[indent][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uILb8Vg.jpeg[/img] [hider=Mood Music][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZoeZrUR_7k&pp=ygUWa2lsbGluZyBsb25lbGluZXNzIGhpbQ%3D%3D[/youtube][/hider][/center][right][h1][color=#F5DE69]T[/color][color=#F4DB67]h[/color][color=#F3D965]e[/color] [color=#F1D561]T[/color][color=#F0D35F]e[/color][color=#EFD15D]m[/color][color=#EECF5C]p[/color][color=#EDCD5A]l[/color][color=#ECCB58]e[/color] [color=#EAC754]o[/color][color=#E9C452]f[/color] [color=#E7C04F]C[/color][color=#E6BE4D]h[/color][color=#E5BC4B]a[/color][color=#E4BA49]r[/color][color=#E3B847]m[/color][color=#E2B645]i[/color][color=#E1B443]n[/color][color=#E0B242]g[/color] [color=#DEAE3E]a[/color][color=#DDAB3C]n[/color][color=#DCA93A]d[/color] [color=#DAA537]G[/color][color=#D9A335]r[/color][color=#D8A133]a[/color][color=#D79F31]c[/color][color=#D69D2F]e[/color][color=#D59B2D]f[/color][color=#D4992B]u[/color][color=#D3972A]l[/color] [color=#D19226]I[/color][color=#D09024]n[/color][color=#CF8E22]d[/color][color=#CE8C20]i[/color][color=#CD8A1E]v[/color][color=#CC881D]i[/color][color=#CB861B]d[/color][color=#CA8419]u[/color][color=#C98217]a[/color][color=#C88015]l[/color][color=#C77E13]s[/color][/h1][/right][right][sub][hr][color=C67C12]Members: Leon, [color=8882be][b]Lynette[/b][/color], [color=db9616]Elise[/color], [color=577d06]Casey[/color], [color=92278f]June[/color] and [color=ed145b]Mia[/color] Richoux, [color=54678a]Andrade Salamente[/color], [color=de3b1b]Furio Natale[/color][/color] [color=C67C12]| Direct Dialogue:[/color] None Outside Group [color=C67C12]| Location:[/color] Festival Grounds, Cracker Island Historic District [/sub][/right][hr] [/indent][color=54678a]"Junior, stop! Stop, I'm trying to cook! Actually cook! You see this!?"[/color] [color=92278f]"What the hell, I've seen you cook! You can spare a little time, look at you. Hand in your pocket, some kind of cool dude chillin' at the stove. Rapide, Monsieur!"[/color] [color=8882be][b]"Maxwell the [i]Fifth!?[/i] Control yourself or [i]just go![/i]"[/b][/color] Leon looked back from his position at the prep counter where he'd been chopping vegetables for the kebabs that Andrade had on their menu this year. This was an every year kind of thing, and while Leon hadn't missed one, he couldn't say the same for his siblings. It was nice to have them all home this year... [color=C67C12][i]Even with June being June.[/i][/color] The young man was throwing his arm around Andrade's front, trying to hold an arm behind his back in some pugnacious display of pushiness that was classic of a recently assertive Maxwell V. Beside Leon, Casey sighed deeply, and he could see his younger brother's head shake. Then there was the increased heart rate, knowing that if it was going to be anyone who got it next, it was him. Leon thoughtfully bumped Casey's arm. [color=C67C12]"Hey, listen, Furio and a few of the other guys are supposed to be getting here for the next shift, so why don't you and me sneak off a little early and get some drinks?"[/color] Casey's reaction was near surprise, mostly because he was spaced out on the feeling of discomfort he got around his younger brother. There had always been something in June's eyes that terrified Casey, the kind of look that he saw in some of the Veterans who had a particularly hard time readjusting to civilian life. He always wondered if they should've switched places. [color=577d06]"What? O-oh, right, shit... The time, man, it fuckin' flies in a kitchen."[/color] Leon gave a shallow curved smile to his brother. [color=C67C12]"You should ask him for a job! You seem like you really loved doing this today."[/color] he replied to Casey, throwing his head over his shoulder at Andrade. His expression brightened in return, and the nodding confirmation gave Leon enough confidence to push it a bit more. But before he could, Casey spoke again. [color=577d06]"You're right, I really should. Honestly I even loved chow duty when we were in the rear bases; I'd always volunteer to help. When he's not busy, y'know?"[/color] [color=C67C12]"Of course dude! Yeah, it'll be real good for you, helps you transition fully into the mundane."[/color] While the Temple of Charming and Graceful Individuals rented space for three different booths, the boys had decided to help by doing work for the food booth that Andrade was in charge of. It was always Leon's first choice, rather than selling clothes and swag or running the informational booth. With all three of the Richoux Brothers home for this particular Equinox. There was going to be a bigger celebration at the Temple the next day, but for now their celebration was service to the population of St. Portwell. Their Mother and her secretary happened to be at that booth overseeing things as their covers began to pick up for dinner. She was sure to never give her son the difficult shifts, and with all three being here this year, they'd very nearly finished the opening ten hours of the festival. Currently she was dealing with June, and was quick to pick up a folder planner full of the day's checklists to wrap him over the head with. As she did, the two plastic faces smacked together causing a clapping noise that made Casey jump again. Leon felt it, and the increased heart rate again, and shook his head. [color=C67C12]"Ma, can you not, please?"