[center][sub][h3]Kayla[/h3][/sub][/center][hr]
"Oleander, heel."

The Siberian Husky, obedient as ever, stopped a few paces from the alleyway entrance of the casino. The dog turned back to his mistress, a tilt to his head as if to convey his curiosity. Oleander took direction from few people, and being issued a command with such sudden conviction was... unbecoming of his mistress' normal demeanor. He waited for her to catch up with him. Kayla knelt down by the dog, and ran a hand through his fur. Oleander leaned into her touch, ever appreciative of the attention. There were stories upon stories about dogs being heroes. It was why he had taken this form.

A Golden Retriever pulls a baby from a burning house. A German Shepard taking a bullet for their handler. A Labrador calling neighbors when their owner has fallen and cant get up. A Dachshund standing up to bear to defend their home. Stories that were essentially modern legends singing of their feats of loyalty or sacrifice- Hachikō waited for his master for years at the train station. Balto transported the Diphtheria antitoxin six hundred miles through sleet and hail and snow to Nome. It was for this reason what he had assumed this state. A Familiar's job, their whole purpose, was to protect their masters. What better than man's best friend?

Some of his kin followed different philosophies than he did. He understood their choice, sometimes. Depending on their master's place in this world it would be appropriate to assume the form of a bear, or a lion, or something more... [i]exotic[/i]. However, these creatures elicited fear in the societies they ventured into. They were met with resistance, and what good was strength if one could not apply it? Similarly, some preferred to be nimble, and oversee from above. Birds of all shapes and sizes, bats, insects... He could understand this philosophy as well. Being small made one hard to spot, and the power of flight? Being able to see for miles was a powerful warning system. As with the mighty beasts, though, it had its drawbacks. Namely the distance they had to maintain to play to such strengths. What good was an early warning if none were there to hear it?

Being a dog was an easy middle ground, Oleander felt. His methods and mentality were tried and true. His experience had lent itself to his shape, for there was no better state than a dog. People didn't question his appearance indoors or outdoors, or the fact that he followed his master wherever she went. That's just what dogs did. They were walked, and run regularly. They were loyal to their keepers and guardians of the hearth. All things considered, they were the familiars of the mundane world. It was a no brainer- the mundane world was the world they were trying to blend into, after all. There were some caveats though. He was a fairly sizable dog, so in some places it was more difficult to hide. There was no perfect solution to that without their disadvantages. There were also many places that did not allow mundane familiars- or 'pets' as they called them. Schools, some restaurants, etc... and while he and his mistress had not exactly been the most considerate of these rules in the past, perhaps she was wishing to be more respectful of a potential 'No food, drink, or pets' ruling that she had seen and he hadn't?

"Give it a few minutes, bud." she instructed, leaning against the wall and taking a cigarette out of her jacket. She was bewitching, like fire standing tall in dark jeans and a maroon leather jacket. She snapped her fingers, and a small jet of flames erupted out from the place where her index finger met her thumb. She lit the cigarette and took a long drag. She could [i]hear[/i] the jostling and the banging of people and things inside and a part of her sighed at her party's antics. Kayla detested the infighting, and the group's inability to not shit where they slept for lack of better wording. She didn't take to it, or deal with it at all really. Sure, she was loud and proud and enjoyed being herself (even if she be'd herself all over everyone else)... but she'd do that outside. She kept the paranormal abilities outside, where she wasn't at risk of breaking something she actually liked.

There was an inkling of a flash that peeked out from the bottom of the door, and without missing a beat Kayla snuffed the cigarette out on the wall of the building. "Come, Ollie." she said gently, stepping up the two or three stairs and opening the door for her dog.

The casino was of course, trashed. Agatha looked flustered as she always did- her definition of leadership being more along the lines of 'get everyone's attention and hope they listen'. Unfortunately her most defining personality trait was tall (albeit, she wasn't the only one who suffered from such a affliction) and she had yet to learn the difference between hearing and listening. Kayla herself was guilty of being unable to or unwilling to listen to the younger woman. It wasn't for lack of trying, she was known for her bullheaded stubbornness after all, but she just never found the poor woman saying anything that really worth hearing or committing to memory. That wasn't her fault, though. At least, not entirely.

Stupid, or Sin as she insisted she be referred to and never would be (at least by her), couldn't keep a lid on it or control her familiars per the usual. She seemed upset at something, but Kayla wasn't particularly interested in trying to be the woman's therapist. Emily was screaming a moment ago and collecting herself now- acting only exasperated, probably at something that Babylon did. Madison looked absolutely ready to give up and go home. Claudette was collected, thank fucking Christ... Maya and Izzy were... distracted it seemed. No surprise there that Agatha's call had fallen on half deaf ears. Elise was talking shit to Emily- which was sure to get things interesting again. Riley was oblivious.

[i]Business as usual.[/i]

Kayla wordlessly moved from the door to the poker table just as Claudette probed Agatha for whatever she wanted to say. Internally Kayla cringed at the concept of 'the boss' being told to lead, but she kept her passive expression because frankly, nobody asked her and she didn't feel like bringing any more bullshit to the table. Enough was being brought already by the rest of the suicide squad that was bumbling to the beat of their own drums. She pinched the bridge of her nose, and the only thing that reigned her internal strife in was Oleander who had padded along with her and had placed himself under her off hand in what likely a bid for attention as much as it was an effort to comfort her. She was, as always, infinitely grateful for her dog.

"I have actual business, today." she said, her voice carrying an edge of finality and command in her tone. This statement would undoubtedly catch some of their attention. Or at least, the attention of those that actually mattered. Kayla didn't often have business that she didn't handle herself, and when she invited The Coven into her ledger, interesting events [i]always[/i] followed. She rested her elbow on the table and leaned into the arm that wasn't scratching Oleander behind the ear. She was uncharacteristically quiet for her usual self, and her bored expression held inklings of the just barely hidden frustration that simmered just beneath the surface. "So lets all cooperate and get the pleasantries out of the way quickly. For once. [i]Please[/i]."