as written by Emperor Jester
Pierette sat with Nox, keeping as much contact as possible. That disinterested sound had her hackles up, thinking that he was hiding something much worse under that monotone. But what could she do? The best way to keep a secret was to speak of it as little as possible, and while it might have soothed her lover's ego to have his praises on the lips of her relations, having them guess who, or what, he was would have been... bad.
Almost immediately after the three older kids went into the hallway, the girl came running back out, wailing incoherently about the boys not wanting to play with her. Marie ignored her mother and came barreling at Pierette to seek solace in her skinny arms.
"Ah, yes. She's been telling the truth about that much. I'm working with the city, to some extent, to preserve the historical significance of a certain family's home. They want to make sure it doesn't fall, so we don't forget what they did." A pause as the child came screaming over. However, instead of making it to his main, Nox would intercept, almost impossibly gentle, filling the child with calming feelings as he lifted her onto his lap, giving her the freedom to crawl to her aunt if need be or desired.
To the girl, Nox would not feel cold. He'd feel almost warm, and give off an air of safety, like a massive stuffed animal. The smile that graced the Caer's features were equal parts joy and worry.
Pierette was actually glad that Nox intercepted Marie, jumping up from the couch while the vampire was occupied with the very stunned little brunette child. She had some intercepting to do as well.
Liz saw Pierette coming and her eyes shot wide as she hurried into the kitchen and towards the high cabinet full of prescription bottles.
Pierette grabbed hold of her sister and hissed in her ear, "No! You've had too much already! Now you are going to go back in there and talk to our guest."
Liz snarled briefly, then the anger drained out of her face as if someone had just wiped it away. "But I need it. He scared me."
Meanwhile, Marie was sitting on Nox's knee and patting at his face wonderingly. With a huge smile and a dopey laugh, she'd take advantage of his attention, asking, "Why don't boys like to play with girls?"
Charlene almost choked at that, covering her mouth and coughing to disguise her laughter. She was also curious about how Dorian would respond, and not at all worried that he would be able to say anything that Liz wouldn't like for Marie to hear.
A patient smile as he soothed back Marie's hair, making sure not to touch her with his fingernails, which seemed manicured to the point of claws if the light caught them right. "Oh, that's easy, little one. Girl and boys just like to do different things. Guys like to be tough, girls like to be emotional. As you get older, you'll notice that some guys start to like the same things you do, or you'll start liking more and more of the things they enjoy. Or you won't change at all. Give them time. I'm sure they'll invite you eventually."
The most delicate of pats to her little head, and 'Dorian' would turn his eyes to Charlene, giving her a smouldering look. "I apologize if I make you uncomfortable. I've been told I have that effect on people, even by...Rette, as you all call her. I assure you, most of the time, it is unintentional."
"Oh, no. It's not-- Well, yes, a little. You almost knocked that door off its hinges and you aren't even winded." Charlene laughed merrily, tossing back her long blonde hair and making her feathered earrings sway with the way she moved her head. Her smile was almost coquettish as she added, "Just startled us is all."
Marie giggled and squirmed down from Nox's lap to go fetch one of her dolls... but then she came right back and held up her arms in an unspoken demand to be returned to her perch.
Pierette would get a glass of water into Liz's hand and send her back out to the living room. The dyed girl was hunting through cabinets and the fridge for something to make for everyone to eat, since she figured that getting something solid into Liz would improve matters greatly.
Liz hesitated at the entrance of the living room and gave her usual serene, empty smile, like she had turned off the personality behind her eyes. "May I offer you something to drink? I am afraid the selection is limited, as this is a child safe household."
The large guest would eagerly place the small girl back into his lap, giving a questioning look at the doll and another patient smile before returning his attention to the adults in the room. "Again, I do apologize for it. Sometimes, when you run the types of businesses I do, you run afoul of people, and they'll threaten to hurt the ones you...care for. Or those that work under you."
A dismissive wave of his hand. "Nothing criminal, I assure you. I'm merely a well off investor with perhaps one of the best accountants in the city. My money is clean." Another hand through the child's hair, a small bought of laughter.
