Re: Room 103b . . . { ..o.p.e.n.. }

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

If the children had rushed away, Airtia wouldn’t have blamed them. She didn’t regret anything that had transpired back at the church - especially not the bracelets - and she could even start to understand why Titania was wary. Whether she knew it or not, Titania had done Airtia a favor in putting her in contact with Damon. She wouldn’t forget that.

Airtia regarded Jade out of her peripheral while she kept her attention on Damon. The could almost be opposite sides of a coin the way Jade was standing out. Airtia was not able to tell what she was - not exactly - but she knew that the lady wasn’t human nor vampire. If there were not more pressing matters at hand Airtia would have concentrated more on Damon’s companion. Realization of what she was rested on the tip of her tongue.

One thing Airtia appreciated was a person who got to the point. Her chin tipped up in the slightest degree before she spoke. The rest of her stayed still. “Death tis overrated.” Airtia could not lie. For better or for worse it was part of a bond made many years ago, but a person didn’t have to lie to be misleading. Much of what people said was subjective to the hearers understanding. “Would ye care tae defy god by enterin’ a holy object an’ bringing Epiphany out?”

What she said was to the point.  It covered the basics of the task and left the decision open. He could be one of those men who wanted to know all the details before making up their mind, but Airtia wasn't the type for intimate detail exposure.  If he wanted specifics he’d have to ask.

[Damon Fauci]

When the children addressed him, Jade shot a look at Damon like he’d just grown three heads.  A languid shrug was his reply.  In his rare dealings with children he’d never found them to be a very grounded, logical sort, so he assumed these ones were mistaking him or their imaginations had run wild.  His intense dark eyes regarded each of them in turn.  “When you are busy going to bed, I am busy hunting my dinner.” He didn’t mince words, even when speaking to children.

Titania and the children would find that standing near Jade felt pretty great.  Even though it was getting late, the warmth that came off of her was pleasant and sunny, and the innate ability to heal had always been part of that energy.  So if any of them were feeling weirded out or unbalanced or their stomachs were all knotted up with fear, they’d find the longer they stood next to Jade the more that all settled down and their sense of balance and safety would be restored.  Same went for fatigue - her energy was kind of a battery that way, just kind of filled people right back up.  It was why Jamison and Damon kept a strong eye on her these days.  There were a lot of people who’d want to get their hands on a source like Jade if they knew what she could really do.

A short laugh was Damon’s first response to the idea that death was overrated.  “So it is.”  He couldn’t argue, not when he was a four-hundred-year-old proof of that concept.  As for Airtia’s proposition, he took it in stride, little showing in terms of a reaction.  His words were telling, however, if one knew how to read between them.  “That depends entirely on the state Epiphany will be in when she is brought back into this world.  I assume you know that I’d have little interest in bringing out a corpse so there can be ceremony and burial.”  Mortal rituals, that one he was far too distant from at this point to feel any connection to it anymore.  “And as you said, between life and death there are many manners of existence.  Do you know for certain which will be hers if she is freed?”  Epiphany was important to him, and thus her quality of life was important to him as well.  It was why he’d left Rhy’din years ago, in what he now knew was a failed attempt to protect her quality of life from her god’s wrath.  So Airtia’s answer wasn’t something he’d weigh lightly.

Damon had a second question which would shape how he approached the mission, but there was no use in asking it until Airtia answered the first.  So he would address the other matter at hand - the initial reason for why he’d come to this church in the first place.  “There is also the matter of keeping my word, I’m here tonight to see Titania and her children home safely."  His gaze quickly shifted to Titania, as she had a decision to make.  "Unless you are comfortable with Jade seeing you home, bella?  She is here to provide transportation.”  Well, that was one of the reasons Damon had asked her here, anyway.  Point was that Jade would be helping to escort Titania and the kids home in any scenario.  

[-:|[ Titania ]|:-]

The kids would move closer to Jade away from their grandma but they were watching their mom, because they didn't trust their grandma right now, and the way she had been watching her mom...and something about the tone of her voice.   Titania had moved away from Airtia as well and moved near her children who had moved near Damon's friend.

