going to fall out of the chair, laughing... I wonder who let her out of the house in that...probably someone who was laughing as she left."

And...while he was there, Addison discreetly looked to the side to make sure no one was looking and nipped at Jan's ear lightly before sitting back in his seat, flashing an innocent expression his new master's way. The action made him forget that Carol had just ignored his question...she had more important things going on...Simon being one, it seemed.

He slid one leg over so it touched Jan's under the table. "Have I mentioned that you look handsome in a tux yet? And...is Nova your sister sister?"

Ginnie and Alec entered the ballroom from he ground floor. She looked around quickly, and spotted a cluster of Tacharan. Grinning at Alec, she took up part of the gauzy stuff that called itself a skirt and headed in that direction, pulling Alec along. She hoped he avoided the people she was wading through. She stopped in front of the table and smiled at her Clan mates. Lifting an eyebrow slightly at the little red head. She had -no- idea who he was and wondered why he seemed so chummy with Jan.

"My don't we all look lovely this evening. What I want to know is who Nova's going to shoot later for having to wear a dress."

She waggled her eyebrows and winked at Nova. She really had way too many questions about the whole Kyle Evans being present -next- to Nova and the little red head, but she figured breaking the ice was far better than stomping up and indignantly asking," Who let the idiot and is the little one a snack or what?" She did her best not to giggle. Being sated and freshly bitten, made her a little bit silly. She hoped her eyes didn't sparkle too very much.

'Heh', Kyle replied as he redid his bow tie to look respectable. As another lady approached the table, both Simon and Kyle stood. 'I'm sure it'll be me she'll be beating up.' He pointed to an open chair, thus concluding his gentlemenly duties and he plopped back down in his chair.

He looked over at Nova and gave her a nudge. Leaning over he whispered in her ear, 'You know I read this mansion has like over a dozen bedrooms.' Kyle gave her a wry grin.

Jan looked thoughtfully at the woman for a minute; having her accidentally eat a piece of her jewelry could easily be arranged. Was it worth it or were there better things to be doing with his time and talent? Probably the latter.

While he was musing, Addison leaned in and nipped him lightly on the ear and that brought him back out of his contemplations on how to convince the gypsy lady that she needed to eat one of those cubic zirconium rings.

“Hmmm.. .Did it look like jello?”

He leaned closer and threatened softly.

“You'd best stick to eating your asparagus when it gets here, young man, or I might have to retaliate and then we'd probably get thrown out of this joint.”

Flashing the redhead a grin with a hint of fangs, he placed a hand on the leg that was pressed against him. In truth, he wouldn't have changed Addison's ways at all, he was enjoying them far too much. Looking up and Ginnie and Alec as they came by. He whistled innocently before sticking his leg out in front of Alec in a very obvious attempt to trip his clan mate. An attempt made as a form of greeting and not an actual desire to see the Cajun fall.

“Well the bomb squad has arrived so let the party begin! Addison this is Ginnie and Alec.”

Smiling at Nova and then looking at the accountant, he questioned in wide eyed innocence.

“What you don't see the family resemblance?”

He spoke more quietly for Addison's benefit and gave him an explanation.

“I'm an orphan so if I have or -had- brothers and sisters then I don't know about it. Nova was created by Simon just like I was. That makes her my sister in a way and part of the only family I have.”

Frowning a bit quizzically at the group, Alec watched as Jan stuck his leg out. It looked like it was time to have some fun. Pretending not to notice the obvious limb blocking his path, he let go of Ginnie for a moment and put the front shin against Jan's leg. Rotating his arms wildly, he let out a "surprised" yelp and "fell" onto Jan's lap, using Addison's chair to "steady" himself. Looking "hurt," Alec looked at Jan, smiling viciously as he stated, rather loudly

You tripped me, sir! My goodness! And here I thought I was in respectable company! Hmpf!

Smashing his weight back against Jan a bit, he smirked over at Addison, winking.

It looks like you and Jan are closer than I thought...either that or he's got some asparagus in his pockets.

Looking over his shoulder at Jan, he shook his head.

Next time I fall in your lap, make sure it isn't lumpy, sir! For shame!

Standing up quickly, he nodded to Carol and Simon.

Carol, you look lovely as always. Simon, good to see you again.

Looking over at Kyle and Nova, Alec smirked - more fun to be had.

So we've decided to let Mr. Evans out of his cage? You must be feeling better then, and have agreed to play nice?! Quick work on the lady front, too - only released a short while and you already have a sultry minx on your arm! Wait - she stole Nova's shoes!

Gasping in feigned horror, Alec reeled back and pointed an accusatory finger at Evans.

What have you done to Nova!?

Grinning wickedly, he stepped over beside Kyle and away from Nova.

...that you can talk about in public, anyway. Careful with the under the breath comments in this crowd...some of us have good hearing.

Winking at the reporter, Alec stepped back, offering a chair up for Ginnie, lightly brushing against her as he passed by. It was going to be a rough night for him with her dressed in something so deliciously shreddable. Repressing the building sigh, he stayed standing beside the offered chair.

((ooc: Falling on Jan with permission, state of Jan's pants purely fictional))

Nova grinned at Addison’s sudden outburst of laughter, wondering what had brought that on. Her ‘good hearing’ deal didn’t generally kick in unless she thought about it. She decided Jan knew how to pick ‘em, though; Addison really lit things up.

And here comes more fun people! Nova’s grin turned to a toothy smile when Ginnie and Alec arrived, feeling a good party vibe coming on. With all the weirdness lately it seemed Tacharan wanted to let loose a little.

“Well it’s Carol’s dress, and she’s the one who put stuff on my face, but yeah, we’ll blame Evans anyway.”

She rolled her eyes at Kyle’s whispered comment and kicked him under the table, though not without a little smile. Jan’s look in her direction caught her attention, and she put on a goofy expression with her tongue sticking out to help highlight said ‘family resemblance.’

She snickered at Alec’s antics, bumping her shoulder against Kyle’s in amusement. Yeah, this was her crazy family. Then Alec turned his attention to the two of them and she resisted the childish temptation to throw a roll at him. She did, however, make a threatening gesture with one of the folded up cloth napkins, laughing.

Happy Tacharans…and a reporter. Nova hoped, with a broad, laid back grin, that they were scaring the crap out of people.

"Hmmm.. .Did it look like jello?"Â?

"The red ones on her ear lobes look rather like solidified cherry jello..." Addison eyed them again, trying not to laugh as the woman saw him looking and sat up straighter, making herself look like one gaudily jeweled peacock.

"Don't tease the human...it's not nice," Addison said, in reference to the slight flash of fangs. He was only joking, though and tossed in a little wink to show it. Well...half joking...if Jan was going to do that, it would be better if they could have an opportunity to use them.

And before he could say anything else, Jan had a lap ful of another vampire. Addison's eyes widened as the Alec fellow fell right on top of Jan and grabbed ahold of his own chair.

It looks like you and Jan are closer than I thought...either that or he's got some asparagus in his pockets.

And faster than you could say "ding, fries are done" Addison's face went red. He resisted the urge to look down for himself and instead, gave a raised eyebrow to Jan himself.

Simon stood as Ginnie and Alec approached and sat back down after Kyle who seemed to do it out of habit. He looked around the table and gave the occupants a hidden grin behind his hand. Jan and Addison looked to be enjoying themselves, private jokes and affectionate touching. Kyle had draped his arm behind Nova's chair and was watching her interact with her family. That was an unexpected turn of events, seeing those two together. Ginnie and Alec, sitting close together, another new couple. Seemed winter was giving way to spring time fairly quickly in the city. Lots of new romances.

His eyes fell on Carol, who's tinkling laugh could not be ignored. Sometimes it would change into a horrible guffaw but he loved her her ability to live like no one was watching. Her personality made her shine like a beacon in the night.

[Hey.]

Carol broke off her conversation and looked at Simon. He moved his hand back into his lap and sat back in his chair.

[Are you going to answer Addison? He asked if you were ok?]

Carol made an 'oh?' face and turned to speak to the red head. She reached over and waved a hand in front of Addison, getting his attention, damn his private conversation.

Suddenly he heard the tinkling of glasses and looked around to see another table toasting. It was a good night so far, not too boring. Simon enjoyed the good times while it lasted.

[Oops.]

Carol replied to Simon. She reached over to get Addison's attention.

'I'm sorry sweetie, I didn't hear your question earlier. I'm doing ok, I was just upset about the lovebirds here having their first fight. Wait...no from what I hear from the nurses station at Duibne it's not their first fight, more like their umptheenth fight. Nonetheless, they were quarreling.' Carol picked up a dinner roll and picked a piece of it off, tossing it in Kyle's direction.

'They're all made up now though.' She giggled happily.

Kyle rubbed his shin and then caught the bit of bread from Carol in his mouth.

'Seriously, the women you keep in your company Simon...'

With his arm still draped on the back on Nova's chair, he pulled lightly on her hair, playing with the auburn curls from her thick hair.

Tug, tug.

He couldn't keep his hands off her apparently. Unconsciously his hand would stray over to some part of her body and suddenly he'd notice he was touching her again. God damn spring time, he could smell it invading the cold winter air.