"No, no drink is fine, though I appreciate the offer all the same."
The smile did not alter a bit, though perhaps there was a flash of disappointment there as Liz returned to her rocking chair.
Anna fussed a little, really too big for the play pen and ready to get out and go investigate the other toys that were laying around on the floor. After the noise and the cold, the baby had no interest in sleeping, and would be released from the captivity as soon as Liz had settled in her chair. The coloring book would soon be lifted by their pages and shook by the two-year-old, until she managed to get one page torn out of it.
Charlene gave a shrewd smile before she glanced at the kitchen doorway, and Pierette just out of line of sight. "Unusual business partner then." The blonde scooted closer to Dorian then, leaning in to whisper, "I'm perishing of curiosity. Who's house was it? Someone famous and scandalous, I'm sure, or else it wouldn't be a secret."
Marie seemed content to just sit in Dorian's lap and talk nonsense to her doll as she pulled off the dress it was wearing and put it back on the toy inside out. She would smile up at him when he played with her tangled, soft curls, and it was clear that Nox now had another admirer, though this one was pint-sized at most.
Nox would, every so often, bounce the child, enough to lift her into the air a bit on each bump. "I am afraid I am not allowed to say. The contract with the city government has a pretty binding, not to mention punishing, non-disclosure agreement. You'll hear about it on the news soon though. Now that I've found a contractor team or two, as well as a secretary who can keep track of it all. Among other things. Rette is very talented and probably..."
He'd say this a little louder, so that his maid could hear his praise. "...my favorite member of the team to work with."
"Higher!" Marie squealed when Dorian started bouncing her, laughing and clapping her chubby little hands. Yep. She was in love.
Charlene seemed a little baffled at Dorian's apparent affection for Pierette and scooted back a little to stare at him. Sure, it was nice. Really nice since a good portion of the money Pierette had convinced this fellow to spend on Remy was ending up in her own pocket. In a sense, because of this man, Jamie could go to a better school than either of his parents had graced. But... Rette? Really? Finally she admitted, "Rette is alot of fun, when she is in the mood."
Pierette gave Charlene a sharp look, catching that as she came back into the room and placing a tray with soup and a grilled cheese sandwich on it for Liz. Her look softened to amusement when it passed on to 'Dorian'. "Well, you are my favorite member of the team too, darling.". She jerked her thumb toward the kitchen for Charlene's benefit, "More soup and sandwiches on the stove, for when the little monsters get hungry. You too, if you don't mind chicken with stars."
Liz seemed depressed as she pulled her sandwich to pieces, but only ate reluctantly, what she didn't end up sharing with Anna.
"Well I'd hope so. The others who work with us are either scuttling bureaucrats, or your own family. Not that they haven't proven to be charming people so far." A nervous cough. "Again, if the door ends up being damaged, I'll pay for a new one. Had I known there were children here, I assure you, I would've been much more... subtle, I suppose is the best word."
Another high bounce, before lifting the girl into the air and tossing her, making sure she wouldn't bump her head against the ceiling. Despite being a child, and chubby to boot, Dorian seemed to handle her as if she was weightless. If it wasn't for his billowing coat and looser style of formal dress, he'd certainly look his frame. And judging from the door and the way he hefted what was essentially a sack of potatoes with a single hand, it was obvious that his size matched his physical ability.
"So tell me about yourselves. I'm eager to learn anything my companion hasn't told me already. But she is rather tight lipped about certain topics."
Liz gave him a smile, but made not comment. Her confidence in his sense of honor had already been expressed, and she didn't know how to make Dorian feel more comfortable.
Pierette watched with concern as the child went flying straight up, but then breathed a sigh of relief that Nox had gauged the variables correctly. She was pretty sure that he wouldn't deliberately hurt her niece, but the vampire was just so strong-- Well, she had ample evidence of the care he could take with a fragile human body.
Charlene gave a nervous giggle and shrugged, "Not much to tell. I went to school with Rette and Remy. We were in different circles though and if not for the bad boy mystique of her brother, we never would have spoken." Which was the polite way of saying that Pierette had been voted 'most likely to blow up a government building' and Charlene had been on the cheerleader squad. "I married Remy when I got pregnant. Big mistake for everyone concerned. He dumped me--"
Pierette interrupted, "You married Remy to piss off your folks. He divorced you when you stopped taking the pill and came up pregnant. He told you from the start that he didn't want kids."
