[hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/dadlR8t.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/zYtGNkw.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/oe0WSFO.png[/img] [/center] [hr][hr] [right][code]Cliffs near St. Portwell > The Docks[/code][/right] Cass was bored. Soooo fucking bored. When she’d agreed to be close to Elysium Island it was partly because she expected a fun fight to watch. Loads of explosions! Drama! Fists flying, blood everywhere! Instead, it got real boring after the lava creature and dragon were dealt with. Sure, one guy's ass was out after it, but that wasn’t really exciting. Blinding more than anything. Even the massive skeleton couldn’t hook her back in. Sure, she should be happy it was all going well and no one was seriously hurt but… fuck, she’d been looking forward to a full on magic fight! So she was sitting at the edge of a cliff overlooking Elysium, legs swinging back and forth precariously. Her eyes stayed half focused on it… but sometimes she spotted something else in the water, paranormal vision shifting. A seal splashing about, a group of birds skimming the waves- Oh shit, they were leaving! Mission success, obviously. Cass pushed her body into the air with her arms, legs swinging up from where they dangled over the edge to underneath her. Then she hopped up from crouching. There was a momentary temptation to jump [i]into[/i] the sea just for the fun of it… she was pretty confident she could miss the rocks at the bottom. But then she’d be absolutely drenched, and fucking cold. Instead, she’d have to take the long route down towards the docks. Green Lux pumped through her body as she subtly increased her stamina, and cheetah spots formed across her arms and legs. Thankfully hidden by her leather jacket and trousers… even though they could be seen a little bit through the rips here and there, it was fine! It wasn’t like there was anyone around to see as she started up in a jog, then a far faster than should be possible run. Of course she slowed down as she got down off the cliffs and more towards the town. No worries, she could still run at a fast but not magical pace- Oh wait, she probably shouldn’t go right down to the docks! Just in case there ended up a bunch of Sycamore members around, and all those other groups… Not that [i]she[/i] had a problem with them, but if she heard so much of a word against her girl Trisha, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. Screeching to a halt, Cass looked around for a building she could wait beside. She was still on the harbour itself, just a bit more hidden from the docks area… she leant against a wall and pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her eyes, now back to their normal brown, darted around for some defining feature to text Leon as she pulled up his number… Then she very quickly decided that was too much effort. Instead she took an incredibly goofy selfie - only her eyes and forehead were visible in the bottom half of it, with the top half showing the building behind her and about half of its sign. Perfect. Without a second thought or any context, she sent it. Leon found himself in a bit of a pickle with Drake Blackmore [i]and[/i] Ken Murakin both disappearing in separate ways. The membership was alight with plans about what to do and where to go, but the fight had been cut so short that Lelou was [i]unhappy[/i] to say the least. He either needed immediate action, or there was going to be another party-crashing moment. Of course he wasn’t happy about the situation, and with Kari Wilson’s notes [i]still[/i] missing, the entire group was practically in upheaval. He could only intercede between Greenwood so effectively, having strained that relationship many moons ago. Ruby only gave him [i]so much[/i] clout after things fell out the first time, and now accusations were flying between the groups. Egos. Arguments. Leon could only promise himself to whatever effort came next for the good of the Coven. The Old Name, as he’d started to call them in his head. They’d never be a real coven again after tonight. At least not the members who were held back at the Battle of Elysium. Maybe that was for the best, or maybe the other teams would have better news; some glue to keep the ship held together.kk But when his phone vibrated, Leon gave a deep sniff into the air. Amidst the argument, a smile cracked across his face, and he reached into his bag to pull out the device. A cute picture. A cute girl. Never a dull moment with this one, he had to admit. She had enough energy to do anything, and was down for just about the same. He hadn’t found many boundaries, and the ones he had were flexy and supple. They rebounded, and pushed back against him with gentle firmness that he hadn’t known in some time. She seemed willing to discuss just about anything on the spot; a complete shutdown to his usually confrontational attitude toward things. He couldn’t help it, but he felt that he was always trying. And yet, she didn’t seem phased. Never once. It’d been close to a week now, and any time he struck a nerve, she directly told him. She was a lighter, and he was the firecracker she was lighting. The mischievous teenage love kind of feeling, like it was the first time all over again. It wasn’t wrong if he really felt it, right? That she was a “fan”? It had hardly been circumstantial to their relationship forming in the first place, and they were both open and up front about their intentions. The opportunity to have a consistent partner wasn’t one Leon had been used to in a long time, after all. Classic Greenwood, off in a flash and leaving the Sycamore and 317 members holding the collective bags. Bags that they both parties present agreed to try and hold together once word came in from the other teams. Thankfully, the remaining Sycamore members weren’t total hotheads, and earlier doomed feelings faded away along with the anxiety of losing everything again. They were going to be fine. It was going to be okay. Though, they had to wait for Jack to do anything. God forbid if him [i]and[/i] Ken both disappeared. Though, Purples never had to worry about too much. Now that he really sat and thought- [color=a36209][i]RUN WITH THE GIRL IF ANYTHING![/i][/color] The screech of Lelou ripped through his head and chest half putting him out. He knew she was nearby, but it was obligatory to remain for whatever council there was. [color=a36209][i]I DEMAND YOU SEEK MORE THAN THIS DROLL COMPANY[/i][/color] Leon gave a loud groan, finally excusing himself from the group. It’d probably been another twenty minutes since Cass sent him the message. He’d wound up ruining some of his clothes, and he still needed to change into new ones. So did Sully, to be fair. Rather than risk the IE charge, he made way for a secluded spot to completely change into the clothes he’d brought in his bag, then fully excused himself, begging Sully and Stormy to keep in touch for once. And then he was gone just like that. Alone with Lelou for a few minutes, but he still pulled his cell out to reply finally with a selfie of his own. Rather, a POV shot of where he was, which wouldn’t really mean anything to Cass. Not that he was thinking about that, all she had to know is that he was on the move. And that’s all Lelou really needed right now. This collar situation was something that would need to be addressed sooner rather than later… That way he could live his life again, instead of dealing with this lack of control. The intrusive thoughts constantly echoing in his head. [color=a36209][i]Oh, you love it Leon… Don’t be such a pussy. Why don’t we play a game? Test her skills, see if we can stalk her.