Tug, twirl hair, tug.

Damnit, he thought. He let go of her hair and just rested his hand on her chair. He looked at his table companions. Alec he met, didn't know the other woman with him but apparently they were chummy. Carol and Simon keep looking at each other but not saying anything. Like they were having some private conversation because Carol kept responding like they were.

Kyle turned to look back at Nova and he noticed his hand had secretly crept up onto her shoulder and he was tracing circles on her skin.

Damnit, he thought again. He resisted the urge to hold her hand and looked around for another waiter. Stopping one with his hand, he asked for a coke again. He looked back and lo' and behold.

His hand was on her again. Kyle privately gave up and gave her shoulder a slight squeeze, settling in and making himself comfy.

Jan's eyes widened as Alec appeared to actually fall though they narrowed suspiciously at the theatrical flailing. The other vampire landed squarely in his lap and he had time to wonder just what Ginnie was going to say about this before Alec exclaimed loudly that he had been tripped.

“I was merely stretching my leg. You should really watch where you're going, Alec. I could have sworn you saw me which leaves me to believe you were either also after the asparagus in my pocket or you just can't keep your...hands off me.”

With a grin, he leaned forward and gave Alec a kiss full on the mouth.

“Its alright. I can understand the attraction but you'll make Ginnie jealous and she has explosives...so our love can't last. I'm sorry I have to break it to you..but I'm too young to die.”

He winked at Ginnie at the end of his remarks and turned back to pull Addison close once more, now that he didn't have another vampire sitting on top of him.

“Such a close and loving family we have. Don't you think? It can be somewhat...chaotic but people remember us....mostly as 'god, please don't let them come back.' Still that's fame, of a sort.”

More quietly, he added.

"How about seeing the teasing as a promise for later? Would it be alright to tease then?"

((OOC: Alec gave permission for retaliation before he went off to work...mwaahaahaa ))

Ginnie laughed brightly at the bizarre display between Alec and Jan. Somethings were just better when men kissed each other. She continued to chuckle as she sat in the pro-offered seat.

'Kyle and Nova were...together...like a couple that fights and stuff...well slap my ass and call me cowboy.' She looked around her at her gathered Tacharan and had to wonder if this budding love was due to Ellis' death.

She and Alec would not be together if Ellis hadn't given Hillman her contacts. Carol and Simon wouldn't be "in the open" Nova wouldn't have Evans and Jan wouldn't have Addison, so really they should all thank Ellis for taking one for the team, and dying a firey death.

She laughed at the thought and tugged a glass of champagne off of a passing waiter's tray.

"So what did we miss? Has anyone's dress been ripped off or has the mayor been caught with his hand on bare flesh, yet?"

This really could be a very interesting evening, especially getting the dirt out of Nova about the Hack.






((OOC: Ginnie's thoughts about Ellis and Nova are pure speculation.))

[FONT=Arial]Snagging a glass of champagne of the first tray that passed by, Rene took a sip and wrinkled up her nose. Never a big drinker anyway, the taste of the bubbly stuff didn't do a thing for her. Hip cocked to one side, she curled her right arm across her chest and rested her left arm over it, taking a sip now and then as her eyes roved around the room.

"Well, well, well," she muttered softly to herself as she finally spotted a familiar face. Setting the drink on the nearest empty table, she set off to make her way across the room. It took a few minutes, what with bumping into people here, waiting for the wait staff to get the hell out of her way there. The closer she got, the more excited she got. By the time she had pushed her way over, a smile was spread across her face and her green eyes were sparkling with mirth.

"Kyle!" she squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he turned to see who was calling his name. She stretched just a little in her heels and placed a quick peck on his cheek, then reached to wipe the small smudge of lipstick off his cheek. "I can't believe I haven't run into you again since we went to the Piazza and ended up in my hot tub! You don't call; you don't write!" She stuck her full lower lip out in a mock pout.

((ooc permission to grab kyle)
[/FONT]

There are moments in your life that you'd just rather not have. Being shot only to be revived forcibly. Making the choice to become a drug addict. Finding out that your worst fear really does exist and controls every aspect of your city life. Walking in on your wife while she's having sex...without you.

And of course having a beautiful woman hug you and refer to your hot tub date while you're sitting with the new person in your life.

Yeah. Those are very bad moments and Kyle was having one. Again.

'Oh...hi, Rene! God it's just...wow great to see you...again.'

Kyle stood up and gave Rene the most unaffectionate hug that he could muster up and prayed he wouldn't feel the sharp sting of a fork in his back from his dinner date. She wiped the lipstick off his face and he seriously wanted to cry.

'Lemme introduce you to,' (noticeable gulp), 'my girlfriend Nova and her friends.' He looked at Nova just then and gave her the most painful of smiles. Not only had he just referred to Nova as his 'girlfriend', sufficiently making him feel like he was in high school, but he could not find a big enough rock to crawl under or large enough knife to throw himself on.

Be cool. Act cool. This isn't as bad as you think it is.

Kyle kept repeating this mantra in his head.

Be cool. She won't kill you. In your sleep. Tonight.

The smile on his face threatened to crack as he introduced Rene to Nova. Yeah. Good times.

((OOc permission to hug rene back))

The accountant blinked suddenly and jerked back as sudden movement popped into his view. There was a hand....further inspection showed it was, indeed, attached to a body. Said body of Carol. Addison blinked again, somewhat discombobulated. "Nurses station....." That didn't sound like a healthy relationship...and didn't vampires want to avoid medical facilites? It would be painfully obvious they weren't human if they were to be examined, right? And then his thoughts turned to Nova's "brother." Hopefully a required trip to the hospital wasn't a part of what Jan had included for his plans.

He stopped that train of thought to nod and smile at Carol, watching her throw some of her dinner roll at Kyle. Well...they weren't the most adult clans it seemed, but tach seemed to have the most fun...

A little green strip o'jealousy/surprise flitted across his face suddenly when Jan kissed the Alec guy. The red head blinked and picked up his own dinner roll, silently chiding himself for such a reaction.

"How about seeing the teasing as a promise for later? Would it be alright to tease then?"

A soft smile was sent Jan's way and he offered half of his now buttered dinner roll to him. "Only if you can guarantee to follow through...then it's forgiveable." Addison slid his leg up against Jan's again, but resisted the urge for any other physical contact.

His attention was caught by the few, courageous couples already out on the dance floor. Yah...he was goign to need a drink before he was brave enough to try...on the off chance Jan wanted to dance. So...looking around and finding the waitress not forthcoming, Addison stood and set his napkin back on the table. "I'll be right back...just going to get a drink..." He slid one hand up and over Jan's shoulder. "You wanted red wine, right? Anything for anyone else?"


(OOC: Addison out to the bar area pending response from peeps on drink orders.)

Still shaking with laughter over Jan and Alec’s smooch and feeling pretty damn chipper about the nice family dinner, Nova gave Kyle’s foot a little nudge under the table and scooted closer. Not so close as to make an icky display of themselves or anything, but close enough to rest a hand quite casually on his inner thigh. She grinned over at Kyle’s little touches, wondering if he was being fidgety, and turned to Ginnie.

“Well there’s been some minor food throwing,” she shot a wink at Carol “but so far we’ve been on pretty good behavior. If there’s been trouble, I think I can safely say that for once, it’s not us causing it…”

She turned her head at the sound of a squeal and instantly vowed to never, -ever-, say ‘Kyle’ in that tone. She looked on, incredulous, while the redheaded woman jumped him and started talking about their hot tub date as though there were no other people at the table who might –really- not be trying to hear that, then turned to Jan and mouthed a single word.

‘Wow.’

She was actually sort of amused by the whole thing and wondered just what Kyle would say, and leaned back, resting her elbows on the back of her chair to watch things go down. She wondered if the woman was deliberately trying to embarrass Kyle, which would be freakin hilarious, really, and whether intentional or not it seemed to work. Her eyes narrowed a little when he stammered through greetings but when he introduced her it was all she could do to remember to close her mouth for a moment. Then the grin, somewhat like a hungry crocodile, spread over her face and she gave Kyle a cheeky wink. If he wanted to tell this chick that she was his girlfriend, that was all good with her; she personally thought ‘us thing’ had a nice ring to it but hell, he was probably only saying it to make a point.

Still, she didn’t dare look over at her brother for fear she would totally crack up. As much as Kyle squirming was amusing, laughing her ass off at the whole situation was just mean.

She turned her attention to the woman Kyle had called Rene, giving her the smirking grin she normally reserved for cops who pulled her over, and nodded her head.

“Hi there.” She added a little wave with just her fingers to the greeting, then turned back to Kyle, batting her eyelashes with a predatory grin in place.

Mayor Apollo moved away from the previous table and on to the next, wincing as he noticed who was sitting at it. He glanced warily about for the woman, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably off eating someone's baby. Or kicking a puppy.

"Mr Huntington! Thank you so much for coming. And, er, the rest of you. Where is Miss Duban? Please give her my regards, I must be moving on. So many people to greet, you know, and so little time!"

