[color=darkgray]“Is that what you’re hoping for?”[/color] asked Ezra, pushing up from his chair. The faintest twitch at the corner of his lips hinted that he was possibly just fucking with Casey. [color=darkgray]“I got a security force on overwatch prepped for evac if things get too awkward. Unfortunately, I have an unusually high tolerance when it comes to annoying little brothers.”[/color]

[color=springgreen]“I am just dying to see the [i]remains[/i] of this feast,”[/color] said Tansy, obviously unhappy about the whole honored guests being left to scavenge through the cold scraps that had already been rummaged through and picked over by the dirty little hands of the common man. 

Tansy took point, with Ezra falling in behind Casey and Trisha, effectively trapping the couple in an unhappy Vanburen sandwich. Tansy appeared to have pulled something in her neck, given how frequently she was shaking it as they came closer and closer to the spread. Perhaps she was even suffering a minor stroke, given by how her lip had curled up into a sneer on one side of her face and seemingly froze. Ezra seem unbothered by the whole affair, although perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he appeared uninterested. 

He did take the opportunity to engage Casey, if only to avoid being interrogated by Junior more about his mother while they were in line. Big fucking surprise–the cult baby had mommy issues. Ezra doubted Junior was the only one. 

[color=darkgray]“So what is the plan once the honorable discharge goes through?”[/color] asked Ezra. [color=darkgray]“We can quit trying to pretend that anyone in either of our families actually has to do anything to get by better than most, but surely you still want to be somebody.”[/color]

Trisha had been bombarded by so much love by Casey that any displeasure at being trapped between her siblings was overwhelmed, for now. She was just happy to be standing beside him, able to slot right in at his side and lean on him slightly as they joined the queue. She only hoped a little bit that Tansy was actually having a stroke rather than showing her displeasure, not even urging it on like she normally would… She was trying her best to hold onto the positive. The warm feeling of love she got from her fiance to be. 

[color=d1b300]“Casey’s already left the army. He's working in security now."[/color] Trisha answered Ezra first, glancing up at Casey with a smile that turned much less sappy when her gaze when back to her brother. 
[color=d1b300]“He isn't the type to stay idle-” like me- “just because we're comfortable financially. Isn't that right, Case?"[/color]

She [I]was[/I] curious what Casey was going to say. The truth? That they planned to move somewhere remote together and buy plenty of land, so Casey could have his animals and plenty of place to dig his holes for hot springs, bunkers and the like. That wasn't likely to go down well with Ezra… So would he lie, make something up that'd sound better? Would she want him to, so Ezra didn't judge them? She wasn't sure… 

Casey let the gears in his head turn for a moment as he tried to figure out what Ezra meant. He presumed that there was a military job? And that he was… Just [i]leaving?[/i] He immediately straightened out and stuck out his hand toward Ezra.

[color=577d06]”Dude… I get what happened, so I’ll just apologize outright. Honestly, I thought you were calling me a leech just because, but [i]clearly[/i] we just misunderstood one another. The [i]job thing.[/i] Trisha’s right, I’m working security [i]as we speak.[/i] I’m head of Temple security! Up and down the West Coast! It’s been my unsteady gig for as long as the War’s been over, but recently I came into it full time! Been great, but it’s always been a temporary stepping point!”[/color] 

His enthusiasm was immediately filling his voice again. Granted, he’d not fully considered the idea that crashed through his head, but it wasn’t an impossibility if it was something that [i]could[/i] be explained. Maybe he’d actually be impressed.

[color=577d06]”I’ve got plenty of my own money to finance my ambitions… I’m not looking for investors, nor am I interested in dipping my hands into whatever Trisha has. Never have been. But, being somebody is good! I’ve gotten used to being somebody in the scope of my career, and doing security in the private sector has kind of rekindled my appreciation for, like, leading people.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Oh good,”[/color] said Ezra with a faint smile, assuming Temple Security was some kind of euphemism for Thought Police. [color=darkgray]“I was worried that you would say something stupid like how you planned to pursue a degree in literature.”[/color] 

As they got closer to the serving area, the actual makeup of it became more clear. All of Andrade’s restaurants were represented, and there seemed to be two lines for each serving area. This was no normal buffet: The gastronomic requirements of this lavish expenditure of foodstuffs made full-fledged kitchens located just off the side of the platform. It had to be a hundred and fifty or more people toiling like madmen, while the serving area itself spiraled off into tendrils leading to each of the serving tables.

People carrying steaming hot trays constantly replaced food as some of the Richoux clan took two plates from each table. There was a decision before them, as to where to find food from. Noticing how confused and frustrated Tansy looked, Junior had a perfect opportunity to sweep in.

He held an empty tray with a few empty plates, and offered it up to her.
[color=92278f]”Miss Tansy! Come on, let me help you love, you look so confused! I’m surprised my Mother hadn’t explained her grand vision for the food did she? Surely, you’ll be interested in the [i]Madre Verde[/i] table? Definitely the most health-forward table here tonight, come on! Fresh salad, beautiful greens, something to be thankful for!”[/color] he chided, waving her on like a six and a half foot tall butler.

[Color=springgreen]“[I]Darling[/I], I think you must be the one confused if you think that is what that look was,”[/color] said Tansy, meagerly hiding her repulsion as she produced a hidden handkerchief to add a degree of separation between herself and the salad tongs as she very cautiously plated three leaves and a single slice of cucumber onto her plate. [Color=springgreen]”I suppose it must be [I]nice[/I] for the kitchen staff to not have to work so hard. It is a holiday after all.”[/color]

Junior instinctively leaned in toward her like a cat looms over a mouse before the final blow.

[color=92278f]”Oh my [i]God[/i]... You… You don’t [i]know[/i], do you!? Oh, you precious soul, never change.”[/color] Junior smiled with incredible smugness, shaking his head and making his bid for the first plate.

As for poor Casey, he simply couldn’t make heads or tails of Ezra. Not without magical prodding to get the job done partly. As if a degree in literature was any less useful than a degree in biochemistry at any kind of basic human level? Or any other silly degree people went to school for.

But he didn’t shake the hand… As if whatever that had been wasn’t worth finishing.

[color=577d06]”Nah, no literature degree. No degree, really, but I’m one Hell of a fast learner. I intend on finding people to teach me the ropes around business, then surpassing them in capacity. Total job security, right?”[/color] he asked, looking around at all the different tables.

[color=577d06]”What uh… What line are you getting into? Italian food? Hispanic food? Or are you going straight for the desserts?”[/color]

Trisha’s nausea started crawling back into her throat at the overwhelming smell of all the food. The appetite that had come back for a short while was gone again, soundly destroyed by all the belittling conversations at the table. But she had to eat something, otherwise Casey would worry more. And she definitely couldn’t look as picky as Tansy, with her barely existent salad. 

And she was worried Ezra would latch onto Casey’s lack of degree and try to insult his intelligence because of it. She didn’t want that. Maybe she could redirect him…
[color=d1b300]“Andrade had a hand in deciding the menu for every table. All the chef’s are trained by him… But no matter what you pick, it’ll be something he thought of.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Greatest chef in St. Portwell yet still managed to somehow forget a classic like stuffing?”[/color] said Ezra, drifting past the lack of degree comment like he’d drifted past the ill-timed attempt at a handshake. His tone lightened. [color=darkgray]“Thank god. It’s nice to see some variety. I’ve already had enough bread, so maybe we’ll see how a turkey taco translates.”[/color]

As Ezra moved to fill his plate with a Thanksgiving meal that would make his forefathers roll in their grave, Tansy seemed more distracted by Junior than the food in front of her. The thought of not knowing something was absolutely haunting, especially if it was some kind of juicy gossip. 

[color=springgreen]“Now Maxwell that is just simply [i]unfair[/i]. I thought these Temple events were the time to share family secrets. You simply [i]must[/i] tell me what it is!”[/color]

Unfortunately for her, expecting gossip out of this particular string tug was the wrong direction to look. As Junior promptly loaded one of his seven plates, intending on making a preliminary goaround before settling on what provided the most joy. But, what gave joy now was superseded by Junior’s ravenous need to “educate the ignorant” as he saw it.

[color=92278f]”Tansy, there’s no secret here… A top-quality buffet style dining experience, served in quantities that you see around you? It’s so much more work than banquet-style formal dining. Knowing exactly how many portions you’re serving versus an infinitely depleting buffet table… It’s a big difference. This is a [i]lot[/i] of work.”[/color] he explained calmly, pointing out at the toiling masses.

[color=92278f]”There’s a chance you’ve never bothered to look at a professional kitchen, but rest assured that every single member of Andrade’s staff across all seven restaurants are here at a hundred and ten percent capacity. [i]Please[/i] eat a little more than a slice of cucumber. At [i]least[/i] let me put something together for you.”[/color] 

Calmly in voice alone, the expression on Junior’s face was one of murder. As if, in her abject disinterest, Tansy Vanburen had somehow managed to trigger [i]him[/i] instead. Truthfully, he was. There was a reason Andrade held eleven stars across the five establishments that qualified, and the way he saw it, there was an ultimate ignorance being perpetuated. The same mouth that would eat at its private table now stuck its nose up at the food open for all God’s creatures to consume…

Except for one tiny detail, insignificant to anyone outside their world… Tansy was a Blind. There wasn’t even a sniff of Lux on her. Pure as the driven snow, unable even to perceive the subtleties around her. He only wished for Pink lux of his own in these moments.