[/i][/color] [color=C67C12][i]That is such a you thing to say.[/i][/color] [color=a36209][i]Test her mettle! What’s the worst that happens, you get caught somewhere you’re not supposed to be?[/i][/color] Leon tipped into another alley, pushing himself against one solid wall and hurling himself up and across to the next. Repeated motions saw him scale most of the building, finally nabbing a ledge and actually making it up. These were three or four stories mostly, and a satisfying workout that he’d have to teach her soon. But as he crossed from roof to roof, her scent got stronger in his nose until he could look down at her from behind. Sitting there for a few moments, he admired Cass’ figure, waiting to see if she’d have any inclination to sense him out. Cass was furiously typing on her phone, though kept looking up from it to look to both her left and right. With the wait, she’d had to do [i]something[/i] to entertain herself. That something ended up being what had been her favourite pastime during work: pestering all of her friends over text. Sadly, most seemed to be actually working, so she’d ended up just back and forth shit talking with Sal. But she kept checking to see if Leon appeared. She had no clue which direction he’d come from with the picture he’d send- hadn’t exactly memorised St Portwell’s streets yet. It wasn’t like he’d be hard to spot… Except he wasn’t appearing. Was he that far away? Nahhh, unless they’d gotten teleported to some completely different location, but he could move fast. And she was beginning to get a little burning sensation on the top of her head… Like she got sometimes when a bird was about to shit on her, its beady little eyes watching her. She shoved her phone back into her pocket after sending Sal a final middle finger emoji, and looked around again. There wasn’t anyone nearby, so… Wolf ears popped out of the top of her head, twitching slightly. At the same time she leaned to the side, just in case it was just a bird that had decided her beautiful curls were prime pooing land. Her more sensitive ears twitched, beginning to pick up the sound of traffic and other people talking… but nothing out of the ordinary. Still trying to pick out any sounds, now that it was obvious the tingling feeling wasn’t an imminent bird shit disaster, she also started to enhance her sense of smell. She [i]really[/i] had to work on enhancing multiple senses without the animal features, but… whatever! [color=629c3f]”Aw fuck, who puked behind this building,”[/color] she muttered as the first sniff came with dizzying and overwhelming scents. It was difficult to pick them out from each other, and the worst ones were always overpowering. But… she needed to push through. What if there was an evil ninja about to attack her, after murdering Leon on the way over? Or- Cass’ nostrils flared, catching a familiar smell. But where? Nearby… up… huh? Slowly, but surely, her head started to tilt back until she was looking up and behind as much as possible. [color=629c3f]”C’mon, that ain’t fair, you’re already tall enough!”[/color] Leon’s smile brightened immediately, and having watched her make her way from where she had been to where he was gave him the kind of feeling you get from watching a puppy. He just wanted to cuddle her to death. So he slipped off the roof and landed nearby. Enough that Cass would have all the time in the world to clamber onto him if she so chose. Cass spun around towards him, not even bothering with clambering as she enhanced her legs enough to wholesale jump up at him. Her legs wrapped around his upper chest, but she mostly kept herself up with her hands on his shoulders. [color=629c3f]”Who has the upper ground now?”[/color] she cackled like an evil witch. With a loud but playful groan, Leon reared up as if he were some kind of beast being tamed. [color=C67C12]”Ohhhh, no! Now I’m your slave, oh God whatever will I do?”[/color] Faking a wobble for a moment, Leon snapped his muscles to attention and centered her weight like it was nothing. He broke off into a jog, then into a run as they began to make their way back up the hill and toward the apartment. One benefit of Cass coming to stay was that [i]Lynette[/i] didn’t feel the need to keep him now that she was going to be there directly. She’d already eased off a bit knowing Casey was in the building, but it was nice being able to bring clothes back finally. So his long legs carried them both for as long as she wanted. [color=C67C12]”I was thinking about you! I thought you’d probably get a kick out of mushing up some zombies in real life!”[/color] he expressed over the wind as they made their way back onto flat ground. [color=629c3f]”Fuck yeah I would’ve!”[/color] Cass jerked her head back to get her hair off her face, wolf ears pulling back into her head the moment they were buffeted by wind. It was just too fucking loud- but she was pretty happy to let him carry her. Not because she was lazy or anything, but she’d already done enough running that clinging to him like a barnacle was more fun. [color=629c3f]”There was a lot less rich people punched than I expected. I s’pose it makes sense they’d hide. Kinda lame they just sent a buncha zombies, much as I’d love to kick their heads in!”[/color] Leon kept up at more than a brisk pace, cooking through the streets as his seals fluctuated in power level, the residuals starting to depress.and evacuate the cells. His skin was hot to the touch, and his consistent sweating was evaporating from it as the cool November air rushed around them. [color=C67C12]”There were a pathetic amount of rich people present! I was probably the richest man actually on that island if I were to guess. I could smell some people in the mansion, sure. But, who knows what they were doing! They were gone by the time we crashed that skeleton… Were you watching!?”