And the kids looked at Damon as he said that and the children both laughed.  “We go to bed before you go hunting for dinner.”  Like duh we have to go to bed early, and you and your sharp pointy teeth probably goes out hunting at dusk or dark and we are already in bed, well suppose to be sleeping but in our beds none the less!  Titania did not expect him to change anything, and well she did not miss Jades look of him having grown three heads either.

And Jade did have that calming feeling and trust me Titania would be benefiting from it, not on purpose but almost without thought she had moved towards the girl whom her kids had moved towards, almost as if they sensed something about her...and well they might have.  Titania was too nervous to really concentrate on that, so it was one of those undercover benefits!

She and the kids were both quiet while Airtia and Damon spoke, it really had nothing to do with her, unless Damon was all sure Airtia take Titania and throw her in the trunk in place of Epiphany.    Just saying.   So when he looked to Titania and he asked if she was comfortable with it.   She looked to Jade then she turned to Damon with a smile.  “I know you wouldn't suggest it unless you were comfortable with both of us.”  She wasn't sure what she should say though.   “I would hate to keep you from speaking with Airtia about her daughter in the trunk, especially if it means that you won't allow her to swap myself for Pip.”   She well figured that would be his call.   “Besides we can always chat later.”  She wasn't saying when later was, it was merely just later they could chat about whatever it was that they chatted about.   They were friends if you will, at least they had been before, and now that he was around again she would assume they still were.   Unlucky him when she found herself in an awkward and uncomfortable situation she contacted him.  

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

Airtia listened to the chatter going on around her. She especially watched Damon, though she did so with muted interest.  His reply to the kids may have even brought a ghost of a smile to pass her lips.  Although, when Titania made mention that the  vampire wouldn’t allow Airtia to do something, that got a reaction.

A wicked smile stretched across her lips which then parted to allow light laughter to trickle forth.  It was short and had and edge, like the laughter of someone who’s delighting over a terrible scheme. Her silver eyes rested on Titania and she let them linger. In that moment Airtia had a mind to educate the lady on what someone could, and could not, allow her to do but she remembered the children. They were Titania’s saving grace and Airtia kept her comment on the matter and shifted her attention back to the matter at hand.

“The dead are o’ nae use tae me,” Airtia said, which was slightly ironic being that she was seeking assistance from a vampire. That statement, too, was loaded if one could read between the lines. “Neither tis a being that lacks free will.” As in the rare cases when Epiphany had nearly took on her full arraignment of glory to do god’s will and smite the creatures of the Dark. No. Airtia couldn’t have Epiphany stuck in that form, but that is what she very well will be if she stayed in the trunk until the process was over. Airtia had spent a lot of time with that trunk since she learned of its residence at the church.  She studied the writing that wound around it as well as the power she felt from the inside.  What she had gathered, and the effects that it had on her, she knew that the girl was being changed.

“Nae one e’er comes from an experience unscathed.” Therefore she couldn’t truthfully give him more detail about the state Epiphany would be in when she came out of the trunk, though, there was one more thing.

From corner of her eyes she took note of the children, and of Jade. If she thought about it she could hear the children playing at the festival and feel the eyes of Sister Mary-Marks who had been watching them since this meeting happened.

She spoke in a tone that was more relaxed than the weighty words called for, but there was no need to bring heightened concern to any small ears. “Epiphany must nae finish in the trunk.”

[Damon Fauci]

While children laughed, Damon remained still, a sanguine smirk the only change worth witnessing.  "Yet you are awake. Hmm?"  And he would've been hunting right now, had he not been needed here.  Perhaps logic wasn't the best conversational pathway when speaking to small children, but Damon didn't exactly bend like a reed when it came to his behavior.