Apollo kept moving, delivering these lines as he vaguely skimmed around the outskirts of this table of misfits. He sincerely hoped they could avoid throwing food at each other, or whatever barbaric behavior was their norm.

((ooc: in and out!))

Simon again stood, signaling Jan and Alec to do the same and introduced Evans new friend to the table.

'Miss Rene,' Simon gave he a slight bow and nod. 'Good to meet Kyle's friends.' He made a point to look Kyle in the eyes and then continued.

'I am Simon Huntington, the young lady at my side is Carol Hedley. The gentleman who has left to retrieve drinks was Addison Monroe.' He waved his hand towards Jan, 'That is Jan, Alec and Ginnie.' Acknowledging the younger looking members of the table.

'And of course Nova, whom you've just met.' Simon offered a chair and sat back down. 'So, known Kyle long?'

Carol nudged him under the table and inwardly he laughed.

[Oh I can't wait.]

Jan looked at Nova and bit his lip to keep from laughing out right at the whole scene. He wondered if Kyle's relationship with this woman went as well as the one with his sister seemed to be going. And really did he practice putting his foot in his mouth or was that a natural talent? He couldn't tell if the newcomer was genuinely interested in the reporter or was just making unfortunate conversation. He was equally surprised when Nova let him live. Odd that she found a peaceful bone in there somewhere. Perhaps it took getting laid. He would have sworn the Native American Tacharan would have body checked Carol for loudly spilling the news to everyone in the huge room and Kyle seemed to have asked for death more than once tonight. His sister would be walking proof that the posturepedic polka had tranquilizing effects on a person's mood.

Mouthing the word 'girlfriend' to Nova, Jan raised his eyebrows at his sister and nodded at Evans. Was she serious or just playing around with him or what?

He smiled at Addison, accepting the half of the dinner roll before becoming solemn.

"I always make good on my promises."Â?

It was tempting to make good on it here and now but this wasn't -that- kind of party. A thing that wouldn't truly stop him except that he felt he should be on better behavior than normal.

Simon seemed to want them all to stand for some unknown reason and he did so with some reluctance.

"Do we dance now?"Â?

Good behavior was one thing, acting like some court fop Anantya wasn't what he had in mind. He waved by way of greeting before looking around. Addison still seemed to be waiting for drinks so he had time for a quick smoke.

Pulling out the pack of cloves, he held them up and jiggled them slightly as a way to signal his intent and then headed outside.

((OOC: out for the moment))

"Oh shit," Rene thought to herself as she was introduced to Kyle's love interest. Quick on her feet, her only outward reaction was a quick widening of her eyes, swiftly followed by a beaming smile. The Mayor came and went so fast, one would wonder later if he had really stopped at all. Simon introduced the small crowd, and Rene nodded to each in turn. Taking the seat that he offered, she smoothed a couple of imaginary wrinkles in her gown before looking back up.

"You could say I've known Kyle for quite some time. We were neighbors back in Vegas when were just kids, well I was a kid, he was almost grown by the time they moved away." Looking around the table, she chewed her bottom lip a moment before continuing, her gaze resting on Nova. "I am so sorry for just barging over here. It's just that Kyle is the only person I know in this city other than those I've met at the station since I transferred out a few months ago. And well, with hearing rumors that he was missing, then that he had been found, well I just had to come say hello. These parties are always so dull anyway. Not that you guys are dull!" she quickly tried to cover what she feared may be another faux pas on her part. Sighing softly, she shook her head. "I just seem to keep putting my foot right in my mouth."

Carrying his large silver platter of appetizers, the waiter swooped down at the Tacharan table with grace and style. Decorated almost too beautifully to eat, the waiter placed the platter in the center of the table. On it were reds, greens and yellow delicious looking treats and with a large smile, named them all.

'Ladies and gentlemen, from the bottom of the Mansion's staffs hearts, we present you with your appetizers for this evening's dinner.' Pointing at each treat, he named off the ingredients with a unaccented voice.

'Here we have cucumber slices with salmon mousse. Shrimp and crab crostini if seafood is your delight. Stuffed mini red potatos...stop staring, they're delicious! And a bleu cheese baguette spread!'

He whispered behind a white gloved hand. 'Try each one but save room for the next courses...soups, salads and all made by our very snotty french chef.' With a smile the waiter took a step back and gave the table a very regal and deep bow.

'Please enjoy your meal.'

And with a quick spin that flew his tuxedo tails up behind him, the waiter left.

Startled by Simon's inclusion of the stranger, Alec stood when indicated. Smiling somewhat stiffly and returning the formal greetings without physical contact, Alec quickly sat back down, wondering who, or what, she was. Jan had dismissed himself, so apparently he wasn't the only one who was either unnerved or didn't like this woman. As she continued on her self-description, Alec smiled. Ah, his cop radar had been going off. Good to know that Jan had it, too. Listening, Alec cracked a smile at her slightly blundered ending.

I just seem to keep putting my foot right in my mouth.

Nothing wrong with that as long as they are clean. It also proves that you and Evans have something in common beyond where you grew up. Must be something in the water, or all that desert air.

Winking at Nova, he took a sip of his water as the waiter materialized to spare people any more social discomfort. Taking in the elaborate spread, Alec winced a bit when he was told to stop staring. He'd forgotten, and there were humans all over the damn place in here. Paying a bit more attention, he twitched again at the mention of the "snotty" French chef. Could the man help it if his heritage gave him a huge leg up in his chosen profession? Yes...the waiter certainly had to die.

Well, maybe after some crab crostini. Standing again, Alec began to serve his way around his side of the table, starting with Ginnie. Despite paying more attention to her hair than to what he was doing, he managed to get her plate quickly and artfully arranged before moving on to the next.

That was interesting. He didn't realize he'd had a background in food arrangement. Strange. Then again, maybe it was just his "snotty French blood" rising to the fore to help him out.

'The station?' Simon straighted the cuff of his sleeve and nodded. 'Police...station, is it?' Simon looked at his clan mates and nodded with a small grin. 'We'll have to behave ourselves then, you see...you've sat down at a notorious table.'

He leaned back and put his hand behind Carol's chair, playing with her hair.

Carol smiled brightly at Simon's comment.

'Oh right, yeah...we're all a bunch of fucking heathens. Especially Kyle, boy he fits RIGHT in.' She winked at Kyle who's face became red and his eyes large. 'Not me though, I'm the normal one. Like, Ginnie here...her thing is explosives. Very big or very small...but always very nasty. Then Alec, they're a couple, aren't they cute? Alec here is like a little rogue...gadgets and lock picks. VERY handy. Then there's Nova...she's the scientist. You gotta have one of those, I think its a requirement.'

Carol touched a finger to her chin giving it thought for a moment.

'Oh then there's Simon here, he's like the father figure...not to me though, that would be gross since we're having sex and all. Of course that depends on your taste...maybe that's something you like? Anyway, he's our fearless leader.'

Carol shrugged prettily and put her hand on Simon's thigh. 'Yes, you and your friend Kyle have managed to hit the thug table, but enjoy! You can't have a good time unless you're committing a felony...I always say.'

She batted her eyelashes at Rene and giggle.

'Right, ok!' Kyle stood again, holding a hand out to Rene. 'Rene let me take you back to your table. I'm sure your date, you have a date right? I'm sure your date is looking for you.'

Turning to Nova, he pointed to Rene and mumbled, 'Uh, I'll be right back.'

Pausing a moment during his serving at Carol's description, Alec wasn't sure if he wanted to die or to die laughing. She'd just been SO honest that there was next to no way that the woman would ever believe her. I mean, really...she might have added that vampires were real. Managing not to go pale or blush at the commentary, Alec added his own quip as he finished setting a plate for Carol, having decided to serve the whole table when no one else rose.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm in it for the spankings.

Smiling at Kyle, he gestured down with his hand.

Nonsense! It is only proper that she stays and sits with us, since she already mentioned that she knows only you and her police friends. As this is a social occasion, andnot a work function, one should be with family and friends rather than coworkers. Besides, you two are practically family if she tells true.

Leaning over beside Rene, he asked

Potatoes, Miss O'Brian? Or the snotty French fare for you?

Realizing a potentially sizeable social faux pas, Alec stiffened for a moment, blushing slightly. "Well, too late to fix THAT one. Maybe she won't be offended since you've already asked a couple of other people." Besides, it wasn't as if they really *had* to be nice to her. She was the pilgrim in the unholy land here, after all. Well, she had an out if she wanted to take it.

Nova gave Simon the ‘you’ve sprouted another head’ look, followed by a pained ‘where’d my daddy go’ expression when he made nice, though she snorted when Jan made a smart remark and rolled out. Waving goodbye to her brother, she turned to hear Rene’s deal with her grin in place. She hadn’t realized Kyle was from Vegas, though it made sense in a way. He could have had any sort of dream he wanted and he’d chosen to stay in the desert, after all.

That he might have just liked the way she looked in a halter top never occurred to her.

She waved off the apology with a vague gesture and gave Kyle’s knee a squeeze with her other hand.

“S’okay, Kyle’s a chick magnet.”