[/color] he asked up at her, voice calling in the wind. Cass leaned her upper body back a bit to let the wind batter her, so she didn’t start sticking to his overly hot skin. Much as she enjoyed that kind of thing… not in public! At least, not this public! Not that time to also get all hot and sweaty. Thankfully the air was cool enough that she was saved from becoming a sweating mess. [color=629c3f]”’Course I was! I went up to one of the cliffs overlooking it and enhanced my eyes to watch. It looked pretty insane for a while! And throwing that guy at the skeleton was cool as fuck! Wasn’t as exciting as I expected, but I suppose that’s a good thing, right?”[/color] She grinned, canines slightly sharp. It was a pretty frequent occurrence nowadays… Green Lux pumping through her body and changes coming naturally with her mood. [color=629c3f]”Pretty sure there were some other watchers- cliff across from me there were these ladies with camping chairs and shit. I sent a picture to Trish, but ‘course she hasn’t responded. Probably enjoying herself too much… Man, no wonder she’s got problems with Sycamore, if that’s how you guys fight- no offense. You were cool.”[/color] Camping chairs? Odd, but not crazy. Leon nodded his head as best he could while continuing his run. Thankfully, their place was almost never too far from the horseshoe of the bay. So it didn’t take an incredibly long amount of time for the roof of the apartment to peek out into view. It was really Trisha and Casey’s place, the little glass roof just poking out over the roofline from their angle. It was nice, and always felt like he was really coming home to something. Hopes for the future, maybe. [color=C67C12]”We had a lot more gusto as kids. Mortality catches up to you at this age! Did you see? The guys out there with the most gusto are fucking gone now! Blipped! Granted, they both know Purple Lux to some degree, but its still something we’ve gotta spend more time looking into! The whole thing was a flop, Cass!”[/color] he called. [color=629c3f]”This age? Dude, aren’t you like twenty nine? You sound like a fucking old man saying that shit!”[/color] Cass couldn’t hold back the little snorting laugh at that, even though it was a pretty serious topic. People disappearing and all. She furrowed her brow slightly as she tried to remember that. Oh, right, the guys flying towards the dragon. It seemed like a pretty big loss if they lost two coven members, and didn’t even get the notes they’d been going for… which had been their main goal from what she remembered. [color=629c3f]”Honestly it sounds like this coven shit ain’t working out. You ain’t getting anything done… wouldn’t it be easier to just skip the group politics and try find shit solo? Wait, that’s probably dangerous.”[/color] Danger was fun, but maybe not the danger of solo hunting a mass murderer. But she really couldn’t get over a three coven alliance failing to get [i]anything[/i]. At least that’s what she was hearing from it being a flop. [color=629c3f]”Man, two guys gone too… I saw it, kinda. How do you even start looking for ‘em? This whole thing fucking blows.”[/color] She shook her head. Doing her best to balance practicality and sympathy, though there was no way she could hide the energy buzzing right underneath her skin from watching the fight. At the prospect of [i]more[/i]. Not that she’d had the opportunity to step in this time. [color=C67C12]”Naturally, we consult the Whites.-”[/color] Leon was slowing down now, getting Cass into a slightly more comfortable position for him to hold. [color=C67C12]”-Not like that, you racist. I mean the White Lux adepts. People with prescience, or location abilities. Or, maybe we get an artifact that helps. But otherwise, looking for Purple Adepts is a Purple Adept’s job. We can’t let ourselves be scared over this.”[/color] he explained. The lower floors of the surrounding buildings buzzed with a familiar warmth despite the cold of the night. People [i]waved[/i] to Leon. Said hello. Came out of their way to greet him in this neighborhood. It wasn’t that they were starstruck, rather that everyone still knew one another. Families were the same, people had found a way to remain and resist the encroaching techno-sprawl. A nearby bar called Leon’s name. [color=C67C12]”Fancy a drink? We’ll forget about it for now, think about what comes next when it comes again.”[/color] he offered, still in his sweat suit he’d brought to change into. [color=629c3f]”You’re asking a Brit if she fancies a drink? Y’know what kinda shit would have to go down for me to say no? We used to drink beer in the shelters! Well, I snuck some when my parents weren’t looking!”[/color] Cass laughed as she casually talked about a fairly traumatic event. [color=629c3f]”A drink or two’s needed to really get the brain going. They do any food? I ain’t eaten since the morning… fuck, one of the things I miss from back home is the pub food!”[/color] She then patted one of the arms holding her. [color=629c3f]”You can put me down, I don’t wanna bang my head on the door frame being up this high!”[/color] Leon did as he was instructed, letting Cass down to her feet and taking a deep breath. Club Whizz-Bang was a frequent enough haunt for Temple members living in and near the old Cannery Apartments, and the two were met with an excited cheer from mundane patrons. Most of them were there because it was a regular spot, and fairly well known as a place that offered some significant deals for frequent patrons. Stuff you could only know was happening because you were there when it was announced. Like the endless animal fries, which were endless so long as you were good for the drink money. That was, after all, the most important part of trying to run a bar: The overhead. Not that Leon wouldn’t help the owners out if they fell on hard times, but they never needed him. Except, of course, to bring in crowds. There were a minority of people who, either vaguely or wholly passionate, wanted to meet the famous boxer who was known to frequent the place. So Leon led Cass to “his” table. The same table that whoever was working expected him to sit at. They’d cleared away a bit of clutter around it, letting people take pictures in the seat where he usually wound up and more so allowing space for photo ops and gatherings when the big man actually was there. People started to gravitate naturally, but Leon didn’t seem to treat it like they were. His attention was mostly fixed on Cass. The surroundings themselves were fairly modern. Nothing fancy, no real theme except for some errant dummy fireworks here and there, and pictures of various explosions throughout recent history. An odd choice, but a place called Whizz-Bang lended a little more credence. [color=C67C12]”You gonna drink your heavy beer? Or you want actual booze!?”[/color] Leon asked her over the noise of the bar. [color=629c3f]”Ooo, tough choice.”