[color=springgreen]“Really? Well, I suppose food is [i]better[/i] when someone else plates it for you,”[/color] said Tansy, either not noticing Junior’s face or, more likely, noticing how she had struck a nerve and now taking the opportunity to further poke it. 

Casey, meanwhile, watched with far more joy as Ezra bothered putting things on his plate. Even if he ended up not eating any in the end, at least he bothered to save face… Otherwise, he feared Junior may have an actual crashout. He could tell when his younger brother was no longer having fun: When he got polite. When he could no longer avoid extrapolating every single point as moment to moment became one slight after another. 

[color=577d06]”French meat stuffing: May not even recognize it, honestly. Spiced pork, bread crumb, but it ends up being a different consistency and visual than the American boxed stuff… Or wherever it comes from, I uh… Don’t really like stuffing. Babe? You okay? Don’t try too hard, y’know we’re gonna have weeks and weeks worth of leftovers available.”[/color] he looked down at Trisha and smiled widely, doing his best to get her smiling too. 

After all, they only had to be here [i]so[/i] long. Food, then wait for Casey’s spot in the night’s speaker list. Formally announce things, then off into the dark of the night. [i]Right?[/i]

[color=d1b300]“I’m okay. It's just, y'know, earlier…"[/color] She didn't just mean the potential Lynette child conversation by earlier. It was everything. All the conversations. The setting. She struggled to eat in a group setting as it was. Nevermind all the other things affecting her appetite… Casey knew at this point how variable it was. 

But she couldn't help but smile back at him. They were in this together, at least. Her smile turned softer and more present. Just having him notice she felt a little off helped ease the nausea. 
[color=d1b300]“I’ll be alright as long as we're together. So don’t worry, I'll eat more than a couple of leaves. I should be able to manage a small plate, I think. I don't want to miss out on having some while it's fresh from the kitchen. Anyway, it's our first Thanksgiving together, it'll be less special if I don't make the most of it- food and all."[/color] 

Her eyes creased cutely at Casey before she took a plate. As she started to serve herself, it became quickly obvious she was just following a bit behind Ezra like a baby duck. Maybe it was that they had the same taste… But more than that, it meant she didn't have to decide where to go. She would have followed Casey, but she knew he'd ask what [I]she[/I] wanted. She didn't actually have a strong preference. But she was careful to only put stuff on her plate she knew wouldn't be a problem for Casey- avoiding red meat completely. 

[color=darkgray]“I’m impressed that you’re putting up with this,”[/color] said Ezra lowly to Trisha, still acting as if a private conversation was something possible after feeling all of those pesky brushes at the dinner table. [color=darkgray]“Going to something like this in the first quarter of a relationship is typically a dealbreaker for me. I prefer to be able to pretend that the person I’m dating is an only child orphan for as long as possible. At least I don’t have to worry about being the biggest asshole brother here tonight.”[/color]

Ezra nodded towards the other table, where Junior was helping Tansy make a pasta mountain upon her plate that would surely go untouched as she said, [color=springgreen]“I believe we’ve already made enough work for these [i]poor[/i] souls forced to man the kitchens, haven’t we Maxwell? That’s good.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“I know neither of us are her biggest fan, but do me a favor tonight? Keep an eye on her glass whenever he’s nearby,”[/color] said Ezra with a dark chuckle as he continued to fill his plate. 

[color=springgreen]“R-really, that’s enough Maxwell! Think of the proletariat!”[/color]

[color=92278f]”Oh, I am, darling! Thinking of those poor starving children with flies around their faces, and how fortunate we are to be able to indulge like we can! Besides, Andrade’s food is magical! It’s worth pigging out!”[/color]

Trisha turned her gaze away from the food to stare up at Ezra. Did he expect that she was going to agree that it was actually a dealbreaker? That she was miserable because she had to suffer through Casey’s family? Sure, Lynette and Junior made her pretty miserable. But the rest were fine. And he was absolutely worth it. 

[color=d1b300]“Sure- but he won’t be able to do anything on Casey’s watch anyway.”[/color] Trisha intoned. At least she assumed Casey wouldn’t let his brother spike her sister’s drink… As much as he knew how much Trisha disliked Tansy. It wasn’t to that level. At least, dealing with that would be an absolute pain in the ass. 

[color=d1b300]“And I’m not putting up with anything.”[/color] She continued quietly, even though she knew perfectly well half of the people from their table could listen in if they wanted to. She certainly expected Casey would be… 

[color=d1b300]“I actually like all of his siblings- the biggest asshole brother aside. So it’s clearly not a dealbreaker for me! I’d much rather be here than at whatever Tansy was planning to organise for us this year.”[/color] That bit was true, at least. She’d been dreading Thanksgiving apart from Casey. 
[color=d1b300]“I [i]love[/i] Casey enough to deal with a lot of things. That probably surprises you because you don’t actually know me very well… I’m [i]happy[/i] to meet his family and be as involved in his life as I can be. You probably wouldn’t understand, though, your marriage did fall apart, didn’t it? You’re not really a good authority on relationships.”[/color]

[Color=darkgray]“That’s unfair,”[/color] said Ezra, not sounding too terribly upset by the mention of his forever ago divorce. [Color=darkgray]“I’m an expert on bad ones.”[/color]

Trisha rolled her eyes at him. She wasn’t going to let the implication get to her. She [i]knew[/i] her relationship with Casey wasn’t bad… Because she’d be in plenty of bad ones herself!
[color=d1b300]“Oh, then you won’t be much help here, since [i]my[/i] relationship isn’t bad. It’s very good, actually. I’ve never felt so loved or cared for before- not that you actually care about that. But anything you say isn’t going to change my opinion on my boyfriend.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Wasn’t trying to. If anything, I was praising him,”[/color] said Ezra, glancing down at Trisha’s plate before handing the tongs in his hand directly to her instead of setting it back in the serving dish. 

[color=d1b300]“It didn’t really sound like praise.”[/color] Trisha frowned, taking the tongs and serving herself a tiny portion of what he’d just taken. She was filling her plate up with small amounts of everything she wanted to- or thought she could- eat from this table... Though so far that really had entailed essentially following and copying Ezra. The more variety the more likely she would be able to stomach it through her nausea and lacking appetite. Her head twisted around to glance back at Casey. 

[color=d1b300]“Are you praising his ability to drag me to family functions?”[/color] Her frown lightened and she laughed a little bit. Now that she was looking at Casey instead of Ezra, her lips began to tug back up into a smile. Her free hand naturally stretched towards him with a tiny grabbing motion. 

Seeing his face, she couldn’t stop words she normally wouldn’t say to her brother slipping out.
[color=d1b300]“That’s… fair enough. There aren’t many people who I’d come to something [i]this[/i] big for willingly. So, that shows just how important he is to me. [i]This time[/i] it’s real.”[/color]

Casey was a bit further back, having been caught by a couple of his cousins who were loudly blabbing to him in French. But his attention was fixed mostly on Trisha’s conversation. Said cousins were all Richoux, thus harboring a rainbow of secondary luxes that simply weren’t white. They couldn’t listen like he could. Couldn’t hear the strangeness of the Vanburen conversation. 

Though, was it any more strange than his own conversations?

“Caseau!? [i]Is she Asian[/i]?”

Casey was taken out of his attention bubble to throw a glance at cousin Marshall, the latter’s accent thick enough to make Casey wonder if he heard correctly.

[color=577d06]”Why would that matter?”[/color]

“She looks Filipina, I wondered if she spoke Spanish.”

Casey narrowed his eyes. At least the cousins weren’t part of the usual family gossip column, so their questions were often sincere in spite of being ill-advised.

[color=577d06]”Again, Marsh, struggling to see where that becomes relevant.”[/color]

“He’s been learning Spanish!” Cousin Holly said calmly, her voice chipper and excited.

[color=577d06]”Oh… Well, no, I don’t think she does. Wouldn’t it be, like, old school Spanish anyway?”[/color] Casey asked, questioning the logistics.

Marshall shrugged, sliding his second full plate onto his tray. 

“I’m sure it’s translatable.”

“No, he may have a point-”

Casey’s attention faded away again as he avoided the prime rib trays, thankful that they had lids to keep the heat inside. Strawberry-cream salad was hard enough to look at, the massive pink bowl of whipped cream and strawberries looking like whipped fat spread across a blood soaked mirror. He wished it looked as good as he knew it was, but the mental image made intake impossible.

Rather than stick around for more dumb questions, he surged ahead and slotted in close to Trisha.
[color=577d06]”Hey, finding enough interesting food? Don’t feel pressured to eat too much, either of you. I’m not sure about you, Ezra, but I know Trisha’s not a huge eater. Whatever doesn’t get eaten gets donated, after all.”[/color] he commented, practically announcing his insertion in the conversation.