It would just –figure- that Rene was a cop, and she returned Alec’s wink with one of her own, remembering their conversation about those who ‘protect and serve’. Seeing that Alec was dishing out food, she leaned over and stabbed a few potatoes with her fork before he could distribute them equally in the interest of fairness or some crap like that.

She snickered a little at Carol and leaned over to whisper quietly in Kyle’s ear.

“Well, you’re fucking a heathen anyway. Nearly the same thing.”

Probably could have ended the introductions there, but Nova suspected Carol was turned up to full blast at the moment. Or high. Whatever, it was funny even if it made Kyle squirm a little. She wondered if Simon might have a use for Rene…that would explain the ‘best behavior’ thing with the touch of a ‘let’s scare the hell out of the cop’ element. Maybe Tacharan needed a better foothold at the police station or something.

And maybe Kyle suspected as much. In any case, he seemed to want to get his little friend out of there, which she could sort of understand. He might be getting that ‘drop a Buick on my head’ feeling about now. Nova leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table and spoke in an even, deadpan tone.

“Alright, then….-dear-.”

She really hoped she could keep from laughing until Kyle left the table. Looking over at Alec was a mistake and she had to bite the inside of her cheek, quite unable to tell him not to be so damn generous with the potatoes.

Rene was torn. On the one hand, she really didn't feel like hanging out with Corey the rest of the night when it was obvious he'd tried to ditch her right off the bat. On the other, she felt like an idiot for just barging in on Kyle's evening. She wasn't sure what to think about his friends. Oh his lady friend seemed understanding enough, and that Simon guy seemed rather nice. Carol was either drunk, stoned, or just one of those people that didn't give a shit what anyone thought, and Rene was betting on the latter. Poor Kyle, he obviously wanted to get her away. She forced a smile at Alec as he suggested she stay.

"No no, it's all right. I'm here with my partner, though who knows where he's wandered off to now," her gaze drifting around the room in search of the wayward detective. Not finding him, she sighed and rose to her feet. "Oh and nonsense, Kyle, you stay here with your friends. I'm sure I can find Corey on my own." If only she knew, he was probably off somewhere consorting with his own group of notorious friends.

Simon rose with her, again out of politeness. 'You are more than welcomed to dine with us, Rene, but allow me to escort you back to your partner.' Simon looked at Kyle and gave him a casual smile. He walked up to Rene and offered his arm while the other put his hand on Kyle's shoulder.

Gently but with a firm grasp, Simon pushed Kyle back down into his chair. He tapped it when Kyle was firmly in place.

'I'll be right back.'

((ooc - ready to walk rene back, out pending response))

With a lopsided smirk, Alec moved out of the way as Simon rose, and managed not to chuckle as he offered to escort Rene away and sat Kyle back down. Taking Rene's plate over to Nova as the pair headed away, he dropped the potatoes onto her plate. Whispering quietly, he said

To the victor go the spoils. I thought he was losing his mind for a moment...but he probably just remembered her face from the police rosters. Or maybe he's trying to make Kyle sweat a bit. Or maybe he's sparing her from the trouble that we'd likely cause her. Who knows the inscrutable ways of Simon. Except Carol...and we don't want to know about what SHE knows about Simon's ways.

Winking, he began to arrange a plate for Kyle.

Well...it looks like we've been left to safeguard the lovely ladies, not that this crowd needs it. What can I get for you in the way of appetizers?

Nova grinned as Alec scraped the potatoes onto her plate and immediately stabbed one to give a try, finding it as delicious as claimed and declaring her opinion with an approving ‘mmmM’. Her clanmate seemed to come to the same conclusions…or…non-conclusions…as she had regarding Simon’s offer to escort Rene and she didn’t trouble herself overly much.

“Man, going to have to start keepin’ em off you with a stick,” she said, nudging Kyle’s shoulder playfully. He seemed a little…off, though. Was he staring at Rene’s ass? Hmm, no, didn’t seem to be looking in that direction.

She gave him another nudge.

“Oy.” She pointed to Alec, who was in the midst of setting up a food plate. “Food?”

Rene gave Simon another of those forced smiles, the kind that's more a baring of teeth than any real show of happiness. With a nod, she looked back to Kyle one last time. "It's really all right, Kyle. I'm a big girl now," she winked and patted his shoulder as Simon prepared to lead her away. "It was really nice meeting you all," she told them all as she started walking away. "Even if I did make a complete ass of myself," she muttered under her breath to herself with a soft sigh. Kyle probably hated her now, and who could blame him. Why after all these years she still let him get to her, even after having been married, having a kid, and divorcing. You'd think she'd have gotten over him by now for fuck's sake. No time like the present to kick that habit.

She gave a little wave as she realized Corey was headed towards them. "Thank you, Simon. We seem to have found my date," she flashed him a smile that held a little more warmth than before as she took her arm from his and stepped towards Corey.


(ooc Rene OUT)

The clank of dinnerware made her ears ring. She was -really- not used to these large social functions. Lotus scanned the crowd, eyes falling on the tall, dark man known as Simon. She let a sigh of relief escape her glossy lips. She would've felt like a fool if she had to wander around all these people, trying to find her clan. Subconsciously smoothing her dress, she began to make her way through the throng of people. Just a few more feet... Ahhh, finally. The table seemed pretty packed already, a few more minutes late and Lotus probably would've been sitting by herself.

She smiled at Simon and Carol, the only two people she really recognized, then nodded at the rest of the table.

"umm... I'm just a tad late." She said, pinching her fingers together.

'WOOT!' Carol cheered as she got up to greet Lotus. 'Where have you been? Come sit, sit!' She hurried around the table and grabbed Lotus' hand, guiding her to the free chair next to Kyle.

'You look so pretty! Rawr! Hey, have you met everyone yet?' She pointed at the table members and introduced them again. 'Alec, Ginnie, Nova and Kyle. You're not late at all, they're just now bringing the food. Sit!!'

Carol had seen very little of Lotus but her shy quality was not lost on her. She liked Lotus so far - she wasn't annoying which was a plus. Carol gave a wave to Rene as she departed and decided to try and speak privately to Kyle later when he was feeling up to it. By the look on his face, now would not be a good time, so why not sandwich him in with two beautiful women. That would perk her up, at least.

((ooc - permission to grab Lotus))

Kyle looked over at Nova's plate. 'No I'm good,' he managed to say. Just then another good looking woman came by the table. Carol was immediately happy to see her. Hmm, Kyle thought, must be another one. Are there any ugly vampires?

He gave her a rather unsatisfied nod and continued to watch Rene and Simon. Looked like her partner was coming to fetch her. Lucky girl. Kyle wasn't at all sure what he thought of his current situation, besides the fact that he didn't like it.

Not at all.

Simon wasn't sure why he offered to take Rene back to her table, but he found the reaction it gave Kyle thrilling. It was very alpha male of him to do and he couldn't recall ever doing it on purpose before. It was almost something Ellis would've love to have seen him do.

He gently released Rene as her partner approached them. 'Ah, stealing her away already. Miss Rene, it was a pleasure.' He gave her a stiff bow and then returned to his seat. Lotus had shown up, much to his Carol's delight. Before he sat down he gave her a small smile and nodded.

Across the table Kyle seemed to glare in any direction he looked at. He almost laughed out loud. The dinner had become so surreal.

Lotus's eyes popped open just a bit when Carol shrieked in glee. Such spunk in that one. Lotus had always been the quiet type, not sure why, just never really felt overly exuberant. It was refreshing though, to feel the energy from someone like Carol. It was like an electric charge in the air.

Lotus bashfully flashed everyone a smile, nodding in their direction. She vaguely recognized Ginnie from the big "meeting", though she's fairly certain no one else recognized her.

Taking her seat next to Kyle, she looked at him and flashed another bashful smile, feeling slightly embarrassed for no apparent reason. She wrung her hands in her lap, wondering if she should even bother trying to eat.

Ew tension. Someone was tense. Lotus peered at Kyle again. He didn't appear to be having a good time like everyone else. She scooted her chair closer to the table.

Trying to break her awkward nervousness, Lotus focused in Carol's direction, "Hey Carol, sorry I haven't been around so much, Just trying to get settled in and organized, and figure out where the hell everything is in this city. How have you been?"

'Welp, purdy gud really. Have you gotten a chance to go to the House of Pain yet? If not, after this let's get into some latex and check it out!'

Carol clapped happily, trying to liven up the mood around the table. Inwardly she sighed, tension was getting too high there tonight, something had to give. She just hoped that she'd have time to get her camera when it did.

"No, I haven't been by there yet, but I'd love to go. I've got plenty of latex laying around. Life's been pretty uneventful lately, so I'm due for some excitement, on any level. I'm already dying to get out these shoes. My heels are going to be so bruised." Lotus said with a chuckle.

Having worked his way around the table, Alec had a newcomer to double back to. Carol knew everyone, so he had no way of judging if the new diner was fresh meat or a return visitor coming to support Simon's power base. Either way worked in Simon's favor, so all to the good. Grabbing another dish,

I don't think we've formally met. I'm Alec - is there anything I can get on a plate for you?