[/color] Cass’ head tilted from side to side as she thought about it. Booze related decisions were very important. She did love her heavy beer, and just beer in general but… It’d be fun to drink something stronger with someone who could actually handle it! She’d spent too long surrounded by lightweights. As much as it was fun to witness the various drunk antics of her friends. [color=629c3f]”What kinda stronger stuff do they do here? Like proper spirits and shit?”[/color] Nodding, Leon’s head turned to look at the long bar before he pointed. [color=C67C12]”Yeah! Look! Whatever you want, Lil’ Wolf.”[/color] he giggled, then threw his hand up to wave someone over. [color=C67C12]”They’ll bring us a menu too, in case you wanna eat.”[/color] Lelou, deep in Leon’s skull, groaned. [color=a36209][i]What’s that… That song you like?[/i][/color] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etSbOs3aUqI]A gentle song[/url] echoed in his head, and he shook it off as necessary. [color=C67C12][i]Nothing is ever enough for you.[/i][/color] While he smiled and politely watched Cass, it was pretty clear that his brain was dealing with something else. Cass leaned one elbow on the table to push herself up a bit, craning her head and looking over at the bar. Loads of options, loads of options… But it wasn’t exactly a hard choice when she knew what she liked. [color=629c3f]”Hell yeah I wanna eat - not that I care bout drinking on an empty stomach, I just like food.”[/color] Having made her alcohol related decision, her head turned to look back at Leon. Then tilted again. [color=629c3f]”You doing that talking in your head thing?”[/color] she asked, voice pitching down a bit quiet, expression open and non judging. Leon nodded and half-laughed. [color=C67C12]”She’s being bitchy. We’re not doing anything intense or exotic enough, so she’s acting like a spoiled brat.”[/color] The server finally made it, and enough pub food was ordered to fill the table along with the beverage choices. It'd be a little while for courses to start rolling out, but drinks were much quicker. A separate interruption bridged the span of time from order to the drinks arriving. It took a purposeful redirection to get the visitors away from the table so Leon and Cass could have some alone time again. As they finally departed, Leon gave her a tired looking face. [color=C67C12]”Sometimes I don’t wanna be the guy who sends people away… But I wish people could behave better contextually… Like, you see me show up with one person, we’re not really talking to anyone… Get the hint, y’know?”[/color] he confided in Cass. [color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, I gettit. Well, not with the whole people coming over cause they’re fans and shit… But it ain’t hard to have some respect! Like I’m [i]basically[/i] your biggest fan now, right?”[/color] She grinned playful and winked, before laughing. It was a joke, mostly - she tried to separate the Leon in front of her from ‘Timberwolf’ the boxer. Course they were the same person, but this was the real him rather than whatever was in her mind from years of watching and fan culture. [color=629c3f]”If I saw you hanging out with just one person- or even a group, y’know, clearly out with people!- I wouldn’t even think ‘bout approaching. Well I would now… but that’s cause I ain’t just a fan, y’know.”[/color] She waved a hand in front of her face as she, like normal, jumped from one thing to another. [color=629c3f]”It ain’t the same, but go out as just a group of girls to a pub and suddenly every guy in the vicinity thinks it's a free pass to try pick one of us up. Like, dude, I’m out with my friends, if I wanted a hookup you’d know!”[/color] Leon was surprised that Cass would be so reserved in front of a celebrity she had an interest in. For all her openness, if it was true that she’d rather let the opportunity go than make a nuisance of herself? But, then, was it so surprising? She was [i]British.[/i] For everything else, he’d always known Brits to be dignified and structured. His Father’s friends had been rigid, like stone thespians acting the part of icicles. But they boxed like animals… Every single one, hooks with cannon shells at the ends. But she was past it, and relating on a personal level. There was an instant jolt between the two brains in the singular mind. [color=C67C12]”Oh, the Wolf Lady doesn’t understand that one… But I get it. Because it's exactly the same feeling I get. Granted, yours? The whole carnality of it, the obvious intention from one party to another.-”[/color] He put on a bit of a scowl and took a long tug from his beer. [color=C67C12]”-It’s like wishing you could get away from the fame. You want it and want it, but it never comes. Lelou says [i]embrace it.[/i] Like I can ever really be fully comfortable as a center of attention like that? It’s violating.”[/color] Of course he’d been guilty of such behavior regardless… But he usually didn’t run into people who felt like that about it in the first place. If anything, she had him thinking harder about his own thoughts and actions. The subtle intellect was just as attractive as the crude. [color=C67C12]”Y’know who embraces the attention? Ed. Mia’s always yellin’ at her because she plays too much. I know she’s the most open out of the three of them, but she really does ham it up a bit sometimes. The flirting, snagging drinks off random guys and girls alike.”[/color] Those girls, his baby Sister and her triangle of love. They were a big part in his life, and Leon had a great deal of memories between the three of them from the time they were kids until now. Hari, not so much… She came much later, after all. But Ed was close. A distant cousin, which he couldn’t help but make a stronger connection with. It was more than their proclivities, it was a bond of ties. Cass nodded as Leon spoke, sipping on the double rum and coke she’d ended up going for. Really it was less sipping and more gulping… but listening and thinking was thirsty work. [color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, I can see that. I’ve not exactly talked to em much… but like a couple of days ago, when you were out doing some kinda coven shit? I was just chilling on that big sofa, reading this [i]really[/i] cool book about Quantum Computing. Oh man, that maths and shit- wait, that ain’t what I was tryna talk about… what was it… oh yeah!”[/color] Cass slapped her fist into her palm as she remember what the fuck she’d be talking about in the first place. Definitely not going into Quantum Computing details… [color=629c3f]”The girls came into the kitchen, we chatted a bit, y’know. All fine, I’m friendly, I like em! They even offered me some of their food so like, y’know, wasn’t gonna say no to that. The company was nice for a bit, but Ed was pretty heavily flirting with me through it y’know… which I ain’t gotta problem with, ‘specially if it's a joke, but I’m good enough at reading people to see it was more for that, y’know. And that shit’s [i]messy[/i]- been there before.”