Charlene gave Rette an evil look, but then shrugged, "Yeah, well, I didn't intend to forget. And I didn't stop taking them, it was just hard to remember every single day."
Some bad blood between the two. But not enough to lose all sense of civility. It was odd, really. Almost like he was sitting in a meeting with his Family. Nyx, his sister, had always been a mirror opposite of her brother, both in powers and personality, but they'd never gotten violent with each other. Families were the same no matter where you looked.
"At least you have a child now. They are precious." A pause to catch little Marie, and give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I...almost had children once. Set to have twins, like myself, actually. The mother..."
Then, he'd let it drop, patting little Marie on the head. "Well, enough of that. Still, what about you...Liz, was it?"
Pierette was deeply surprised and was watching Dorian closely as she sat down next to him again. She was also a bit pale at the thought of twins. One child would be bad enough, but two? She shivered a bit and leaned against Nox's shoulder quietly.
Marie was delighted and laughing, and would try to pat Dorian on the head and give him big smacking kisses on his cheeks, standing on his lap. The doll had gone flying somewhere in the playtime, and was not missed.
Charlene nodded in agreement, "I was surprised how much having little Jamie changed things." She was all set to start talking more about herself when Dorian moved on to Liz, and the blonde folded her arms and sighed.
Liz looked up from baby Anna and blinked at Dorian. It seemed to take her a moment to process how he was enthroned between her relatives, with her older daughter on his lap. For some reason, it seemed to disturb her and there was another hesitation before she answered his question. "Yes. Liz is what I am called. Nothing to tell. My husband is a minor contractor with a landscaping firm. We have three children and I take care of them."
Pierette didn't lift her head, but added, "And you paint, Liz. Under a fake name, sure, but you have some success." which generally got spent on pills, but even 'Dorian' didn't need to know that.
With an encouraging, patient chuckle, he'd slowly sit the girl down on the floor. "That's enough play for now. More later, if you're not too tired."
It was as subtle as that. No wave of his hands, no shining of the eyes, no incantation, but Marie would sure enough soon grow very sleepy. Slowly, subtly. seemingly natural. An arm would lay across Pierette's shoulders, keeping her close.
"It sounds like you're a content woman. The both of you. At least from my perspective. I'd love to have a family. I grew up in a rather large one, but when I moved to the city, I had no one. It's been difficult going from seeing my thirteen siblings every day, but I've drowned myself in my work. Which is very...lucrative. And I do my best to look after those who need it most."
A pause to cross his legs, re-adjusting himself slightly. "Its not charity, if that's what you're thinking. Or pity. But I know what its like to need help, to need friends, or loved ones to count on. Dependable people you can count on for anything. So I try to foster those types of...open relationships."
Marie wasn't happy about being put on the floor, but after being rebuffed by Pierette's gentle refusal as well as Dorian's denial, she flopped down in her circle of dolls again. She struggled to stay awake... but would soon be quietly snoring on the floor.
Liz nodded in agreement, smiling peacefully. "Our family is large as well. There are five of us, and more in our mother's family in the city."
Charlene gave a bitter laugh and shook her head, "Content? Not me. I scramble and save and scrape every penny together because I want Jamie to have more opportunities than I had. If it were up to Remy, he would end up in public schools, just like us, and working these crappy jobs. Cooking in a diner, or risking his life in construction like his daddy."
Pierette gave a secret smile as she rested against Nox, though inside she was still reeling over how he had even Found her.
Nox himself would relax into the couch, listening to them talk. He'd planned to spend the entire night out on the town. Eating. Fucking. Drinking. Drugs. But this was proving much more soothing to his inner soul. A family night. Low key. Casual. Small talk. It was something he'd missed far more than anyone could realize.
"Well, if you ever get the urge, once the house opens up for hiring at least, I'll put in a good word, if you're comfortable with crowds and questions. It'll technically be government work, just working with my firm. Stable, easy work that pays well."