Pausing, Alec felt...strange. There was something...wrong. Standing up straight, he immediately scanned the balcony. Nope, that wasn't it. Closing his eyes, he opened his senses...the din of sound didn't have anything unusual hiding within it that he could detect, though the vibratory pattern was unusual, but only mildly. Could be anything from traffic to lots of people chewing...but...

Reducing his hearing and expanding his scent of smell, he caught it. That was the source of discomfort. Leaning over the food, Alec breathed in lightly, sampling the food. Expanding his sense of taste, he inhaled over his tongue and through his nose. No...that wasn't the source of the taint, but it wasn't pure, either. Taking a step away from the table, he closed his eyes and inhaled again...it was...stronger...but still so subtle. Oil...refined...highly refined. Catalyser? Why the hell would the Mayor have oil at his house? Looking around, there were some windows, and obviously vents open - the smell could be coming from outside, but it there wasn't any industry local enough for it to be noticable, which meant that he was either imagining things, it was off of the newcomer, which would have been much more potent, or it was something present nearby. Walking past the newcomer, he paused behind her, sniffing her slightly. Nope - she was shower fresh with maybe a light floral scent...something Asian he couldn't quite place. No flammables.

Moving around the table, scanning the crowd, he stopped behind Nova and whispered

Do you smell anything strange? You know, aside from the food.

Nova gave the good looking chick a wave, vaguely remembering seeing her at the meeting as she walked out, and turned to Kyle with a frown.

The guy had gone all quiet and didn’t want to eat, which was sorta worrisome. Carol and the hotgirl, whose name Nova was going to have to get at some point, seemed caught up in conversation and Alec was messing with the food, so she thought it was an opportune time to lean in and ask:

“You feeling okay?”

Something sure –felt- wrong. It could, she reasoned, just be Kyle’s mood throwing her off, but she didn’t think so. She looked around, eliminating possibilities. Not the new arrival. She didn’t think it was Jan’s absence bothering her, though when her brain got this way she tended to look for him first. Not Simon…

Then Alec came up and asked her something, and she actually jumped, startled. She hadn’t realized how tuned in she had been, though of course once she was aware and trying to force the issue in order to answer Alec’s question, she couldn’t seem to focus.

She shook her head slowly as she looked around the room.

“No…but…” Her eyes passed over a waiter walking by their table. She watched him continue on, frowning. “…something’s off.”

Lotus smiled at Alec's offer of food. Potatoes -were- her favourite of the foods, but now wasn't the time to start shoveling them in her mouth. Every muscle in her body went tense when she heard the familiar thump-thump of a racing heartbeat. Not an excited heartbeat, but one comprised of complete and total fear.

Alec moved behind her... was he... was he sniffing her? Inhaling briefly she caught a waft of heavy perspiration. Not Alec's, or Kyle's, it wasn't strong enough to be theirs, they were right next to her... this was faint. Growing stronger. Something was wrong. Her spine startled tingling. It seems like she wouldn't have to wait until the House of Pain to get some of that direly needed excitement.

Completely absorbed in her senses, Lotus totally forgot to respond to Alec. She blinked a couple times, and stuttered, "N.. No thank you, I'm not very hungry..." She trailed off, still trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

The thumping was the loudest thing she heard now. It smelled like she herself was perspiring, the smell was so strong, then a soft breeze hit the back of her arms, she turned slightly and realized the source of all the panic and fear. A man in a tux was hurriedly going somewhere. 'Oh my god', Lotus thought. 'That's a waiter! What the fuck is going on?'

Lotus turned back to Carol, looking slightly perplexed. "Something's up with that guy..." nodding toward the waiter in question, "He's like, wigging out hardcore."

Simon felt the fear before he even saw who it was coming from. There was something...a smell, a sound...he couldn't pin point it but something in him tingled. Immediately Simon's blood lust grew as he smelled the fear of someone nearby. Noticing the reactions of his table mates, he stood, slowly.

Carol turned and looked at Simon as he stood, gently reaching out and touching his hand. He pulled away from her touch as he started to turn, searching the area. The fear walked by him, the smell of the man's sweat was thick in his notrils, making his blood lust rear its ugly head.

'Something,' Simon murmured.

Spinning slowly he watched the waiter and like blips on a radar his head was telling him something...something was wrong. Finally Simon's eyes crossed a familiar face only this face was looking directly at him.

'Excuse me,' Simon's voice trailed as he walked towards Alfarinn who seemed to have the same worried look on his face.

((ooc - Simon out))

It was one thing to watch Alec, Nova and Lotus all suddenly change the subject, asking each other what was wrong...it was another to look at Simon and see him on the verge of blood lusting.

Quickly Carol stood. Her mind raced, trying to figure the trigger for their sudden response. She followed Simon's eyes towards the waiter who just passed their table.

'What the fuck,' she mumbled.

'I feel fine...,' Kyle's voice trailed as he watched Alec and Nova suddenly become anxious. The new girl joined in their conversation as they all started to look around.

Kyle's eyebrows furrowed. 'What are you...?' That's when Simon stood which alarmed Carol enough to stand. Simon walked off towards another table and Kyle stood to watch. He was talking to some other man with long blonde hair.

Kyle wasn't stupid, something was wrong and it was flipping the other's out. Must have something to do with their weird vampire ways but Carol wasn't one and even she noticed.

'Listen, am I going to have to run again?'

Carol gave Kyle a look and was about to reply with a rather derogatory request when Simon called to her. Blinking she listened to his voice in her head.

[Alec and Nova smelled something, ask them what it is? And prepare the others.]

'Guys, what is it that you're smelling. Simon needs to know. Now.'

Carol was now not just worried but put out. Something bad was about to happen and she swore to god if anyone fucked her Vera Wang dress up, there'd be some serious hell to pay.

"Fear." Lotus said, licking her lips in excitement.

'Guys, what is it that you're smelling. Simon needs to know. Now.'

Mathias and Shay had arrived just in time to hear Carol ask.

"Fear..terror and anger. Something is very wrong here,and damn me if I know what it is"

At first Shay looked at Alexi oddly. Hadn't they just said they would sit elsewhere? But before she had time to ask anything, he had started pulling her along, gripping her arm like he was pulling her up a mountain side, and saying something about needing to get to the Tacharan table?

Something was wrong? What in the heck happened in the space of seconds that had caused him to take on such a sense of urgency.
Not only did she feel the tension in him, but when he whispered his concerns, she became immediately concerned as well.

It was a good thing though, that he lessened the vice grip, as she was about to yank herself from him.

Once they got to the table, Shay heard Carol saying that Simon needed to know what everyone 'smelled'...? Shay looked around and saw various strange looks on the people there. She also now noticed how people all over the ballroom were acting agitated, and some were even leaving.

Grabbing onto Alexi with her own death grip, she pulled at him, wanting to know what was happening, and if they needed to leave as well.

"What is it? Gas...is there a gas leak or something?"

No...Alexi said he smelled...Fear?

"What do you mean fear...anger...Mathias, how do you smell such things?"

Laughing a bit uncomfortably, Alec scowled.

The fear may be me, sorry about that. What I smell is a petroleum based catalyst for incendiary explosives. I think it might be best if we all got the fuck out of here in a calm and collected manner with Simon's go ahead, though I suspect if the waiters are anxious and possibly in on what is happening that the standard exits may be covered for certain types of departures.

Looking to Carol, as she had implied that she was going to communicate to Simon either in person or via one of her wonderful toys,

With Simon's permission I would like to scout the upper floor and roof and see what there is to see. We should probably also have someone tail one of these anxious waiters, and someone to check the basement. Everyone else should attached to Simon. Best case scenario, we're all twitchy for no reason, which seems unlikely.

Looking to Carol, he waited for direction.

Nova laughed sharply at the rather astute observation, tilting her head back and trying to concentrate.

“Yeah, she’s right. That dude’s got problems.”

Then Simon stood up and walked off, muttering under his breath. Yeah, there were problems alright. Kyle made a flip remark and she sighed, really not wanting him in the middle of this, then saw where her creator was going.

“Why the hell is Simon going to talk to Arin Bjorn?”

Carol then asked the people at the table what their deal was, and she nodded in agreement with the general consensus. There wasn’t much time to think about things beyond their situation at that point and she was glad for the fact that Alec seemed to be formulating a plan so quickly. It was reassuring and she considered what the next step was. Kyle could go with whoever would be leading them out and be as safe as he was bound to be in this situation, but it was hard not to feel protective. She put her hand on his thigh and gave a light squeeze, though she was still looking to her clanmates as she stood.

“We're not all here. Need to find my brother and Addison.”

Palmer followed close behind Shalimar and Mathias with Valentine beside him and two drinks in his hands, looking for all the world as though he had planned to blunder into Tacharan in the midst of some sort of crisis and had brought drinks just to be prepared. He paused before they arrived at the table, though, and handed Valentine’s drink to her.

“This is, I’m afraid, where we must part.” He was sincerely regretful for that, at war as he was with his duties as a huntsman and his duties as a gentleman. “I must see to my people as I imagine you must see to yours; I didn't realize I had a clanmate here until just a moment ago. I do hope we meet again, Lovely Valentine.”