[/color] She shrugged one shoulder. She was smiling as she spoke, balancing out the slightly more serious way she talked. She wasn’t upset with any of the girls. She’d enjoyed the time with them… and from their brief interactions she got on with Ed too. It was just… [color=629c3f]”It’s all about context, ain’t it? Like if you’re at a match, you’re gonna be the centre of attention, you expect it. But if you’re just in your local? You wanna be left in peace most of the time. Same with the flirting and stuff… there’s places where it’s expected. Clubs and certain pubs, and it’s fine. I ain’t exactly someone who doesn’t play around! Just sometimes that ain’t what you want.”[/color] Leon’s face turned up into a slight smirk. [color=C67C12]”Sometimes, sure… But, sometimes it is, y’know? I won’t lie and say I don’t relish the attention on the bad days. Helps me get through, push a little harder no matter what the voice in my head is saying. The people cheer? I give it another shot. The people surround me with love? The voice goes away.”[/color] Of course, that was a very literal problem for him… But- [color=C67C12]”Maybe that seems like an obvious thing, y’know ‘cuz of the brain ghost. But, I did have my time before that too. Plenty of time as an Adept just like you… I grew up around a man who was bigger than life. Always wanted that for myself. So… Sometimes? Someone wants to try and impress me by how much alcohol they can buy me, or what kind of car they have, I just love how badly they’re [i]trying.[/i]”[/color] Leon gave Cass a catty smirk, running his hand through his hair to push it all back and totally out of his face. He liked to think he’d done his Father proud so far. The legacy, the work; protecting those who needed protecting. But he was also his own man at the end of the day, and he knew that he couldn’t repeat all the unhealthy cycles of Maxwell Richoux. [color=C67C12]”But, hey… I’m sorry. Regardless of how I feel about it, you’re expressing your perspective. And you already know I don’t disagree, because I’m the one who brought it up in the first place right?”[/color] He raised his beer bottle. [color=C67C12]”Cheers to comin’ back to you.”[/color] [color=629c3f]”Heh, cheers to that! I’m pretty fucking great, ain’t I?”[/color] Cass laughed, raising her clash and clinking it against his bottle. She wasn’t exactly upset about anything he’d said - nor did she feel the apology was necessary, but she’d accept it regardless. It was just how things went. People disagreed, talked about it, tried to see from different perspectives… It was very human. She took a long swig, practically polishing off her drink before putting it back down. Then her expression changed. No more bright smile, just a completely deadpan look. Though she couldn’t quite keep the mischievous twinkle out of her eyes. [color=629c3f]”So… Do you want to see the super expensive car I just bought to impress you?”[/color] Leon’s mouth opened into a perfect circle. His slight hunch pushed back fully, and the circle turned into a big friendly smile. [color=C67C12]”Oh, my God, I am [i]so[/i] down.”[/color] Breaking down laughing, Leon shook his head and had to flip the hair back into position again. Around that time, the quickest appetizers were arriving. Big beer battered onion rings and mozzarella sticks, the gambit of fried foods that hit the oil and came out within a minute. All served hot with a billion different sauces. [color=C67C12]”Awwww, interrupting the car… Damn, I guess I’ll just [i]go home in it with you[/i].”[/color] he laughed again, snagging an onion ring and ripping it in half with his teeth. [color=629c3f]”Already thinking about going home? Damn, the food’s barely on the table,”[/color] Cass grinned, grabbing a mozzarella stick and absolutely devouring it. The hand not covered in grease started to rummage around her coat. [color=629c3f]”It might be a bit of a squeeze… where is it, oh, here!”[/color] Her grin only widened as she pulled out her closed fist from one of her pockets. She then flipped it round, revealing a small, red and black LEGO car that had clearly been made to look like some kind of fancy brand. [color=629c3f]”Cool, right?”[/color] she laughed, puffing up her chest a bit. She’d just let him think she was [i]that[/i] prepared with a toy car to go with the joke… definitely wasn’t something her youngest brother gave her when he was twelve that she carried around like a short of good luck charm. Leon’s face only became more shocked as he realized what she was holding. [color=C67C12]”Oh holy shit, you got that pocket ‘rari? That’s a tight fit for sure but you… Well, you’re an expert, so I’ve got nothing to say.”[/color] He started laughing in a lower, slightly more “in” tone, nudging her shoulder with his wrist playfully before taking another sip of beer and eating his other onion ring half. Then it was all doom for the philly cheesesteak egg rolls. [color=C67C12]”What’s the MPG on that baby?”[/color] he asked jokingly. Cass laughed, flipping the car onto the table. She moved it back and forth with one finger. [color=629c3f]”Like… 60. But that’s in CMPML- centimetres per milliliter. This bad boy only takes drops of fuel.”[/color] She grinned, flicking the little car across the table towards him. [color=629c3f]”Don’t worry, you get a lot outta it for its size. Just like me… man, this is really showing off my many talents, ain’t it?”[/color] She smirked, before laughing again, leaning over the table to snatch up one of the egg rolls before he could devour all of them. [color=629c3f]”I’ll show you the time of your life… in the super duper fancy car.”[/color] [color=C67C12]”You’re like a Wiggle, except you’ve got a little red car.”[/color] he laughed again, shaking his head and taking a final swig to clear his beer bottle. Sticking it on the corner, he knew anyone on staff would snag it and replace it post-haste. [color=C67C12]”Now, speaking of home… San Fran? I don’t think anyone’ll die if I’m gone for a day… When’s that happening though?”[/color] he asked with a topic-shifting tone practiced over years of navigating mental dialogue options. [color=629c3f]”Monday, probably. I gotta be out by end of next week… and my car ain’t big enough to do everything in one trip. My plan was to go Monday, pack my shit, stay the night, drive to Portland Tuesday, then back again, another night if I had to, then bring the rest of my shit.”[/color] Cass went along pretty easily with the topic change. She was very easy to redirect unless she was so deep into something she wouldn’t even pay attention to shit outside of it. [color=629c3f]”But if you come along it’ll be easier! Well if you hitch a ride with me it’ll still be the same amount of trips… I kinda assumed you’d be too busy with the coven, and family, and other shit- Didn’t wanna impose! But if you’re down for it, hell yeah!”