Build more bridges, see where they take you. Stop focusing on destruction, and work on creation. We need more children, son, and it is long past due for you to become a Father.
Tonight was proving difficult. A lot of memories which he'd thought he'd purge were coming back, slowly. As a result, his eyes would take on a frantic look periodically, or one of intense sadness, as 'Dorian' listened and spoke.
"Tour guide? I can do that." Charlene nodded thoughtfully, then grinned and bounced up from the couch to dance across the room, "That sounds a lot easier than food services too!"
The happy sounds got the attention from little boys though, and Adam and Jamie came pelting up the hall to find out what they were missing. They would get shunted to the kitchen though, since the boys probably did need to eat something before bed, and Charlene would follow them in to take care of that little detail.
Pierette sat up a bit and kissed Dorian's temple before getting up as well, moving to pick up Marie. With her back to Liz, she winked at Nox with a faint smile.
Liz was a little alarmed because it seemed like she was about to be left alone with the guest, except for the baby that had stolen half of her sandwich and most of her soup, and fallen asleep on her cushiony chest again.
Nox would lock eyes with Liz. His smile always soft. His pupil's narrowing slowly. He'd open his mouth to speak, giving a moment's blur of a shark like jaw. "You seem uneasy, Liz. Do I make you uncomfortable? I've been told I do that. But of course, I already told you that. Small talk is difficult for me. I'm trying to constantly figure out what to do. About a lot of things. I dedicate very little of my exput to socialization."
As he said those things, his mouth would close, but she'd still hear his words, his smile never faltering.
"I try not to be disturbed at anything." Liz answered finally, struggling to stand up without putting the baby down. There was no crib in the living room, of course, and now that the baby was thoroughly asleep, it was time to put her down. "I don't like being afraid, or angry, or upset. My therapist says it is a block, that I am afraid of being afraid, so I loop into nothing at all."
Pierette would not be gone long, but Charlene was going to be detained for a while, trying to make the boys sit still and eat their late second dinner.
That is unwise. Those are our most powerful emotions. The ones that drive ambition. You can take anything you want in this world, if you have the means. KILL OR BE KILLED.
The mental intrusion was strong, even before the man calling himself Dorian would rise to embrace a returning Perilous, with a small peck on the cheek. "I believe I should take my leave soon. I did not mean to intrude for so long."
Perilous held him tightly for a long moment, nuzzling against 'Dorian's' neck as she whispered, "I'll be home later, if you want me there, but I have been getting a bad feeling lately. Like we're being watched. Probably just my imagination, but... watch your back, please?"
The look on Liz's face as she watched them embrace was anything but neutral. Hungry, sad, jealous, and even angry, but not neutral. She had been struggling with her own particular set of problems for long enough that she did not increase her grip, and baby Anna continued to sleep as she moved past the two.
Liz had no idea that Perilous watched her go with a very similar expression, thirsting for motherhood just as Liz craved passion.
"You're always welcome in my home, Rette. Its a much better place than where you used to sleep." He'd run a hand through her hair and plant his lips on hers, a healthy amount of force and desire behind his action.
"It was good meeting you all. Once things begin to take off at the house, and I can give more of the work load to the people under me, I'll make sure to visit again. You have good children. And Marie is a real treat."
Charlene peeked out of the kitchen and gave a sultry pout, "You're leaving? Oh--!" she was startled to see Pierette being held by Dorian again, having somehow convinced herself that Pierette was the one that held on to him instead. Her pout faded to something more honest, a wry smile as the waitress gave a shrug, "Well, it was nice to meet you, Mr. LeBeau. Hope you can stay longer next time. And soon!"
Liz did not answer, looking away from the pair as she emerged from the master bedroom, where the baby's crib was stowed. She was too conflicted, and turned instead to a small, quiet room at the end of the hallway, where a riot of colors were hung on an otherwise white wall, like inarticulate emotions given silent screams on canvas.
Perilous would nudge Nox towards the front door a bit sadly, since she already knew it was going to be a bad night for Liz... and that it was her fault, for not putting the purse away properly.
