alderwitch

Alex slanted a glance to Mike and slipped her hand into his, "You're good at climbing and you'll catch me if I fall." She assured him, squeezing his fingertips gently before she pulled on the thicker winter layers around her and fastened up a muffler. Alex's costume wasn't really geared for serious winter wear so she'd made a few adjustments. "Don't worry. Today's going to be super!"

"This is Fluer, she's here to take you all to safety," Phantom explained, gesturing towards her friend with one gloved hand as she floated behind Fleur's back protectively on the off chance that the bees proved difficult to sway, "She was sent by others of your, er, hive and has a safe place to take you all to."

"So I've seen. You two are getting pretty good together at a lot of things," Alex teased, rolling up on her side to wiggle her eyebrows comically at her friend and dissolve into blushing giggles. "I am doing my best to un-remember all of the thoughts I picked up on the plane. He's got it so ba-a-a-ad..." Alex singsonged the last word, drawing it out. "It's so cute."

"I absolutely adore your mother," Talya informed Jack, beaming at the woman in question with all of her not inconsiderable charm. "To be entirely fair, madam, I am not exactly the most respectable choice when introducing a lovely lady such as yourself to our rather colorful comrades. For example, there are likely few individuals in our unique careers that would need a rescue from the wrong side of a jail door. I have been many things, but very rarely the one you bring home to meet the parents. Still, the pleasure is indeed all mine." Her eyes twinkled with self deprecating amusement as she added to the matriarch, her gaze on Jack, "If I were not on a rather tight time table, I would suggest we all head out to do dinner. Perhaps, though, you will take a rain check?"

"It'd be nice, but if he marries me, it's really only a matter of time before people put together Phalanx and Alexandra Harris' husband. It'll go better if he volunteers the information and doesn't just have it revealed for him. It's always better to control these sorts of things and with who he is, lying to people has never really sat well with him. It's okay, it means that when he goes off to training to become a fireman, he won't have to lie to people about the fact he's super tough." Alex said having unsurprisingly played the angles out in her head. "And he's the one who decided that he wanted to out himself in the end. We talked about it and I think it'll be okay." She turned towards Erin and smiled, "But that's still a ways off too. Not till after college. So, I should go big, hunh? Invite all of the world's super heroes?"

Talya blinked at the exchange before slowly smiling. It wasn't the smug smile that she normally had when getting let out of a jail cell. It was with abject relief and no small amount of affection. "You, are a lifesaver," she informed Jack sincerely as she was let out of the cell, reaching out to cup one cheek with her hand and press a quick kiss to the other one. She stepped with quick grace over to collect her effects, signing them out with a hurried scrawl and slipping the bracelet back in place around one slender wrist carefully and dumping the rest of her things back in her evening bag before turning back to him, her voice sober and even, "Thank you. I know you don't like mixing things but this was very important to me. I'll explain. Later." She kept her mouth closed, as Talya had long ago learned that saying nothing to the police was the wisest way to go when she was short on time. In short order, she was back on the right side of the desk and turned to face the woman who could only be Jack of All Blades mother to offer one hand and say quietly, "Thank you very much. If there's anything I can do... you've done me a great favor tonight and for that you have my thanks."

"It's still a long way away and there's a lot to do before then. There's senior year, and graduation... and then Mike and I think he should announce who - and what - he is so that it doesn't come up around the wedding. Better to do it first. I'm still not sure how big a thing it's going to be. I mean, I think small and private is probably out at this point. You think I should ask Zoe to be in it or would that be way to weird?" Alex asked turning to look at Erin and smiling, "You know I want you to be my Maid of Honor, right? I mean, I figured it went without saying but its probably good to point it out. There isn't anyone else I'd want by my side that day."

"What does this mean, 'not necessarily homework related'?" Quo-Dis said, focusing on that part of the statement first. She clutched the book a little closer to her chest and blurted out, "I have come to learn that there are things that are not discussed in public and among strangers and I will not be doing this thing with you, just in case there is a question." Quo-Dis looked at him, her cheeks pink, "Unless, of course, that is not what you've come to ask and Daisy Gibbons did NOT send you. In that case, I will answer your question first and then we will speak of Founding Fathers. If, of course, I decide that I will answer this question of yours." She paused, "Which I retain the right to not, in case that was not clear. Very well. Go ahead."