Trisha relaxed more when Casey got close to her, the subtle tension held in her frame washing away for a moment. She tilted her plate towards him to show off the myriad of food on it, all neatly placed to avoid much cross contamination. None of it was his no go food, and she'd tried to use some of her own judgement to avoid things that could bring up images of dead people… 

[color=d1b300]“I’m finding plenty… I'm making my own little taster menu, see?"[/color] She smiled up at him. Her eyes flickered towards Ezra, before going back to Casey. 
[color=d1b300]“Ezra was just praising your ability to get me to things like this. I feel like we're one step closer to getting a sliver of approval from my side of the family!"[/color]

Trisha knew Casey had probably been listening in but Ezra wouldn't, so she was making sure it would be fine if he brought anything up…
[color=d1b300]“Praise is hard to come by from the great Vanburen family head."[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Only for some people,”[/color] said Ezra with a ladle full of food in his hand. He didn’t put the food on his plate. Instead, the ladle hung in suspense over the one empty spot on his plate as he turned an eye towards Casey. Dryly he said, [color=darkgray]“Should I put this back? As much as I enjoy couscous, it now feels like I’m stealing food from the needy.”[/color]

It was probably a joke, given how he then immediately plated the couscous as Tansy rejoined the group, carrying two loaded plates. One was an absolute garden of leafy greens and chopped veggies drizzled in a pungent vinaigrette. The other was an amalgamation of slaughterhouse victims, an absolute meat mountain with perilous crags of steak cooked so briefly that it was blue, juices cascading down the sides to form a small, bloody spring at the base. A large dollop of horseradish crowned the summit, like a snow covered mountain or a snapped bone punching through seared flesh. 

[color=springgreen]“Has anyone seen a trash can?”[/color] asked Tansy, gesturing with the plate of beef. 

Trisha's eyes widened at the sight of the bloody massacre that was Tansy's meat plate, completely taking her out of her annoyance at Ezra's pointed comment. It was Casey's worst food nightmare served up right in front of him. 

Reactively she put down her own plate, both hands going up to hold Casey's face. She practically forced him to look at her, [I]hoping[/I] that she was somehow fast enough to stop him seeing the meat mountain. 

[color=d1b300]“Just put it down somewhere if you don't want it, Tansy! Someone will take it or clear it up."[/color] Trisha snapped unfairly at her sister, without taking her attention off Casey. She looked at him with soft concern. She wasn't actually sure [I]what[/I] to do, but she wanted to try to help. When he'd been triggered on the mall that time, holding her had helped. Her voice turned incredibly gentle as she spoke to him. 
[color=d1b300]“Are you alright, Casey? If you aren't, just look at my face, okay? It's much better than anything else, isn't it? Just look at me…"[/color]

By the time Trisha could get a hold of Casey’s face, he was already clearly turning pale. A little bit would’ve been fine; he’d even been trying to condition himself lately by [i]cooking beef.[/i] But, inevitably, it’d end up as a hunk of grey and brown tissue fibre in the pan before he was able to eat it. This stuff was, as he’d heard a million times, [i]perfect[/i] medium well with the prime rib erring even further back toward “blue”. 

First came the sensation of [i]chewing[/i]. He couldn’t really help but feel the grit of the meat between his teeth, every instance of eating a tough steak coming back all at once. That very quickly spiraled into a more active association, the half-cooked smell of freshly seared meat changing in his head to fit a more [i]sinister[/i] scent profile. 

He closed his eyes for a moment, instinctively smiling at Trisha.
[color=577d06]”Woah… Hey… It’s alright, Trisha. We’re fine. N-no worries…”[/color]

Junior was very close behind Tansy, and instinctively snagged the plate.

[color=92278f]”The day Andrade Salamente’s famous churrasco goes in the trash is the day I get rid of my keyboard you- Fucking… Lovely lady! The least you could do is say [i]No I’ll stick with the salad Maxwell![/i]”[/color] he snapped, taking her plate as his own and storming off in a huff back toward the table they’d be eating at. 

At least Casey wouldn’t be tormented with it… It clearly wasn’t inte-

[color=92278f]”Oh, Caseyyyyy… You want any, Bro? Limited supply, I hear they’re only doing like two sides of this shit per serving order!”[/color]
The plate of beef quickly came up between Trisha and Casey, meant to waft up into Casey’s nose which it did.

He reeled in response, knowing that only by the good grace of all that fresh seasoning was he able to stand it being so close. It even made him a little hungry, were it not for the-

[color=577d06]”Can you not?!”[/color]

Casey’s hand subtly flicked upward, wrapping into Junior’s collar and very intentionally starting to [i]force[/i] him into a direction that wasn’t right next to Casey.

[color=92278f]”Heyyyy, hey! Don’t embarrass us in front of guests, huh? You used your words!”[/color] Junior replied, unable to raise his hands due to them being full of plates.

Casey untensed, releasing Junior’s collar and backing off slightly.

[color=577d06]”Sometimes you seem not to care.”[/color] Casey replied quietly, hoping that Ezra wasn’t just staring as this happened.

Like the asshole he was, Junior grinned and brought the plate of meat back up into Casey’s face, causing him to close his eyes in frustration.

[color=92278f]”I really can’t believe how much of a pussy the military turned you into; it’s crazy. See you at the table.”[/color]

And before Casey had the chance to retaliate further, the bastard was scuttling back off toward the table leaving Casey to deal with his reaction. An embarrassing one, but he couldn’t help the irritation. Especially not when it came to Junior, who very [i]clearly[/i] did what he did on purpose! He could only clear his throat and shake his head.

[color=577d06]”Sorry! Sorry, my apologies, he… Really loves starting shit, unfortunately.”[/color] he finished with a sad tone in his voice.

[color=d1b300]“[I]You[/I] don't need to apologise for [I]him[/I]."[/color] Trisha said very firmly, slotting back in beside Casey and taking his hand. She held it firmly, subtle floral scents beginning to raise off her skin and overwhelming any lingering smell of meat. Holding tight to him, her concerned gaze moved from Casey to glaring at Junior's back. She was like a tiny guard dog- a little chihuahua ready to bite anyone that did anything she wasn't happy with. 

Her glare turned to her siblings, warning them against disagreeing.

[color=springgreen]“He really shouldn’t disrespect our [i]brave[/i] vets like that!”[/color] said Tansy, seemingly outraged. She wedged her way between Trisha and Casey, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. [color=springgreen]“These boys today think that being a keyboard warrior compares at all to a [i]real[/i] man. Don’t worry Casey, none of us think the [i]military[/i] made you into a pussy.”[/color]

Ezra had been staring as Casey had put his hands on his brother and gave Trisha a quick glance that might’ve held some actual worry in it, but it evaporated as soon as it had arrived. Tansy pulled away from Casey before Trisha had a chance to nip at her, cutting a warpath towards the table. With a shrug, Ezra turned to follow after her, curious to see where this disaster was heading. Tansy loudly set her plate down on the table, grabbed her wine glass, and smacked it hard with a fork. 

[color=springgreen]“Excusez-moi,”[/color] said Tansy loudly. [color=springgreen]“It is a Vanburen tradition to go around the table to say what we are all thankful for. I would like to start by saying how eternally grateful I am for our military protecting our freedoms, and I am especially thankful to share a table with one of these heroes. Without men like Casey, we surely wouldn’t be able to celebrate one of the great American traditions.”[/color] 

There was no hint of the usual winking irony or insincerity in Tansy’s words as she put her hand on her heart and raised her glass towards Casey, [color=springgreen]“I would like you all to join me in thanking Casey for his service in keeping us safe at home.”[/color]

Tansy set her glass down so she could start a round of applause as Ezra sank into his seat, not bothering to back her up.

[color=darkgray]“Yeah, the Huns were practically knocking at the door,”[/color] muttered Ezra. 

[color=springgreen]“What was that, Ezra? That didn’t sound like you were saying thank you,”[/color] said Tansy, lowering her voice as she continued trying to get an applause to happen. [color=springgreen]“I think it would mean [i]a lot[/i] to Casey if he heard you say it.”[/color]

Trisha had let go of Casey’s hand and grabbed her plate to follow after Tansy, hoping to stop or suppress whatever she was going to do. But of course there was no stopping Tansy when she set her mind to it… And Trisha was mortified. Not because she didn’t think Casey deserved recognition. But she highly doubted he wanted all of this attention. 

She turned to look at her boyfriend with a wide, apologetic gaze. Then she looked at Tansy, putting her plate down and staying standing. 
[color=d1b300]“Thank you, Tansy, but let’s not force our [i]rarely- in fact, never-[/i] used traditions on all of these people? Everyone knows Casey, they’ve probably already thanked him for his service [i]individually[/i].”[/color]

The Eldest Richoux, Big Maxwell III, hadn’t bothered to get up knowing full well that there were dozens of grandchildren who would all offer him up a plate along with diminutive Sylvie beside him. Thus, in the vague half-crowding of the tables in the VIP section, people raised their glasses half-assedly until Max finally stood with his own. He didn’t know this Blind woman from a hole in the wall: Wasn’t even sure why she was up there with them to begin with, but wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to rally his clan and kin behind something he vaguely agreed with.

[color=fc6603]”Oui! To Casey, Blade of his Chantry; and to all of my Grandchildren, living and passed, who gave their bodies up to preserve Liberty and Freedom in our time! May our dearly departed rest in the arms of the Ancients to which they owe their lives… [b]SANTÉ![/b]”[/color]

To that, rather than an embarrassingly personal cheer that some [i]outsider[/i] tried to faust upon them, those still sitting in the box and the immediate area around it cheered in a wild uproar. Maxwell the eldest raised his glass at Tansy directly, winking in the way only a charming old man could before sitting back down to his actively growing hoard of food.