Pierette sat with Nox, keeping as much contact as possible. That disinterested sound had her hackles up, thinking that he was hiding something much worse under that monotone. But what could she do? The best way to keep a secret was to speak of it as little as possible, and while it might have soothed her lover's ego to have his praises on the lips of her relations, having them guess who, or what, he was would have been... bad.
Almost immediately after the three older kids went into the hallway, the girl came running back out, wailing incoherently about the boys not wanting to play with her. Marie ignored her mother and came barreling at Pierette to seek solace in her skinny arms.
"Ah, yes. She's been telling the truth about that much. I'm working with the city, to some extent, to preserve the historical significance of a certain family's home. They want to make sure it doesn't fall, so we don't forget what they did." A pause as the child came screaming over. However, instead of making it to his main, Nox would intercept, almost impossibly gentle, filling the child with calming feelings as he lifted her onto his lap, giving her the freedom to crawl to her aunt if need be or desired.
To the girl, Nox would not feel cold. He'd feel almost warm, and give off an air of safety, like a massive stuffed animal. The smile that graced the Caer's features were equal parts joy and worry.
Pierette was actually glad that Nox intercepted Marie, jumping up from the couch while the vampire was occupied with the very stunned little brunette child. She had some intercepting to do as well.
Liz saw Pierette coming and her eyes shot wide as she hurried into the kitchen and towards the high cabinet full of prescription bottles.
Pierette grabbed hold of her sister and hissed in her ear, "No! You've had too much already! Now you are going to go back in there and talk to our guest."
Liz snarled briefly, then the anger drained out of her face as if someone had just wiped it away. "But I need it. He scared me."
Meanwhile, Marie was sitting on Nox's knee and patting at his face wonderingly. With a huge smile and a dopey laugh, she'd take advantage of his attention, asking, "Why don't boys like to play with girls?"
Charlene almost choked at that, covering her mouth and coughing to disguise her laughter. She was also curious about how Dorian would respond, and not at all worried that he would be able to say anything that Liz wouldn't like for Marie to hear.
A patient smile as he soothed back Marie's hair, making sure not to touch her with his fingernails, which seemed manicured to the point of claws if the light caught them right. "Oh, that's easy, little one. Girl and boys just like to do different things. Guys like to be tough, girls like to be emotional. As you get older, you'll notice that some guys start to like the same things you do, or you'll start liking more and more of the things they enjoy. Or you won't change at all. Give them time. I'm sure they'll invite you eventually."
The most delicate of pats to her little head, and 'Dorian' would turn his eyes to Charlene, giving her a smouldering look. "I apologize if I make you uncomfortable. I've been told I have that effect on people, even by...Rette, as you all call her. I assure you, most of the time, it is unintentional."
"Oh, no. It's not-- Well, yes, a little. You almost knocked that door off its hinges and you aren't even winded." Charlene laughed merrily, tossing back her long blonde hair and making her feathered earrings sway with the way she moved her head. Her smile was almost coquettish as she added, "Just startled us is all."
Marie giggled and squirmed down from Nox's lap to go fetch one of her dolls... but then she came right back and held up her arms in an unspoken demand to be returned to her perch.
Pierette would get a glass of water into Liz's hand and send her back out to the living room. The dyed girl was hunting through cabinets and the fridge for something to make for everyone to eat, since she figured that getting something solid into Liz would improve matters greatly.
Liz hesitated at the entrance of the living room and gave her usual serene, empty smile, like she had turned off the personality behind her eyes. "May I offer you something to drink? I am afraid the selection is limited, as this is a child safe household."
The large guest would eagerly place the small girl back into his lap, giving a questioning look at the doll and another patient smile before returning his attention to the adults in the room. "Again, I do apologize for it. Sometimes, when you run the types of businesses I do, you run afoul of people, and they'll threaten to hurt the ones you...care for. Or those that work under you."
A dismissive wave of his hand. "Nothing criminal, I assure you. I'm merely a well off investor with perhaps one of the best accountants in the city. My money is clean." Another hand through the child's hair, a small bought of laughter.
"No, no drink is fine, though I appreciate the offer all the same."