[/color] She paused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. [color=629c3f]”It’ll be more than a day, though. Y’know it's like… six, seven hours from here, and like nine between San Fran and Portland? And I gotta pack everything. Sure, we could drive back overnight but ain’t a fan of that much driving in a day.”[/color] It was natural for Leon to want to offer things. Like, for instance, to send a group of Temple faithful down ahead of them to clean out whatever she was bringing and simply put it into a better place. Wherever she wanted frankly. But, now with this whole problem surrounding newly missing Coven members and a lack of any awareness of improvements to their circumstance… Why worry about it? They were better off without him until this collar situation was remedied. [color=C67C12]”I can get a truck or something. We can at least guarantee you only have to make one big push. Not a big one; there’s a pickup or something I could get I’m sure.”[/color] Figuring that was a half decent compromise, Leon shrugged his shoulders and finished off the last egg roll before more things came. The animal fries were one of his favorites, and they made it how he liked with shredded chicken and extra cheese. There were a few slider plates with different little sandwiches on them. Intermediary samplers. [color=629c3f]”Fuck yeah, that’d be a massive help. I ain’t got a ton of shit, it’s just more than a car worth, y’know? And there’s some shit I gotta be more careful with, like my computers and my guitar.”[/color] Cass was pretty satisfied with that offer… delighted, really, considering she’d been expecting multiple trips by herself. She reached out for one of the small sandwiches, devouring it in two bites. [color=629c3f]”You’ll get to see [i]my place[/i]. Well, it’s rented, but I made my room my own! Which’ll be a bit of pain, ugh, I’ll have to take all my shit down… Hmm…”[/color] She tried to remember what state she’d left it in before coming to visit. It hadn’t been too messy. No messier than normal, at least! [color=629c3f]”Nope, don’t think I have any shit I don’t want you to see in there! Like, ooo, no evidence of all my past murders. You may wanna bring an eyemask, though, I dunno if you can sleep in a room that isn’t all fucking black!”[/color] Happy to be of more use to her than anyone else, Leon smiled and nodded as he crunched through a forkful of fries. [color=C67C12]”Oh, I think you’ll rock me to sleep just fine.”[/color][hr] Hours later, with the two wolves cuddled side by side after a long night of howling at the moon, there was positivity draped in the air like a thick blanket across them. It was the perfect pot of emotions to stir up. This game had been played a few times already. - The hunting and prodding for an opening that Kane and Abel could slip into through the Emotional Field. Most of the time, Leon was out of the question unless the Wolf Queen felt a desire to participate. While she typically didn’t love the Cats getting too close, sometimes she could be bribed with certain pleasures that would allow them passage and the opportunity for the sweet Richoux nectar. But this new one… She was fresh, like a fruit pulled from the tree that morning and placed into a basket for breakfast. Only, it was a problem. No matter how many cracks there were, something strange would happen every single time. Assuming there was enough of an emission that they’d be able to slip in, Kane and Abel deftly bombed the area with their slumber spell. Its subtle nature passed along through both Emotional Fields, hitting Leons and getting swallowed by Lelou while Cass’ body would quietly slump just a bit further. But climbing up onto her side wouldn’t disturb Leon anymore than it would disturb Lelou… But she knew. And she could only grin as she held onto her King-Consort within the den of his mind’s eye. She was no stranger to a little jealousy, even if she [i]liked[/i] the outsider. Thus, nobody was rousted. The predation would be attempted again tonight, and she was curious to see if there’d be any results on the part of the wretched feline. In a strange flash of reality, the two cats became one in a mind-bending amalgamate horror, whose face and neck twisted like spirals as it screamed out with no sound. The echo of this scream crawled deep into Cass’ Emotional Field, wriggling in until it found a nick to bite into. The cavernous echo of a bombing run overhead shook the bunker. Children screamed, women echoed the sentiment, and gruff old voices could only struggle to call out for safe passage to others. Before her, the metro bomb shelter slowly but surely gave way from the distance to a very close position. Collapsing walls and Earth caved in all around her, giving way to a blackened sky full of fire. London wasn’t just burning… It was as if every single one of the worst scenarios were taking place. In the short distance, with rhythmic marching like an arena full of boots, darkly clad figures were trampling over the dead and dying. Rifles fell only to sound the drumbeat’s cymbals with clacking explosive metal. Fall, shoot, rise. Fall, shoot, rise. Scream, scream, scream… The Hun had arrived, and the only color left in Cass’ world was red behind white behind black. Britain was Fallen. Well damn, this shit sucked. Cass’d been relatively chill in the familiar bomb shelter, thinking about the beer she could steal from her parents, until that safety was suddenly ripped out from under her. Her heart thumped in her chest as she looked about her beloved city- Wait a fucking minute. This wasn’t Manchester. This was fucking London! Beloved city, her ass, just the sight of Big Ben collapsing was enough to make her feel a bit sick. Not cause it was collapsing, of course, but cause it meant she was in [i]London[/i]. London that was… being invaded? The bombs had been familiar. Scary, yes, but it was a fear she’d lived through and survived. Survived? [i]Oh[/i]. It was a dream, wasn’t it! Of course! There’d never been a land invasion. Through all the bombings and the rationing Britain had stayed strong. The War was done. She’d seen it finish, celebrated it and all. [color=629c3f]”Oh fuck yeah!”[/color] Cass suddenly exclaimed, grinning widely as her confusion turned to excitement. If this was a dream, and she was in control of herself, she could do whatever the fuck she wanted. Absolutely [i]no[/i] consequences. [color=629c3f]”I always wanted to shoot some fucking Nazis!”