[/color] [color=8882be][b]"Leon Hunter, do [i]not[/i] butt in."[/b][/color] [color=92278f]"Yeah [i]Leon Hunter[/i], or you won't get any good boy points from Mommy."[/color] [color=577d06]"You should stock up on them, Junie. Oh, wait, you just collect boys, nothing to do with points."[/color] [color=92278f]"Oh sure, jump in front of the bullet, classic Casey. Why don't you make yourself useful and go bomb another hospital in the desert?"[/color] Leon's eyes flicked between his hands and the front of the booth where there was a line of people waiting for kebabs and burgers made by Andrade Salamente. He figured he may have some adjacent fans, and some of them may want to see a boxing demonstration, but doubted they were really here for that. He kept his hands down, laying the knife to rest on the cutting board as he spun to look at Junior. His cocky smiling face stared back, and Leon gave the best disappointed father look he could give. Casey hadn't looked up, hadn't even stopped chopping vegetables... But Leon could feel the muscles tensing as Orange Lux flowed through his brother's body. He and Casey had a complex relationship as children, and Leon carried a great deal of regret over the circumstances; something he sought to rectify whenever he could. But surprisingly, it was Andrade who threw the decisive action. [color=54678a]"What the fuck did you just say to him!?"[/color] Leon saw Andrade pull the cast iron pan from the stove with the peppers and onions inside still sizzling, and gripped it like a club before pushing his weight into Casey. [color=54678a]"When he could've fucking died? You say that to your brother? Your Father would beat you senseless... Madame Lynette, please get him out of my fucking kitchen!"[/color] [color=92278f]"You talk about my Dad like you've got his dick up your a-"[/color] Leon started forward, ready to go for June's collar, but ultimately the Mother Lion got in the way. Swapping to French entirely, Lynette began to lay into Junior who ultimately shrank into his own clothes before finally being dragged out of the booth by her and down the causeway toward God knew where with the secretary of the week right behind them. The three remaining men drew breaths of relief toward one another, each of them knowing the fury that was out there for that young man. Andrade and Leon exchanged a look, both turning their heads to the crowd, who at the front had been exposed to the yelling. They tried their best to ward off curious parties, but eventually Andrade offered some food up to those effected until the line cleared out. When they had another moment to breathe, Andrade turned back to Casey and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around him. [color=54678a]"You know we'd never think of you like that my man. I'm sure even he doesn't, he just says-"[/color] [color=#54678A]"[/color][color=#546882]T[/color][color=#54697A]h[/color][color=#546A72]e[/color] [color=#546D63]m[/color][color=#556E5B]o[/color][color=#557053]s[/color][color=#55714B]t[/color] [color=#55733C]h[/color][color=#557534]u[/color][color=#56762C]r[/color][color=#567725]t[/color][color=#56791D]f[/color][color=#567A15]u[/color][color=#567B0D]l[/color] [color=#5D7C06]t[/color][color=#647C07]h[/color][color=#6A7C08]i[/color][color=#717C08]n[/color][color=#777C09]g[/color] [color=#847C0A]p[/color][color=#8B7C0B]o[/color][color=#917C0C]s[/color][color=#987C0D]s[/color][color=#9E7C0D]i[/color][color=#A57C0E]b[/color][color=#AB7C0F]l[/color][color=#B27C0F]e[/color][color=#B87C10].[/color][color=#BF7C11]"[/color] The three of them spoke at the same time, and while Casey didn't look up from his work, he did laugh along with Leon and Andrade, who both gave him some reassuring pats on the back. Around the same time, Furio and the girls were showing up at the booth. [color=ed145b]"Oh my God, it's Lee Lee!"[/color] Mia seemed to be in a good mood today, which was good, because it seemed like it was starting to rain. She'd need it being bored all night. She brushed past Casey like he didn't exist, giving Leon a big hug and practically crawling into his arms. Behind her, Elise's quiet presence filled in the booth, and while Andrade and Furio exchanged pleasantries and the other two were occupied with cuddling, Elise took the time to notice her little brother's expression. [color=db9616]"Mum said Junie's on a [i]time out?[/i] She's got him on the merchandise booth now, and he's pouting like a little kid. She asked us to come over here with Furio while the girls hang out with June and listen to him whine."