The smile did not alter a bit, though perhaps there was a flash of disappointment there as Liz returned to her rocking chair.
Anna fussed a little, really too big for the play pen and ready to get out and go investigate the other toys that were laying around on the floor. After the noise and the cold, the baby had no interest in sleeping, and would be released from the captivity as soon as Liz had settled in her chair. The coloring book would soon be lifted by their pages and shook by the two-year-old, until she managed to get one page torn out of it.
Charlene gave a shrewd smile before she glanced at the kitchen doorway, and Pierette just out of line of sight. "Unusual business partner then." The blonde scooted closer to Dorian then, leaning in to whisper, "I'm perishing of curiosity. Who's house was it? Someone famous and scandalous, I'm sure, or else it wouldn't be a secret."
Marie seemed content to just sit in Dorian's lap and talk nonsense to her doll as she pulled off the dress it was wearing and put it back on the toy inside out. She would smile up at him when he played with her tangled, soft curls, and it was clear that Nox now had another admirer, though this one was pint-sized at most.
Nox would, every so often, bounce the child, enough to lift her into the air a bit on each bump. "I am afraid I am not allowed to say. The contract with the city government has a pretty binding, not to mention punishing, non-disclosure agreement. You'll hear about it on the news soon though. Now that I've found a contractor team or two, as well as a secretary who can keep track of it all. Among other things. Rette is very talented and probably..."
He'd say this a little louder, so that his maid could hear his praise. "...my favorite member of the team to work with."
"Higher!" Marie squealed when Dorian started bouncing her, laughing and clapping her chubby little hands. Yep. She was in love.
Charlene seemed a little baffled at Dorian's apparent affection for Pierette and scooted back a little to stare at him. Sure, it was nice. Really nice since a good portion of the money Pierette had convinced this fellow to spend on Remy was ending up in her own pocket. In a sense, because of this man, Jamie could go to a better school than either of his parents had graced. But... Rette? Really? Finally she admitted, "Rette is alot of fun, when she is in the mood."
Pierette gave Charlene a sharp look, catching that as she came back into the room and placing a tray with soup and a grilled cheese sandwich on it for Liz. Her look softened to amusement when it passed on to 'Dorian'. "Well, you are my favorite member of the team too, darling.". She jerked her thumb toward the kitchen for Charlene's benefit, "More soup and sandwiches on the stove, for when the little monsters get hungry. You too, if you don't mind chicken with stars."
Liz seemed depressed as she pulled her sandwich to pieces, but only ate reluctantly, what she didn't end up sharing with Anna.
"Well I'd hope so. The others who work with us are either scuttling bureaucrats, or your own family. Not that they haven't proven to be charming people so far." A nervous cough. "Again, if the door ends up being damaged, I'll pay for a new one. Had I known there were children here, I assure you, I would've been much more... subtle, I suppose is the best word."
Another high bounce, before lifting the girl into the air and tossing her, making sure she wouldn't bump her head against the ceiling. Despite being a child, and chubby to boot, Dorian seemed to handle her as if she was weightless. If it wasn't for his billowing coat and looser style of formal dress, he'd certainly look his frame. And judging from the door and the way he hefted what was essentially a sack of potatoes with a single hand, it was obvious that his size matched his physical ability.
"So tell me about yourselves. I'm eager to learn anything my companion hasn't told me already. But she is rather tight lipped about certain topics."
Liz gave him a smile, but made not comment. Her confidence in his sense of honor had already been expressed, and she didn't know how to make Dorian feel more comfortable.
Pierette watched with concern as the child went flying straight up, but then breathed a sigh of relief that Nox had gauged the variables correctly. She was pretty sure that he wouldn't deliberately hurt her niece, but the vampire was just so strong-- Well, she had ample evidence of the care he could take with a fragile human body.
Charlene gave a nervous giggle and shrugged, "Not much to tell. I went to school with Rette and Remy. We were in different circles though and if not for the bad boy mystique of her brother, we never would have spoken." Which was the polite way of saying that Pierette had been voted 'most likely to blow up a government building' and Charlene had been on the cheerleader squad. "I married Remy when I got pregnant. Big mistake for everyone concerned. He dumped me--"
Pierette interrupted, "You married Remy to piss off your folks. He divorced you when you stopped taking the pill and came up pregnant. He told you from the start that he didn't want kids."