[/color] Cass kicked aside one of the excitingly gorey dead bodies beside her, picking up a rifle that she had no idea how to use. But it didn’t matter! This was a dream! Which meant her spray to win tactic, otherwise [i]completely[/i] unviable, worked. Suddenly she was mowing down invaders left, right and centre- eating bullets like an absolute champ because again, dream. Though she did dramatically fall down a few times before continuing. Desperate to rise the reaction,the cats purposefully shifted to doing everything they could to make it worse. Suddenly, they weren’t in London. It [i]was[/i] Manchester, and people she knew were “dead”. Probably the worst possible thing is that getting closer to the piles of Nazi corpses revealed that each soldier wore the face of her Brother lost in the fighting. To make her at least feel some kind of basic sadness from missing someone who was gone… There [i]were[/i] people who weren’t able to be victimized by a Wampus Cat… But they were few and far between. To be as such is to be a master of Green Lux, whose joy is utter anathema to the Wampus of Shimmer. Otherwise, to be a master of Yellow or Pink, for the two are capable of bolstering their Emotional Fields in ways otherwise inaccessible to the average Adept. Of course, Cass’ Green Lux was a natural deterrent… But for Kane and Abel, the presence of a freshly ripened fruit - A “freshly” kindled Adept - usually means an easy Lux-based meal. But this… [i]Individual…[/i] Was [i]impossible[/i]! Cass lowered her gun as the scene shifted, head tilting. Weird. She [i]knew[/i] this was a dream. Meant to be a nightmare, probably, but her only nightmares were properly realistic… not that she’d had any for years. Just during the War, immediately after it, the like. She hadn’t changed it. Something else had. She ignored that thought for a moment, crouching down beside one of the bodies wearing her brother, Rowan’s, face. As much as it was grim, it was nice to see it again. [i]Properly[/i] rather than the fuzzy appearance it took when she tried to remember him, or in her own dreams. Just like how he’d looked when he left… too perfect for someone who was dead. Not that it made her any less annoyed. She straightened back up, tilting back to stare up at the sky. [color=629c3f]”C’mon, seriously? Like thanks for letting me see his face again and all, but you guys gotta give up with the creepy cat shit you’re trying. I ain’t budging.”[/color] A long, snake-like appendage made a motion in the burning gutter by Cass’ feet. Attached to a long string of guts was Rowan’s head. And, to go with it, a great deal of spine. However, one of his eyes was blue, and the other was red. [color=8442f5]”You love this face? Want him to come back? I can do that.”[/color] Suddenly it was a warm spring day in the city. It was all gone, and Rowan was standing in his uniform… [i]Just[/i] like the day he left. But, it’d only be the day he left. There was nothing to see after that. He never came home. Yet, he held out his hand. [color=8442f5]” ‘Mon, Cassi… We’ll grab a pint and a pie. I miss you.”[/color] It was difficult not to feel a hint of sorrow. Cass was a happy person, but still a person. And even after seven years, that grief was still there. [i]But[/i] it was just a memory she’d relived time and time again, and cried over so many times. She’d look at the worn little picture of the two of them before he left… but now it brought warmth more than it did the sadness. Because he was always there, in a way. They could only show him like this because he was integral to who she’d been. Because she loved him enough to remember him as clearly as possible. [color=629c3f]”No.”[/color] Cass folded her arms. Bringing back someone from the dead was a tempting thought, but she knew it wasn’t possible in that way. The soul moved on… He was gone. She’d accepted that a long time ago. [color=629c3f]”What I [i]want[/i] is for you to get out of my dreams. Don’t y’know it’s rude to peek in on people’s happy memories? Like, what else are you looking at?! Oh my god, are you guys voyeurs too?!”[/color] Fed up and unused to being resisted, the entity could only scowl. Even as she stared at him, he wouldn’t let her off. Rather than be ignored, the [i]thing[/i] wearing her brother’s skin stared at her and gripped his fist tightly at his side. [color=8442f5]”Oooooh… If you… You… Are so lucky, Girl. I [i]know[/i] how to break you. It would be too [i]easy![/i] I like the challenge! So, you just enjoy your free fucking nap, and suck the Wolf’s cock again while your at it so I can stare at your fat fucking a-”[/color] The waking world returned to Cass as Leon was shouting. [color=C67C12]”-et the fuck off her! V’then ad’aad! Ib urralis [b]oren IMMULMALKUS DEVO CA-”[/b][/color] He had the cats by one throat, consequently lifting the actual body and the illusion at once. Whatever strange language that was spilling out of his mouth seemed to be giving rise to something else: A set of burning red runes that were starting to boil through his skin on the arm holding the cats. In turn, the beast struggled. Half holding onto its shape, the wretched thing twisted in strange ways as it blinked in and out of reality in between Leon’s searing and rapidly growing claws. As he finished his chanting, there was a burst of flame that drove its way across the cat and caused it to howl like a demon from the lowest parts of Hell. It struggled harder now, ripping and tearing at Leon’s arm until he finally sent it through the air on a crash course for the hard stone floors. Kane and Abel bounced like a rubber ball, smacking into the wall of the hall outside. Still howling and on some kind of magical fire, the cats sprinted into the room once occupied by Casey and out of the open window until they were gone from the Cannery. Leon quickly grabbed ahold of Cass. [color=C67C12]”Cheeks… I’m sorry, Babe. I’ll uh… I’ve gotta find another place to keep that fucker. He’s really getting out of hand. Are you okay?”[/color] he asked her, hand rubbing against her shoulder. [color=629c3f]”Oh dude, I’m fine.”[/color] Cass patted his arm, really not looking like someone who’d just woken from a cat induced nightmare. There was an excited little twinkle in her eye- because that weird chanting with runes and fire had been fucking [i]cool[/i]. [color=629c3f]”[i]Pretty[/i] sure I just pissed him off. He quite literally told me to go suck a dick… Wait!”[/color] Cass’ other hand pointed at Leon. [color=629c3f]”If you’d find another place for him, that mean you [i]ain’t[/i] keeping him around cause you enjoy being watched? Thank fuck, honestly, I ain’t sure how I feel about a cat monster liking my ass that much…”[/color] Leon’s sleepy brow furrowed. [color=C67C12]”Because… [i]What?[/i] No, no. No way. Uhhhh… Well… I do like being watched, but the whole horrifying dream monster thing who has been torturing me and my siblings since we were kids thing? Way more of a turnoff than a turn-on if you know what I mean.”