[/color] It was hard for Casey to hide his fading frustration, so he simply took a deep breath. [color=577d06]"I implied he was a pedophile, so he told me I should go bomb a hospital."[/color] Elise's brow furrowed. [color=db9616]"Over...?"[/color] [color=C67C12]"It's more complicated than it deserves being, E. Don't worry, he's fine."[/color] Leon piped up, Mia the Barnacle having finally unsuctioned from him. [color=db9616]"Fine? Lee, they cannot be around one another! What the fuck are we supposed to do for a week?"[/color] Leon scoffed and waved his had at his Sister. That same moment, Furio came into the picture, looking between the siblings. Once they stopped talking, he took it as a sign of acknowledgement. [color=de3b1b]"Just to let you know, Leon? Eight Street is out in force tonight, but I've seen pockets of your friends clustering up together.[/color] The Big Man nodded his head, finally pulling his apron off to swap off with his baby sister. Underneath was a shirt with a clown face print on the front. A zombie clown, complete with cracker brains that said "You Crack Me Up" in bloody halloween letters. Unlike some of the others, he had to take his costume off to start work. Casey, accurately, took this as a sign that they were finished their shift, and pulled his apron off similarly. He had gone low effort, wearing his tans from his last deployment along with his Channeler on his right hand. Handing it to his Sister, he hugged Elise tightly and spoke into her ear. [color=577d06]"I promise it won't be my problem, Sis. It's not me."[/color] She hugged him back, tucking her face into his shoulder. [color=db9616]"I know, Honey, I know. It's not fair to you. It isn't."[/color] [hr] [indent][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/i1TTgTI.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/UXAVA6q.png[/img] [hider=Mood Music][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYFMhpbByE8&pp=ygUfenp6IHRvcCBhZXNvcCByb2NrIGluc3RydW1lbnRhbA%3D%3D[/youtube][/hider][/center][right][h1][color=C67C12]Leon[/color] & [color=577d06]Casey[/color][/h1][/right][right][sub][hr][color=C67C12]Mentions:[color=ffffff]Nobody Relevant[/color] |[/color] [color=C67C12]Direct Dialogue: [color=fd8a6c]Adora Phoenix-Prescott/[@Punished GN][/color], [color=ffffff]Trisha Vanburen/[@FernStone][/color] |[/color] [color=C67C12]Location:[/color] Festival Grounds, Cracker Island Historic District [/sub][/right][hr] [/indent]Eventually the two men managed to escape the booth after Leon had finished putting his costume back on. It was a rather simple ordeal of a nightgown with big red slippers, a quilt over him, and an old woman's nightcap tucked over a wolf head mask that pulled entirely over Leon's head. He had the mask pulled up like a hat while walking about the Festival so he could look at Casey, both of them with a beer in hand. There were quite a few faces he recognized, and Leon pointed them out casually while telling Casey about some of the good times he'd missed. Not because of his time in the army, mind you, but the fact that he didn't get to be part of the Sycamore Coven. One imagined that the slippery middle Richoux would've managed to sneak into the Coven, but it seemed like whenever he was on the verge of getting into trouble, all of a sudden Lynette would be attentive again. He knew what it really was; that she'd been monitoring them all no matter how much she pretended like she didn't care. That's, of course, how she framed it. Caring. Letting Leon go out and do whatever the hell he wanted while the rest of them were forced into lives that they didn't want. It took their Father disappearing for her to let anything else happen... The two of them walked along, sharing pleasantries in between introspections until Leon caught the noise from someone getting into a fight in his keen ear. Leon openly began to chug his beer, which lit Casey's face up as he pounded his back in solidarity. By the time he was done, Leon had patted him on the chest in a directive to follow, which he was very familiar with as a soldier, and readied himself for what he couldn't hear but his wolf brother could. Leon pulled the mask over his face so that whatever was happening wouldn't spot Leon Richoux the celebrity. But it was strange... There were... Bees? As the two rounded the corner, they were staring at ass rolling around on the ground and covered in bees. The honey pot, Casey thought to himself as he quickly moved to stop the fight. Leon could barely see in the wolf mask, and pulled it up again reluctantly to see a familiar face getting the better of someone. [color=C67C12]"Holy shit, Adora!? Hey, Casey grab the one underneath, grab her! Girls, girls, Ladies, what the fuck!?"[/color] Leon felt Adora's power from the Trinity as his hands wrapped around her arms to pull her up. Meanwhile, Casey was also being slowly covered in bees, and was thankful he'd worn full BDU tans with gloves, as he had very little exposed skin save for his face and head.