Dark eyes traded between the two women as each gave their replies.  That bottomless gaze lingering on Airtia, he nodded.  Points taken.  All of them, including that time was of the essence. Always an interesting phenomenon to him, timeless as he was.  "In that case, I'd love to."  The wolfish grin that followed was sudden, perhaps also too relaxed for the matter at hand.  But that was Damon's way.  Whatever emotions bubbled beneath the surface - and there were strong ones - he believed them no one's concern but his own.

Agreeable as he was, Titania's leery words about the trunk and Airtia's reaction did not go unnoticed.  "Is a swap required?  Or a sacrifice?"  Yes, it was clear that Damon was watching Airtia closely as he posed those questions. "And, relatedly, to what do I owe the honor of you specifically​ seeking me out?  Is the fact that I'm a vampire of particular value to you, or my personal connection to Epiphany, or something else entirely?" These latter questions were the ones he'd opted not to ask until Airtia spoke to Epiphany's potential quality of life.

As he asked them, Damon dipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out the vial that he'd asked Jade to bring with her to Rhy'din.  "I ask, Airtia, because you suggest that change over time is a factor, and I've come by a rather useful talent.  When the circumstances are right."  That vial was tossed to Jade.  

She not only caught it, but took it as an opportunity to speak.  "I hate everything about this, Damon. .  ."

"Lucky for us the potion doesn't need your approval, it just needs your blood." Spoken with his usual cavalier confidence​ as he stepped toward her, his hand beckoning for hers.  It was no accident that he positioned himself in such a way that it obscured the view of any nuns.

Jade reluctantly obliged, watching Damon bring her finger to his lips with the same wariness she'd worn for most of their adventure tonight. When he broke the skin, she didn't even flinch - she'd been a vampire herself, once upon a time.  When he helped himself to a drink of her blood before finally holding her bleeding finger over the open vial, however, a "Seriously, Damon?!" flew out of her mouth.

But he was a man who always had a motive.  When he licked her finger clean, he did so after nicking his tongue.  Letting their blood mingle on her wound before it healed, the thread of connection would be thin but it would be fresh.  "For luck.”  Said with silken whimsy, but Damon’s dark eyes looked deeply into Jade’s as they shared a look of mutual understanding.  

Tightly corking the bottle and giving it a good shake, it went back into his pocket for safekeeping.  Inside was a potion that Epiphany would recognize, though it would have a much different result since it was Jade’s blood that catalyzed the mixture.  He had plans to take it only if it was necessary.  Being a vampire was by far his preference, that should be no surprise.

That business taken care of, Damon turned to Titania.  A solemnity falling over his features that would give weight to his next words.  “There are only two people I trust absolutely, bella, and Jade is one.  She wouldn’t be here otherwise.  She’ll alert me when you and the children arrive home safely, and I will seek you out again before long.  After bedtime.”  Said with a smirk down at the children.

Damon had noticed the strained exchanges between Titania and Airtia, which fed his impulse to keep Titania's departure moving.  “As for your exit, I think it’s wise to begin with a walk until you can no longer see the church through the trees.”  Damon nodded to the direction in question, before looking at Titania and Jade in turn. “No need for uninvited lookers to see your unconventional means of getting home.”  While he had no doubt Jade's method of transportation would thrill the children, he saw no reason to give those connected to this church insight into Jade or her talents.  

[-:|[ Titania ]|:-]

The children did laugh and they were watching Damon, and let me tell you, Damon Mr. I don't do children, was doing children right now!   And Izzy grinned.  “That's because we came to see our grandma.”  And Bas looked to Damon.  “But she's acting weird.” He said in a little whisper that was directed to Damon, but it might have hit other ears, he was young and not quiet got the best grasp of it.   And well the kids had picked up on the undertone that something wasn't right even if they didn't know what it was.    

Well, Titania was a bit worried about that one, the way that Airtia had been eyeing her.   Nor had Airtia ever had any love for the girl, even during the birth of her grand babies, it was just that the woman always seemed cold, distant and intimidating.   But she had seen a different side of her when she was around the grandkids, there seemed to be some...warmth maybe...