"I know, right? We totally have to find out where to get one of these. Or two. We could put them in the manor." Alex agreed, flopping back into the soft fabric, arms and legs splayed out. "You think the boys are enjoying it or just all 'meh, beds' and then asleep. I swear. Boys." Alex giggled and rolled over onto her stomach, "If we had these at school, we'd never get up for class. I'd just roll around in this. I swear, I want a place that has this bed and that tub for when I go off on my honeymoon. I think we are missing out on some of the 'key functions' of these giant fixtures."

"Scan the galaxy or actually cross it?" Taylor mused, rocking a little in place as she thought, "My range isn't that good but Scarab's might be. She's faster than I am. There's that other telepath - the teenager - but I have no idea how far she can reach mentally. There's a few trans-galactic. I'll ask Jack, he's always better informed about the up and comers than I am and we'll put together a list for you. There's also Doc if all else fails. I'm sure he has some device that could manage it."

"I'd go find him, I think, if only to throw furniture and ask him what the hell was wrong with him." Taylor said after another moment's pause to think that out. She shrugged slightly, "I mean, if it was Jack, he'd probably have been kidnapped by some crazy vampire ex who'd decided he was their ticket to the big leagues. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that hasn't happened yet. If I didn't think I could find him on my own, I'd start looking for who could find him and then once I found out that he was alive, I'd probably start planning his death."

There was a flicker of surprise on Talya's face - genuine surprise - but no hesitation as she softened in his arms and let her hands slide slowly up his chest until her arms linked around his neck. Despite the teasing, baiting, and no small amount of blatant encouragement of this flirtation, she was still surprised that Jack leaned in to take it to the next level. Kissing Bombshell was a very different experience than flirting with the woman. She flirted, often outrageously, with almost anyone. It was after all, one of her best defensive tactics. She did not, however, let almost anyone catch her. The reason for that was quite clear when the kiss finally broke as her expression was open and unguarded, her posture relaxed. Her lips quirked in a teasing smile and after a moment's pause she murmured. "You're right. I yield the point. You are, indeed, dashing."

Social thread! December 3rd

Bombshell - no, Natalya Browning - was having such a day. "I really do have somewhere to be," she said for not the first time as she curled her fingers around the iron bar of the prison cell and eyed the detective with acute dismay. She didn't know him but she did know his father (or perhaps grandfather. It was hard to guess if he was a 'Jr.' or a 'III') but his family, apparently, had made it a quest to put the thief behind bars. It was most irritating today, as she hadn't actually STOLEN anything. Now, of course, it was a small jail cell and would have posed little to no problem to get out of, but that would have only made her look guilty. That might not have given Talya pause but they had a bracelet of hers - a very dear bracelet - and she wanted it back. So, instead of sneaking out and taking it - which was tempting - Talya held onto the bars and made a stab to control her temper as the contents of her little evening bag were upended on the desk and poked at. Thank heavens she'd gone for subtle and not worn the matching necklace. Date an ex-Pharoah and one got the most outrageous of Christmas gifts. The diamond bracelet however had been too stunning not to pair with the slit-to-there shimmering evening gown and strapped heels. With her golden hair piled high, she'd been ready for a night on the town. At least, she had until the over eager detective had decided he was going to ruin her night. Talya decided that she disliked the new improved version perhaps more than she disliked his father. Or grandfather. The whole bloody family. "Hey, Inspector Clouseau," she spoke up when he poked her bracelet for the third time with the tip of his pencil. Like that was going to somehow tell him if the diamonds were fake or not. The blank look told her that her little barb had entirely missed it's mark. "My phone call? I do still get a phone call, don't I?" It took a bit of wheedling and two very large and rather uncomfortable looking cops who did not have a family's hatred of one (more or less) ex-thief mumbling things like 'due process' to get her way but eventually, Talya closed her fingertips around a phone, "... Hello, sweetie. I don't suppose you're available to come post bail? Oh, and do you happen to have a tux?"

After Dinner: Erin and Alex

Alex was quick to slip inside the suite she shared with Erin, stepping into the bathroom first on the off chance her roommate wanted to linger to say good night to her boyfriend. Mike wasn't the type to try and sneak more than a chaste good night's kiss (Much to Alex's chagrin often enough) but she didn't begrudge Erin her moments. Alex was nothing if not patient. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she slipped into the main room in her robe and headed to crawl into the center of the giant bed, giggling as she sank into the mattress. "Best. Beds. Ever!"