Casey was arriving behind Trisha by the time the cheers were happening, and some of his nearby elder cousins happily patted his shoulder, even kissed his cheek as they passed by with their various assortments of plates. However, he just wanted to make sure [i]Trisha[/i] knew he was thankful. So, he mostly brushed them off before scooping the plate out of Trisha’s hand and wrapping his arm around her.

[color=577d06]”It’s alright… Thank you, Babe; you’re always looking out for me, ain’t you? Means more than you know, probably…”[/color]
He was being a little quiet and reserved at this point; clearly [i]because[/i] of the attention. He didn’t want to play it too far up, for fear that it may make her [i]more[/i] uncomfortable than he was.

[color=d1b300]“You’re welcome… I’ll always try to.”[/color] Trisha said simply, managing to smile gently up at him. She leaned into him for just a moment, eyes flickering closed to enjoy the feeling of his warm body next to hers and the strong arm around her. It was easier to ignore everything with him there. She allowed herself the short moment, ignoring all the looks from people around them, before going to sit down. 

Junior, having to save face for his beloved Grandparents, was one of the most active clappers, forcing his recently reclaimed seat back to stand and give raucous applause - Much to the dismay of the cousin behind him whose chair was [i]mashed[/i] into. As Casey came up the stairs, Junior sarcastically started clapping [i]at him[/i] directly, like he was some kind of dog.

It only took a second for Leon to snap at him.
[color=C67C12]”Can you act like a normal dude for ten minutes?”[/color]


[color=92278f]”[i]Can you act like a normal dude for ten minutes?[/i] Shaaaaat aaaaaaaaaaahp Leon… God, you’re always the fuckin’ family lawyer, you should go back to school for your Bar.”[/color] Junior snapped back immediately, shunting himself back down into his seat to sit and dine with the rest of them…

Now with food, there were still several more guest speakers in line before Casey was set to be up. Of note was the Matron herself, who had disappeared at some point in the transition for food, thus leaving the MC for the night to wrangle the next person in line. Some representative from the new German branch of the New Dawn, reformed after… Well… 

It gave Junior the chance to cause more mischief regardless, rather than having to pay attention to Mommy’s last speech. Though, he waited for his real target to return and sit fully…

[color=92278f]”Wow! Ezra! Look at all that food compared to Trisha and Tansy! I know, obviously, guys eat more… But, do you ever get extra hungry when you expend too much Lux?”[/color] he asked [i]very[/i] casually.


For just a second there was the briefest telling look on Ezra's face that said as much as any acknowledgement ever would before he was able to suppress it with a look of disinterest as he chewed on his food, calmly put his fork down, turned to Junior, and said, [color=darkgray]“Sorry kid, I don't subscribe to the same redpilled grindset sigma male bullshit that you're clearly hyped on. What are you even talking about?”[/color]

As soon as Trisha heard the word ‘Lux’ coming from Junior’s lips about her oldest brother, her gaze shot to Ezra. She [i]tried[/i] not to look too shocked, but she was practically staring a hole into the side of his head. Enough so that she [i]saw[/i] the look, momentary as it is. She didn’t know Ezra’s tells anywhere near as much as she did Tansy, but she’d spent enough time around him growing up to… Know what it meant. 

He had Lux. He knew he had Lux- well of course he did. And as much as she disliked Junior, he wouldn’t be lying- because he had White Lux! And a magical superiority complex! Since when had Ezra kindled? How long? Had everyone else figured it out and [i]not[/i] told her. No, no… Of course Casey hadn’t mentioned it yet, how could he with people perpetually hanging around them! It was fine. She wasn’t freaked out at all. Absolutely wasn’t staring at Ezra like he’d grown a second head, fork hanging near her mouth with the shredded chicken on it dropping back onto her plate. 

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, he’s just talking ‘bout some bullshit toxic masculine online shit! All based on superiority and all’a that- I wouldn’t worry about it, Ezra! Lux is what they call, uh, masculine aura or some bullshit! I dunno, just had to get my brother off it a while ago!”[/color] Cass lied out of her ass, trying to save Trisha from her shock. Of course, Cass had no idea Ezra was an Adept before right now! She was resisting every urge she had to confirm it with Leon, who could sniff that shit out!

In the time the others had been getting their food, Cass had already gone through [i]three[/i] plates. She was practically inhaling her fourth. 
[color=629c3f]”[i]Obviously[/i] he just eats more cause he’s gotta bunch’ve height on em, c’mon, Junie!”[/color]

[color=92278f]”Oh, you happy gang of goons… We're all feeling reflexively defensive today, aren't we? Look, I mean- The girl won't remember a thing.  That was already a plan. Neither of you were supposed to, Y'know the grand joke.[i]‘I saw you at Thanksgiving, you were there!’[/i]”[/color] Junior started, admitting to something as his frustration and impatience for chaos overwhelmed him.

Casey and Leon exchanged the most brief glance between one another. Obvious thanks to the half-empty ghost salt Shaker, Junior was already on another planet. His White Lux was clearly twisting about him in staunch masses as the magically enhancing food bolstered him. The two elder brothers knew immediate conflict, the sensation of natural curiosity that filled the Richoux mindset made them want to press.

[color=C67C12]”We're approaching party foul territory, June.”[/color] Leon said simply, head turning to stare down the seats at Junior, who in turn picked up a hunk of prime rib and let it tumble down from his hand into his waiting maw.

With a snap, he shut his trap and grinned widely. Casey's behavior was telling enough, that he couldn't look up long enough without feeling like he'd be sick from watching Junior.

[color=92278f]”I don't exactly think it's fair. Guy's an Orange Adept. Just like us.-”[/color] Junior started, turning his head slightly to look directly at Ezra.
[color=92278f]”-You can feel scared that people know a little secret about you, or you can actually relate to people you don't know for once. It's not like we [i]didn't[/i] already know, right Casey?”[/color]

Junior was a tyrant, surely; but even broken clocks are right twice a day. Casey turned to Leon, then did his best to look at Junior before he finally leaned into Trisha.

[color=577d06]”Do I [i]need[/i] to dirty my hands with this?”[/color] he asked her with the kind of zen concentration that screamed “I have more important things to worry about.”

Trisha frowned. The whole thing made her feel a bit tense, but more than anything… She was in shock. Ezra wasn’t the only sibling with magic- Sabrina, Izzy, Brooke… But she’d known about the other three for a while. Whereas she hadn’t known about [i]him[/i] this whole time. Ten years she’d had her magic… He was almost definitely kindled by then! Probably long before! 

Did she want the conversation to continue? Not particularly. But she didn’t want Casey pushing himself either. Or [i]any[/i] more of a scene being made. That’d be worse. 
[color=d1b300]“No, it’s fine. As long as… no one’s head is messed with too much…”[/color] She trailed off quietly, reaching out to place a hand on Casey’s arm gently. 

Cass’ deflection completely failed, [i]but[/i] Trisha seemed a bit less like she was a step away from panicking. Maybe? She was talking to Casey at least… Cass glanced up at Leon, before shrugging one shoulder. 
[color=629c3f]”Well fuck me! That’s why you were going on and on about weird ass shit earlier, Junior? Fucking hell…”[/color]

She waved one hand, quickly finishing her fourth plate of food in a couple of gulps. 
[color=629c3f]”Is everyone an Orange Adept around here?! Like whatever that God- Ancient, whatever- was just went ‘you have Orange, and you have Orange, and cause you got Orange you gonna end up rich as fuck’? Like, damn… But don’t worry about it being outed, Ezra, more people got Lux than not round here.”[/color]

Ezra had gone full stonewall of stoicism, his face appearing almost bored. His mostly uneaten plate was pushed away from him, unlikely to be touched again, as was his half-drank beer as he sat back in his chair and merely observed.  Anya had already wisened him up to Trisha’s involvement with Sycamore, and he had held some suspicions on the Temple’s nature, but he wasn’t going to start sim sala biming out in the open. Especially not after Junior had revealed him and Casey had already known that Ezra had magic. It didn’t so much color the guy’s relationship with his half-sister in a new way; rather, it reinforced some previous doubts. 

He turned sharply as he felt someone approach him from behind, ready for the bag to be pulled over his head and his arms and legs tied to the chair. Seeing that Tansy had returned from trying to gold dig someone’s grandparent did little to put the man at ease. People like her and Blake Schmidt were the reason why it was so fucking stupid to talk openly about this kind of shit–one whiff of it and they would do anything to have it. Not that Ezra was trying to be some kind of sentinel or watcher like that Faris chick for something as  dull as the greater good. He just preferred his clubs to have some exclusivity. 

[color=springgreen]“Oh dear, I appear to be missing out on some [i]lively[/i] conversation,”[/color] said Tansy, smoothing out her dress as she retook her seat, trying not to appear too delighted as she sensed the discomfort coming from her siblings. [color=springgreen]“What’s an Orange Adept?”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Yes, yes, and how many sizable donations to the Temple must we make before we become a Clear Adept?”[/color] jabbed Ezra, still trying to play dumb, if only to see what else it would reveal. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s not something you’d be interested in, Tansy.”[/color] Trisha said, immediately realising after the words came out that wouldn’t deter her. It would just make her more interested… Fine, let her know and get her memory erased afterwards. Though her shoulders were tense, only worsened by the joy she could sense from Tansy, she rubbed her hand gently on Casey’s arm to make sure he knew she was alright. She was… almost curious how long Ezra could last, as much as she didn’t want Tansy finding out about the magical world at all.