He couldn’t have possibly felt like a bigger heel for this, even if the large crowd at the Tacharan table was slightly reassuring. The thought of a certain high strung blonde bearing down on him had absolutely no effect; there was just no way of making this right and he had to hope Valentine would understand.

/ooc Palmer out pending responses

Following along with Palmer Val was watching the rest of the room. Like Mathias, other, apparently more sensitive members, of Tàcharan were concerned. More than that it seemed this concern was spreading.

She felt utterly unprepared for this sort of situation, even though she had no idea what the situation was, and was possessed of a very strong desire to get the hell out. Still she kept up an appearance of calm.

“I can’t say that I’m not disappointed at this turn of events. But under the circumstances, Palmer, I do understand. Take care.”

Val very much meant what she’d said, but respected Palmer’s loyalty to his clan. There was something to be said for looking out for one’s own.

Smiling after her retreating escort she turned her attention to the rest of the table. Damned Giovanni, curses her with teeth that barley fit in her mouth but doesn’t pass on bloodlust. If she ever saw him again there would be words exchanged.

"The scent was not you Alec. While Shay and I were at the bar,someone brushed past me..and it set off every alarm bell. The fear they felt was almost palatable,their heartbeat was like hammers on my head and their sweat..well let us just say it was an unpleasant experience in the extreme. That person was scared,terrified of something and it was not an unknown quantity - they -knew- what it was."

He turned to Shay,gently rubbing her hand. In the excitement and concern with getting her to a safer place he had skipped some details.

"Sorry love,I forget that we have not discussed my..abilities. My senses are somewhat more acute that normal, and can sometimes give me an edge in combat,or as we just saw tip me off. It also explains why I have been on edge tonight,besides Paul that is." Mathias instantly regretted saying it,but he was focused on other things and not social niceties.

Listening to Alec and Nova, he nodded his head in agreement. They needed to get together with Simon,and quickly - before something happened. But they also needed to get Shay,Carol and...Kyle?,Mathias struggled to remember the man's name. And unless Carol brought her toys communication would be a issue.

"We need to get Shay,Carol and Kyle out of here. However,I dressed light and so the idea of splitting up is not a good one. Nova, can you call Jan? Carol,same for Simon - if we can get them here discreetly so much the better."

How long she stood there with her mouth open, Shay had no clue, but she was a little stunned to find out Alexi had such skills. Lucky for them, especially tonight, for where would they have been relying on her 'intuition'? Woefully out of luck, that's for sure.

Though she was anxious about the turn of events, watching and listening to Alexi remain calm, and organized helped her keep her wits. His touch was reassuring. When he mentioned Paul, who she knew he had a difficult time with, she again had to marvel in his abilities to maintain his cool. Later, when they were alone, and safe, and it was quite again, she would need to thank him properly for showing her such consideration.

Thinking there should be something for her to do, and knowing she could be helpful if given proper direction, she held back. She had been trained to work in emergency situations, but when things around you were alien to anything you had ever dealt with, she also knew better to let those with experience take over. She wasn't even one hundred percent sure what all her clan mates looked like, or she would have been happy to go in search. She did know Addison, and that he wasn't at the table yet. Yet she wasn't sure if it would be a benefit for her to go off on her own to try to locate one person. She certainly didn't relish being parted from Alexi.

No...she was afraid Addison would need to rely on himself, or someone else to assist.

"Let me know if I can do anything at all, sweetheart."

There, it was said. Alexi could use the offer however he saw fit, but at least she had made it. Until it was suggested differently, she would remain by his side, and try to 'feel' anything that resembled fear.

Ginnie had listened very carefully to the conversation around her. As Alec spoke about catalytic oils, she tensed. Slowly she closed her eyes and let her ears and nose pic up what they could. She wished now that her beloved maker had given her perception instead of telekinesis. She could detect nothing over the stench and roar of so very many humans. Sighing she opened her eyes and studied the room. They only thing that looked like it could be even remotely dangerous was the little sound speakers. That would take a massive amount of "redecorating" to turn that into an explosives rig. She also had no way of getting close enough to find out. She'd mention it and then stay on guard.

'This damn dress is going to get in the way if I have to run.'

"We may want to keep an eye on the sound system, but I can't be certain. It seems a good place for incendiaries. I'd use it, were it my job."

She'd like to get a look. If Alec was given leave to scout she would go with him.

"I'd like to join Alec. Love, do you have an extra set of picks with you, or did we leave all of that at home? I don't think I even have a nail file in my purse."

Looking to Ginnie as she began speaking, Alec nodded.

Damn...I hadn't thought of the sound system. With the even distribution and coverage, it'd be perfect for blanket incendiaries, wouldn't it?

At the question, Alec smirked.

Just the ceramics that you don't like that I almost always keep with me...and I'd have to make quite a scene to get them ready without a bit of cover. And some people just ate.

'A what?' Carol tried to keep the fear out of her voice but it wasn't happening. Looking back over at Simon she sent a rather frantic message as calmly as she could.

[Simon it's a bomb. There's a bomb somewhere in here. We need to get everyone out.]

'A bomb?' Kyle looked at Alec. 'And you want to go looking for it? We need to get everyone the fuck out.'

Grabbing Nova by the hand he pulled her close to him. With a nervous laugh he looked down at her, forgetting the uncomfortable incident with Rene and Simon. 'You sure do make a date interesting, I'll give you that.'

Looking at Carol he called her over. 'Come on, let's go.'

Addison stepped up to the table and resisted the urge to take a seat. The food looked so inviting...and he was getting famished. The little angry sound was coming from his stomach area again, despite the urgency of Jan's warning and the girls' foreboding statements. He nodded in greeting to those at the table still and eyed the plate o food with interest.

(OOC: Apples is back for a moment)

The sudden blast originating from the corner of the room you entered and knocks everyone off their feet. Bits of wood, metal, and slivers of glass pelt the floor around the guests. An inferno has risen up in the corner. The only safe exit is the garden doors, and the entire room seems to be headed there at once.

The big bang.

Nova turned to Alec and Ginnie, feeling somewhat dazed at this development and grinning lightly.

“But you guys can fix it, right?”

Kyle was taking her by the arm, saying something about getting out, and yes, he would need to get out, that seemed like a good idea. Addison walked up then, though, and she turned to him, frowning.

“Where’s…”

The rest of her query was cut off by an unbelievably loud blast and a wave of suffocating heat, the sheer force of it knocking her off her feet in a collision of bodies to land half on top of Kyle. Dazed and a little nervous to open her eyes and see how badly she was hurt, she swallowed once before doing just that. She had felt something rip from just below her knee to the top of her hip, and she was convinced she would look down to see a massive gash going up her leg…

She almost laughed when she realized it was just the seam of her dress, which now had a considerably higher slit up the thigh. Then she rolled over and looked to Kyle, speaking in a voice scratchy from the smoke.

“All right there?”

Facing the direction of the gardens, Alec has a split second warning to pull his senses back in, for all the good it did him. The shockwave knocked something into him - was Nova that hard? - and knocked him off his feet and onto another guest, causing a table to buckle onto others. Momentarily senseless, he turned the world down toward dark silence for a moment, tuning out. He was still intact, though his hearing was next to useless and one eye was very moist. Bringing his body into an upright position, he rubbed the gobbet of charred...someone...from his face. Glad it wasn't his eye, he scanned the wreckage. Looking at the table, everyone was down, but it looked like there was movement. Sitting up, he opened his senses a bit more. There was hearing, but it was all ringing. Shutting it all but off, he altered his vision to reduce color and contrast but accentuate motion. Moving toward Ginnie, he glanced at Nova's movement - she seemed fine, and was checking Kyle. Moving past without a further glance, he looked to his lover to do a quick evaluation, using their hand signals to indicate radio silence - she'd get that he couldn't hear anyone.

Glancing around, he saw that the blast had effectively created a funnel. One primary exit option with any other exit options covered from the same single direction. Fucking perfect setup. Anyone going out that front entrance was fucked, but unless you were fireproof, that was the only exit that he could see. The underworks would be aflame, so unless this place hooked directly to sewer, they had one way out. Addressing the folk near him, he said

Don't bother talking to me - I can't hear. We're being funneled out - the shape of the destruction is cutting us off from other exits - we need to head out with the crowd, but make sure no one can see faces - especially Simon's. Wait, where's Simon?

Fuck.

Looking around, it was pure chaos. How the fuck were they going to find him in that unless Carol's radio still worked, which would be a longshot?

Mathias -felt- the shockwave before the explosion. Turning towards Shay,he was about to discuss how she could assist in evacuating Tacharan personnel. The shift in pressure caused by the explosive bubble tingled against his skin and Mathias had but a moment to react. Pushing Shay down to the floor, he was caught up in the explosion and flung against someone.

Smoke and dust filled the room,making it extremely difficult to see or breath. Temporarily stunned, MAthias reached out for Shay,expecting her right next to him. A momentary panic set in as he reached out desperately to find her. All else,his life and the lives of those around him were forgotten as Mathias searched for his soulmate.


"Shay?? Shay!! Call out love, I can't see you!!"

"Mathias?!"