Charlene gave Rette an evil look, but then shrugged, "Yeah, well, I didn't intend to forget. And I didn't stop taking them, it was just hard to remember every single day."
Some bad blood between the two. But not enough to lose all sense of civility. It was odd, really. Almost like he was sitting in a meeting with his Family. Nyx, his sister, had always been a mirror opposite of her brother, both in powers and personality, but they'd never gotten violent with each other. Families were the same no matter where you looked.
"At least you have a child now. They are precious." A pause to catch little Marie, and give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I...almost had children once. Set to have twins, like myself, actually. The mother..."
Then, he'd let it drop, patting little Marie on the head. "Well, enough of that. Still, what about you...Liz, was it?"
Pierette was deeply surprised and was watching Dorian closely as she sat down next to him again. She was also a bit pale at the thought of twins. One child would be bad enough, but two? She shivered a bit and leaned against Nox's shoulder quietly.
Marie was delighted and laughing, and would try to pat Dorian on the head and give him big smacking kisses on his cheeks, standing on his lap. The doll had gone flying somewhere in the playtime, and was not missed.
Charlene nodded in agreement, "I was surprised how much having little Jamie changed things." She was all set to start talking more about herself when Dorian moved on to Liz, and the blonde folded her arms and sighed.
Liz looked up from baby Anna and blinked at Dorian. It seemed to take her a moment to process how he was enthroned between her relatives, with her older daughter on his lap. For some reason, it seemed to disturb her and there was another hesitation before she answered his question. "Yes. Liz is what I am called. Nothing to tell. My husband is a minor contractor with a landscaping firm. We have three children and I take care of them."
Pierette didn't lift her head, but added, "And you paint, Liz. Under a fake name, sure, but you have some success." which generally got spent on pills, but even 'Dorian' didn't need to know that.
With an encouraging, patient chuckle, he'd slowly sit the girl down on the floor. "That's enough play for now. More later, if you're not too tired."
It was as subtle as that. No wave of his hands, no shining of the eyes, no incantation, but Marie would sure enough soon grow very sleepy. Slowly, subtly. seemingly natural. An arm would lay across Pierette's shoulders, keeping her close.
"It sounds like you're a content woman. The both of you. At least from my perspective. I'd love to have a family. I grew up in a rather large one, but when I moved to the city, I had no one. It's been difficult going from seeing my thirteen siblings every day, but I've drowned myself in my work. Which is very...lucrative. And I do my best to look after those who need it most."
A pause to cross his legs, re-adjusting himself slightly. "Its not charity, if that's what you're thinking. Or pity. But I know what its like to need help, to need friends, or loved ones to count on. Dependable people you can count on for anything. So I try to foster those types of...open relationships."
Marie wasn't happy about being put on the floor, but after being rebuffed by Pierette's gentle refusal as well as Dorian's denial, she flopped down in her circle of dolls again. She struggled to stay awake... but would soon be quietly snoring on the floor.
Liz nodded in agreement, smiling peacefully. "Our family is large as well. There are five of us, and more in our mother's family in the city."
Charlene gave a bitter laugh and shook her head, "Content? Not me. I scramble and save and scrape every penny together because I want Jamie to have more opportunities than I had. If it were up to Remy, he would end up in public schools, just like us, and working these crappy jobs. Cooking in a diner, or risking his life in construction like his daddy."
Pierette gave a secret smile as she rested against Nox, though inside she was still reeling over how he had even Found her.
Nox himself would relax into the couch, listening to them talk. He'd planned to spend the entire night out on the town. Eating. Fucking. Drinking. Drugs. But this was proving much more soothing to his inner soul. A family night. Low key. Casual. Small talk. It was something he'd missed far more than anyone could realize.
"Well, if you ever get the urge, once the house opens up for hiring at least, I'll put in a good word, if you're comfortable with crowds and questions. It'll technically be government work, just working with my firm. Stable, easy work that pays well."