[color=springgreen]“Oh, pish posh, I have many interests you are unaware of, Patricia,”[/color] said Tansy, leaning forward as she propped her hands underneath her chin. [color=springgreen]“Illuminate me.”[/color]

Trisha took a deep breath. Maybe this was better. She could put it however she wanted. It couldn’t be an outright lie, because she knew Junior would immediately force himself in to keep the conversation on the track he wanted it to. 

[color=d1b300]“It’s a term for someone who can use [i]magic[/i]. Someone born with magic, like a witch or wizard. The colour is the type…”[/color] Trisha answered simply with a fake smile, looking at her sister with the expectation she’d either say magic wasn’t real or immediately rip into her for thinking it was.

Ezra shot Trisha a “what-the-hell-are-you-doing” look as Tansy shifted in her seat, visibly confused as she pulled back like a cobra poised to strike. The first thought, as was often the case for Tansy, was to assume that she was being ganged up on–a bizarre attempt at some kind of prank at her expense. Her green eyes scanned the table for secret smiles. The second thought was that her sister must’ve been exposed to some of the Temple’s Koolaid through Casey’s backwash. The look of confusion dropped from Tansy’s face as it was replaced with an air of smug superiority.  

[color=springgreen]“Oh, that’s [i]nice[/i],”[/color] said Tansy, excited for the future torment she could afflict upon her favorite plaything once she’d moved on to the next boy. [i]Did she tell you about magic yet?[/i]

[color=92278f]”I’m fuckin’ doin’ it-”[/color]

[color=577d06]”-Please don’t!”[/color]

[color=92278f]”Convince me!”[/color]

[color=577d06]”I feel like Ezra being uncomfortable right now is plenty? And she’s Blind. For once in your life, be a steward and not a tyrant.”[/color] 

There was a burbling between the two, the signature of their Mother’s White Lux utterly unyielding. She didn’t need to emote; it was an intrinsic understanding that they would simply [i]not[/i] be touching Tansy any further. Casey bristled, that there was no explicit order to prevent further talking in the first place. There was a grin on the end of Lynette’s force, knowing that she’d give her baby boy plenty of room to have his fun.

[color=92278f]”Fine! Fine. Alright, Ezra! Let’s talk about other Blinds. It’s why I was so curious earlier, figured I’d ask about your Mom. Trisha’s a Warlock, Tansy’s Blind. You? Actual factual Sorcerer. A real, honest to goodness Orange Adept. She happen to be French? Could be a chance we’re related somewhere [i]real[/i] far back. The whole table behind us, the rainbow on an Orange background. What was her maiden name? Dubois? Lorent? Martin? Bernard?”[/color] he started to ask in a rapid fire fashion.

Casey’s jaw clicked slightly, and he turned his head away from his younger brother to Ezra.

[color=577d06]”Like you or not, you don’t deserve to sit through this shit. Say the word, I’ll take you back to whatever security you have here.”[/color] he said, trying as hard as he could to not sound like he was kicking the guy out. 

If he wanted to sit through it, he could. But, genuinely, Casey hated every little thing Junior did. It was a nightmare to deal with, and all of the embarrassment that was going to take place from here on landed squarely on his shoulders.

[color=darkgray]“Worried we might be related?”[/color] asked Ezra sarcastically. [color=darkgray]“I know it’s difficult to tell, but Trisha and I don’t have the same mother. We could all spit in a test tube and send it off to some lab if it’ll put your mind at ease.”[/color]

[color=springgreen]“Those tests aren’t always accurate!”[/color] interjected Tansy. 

[color=darkgray]“It’s Harrisburg,”[/color] said Ezra, ignoring his sister as he turned towards Junior. [color=darkgray]“English. Harris, originally, but someone along the line wanted everybody else in Pennsylvania to have zero doubt who the city was named after and changed it to match.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Ohhh, posh settler English, eh?”[/color] Cass piped up. Only those kinds of people could make sure there was a city named after them. 

Trisha stared at Ezra, unsurprised he wasn’t leaving. She wasn’t surprised by Tansy’s reaction to her explaining magic- that smug smile that had her insides crawling- either. It was why she’d so openly said it in the first place. She [i]knew[/i] Tansy wouldn’t believe it. 

[color=d1b300]“Casey knows we have a different mother, Ezra. It’s obvious.”[/color] For more than just appearance. Trisha imagined some here hadn’t even clocked it until they read Ezra’s magic.

Cass laughed a bit at Trisha getting cutely defensive in response to [i]sarcasm[/i], before pointing a finger at Junior.
[color=629c3f]”You guys really gotta stop with the ‘you might be related to us’ shit.”[/color]

[color=92278f]”Oh hardly worried! It wouldn’t be the first case of cousin fucking.”[/color] Junior blurted out behind a laugh. 

The only person suddenly deflated by all of this was Casey. He'd presumed, worked himself up internally predicting, there'd be some great crashing of symbols. Some pin drop that would mark this moment as the opening of hostilities as he had to ferry this rich dickhead from this spot to a waiting armored car. But, it was all just a joke. One that Junior was in on too, it seemed. 

[color=C67C12]”Y'know I heard that before, Tansy! You send your spit in, they just spin it with everyone else's and then expect to be able to pick things out?”[/color] Leon could see the rage in his little brother's face as he was trying to deal with the moment internally. 

For Leon, it was so much easier letting Junior's antics roll off his back. The revelation of Ezra Vanburen's magic wasn't such a revelation when he'd seen the reports too… But it was his personal reaction.

[color=C67C12]”Quite the, uh… Calm and peaceful response all in all, Ezra. Were we all tip-toeing around needlessly?”[/color] he asked outright, unconcerned with Tansy's response. 

[color=92278f]”Ain't like there's much else to talk about here besides magic anyway. Y'see how desperate we were for the dam to break!?”[/color] Junior goaded.

Casey just stayed shut, purposefully withdrawing into his plate of food rather than continuing to engage this particular angle.

Trisha wasn't particularly comfortable either, but she was used to Ezra's stoicism in the face of all sorts of crazy topics. She remembered there'd even been a game among some of her siblings to try to get him to react. All of the talk about magic [I]should[/I] be enough, but maybe it wasn't any worse than having to hear about your father's affair for the fourth time at the dinner table. Trisha was certainly numb to the latter. 
She shuffled her chair a bit closer to Casey's, twisting her body towards him and stretching out her legs to brush against his. Her hand went to rest on his thigh, thumb comfortingly rubbing as she just looked up at him. Not saying anything, but just being there… 

[color=629c3f]"Kinda boring that's all you can talk bout June- but Leon's right, you got a real poker face, Ezra! I mean I already seen it before, but this is pretty insane. When I had the shit outed I was fucking freaking out- is there anything that'll break it? If fucking magic doesn't?!"[/color] Cass leaned forward enthusiastically, pushing half into Leon's space.

[color=C67C12]”We could always talk about The Elite! If we're really going for juicy, right?”[/color] Leon goaded, unable to help himself.

[Color=darkgray]“Weren’t we already talking about ourselves?”[/color] said Ezra without a hint of irony as he deflected, transforming The Elite into merely the elite. 

What they should’ve been talking about was Tansy. The look of smugness that had adorned Tansy’s face had hidden itself as the others had continued to harp on this magic chicanery, shifting into something almost sympathetic in how lost she appeared to be. She took a sip of her wine, frowning into the glass, reappearing with a plastic wine-stained smile as she set down the glass.

[Color=springgreen]“So does everyone here believe in magic? Is this some kind of bit?”[/color] asked Tansy, failing to sound anything other than bitter, certain that the others were attempting to aggravate her via exclusion. 

Junior didn’t hesitate to show Tansy [i]exactly[/i] what he meant.
[color=629c3f]"Oh, you’re simply my favorite bag of hot air. No, watch.”[/color]

Junior looked at Leon, who oddly nodded with a small grin forming on his face. After all, Ezra’s deflection didn’t escape him either. This man was practically responsible for withholding information that would’ve directly caused [i]his friends[/i] to die. Now, they were sitting at the same table!
But, Junior’s focus fell onto the set of dishes and utensils next to him. He twisted his hand slightly, and on their own, the plate and its constituents began to rotate and fold like they were all paper until they came together and formed a stable [i]little crab construct[/i]. Which proceeded to blindly shuffle across the table, bumping into one of the centerpieces before toddling its way across Tansy’s half-empty plate.


[color=d1b300]“What the [i]fuck[/i], Maxwell?!”[/color] Trisha had been looking more at Casey than the table, but she couldn’t miss the crab plate moving across the table. They’d had this discussion earlier! He’d agreed not to make the fucking cutlery dance! Talking about magic that Tansy would never believe in was one thing, but showing it? 

She glared at Junior, and then Leon too. He wasn’t stopping him… He was egging him on. At least Casey was clearly so completely broken by the situation he couldn’t figure out how to do anything about it. What did she even say to her siblings? 

[color=d1b300]“Ezra, we’ll-”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Wait, you’re part of the fucking Elite?! The rich magical assholes?! I thought you were a half decent rich guy!”[/color] Cass completely interrupted, standing up and pointing a finger directly at Ezra. The words just came out- she couldn’t hold it in! Even if it’d piss off Trisha! 
[color=629c3f]”Holy [i]fuck[/i]!”[/color]

[color=springgreen]“Holy [i]fuck[/i]!”[/color] shouted Tansy in unison, knocking over her glass of wine as she jumped up from the table and pointed at the crab construct nesting in her salad. 