Shay shrieked as the felt him shove her to the floor, and was propelled even further by the blast. A sharp pain to her head, as it smacked against something very hard, and Shay literally saw stars. Then, she saw nothing.

Blinking...nothing. Rubbing her eyes...nothing. All around her she could hear screams, and groans, and cries...glass being broken, and walked on, loud noises that sounded like furniture falling. People yelling...Mathias yelling...yelling for her. But she couldn't see him, or anything!

"Mathias?! I'm on the floor...over here...I can't see you either."

The smoke must be terribly thick, to be so black, but it didn't smell terribly bad. She could definitely smell smoke, but she could breathe too...it wasn't over powering her. So why couldn't she see, and why were her eyes now tearing so badly...and why did they HURT so badly? Every time she tried to open her eyes, the tears ran down her face like a faucet.

Before panic set in, and she could feel it was on the way, Shay started scrambling on the floor. Pieces of glass were digging in and cutting her knees and palms, and she was constantly wincing. First sharp pain in her eyes, and then her head, and now it seemed her entire body was to be subjected to torture.

Finding what felt like the leg to an upright table, Shay pulled herself into a sitting position, and leaned back against the leg. She was scared, and she needed Alexi, but was trying to gather her sanity at the same time. She would not let on about how scared she was. At least she was breathing, and didn't appear to have lost any body parts. That thought sent her fingers to her eyes, where she touched very lightly against her eyelids with just the glass free tips of her digits. No...even though she couldn't see, her eyes were still in her head.

"Mathias? Can you hear me still? Can you still not see either...I think I've got pepper...or glass...something in my eyes...?"


She tried to make it a simple question, but the fear in her made it come out as a rather despairing wail. And just as she felt herself calming just the slightest bit, someone tripped over her legs, and just lie there.

"Mathias?"

Reaching forward she felt someone...a man, for they had on a suit, or tuxedo...but they weren't moving. Her hand moved through something thick and sticky as she felt up along the arm to the shoulder, and across to the head.

"Oh my god!"

Where the head should have been was air, and Shay's hand had sunk into bone and blood and muscle...

She screamed.

Kyle wasn't sure where to begin in his assessment of his situation. He was on the ground. Possibly. The chances were good. Shaking his head slightly, he was aware of the muffled noise around him. He was fairly certain it was screaming, but his ear drums throbbed in his already throbbing head.

Trying to sit up, he found he could not and was over come with a hilarious sense of fear. Then he realized it was Nova. He slid her off as she said something to him, but again it sounded all muffled to him. People were yelling all around him and it wasn't helping him gain his bearings. He shook his head, trying to pop his ear drums and it seemed to help a little. Leaning onto a elbow, he rubbed his face and tried to sit up, when there was an ear piercing scream.

It made him move, albeit unhappily. Trying to stand on a knee, there was a sudden wave of nausea and pain in his mid region. He gingerly felt around and felt the nasty bumps of broken ribs. Nova falling on top of him had knocked the wind out of him and probably broke a couple of his ribs.

Fabulous.

Shaking his head again he managed to stand and held a hand out to Nova. Looking around he saw his table companions scattered around where the table had been. No, someone was missing.

'Where,' his ears were still muffled and he raised his voice to just below bellowing so he could hear himself. 'Where is Carol?'

'Right here.'

She was standing behind him, her dress covered with the splatter of someone's blood but mostly her's. The spray from the glass had embedded itself into her cheek and up the side of her face, just missing her left eye. She was bleeding onto her dress.

'This IS A FUCKING VERA WANG!' Sighing heavily she moved through the debris of the balcony and the surrounding tables. 'They're blocking the doors,' she yelled over the roar of the fire coming from a gaping whole in the ballroom floor and the screams of people around her.

'Only way out is where everyone is heading, so we're pretty fucking screwed until one, another exit opens up or two, we die in a fire and I'm not ruining this Vera Wang dress any further by doing that. So let's get the fuck out.'

She called out to Simon in her mind, praying he was ok.

[Babe, can you hear me? Where are you? Simon?]

Years of honing her reflexes kicked in, Lotus attempted to duck under the table while covering her head, but the blast knocked her back. It knocked those god-forsaken shoes off. She was stunned, dizzy, and deaf. Precious seconds ticked by, all she could hear was the dull sound of a roaring blaze, people panicking and screaming. She felt the rise of anxiety, the blood pressure in her veins starting to build. She had lowered her arms to survey the damage. It was utter destruction and chaos. Her mind was racing, trying to put itself in order, but the fear of dying in this place, trapped like a rat, kept gnawing at her, taking over her senses and dispelling any rational mindset.

Then a blood-curdling scream snapped her out of it. She had been so awe-struck, she didn't even notice the girl beside her. Her hearing was back. She immediately jumped to her feet, glass slicing into the tender undersides. Her adrenaline was pumping so hard, she didn't feel a thing. She looked around at her clanmates, scattered about, crawling about, blind and/or deaf.

She inwardly gasped at Carol. She's got fucking glass hanging out of her face, and still finds the time to bitch about ruining her dress. It was cute, in a morbid kind of way.

Lotus felt something tickling her arm and looked down. It was blood, leaking out from the many puncture wounds the explosion of glass and wood left. She picked a few of the larger pieces out of her arm and let them fall to the ground.

She knelt down beside the screamer, Shay. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

'food food food,' Addison was just reaching for the platter on the table when the noise of people chatting loudly around him stopped...well, not so much stopped as was replaced with a deafening explosion. He wasn't sure, but he somewhow ended up landing hard on his rump a little ways from where he'd been standing. And then he did a stupid thing...he breathed in....a whole lot of whatever dust what now travelling through the air at a high rate of speed. It took the wind out of his sails...almost literally.

"Mother *cough* fucker *cough*!" but he didn't even hear himself speaking over the noise again...no more boom, but lots of screaming and yelling. It was starting to make his head hurt. The red head wheezed and coughed, trying to force his lung fulls of bad air out. Ack...the eyes were even watering now.

"Jan?"

Shit! He had been right behind him...right there, and now he couldn't see him or his friend anywhere. Fuckitty fuck fuck. Addison took a mental inventory of his senses and other than the constant coughing, he seemed a-ok....

Well, that did they say, when you were seperated from others? Stay put until you meet up. Voila...Addison shood shakily, holding his chest and peering to where he saw Jan last. He'd just have a little seat and wait...

Standing there with her drink with nothing more than a Swiss Army knife in her evening clutch Val was thinking it might be a good idea if she led some of the others out. She hated back out, but was hardly prepared to fight or do recon or anything like that. Ah look there was Addison, he’d need to be got out as well.

The blast shook those ideas right out of her head, she was knocked down into a heap. That is as much of a heap as a tine five foot two woman could be. The Manhattan spilled over her, something cut through her dress and gashed her leg and another sharp object imbedded itself in her shoulder. Val hissed in pain. Oh, she’d heal up right enough, but for now, it was not comfortable.

Damned Carol was right. It was a waste of a perfectly good dress. Bastards.

Getting slightly unsteadily to her feet, cursing the heels and unable to locate her clutch Val shook her head clear, as clear as she could make it at any rate.

“Can everyone get moving?”

Yes, that would be important, no more leaving people in fires. But if she didn’t get an answer soon she was getting out.

He couldn't hear

This revelation came to Mathias as he called out for Shay,peering through the haze trying to see her. Of course that damned ringing won't go away he thought.

He saw various Tacharan in states of shock and awe. No one was seriously hurt,although from the way Carol was screaming about her dress one could not be sure.

The ringing began to fade,replaced by the roar of the flames and the various sounds of folks in distress...and Shay screaming. Finally able to pinpoint and focus, Mathias quickly found her. There was another occupant of the table there,asking if she was ok. Mathias couldn't place the name but he thanked the woman nonetheless. Shay was screaming,evidently when she was reaching for MAthias she had placed her hand in the remains of someone else's head. As gently as possible,Mathias began to lift Shay up,trying to get her out.

"I'm here now Shay...I'm ok. We need to move Shay,and I need you to focus on my voice...just listen to me and I will get us out."

While Shay was getting up,Mathias took a moment to examine the situation. Whoever did this was good. They,and the crowd were faced with the choice of risking a raging inferno or be herded towards the only viable exit. A tactical nightmare that was. And unarmed to boot he grimaced as Shay's arm made contact with a large sliver of glass embedded in Mathias' arm. On anyone else the glass would have gone completely through - Mathias's toughened skin slowed it enough to stick. Some advantage. But the glass reminded him of something. Quickly he searched the floor and remnants of tables,steadying Shay. Picking up some silverware he shoved a couple of steak knives and forks in his pocket.

I will damned if I head into a trap without so much as a dagger he thought, listening to Alec and Valentine's analysis of their situation. Tossing them each a steak knife he chuckled. "Never know if dinner will attack us. Ok,let's get everyone up and moving for now - did we ever get responses from Simon or Jan?"

It was a grim thought,but Mathias's focus at the moment was getting the immediate area out and safe - all else fell to the wayside

Ginnie had stood and turned toward the garden exit, she was looking for the sound system origin point. She had enough time to take in a breath and one step when one of her favorite sounds, in any other situation, rang through the ballroom and knocked her a full three feet to her left and into someone. Her head bounced off the floor and she was forced to lay still for a moment until her sight returned from behind the bright white lights.