While Jade and Damon had their exchange Titania didn't seem phased by it, for the record, she was looking at her kids though whom seemed rather interested and she would try to get their attention.  “Izzy...Bas...why don't you both tell your grandma you will see her later and thank her for the gifts so you can reach out to her.”   Both it would appear that Titania's words fell on deaf ears.  Although now her kids were rather more interested in the vampire and his friend than they were of their grandma and their mother.  

When Damon turned to Titania she had given up getting her kids attention, so she gave her head a nod when she listened to him, and she could understand that.   “If you trust her then I trust her.”  Simple as that, unless he told her not to trust her, it was one of those things, because whether she should or shouldn't, she trusted Damon.  But she had a soft laugh at his after bedtime, and she nodded and was about to open her mouth to speak when Izzy spoke up.  “Mommy when I am older I want a Damon.”  Which had Titania shaking her head, at her child, not even sure how to respond to that one but she looked back to Damon with a hint of a twinkle in her eye because of her child she was going to have her hands full.     “Thank you, Damon, see you then.”  

She was good with it and she was glad that he picked up on the exchange with her and Airtia.   The kids waved to Airtia, because they were going to be leaving with their mommy and Jade, and they would fall into step with Jade and Titania.   After Damon's words, she would give a nod to him, before turning her attention to Jade.   “It's nice to meet you, Jade...I do appreciate the help of getting us home.”   She did, she thought it was nice of her to still help them even though she didn't seem to want to leave Damon at the church....but Titania couldn't blame her, except she figured Damon could hold his own with Airtia. Bas for his part was looking up to Jade like she was the best thing ever.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

Once Damon agreed Airtia moved on to the next steps in the process. One of which may be a bit tricky.

She maintained her composure but her thoughts were somewhere else. Full disclosure was not her forte and already her mind worked to weave the next phase of her plan in order to get her desired results. There was so much she had no control over and that was not something she liked. Especially in a situation like this.  

When he asked about a swap Airtia’s gaze momentarily drifted to Titania before finding their way back to the vampire. The question could be two-fold as her answer can give away what she knew of the trunk. “I am nae in contact with the creator o’ the contraption that I know what tis required.” It was an honest answer. Everything had a price, no doubt this held many. What they were going to do wasn’t going to go unnoticed. “Howe’er…” Here she took a pause before answering his second question.  "Ye know her, nae o’ her." She believed this because of what she knew of Epiphany. Not only that, he had agreed. Not many would take on such a task for someone they didn’t care much about. Airtia knew of Damon, but she didn't know him. Out of all the people that knew Airtia she could count, with less than one hand, the people that really knew her.

Airtia watched the exchange between Jade and Damon with great interest. It was information that she was going to tuck away and remember that he had with him as they start on this venture. What exactly was Jade?  Focusing her eyes more on the lady she still couldn’t tell much. But it made her skin itch.  Maybe it was the feeling of warmth and pleasantness that was contrary to her own nature.

“Be safe in yer travels, Titania. Children.” She looked at the twins as she referenced them and then she started walking slowly back towards the church.  “I will ask one more thing o’ ye, Damon, once we are at the trunk.”

It was time to get the next phase started.  She had - or had started to - tell Titania, when they were still in the church, that she needed two people. She had seen him recently, so she knew that he was around and she focused on him while Damon and Titania worked out the best way for her to get home. She would need his help. The Madman. The eccentric person. The one who knew her.

[Damon Fauci]

He would finish his business with Jade, Titania, and the children first.  Escorting them in the direction of the forest.  Damon had no qualms talking with anyone provided they had information that was useful, and what the male child had just uttered about Airtia he considered useful.  So he earned the full of Damon’s attention.  “How peculiar,” he agreed, his voice quiet and smooth as silk.  A tone that suggested he was the perfect person to commiserate with about grandmothers.  “In what way?”  

While he was at it, his dark eyes turned upon the girl child as he added with a beastly smirk,  “Like most, you have no idea what you’ve really wished for, little girl.”  Damon and Airtia shared that in common.  Who Damon truly was, that was a quest nearly without end and there were few living that he’d graced with the map.