Build more bridges, see where they take you. Stop focusing on destruction, and work on creation. We need more children, son, and it is long past due for you to become a Father.
Tonight was proving difficult. A lot of memories which he'd thought he'd purge were coming back, slowly. As a result, his eyes would take on a frantic look periodically, or one of intense sadness, as 'Dorian' listened and spoke.
"Tour guide? I can do that." Charlene nodded thoughtfully, then grinned and bounced up from the couch to dance across the room, "That sounds a lot easier than food services too!"
The happy sounds got the attention from little boys though, and Adam and Jamie came pelting up the hall to find out what they were missing. They would get shunted to the kitchen though, since the boys probably did need to eat something before bed, and Charlene would follow them in to take care of that little detail.
Pierette sat up a bit and kissed Dorian's temple before getting up as well, moving to pick up Marie. With her back to Liz, she winked at Nox with a faint smile.
Liz was a little alarmed because it seemed like she was about to be left alone with the guest, except for the baby that had stolen half of her sandwich and most of her soup, and fallen asleep on her cushiony chest again.
Nox would lock eyes with Liz. His smile always soft. His pupil's narrowing slowly. He'd open his mouth to speak, giving a moment's blur of a shark like jaw. "You seem uneasy, Liz. Do I make you uncomfortable? I've been told I do that. But of course, I already told you that. Small talk is difficult for me. I'm trying to constantly figure out what to do. About a lot of things. I dedicate very little of my exput to socialization."
As he said those things, his mouth would close, but she'd still hear his words, his smile never faltering.
"I try not to be disturbed at anything." Liz answered finally, struggling to stand up without putting the baby down. There was no crib in the living room, of course, and now that the baby was thoroughly asleep, it was time to put her down. "I don't like being afraid, or angry, or upset. My therapist says it is a block, that I am afraid of being afraid, so I loop into nothing at all."
Pierette would not be gone long, but Charlene was going to be detained for a while, trying to make the boys sit still and eat their late second dinner.
That is unwise. Those are our most powerful emotions. The ones that drive ambition. You can take anything you want in this world, if you have the means. KILL OR BE KILLED.
The mental intrusion was strong, even before the man calling himself Dorian would rise to embrace a returning Perilous, with a small peck on the cheek. "I believe I should take my leave soon. I did not mean to intrude for so long."
Perilous held him tightly for a long moment, nuzzling against 'Dorian's' neck as she whispered, "I'll be home later, if you want me there, but I have been getting a bad feeling lately. Like we're being watched. Probably just my imagination, but... watch your back, please?"
The look on Liz's face as she watched them embrace was anything but neutral. Hungry, sad, jealous, and even angry, but not neutral. She had been struggling with her own particular set of problems for long enough that she did not increase her grip, and baby Anna continued to sleep as she moved past the two.
Liz had no idea that Perilous watched her go with a very similar expression, thirsting for motherhood just as Liz craved passion.
"You're always welcome in my home, Rette. Its a much better place than where you used to sleep." He'd run a hand through her hair and plant his lips on hers, a healthy amount of force and desire behind his action.
"It was good meeting you all. Once things begin to take off at the house, and I can give more of the work load to the people under me, I'll make sure to visit again. You have good children. And Marie is a real treat."
Charlene peeked out of the kitchen and gave a sultry pout, "You're leaving? Oh--!" she was startled to see Pierette being held by Dorian again, having somehow convinced herself that Pierette was the one that held on to him instead. Her pout faded to something more honest, a wry smile as the waitress gave a shrug, "Well, it was nice to meet you, Mr. LeBeau. Hope you can stay longer next time. And soon!"
Liz did not answer, looking away from the pair as she emerged from the master bedroom, where the baby's crib was stowed. She was too conflicted, and turned instead to a small, quiet room at the end of the hallway, where a riot of colors were hung on an otherwise white wall, like inarticulate emotions given silent screams on canvas.
Perilous would nudge Nox towards the front door a bit sadly, since she already knew it was going to be a bad night for Liz... and that it was her fault, for not putting the purse away properly.