Quo-Dis had glanced up at his approach and dropped her hand to rest on her book as she just watched him. After a moment of blinking at him, she smiled a little self consciously and lifted her hand up from the book. "Hello, Corbin." Her accent was difficult to place - unless of course, one had visited the Ultima - and she phrased his name carefully, sounding out each syllable. "I am Quo-Dis. This is American History. We are studying the American Revolution. You know of this?"

"Eloped," Taylor said after a moment's thought, tugging the Eye from JJ's chubby hands while she considered it, "Really, that's basically what we did. Jack and I held the ceremony in the early morning and invited basically no one because of everything we thought could have gone wrong. As it was, the reception was still interrupted. Still, if it had ruined the ceremony, I think I would have found some way to get married, if not that day then eventually. Stubborn persistence is one of my few virtues but it had to be, really, or we'd never have made it to the alter. Every step of the way, something came up. Not just what he was and the fact that he'd lied to me, but when we started going out, when we got engaged... it was always a fight. I think it's always going to be a fight but, like you said, we thrive on conflict."

Phantom (55) Housewarming (20) Bee Okay (10) Inside Out, Upside Down (1) House On The Hill (7) A Doktor Who Makes Housecalls (7) Bindings & Contracts (1) Absent But Not Forgotten (9) Psyche (35) Kill A Man (23) Kill A Man: Rusty Cage (1) Kill A Man: Boys, Boys, Boys (1) Shall We Dance (7) Braniac Brunch (1) Meet The Roommate (2) Bombshell (34) Red Rover (14) Champagne Shennagians (5) Takes A Thief (14) Pink Panther (1) GM Threads (7) It Takes All Types (2) No Place Like Home (1) Inside Out, Upside Down (4)

"If anyone can understand the value of a tiny lie for the greater good, it would be me." Bombshell teased, making no move to step back and tilting her face up to his, a smile curling the corners of her lips. She shook her head slightly to shake the blonde waves out of her face and blink at him with wide green eyes. Her hands came up to rest, palms flat against his chest. She tilted her head to the side and arched one brow in teasing challenge. "So, good on you for the set up, but will you exploit the opening once you've made it? You know what they say... no guts, no glory."

Alex had gone to bed early as, well, she was ever responsible and had also still been a bit worn down from her first experience with alcoholic drinks. Still, a night's rest in a huge and terribally comfortable bed had left her bright eyed and bushy tailed and eager for whatever the day brought. She bounced down the stairs and into the courtyard on enthusiastic booted feet, hovering between the steps as, well, she wasn't actually that agile. She beamed and brought herself up short with a chirped and polite greeting to those gathering in front of the palace.

JJ eyed Stesha dubiously and Taylor made a mental note to ask his older counterpart if he really ever had gotten over his vague mistrust or if that was just one of those natural enemies. Vampires vs. Clowns? Nah. She followed Stesha's gaze and her gaze flickered over it, her senses expanding automatically to search for absent threat before relaxing. "I hope so." She cuddled JJ up closer, burying her nose in the soft baby-powder scent of his hair and closing her eyes. "But, it does make me realize I can't just take these things for granted, you know? If I don't take time to put the work into it, it really could fall apart and that's so scary. I mean, you think the hard part is over once Dracula fails to destroy your wedding and steal your first born but really, it's all just beginning at that point. Still, we're good at conflict, at least."

"Someone who needs serious help," Phantom agreed and then paused before adding, "Or perhaps to be thrown off of more rooftops. Sometimes that helps." There was a reason, after all, that Phantom had decided that Avenger made a good mate. Compatible combat styles was certainly one of those. Before more words could be exchanged, she reached out to circle her fingers around Stesha's wrist and deposit them neatly in the center of that room, facing the jailer.

Quo-Dis, last born of the Ultima was - as she often was - sitting alone in the Claremont Quad. The cold didn't bother her, of course, like the majority of students. Still, after a rather embarrassing incident with some of the more snippy girls, she'd dressed the part for winter at least in passing. So she wore the one pair of jeans she'd found that fit her strapping frame and an open jacket over a turtle neck. With her book bag tucked between her feet, she had one of the American History text books open on her lap and was quietly leafing through the pages and taking notes in a spiral ring notebook open on the bench next to her.

Geez: It's a hunting party, with several men armed for the era and with hunting hounds. They're probably not looking for game as they're equipped with swords and crossbows.