His words made Jade snort.  “Neither do you, Damon.”  Of course she was talking about the whole breaking Epiphany out of some holy trunk thing.  Even when Jade’s appearance was glamoured so she appeared human as she was now, the more someone focused on her the more they noticed her vibe of a beautiful, perfect, sunny summer day. Even now, when the sun wasn’t out anymore.  Leaning into Damon as they walked away, she hissed up at him, “I have no idea what you think I’m supposed to do with this…”

Damon slipped his arm around her, giving her a squeeze.  His way of attempting to provide comfort, perhaps.  Maybe it was even a manner of apology.  “After you see Titania and the children home, Jade, you’re free to do as you see fit.  What could be done about it, when whatever you do will be completely unseen?”  He gave her a pointed look.  Saying without saying, as was his way at times.

Sparkling green eyes watched his, and she nodded.  Message received.  Still, she couldn’t shake the sullen cloud this whole situation was casting over her, and she mumbled, “Just don’t do anything stupid.”  Breaking away from Damon, she checked over her shoulder to see if the church was out of sight yet as she approached Titania and the children.  “Totally,” she replied to Titania with a smile.  “It’s not a problem.  I mean, it’s not a problem so long as you guys are okay with a magic carpet kind of thing.”  A glance down to the young kids.  “I’ve made it with seat belts before, my boyfriend has a granddaughter.  He’s a wizard.”  Added hastily, as if that explained why she had a boyfriend with a granddaughter. Anyway...

“Never.”  That single word was his final assurance to Jade.  Damon was many things, but he was not foolish.  He was also observant, and had noted the manner of Airtia’s answers to his questions.  When he returned to the woman he didn’t press the issue, nor did he elaborate on his relationship to Epiphany.  Airtia’s thinking was correct, however.  He was willing because Epiphany’s life and well-being hung in the balance, which he cared a great deal about.  Just as he cared a great deal about Epiphany herself.  “I do hope what you ask I can deliver.”  But hoping was not a promise.  With the question unasked the answer remained to be seen.

The church.  As they approached it, it took effort for him to suppress his contempt.  His tone conversational as he offered, “I have no hatred for churches, save this one." A fact he felt he should offer, as it would likely shape his behavior while on the grounds.  "How responsible are they for Epiphany’s current predicament?”  Yes, he was assuming that they were at least partially responsible - they were keeping the trunk here, weren’t they, and she within it?

[-:|[ Titania ]|:-]

Titania and the children moved easily enough with Damon and Jade towards the forest.    She was not sure how this was going to work but she would trust in Damon which translated to Jade as well.    And when they were walking Bas turned to Damon and he tilted his little head just so.  “She seems...bouncy.    And she was looking at mommy strangely.”   He nodded after he spoke those words it was something a bit strange to him.

Izzy looked towards Damon, and hearing his words, she looked thoughtful, well as thoughtful as a child of 5 almost 6 could.   “Maybe....maybe I will like the danger when I am older.”  She nodded and Titania was thinking she was going to have her hands full with the twins when they got older.

They were all quiet when Jade and Damon spoke, the little girl was still thinking on things, and wondering how could she have no idea of what she wished for....and yes Titania was going to have her hands full when that girl was older, which she didn't want to even think of that one.  

Titania smiled to Jade though and she was glad for that one and well, when she said a magic carpet sort of ride, the kids smiled about thinking that sounded like fun.    And Titania smiled.  “Right about now I think I would be good riding a broom if it got me away from this place.”  Truth there she wasn't just making it up, she wanted as much distance between her and Airtia, and that trunk as possible right now.
But Titania smiled hearing her speak about the seat belts and she smiled.   “It sounds like you have a very interesting life.”   She meant it in the best way, “But if you could manage seat belts because while I think they would bounce if they fell, I would much rather not having to take that chance.”  At the same time, Bas spoke up.   “I want to bounce!”   And Titania shook her head towards her child.

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