She pushed up from the floor, stepping on and ripping the skirt from her dress. 'Fan-fucking-tastic' She stood in the top half of her dress and matching panties and peered through the chaos. She could not see Alec, and suddenly she was being pushed by frightened humanity toward the exit.

She heard Carol shout and turned toward the sound only to be pushed off her feet and stepped on by several frightened people. She sighed, and pushed up from the ground with arms and legs, in a hard fast motion so that she rose above the crowd, she set her self down slowly and started toward the exit with the crowd. She could only hope Alec got out as well. She did not know what she would do with out him.


((ooc edit forgot to put Ginnie out))

Hearing a voice, somewhat familiar, and concerned, Shay grabbed at it. Her hands found what seemed to be dress material, with a women underneath. Damn, not being able to see was really starting to anger her, but then at least it was pulling her out of the shock she had been close to falling into.

"Hurt? Only my hands, and knees, and there's something in my eyes, but nothing seems to be serious. Can you help me..."

She tried to shove the body off her legs, and hoped this woman could assist her so she could get up.

"Mathias!"

And then the body was gone, and he was there, helping her to stand. Thoughts of the kind woman were gone. No matter what happened next, being next to him was the only thing that would help her remain sane.

She did what he asked...listening to just him. It gave her a center to focus on, and again helped her distance herself from her own issues, and the horrors her mind was painting of the situation.

She felt something sharp, jab her arm, and pulled back when the realization hit her. There was a large shard of glass that must have been stuck into Mathias somewhere. Her own hand now free of most of the bits of glass, flailed around, trying to find where he had been hit.

"You're hurt!" Though he was moving around doing something, and his voice had sounded strong, she had to believe the injury wasn't incapacitating.

She wanted to pull him into her arms, and hold him, but knew they had to find a way to get out of the devastation. The smell of smoke was getting worse, and starting to bother her throat.

Concentrating on standing, and holding tightly to his tuxedo jacket, Shay tried to give him the freedom to move, without hindering him any more than she had to.

She hoped the man who had fallen across her lap, hadn't been anyone she knew, or a representation of the majority of ball guests.

Addison made it to his feet...sort of, he was still coughing and somewhat bent over. There was black in his hair that he could see and his tux was looking worse for wear. And still...no Jan in sight. Then, it was hard to see around the moving bodies all headed toward an alternate exit.

"Can everyone get moving?"Â?

"Val? Can you see Jan?" Addison moved back to where the tach table had been and saw Shay on the ground and Mathias above her. Oy...that looked painful. The red head winced and turned around in a circle.

Watching as Ginnie was swept up by the tide of exiting humanity, he hoped that she wasn't so dazed that she would be in danger. Turning back to the group, he ripped strips from the tablecloth and distributed them, tying his own over his mouth and nose. Taking the knife offered by Mathias, he slid it up his sleeve. Any act of subterfuge was an advantage, and if this was a trap, well, every advantage would be required.

Of course, it wasn't every day that you were handed carte blanche for looting at the Mayor's mansion. Greed arresting his motions toward exit, Alec shook himself back to sanity. He couldn't hear, this could be a trap, there were a mixed bag of his people that needed his help getting out, and it was time to make those moves first.

Offering a hand up to Shay and the new girl, he looked around. He still didn't know where Simon was. Scanning the crowd, he saw a head at the appropriate level, and hoped. Nodding at Carol, Alec indicated general direction. Being unable to hear caused him to forget to speak. He'd have to remember that.


Is that Simon over there?

Lotus took Alec's hand and stood back, while Mathias attended to Shay. She picked a few more small shards out of her arm and tip-toed over the glass to Carol. Reaching up and lightly touching Carol's face, the wounds were not dire. "I take it you're ok?" Lotus yelled to her. "These wounds aren't very serious, mostly scratches." Carol still seemed a little dazed, and very pissed. She held onto Carol's arm, steadying her so she didn't fall over.

Looking over the room again, seeing gibs everywhere. Had she been a normal human, it would have been completely revolting, but Lotus's fangs tingled a little bit at all the blood. Blood on everyone, blood everywhere. She hoped her bloodlust did not kick in, at least not now.

"Let's find Simon so we can get the hell out of here." she yelled again. She knew if her hearing was still a little blocked, the humans were pretty bad off.

( OOC : permission to touch Carol )

'He's coming,' she yelled as she let Lotus help her away. Turning back to the others she said, 'Regroup at Duibne for injuries!' Hoping they heard, she stumbled along in the darkness with Lotus.

Simon heard his name as he approached where their table was. Walking towards the noise, he spotted them.

'I'm here, Alec.' He came up to Carol and touched her face. 'Jesus, are you alright? Let's get out of here.'

He whistled loudly to get their attention. 'WE ARE LEAVING. Someone grab Evans.'

Reaching down he picked up the dazed, and pretty pissed off by the look on her face, Carol. Walking away from the broken tables, Simon headed towards the exit.

((ooc - Simon out))

Carol held on as Simon swept her off her feet and headed towards the exit. 'Am I alright? A DRESS IS RUINED!' With a sad face she looked over his shoulder to make sure the others were behind them. Sighing he was happy to have counted all the Tacharan members and no one lost. Oh, she thought.

'Isn't that hole where the Mayor was sitting?'

((OOC Carol out))

Putting his arm around Nova he started to move them towards Simon. With wobbly steps he avoided the body parts and broken furniture. Two major scoops in a week.

Lucky him.

((OOc - Kyle out))

No one else seemed to need her aid, they all had their rescuers already. She looked around one last time, hearing Carol's observation. That most definitely seemed like a targeted blast. Perhaps if her perception hadn't picked up the fear and anxiety in that passing waiter, and the others hadn't smelled and felt odd as well, this could've been considered a freak accident. Someone was determined to take someone out tonight. Lotus sighed. Her first night out with the clan, and it ends up like this. She picked up one of her shoes that got blown off. Unable to locate the other, she followed the others out.

( ooc out )

Everyone seemed to want to get moving and while that was a good plan and all, she didn’t see Jan and would be damned if she was going to leave without him. Carol pointed out Simon, so that was one relief, but she was getting quite anxious about her brother. He had, after all, come to her aide at the compound raid, when she had been knocked out and dead to the world.

She mutely took a steak knife in one hand and took one of the makeshift bandages Alec was passing out in the other, looking to Kyle to see if he had any bleeding that needed to be stopped. He seemed to be holding up as well as any of them were, though.

She frowned and shook her head when Kyle started to walk toward the exit. She didn’t see Jan over there and concluded he must be somewhere inside. He’d been at the bar…and then…he’d gone out to smoke.

Panic was beginning to set in when she realized where Jan had just been, and she leaned in close, hoping Kyle would hear her explain before she slipped out from under his arm.

“Need to find my brother…just stay with the group, okay? I’ll be right behind you.”

/ooc outie outie

'Yeah, getting out might be a smart thing to do...' But Addison just stood there...watching the others move off. He took a couple of tentative steps forward then one back. He just couldn't leave without Jan... Even if his new master was no where within visual range.

The others got lost among the people leaving the building in Addison's eyes as he stared blankly ahead. Jan would be along...yup...him and the crazy girl.

Any minute....


Addison looked down at his wrist and frowned to see his watch was now broken. "Damn..."

There was always shouting after explosions. It made sense of course trying to hear after the blast with your ears ringing and people panicking and the like.

It seemed like most people were OK, if not OK at least functioning and that was good enough for Val. She pulled a vicious looking shard of glass out of her shoulder and swore. Somehow she sorted Addison’s voice out from amongst the din and looked for Jan, but didn’t see him.

“No but he’s probably gotten out of here.”

Speaking of getting out of here, they were down to one exit. Well hell that hardly mattered, she was getting out and Addison was coming with her. Simon’s order just cemented that thought.

Because he seemed a little disoriented Val grabbed the red head by the hand and started pulling him through the crowd trying to pick as clear a path through the debris as possible.

Freak accident, assassination; she’d worry about it later.

(OOC… permission to drag Addison about. Val and Addison out.))

As folks drifted together and a general move towards the exit began,MAthias took a moment to deal with the shard of glass sticking out of his arm. His arm was already attempting to heal around the glass,which was too massive to move. Yobany stos! he cursed under his breath as the glass pulled free,bringing a fresh gout of blood."Sweet Jesu but that will be difficult to dry clean" he chuckled grimly.

His focus wavered between steadying and helping Shay and keeping an eye out for a possible ambush. His mind was racing trying to figure out what possible purpose this served. While Tacharan did not seem to be the primary target, the clan was still attacked and in Mathias' opinion that deserved some sort of response.

But that was for another day


((OOC - Mathias and Shay out ))

Cursing to himself, he wondered where Nova was going. Stalking after her to make sure nothing happened to her, he separated from the core of the group, his impromptu face mask covering everything but his eyes.

It looked like everyone else that had been here was heading to the door...small blessings.

((ooc: Alec out))