[/color] He thought for a few moments about the implication of what he could tell her… But he’d made a promise with Trisha and Casey that he wouldn’t overburden her with Temple bullshit. Which, of course, he expected the hunt for his Father to be. She would’ve gotten the public face of the story: “Gravity” Maxwell Richoux, disappears outside Lyon, France villa. Not seen for a decade and a half. There was buildup there, and she was a fan… She wasn’t too close. But, he had given her the presumptive honor as part of the old “Team Gravity.” A disciple, just like he had been to his Father. [color=C67C12]”The truth is, the… Cat… Claims to know things about my Dad. Implied things like it knew where he was. I’ve been trying to get somewhere by placating it, but… Well, between Casey and Trisha having troubles upstairs, Theo too… Now you? Even if you’re okay, it’ll get old eventually. Trust me as a man who used to be a boy that peed the bed nightly because of that fuck.”[/color] he admitted sadly. He’d tell her. Not ask for her help, not involve her. But she had the right to know, and he figured offering a bit of himself would be good for her in case there was any lingering sorrow that she was trooping through. He wanted her to feel like she could actually count on him… Because she could. Everyone could. Through the slit windows, the sky was still dark outside. But Leon could smell the change in the ozone that came with the closeness of the sun. The daytime, plainly, smelled different. He guessed it was close to six in the morning. His still sizzling arm reached out for his phone to check. [code]05:21[/code] Close enough. The hand Cass had placed on Leon’s arm rubbed comfortingly, and there was a quiet empathy in her eyes. She understood… if it claimed to know where his dad was. She’d wavered for just a moment when it offered to bring her brother back. But that wasn’t possible. Rowan was [i]dead[/i], even if they’d never gotten the body back. Gravity, on the other hand, was missing. Presumed dead. But it seemed that… he could actually be alive? If the Cat [i]really[/i] knew where he was. It could be a body, but it could be a living, breathing man. Cass didn’t immediately react, because she wasn’t sure how to. It was strange. She idolised Gravity, but she’d been quite young when he went missing. Only a couple of years really watching boxing with her older brothers… then he was gone. It was really when she’d gone back and watched older matches as a teenager that she’d become the intense fan she was today. If he was alive? Well, fuck. [color=629c3f]”No wonder you keep it ‘round if it knows that. Like if there’s a chance he’s still alive… fuck, dude, that’s insane. Fuck.”[/color] She shook her head. That was pretty big fucking news. Honestly, if it was just her it was bothering? She’d tell him to keep it there. But if it was bothering others too? Trisha… [color=629c3f]”It doubt it’s gonna just tell you cause you’re nice to it- clearly wants some shit. It couldn’t get whatever it was from me so it went as far as tryna offer to bring my brother [i]back[/i]. Maybe a few years back it would’ve got me. Well, not with the bringing him back shit, I ain’t stupid… but with whatever they were tryna do with the dream bullshit. At least make it realistic? As if I’d ever be in fucking London during the war.”[/color] Cass talked pretty openly, as she often did. She didn’t really [i]need[/i] the prompting. And she did feel fine. Because the sadness from thinking about her brother was the kind of feeling that came up every few days, just muted from what it had been. That was grief, after all. [color=629c3f]”Ohhh, but you should’ve heard the fucker at the end! A real fucking perv- have you tried showing it a porn magazine? It might cough up if it sees some nice asses.”[/color] Leon didn’t have a joking face on. He didn’t sound [i]deathly serious[/i] or anything, but the lack of overall expression was certainly not normal. [color=C67C12]”Better off we just do away with it. Before it starts stooping too low for bad vibes… I don’t think either of my sisters are right. Or Junior, honestly… Those kinds of nightmares probably have something to do with it.”[/color] Better off that the implications didn’t hang in the air. Especially not with what he’d told her the first night; about how Kane and Abel hadn’t just been their family’s cat, but the [i]Richoux[/i] family cat for at least a couple of hundred years. Thankfully it was all interrupted by Leon’s phone going off. [color=C67C12]”Oh, fuck…”[/color] he grunted, staring at the unknown number on his phone. This was the day and age of the unknown number, however, so he answered it like he would any other personal call. A small throat clear, then his big finger pressed the little screen. [color=C67C12]”Richoux speaking.”[/color] [color=fa912b]”Thank [i]fuck[/i].”[/color] An unknown number but a familiar voice. Leon would recognise Bianca, former covenmate turned fed. [color=fa912b]”Is it a fucking coven policy to not pick up the- That isn’t important right now. Leon, great- I assume you haven’t heard from Linqian? She told me yesterday that she wasn’t going on your lil raid, cause she was doing her own- and I haven’t been able to get through to her this morning. Or the last few hours.”[/color] Leon’s face dropped, and Cass would be able to see the disdain on his face for the current situation. His hand slipped up across his face, finally brushing the hair in his face out of it. [color=C67C12]”Alright, cool. Nice to hear from you too. So… What? You think she’s in trouble or something?”[/color] He was trying to think of why she was calling him. Why… But, then he remembered… [color=C67C12]”Wait… Devola was in there too, wasn’t he? There! Linqian’s probably elbow deep in Greyson’s ass somewhere. Mission successful, and they’re celebrating.”[/color] he tried to blow her off. Cass watched silently, head tilting slightly as her ears enhanced slightly to be able to hear both sides of the conversation. Didn’t exactly seem like a private one… though her fingers started tapping on her legs in her attempt to stay quiet and still. [color=fa912b]”You think I’d bother calling you if there was a chance they’re just fucking?”[/color] Bianca replied bluntly. [color=fa912b]”She took her younger brother with her- fuck knows why- and he isn’t answering his phone either. [i]He’s[/i] a teen- fucking glued to that thing!”[/color] There was a sharp exhale of air on the other end, and some clattering. Bianca’s voice lowered a bit. [color=fa912b]”Look, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t think it was serious. I’d go myself but I’m [i]on duty[/i]. I’m doing my best to stop my boss coming down on all your asses again, so help me out with this? I’ll owe you one.”[/color] Apathy turned to a sharpness in Leon’s eyes as he looked up from his hands at Cass. [color=C67C12]”You’re not going to owe me one, Bianca. You’re gonna owe [i]us[/i] one. Now where am I going, and what the fuck should I expect?”[/color]