She continued to babble something, her words nonsensical, as Ezra grabbed the large dinner napkin out of his lap and draped it over the spilt wine so that it did not spread closer towards him. It was the only thing that could keep him from rolling his eyes at Cass for calling him a rich magical asshole while she had been indulging herself in a bounty of food provided to her by other rich magical assholes. He moved his hands back to his lap, covering his wristwatch to mask the faint orange glow as he made motions to cover up Junior’s party foul. 

[color=darkgray]“I don’t recall ever saying I was,”[/color] said Ezra, squaring up his shoulders as he looked directly at Cass. If there was any hint of untruth in his words he didn’t show it. Besides, it was her fault for assuming he’d ever been halfway decent. [color=darkgray]“Typically, people who are part of the elite don’t call themselves that. At best they say they're fortunate. At worst? De–”[/color]

There was a shrill scream as Tansy snapped out of her stupor, grabbed her plate, and launched the crab construct as well as the salad away from her and directly towards Junior. 

[color=darkgray]“–serving.”[/color]

Being next to Junior, Cass was right in the salad splash zone. But the subtle Green Lux constantly circulating her body made her reflexes far above a normal person’s. It was easy to grab Leon’s shoulder with one hand, pulling herself up and out of her chair and into his lap- avoiding the stray vegetables that splattered her chair. 

[color=629c3f]”You- You know we mean a specific group, right. Not just any [i]elite, rich folk[/i]? You ain’t that dense, are you?”[/color] Cass stared at Ezra, impressed by his still lasting poker face. Had he been at Elysium Island? Did he know the whole time Leon and Trisha were part of Sycamore? Did it really matter in the grand scheme of things when he was here as Trisha’s family. 

[color=darkgray]“Are dense people typically capable of making that kind of self-analysis?”[/color] said Ezra, straight-faced, ignoring the actual question.

She turned her head to Leon, looking a little helpless. 
[color=629c3f]”Babe, I don’t think anything’s gonna get through that wall.”[/color]

Trisha was doing her best not to panic. She found herself desperately hoping they’d call Casey’s name right there- then he could do his speech, and they could leave. But did she want him to propose while this was going on? While her older sister was shrieking. It would completely overshadow it… She glanced at Casey, who’d clearly completely detached. She couldn’t… Expect him to deal with everything. 

[color=d1b300]“Tansy, calm down!”[/color] Trisha pushed up out of her seat, closer to both Ezra and Tansy. Normally saying something like that would have the opposite effect, but a gentle floral scent was suddenly leaking from her. It wasn’t strong enough to affect anyone with magic, but it would have an incredibly calming effect on Tansy. 

It was surprisingly easy to adjust the pheromones she normally used on bees to work on people… Especially when it was just the opposite of her normal alarm pheromones. Taking a deep breath, she purposefully kept it at a level that wouldn’t start to get through Emotional Fields, even though they’d be able to smell it. Concentrating it on Tansy as best as possible to stop her from freaking out so much.

[color=springgreen]“You’re causing a scene, Patricia,”[/color] said Tansy, settling back down into her seat, reaching for her empty wine glass. [color=springgreen]“No need to raise your voice.”[/color]

Trying her best to keep her own temper under control, Trisha turned from her siblings to Junior and Leon. 
[color=d1b300]“Can you two [i]not[/i] ruin another dinner?”[/color] 

Junior didn’t stop cackling, even as he commanded the construct to break apart and cease to be. The constituent pieces clattered back down onto the table as mundane bits, leaving behind only a vague crab shape to remember it by.

[color=92278f]”Between that and what’s coming? Oh, I’m satisfied.”[/color] Junior finally cooed through half-taken breaths.

Leon had, however, gone from vaguely satisfied to wholly annoyed. After all, maybe now wasn’t the time or place, but he was clear of mind these days. Clear enough to know that he had the chance to ask some rather pertinent questions.

[color=C67C12]”Trisha, I’m… Sorry in advance, for this getting brought up, but the Archweasel here is at least sitting there somewhat stuck. The least he could do is explain what the thought process was behind stealing and stashing some pretty serious circumstantial evidence pointing toward the [i]people[/i] responsible for the deaths of over a dozen Sycamore Tree Coven members over the last six months. I figured the grace period had just about run its course, since we’ve at least acknowledged magic.”[/color] Leon spoke calmly, gaze turning directly back to Ezra.

There was, of course, no response from Casey. He’d long stopped moving, going for his plate, reacting with anything other than his hands gripped together with his elbows on the table. His forehead rested against the knuckles of his thumbs.  

[color=darkgray]“Actually, I could do less,”[/color] said Ezra. He turned towards Casey and Trisha. [color=darkgray]“Common occurrence for family dinners to be brought to a screeching halt by conspiracy theories and wild accusations, I take it?”[/color]

[color=springgreen]“We should’ve been served sooner. Not enough bread to soak up all of the drinks,”[/color] said Tansy, slumped back in her chair. [color=springgreen]“Why hasn’t a wizard cleaned up this mess yet? Why hasn’t the help?”[/color]

Trisha had moved back over to Casey, forgoing her seat to drape herself over him after a moment of hesitation. Her arms wrapped around him as best they could, her head coming to rest at the back of his. She didn't stop shooting daggers at Leon with her eyes the whole time. Sure, right, the Elite stole Kari's notes. [I]Blake Schmidt[/I] did. There was no fucking organisation to the group! No checks before doing anything… Technically she'd known, too… 

She temporarily ceased glaring at Leon to turn to Ezra, nodding as she answered his question.

[color=d1b300]“Something like that. Casey was the only brother the hotheaded gene missed, obviously… It's got nothing to do with alcohol. They just like making an ass out of themselves."[/color] She side eyed Tansy, doing her best to not look too pissed off at her for immediately turning back into a bitch now she wasn't freaking out. 
[color=d1b300]“I’m sure if you signal for them a [I]staff member[/I] will come clean it up."[/color]

Then Trisha looked back at Leon again, over the top of Casey's head. Her gaze was less heated as she forced herself back to some semblance of calm. 
[color=d1b300]“Now’s [I]not[/I] the time, Leon. If you want to ask about that, I can give you Blake Schmidt's phone number- why not go right to the source! Or at least wait until the end of the meal. But if you're expecting Ezra to be able to explain Blake’s thought process, you'll be disappointed. You've found the notes anyway… Please let it go [I]for now[/I]."[/color]

[color=92278f]”Oh, God, she’s gonna cry! Look at her, its [i]like a beaten bichon frise![/i]”[/color] Junior intoned from the side, hand waving at Tansy on display.

He just wanted everyone to be aware of the absolute state. He wasn’t exactly familiar with all of Trisha’s powers, but if she could deflate such a vapid bag of air with such haste, her lungs must’ve been huge. Not that he figured it’d help when he grabbed a stack of napkins and forced them into a weakly constituted paper gollum. It’s life was meant to be used to clean, and it proceeded with a fork and its own body to scoop and wipe any of the messes around Tansy.

Leon’s grip around Cass tensed. It wasn’t Junior anymore. It was the information he had. The very real threat, credible, that existed in the cracks of St. Portwell. Express from Miami, like a bump of blow scattered in the breeze to trap itself among the cobbles. How the books [i]really[/i] cracked the case open once there was a concerted effort to translate them. How the Hearts, and the last bikers and every other group in the city was being looked at as competition… Even the ones who never had their hand in the cookie jar.

And how the Temple had been complicit. How his Mother had known, and how his Aunt had been responsible for the [i]real[/i] shady deals. The ones behind both Leon [i]and[/i] Greyson Devola’s backs. The proposed [i]secondary plan[/i], some kind of contingency…

[color=C67C12]”Trisha… I…-”[/color]

Casey cleared his throat. His head shifted, and he looked up at Trisha.
[color=577d06]”Unless we can all come to some kind of agreement for parley elsewhere? I think Leon’s line of questioning may wind up in everyone’s best interest. The game’s not so simple, and we have more than enough evidence to suggest that the remaining members of the Elite are in grave danger. The talk of security wasn’t hot air, Ezra. They’ll be coming for you next. You, Lin, Johnny V… Blake Schmidt’s dead. Blake, his son, Jiao-long Liu, the wife…”[/color]

Leon simply held his hands up, not quite expecting Casey to spill the beans like that.

[color=577d06]”But, how could you trust any of us, except if we made sure you were in a nice, big, open public space with thousands of eyes on you? After all, we’re just… [i]What did that memo say?[/i]-”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”-Ehhhhh… We’re not dredging up what can’t be changed. Point is, Trisha’s a family member now. Which makes you family by proxy. Which means, we’d hate to see anything happen to you at the hands of the real boogeyman. It’d help a lot if we… Had an understanding of mutual respect? Since, frankly, we’ve had no reason to assume you have any other opinion toward us besides whatever was said in your memos…”[/color]

[color=577d06]”It’s mostly true, by the way. Your research and surveillance over there must be top dollar. Or, uh… Gosh, y’know, I’d really hate the alternative.”[/color] Casey intoned, clearing his throat.
[color=577d06]”The [i]off[/i] chance that you’ve been… Working with the folks from Miami… You haven’t right? And the Elite was just keeping Kari Wilson’s documents for leverage later on?”[/color]


If the deaths of the Elite had been a revelation to Ezra he didn’t react to it as such, instead maintaining the mild look of dissociating disinterest an adult held on their face as a child excitedly explained to them whatever the hell a “row block” was. The spell he’d cast on himself was doing some heavy lifting, allowing him to maintain the perfect poker face as his mind raced a mile a minute. He shouldn’t have been so surprised that the Temple had done their homework, although if they were wanting to ace the test they should’ve been more worried about making it to that day–talking about the Floridians was a good way to get expelled. Blake allegedly had good security, too. 

Now how to get away from this table without making his exit look like some kind of admission to anything. Circle back to something said earlier? Reveal, or maybe just pretend, that he was shaken by the news? His finger twitched. Lying and acting weren’t quite the same thing despite what some would suggest. Ezra wasn’t sure he could risk trying to cast another spell now that there wasn’t a failed attempt at a food fight serving as a distraction. 

[color=darkgray]“Casey, I…”[/color]

[color=springgreen]“Wait,”[/color] said Tansy as she lazily held out a hand, taking her eyes off of the miniature garcon raking the leaves of her discarded salad with a fork. Something had shifted in her. It wasn’t just the wave of calmness drowning out the feelings of terror or the worrisome possibility that Junior’s magic meddling had unlocked some arcane secrets hidden away inside of her. It was something slimy: a snake that, instead of merely shedding its skin, decided to thicken it instead. Tansy rolled her eyes as she leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, no longer feeling the need to appear as anything but what she actually was–the absolute worst. 

[color=springgreen]“Patricia is family now? Oh, that is funny,”[/color] said Tansy with a mild titter before saying the part that she would usually leave unsaid. [color=springgreen]“What a colorful cast of conmen. This close to starting to buy the shit you’re selling.”[/color]

Tansy held up her finger and her thumb about an inch apart before gesturing with her hand towards Trisha, turning the table’s attention away from Ezra as he took the opportunity to pull out his phone, threw up a finger as if to say “one minute”, and put it to his ear as he stepped away. 

[color=springgreen]“Nobody wants her as family,”[/color] bit Tansy, baring her teeth instead of pretending to smile. [color=springgreen]“Just ask her whore mother. Lost all interest in her daughter once big brother locked up the inheritance in trusts.”[/color]

Trisha was still getting over the news that half the Elite was dead when Tansy shifted. This was a Tansy she knew just as well as the fake, saccharine sweet Tansy- the one who openly ripped into her rather than trying to subtly tear her down. 

But being used to it didn't mean she could handle it any better. The calming, floral scent in the air cut out completely. She managed to stop it from switching to something harsher, but panic quickly clutched her. Her whole body tensed up, hands gripping onto Casey. It was difficult to breathe. She didn't want to react like this in front of so many people… Fuck, fuck. 

Tansy had spilled the one thing Trisha didn't want anyone else to know. She couldn't bear to look at Cass and Leon. Or further down the table, to people who might be listening in. Mia, Hari… She didn't want any of them to know. Because Tansy was right. Nobody wanted her as family. If her own mother didn't- every single other person biologically related to her didn't- why would anyone else? Why would anyone ever want her? 

Casey, maybe. That was different… But his family? The people around him? The longer she was there the quicker they'd realise how awful she was. Leon already knew. His dislike of her was valid, no matter how much Casey and Cass tried to change it. It was only a matter of time before everyone else felt the same. 

[color=d1b300]“You-"[/color] Trisha sucked in a deep breath, eyes narrowing into a glare that tried to burn a hole in Tansy. Fear clutched her, threatening to escalate into a full blown attack. But it pushed her to attack more than it did to shut down when faced with her bitch of a sister. Cold anger settled in her voice, incredibly harsh without properly shouting. The distress was still audible even without it.

[color=d1b300]“[I]Don't[/I] talk about my Mom like that! She isn't like that. She doesn't care about my money. Why would she?! She wasn't even with Dad for it. Just because all you care about is money, doesn't mean everyone does."[/color] Defending her Mom before she defended herself… Because she loved her. More than she did herself, sometimes. 

Cass was absolutely speechless for once. Reactive anger writhed underneath her skin, her Lux trying to push up and out with it. But it was… Trisha's sister. How would Trisha even react if Cass stood up and fucking punched her in the face?! Fuck, she definitely couldn't, cause she probably fucking kill Tansy by accident. She dropped her hands to be hidden by the table, clawed fingers doing their best to not rip into Leon's thighs. She only looked at him for a moment before her head jerked towards Casey, and Trisha. Surely he'd-

[color=d1b300]“And- And you're just jealous because I've actually found people who care about me. Because you'll never find the same- And you don't want to lose the easy target! Fuck off, Tansy. Casey [I]loves[/I] me and his family actually like me. Is that so hard to believe?!"[/color] She wished she believed it. She didn't. She couldn't even bring herself to lie and deny that her Mother had abandoned her. 
[color=d1b300]“Just because our family's awful doesn't mean others are."[/color]

There was a terribly noticeable silence that was falling across the main branch tables. Not just at their end either… While the world outside the box seemed to move along without the slightest bit of attention paid, suddenly the immediate surroundings seemed to be a wholly enraptured group. Totally taken in by the Drama which very few had actually been keyed into from the beginning. The other end of the table erupted into cheers, even from some unexpected sources. It seemed like, either through passed-along information or first hand observation, the entire other end had found a way to come to the conclusion that Trisha had a spine.

Which bade well, as they all had cataclysm at the tips of their tongue. Each woman and man knew in themselves that [i]death would come soon.[/i] That the end was nigh, and all of this was just a silly end. A sendoff. It didn’t [i]have[/i] to be serious. Maybe Lynette knew everything, and all of this was just part of the dinner drama for her entertainment ultimately. Her last Harvest.

[color=8882be]”You fuckin’ tell em! God, if only your Mom was here, you could disown her too Trisha!”[/color] Lynette called across the table, raising her wine glass with a massive smile.
[color=8882be]”What’d you say that day, Tansy? Every woman deserves her fair opportunity to crush… Insects? Or was it expectations, I… I’m drunk.”[/color] She finished, letting her tongue playfully snake out of her mouth.

Leon was the first person to stand, one hand clinging desperately to Cass as he felt her tense up into a coiled spring. He could [i]smell[/i] the tension at all angles. So, when he shot up, it was almost reactionary. Like he’d have to stop… [i]someone[/i]... from coming to violence. Maybe it’d be Casey, if he weren’t so taken aback by the moment himself. He’d certainly not expected the Tansy outburst, and was truly dumbfounded for the first time in quite a while.

Leon had to be the spiritual heart. He had to lead by example. This couldn’t stand. His free hand reached for the mug still half-full of Last Round, and raised it up.

[color=C67C12]”Trisha was an Ally and Companion to me long before anyone else at this table. We have never seen eye to eye, but she fought and killed and bled beside me. I claim her as a sister with pride.”[/color] he said, staring down at Tansy and Ezra before turning his head to Trisha directly.

[color=C67C12]”I mean it… The only other people who saw you then… Clearly aren’t your kin or kind.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Yeah! Trisha's already my best friend- and I'd gladly have her as a sister too! Cause she's one of the strongest people I know, and I love her!"[/color] Cass practically shouted, able to move away from feeling completely murderous to full of love towards her friend. 

The next person to stand was unexpected as well. The golden afro down at the other end of the table stood and smashed her hand off the table. Clarissa Natale, who Trisha had only seen sparingly since relinquishing her home, raised her wine glass and spoke with conviction.

[color=e0c4ff]”We stood idly and waged a war of our own while the Stygian Snake ravaged our home. Our children stopped that evil, and Trisha was among them. And I watched her act with courage and valiance, and I’d happily take her as a Niece.”[/color]

More and more stood, following by example until everyone surrounded them. Even if some were doing it purely to spite others. Even the small butler mockingly raised his fork-tool to the sky in allegiance.

Casey hadn’t stood yet, but his fury had abated in favor of pride. Some, he knew, were simply signalling their virtue in the face of Lynette’s unwavering matronly judgement. But, he had high hopes as his eyes trailed from Leon and Cass down toward his sisters at the other end of the table. He even felt that his Grandfather had stepped closer, and was looming behind him like a human bastion.

The final person to stand and raise her glass formally was Lynette, whose devious grin hadn’t died.

[color=8882be]”The girl I’ve dreamed about all my life. I know you think I’m terrible… But I wish we had more time. Shouldn’t I be ashamed? I’m not. Divest thyself of what was never part of you. Who are they? Vestiges of hopes long gone. Go forward in love, sweet Trisha. We’ll have our time again, in the Sunshine.”[/color] 

There was a rousing cheer, and the group collectively knocked their drinks back, giving a few moments for those parties still sitting in defiance or indignance the chance to introspect.

But Casey pulled his lips back from his teeth in a grimace and leaned forward, clearing his throat.
[color=577d06]”Ahhh… Look, the offer still stands. I’ll… I’ll happily walk you out. ‘Cuz-”[/color] he shrugged, waving both hands gingerly.
[color=577d06]”-this ain’t a great look, is it Tansy?”[/color] he asked, looking toward Trisha in the last moment, hand returning to hers to hold it comfortingly again.

Trisha held onto Casey's hand tightly, squeezing it like he might let go again. She didn't say anything, just nodded slightly to him. She was overwhelmed by the reaction. Didn't believe a lot of what was said, but she tried to from the people that mattered. It was hard to dismiss Leon's especially when they clashed so often. Even [I]Lynette's[/I]- maybe she really felt that way... It was strange enough having one person defend her, nevermind so many. She just wished she could accept it more easily, and stop clinging to the past. Go forward in love, like Lynette so aptly put it. Her head dropped slightly, taking a deep breath through the residual panic, before she looked at Tansy again. Calmer this time, waiting for her response.

[Color=springgreen]“I…I…”[/color] stammered Tansy, her face resembling a prune as it wrinkled and became flush with embarrassment as her new found superpower was stripped away with the removal of the floral fragrance. She looked around helpless and confused at the gathering that now stared at her in defiance. 

[Color=springgreen]“I was just teasing, Patricia. Everybody is just too [I]sensitive[/I]. It was a [I]joke[/I]!”[/color] barked Tansy, looking as if she were about to cry. She ignored Casey's offer, scared that she was about to lose her favorite toy. [Color=springgreen]“You know I didn't mean it. I'm sorry, it should be obvious that I think the world of–shit!”[/color]

Tansy jumped back as she registered the fork-wielding monstrosity and cried out, [color=springgreen]”[I]What the fuck is going on!?[/I]”[/color]

Junior turned his overenthusiastic clapping to Tansy.
[color=92278f]”Congratulations, Tansy! The third eye opens [i]just like that![/i]”[/color]

Casey took a long, deep breath and stood up.
[color=577d06]”Come on, Honey… Let’s get these two out of here before they explode, maybe.”[/color] he intoned, looking around the table with quiet admiration before his head turned more to search for Ezra.

Nodding, Trisha leaned up onto her tiptoes to softly speak in Casey’s ear.
[color=d1b300]“We should see if Ezra will meet us another time. I don’t love him, but I don’t want him to die… Maybe he’ll actually talk then.”[/color]

She lowered herself back to her heels, gaze turning to Tansy. Staring at her calmly, trying to figure out how a confidence boost was enough for her to evolve into the ultimate fearless bitch. She didn’t particularly want to experience it again, but she also wanted Tansy to pay attention to what she was about to say. To not be freaking out over magic. The floral fragrance lightly filled the air again- an even smaller dose than before. Probably enough to clamp down on the freaking out.

[color=d1b300]“You weren’t teasing. I know you meant it. I’m not going to let you get to me anymore. I know that you and all my other siblings don’t want me… But that doesn’t matter, because I’ve found people who do.”[/color] She looked up at Casey with a brief warm smile, before it slipped away as her attention went back to Tansy. 

She moved forward, past Ezra’s empty seat and leaning down to whisper to Tansy. 
[color=d1b300]“Thank you, by the way. You really helped me and Casey confirm our relationship further.”[/color]

She straightened back up, gesturing for Tansy to move with one hand, the other holding out towards Casey. There was still a simmering panic underneath the surface, but for once she didn’t let it control her. She pushed past all of those insecurities to stick up for herself. They were still there, but it was a big step. 

[color=d1b300]“You should leave. You’re only going to make yourself look worse. We’ll find Ezra, then you can both go.”[/color]

A quivering lip and a lost look were enough to tell that there would be no signs of protest from Tansy. Finding Ezra would prove to be no tall task either, as he was already making his way back to the table, hovering just out of earshot as he continued with his phone call. Unlike before when he had been nigh unreadable, his face now openly expressed a look of profound sadness.

[color=darkgray]“Yeah, neither can I. It’s just horrible. Of course, Angela. No, it’s no problem. That’s what friends are for. Okay. See you soon,”[/color] said Ezra, allowing the last words of his conversation to be overheard as he rejoined the table with a heavy sigh. He looked absolutely drained as he turned towards Trisha and Casey. 

[color=darkgray]“I’m so sorry to do this, but I have to leave. I thought you were bullshitting me when you said that Blake was–”[/color] Ezra grimaced and then gave a bitter smile. [color=darkgray]“Always thought this day would’ve made me happy. Weird. Anyway, well, this was…”[/color] Ezra’s eyes flitted around the scene he had returned to, decided he did not give a shit, and continued to sell that he was hit hard by the death of an associate. [color=darkgray]“Something.”[/color]

Casey was half-sheltering Trisha who seemed far more apt to make headway toward her sister. It was a sticky situation overall, but at least she was coming [i]mostly[/i] quietly. Ezra being something of a snake, however, gave Casey cause for concern. He simply felt uneasy leaving the man unaddressed, but at the same time, there was little he could do besides [i]offer the out again.[/i] It’d be different this time: They were far past courtesy, and his siblings certainly didn’t seem to help. The entire family had been utterly unhelpful over the entire situation, and now the problem had become real for everyone.

[color=577d06]”Yeah, man… You’re… You’re really something yourself, Ezra.”[/color] he replied simply, bringing his hand up slowly to wave toward the main exit path.


[color=577d06]”Listen! I know it probably doesn’t feel like you owe me much? Anything, really, for a man in your position. But, uh, we should really talk. Privately. Just for a few minutes here, away from everything else? Hell, keep as many people around as make you comfortable to [i]tell the truth.[/i]”[/color] he intoned with a false enthusiasm at first, slipping back as Trisha and Tansy started to walk slightly ahead.

[color=darkgray]“The truth?”[/color] said Ezra, slowly down so the gap between them and his siblings widened. 

Ahead, Trisha glanced back at Casey to catch his eye for a moment, flashing him a slight smile. She… didn’t particularly want to be stuck with Tansy, even with her newfound- temporary- confidence. But she could manage for the time it took him to talk to Ezra. Would rather her oldest brother survive, if possible. Not so much out of familial love as practicality. He was the [i]only[/i] one that could handle the family businesses.

As they got further away from the other two, Trisha turned her head up to Tansy. 
[color=d1b300]“Well, thanks for ruining another Thanksgiving. At least it wasn’t just you this time. Since [i]’nobody wants me as family’[/i], I won’t be spending any family holidays with you- or my other siblings- from now on. No point being where I’m not wanted.”[/color] Not that she expected Tansy to respect any boundaries, but calmly and confidently verbalising them was a big step for her.

[color=springgreen]“I didn’t…that wasn’t what I…”[/color] uttered Tansy, fighting the urge to sob as she quickened her pace to separate from Trisha. [color=springgreen]“...did this just to embarrass me…”[/color]

Behind them, Ezra put his hand on Casey’s shoulder.

[color=darkgray]“The truth is that I want to like you, Casey,”[/color] said Ezra, his voice lowering as his grip tightened on Casey’s shoulder. [color=darkgray]“But if you do anything that hurts Trisha then you’ll find out just the kind of people I work with.”[/color]

Ezra gave Casey a pat-pat as he let go, striding forward to join his sisters. 

Casey was left with nothing but burning rage. Indignation. The kind of people? They [i]knew[/i] the kind of people. There was only solace in knowing that, after this, Trisha may have no reason to ever speak to him again. A sinister thought passed through his head: 
[color=577d06][i]Flee, or die. You prick. I'd do you myself if I didn't think it'd break your pretentious little rule…[/i][/color]

[color=577d06]”Ezra… Me? Hurt Trisha? You're sincerely barking up the wrong tree.”[/color]
Good translation as he picked up the pace to be among the Vanburens. 

His mind wandered to his White Lux, and he began sending notifications to security to keep twice the eyes on the path up to the parking lot.

[color=577d06]”Say… Are you skipping town? Or, are you available for a meeting? We'll call it a debrief, y'know? After this whole problem is taken care of?”[/color] he asked, a sincere tone in his voice as they escaped the warming field of the platform.

[color=577d06]”After all, uh… You'll miss me proposing. You'll miss the moment we become actual brothers… In, y'know, in law… But, still!”[/color] Casey finally started grinning again. Maybe it was smugness, maybe it was the overflowing joy of being engaged to Trisha.

Ezra stopped in his tracks as his head turned to give Casey a dark look full of ill-intent that soon broke as Ezra threw his head back with a loud, gutbusting laugh. Of all the accusations and quiet threats that had been thrown his way, that was the one to actually break through. 

[color=darkgray]“Son of a bitch, you nearly got me,”[/color] said Ezra as he wiped a tear from his eye between chuckles. With a shake of his head, he turned to leave. [color=darkgray]“See you around, [i]bro[/i].”[/color]

Trisha looked at Ezra in abject shock when he started laughing, trying her best not to get too pissed at what he was laughing [I]at[/I]. She'd told Casey she wouldn't care what her siblings thought, and was doing her best to stick by it. 

She moved back to Casey's side, taking his side and staring at Ezra's back. 
[color=d1b300]“Laugh all you want, Ezra. I'm not going to end up like you. Casey and I have our whole [I]happy[/I] future ahead of us. We [I]will[/I] get married… We're basically already engaged anyway. This is just the formal proposal. But I'm glad I don't have to share it with you. Thankfully I don't need- or want- your approval."[/color]

Casey wasn't angry anymore. Truly, there was no point. 

Ezra's face firmed up, returning to its typical indiscernible expression.

[Color=darkgray]“I hope you're right.”[/color]